Chapter 36

Nianxi stood under the shade of a tree, watching as the Princess galloped across the field.

Gu Ci waved to her from the stands, but Nianxi shook her head, signaling for him to come find her later.

Gu Ci then made a mock expression of disappointment, which made her laugh. However, as she turned her head back to the field, the situation took a sudden turn. For some reason, the red bay horse under the Princess lost control and went berserk, causing the Princess to sway precariously in the saddle. If not for Xiao Nanxi’s excellent riding skills, she would have already been thrown off.

The situation, however, was far from optimistic. The polo field had just switched teams, and dozens of horses fiercely competed, leaving no one noticing a runaway red bay horse charging onto the field.

Xiao Nanxi had already lost control of the horse. The reins slipped from her hands, and she could only lean forward, clutching the horse’s mane.

If the red bay horse were to charge into the polo field, a fall amidst the chaos could lead to a trampling incident, with catastrophic consequences and a high chance of fatality.

Xiao Nanxi clearly realized the danger as well. She desperately tried to steer the horse, pulling out the golden hairpin from her head and stabbing it into its neck. The red bay horse, in pain, became even more frenzied but fortunately changed direction.

The chaos naturally caught the attention of the crowd in the stands.

However, since the horseback riding had been a spur-of-the-moment decision by Xiao Nanxi, the guards were stationed far away and couldn’t reach her in time.

Nianxi wanted to help but was completely powerless. Just as she lifted her skirt to run and call for help, the crazed horse suddenly changed direction and charged straight at her!

Remaining calm, she turned and ran. But with the horse’s speed, it closed the gap in mere seconds. At the critical moment, Xiao Nanxi’s guard, Yan Qing, lunged forward. With one hand, he stabbed a knife into the horse, and with the other, he grabbed the Princess, rolling off the horse’s back in a swift motion.

The horse, in pain and madness, neighed loudly and stomped wildly. Its hooves struck Yan Qing multiple times, but he shielded the Princess firmly beneath him.

Xiao Nanxi was so frightened that she wept, clinging to Yan Qing’s waist and refusing to open her eyes.

The guards arrived and surrounded the crazed horse.

Nianxi was also shaken and felt her legs go weak and her face pale.

Gu Ci had already started running toward her the moment the horse went wild. Arriving just a step after Yan Qing, he ignored the eyes of those around him, took Nianxi’s hand, carefully examined her, and, still shaken, pulled her into a tight embrace. He gently stroked her back, continuously murmuring, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Having just gone through a harrowing ordeal, Nianxi remained in a daze. The familiar scent near her nose and the soothing tone of his words gradually brought her back to calmness after a while. When she finally looked up, she saw Pei Jian standing two steps behind Gu Ci, silently watching her.

His gaze was deep and unreadable.

…

Pei Jian sat alone under the corridor. He had moved back to the house they once shared, sitting in the spot where Nianxi used to sit, staring into the now desolate courtyard.

Back then, Nianxi had disliked him drinking alcohol the most. She hated the fermented smell it left in his mouth. Whenever he returned home, she would pinch her nose and say to Xue Qiu, “Go far away, or you’ll end up smelling bad too.”

She wouldn’t let him kiss her either. She would even prepare a very sour hangover soup for him.

If he refused to drink it, she would sigh dramatically beside him, saying, “Madam Pei, you truly have a hard life. Your husband doesn’t even care about your efforts.”

Over time, he drank less and less. Even if he only had two or three drinks outside, he would chew tea leaves and rinse his mouth several times before entering the bedroom.

At those times, she would greet him with a bright smile, saying, “Madam Pei, you’re so lucky to have such a considerate husband. You’re bound to grow old together.”

On countless dark nights, they embraced, kissed, tangled, and pressed against each other. He would pull her back when she tried to escape, holding her, teasing her, and leaving faint traces of wine on her sweat-drenched skin.

Pei Jian took another sip of wine, his expression blank.

At this moment, his entire being reeked of alcohol, but what did it matter?

After all, she was in another man’s arms. She wouldn’t even spare him an extra glance.

Nianxi had once scolded him, saying it was a childish male pride and a shameful possessiveness. At first, it truly was. He couldn’t bear the thought of the woman who had once bloomed with passion under his touch now turning to someone else’s embrace, laughing so joyfully, so freely.

He tried to convince himself that as long as Nianxi left Gu Ci and her name and presence no longer lingered around him, he would gradually let go.

To him, Nianxi was merely a responsibility. Until today, when he saw Gu Ci holding her tightly in his arms.

When she was in danger, another man comforted her, protected her, soothed her, and held her close… while he could only stand by as a spectator, even as his heart twisted painfully.

He couldn’t step forward.

He could only watch from a distant, unnoticed corner.

He realized he couldn’t endure it. It didn’t matter if it was Gu Ci or any other man—he couldn’t bear her eyes not having him in them.

And he couldn’t suppress his unreasonable, deep-seated possessiveness solely for Wen Nianxi.

Liao Ranran walked through the moon gate and saw a scene that made her heart flutter—

That cold, dignified man sat on the bamboo couch in the corridor. One hand rested on his raised knee, holding a wine flask in his palm. His head tilted slightly back, eyes closed, exuding a relaxed and elegant demeanor.

She thought he was drunk but soon realized his lashes were slightly lowered, his gaze fixed as if lost in deep thought. Such a strikingly noble figure—was he thinking of someone?

If someone could cast a shadow over his heart, they must surely be the most enviable person in the world, Liao Ranran thought. Her aunt intended to match her with the eldest son of the Pei family. Of course, she knew this was part of her aunt’s schemes.

Her aunt’s family had taken Pei Jian’s title and had bullied him harshly in his youth. Now, out of fear, they wanted to use her to mend relations. She felt nothing but disdain for this.

But Pei Jian, Pei Shizhang…

Ever since she caught a glimpse of him from afar last year, her heart had been unable to belong to anyone else.

“Lord Pei.” Liao Ranran spoke, her voice soft and tender. “My aunt sent me to bring you some food. It’s freshly made. Would you like to try it?” Her voice trailed off, barely audible by the end.

Because Pei Jian lifted his gaze to meet hers, his dark, ink-like eyes seemed to focus and linger. Within them, it felt like a piece of charcoal was hidden—hot and ready to ignite. Yet, at a glance, they appeared pitch black.

Dangerous.

And irresistibly alluring.