Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 157

Chapter 157: Shyness

“What did you say?” An Zhi didn’t realize what Pei Que was referring to; after all, she had said so much to her brother.

Pei Que’s face darkened slightly. “I mean, you were saying you’ll never have anything to do with me again? Is that true or false?”

He had done so much and finally made some progress, only to have his future brother-in-law cut them off the moment he returned. He truly regretted it. He should have let An Xu lie down last night and let him stay in bed for ten days or half a month to avoid him coming here and spouting useless nonsense.

An Zhi’s face immediately flushed at Pei Que’s question.

She hadn’t really thought much about what she had said to her brother just now, because he never joked or talked nonsense with her. She used to listen carefully and take note of everything he said.

Thinking back on it now, coupled with Pei Que’s gradually darkening expression across from her, An Zhi felt a little intimidated. She whispered, “I just agreed to my brother’s request.”

“So, you’ll still be with me from now on?” Pei Que felt a little happy, but his expression remained stern.

“What do you mean by ‘be with me’?” An Zhi felt the words were ambiguous, as if their relationship had changed. She said angrily, “Just like before. Alright, my brother’s gone. You should leave now. I need to rest.”

She felt that if Pei Que stayed here any longer, she would get angry and curse.

When it came to being thick-skinned, An Zhi would never be Pei Que’s match.

Pei Que smiled at An Zhi’s urging, “Alright, I’ll leave now.”

An Zhi nodded, then remembered what Pei Que had said when he arrived and hurriedly asked, “By the way, you haven’t told me why you’re here?”

“I forgot,” Pei Que said with a smile.

“How could you possibly have forgotten? Think about it again.” The longer Pei Que didn’t answer, the more An Zhi wanted to know what was going on.

But once she finished asking, she saw the smile in Pei Que’s eyes and knew he was playing a trick on her.

She puffed up her cheeks and made way. “Go, go! Hurry up!” It was so annoying.

Pei Que, seeing An Zhi’s anger, pursed his lips. “Don’t be angry. I’m just too tired today. I wanted to take credit for the big favor I helped you with last night, but your brother showed up right after I arrived.”

Thinking about her brother, An Zhi was truly grateful to Pei Que. “Whatever you want? As long as it’s within my ability, I can agree to it.”

She was prepared for Pei Que to ask her to call him “Fourth Brother.” This had happened several times before. Whenever Pei Que helped her, he would come after her for some verbal favor.

If Pei Que still asked her to call him “Fourth Brother” this time, she would feel truly grateful to him.

But Pei Que didn’t think so this time, because he had overheard the conversation between An Xu and An Zhi.

He was tall, and with his martial arts training, he looked rather imposing next to An Zhi.

“An Zhi, to many people, I’m indeed, as your brother says, ruthless and unlikely to be a good person.” Pei Que stared at An Zhi steadily. Seeing her slowly lower her head, a blush forming on her ears, he curled his lips in a smile. “But to you, I’ll always be a good person. You can trust no one, but you can trust me. An Zhi, can you slowly try to trust me?”

He also wanted An Zhi to treat him the way she treated An Xu, and he wanted An Zhi to confide in him and cry in her vulnerable moments.

Pei Que believed that he, himself, was not a good person.

But with An Zhi, he did his utmost to protect her.

An Zhi’s hands, tucked into her long sleeves, were already sweating from nervousness.

In reality, An Zhi had already subtly developed trust in Pei Que, and at times, she even subconsciously wanted to rely on him.

She bit her lip slightly, still not looking up, and whispered softly, “Pei… Fourth Master Pei, I trust you.”

Hearing An Zhi’s words, Pei Que’s face instantly brightened.

“Alright, I’m heading out.” Pei Que was already satisfied tonight.

When An Zhi looked up, Pei Que was no longer in the room.

Her cheeks were burning so hot that she could clearly feel a long-lost… hint of shyness.

It was a feeling that made her a little panicked.

An Zhi lay down on the bed and closed her eyes, but she could still hear Pei Que’s soft laugh.

She tossed and turned for a long time before she fell asleep.

The next few days were filled with trepidation.

Still, there was no news from the palace about the Emperor’s improvement, and Prime Minister Pei was still acting as regent.

An Zhi stayed at home for three days before people were allowed to travel.

However, the An family still ordered all servants in the mansion that no one, except those in charge of shopping, was allowed to leave during this period. “Miss, you said the Imperial Guards have withdrawn. Have they figured out who assassinated the Fourth Prince?” Binglu asked curiously, grinding ink for her young lady.

An Zhi was painting. These past two days, she’d spent most of her time reading and painting in her courtyard.

“People have to make a living. The Emperor can’t keep them locked in forever. Otherwise, people’s livelihoods would be in turmoil, and the death of the Fourth Prince wouldn’t be enough.” An Zhi looked at her orchid painting, unsatisfied. She tore it up and threw it into the trash can, then stepped out from behind the desk. “Now that the Imperial Guards have withdrawn, there are many possibilities. Even if the assassin’s identity isn’t known, the Emperor now has a rough clue.”

Perhaps the Emperor couldn’t bear the thought of implicating another of his sons, or perhaps he wasn’t fully conscious, and someone else had withdrawn the Imperial Guards.

Although An Zhi wasn’t at court, she could guess a bit about these things. After all, after hearing Pei Que’s words, even if she wasn’t a general, she was still a soldier.

Binglu was confused, her thoughts swirling. “But no matter what, as long as this doesn’t involve our family, it’s none of our business.”

An Zhi smiled faintly. Binglu’s words were just self-consolation. She had long understood that in such chaotic times, no one could remain unscathed.

She sighed softly, “We just have to be careful. In the next few days, it won’t take too long. There will be a result. Even if the Emperor can’t issue an edict, someone else will.”

As An Zhi expected, at the Pei residence, Pei Que was summoned to the study by Prime Minister Pei.

“Starting tomorrow, you will return to your duties at the Prefectural Office.” Prime Minister Pei rubbed his brow. He hadn’t had a good rest in the past few days and was truly exhausted.

“Reinstated?” Pei Que looked at his father with a half-smile. “Was it the Emperor’s will, or Father’s?”

“Does it matter whose will it is?” Prime Minister Pei, hearing his son still trying to argue with him, tutted. “If I tell you to return to your position, then just go back. The palace is in chaos right now. The Empress is forming cliques everywhere, and the Eighth Prince and his men are restless. Everyone wants to step on others to gain power at this moment. If you don’t return to the Prefectural Office, you’ll lose your position too.”

Pei Que smiled. “I’m going, I’m going. Whoever steals my territory, I’ll kill him. But, Father, what does the Emperor really think about the Fourth Prince?”