After Marrying the Disabled Prince (BG) - Chapter 13: The Cloth Bag

Pei Yuan sat quietly in the room, his head lowered, lost in thought.

Bao Ning had just heard some noise from the eastern wing. Seeing that Pei Yuan’s clothes were neat and he didn’t look like he had been mistreated, she felt relieved.

Huang Ji’s whisk fell crookedly to the floor, and Bao Ning kicked it outside with the tip of her shoe. Immediately, a flock of chickens and ducks rushed over, pecking at it until it was in pieces.

It was then that Bao Ning noticed two cloth bags placed at the doorway.

She walked over to take a look. Both bags were bulging. One of them had an opening, revealing some cabbage and radish-like items. The other was tightly knotted, and she couldn’t tell what was inside.

Curious, Bao Ning reached out and touched the unopened bag. The contents felt smooth and thick, long and cylindrical, and she immediately felt an unpleasant chill upon contact.

She shuddered and quickly withdrew her hand, wiping it on her skirt.

She turned to Pei Yuan and asked, “Your Highness, what are these?”

“I don’t know,” Pei Yuan replied without lifting his eyes, speaking in a hoarse voice. “It’s definitely nothing good. Throw them out later, don’t touch them.”

Bao Ning muttered an “Okay,” and moved further away from the two bags, sitting next to Pei Yuan. She bit her lip, as if she wanted to ask him something but hesitated, not daring to speak when she saw his expression.

She couldn’t understand why Xiao Fu Jian would come all this way to cause trouble for Pei Yuan.

Bao Ning didn’t know much about Pei Yuan’s past.

She only knew that he was the Fourth Prince, his mother passed away early, and he was raised by the Empress. He was particularly close to the Crown Prince, Pei Che, who was seven years older. It was said that Pei Yuan’s mother was an exceptionally beautiful woman who was deeply favored by the Emperor. The Emperor loved Pei Yuan as well and showed him great affection, making him the King of Jibei at a young age.

From a young age, Pei Yuan was known for his unruly nature, earning a bad reputation both inside and outside the palace. To temper his character, the Emperor sent him to the military camp when he was about seven or eight years old, under the supervision of General Qiu Ming Shan.

As a result, Pei Yuan became highly skilled in martial arts, but his personality remained the same. He would ride horses through the streets and carry a sword threateningly, exuding the aura of a bandit. The Emperor grew tired of him and stopped interfering.

Rumors in the capital said that the Fourth Prince, Pei Yuan, was the most dangerous person to provoke. He was known as a madman who would kill, burn, or do anything if upset, and he was particularly skilled with a bow, able to shoot an arrow through the heart from a hundred paces.

However, all of this was hearsay—whether it was true or not, Bao Ning didn’t know.

What she did know was that, later, during the Spring Festival court banquet, a major incident occurred. The Crown Prince, Pei Che, and the Fourth Prince, Pei Yuan, had conspired to assassinate the Emperor and seize the throne.

Pei Che was a gentleman, ruling the army and managing the country with a policy of kindness, in sharp contrast to the Emperor, who was bold and decisive. The father and son often disagreed, and the most recent dispute had been so severe that the Emperor even considered deposing the Crown Prince.

Rumor had it that Pei Che had been pushed to the brink and tried to poison the Emperor with a tasteless, odorless poison. He nearly succeeded, but the Third Prince, Pei Xiao, detected the anomaly and risked his life to test the poison, preventing a great disaster.

Pei Xiao fell seriously ill and lay unconscious for a month before recovering, and the Emperor was deeply moved.

Afterward, Pei Che and Pei Yuan were both imprisoned. Soon after, Pei Che mysteriously disappeared, believed to be gravely ill, and the Emperor, soft-hearted, let Pei Yuan go, moving him to this small courtyard to recuperate, where Bao Ning was married to him.

Logically speaking, even though Pei Xiao might contest the throne, Pei Yuan wouldn’t have any influence over him. Why would Pei Yuan go to such lengths and allow people from the Xiao Fu Jian to cause trouble?

Bao Ning rested her chin on her hand, gazing blankly out the window, lost in thought, unaware that Pei Yuan had been watching her for a long time.

Suddenly, she felt a tap on her forehead. She snapped back to her senses and met Pei Yuan’s eyes, which seemed to carry a faint smile. “What are you thinking about?”

Of course, Bao Ning couldn’t tell him what she had been thinking. She blinked and said to Pei Yuan, “I’ll go make dinner. Today is the Spring Equinox, and we will have spring pancakes with bean sprouts.”

Pei Yuan said, “No rush, stay with me for a while.”

Bao Ning sat back down.

Pei Yuan beckoned her with his finger. “Come here.”

Confused, Bao Ning moved closer. “What is it?”

It was spring now, and the weather wasn’t so cold. Bao Ning was wearing a sea-buckthorn-colored dress that made her pale, smooth face look even more delicate, with long eyelashes fluttering like a little butterfly.

Pei Yuan said, “Come a little closer.”

Bao Ning obediently leaned forward. “What’s going on?”

As she moved, her delicate, snow-white collarbone was exposed. Pei Yuan noticed that just above her left collarbone, there was a small, pink mole.

His eyes darkened.

Bao Ning said, “If you keep stopping me, my pancakes will burn.”

“You’re as dumb as a dog.” Pei Yuan suddenly raised his hand, and his rough thumb brushed her eyebrow, leaving a smudge of flour on her face. “You got flour on your face.”

The sudden closeness made Bao Ning feel a lingering sensation from his touch, and she froze for a moment. Slowly, she also reached up to feel her face.

Pei Yuan laughed softly. “Ji Bao Ning, are you a little silly?”

Bao Ning’s face instantly turned bright red. She quickly pulled back, stammering, unable to say a word.

“Why are you so nervous?” Pei Yuan teased her in a low voice. “I just touched you, I’m not going to eat you.”

Bao Ning’s eyes sparkled with anger, and she softly muttered, “Shameless.” She quickly jumped off and bypassed him, heading out.

“Bao Ning.” Pei Yuan suddenly called her from behind. Bao Ning paused, not wanting to respond. After thinking for a moment, she stopped, leaned on the door frame, and looked back at him. “What now?”

Pei Yuan had already stopped smiling and returned to his usual demeanor. His finger rested on his jaw, and his dark eyes met hers. He spoke in a low voice, “You protected me earlier. I’m very happy.”

Bao Ning didn’t know how to reply. This person was acting strangely today, saying strange things she couldn’t quite respond to.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Bao Ning nervously pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Ah, I’ll go make the pancakes,” she said, hastily leaving.

Pei Yuan stared at her retreating figure, a faint smile flashing in his eyes.

….

The spring pancakes were supposed to be made for breakfast, but after Huang Ji’s antics, they ended up as lunch. By the time they were finished, it was already past noon, the sun high in the sky at the hottest part of the day.

Bao Ning washed the dishes, then gave Ah Huang a bath, holding it while sitting under the eaves to bask in the sun, drying its fur.

The chickens and ducks also took a break, gathering in small groups to nap, their heads tucked against each other’s backs, sleeping soundly.

Pei Yuan lay on his side in the room reading, propping up his head with one hand, occasionally glancing out the open door.

He could see Bao Ning’s slender back, delicate and fragile, as though it could be broken with a single grasp.

Pei Yuan thought again about the small pink mole on her collarbone, and his hand, which was holding the book, unconsciously rubbed against the pages.

Bao Ning moved her shoulder, placing Ah Huang on the ground before standing up.

Pei Yuan withdrew his gaze and returned to his book, but he couldn’t focus on a single word.

Bao Ning tiptoed into the room, and Pei Yuan caught a glimpse of her cautious movements, a smile almost escaping him.

He held it back, placing his fist against his lips and clearing his throat. Bao Ning jumped in surprise, standing frozen in place.

Pei Yuan put the book down, looking at her with a half-smile, “What are you doing? Trying to steal from me?”

“I’m poor enough to rattle with every step, what could I possibly steal?” Bao Ning muttered, taking a few steps forward, squatting in front of Pei Yuan, and hesitantly asking, “Um, Fourth Prince…”

Pei Yuan nodded, “Hmm?”

Bao Ning said, “Fourth Prince, your leg…”

Pei Yuan’s expression darkened instantly.

Bao Ning was silent, unsure of what to say.

After a long while, Pei Yuan pressed his hand to his forehead and spoke in a low voice, “Don’t bring it up again.”

Bao Ning, anxious, leaned her hands on the edge of the bed, “Why? You’re still so young, so many years ahead of you, it can’t always be like this. Fourth Prince, I’ll stay with you, we’ll try together, and one-day things will get better…”

Pei Yuan interrupted her, “It won’t get better.”

Bao Ning was stunned. She looked at Pei Yuan, seeing that he wasn’t joking, and a sense of unease began to spread in her heart.

A thought flashed through her mind: What really happened to Pei Yuan’s injuries? No matter what, he was a prince. Even if imprisoned, he couldn’t have been tortured to the point of being covered in wounds, with no part of his body unharmed.

Bao Ning didn’t dare to think further…

Pei Yuan’s eyes remained fixed on her as if trying to catch every expression on her face. Seemingly casually, he asked, “If it really won’t get better, what will you do?”

Before Bao Ning could answer, Pei Yuan sneered, lowering his eyelids, “If you think I’m a cripple and want to remarry, you’d better do it sooner rather than later.”

“I don’t mind you, whether you’re good or bad, I’ll stay,” Bao Ning bit her lip and tucked the blanket for him, “But I still hope you can get better.”

Upon hearing her response, Pei Yuan’s tightly clenched fist suddenly relaxed. He felt a strange sensation in his eyes, perhaps from reading too long, his exhaustion finally catching up.

Pei Yuan adjusted his posture, laying down and closing his eyes, “You should go out, I’ll take a nap.”

Bao Ning sighed in disappointment, softly replied “Hmm,” and slowly stood up to leave.

Ah Huang was tearing at two cloth bags near the wall.

One had already been ripped open, scattering cabbage and radishes all over the ground in a messy heap.

It was now pulling at the other one, which had its opening tied shut with twine.

Ah Huang’s movements were hesitant, almost as if it was afraid. It nipped at it a couple of times, then let go, stepping back two paces, watching warily.

“Ah Huang, you’re too naughty!” Bao Ning walked over to hug it, patting the rotten vegetable leaves on its body, frowning, “You just had a bath, and now you are dirty again.”

Ah Huang stared intently at the bag, suddenly struggling and barking louder, “Woof!”

“Shh, he’s sleeping, don’t bark,” Bao Ning gestured for silence, “Alright, I’ll take you back to the room, let’s take a nap.”

Ah Huang refused, continuing to struggle, it’s barking growing louder, “Woof! Woof!”

Bao Ning finally realized something was wrong. She looked at the ground and was shocked to see that the one cloth bag was now wriggling!

She stepped back, thinking she was seeing things, but when she looked again, the bag was moving more and more violently, rolling across the floor. A weak spot at the corner scraped against a stone, tearing a hole.

In the next moment, a sharp, snake head with a flicking tongue emerged from inside the bag.