Chapter 96 Be a good person and I'll forgive you

Pei Zhi gripped her hand tightly, his voice firm: "Because they are ignorant. But it's okay, I will help you."

That afternoon, Pei Zhi went to the palace to see the Emperor and recounted in detail how Ye Wanning had saved the man. He also requested permission for a woman to open a female medical clinic. Since Ye Wanning was already favored by the Emperor, and news of her saving the man had spread, the Emperor readily agreed: "Granted! I want to see just how skilled a woman in medicine can be!"

Within a few days, the female doctor's clinic opened in the West Market, and Pei Zhi even personally inscribed a plaque with the words "Benevolent Heart to Save the World," four powerful characters that exuded an unquestionable authority.

On the day the museum opened, many people came to watch the spectacle. The old woman who had previously questioned Ye Wanning also came, bowing her head and apologizing: "Miss Ye, it was my fault for being confused. Please forgive me, you are a magnanimous person."

Ye Wanning smiled and waved her hand: "As long as you stop talking nonsense and behave properly in the future, I will forgive you."

Pei Zhi stood beside her, looking at the bustling crowd, then at Ye Wanning beside him, his eyes filled with pride: "Wanning, from now on, this female doctor's clinic will be your battlefield. Anyone who dares to provoke you will have to ask my sword, Pei Zhi's sword, first."

...

It was late when the palace banquet ended. The lake in the royal garden shimmered, and the evening breeze carried the scent of lotus blossoms, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in Ye Wanning's heart. Pei Zhi pulled her forward, and after a few steps, they heard a commotion in the crowd ahead. Someone shouted, "Oh no! Someone has fallen into the water!"

Her heart tightened, and she instinctively quickened her pace to squeeze through the crowd. Her gaze swept across the throng and she saw Pei Zhi leap into the lake. His moon-white robe was instantly soaked by the lake water, clinging tightly to his body and outlining his tall and straight figure.

Chaos erupted on the riverbank, and the Minister of Revenue lay prostrate on the ground, weeping, "My daughter! Please save my daughter!"

Ye Wanning's heart leaped into her throat, her nails digging deep into her palms. Pei Zhi was a good swimmer, but the lake was deep, and it was late autumn, the air bitterly cold. What if something happened?

A moment later, Pei Zhi emerged from the water carrying a woman and swam vigorously towards the shore. Ye Wanning rushed forward, about to reach out to take her, but stopped abruptly when she saw the woman's face—it was Liu Ruyan, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. A few days ago at the palace banquet, this woman had deliberately approached Pei Zhi and said some ambiguous things.

Pei Zhi carried Liu Ruyan ashore, panting heavily. Liu Ruyan was soaking wet, her face deathly pale, clutching his clothes tightly, and weakly cried out, "General Pei... thank you..."

Pei Zhi wanted to push her away, but considering the occasion, he could only hold back and draped his outer robe over her shoulders: "Miss Liu, take care of yourself."

This scene was like a red-hot needle, piercing Ye Wanning's heart. Pei Zhi's wet hair dripped down, and the outer robe he draped over Liu Ruyan was one she had just washed a few days ago, with small begonia flowers embroidered on the collar. She was so angry that her whole body felt hot, and her chest felt tight and suffocating. Before Pei Zhi could turn around, she strode forward, almost running.

She thought someone was calling her name from behind, but she didn't dare turn around—afraid that if she did, she would be unable to help but question him, and even more afraid of seeing the difficulty in his eyes.

"Wanning! Ye Wanning!" Pei Zhi's voice was filled with rapid breathing as he quickly caught up and grabbed her wrist. "Why are you running?"

Ye Wanning tried to shake him off, but her anger flared as her fingertips touched his cold skin: "General Pei is busy saving people, how can he have time to care about me? Miss Liu is still waiting, don't let her catch a cold."

Her voice was full of sarcasm. Pei Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then realized what she meant, and panic flashed in his eyes: "You've misunderstood. I only saved her life, I didn't mean anything else."

"Whether it's interesting or not is none of my business." Ye Wanning turned her face away. "General Pei is of noble status, it's normal for him to be surrounded by beautiful women. I was just meddling in other people's business."

"No!" Pei Zhi stepped forward urgently, grabbed her shoulders with both hands, and forced her to look at him. "You're the only one in my heart, there's never been anyone else! Look carefully!"

As he spoke, he tore open his outer garment, revealing his inner garment—embroidered with a small tiger sewn with silver thread on the chest. It was a pattern she had secretly embroidered on his armor when they were at the border, and he had actually embroidered it on his inner garment, wearing it day and night!

"This is what I wear next to my body!" Pei Zhi's voice choked with emotion as he stroked the little tiger. "Liu Ruyan fell into the water, and I couldn't just stand by and watch her die, but you've always been the only one in my heart! If you don't believe me, I swear to God!"

Ye Wanning's gaze fell on the little tiger, and her eyes instantly reddened. Of course, she knew Pei Zhi's character, but when she saw him holding Liu Ruyan and giving his outer robe to someone else, a bitter feeling still welled up uncontrollably.

"Who asked you to swear?" She turned her head away and said sullenly, no longer struggling. "Your clothes are soaked; be careful not to catch a cold!"

Pei Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his movements incredibly tender: "Are you not angry anymore?"

Ye Wanning didn't speak, but let him lead her forward. The evening breeze was still cool, but her palms grew warmer. She glanced at the man beside her; his brow was still furrowed, clearly still worried that she was angry. She couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of her lips—it turned out she wasn't the only one who was jealous; this guy was even more nervous than her.

As they reached the palace gate, Pei Zhi suddenly stopped and looked at her earnestly: "No matter what happens in the future, please don't run away, okay? I'm afraid I won't be able to find you."

Ye Wanning's heart softened, and she nodded vigorously: "I understand!"

...

Back at the general's mansion, Pei Zhi changed his clothes and drank ginger soup. He turned around to coax Ye Wanning, but found that she had already disappeared.

Chun Tao rushed in with red eyes: "General, Miss said... said she wants to go back to Ci'an Hall to see the children, and asked you not to look for her."

Pei Zhi's heart suddenly turned cold. He knew that Ye Wanning was still angry with him. Her compromise at the palace gate was just to prevent him from catching a cold in the rain; the knot in her heart hadn't been untied at all.

"Prepare the car! To Ci'an Hall!" He grabbed his coat and headed out. As soon as he stepped out of the gate, large raindrops began to fall, pattering against the ground and instantly forming a vast curtain of rain.

The guard quickly handed over an umbrella: "General, the rain is too heavy. Let's wait until it stops before we go!"

"No! We have to go now!" Pei Zhi snatched the umbrella and quickly jumped into the carriage. "Hurry up and get on the carriage!"

The carriage sped through the rain, splashing high into the air. Pei Zhi sat inside, his mind a jumble of thoughts. He knew Ye Wanning's temperament; she seemed gentle, but deep down she was proud and couldn't stand the slightest grievance. He admitted that rescuing Liu Ruyan just now had been inconsiderate, failing to consider her feelings—if it were him, he probably would have already exploded.

When the carriage arrived at the West Market, he suddenly remembered that Ye Wanning liked to eat the red bean buns from the corner store the most. Ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, he rushed in through the rain.

Upon seeing him, the shopkeeper quickly wrapped up some freshly steamed red bean buns: "General Pei, you've come to buy buns in this heavy rain?"