Words are words, but actions are actions.
Although the Old Man’s shouts behind them were loud and full of vigor, he was almost ninety years old—how could he possibly catch up to a carriage pulled by two horses?
Within minutes, he had disappeared without a trace.
However, the Little Eunuch did not dare hesitate for even a moment; he didn’t dare slow the carriage by a single second.
He wasn’t afraid of being beaten himself. He was terrified that if anything happened to Master Xu, he would be utterly responsible and doomed.
It must be known, before leaving the palace, the Emperor had summoned him and specially ordered that Master Xu be protected at all costs.
Even if the eunuch himself were beaten to death or crippled, or even re-eunuchized, as long as Master Xu remained unharmed, it would still be a great merit.
But if Xu Ping’an were injured, no amount of effort on his part would save him from punishment.
At best, he’d get a beating with a wooden rod; at worst, his life would be forfeit.
So the Little Eunuch did not dare hesitate in the slightest, continuously whipping the reins to urge the twin horses on.
When they reached the riverbank, he didn’t stop to rest but swiftly boarded a pre-arranged boat and traveled all the way back to North City.
From there, they made an unhindered journey back to the Royal City until Master Xu was personally escorted to the East Warm Pavilion’s main gate.
Only then did the Little Eunuch finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
They had narrowly escaped a huge disaster.
As for Xu Ping’an, after noticing that the Old Man had ceased pursuit, he relaxed completely.
He leisurely strolled through the East Warm Pavilion’s grand entrance.
The entire East Warm Pavilion spanned nearly a thousand square meters but barely had anyone present.
After all, Pei Qingxuan was currently residing there, and to ensure she wouldn’t be disturbed, the Emperor had specially withdrawn all eunuchs and palace maids from the East Warm Pavilion.
Only a handful of servants remained to attend to her.
This resulted in the enormous pavilion feeling more like a haunted house.
Not a single person could be seen.
Only upon reaching the main hall inside did they finally hear faint voices.
“There’s no need to serve here anymore. You two should go and do whatever you need to.”
Hearing that voice, Xu Ping’an’s lips curled into a sly smile.
He paused at the door, adjusted his collar, brushed off his sleeves, took a deep breath, and then solemnly stepped inside.
“Master, your disciple has returned~”
Xu Ping’an saw Pei Qingxuan sitting under the pavilion in the courtyard.
Her delicate and cold beauty seemed uncarved, as if perfectly formed by nature itself.
Her slender eyebrows arched like willows, long and curved; her phoenix-like eyes gleamed with a commanding presence.
Just sitting there, she gave off a sense of stillness like water without ripples, yet beneath the surface, one could faintly feel the raging waves of a deep abyss.
“Returned?”
Upon hearing the word “Master,” Xu Ping’an sharply noticed Pei Qingxuan’s brow twitch slightly, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
But almost immediately, that expression vanished, replaced by a calm and composed face.
“Yes, Master.”
“To the two young ladies, my apologies. My master does not welcome outsiders attending to her. Please rest outside the hall. If anything is needed here, I shall come to find you.”
The two palace maids exchanged a glance but dared not refuse.
After all, when they had come initially, the Emperor had already instructed that all requests be fulfilled without question.
They were here to obey orders, so since it was said so, they could not insist otherwise.
Moreover, staying near this particular lady was quite stressful for the two palace maids.
This was the Flowing Cloud Sect, the largest sect in the world, and its Sect Master.
The Flowing Cloud Sect Master was rumored to have a connection to the Great Qi Royal Family.
This relationship had secured the current Emperor’s reign.
Perhaps even the next Emperor would rely on the Sect Master.
Such a powerful figure, almost on par with the Emperor, made the two palace maids very nervous.
Now that they had a chance to leave, they were naturally relieved, quickly bowing and retreating.
As the two palace maids stepped outside and closed the main hall door behind them, Xu Ping’an finally turned with a bright smile.
But before his eyes could meet his wife’s, he suddenly felt a tiny swallow darting into his chest!
A real little swallow!
A swallow!
A… well, okay!
Xu Ping’an held the delicate woman in his arms, feeling her nearly collide entirely into his chest with the force of a charging swallow.
“Qingxuan… next time you rush at me like that, can you give me a heads-up? I nearly lost my footing.”
Xu Ping’an was somewhat helpless.
This girl acted refined and serious in public, but the moment no one was watching, her true colors showed immediately.
Based on his guess, this was probably due to years of pent-up emotion.
After all, she was naturally charming and seductive, a constitution that demanded much more in that regard than ordinary people could imagine.
And for so many years, she had been single, never physically intimate with anyone.
Thus, she had been suppressing all these desires deep in her heart.
Now that she was joined with him in marriage, she had finally let go of that restraint.
Naturally, she had begun to let herself fly free.
“Umm~ No~ I just want to crash into you, husband~”
Hearing his wife’s coquettish tone, the smile on Xu Ping’an’s face never faded.
There’s no denying that having a wife who was a dignified figure in public but a spoiled little darling at home was dangerously overwhelming for a man.
So much so that he was still having trouble adjusting.
“All right, all right, get up. I have some things to attend to.”
Xu Ping’an helped his wife to her feet and then recounted everything that had happened earlier at the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies.
He also told her about Old Master Wan’s situation.
Pei Qingxuan listened carefully.
“Husband, should I pay my respects to Master Wan tomorrow?”
“Yes. No matter what, Master Wan was my enlightenment teacher. You have to meet him one way or another.
Also… I haven’t hidden it from him. I’ve already told him everything.
Though he thought I was toying with him at first, it at least serves as a precaution.
Going tomorrow shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What precaution!?”
“Precaution means a vaccination—a medicine that prevents disease.
Once vaccinated, you won’t catch certain illnesses.”
“Oh~ Does husband know how to make vaccinations?”
Vaccinations?
That wasn’t something made easily.
Besides, he wasn’t skilled in Western medicine.
But if vaccinations weren’t possible, other kinds of injections could be administered!
Like the injections certain ladies needed daily.
Thinking of this, Xu Ping’an gave a sharp slap.
“Do you know, today I got scolded by Master Wan.
He said I smelled like perfume.
If it weren’t for you tormenting me day and night these days, I wouldn’t have gotten such remarks.”
“Wuu~ Husband, Qingxuan knows she was wrong~”
“Oh? You know you were wrong? Can you change?”
Xu Ping’an lowered his head curiously, only to have his wife suddenly rush up and kiss him.
“No change!”