The Emperor Doesn't Despise Me? Why Is He Still Using Force! - Chapter 11

Xiao Jing’an was a prince of noble and precious status. Seeing him enter, Pei Yuning hurriedly got off the bed and respectfully cupped his hands in a salute.

“This commoner greets Prince Ye.”

Xiao Jing’an was the only prince among the old Emperor’s many sons to be enfeoffed with a princely title.

He was addressed as Prince Ye.

However, in the Longxiao Kingdom, princes who received a title would lose their eligibility to inherit the imperial throne.

At that time, perhaps to appease Xiao Jing’an, or perhaps out of appreciation for his exceptional talent, the old Emperor stated that conferring the title was purely out of admiration.

It meant nothing else.

Yet, appreciation and guarded wariness formed an irreconcilable contradiction.

In the eyes of ministers, princes, and even Pei Yan, this title had become a label indicating that Xiao Jing’an was not favored by the old Emperor.

As for Xiao Jing’an, he deeply loathed this title.

It even became a taboo for him.

Knowing this and wishing not to offend him, nobody dared to address him by this title in his presence.

Pei Yan was naturally well aware of this, which was why he had addressed him as Prince Eighth from the very beginning.

Yet Pei Yuning did not know; he merely followed etiquette by addressing Xiao Jing’an with this title.

At this moment, the person before him delayed speaking, failing to grant him permission to rise.

Pei Yuning could only maintain his posture of bowing his head and torso in a salute.

Because of his weak constitution, maintaining this posture was extremely difficult for him, and a thin layer of cold sweat had already oozed onto his forehead.

With a gloomy expression, Xiao Jing’an raised his hand and displayed the jade pendant in his hand right before Pei Yuning’s eyes.

“This was picked up by my subordinate at the Beishan hunting ground.”

Hearing this, the gaze that Pei Yuning cast upon the jade pendant in Xiao Jing’an’s hand lit up.

He recognized that the jade pendant in his hand was the one Pei Yan had lost.

Xiao Jing’an took in all of his expressions.

“No outsiders enter the Beishan hunting ground; only the two of you broke in last night.”

Realizing that Pei Yan attached great importance to this jade pendant, Pei Yuning nodded and said, “This jade pendant is indeed the one we lost.”

“Keep it safe.”

Xiao Jing’an’s words, laden with a hidden intent to kill, rang out.

Pei Yuning reached out to take it, and as he opened his lips, just as he was about to explain to him that “this jade pendant belongs to Pei Yan,” the jade pendant slipped from Xiao Jing’an’s hand, interrupting the words he was about to speak.

Because of his mysophobia, Xiao Jing’an did not want Pei Yuning to touch his hand.

Hence, just as Pei Yuning reached out to receive the jade pendant, he released his grip ahead of time.

With a crisp sound, the jade pendant fell directly to the ground.

Pei Yuning hurriedly lowered his head and picked up the jade pendant.

At the same time, he let out a soft breath, feeling thankful that the jade pendant was not broken.

However, right after picking up and storing the jade pendant safely, because he had been bowing in a salute for so long and had exhausted his strength, his heels softened and his body lost its support, causing him to fall over.

He happened to tilt sideways toward Xiao Jing’an.

Lost in thought regarding the matter of the Third Prince, Xiao Jing’an was completely unprepared for Pei Yuning’s fall.

Yet he still subconsciously reached out his hand. Pei Yuning’s frail body was supported within his hands.

However, an expression of extreme aversion surged across his brow and eyes, and just as he was about to push the person away, with a “creak,” the room door was pushed open.

Pei Yan’s long, curled eyelashes blinked gently.

At this moment, the scene reflected within his eyes appeared somewhat ambiguous.

Simultaneously, Pei Yuning stabilized his posture and said to Xiao Jing’an, “Thank you, Prince Ye, for your support.”

These words directly stunned Pei Yan.

Only to see Pei Yan’s mouth slightly agape, his long eyelashes fluttering back and forth like a hand fan, staring in astonishment at the two people inside the room.

Seeing him like this, Xiao Jing’an furrowed his brows, a look of displeasure surfacing on his face.

“What is with that look, as if you’ve seen a ghost!”

“I didn’t expect you to be here as well.” Pei Yan forced a awkward laugh and stepped into the room.

Xiao Jing’an’s brows remained tightly knitted the entire time.

“I am here to inform you to draft your essay and send it to my residence.”

He thought for a moment, and added, “I’ll give you three days; expiration means invalidity.”

Pei Yan raised his hand, extending a slender, fair finger: “One day will suffice.”

Xiao Jing’an raised an eyebrow, no longer bothering to conceal it as a calm, bland tone revealed a hint of disdain: “Since you are so certain of victory, I will wait for you at my residence tomorrow morning.”

“See you tomorrow, I will give you a satisfying essay.”

Pei Yan curved the corners of his eyes, smiling unrestrainedly.

His eyelashes were long and curled, and the inner-hooked, outer-lifted shape of his eyes made him appear all the more exquisite and alluring when he smiled.

Xiao Jing’an froze for a brief moment before snapping back to his senses, subsequently lowering his eyelids: “This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone as conceited as you.”

After speaking, he chuckled softly and stepped past Pei Yan.

Just as Xiao Jing’an stepped out of the consultation room, he raised his hand and disgustedly stripped off the cloud-brocade outer robe that had been touched by Pei Yuning.

Inside the consultation room, Pei Yuning was still caught in a daze because of the conversation the two had just shared.

Yet Pei Yan looked at him with an expression full of deep worry.

The foolish ruler was famously known for his mysophobia, and in this lifetime, he had also shown extreme aversion toward being touched by him.

Yet toward his dear stepfather, he had lent a helping hand, supported him, and even felt his pulse, showing not the slightest hint of aversion!

Most importantly, his taboo title, “Prince Ye,” had been called out so brightly and clearly by his dear stepfather, yet he had not shown the slightest displeasure!

Therefore…

“Dear stepfather,” Pei Yan still couldn’t hold it back, addressing Pei Yuning by this title.

After all, according to Pei Yuning’s request to call him by his full name, Pei Yan simply couldn’t bring himself to do it, feeling it would be a rebellious act of great disrespect.

Pulled out of his daze by the title Pei Yan used, Pei Yuning turned his gaze toward Pei Yan.

Pei Yan affectionately grasped his hand.

“Dear stepfather, I am going to tell you a secret about Xiao Jing’an.”

“Xiao Jing’an’s secret?” Pei Yuning was puzzled: “Why are you telling me his secret?”

Pei Yan sighed with a slightly helpless expression: “This secret is very important to you, closely intertwined with your life.”

Seeing him looking so serious and solemn, Pei Yuning bit his lower lip and said, “Then go ahead and speak.”