Chapter Thirty-Nine (Part 2 of 2)
The bulged green veins on the emperor’s forehead intimidated the imperial physician.
‘Your majesty, I don’t know why she’s bleeding but… she’s not pregnant,’ the imperial physician whispered.
The emperor took a deep breath, pushed the imperial physician, turned round and glared at the empress.
Most of the wedding guests didn’t understand why the emperor was angry if Yan Shi Ting was healthy.
‘Empress, do you know what the punishment for deceiving the emperor is?’ the emperor asked coldly.
The empress kowtowed in front of the emperor and cried pitifully. ‘Emperor, I was deceived too. I didn’t know anything.’
Consort Mu narrowed her eyes. She was shocked and resented the empress. Her heart cursed the empress, ‘Kang Thi, your cruelty is impressive! You can sacrifice anyone to protect your son. That’s your niece, your blood little sister’s daughter but you have no mercy!’
Yan Shi Ning and Pei Jin exchanged a secret look then they lowered their heads… they underestimated the empress’ cruelty.
Yan Shi Ting widened her eyes, stared at the empress and forgot to cry. What empress was deceived? Lies! The first person who suggested she should fake a pregnancy to force the crown prince to marry her sooner was the empress! The empress and her mother discussed the plan together!
The empress raised her head and accused Yan Shi Ting. ‘Shi Ting! Has your aunt mistreated you? Why did you deceive me?’
‘Aunt…’ Yan Shi Ting said.
‘Empress, you and Kang Hua are sisters!’ the emperor said.
The empress turned her head to face the skeptical emperor and she continued to cry. ‘Emperor, you and I have been married for many years. You know what kind of person I am. I have never deceived you. I was deceived by Kang Hua. I don’t know anything. Emperor, please investigate this situation. Xiao Lam, say something.’
The emperor looked at the crown prince. He knew the crown prince was an honest person and he wanted to believe the crown prince’s words.
Yan Shi Ting looked at the crown prince. She didn’t know what the crown prince would say. Would he save her?
Pei Lam stood still while everyone looked at him and waited for his reply.
Pei Lam lowered his head and thought deeply. Everyone was anxious but his heart was calm. He remembered Yan Shi Ting cried for mercy, a pity it only amused him. She had no relation to him. He was overjoyed she was exposed because he could escape her… but in his lifetime he couldn’t escape his cage… unless his words could find an escape for him.
Pei Lam pursed his lips, hid his joy and kowtowed in front of his father. ‘Imperial father, truly imperial mother and I don’t know anything. We were deceived by aunt’s lies.’
Yan Shi Ting looked at the crown prince who calmly lied.
‘Since I was young, aunt always wanted me to marry Shi Ting,’ the crown prince said. ‘I don’t love Shi Ting and refused to marry Shi Ting many times… but at a palace banquet Shi Ting put lust herbs into my wine. Then she threatened me… I felt helpless and agreed to marry her. Yet she’s this shameless and faked a pregnancy to ensure I marry her.’
All the wedding guests understood what happened and they looked scornfully at Yan Shi Ting.
Yan Shi Ting didn’t care how the wedding guests looked at her. She continued to look at the crown prince who was intimate with her many times. Her sky collapsed and there was only chaos.
Yan Shi Ting heard ‘lust herbs, threatened and shameless.’ Why did the crown prince lie? Why did the crown prince wanted to push her toward execution? Why did he pour dirty water on her head in front of everyone?
Yan Shi Ting stood and pointed at the crown prince and the empress.
‘No!’ Yan Shi Ting said. ‘You’re a liar! Don’t believe them!’
***
End of Chapter Thirty-Nine (Part 2 of 2)
Chapter Twelve (Part 2 of 2)
Pei Jin’s clothes were disorderly.
Yan Shi Ning heard Pei Jin breathed heavily, his eyes were red and he gave off a crazy wild animal aura.
Pei Jin staggered onto the bed, hugged Yan Shi Ning and spoke huskily. ‘Su Yue put lust herbs in my soup.’
‘What-’ Yan Shi Ning said.
Pei Jin laid on top of Yan Shi Ning and kissed her. She felt something hard pressed against her stomach and her body tensed in anticipation. Was she going to experience a wedding night?
Yan Shi Ning’s heart was chaotic. Pei Jin’s lips left her lips and his hands loosened the grip on her waist.
Pei Jin hugged Yan Shi Ning and he smiled. ‘Wife, don’t worry. I promised if you’re not willing then I won’t force you. I can control the lust herbs effect.’
Pei Jin let go of Yan Shi Ning and he laid on the bed. Her heart ached because of the clear suffering on his face.
‘Big brother, why did Su Yue put lust herbs in your soup?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.
Pei Jin pulled Yan Shi Ning to his chest. ‘Huang Guo sent her to be my maid and spy on me. He wanted her to become one of my consorts, but I have never touched her. Today she was punished to stay in her chamber to reflect. She panicked and wanted to turn rice grains into steamed rice.’
After Pei Jin opened his mouth, he couldn’t control himself and kissed Yan Shi Ning’s lips again. His hands swiftly took off her clothes and untied her undergarments. His hands didn’t resist touching her soft skin and pink peaks.
Yan Shi Ning gasped for air and pushed Pei Jin away. ‘Big brother, if she’s responsible for giving you lust herbs then big brother should let her serve you.’
Pei Jin bit Yan Shi Ning’s lips hard and heard her moan of pain but her breathing quickened.
Pei Jin looked at Yan Shi Ning’s flushed face, crinkled forehead and kissed her deeply. ‘Wife, I only want you. I don’t want anyone else.’
Yan Shi Ning heard the conviction in Pei Jin’s tone, her ears reddened and she felt her soul floating away.
‘But I know you’re not willing,’ Pei Jin said and let Yan Shi Ning go. ‘Tonight I’ll endure.’
Yan Shi Ning looked at the strain on Pei Jin’s face and she felt guilty for making him endure. She reasoned they were married and sleeping with him was fated by the heavens. There was no need for her to deprive him and for him to suffer.
‘Big brother… you don’t need to endure anymore…’ Yan Shi Ning whispered.
Pei Jin lowered his head so Yan Shi Ning couldn’t see his devious smile. He raised his head, looked at her with pained eyes and he spoke in a hoarse voice. ‘No, Shi Ning, I can endure.’
Yan Shi Ning’s body trembled in admiration. She thought if Pei Jin heard her consent then he would immediately jump on her body, she didn’t expect him to force himself to be a gentleman.
Yan Shi Ning’s impression of Pei Jin improved greatly in her heart, it appeared he was a good person. She silently vowed in the future she wouldn’t kick him anymore.
Pei Jin endured his frustrations. Of course he could easily ingest a pill to counteract the effect of lust herbs and didn’t need to torment himself. But he saw the softness in Yan Shi Ning’s eyes and his eyes brightened, his frustrations bear fruit.
That night Pei Jin rolled on the bed and mumbled countlessly while his hands continuously wandered on Yan Shi Ning’s body. ‘Finally the effect of the lust herbs have worn off.’
Yan Shi Ning remembered how Pei Jin endured throughout the night so she didn’t protest that his hands wandered everywhere on her body.
In the calligraphy room Su Yue’s heart withered. She couldn’t believe even under the influence of lust herbs Pei Jin didn’t want to touch her.
The following morning Pei Jin awoken early. He stared at Yan Shi Ning who was sleeping on his chest and he smiled like a scoundrel.
A while later Pei Jin’s eyes darkened coldly. He couldn’t allow to let Su Yue stay in his manor anymore! But Su Yue was given to him by Huang Guo, he needed a good reason to return Su Yue that wouldn’t offend Huang Guo. His head were full of thoughts of how to return Su Yue in a way that Huang Guo was forced to accept.
***
End of Chapter Twelve (Part 2 of 2)
