—Just what she feared.
Shen Yujiao privately blamed her two maids for being too conspicuous—few servant women were built like towering men of eight feet, impossible not to notice wherever they went.
If danger ever struck, these maids could easily hoist her onto a shoulder and sprint away—but right now, she wished she could run.
Through the pale veil of her hat, she could see clearly—both Pei Xia and Xie Wuling were looking straight at her.
One’s eyes filled with joy.
The other’s expression dark and solemn.
Shen Yujiao: “…”
Her head began to ache.
Pei Yi tugged at her sleeve timidly and whispered, “Sister-in-law… should we go over?”
Although her own husband, Wang Huanwen, was on friendly terms with the Second Prince, this was still Pei Yi’s first time seeing members of the royal family in person. The natural awe she felt toward them made her nervous.
“They’ve already seen us. If we don’t go greet them, it would be discourteous.”
Shen Yujiao gave her a reassuring look. “Just follow my lead.”
“Alright.” Pei Yi obediently followed behind her.
The two women stepped forward together and bowed respectfully to the princes, the prefect, Xie Wuling, and Pei Xia.
After returning their greetings, Prefect Zhao stroked his beard and smiled at Pei Xia.
“I’ve long heard that Scholar Pei and his lady share a deep affection, perfectly matched in harmony. Seeing you today, I must say the rumors fall short—it’s truly enviable!”
Pei Xia smiled gently. “You flatter us, Prefect Zhao.”
He moved to Shen Yujiao’s side, taking her hand, and said to the Second Prince, “Since my wife has come to fetch me home, I shall return with her. No need to trouble Your Highness further.”
The Second Prince answered with a simple “Very well,” but his gaze couldn’t help drifting toward the man behind the Third Prince—Xie Wuling.
The tall man’s posture was upright and composed, his eyes lowered slightly, appearing calm—but the way his fingers were clenched tight was enough to reveal the anger churning inside him.
But what right did he have to be angry? Coveting another man’s wife, and yet feeling wronged?
The Second Prince quietly judged him in his heart: Courage and cunning he has—but no virtue, no decency.
No wonder he could get along so well with the Third Prince. Truly, birds of a feather—snakes and rats in the same nest.
While the Second Prince was inwardly assessing Xie Wuling, the Third Prince, for his part, was also studying Pei Xia, a hint of malicious amusement rising in his chest.
So this is the noble gentleman of Hedong—can’t even protect his own wife.
He didn’t know what Madam Pei herself thought, but the fact that she had once willingly remarried in Jinling said enough—she was hardly a model of wifely fidelity.
Pei Shouzhen, oh Pei Shouzhen—so brilliant, so favored by the emperor—yet what use is any of that, when you’re just another cuckold wearing a green hat?
To his mind, such a woman was only trouble. Better to have drowned her in a pig cage or sent her away with a divorce letter—then at least he’d have peace.
Matters of passion, the Third Prince thought, are the folly of fools—utterly, hopelessly stupid!
Suppressing a smirk, he turned to Xie Wuling. “It’s getting late. Let’s go.”
Xie Wuling’s gaze flickered. “Your Highness, please go ahead. I still have some questions for the victims.”
The Third Prince, of course, saw through that little excuse of his. But rather than expose it, he only said casually, “As you wish,” before turning and stepping into his carriage.
The Second Prince gave Xie Wuling a long, meaningful look. Seeing that Pei Xia seemed able to handle himself, he too departed with his attendants.
With both princes gone, the Prefect of Jingzhao exchanged a few polite words with Pei Xia and Xie Wuling before taking his leave as well.
The grand gates of the prefecture, bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun, now stood quiet and solemn where moments ago there had been a sea of people.
Pei Xia turned slightly and said in a calm voice, “Yuniang, let’s go home.”
Shen Yujiao hesitated, her soft voice uncertain. “I… I want to see those young women.”
The hand holding hers tightened noticeably.
Seeing the cold light flicker in his eyes, she realized he had misunderstood, so she quickly added, “Just for a moment—to make sure they’re all right.”
But to Pei Xia, her explanation sounded pale and weak.
He frowned and was about to speak when Xie Wuling interjected, “Since Madam is concerned for those girls, why not let her see them? The trial’s already over, and there’s nothing pressing left to do. It won’t take long.”
“Mind your words, Sir Xie,” Pei Xia said coolly, giving him a sidelong glance. “My conversation with my wife does not concern outsiders. Just because you idle your time away doesn’t mean I can do the same.”
His tone was calm, but the edge in his words was sharp enough that anyone nearby could hear it.
Yet Xie Wuling seemed completely unbothered. Instead, he replied lazily, “Since Brother Shouzhen is so busy with official duties, why don’t you return home first? I can accompany Madam to take a look.”
Pei Xia’s face darkened instantly, his gaze toward Xie Wuling turning icy cold.
Xie Wuling merely raised an eyebrow, tilting his chin slightly in defiance, unflinching as he met the other’s stare head-on.
Neither spoke, but the air between them seemed to freeze solid—thick with tension so sharp it sent a chill crawling up the spine.
Shen Yujiao truly couldn’t stand it anymore.
Every time, it was like this.
Whenever the two of them met, they were like fighting cocks, ready to peck each other to death.
If not for Pei Yi being present, she might have lost her temper and told them both to stop it already.
Letting out a long breath, she said, “No need for either of you to accompany me. I can go myself.”
She tried to pull her hand free—but couldn’t. Pei Xia’s grip was firm.
Through the veil, he met her gaze and said quietly, “I’ll go with you.”
Shen Yujiao: “…”
Forget it.
She lowered her eyes and allowed him to lead her inside.
Pei Yi quickly followed.
Xie Wuling, entirely uninvited, trailed along as well, saying as if to no one in particular, “That day, if not for Brother Li taking me back to Weinan City, I wouldn’t have recovered so fast. He saw that I had the best medicine, good food every day—the hidden arrow in my shoulder’s been taken out, and I’ve been resting in bed these past few days. The wound’s nearly healed now. Give me another week, and I’ll be back to my old self—fit and strong as ever.”
Shen Yujiao understood. He knew what she wanted to ask but couldn’t, so he said it aloud to put her mind at ease.
Pei Yi, unaware of the subtext, asked curiously, “Lord Xie, you were injured?”
Grateful for the distraction, Xie Wuling launched into a full account of his recovery—what he’d been doing, how he’d been treated—talking at length.
Outwardly, it seemed he was chatting with Pei Yi, but every word was really meant for Shen Yujiao.
Hearing that he was indeed fine, she quietly exhaled in relief.
When they finally reached Ah Nian and the other rescued girls, her tense heart eased completely. She hurried forward, speaking gently, asking after them one by one.
Learning that it was Pei Xia who had arranged for them to be brought safely to Chang’an, Shen Yujiao instinctively glanced toward him.
He stood tall and still beside her, expression cold and unreadable.
After a few more questions confirming the girls were well cared for and that the prefecture would be housing them as witnesses, Shen Yujiao finally felt reassured enough to leave.
Until she and Pei Yi had both boarded the carriage, Xie Wuling was still standing nearby, his gaze following her until the curtain fell and blocked his sight.
From beginning to end, she hadn’t been able to properly speak a single word to him.
Sitting in the carriage, Shen Yujiao felt stifled, while Pei Yi, oblivious, muttered in puzzlement, “Didn’t they say Sixth Brother and Young Master Xie were close friends? Why did he seem so unfriendly toward him… Could that be how they get along in private?”
The thought of it only made Shen Yujiao more uneasy. Not knowing how to explain, she gave a vague “Mm.”
Seeing that the carriage still hadn’t moved, she asked, “Why haven’t we set off yet?”
From outside, a guard-maid replied, “The Young Master and that Young Master Xie seem to have something to discuss. He hasn’t returned yet. My lady, please be patient.”
Shen Yujiao was slightly startled. “The two of them… are talking?”
Unable to resist, she lifted the curtain to look outside. But beside the carriage, apart from Pei Manor’s guards, the two men were nowhere to be seen.
“Where are they?” she asked from the carriage window.
A guard lowered his head. “The Young Master and Young Master Xie went to the side alley up ahead.”
Shen Yujiao leaned out halfway and indeed saw an alley mouth diagonally opposite.
Thinking of that tense, almost explosive air between the two men just now, her heart thudded uneasily. The moment they met, they were already at each other’s throats—what could they possibly be talking about for so long? If they ended up quarreling, what if it turned into a fight?
The setting sun slanted westward, its afterglow spreading like brocade.
In the cluttered side alley, two tall men stood face to face, each gripping the other’s collar, their equally handsome faces both dark and grim.
“Xie Wuling,” Pei Xia warned, voice low and cold, “I’ll say this one last time—Yuniang is my wife. If you still have a shred of decency, stop pestering her. Otherwise…”
A glint of icy light passed through his narrow phoenix eyes. “Don’t blame me for forgetting past debts.”
“Forget past debts?” Xie Wuling sneered. “What, will you drive me out of Chang’an? Or kill me?”
The corner of his mouth twisted upward. “Go on then—do it. You think I’m afraid of you? And anyway, I never asked you to remember any so-called debt. Whether it was saving Jiaojiao or saving the child, it was all my own willing choice. I never wanted repayment. She and the boy—one is my wife, the other is the son I’ve acknowledged in my heart. As husband and father, protecting them is what’s right and proper. What does that have to do with you, Pei Shouzhen? Don’t flatter yourself. Your Pei family’s ‘favor’ isn’t worth half so much as you think. Bah!”
“Xie. Wu. Ling!”
Pei Xia’s grip on his collar tightened; veins stood out on his pale hand from suppressed fury. Staring at the shameless scoundrel before him, he ground out, “Do you really think I won’t kill you?”
“Ha! Kill me?”
Xie Wuling’s own hand clenched hard on Pei Xia’s collar. Those peach-blossom eyes, usually carrying a trace of amusement, were now filled with violent rage. “Pei Shouzhen, you think I’m some coward afraid of death? If I were that sort, would I have gone to Ningzhou to serve in the army? Worked under the Third Prince? You think I do it because life’s too easy? Since we’re being plain today, I’ll say it clearly—so long as I still draw breath, I won’t give up Jiaojiao. This hatred of having my wife stolen—I’ll never let it rest while I live!”
“Hatred of having your wife stolen?” Pei Xia gave a cold laugh. “Don’t you find that ridiculous?
“From childhood, Yuniang was betrothed to me by our parents’ order and a matchmaker’s word. The whole world knows she is my wife. And you—what are you? Just a shameless scoundrel who clings and refuses to let go.”
“I’m a scoundrel, sure—but what are you then? You know full well Jiaojiao no longer loves you, yet you won’t let her go. You trap her by your side—is that your idea of a gentleman’s virtue? You talk of parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words all day long, bragging that the world knows she’s your wife—hah! Why don’t you say that last May, the whole world also knew the Pei family’s legitimate wife died in a flood! When your family schemed against her, where were you? When she, pregnant, fled for her life, where were you?”
Mentioning it made Xie Wuling’s anger surge higher, his voice rising. “When everyone believed she was dead, when there was no more Madam Pei of the Shen clan in this world, she and I were about to be wed—and then you appeared! Who the h*ll do you think you are, Pei Shouzhen? Talking about duty, about keeping promises—hah! Where do you get the face to say such things? What right do you have to condemn me? The one who clung on like a ghost and tore apart others’ marriage—was you!”
Pei Xia’s gaze flickered slightly.
That matter had always been a thorn in his heart—perhaps one he would regret for the rest of his life.
But that didn’t mean that because of one mistake, he could simply hand Yuniang over to another man.
“Whatever repayment you want, I can give you,” he said coldly. “Anything—except Yuniang.”
His dark eyes locked onto the other’s face, burning with possessive ferocity. “Alive, she is my wife. Dead, she will be buried with me in the Pei ancestral tomb, to receive the incense offerings of our descendants together.”
Seeing Xie Wuling’s face turn ashen, Pei Xia felt a hidden, guilty satisfaction stir in his chest. A cold curve lifted his lips.
“Yes, Yuniang did bring up separation. But I didn’t agree. So long as I refuse, she remains my wife—she’ll stay by my side, face me by day, and share my bed every night…”
“Pei Shouzhen!”
Xie Wuling was provoked by Pei Xia’s haughty, cutting tone; his eyes reddened and a beast-like low growl sounded from his throat. He balled his fist and swung for Pei’s face. “You sanctimonious hypocrite!”
Pei Xia’s eyes flashed; though he dodged, Xie Wuling’s blow still clipped the corner of his mouth, and blood and the metallic taste of it spread between his lips and teeth.
Seeing Xie Wuling swing again, he no longer held back and struck back: “Hypocrite or not—fine. Before I was too gentlemanly, too polite, and that’s why a scoundrel like you kept taking advantage, time and again!”
At the thought of Yuniang’s heart turning for that sort of man—forsaking reputation, disregarding family, abandoning husband and child—an old, smothered torrent of resentment, unwillingness, jealousy, hatred, and loss ignited into a burning rage that made Pei Xia’s chest ache.
And all of it was because of the man before him.
His five long fingers curled tight; discarding the airs of a gentleman, at this moment he was only a man—facing a rival who had stolen his wife, a man consumed by jealous fire.
Pei Xia’s face went cold and hard; he struck again and again. Seeing Pei Xia get serious, Xie Wuling dodged while watching for openings, ready to counterattack.
After taking two punches to the face in succession, Xie Wuling cursed inwardly. What rotten luck—fought Pei Shouzhen twice now, and both times he’d come away with injuries! If not for the arrow wound on his back still not healed and limiting him, he would have pinned that pretty face to the ground and beaten him senseless!
“I’ll beat you to death, you hypocrite!” he snarled, lifting his leg and delivering a vicious kick to Pei Xia’s belly.
Pei Xia spun and smashed a fist into Xie Wuling’s head. “Shameless wretch.”
The alley grew darker; the piled junk scattered as they fought.
Just as the two men fought like roaring lions, a clear, sharp voice rang from the narrow mouth of the lane: “Both of you, stop at once!”
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to read 5 extra chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
