Consort of a Thousand Faces Chapter 406.1 - meeting once again

Chapter 406.1: meeting once again

Despite the foul weather, Su Xi-er was in a good mood. I finally get to see Lianchen again! How can I not be excited?!
Pei Qianhao silently watched her in the horse carriage. Although she has concealed herself very well, her eyes still give it away. It only makes sense that she’s happy to be able to see Ning Lianchen.
Unable to help himself after discerning her thinly veiled excitement, he couldn’t help but say, “Smile if you’re happy. You don’t have to keep it in.”
Su Xi-er was stunned for a moment before she moved to sit beside him and pinch his face. “Why are you sulking? Are you unhappy?”
He grabbed her hand. “This Prince is happy. Since when was I sulking?”
“Just a moment ago.” Su Xi-er raised her other hand to pull his lips into a smile. His previously solemn face now looked more joyful.
“Nonsense.” Pei Qianhao softly muttered, showing his affection by allowing her to pinch his face.
The moment the horse carriage stopped, the guard acting as the driver reported, “Prince Hao, we have arrived. Nanzhao’s Emperor is resting in this posthouse.”
Su Xi-er’s eyes lit up. I can see Lianchen soon! The glimmer in her eyes didn’t escape Pei Qianhao’s eyes. He had still been unsure back in the Dragon Heaven Palace, but now he was sure of his hypothesis even though he had never believed in the occult before. Thus, he couldn’t help but be astonished.
However, he never wore his emotions on his sleeves, hiding his shock behind his calm and collected facade.
When Su Xi-er saw that he had yet to alight the horse carriage, she involuntarily pushed him. “Go down.”
Hearing her eagerness, Pei Qianhao faintly smiled. He stood up, and suddenly pulled her into his embrace.
Su Xi-er felt the world swirling around her, and before she knew it, her feet were already lightly touching the ground outside of the horse carriage. Even after steadying herself, she found that her arms were still hooked around Pei Qianhao’s neck.
Standing outside the entrance of the posthouse was Ning Lianchen, dressed in some casual cyan robes. He had witnessed the whole process of his Imperial Elder Sister coming down from the horse carriage, and couldn’t help but be stunned. I could see the smile in Imperial Elder Sister’s eyes. Ning Lianchen involuntarily looked towards Pei Qianhao, the husband Su Xi-er had chosen in this lifetime.
Su Xi-er glanced at Pei Qianhao with a trace of reproach, not knowing that she was only spurring him on.
Pei Qianhao let go of her and looked at Ning Lianchen. I viewed him as a love rival in the past, but he’s actually my younger brother-in-law; how amusing now that I think about it. Then again, I also never expected that I would like the kind of woman who would stand up to me. I had always staunchly believed that I like weak women who rely on me and hide behind me.
Who would have known that I would fall head over heels in love with Ning Rulan one day?
“Prince Hao, please enter the main hall of the posthouse.” Ning Lianchen courteously gestured with an amiable smile.
Some of the frosty aura around Pei Qianhao dissipated, and his cold expression involuntarily relaxed a bit. “This Prince is very grateful to have Your Majesty come all this way.” He then held Su Xi-er’s hand and sauntered into the posthouse confidently.
Watching their entwined hands, Ning Lianchen was moved. He looked at Su Xi-er’s expression, and saw that she was also looking his way. Based on Prince Hao’s behaviour, he dotes heavily on Imperial Elder Sister.
Ning Lianchen nodded as Su Xi-er walked past him, but the imperceptible movement didn’t escape Pei Qianhao’s eyes.
Looking away without any indication that he had caught on, Pei Qianhao only held Su Xi-er’s hand more tightly as they walked along the path to the posthouse’s main hall. Younger Brother-in-law is secretly observing me, and I know that Ning Rulan and Ning Lianchen were known to be close siblings.
My goal today is to obtain his first level of acknowledgement without letting Su Xi-er find out.