Wrapped In Golden Branch - Chapter 37

Chapter 37
He was a completely different person three years ago than he was now

When Li Kangning said this, the atmosphere in the palace suddenly froze. Empress Kang’s bright pupils trembled slightly. She said softly, “What else could it be? You, a silly girl, caught a cold while painting in the snow, and you have had a high fever for several days.” As she spoke, her voice was choked with sobs, and her eyes were red.

“You scared your mother at that time. I stayed by your bed for several days and nights without even closing my eyes.”

Li Kangning had a deep impression of this incident. She rem*mbered that when she had just woken up, her mother was relieved and fainted as if she were exhausted. The doubts in her heart suddenly disappeared, and she stopped thinking about it. “Don’t be sad, Mother. I am fine now.” Li Kangning hugged her mother. Her voice was soft and sweet, and she usually spoke like a spoiled child. This time, she deliberately prolonged the ending, softening people’s hearts.

Empress Kang smiled and said, “Hmm.”

As soon as the mother and daughter sat down in the dining hall, they heard a familiar sound of footsteps coming from far away. The Emperor walked to the dining table, lifted his robe, and sat down.

“Serve the meal.” He ordered.

After that, he looked at his daughter and said, “It just so happens that the Imperial Guard found another matter in the Huai’an Marquis Mansion. Do you want to hear it?”

Li Kangning was stunned at first, “What is it?”

“Pei Yujin was born to Huai’an Marquis’s concubine, Mrs. Jin. He is not Huai’an Marquis’s son, but the son of Mrs. Jin and a steward named Jiang.” The Emperor’s voice was low, and his expression was cold.

Empress Kang and her daughter were both shocked and stared at each other- The information in these words was too much, and they were a little overwhelmed.

Li Kangning whispered, “That concubine Jin is so bold…”

“Huai’an Marquis is really stupid. He was kept in the dark for twenty years.” Empress Kang raised her eyes and added.

The Emperor said, “Now that the truth has been found out, I will inform the Ministry of Rites at a suitable time in a few days to confer Pei Yizhi the t*tle of the Marquis of Huai’an Heir and make his life story public.” The Heir’s title was to rectify Pei Yizhi’s life story. He would confer another title on his daughter’s children in the future.

The family of three chatted for a while and then settled down to eat.

After lunch, Li Kangning tactfully left. Empress Kang looked up at the man beside her, and her expression became solemn. “Your Majesty, Ningning remembered what happened in Yan Mountain three years ago, but she only thought about her painting and didn’t remember that she was…”

The Emperor frowned, “It’s only a matter of time before she remembers it.”

Empress Kang’s nose was sour, “Fortunately, Pei Yizhi discovered it early at that time, otherwise Ningning would…”

The Emperor couldn’t help but recall three years ago. Pei Yizhi then was completely different from now—thin, sinister, and exuding a world-hatred aura.

“If you can’t protect her, give her to me!” He roared at them while holding the blood-stained girl.

The accompanying guards were shocked when they heard this and immediately explained to him who was in front of him in a stern voice. Pei Yizhi then restrained some of his violent emotions. While the female doctor was treating her injuries, he stood outside the tent like a wooden stake, motionless. Li Kangning finally woke up a few days later, but she had completely forgotten what had happened that day.

The Emperor looked at the dazed boy before him and said casually- “If you can make a name for yourself in a few years, I can put you on the list of candidates for the Prince Consort.”

?

Outside the main hall of Luhua Palace.

When Li Kangning was about to step on the horse stool and get into the carriage, she suddenly changed her mind and jumped down with her skirt lifted.

“Princess, what’s wrong?” Pei Lan asked softly.

Li Kangning looked at her thoughtfully. “Pei Lan, go to Cuiwei Palace and sort out all my childhood practice works by year.”

Pei Lan was slightly startled and then agreed.

Li Kangning got on the carriage again, leading Zhi Lan and others out of the palace. When she returned to the Princess Mansion, Xiao Luzi greeted her with a flattering smile.

“Your Highness, Prince Consort just sent someone back to tell that the guards are going to train, and he will not return to the mansion for the next few days.”

Li Kangning was stunned, with mixed feelings in her heart. That bastard Pei Yizi, did he not return to the mansion because her period is coming?

An indescribable feeling surged in her heart. The breeze was refreshing in the early winter afternoon, but Li Kangning felt highly bored. Whether she returned to the bedroom in Qingxue Courtyard or went to the studio by the lake, there was a strong smell of men everywhere.

“Do you miss your husband?” Zhi Lan saw that she had been depressed since she returned home, so she whispered and joked.

“No!” Li Kangning denied it, but her face turned red. She would never think about that pervert whose head was full of lustful things. She hurriedly ordered: “Zhi Lan, put this portrait away quickly. Don’t put it on the desk; it’s an eyesore.”

She would not have taken the trouble to draw this stinky Pei Yizhi yesterday if she had known.

“Ay, I’ll be right there.” Zhi Lan replied as she came forward. When her eyes fell on the portrait, her breathing suddenly stagnated.

“Princess, this is…” Zhi Lan rubbed her eyes.

“This is Pei Yizhi three years ago. We met him in Yan Mountain at that time.” Li Kangning gritted her teeth and said.

The young man who saved the Princess three years ago was the Prince Consort? Zhi Lan was shocked.

“What’s wrong?” Li Kangning was puzzled when she saw that she was absent-minded.

Zhi Lan opened her mouth and hesitated. After a long while, she replied, “Nothing,” and gently rolled up and put away the portrait.

Late at night, Li Kangning lay alone on the spacious rosewood bed, rolling around like a spring pancake. She tossed and turned but couldn’t fall asleep.

It’s all Pei Yizhi’s fault! She cursed in her heart.

She covered her head with the embroidered quilt, wrapped her whole body, and didn’t open a little gap to breathe out until she was almost out of breath. After repeating this several times, she finally felt sleepy and gradually fell asleep.

Five days later, Li Kangning’s menstruation was entirely over, and her husband finally rode back home exhausted.

Pei Yizhi jumped off his horse and strode into the Princess Mansion. He hadn’t washed for several days, and his clothes were dirty and messy. Worried that the odor on his body would irritate the Princess, he didn’t dare to get too close and only called “Ningning” from a distance.

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