Song of the Bright Moon Chapter 91

Shen Yujiao watched him approach.

The word “lanjun” rose to her lips, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

By title, she was still Madam Pei.

But in her heart, she had already promised Xie Wuling she would seek a divorce. To call Pei Xia langjun now felt too intimate.

As she hesitated, Pei Xia reached her side first and spoke gently, “Yuniang, are you hurt anywhere?”

Shen Yujiao pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I’m not hurt. Xie… Xie Wuling is injured.”

She didn’t call Pei Xia langjun, but directly spoke Xie Wuling’s name.

Pei Xia’s eyes dimmed slightly, though his face stayed composed. “As long as you’re unharmed.”

Then he looked to Xie Wuling, his tone cool and unreadable. “Sir Xie has done my wife and me a great favor. Once we return to Chang’an, Pei will see to it that you are properly rewarded.”

Xie Wuling disliked that condescending tone, but remembering that Jiaojiao would soon be free to be with him, he forced himself to stay gracious. With a small smile, he replied, “Saving Jiaojiao was only what I ought to do. No need for any reward. But if you can quickly catch the one behind this scheme and bring justice for her, I’ll owe you my thanks instead.”

“Has Young Master Xie injured his head?”

Pei Xia’s dark eyes narrowed slightly as he said, in a quiet, flat voice, “Yuniang is my wife. Seeking justice for her is naturally my duty—there’s no need for your gratitude. As for your so-called ‘ought to do,’ unless you’re the living embodiment of a merciful Buddha, I see no reason why such a phrase should apply.”

At that, Xie Wuling turned to glance at Shen Yujiao, blinking his peach-blossom eyes—

Jiaojiao, see? He’s the one being rude first.

Shen Yujiao: “…”

She opened her mouth to smooth things over, but before she could, Pei Xia stepped forward, wrapped her in the wide black cloak, and bent down to lift her into his arms.

“We’re going home.”

Her feet suddenly left the ground; panic flitted across her face. Seeing Pei Xia hold her in broad daylight, she stammered, “Lang—Brother Shouzhen put me down. I’m not hurt—I can walk on my own.”

That one phrase — “Brother Shouzhen” — instantly made Pei Xia recall the time last year in Jinling, when he had just found her; she had sounded just as distant then.

What exactly happened last night?

His heart sank slightly. His arms, however, stayed firmly around her, not loosening in the slightest. “After spending the night adrift, with nothing to eat or drink, you must be utterly exhausted. And besides, you and I are husband and wife—there’s no need for such formality.”

His voice was gentle and calm, leaving Shen Yujiao no room to struggle further.

When she met those dark, deep eyes looking at her, she fell silent.

He was so intelligent—he must have guessed something. Yet he did not say it outright.

What was he thinking?

Shen Yujiao felt lost. It seemed she had never been able to see through him, never truly understood his heart.

Pei Xia lifted her onto the horse.

Li Dalang looked at her, wrapped tightly in layers until only a pale, weary face showed. Concern filled his voice: “Yuniang, are you all right? When you suddenly fell into the river yesterday, you nearly scared Shouzhen and me to death!”

Shen Yujiao greeted him softly. “I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern, Cousin.”

“Ah, I was fine. But Shouzhen was beside himself with worry—he sent squad after squad of soldiers diving into the river and searched all night. Later, he heard that there was an old master in Weinan well-versed in waterworks, so he dragged the man from his bed in the middle of the night to help trace your whereabouts. As soon as he learned the direction, he rushed straight here…”

Li Dalang, hoping his cousin and her husband would get along and avoid misunderstandings, naturally spoke in Pei Xia’s favor.
“Look, his eyes are bloodshot from staying up all night. If I hadn’t held him back, he’d have jumped into the river himself to look for you.”

At his words, Shen Yujiao turned her face slightly—and indeed saw the redness in Pei Xia’s eyes, and the dark stubble shading his jaw.

Her heart softened. She lowered her gaze and murmured, “I’ve made you worry.”

“As long as you’ve come back safe, that’s all that matters.”

Pei Xia turned toward Li Dalang. “Yuniang’s been badly frightened, I’ll take her ahead to rest. As for that Young Master Xie who saved her—he’s wounded. Please take him back to the city, find a good physician to tend him. Whatever rare medicines are needed, use them freely. Jinglin will deliver the payment afterward.”

“How can you say such distant words, Shouzhen? He saved Yuniang—he’s a benefactor to our Li family as well.”

Knowing his cousin shouldn’t linger outside for long, Li Dalang waved his hand. “Go on, take Yuniang back. I’ll handle things here.”

Pei Xia gave a courteous bow. “Much obliged, Uncle.”

Shen Yujiao cast one last glance toward the crimson figure standing by the riverbank. He stood unmoving, gaze fixed unblinkingly on them. Her palm tightened involuntarily.

Only when the arm around her shoulder drew her closer did she turn back, saying to Li Dalang, “He lost a great deal of blood yesterday, and by midnight he developed a high fever. Please, Cousin… look after him carefully.”

Li Dalang was momentarily taken aback. His eyes flicked toward Pei Xia—seeing no change in the man’s expression, he could only give an awkward smile. “All right, all right, I will.”

Then, lowering his voice, he added with a meaningful look, “Go with Shouzhen now.”

The once clever and sensible young lady—how had she become so muddled? Even if that Xie Wuling had saved her, she shouldn’t show such concern for another man right in front of her husband!

Li Dalang sighed inwardly, feeling he’d worried himself sick over her.

When Pei Xia and Shen Yujiao finally rode off, he let out a long breath and strode quickly toward Xie Wuling in the distance.

—

Pei Xia brought Shen Yujiao back to the residence of the Commandant of Weinan Prefecture.

This Commandant was also a member of the Hedong Pei clan—by generation, Pei Xia’s senior uncle.

Pei Xia had already sent word ahead the night before, so when he arrived with Shen Yujiao, the Commandant’s wife promptly led them to a separate courtyard within the estate.

From the moment she dismounted to entering the inner courtyard, Shen Yujiao never once touched the ground—Pei Xia carried her the entire way.

She felt mortified. Especially in front of the Commandant’s wife—she, as a junior, should have paid her respects, but instead she was being carried in her husband’s arms without any decorum.

She whispered several times for Pei Xia to set her down.

But he ignored her, only offering a gentle explanation to the lady of the house: “Yuniang isn’t feeling well, I beg Aunt’s pardon.”

The Commandant’s wife was not without tact; she smiled understandingly. “It’s quite all right. Since she’s unwell, take her in quickly to rest. Shall I send for a physician to have a look?”

Pei Xia nodded mildly. “Then I’ll trouble Aunt.”

“No trouble at all.” The lady escorted them into the courtyard and sent a maid to fetch the doctor.

Recalling the way the young couple had looked earlier, she harbored a thousand suspicions, yet dared not ask. It was safest, after all, to do more and ask less.

Inside the inner courtyard.

Pei Xia started toward the bed, intending to lay her down, but Shen Yujiao tugged lightly at his sleeve. “I haven’t bathed yet—you’ll soil the bedding.”

He glanced down at her, said nothing, then turned toward the couch by the window.

He placed her there carefully, his low voice even and unhurried: “Rest first. I’ll have them bring food and hot water.”

“…”

Shen Yujiao’s lips parted slightly, then closed again. In the end, she only nodded. “All right.”

Pei Xia turned and left.

Watching his tall, refined figure recede through the doorway, Shen Yujiao’s fingers, resting on her knees, slowly curled tight.

From the moment they reunited until now, he hadn’t asked a single question about what happened last night.

Even if he had asked just once, she could have gone along with it naturally and told him everything, one detail at a time.

But he didn’t ask.

Not only did he not ask, his attitude toward her had grown even more careful and tender—cautious, as though he were holding a fragile treasure.

She had tried several times to speak up, but whenever she met those dark, still eyes of his, her heart would falter.

The words wouldn’t come.

It was too hard.

If he had even doubted her a little—or treated her with some coldness—she wouldn’t feel so torn.

Let it wait a bit longer, she told herself silently. When they returned to Chang’an, she would bring it up then.

Of course, if he were the one to speak first, that would be best.

The food soon arrived, but Pei Xia was nowhere to be seen.

When she asked the maid, the girl replied, “Someone came to see Young Master Pei outside. It seemed to be something important.”

Shen Yujiao thought for a moment, asked about the visitor’s appearance, and, confirming it wasn’t Xie Wuling, finally felt at ease enough to eat.

She’d been hungry nearly all day, and before she knew it, she had eaten quite a lot.

When she was full and content, the hot water for bathing was ready, and she went to the adjoining room.

The moment her body sank into the warm water, the tension that had wound tight over the past two days began to ease, as if soothed by the heat.

Only when the water had cooled did she reluctantly rise from the bath.

Fresh garments had been laid out beside the embroidered screen—a deep robe of rain-washed sky blue, unmistakably Pei Xia’s preference.

As she dressed, the familiar scent of sandalwood rose faintly to her nose. Shen Yujiao asked the maid outside, “Where did this scent on the clothes come from?”

“The fragrance balls were sent by Young Master Pei,” the maid replied. “Originally, we were to use the jasmine blend from our own household for the lady’s clothes, but since your husband sent his own fragrance, we used that instead.”

The maid, unaware of any underlying tension, even added with a smile, “Young Master Pei is truly thoughtful. He even considered the scent of your clothes. This sandalwood blend may be a bit deeper and heavier, but it’s long-lasting and, after a while, even more soothing than the jasmine one.”

Jasmine blends were typically favored by women; sandalwood was stronger and more often preferred by men.

Pei Xia’s own fragrance blends were all personally mixed by him—cool and subdued, evoking a tranquil, far-reaching calm.

She did like that scent, but that didn’t mean she wanted to wear it herself.

Still, before the maid, Shen Yujiao said nothing more. She quietly put on the robe, her heart sinking faintly under a growing weight.

What did Pei Xia mean by this gesture?

A reminder? A warning? Or a sign of displeasure?

She couldn’t tell. She decided to wait until he returned and ask him directly.

But even as night deepened, Pei Xia did not come back.

He only sent word through a maid: she should rest first; he had matters to attend to.

Shen Yujiao thought he must be dealing with the cases of abduction and assassination—and indeed, there wasn’t much she could do to help with those.

Guards were stationed at the courtyard gate, checking every item brought inside. Under such circumstances, even if she wanted to ask about Xie Wuling’s situation, she could do nothing. So she lay down to rest.

Sleep, she thought. Everything could wait until Pei Xia returned.

—

Around midnight, when the night was deep and still, only the faint, lonely chirping of autumn insects could be heard.

Having washed the blood from his body, Pei Xia finally walked slowly into the room.

Only one candle was left burning inside. He lifted the curtain embroidered with orchid branches, and the dim, hazy light spilled over his wife’s sleeping, fair face.

He sat by the bed, watching her quietly.

From the thick, dark hair spread beside her ear, to her gentle, graceful brows and eyes, to her full, rosy lips—then lower, to the slender line of her neck. Her inner garment was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of smooth white skin beneath…

Whether it was the blood he’d seen in prison or her distance earlier that day, a heavy, stifling pressure in his chest began to twist into a restless heat that surged through him.

Hot—burning hot—charging and breaking without restraint.

It was as though karmic fire consumed him, sin taking root, demanding release.

Unconsciously, his hand rose to touch her face, then followed the same path his gaze had taken, slowly moving downward.

The touch seemed to disturb her dream; her brows furrowed slightly, and a faint murmur escaped her throat.

His hand paused for a moment.

But only for a moment—then not just his hand, but his whole body leaned down. His thin lips brushed against her skin…

The scent of incense filled the canopy, springlike warmth spreading through the night.

Shen Yujiao awoke from the heat, her chest heavy, as if pressed by a great stone—so heavy she could scarcely breathe.

She instinctively tried to push it away, only to touch something solid and warm.

Her mind went blank for two heartbeats, then she suddenly opened her eyes.

In the dim light under the bed curtains, she saw Pei Xia—at some point, he had returned—half his body covering hers.

Her thin inner garments had come loose, tangled together, soft skin against skin. He was devouring her.

The absurd, intoxicating scene made her mind buzz.

When she finally came back to her senses, she hurriedly lifted her hands to cover herself and, out of habit, blurted out, “Langjun, you… what are you doing?”

Pei Xia lifted his head, and she saw her own frightened, flustered reflection in his eyes.

His face didn’t change; he didn’t move away. Supporting himself on one arm, he simply stared at her quietly.

His deep, dark gaze made her heart beat faster. She reached for the blanket, trying to pull it up. “When did you come back? I—mmph!”

Her words were cut off.

Her lips were sealed firmly.

He gave her no chance to resist—gripping her chin, prying open her teeth, his tongue slipped inside, deft and practiced, tangling with hers, conquering, claiming—his kiss deep, fierce.

Shen Yujiao was dazed; her mind went completely blank.

Until that burning hand moved down along her waistline, she suddenly widened her eyes, both hands pressing against his chest. “Mm—no…”

Pei Xia stopped.

His hand—and his kiss—both halted.

Though he pulled his lips away, their bodies were still close. Close enough that he could see the faint glimmer of moisture between them after the kiss ended, and her lips—flushed, glistening with a trace of light.

He looked at her. In those dark eyes surged desire, but there was still a sliver of self-control left. His voice was hoarse: “Why do you say no?”

That calm and steady tone left Shen Yujiao at a loss.

Yes—why say no?

He was her husband; wanting closeness between them was not improper in the slightest. Then why had she refused him?

The answer pressed at the edge of her throat. It turned dry and tight. After a long while, she drew in a deep breath, lifted her gaze to meet his, and was just about to speak— when Pei Xia’s voice came first: “Is it because of Xie Wuling?”

The thin veil between them was finally torn open.

Strangely, Shen Yujiao felt as though a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart; she could breathe again.

“Lang—” she turned her face slightly, “please get up first.”

“Because of him, even ‘Langjun’ can no longer pass your lips?”

Pei Xia gave a quiet, humorless laugh, cupping her face in one hand, forcing her to meet his gaze. “What spell did he cast on you? In just one night, he’s made you this distant from me.”

“Brother Shouzhen…”

“Don’t call me that.”

The long fingers holding her face tightened slightly; his voice sank lower. “At least right now, I don’t like hearing that.”

In times of intimacy between husband and wife, such a form of address might have been an endearment— but now it carried another meaning, a line she used to mark the distance between them.

Shen Yujiao’s eyes flickered. She no longer argued about names, only said quietly, “Then get up, and we can talk properly.”

In this intimate posture, there was no way to speak seriously.

Seeing the clear, determined calm between her brows, Pei Xia fell silent. After a moment, his thick lashes lowered, hiding the shadow in his eyes.

“There’s nothing to say,” he said softly. “What’s past is past—let it stay that way.”

Shen Yujiao froze.

Pei Xia moved off her, slowly straightening her garments. “He saved you; I will repay him. Aside from you and Di Ge’er, everything I have—I can give him. As for last night…”

He paused, glanced at her. “No matter what, I believe you.”

In the dim light beneath the canopy, Shen Yujiao looked into his dark eyes and saw boundless tolerance there.

In that instant, heavy guilt flooded her chest. Her throat tightened; she struggled to speak. “I…”

“It’s late. We have to rise early for the journey back to Chang’an.”

Fastening the last tie of her thin robe, he pulled up the dark-blue brocade quilt and lay down beside her.
“I should have spent today with you, but I want to settle matters here quickly, so we can return home to our child sooner.”

He turned on his side, drawing her tense body into his arms. “Father and Mother disappeared so suddenly; our child must be missing us terribly.”

How could Shen Yujiao not understand his intent in cutting her off—again and again?

To keep the fragile veil between them from breaking, he chose not to pursue the matter further, even invoking their child. And the child—was a mother’s softest spot.

“Sleep,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Tomorrow morning we’ll set off. By dusk we’ll be home. The one who harmed you—I’ve already traced a lead. Once we’re back, I’ll make sure they pay the price.”

His voice was gentle and even; every word made it clearer to Shen Yujiao that this was not the time to bring up separation.

Better to return to Chang’an, settle everything outside, and then—speak clearly with him.

She closed her eyes and said no more. 

Pei Xia, too, fell silent.

The couple lay side by side; the tent was so still it might have been filled with dreams—
but both of them knew neither was asleep.

Only when the night grew deeper did Shen Yujiao finally succumb to exhaustion and drift into slumber.

Listening to the soft, steady rhythm of her breathing, Pei Xia opened his eyes. He lowered his head slightly, and the faint sandalwood scent clinging to her skin filled his senses.

That fragrance had always belonged to him— and now it covered her entirely, as if she, too, from head to toe, belonged completely to him.

But he knew—after tonight, her heart had drifted even further away.

And yet, what of it?

Her deep, steadfast feelings—her loyalty and sense of righteousness— were the very reasons she leaned toward Xie Wuling, and also the last thread by which he might win her back.

The arm around her slender waist tightened. Pei Xia kissed her brow lightly, his long eyes clouded with endless, unreadable darkness.

—

At dawn, as the sky turned pale, Shen Yujiao rode in the carriage with Pei Xia toward Chang’an.

Though the air between them was strained after the night before, curiosity finally overcame her, and she took the initiative to speak. “The abducted young women—where are they now? And those brothel keepers and sailors who dealt in human trafficking, how were they handled? And the one who shot the poisoned arrow—was the culprit caught?”

Pei Xia had thought she wanted to ask about Xie Wuling. Hearing her questions now, the stifled heaviness in his chest loosened.

He did not conceal anything and answered one by one: “The abducted girls are temporarily placed in a city inn. I personally verified the records yesterday. Now we’re only waiting for the Weinan prefecture office to confirm their household registers, and then they’ll be sent back to their native homes.”

“The brothel madam who traded in kidnapped women and the enforcers on the cargo ship were all captured in one sweep. They’re now imprisoned in the Weinan Prefecture jail — once their crimes are verified, they’ll be punished according to Great Liang law.”

“As for the assassin who shot the hidden arrow…” A glint of cold light flashed in Pei Xia’s eyes; his voice sank. “He’s dead.”

“Dead?” Shen Yujiao was startled. “Then isn’t it dead men tell no tales?”

“There’s no need for testimony.” Pei Xia cast her a calm glance. “He already confessed — he was sent by Eldest Princess Jinhua.”

That killer was a hard one. 

But no matter how hard the bone, there is always a punishment suited to break it.

When he tried to bite through a poison pill, they smashed his teeth one by one. When he wanted a quick death, they cut his flesh piece by piece, making him live without the mercy of dying.

Besides, those who would die for someone like Eldest Princess Jinhua were almost always men with a weakness being held over them — and a man with a weakness is no longer unbreakable.

In the end, the killer confessed. It was the princess who had ordered him to infiltrate the ship.

If Shen Yujiao was successfully sold off, he was to spare her life. If the plan failed, he was to kill her — and if necessary, kill Xie Wuling, and even kill Pei Xia himself.

When the word kill came up, the princess’s eyes had gone bloodshot, her expression twisted with madness: “Let them all die — all of them! Since they’re not of use to me, then they’d better not offend my eyes by existing!”

Pei Xia hadn’t personally tortured him — he had only sat in the punishment room, issuing orders. But in the end, his hands were still stained with blood. He had drawn his sword and thrust it straight through the man’s chest.

The first strike — a promise to the killer, a swift end. 

The second — revenge. 

The third — for that hidden, unspoken resentment he could never name aloud.

When his thoughts returned, Shen Yujiao was staring at him, puzzled. “How could it be her? I’ve never even crossed her path.”

“It’s said she’s gone mad.” Pei Xia’s face remained unreadable. After a pause, he added quietly, “And she knows that Xie Wuling was obsessed with you.”

Shen Yujiao’s expression stiffened slightly.

“She once took a liking to Xie Wuling, but he rejected her — she probably held a grudge ever since.”

“……”

“Of course, it’s also possible she was simply in the throes of her madness.”

That Xie Wuling — however it was, he had saved Yuniang’s life. Even if this trouble came because of him, it counted as atonement.

And, truthfully, being targeted by a lunatic like the princess — even that scoundrel was somewhat blameless.

Still, if he ever again dared to boast in front of Yuniang about his “self-restraint” and “never flirting,” Pei Xia swore he would stitch that mouth shut.

Seeing Shen Yujiao’s weary, worried expression, Pei Xia couldn’t bear it. He took her hand gently. “You needn’t worry about these things. Once we’re back in Chang’an, just rest quietly in the manor.”

Shen Yujiao glanced at the hand gripping hers tightly, then lifted her gaze — only to meet Pei Xia’s dark, unwavering eyes.

“Yuniang,” he said, “I promise you — once His Majesty returns from the winter hunt, it will be the day of Jinhua’s downfall.”

—

On this matter, Pei Xia truly did not break his word.

The very day they returned to Chang’an, he threw himself into work, leaving early and returning late.

It was only the next morning, when Shen Yujiao woke and saw the faint crease left on the pillow beside her, that she knew he had come back during the night.

Though she stayed at home, guards were posted at her courtyard gate.

She found this improper — this was the women’s inner quarters, how could he assign men to stand guard?

So the next day, the guards were dismissed, replaced by two female bodyguards.

Later, Shen Yujiao learned that Pei Xia had pulled strings and paid a heavy sum to acquire them from Princess Liyang’s manor — two maids highly skilled in martial arts, discreet and competent.

A thousand taels of silver for each slave. As mistress of the household accounts, Shen Yujiao felt as though flesh had been cut from her own body.

She wanted to scold Pei Xia for “not knowing how much firewood and rice cost when one doesn’t run the household,” but knowing his motive was her safety, she couldn’t bring herself to complain.

By the fifth day after their return to Chang’an, Shen Yujiao was still curious about Xie Wuling’s situation. She wanted to ask, but there was no way — and she dared not mention it to Pei Xia.

Unexpectedly, her aunt, Madam Cheng, came to visit and brought news of Xie Wuling—

“…Your cousin told me everything after he returned. You and that Xie Wuling— oh, oh, oh!”

Madam Cheng couldn’t even finish the sentence. As a lady of a scholarly household, just speaking of such things made her feel her mouth sullied and her ears tainted.

Her eldest son had returned from Weinan the day before and, mentioning the matter, could barely speak from embarrassment: “Mother, you must talk to Yuniang — stop her from acting recklessly and ruining her bond with Shouzhen!”

Though his words were indirect, once Madam Cheng heard a man and woman alone together in the wilderness for a night, her face went pale as parchment.

Regardless of what had actually happened that night — if word spread, it would destroy her niece’s reputation completely.

Worse still, her son had said that Yuniang seemed to harbor feelings for that Xie Wuling.

Unthinkable! 

According to the Seven Grounds for Divorce, adultery was a grave offense.

So Madam Cheng had rushed over at dawn, rode straight to the Pei manor, dismissed the servants, shut the doors and windows, and clutched her niece’s hand anxiously:

“I’ve heard people say that Young Master Xie is quite handsome — but you’re already a married woman! No matter how charming or elegant another man may be, you must not let your heart stray! Besides, Shouzhen is so good — in looks, in family, in talent — tell me, in what way is he inferior to that Xie Wuling?”

“Yuniang, tell your aunt the truth — you only feel gratitude toward that Xie Wuling, don’t you? I don’t believe what your brother said; I’ll only believe what you tell me.”

Madam Cheng gazed anxiously at the gentle, graceful young woman sitting by the bedside, her eyes full of desperate hope. “You’ve always been such a sensible, well-taught child — your mother and Qiao Momo raised you so carefully. Among all the young ladies in our family, your manners and conduct have always been the most proper. You surely wouldn’t do something so foolish, would you?”