The study was silent.

Jiang Yinglin stood there, unmoved.

After a moment, Pei Fengzhi stretched out her slender fingers and gently picked up the brown paper bag.

Untangle the rope wrapped around it and take out a document consisting of several pages of A4 paper.

However, to Jiang Yinglin's surprise, Pei Fengzhi did not look at a single word on it, but instead picked up the lighter that was placed aside.

Snap.

A deep blue, windproof flame rose up, igniting a corner of the paper. Soon, a brilliant orange-red flame ignited, the tongue of fire engulfing the text printed with Ye Ningwan's life story.

To Jiang Yinglin's astonishment, just a second before the flames were about to reach Pei Fengzhi's fingertips, he threw it into the ashtray.

The flames slowly devoured the last bit of white paper, then went out, leaving only patches of black ash in the ashtray. Pei Fengzhi threw the lighter on the table.

With a thud, the black ash shattered into scattered ashes.

Jiang Yinglin looked up, his eyes full of confusion.

"Ninth Master, what's wrong with you...?"

Pei Fengzhi glanced at the table and said indifferently.

“She didn’t secretly investigate me, so naturally I should give her the trust she deserves; that’s only fair.”

Jiang Yinglin stared at Pei Fengzhi in disbelief, his head full of questions, the words almost spilling out of his mouth.

"Let's not talk about her past anymore. I don't want to hear about it. I only care about the present and the future."

Jiang Yinglin wiped his face, unable to utter a single word for a long time. All his voices were stuck in his throat, and he was so upset that he almost knelt on the ground and howled to vent his emotions.

He barely managed to swallow the feeling of being choked by a fly, and looked at Pei Fengzhi with considerable fear, asking cautiously.

"Ninth Master, you haven't really fallen in love with Ye Ningwan, have you?"

He thought Pei Fengzhi was at most just a little interested in that woman, or rather, had a good impression of her. He never expected that Pei Fengzhi would actually become obsessed with her.

When has the dignified Ninth Master Pei ever acted like this? Even when dealing with that woman from back then, he still sent three groups of people to dig up her entire family history.

Jiang Yinglin felt uneasy as he thought about the final outcome back then.

Will Ninth Master repeat the same mistake?

If that's the case...

He couldn't help but add his own comment.

"Ninth Master, Ye Ningwan isn't as bad as you think..."

Before Jiang Yinglin could finish speaking, there was a sudden knock on the study door, and the maid's anxious voice rang out from outside.

"Ninth Master, Ninth Master, something terrible has happened! Ninth Madam has been taken away by the Old Master's men!"

The sound, though distorted by the door, reached the ears of the two people in the study clearly.

Pei Fengzhi frowned slightly.

"Come in."

The study door was flung open instantly, and the maid stood at the doorway with a worried expression. She peeked in but didn't dare to come in, seemingly afraid of disturbing the two people talking inside.

She clenched her fists, becoming even more nervous under the gazes of Jiang Yinglin and Pei Fengzhi.

All that could be heard was Pei Fengzhi asking a question.

Do you know why?

The maid shook her head, then immediately nodded.

"I secretly asked the people at the old man's place, and they said that the first wife was also inside, and she was crying very hard, apparently because of the eldest young master's matter."

Jiang Yinglin looked bewildered, but Pei Fengzhi seemed even more worried.

"What's wrong? Is it because of Pei Minghan and Ye Ningwan's past relationship?"

Years ago, before Ye Ruoxin, the real daughter of the Ye family, was found, Ye Ningwan, the adopted daughter of the Ye family, was engaged to Pei Minghan. The two were indeed inseparable and loving for several years.

Who knows what kind of trouble that First Madam will cause this time?

Then Pei Fengzhi's cold voice rang out in the study.

"Let's go take a look."

Jiang Yinglin frowned, but before he could say anything, he heard Pei Fengzhi give another order.

"Jiang Yinglin, you should come too."

...

Ye Ningwan stood in the antique-style tea room.

A censer of incense burned on the long wooden table, and wisps of white smoke rose gracefully, filling the tea room with a faint scent of agarwood.

Ye Ningwan stood in front of Old Master Pei, head bowed, eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.

Meanwhile, beside Old Master Pei, Madam Pei was crying and complaining.

"Dad, Minghan is the eldest grandson of the Pei family. You have always loved Minghan the most since he was a child. Now he has been beaten and is lying in the hospital. My heart is breaking. You must stand up for me!"

Old Master Pei remained silent with a sullen face.

Madam Pei secretly glanced at Old Master Pei through her handkerchief, and immediately cried even harder.

“When I was pregnant with Minghan, the baby was breech, and my eldest son was away socializing and couldn’t come home. I had a difficult labor when I gave birth to him, and it took me seven nights to finally deliver him. He is my precious son!”

"Ye Ningwan beat Minghan like this, my heart feels like it's been ripped out, I..."

Madam Pei's sobs filled the quiet tea room. Even Old Master Pei, who had just been able to close his eyes and fiddle with his prayer beads, couldn't help but open his eyes and glance at Madam Pei.

"Alright, you are the eldest wife of the Pei family, how can you cry and whine over such a trivial matter!"

After being gently but firmly rebuked by Old Master Pei, Madam Pei immediately stopped crying, her voice choked with sobs as she looked at him with teary eyes.

"Dad, you can't just side with Ye Ningwan because she's the ninth son's new wife! I won't accept this!"

Grandpa Pei sighed and finally looked at Ye Ningwan, who had been standing silently to the side for a long time.

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