Spoiled Eldest Miss x Two-faced Madman

CHAPTER 23: “Fei Yi… He’s Very Handsome, I Like Him A Lot.”【Second Update】

 

　　“Fei Yi, why are you here?” 

　　After confirming that the young lady had been poisoned, Pei Ji gave her a pill.

　　It was unclear what kind of medicine it was, but as soon as An Jiu swallowed it, the pain in her body lessened, and her spirit slightly improved.

　　Once she recovered a bit, she asked this question. 

　　Even if ‘An Jiu’ was stupid, this person had repeatedly come to her rescue, so it was clear that it wasn’t a coincidence.

　　If she continued to pretend to be ignorant, it would be suspicious.

　　Therefore, An Jiu timely raised this question, hoping Pei Ji would find a reason to explain it to her.

　　Look, how considerate she was. An Jiu thought that if Pei Ji was her boss, she would definitely win the ‘Best Employee Who Understands Their Superior Award.’

　　Whatever her boss wanted to do, whatever kind of cooperation her boss needed, she would complete it perfectly, even at such a painful cost.

　　She was truly a dedicated and hardworking employee. 

　　Pei Ji fell silent upon hearing this. He paused for a moment, then instead of answering, he asked, “And what are you doing here?”

　　An Jiu: You ask what I’m doing here?! I’m cooperating with your performance, you know! 

　　An Jiu silently complained internally, but on the surface, she stammered, whispering, “I, I heard they were going to catch bad guys tonight, so I came to watch the excitement… yes, to watch the excitement.” 

　　“And you ended up getting caught yourself while watching the excitement?” The man’s voice was laced with amusement. 

　　If it weren’t for the need to continue the act, An Jiu really wanted to rip off this man's mask and smear his face with it.

　　Just you wait, you're arrogant now, just wait and see how I'll torment you later. 

　　An Jiu shyly lowered her head, whispering, “Isn’t that why you came to save me…?” 

　　Behind the mask, a glimmer flashed in the man's eyes.

　　This woman behaved completely differently in front of ‘Fei Yi,’ shy and charming, like an ordinary little girl.

　　Having seen so much of An Jiu's erratic behavior, he was somewhat unaccustomed to it. 

　　Pei Ji said, “I came here on a mission, not specifically to save you.”

　　After a pause, he added, “I am a ¹Xuan Yi Wei.” 

　　An Jiu raised her head, her tone surprised, “So you’re a Xuan Yi Wei!” 

　　The Xuan Yi Wei belong to the imperial court, a kind of official martial arts department directly serving the royal family.

　　The Xuan Yi Wei's roles generally include secretly supervising officials, investigating clandestine matters, handling unsavory affairs, and protecting members of the royal family, etc.

　　In short, it's a secret guard agency similar to the Jinyiwei. 

　　Xuan Yi Wei also has a branch responsible for secretly monitoring the martial arts world. The immense power of the martial arts world is detrimental to the court; therefore, the Emperor utilizes Xuan Yi Wei to counterbalance the martial arts world. 

　　An Jiu showed an expression of understanding: “No wonder you appeared in Dark Village (Anzhuang) and Pinglan City. You must be here to investigate these matters, right?” 

　　The court also needs to control the trends in the martial arts world. Those Xuan Yi Wei hidden in the Jianghu (martial arts world) usually don't reveal their tracks; they are only responsible for collecting information in secret and then transmitting the collected information to the Emperor. 

　　An Jiu secretly admired that this reason was really good and there was no flaw at all. 

　　The man said in a deep voice, “Yes, don't take risks again. You are just an ordinary person; you shouldn't be involved in these martial arts affairs.” 

　　An Jiu (inner monologue): I don't want to be involved either, but can you let me be? When will you stop acting in this outdated hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress drama with me? 

　　An Jiu decided to add fuel to the fire; she couldn't continue to be so passive. 

　　An Jiu slightly lowered her eyes, with a shy expression, “Fei Yi, since you're a Xuan Yi Wei, then… then you should know about me, right?”

　　“I know.” 

　　“My father is forcing me to marry the Ming Wang, but I don’t want to. However, I know he’ll eventually find me. But by then, my reputation will be ruined. At that time, I'll ask the Emperor for an imperial marriage. Will you marry me?” 

　　The young lady’s eyes were glistening, her dark eyes filled with affection. 

　　She genuinely intended to do so; she truly wanted to marry him! 

　　Pei Ji was surprised for a moment. He had anticipated this outcome, after all, he was the one who had orchestrated it. But for some reason, he didn’t feel particularly happy. 

　　He remained silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I’m just a Xuan Yi Wei.” 

　　“I don’t care who you are; even if you were a beggar, I would marry you. I like you, Fei Yi. I liked you the first time you saved me, and now you’ve saved me three times. Logically speaking, my life belongs to you. I’m repaying my life-saving grace by offering myself to you. Will… will you agree?” 

　　The young lady nervously bit her lip, releasing it immediately after a single bite. Her crimson lips were sensitively reddened and slightly swollen, like plump, juicy cherries. 

　　The poison hadn't yet been completely cured; she uncomfortably licked her lips, her pink tongue sweeping across her swollen lower lip, and physiological tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. 

　　Pei Ji's gaze involuntarily fell upon the young lady's lips, pausing for a moment before moving away. 

　　He cleared his throat, meeting the young lady's earnest gaze. After pondering for a long time, he said, “This matter is not trivial, Miss An. We need to discuss it further.” 

　　In fact, the best thing he should do is agree directly.

　　He should tie her down first, and then he wouldn't have to worry about her changing her mind. 

　　Pei Ji had lived through a previous life. He had seen how An Jiu fell in love with He Ziqing, and he had witnessed her love for He Ziqing. 

　　This woman, once she truly commits to someone, will remain loyal until death.

　　However, when he truly gained her admiration and she confessed her love and proposed marriage so boldly, the first emotion that arose in Pei Ji's heart wasn't satisfaction, but a slight weariness. 

　　Was it too easy? 

　　He vaguely felt that the young lady in front of him might like him, but certainly not to the extent she liked He Ziqing in his previous life. 

　　Pei Ji had not only witnessed An Jiu's love at first sight for He Ziqing, but he had also personally witnessed the love between He Ziqing and Lin Qingyan. 

　　That kind of love could even overcome the control of the love Gu. 

　　In his past life, half of his death was due to the poison's effects; the other half was due to underestimating human emotions. 

　　In this new life, Pei Ji learned his lesson and would never underestimate this aspect again. 

　　With the comparison, Pei Ji examined the young lady in front of him from a new perspective. 

　　Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at him expectantly, her expression both fervent and anxious. Her fingers fidgeted with her clothes, revealing her inner anxiety and unease. 

　　Hearing his answer, she was clearly disappointed, but she hadn't completely lost hope. A smile quickly reappeared on her pale face as she consoled herself, “It's okay. That's right, we've only met a few times. Let's spend more time together, get to know each other better, and then you can agree to marry me, okay?” 

　　Pei Ji looked at her coldly. Very few people knew that he actually found it difficult to understand ordinary human emotions. 

　　Especially positive emotions. When ordinary people laugh, he doesn't know why they laugh. He could hardly empathize with people's expectations, touch, happiness, and joy. 

　　When he was a child, Pei Ji had not yet learned to disguise himself. Even when someone died in front of him, he wouldn't have any emotional reaction. Therefore, the people in the Medicine King Valley secretly called him a little monster.

　　Later, he gradually discovered that foolish people often only look at outward appearances, and a smile is the best disguise. 

　　So he learned to smile. Ironically, he merely put on a mask, and people's attitudes toward him improved; they began to praise him. 

　　At this moment, Pei Ji couldn't determine how much the young lady liked him; he only subconsciously felt it wasn't enough. 

　　It wasn't enough; it wasn't as deep as the emotion she had for He Ziqing in his memory. 

　　A subtle intuition told him so. 

　　Perhaps, as she said, they hadn't spent enough time together, and their feelings weren't deep enough yet. 

　　Thinking this, Pei Ji slowly nodded, “…Okay.” 

　　“Fei Yi, can I see your face this time? We’ve met three times, and I still don’t know what you look like.” 

　　The young lady looked at him with bright eyes, her gaze full of expectation. 

　　“You can,” the man replied. 

　　An Jiu was stunned; she hadn't expected him to agree! 

　　Her heart beat faster, and her eyes remained fixed on the man's face. However, when he removed the silver mask with one hand, revealing the face beneath, it was a completely unfamiliar face!

　　？？？

　　Wow, he cheated! 

　　How could she forget? One of the most distinctive features of the wuxia world is the ability to change one's appearance! 

　　The face that appeared before An Jiu had thick, dark eyebrows that slanted upwards, a high and straight nose bridge, slightly thick lips, very fair skin, and a three-dimensional, sharp facial structure – sharper than his original face. 

　　Pei Ji's original face was gentle, often accompanied by a smile, making people feel like a spring breeze, giving an impression of gentleness and harmlessness. 

　　This new face was probably modeled after He Ziqing's style—upright, steady, and imposing, the kind of face that screams ‘reliable and capable man.’ 

　　An Jiu: … 

　　Perhaps she had been staring for too long. The man reached up and touched his cheek, asking softly, “What do you think?” 

　　This was a face he had carefully designed, referencing He Ziqing's appearance, aiming to create the style she liked best.

　　She stared at him, and for a moment, Pei Ji wasn't sure if she was satisfied. 

　　An Jiu's eyes curved into a large smile, “You're very handsome! Fei Yi… you're very handsome, I like it very much.” 

　　After saying this, the young lady shyly lowered her head, as if embarrassed. 

　　Seeing this, Pei Ji felt a little relieved, but he also vaguely felt a strange sense of incongruity. 

　　Perhaps it was because she had changed too much, too different from usual. 

　　He didn't think too much about it. He put the mask back on and said to the young lady, “I'll take you away from here first.” 

　　An Jiu nodded obediently, “Okay.” 

　　She stretched out her arms towards him, saying in a coquettish tone, as if it were perfectly natural, “I can't get up, you carry me.” 

　　Pei Ji paused, silently leaning forward to lift the young lady into his arms, holding her securely. 

　　The man's chest was broad and warm. Knowing that she had been poisoned, he deliberately protected her, preventing any branches or leaves from touching her body. He was skilled in martial arts; even walking through the deep mountains and forests, his steps were as steady as if he were on level ground. 

　　An Jiu hadn't slept all night, and only now did she finally feel comfortable and secure.

　　If there was anywhere in the world where she felt safest, it was definitely in Pei Ji's arms. 

　　Even if his ultimate goal was to take her life, before that, he would protect her as if she were his own life. 

　　An Jiu's consciousness gradually became hazy. In his warm, narrow, yet reassuring embrace, she allowed herself to completely fall into a deep sleep. 

　　They plotted against each other yet acted out a deep affection—how ironic they were. 

　　Before falling asleep, this thought flashed through her mind. 

　　Like a fish leaping out of the water, it appeared briefly then quickly sank back into the depths. 

　　Halfway through her sleep, An Jiu vaguely felt the swaying beneath her stop. Pei Ji had stopped walking; he carefully placed her somewhere. The warmth surrounding her disappeared, and An Jiu struggled to open her eyelids a crack. 

　　She was too tired; drowsiness pulled at her, dragging her deeper into sleep. 

　　An Jiu vaguely looked at the man, asking in a slurred voice, “Are you leaving again?” 

　　“Next time you want to see me, you can blow the whistle,” said the masked man.

　　As soon as he finished speaking, the young lady, as if receiving a promise, fell asleep peacefully, her eyebrows and eyes expressing unspoken trust in him. 

　　Pei Ji stared at her for a long time before getting up and walking back into the forest. 

　　It wasn't yet dawn; he still had time to kill the person who touched his things.

 

________________

Author's Note:

Pei Pei: A love novice, only knows how to copy, the ultimate simp.

…….

Glossary – Imperial Agencies & Fictional Forces

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Jinyiwei (锦衣卫) — Real and Well-Documented

Primary Sources:

- Ming Shi (明史) — Official History of Ming compiled during the Qing Dynasty.

- Veritable Records of the Ming (Ming Shilu).

Established: 1368 by Emperor Hongwu.

Functions:

- The Emperor's secret police during the Ming Dynasty.

- Operated with extraordinary authority, including arrest, interrogation, and execution—often without legal process.

- Answered directly to the Emperor; later influenced by eunuch-controlled agencies.

- Feared by both officials and commoners.

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Xuan Yi Wei (玄衣卫) — Fictionalized (in this work)

Note: No official records, historical texts, or Qing/Ming annals mention a unit named Xuan Yi Wei.

Commonly seen in:

- Wuxia novels (e.g., works by Jin Yong, Gu Long)

- Chinese dramas and games (e.g., Sword and Fairy, The Untamed spin-offs)

Portrayed as:

- A covert intelligence and protection unit guarding imperial secrets and royal bloodlines.

- Experts in martial arts and espionage, operating independently in the shadows.

- In this story, they act as a counterbalance to the Jinyiwei—guardians of order in the darker corners of the empire and Jianghu.

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Disclaimer

Some terms, such as Xuan Yi Wei, are fictional or adapted for narrative purposes. While inspired by real dynastic systems, this story blends fact with imagination to support dramatic storytelling.

Jinyiwei = Real.  

Xuan Yi Wei = Fictional (no historical basis).

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