Chapter 50 The Privilege of Trust

Chapter 50 The Privilege of Trust

After the battle at Huguo Temple, Pei Yunjing recuperated from his injuries and suspended court for three days.

Over these three days, some subtle yet earth-shattering changes took place in the Regent's Palace.

The most direct feeling is—

Tangli felt that the "eyes" behind her had disappeared.

In the past, no matter where she went in the mansion, even if she went to the outhouse or teased ants, she could always feel several faint eyes watching her from the shadows.

Those were secret guards arranged by Pei Yunjing, ostensibly for protection, but in reality for surveillance.

But now, that feeling of being watched, like a thorn in my side, is completely gone.

She lounged in the garden without any regard for her image, and no one recorded it.

She secretly fed Big White excessive amounts of snacks, and no one reported her.

The air itself seemed to become free and sweet.

The sun was shining brightly in the afternoon.

Tang Li, with one arm in a sling (the injury hadn't fully healed), was lying on the chaise lounge, basking in the sun, humming an unknown tune, as content as a lazy cat sunbathing its belly.

"Ding-dong."

A crisp metallic clanging sound suddenly rang in her ears.

Something cold and heavy traced a parabola and landed precisely in her arms.

Tang Li was startled and suddenly opened her eyes.

Pei Yunjing suddenly appeared in front of the bed.

His injuries had mostly healed, and he had regained his aloof, arrogant, and unapproachable demeanor.

At this moment, he stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at her with a hint of disdain in his eyes:

"Wipe your drool. You drool in your sleep, and you drool when you're awake. Are you made of water?"

Tang Li subconsciously touched the corner of her mouth (dry! Liar!), then looked down at the thing in her arms.

It was a heavy set of brass keys.

Each key is engraved with the words: East Warehouse, West Warehouse, Inner Warehouse, Granary...

Tang Li's eyes widened instantly, and her breathing became rapid.

"What... what is this?"

"Storehouse key".

Pei Yunjing spoke in a flat tone, as if he were throwing her not a fortune beyond measure, but a string of worthless scrap metal:

"From now on, you will be in charge of the Prince's Office's accounts and procurement."

"?!?!"

Tang Li was so shocked she almost rolled off the tatami mat.

Butler's rights?

The power of finance?!

This is a core power that only the matriarch of the household can wield!

Pei Yunjing used to guard against her like a thief, but now he's actually... handing over all his assets?

"Your Highness, are you...you don't have a fever?"

Tang Li shakily held up the keys, asking incredulously, "So much money...aren't you afraid I'll abscond with it?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yunjing gave a light scoff.

He bent down, placed his hands on the armrests of the chaise lounge, and enclosed Tangli in a small space.

Those phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an unwavering confidence in controlling everything:

"abscond?"

"As long as you can escape my grasp, what harm is there in giving you this royal palace?"

Tang Li swallowed hard, her heart racing.

This damn sense of oppression, why does it sound kind of sweet?

Pei Yunjing straightened up, looked at her naive and greedy appearance, and shook his head helplessly.

"Take it."

He turned around, his back to her, his voice regaining its awkward coldness:

"From now on, if you want to eat or buy something, just go to the warehouse and get the money yourself."

At this point, Pei Yunjing paused, seemingly recalling the scene from that night when he caught someone digging a hole like a groundhog, and a vein throbbed on his forehead:

"Stop digging holes in the backyard."

"The dignified Regent's Consort, stealing in the middle of the night with a shovel... If word gets out, I'll be ashamed."

Tangli hugged the heavy bunch of keys tightly, feeling as if she were holding the whole world in her arms.

That act of shielding someone from a knife, that drop of blood—it wasn't shed in vain.

Tang Li lowered her head, looking at the golden light reflected from the key in the sunlight, and a radiant smile appeared on her lips.

"Yes! I obey!"

She answered loudly, her voice filled with longing for a better future:

"From now on, I will spend money like water! I will never save Your Highness any money! I will never bring shame to the Prince's mansion!"

Pei Yunjing stumbled and almost lost his balance.

He turned around and glared at her fiercely.

"Promising."

After he finished cursing, he wasn't angry. Instead, he chuckled very softly on this sunny afternoon.

If only I could exchange all these material possessions for her to stay alive and well by my side forever...

It seems like it wasn't a loss.

Volume Two: Drinking Poison to Quench Thirst