Chapter 213: Side Story 4: Pei Zhi and Xie Lin

After many years apart entering the capital, Su Wan had long been different from before; few people linked her with Gongsun Yu. Now Su Wan, aside from needing to avoid the Gongsun family, no longer needs to hide as she once did.

Moreover, avoiding the Gongsun clan is not out of fear of anything; it is simply that she does not wish to have any further contact with people from the past.

This time Su Wan entered the capital for two reasons: first, to celebrate Xiao Ningxi's tenth birthday; second, to bring Gu Fengchun and his two sons to spend the New Year with Shen Shuangning's family.

Xiao Ningxi is only two years older than Gu Xun; although still young, she already shows the makings of a great beauty.

Compared to Ningzhou's sturdy and lively temperament, Xiao Ningxi is always aloof, seldom smiling, and even in her dealings she bears a maturity beyond her years.

Even Old Lady Shen couldn't help but say, 'Ningzhou takes after his mother, while Ningxi takes after his father.'

What is more rare is that, though Xiao Ningxi grew up surrounded by honeyed affection and enjoyed countless favors, she never developed an arrogant, self-important nature.

She understands the bigger picture and knows right from wrong; she needs no worry from her parents, and often ends up educating her elder brother.

Ningzhou is also happy to heed her words, so as parents Shen Shuangning and Xiao Jingyuan have that much less to worry about.

The three-year-old Gu Nian loves to follow Xiao Ningxi wherever she goes; upon seeing her, he reaches up to hug her legs, calling her in a babyish voice, 'Ningxi sister.'

Xiao Ningxi smiled faintly, about to ruffle his hair, when Gu Xun snatched him away.

'Men and women should not be intimate,' Gu Xun said.

Gu Nian writhed in his brother's grasp, protesting in a muffled, indistinct voice.

Xiao Ningxi, dressed in a light pink ruqun, looked at Gu Xun and said, 'It's fine; you're both my younger brothers.'

Gu Xun's face flushed for no reason, and he somewhat flusteredly avoided her gaze.

That New Year's Eve, two unexpected guests arrived.

One was the Grand Preceptor Pei Zhi, whom outside rumors said constantly opposed the Regent Prince; the other was Yongning Marquis Xie Lin, who had not returned to the capital for a long time.

When Su Wan took her seat, upon seeing the two she could not help but startle.

Xiao Jingyuan, already seated in a dark-patterned python robe, wore an indifferent expression as if the arrival of these two meant nothing to him, and he ordered the servants to serve the dishes.

Su Wan found it utterly unbelievable—these three men were mutual rivals; who had seated them together at one table?

She had heard, moreover, that Xie Lin and Pei Zhi were still unmarried to this day.

Unable to resist the gossip bubbling inside, Su Wan quietly shifted to sit beside Shen Shuangning, lowering her voice to ask curiously, 'How come the Grand Preceptor and the Yongning Marquis are also here?'

Shen Shuangning replied, 'Xie Lin and my husband have been childhood friends all along, and their bond has never been broken. Now he has no relatives left at home, and having just returned from Tongzhou, Ah Yuan invited him to spend the New Year together at our residence.'

'It works out perfectly, for after the New Year Ningzhou will go to Tongzhou for training; with Xie Lin accompanying him, he can learn more, and we can rest easy.'

He had originally been invited by the Regent Prince himself...... Su Wan then immediately asked, 'And what about Pei Zhi? Isn't he at odds with the Regent Prince politically?'

Shen Shuangning blinked at the words, then burst out laughing: 'The disagreements at court, half of them are merely for show for the emperor; after all, between ruler and subject, between officials, there must always be some checks and balances.'

'He has come this time because he is resigning his office, wishing to spend one last New Year with us, which also counts as his farewell.'

Su Wan was even more astonished: 'Resigning his office—to do what?'

Shen Shuangning shook her head: 'I don't know that myself.'

While the two were speaking, the atmosphere at the other end of the table also grew somewhat subtle.

Xie Lin held his wine cup, but his gaze would occasionally flick to Pei Zhi, his brows slightly furrowed.

For some unknown reason, every time he saw Pei Zhi, a vague sense of familiarity would rise in his heart...... this feeling was like facing his elder brother.

Thinking of his brother, Xie Lin's eyes unconsciously darkened with a hint of sorrow, and without realizing it he drank several cups.

Pei Zhi had long noticed Xie Lin's scrutiny, yet pretended not to see it. Before coming, he had not expected Xie Lin to be present at all.

Xiao Jingyuan sat in the host's seat, taking in their small movements without a word, then turned to pick a piece of tofu stuffed with filling—the dish Shen Shuangning loved most—while she was still whispering to Su Wan.

Gu Fengchun sat at the lower end; although he had left officialdom years ago and no longer judged cases, his keen powers of observation had not faded.

Among these three, there clearly lay something unknown to others.

Gu Fengchun was by nature not a talkative man, and had no inclination to delve into others' secrets; thus he quietly withdrew his gaze and focused on removing fish bones for his wife.

After three rounds of wine, Xie Lin was the first to become drunk, his whole body slumped with his head resting on the table.

Seeing this, Shen Shuangning had wanted to send someone to take him home, but Pei Zhi spoke first: 'The Marquis's residence and my own are on the way; I'll see him back.'

Shen Shuangning fixed her gaze on him for a moment, then nodded: 'Very well, then thank you for the trouble.'

Pei Zhi helped Xie Lin to his feet, half-supporting, half-carrying him as they went out. Xie Lin's head leaned on Pei Zhi's shoulder, his mouth mumbling something indistinct, his steps so unsteady that he relied almost entirely on Pei Zhi for support.

After the two had left, Shen Shuangning could not help but worry: 'Is it really all right to let Pei Zhi escort him?'

After all, Pei Zhi is Xie Yan, and Xie Yan has always harbored resentment toward the Xie family.

Xiao Jingyuan's eyes darkened slightly, and he replied with an offhand air, 'What could possibly happen?'

Just then, a cluster of gorgeous fireworks burst open, gold and red intertwining to illuminate half the night sky.

Fire trees and silver blossoms—brilliant and dazzling.

Upon seeing the fireworks, Xiao Ningzhou immediately pulled his younger siblings out to the courtyard to watch, and ordered the servants to bring out the prepared fireworks.

Gu Fengchun bustled about like an anxious old father, fearing the fireworks might hurt the children, while Su Wan sipped plum wine, resting her chin in her hand as she watched.

The courtyard was a scene of lively bustle.

Shen Shuangning leaned against the doorway, engrossed in the view, when suddenly a warm hand appeared at her waist.

Xiao Jingyuan gently encircled her from behind, his chin resting on the top of her head, his alcohol-laced breath brushing her ear; taking advantage of the courtyard's din as cover, he whispered something in her ear.

Finally, he deliberately gave her earlobe a light bite—neither too soft nor too hard—infused with a touch of childish possessiveness.

Shen Shuangning's cheeks flushed; she slapped his hand away and snapped, 'You're the father of two children—why are you still eating sour vinegar out of jealousy?'

Xiao Jingyuan let out a low laugh, tightened his arms to hold her closer, and said, 'Let's have another.'

'Get lost!' Shen Shuangning gritted her teeth: 'I knew it was just an excuse!'

Xiao Jingyuan no longer teased her, speaking gently: 'Bearing children is hard; two are enough.'

Pei Zhi's carriage went all the way to the gate of the Yongning Marquis's residence; the household's young servant, already waiting there, saw Pei Zhi supporting the master of the house as he returned and hurried forward to lend a hand, but Pei Zhi lightly waved him off.

Upon entering, Pei Zhi's steps faltered as former memories overlapped with the present scene.

This was the first time he had entered the Yongning Marquis's residence under the identity of Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, lifted his foot, and stepped inside.

The servant hurriedly led the way, but as they walked he gradually felt odd: Grand Preceptor Pei, obviously making his first visit to the marquis's residence, walked ahead of him, as if he were very familiar with the route.

Not long after, they arrived at Xie Lin's room. Pei Zhi placed him back on the bed, then casually grabbed the blanket beside him and covered him with it.

After finishing all that, he was just about to turn and leave when a muffled voice came from behind him: Xie Lin's indistinct words: "Older brother..."

Pei Zhi's body stiffened slightly; he turned his head to look at the man on the bed.

Xie Lin's eyes were tightly shut, his brows slightly furrowed; evidently he was still in the drunken haze, and his earlier words were merely delirious talk.

Not long after, Xie Lin whispered again, his voice barely audible with a hint of choked emotion: "Older brother... I'm sorry..."

Pei Zhi stood where he was, his thin lips pressed into a straight line; he silently gazed at Xie Lin for a moment, ultimately saying nothing, and turned to leave without a sound.

Three days later, the news of Pei Zhi's resignation spread rapidly throughout the court and the populace.

The new emperor was deeply reluctant, tears streaming as he begged this teacher to stay, but Pei Zhi's resolve to leave was firm, and he ultimately departed.

After Pei Zhi resigned, his whereabouts became a mystery; no one knew where he had gone.

Some said he might have retreated to the mountains and forests, living a life of carefree clouds and wild cranes.

Others speculated that he perhaps set sail for distant lands, venturing to foreign countries, emulating his predecessor Zheng He, and overseas surveyed the territory and established diplomatic relations for Great Liang.

Only after several years did a rumor quietly arise.

Someone claimed to have once seen a white-robed monk in a temple, whose extraordinary bearing seemed celestial, and whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to that of the former Imperial Preceptor Pei Zhi.

After the news spread, many people deliberately went to the address to visit, but they never managed to see that white-robed monk; the temple monks only said that a traveler had once stayed there briefly, had already wandered off, and left no further trace.