Chapter Eighteen (Part 2 of 2)

A rumor spread faster than the guests drank wine at harvest festival banquet.

The gentle ninth prince spent three years of earnings to buy his wife a heavenly dress.

Yan Jing's heart felt a happy pain.

Jealousy covered Yan Shi Ting's heart.

Seventh prince laughed coldly. His ninth brother was entrapped by beauty and became wasteful.

The emperor thought Pei Jin was more unpredictable by the day.

Pei Jin was happy he could finally give Yan Shi Ning a heavenly dress. He didn't care about the disapproving stares from other people in the palace.

Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning stood dignified in the palace banquet hall and everyone thought they were smiling lovingly at each other.

The light blue dress highlighted Yan Shi Ning's snow white skin. Moonlight reflected off the tiny gold flower jewels embroidered on her dress... everyone thought she changed into a heavenly beauty.

It was the first time Yan Shi Ning received attention from other people since living in the imperial city. The heavens knew she wanted to be an invisible wall to past the banquet by eating and drinking. She didn't expect Pei Jin would give her a heavenly dress and have everyone's eyes focused on her. Although she was uncomfortable to death by the stares, she maintained her gentle lady image.

'Ninth brother, I haven't seen you for a few days but your face is glowing,' Pei Zhang praised. 'Indeed a newly wedded man is a happy man.'

Pei Zhang praised Pei Jin, but Pei Zhang's eyes were looking regretfully at the heavenly Yan Shi Ning he conceded to Pei Jin.

'Seventh brother is right,' Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning wasn't amused by the two brothers' exchange. She turned around to walk to the banquet table, but someone pulled her dress. She looked down and saw a loveable little boy dressed in light gold clothes. The little boy looked about three years old, he had a chubby body and his big round eyes were looking at her.

'Nin, Nin,' the little boy said.

Yan Shi Ning was about to ask who the little boy was but a little girl ran to him and fiercely pulled him away from her dress.

'Fat kitten!' the little girl said. 'You dare run away!'

The little boy fell on his bottom. He didn't hurt his bottom but the little girl's loud scold scared him and he cried.

Pei Jin picked up the little boy and consoled the little boy.

'Thirteenth brother, what are you doing here?' Pei Jin asked.

Heavens! Yan Shi Ning didn't expect the little boy was Pei Jin's youngest brother, Pei Khan.

The last time Yan Shi Ning visited the palace, Consort La was pregnant so she didn't see Consort La and Pei Khan.

'Wen Cai!' Pei Zhang called coldly.

'Father... seventh father,' the little girl said.

Suddenly Consort La and Pei Zhang's wife Jing Thi ran toward their children.

Consort La was relieved Pei Khan wasn't hurt. 'Pei Khan, why did you run here? Before weren't you playing with little Wen Cai?'

Consort La and Pei Khan were walking in the palace gardens when they bumped into Jing Thi and Pei Wen Cai. So Consort La let Pei Khan play with Pei Wen Cai while she gossiped with Jing Thi. After a while she and Jing Thi couldn't see Pei Khan and Pei Wen Cai in the gardens and panicked.

'Hit, Hit!' Pei Khan said and looked at Pei Wen Cai.

Pei Khan wanted to say he ran away because Pei Wen Cai hit him in the gardens. But he couldn't speak clearly and could only look accusingly at Pei Wen Cai. He silently cursed the rotten egg Pei Wen Cai who always bullied him.

Pei Wen Cai could speak clearer and denied she hit Pei Khan. 'Nonsense, I didn't hit you!'

Pei Khan buried his head in Pei Jin's chest because Pei Wen Cai's tone was too scary.

Yan Shi Ning wondered why two three-year-old children were the same age but were treated differently by their family members. Pei Khan was a prince yet he was fearful of seventh prince's daughter.

***

End of Chapter Eighteen (Part 2 of 2)