The Blue Lotus Festival in Shengjing was more lively than the Spring Festival and New Year. Not only did common people pay attention to it, but noble households and officials also frequently visited to pay their respects to the incense offerings.

At Prince Wen’s residence in the southern part of the city, tonight was also brightly lit.

The current Prince Wen, Mu Sheng, had inherited his father’s title. The old prince and the late emperor had once been as close as brothers. After the old prince’s death, the emperor, feeling compassion for his former minister, showered the prince’s residence with all manner of honors and favor, making the residence extraordinarily prestigious and distinguished.

The courtyard was completely silent, with only glazed wind lanterns casting shimmering light and shadows. A nanny in blue clothing carried a wooden tray through the courtyard, past pearl curtains and embroidered drapes, and entered the inner room.

On a chair surrounded by a seven-panel screen made of cassia wood, soft cushions were laid out, and sitting on top was a beauty with her hair styled in a lazy bun. The beauty wore a honey-pink silk dress trimmed with silver thread, with two pale pink pearls hanging from her ears, making her pink cheeks appear rosy and her glances radiant.

This was Pei Yunshu, the legitimate eldest daughter of Duke Zhaoning and the current Princess Consort Wen.

Pei Yunshu was the legitimate eldest daughter of Duke Zhaoning, and she and the heir of Duke Zhaoning, Pei Yunying, were biological siblings from the same mother. She was actually two years older than the heir of Duke Zhaoning.

The nanny placed the wooden tray on the table and took out a white porcelain bowl from the tray. Inside was brown medicinal soup, and even before bringing it close, one could smell an unbearable bitter aroma.

Pei Yunshu couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose.

The nanny smiled and said: “Princess Consort, this is the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine that has been prepared.”

Princess Consort Wen touched her flat abdomen and frowned: “Just leave it there. I’ll drink it later.”

The nanny picked up the medicine bowl and, as if she hadn’t heard her words, held a spoon to scoop up a spoonful and brought it to her lips, smiling broadly: “Madam, don’t mind that the medicine is bitter. This was ordered to be prepared by His Royal Highness the Prince. It’s only beneficial when drunk while hot.”

Pei Yunshu’s eyes grew cold, and the maid beside her was about to speak when someone came from outside to report: “Princess Consort, the heir of Duke Zhaoning has arrived!”

Pei Yunshu’s face brightened with joy. She casually took the medicine bowl from the nanny’s hands, set it on the table, and was about to stand up when the maid Fang Zi quickly supported her. They had only walked two steps toward the outside when they saw someone approaching through the heavy night.

Under the bright moon in the courtyard, with dim lamplight, that person’s figure appeared and disappeared in the night. When he came closer, the wind lantern under the eaves became brighter, illuminating the young man more clearly.

He was a young man in magnificent robes, wearing a black brocade robe embroidered with gold patterns and clustered flowers. His long hair was held high with a golden crown, making him appear even more stunningly beautiful. In this cold spring night, he was a scene unto himself, like a bright pearl shining brilliantly.

Pei Yunshu was supported by Fang Zi as they walked forward two steps. The young man had already seen her, just smiled, and naturally grasped her arm to help her into the room.

After Pei Yunshu sat down again in the room, Pei Yunying said helplessly: “Didn’t I tell you? Sister, you’re with child—you shouldn’t come outside to greet me.”

“I just became pregnant and I’m not even showing yet. How can I be so delicate that I can’t even take two steps?” Pei Yunshu said reproachfully.

Pei Yunying glanced around the room and suddenly chuckled lightly, his voice containing faint mockery: “You’re a dignified princess consort who’s discovered to be pregnant, yet apart from Fang Zi, there aren’t many people serving you in the room. Indeed, not quite ‘delicate’ enough.”

“When ordinary household mistresses become pregnant, they still find several more people to care for them. I’m truly surprised that Prince Wen’s residence has fallen to such a state.”

Although he was smiling, there was some coldness in his tone. The nanny delivering medicine couldn’t help but stiffen her expression.

Although this princess consort was born beautiful and was the legitimate daughter of Duke Zhaoning, with both background and appearance being excellent, unfortunately her temperament was not gentle and submissive, so she didn’t receive the prince’s favor. Princess Consort Wen had also been without pregnancy for many years. In this residence, Pei Yunshu only bore the empty title of princess consort and was often stepped on by another person.

Now the princess consort was indeed pregnant, but the prince didn’t seem to care much about it, so the servants in the residence inevitably showed neglect. Usually this was fine, as the princess consort herself would hide it and not let others notice, but today she was caught red-handed by the heir of Duke Zhaoning.

One must know that this heir of Duke Zhaoning, Lord Pei of the Palace Guard, appeared gentle and was born handsome, but in reality his methods were fierce and brilliant. Even the prince had to fear him somewhat. In fact, if it weren’t for this Lord Pei’s protection, the princess consort’s position would probably be even lower now.

The nanny was thinking that since this Lord Pei had entered the room, he hadn’t even glanced at her once, clearly deliberately making things difficult for her. She didn’t dare provoke him, so she could only smile and bow to him.

Pei Yunying didn’t even look at her directly, his gaze only sweeping over the wooden tray on the table and landing on that bowl of brown medicinal soup.

The nanny quickly explained: “This is pregnancy-stabilizing medicine that His Royal Highness the Prince ordered the kitchen to prepare for the princess consort.”

“Pregnancy-stabilizing medicine…” He pondered, walked to the table, picked up the medicine bowl and brought it to his nose, the corner of his lips twitching slightly.

Pei Yunshu looked at him.

The nanny felt inexplicably nervous.

The young man smiled, slightly raised his arm, and poured the entire bowl of medicinal soup into the narcissus bonsai at the corner of the table.

“No good,” he said indifferently. “Too bitter. Prepare another bowl.”

The nanny felt relieved and said with a smile: “Young Master, what medicine isn’t bitter? Good medicine tastes bitter…”

Pei Yunying looked at her, his handsome face wearing a gentle smile, but his tone carried bone-chilling coldness: “Then keep preparing it until it’s not bitter.”

The nanny was speechless.

Pei Yunshu was silent for a moment, then spoke: “Nanny, please withdraw first. I have something to discuss with the heir.”

The nanny had already been rendered speechless by Pei Yunying’s pressure, so hearing this reprieve was exactly what she wanted. She immediately left with the empty bowl.

After she left, the atmosphere in the room relaxed somewhat. Pei Yunshu glared at the person across from her: “Why did you frighten her for no reason?”

“How is this frightening?” Pei Yunying smiled carelessly. “If I had killed her with one stroke in front of everyone in Prince Wen’s residence today, that would be frightening.”

“You’re talking nonsense again.” Pei Yunshu didn’t want to discuss this with him, so she changed the subject. “Speaking of which, why did you suddenly come today? Didn’t you say you’ve been too busy with official duties these days to get away?”

Pei Yunying smiled: “The estate sent several baskets of fresh lychees, so I specially brought them for you. But since you’re with child, don’t be greedy for too many.”

Pei Yunshu was surprised: “I just finished eating the plums you sent earlier, and now you’re sending lychees. Do you really think your sister is a pig?” After saying this, she laughed first. “But the plums you sent were indeed excellent. A few days ago I was vomiting so much I could barely get out of bed, but after using your plums, I felt much better. Now my stomach doesn’t feel as acidic as before.”

“Those were freshly picked plums, naturally they were good.” Pei Yunying raised an eyebrow. “It’s good that you like them.”

“Of course I like them. Even things I didn’t like before, I like now.” As Pei Yunshu spoke, she suddenly remembered something. “By the way, the Blue Lotus Festival is coming soon. This year I’m pregnant, so I’m afraid I can’t go with you.”

Ever since the wife of Duke Zhaoning passed away, every year during the Blue Lotus Festival, Pei Yunshu would go with Pei Yunying to Wan’en Temple to light lotus lanterns and pray for blessings. It’s just that this year her condition really wasn’t convenient, so she could only have someone prepare incense, candles, rice, and oil, and ask Pei Yunying to bring them up together.

Pei Yunying sighed: “I expected this long ago.” He glanced at Pei Yunshu and said unhurriedly: “Don’t worry, I’ll say all the words I should say for you, asking the Bodhisattva to bless the child in your womb to be lively and healthy, to be born safely, for mother and child to be safe, for mother and daughter to be safe, and to be safe year after year.”

Pei Yunshu pinched his arm and said with displeasure: “Nonsense! What I clearly want to pray for is for my useless younger brother to quickly meet a girl he likes and start a family and career soon. Otherwise, in the future when everyone else has families, only he will be alone and single—wouldn’t that be pitiful and miserable?”

“Hey,” Pei Yunying snorted with laughter and pointed to himself. “Look at my face. Do I, looking like this, need to pray to the Bodhisattva for blessings? Every time I come to your prince’s residence, the handkerchiefs I pick up on the road could pile up as high as a mountain.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Yunshu burst out laughing.

This was indeed true. Every time Pei Yunying came to the prince’s residence, the maids in the residence would be especially attentive, each dressing up like beautiful flowers and rushing toward this courtyard. So later, whenever Pei Yunying came, he wouldn’t let the gatekeeper announce his arrival loudly.

Pei Yunshu looked at the person across from her, feeling emotional in her heart. Setting aside everything else, her younger brother’s appearance and physique really were quite appealing. After she married into the prince’s residence, everyone knew she wasn’t favored. Every time at ladies’ flower banquets, she couldn’t find common ground with those noble ladies. Only Pei Yunying… those ladies would try every method to inquire about the heir of Duke Zhaoning’s marriage prospects.

Unfortunately, it was a case of unrequited love. The heir of Duke Zhaoning had extremely high standards. Having grown up this much, he hadn’t liked even one person, wasting such a handsome face.

She spoke a few more words with Pei Yunying, and her body gradually grew tired. After Fang Zi helped Pei Yunshu onto the bed to rest, she also escorted Pei Yunying out of the courtyard.

The glazed lanterns swayed slightly in the night wind, and the smile on the young man’s face faded, his black eyes deeper than the night.

Fang Zi followed behind him, reporting in a low voice: “…The other maids in the courtyard have all been sent away by the side consort’s people these days under various pretexts, leaving only this servant. The princess consort was afraid of causing trouble and didn’t bring in new people, but probably can’t hold out much longer. I didn’t dare touch the tea, drinks, and medicinal soups in the room. The princess consort secretly poured them out…”

Fang Zi was someone Pei Yunying had arranged to be sent in.

Pei Yunshu was the legitimate daughter of Duke Zhaoning. No matter how much the prince didn’t favor her, the people in the prince’s residence wouldn’t dare to harm her life.

But a pregnant princess consort was different.

If the princess consort gave birth to a son, he would be the heir to the prince. In this world, wealth and honor were sought through danger. As long as the benefits were great enough, what couldn’t be done?

So Pei Yunying had Fang Zi enter the prince’s residence to secretly protect Pei Yunshu’s safety.

He walked to a place under the lamplight and stopped, only saying: “In a few days, I’ll send two more people in.”

Fang Zi respectfully said: “Yes.”

“There are many people with many eyes in the residence. Someone might well see through your identity. Once someone gets hold of evidence, just confess that it was me.”

“Yes.”

“If someone tries to harm the princess consort, protecting the princess consort comes first. Just don’t kill Mu Sheng.”

“Yes.”

He paused before continuing: “Even if you do kill him, it doesn’t matter.”

In the thick night that couldn’t be dissolved, flowers and branches were luxuriant, and there seemed to be shadowy figures.

He glanced back, smiled, his tone carrying casual cruelty.

“If you kill him, I’ll take responsibility.”