Chapter 77 My Hands Are Dirty

Chapter 77 My Hands Are Dirty

Below the high platform, chaos and turmoil reigned.

The imperial physicians finally managed to lift the unconscious Empress Dowager into a sedan chair amidst their frantic efforts.

After the shock of kicking the nanny to death, coupled with the previous cat-scratching torture, the Empress Dowager's face was now covered in blood and her hair was disheveled.

The phoenix robe she wore, which represented the empress's dignity, was now covered in filth, and there was no trace of her usual noble appearance.

"Quickly! Back to the palace! Quickly back to the palace!"

The eunuchs' shrill voices were tinged with sobs as they carried the sedan chairs and ran towards the Cining Palace as if their lives depended on it.

Pei Yunjing, sitting at the highest point, barely glanced at the chaotic scene.

It was as if the person who almost died was not the Empress Dowager, but an insignificant dead rat.

At this moment, all his attention was focused on the little woman's... hand in his arms.

"Don't move."

Pei Yunjing's large hand was like an iron clamp, firmly gripping Tang Li's right wrist and raising her hand in front of his eyes.

The fingertips, which were originally as white as scallion roots, were now stained with a few drops of amber-colored wine from the large movement of splashing the wine.

That was something dirty that had been mixed with "Cnidium monnieri" and "Ylang-ylang".

Pei Yunjing's brows furrowed tightly, his eyes revealing an even stronger sense of disgust and aversion than when he had seen the Empress Dowager earlier.

"dirty."

He uttered a single word coldly.

Tang Li paused for a moment, instinctively trying to pull her hand back: "It's nothing, Your Highness, it's just a little wine, the wind will dry it..."

"I said it, it's filthy."

Pei Yunjing interrupted her but did not let go.

He held Tangli in one arm (his core strength was astonishing), and with the other hand he took out a snow-white, spotless silk handkerchief from his bosom.

Under the horrified gazes of the entire court of officials below.

This man, who had just been raging and kicking someone to death, was now lowering his head, holding the handkerchief, and carefully wiping Tang Li's fingers one by one.

His movements were extremely serious, as if he were wiping not a few drops of wine stains, but some extremely toxic corrosive liquid.

"How dare you touch such a despicable thing?"

Pei Yunjing wiped the cloth while muttering curses under his breath.

He rubbed very hard until Tang Li's originally fair fingertips turned red before he stopped.

Finally, he tossed the wine-stained handkerchief off the platform like it was trash.

The handkerchief fluttered down and landed right at the little emperor's feet.

The young emperor trembled with fear and almost slipped off the dragon throne.

"Alright."

Pei Yunjing looked at the hand that was finally "clean," his brows relaxed slightly, but he was still somewhat dissatisfied:

"It still has a smell."

He brought Tangli's fingers to his lips, not to kiss them, but to sniff them with disgust.

Then he looked up into Tang Li's eyes, his tone filled with an almost obsessive doting and fastidious affection:

"Go back, and I will wash you."

"It needs to be washed three times."

Tang Li: "..."

There's absolutely no need for that!

You've scrubbed my skin raw!

But when she looked into Pei Yunjing's serious eyes, her heart skipped a beat.

At this moment, the officials below the stage were completely dumbfounded.

He didn't care that the Empress Dowager was dying, but he treated the fact that the Princess Consort's hands were dirty as a matter of utmost importance.

"Gulp."

Many ministers swallowed hard, silently reassessing the importance of this regent's wife.

From now on, if you see this person, don't even think about provoking her. Even if you breathe a little louder, you'd better think twice before deciding whether your entire family is safe from being wiped out!

"They're gone."

Pei Yunjing finally finished dealing with this "huge matter".

Holding the pear blossoms, he stood up from the Regent's throne and strode down the steps.

"Respectfully seeing off the Regent! Respectfully seeing off Her Majesty the Princess!"

Behind them, a thunderous chorus of respectful farewells erupted.

Pei Yunjing turned a deaf ear.

He stepped down from the platform, walked through the crowd kneeling on the ground, his black robes brushing against the cold earth.

Tang Li leaned against him, looking at the heads of the usually high-ranking nobles on both sides, now humbled, and then looked up at the man who was holding her and staring straight ahead.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his profile, gilding his hard lines with a soft golden edge.

"Your Highness."

Tang Li suddenly called his name softly.

"Hmm?" Pei Yunjing did not stop walking.

"Um..." Tang Li blinked, somewhat embarrassed, and tucked her hand into his shirt. "Actually... I wasn't scared just now, I was pretending."

She felt that since they were allies, it was better to be honest, lest he really think she was a useless person who could only cry.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yunjing paused slightly.

He lowered his head, looking at the little woman in his arms who had a "I'm actually very clever" look on her face, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

"I know."

Of course he knew.

Why did the cat go crazy? Why did she fake a fall? And why was she crying so loudly?

He knows better than anyone else.

"Then you still..." Tang Li was somewhat surprised.

"You're quite the actor."

Pei Yunjing tightened his arms, lifting her up slightly, his voice low and indulgent:

"We'll keep installing them later."

"If you want to do something bad, I'll hand you a knife; if you want to play the victim, I'll set up a stage for you."

"As long as you're happy..."

He carried her out of the palace gate, a symbol of imperial power and constraints, and into the free wind:

"If you tear this hole, I'll mend it for you."