Pei Zheng stepped into the side hall, and with a slight wave of his palm, the door closed tightly behind him.
Shen Shijiu's eyes were bright. He ran to the door and stood in front of Pei Zheng.
Pei Zheng did not sleep last night and now looks a little tired, with a dark shadow in his eyes.
This side hall was very quiet, blocking out the noise and chaos outside.
Shen Shijiu just stood there, looking up at Pei Zheng with his head slightly raised, blinking his eyes, being incredibly well-behaved.
Pei Zheng slowly bent down and came in front of Shen Shijiu.
Shen Shijiu looked into his dark eyes, feeling a little nervous, and swallowed silently.
Pei Zheng turned his body to the side and leaned his head on Shen Shijiu's slender shoulder, facing his neck. He sniffed gently and smelled a faint medicinal fragrance that made him feel calm.
Shen Shijiu's body froze, with a tall and warm body pressed against him, and hot breath spraying on his neck again and again. He dared not move.
"Sir."
"Hmm..." Pei Zheng responded softly.
Shen Shijiu felt that the person on his shoulder seemed to slide down unconsciously. He quickly stretched out his arms and hugged Pei Zheng's waist, allowing him to lean on him more comfortably and prevent him from sliding down directly.
Pei Zheng really felt a little tired. After dealing with the Queen for so long, she still refused to give in and insisted on summoning Shen Shijiu into the palace, even alarming the Emperor.
There was no other way, Pei Zheng could only ask his people to go back to the mansion and bring Shen Shijiu into the palace as soon as possible.
Then he found an excuse to come out of the inner hall first, so that he could find Shen Shijiu when he had time.
No, it’s not Shen Shijiu, it’s his little prince.
But this matter must not be discovered by others.
He felt a soft touch on his back, a small hand stroking up and down, as if to comfort him.
"Are you tired, sir? It's okay. If you are tired, just take a rest. You can lean on my shoulder for a while... You are so great. You can do anything well because you are the best..."
His tone pretends to be sophisticated and mature, but in fact he sounds like a little adult.
Pei Zheng closed his eyes slightly, with the corners of his lips raised, enjoying Shen Shijiu's comfort and relief.
This little guy really has some magical power. He seems to be always so bright and warm, and his warm stream can melt all the ice. But he has obviously suffered the most, so how can he always be so lively and dazzling
Pei Zheng moved his fingers, raised them up, and slowly wrapped them around Shen Shijiu's waist, then retracted his force.
Shen Shijiu's body was suddenly pushed forward and he became unstable. Then his body was firmly supported by the pair of strong arms.
Originally, Pei Zheng had half of his body pressed on Shen Jiujiu, but now most of Shen Jiujiu's body was held up by Pei Zheng and tightly embedded in his chest.
Last night, Shen Shijiu was drunk unconscious with just one sip of wine, and Pei Zheng didn't have time to do anything before he was summoned to the palace.
Not even a good hug for him.
Now I am holding such a real and soft thing, which is warm and cozy, can breathe, can smile at him with curved eyebrows, and can also shed tears in front of him with red eyes when I feel wronged.
The blood in Pei Zheng's chest finally melted and started flowing again. He really wanted to hold the person in his arms forever.
But now, in the inner palace not far away, the majestic emperor and the harsh queen were waiting, as well as the weak and almost fainted Second Princess Qi Bingzhi, several ministers from the queen's family, concubines from the queen's party, and countless palace servants...
Those people were eyeing him eagerly to take the person he was carrying away again.
Pei Zheng relaxed his strength slightly, letting Shen Jiujiu stand on his own, then held the back of his head with one hand and looked carefully into Shen Jiujiu's eyes.
The curled eyelashes cannot hide the affectionate eyes that are full of watery light. The opening and closing of the eyes always sweep across people's hearts vaguely, alluring them without them realizing it.
The appearance of these eyes had changed a little due to the mask, but now they were gradually beginning to overlap with the eyes in the memory.
Shen Shijiu also looked back at Pei Zheng very attentively. He didn't know what happened to the adult, but he felt that the adult today seemed a little different from before.
Pei Zheng bent his slender fingers slightly and gently touched Shen Shijiu's eyelashes. Shen Shijiu closed his eyes sensitively.
Then, he felt a warm and soft touch on his lips. Shen Shijiu didn't dare to open his eyes or move. He clenched his teeth and clutched Pei Zheng's robe around his waist.
The wet and hot touch suddenly disappeared. Shen Shijiu still had his eyes closed, his heart beating so fast, and then he heard a deep and hoarse voice coming from his ear.
"Stick out your tongue."
After Shen Shijiu obeyed, his breath was completely taken away...
Pei Zheng kept his eyes open, watching Shen Shijiu's trembling eyelashes and the tears that gradually filled his eyelashes.
The face in front of me seemed to be slowly changing, and the mask on the surface seemed to be slowly melting, evaporating, and disappearing.
Then the original face underneath was revealed. Because of wearing a mask for many years, the skin became whiter and smoother than before, as delicate as sheep fat and jade.
Feeling that Huai'er's breathing was disordered and he was almost out of breath, Pei Zheng also breathed softly and let him go.
Shen Shijiu opened her eyes, tears rolled down her long eyelashes, and she looked at Pei Zheng wetly, her red lips slightly pouting, and she looked up at Pei Zheng with great grievance.
Pei Zheng's breath was choked when he saw his face clearly.
The person in front of me looked exactly the same as before, even more beautiful. Because she had not grown up, her face still looked childish.
Her eyebrows are like emerald feathers, her skin is as white as snow, her waist is as slender as a silk bundle, her lips are like shells, her eyes are like pearls and swaying autumn water, her cheeks are rosy and her face is like delicate flowers. The person reflected by the delicate flowers has a sense of purity and charm, but now she looks so pitiful with tears wetting her clothes. I don't know how lovable she is.
Pei Zheng suddenly raised his hand to cover his eyes, clenched his other hand into a fist, and took a deep breath.
If he were looked at by these eyes for a few more times, Pei Zheng didn't know if he would do something regardless of the occasion.
Shen Shijiu was confused and didn't know that the mask on his face had been melted off. He also didn't know that he was not disfigured at all and that it was all made up by Shen Huan to trick him so that he would keep wearing the mask.
After Pei Zheng calmed down, he took his hand away.
"Sir... I, I felt so uncomfortable just now..."
Pei Zheng wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Where does it hurt?"
"I, I can't breathe... I almost suffocated to death..."
Pei Zheng chuckled and touched the corner of his lips with his finger.
"Then I'll teach you how to not feel uncomfortable in the future, okay?"
Shen Shijiu didn't understand what this meant yet, and nodded obediently, "Okay..."
At this time, the little palace maid came and knocked on the door.
"Mr. Shen."
She was about to push the door open, but someone blocked it from behind and she couldn't open it.
The little palace maid had no choice but to get close to the door and say, "Master Shen, you have been summoned to the inner hall. You must follow me."
Shen Shijiu tugged at Pei Zheng's sleeve and looked at him at a loss, "Sir..."
Seeing how panicked and frightened he was, Pei Zheng didn't want to let him go to the inner hall at all, but at least he was with him, so he would definitely not let anything get into trouble.
He pulled the little guy's face over and kissed him, and Pei Zheng patted his little head.
"Don't be afraid. I will go with you."
Shen Shijiu felt relieved and nodded.
The little palace maid outside the door heard whispering sounds inside and was very surprised.
"Mr. Shen, are you talking? Is there someone else inside..."
Before he could finish his words, the door of the side hall was opened.
The first thing that caught her eye was a dark brocade robe with dark patterns. The little palace maid looked at the Prime Minister standing at the door in shock.
"Pei, Master Pei..."
The little palace maid hurriedly saluted. Wasn't Lord Pei in the inner hall? When did he get here? How come I didn't notice him at all
Pei Zheng's gentleness towards Shen Shijiu just now disappeared in an instant, "Go find a veil."
How could the young palace maid dare to be negligent? She hurriedly went downstairs to find it and then brought it over. As soon as she handed the veil over respectfully, the door of the side hall was ruthlessly closed in front of her.
Pei Zheng personally put a veil on Shen Shijiu, leaving only his eyes exposed. Fortunately, his eyes didn't change much, so it wasn't easy for others to notice anything unusual now.
"Wait, if someone asks you something, just tell them the truth. If you don't know how to answer, look at me and I'll answer for you. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Shen Shijiu nodded, "But sir, why should I bring this?"
He blew at the veil, and it flew up, revealing the bright red lips and white little chin underneath.
Pei Zheng calmly adjusted his veil, but his heart was actually beating fast.
When did I become so easily teased
"Just carry it with you, don't pick it off." Pei Zheng ordered.
"Oh." Shen Shijiu nodded obediently.
The door of the side hall opened again. The little palace maid was still waiting outside the door. When she saw the two people finally come out, she also breathed a sigh of relief.
The little palace maid led Pei Zheng and Shen Shijiu through the outer hall and courtyard, came to the door of the inner hall of the bedroom, and then withdrew.
The door to the inner hall was open, and the two men stood side by side at the door.
Shen Shijiu turned his head to look at Pei Zheng, and Pei Zheng happened to be looking at him.
The small hand hidden under the wide cuffs was pinched by slightly cold fingers. Although it was moved away immediately, Shen Shijiu's eyes curved slightly.
Pei Zheng stepped forward and walked in. Shen Shijiu followed behind him.
This inner hall is very large. Once you turn the corner, you can see the hall is full of people.
Sitting in the high hall in the center were the emperor and the empress, with the others sitting on both sides.
Pei Zheng saluted the emperor, then walked to the empty seat next to the emperor and sat down.
Shen Shijiu was arranged to kneel respectfully in the lobby. He could feel that everyone's eyes were on him. He buried his head deeply and dared not move.
"Are you Shen Nineteen?" the Queen asked, her voice sounding somewhat dignified but without any emotion.
"Yes." Shen Shijiu's voice was still soft and tender, and he looked pitiful.
"Look up."
Only then did Shen Shijiu slowly raise his head and look in the direction of the emperor and the queen.
When he raised his eyes, everyone around him was attracted by those extremely beautiful eyes and couldn't help but look at them a few more times.
The emperor on the seat was also slightly surprised. He had seen this person at a banquet before, so why did he feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity now
The queen was somewhat displeased to see that he was still covering his face.
"Someone, take off his veil for me."
The eunuch next to him was about to step forward to take action, but Pei Zheng said, "Wait."
"Empress, he has had a rash on his face these days, and he is afraid that it might infect others, so he wears a veil."
Pei Zheng lied calmly, while Shen Shijiu knelt there nervously grabbing the hem of his robe.
"A rash? Isn't he an apprentice of the Imperial Hospital? How come he can't even cure a contagious rash?"
The queen waved her hand and asked everyone to leave, but she still wanted to question them.
"Your Majesty may not understand that a doctor cannot treat himself."
The queen's face looked a little unhappy. How could she not know this? She was just using her authority to scold people.
Qi Bingzhi, who had been sitting next to the queen, suddenly coughed twice. She had just woken up not long ago and had lost a lot of blood. She couldn't get out of bed.
He should continue to recuperate in the Imperial Hospital.
But Qi Bingzhi couldn't just lie there. Things had developed to this point, and she had to put on her best show.
When the queen heard her daughter coughing, she felt heartbroken for a moment.
"Your Majesty, you have seen how badly Bing'er's body has been ruined. Although she has not been favored, I have always treated her like a treasure and taken good care of her. How come, how come she almost lost her life after living in the Prime Minister's Mansion for three years..."
The queen's eyes became moist as she spoke, and she looked like she was really heartbroken for her daughter.
The emperor patted her hand to comfort her, "Don't worry, Queen. Now that this matter has been handed over to you, you must give Bing'er justice."
The Queen's eyes became sharper, and she said to the kneeling Shen Shijiu, "Why don't you explain the matter quickly? How did you poison Bing'er?"
Shen Shijiu kowtowed hurriedly, "My Queen, I really didn't poison the Second Princess..."
Afterwards, he recounted the entire process of how he took Qi Bingzhi's pulse, prescribed medicine, and boiled the medicine. Although he spoke slowly, he was very detailed. He even remembered clearly what medicine was prescribed each time. He really didn't seem like a liar.
"But I heard that you were the one who prescribed the incompatible herbs to Bing'er, is that true or not?"
Shen Nineteen shook his head, "No, the repelling medicine is called Yu Gui, it is a very precious herb, I have never prescribed it for the Second Princess."
"Where did the medicine come from? Could it be that someone else prescribed the medicine for Bing'er?" the Queen continued to question.
Shen Nineteen replied, "Your Majesty, yes, he is. His name is Zhou Wu."
"Ahem..."
When Zhou Wu's name was mentioned, Qi Bingzhi's face turned even paler and he even coughed up some blood.
"Bing'er!" The Queen held her hand. "Listen to your mother. Go to the Imperial Hospital and let Doctor Jiang take a good look at you. Your mother is here. Go quickly."
Qi Bingzhi shook his head, breathing weakly, "Mother, Bing'er is fine. I, I want to see the people who hurt me get punished with my own eyes."
Seeing her persistence, the queen became a little anxious.
"Where is Zhou Wu now? Why didn't you call him over to confront us together?"
Shen Shijiu was stunned by the question. He knew that Zhou Wu was imprisoned in the Prime Minister's Mansion, but should he tell it out
Shen Shijiu looked at Pei Zheng, only to find that Pei Zheng had been looking at him and even curled the corners of his lips slightly at him.
"Empress, are you sure you want to ask about Zhou Wu now?"
Pei Zheng glanced at the people around him. Few of them really cared about the truth of the matter. They were all the Queen's confidants and just wanted to see him downfall.
"I can't ask a young apprentice?" The Queen didn't see Qi Bingzhi's shocked face and continued, "It seems that Lord Pei also knows the inside story? Or is this matter also related to Lord Pei?"
Pei Zheng did not answer, but looked at Qi Bingzhi with a smile on his face.
But that smile made Qi Bingzhi feel a little uneasy. Could it be that Pei Zheng knew about his relationship with Zhou Wu
No, no...
Qi Bingzhi could only keep comforting herself, but she was too nervous. Pei Zheng's eyes made her feel uneasy, as if everything was under his control.
The injuries all over her body and the broken fingers hidden in her sleeves made her understand Pei Zheng's cruelty.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Qi Bing covered her abdomen with her hands. A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. She gritted her teeth and persevered.
But Xiaomei beside her was the first to notice something was wrong. There were bloodstains on the princess' skirt, and they were getting more and more, dripping along the chair and onto the ground.
The Queen also saw it and screamed in fear, "Bing'er, Bing'er, what happened to you? Why are you bleeding so much? Someone, call the imperial physician!"
The others also became a little agitated and wanted to see what happened to Qi Bingzhi. The blood under the stool kept piling up, which made people feel cold.
Upon seeing this, Shen Shijiu quickly stood up from the ground and ran to Qi Bingzhi to take her pulse, but when the queen saw him, she pushed him to the ground.
"Get out of here! Don't touch Bing'er!"
Shen Shijiu was half-lying on the ground in a daze. He was a doctor. Although he had never seen so much blood flowing from anyone's body, he just wanted to help. Otherwise, the body would not be able to bear this amount of bleeding in a short while.
There was immediate chaos in the inner hall. Qi Bingzhi had fainted due to excessive blood loss, but no one dared to move her easily. They all gathered around her, trying to help stop the bleeding.
The emperor also looked a little worried. He frowned and sat aside watching everyone busy. Several ministers came over to comfort him, "Your Majesty, the second princess will be fine. Someone has been sent to call the imperial physician, and he will be here soon..."
Shen Shijiu wanted to stand up in the chaos, but was stepped on several times by the chaotic footsteps. Fortunately, only his clothes were stepped on, not him.
He finally pulled his clothes out from under the concubine's feet, turned over and knelt on the ground, using his hands and feet to crawl out of the crowd.
After dodging left and right, the view ahead finally became clear, but another pair of black boots appeared in front of me.
Why does it look familiar
Shen Shijiu looked upwards and saw the familiar hem of a robe, then a pair of straight, slender legs, and above that was Pei Zheng's handsome face.
Pei Zheng lowered his head and stood with his hands behind his back, standing at the outermost edge of the crowd, looking at the little person who was kneeling on the ground with his little head tilted up and looking at him. His black eyes brightened up noticeably when he saw him.
Very good, Pei Zheng really likes to see his unconcealed joy every time he sees him.
Pei Zheng bent down, stretched out his hand and placed it under Shen Shijiu's arm, then with one force he lifted the little man up from the ground and placed him in front of him.
However, just as Shen Shijiu stood firm, the veil on her face suddenly loosened because of the action she had just taken, and fell to the ground, where it was mercilessly stepped on by several palace servants who were running by.
Behind them was a noisy crowd, and all around them were palace maids and eunuchs, as well as the emperor, empress, concubines, and several important court officials.
Pei Zheng pinched his eyebrows. This little thing really causes trouble.
Shen Shijiu turned around and tried to pick up the veil that was about to rot, but Pei Zheng pulled her shoulders and turned her back.
Pei Zheng covered the lower half of his face with his hand and looked behind him. No one was paying attention to them for the time being.
He took Shen Shijiu and slowly moved behind the tent next to them until their figures were completely blocked by the tent.
Shen Shijiu blinked hard, as if he wanted to say something.
Pei Zheng loosened his grip slightly.
"Sir, I can actually cover it myself, I..."
Before Shen Shijiu could finish his words, Pei Zheng covered his mouth with his hand again. The touch of his hand was so smooth and soft, white, tender and moist, as if it could be pierced with a little force. Even if it couldn't be pierced, it would leave a red mark. It was more delicate than before.
The two were not far from the door, and they quietly and stealthily went out.
—After leaving the inner hall door, Pei Zheng let go of Shen Shijiu, and instead directly held his little butt and picked him up, letting him clamp his legs on both sides of his body.
This was not the first time that Shen Shijiu was held up by Pei Zheng like this. He put his arms around Pei Zheng's neck, but before he could open his mouth to ask any questions, Pei Zheng used his other hand to hold his little head down and stepped into Pei Zheng's shoulders and neck.
Since there is enough height difference between them, it is very suitable for Shen Shijiu to nestle on Pei Zheng's shoulder.
He still wanted to raise his head to ask where they were going, but as soon as he raised his head, Pei Zheng pushed him back.
"Don't look up."
Pei Zheng patted the restless little head and whispered in his ear, "Don't let others see you."
Shen Shijiu finally calmed down and lay motionless on Pei Zheng's shoulder, with his face hidden in his neck. Outsiders could only see the back of his head.
Pei Zheng held him in his arms, gathered his energy and practiced his internal energy. With his toes lightly tapping the ground, he crossed over the layers of towering palace walls in a few steps and arrived at a remote sleeping palace.
After putting Shen Shijiu down, Pei Zheng pushed open the door of the bedroom and let Shen Shijiu in.
"No one will find this place, just wait for me here."
Shen Shijiu nodded.
Pei Zheng turned around and tried to leave, but Shen Shijiu grabbed his sleeve.
"Sir... you will come to pick me up, right..."
Shen Shijiu's eyes were a little red for some reason, and his tone was soft and gentle, like a small animal that was afraid of being abandoned.
Pei Zheng felt distressed, so he stepped forward, held the little guy in his arms, and kissed his eyes and lips.
"Yes, I will never abandon you again."