CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 360: PEI JI’AN AND XIAO SHIQING

Now the situation is set.

It’s just wrapping up the final work.

The guards below are enough to clean up the aftermath.

They would disturb their superior only if they encountered a problem they couldn’t solve, otherwise they wouldn’t dare to bother.

And Xiao Shiqing, as the superior, had been daydreaming for several days since he found the pouch.

Everyone around noticed he was acting strangely. Upon approaching, they found he was looking at a pouch.

One on the left, one on the right, comparing them?

The person watching didn’t realize at first, took a couple of steps closer, and then it hit them, a pouch?

Who embroidered the pouch? Did the boss take a liking to someone?

And comparing, trying to pick the best one?

Tsk tsk, you wouldn’t have guessed our usually silent leader would have a day like this.

This was the impression of the onlookers, but no one could guess what was in Xiao Shiqing’s mind.

The two pouches had not only identical stitchwork but were also made in the same style and design. Anyone would think the same person made a new one for him.

In reality, this pouch was not intended for him.

And Xiao Shiqing had not returned it because there were many questions he hadn’t unraveled.

So he spent his days staring at the pouch as if he could see some sign.

Because of this, Ji Nishang even knew about her cousin watching the pouch.

She always knew the old pouch on his waist was embroidered by Li Jirou, which was why he hadn’t changed it for years.

She didn’t know how many pouches she had embroidered for him, but he didn’t want them, which was why she always envied Li Jirou.

No woman would have a good feeling towards her lover’s sweetheart, so she did many irrational things back then.

Not to mention her; Xiao Shinuan even envied Li Jirou because Xiao Shiqing treated Li Jirou better than his own sister, who wouldn’t be jealous?

Xiao Shinuan even sent people to assassinate Li Jirou, showing how much she hated this woman.

Even Ji Nishang knew about such private matters, although Mrs. Xiao kept it well hidden, saying nothing in the world can be kept a secret forever.

Ji Nishang didn’t think Xiao Shinuan was wrong; instead, she regretted the assassination didn’t succeed. Otherwise, her cousin should have moved on by now.

But now that Li Jirou has become Young Lady Pei, why does her cousin still keep that pouch?

Keeping a pouch of a married woman was inappropriate, but no one dared to speak out.

But why was there another pouch now?

This had to put Ji Nishang on alert, could her cousin have shifted his affections to another girl?

This thought made Ji Nishang feel as if she was being cut with a knife, and to get to the bottom of it, she bribed the maid next to her cousin to find out where the pouch came from.

The maid came back saying the new pouch was exactly the same as the old one, looking like it was embroidered by the same person.

This struck Ji Nishang like a bolt from the blue.

Embroidered by the same person?

Li Jirou, a married woman, secretly flirting with her cousin?

Shameless!

Does Heir Pei know his wife is so unfaithful?

Ji Nishang was so angry she couldn’t sleep all night, determined to confront Li Jirou for an explanation!

But how could she confront her without proof? What would she say?

After much thought, Ji Nishang decided to tell her aunt about it. The secret contact between the Heir of the Xiao Family and the Young Lady of the Pei Family wasn’t a respectable affair. Once discovered, their reputations would be ruined.

"That wench must not be doing well in the Pei Mansion, so she’s out to seduce Shiqing!" Mrs. Xiao stood up in fury after hearing about it.

"True, but we have no evidence," Ji Nishang remained rational.

Mrs. Xiao wasn’t naive either; the Young Lady of Pei wasn’t a maid anymore like in the past. If things went south and she became reckless, the Pei Family might not care about their reputation, but the Xiao Family did!

"Who says we have no evidence? The pouch is evidence! I’ll get the pouch and throw it in her face, see how she explains!"

’Catch the thief with stolen goods,’ with the incriminating evidence, let’s see how she argues! Let’s see what the Pei Family will say then—having such a daughter-in-law, the Pei Family would be mortified.

"But our cousin guards those two pouches closely, we may have a hard time getting them," Ji Nishang voiced her concerns.

"Don’t worry about it, I have a plan." Mrs. Xiao said with a steely resolve.

Compared to the restlessness at the Xiao Family due to various issues, the Pei Family was doing much better.

Pei Ji’an had been tirelessly busy for a long while and finally got a proper rest yesterday.

To ensure good sleep, he didn’t disturb her.

It’s not that his body failed him, but such matters required energy and time. In times of leisure, he could indulge, but when busy and overwhelmed, even a strong body needs rest.

He had the heart but not the strength for it, and she was even less inclined to think about it.

For women, romantic intimacy doesn’t surpass men’s.

For a woman, romance is essential, even if they do nothing but lie on the bed with him holding her as they sleep, it’s the happiest thing.

So, early in the morning, when he was re-energized, his hands began to wander, and Qu Fulan felt the romantic atmosphere was broken. Wouldn’t it be nice just to hug without fidgeting?

She didn’t understand that men tend to be more, well, energetic in the morning. In the end, with reluctant compliance, they made a fuss once more until they were late in getting up.

The grandmother, knowing her grandson had been busy, allowed them to sleep in without the early morning greetings, noting her old age meant she didn’t need much sleep but acknowledged young people do.

Without a good sleep, where would the little children come from?

Now her eldest grandson had a son and a daughter, while the younger one was yet to have any. The grandmother, who always doted on the second grandson the most, naturally anticipated his children.

As for Pei Lian’s family, all these years, neither he nor his legal wife had any children, yet a concubine had conceived first.

The grandmother left them be, given it’s been so many years, and now separated into different houses, leaving it to Third Madam Pei to manage.

Though there’s a saying in the Pei Family that no concubines are allowed if no children are born to the legal wife, the messy state of their house has thrown all rules aside.

Now with the concubine pregnant, it’s still a child of that house, and Third Madam cannot force an abortion, so the child will be kept.

As for Yao Xing, Third Madam has long displeased with her and plans to find some excuse under the Seven Grounds for Divorce to send her away.

Somehow, the news reached Yao Xing’s ears, making her restless.

However, the pregnant concubine was well protected, and she couldn’t act even if she wanted to, driving her to anxiety-induced blisters.

This is a matter belonging to the third house, with the other two houses doing well independently.

Meanwhile, Heir Pei, having dressed, was about to leave again; although the Emperor was ill and couldn’t hold court, officials still had to take charge in their respective departments.

"With the Emperor’s illness, there won’t be any banquets soon, and the Foundation’s rewards can’t be granted short-term. Don’t be discouraged. No matter the Emperor’s pleasure, it’s just public recognition, with no practical effect. Eventually, it can’t surpass what I fight for your title. Just wait, in a few years, you’ll have your title of nobility."

He kept this matter in mind.

Qu Fulan hit him playfully, "I don’t care for the Emperor’s awards, nor am I looking forward to that title of nobility, so don’t bother."

Pei Ji’an lifted her hand and kissed it, "Though just a title, since others have it, so should you. Besides, in critical moments, such a title is for protection."

Qu Fulan knew having a title differed from not having one, but she didn’t want him risking his life in battle for it.

The couple indulged in a moment of affection and then set off separately—one to her aunt’s place and the other to the office.

Upon reaching the Ministry of Personnel, Pei Ji’an ran into Xiao Shiqing.

Though privately at odds, they nodded to each other in courtesy, and Pei Ji’an went in first.

Xiao Shiqing’s gaze, however, fell on the pouch tied to his waist.