To be honest, Pei Liang had never expected Shi Feiyu to return so soon.
After realizing that the man had misunderstood the nature of their relationship, Pei Liang carefully went over their previous exchanges in her mind.
It clearly wasn’t her fault. Given the intelligence of the two of them, she had already made things perfectly clear. Any clearer, and it would have ruined the beauty of it.
But regardless, the fact remained that Shi Feiyu had developed a tremendous misunderstanding. That meant she had to revise her original assessment of him.
Pei Liang had initially thought Shi Feiyu was the sort of person who could make a great sacrifice for a grand undertaking—even sacrificing a bit of unnecessary dignity without hesitation. Who would have guessed that he wasn’t like that at all?
The furious, almost crazed look on his face when he had left was still fresh in Pei Liang’s mind. She had assumed he wouldn’t want to see her again for quite some time.
She certainly hadn’t expected him to come knocking not long after returning to the capital. He had worked through his own issues without her even having to lift a finger.
So Pei Liang wrapped an arm around him and said, “Now that’s more like it. What’s wrong with keeping things pure and simple?”
“When we were together before, we didn’t think about anything else. We only had to consider the pleasure and happiness right in front of us. Wasn’t that wonderful?”
“Why bother thinking about all those tiresome principles and moral conventions? Look at how many married couples end up with nothing but a complete mess between them. Do you really want us to become like that?”
Shi Feiyu said nothing in response. The light in his eyes grew as dark and deep as a muddy swamp, while his actions became increasingly uninhibited.
Before long, Pei Liang’s breathing was ragged, and her words had broken apart into fragments. She could no longer say the infuriating, maddening things that nearly drove him insane.
In the end, Pei Liang could hold out no longer. Shi Feiyu merely chuckled against her ear.
“Owner Pei’s kindness is as deep as the sea. How could I, Shi, dare show the slightest neglect?”
“Of course I must give it my all. I’ll have to burn until the candle turns to ash, and even then it wouldn’t repay a fraction of what I owe you.”
Tsk. A pretty boy was troublesome when he went crazy.
Under ordinary circumstances, though, Pei Liang was quite happy to indulge him.
She had simply underestimated the male lead. Authors usually maxed out this sort of character’s talents from the moment they wrote him. He was not someone an ordinary person could compare with.
Thus, after the storm had finally passed, Pei Liang found herself questioning her entire existence.
Still, she couldn’t deny that it had been an exceptionally wonderful experience.
She laboriously stretched out a hand and patted Shi Feiyu. “Go pour me a cup of water.”
Shi Feiyu did have moments when he remembered his duties as a pretty boy. He was always quite proactive when it came to taking care of people. He rose and poured a cup of warm water—but he didn’t hand it to Pei Liang.
Instead, he took a sip himself and passed it into her mouth.
Pei Liang didn’t mind playing such little games with her pretty boy. After drinking the water, she even licked her moist red lips under Shi Feiyu’s watchful gaze.
At once, the teacup fell to the floor, and the bed curtains descended once more.
This time, Pei Liang had no idea how long they continued. At some point, she seemed to hear a maid outside asking whether she should have the meal served.
Still dazed, Pei Liang was fed a little food that was easy to digest before falling asleep again. When she woke the next day, it was already broad daylight.
When she awoke, Pei Liang felt clean and refreshed, without the slightest sticky discomfort. Aside from the unavoidable heaviness in her limbs, as though her body had been taken apart and put back together, she felt quite fine otherwise.
It seemed Shi Feiyu had cleaned her up and taken care of her afterward.
How considerate.
As a reward, she ran her hand over Shi Feiyu’s arm. He was already awake, gazing at Pei Liang’s face. One hand rested behind her head, gently stroking her hair at unhurried intervals.
When she saw that he was awake, she asked abruptly, without preamble, “I left in a fit of anger and said such final, heartless things to you. Why did you continue sending military supplies without end?”
Pei Liang narrowed her eyes in contentment. “I thought you understood something like that.”
“I don’t.” Shi Feiyu’s voice suddenly turned heavy. “Unless you explain yourself, I don’t understand anything about you.”
He no longer dared to take his own assumptions about her thoughts for granted.
He had always known that she was unlike ordinary women. In knowledge, vision, ambition, and perseverance, she surpassed what ordinary people could ever hope to possess.
But he had never imagined that her differences extended so far beyond that.
Who could have guessed that even her view of love and desire would be so unconventional? She was lustful and pleasure-seeking, yet regarded ethics and social conventions as nothing more than shackles.
He should have realized it sooner. A woman who saw imperial authority as something to exploit, and felt not the slightest reverence for Heaven, the sovereign, or her family—how could she ever be content to remain within the confines of a household?
So Shi Feiyu could no longer interpret her thoughts on his own. His last misjudgment had led to consequences whose painful aftershocks had yet to fade, and he dared not forget them.
Still, he knew that Pei Liang disdained lying. Thus, he fixed her with an unwavering stare, waiting for her to give him an explanation herself.
Pei Liang had no choice but to answer. “What else could it be? The wolves have already reached our doorstep. No matter how important the matter is, it can wait. We need to join forces against the enemy first.”
Even though he had already guessed as much, Shi Feiyu’s eyes still dimmed.
He asked again, “But the amount you sent far exceeds what we need to win. You’re a merchant. I don’t believe you’re incapable of doing such a simple calculation.”
“With the military provisions and grain we have left, we could easily wage war for at least another six months.”
One should not underestimate those mere six months. If Shi Feiyu marched straight for Jiangnan, forced the emperor to abdicate, and seized Jiangnan’s enormous logistical resources, then suppressing the rebel armies of the other factions would only be a matter of time.
Yet Pei Liang said, “It’s so you can bring this chaotic age to an end sooner.”
Shi Feiyu froze. He had never expected a woman who had made her fortune by exploiting the chaos of war—a fortune that would have been impossible to accumulate in an era of peace—to say such a thing.
Pei Liang sighed. “In times like these, it’s already difficult enough for ordinary people simply to stay alive. To later generations, this era of turmoil will amount to no more than a few brief strokes in the history books. But to the people living through it, every grain of sand that slips from the tip or edge of each stroke is made up of the blood and bones of countless victims.”
“Human lives should not become the dregs squeezed out of an age by ambitious schemers.” Pei Liang looked at Shi Feiyu. “I could recruit people to place their bets again, but—”
But if she did, this chaotic world would have to continue for at least another ten years. Ten years of hell on earth. Pei Liang might be an unscrupulous capitalist, but she was still human.
Over the long river of time that lay ahead, she did not want to cast aside her own humanity. If she allowed deaths that could have been prevented to continue for the sake of profit—or even made them worse—then some part of her would be killed alongside them.
Shi Feiyu’s gaze grew somewhat distant. Then he lowered his head and pressed a deep kiss to Pei Liang’s eyes.
Her eyes were neither innocent and bright nor pure and flawless. They were shot through with too many calculations of profit and too much cunning.
And yet, they held a color no one in the world could ever shake.
Shi Feiyu suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. Even knowing that she regarded men as playthings, even knowing that what she felt for him was nothing more than lust, she was still the person who fit him perfectly in his heart.
It was not merely that they were physically compatible. He was genuinely delighted by her, his heart leaping at the thought of becoming one with her.
And so Shi Feiyu came to understand that if this was the only kind of relationship she was willing to acknowledge, then as long as he was always the other party, the outcome would not be far from what he had hoped for.
When the two of them left the bedroom and entered the dining room, the maids had already laid out a sumptuous breakfast.
Jiang Yuying, along with Sanxiang and Siji, was already seated.
The moment Shi Feiyu saw Jiang Yuying, he frowned. “Why is he still here?”
Sanxiang gave an awkward smile. “We did try to throw him out, but this is Owner Pei’s home, after all.”
Even if they tossed him out the front gate, he would simply be let back in. This was the Pei residence, not the Shi residence.
Shi Feiyu was momentarily at a loss. Considering his current position, he could not bring himself to brazenly order Pei Liang to drive Jiang Yuying away.
Seeing this, Pei Liang introduced the two men to each other, though she knew perfectly well that both of them had already guessed the other’s identity.
Jiang Yuying was fully aware of the relationship between Pei Liang and Shi Feiyu. It was precisely because of this that jealousy raged in his heart, though he said in a pitiful tone, “If General Shi finds me annoying and does not wish to see me, so be it.”
“You are a man of rank and power, while we are merely commoners and naturally ought to make way. But this is plainly my sister’s residence. For General Shi to throw his weight around here and flaunt his authority is hardly appropriate.”
Shi Feiyu had already begun, little by little, to acquire the temperament of a man who could calmly accept such things. Yesterday, he had merely been driven into a rage, his lungs nearly bursting from being provoked by the young man.
Now that he had spent the night in the bed of a wealthy woman, and the two of them had spoken openly with their relationship more or less settled, he was, to some extent, able to handle matters with ease.
So how could he possibly react with the same impulsiveness as yesterday?
He casually peeled a tea-marinated quail egg for Pei Liang and fed it to her, then turned to Jiang Yuying with the composure of the principal wife.
“Yesterday, the disagreement between the two of us had yet to be resolved, and I took my anger out on a guest, behaving discourteously in front of you. I sincerely apologize.”
“Still, Ah-Liang and I have corresponded for several years, and we have spent the past few months together in the capital. We have always spoken freely with each other, yet she never once mentioned you. I naturally assumed you were merely an insignificant outsider.”
“I did not realize that you were the grandson of the former chief of the River Transport Gang. I hope Young Master Jiang will forgive my discourtesy.”
Jiang Yuying’s smile stiffened. He could not help feeling that General Shi had become a completely different person overnight.
Yet with his lips, he said, “General Shi, you flatter me. You are the heir of a marquis and a first-rank general. How could you possibly need to apologize to a mere commoner like me?”
“Outside, I may bear a title and official rank, but within my own home, I do not concern myself with such empty formalities. A guest is a guest. Since I treated one discourteously, I naturally ought to apologize.”
Jiang Yuying narrowed his eyes, then quickly resumed smiling. “It is good to know that General Shi does not truly dislike me. Your easygoing manner, your willingness to admit a mistake and correct it, and your refusal to use your position to intimidate others are all truly admirable.”
He then shifted the direction of the conversation. “As expected of a man of mature years and steady temperament. If, by the time I approach thirty, I can be as composed and broad-minded as General Shi, I shall be perfectly content.”
Sanxiang and Siji had intended to ignore the two of them and simply eat their meal. But at this, they abruptly looked up at Jiang Yuying.
What was wrong with this boy? Their General Shi was only twenty-five by reckoning, and not even two years older than Owner Pei. They were at precisely the age made for each other.
How had he made it sound as though their general were already old and faded?
No, no—they had been led astray as well. General Shi was a fine, strapping man who had risen to the highest ranks while still young. He was no one who lived by his looks; even at forty, he could hardly be called old and faded.
The two of them glanced at Owner Pei. Could it be that Owner Pei simply preferred them young and fresh?
Shi Feiyu was speechless too, but he merely smiled and said to Jiang Yuying, “What is there to envy? Once a man reaches the age when he can stand tall and shoulder the world, his thoughts naturally change.”
“General Shi, for his part, envies Young Master Jiang. You are at the carefree, high-spirited age of youth, without a worry in the world. Your heart and eyes are filled with nothing but happiness every day, like a child’s.”
As he spoke, he took Pei Liang’s hand and smiled. “People like me and your Sister Pei can never return to those days.”
Pei Liang was holding a pan-fried bun. Hearing this, she nodded. Indeed, the older one got, the harder it became to find amusement.
When she had been in her teens, even the smallest thing could make her happy for an entire day.
Jiang Yuying secretly clenched his teeth, feeling thoroughly stifled. What displeased him most was how Sister Liang always treated him like a child. This fellow surnamed Shi had struck him right in his sore spot.
Having been provoked, Jiang Yuying’s smile grew even brighter, as though Shi Feiyu were a close confidant with whom he was enjoying a delightful conversation.
He said, “A carefree, spirited youth is certainly wonderful, but I also envy General Shi for galloping across the battlefield, rugged and heroic.”
Sanxiang and Siji stared at Jiang Yuying as if he were blind. Take a look at their young master’s face before you say another word about him being rugged!
Jiang Yuying, however, seemed not to notice at all. “Battling across the north and south, sleeping in the open and eating whatever one can find, letting the sun, wind, and frost toughen you until your hands and feet grow cracked and callused, your skin coarse and hard-wearing—that is the bearing a true man who can swallow mountains and rivers ought to have.”
Just don’t come hovering around Sister Liang if you’re going to be some rough old brute. That’s not her type.
Shi Feiyu naturally knew that Pei Liang was thoroughly satisfied with his body. Otherwise, she would never have committed that act of coveting him.
He replied calmly, “That is true. From what I can see, Young Master Jiang, your constitution is frail and you’re as thin as a stick. I never imagined you harbored such ambitions. Still, you’re young; there’s no need to rush.”
“Go home, eat well for a few more years, and once you’ve built yourself up—at the very least, doubled in size—you can join the army and show the world what a real man you are.”
Sanxiang and Siji’s gazes once again fell on their young master. Were these two competing to see who could be more blind?
Though Jiang Yuying was a few years younger, he was still of a similar age to their general. As for his build, anyone could see that he was also trained in martial arts. Calling him frail was already excessive—yet Shi Feiyu had gone so far as to call him as thin as a stick.
That was just mean.
Jiang Yuying smiled. “Is that so? I suppose the standards for a military general really are different from those of ordinary people. Sister Liang clearly said I was built like a warrior.”
As he spoke, he actually reached out his hand. “Isn’t that right, Sister?”
Pei Liang was just about to reach over and pinch the well-defined muscle in the boy’s arm.
But another hand reached out first and closed around it.
Shi Feiyu tightened his grip. The veins on the back of his hand seemed ready to stand out, yet his face still wore the smiling expression of a perfectly amiable brother-in-law.
Jiang Yuying felt his bones creak. The sudden, stabbing pain almost twisted his face into a grimace, and it took several hard tugs before he managed to pull his arm back.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain.
The woman surnamed Shi, however, merely smiled and praised him. “I’ll admit, I misjudged you. I couldn’t see clearly through your clothes. Young Master Jiang’s constitution is quite impressive for someone your age.”
Jiang Yuying had suffered in silence, furious but unable to say a word.
At that moment, Pei Liang chuckled. “See? I’ve watched this boy swim before. He may be young, but he’s growing like a weed, and he’s already built himself quite a set of muscles. I wonder which lucky person will benefit from that someday.”
The smile on Shi Feiyu’s face stiffened, while Jiang Yuying’s expression turned smug.
In his delight, Jiang Yuying seemed to forget the pain altogether and looked ready to fight another three hundred rounds.
He said modestly, “Sister Liang is too kind. I’m but a frail willow. If my beloved ever takes a liking to me, then all my hard training will have been worthwhile.”
“General Shi, on the other hand, was clearly born with an extraordinary bearing. The first time I saw you, I thought an immortal had descended to earth.”
“That day when General Shi returned victorious, Sister Liang saw the spectacle too, didn’t you? Which woman in the entire city wasn’t captivated? With General Shi’s heavenly looks, you must have been fawned over from childhood. Now that society is so open, I imagine women are often confessing their feelings to you.”
“General Shi must come and go among the flowers all the time, inspiring the envy of countless men.”
He sighed as he spoke. “Unlike me. I grew up surrounded by my sisters, and my family taught me from an early age to respect women above all else. When I reached the age of understanding such matters, my family kept an especially strict watch over me. The only woman I’ve ever had much contact with is Sister Liang.”
As he said this, a trace of shyness flickered in his eyes. He glanced at Pei Liang, then quickly looked away.
Shi Feiyu felt her temper flare. Even with Sanxiang and Siji—and soybean milk still going down her throat—she nearly choked on the sheer bitterness of his words. The soybean milk almost curdled on the spot into tofu pudding.
Shi Feiyu forced an unpleasant smile and refused to yield. “As a man, what does one’s appearance matter? Good looks only invite trouble.”
She turned to Pei Liang. “Still, if it helps one win the favor of the woman one admires, then I suppose those two extra points of beauty have their uses.”
“Speaking of which, I envy Young Master Jiang. With your looks, you probably never had to worry about such things. You’re nearly twenty, yet you still look like a child. Not only does Sister Liang regard you as a younger brother, even I feel the same way whenever I see you.”
Jiang Yuying’s mouth nearly twisted out of shape with anger. How dare she mock him for having an ordinary face?
He immediately retorted, “General Shi spends all year campaigning in the south and is so busy with military affairs that, despite having known Sister Liang for several years, you’ve only seen her a handful of times. It’s truly enviable that you’ve managed to build such a deep bond under those circumstances.”
What use were good looks if she was never around?
Shi Feiyu replied, “The nation and the people must, of course, be shouldered by someone. Isn’t your Sister Liang likewise busy day and night, with her heart set on the whole world?”
“We, on the other hand, envy Young Master Jiang. Living in such troubled times, you seem to reside in an age of peace, protected by your elders and sisters, free from every care.”
That little brat hadn’t even grown all his hair yet, and he still dared to compete with her.
Jiang Yuying said, “Sister Liang is indeed devoted to the world. Since my Cao Gang is responsible for transporting supplies, naturally we know that better than anyone.”
“Sister Liang has devoted years to painstakingly building up her business, yet she sends ship after ship to the front lines without the slightest hesitation. What magnificent generosity, what selfless righteousness. She has taken on the burdens that countless century-old aristocratic families and wealthy merchants in the capital have avoided and shirked, all for the greater good of the realm. Still, I sometimes worry for you, Sister Liang. Are all your efforts truly worth it?”
You’re way too expensive. Are you really worth that price?
Shi Feiyu said, “I, Shi Feiyu, will never forget A-Liang’s friendship. She trusts me with all her heart—how could I betray her expectations?”
“However, Young Master Jiang is still quite young. Perhaps you don’t yet understand that while a man ought to stand tall and shoulder the heavens, how fortunate a person is when someone is willing to give them everything.”
“After all, Young Master Jiang is still young—”
You’re not even worth being kept.
Sanxiang and Siji found the food utterly tasteless. How had this somehow turned into him gloating?
Thinking of all the supplies that had kept them free of worries during the war, the two men desperately tried to convince themselves—not wanting the heir’s lofty image in their hearts to shatter—that His Highness had simply sacrificed too much for the army.
His Highness was truly magnificent.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yuying had more or less seen through him. Though this man named Shi came from a noble and illustrious family and now held a high position, he was genuinely the sort who could swallow his pride and lower himself to achieve his aims.
It was also Sister Liang’s fault for being too generous. Which man, faced with a grand undertaking within easy reach, could bear to cling to his dignity instead of bowing his head and playing the humble one?
But the more Shi Feiyu acted this way, the more Jiang Yuying felt that he was exactly the kind of person who would forget all the favors he had received once his goal was accomplished.
The two of them exchanged a deep look, neither making any effort to conceal the disgust in their eyes.
The lively dinner table suddenly fell silent, leaving only the sounds of eating.
Pei Liang thought to herself: Thank goodness these two finally finished their damn bickering.
Why did she have to endure this two-sided crossfire after transmigrating into another world?
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t encountered situations like this before. For example, at a business banquet, her celebrity ex-boy-toy might sit down beside her and trade barbed remarks with the new-money tycoon she was currently seeing.
Or at an awards ceremony, the tycoon ex-boy-toy might come over and start sizing up and competing with the athlete who was now her lover.
As for Pei Liang, she wasn’t the sort of heartless person who would cut off all affection the moment she broke up with someone who had waited on her for a long time. Naturally, she couldn’t possibly take either side.
She had tried to mediate before, but whenever the flames spread to her, she ended up caught in the middle and pleasing neither party. She was done with that.
Usually, an assistant handled matters like this. But she hadn’t yet had time to train someone capable of dealing with such situations, so she could only grit her teeth and pretend not to notice the crossfire.
So what exactly was this brat Jiang Yuying making a fuss about? It wasn’t as though she hadn’t rejected him firmly and explicitly.
Fortunately, one side had neither the name nor the standing to make a legitimate claim, while the other had only just risen to power and hadn’t figured out the rules yet.
Playing dead had barely allowed her to muddle through.
But clearly, she had let her guard down too soon.
Just as breakfast was coming to an end, Jiang Yuying suddenly said, “Sister Liang, my birthday is coming up in a little while.”
Pei Liang was generous with her boy-toys, and even more generous with her friends and people on her side. Hearing this, she didn’t think much of it and simply smiled. “Don’t worry, I remember.”
“Weren’t you envious of the large ship your elder brother received before? I’ve already drawn up the design plans. I’ll have them build you a luxurious ocean liner the likes of which has never been seen before. Just wait and see.”
Jiang Yuying seemed to light up all over. His eyes sparkled as he exclaimed, both delighted and touched, “Sister Liang, this—this is far too precious. I can’t accept it.”
“If I’m giving it to you, then take it. You have an exceptional sense for everything on the water, along with a gift for coordination and management. Even your grandfather says you’re a once-in-a-century genius. You mustn’t limit yourself to these rivers and waterways. I’m counting on you to venture out to sea and make your mark.”
That was Jiang Yuying’s dream as well, which was why he admired Pei Liang so deeply. She was someone who would never ignore another person’s talents or ambitions.
Jiang Yuying forced down his excitement, his face turning a little bashful. “Actually, the gift itself doesn’t matter.”
“All I hope is that, on the day of my birthday, Sister Liang can personally spare a whole day to keep me company. That would be more than enough to make me happy.”
Pei Liang was just about to reply when Shi Feiyu said in a dark, meaningful tone, “That great ship must have taken a long time to build. If you wanted it delivered before his birthday, you must have started working on it more than half a year ago, right?”
“And if you count the time spent designing the blueprints, the preparations would have begun even earlier.”
Shi Feiyu turned his head and looked at Pei Liang, his eyes shadowed. “You’ve certainly put a lot of thought into it.”
Pei Liang’s heart gave a jump. This was very clearly a sign of displeasure.
She hurriedly smiled. “If we’re talking about how long I spent preparing, then the things I gave you last time were what I’d been planning for years.”
Shi Feiyu’s expression eased a little, but he was still deeply dissatisfied.
In a low voice, he said, “Owner Pei, you keep saying that supporting me costs a fortune, yet you’re lavishly spending on other men.”
“You’d better be more frugal. It wouldn’t look good if, when the time comes, you say I may take whatever I want from you, only to find yourself penniless.”
No one else heard those words clearly, but Qiu Sanxiang, sitting beside Shi Feiyu, caught them as the breeze carried his voice over.
The food had suddenly become completely tasteless.
Why had this man started keeping such a close eye on her money?
How was that any different from a wife guarding her husband’s purse because she was afraid he might spend it on other women, constantly watching and restricting his expenses?
Qiu Sanxiang could not sit there any longer. He hurriedly dragged Ying Siji outside.
As it happened, Ying Siji had also been nearly suffocated by the overpowering romantic tension permeating the entire table.
Fortunately, once the meal was over, everyone had their own affairs to attend to, and things finally quieted down.
From that day onward, Shi Feiyu moved directly into Pei Liang’s home, throwing all his previous concerns to the wind.
What mattered was making sure everyone knew that Shi Feiyu existed. Anyone who dared approach her and start discussing dreams and ambitions with her would first have to consider whether they had the life expectancy to enjoy the rewards.
Thus, after the people of the capital had barely recovered from the panic of the invasion, the city quickly regained its vitality.
And now, who in the capital did not adore the scandalous romantic gossip surrounding the most hot-blooded General Shi?
Those who had previously assumed that Pei Liang had been abandoned by General Shi and had found a straightforward, dependable replacement in the Canal Gang’s young master were now utterly confused by the tangled relationship.
The three of them even appeared together from time to time. It seemed that once those supposedly most rule-bound aristocratic families decided to disregard convention, they could leave ordinary people utterly speechless.
The unmarried young women and married ladies of the capital were green with envy and gnashing their teeth over Pei Liang. For a time, Tianxiang Tower saw a surge in female customers.
They came for no other reason than to see what kind of breathtaking beauty could win General Shi’s favor.
Before long, people began making sour remarks: “She isn’t exactly the most stunning beauty in the capital. Could it be that General Shi has a particularly discerning palate and is simply greedy for Owner Pei’s cooking?”
By that logic, when Madam Shi had initially taken a liking to that wanton Wei Yingshu, perhaps her intention had indeed been to put up someone she believed had what it took to get things done—despite the distaste it caused her.
What did the two women have in common?
Cooking skills.
For a while, the young ladies of the capital began studying the culinary arts, abandoning their music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery.
Still, a relaxed atmosphere among the common people was a good thing. Gossip encouraged people to go out, and only when people went out was there any chance of them spending money.
If Shi Feiyu had cared any less about his reputation, then given Pei Liang’s nature, she might well have had her own scandalous love life written into a stage play and performed in the theaters to stimulate consumption.
Come to think of it, there really had been a movie during her lifetime based on her personal entrepreneurial history and her rich romantic experiences. It had even done extremely well at the box office.
The only problem was that the screenwriter and director had clearly had mush for brains. Every one of her relationships—whether at the beginning or the end—had been entirely voluntary on both sides, and she had enjoyed herself immensely.
Yet the movie had insisted on making its central theme that she had poured her heart into every relationship, entering each one with the intention of staying together for life, only to find that reality rarely went according to plan.
Pei Liang had been furious when she saw it. She had sent her company’s legal department after them, and in the end, half the money earned from the movie’s roaring box-office success had gone straight into her pocket.
The director had stormed into her office and angrily accused her of being ungrateful, saying that he had polished her character for the sake of her reputation, yet she had refused to appreciate it.
He even declared that he was going to make a movie portraying her as completely heartless, faithfully restoring her true scumbag nature so that the whole world could curse her.
Pei Liang had immediately invested two hundred million in the project and told him to make it exactly as he had just described.
The director had been dumbfounded. He went ahead and filmed it with gritted teeth, never expecting the movie to do even better at the box office. In the years that followed, handsome men and beautiful women flocked to apply for jobs at the Pei Corporation, while half the internet’s most popular memes seemed to come from Pei Liang.
There were two reaction images practically everyone had.
The one for men said: **“Big Sis, I really don’t want to work hard anymore.”**
The one for women said: **“Big Sis, don’t be so strict about gender.”**
By the end, the director was completely stunned. He could only watch as the movie became the year’s box-office champion, even breaking the record for films of its kind. At last, he admitted how utterly unnecessary his earlier efforts had been.
In short, Pei Liang herself did not mind. She had only shown mercy because she was afraid that Shi Feiyu’s reputation as the emperor who lived off his wife would be recorded in the history books and passed down to future generations.
Shi Feiyu, however, had always possessed an exceptionally clear understanding of his own role.
Just as he had never been confused about his responsibilities and obligations when he was the heir apparent or a general, he had no such confusion now.
Once he chose to return and continue living off his wife, he never again made the sort of awkward fuss that had embarrassed them both before. And every night, he was vigorous and performed admirably.
Even when Pei Liang occasionally felt she could barely keep up, he still wore an expression that said, *You’re giving me far too much. This is the only way I can repay you. After all, you’ve put in so much—I can’t let you lose out.*
That wasn’t all. His clothes and appearance around the house also underwent considerable changes.
He had once favored understated, simple attire. Now, however, he was willing to try anything. He even took the initiative to ask Pei Liang to put more thought into exploring all the ways she could make use of him.
Naturally, that was the sort of thing that instantly piqued Pei Liang’s interest.
Thus, when Sanxiang and Siji returned a few days after being sent out of the city on a mission, the moment they entered the Pei residence and saw their young lord, both of them looked as though they had been struck by lightning.
Who was this man with a languid air and an intoxicating heat that made one’s face flush and heart race? His collar hung slightly open, revealing a sharply defined collarbone and a small expanse of firm chest.
Ying Siji immediately fell apart. He grabbed Pei Liang and shook her furiously, looking as though he were about to cry. “What—what have you done to my lord?”
Pei Liang’s brain felt as if it were about to be shaken loose. “I only made him a few sets of clothes. Adults have their own business; children shouldn’t pry.”
Of course, it was more than that. Since Shi Feiyu had such boundless energy, Pei Liang had to keep developing new amusements, lest she die of boredom in bed with such a monotonous love life.
At first, Shi Feiyu had been somewhat awkward and restrained. But Pei Liang believed in his potential. Sure enough, after playing the part of a bandit and a fallen noblewoman once, he quickly discovered the delights of it.
Today’s scenario was that of a courtesan and his client—only he was the courtesan.
They had just finished when Sanxiang and Siji came running over, announcing their arrival with their voices before they even appeared. Shi Feiyu coughed twice.
“Siji, mind your manners.”
“I’m merely feeling unwell today. I seem to have a bit of a fever.”
Only then did Ying Siji relax. He hurriedly took out his silver needles. “A fever? That can’t be taken lightly. My lord, let me examine you.”
Sanxiang was skilled with a bow, while Siji was skilled in medicine. Back when they had gone to Jiangnan, it was he who had dealt with the old woman at Uncle Sui’s restaurant—the one who had pretended to suffer a stroke in order to cause trouble.
In his moment of panic, Shi Feiyu had completely forgotten that.
He quickly said, “There’s no need. I’ve already taken some medicine. You two may leave for now and report tomorrow.”
Siji was about to say something more, but Sanxiang dragged him away.
When they reached the courtyard, they saw Jiang Yuying returning with a grave expression.
The two of them hurried to stop him. “What are you doing? Don’t be tactless again. The young lord is unwell, and Owner Pei is taking care of him.”
Jiang Yuying let out a cold laugh. “As far as ability goes, your General Shi is certainly quite a man.”
He lived off Pei Liang while putting on airs, took advantage of all the benefits she gave him, and spent his days enjoying himself at her expense, relying on her good temper to act spoiled and willful.
They were not even officially together yet, and he was already behaving like this. One really had to admire him.
Jiang Yuying would never admit that he was consumed by sour jealousy every day and found everything about Shi Feiyu irritating.
At the moment, however, he had no time to dwell on the matter. He said, “Something has happened in Jiangnan. I’m afraid we can’t wait any longer.”
The two men’s expressions changed. They no longer tried to stop him, but followed him back inside.
As soon as they reached the door, Jiang Yuying said to Pei Liang, “Sister Liang, we’ve just received a message from Jiangnan.”
“That damned emperor hasn’t seen General Shi come to receive him in quite some time, so he’s taking his anger out on everyone. Petty officials in the court have seized the opportunity to stir up trouble and extort money. The local merchants are now seething with resentment.”
“And there’s more…” Jiang Yuying paused. “Apparently, the damned emperor favored a female chef today. That chef has repeatedly targeted the food-service alliance led by Chef Sui, and may pose a serious threat to them.”
Pei Liang raised an eyebrow. As expected of—
Even after fleeing all the way to Jiangnan in such a sorry state, he could still fall seamlessly back into the original plot.
But this also allowed Pei Liang to understand where the so-called inertia of the plot drew the line.
Pei Liang rose to her feet. “Let’s go. We’ll head back to Jiangnan at once.”
“There’s no need to set out through the night,” Jiang Yuying said. “You made arrangements with Chef Sui long ago, and with Grandfather watching over things, nothing major should go wrong for the time being.”
But Pei Liang said, “With Sanxiang and Siji back from General Shi’s side, I imagine the arrangements in Jiangnan have been completed as well.”
“Since everyone is preparing to leave, we may as well travel together.”
Sanxiang and Siji exchanged a glance. They had no choice but to admire Owner Pei’s ability to infer the whole picture from a single detail, as well as her habit of making preparations for every eventuality.
No wonder even their general had yielded to her.
Shi Feiyu nodded as well. “Pass down the order. Make ready today and depart tomorrow.”
This was entirely different from the original story, in which they had suffered a costly victory, lost men and supplies, and gone to Jiangnan isolated and without support.
Now, Shi Feiyu’s army was strong and well-equipped, with ample supplies and no fear of the northern barbarians launching another invasion from the rear. Under such circumstances, their march south seemed almost strangely imposing.
The army split into two groups, one traveling by water and the other by land.
The Shi banners snapped proudly in the wind. The troops were disciplined, their bearing magnificent and their momentum overwhelming—a stark contrast to the wretched flight south made by the emperor and his retinue. The impression they left on the cities and commanderies along the way was entirely different.
In such troubled times, the sight of this iron-blooded army was enough to make people feel that there was still hope of restoring order to the world.
But to the fleeing court in the south, it was a very different matter.
The troops traveling by water arrived first. Their sheer presence—imposing, formidable, and unyielding—made those who had fled in shame feel even more humiliated.
The moment Shi Feiyu disembarked, a eunuch who had been waiting on the shore for some time stepped forward to read the imperial edict.
It began with a string of meaningless words of praise, followed by the announcement that, as Shi Feiyu had endured a long and tiring journey by land and water, he was to bathe before entering the palace for an audience.
For an emperor, the scheme was so petty that it was laughable.
He merely wanted Shi Feiyu to remove his armor and surrender his weapons before appearing before him. For the ruler of an entire nation to be this cowardly, it seemed the northern barbarian army had frightened him witless.
Shi Feiyu accepted the edict readily. As for Pei Liang and the others, they naturally had to part ways for the time being.
Before they left, Shi Feiyu caught hold of Pei Liang’s arm and said in a low voice, “I’ve arranged for a group of men to follow you in secret. You may command them as you wish.”
“You know Jiangnan well, but you haven’t returned in several months, and with the emperor here, there have likely been considerable changes. Be careful in everything you do.”
Jiang Yuying gave a cool smile. “In Jiangnan, General Shi needn’t concern himself with such matters.”
Pei Liang had always placed great importance on safety and privacy. She already had plenty of people at her disposal, not to mention the local support of the grain-transport guild. Unless she were arrested by the army the moment she set foot ashore and accused of a crime, there was little anyone could do to her under ordinary circumstances.
Pei Liang went first to Chef Sui’s Fragrant Memories Tower.
Though she had anticipated something of the sort, she was still somewhat surprised to see the restaurant’s doors shut tight.
And it was not only Fragrant Memories Tower that had closed. The other restaurants and taverns belonging to the dining alliance along the street had all shut their doors as well.
This had once been a renowned food district. Now, with more than half its restaurants closed, the entire street had nearly fallen into desolation.
Pei Liang went straight to the young shop assistant at the pastry store next door and asked, “What happened here?”
Before the shop assistant could answer, a familiar voice sounded from behind Pei Liang.
“This street’s taverns and restaurants call themselves a ‘Gourmet Alliance,’ monopolizing the market and bullying outsiders. I couldn’t stand the sight of them, so I went from one establishment to the next, challenging them to culinary duels under the banner of friendship between chefs.”
“They were overconfident and staked their signboards on the matches. After losing, they naturally had no face left to continue doing business.”
Pei Liang turned around, and sure enough, it was Wei Yingshu, whom she had not seen in quite some time. Gone was the disheveled state she had been in after her imprisonment; now, she looked confident and full of spirit.
She stood facing Pei Liang. At a gesture from her, the people behind her hurled countless wooden plaques onto the ground—those very signboards belonging to the taverns and restaurants.
