After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

A chill ran up Liu Xiang's tailbone, and she tried to remain calm.

"Madam, what are you saying? This servant... doesn't understand."

Wei Jiaruo tightened her grip on Liu Xiang's chin even more.

"Don't you understand? How long have you been following that bitch Wei Zhaoning? Do I need to repeat myself?"

Liu Xiang's face drained of color instantly. "Madam, this servant doesn't have it."

She was stubborn, guessing that she had only been too attentive, which aroused Wei Jiaruo's suspicion. She didn't have any substantial evidence to convict her.

"Madam! Heaven and earth bear witness, I have absolutely no disloyalty to you, Madam!"

"I only asked a few more questions because I've been with you since I was little. Only that Wei Zhaoning has repeatedly displeased you, so I've come to dislike her too. Now that Madam is about to give birth, I just feel that her affairs shouldn't distract Madam and cause her any more trouble."

Wei Jiaruo narrowed her eyes, snorted coldly, and looked at Liu Xiang with a scrutinizing gaze.

Liu Xiang felt uneasy under the gaze of those penetrating eyes. She swallowed hard, suppressing her fear with all her might, not daring to show it at all.

Wei Jiaru stared at Liu Xiang for a long time before letting her go.

"That would be best. Guards, prepare the family punishment."

"How dare a servant interrupt when their master is speaking! If you make me uncomfortable again, I'll send you straight to see your parents!"

Wei Jiaruo vented all her anger on Liu Xiang, and after all that, she felt much better.

Liu Xiang was in a terrible state; she was beaten to death by the people Wei Jiaruo called, and she will probably need to stay in bed for half a month to recover.

*

Wei Zhaoning waited until late at night, but couldn't fall asleep at all; the Regent still hadn't returned.

She couldn't sit still any longer, so she put on her outer robe and said, "Dongxu, quickly prepare the carriage; we're going to the palace."

Dongxu nodded emphatically. "Miss, could something really have happened? Yun Ce said he would probably be back this afternoon when he left, but we haven't heard from him since."

Hearing these words, Wei Zhaoning felt even more uneasy.

Her brows were constantly furrowed, and she casually adjusted her clothes before running outside.

Before he could run two steps, he was blocked by a wall of flesh, and that familiar smell filled Wei Zhaoning's nostrils.

She looked up abruptly, her anxious heart finally relaxing. A lump formed in her throat, and she exclaimed, "You're finally back!"

Pei Yi held her tightly in his arms. Perhaps it was because they had been too nervous all day, or perhaps they had gotten used to sleeping in each other's arms these past few days. Wei Zhaoning was unaware of how inappropriate this action was.

"Missed me?" Pei Yi's voice was indifferent, with a hint of teasing.

Wei Zhaoning's hands trembled as she tried to remain calm. "Why did you take so long? Did something happen? Why didn't you send me a message?"

As soon as she said it, she didn't realize how agitated she was, like a wife waiting at home for her husband to come home and then confronting him.

Pei Yi chuckled. "Alright, alright. I was really busy just now and stayed at my brother's place for a while longer. Don't be afraid. I told you, with your husband's abilities, no one in the world can get me into any trouble."

He was very pleased with Wei Zhaoning's expression at this moment, as if she was really worried about him. This warmed his heart and swept away his fatigue from the day, making him feel relaxed.

Wei Zhaoning composed herself before leaving the Regent's embrace.

Although she had seen him, she still couldn't let go of him in her heart.

"Did the Crown Prince do something again? What I said before was true. The Crown Prince has some shady abilities. You must not underestimate him and cannot let him find an opening. If something happens to you, I...I..."

Pei Yi rested his chin on his hand, looking at Wei Zhaoning. "What would you do?"

Wei Zhaoning almost blurted out something she shouldn't have said, but luckily she reacted quickly and changed the subject.

"I'll feel like I'm holding you back."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Pei Yi's eyes, but he quickly disappeared.

"Even without you, the Crown Prince would still want to deal with me." At this moment, Pei Yi's expression turned cold, like an unmelting ice lake, and his aura became chilling.

Seeing his reaction, Wei Zhaoning knew that things were not simple, but she didn't dare to ask too many questions. Even if she did, the Regent wouldn't tell her.

"Alright, let me freshen up and then I'll hold you while we sleep, okay? You came to the Prince's Mansion to enjoy life, not to worry about things. Trust your husband, he'll handle everything, okay?" Pei Yi said.

Wei Zhaoning nodded.

It's not uncommon for two people to sleep in each other's arms, but that's how people are. Once they give in, they'll keep giving in until all their bottom lines are broken, and eventually they even get used to it.

If it were in the past, Wei Zhaoning would have been embarrassed and annoyed to hear such an ordinary, everyday phrase as "I'll hold you while I sleep," because it sounded too much like something an ordinary couple would say.

But now, she felt no shame or anger, but rather a sense of anticipation. That broad, strong, and warm embrace could always easily soothe her anxieties of the day. In that embrace, it was like being in her mother's womb, enveloped in warm amniotic fluid, feeling safe, peaceful, and comfortable, making her unwilling to leave.

When Pei Yi returned after washing up, he found Wei Zhaoning curled up on the bed, not sleeping, but staring blankly at a certain place, with a deep and unyielding melancholy between her brows.

He slowed his pace, watching her long, fluttering eyelashes, and felt a surge of desire; he longed to kiss her.

However, he quickly suppressed this thought; if he let himself continue thinking about it, he was afraid he would get agitated all over.

He went straight to bed, hugged Wei Zhaoning, and gently coaxed her, "Don't think too much, your husband is fine."

Wei Zhaoning turned to look at him, her heart heavy. After a long while, she finally hummed in agreement.

Seeing that she was still unhappy, Pei Yi told her another story to make her laugh.

Wei Zhaoning was initially reluctant to laugh, but Pei Yi secretly tickled her armpits, making her unable to hold back any longer and laughing so hard she was doubled over.

Not to be outdone, Wei Zhaoning also went to tickle Pei Yi. After a while, the two wrestled on the bed before Wei Zhaoning finally fell into a deep sleep.

While asleep, she held Pei Yi's body tightly with both hands, refusing to let go for a moment, as if afraid that if she didn't hold on firmly, Pei Yi would disappear.

This was the first time since her rebirth that she had felt afraid of losing something.

Pei Yi gazed at her sleeping face, gently curved his lips into a smile, and whispered something.

Wei Zhaoning was sleeping too soundly to hear anything.