Chapter 116: 117: Royal Manor
Chapter 116: Chapter 117: Royal Manor
The next morning, Pei Huaian knocked on the courtyard gate early. After Qingxia opened the door and saw the visitor, she immediately bowed and said, “Young Master Pei, my mistress has not yet awakened.”
“It’s no matter. You can start moving the necessary items onto the carriage, and I’ll go see Xiao Linzhang.” Pei Huaian instructed naturally.
Qingxia hesitated, wondering if she should wait for her mistress to wake up before proceeding, when Qing Shan interjected, “Do as Young Master Pei says, this was agreed upon by the mistress. Once everything is packed, we can set off as soon as the mistress wakes up and save some time.”
“Alright.” Hearing her sister say this, Qingxia turned to pack their belongings.
Xiao Linzhang woke up early; he had learned to turn over, although his strength and speed were not particularly strong. Nevertheless, he persisted tirelessly, babbling happily.
Hearing the noise inside, Pei Huaian chuckled softly as he pushed the door open and entered. Xiao Linzhang immediately stretched out his arms for a hug. Pei Huaian smiled and picked him up, and Xiao Linzhang rubbed his chubby little face against his chin.
“The young master doesn’t usually like being close to strangers, so why is he so fond of Young Master Pei?” Qingxia asked in surprise.
The young master usually didn’t initiate hugs with them, sometimes not even offering a smile, just wearing a poker face. Except for the mistress, it was rare to see the young master asking for hugs from anyone, but he was completely the opposite with Young Master Pei.
“Maybe it’s fate!” Qing Shan didn’t know the reason either, but the young master was much closer to Young Master Pei than others, feeling a bit of envy in her heart.
Pei Huaian, holding Xiao Linzhang, sat in the wheelchair. Xiao Linzhang sat on his lap, playing with his fingers, occasionally looking up at him, then returning his attention to his play.
Pei Huaian watched Xiao Linzhang play seriously, and couldn’t help but chuckle, “What a good boy.”
Qingxia and Qing Shan exchanged glances and simultaneously shook their heads, staying silent.
When Shao He awoke, it was almost noon, and she’d thought she was just taking a lazy nap, not expecting to have slept so long.
Pushing open the door, she saw everyone had already packed. She exclaimed, “You haven’t been waiting for me all this time, have you? Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“Mistress, Young Master Pei came over early in the morning and has been taking care of the young master the whole time. He also asked us to load the things onto the carriage and specifically instructed us to be quiet so as not to wake you,” Qingxia explained with a giggle.
She thought the mistress and Young Master Pei matched each other well, and it would be wonderful if they could be together!
Shao He smiled awkwardly and, not minding her hungry stomach, followed onto the carriage.
Pei Huaian offered her hot buns and pastries, saying softly, “Have something to eat first to fill your stomach. When we arrive at the manor, I will make you some delicious meals.”
Shao He didn’t expect him to be so considerate. She was genuinely touched as she took the buns and pastries. In the past few days, Pei Huaian had shown special care towards Shao He, and even she hadn’t realized that she was slowly getting used to his presence and care.
Watching Shao He nibbling on the pastries, her cheeks puffed out like a cute squirrel, Pei Huaian’s gaze softened with fondness.
Shao He looked up at him, puzzled, “Is there something on my face?”
Pei Huaian did not answer but simply raised his hand to wipe away the crumbs at the corner of her mouth, his lips curling into a slight smile. He then turned his head, lifted the curtain of the small window, and looked out.
Shao He didn’t think much of it and continued eating her pastries, not dwelling on the incident.
The group arrived at the manor like this, and Pei Huaian took Shao He into the bamboo forest of the manor.
Seeing the towering bamboos, Shao He couldn’t help but marvel, “How beautiful!”
The lush green and straight bamboo stood tall, dense and verdant, with foliage abounding and a refreshing charm; at the base of the bamboos were wildflowers of various colors, radiantly blooming with a pleasant fragrance.
In the distance were a few winding mountain paths leading who knows where.
Shao He couldn’t help but close her eyes and take a deep breath, intoxicated.
“The air is so fresh!”
Pei Huaian looked at Shao He with a tender smile, “This is the Royal Manor. The flowers and plants here are extremely precious and seldom seen elsewhere.”
Shao He looked at Pei Huaian with surprise, her smile gradually fading, “We won’t run into the Prince here, will we?”
“No. Everyone is at the morning court unless they have a day off and won’t come here.” Pei Huaian spoke with certainty.
Upon hearing this, Shao He asked with a smile, “Since others have to attend the morning court, why don’t you have to go?”
“Because of my leg injury, it’s inconvenient, The Emperor has excused me from attending the early court. I’m a patient, after all, needing to take good care of my health.” Pei Huaian looked down at Xiao Linzhang in his arms, holding his little hand and smiling.
Shao He felt his reasoning was sound. Looking at the child playing on his lap, she reached out to take the child and hold him herself.
“Let me do it, this little guy has put on quite a bit of weight recently. Holding him like this all the time must be tiring for you.”
Pei Huaian flatly refused, “You holding him would be tiring too. It’s better to leave him on my lap; he’s quite happy there.”
Shao He saw that Xiao Linzhang indeed seemed quite content playing on his lap and said with an internal roll of her eyes, “I think you look more like the child’s real father.”
The two walked through the bamboo forest chatting, and unknowingly found themselves deep within the grove, where the air was exceptionally fresh.
Shao He recalled the person from the original host’s memory. She hadn’t seen his face clearly, only remembering the birthmark on his waist, but she didn’t think it was Chu Yu.
What do you think?
Total Responses: 0