Chapter 123

Xiao Xun had his subordinates investigate and found out that Wen Nianxi was the daughter of the official Wen, who had a conflict with Zhang Hongzhe’s son that day.

Lu Huai was also on friendly terms with her.

Although Xiao Xun had not directly uncovered any connection between this young lady and his uncle Lu Wensheng, considering that even a difficult child like Xiaoqi was fond of her, it seemed that Miss Wen must have exceptional qualities.

What came as the biggest surprise, however, was encountering Pei Jian here.

Seeing Pei Jian inevitably brought to mind Zhang Hongzhe, who had “fallen off his horse.”

Due to this individual, the salt administration in Lianghuai experienced a massive shake-up, shocking the entire court. Furious, The emperor ordered a thorough investigation, implicating many officials and salt merchants, who were arrested and dealt with severely.

Years of Zhang Hongzhe’s efforts were instantly ruined, leaving him no foundation to accumulate wealth.

If not for his uncle’s decisiveness in pushing Zhang Hongzhe forward to take the blame, Xiao Xun would have had difficulty escaping punishment today.

As for Pei Jian, he rose quickly due to the incident, receiving frequent praise from the emperor at a young age. He is now the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and oversees the case.

Previously, Xiao Xun had extended olive branches to Pei Jian multiple times, but all were tactfully declined.

At this moment, such a righteous and incorruptible Lord Pei was standing in front of Miss Wen, shielding her completely and blocking Xiao Xun’s probing gaze.

Things just got more interesting.

“Lord Pei has always been diligent in his duties. Encountering you here comes as a surprise to me. May I ask who this young lady is…” Xiao Xun spoke with a smile, but the aggression in his gaze was unmistakable.

“King Jing,” Pei Jian replied calmly and courteously. However, the depth of his gaze was unfathomable, and his cold, intense aura enveloped him as he showed no deference despite facing a royal prince. He bypassed any mention of Nianxi in the conversation.

Xiao Xun’s smile deepened. Amidst the bustling street market, he sat atop his carriage, looking down from his elevated position. His cold, oppressive gaze once again fell upon Pei Jian. “I am heading to Panlou for a banquet. If Lord Pei is free, why not join me?”

Pei Jian smiled faintly, cupped his hands respectfully, and said, “I deeply appreciate Your Highness’s kindness, but I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot accompany you. I seek your understanding.”

Insolent! Xiao Xun’s face darkened, his thin lips tightening into a hard line. He said nothing more, lowering the carriage curtains as the vehicle rumbled forward.

Only after King Jing left did Pei Jian turn around, revealing the person he had been protecting.

Nianxi had felt Xiao Xun’s gaze earlier as well, and she instinctively disliked the invasive scrutiny as though she were prey being watched. She wondered if she was overthinking it.

Pei Jian turned around and saw her lowering her head, her slightly closed eyes framed by long lashes that blinked lightly, casting soft shadows. From such a close distance, each lash was distinct, dark, and strikingly long. His heart suddenly softened.

He adjusted his tone, shedding the sharp aura he had when confronting King Jing, and gently asked, “What’s the matter?”

Nianxi shook her head. Her clear, bright eyes seemed to deepen as if gazing through this youthful body at the powerful prime minister who once stood atop the high mountain peaks.

She looked at him and asked: “Pei Jian, how did you die?”

Since the night she was poisoned and died coughing up blood, Nianxi had been reincarnated. She hadn’t spent much time pondering who had harmed her and why they had done so. On one hand, the circumstances didn’t allow her to investigate events thirteen years into the future to find the culprit. On the other hand, it was her nature. She wasn’t someone skilled at scheming and fighting ruthlessly. But, often, being kind-hearted meant being perceived as weak and easy to bully. She didn’t want to repeat her past mistakes.

However, Pei Jian was different from her. He was the prime minister, holding power and authority, not as unguarded as she had been. So, how had Pei Jian come to be reincarnated?

Pei Jian paused, his smile fading.

Regarding their deaths, he had contemplated numerous possibilities. Rebirth and the soul’s return—these were mysterious matters. Despite combing through ancient texts and studying Taoist teachings, he couldn’t find a definitive answer.

The only certainty was that in the early hours of that day, while returning home from the palace, Pei Jian received news of his wife’s death while in the carriage. Overwhelmed by grief and rage, he plunged into darkness.

When he awoke, he was a student at the Imperial Academy. He had not endured the pain Nianxi suffered before her death, nor did his body show any anomalies.

Perhaps, by the will of the heavens, he was brought back to live another life alongside Nianxi.

“I did not die from poisoning.” Pei Jian’s expression turned calm, though sorrow lingered in his eyes. “This is not the right place to talk. If you have questions, why not choose somewhere quieter?”

“Alright.”

Pei Jian was slightly taken aback, never expecting such an easy agreement. Since his rebirth, she had always denied him; a single word, “alright,” stirred an emotion akin to seeing the clouds part to reveal the moon.

He probed cautiously, “My residence is quiet… and not far from here.”

Nianxi raised her brows, her gaze indifferent.

Pei Jian suddenly felt inexplicably nervous, afraid of angering her again. He quickly added, “Or wherever you’d like to go, I’m fine with it.”

Now, he was tactful to the extreme, avoiding saying anything that might irritate her or doing anything that might upset her.

Pei Jian had thought it through carefully. Nianxi could be kind and gentle to anyone around her—except him. He must not make another mistake.

Nianxi once again walked side by side with Pei Jian down the alley they used to frequent. She realized she now felt somewhat unfamiliar with it.

After all, Pei Jian had been so driven. They didn’t live here for long before moving to a larger residence. Upon entering, she immediately understood why Pei Jian had brought her here. He had almost perfectly recreated their old home.

The courtyard layout, the flowers and plants in front of the hall, and even the wind chime hanging under the veranda all seemed like a vivid reproduction of her memories. However, revisiting the place of the past could never truly return them to those bygone times.

Pei Jian followed behind Nianxi.

The weather was clear today. A breeze stirred the fine fur of Nianxi’s cloak, mirroring Pei Jian’s inner turmoil—his unsteady, nervous heart.

Pei Jian wasn’t sure if what he was doing would work. He was trying his best to recreate their past, using the joy of their former days to stir a ripple in Nianxi’s heart, hoping to win back her genuine affection.

“This spring, when I moved into this house, I killed batch after batch of flowers,” he said jokingly, trying to sound lighthearted. “In the past, I just watched you water them every day, and they would flourish. Little did I know there’s so much to learn about it.”

He added, “Nianxi, I’ve learned to care for flowers now. I’m no longer just buried in official documents. Every day, I carefully tend to this small courtyard.”

Tending to the home we once shared.

I’m also learning to live. So, can you turn around and take a look at me? Will you teach me again and keep me company?

Nianxi listened attentively.

When their emotions were calm and peaceful, they could chat like friends.

“So, are all these flowers cared for by you?” Nianxi asked, looking at the daffodils blooming with buds, genuinely intrigued. “The ones I grow always end up looking like green onions—stubborn and refusing to bloom.”

Pei Jian was momentarily at a loss for words. After a brief pause, he said, somewhat sheepishly, “…I did water them.”

Though, in truth, most of the work had been done by the gardener.

The two exchanged a glance.

And then, they both laughed.