Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Pei Yan, What Do You Take Me For?

Hearing the voice, Ling turned her head and saw Mei Wanying, a happy grin spreading across her face.

She gurgled in her baby voice, wanting Mei Wanying to hold her.

With her innocent and adorable expression, you would never guess she had just caused some mischief a moment ago.

Worried her daughter would catch a cold in her damp, sticky clothes, Mei Wanying ordered someone to quickly bring water to wash and change Ling.

Ling was carried away.

Mei Wanying turned to leave as well.

Ignored by everyone, Pei Yan subconsciously started to follow Mei Wanying.

He had only taken two steps when she shot him a glare. Mei Wanying’s voice was laced with displeasure. "Are you not going to get lost?"

Pei Yan, who had been lost in the sweet fantasy of his little family of three, was suddenly jolted back to reality.

The smile on his lips froze.

It slowly fell, vanishing completely.

He asked Mei Wanying, "You’re letting Gu Xun stay?"

Mei Wanying felt he was asking the obvious. "What does that have to do with you?"

Pei Yan thought, ’How could it have nothing to do with me? We’re married.’

’There were so many witnesses.’

’Gu Xun is trying to steal my wife, and I’m not even allowed to have an opinion?’

Meeting Mei Wanying’s warning gaze, Pei Yan didn’t say anything more, but he mentally added this debt to Gu Xun’s account.

’I’ll have someone get rid of him later.’

’Staying in the Mei family residence? Absolutely impossible!’

Pei Yan slowly and methodically wiped the water stains from his brocade robe with a handkerchief.

’It took me so much to see Ah Yin again. I wouldn’t let go even if I died.’

’Gu Xun will never have a chance to interfere.’

’And she can forget about finding another man.’

Pei Yan didn’t want to force Mei Wanying, but on this matter, there was no room for discussion.

’Aside from this, I’ll listen to Ah Yin about everything else.’

He said in a low voice, "Ah Yin, we are husband and wife. We are meant to be together forever."

Mei Wanying laughed, but it was a laugh of anger.

’Husband and wife?’

’In our last life, we were married, but Pei Yan chose to give me the cold shoulder, leaving me to fend for myself in the Prince Mansion.’

’In this life, the wedding was a farce that wasn’t even meant for him, yet he refuses to let it go.’

’Is it that he only craves what he can’t have?’

’He’s so pathetic!’

"To be summoned at your whim and dismissed just as easily—Pei Yan, what do you take me for?"

Her tone was calm, not agitated like before, holding only endless exhaustion and distance.

A pang of anxiety seized Pei Yan’s heart.

"Ah Yin, I have never loved anyone else."

Whether in his past life or this one, Mei Wanying was his only woman.

He had never been moved by anyone else.

From beginning to end, the only person in his eyes and in his heart was Mei Wanying.

’It was my own slowness, my own arrogance, that led me to hurt her again and again.’

Pei Yan wanted to explain to Mei Wanying that in their past life, he had intentionally gotten close to Xue Yunshu at the army camp, using her as a shield to protect Wanying.

It wasn’t that he intended to hurt her.

’Later, I avenged her. Everyone who had ever harmed her was punished.’

The words reached his lips, but he swallowed them back down.

The damage was already done; it couldn’t be erased with a simple explanation.

Besides, he was also afraid.

He was afraid that if Ah Yin knew he had memories of their past life, she would break all ties with him and distance herself completely.

He didn’t dare to take that risk.

He could only pretend he hadn’t yet done all those despicable things, allowing him to shamelessly remain by Ah Yin’s side.

Mei Wanying said, "Whether you love someone else or not is your business. You don’t need to tell me, and I don’t care."

Perhaps Pei Yan was sincere, but his belated love was a burden to her, a weight she didn’t want.

She didn’t want it at all.

Mei Wanying turned and went to the bathing room. Ever since her daughter was born, she had insisted on handling many things herself.

Even if she wasn’t doing it with her own hands, she had to be there watching to feel at ease.

Pei Yan was left standing alone.

The bridal chamber, which had been festively decorated just days ago, had now been stripped of its red silks and "double happiness" characters, returning to its simple and elegant state.

That wedding felt like nothing more than a dream to Pei Yan.

But they had truly bowed in the wedding ceremony, and he had lifted Ah Yin’s red bridal veil.

That day, her face was adorned with crimson makeup, so captivatingly beautiful he couldn’t look away.

They were so close then. When they sat side-by-side on the wedding bed, he could feel his arm brush against hers and smell the faint fragrance of powder on her skin.

It wasn’t his dream; it had really happened.

Pei Yan stubbornly believed that because they hadn’t drunk the cross-cupped wine and completed the wedding ceremony, Mei Wanying refused to acknowledge their marriage.

In both of his lives, he had failed to drink the cross-cupped wine with her, and this filled Pei Yan with panic.

’Does this mean that he and Ah Yin will never have a happy ending?’

The moment this thought arose, he forcefully suppressed it.

’I won’t accept it!’

’This life is still long. Just because it wasn’t perfect this time doesn’t mean it won’t be next time.’

’Once Ah Yin forgives me, we can have another wedding.’

’At that time, I’ll lay the best of everything before Ah Yin, to show her my sincerity.’

Pei Yan took a deep breath, calming his emotions.

With a long stride, he also headed toward the bathing room.

He would be a good father and learn to take care of their daughter. He would make Ah Yin see him in a new light.

Pei Yan’s status was special; Imperial Power was not to be trifled with. In the entire Mei family, only Mei Wanying dared to scold him and give him the cold shoulder.

As he walked, no one dared to block his path.

Ding Xiang and another maid had finished washing Ling and changing her diaper.

Mei Wanying was personally dressing her daughter, choosing another festive-looking, small cotton robe.

"Let me."

A steady male voice came from behind her.

Mei Wanying didn’t turn around, nor did she stop what she was doing.

She tilted her head and asked Ding Xiang, "What is that? It stinks."

Ding Xiang almost burst out laughing.

She dug her nails into her palm. "Maybe... maybe it’s the diaper we just changed on Ling..."

As she spoke, she discreetly glanced at Pei Yan.

She had heard rumors back at the General Mansion in the Capital City about how difficult he was to serve.

She’d heard that he lived a rough life in the army camp and could endure any hardship, but back in his own residence, he couldn’t stand the slightest bit of filth.

Now, Ling had peed all over him, yet he was so calm. She wondered if he was just pretending.

According to Pei Yan’s usual habits, he should have discarded the robe entirely.

A flash of embarrassment crossed Pei Yan’s face, and he sheepishly withdrew his outstretched hand.

’I haven’t changed my clothes. I deserve to be treated with disgust.’

But he couldn’t bear to leave right now; he hadn’t had his fill of looking at Ah Yin.

He silently took a small step back and watched as Mei Wanying skillfully dressed their daughter.

The more he watched, the more he felt he had failed in his duties. He didn’t even know how to hold a child, let alone do anything else for his daughter.

He made a secret resolution: he would go back today and practice with a pillow.

When he came back tomorrow, he would definitely know how to hold a child.

Pei Yan said, "I’ll arrange for a few more attendants to take care of Lingling."

Giving birth was already hard enough; he didn’t want Mei Wanying to worry about these things.

She only needed to watch her daughter and play with her from time to time; she didn’t need to handle everything herself.

Mei Wanying had intended to ignore him, but she was afraid he would actually send people to care for the child.

She had finally managed to send Mrs. Gu away; she didn’t want to bring more suffering upon herself.

"If you want to drive me insane, go ahead and send your people."

Pei Yan said, "I just don’t want you to be so worn out."

’How did this turn into me driving her insane?’

Mei Wanying retorted, "We were doing just fine without you."

She had plenty of silver, enough to ensure that she and Ling could live without worry for several lifetimes.

With the support of her father’s old subordinates, as long as no one from the Capital City came looking for trouble, she could protect herself and Ling even if the sky fell.

Pei Yan wanted to say more, but Mei Wanying shot him a cold glance. "Or, if you’re trying to drive me to my death, you can just say so."

Pei Yan’s heart leaped in terror.

He was suddenly reminded of her in their past life—of how she had passed away so silently.

’In Ah Yin’s heart, does she believe that I drove her to her death?’