Pei You’an had originally always called her cousin, but after growing closer, he followed her family in calling her A-Fu. Later, during their last intimate moment when passion ran high, seeing her lotus-like delicate face on the pillow, her light breathing, her fragile bones, and tender flesh looking so pitiful and seemingly unable to bear being plucked, he couldn’t help but call her “Fu’er.” Hearing this, Jia Fu became even more yielding beneath him, her sweet cries unceasing, both of them lost in ecstasy. After that time, Pei You’an continued to use this term of endearment to call her.

Pei You’an heard her words, his eyelashes trembling slightly before he opened his eyes.

Jia Fu stared at him with wide eyes, her gaze extremely serious. She saw him look at her for a moment, a hint of joy seemingly flashing across the depths of his eyes, yet the corner of his mouth curled slightly as if he were holding back laughter. In the end, he reached out and, as if coaxing a child, gently patted her back, saying softly, “I understand. Go to sleep.”

He didn’t believe her? Or did he find her words amusing?

Jia Fu suddenly felt dejected, and even more unwilling in her heart. She released her arms from around his neck and instead firmly grasped the hand that was patting her, pressing it down forcefully as she emphasized, “Elder Cousin, everything I say is true! No matter what, Fu’er will cherish you, love you for an entire lifetime!”

Pei You’an relaxed his brows and softened his gaze, looking at Jia Fu for a moment. He no longer smiled at her, merely asking in a low voice, “How does Fu’er plan to cherish her Elder Cousin?”

His voice was already rich and deep, and now within the layered bed curtains, his soft words seemed particularly intoxicating. Jia Fu felt her heart tremble, and with infinite courage, she climbed onto his chest where his robe was slightly open, propped herself up on her elbows to look at him for a moment, saw his Adam’s apple move slightly, and couldn’t help but bring her jade-like face closer. Her fragrant lips, like a dragonfly touching water, lightly kissed him once as she said, “Whatever Elder Cousin wants Fu’er to do, Fu’er will do it for Elder Cousin.”

Her voice was unexpectedly serious.

Pei You’an treasured the fact that she had been exhausted today, having left early and returned at midnight, and surely not having a moment’s rest at the temple during the day. Thus, he let her go to sleep early, but unexpectedly, she refused to appreciate his good intentions and instead made passionate declarations to him. Though her sentiments were moving, her words carried a childish quality, and yet she put on such a serious and adorable manner that it was somewhat amusing. Surprisingly, he was affected by her approach, and hearing her, he was almost unable to control himself, yet she still wouldn’t stop.

The more serious she became, the more enticing she was, and he increasingly lost control…

Pei You’an was startled and then felt her light kiss on his Adam’s apple. Blood surged to his head, as if with a “boom,” blood rushed through him, the depths of his eyes instantly changing color, yet he still forcibly restrained himself, silently gazing at her without speaking.

Jia Fu immediately sensed the unusual change in his body and naturally understood why. Seeing him staring at her with such a peculiar expression, she couldn’t help feeling flustered and somewhat regretful.

Heaven knows, she truly had no other thoughts just now; she only wanted him to know her boundless affection and love for him. It was only her fault for being clumsy with words—how had it turned into teasing him?

Both embarrassed and awkward, Jia Fu’s face grew slightly warm. Lying on his chest, she dared not move even a fraction, quickly explaining, “Elder Cousin, please don’t misunderstand me…”

Pei You’an merely uttered an “Mmm,” his eyes growing darker. After a pause, he hoarsely said, “Kiss me again!” His Adam’s apple rolled up and down once more.

Jia Fu felt she couldn’t quite understand him, but remembering what she had just said, she obediently leaned in and kissed his Adam’s apple again. She heard what seemed like a low growl from his throat, and as her lips were about to leave, her head was weighted down—he had pressed his hand against it.

Jia Fu still felt unwilling in her heart, harboring some grievance. Under his restraint, she panted heavily and struggled to free half her head: “Elder Cousin, I really…”

Pei You’an felt he could no longer endure, and with a turn, he pressed her beneath him, lowering his head to capture that little mouth of hers that spoke more than it acted.

Dew moistened the emerald clouds, rich fragrance permeated the fur bedding, and behind the slanted embroidered curtains, a lotus flower drenched in dew opened toward the night.

The beauty’s plaintive cries gradually arose as the candle shook the gauze bed curtains, causing the golden hooks to sway lightly, producing a rustling sound.

Pei You’an felt a surge of wild passion, his desire burning intensely, unexpectedly fierce. Afterward, still unsatisfied, he didn’t carry her to wash up before sleeping, but instead caught one of her jade-like legs, wanting to try from behind again. But seeing her sweat-dampened hair, her fallen-flower, shattered-jade pitiable appearance, with both hands clutching the bedcover and her head tucked in like a quail, firmly hidden and refusing to show her face, he couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

The hour had already reached the first watch of the following day. The maidservant on night duty in the outer chamber was drowsing off when she was startled awake by the faint sound of male laughter coming from the inner chamber. Recognizing it as the master’s voice, she wondered why he wasn’t asleep so late, and why he would laugh so loudly, which was quite incomprehensible. She got up and peered out the window, seeing that there was still a light on in that room.

After laughing, Pei You’an let Jia Fu go, carrying her wrapped in the blanket to the bath chamber. After coming out, he extinguished the light, and they lay back in bed. He embraced her in his arms, his palm gently massaging her shoulders, neck, and lower back, helping her relax and relieve fatigue. As their breathing gradually steadied, he asked softly, “Did something happen? Why did you suddenly say these things to me tonight?”

Jia Fu had cleaned herself and was now pressed against his embrace, enjoying his back massage, feeling extremely comfortable. With her eyes closed, she yawned, drowsily about to fall asleep, when she suddenly heard him ask this question. Her sleepiness was driven away again, and after a moment’s hesitation, her small hand gripped his waist tightly as she said softly, “Fu’er just wants Elder Cousin to always be happy. Fu’er wants to be good to Elder Cousin for a lifetime.”

Pei You’an felt a wave of warmth flow through his heart. He held her even tighter and, in the darkness, lowered his head to find her lips, giving her a peck as he said gently, “I understand. You’re tired, aren’t you? It’s late, go to sleep now.”

Jia Fu was thoroughly content, yet somehow, there was still a vague trace of melancholy in the depths of her heart, a feeling she couldn’t quite express.

She finally responded with an “Mm” and gently closed her eyes.

The night finally settled into stillness.

Jia Fu slept deeply, unaware of the time when she was suddenly startled by the sound of knocking from outside. In her hazy state, she heard the voice of the night servant coming in: “Master, someone has come from the palace, saying that His Majesty urgently summons you. Please rise early this morning and go to the palace first!”

Jia Fu woke up. Pei You’an had already sat up, lifted the curtain, got out of bed, and lit the lamp.

Jia Fu rubbed her eyes and also sat up, poking her head out of the curtains to look at the water clock. It was only about two-fifths into the hour of the Tiger, still quite sometime before the morning court assembly.

Pei You’an was originally supposed to continue his leave today, planning to take three days off, but she didn’t know what had happened that made the Emperor send someone to summon Pei You’an so early.

Pei You’an put on a robe and went out, opened the door, and asked a question. Learning that it was Cui Yinshui who had come to call him, he returned, dressing himself while telling Jia Fu, “I’ll go to the palace first. You go back to sleep.”

How could Jia Fu sleep now? She casually put on her clothes to cover herself, then went to help him get his court attire, dressing him inside and out. She opened the door and called someone in to attend to his washing, had him eat a few bites, and sent him out the door. The sky was still pitch black at this time. Following his instructions, she returned to bed to sleep again, but she could no longer fall asleep and just waited for daybreak.

…

Pei You’an left the inner courtyard and walked to the front hall. Cui Yinshui was waiting there with a slightly anxious expression, looking around restlessly. Suddenly seeing Pei You’an appear, he hurriedly went forward, gave a salute, and said, “Minister Pei, please hurry to the palace.”

Pei You’an went out with him hurriedly, asking as they walked, “What has happened?”

Cui Yinshui had just come running all the way, and his breathing was still not even. He said, “At the hour of the third watch, an eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch arrived from the Governor-General of Sichuan, seemingly related to Zhou Jin following imperial orders to pacify the unrest in Jingxiang. I don’t know the specific situation. I was outside and only vaguely heard that His Majesty seemed to be furious. Afterward, my godfather came out and told me to call you to the palace.”

Pei You’an frowned slightly but said nothing more. He quickly reached the main gate, took the reins from an attendant, mounted his horse, and galloped toward the imperial palace.

At mid-hour of the Tiger, Pei You’an arrived at the Imperial Study. From a distance, he could see that the lights inside were bright. Imperial Attendant Li was outside, and upon seeing Pei You’an’s arrival, he immediately came forward, guiding him inside while explaining the matter in a low voice.

Indeed, it was about Zhou Jin’s previous mission to pacify the unrest, which now had a major problem.

When he first arrived in Jingxiang, he had adopted thunderous methods, first labeling the migrants who refused relocation orders as “bandits,” then mobilizing troops from several neighboring southwestern provinces for a concentrated and fierce crackdown. The initial results were significant: he killed a batch of “bandits,” and after this show of force, he used the government’s name to coerce the migrants to relocate. A million migrants left with no choice, abandoned their homes and land, embarking on a journey of no return. Not only did the government fail to distribute land or arrange settlements for them, but it also sent them all to the border for garrison duty. Those who refused were immediately treated as bandits and driven together to be killed. Countless migrants were forced under whips and clubs to follow the river toward the Yunnan-Guizhou border. Bodies fell without number along the way, and with the hot weather, epidemics raged. Corpses floated in the river, the stench permeating the air, even causing the river to become blocked. The scene was as horrific as hell on earth.

Just days ago, a group of migrants who could no longer endure secretly coordinated and rose during the night. After killing their guards, they seized weapons, and soon after, their call was answered by more and more people, eventually gathering hundreds of thousands, openly opposing the government. They turned back toward Jingxiang, attacking cities and occupying land along the way with great momentum. Provincial officials fled at the news, not daring to engage in battle.

Zhou Jin, seeing the operation as completed, had sent a victory report to the capital and was preparing to return to report his achievements, when he learned of the news. He hurriedly returned and once again mobilized troops for another encirclement campaign. The Governor-General of Sichuan, who had never been on good terms with him and who resented his actions, sent an urgent report to the throne, detailing everything and accusing him of rushing for merit, indiscriminately killing the innocent, and being the true instigator of this southwestern unrest.

“His Majesty has been so angry that he hasn’t slept all night. Not waiting until dawn, he ordered me to summon you and the officials from the Ministry of War. Those ministers should arrive soon,” said Imperial Attendant Li.