Chapter 42: Grand Tutor, Save Me! [Revised]

Just like that, watching Pei Ziye run off like the wind, unable to do anything, I sat back on the haystack again, staring idly at the spider webs on the window.

Before I could get comfortable, footsteps echoed from outside the cell.

It wasn’t one person, but a group of people, cautiously following behind a man.

Pei Che had arrived, with the pale-faced Pei Zanxue trailing behind him.

Seeing Jiang Shiyuan, Pei Zanxue quickly rushed to the front of the cell and softly called, “Sister Jiang.”

Jiang Shiyuan stood up, grabbed her hand, and smiled at her. “I’m fine.”

“The prison is filthy. I wonder what made the Grand Tutor come here in person?” The jailer cautiously stepped forward to greet them.

Pei Che had arrived at the cell as well. Jiang Shiyuan raised her head. The two of them, one outside the cell and the other inside, their gazes met through the round wooden bars, a brief and awkward connection. Jiang Shiyuan was all wrinkled, with dry straw stuck to her clothes—hardly a poetic sight, quite the opposite, it was ridiculous.

Having just witnessed Pei Ziye running away, Jiang Shiyuan feared that Pei Che might do the same. Like in the Wangxian Tower, where Pei Che had seen her but not even spared her a glance.

She didn’t care anymore about how ridiculous the situation looked. Grabbing the bars and sticking her head out, she shouted, “Grand Tutor, save me!”

She looked pitiful; her small face scrunched up.

Pei Che, who had usually been as serene as still water, glanced at her. A trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, and he turned to the jailer, saying, “Open the door.”

The jailer hesitated, glancing at Jiang Shiyuan.

She was the daughter of the Minister of the Rites; it wasn’t a matter of just unlocking the door whenever he was told.

“The Grand Tutor has spoken. I dare not refuse, but this person has behaved improperly. To profit from unscrupulous means, she has written and spread inappropriate books, which have had a very bad influence. It took a lot of effort to finally capture her today.”

Before the jailer had finished speaking, Jiang Shiyuan was already leaning against the bars, craning her neck, and loudly rebutted.

“What inappropriate books? What I write is all legal and compliant, and I’ve even reported it to the Hanlin Academy. Don’t look down on me just because I write storybooks! People have emotions and desires; the Four Books and Five Classics cultivate character, and storybooks and dramas can also entertain and uplift one’s spirit!”

Beside her, Pei Zanxue, hearing this, tightly grasped Jiang Shiyuan’s hand, her eyes swirling with admiration and respect.

When Jiang Shiyuan finished speaking, she didn’t forget to raise her head and turn to Pei Che for support. “Grand Tutor, don’t you agree with me?”

She looked as though she were waiting for him to praise her.

Pei Che let out a light sneer, not responding directly, but turned to the jailer and said, “She is my person. If there’s anything, I’ll explain it to your superiors.”

“She’s the Grand Tutor’s person? What kind of person is she?” The jailer instinctively asked, wanting to clarify so he could report it properly.

“My wife.”

Pei Che replied succinctly, glancing at the damp and gloomy prison, clearly not wanting to waste time. He waved his hand, signaling his servant.

The servant stepped forward immediately and took the jailer’s keys to unlock the prison door.

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One Hour Later – In the Grand Tutor’s Study:

Pei Che sat at the head of the table, with a stack of books before him. The cover pages of the books were filled with suggestive phrases, explicit in nature.

Not far away, stood three people: Jiang Shiyuan, Pei Zanxue, and Pei Ziye, who had been dragged back halfway.

All three kept their heads lowered, but Jiang Shiyuan and Pei Zanxue stood, while Pei Ziye knelt.

On the way back, Pei Ziye had already confessed everything.

The study was filled with an intangible sense of pressure. After a long silence, Pei Che finally spoke.

“Tell me, when did you start writing these storybooks?”

Jiang Shiyuan and Pei Zanxue exchanged a glance, and before Pei Zanxue could say anything, Jiang Shiyuan held her hand and quietly answered, “A few years ago, when I was bored, I wrote some casually. I didn’t expect that when I sent them to a bookstore, they suddenly became popular.”

Pei Che let out a cold hum and glanced at Jiang Shiyuan. “So talented. Were you planning to make a living off this?”

Jiang Shiyuan was about to speak when Pei Che’s voice interrupted.

“I wasn’t asking you.”

Pei Che’s gaze shifted to Pei Zanxue, and a hint of displeasure darkened his calm eyes.

Jiang Shiyuan immediately fell silent, lowering her head in guilt.

She should have known that nothing could be hidden from Pei Che.

Pei Zanxue knelt down with a thud. “Uncle, don’t be angry. This has nothing to do with my aunt. Those vulgar stories were all written by me. When the officers suddenly came to arrest someone, I panicked. My aunt figured out my identity and, fearing I would lose my reputation before marriage, she took the blame for me.”

As soon as Pei Zanxue finished speaking, Pei Ziye exclaimed, “Huh? It was you?”

It was over. He had thought they had caught his aunt, but now this turned into a huge scandal.

Not only had he angered his uncle, but it had now blown up into a scandal within his family.

He had been lazing around outside, and now he was getting lectured at home. But he hadn’t imagined what his family would think if they found out their most beloved daughter was writing such things.

And as for the one who caused this mess, what would their life be like now?

Pei Ziye already felt like he wanted to die.

What if it’s still not too late to throw Su Xiaoyu under the bus?

Pei Zanxue glared at Pei Ziye. If he hadn’t been causing trouble, this wouldn’t have happened!

The Pei family had always prided itself on its scholarly reputation. Her father was the strictest when it came to rules.

That was also why she had kept everything anonymous, and when she heard that the officers were coming, she panicked.

“I behaved improperly and nearly caused trouble for the family, bringing shame to the Pei family. Uncle, please punish me,” Pei Zanxue said, admitting her fault.

Pei Che’s expression remained calm, but there was no sign of surprise. He spoke seriously, “The Pei family has stood for centuries. If you bring disgrace to it with a few stories, then this name has no value. If you like this, it has nothing to do with the family, but you must understand that the world holds women to high standards. Your uniqueness will be misinterpreted and misunderstood. Can you bear the consequences?”

His voice was steady and calm.

Jiang Shiyuan recalled the snowman Pei Che had built for her that year.

Even though he had caught a cold, he still made sure to make her happy.

It was simply because she had casually mentioned that her parents would build a snowman for her every year.

Jiang Shiyuan took a quiet glance at Pei Che.

Pei Zanxue listened carefully, thinking for a moment before nodding. “Uncle, I enjoy giving life to fictional characters, and I enjoy how the dull life in the courtyard becomes vibrant through imagination. Uncle, I want to try.”

Pei Che listened intently, then suddenly spoke coldly, “The Pei family is a prestigious household. It does not tolerate reckless behavior. If you insist on doing this, then you will have to accept punishment. From now on, you will remain in the Grand Tutor’s residence for a month of reflection and copy the ‘Women’s Code’ ten times.”

Wait, wait…

Jiang Shiyuan was stunned. Wasn’t everything fine just now? Why the punishment all of a sudden?

Although Pei Zanxue’s stories used seductive themes, the stories themselves weren’t explicit. If they were truly vulgar, the government wouldn’t allow them to be published.

Pei Che knew this, but still insisted on heavy punishment. It seemed unreasonable.

Jiang Shiyuan didn’t agree and was about to plead for Pei Zanxue when Pei Zanxue grabbed her hand.

Pei Zanxue didn’t seem bothered by the punishment at all. Instead, she smiled brightly and said, “Thank you, Uncle, for the lesson. Zanxue accepts the punishment and will go reflect on it now.”

She stood up, leaned toward Jiang Shiyuan, and whispered, “If Uncle punishes me, my father won’t. And while I’m at the Grand Tutor’s residence, no one will supervise me. Who will know if I’m really in solitary confinement? As for the Women’s Code, Uncle hates it so much. I can guarantee that even if I hand him a bunch of blank papers, he won’t even look at them.”

Pei Zanxue happily went off to reflect on her actions.

Pei Ziye saw a glimmer of hope and looked toward Pei Che. But before he could speak, Pei Che spoke first.

“You, go receive twenty lashes.”

No mercy.

“Uncle, you’re so biased!”

Pei Ziye whined and walked out of the study with a long face.

The spacious study was left with only Pei Che and Jiang Shiyuan.

Jiang Shiyuan stood alone, looked up at Pei Che, and asked, “What about me?”

“I’ve also made a mistake. What punishment should I receive?”