PDLP Chapter 195 Reuniting with My Brother
Chapter 195 Reuniting with My Brother
Chu Qingyin froze, her hand stopping its movement as she fed the cat.
She quickly put on a surprised expression and stood up, saying, "Your Majesty, you've arrived."
Pei Yuanling looked at her feigned coquettish surprise and didn't expose her. He just raised his hand and pinched the tip of her nose: "You heartless thing, I thought you had forgotten about me."
"Your Majesty's words are too kind to me."
Her voice was soft, with a hint of reproach. She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Pei Yuanling's hand that was holding her arm. "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. How could I dare to disturb you?"
As she spoke, she reached out and climbed onto the man's arm, looking him over with some concern: "Your Majesty works day and night, you look so thin."
Looking at Chu Qingyin's gentle appearance, Pei Yuanling felt the weariness in his heart quietly dissipate with this touch of warmth.
He gently held Chu Qingyin's hand, his voice tinged with weariness yet full of affection: "With you caring for me, I am not tired."
Chu Qingyin nestled into his arms, her fingers gently stroking his sleeve. "My humble kitchen made some new pastries today. Would Your Majesty like to try them?"
Pei Yuanling smiled and nodded. "Okay."
The moonlight, like water, bathed them, and the shadows of the trees swayed.
Holding the little snowball in her arms, the two of them snuggled together as they entered the inner hall.
Soon, Xianglan brought out the snacks that had been prepared beforehand.
Pei Yuanling picked up a piece of plum blossom cake and put it in his mouth. "It's sweet but not cloying, and tastes quite good."
Chu Qingyin smiled and said, "I'm glad Your Majesty likes it."
As he spoke, he turned back and instructed Xianglan, "The pastry chef today will be rewarded."
After the two ate two pieces of pastry, Pei Yuanling took a handkerchief and slowly wiped his hands, then instructed Chen Zhongliang to bring out the clothes that had been prepared in advance.
"What is Your Majesty doing?"
Chu Qingyin looked surprised, somewhat puzzled as she gazed at the well-tailored men's clothing before her.
"I have prepared a surprise for my beloved concubine."
Pei Yuanling gently stroked her delicate nose, his thin lips curving slightly: "Change into these clothes, and I'll take you out of the palace."
Chu Qingyin asked, puzzled, "What are you going to do outside the palace?"
Pei Yuanling said, "Don't rush. You'll know once you change into men's clothing and come out with me."
Although Chu Qingyin was full of doubts, she didn't ask too many questions because she saw Pei Yuanling's enthusiastic appearance.
She took the men's clothing and, with Xianglan's help, went into the inner room to change.
Before long, a dashing young man came out.
The delicate and spirited air about him was completely different from his usual bright and beautiful image as a palace concubine.
Pei Yuanling looked at Chu Qingyin before him, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes. He couldn't help but praise, "My beloved consort, dressed in men's clothing, looks just like a dashing young man. If I were a woman, I'm afraid I would have fallen for her too."
Chu Qingyin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she said with a gentle reproach, "Your Majesty always teases me."
As she spoke, she looked down at her clothes and tidied her hair. "Is Your Majesty satisfied with this?"
Pei Yuanling held Chu Qingyin's hand and said with a smile, "I am satisfied with whatever my beloved consort wears."
Subsequently, under Chen Zhongliang's arrangement, the two avoided the crowd and quietly slipped out of the palace through a side gate.
Upon exiting the palace gates, a simple yet exquisite carriage was already waiting nearby.
Pei Yuanling helped Chu Qingyin into the car, and then got in himself.
The carriage slowly started moving. Chu Qingyin leaned on Pei Yuanling's shoulder, her curiosity growing stronger: "Where exactly is Your Majesty taking me?"
Pei Yuanling smiled without saying a word, and gently patted Chu Qingyin's hand, signaling her to calm down.
About half an incense stick later, the carriage stopped in a quiet alley.
"here it is……"
Chu Qingyin looked at the somewhat familiar gate in front of her, and her heart was stirred.
The Ministry of Justice prison.
"Let's go, don't delay any longer."
Pei Yuanling took her hand and led her inside.
The Ministry of Justice prison was dark and damp, with a pungent stench permeating the passageways. The torches on the walls flickered and swayed, casting eerie and distorted shadows that made the place even more sinister and oppressive.
Having already made arrangements, the two traveled without any obstacles.
Chu Qingyin wore a veiled hat, with a light veil hanging down, completely obscuring her face, so no one could recognize her identity.
As they went deeper, the atmosphere in the prison grew increasingly heavy, and the faint sounds of painful groans and the clanging of chains could be heard from afar, sending chills down their spines.
Before long, the two arrived at the deepest part of the Ministry of Justice's prison.
It was an even more sinister place, with the surrounding walls seemingly radiating a chill.
A separate cell was where Chu Tianheng was imprisoned.
"elder brother……"
Chu Qingyin looked at the emaciated man in the prison, her voice trembling, almost choked with sobs.
"How did my brother get so thin..."
The man in front of me was dressed in a gray prison uniform. His cheeks were sunken and his cheekbones were high and prominent. His once bright and spirited eyes were now bloodshot. His hair was messy and scattered on his forehead, with a few strands still sticking to dried blood.
Seemingly sensing someone's presence, the man in the cell slowly raised his head.
When he looked in the direction of the two, his handsome, sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
His gaze lingered on Chu Qingyin for a moment, as if trying to see her face through the veil.
Chu Qingyin felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, her eyes instantly welling up with tears that were about to spill over.
But she knew that now was not the right time to reunite with her relatives.
Countless eyes are lurking all around; a slight misstep could implicate my brother.
"let's go."
Pei Yuanling's voice was deep and gentle, and it sounded exceptionally clear in the deathly silence of the prison.
Chu Qingyin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and said, "Mm."
She took one last deep look at her brother, etching his image into her heart, before turning around and leaving with Pei Yuanling.
Back in the carriage, Chu Qingyin removed her veil, revealing a fair and beautiful face still streaked with tears, a sight that evoked pity.
Pei Yuanling pulled her into his arms and whispered, "Now that you've seen him, Yinyin, are you at ease?"
Chu Qingyin lowered her head to wipe away her tears, then broke into an extremely bright smile, "I am at ease now that I can see my brother."
Pei Yuanling saw through her forced smile and comforted her, "With the court in turmoil right now, it's actually safest for your brother to stay here."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for considering all this for me."
Chu Qingyin's voice was slightly choked, yet full of tenderness and gratitude, "I know that the situation in the court is complicated right now, and there are many people who want my brother to die as soon as possible. He is indeed much safer here."
After saying that, she lowered her eyes again: "Just thinking about him suffering alone makes my heart feel like it's being pricked by needles."
"There is no need for me to thank Yinyin."
Pei Yuanling gently stroked her back and comforted her, "Don't be sad. I have arranged for reliable people to take care of your brother. Once the situation stabilizes, we will definitely clear his name and reunite you and your brother."
"Ah."
Chu Qingyin nodded and buried her head even deeper.
Her long, black hair cascaded down as she reached out and wrapped her arms around the man's waist. Her soft voice was full of dependence: "As long as Your Majesty has these words, I am at ease."
The carriage started moving again, the carriage swaying slightly.
Looking at the soft, warm body nestled in his arms, Pei Yuanling suddenly raised his hand and lifted her chin, making her look at him. "I brought Yinyin out of the palace to see my brother today. Did I get any benefits?"
Chu Qingyin was slightly taken aback, then bit her lower lip, a hint of shyness flashing in her eyes, "What benefits does Your Majesty desire? As long as it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse."
“Yinyin can certainly do it.”
Pei Yuanling suddenly picked her up, and the woman's delicate body was moved almost instantly.
Chu Qingyin straddled him, her hands instinctively grabbing his collar.
Feeling the man's burning heat, she lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like startled butterflies, not daring to look directly into Pei Yuanling's intense, fiery gaze.