Chapter 37

Pei Jian suddenly let out a light laugh.

People previously referred to him as the “Sage Chancellor.” They revered him and chased after him, believing him to be self-disciplined, diligent in governance, incorruptible, and loyal, with only his first wife at home.

But Pei Jian himself knew—he was never a good man.

A gentleman?

In the intricate games of politics, he had done his fair share of despicable deeds. Those political enemies he defeated had their families destroyed and exiled—if they could, they would have devoured him alive.

But so what?

He only pursued results. Success was the ultimate goal.

Nianxi was the same.

Gu Ci was clearly the thief, stealing the past that once belonged to him and Nianxi. Why should he endure silently?

Why should he wait?

While he suffered alone in torment, what gave Gu Ci the right to stay by her side, basking in her gentleness?

As for their relationship, he and Gu Ci were rivals first and brothers second. They were never gentlemen to begin with—what room was there for morality?

At first, his laughter was short and faint, and then he lowered his head as though unwilling to let it be known, seemingly enduring with great effort. But soon, his shoulders began to quiver with the movement of laughter as though unable to contain himself. His laughter grew louder, and later, he lifted his head, laughing endlessly.

Liao Ranran gazed at the suddenly laughing Pei Jian, bewildered and somewhat frightened. Yet, deep within her, she was inexplicably drawn to this unrestrained, dashing, and free-spirited man.

In her impression, Pei Jian was mostly cold and restrained; she had never seen this side of him, so outwardly emotional. Her ears were filled with his laughter, and slowly, she wondered—was it her imagination, or did she hear a trace of bleak sorrow in his laughter?

This stirred a tender feeling in her heart. Liao Ranran softly said, “Lord Pei … are you drunk?”

As if guided by some unseen force, she stepped forward, tentatively moving closer. “Shall I help you up?”

Pei Jian’s laughter finally subsided, and he turned his face away.

Liao Ranran found herself frozen under the gaze of his dark, pitch-black eyes. The two were so close that Liao Ranran could almost catch the faint scent of wine in his breath. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but his eyes glistened, and the redness in them added a touch of allure. Liao Ranran’s heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest. Shy and hesitant, she softly said, “Let me help you inside to rest.”

Liao Ranran poured nearly all the tenderness she had in her life onto the slightly fragile, drunken man before her. Reaching out her hand, she wanted to help him back to his room to rest, but just as she barely touched the hem of his robe, a great force pushed her down.

Liao Ranran fell to the ground, nearly stunned. She had no idea what had happened. All she saw was the once dispirited man getting up and striding past her, leaving the courtyard.

During this time, he didn’t glance at her even once.

…

At Yiqiao Street.

Pei Jian arrived at a familiar side gate. Nianxi had been frightened earlier today, and he wanted to check on her.

“My lady has already gone to bed; please return, sir,” Aunt Wang said tactfully upon seeing him, without even needing to ask for instructions.

Pei Jian had anticipated this and did not insist. Instead, he handed Aunt Wang a few pieces of silver and said, “Tell your lady that I came to see her today.”

Aunt Wang accepted the silver and awkwardly replied, “Don’t worry, sir. This old servant will inform her.”

As she watched Pei Jian’s departing figure, Aunt Wang shook her head regretfully. In her eyes, this gentleman was in no way inferior to Young Master Gu in any aspect, and his deep affection for her lady was evident. If there was anyone to blame, it was simply fate that they were not meant to be together. After all, her young mistress was truly remarkable. She had only been in the capital for about a month and had already captivated the hearts of several young men.

Aunt Wang secretly thought to herself that her efforts had not been in vain, arranging for her own daughter Ying Guo to serve by the young mistress’s side. She hoped that Ying Guo would learn one or two aspects of the young mistress’s character. That way, her daughter’s future marriage prospects would also be promising.

The next day, Aunt Wang found an opportunity to quietly tell the young miss about Pei Jian’s visit to the side gate.

Nianxi’s expression showed neither surprise nor emotion. She simply instructed, “If he comes again in the future, just send him away. You don’t need to report it to me.”

“…Understood,” Aunt Wang replied.

After leaving the Wen residence, Pei Jian went straight to Qin Lang’s estate.

Coincidentally, Wen Qingheng was also there.

Having just begun their official careers, the two of them were brimming with youthful spirit and ambition. At the moment, they were drinking under the moonlight, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Wen Qingheng, already somewhat drunk, greeted Pei Jian with great enthusiasm upon seeing him, treating him as if he were at home.

“Shizhang, you’re here! Come, sit! Someone, bring another set of dishes and chopsticks and fetch two more bottles of good wine,” Wen Qingheng called out.

Qin Lang was surprised to see Pei Jian at this hour. He wasn’t aware of what had happened at the competition earlier that day, but his keen intuition told him that this unusual visit had something to do with “Little Cousin.”

Unaware of the details, Wen Qingheng kept inviting Pei Jian to sit down, while Qin Lang, trying to play along, joined in the drinking without asking about Pei Jian’s purpose for being there.

Pei Jian, however, got straight to the point, “I want to see her. Help me find out when she’ll leave the residence.”

Under the faint moonlight, Pei Jian’s face seemed to carry a subtle melancholy, profound and distant. At that moment, Qin Lang could only regret not drinking enough—his mind was clear, and his hearing sharp.

“What kind of shameless request is that!”

With difficulty, Qin Lang asked, “Do you really intend to go through with this?”

Pei Jian silently looked at him—the answer was obvious.

Qin Lang glanced at the slow-witted Wen Qingheng beside him and sighed, “How are you even going to see her? They are always together.”

Pei Jian responded calmly, “It’s fine.”

Ever since the last dragon boat race, Pei Jian knew that if Nianxi wanted to avoid him, it would be almost impossible for him, as an outsider, to meet her. However, there were some matters he needed to address with her in person.

Frustrated, Qin Lang exclaimed, “Then why not just ask him directly?”

Pei Jian cast a sidelong glance at him. “Would he tell me?”

Qin Lang was stunned. “You actually considered it!”

Directly asking Gu Ci about Wen Nianxi? That would be nothing short of provocation.

“Fateful entanglement! Fateful entanglement!” Qin Lang muttered to himself. He then tried to appeal to his friend’s conscience. “Little Cousin and Gu Ci are doing perfectly fine together—why are you trying to meddle in their relationship?”

Pei Jian: “This is my business.”

Wen Qingheng raised his wine cup, laughing as he asked the two, “What good news are you talking about? Let me in on it, too.”

Qin Lang closed his eyes, feeling utterly drained. Facing a lunatic and a fool, he had no desire to speak.

Pei Jian turned to Wen Qingheng, his voice low and calm, his expression serene. “We’re talking about my Earring Lady.”

Although Wen Qingheng was quite drunk, he still remembered that “Earring Lady” was Pei Jian’s beloved. Intrigued, he asked, “How is it? Do you and your Earring Lady also have some good news?”

Pei Jian ignored the implications of the word “also” in his question, lowered his gaze, and replied unhurriedly, “I’m waiting for her to accept me.”

Wen Qingheng enthusiastically patted Pei Jian’s shoulder, his spirit soaring. “With your qualities, as long as you’re sincere with the lady, there’s nothing you can’t achieve! Hic—” He hiccuped and continued to offer advice. “Look at Gu Ci. My sister is one of the pickiest people, yet even she was coaxed into happiness by him. With girls, you have to be sincere!”

“Sincere!”

Pei Jian lowered his eyes and quietly said, “I know.”

Seeing that Wen Qingheng was about to speak again, Qin Lang quickly stepped forward, dragged him aside, and grumbled, “Just shut up already.”

Pei Shizhang wasn’t sincere enough? He was practically about to dig through Gu Ci’s walls!

Facing Pei Jian, Qin Lang was even more exasperated. He had admired and revered Pei Jian when they were at the Imperial Academy. Yet in just a few short days, that image had completely shattered.

Before, in Qin Lang’s eyes, Pei Shizhang was—talented, composed, brilliant, and destined for greatness!

Now, in Qin Lang’s eyes, Pei Shizhang was—a lovesick fool in a tangled web of forbidden love!

And an unscrupulous version at that!

“That day, I overheard Qingye mention that on the night of the Qixi Festival, he and Little Cousin will go watch the lanterns.”

Qin Lang quickly blurted it out and silently prayed.

Every sin has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. For such an act of wrongdoing, oh Buddha above, if there is a price to pay in longevity, please let it only take from Pei Jian’s lifespan!