The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 51

Pei Jian rode his horse back.

Although his face was composed, his heart was a tempest.

He was the one who had first introduced Nianxi to that particular restaurant, yet now Nianxi was taking Gu Ci there.

What right did Gu Ci have?

Why did he have to repeatedly encroach upon their shared past?

He kept telling himself not to let his imagination run wild, but sometimes, certain feelings were completely beyond a person’s control.

The hand holding the reins slackened and tightened, tightened and slackened, but he simply could not suppress the rage in his heart.

Pei Jian knew that his irrationality would only push Nianxi further away.

He prepared to head to the yamen (government office), attempting to use official duties to numb himself.

He had been busy at the Censorate these days, but he had already completed the current phase of all necessary and unnecessary tasks. Given Pei Jian’s current official rank, there was no more content requiring his decision or participation.

Since his rebirth, he had progressed faster and steadier than in his previous life, leaving him with a great deal of free time.

He often dreamt of the former Nianxi, a solitary figure in the enormous prime minister’s manor.

Only now did he realize that waiting and loneliness were such indescribable feelings.

Pei Jian walked aimlessly through the streets, his heart growing more desolate.

He had already fully tasted the power that came with control. Only then did he discover that the more he possessed, the fewer things in this world could satisfy him.

Even if he returned to the position of Prime Minister, achieving the peak of power, it no longer seemed like something worth obsessing over.

Because his original intention, the start of all his efforts, was entirely for her.

He was the one who had ruined their home with his own hands.

What was he supposed to do?

Nianxi refused to take him back.

He suddenly clenched his fist, the veins on the back of his hand throbbing faintly.

The market in Da Jing (Great Jing) was as bright as day, connecting dozens of entertainment quarters. A mix of wine and rouge perfume immediately assailed him. Restaurants lined both sides of the street, their lanterns strung together. The sounds of stringed instruments, singing, and men and women laughing mingled together, creating the bustling noise of the mortal world’s prosperity.

An acquaintance, a fellow official who was holding a banquet there, saw him riding past the door and enthusiastically called out, “Shizhang? You’re actually here! Come, come, join us for a drink.”

Pei Jian, in a daze, followed them inside. He was truly afraid of the taste of loneliness. He wanted to temporarily cast everything aside and let his aching heart warm up in the beautiful wine amidst the bright lights and revelry.

The officials present, although not working in the same department, were mostly acquainted.

They greeted each other lively. Li Chong, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, had worked with Pei Jian before and had an excellent impression of him. Upon seeing him, he joked:

“Earlier, we were talking about asking a few female performers to come and compose poems, but Zhongfu wouldn’t agree, afraid he couldn’t outdo those sing-song girls. Now we don’t have to worry! With Shizhang’s talent, even if we called out every courtesan from the twenty entertainment quarters in the South Market, there would be no fear!”

Everyone burst into another round of chaotic laughter, shouting for the madam to bring in the performers. For a moment, it was all charm and allure, and even the wine in their cups seemed steeped in the heavy scent of rouge.

Li Chong sat close to Pei Jian and personally poured him a drink, laughing as he said, “I’ve tried to invite you for a meal many times, but you always gave three excuses and four refusals. Don’t just focus on drinking, though… If you ask me, since you don’t have a wife, why are you keeping yourself like a piece of jade?”

He had drunk a lot of wine, and his speech was already a little slurred. He called out loudly to “Lvyun, Lvyun,” and when she arrived, he threw his arm around her shoulder and winked, “Lvyun’er, show off your skills, serve my little brother well. If you serve him well, I will reward you handsomely.”

Pei Jian drank several cups of Qinhuai Spring wine in succession.

His tolerance for alcohol had grown, but even though he finished a pot of wine, his mind became even clearer.

Lvyun, like a water snake, twisted her waist and leaned toward him.

Pei Jian didn’t look at her once. He excused himself to Li Chong and left the entertainment quarter, mounting his horse and heading toward Yi Bridge Street.

One thing Li Chong said was very true: he was a married man, and of course he had to keep himself pure.

Not only that, he also had to go and ask Nianxi what gave her the right to disregard their past promises? They had been husband and wife for ten years, so what was Gu Ci, an intruder, even worth?

Outside the side gate, when Granny Wang saw him, she sighed almost reflexively, and only then did she say, “The Mistress is asleep. She is not seeing anyone.”

“Tell her that if she doesn’t come out, I will wait here indefinitely. If someone sees me and reports it, I will have a talk with Minister Wen myself.”

This statement carried a rather unreasonable threat.

Granny Wang’s expression immediately became unpleasant. However, she didn’t dare to ignore him; if he made a scene, she would undoubtedly receive a beating.

She could only leave resentfully.

She had previously pitied Pei Jian for his deep affection, but now she felt that it was no wonder the Mistress chose young Master Gu over him. “Serves him right!”

When Granny Wang hesitantly explained the situation, Nianxi’s face immediately darkened. “Did he really say that?”

Granny Wang lowered her head and affirmed, “He probably drank some wine. He looks a little drunk.”

Nianxi sneered. Hadn’t he just been meeting with Cousin Xu?

Why was his male pride wounded when he saw her with Gu Ci?

Nianxi was fed up with Pei Jian’s irrational behavior.

They had long agreed to go their separate ways, yet he repeatedly interfered with her life. Even Gu Ci, such a cheerful and vigorous young man, had been made melancholy by him.

Now, what kind of drunken antics was he pulling?

“If he wants to wait, then let him wait.”

She wanted to see just how shameless and boring he could be.

Nianxi rose and went to the inner chamber. “I’m tired and going to sleep now. If anything else happens, go find Eldest Brother in the front courtyard to handle it.”

“…Yes.”

Pei Jian waited patiently under the Osmanthus tree. The gentle night breeze of summer slowly blew away the heat in his heart.

After the fact, he suddenly remembered that he was reeking of alcohol, and perhaps the scent of rouge… Her nose was the sharpest; she would definitely dislike this smell.

His heart suddenly became anxious.

One moment, he wanted to give up on himself, thinking that she no longer cared if he drank or not.

The next, he couldn’t help but overthink things. He was here to seek reconciliation, not to make her angry.

He must have already angered Nianxi by threatening her into seeing him earlier. When he finally saw her, he absolutely could not be as overbearing as before.

The man Nianxi currently liked was a man without backbone, one who only flattered her and groveled, like Gu Ci.

Pei Jian endured the bitter sorrow and self-pity, thinking, as long as she was willing to turn back, he could certainly do better than Gu Ci!

In truth, what was he going to do or say when he finally saw her? Pei Jian himself didn’t know.

He came here driven by pure courage, simply wanting to see her and hear her voice. Even if she cursed him, or even bit his hand again, that would be better.

Anything was better than this—

A sense of estrangement that made his heart panic.

A figure flickered in the moon-gate archway. Pei Jian’s spirits lifted, and he straightened his body.

But behind Granny Wang, that graceful, familiar figure was not there.

She refused to see him.

“The Mistress has gone to sleep. She said that if you want to wait, you may wait right here.”

After Granny Wang finished speaking, seeing Pei Jian’s lost and forlorn look, her previous anger vanished, and her overwhelming sympathy began to surface. “You should go back soon. The Mistress will not see you.”

A few days ago, just as dawn was breaking, Pei Jian came looking for the eldest Mistress with a head full of injuries, which was quite frightening. Granny Wang, strictly following Nianxi’s instructions, sent him away.

Later, she heard from her daughter, who was on duty, that young Master Gu had also been visiting less lately, and she vaguely figured out what was happening. She originally thought that since young Master Pei had been beaten by the one who truly mattered, he would have given up those inappropriate feelings. She never expected him to show up again after only a few days!

That’s right, young Master Gu had only just come to see the Mistress today, and then he showed up.

What a troubled fate.

Pei Jian was calm and aloof. Although he wasn’t old, he possessed an innate, intimidating aura.

Granny Wang had initially been a little afraid of him, but having seen him rejected multiple times, she was no longer that scared, even though his expression was now frigid.

Not only was she unafraid, but she even offered him comfort, “Actually, it’s better that the Mistress isn’t seeing you.”

Pei Jian’s pair of dark, lacquered eyes glared at her, and Granny Wang’s legs immediately felt weak.

She forced herself to stand firm and continued, “You just came from the pleasure district, right? You reek of alcohol and rouge. If the Mistress saw you like this, I’m afraid she would dislike you even more.”

Pei Jian slightly lowered his intimidating air and said nothing.

Granny Wang breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “When young Master Gu comes to see the Mistress, which time is he not dressed handsomely and refined? What young woman doesn’t love a good appearance?”

“You, on the other hand, not only this time but the last time, came early in the morning with your face covered in injuries. Even an old woman like me was scared, let alone the Mistress!”

“You need to learn from young Master Gu. At least he knows to hide his injuries for a couple of days, waiting until they’re somewhat healed before coming. Whether it’s to keep our Mistress from worrying or just for the sake of appearance, he is restrained. Unlike you, who repeatedly comes in blazing, forcing the Mistress to see you.”

Pei Jian’s heart fluttered, but he replied with disdain, letting out a sneer. “I should learn from him?”

“You certainly should!”

Granny Wang slapped her thigh. “My daughter told me that young Master Gu always asks for the Mistress’s opinion on everything, big or small. He holds her in his hands, afraid of dropping her, and keeps her in his mouth, afraid of melting her. He treasures our Mistress like nothing else!”

Pei Jian’s lips moved, and he thought to himself that he also wanted to be good to Nianxi, but Nianxi wouldn’t give him the chance.

“You haven’t shown that at all! Every time you come, you are fierce and stern-faced, as if you’re here to settle scores.”

Granny Wang became excited as she spoke. “Men love the company of women who can add fragrance to their sleeves, but if women have a choice, they naturally prefer gentle, thoughtful, handsome, and charismatic men. Young Master Gu fulfills all those requirements.”

“You, sir, need to learn how to treat a young woman better.”

Pei Jian stood there in a daze for a long time. The night wind blew on him, chilling him to the bone.

No wonder he and Nianxi could still have a few serious words at first. In the last few visits, she had practically written her impatience on her face and refused to see him even once.

Pei Jian looked down at his utterly defeated state and let out a short, self-mocking laugh.

He suddenly realized that during this time, he had entirely served as a stepping stone for Gu Ci, making him look even better by contrast.

Pei Jian took a gold ingot from his sleeve. Granny Wang was so frightened that she repeatedly retracted her hand, not daring to accept it.

“This is not a bribe. Continue to act as you normally would in the future.” Pei Jian’s tone softened. “Thank you for your words today.”