"Sir, you have good taste. This hairpin was carved from a piece of rosewood that my husband chanced upon during his journey south. It was an excellent specimen. As it fell into a ditch full of Chinese flowering crabapples, it took on the red hue of the blossoms. So he carved this crabapple hairpin," the old woman explained with a smile. Her eyes were gentle as she looked at the hairpin. The early morning sun shone on her. A gentle breeze fluttered her thin, patched clothes, and a wisp of silver hair danced by her ear. Her eyes sparkled, as if she were lost in happy memories.
Pei Zhiyan could tell that the wood of the hairpin was of good quality. He nodded, took out a silver ingot from his bosom, and handed it to the woman. "I'll take this hairpin. Is this silver enough?"
The old woman looked at the silver ingot in her hand and quickly said, "It's too much. I don't have any change. Sir, please give me some small change..."
But Pei Zhiyan just smiled and put the hairpin into his bosom. "Keep it. This hairpin is worth the price."
Before the old woman could say anything else, he had already turned around and disappeared into the morning cooking smoke.
Pei Zhiyan returned to the mansion and went straight to Song Ruotang's courtyard. At this time, Song Ruotang had just gotten up and was still dressing her hair. He stepped into the room, put the steamed buns he was holding on the table, washed his hands with the warm water nearby, and then walked behind Song Ruotang.
Song Ruotang was coiling her hair. She saw Pei Zhiyan standing behind her in the mirror and was a little surprised. "Husband, you didn't go to the Court of Judicial Review today?"
"There's not much to do today, so I thought I'd come back first," Pei Zhiyan explained. Song Ruotang thought of Du Lingxuan's injury and asked worriedly, "Did the Du family impeach you?"
Pei Zhiyan's handling of Du Lingxuan had offended the Du family and broken the long - standing balance. The Du family would surely not let it go easily.
Pei Zhiyan looked at Song Ruotang's slightly furrowed brows, reached out his hand and gently smoothed them, then slowly moved his hand to her silky hair and stroked it gently. "It's okay. The Lin family stepped in today."
Song Ruotang paused, turned her head, and looked at Pei Zhiyan in surprise. "Why would the Lin family..."
Pei Zhiyan sat down calmly beside her. "They want to support Lin Yun."
Song Ruotang immediately understood and gave a soft laugh. But Pei Zhiyan explained, "I didn't agree."
Song Ruotang frowned slightly. "Why? If we join hands with the Lin family at this opportunity, the Du family won't be a match for us..."
Pei Zhiyan shook his head, reached out his index finger and pressed it against Song Ruotang's lips. "No. Lin Yun can't be the mistress."
Song Ruotang didn't say a word. Pei Zhiyan walked up to her, reached out his hands and hugged her into his arms. "A Tang, I don't want you to be a second wife. I'll only have one legal wife."
He wanted to reserve this position for the one he loved most. The Lin and Du families were already at odds. He could still break them apart without making Lin Yun the mistress.
Song Ruotang lowered her eyes. If Lin Yun became the mistress, cooperating with the Lin family would be a shortcut. But Pei Zhiyan didn't want her to be wronged.
He knew that because she had no family background, she had already suffered a lot of injustice. If Lin Yun became the mistress, Song Ruotang would be at her mercy.
Now they were on an equal footing, and Pei Zhiyan could still mediate. But if their status was clearly differentiated, the strict hierarchy in the inner courtyard of the Chen Dynasty was not something Pei Zhiyan alone could break.
Even though he was the chief judge of the Court of Judicial Review, he didn't have the power to modify the laws. At that time, Song Ruotang would be in a more dangerous situation.
But if he didn't cooperate with the Lin family, Pei Zhiyan would have a much harder time and would have to be more careful.
As if seeing Song Ruotang's worry, Pei Zhiyan sighed slightly, reached out his hand and stroked her head. "The situation of the three - way standoff among us has been going on for a long time. The Lin and Du families have been trying to win me over for a while. Lin Yun has been in the mansion for four years. If I were willing to take the shortcut, she would have become the legal wife long ago."
Pei Zhiyan bent down and got closer to Song Ruotang's face, touching her forehead with his. "A Tang, don't worry. We'll surely see the light at the end of the tunnel someday."
Hearing his encouraging words, Song Ruotang gave a soft laugh. She knew that Pei Zhiyan said these words to relieve her psychological burden. Her heart warmed. She tilted her head slightly, stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed Pei Zhiyan's lips.
Pei Zhiyan was stunned. He felt the soft touch on his lips, like a dragonfly skimming the water, vanishing in an instant. His eyes darkened.
Song Ruotang pursed her lips slightly, blushed, and didn't dare to look at him. Just as she was about to break free from his embrace, Pei Zhiyan tightened his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his arms.
Song Ruotang put her hands on Pei Zhiyan's chest, looked at his approaching face, and said in a hurry, "Didn't I see you bring something back just now? I'll go and have a look..."
As she said this, she was about to leave, but Pei Zhiyan wouldn't let her. Song Ruotang tried to pull his hands off her waist but couldn't move them at all. There was a hint of pleading in her eyes. "Zhiyan..."
Pei Zhiyan buried his head in her neck, turned his head and kissed her neck, making her shiver. Then he moved to her ear, gently took her blushing earlobe into his mouth, and whispered, "It's steamed buns."
Song Ruotang felt weak from his kisses. She leaned on Pei Zhiyan's strong arms for support, gasped slightly, and whispered, "That's just right. I haven't had breakfast yet..."
"Let me have my fill first, okay?" Pei Zhiyan gently kissed her cheek and moved to her lips. His tone even had a hint of pleading and expectation.
His voice was seductive. Song Ruotang couldn't resist. She wanted to refuse, but Pei Zhiyan didn't give her a chance. He kissed her lips.
Song Ruotang didn't know how she got back to the bed. It wasn't until Pei Zhiyan untied her belt and the cool wind blew that her hot head became a little clearer. She grabbed Pei Zhiyan's hand. Her face was as red as blood. Pei Zhiyan leaned down and kissed her lips. There was a hint of complaint in his tone. "It's been several days..."
Previously, they were either busy with other things or Song Ruotang went to bed early, leaving Pei Zhiyan with no chance.
After he said that, as if in punishment, he gently bit Song Ruotang's delicate collarbone. She let out a soft cry and felt a little pain on her collarbone. But then Pei Zhiyan gently licked it, turning it into a hot and throbbing feeling.
The hand that Song Ruotang had pressed on Pei Zhiyan gradually loosened. The latter took the opportunity to interlock their fingers and showed a triumphant smile...
After Pei Zhiyan was satisfied, Song Ruotang lying on the couch regretted it. How could she have been so soft - hearted and let this hungry wolf take advantage of her? Now she was lying on the couch, weak all over, not even having the strength to glare at him.
Pei Zhiyan got dressed cheerfully, walked to the table in the outer room, saw the two steamed buns he had bought in the morning, and called two maids. "You two go and heat these steamed buns and bring them here."
After the maids took their orders and left, he poured a cup of hot tea and walked back into the room. He helped Song Ruotang up. "A Tang, are you thirsty? Drink some tea."
Song Ruotang had been unable to control her voice just now. And this hungry wolf even asked her to be louder, making it impossible for her to stop. When he mentioned this now, Song Ruotang couldn't help but glare at him.