At this moment, Pei Zhi missed the system terribly.

With the system around, we can let her see what happened next.

At least, it can help her avoid a wrong path.

Pei Zhi was truly afraid that if she had to do it all over again, she would repeat her old mistakes and cause the world to collapse once more.

After returning to the Duke's mansion and having dinner, Pei Zhi walked around the courtyard a few times to digest her food before washing up and going to bed.

Pei Zhi was also quite curious. As the daughter of a duke, what method would Shang Huai use to successfully take her away?

She has many maids and servants serving her, so once she goes out, Madam Pei will definitely know.

There is no reasonable explanation for how a young lady from a respectable family could swagger out like that.

The next day, as soon as it was dawn, Pei Zhi was woken up by her maid, washed up, changed her clothes, and went to her mother's courtyard to pay her respects.

Today, only Pei Zhi was there. Pei Yin's maid came to apologize, saying that Pei Yin had a fever this morning.

After asking a few more questions, Madam Pei learned that the family doctor had already gone, so she instructed the maid to let Pei Yin rest well and not to worry about paying respects to her parents these next few days.

Pei's mother asked Pei Zhi with concern, "How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Pei Zhi: "I'm fine."

"The weather gets cooler early in the morning. From now on, when you come to pay your respects every day, please wear a cloak so you don't catch a cold."

Madam Pei remembered something, "Granny, bring out the brocade and have the embroiderer make a cloak for Zhizhi."

“The colors are so vibrant, my daughter would look amazing in them.”

Pei Zhi didn't refuse, stood up and bowed, "Thank you, Mother."

Seeing Pei Zhi's obedient appearance, Pei's mother felt a pang of sadness for no apparent reason.

Look how beautiful her daughter is! She's only been back for a short time, but she's already learned such good manners.

If Zhizhi had grown up in front of her since childhood, how dazzling she would have been!

Pei Zhi had breakfast in her mother's courtyard, and then a maid carried two boxes back to the courtyard.

The box contained jewelry given to Pei by her mother.

In fact, Pei Zhi's jewelry table was already overflowing with jewelry, with countless boxes on display.

The jewelry inside is also of all kinds, precious, exquisite, and elegant, with various styles available.

But Pei's mother still felt it wasn't enough and always wanted to give Pei Zhi more.

Pei Zhi accepted everything offered, and whatever was given to her, she took it.

If she refuses, she'll have to waste a lot of time explaining, and it will probably only make Pei's mother feel even more upset.

Pei Zhi understood that the people from the Duke's mansion simply wanted to make up for their guilt by giving them gifts.

"Miss, Mr. Yuan's carriage is waiting at the side gate," a maidservant reported as soon as Pei Zhi returned to the courtyard.

Pei Zhi paused for a moment, then realized what was happening.

Yesterday, only she knew that Mr. Yuan had asked her to attend class in seven days.

Her maids and servants were all resting in the courtyard, so they naturally didn't know.

Upon hearing the gatekeeper's announcement that Mr. Yuan's carriage was coming to fetch her, she naturally reported it immediately.

It seems that she must have used learning chess as an excuse quite a few times before she got together with Shang Huai.

Upon arriving at the side gate, the maidservant helped Pei Zhi into the carriage, and she was about to follow.

"Sister, you don't need to go today. We can take care of you."

The one speaking was a maid from Mr. Yuan's household.

Pei Zhi's maid looked at Pei Zhi, seemingly asking for her opinion.

Pei Zhi realized that she wasn't going to Mr. Yuan's house to learn chess today. Bringing a maid would give her away.

"In that case, Afu, you and Achun should rest at home today."

"Then I'll leave these to you, sister. These are my young lady's clothes."

Afu handed the bundle in his hand to the maid in Mr. Yuan's house.

When Pei Zhi went out, her maids would prepare an extra set of clothes for her.

To avoid getting dirty and having no clothes to change into.

After Pei Zhi sat down, the coachman spurred the horse and galloped away.

Pei Zhi asked the maid beside her, "What's your name?"

"My name is Liu Niang."

Pei Zhi was somewhat surprised: "Liu Niang?"

How could a maidservant have such a name?

Moreover, it's from the gentleman's residence.

It's not that Pei Zhi is biased; it's just that the name sounds like it came from... an unreliable place.

Liu Niang seemed to know what Pei Zhi was thinking. "Replying to Miss, I used to work in a brothel, but I was later redeemed by the master and now I serve at home."

Pei Zhi blinked, and it took her a while to realize the meaning behind Liu Niang's words.

Pei Zhi never expected that Mr. Yuan, who was always serious and unsmiling in front of her, would actually redeem someone from a brothel.

They even redeemed the person and kept them at home to serve them.

Pei Zhi couldn't help but ask, "In Mr. Yuan's family, how many people are like you?"

Although Liu Niang didn't understand why Pei Zhi asked this, she still answered honestly, "Besides this servant, there should be four or five other people."

Pei Zhi nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

I never would have guessed that Mr. Yuan was playing such a sophisticated game.

The carriage suddenly stopped, and then Liu Niang got out of the carriage, and Shang Huai rushed in, soaking wet.

Pei Zhi moved back slightly. "Why is your hair all wet?"

Anyone who didn't know better would think Shang Huai had just come out after taking a shower.

Shang Huai was a little out of breath. "Didn't I rush here to see you?"

Shang Huai grabbed Pei Zhi's hand and had her wipe it with a handkerchief.

In fact, Shang Huai had come from the military camp early in the morning.

Since there is no war to fight now, the troops set up camp outside the city.

Shang's father was a general and had to stay in the army.

Yesterday, Shang Huai's aunt, Madam Yuan, asked Shang Huai to send some personal clothing to his father.

Shang Huai originally planned to come back after delivering the goods.

As a result, he was detained by the merchant's father and had a one-on-one fight with the army's generals.

After the battle, Shang Huai was exhausted. He drank some wine and then rested in the military camp.

I drove here from the suburbs this morning. The fog was thick there, so I looked a bit damp.

As Shang Huai held Pei Zhi's hand, Pei Zhi noticed that Shang Huai's hands were covered in calluses.

Yesterday, Pei Zhi didn't look closely at the artificial hill, but now she notices that Shang Huai has a knife scar on his palm.

How did you hurt your hand?

Shang Huai opened his palm. "Didn't you ask me that before?"

Pei Zhi paused, then said with a troubled expression, "Really? I must have been busy with things at home and forgot."

After Pei Zhi finished speaking, she pretended to be annoyed and tapped her head, "Look at my brain, I really can't remember anything."

Shang Huai quickly grabbed Pei Zhi's hand, "It's nothing serious, don't damage your brain."

"This is from when I was sparring with someone and I accidentally got injured." Shang Huai took advantage of Pei Zhi being a sheltered young lady who didn't know anything about these things.

Pei Zhi said with concern, "Then you must be more careful in the future."

Judging from the wound on Shang Huai's palm, the opponent's strike was clearly intended to sever Shang Huai's hand.

It doesn't look like an accidental injury during sparring.

Pei Zhi had a rough idea of ​​Shang Huai's identity.