A man in a sharp, tailored suit, wearing a fedora, strode in from outside, looking like a gentleman from the medieval era.
His features, unlike the deep-set ones of Pei Lie and Pei Ji, were slightly softer.
At first glance, he even had a touch of an Eastern countenance.
Shen Qingqing frowned slightly as she looked at him.
Fu Jingshu, standing beside her, noticed, "What's wrong?"
She stared at the man for a long moment, then shook her head, "I can't quite say, but I just feel like I've seen this person somewhere before."
Dozens of bodyguards followed behind the man. He instructed them to wait by the door and entered alone. His gaze swept across the hall without lingering, heading directly towards Pei Ji.
"Third Brother."
Pei Ji smiled, "Second Brother, long time no see."
Pei Xing nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips, his demeanor perfectly controlled. "Where are Eldest Brother and Father King?"
"They're upstairs."
Although the Father King had decided not to publicize Eldest Brother's affairs, he was still furious and had confined Eldest Brother to his room.
He had also stated that Eldest Brother was not to come out until the succession ceremony.
He then turned to Shen Qingqing and Fu Jingshu, "Let me introduce you. This is my Second Brother, Pei Xing. Second Brother, these are my guests, and also the ones who saved my life."
Pei Xing nodded slightly, graceful and composed. "Hello."
Shen Qingqing also nodded, "Hello."
"Thank you for helping my brother," Pei Xing said, then turned to examine Pei Ji. "What happened to you?"
"It's all over now, and it's a long story. I'll tell you another time if there's an opportunity. There's something more important to discuss with you now."
Pei Ji wanted to tell his Second Brother about Pei Xi's situation immediately, but before he could speak, the Father King came downstairs.
He quickly composed himself, "Father King."
Pei Xing also bowed his head slightly, "Father King, long time no see."
The King looked at Pei Xing with a touch of unfamiliarity. After all, he hadn't seen this son in a long time. He was still tall, and his features hadn't changed much, but his aura seemed to have altered.
The old Pei Xing had been like a passionate youth, but the current Pei Xing…
The elegance and detachment emanating from his bones made him seem unapproachable.
"Pei Xing?"
"I'm here, Father King."
His smile was as warm as a spring breeze, his voice deep and steady, conveying a reassuring calm. The King finally shed that slight unfamiliarity and pulled him close.
"Good, I called you back this time because there's something to tell you, about your fourth brother."
"Fourth Brother?"
At the same time, a figure appeared at the entrance. It was Pei Xi.
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly, "Fourth Prince, Second Prince are both back, where were you if not in the palace?"
"How did you know I wasn't in the palace?" Pei Xi asked with a hint of ambiguity. "You pay so much attention to me."
Shen Qingqing's expression remained impassive. "If you don't want to talk, then shut up."
Such bluntness surprised Pei Xing.
Pei Xi wasn't angry, he just smiled, walked over to the King, and soothed him, who was showing an angry expression at Shen Qingqing's rudeness.
"Father King, this must be Second Brother."
The King briefly introduced them and pulled them together, his intention to foster brotherhood between them quite evident.
The two men were similar in height and build.
Shen Qingqing always felt a bit awkward watching them. Despite being half-brothers, they looked more like brothers than Pei Lie and Pei Ji did.
"Fourth Brother," Pei Xing spoke first.
Pei Xi also nodded with a smile, "Second Brother, I've heard many rumors about you, but meeting you today, I realize you're quite different from what the rumors say."
Mysterious, powerful, none of these descriptions seemed to fit a gentlemanly man like this.
Pei Xing smiled without comment.
Shen Qingqing tugged at Fu Jingshu's sleeve and whispered, "Don't you think he's a bit strange?"
"Pei Xing?"
Fu Jingshu's gaze scanned Pei Xing.
At first glance, the man seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, there was indeed an indefinable strangeness about him.
Perhaps his scrutiny was too obvious, as Shen Qingqing nudged him.
Fu Jingshu withdrew his gaze nonchalantly and took her restless little hand, whispering, "When will the Queen wake up?"
Shen Qingqing calculated the time, "In one day."
As soon as she finished speaking, they heard the King discussing the succession with Pei Xing. Pei Xing pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "I have no objections."
Pei Ji immediately looked at him, "Second Brother?"
Pei Xing said lightly, "Since Father King has already decided, we will obey."
The King was pleased and glanced at Pei Ji, gently reprimanding, "Look at your second brother, then look at you two brothers, and you make me angry!"
Pei Ji felt anxious, "Second Brother, do you even know why we asked you to come back?"
It was to stop Pei Xi with them, not to support Pei Xi!
Pei Xing glanced at Pei Xi. Although there was no outward sign of affection, his gaze was calm. "I believe Fourth Brother will not disappoint Father King's hopes, correct?"
"Of course," Pei Xi said without hesitation. "Since Second Brother trusts me so much, I will not let you and Father King down."
The King repeatedly said, "Good, good, good, you are all brothers, you should be harmonious like this!"
He said it, then cast a displeased glance at Pei Ji, and pulled Pei Xi and Pei Xing upstairs.
"Come, Father King has many things to entrust to you."
As soon as they left, Pei Ji became anxious, "What are we going to do? How could Second Brother agree?"
Shen Qingqing soothed him, "Why are you in such a hurry? He's back now, at least the succession ceremony has been delayed. Now we just need to wait for an answer."
"What answer?"
Pei Ji thought of his elder brother who was confined and suddenly felt something was wrong.
His elder brother's expression at the time had been too calm.
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Shen Qingqing hesitated, then patted his shoulder, "It's not that I'm hiding it from you, it's that your elder brother said your brain isn't sharp enough and he doesn't want you to know."
"My brain isn't sharp enough?"
Pei Ji could hardly believe his ears. Was this his own brother? Saying that about him?!
Shen Qingqing patted his shoulder with sympathy, "In short, remember, your elder brother is not as simple as he appears on the surface."
Pei Ji was taken aback, then he saw her look towards the stairs, her expression suddenly becoming complex and unfathomable.
They saw the King descend with Pei Xi and Pei Xing. He stood in the middle, with his two sons on either side, looking very harmonious.
Pei Ji's face darkened.
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "His Highness the Eldest Prince told me some news before he went in."
Everyone looked at her.
She said with a calm face, "He said he had found someone to treat the Queen before, and according to the timing, the Queen would awaken in one day."
The King's expression changed.
Pei Xing thought for a moment and said, "Then let's wait for Mother Queen to wake up before holding the succession ceremony."
Pei Ji immediately agreed, "Yes, let's do that!"