After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 156 Stay with me
In the end, Xiang Ning was carried up by Pei Yanzhi. There were still a few floors left, but she refused to go any further.

I was completely exhausted, so I sat on the stairs and hugged the railing.

Pei Yanzhi was both amused and exasperated by her childish behavior.

But this feeling only made him feel that his Xiang Ning was vivid and lovely.

Bitao and Chenghua were also exhausted, but not as much as Xiangning.

So Pei Yanzhi had no choice but to bend down and let Xiang Ning climb on his back: "I'll carry you."

Chenghua was also stunned when he saw this scene. The master was actually going to carry Miss Xiangning on his back?
Xiang Ning was taken aback when she heard Pei Yanzhi's words, and then looked up at him.

The girl's bright eyes still held a trace of tired moisture, as if veiled by a thin, translucent gauze.

After a moment of stunned silence, she didn't stand on ceremony, stretched out her arms to wrap around Pei Yanzhi's neck, and used the leverage to climb onto his back.

Pei Yanzhi steadily supported her and stood up: "You usually seem quite clever, but you become a weakling after climbing just a few floors."

Xiang Ning pressed her face against his shoulder and retorted somewhat unwillingly, "This building is so tall and the steps are so steep. I'm not like you, with inexhaustible strength."

Her hair slipped from her shoulder, lightly brushing against Pei Yanzhi's cheek, tickling him and carrying a hint of intimacy.

Xiang Ning knew that Pei Yanzhi liked her closeness, and since someone was willing to carry her, she certainly wouldn't make herself suffer by refusing.

"I have inexhaustible strength, and you have endless tears to cry."

Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow slightly as he uttered these words, instantly silencing Xiang Ning and rendering her speechless.

Chenghua and Bitao exchanged a glance, then tacitly slowed their pace and quietly lagged behind.

Chenghua whispered jokingly, "Even our tough guy has a tender side. Look how much he spoils his daughter."

Bitao covered her mouth and chuckled softly, nodding gently.

Pei Yanzhi carried Xiang Ning on his back, his steps still steady, each step firm and solid.

As Xiang Ning stepped onto the last flight of stairs, she looked at the expansive view before her and couldn't help but widen her eyes.

No wonder some people are willing to climb for so long just to see the view from the Star-Picking Tower.

Pei Yanzhi put her down and pulled her forward, asking, "Do you still remember the poem I taught you before?"

"A towering building a hundred feet high, could one pluck the stars from the sky?"

Xiang Ning replied quickly, and Pei Yanzhi nodded. There weren't too many people on the Zhaixing Tower.

Although court officials have special privileges, climbing such a tall building is something that ordinary people can't do.

Han Jun turned his head and saw the two of them, then put his arm around Yao Yao and walked over.

"Sister Xiangning, we meet again."

Yao Yao greeted her familiarly, and Xiang Ning nodded in acknowledgment.

"I thought you weren't interested in these things."

Han Jun looked at Pei Yanzhi's smiling face, his gaze subtly falling on Xiang Ning's face.

"Say goodbye to your sister Xiang Ning."

Hearing Han Jun's words, Xiang Ning looked at them in confusion. Were they leaving so soon after arriving?
"The spring night is too short, and we have seen everything we wanted to see. Please come to our residence for a chat another day."

Han Jun gave a meaningful smile. Climbing this building was tiring, but the view was indeed quite nice.

Yao Yao said goodbye to Xiang Ning and was led away by Han Jun.

Before long, people started leaving one after another.

Only a few lonely people remained on the Star-Picking Tower.

Pei Yanzhi took Xiang Ning to another place where there were chairs to rest.

After they sat down, Chenghua and Bitao brought out the food and sweet wine they had brought.

"Let's spend the night at the Star-Picking Tower."

Pei Yanzhi sat on the chair that resembled a soft couch, holding Xiang Ning in his arms.

The heavy cloak served as a blanket, enclosing the two of them in this small space.

In the distance, fireworks rose and exploded continuously, making the pitch-black night as bright as day.

Xiang Ning nestled in his arms, and he would occasionally feed her some food.

The night was cold, especially up here, but his embrace was warm, and his burning heart was pounding wildly.

As if sensing something, Xiang Ning turned her head. He looked down at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. "If you're cold, let's go back."

Upon hearing this, she shook her head: "I'm not cold."

The voices not far away had gradually faded away, and it seemed that only they remained on the Star-Picking Tower.

Occasionally a breeze would blow by, followed by bursts of cheers from below.

She listened to the sound of drums and felt the warmth of everyday life.

"A Ning."

Hearing Pei Yanzhi's voice, Xiang Ning opened her sleepy eyes and looked at him.

But after he called her name, he stopped talking.

"what happened?"

"It's okay, just go to sleep if you're sleepy."

Pei Yanzhi shook his head and didn't say anything more. Xiang Ning turned her head and felt that Pei Yanzhi had wanted to say something just now.

She clearly saw his hesitant gesture, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

However, if he doesn't say anything, Xiang Ning won't ask him, lest he ask something she can't answer.

Xiang Ning closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, half-asleep.

Pei Yanzhi noticed that her breathing was even and relaxed, so he pulled her closer to his chest and gently rested his chin on the top of her head.

Before long, a stronger night wind blew by, carrying the smell of gunpowder from the burnt-out fireworks.

Pei Yanzhi was worried that Xiang Ning would catch a cold, so he reached out and tightened his cloak.

His fingers accidentally touched her cheek; it was warm and soft, which put his mind at ease.

Before long, the cheers below gradually subsided, and the entire Star-Picking Tower became increasingly quiet.

Pei Yanzhi looked down at the person in his arms and saw that she was breathing steadily and was really fast asleep.

He then spoke slowly, his voice extremely soft, as if afraid of disturbing the night and her dream.

"What I really wanted to say was, just stay by my side."

As he spoke, he gave a self-deprecating smile: "But I think you can't answer me like that."

Even if they could reply, it would only be a lie, a deception.

Xiang Ning seemed to sense something in her sleep, snuggled closer to him, and murmured a few indistinct words in her sleep.

Pei Yanzhi listened, a gentle smile appearing on his face. He patted her back lightly in response.

The next day, as the sky began to lighten and the first rays of dawn shone on the Star-Picking Tower.

As soon as Xiang Ning opened her eyes, she met Pei Yanzhi's tightly closed eyes.

Sensing her movement, Pei Yanzhi also opened his eyes.

Having slept so long leaning against Pei Yanzhi, she sat up a little embarrassed and tidied her slightly messy hair.

The two spent the night in the Star-Picking Tower and didn't feel too cold.

Perhaps it was the fire under the eaves, plus the screen in front that shielded them from the wind, that prevented them from being exposed to it.

Xiang Ning looked up at him, and Pei Yanzhi reached out and took her hand.

"Last night's fireworks were a bit short, but for the rest of my life, I will take you to see the fireworks on the Star-Picking Tower and all the beautiful scenery in the world, and share them with you."

Xiang Ning looked down at their clasped hands, her heart pounding like a drum.

These words are no less than "I want to marry you," but they both understand the difference in their social status.

Pei Yanzhi couldn't marry her, and she didn't want to marry him either.

Xiang Ning didn't say anything else, just nodded: "Okay, then you must remember what you said today."

He wanted to say something, and she listened; they both knew it was just a fleeting moment of tenderness.

Pei Yanzhi reached out and pulled her into his arms, but his joyful heart was gradually cooling down.

The morning light was gentle, and the air was filled with tender affection, but he seemed not to feel anything at all.

“My love, you killed me in the morning light.”

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(End of this chapter)