Volume One, Chapter 8: The Young Master Must Believe in Himself

“Take it easy, it hurts…”

Behind Pei Yueshu was a sandalwood shelf, upon which several valuable porcelain vases were displayed. At this moment, the bowls, each the size of a small sea basin, trembled slightly, and Pei Yueshu worried they might fall.

In such a moment, Huo Chi could not bear to see her distracted or half-hearted.

The room was deathly silent, broken only by the loud clattering of the porcelain bottles knocking against the shelf beneath them.

Just as a vase was about to fall, Huo Chi caught Pei Yueshu and carried her back to the bed.

He opened the window, letting the bright moonlight of the night spill in.

This was what it meant to admire a beauty under the moonlight—Huo Chi finally understood.

He lifted her face, sharing an intimate embrace. Unable to leave any marks on her body, he poured all his passion into those luscious red lips, grinding and sucking while indulging in this exquisite pleasure.

Until two indistinct words slipped from Pei Yueshu’s lips, Huo Chi's entire body stiffened as if doused with a bucket of cold water.

No, it was far more disheartening than that!

“Who were you calling for?” he asked, gripping her face, his eyes filled with a sinister gleam.

“Lord, weren’t you asking that knowingly?” Pei Yueshu’s face blossomed into an extraordinarily radiant smile, her cheeks flushed—a truly devastating beauty.

Huo Chi admitted he was captivated by her, but she was just a pawn, not yet capable of swaying him.

That was enough for today. Huo Chi rose, dressed, and left.

Pei Yueshu propped herself up, her eyes shimmering with charm. If Xiao Xuanyu wished to tame her, she could just as well tame him.

Until she safely bore her son, Huo Chi would remain firmly in her grasp.

She wrapped her arms around him from behind, planting a kiss on his strong, powerful waist.

A shiver ran through Huo Chi’s body. He grasped Pei Yueshu’s hand as it wandered downward, his expression dark and changeable.

“Lord, you’re hurting me,” Pei Yueshu murmured, pressing her face against his back, her breath soft and intoxicating.

Huo Chi took a deep breath, turned, gripped her waist, and kissed her deeply.

That night, Huo Chi was late to arrive.

But he came in the end; this was the last night, and he couldn’t bear to miss it.

Without any preparation.

Pei Yueshu winced in pain but did not beg this time.

Huo Chi furrowed his brows but softened in the end, capturing her earlobe between his lips.

“You’d better give me a son, or else…”

Pei Yueshu closed her eyes. “Or else what?”

“I will drag you out of the palace, so you’ll never be able to avenge your husband in this lifetime.”

Huo Chi pressed his lips to hers.

---

Pei Yueshu curved her lips, knowing she had won decisively.

She reached out, touching his brows and eyes, her gaze filled with profound affection.

“Lord, you must believe in yourself.”

That night, Huo Chi was especially greedy; only when the sky was fully bright did he leave.

Pei Yueshu lazily leaned against her pillow. No matter how tired she was, she waited until the room was tidied before resting.

Today, Huo Chi dressed unusually slowly, and Pei Yueshu couldn’t help but urge him with her eyes.

Unexpectedly, he did not leave but came closer instead.

“Don’t disappoint me.”

Pei Yueshu understood those words, but she did not understand the kiss Huo Chi left upon her face.

Perhaps she understood perfectly well but simply did not care.

By evening, the palace sent over the auspicious robes and crown Pei Yueshu was to wear the day after tomorrow.

There were also palace officials assigned to oversee the wedding preparations.

This time, Xiao Xuanyu did not act covertly but gave her full face.

She knew the real reason behind his actions—it was a gradual probing of her limits.

She had grown weary of such tactics in her previous life.

Now bearing the title of imperial consort, she could no longer attend the final rites for Yu Hechuan tomorrow.

Pei Yueshu did not mind; she had already seen him off once. This time, she quietly warmed a pot of wine at the Yu residence.

Young Lord Yu’s funeral was grand. Though the emperor did not appear personally, he sent a prince to represent him.

Later, even the Linxi Huo family sent someone—the new young master of the Huo clan.

Yet Madam Yu’s face betrayed no joy; she dared not come near this nephew of her natal family.

Fortunately, Huo Chi only observed briefly before leaving; otherwise, Madam Yu might have been frightened to death.

After the funeral came the procession escorting Consort Chen into the palace.

Within such a short span, a death and a wedding—unheard-of occurrences.

Neither the Pei family nor her father sent anyone.

Pei Yueshu knew from now on she had no ties with the Pei family.

Since they urged her to enter the palace, they had severed all ties.

Whether she lived well or ill in the palace, whether she flourished or declined, the Pei family would act as if she no longer existed, never claiming her achievements.

Most of her dowry was left to Qiukui.

She only took along Iris, Madam Du, and two maids who had served her since childhood.

The wedding was naturally livelier than the funeral. Though Consort Chen’s entrance could not rival that of the Empress, it was still far grander than most noble marriages in the capital.

The entire Danfeng Street was strewn with wedding sweets and scattered silver coins.

---

Huo Chi sat atop a high tower, watching the procession for Consort Chen pass by. He stood silently by the window, and it took his confidants calling for a long time before he snapped back to reality.

But by then, the procession had reached the palace gates—there was no stopping it.

Jingyang Palace was awash in red as far as the eye could see.

Pei Yueshu was supported inside by two female attendants. The interior scene and decorations were no different from her previous life, though her sharp eyes noted several unfamiliar faces.

“Consort, according to protocol, you must wait here. The emperor just sent a decree saying he will come at the hour of Youzheng.”

Pei Yueshu’s expression was indifferent, betraying no hint of joy or sorrow.

The attendant, unable to gauge her temperament, recalled how Pei Yueshu had once expelled the palace maids who were to instruct the concubines in etiquette. The emperor neither punished this act nor made it public.

With some apprehension, the attendant offered a few auspicious words before quickly taking her people away.

Now, the room was left with only Pei Yueshu and her attendants.

Other palace maids and eunuchs of Jingyang Palace would only meet their new mistress the following morning.

“Miss… you must stay strong,” Madam Du said with concern, holding Pei Yueshu’s hand, fearing she might become despondent.

After all, she had witnessed the bond between the young lord Yu and her.

“Miss, let me help you bathe first,” Iris said, knowing Pei Yueshu would not do anything foolish but still unable to be cheerful.

The crown on her head looked heavy; it was best to remove it soon.

Pei Yueshu nodded. Since Xiao Xuanyu wished to indulge her, she would endure it.

After changing into comfortable sleepwear, the imperial kitchen, by the emperor’s order, sent a variety of delicacies. Since it was dinner, there was little meat or fish, mostly nourishing dishes.

Pei Yueshu lost her appetite, only eating some crabapple pastries made at the Yu residence before resting.

The sky had not yet fully darkened. Pei Yueshu lay in bed, dismissing everyone but Iris.

“My period is a few days late?”

“Four or five days,” Iris replied, her tone tinged with happiness for her mistress.

“It’s no wonder, given all the fertility soups and medicines you’ve taken,” Iris added.

“Will no one find out?”

Pei Yueshu held her lower abdomen, no smile on her face but eyes shining with excitement.

In her previous life, her period came right before entering the palace.

“No, Qiukui is quite resourceful. She hired over a dozen people to buy various common prescriptions separately and then quietly combined them as tonic medicines to be delivered. You were ill for a time; the emperor knows this.”

Pei Yueshu nodded, then heard movement outside.

What was meant to come would come; only now, she was no longer afraid.