Pei Ji was still explaining outside the hall: “I bit in a fit of anger. You deliberately tricked me earlier, and I heard it all.”
She clearly knew he needed a Virgin Body, clearly knew he could not join, yet she deliberately teased and angered him, making his heart pound so hard it nearly jumped out of his chest. In the end, this was to force him away so she could favor Li Guangi.
He had been her fiancé for so many years. Although he had not been able to stay by her side, and even after growing up he had not recognized her, he had always sent her gifts during festivals and holidays.
Yet she snatched him back to make him a face consort. Not only did she call him a concubine, but she also humiliated him in front of Li Guangi and backed Li Guangi up.
Then what was he?
Even more importantly, how could she be so intimate with Li Guangi.
Kissing Xie Wangze was one thing—after all, he was the Prince Consort—but Li Guangi… she was so intimate with Li Guangi.
Pei Ji completely broke: “Over a dozen years of affection, and it was all wasted.”
Chu Yunge: “…Where did we get over a dozen years of affection from? Haven’t you always not wanted to marry this princess?”
“That was because I had to cultivate.” Although over a dozen years was a bit of a stretch, he had still kept her in mind. The festival gifts were all carefully selected and prepared by him with care.
“In any case, you cannot treat me like this.”
Chu Yunge: “…Pei Ji, you’re quite skilled at turning the tables. You were the one who inexplicably refused to leave first, so I counterattacked.”
“Since you heard it all, why are you still here? Don’t you know one should not eavesdrop on improprieties?”
Of course Pei Ji knew, but he himself could not figure it out. He had clearly heard such agonizing and painful things, yet he sat there like he was torturing himself.
Chu Yunge looked at the silent Pei Ji: “What does your silence mean? You’re still not leaving? Do you want to keep eavesdropping?”
Pei Ji pressed his lips tight. After a moment, he nodded: “Right, I’m not leaving.”
At that moment, Pei Ji vaguely understood what he wanted. Perhaps he was forcing himself to see her clearly.
Or perhaps he hoped she would care, that she would stop.
Unfortunately, Chu Yunge did not care at all.
“Listen if you want to listen.”
With that, she turned and left.
Pei Ji’s heart sank lower and lower. Not only did she not care about him anymore, she also did not care whether he listened or not…
Du Ruo, listening from the side, felt her head spin. She did not even know Li Guangi was still inside the hall. She just saw Chu Yunge turn around, and Pei Ji looked like he was about to cry.
“Your Highness, the Little Marquis seems like he’s going to cry.”
Chu Yunge had not turned back yet when Pei Ji whipped around and retorted harshly: “I’m not crying.”
Chu Yunge looked at Du Ruo: “See how fierce he is.”
He was fierce, but looking at his figure on the ground, she could see Pei Ji’s chest heaving—he was clearly furious.
She turned back: “So, Pei Ji, why are you so obsessed with staying here? Don’t use detoxing as an excuse. You know this isn’t normal, right?”
Of course he knew.
Pei Ji turned around, his back to Chu Yunge, and sat down again.
“I’ll figure it out. Tonight, I’ll stay right here and think it through.”
Chu Yunge: “…You aren’t falling for me, are you?”
“No way!” Pei Ji instantly bristled all over: “Am I crazy or something?”
Right, he was not crazy yet, not completely insane. He would not like her.
He just had to cultivate the Infinite Divine Art, and because he was betrothed to her early on, everyone around him had only been attendants. He never got close to girls. His first contact was with her, and she kissed him but did not acknowledge it, so he could not help thinking of her.
The girl he wanted to like did not have to be extraordinarily beautiful, but she had to be someone he could talk to, share common ground with. More importantly, she had to be kind.
The two of them had to be of one mind, never betray each other, never have wandering eyes or face consorts.
She would never kiss one after another, deny it after kissing, and shirk responsibility before even getting her.
The girl he liked would only have him, never a second, third, or fourth man.
Chu Yunge chuckled: “No need to deny it so vehemently. If not, then not.”
Pei Ji acted just like someone who liked her, but he would not admit it himself, preferring to think he was crazy.
“Think it over slowly.”
Chu Yunge touched her chin and glanced at Pei Ji again.
Tall and straight, broad shoulders and narrow waist, full of heroic spirit, yet so innocently pure it was frightening. Even when bristling, he exuded his own charm.
Perhaps the Chu Emperor already liked him and had even shown it.
Pei Ji sensed it, could not figure it out, and came here to lose his mind?
Anything was possible. Whatever.
Du Ruo followed closely step by step behind: “Your Highness, you’re really ignoring the Little Marquis?”
“Ignore what?” Even if he did not like her, she could not manage him. And if he did like her, did she have to manage him just because of that?
She could not indulge these bad habits in men, letting them take an inch and demand a mile. No matter who she spent the night with, even if ten people guarded outside, it was useless—she would not change her mind.
They could dream on if they thought they could manipulate her this way.
If he settled down after learning his lesson, fine. If he kept making trouble, send him away early.
Chu Yunge shut the door and locked it in one smooth motion.
Du Ruo, blocked outside the hall, glanced back and could see the hurt and grievance in Pei Ji’s back even from his silhouette.
In the past, she could not stand seeing others well off and would definitely stir things up, but tonight, she obediently slipped away quietly.
Her current reliance was the princess; obeying the princess’s orders came first.
A cold wind whistled, and Pei Ji’s back looked desolate.
When he heard sounds from inside the hall again, the pain intensified, but in the end, he did not move.
Whether he was crazy or not, Pei Ji was still not sure, but he knew he would regret leaving—perhaps regret it for life.
So he did not leave.
When Chu Yunge returned to the bedroom, she saw Li Guangi standing by the bed, unease on his face as he kept glancing toward the door.
“No need to mind him. He’s just stubbornly refusing to leave.”
Li Guangi pointed at himself, then at the door. He did not know if he should leave or stay.
“Very bothered by him eavesdropping?” Chu Yunge nodded: “Indeed, normal people aren’t this perverted.”
Hearing this, Li Guangi did not know whether to relax or feel disappointed. As he looked up in distress, he saw Chu Yunge watching him with great interest.
Being watched like this, he immediately felt uneasy.
Chu Yunge took his hand: “Why do you look so uneasy again? Are you afraid of Pei Ji hearing, or afraid that I won’t mind Pei Ji being outside and will make moves on you?”
Li Guangi immediately recalled everything Chu Yunge had done to him earlier, and his hand unconsciously clenched tight.
Seeing Li Guangi like this, Chu Yunge could not help pinching his cheek: “Just one word, and your face shows signs of blushing. So easily shy.”
She finally understood why those men liked teasing girls. This shy one was truly adorable, truly likable.
Chu Yunge got on the bed, lay down, and patted the spot beside her: “Come up.”
Li Guangi hesitated for a moment, then obediently lay down, but he was so nervous his hands clenched into tight fists.
“Don’t be nervous. Although I like you, I won’t force you. If you’re unwilling, just shake your head.”
Li Guangi shook his head frantically upon hearing this, like a rattle drum, then realized and nodded vigorously.
Chu Yunge: “Shaking your head then nodding—what, willing or unwilling?”
Li Guangi hurriedly sat up, mustered his courage, and wrote: “Your Highness, no unwillingness. It’s just sudden, a bit bewildered, and afraid of not doing well enough…”
Back on the estate, he had once overheard a neighbor lamenting his wedding night. Because it was his first time with no experience, he performed poorly, too short a time, leaving the bride dissatisfied.
He had no experience either; it was his first time. He was afraid he would be like that neighbor.