Chapter Fifteen (Part 2)

Pei Jin prepared gifts for Yan Shi Ning’s family.

Yan Shi Ning glanced at the expensive gifts and her heart ached for the silver taels wasted.

‘This is your husband elevating your worth,’ Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning understood if a husband gave expensive gifts to his wife’s family, it meant he valued his wife. She knew that she had a high place in Pei Jin’s heart. ‘Big brother, aren’t you scared people will think you want to gain my father’s favour?’

Pei Jin didn’t reply immediately. He looked carefully at Yan Shi Ning’s appearance. Suddenly he remembered something. He pulled out a hairpin from one of the chests. At the top of the hairpin was three pearls and the gold sunlight reflected off them. He secured the hairpin in Yan Shi Ning’s hair. ‘Wife, this hairpin suits your dress.’

Yan Shi Ning didn’t voice her opinion. What could she say? Thank Pei Jin for rummaging through the chests he was going to give to her father?

‘Let people think what they like,’ Pei Jin said. ‘It’s clear I’m innocent. How can people suspect me?’ He paused and inspected Yan Shi Ning’s appearance again. ‘Where’s the jade pendant?’

‘What is it for?’ Yan Shi Ning asked suspiciously.

‘For you to wear,’ Pei Jin said. ‘Are you keeping it safe as an heirloom for the next generation?’

Pei Jin began to search Yan Shi Ning’s body for the jade pendant.

Yan Shi Ning turned around and ran away. ‘I’m not wearing it. It’s ugly to death.’

‘Wear it,’ Pei Jin said. He chased Yan Shi Ning and caught her. ‘It’s a rare jade pendant. It’s more expensive than these gifts combined. If you wear it, it’ll look beautiful.’

‘Even if I die, I’m not wearing it!’ Yan Shi Ning said.

Yan Shi Ning was supposed to appear like a lady. How could she wear such an ugly jade pendant?

While Yan Shi Ning was struggling to escape Pei Jin’s embrace, the sounds of footsteps were approaching them. He lowered his head and kissed her cheek. ‘Someone’s coming, be good.’

Yan Shi Ning stood upright like a lady.

‘Wife, the sleeve of your dress is crooked,’ Pei Jin said. ‘Let me straighten it for you.’

Pei Jin pulled out the jade pendant shaped like a lion and secured it on Yan Shi Ning’s belt.

Yan Shi Ning glanced at the envious two maids at the door and forced herself to smile. ‘Thank you husband.’

After Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning was inside the horse carriage, the two maids gossiped about them.

‘Ninth prince treats his wife well,’ the younger maid said. ‘I saw ninth prince straighten his wife’s dress.’

‘In the past ninth prince has always been gentle,’ the older maid said.

‘It’s not the same,’ the younger maid said. ‘In the past ninth prince didn’t treat Lady Yewu as good as he treats his wife.’

‘That’s because Lady Yewu isn’t as kind as ninth prince’s wife,’ the older maid said. ‘Little sister, you don’t know that each time Lady Yewu met ninth prince, Lady Yewu treated him coldly. Lady Yewu is nothing like ninth prince’s wife who is always friendly and approachable.’

‘Big sister, do you know how Lady Yewu died?’ the younger maid asked.

‘The rumor is that Lady Yewu died of an illness,’ the older maid said. ‘But I think that isn’t the truth-’

‘Who allowed you two talk nonsense behind ninth prince’s back?’ Bei Dou asked.

The two maids were happily gossiping in the gardens and were startled when they heard Bei Dou’s voice behind their backs. They turned around and saw a cold face Bei Dou dressed in black clothes like a demon.

‘If you two talk nonsense again, be careful of your tongues,’ Bei Dou said coldly and walked past the two maids.

The older maid was scared speechless and the younger maid cried. Both maids knew Bei Dou’s threats were scary and real. They remembered the time Tao Xue barged into Bei Dou’s chamber and Tao Xue came running out itching her body. Then Tao Xue left the manor and no one knew if Tao Xue stopped itching.

Bei Dou glanced back at the two maids who were silently walking toward their chambers.

Bei Dou sighed, looked up at the sky and remembered Pei Jin’s request.

‘In the future when you’re free roam around the manor,’ Pei Jin said. ‘If you see anything suspicious you can take care of the situation. Since you have many ways to deal with people who misbehave and everyone in the manor is scared of you.’

Bei Dou wanted to protest. What if free roam around the manor? What was he, a demon? But he didn’t expect people would still talk about Lady Yewu’s death.

Bei Dou leapt on a wall, it was clear in all four directions and he jumped outside the manor. Since Pei Jin chased Su Yue back to Huang Guo’s manor, Pei Jin ended all associations with Huang Guo. It meant avenging his family would be prolonged. But he didn’t want to wait any longer to avenge his family.

***

End of Chapter Fifteen (Part 2)