Chapter Thirty-Three: Return to Xingyang (Part Six)

The spirit of the "Jianghu" can be understood from two perspectives. To put it kindly, it means to be heroic, unconstrained, and possess the flair of a chivalrous knight. To put it bluntly, it means to be coarse, vulgar, and devoid of true character.

However, no matter what Zheng Yanqing thought, he could never imagine that Pei Shuying was mocking him. Thus, he simply smiled and offered no response.

He walked silently to the hearth, picked up a fire poker to stir the embers, and threw in a few more pieces of firewood. The flames immediately crackled and leapt upward, dispelling much of the chill from the rainy night and filling the cabin with warmth.

At this moment, several of the Pei family’s retainers began unloading supplies from the carriages and moving them into the cabin. Pei Shuying’s setup was far more elaborate than Zheng Yanqing’s; a large red curtain was lowered, dividing the cabin in two. The floor was covered with a red velvet carpet, and wine and food were laid out. It was evident that Pei Shuying had a fondness for the color red. She dismissed her retainers and turned to go behind the curtain to remove her armor. The curtain was not particularly thick, and through its shadows, Yanqing could see the silhouette of a beautiful figure moving. In this era, social mores were relatively liberal, and women were not strictly constrained; Pei Shuying did not even bother to avoid Zheng Yanqing while changing her armor and clothes in the cabin.

Perhaps, in Pei Shuying’s eyes, the ten-year-old Zheng Yanqing, despite his tall stature, could not be considered a man at all.

This was a humiliation!

He was, after all, a man with the soul of a forty-year-old, and yet...

The allure of such a setting was not in raw, naked exposure. The half-hidden, shadowy silhouettes were often more captivating. Yanqing could not help but swallow hard.

Since coming to this era, he had not been entirely unacquainted with the female form. Duoduo had been too young, just a child, and as for the women he encountered while out with Pei Xingyan and the others, he had little interest. But now...

Yanqing quickly lowered his gaze, sitting cross-legged by the hearth like a monk in meditation. Behind the curtain came the sound of rustling fabric, accompanied by a faint, mature feminine scent that was incredibly provocative. Though his body was young, his years of practicing internal energy arts had made his vital essence strong, and he was already beginning to mature. This fragrance became all the more enticing.

A moment later, Pei Shuying changed into a crimson ru-skirt, draped with a red silk gown. Her cloud-like black hair cascaded over her shoulders. A hint of snow-white skin peeked out from her chest, making the swell beneath her gown look exceptionally alluring. She walked barefoot across the red carpet, the contrast between the red and white quite captivating. At this moment, Pei Shuying lacked the heroic bearing she had in armor, appearing instead with the languid grace of a young maiden.

Jade cups, red carpets, fine wine, and a beauty...

Yanqing dared not look at Pei Shuying, keeping his head low as he toyed with the fire.

"Little imp, what are you thinking about?"

"Oh, nothing much."

"Hee hee, then why don't you come over and sit?" Pei Shuying said softly. "Come, keep your Auntie company and have a drink."

Technically, since Pei Xingyan called her Auntie, it was not incorrect for Zheng Yanqing to do the same. But the title "Auntie" was prone to causing trouble! One need only look at the *Legend of the Condor Heroes*; the "Auntie" of Guo'er eventually became his "Long'er." Wicked thoughts flickered through Yanqing's mind, but he suppressed them instantly. On one hand, Pei Shuying was indeed his elder; on the other, the father behind her was not someone he dared to provoke. The Hedong Pei clan was currently a hundred times more powerful than the Xingyang Zheng clan.

"Auntie, I don't drink!"

"Ha, you claim to be an 'Immortal of Wine,' yet you don't drink?"

"This..."

Zheng Yanqing scratched his head and sat down at the edge of the carpet with a wry smile.

"Auntie, why are you traveling in such terrible weather? Where are you going?"

The title "Auntie" felt very awkward, easily stirring up the most wicked thoughts. Moreover, this "Auntie" was quite beautiful, possessing the charm of a mature woman...

To his surprise, at his casual inquiry, Pei Shuying’s expression turned gloomy.

"Returning to Hedong."

"Ah?" Zheng Yanqing looked up in surprise. He had heard from Pei Xingyan that Pei Shuying had only arrived in Luoyang at the end of last year. Pei Shuying's father, Pei Shiju, would soon return to Luoyang as well; did she not want to see him? Why leave so suddenly?

"Little Imp."

Pei Shuying suddenly smiled. "I heard that Du Ruhui calls you 'Little Imp.' Is that so?"

"That Du 'Big Mouth'..." Zheng Yanqing felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. "I call him Brother Du to his face and behind his back, why does he spout such nonsense?"

"Giggle, don't blame him. Du Ruhui actually speaks very highly of you."

Pei Shuying laughed softly, as if wanting to cast aside her unhappiness. She picked up a white jade cup, sipped the wine, and let out a soft sigh.

"Is Auntie troubled by something?" Yanqing couldn't help but ask.

Her melancholy expression was truly moving. Even when forcing a smile, she couldn't hide the bitterness in her heart. Her breath was like orchids, and her soft sighs were enchanting. Zheng Yanqing’s curiosity was piqued; he truly wondered what could make such a beauty so sorrowful.

"Well, you want to know?"

"Mm, a little curious."

"Giggle, if you want to hear, then drink with me."

As she spoke, Pei Shuying pushed a cup of crimson wine toward Zheng Yanqing. Yanqing frowned, hesitated, then gritted his teeth and downed the cup in one go. He drank too quickly, and the wine made him cough violently.

This startled Pei Shuying. She had only meant to tease the boy to ease her own mood. She hadn't expected Yanqing to take it seriously and drink such a large cup...

Pei Shuying had heard from Pei Xingyan that Zheng Yanqing did not like alcohol and preferred tea. Unless in very special circumstances, he would drink at most one or two cups. In truth, Yanqing did not have a high tolerance, but he possessed great self-control.

"You little imp, I was just teasing you. Why drink so recklessly?"

Pei Shuying hurried over and gently rubbed Zheng Yanqing’s back. The warm, feminine scent washed over him, causing his face to flush bright red. Fortunately, the wine already gave him a flushed look, which provided some cover. Even so, he was overcome with agitation, as the view down her gown revealed a hint of pink that was impossible to ignore.

"Auntie, I'm fine now!"

Zheng Yanqing dared not look again and quickly closed his eyes.

Seeing him calm down, Pei Shuying felt relieved. At the same time, she thought this little gentleman was quite adorable and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Little Imp, where are you going?"

"Oh... back to Xingyang."

"Returning to Xingyang at a time like this?" Pei Shuying frowned slightly and said softly, "I heard the Zheng family is locked in a fierce struggle... Oh, I remember now. You seem to be from the Anyuan Hall branch. No wonder you have to go back now."

"Auntie knows about my family's affairs?"

"Little imp, the great clans of the East are all connected. How could I not know about the dispute between the seven branches of your Zheng family? I have a cousin who married a daughter from your family's second branch. So, I have some vague idea of the situation... But what is the point of you going back now? You shouldn't get involved in the affairs of adults... Besides, with your current reputation, regardless of the outcome, who would dare to provoke you? If I were you, I'd just let them fight it out."

Pei Shuying meant well, and Zheng Yanqing could only appreciate it. But she was not in the thick of it; how could she know the critical stakes? Zheng Yanqing was not returning just for some petty branch rivalry; his main goal was to get Zheng Shi'an into the Council of Elders. As for whether the sixth branch could hold onto the Anyuan Hall title, that was just a secondary goal. But he couldn't very well say these things, so he remained silent.

Pei Shuying said, "But I also know that you are likely not your own master. In the eyes of others, people like us, bearing the names of great clans, seem to live lives of infinite luxury without worry. But in reality, we are all helpless. Many things, even if we don't want to do them, we must... But Little Imp, remember this: when you marry in the future, be sure to find someone of equal standing. Otherwise, many troubles will arise."

Zheng Yanqing looked at Pei Shuying in confusion, not understanding why she had suddenly changed the subject.

Pei Shuying stared blankly at the roaring hearth, let out a long breath, and said softly, "Back then, I didn't want to listen to my parents' arrangements. I stubbornly insisted on my own way. I thought I had found someone I liked and could grow old with. Who would have known that while I could wait for him, he could not trust me... If I had listened to my father back then, would I be in this state now, a laughingstock for others?"

Two lines of tears fell silently. Pei Shuying seemed lost in a trance, unaware of them.

In this delicate state, there was no trace of her former heroic bearing. Zheng Yanqing felt a pang of pain in his heart. He had heard of Pei Shuying’s situation—that Li Dewu had been exiled to Lingnan for eight years, and Pei Shuying had waited faithfully. He had heard Pei Xingyan say recently that Pei Shuying had humbled herself, begging many people to help Li Dewu return to the Central Plains sooner. Apart from the wife of Zhangsun Sheng, the Lady Gao, she had even sought the help of Princess Guangyang and Princess Nanyang...

Why, then, had things turned out like this?

Pei Shuying wiped the tears from her face and gently ruffled Zheng Yanqing’s hair. "I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Little Imp."

"Auntie, is it that Li Dewu..."

"Don't mention that man's name!"

Pei Shuying’s expression changed abruptly, her eyes flashing with anger. "Do not speak the name of that heartless wretch again. I was blind, waiting bitterly for eight years for such an ungrateful man... Yanqing, you must treat Cuiyun well in the future. She is a good child. She may seem tough and headstrong on the surface, but she is very fragile and cannot handle being wronged."

Why had the conversation turned back to Pei Cuiyun?

Zheng Yanqing opened his mouth, then swallowed his words. Forget it; this kind of thing was impossible to explain clearly, and the more he explained, the messier it would get. At the same time, he caught a hint of the truth. Pei Shuying’s husband, Li Dewu, had likely done something to betray her during his exile in Lingnan, while she had been humbling herself to beg for his return, he had been living it up in Lingnan...

Now that Pei Shuying had heard the news, she naturally felt bitter. It made sense; someone as strong-willed as her could never handle such a blow. Not to mention, if Zheng Yanqing guessed correctly, the nobles of Luoyang were likely laughing at her behind her back. That would explain why she had left Luoyang in the middle of a rainy night.

"Auntie, don't be sad. It's not worth it to be sad for such a person."

Zheng Yanqing didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only sit by her side and drink with her.

Pei Shuying looked at him in surprise and suddenly burst into a giggle. She reached out and pulled Zheng Yanqing into her arms. "You really are a 'Little Imp.' No wonder Yuanqing admires you so much, and Cuiyun mentions your name all day long. Don't worry, Auntie will never spend her days grieving for that stinking man."

"En, Auntie shouldn't think about that stinking man. You still have me... and Yuanqing by your side."

Zheng Yanqing was enveloped in warmth and fragrance, his head pressed against Pei Shuying’s chest. His heart was pounding. He had almost let something slip, but fortunately, he had reacted in time and dragged Pei Xingyan into it.

"Auntie should be happy and beautiful every day, making that stinking man look on and regret his choices. That is the correct path."

Pei Shuying flashed a sweet smile and gently patted Zheng Yanqing’s back.

"Little Imp is right. I should be happy, I should be joyful, and let that guy regret it. Hmph, why should I hide from him? He should be the one hiding from me... En, I will return to Luoyang tomorrow and see what kind of face that heartless man has."

This felt so good!

Yanqing buried his face in Pei Shuying’s embrace, subconsciously wrapping his arms around her slender waist. As for what Pei Shuying was saying, he could no longer remember. In this state of infatuation, he could not think of anything else.

This was the power of a mature woman. At the same time, the faint sense of warmth gave Yanqing an unprecedented feeling of security. Since his rebirth in the Kaihuang era, aside from the feeling he had received from Nanny Xu in his early childhood, this was a long-lost sensation.

Pei Shuying, too, had no idea what kind of state the ten-year-old "old man" in her arms was in. She had no children; her husband had been exiled shortly after their marriage, and she had remained chaste for eight years, never having had such intimate contact with a man. When Yanqing’s arms circled her waist, a strange feeling stirred in Pei Shuying’s heart.

It was wonderful, yet complex.

The little man in her arms had a very strange quality. He was as