Volume One, Chapter Four: The Expert’s Opening Slap

“What?” Feng Xu exclaimed, just as a bolt of lightning suddenly struck her.
“Ah, my head…”
[Host, why don’t you learn your lesson? This lightning is real. Failing the task will bring punishment. Though others cannot see the system’s lightning, the damage to you is unavoidable.]
Shen Zhi gritted her teeth and crawled back again.
She tiptoed and pushed the door open quietly, only to find Pei Jing was no longer there.
She took a deep breath. “Phew, good, that violent man has gone.”
“Who are you talking about?”
A voice came from behind Shen Zhi the next moment, like a python coiling around her neck and ankles.
She dared not move, watching as Pei Jing approached her, eyeing her up and down.
Then he said coldly, “Tomorrow, come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor and Empress. Inside the palace, I will give you face, and I hope you’ll know your place!”
“Yes!” Shen Zhi obediently complied. It was only proper and reasonable to attend the prince’s father on the second day after her wedding.
She had no reason to refuse.
Seeing her so compliant, Pei Jing sneered, his eyes dark and unfathomable. No matter how beautiful she was, she was ultimately still Pei Huai’s woman.
The next morning, Shen Zhi woke early and had Mingzhi help her wash up and get dressed. She didn’t know what type of woman Pei Jing preferred, so she dressed in her own style.
By the time she had arranged her clothes and hair, Pei Jing was already waiting outside with a carriage. He didn’t even glance at her, turning his head to board the carriage.
Shen Zhi: “…”
For some reason, she felt an intense hostility from Pei Jing, even though yesterday was their first meeting.
Could it be that he also liked Shen Qi?!
Shen Zhi’s eyes widened. Goodness, in the last life, Pei Huai had wiped out her entire family because of this woman. Could this life be the same?
She must send Shen Qi to the execution block first!
With that thought, Shen Zhi boarded the carriage and sat prudently to one side, avoiding sitting next to him.
“Why are you so slow?” Pei Jing frowned slightly, his disdain clear in his eyes.
Seeing his miserable expression was infuriating! Shen Zhi took a deep breath to maintain her composure.
“Tell the prince that this servant is feeling unwell.”
She was truly a master of lying with open eyes.

Pei Jing ignored her and closed his eyes to rest.
Shen Zhi obediently remained silent.
[Favorability: -250]
Shen Zhi: “…”
He’s a fool! Pei Jing and his entire family are fools!
Arriving at the palace, Shen Zhi’s heart sank. The memories of the last incident were still vivid. She steadied her breath, determined not to show any weakness to Pei Jing.
Pei Jing, however, was “considerate,” grabbing her sleeve to move forward together.
The flowers in the imperial garden were beginning to wither; she stepped forward alone. “Looks like winter is coming.”
“A refined seventh sister-in-law,” a gentle male voice came from behind. That voice… Shen Zhi trembled all over. That voice… the voice she had heard day and night…
She slowly turned around. It was Pei Huai.
In an instant, the murderous intent in Shen Zhi’s eyes became unbearable. Her whole body shook, lips quivering fiercely, hands clenched tightly.
Pei Jing glanced at him, showing no intention of greeting him.
Shen Zhi could no longer hold back and slapped him hard.
“Ah…”
“Shen Zhi! How dare you hit me!”
That slap was with all her strength. If it weren’t for the many guards, she would have killed this bastard on the spot!
“Big brother, sorry, there was a fly on your face just now. I wanted to help you shoo it away, but I might have used a bit too much force.”
Shen Zhi spoke sweetly, but her eyes blazed with fury. She gritted her teeth to suppress her emotions.
Seeing this, Pei Jing’s expressionless face softened slightly for the first time all night, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.
“Oh! You’ve got quite the mouth!”
A woman appeared behind Pei Huai—Shen Qi—who strolled over, linking her arm with his.
“My dear sister, are you jealous that I married your beloved?” Shen Qi practically glued herself to Pei Huai, looking at him coquettishly.
Shen Zhi sneered, “What’s there to like? Old, useless, and loves to attract flies?”
“Shen Zhi! Don’t be so reckless! This is the imperial palace, not your Shen family’s home!” Even Pei Huai, who usually controlled his temper well, couldn’t hold back upon hearing that.

“Guards! Arrest Shen Zhi and lock her in the dungeon!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Seeing this, Shen Zhi grew anxious, but looking at that despicable couple standing together, how could she not hate them!
“Big brother, are you going to arrest me too?”
Pei Jing stood behind her, looking impatiently at the two. “Shen Zhi didn’t say anything wrong. Didn’t you just say you were attracting flies?”
Shen Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Pei Jing to speak up for her.
Pei Huai’s face turned green with anger. He glanced at Pei Jing, eyes flashing dangerously, but said nothing and obediently stepped aside.
“Pei Jing! Shen Zhi! How dare you both!”
Pei Jing and Shen Zhi turned their heads sharply. The Empress Dowager and Empress stood there together. Shen Zhi had long grown tired of the palace. The Empress, who had been Empress Dowager in the previous life, had always looked down on her.
“So it’s the Empress Dowager and Empress. What, are you here to stroll the imperial garden as well?”
Pei Jing spoke nonchalantly, his casual attitude infuriating the Empress Dowager.
“Pei Jing! What are you doing? Huai is your elder brother! How dare you speak so rudely? Do you take me for nothing?” The Empress Dowager was so furious she was almost breathless, nearly fainting.
“Your Highness Empress Dowager~” Shen Qi quickly rushed over to support her, looking pitiful. “I’m so scared. Sister… she just came up and slapped Brother Huai. I…”
What!
The Empress Dowager was stunned, then turned to look at Pei Huai’s face, seeing the bright red handprint. Her fury surged. “Shen Zhi! Don’t think that just because your father is a General Protector, you can act lawlessly! If I want to punish you, not even ten General Protectors could save you!”
Hearing this, Shen Qi sneered with delight.
Shen Zhi remained calm and unyielding. “Replying to Your Highness Empress Dowager, there was a fly on the Great Prince’s face just now. I helped the Great Prince shoo it away, but lost control of my strength momentarily.”
Then she looked at Pei Huai. Her anger subsided somewhat. She couldn’t act rashly—it was just the beginning. Regaining her composure, she continued, “The Great Prince is always graceful; he wouldn’t hold a grudge against his younger sister-in-law.”
That slap—he had to swallow it, whether he liked it or not.
Pei Huai’s gaze softened into a faint smile, his eyes changing tone. “It’s nothing. A slap is kinship, a scolding is love. Besides, we are family.”
Pei Jing’s previously extinguished eyes flared up again.
“Oh? Big brother, hearing that, I almost thought you liked me and wanted to make me Empress.”
The moment she said this, not only Pei Huai and Pei Jing, but also the Empress Dowager and Empress’s faces changed dramatically.