Pei Shen carried Nanxing back to the study and asked Mo Ting to fetch hot water.
"For the past few years, I've been living in the outer study. But when I miss you, I go to the main courtyard to visit you."
Do you want to see those old things?
"I was thinking of surprising you after I finished packing," Pei Shen said with a wry smile. "But things didn't go as planned."
A fire almost burned away all the traces of his longing over the past five or six years.
But it's okay, because she's back.
"Little Birdie, wash up and rest quietly in a bit," Pei Shen pleaded. "Don't go! I know no one in the manor can stop you, but Little Birdie, think of me..."
"I'm not leaving," Nanxing said. "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to come back."
She wanted Pei Shen to leave quickly; she needed to be Jingjing.
Things didn't turn out exactly as she had imagined.
She had originally thought that Pei Shen would have suspicions and investigate, but to her surprise, he didn't.
It seems the medication she took to create the appearance of a miscarriage was all for nothing.
After watching Pei Shen leave, Nanxing stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time.
She's already achieved half of her goal.
But why are you unhappy?
Although her arrest was ordered by the Emperor, a closer look reveals that the one pulling the strings behind the scenes was none other than Noble Consort Jia, who was unwilling to suffer any loss.
Pei Shen should be able to understand this.
Nanxing lay in bed, her mind in turmoil.
Mo Ting delivered medicine once and then food once.
While delivering the meal, Nanxing became somewhat impatient and asked, "Where is your master? Has he not returned yet, or has he not come to the study?"
"Madam, the Marquis hasn't returned to the manor yet! Don't worry, as soon as he comes back, he'll head straight for his study!" Mo Ting chuckled, trying his best to win over his master.
Nanxing nodded without saying anything.
Seeing this, Mo Ting became somewhat anxious.
The lady seemed not to have listened to a word he said.
That won't do.
"Indeed, Madam. The Marquis has suffered greatly in the years since you left."
There's nothing else, I just miss you.
To prove his point, Mo Ting mustered his courage and pointed to the paintings in the large blue-and-white porcelain vase on the desk, saying, "Madam, you may not believe me, but these dozen or so paintings are all yours."
That's not all.
"There's also a storeroom specifically for storing your portraits. I'll be taking some there to store them in a few days."
Arrange them according to date; there are definitely at least several hundred pieces.
Thinking about all this makes Mo Ting want to cry.
The Marquis also forbade anyone else to touch them, so the heavy responsibility of "taking care" of those treasures usually fell on Mo Ting's shoulders.
In Mo Ting, one must guard against fire, theft, and rats, and always be ready to retrieve a masterpiece from a certain year and month at the Marquis's command...
Mo Ting was heartbroken.
Aren't they all paintings of wives?
To put it presumptuously, the Marquis hadn't painted enough; he'd even secretly looked at them enough.
So when she saw Nanxing, oh my god, Mo Ting felt like she was seeing a long-lost relative.
--He finally doesn't have to take care of those paintings anymore!
Nanxing got up, slowly walked to the table, and reached out to open a painting.
In the painting, she is veiled in black gauze, with only her eyes, as cold as stars, visible. She stands with her arms crossed and a sword at her side, exuding an aloof and unapproachable air.
Nanxing traced the shape of those eyes with her fingertips.
So, this is how Pei Shen sees me.
Mo Ting then said a whole bunch of good things about Pei Shen.
The gist of it is that the Marquis is so pitiful, lonely and desolate, and can only keep to himself by the painting, reminiscing about the past.
"Madam, please eat something so you can get better soon. Otherwise, the Marquis will worry about you." Mo Ting felt her mouth was dry and realized she had said too much. She scratched her head sheepishly.
Nanxing nodded.
She had just sat down when someone outside called out to Mo Ting.
Mo Ting cursed, smiled apologetically at Nanxing, and then went out.
Nanxing prepared to drink some porridge and picked up her chopsticks to pick up some pickled garlic—she had a sweet tooth because sugar was a reward when she was a suicide squad member, so it was very scarce.
She loves all sweet things, even garlic, and insists on eating pickled garlic.
Clearly, Pei Shen remembered.
However, the next moment, thanks to her excellent hearing, she heard the servant say to Mo Ting, "Should we carry the bench out? The Marquis has been flogged..."
"Pah!" Mo Ting spat. "Who wants a bench! Even if he gets a beating, the Marquis will still walk back with his back straight. You idiot, hurry up and come with me to greet the Marquis!"
The pickled garlic fell into the bowl.
Pei Shen was punished with a beating?
Is it because of her?
Who else could it be but her?
Nanxing put down her chopsticks and went outside as well.
She had just stepped out the door when she saw Pei Shen come in.
He was still the same as before; if it weren't for the sweat on his forehead and his disheveled clothes, Nanxing wouldn't even be able to tell that he had been punished.
That's normal.
Even in death, Pei Shen must maintain his dignity.
"Why did you come out?" Pei Shen frowned when he saw Nanxing and walked quickly forward.
His wound was probably aggravated, and he contorted in pain for a moment, but it was gone in an instant.
He stepped forward, took Nanxing's hand, and pulled her into the house.
"When I first saw the imperial physician, I asked him, and he said that after a miscarriage, just like during postpartum confinement, one should not be exposed to wind and should rest properly... What are you doing out here! Why are you so disobedient?"
Imperial Physician? He's seen the Imperial Physician before?
Oh, it must be that the Emperor beat him and then had the imperial physician treat his injuries.
If that's the case, it means Pei Shen is alright.
Thinking of this, Nanxing felt a long sigh of relief for some reason.
"How many lashes did you get?" Nanxing asked, looking up at him as she sat down at the table.
Pei Shen smiled as he stood beside her, serving her food. "It's not much, just twenty. You never expected this, did you? That one day I'd be standing here serving you a meal."
"Has medicine been applied?"
"Hmm, it's nothing serious, the imperial physician has already examined her." Pei Shen tried to put a piece of candied sweet potato on her plate.
However, the food had been cold for too long, and the sugar had hardened, causing the sugar strands to get tangled in Pei Shen's chopsticks.
Pei Shen laughed, "Mo Ting is unreliable; it's cooled down and they won't even let us redo it..."
"I don't want to eat anymore. Take off your clothes, I need to see your injury."
"Looking at the injury is just a pretense; you really want to see me. Be good, finish your porridge, and I'll let you see me however you want."
Nanxing picked up the bowl and drank the entire bowl of porridge in one gulp. "It's done."
Pei Shen: "..."
As expected, this Little Birdie can control itself.
Pei Shen's injuries weren't exactly severe, but they were certainly not minor either. His back was covered in bruises and tiny bleeding spots, a distressing sight to behold.
"You're delicate and precious," Pei Shen said with a self-deprecating laugh, squeezing her hand. "I'm fine. Little Birdie, you should rest well. I've already found someone to avenge you."
Nanxing's heart sank. "How do you plan to help me get revenge?"
Is it as she imagined?
Nanxing was extremely nervous.