Smiling Under Lanterns

The Pei Family was faced with a great catastrophe.

Indeed, upon learning the news, Pei Di was so overwhelmed with anger and anxiety that he fell ill and took to his bed, but his life was not in danger. Instead, it was Lady Zhao Ning, Jiang Wan, who was hurriedly called back to her paternal home by Minister Jiang, and did not return until the next day.

She found Pei Yunxiao. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Thinking back on what Jiang Wan had said in front of him that day, Pei Yunxiao could not help but tremble.

"Second Young Master," the always gentle and beautiful stepmother pulled him behind the screen and whispered, "Your father may be implicated in an old case involving the former Crown Prince. The only solution now is to plead guilty first and hope for the emperor’s mercy."

"Plead guilty?" He was bewildered.

Jiang Wan glanced at her husband who was asleep on the couch, her look devoid of any past submission or warmth, only coldness, "If he dies, we can live."

Third Young Master Pei Yunrui was still young, and Mei Yinang, who had previously only been concerned with jealousy and had been oblivious to the crisis at hand. Thus, the only people in the Pei Mansion who could be considered clever were Jiang Wan and Pei Yunxiao, and at this moment, they became like grasshoppers on a string—Jiang Wan used this crime to control him, and he could not break free.

He also wanted to live.

So, he covered his father’s head with a blanket.

Pei Yunxiao suddenly shivered.

Pei Yunmeng stared at him, and then curved her lips in a way that seemed to kill with every word, "So, it was you."

"Not me!" He retorted suddenly, his voice becoming agitated and shifting in pitch.

It wasn’t him.

How could it be him?

At the Zhao Ning Manor, he was just an unremarkable illegitimate child. Over the years, he was only noticed by Pei Di because Pei Yunmeng had left the family. Even then, he could not surpass Pei Yunmeng’s place in Pei Di’s heart. Later, there was Pei Yunrui, and he was unwilling to make wedding dress for his brother with all his efforts, which turned to be all in vain in the end.

Perhaps, when he smothered the silk blanket over his father’s face, he felt a momentary thrill of revenge.

All members of the Pei Family witnessed the father’s death together.

This couldn’t be counted on his head.

Pei Yunmeng looked at him as though he was a ridiculously struggling ant, her lips curled with a deeper mockery, "Lord Pei raised his sons like rearing wolves, and in the end, he indeed raised a pack of wolves."

"Second Young Master," he stood up, slowly walking towards Pei Yunxiao, and said calmly, "There is no more Pei Family."

There is no more Pei Family.

Pei Yunxiao was momentarily dazed.

Zhao Ning Manor had already fallen. His elder brother had seen through the filth and selfishness beneath this mansion’s splendor before him, and so he detested it and left. Now that their father was no more, there would be no one to protect Zhao Ning Manor. The death of their father might allow them to save their own lives, but in future days, they could only live in fear and trepidation, waiting for the potentially fatal blow that could come at any time.

Pei Yunxiao stumbled out the door.

Pei Yunmeng watched his retreating figure expressionlessly until a shadow gradually moved to the doorway. Under the sunlight, that person lifted their head and silently gazed at him.

He was slightly startled.

The person was Lu Tong.

As if she had done something wrong, she spoke softly, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to listen to your conversation."

Pei Yunmeng was silent for a moment, "It doesn’t matter."

He turned and walked back into the room, unable to squeeze out a smile on his face for the first time, and Lu Tong followed him in.

The guards at the Pei Mansion all recognized her; she had been here a few times before, and her arrival now was almost like entering a place devoid of people. Perhaps Qingfeng had deliberately not stopped her, so as she arrived at the doorway, she happened upon the confrontation between Pei Yunmeng and the Second Young Master.

She had heard about the Pei Family’s affairs from Pei Yunshu’s lips, but seeing it with her own eyes was different. According to Pei Yunshu, the infighting within the Pei Mansion was limited to minor scuffles, but now it seemed, it was far from that.

The day was drawing to a close, and the early spring sunset filtered through the windows, casting a soft red glow inside the room. Lu Tong looked toward the person in front of the desk; Pei Yunmeng served her tea but did not look into her eyes.

Lu Tong was silent.

Pei Yunmeng had never spoken about his own affairs. Lu Tong could roughly guess what he was doing. If he didn’t mention it, she wouldn’t ask; everyone has secrets they can’t tell others, and she understood this feeling better than anyone else. If he didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t deliberately ask.

However, today, after he had just coldly responded to his illegitimate brother who came knocking, Lu Tong saw a rare glimpse of vulnerability in the avoidance of his gaze.

She suddenly spoke, "Pei Yunmeng, you already know all my secrets, why don’t you ever talk about yourself?"

He paused.

The setting sun cast slanted warm hues through the window onto the person in front of her. The woman spoke with a serious tone, her eyes earnestly upon him, holding a sincere, listening posture.