princesa xiangsi - Capítulo 39
"I want him dead." Pei Junwu calmly interrupted her, his tone resolute and brooking no argument.
“Yes, he deserves to die!” Yuan Xun, who had been holding back his words, said coldly.
"Those who bully Xiao Yuan will suffer a terrible death!" Yan Minyu also jumped up to express her opinion.
"Sister Juyuan..." Murong Hui realized that Xiao Juyuan was the only one on her side, and she silently pleaded with her through her teary eyes.
Xiao Juyuan glanced at her and gave her a reassuring look. She walked towards Pei Junwu, took his hand, and pleaded gently, "Brother Wu, although Murong Xiao..." She hesitated, "...deserved to die, the Murong family has always been on good terms with us, and we don't need to become mortal enemies with them."
Not worth it? Xiao Yuan smiled in the dark corner. For her, it wasn't worth it!
Pei Junwu coldly raised his eyes to look at her. Xiao Juyuan was stunned, her heart was stabbed hard. This was the first time in so many years that he had stared at her with such cold eyes.
She stood there stiffly, her grip on his hand unconsciously loosening.
"You can leave now. Tell your father what I mean." Pei Junwu withdrew his gaze, but did not look at Murong Hui again, even though he was speaking to her.
“A-Wu!” Pei Fuchong and Gui Datong exchanged a glance and finally stood up to speak. “If Juyuan thinks that Murong Xiao should be spared, then you shouldn’t be so stubborn. After all, Xiaoyuan wasn’t really defiled by him.”
Xiao Yuan swayed, feeling incredibly embarrassed... utterly humiliated! She stood up and walked out of the hall without looking back.
"Xiao Yuan! I'm sorry!" Murong Hui called out to her, wanting her to say a few words of pleading to Pei Junwu, but... it was really hard to say that request.
"Xiao Yuan." Xiao Juyuan continued, her voice sounding somewhat strange. Xiao Yuan stopped in his tracks. "Don't go. What are you thinking? Talk to Brother Wu, he'll definitely stand up for you."
Xiao Yuan suddenly turned around, and sure enough, for some reason, Xiao Juyuan had even forgotten to pretend to be cute, and that sharp-tongued face—or at least that sharp-tongued look—appeared again. Looking at the expression she had witnessed ten years ago, she smiled.
"I'll come back to him for justice once I've truly been defiled by Murong Xiao." She sneered and turned to leave.
Everyone's face stiffened, and Pei Fuchong was especially embarrassed. He stammered, "I...I didn't mean that."
Xiao Yuan ran all the way to the top of the mountain, took deep breaths, and wanted to shout and cry... but in the silent, deep night, she couldn't utter a single sound.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but she felt her legs were stiff from standing... Suddenly, she felt discouraged and wanted to go back to Western Xia and be an ordinary Li Yuan'er for the rest of her life!
Someone's there!
At this moment, she didn't want to see anyone, say anything, or hear anyone say comforting words to her! She quickly slipped into the dense grass behind the bushes, taking a deep breath to calm her overly rapid breathing.
"A-Wu, let's talk here." It was Pei Fuchong's voice. No wonder she only heard one person's footsteps, because the other person was Pei Junwu! She held her breath even more carefully.
Pei Junwu did not speak.
“Ah Wu, I still prefer your straightforward personality from when you were little. It’s good that you learned good martial arts from your master, but this weird and eccentric behavior doesn’t seem like a man of our Pei family anymore.” Pei Fuchong complained a little, but still didn’t get a reply.
"Father has to say something. Because today... A-Wu, the Xiao family is a descendant of the royal family of Later Shu. They are the rulers, and we are the subjects! Back then, our third brother, considering the generations of loyalty our Pei and Gui families had shown to the Xiao family, wanted to become sworn brothers with us and no longer address each other as master and servant. This was to commend our loyalty! One cannot forget one's roots! Although Later Shu has fallen and the world has changed, they are the masters, and we are the servants. This cannot be changed!"
“Father…I know.” Pei Junwu finally spoke, his voice low and almost hoarse.
"The Pei and Gui families have served the Xiao family for generations. Protecting the Xiao family and their treasures is our mission and a family motto passed down from our ancestors! Our Pei family is where it is today entirely because of the Xiao family's help. In the end, it is a gift from our master."
“Juyuan begged you so much today, yet you still acted recklessly! People say we only respect and fear Juyuan because we covet the Xiao family's treasure, and we can't explain it. Awu, she is your wife, but also your master! You must listen to what she says!”
Pei Junwu fell silent again.
“A man can steal, rob, gamble, and whore, but he can’t go back on his promises! Your sister-in-law betrothed her daughter to you, which gave you the opportunity to study under such a good master and get to where you are today. You can’t let Juyuan down!”
"I'm sorry to her?! How can I possibly repay her? If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would rather give up martial arts and my current status!" Pei Junwu actually spoke in such an agitated voice? These words, which seemed to be roared from the bottom of his heart, actually made her heart tremble.
"Awu!" Pei Fuchong scolded his son, "This is your fate! You are my son, and I know what you're thinking. You've fallen for Li Yuan'er, haven't you?"
Pei Junwu's silence made her heart skip a beat. Did his silence mean he agreed or that he didn't bother to refute her?
"The other day, the second brother came back and made a big fuss about seeing an absolute beauty, which I didn't pay much attention to at first. But then I saw her... You're still young, so it's natural for you to be attracted to beauty. With your current status, if Juyuan agrees, you could take a concubine..."
"I can't let Xiaoyuan be a concubine!" Pei Junwu coldly interrupted his father. The excitement from before had passed, and he could speak in his usual voice again.
Her heart skipped a beat; she was terrified he would hear her.
"So what do you think?" Pei Fuchong asked, puzzled.
Pei Junwu laughed coldly, it was unclear whether he was mocking himself or fate, "I can't let Juyuan down, can I?! I can't let Xiaoyuan down either! As for Murong Xiao, no one can say anything, and no one can bully her!"
Chapter 37 of "The Smiling Flower": As Long As I Am Here
"Come out," Pei Junwu said softly after Pei Fuchong had walked away.
Xiao Yuan froze. He'd discovered her? Not surprising. It was extremely difficult to hide from him, unless it was someone like Yi Chunjun, a monster.
She remained crouched in the grass, motionless. Pei Fuchong's words... made her feel embarrassed. She heard the rustling of clothes, and then she saw his hem and shoes.
Her mind was in turmoil... This morning she hated him so much, resented him so much! He saved her, and she still despised him, but now, could she still harbor resentment?
She once blamed the Pei family for being crude and ignorant, resented their kindness towards Xiao Juyuan who impersonated her, and resented Pei Junwu for loving and protecting her... Shouldn't she blame herself the most?
If she hadn't disobeyed her mother, wouldn't the Pei family be respecting and doting on her now? Wouldn't Pei Junwu be loving and thinking of her too? Who else could she blame?
Today she learned the true relationship between the Pei and Xiao families. The Later Shu dynasty was destroyed and the Xiao family fell into ruin, but the Pei and Gui families remained loyal and devoted to them. How could she possibly resent or blame them?
How did the true heir of the Xiao family feel upon hearing Pei Fuchong's words? He instructed his son not to forget his roots, to be loyal and righteous to the orphan of the Xiao family, to obey the orphan's every word, and to treat the powerless and unreliable girl who only attracted covetousness and trouble as if she were his master, with both respect and love.
She buried her face in her arms... If she had listened to her mother, if... it would still be the same bitter and desperate answer: there are no ifs.
Tears streamed down her face, soaking her skirt and causing her to feel that they owed her something. But... didn't she owe them anything? Didn't she owe Pei Junwu anything?
She bewitched him, scorned him, and repeatedly tormented and aggravated his heart. But what did he do wrong? He was good to "Xiao Juyuan," and even with beauty before him, he still chose "Xiao Juyuan." What was wrong with that?