"Little Birdie, you seem to be a little gentler with me today."
"Then try harder?"
"Ugh... no more..."
"Saying one thing and meaning another?"
Pei Shen: "... As long as you like it."
He was lying face down on the bed, his lower body naked, and Nanxing was applying medicine to him.
Tang Zhuyun's ointment lived up to its reputation; after applying it, it felt cool and refreshing, instantly easing the burning sensation.
The main reason was that it was Nanxing who applied the medicine to him from behind.
Nanxing pressed slightly on Pei Shen's minor injury, and Pei Shen let out a muffled groan.
Do you still like it?
"Like..."
I loved it so much my voice cracked.
"Useless trash." Nanxing said with utter disdain.
Pei Shen is afraid of pain, especially pain.
The people she had met who were most afraid of pain were Pei Shen before her and Tang Zhuyun after her.
Pei Shen cut his hand on the paper, but it wasn't bleeding. He kept writing, glancing at the cut every now and then, but he didn't say anything. He just seemed to be silently feeling sorry for himself.
Recalling the past, Nanxing's expression softened considerably.
Tang Zhuyun was even more hilarious; she didn't hesitate to stab people in the back. When she was making a pair of shoes for the Prince of Jin, she pricked her hand with a needle and was in so much pain that she didn't even cook dinner.
Nanxing felt embarrassed to criticize Tang Zhuyun or her own man, so she spared no effort in doing so.
"Little Birdie," Pei Shen turned to look at her, "Don't be angry. From now on, even female Zidu be allowed near me."
Nanxing asked, "Are you gay?"
"What did Madam Song Jingyang teach you?"
Are you going to settle scores with him?
"I wouldn't dare, I can't beat him. Unless you help me."
Pei Shen is now a master at flattery; as long as he's irreverent enough, Nanxing won't get angry.
Nanxing probably hates it most when he tries to reason with her.
Home is not a place for arguing, it's a place for love.
This is especially true for the woman he loves and whom he feels deeply indebted to.
Pei Shen is different from the Prince of Jin; he is quite popular.
He was also on good terms with Qin Li, who pursued Madam Qin relentlessly and finally won her heart, making him a master at pursuing wives.
He treated Qin Li to a drink, and then he felt he had an epiphany.
He picked up what he had lost, bit by bit; he pieced his broken heart back together, one piece at a time.
"Pei Shen, to be honest," Nanxing said, "I was more wrong than you in this matter..."
"You don't need to admit your mistake..."
"I didn't mean to admit I was wrong," Nanxing said.
Pei Shen: "..."
"I'm staying because I still have a use," Nanxing said. "But I also admit, I'm conflicted. I can't let go, yet I don't want to pick it up again."
She decided to leave it to time, hoping that either the remaining love would fade away or the past hurts would slowly heal.
"It's alright, as long as it works." Pei Shen held her hand. "Little Birdie, we have a long future ahead of us."
The knot in your heart will eventually be untied.
Most importantly, they are now on the same side, with no more barriers between them.
"You want me to help Prince of Jin, so I will. If you change your mind someday, I will too," Pei Shen said. "Little Birdie, I was born alone. In this world, I only have one person I care about left, and I can't lose you too."
The Nanxing dimmed.
Wasn't she the same way once?
Pei Shen sensed her softening attitude and thought to himself that Qin Li was indeed quite capable.
Putting everything else aside, indirectly playing the victim really works.
No matter what methods you use, you must keep them here.
When it comes to pursuing a wife, shamelessness is the least valuable thing.
"Get some rest," Nanxing said. "I'm still a little reluctant to leave; I want to go back to the Prince's residence to keep Her Majesty company."
I don't want you to go...
"Hmm?" Nanxing frowned.
"We'll cross the Huaishang tonight."
How did you know?
"Because the Prince of Jin originally wanted me to go too, but when I heard that he was going as well, I refused."
Nanxing: "... What business is it of yours what I have with him?"
You're all alright, it was my fault for being petty.
What can Nanxing say when he's made fun of himself to this extent?
So be it. Even after seeing you off for a thousand miles, we must eventually part ways.
"What Huaishang the Prince's Mansion for?" Nanxing asked again.
He sold himself to save his master.
Nanxing thought he had misheard.
What are you selling yourself for, what master are you saving?
Pei Shen: "Have you heard of the Wen family of Jiangnan?"
"A wealthy merchant from Jiangnan?"
"Yes."
"Mianmian, who's with Madam Yao, is the eldest daughter of the Wen Family. Her elder brother, Wen Li, is also in the capital..."
Nanxing was slightly shocked to learn that Mianmian came from such a wealthy family, because she couldn't tell at all from the little girl's appearance.
"The Wen Family are imperial merchants, but they don't really care about that status. The Wen Family's business spans the world and even extends overseas."
Nanxing stared at Pei Shen, momentarily lost in thought.
The man under the lamp was lying there in a disheveled state, yet when he spoke, his voice was deep and magnetic, and his eyes held a calming power.
Is there anything in this world that Pei Shen doesn't know?
His extensive knowledge gave him an inner and outer charm.
She loved him deeply, and she still loves him now; he's the kind of man she can't let go of.
"Little Birdie?"
"I'm listening." Nanxing was annoyed by her absent-mindedness and turned her head away, unaware that Pei Shen had noticed her bright red earlobes.
Pei Shen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and a wave of joy washed over him.
--In her heart, she truly has someone else.
"But merchants have reached the pinnacle of their craft. If they want to maintain their wealth and status, they have to make offerings."
"You mean," Nanxing said, "That the Wen Family wants to side with the Prince?"
"We want to. But it's probably not just that. This is only what we know: they want to offer tribute to the prince; privately, they may also be bribing other princes."
"Then forget it," Nanxing said.
She hates fence-sitters the most.
"Why should we let it go? Who would turn down money?" Pei Shen said. "Merchant families are only after profit; don't expect too much from them."
"So tonight, Mianmian actually went to the Prince's Mansion with the Wen Family's sincerity?"
"Smart," Pei Shen praised.
Seeing that Nanxing seemed lost in thought, he changed the subject and continued, "The Wen Family won't waste their money for nothing; perhaps they will demand that Wenshu marry Huaishang."
Marrying Huaishang would be an excellent choice.
He outwardly sided with the Emperor, but secretly with the Prince of Jin, thus reaping all the benefits.
Pei Shen silently observed Nanxing's reaction.
"That depends on whether the Wen Family requires a betrothal gift," Nanxing said.
Pei Shen didn't understand.
Nanxing: That's because you don't understand Huaishang.
Even if you asked him to provide a son to marry, he would still live a lonely life until the end.
On the Huaishang: The one who truly understands me is Nanxing.
He was currently at the Prince's residence, speaking with the Prince of Jin.
Mianmian, on the other hand, had a very pleasant conversation with Tang Zhuyun.