Chapter 49: Everyone’s Busy

“So fond of your royal brother, hmm?”

After a moment, he released her and, seeing her eyes glistening with tears and her alluring lips, said coldly,

Jiang Huaiyue’s heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that? Could he possibly know that the original owner had once liked Jiang Jingchen?

But that didn’t make sense—he shouldn’t know.

“What is my husband talking about? I only like you. The royal brother is just my brother,” she explained.

Pei Ji noticed a hint of panic in her eyes and grew even colder: “If he’s just a brother, then why do you look at him so meaningfully?”

She gave him insincere smiles, but with Jiang Jingchen, she smiled so happily.

Jiang Huaiyue looked at him incredulously. She felt she was more wronged than Dou E (a famous wronged woman in Chinese literature).

She had no idea where he saw that she was gazing at Jiang Jingchen with such affection.

Besides, if he didn’t like her, why would he act jealous like that, making her look like she was cheating?

“What is my husband talking about? When have I ever looked at the royal brother like that?” Jiang Huaiyue curled his finger and raised her eyes to look at him lovingly.

“If you look at him like that again, I will gouge out the princess’s eyes and use them as night pearls tonight.”

Pei Ji’s cold hand suddenly clutched the back of her neck. After a brief silence, he let out a soft chuckle, the voice dripping with unspoken chill.

Though startled, Jiang Huaiyue’s first thought was: He said he’d take her eyes as night pearls—that must mean he thinks her eyes are bright.

“My eyes only see my husband,” she said, leaning in to kiss his lips, her tongue sweeping away the fresh blood stain.

Pei Ji lowered his gaze, watching her trembling lashes. Just as she was about to pull away, he pressed back, advancing deep.

Against the rough tree trunk, Jiang Huaiyue’s legs went weak from the kiss; if not for the arms around her waist, she would have fallen.

“Husband, let’s go back. Someone might see us,” she pushed him gently, speaking softly.

In this remote wild place, she didn’t want to become a wild mandarin duck with him.

Pei Ji knew what she was thinking and sneered. If he really wanted her, did she think she could refuse?

He held the weak-legged Jiang Huaiyue tightly, used his lightness skill, and in an instant they landed on the ground.

Jiang Huaiyue obediently stayed silent. Pei Ji whistled, and a horse galloped over from afar.

Back in the camp, Jiang Huaiyue hadn’t caught her breath before being thrown onto the bed.

“Husband, it’s the day of the silk festival,” she said with a frown, trying to back away.

Pei Ji grabbed her delicate ankle and pulled her beneath him. “What about the silk festival?”

His cold hand moved up her leg. Jiang Huaiyue trembled and raised her eyes to meet his handsome face. “Husband, wait until tonight, okay?”

“You really are clueless, Princess.” He sneered coldly, gripping harder. With a ripping sound, her clothes were torn apart.

Soon after, ambiguous sounds came from inside the tent, lingering for a long time.

At night, Jiang Jingchen held a banquet to entertain the ministers. Scanning the empty seats, he didn’t see Pei Ji. He glanced sideways at the eunuch Yu and said, “Go see why the Prince Regent hasn’t arrived.”

“Yes,” the eunuch replied and quietly left.

Jiang Jingchen held his wine cup, his gaze falling on Chu Nanxi below, eyes filled with faint, lingering affection.

Su Xiangwan sat in the corner, taking everything in at once.

Eunuch Yu headed toward Pei Ji’s camp. Before he could even get close, he was stopped by Mo Ying.

“His Majesty sent me to invite the Prince and the Princess to attend the banquet,” Eunuch Yu said with a measured smile.

Mo Ying responded coldly, “The Prince is busy.”

“Then… what about the Princess?” Eunuch Yu asked.

“She’s also busy,” Mo Ying replied, his expression slightly awkward, voice low.

Hearing this, Eunuch Yu seemed to understand. He nodded. “Then this servant will return to report.”

Mo Ying didn’t respond, simply stood guard at a distance.

Their conversation had reached Pei Ji’s ears. Draped in a robe, his exposed chest was covered in scratch marks—ambiguous and intimate in nature.

Jiang Huaiyue lay limp on the bed, her voice hoarse. “Husband, I want some water.”

Pei Ji glanced at her, then walked over to the table, poured a cup of tea, and brought it to her side.

“Thank you, Husband,” Jiang Huaiyue said, taking the cup and tilting her head back to gulp it down.

Her whole body ached, and her legs felt like they were going to fall off. That dog of a man had just acted like a rabid beast—it hurt like hell.

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered. She wore a sheer dress that barely concealed her curvaceous figure. As she raised her arm to drink, the marks he’d left on her snowy white neck were glaringly visible.

Pei Ji silently stared at her, expression grim.

Sensing his gaze, Jiang Huaiyue put down the cup and tightened her grip on it. “Why is the Prince looking at me like that?”

“Not calling me ‘husband’ anymore?” He lifted his robe and sat by the edge of the bed.

“I regard the Prince as my husband—but has the Prince ever once treated me as his wife?” She raised her eyes to his face, sorrow lingering in her gaze.

She still remembered what he’d said on their wedding night—that she didn’t deserve it. Now that they’d spent many intimate nights together, she wanted to know if his heart was still as cold as before.

If he felt even a sliver of affection for her, perhaps she could take advantage of that.

Pei Ji met her gaze and gave a faint sneer. “Your Highness, you’ve overstepped.”

Jiang Huaiyue lowered her eyes, a chill flashing in them—how truly heartless and unfeeling he was.

Her hand, hidden beneath the blanket, clenched tightly. “I understand.”

Meanwhile, at the banquet, someone suddenly shouted, “Your Majesty! Urgent report—eight hundred miles in haste!”

Jiang Jingchen’s face darkened. He raised his voice: “Enter.”

The officials in the hall immediately fell silent. At this hour, to receive a military report—it could only mean victory.

Following his command, a soldier entered holding a dispatch, saluting as he knelt.

“Long live Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!”

Eunuch Yu stepped forward, took the report from the soldier, opened it, and handed it to Jiang Jingchen.

Su Xiangwan watched this unfold, thinking of Xiao Qingrong. Could it be today?

As her thoughts raced, she saw joy bloom on Jiang Jingchen’s face as he shouted, “Wonderful! Wonderful! We’ve won! The Beirong army has fully retreated!”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Heaven blesses Great Yong!”

The ministers all shouted in unison.