Chapter 34: Haha, Mutton Soup

Liu Changning’s expression froze slightly, a breath caught in her throat.

She bent over, coughing violently. Perhaps some air had entered her windpipe, and she coughed too forcefully, causing tears to form at the corners of her eyes.

Pei Yuanshao reached out his hand, hesitated for a moment, then placed it on her back, patting lightly to help her catch her breath.

He said irritably, “Despite being a woman, you act so recklessly. You were just standing there quietly, yet you managed to choke yourself into such a state.”

Liu Changning had no time to respond to him, continuing to cough violently for quite a while before finally catching her breath.

She straightened up and raised her eyes. Two rows of raven-black eyelashes were dotted with teardrops, and her cold pupils were coated with a layer of misty moisture.

Pei Yuanshao met that pair of watery eyes, his heart slightly stirred. He was momentarily lost in thought, and his hand continued patting her back without stopping.

Liu Changning had already stood up straight by now. His hand had no place to land and was patting the air, looking somewhat foolish.

Liu Changning gave him a strange look, nodding towards his hand to remind him, “That’s enough, snap out of it.”

The young man before her suddenly looked up, his handsome face slightly flushed. He withdrew his hand, curling his fingertips, and awkwardly averted his gaze.

A hint of amusement flickered in Liu Changning’s eyes. The corners of her lips curved into an extremely subtle arc as she said slowly, “Why should I care about Guang Jing? The matter in the cleaning room earlier wasn’t as filthy as you imagined. Guang Jing will leave this place tomorrow.”

Although they were just a fake couple, they were living under the same roof after all. Out of respect, Liu Changning took the rare step of explaining her arrangements for Guang Jing in a few more words.

Hearing her explanation, Pei Yuanshao’s peach blossom eyes unconsciously curved slightly.

Seeing Liu Changning look over, he quickly concealed the joy in his eyes.

He said, contradicting his true feelings, “Why are you telling me all this? I’m not the kind of jealous husband.”

Seeing his nonchalant expression, Liu Changning thought to herself, you’re even more unpredictable than a husband!

She pursed her lips, not voicing her thoughts, and only casually asked, “Why did you come home so early today? Will you be back this early tomorrow as well?”

Pei Yuanshao was stunned for a moment, the teardrop mole at the corner of his right eye turning red.

This woman was showing concern for him.

Realizing this possibility, his mood improved by three degrees. With joy overflowing in his eyes, his brows furrowed for a moment before he said softly, “If you want me to come back earlier on regular days, I can…”

Liu Changning gave him a strange look and continued, “Since Guang Jing will be moving out of the woodshed tomorrow, I can pack my things and move back to the woodshed. I’m telling you this in advance to avoid us not meeting if you return to the room at the midnight hour tomorrow.”

The light pink color on Pei Yuanshao’s face disappeared completely. He looked up and gave a complex look at the woman sitting formally on the edge of the bed.

He dropped his hand powerlessly and said in a deep, desolate voice, “Alright.”

Liu Changning didn’t quite understand the thoughts of men in this world.

Her convenience husband had always been mercurial, and she had long since grown accustomed to it.

Seeing that he was not in any great distress, she chatted with him briefly before pushing open the door and leaving.

—

Meanwhile, on the other side, having personally witnessed Liu Changning supporting Pei Ziyuan back to the room.

Jing Huan almost crushed the door ring of the wooden door.

Her eyes were gloomy, and the corners of her lips curled into a bloodthirsty arc.

New grudges and old hatreds, she couldn’t blame him for using any means necessary.

Since Pei Ziyuan dared to foolishly hope and like her master, she would let him taste the pain of being ruthlessly rejected by the person he loved.

Her clumsy seduction today was actually a two-fold calculation.

If successful, the desire that had existed in her heart for five hundred years would finally be satisfied.

Afterwards, she could naturally reveal her identity to her master and leave this place together with her.

If it failed, it wouldn’t matter either.

Her clumsy confession would make that person feel disgusted and drive her out of the house. But after driving her away, the long emperor who had been affected by the infatuation grass would want her even more shamelessly tonight.

She understood the heartless Dao ancestor Liu Cangyun. She had always treated people equally and impartially. If she drove her away without mercy today,

Tomorrow, she would divorce Pei Yuanshao without mercy for shamelessly exposing his intense desire for her in front of her, just like her.

Even if Pei Yuanshao held some leverage, if that person truly became angry,

If someone repeatedly touched her bottom line,

When she became cold, she truly became extremely cold, and no one could threaten her. Unless they broke both her legs…

Their demon clan always did things by any means necessary. Even if they left, even if they couldn’t control the evil thoughts in their hearts,

She would drag someone down with her into the abyss, even if she had to randomly grab someone.

Jing Huan played with the copper ring on the wooden door of the cleaning room, smiling meaningfully.

Since Pei Ziyuan had pushed her to this point, she was merely plotting against him a little bit in return.

Having stayed in this northern borderland for over a month, her shadow guards hidden in the dark had thoroughly investigated every move of the long emperor since her exile.

Since she could conceal it from the ears and eyes in the capital and make moves in the northern borderlands, there must be her people in North Ring County.

And this spy on the surface was obvious – the second daughter of the North Ring County magistrate.

Pei Yuanshao had moved her nail in the northern army. Before leaving, she would also pluck a few of his hairs.

—

After the beginning of autumn, the sky darkened earlier.

Liu Changning went down the mountain, found the village head, stuffed her a tael of silver, and entrusted her to find a new peasant family for Guang Jing to stay with.

After finishing this task and returning home, the sky had completely darkened.

The old square table in the main hall was full of dishes.

Jing Huan sat properly on a stool to the side, craning her neck and waiting.

Seeing her push the door open, she called out from afar, “My lady has finally returned. If you were any later, the food would have gone cold.”

Liu Changning raised an eyebrow. She walked up close, took out five taels of silver from her bosom, stuffed them into his hand, and said indifferently, “I’ve just arranged everything with the village head. Tomorrow, she will find another household for you to stay with.”