Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Deep Kiss’

Jinli truly didn’t know how to drive a carriage.

It was fine while they were still on the flat city roads, but once they entered the mountain paths, the wheels kept bumping into stones, startling her into screams each time.

At one point, they nearly veered off the edge.

Liu Fuying eventually took over the reins, both of them gripping tightly—until their palms were rubbed raw.

By the time they arrived at the mountain lake, night had already fallen.

“Madam, don’t worry. I’ll sleep out here in the carriage tonight. This is Xiangshan—just up there is the Changming Temple. The sages and Buddhas protect this place. I’m not afraid.”

Whether she was afraid or not, Liu Fuying could tell.

Still, as she’d said before—even if just for Jinli’s sake—she would do her best.

She entered the water, swam through the long tunnel, and surfaced in the deep pool behind the bamboo house.

From a distance, she could see the light still glowing in Pei Zhouwu’s room, but there was no one outside.

Carefully climbing ashore, she circled to the back of the room—only to hear someone speaking inside.

A woman.

Liu Fuying froze in place, holding her breath.

“I know you’ve been wronged. But in our current situation, who hasn’t been wronged? Your father, me, your sister—do you think any of us have it easy? But…”

The voice paused, then resumed with sharper words—words that dug straight into the heart.

Liu Fuying recognized the voice. It had to be Pei Zhouwu’s mother.

“Our family can’t afford another scandal. We can’t cause more trouble. Your sister begged for you today—risked her life to plead on your behalf. She fainted from kneeling and had to be carried back. Even the crown prince was crying. I heard he cried so much the emperor got annoyed.”

“Ah Zhou, do you understand what Mother is trying to say?”

Pei Mother waited for a while, but Pei Zhouwu gave no reply. Her tone turned harsher.

“You can’t ignore the honor of this family. Everyone in the Pei household now depends on your sister and the crown prince. As long as they are safe, the Pei family will remain secure. You are my own son, my pride and joy—I love you deeply. If there were any way, your father and I would do everything to save you. But… our family is not an ordinary family.”

“Your sister is the empress, the mother of the nation. Your little nephew is the crown prince—the future emperor. And you—”

“I understand,” Pei Zhouwu finally interrupted.

He must have reached his limit. Even Liu Fuying, listening from outside, felt her heart tremble at the words.

Pei Mother hadn’t said it outright, but her meaning was clear: Pei Zhouwu must endure. No matter how wronged or humiliated, he must swallow it. He must not fight back, must not resist.

In short, she was condemning Pei Zhouwu for killing in self-defense last night.

But it was for the Pei family, for his sister and the crown prince, that Pei Zhouwu had stayed, knowing there was a chance to escape. He chose to be imprisoned here alone—what more could they ask of him?

“If you understand, then—”

“There is a way out,” Pei Zhouwu said coldly, cutting her off again.

“What did you say?”

“I said there is a way out. As long as Mother expels me from the Pei family, I’ll no longer be one of you. I won’t drag the family or my sister down.”

“Pei Zhouwu!”

“I’m tired. Please leave.”

“Ah Zhou, you just need to be patient. You won’t be like this forever. When the crown prince takes the throne, you—”

“I’m exhausted. I won’t see you out.”

“Fine. If you won’t listen to me at all, then take care of yourself.”

A slammed door followed soon after.

Liu Fuying let out a long breath, calming herself. After waiting quietly, she circled to the front and gently pushed open the door.

Pei Zhouwu seemed to know she was coming. When he saw her, he didn’t look surprised at all.

He stood motionless by the bed, even though his mother had left a while ago. Clearly, he still hadn’t recovered from their confrontation.

Though nothing showed on his face, he must have been hurting terribly.

This was the perfect opportunity—one Liu Fuying couldn’t let slip.

Weren’t those tragic, vulnerable girls always lured in by some scumbag during moments like this? When they were at their weakest, someone would show up like a warm light, giving comfort and help—and from then on, they’d fall in deeper, obeying whatever was asked of them.

Liu Fuying stifled both her sympathy and her excitement.

She shut the door gently behind her and slowly approached him. His lifeless gaze stayed on her but held no light.

“I… I couldn’t stop worrying about you, so I brought medicine,” she said softly, as if afraid of saying something that might hurt him.

“Have you eaten? I also brought food.”

She removed the bundle from her back.

Aside from medicine, she’d asked Jinli to buy some food. Everything was wrapped in oil paper to keep it dry.

She opened the bundle, just about to tear the wrappers when Pei Zhouwu spoke.

“You should leave,” he said.

Those four simple words seemed to sap all his strength. He looked like he was about to collapse.

Liu Fuying froze for a moment, then calmly resumed her movements.

“I see you’ve changed your clothes. I assume… just now… so your wounds must’ve been treated. I was worried—if you kept bleeding, you might not survive. But seeing you like this now, I feel relieved.”

She began setting out the food, her warm chatter continuing.

“Since your wounds are dressed, you should eat a little. You’ll recover faster with some strength. Look at this crispy meat pastry—I bought it from the famous Shixian shop in the southern part of the city. Their food is well-known. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

She gently touched the pastry and was surprised.

“It’s still warm! Why don’t you eat it now—before it cools and loses its flavor?”

“Su Yueying.”

“I’ll feed you.”

She picked up the pastry and moved toward him, but he stopped her halfway.

“I told you to leave!”

His face was cold, stiff, his eyes sharp with feigned anger.

But his eyes were already red—and that robbed him of any real authority.

His words told her to go. But Liu Fuying saw what was really in his eyes.

He was saying: Don’t go.
Don’t leave me here alone.
I’m lying. I’m pretending to be strong.
I need someone with me. I need comfort. I need care.

…

“I won’t go.”

Liu Fuying continued her slow approach, her eyes gentle and unwavering.

“I told you—even if the whole world abandons you, I won’t. As long as you need me, I’ll stay by your side.”

Her words were soft but carried strength.

Each syllable landed perfectly on his heart, breaking through the hard shell he’d built and exposing something soft beneath.

He couldn’t hold on any longer. He staggered and fell onto the bed.

“No one can stay with anyone forever… no one,” he murmured, still trying to hide how lost he was.

His eyelids drooped, heavy and weak. He didn’t notice her drawing close.

By the time he widened his eyes in surprise, Liu Fuying’s soft lips had already pressed into a deep, lingering kiss.