58 Pei Nan Returns

"No…stay away! Don't come near me…ahhh" a sleeping Yu Mei was screaming and kicking her blanket like a maniac. *Gasp* Yu Mei sat up with a face full of sweat. [What the heck? Why did I dream of Pei Nan?] Yu Mei quickly covered her chest as she looked herself over. She let out a sigh. Thankfully it was only a dream.

*Door opens* Chu'mei ran into the room. "Xiaojie, are you okay? I heard screaming." Chu'mei rushed over to her bedside. Yu Mei wiped the sweat on her forehead with her sleeve. "I had a bad dream. I dreamed Pei Nan was back."

"Xiaojie, how is that a bad dream?"

"It just is. What time is it anyways?" Yu Mei asked annoyed. Her mood had been spoiled. Even when Pei Nan wasn't here, he spoiled her mood.

"Xiaojie, you have been sleeping since the afternoon. I was afraid you were going to sleep until evening."

"I slept for that long?" Yu Mei took a deep breath. It was all because of that stupid Gu Shao. She couldn't stop thinking of ghosts all night.

She took off the blanket and hopped out of bed. "Chu'mei, give me my male outfit. I'm going out today." When Chu'mei hesitated, Yu Mei gestured with her hand to hurry. "Xiaojie, you can't today. Your mother-in-law is coming over in a little bit."

"What did you say?" Yu Mei cleaned her ear as if she didn't hear correctly. "Did I hear you wrong?"

"You heard correctly. The empress is coming over."

"That witch! She is clearly using this time while Pei Nan is out to bully me. Argghh~" Yu Mei put her hands on her waist as she huffed and puffed hot air out. All she wanted to do was have fun. Was it so hard? First it was Pei Nan who obstructed her happiness, now it was his mother.

Yu Mei had just finished her morning routine when Ji Er entered her room. Yu Mei's face lit up. At least the first person she saw was someone she wanted to see instead of her evil mother-in-law.

"Sister Yu Mei." Ji Er greeted.

"Ji Er, you're here. Come sit." Yu Mei got up from her stool and pulled Ji Er over to the table. "Did you bring good news by chance? Like her majesty decided not to visit?" she sounded so eager that Ji Er couldn't help but laugh at her. If the empress heard this, she would definitely scowl at the blunt Yu Mei.

"Sorry to ruin your mood but I actually came here to get you. Mother is currently in the Northern Palace, I came to accompany you over there." Ji Er felt bad for bringing bad news. Seeing how upset Yu Mei looked, she felt awful. The only daughter-in-law who Empress Ping didn't like was probably Yu Mei.

"Fine~ let's get this over with." Like a slug, Yu Mei forced herself up from the seat.

The whole way there, Ji Er felt like she had been pulling Yu Mei the whole time. That girl really didn't want to go. Dragging Yu Mei was a workout in itself. If Ji Er knew the struggles, she would have never came.

Chu'mei, Li Lu and Ling Lu were talking among themselves as their ladies accompanied eachother. Ever since their lady's became friends, the three of them had started to form a blossoming friendship with each other. Chu'mei even wished Consort Nuan would come visit every day so she could chat with Li Lu and Ling Lu.

Ji Er stopped at the main gate. "Smile." She reminded Yu Mei. Yu Mei turned to her and gave her the biggest and ugliest teeth smile. "Like this?" she playfully asked.

"Yu Mei, you are too much to handle." Ji Er lightly hit her hand

.

As the gate opened, the faint sound of the guzheng and flute could be heard. It wasn't like the fast upbeat tune Yu Mei heard yesterday. This time, it was a very quiet and serene tune. The flute? Gu Shao was also here.

When they reached the pavilion, Fei Ning was sitting down outside the pavilion on a thick cushion with the guzheng on her lap and Gu Shao standing a step behind her. Ji Er and Yu Mei quietly walked up the stairs to the pavilion. The empress had her eyes closed as she rested her head on her arm on the table. She had become immersed in the peaceful melody.

The two of them quietly sat down without bothering the empress. Gu Shao was the first to see them. His eyes met Yu Mei's. Yu Mei greeted him from afar with a slight nod. Gu Shao, instead of nodding back, his eyes went to the ground. He was actually embarrassed. Seeing Yu Mei again, he thought back to last night. He tried hard not to pay attention to her but his eyes betrayed him.

For him, these few minutes became very awkward. Yu Mei on the other hand didn't seem to mind or take notice of his strange actions. Everything that happened yesterday was a trivial matter to her.

Gu Shao's eyes were not the only ones busying themselves, Yu Mei's had also been very busy themselves. They had been following a blue butterfly right outside the pavilion. When it came into the pavilion, she placed her finger in the air. Like magic, the butterfly landed on her finger. And she smiled. Gu Shao happened to have caught this beautiful moment.

Fei Ning scrunched her brow when she realized how offbeat Gu Shao's flute was compared to her guzheng's. He had started to slow down a while ago. She even played slower to match his but his flute became more and more messy as the minutes went by.

Gu Shao was not aware that he had started going off beat. His fingers missed a beat when Yu Mei stood up to chase the butterfly. Fei Ning stopped her guzheng and Empress Ping opened her eyes. "Shao, is something wrong? You've never had troubles with this song before." His mother asked. She had noticed all Gu Shao's mistakes but chose to ignore them. Now that she thought about it, something was off with her son.

"Yes brother-in-law, is something troubling you?" Fei Ning turned her head and looked up at him concernedly. Gu Shao first looked at Yu Mei who had also stopped chasing the butterfly and then turned towards his mother. "I apologize. I must not have had enough sleep last night."

"Shao, you are losing your touch."

Everyone turned towards the gate when they heard the man's voice. "Your highness." Fei Ning quickly set the guzheng down and stood up. She was the first to head towards Pei Nan cheerfully. Ming Yan and Ji Er quickly followed as they all swarmed over to him. Yu Mei was probably the only one who was unhappy. No wonder she had a dream that Pei Nan was back. It was like a premonition. He came back early.

"Your highness, you are back early. I'm so happy." Fei Ning greeted him.

"Your highness has lost weight." Ming Yan added and the last to say something was the reserved Ji Er. "Welcome back your highness." Pei Nan smiled at all his wives as he nodded and replied to all their questions.

After a minute or two, Pei Nan walked towards the pavilion. "Nan, you are back." Gu Shao greeted his older brother. "I didn't think I would come back to such terrible flute skills. You must have slacked off when I wasn't here." Pei Nan joked as he shook his younger brother's shoulder gently.

"I'll do better next time." Gu Shao answered back joyfully.

After greeting Gu Shao, Pei Nan turned towards the pavilion. In the center of the pavilion was his mother sitting there with a smile. In the back was an awkward and unhappy Yu Mei standing there like a statue, fidgeting with her fingers. Pei Nan wanted to rush over to her and scold her but with his status and the people around him, he could not.

"Mother." Pei Nan greeted his mother.

"Nan, let me take a look at you." The empress slowly got up and looked her son up and down, making sure he wasn't hurt. "Consort Wan is right. You have lost weight. Did you not eat?" she asked worriedly.

"The food wasn't as good as mother's cooking. I couldn't eat much."

"You silly child. I will cook for you then. Get some rest first, I'll have someone deliver you food later." Seeing her son look so tired, her heart ached. She held onto his hand. "I'm going to prepare you some food right now. Stay in your room and get some sleep, okay?"

"En." Only after she was reassured that Pei Nan was alright did she take her leave.

Pei Nan watched as his mother left. Once he was sure she was gone did he turn his head once again to face Yu Mei who was still standing there like a statue. She didn't say anything. He didn't say anything. "Fei Ning, accompany me back." All of a sudden, Pei Nan turned his back towards Yu Mei and headed towards Fei Ning. Fei Ning made sure to give Yu Mei a smug look before holding onto Pei Nan's arm.

When Yu Mei was facing Pei Nan just now, she didn't know what to say to him. She wanted to say welcome back but it was as if her mouth didn't want to obey her command. No words would come out of her mouth.

Her eyes followed Pei Nan's figure as he walked hand in hand with Fei Ning. Only did she sigh after she could no longer see him.

Gu Shao who had been watching at the sideline the whole time felt relieved. He felt more anxious watching Pei Nan and Yu Mei together now than when Pei Nan was with Fei Ning. If he knew he occupied such thoughts in his mind, he would not admit it. He was glad Pei Nan did not acknowledge Yu Mei. No matter how evil that sounded, he was glad Pei Nan had no feelings for Yu Mei.

He slowly made his way up to the pavilion. "Yu Mei, are you okay?" he asked worriedly when he saw how dazed her face became.

As if Yu Mei hadn't seen the stern Pei Nan, she smiled at Gu Shao. "I'm okay, but...you're not." she pointed a finger at him.

"I'm not okay?" his brow arched curiously.

"En. Your flute skill is terrible. Are you sick?" Yu Mei stretched her hand out as she was getting ready to place the back of her hand on his forehead. Gu Shao became flustered and took a step back. "I've got to go. I'll see you later." He sounded awkward. Very awkward. Gu Shao didn't give Yu Mei a chance to say another word as he sped off.

First it was Pei Nan's action that left her confused, now it was Gu Shao's.

All that confusion ended as soon as she entered her Southern Palace. The only place she could call paradise, a place with no worry. For some reason, Yu Mei felt like she would practice her calligraphy. All the way up to early evening, she had spent her time perfecting her penmanship. She had just hung up the brushes when a knock came from the door.

Chu'mei quickly opened. A maid from Pei Nan's palace had come over. The young maid walked into the room and greeted Yu Mei with the utmost respect. "Greetings my lady. You have been chosen to serve his highness tonight. Please prepare accordingly."

"WHAT?"