Chapter 21: Call Me Husband

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Yuan Peipei stared in surprise at the person who had caught hold of her.

“Your Majesty? What are you doing here too?”

And he was even dressed in ordinary clothes.

Dugu Jin settled her in his arms. “After hearing you praise the sights outside so enthusiastically, I wanted to see them for myself—and taste the sauce-braised duck you have been craving.”

Yuan Peipei had always been eager to share, and nothing made her happier than having someone indulge her enthusiasm.

“That sauce-braised duck is truly delicious. It’s a little spicy, but not too spicy.”

“Oh, and Chen’s sugar-roasted chestnuts are wonderful too. But my allowance used to be limited, so I could only buy them once in a while to satisfy my craving.”

“And there’s something else, Your Majesty…”

Peipei chattered the entire way. Dugu Jin did not find her talk tiresome in the least. He played with her hand while listening patiently, occasionally murmuring in agreement.

When they reached the side road beside the main street, the carriage stopped.

Dugu Jin alighted first, then lifted Yuan Peipei down.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she felt terribly self-conscious.

“So many people are watching.”

But Dugu Jin continued holding her hand, refusing to let go. “What is so improper about a husband and wife being a little affectionate?”

Yuan Peipei lowered her head and smiled to herself. Her heart felt as though a flower had blossomed within it—she was utterly delighted.

Cui Zhi, Lan Xin, and Du Heng followed behind them, unable to suppress their smiles either.

“Wow! Your Majesty, there’s a market today!” Yuan Peipei cried happily, looping her arm through Dugu Jin’s and hopping twice in place.

Dugu Jin reminded her, “Now that we are out, you cannot call me Your Majesty. Otherwise, you will cause a commotion.”

“What should I call you, then?”

Dugu Jin bent his head slightly and coaxed her, “Call me husband.”

A broad flush spread across Yuan Peipei’s face once more.

Her voice was barely audible. “Hus-husband.”

Dugu Jin frowned and lifted her chin. “You sound like a mosquito. Who can hear you? Say it again, louder.”

[Look at how smug he is. All he knows is how to coax our innocent darling Peipei.]

[“Husband”—that is something only a wife can call him. Sure enough, in the great villain’s heart, darling Peipei is already his wife!]

[Call him loudly, darling Peipei. Once you make him happy, he’ll buy you anything you want!]

Really?

If she called him husband, he would buy her anything?

Then she would risk it!

“Husband!”

What a resounding cry.

Fortunately, they were at the end of the street, where there were few people. Otherwise, everyone would certainly have turned to look.

Dugu Jin was indeed pleased. The corners of his lips rose involuntarily, and his eyes shone with excitement.

He straightened proudly and took Yuan Peipei’s hand. “Come along. Whatever my wife wishes to buy, I shall pay for it.”

Yuan Peipei was overjoyed.

So it was true—once she called him husband, he really would buy her anything.

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She began calling him that more naturally.

“Husband, do you think this is pretty?”

“Pretty. Buy it.”

“Husband, this looks delicious.”

“Buy it.”

“Husband, this lantern is so beautiful.”

“Buy it.”

“Husband…”

“Buy it!”

The passersby in the market could not help casting several glances their way.

Which family did this handsome young couple belong to? They were both remarkably good-looking.

The old woman selling sugar figurines was especially skilled at flattery. “Young lady, you and your husband are a perfect match—the man handsome, the woman lovely. When you have children, they are sure to be beautiful little darlings too.”

Yuan Peipei froze, the sugar figurine still in her hand.

Without thinking, she lowered her head and glanced at her stomach.

A child between her and the Emperor?

Good heavens, what was she thinking?

How embarrassing!

“I—I’m going to take a look up ahead.” She hurried forward a few steps, determined not to let Dugu Jin see her scarlet face.

Without paying attention, she collided with someone.

The sugar figurine in her hand smeared against the other person’s clothes.

“I’m— I’m sorry.”

“Peipei?”

Yuan Jinjin had been about to sharply reprimand the person who had run into her when she heard that familiar voice.

Looking closely, she found that it was indeed that fool from her own family.

Yuan Peipei looked up and smiled excitedly. “Sister!”

“Sister, what a coincidence! Are you here to stroll through the market too?”

Yuan Jinjin hesitated briefly. She glanced back, as though exchanging a look with someone, then gave Peipei a perfunctory reply. “I’m just looking around.”

Yuan Peipei was an honest soul. To her, other people’s perfunctory answers sounded completely sincere, and she treated them with equal sincerity.

“Sister, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Why don’t we walk around together? Oh, right.”

Only then did she remember something and turn around. “Husband, I ran into my sister. Isn’t it such a coincidence?”

Only then did Yuan Jinjin notice Dugu Jin and the others.

She was just about to salute when Dugu Jin raised a hand. “There is no need.”

“Husband, my sister and I will look around up ahead. Remember to pay, all right?” Yuan Peipei’s face was practically blooming with happiness.

Yuan Jinjin frowned at the arm Peipei had wrapped around his, suppressing the urge to shake her off.

“Peipei, how can you call the Emperor your husband?” That was a title reserved for the principal wife—the Empress.

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Yuan Peipei did not take it seriously. “He told me to call him that himself.”

Her familiar tone held not the slightest trace of awe. They sounded like an ordinary married couple—no, they were even more affectionate than ordinary married couples.

Yuan Jinjin cast a sidelong glance behind her.

He was nothing more than a foolish emperor.

He was lost in sensual pleasures; what great accomplishments could he possibly achieve?

The empire ought to belong to Prince Xuan.

“Peipei, do you see each other every day?” Yuan Jinjin asked softly, careful not to let Dugu Jin hear.

“Of course.” Yuan Peipei nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yuan Jinjin could not help feeling jealous, but she soon let the matter go.

Once Prince Xuan ascended the throne, he would grant her the position of Empress.

By then, they would be just as happy as Peipei and Dugu Jin.

No!

They would be even happier!

“Peipei.” Yuan Jinjin gestured for her to come closer, then whispered in her ear, “I heard the Emperor possesses a particularly beautiful painting depicting the entire imperial palace. I would love to see it. Could you bring it to me? I’ll only look at it, then I’ll return it.”

“Oh, all right.” Yuan Peipei gave it no further thought.

It was only a painting. Letting her look at it could not hurt.

A trace of contempt flashed through Yuan Jinjin’s eyes.

As expected, a fool was still a fool.

Even after becoming the Imperial Noble Consort and receiving the Emperor’s exclusive favor, she was nothing more than a beautiful woman without a clever thought in her head.

Grrrrr…

Yuan Peipei covered her stomach and laughed. “I’m hungry too. Sister, why don’t you come eat with us at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion? I want to have their sauce-braised duck.”

What a fool. She had none of the dignity expected of an Imperial Noble Consort. Who could say what that foolish emperor saw in her? Was it only her face?

Jealous, Yuan Jinjin studied Yuan Peipei carefully and discovered that she seemed even more beautiful than before.

What good was beauty? She was still a fool!

“I suppose I could go. Would that be inconvenient?” Yuan Jinjin looked toward Dugu Jin.

Dugu Jin acted as though he had not noticed Yuan Jinjin scrutinizing Peipei at all. “Not at all. Peipei is happy to see you, so come along.”

In a private room on the second floor of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, Dugu Jin, Yuan Peipei, and Yuan Jinjin sat around one table.

Cui Zhi, Lan Xin, and Du Heng sat in the room next door.

Yuan Peipei ordered a great many dishes, including some Yuan Jinjin liked and some Dugu Jin favored. Then she said to the waiter, “And bring us two more sauce-braised ducks.”

She tugged at Dugu Jin’s sleeve and gave it a little shake. “Husband, can we have two? Please? Two.”

Dugu Jin could do nothing with her. He tossed a silver ingot to the waiter and ordered, “Serve everything my wife just requested.”

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