Chapter 41

The couple had a simple dinner and changed into nightwear, planning to leave the residence through the side gate. Soon, Huang Wei hurriedly came to inform Pei Muheng that the Prince was waiting for them in the main hall with some instructions.

Pei Muheng was slightly surprised. The Prince rarely intervened in his affairs. Curious about the reason, he took Xu Yunqi to the main hall.

Crossing the corridor, he saw the Prince sitting with Xun Yunhe in the hall.

Pei Muheng wasn’t too surprised. He glanced at his wife, who looked calmly at Xun Yunhe, bowed to both of them, and then didn’t enter.

Pei Muheng entered the hall alone, bowing to the Prince and Xun Yunhe.

“Father, Teacher, do you have something to instruct?”

The Prince looked at him slightly upon hearing the word “Teacher.”

Pei Muheng’s expression remained unchanged. As long as Xu Yunqi did not acknowledge Xun Yunhe, he would not change his address.

Xun Yunhe’s expression revealed nothing. He stood up and looked at Xu Yunqi outside the corridor, “Are you taking her?”

Pei Muheng nodded.

“What are your plans?”

Pei Muheng replied, “First, conduct a surprise inspection to catch the other side off guard.”

Xun Yunhe asked no further questions. Matters of state should not lead to too close a relationship with Pei Muheng. His only concern was his daughter’s safety.

“Are you not bringing a maid? Who will take care of her?”

This question made Pei Muheng’s throat tighten.

Xun Yunhe’s real concern wasn’t about no one taking care of Xu Yunqi. He didn’t want his daughter serving someone else.

Pei Muheng was once his student, now his son-in-law. Xun Yunhe’s view of him had changed. In his eyes, Pei Muheng was not qualified as a husband, considering the grievances Xu Yunqi suffered in the Prince’s residence.

Xun Yunhe’s gaze was sharp and indifferent.

The Prince laughed, realizing that having a father-in-law with high status was both a help and a pressure. He looked seriously at his son, hoping he wouldn’t disappoint Xun Yunhe.

Pei Muheng bowed again, “Don’t worry, Teacher, I will take care of her personally.”

Xun Yunhe asked no more questions. The Prince patted Pei Muheng’s shoulder, “Go and come back quickly.”

They watched the couple leave before retracting their gaze.

Xun Yunhe hadn’t removed his official robes yet. It was rare for him to come over right after court without having dinner. The Prince courteously invited him inside, “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”

Xun Yunhe shook his head slightly, “Your Highness, I need to see Yin Xing.”

The Prince did not stop him and had someone call Yin Xing over. Yin Xing respectfully greeted Xun Yunhe, “Minister Xun, do you need something from me?”

“Come with me.” Xun Yunhe led her from the side corridor to the Xun Residence. Yin Xing was not unfamiliar with the Xun Residence, having explored it like a surveyor when Xu Yunqi brought her to a banquet. Entering through the main gate was a transverse hall. In his youth, Xun Yunhe admired the Wei and Jin dynasties and set up a seating area here to discuss philosophy with friends and students.

Yin Xing looked around and asked, “What do you mean, Minister?”

Xun Yunhe replied earnestly, “Tell the steward about your lady’s preferences so he can renovate the house.”

The Xun Residence had faced sudden changes, and the steward had secretly burned the memorial tablets of Madam Zhang and Xu Yunqi. The inner residence still bore traces of Madam Ye’s influence. The steward suggested renovating the courtyard, and Xun Yunhe agreed, thus summoning Yin Xing.

Yin Xing’s eyes widened, “Is that so?” She pondered for a moment, holding her chin, “But, my lady doesn’t have any preferences.”

“My lady’s only interest is studying medicine and treating people. She has no interest in the colorful clothes and jewelry that girls usually like. As for the garden, our old master took us everywhere, sometimes staying at inns, sometimes at people’s homes, never staying in one place for more than half a year… A simple, clean place is all she needs. She has no particular preferences.”

Xun Yunhe felt as if his heart had been stabbed, leaking cold air.

That night, he sat sleepless in the empty hall.

Meanwhile, at the Xu Residence, Xu Ke was sent by his superior to supervise the canal in the neighboring Tongzhou and returned late that night. Madam Zhang had waited for him for two days and finally called him to her bedside.

“Have you heard about the recent scandal at the Chief Minister’s residence?”

The weather was still hot, and Xu Ke’s forehead was covered in a layer of sweat. He took the embroidered handkerchief handed by his wife and wiped his face, laughing, “How could I not have heard? Who would have thought that Madam Xun would be such a ruthless person? But I have seen Minister Xun, and he is quite dignified and charming. Even at over forty, he is still like this. I can’t imagine how attractive he must have been when he was younger. It’s not surprising that women like him.”

“The most pitiful person must be his wife. If the villain hadn’t killed her, she would be the esteemed wife of the Chief Minister now…”

Before he could continue, Madam Zhang interrupted him with a pale face, “He is my ex-husband.”

Xu Ke choked on his saliva, “What?” He thought he had misheard.

Madam Zhang tried to sit up straight and control her emotions. She repeated, “He is Yunqi’s biological father, and I am the former wife who Madam Ye nearly killed.”

Xu Ke coughed sharply, his face gradually tensing up, his eyes widening as he stared at Madam Zhang, unable to speak.

Seeing his reaction, Madam Zhang became even more distressed, her tears falling uncontrollably, “I only learned about it on the day of the incident. Yunqi recognized him, and we realized that Madam Ye had intended to kill Yunqi and me all those years ago. Do you remember the plague?”

Xu Ke felt as if his head had been struck by lightning. A buzzing filled his mind, and he couldn’t process anything except the fact that his wife was the former wife of the Chief Minister.

What should he do? What should he do?

First, he was stunned, then a surge of inexplicable anger, followed by fear and confusion.

Madam Zhang saw her husband trembling and, summoning some courage, reached out to embrace him, “Xu Ke, don’t overthink it and don’t be afraid. It’s all in the past between him and me. He is a gentleman and won’t harm us. We’ll live our lives peacefully and not provoke anyone.”

Over the past two days, the pressure on Madam Zhang has increased dramatically. Holding her husband, she wept uncontrollably. She might not be a perfect wife or a very competent mother, but she wouldn’t betray her husband.

Listening to his wife’s sobs, Xu Ke slowly regained his composure, “Qing Niang, it’s okay. I’m okay…” Though he was still anxious inside, he forced himself to calm down.

His wife’s firm choice and proactive confession reassured him. He naturally didn’t want their peaceful and happy life to be disrupted.

However, that man was the Chief Minister, so future promotions and career advancements were out of the question.

Madam Zhang noticed her husband trembling and held him even tighter, “Yunqi said we should continue as before, and nothing will happen.”

Xu Ke didn’t know how deep Xun Yunhe’s feelings for Madam Zhang ran, leaving him uncertain. Even so, he needed to show responsibility as a man, “Don’t worry, I won’t let him take you away.”

Madam Zhang smiled through her tears, “Yes, we are united as husband and wife.”

The moonlight was bright outside the window, and the couple clung tightly to each other.

The moon had traveled from the capital over the mountains, following closely behind Pei Muheng and Xu Yunqi, illuminating the entire smooth night path.

Xu Yunqi wanted to ride a horse, but Pei Muheng didn’t agree, insisting on having her tied behind him.

Such a small maid was hard to part with, yet she would say divorce so easily when it came to him—a heartless girl.

The gallant horse beneath him raced like the wind, and the night wind blew into Xu Yunqi’s nose and throat, forcing her to press her face against his sturdy back. As they leaped over a rugged mountain road, the horse became bumpier, and Xu Yunqi had no choice but to hold him tighter, her entire body inseparable from his back.

Though the man didn’t look particularly robust, his entire back was strong and powerful, broad and firm, like an impenetrable wall, without the slightest shake.

The summer night was hot, and Pei Muheng wore only a thin black robe, his solid muscles clearly defined in his abdomen. Xu Yunqi’s hands rested right there, feeling the muscles beneath them. Soon, sweat began to form, but Pei Muheng’s expression remained unchanged as he carried her all the way to an inn on the outskirts of Hejian Prefecture.

It was already midnight, and the moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the entire mountainous landscape.

The two secret guards had already arranged a room, and Pei Muheng led Xu Yunqi inside.

The guards brought hot water for them to freshen up. Xu Yunqi, having washed at the Prince’s Residence and not having sweated during the journey, went straight to the bed and lay down. Usually, she would already be deeply asleep by this time, so she quickly fell into a drowsy state. Pei Muheng bathed and changed into clean clothes before returning. The room was dimly lit by a small candle, and Pei Muheng drank some water, looking at the small bed. It was a simple inn, and the bed was made of basic wooden planks, less than half the size of the bed in the Prince’s Residence. With Xu Yunqi lying on it, there was barely enough space for Pei Muheng.

Pei Muheng blew out the candle and carefully approached her, gently lifting Xu Yunqi to let her sleep in his arms.

It was probably due to the unfamiliarity of being so close that Xu Yunqi shifted several times.

Unable to avoid brushing against him, Pei Muheng took a deep breath.

Half-awake and feeling something hard against her, Xu Yunqi turned over, accidentally bumping into him. The sudden pain made Pei Muheng sharply inhale.

Xu Yunqi abruptly opened her eyes and looked at him with dark, sleepy eyes. “What’s wrong?”

In the deep silence of the night, her voice seemed to highlight the stillness around them, making her more awake.

Pei Muheng’s expression darkened. He slowly moved asid, and said, “It’s nothing…”

His breathing was noticeably unsteady, which Xu Yunqi noticed.

They hadn’t been intimate for several days. With young bodies full of energy, it was inevitable that lying closely on a narrow bed would lead to some friction. Xu Yunqi understood this. She slowly lay down facing him, her back pressed against the wall as they lay opposite each other. Their breaths intertwined, with Pei Muheng’s every inhale and exhale echoing in her ears. Sleeping so close to him, she couldn’t help but brush against him again, feeling uncomfortable.

The secret guards were sleeping in the adjacent rooms, and the soundproofing was poor. Both were reserved and dignified individuals who couldn’t indulge themselves.

Afraid that Pei Muhang wouldn’t sleep well, Xu Yunqi came up with an idea. She propped herself up slightly and whispered in his ear,
“I’ll help you.”

Three words gently touched his heart.

Pei Muheng raised an eyebrow, looking at the blurred silhouette in the darkness. His Adam’s apple rolled involuntarily as he asked incredulously, ‘You want to help me?’

To him, Xu Yunqi didn’t seem like the type of person to do such a thing. But just as she finished speaking, he inexplicably began to hope that his normally steady wife would make an exception for him.

Xu Yunqi’s small hand covered his abdomen, and she gently responded with a soft “Hmm,” her light nasal sound spreading and fermenting in the night.

Pei Muheng’s eyes darkened for a moment, and even his breath paused briefly.

Without waiting for his reaction, she pulled open his belt, and her soft, cool fingers slipped inside, wandering across his abdomen. Compared to earlier on the horseback, this time the touch was more direct, every inch filled with a sense of powerful beauty, smooth undulations, and a faintly spreading heat.

Xu Yunqi’s fingertips gently brushed over the grooves of his abdomen. Each touch sent a burning sensation spreading across his skin. Pei Muheng slowly let out a breath, trying to keep his breathing light. She traced every line with her fingertips, each one solid and distinct.

Xu Yunqi, having seen many men’s bodies as a doctor, often encountered flabby muscles and potbellied figures. She had to admit, the man before her had a flawless physique.

Just as her fingertip touched his lowest abdominal muscle, Pei Muheng swiftly grabbed her soft hand and said hoarsely, “No need, Yunqi…”

He still couldn’t bear for her to do such things.

Xu Yunqi shook her head, her tone gentle, ‘It’s fine, I have already located your acupuncture points.

“Hmm?”

“I’ll perform acupuncture to relieve the heat.”

Xu Yunqi took out a fine needle hidden in her sleeve and accurately inserted it into the acupuncture points she had just identified.

Pei Muheng: ‘…'”