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  Pei Yan’s gaze, as always, remained calm and unruffled, but for some reason, Jiang Shuyi felt like there were waves surging beneath that still surface.

  The more he looked at her, the more guilty she felt. She moved closer to hug him—thankfully, she wasn’t pushed away.

  “I know I was wrong. I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I won’t do it again…”

  Feeling the soft body pressed against him and hearing her frantic apologies, Pei Yan closed his eyes, calming down slightly.

  How had he actually gotten angry?

  He knew that the women of the harem all had their own thoughts and motives. Jiang Shuyi might be different in some ways, but after all, she hadn’t been raised by his side since birth. It was only natural for her to have some intentions or thoughts unknown to him.

  Maybe it was because ever since that nightmare, she’d been constantly clinging to him, crying in his arms, looking at him with such deep reliance. Or perhaps it was because of that pyful “brother-in-w” earlier—like she’d never once imagined that he’d punish her.

  Either way, Pei Yan developed an illusion that Jiang Shuyi should always trust and rely on him fully, with not even the slightest reservation.

  But he was the emperor—how could anyone ever belong to him without defenses?

  He couldn’t entirely bme Jiang Shuyi.

  Pei Yan let his expression soften. He gently rubbed her back and asked, “Do you really understand your mistake?”

  Jiang Shuyi nodded quickly in his arms, sobbing, “Yes, really…”

  Pei Yan’s tone grew gentler. “Then get up.”

  His mood shifted so quickly that Jiang Shuyi was momentarily stunned.

  She looked up, her nose red from crying, and asked cautiously, “Your Majesty isn’t angry with me anymore?”

  Pei Yan smiled faintly. “As long as you don’t do it again, I won’t be angry.”

  Don’t do what? Lie and deceive him?

  But how could she not?

  She was still hiding the fact that she’d been reborn. Even the scheming she’d done earlier with Miao Zhaoyi—how could she ever tell Pei Yan about that?

  Jiang Shuyi didn’t answer. Instead, she pced her hands on his knees and slowly stood up, her eyes still red and pitiful.

  She asked softly, “Can I… sit on Your Majesty’s p?”

  Pei Yan thought she was quite bold, testing his limits the moment he softened.

  Fortunately, she was still sensible enough to ask.

  After thinking for a moment, Pei Yan moved his hand from his p and looked at her with a smile.

  Jiang Shuyi’s eyes instantly lit up. Even with teardrops still clinging to her shes, she was visibly delighted again.

  She cheerfully climbed into Pei Yan’s p, wrapping her arms around his neck, and whispered into his ear: “Your Majesty, I like you the most. Even though you were angry with me earlier, I still like you.”

  Pei Yan’s smile faltered slightly. Feeling the soft, clingy weight of her in his arms, he was momentarily dazed.

  “Can’t Your Majesty say you like me too?”

  “I was so scared when you were angry… I thought you didn’t want me anymore…”

  How could he not want her? But Pei Yan couldn’t bring himself to say such frivolous words.

  Jiang Shuyi kept clinging and rambling, so with a quiet sigh, Pei Yan simply picked her up in a bridal carry and walked into the room behind the beaded curtains...

  ___

  Xianfu Pace.

  When Xue Shufei heard the imperial eunuch deliver the decree, she nearly lost her composure.

  What did he mean by “If you can’t keep Jiang Wanqing in check, you’ll be punished as well”?

  Jiang Wanqing had only just entered the pace yesterday. She had only been her superior for a single day! How was she supposed to manage her?

  And what was that “beloved elder sister” of hers doing?

  But of course, she didn’t dare say any of this aloud. She sent the eunuch off with perfect courtesy and immediately led her attendants to the western wing.

  Inside the bedchamber, Jiang Wanqing had already been pced on the couch, still pretending to be unconscious.

  Xue Shufei suppressed her anger and frowned at the pace maid standing beside the bed. “Your mistress is like this, and you didn’t go call the imperial physician?”

  Liuli dared not expin that she could tell her mistress was only faking it.

  “Yes, Your Highness. This maid… I will go now—”

  She said it loud enough for her mistress to hear. Sure enough, Jiang Wanqing stirred, twitching her fingers and slowly “waking up.”

  "Wh-Where am I…"

  Jiang Wanqing slowly opened her eyes, dazedly scanning the surroundings. When she saw Xue Shufei, she hurried to sit up.“Your Highness, why are you here?”

  Xue Shufei: …

  Truly, she’d never seen anyone this fake before.

  Maintaining her gentle expression, Xue Shufei stepped forward and smiled.

  “Did you forget, younger sister? You fainted in Zhaoyang Pace, and His Majesty ordered you to be sent back.”

  Jiang Wanqing blinked as if just remembering, sitting there bnkly with lifeless eyes.

  Xue Shufei took a seat at the edge of the bed and asked with feigned curiosity,

  “Sister, what did you do to get demoted and have your sary docked? His Majesty even reprimanded me for it.”

  Jiang Wanqing’s expression instantly soured. Everything that had happened earlier felt like a nightmare—she didn’t want to bring it up at all.

  But with Xue Shufei watching her so intently, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and squeeze out a few tears.

  “I… I don’t know either… I just wanted to see my sister today. Who knew I’d bump into His Majesty by chance… He was probably still upset about the matter with Qiu Shi and vented his anger on me. My sister… she just pushed me out to be punished in her pce…”

  Xue Shufei had already heard the full story from the eunuchs who served by the Emperor’s side. Facing Jiang Wanqing’s twisted version of events, she merely pretended to take it in.

  She feigned surprise, “How could that be? I always thought you and Jiang Fei were full sisters with a close bond.”

  She didn’t understand either! Where had that sister gone—the one who used to fulfill her every request and care for her so considerately?

  Jiang Wanqing lowered her head and clenched her fists, muttering, “She wasn’t like this before. Maybe it’s because she’s favored now. People change. Only I still remember the bond from our childhood…”

  Xue Shufei had initially been wary, suspecting that the two Jiang sisters might be putting on an act, pnning to work together behind everyone’s back. But looking at Jiang Wanqing now—so full of hatred and stupidity—there was no trace of cunning at all. She truly resented her own sister.

  Xue Shufei nearly ughed aloud.

  She patted Jiang Wanqing’s hand, speaking earnestly, “You can’t bme Jiang Fei either. I’m a mother too, so I understand. Once a woman becomes a mother, her heart changes. Everything becomes about the child.”

  Jiang Wanqing naturally knew about that little nephew of hers.

  His Majesty had few children—no princesses, and only two princes.

  One was born in the Eastern Pace—Xue Shufei’s own son, the First Prince, Pei Yi, whom the te emperor dearly loved and personally named.

  The other was the younger prince recently born to her sister, named Pei Yu, the result of discussions between the Emperor and the Ministry of Rites.

  Jiang Wanqing had thought she’d get to see her little nephew on her first day in the pace. Who would’ve thought things would turn out like this—she hadn’t even glimpsed him once.

  Still, what did her sister’s distance from her have to do with the child?

  Seeing Jiang Wanqing’s confused expression, Xue Shufei smiled, “To a mother, who could be dearer than her own child? Not even her own sister. You’re young and beautiful. Now that you’re in the pace, you’re bound to be favored and bear a child eventually. How could Jiang Fei be at ease with that? Take my advice, sister. The harem may all be ‘sisters,’ but find ones who suit your temperament. Don’t waste time on that blood-reted sister.”

  Jiang Wanqing nearly had an epiphany.

  She considered the possibility of getting rid of her little nephew, thinking that maybe her sister would treat her the way she used to. However, that thought quickly passed.

  Killing a prince was a capital offense, and she wasn’t ready to give up her life.

  Shufei was right—if her sister could gain favor, then surely she, who looked simir and was even younger, would eventually be favored too.

  She had just been reckless today and made His Majesty angry. But so what? She fainted and he softened, didn’t he?

  From a death sentence to a mere demotion and sary cut—clearly, His Majesty still pitied her.

  In a few days, once his anger passed, surely he would summon her again.

  What mattered now was figuring out how to win his heart during the next night of service.

  Once she became a favored consort, why would she have to force herself to ftter Jiang Shuyi anymore?

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  Transtor Xiaobai: I don't know how our FL fell for her sister's scheme. Judging by her train of thought alone, she is an idiot....