RPAGF Chapter 211 Pei Huaijin
Chapter 211 Pei Huaijin
Wen Jiayue did not sit idly by and wait for her fate, but went to Ling He to inquire about the situation.
Has anything major happened in Chang'an recently?
Ling He said, "No."
Wen Jiayue frowned and asked, "Then what exactly does the Marquis intend to do by keeping you in his residence?"
Ling He said in a serious tone, "Protect the safety of Madam and Miss."
Wen Jiayue pursed her lips; that was definitely what she had to say on the surface.
Could it be that Ling He has already taken care of things in private, but she just doesn't know it?
After thinking it over, it seems that this is the only reason.
She was about to go back when a voice called out from afar.
"Sister-in-law!"
Wen Jiayue turned around in surprise, and sure enough, it was Shen Fuyou.
What's unusual is that he was followed by a maid.
The maid had her head down, so her face couldn't be seen clearly, but she was slender and somewhat petite.
She was a little puzzled. When did Shen Fuyou develop the habit of taking her maid with her when she went out?
A guess was about to emerge in her mind, but she suppressed it in an instant. He wouldn't be that bold, would he?
Glancing at Ling He, Wen Jiayue tried her best to maintain a normal expression and asked, "Fourth brother, what is it?"
Shen Fuyou said mysteriously, "Sister-in-law, I want to introduce someone to you. Let's go inside and talk."
Wen Jiayue's heart skipped a beat. Could he have really brought that Miss Yan'er here?
Shen Fuyou was about to come in when someone stopped him.
"Fourth Master, the main courtyard is a restricted area; you cannot enter for the time being."
Shen Fuyou never expected that he, the fourth master of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion, would be stopped by a mere guard.
He raised his voice and said, "You know I'm the Fourth Master, yet you still dare to stop me!"
He continued walking inside with a disgruntled expression. With a "whoosh," the longsword gleamed coldly, clearly reflecting his slightly astonished face.
"If Fourth Master takes another step forward, I will not hold back."
Shen Fuyou was furious: "You audacious guard! You..."
Wen Jiayue quickly said, "Fourth brother, don't be angry, I'll go out and talk to you."
Shen Fuhan only said she couldn't leave the manor, but he didn't say she couldn't leave the main courtyard. Since Shen Fuyou can't come in for the time being, it's the same if she goes out.
Unexpectedly, Ling He stopped her again.
“Madam, this person’s identity is unknown. I need to investigate him thoroughly before I can get close to you.”
His gaze fell on the maid behind Shen Fuyou.
Shen Fuyou quickly blocked his view and spoke with a slightly guilty conscience.
"She's my maid, what's so unclear about that?"
Ling He said, "Entering the mansion only requires a physical examination, but entering the courtyard requires a thorough investigation of the person's identity. I dare not be negligent."
Wen Jiayue became even more certain that this maid was the girl Yan'er.
She worried that if she continued talking, Ling He would become suspicious and report back to Shen Fuhan, who, given his personality, would definitely investigate.
Then the fact that my fourth brother is keeping a mistress will be exposed.
Wen Jiayue immediately said, "Fourth brother, I'm a little tired. Let's meet another day. You go back first."
Shen Fuyou said unhappily, "But..."
"Fourth brother, listen to me," Wen Jiayue shook her head, "Your eldest brother will be back soon, don't cause trouble at this time."
Shen Fu was startled and suddenly came to his senses.
He brought Yan'er here specifically when his older brother was away, but if things continue to escalate, his older brother will definitely find out.
Thinking of this, he honestly said, "Then I'll go back first. I'll come to visit again when my elder brother returns."
Shen Fuyou quickly left with her maid.
Wen Jiayue breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Guard Ling, you wouldn't have reported Fourth Brother's arrival to the Marquis, would you?"
She clung to a sliver of hope, but Ling He didn't give her that chance.
"meeting."
Wen Jiayue advised, "Since Fourth Brother didn't go into the courtyard, I didn't go out either. Why do you have to stick to the rules like this?"
"I was just following the rules."
Wen Jiayue asked in a different way: "How would you report this matter to the Marquis?"
"Fourth Master arrived with an unidentified maid and attempted to enter the courtyard, but his subordinates stopped him, and Fourth Master left."
Wen Jiayue was relieved to hear this. Even if Shen Fuhan asked, she could just use a maid to take the blame and he wouldn't know.
However, she never expected that Shen Fuyou would be so bold as to openly bring Miss Yan'er into the mansion. It was truly audacious.
Wen Jiayue returned to her bedroom while thinking about it.
The sky gradually darkened, and it looked like it was about to rain.
Five hundred miles away from the capital, Tingzhou was bathed in sunshine.
Shen Fuhan mounted his horse and ordered the return journey to begin.
That night, he stayed at the post station, preparing to write his last letter.
He dipped his brush in thick ink, but hesitated to put pen to paper.
Every time he wrote a letter, he would hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to write.
It's not that I have nothing to say, but rather that I have so much to say that I don't know how to put it into words.
After much thought, he finally wrote down a sentence: "I will soon return to the capital and arrive in Chang'an in about three days."
He paused, crumpled the letter, and tossed it aside.
He should arrive in one day when she receives the letter.
If nothing unexpected happens, he should return to Beijing on July 29th.
Shen Fuhan then picked up his pen again—"I will return to Beijing on July 29th. Could you come to Shili Pavilion on the outskirts of Beijing to welcome me?"
With the last stroke, he paused, then crossed out the entire sentence.
The main courtyard is the safest place; he cannot allow her to leave the residence, much less leave the capital.
What if the reason she died young in his dream was because she came to pick him up this time?
After thinking it over and over, Shen Fuhan still couldn't decide what to write. He sighed and looked out the window.
The moonlight was perfect, casting a serene glow through the window.
Shen Fuhan put down his brush, went outside, and stood on the veranda to admire the calligraphy.
Unexpectedly, the door to the next room also opened, and a figure in moon-white slowly walked out.
Although the outline is not clearly visible, the overall temperament is exceptionally gentle and refined.
Shen Fuhan then recalled that when he first entered the post station, the courier said that Pei Huaijin, the son of the Duke of Qi, was suffering from some acclimatization issues and had already stayed there for a day.
Shen Fuhan had naturally heard of Pei Huaijin.
He was the eldest son of the Duke of Qi, who was most favored by him. At the age of twelve, he fell seriously ill and there was no cure.
Fortunately, an abbot came to his rescue, saying that only by sending Pei Huaijin to a temple a thousand miles away could he have a chance of survival.
Desperate, the Duke of Qi sent his son to the new state.
Nine years passed in the blink of an eye, and the people of Chang'an had long forgotten about the incident.
Even Shen Fuhan was surprised to find that Pei Huaijin was still alive.
While he was lost in thought, Pei Huaijin had already walked up to him.
“I guess this gentleman is also here to admire the moon,” Pei Huaijin said, bowing respectfully. “My name is Pei Huaijin. May I ask your honorable name?”
His voice, like the man himself, is gentle and soothing, like a spring breeze.
Perhaps due to his many years of living in the temple, his expression was exceptionally calm and serene, and a slight smile remained on his lips as he spoke.
Compared to Pei Huaijin's gentle and refined manner, Shen Fuhan appeared much colder.
He said calmly, "Shen Fuhan."
Pei Huaijin then smiled and said, "So you are Marquis Jing'an. I've heard so much about you."
Shen Fuhan was not surprised that he knew his identity. Although he was thousands of miles away, he must have known about the news in Chang'an.
He nodded slightly: "I, Shen, have long admired Your Highness's name."
Before sending him to the temple, the Duke of Qi specially requested that Pei Huaijin be granted the title of heir apparent, hoping that he would one day return to the mansion to inherit the family business.
Pei Huaijin gazed at the bright moon in the sky and said gently, "The moonlight is beautiful; we should have a drink. What does Marquis Jing'an think?"
After a moment's thought, Shen Fuhan agreed.
The Duke of Qi's family is loyal to the Emperor, and there is no harm in associating with them.
Moreover, a few drinks might just inspire him to write the letter.