Chapter 14 Blood Fusion "My cousin's mind is in turmoil, what is she thinking?...

Lin Zhi was suddenly pulled back two steps by the arm, her eyes filled with panic.

"Please forgive me, young lady, and cooperate with me."

Xie Zheng's gaze lingered on Lin Zhi for only a moment, a fleeting look of amazement in his eyes before quickly disappearing. His sharp eyes were fixed on the inner room of the embroidery workshop. He gave a signal to the people behind him, who pulled Xiao Wen, who was about to speak, out of the room.

Who are you?

Lin Zhi suppressed her urge to back down and forced herself to speak calmly. Although she knew this person was Pei Lang's friend, she couldn't help but feel afraid. She was afraid that the current situation was not going to be a good thing.

Xie Zheng remained silent, but pulled her arm and took two steps back before continuing to speak casually, "My wife has bought enough today, shall we go? I heard that the Dali Temple is investigating a case on the street and they'll be here soon."

"I'm afraid something big has happened."

He said this, but his amber eyes were fixed on the inner room without blinking.

Lin Zhi was initially confused, but then he saw a gray corner of clothing peeking out from the inner room. Instantly, several arrows flew from behind him toward the person, scaring Lin Zhi so much that he turned pale. He was pulled away and fell to the ground to avoid the arrows.

After the sounds of sharp weapons piercing flesh were heard, there was a loud thud, and the person inside fell to the ground, lifeless.

Seeing that the fugitive was dead, Xie Zheng raised his hand to signal the archers to retreat. He went to the man's body first, checked his breathing, and then sighed in disappointment.

They had hoped to spare his life before returning to interrogate him, but unfortunately the embroidery workshop was too cramped, so the arrows could only be aimed at him.

After his men carried the body away, Xie Zheng remembered to apologize: "Miss, I was rude just now, but the matter was urgent."

"I am Xie Zheng, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I hope you will not take offense, young lady."

Seeing the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review bowing to her, Lin Zhi wouldn't dare accept the greeting even if she had the guts of a leopard. Although she was reluctant, she could only quickly return the greeting: "Thank you for your kindness, Vice Minister. My daughter is a relative of the Pei family. My cousin is on good terms with you, so there's no need for such formalities."

When she said she was a cousin of the Pei family, a hint of surprise crossed Xie Zheng's face. He had only heard Pei Lang say that his cousin was timid and weak, but he never expected that she would be such a poised and generous girl today. Even when she was observing life and death, she remained calm and composed.

The young girl pursed her lips and lowered her eyes, her pretty face still showing signs of lingering fear.

Xie Zheng suddenly regretted involving her, but she was the most suitable person in the embroidery workshop. Although it was abrupt, everyone in the workshop had been taken away, so it wouldn't affect her reputation.

"Xie Zheng, how dare you! Your men actually dared to touch this princess!"

When Xiao Wen stormed in, she saw two figures, one tall and one slender, facing each other, looking like a perfect couple.

Xie Zheng frowned slightly, but bowed to her respectfully and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. The incident happened suddenly, and I was only trying to help you."

Xiao Wen raised a slight brow with her long, narrow phoenix eyes and gave a soft snort: "You can call black white, but you can't refute this young lady's disrespect towards this princess just now. Guards..."

Lin Zhi's heart tightened. She had already realized that this woman was no ordinary person and had tried her best to avoid her. How could this person be turning black into white?

Xie Zheng's eyes darkened, and he stepped forward to block Lin Zhi: "Princess Wenyu, this is Pei's cousin."

Xiao Wen initially dismissed it with disdain: "The Pei family..."

But then his expression changed drastically: "You mean this is Brother Lang's cousin?"

Upon hearing this address, Lin Zhi was taken aback, but the next moment her hand was grasped by the princess, who said affectionately, "So you are my cousin from the Pei family. No wonder you are so beautiful and refined."

"Cousin, there's no need to be distant with me. Since you are Brother Lang's sister, you are naturally also my sister. If you have time in the future, you can come to the palace to keep me company often."

The starkly contrasting attitudes made Lin Zhi somewhat apprehensive, but she could only manage a forced smile: "I am deeply grateful for the princess's kindness. I am but a humble girl and dare not overstep my bounds."

In the end, Lin Zhi was able to escape only after Xiao Wen forcibly stuffed a jade pendant into her arms.

After boarding the carriage, the three of them, master and servant, were somewhat dazed and unable to react for a moment. Lin Zhi, in particular, held the warm and smooth jade pendant in her hand, but her heart was ice-cold.

She'd been adept at reading people since childhood; she could understand the meaning behind a single glance. Xiao Wen's favor towards Pei Lang was self-evident, especially since Pei Lang was her rightful teacher. It was only natural for the two to be close...

Although she thought this to herself, Lin Zhi unconsciously bit her lower lip until it turned white, as if trying to suppress the bitterness in her heart.

But the sharp pain brought her back to her senses.

"Miss, your hand is injured!"

Hearing Xia Ying's exclamation, Lin Zhi belatedly noticed that there was a patch of skin scraped off the base of her right palm, and blood was seeping from half of her hand, tinged with a seductive pink.

She told Chun Tao to put the jade pendant away, but she herself was somewhat absent-minded.

As soon as she returned to the courtyard, she saw the servant of Lanxue Pavilion waiting outside: "Miss, the young master invites you to come and practice calligraphy."

Chun Tao was about to say something when Lin Zhi stopped her: "Please tell my cousin that I am not feeling well today and I am afraid of passing on my illness to him, so I will not be going."

After everyone had gone, Lin Zhicai said with a serious expression, "Don't tell my cousin a single word about what happened today. They are all important people, and we can't afford to offend them."

The two girls exchanged a glance and nodded vigorously, not daring to disobey.

After Lin Zhi dismissed the servant, she was still somewhat apprehensive, not even knowing what she was hoping for. Only after a peaceful night did she learn, when she casually inquired about Pei Lang the next morning, that he had gone to the palace.

"Entering the palace? My cousin's leg ailment hasn't fully healed yet, so how come he's already going to court?"

Chuntao carefully applied rose petal dew to her hands. "I heard from Sister Yushu that the eldest young master didn't go to court, but went to the palace to answer questions for His Highness the Crown Prince. I suppose he won't be too tired."

Hearing this, Lin Zhi breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

As soon as he came out of the East Palace, Pei Lang bumped into Xiao Wen. Looking at the smiling princess, he only took a half step back and said, "Your humble servant greets Princess Wenyu."

Xiao Wen eagerly took a few steps forward and said, "Brother Lang, there's no need for such formalities. Just call me Wen'er."

Pei Lang straightened his back, his face regaining its usual aloof and distant expression. "Does the princess have something to say?"

Xiao Wen was not good at her studies and used to treat him like a mouse before a cat, let alone be so enthusiastic towards him.

She quickly had a palace maid hand the item to Pei Lang: "This is Jade Gel Ointment made by the imperial physician. My cousin Pei accidentally injured her hand in the embroidery workshop yesterday, and I cannot bear any scars on my body."

"And Brother Lao Lang passed this on to his cousin."

Pei Lang's eyes narrowed. "Is the princess referring to Lin Zhi?"

Xiao Wen nodded: "Yes, yesterday Xie Zheng was arresting a fugitive. He cornered the man in the embroidery workshop and shot him dead. My cousin Pei was there too, and she even tripped and fell."

"It's probably not a big deal, but Wen'er is still worried."

Xiao Wen, her cheeks flushed, handed over the ointment, completely oblivious to Pei Lang's increasingly grim expression.

"Thank you for your kindness, Princess. Xingyun will accept it."

The young man stepped forward without pausing, his official robes fluttering in the wind.

Seeing the ointment being taken by a servant, Xiao Wen's expression only stiffened for a moment before she straightened her head and became confident again: "As expected of the eldest son of the Pei family, such extraordinary demeanor."

"I, the princess, will take care of his entire family as well. I refuse to believe that his heart is as hard as stone and he will remain unmoved!"

Lin Zhi had just woken up from her afternoon nap when she was startled by Chun Tao rushing in in a panic: "What's the rush?"

Chun Tao swallowed hard. "Miss, the eldest young master has sent someone to invite you over."

Lin Zhi still looked a little dazed, as if she hadn't woken up properly: "Cousin has left the palace and returned home?"

After receiving Chuntao's affirmation, he absentmindedly washed and changed his clothes, and when he arrived at the gate of Lanxue Pavilion, his heart was pounding like a drum.

Having witnessed her cousin's feelings for the princess, Lin Zhi was already worried, but she didn't know if the princess would tell her cousin that she had run away from the manor. After struggling for a while, she finally stepped into Lanxue Pavilion.

Pei Lang stood with his hands behind his back under a tree in the courtyard, his expression obscured by his back to her.

"I'm fine, cousin. I'll go practice my calligraphy now."

Lin Zhi pretended not to see the desk placed in the shade under the tree and turned to go into the room next door, but was stopped by someone coolly: "It's cool today, so you can practice your calligraphy here."

"......yes."

Lin Zhi sat down nervously at the desk, carefully glancing at Pei Lang's expression, but finding it was no different from usual, she gradually relaxed.

However, her palm was injured, and after writing only a few words, she felt a slight stinging pain and could barely hold the pen. In addition, she was agitated and could not calm down.

Pei Lang had long noticed her unease. He walked to the guqin and sat down, extending his long, slender hand to stroke the instrument. Clear, melodious music flowed out.

Lin Zhi paused, having only heard of the six arts of a gentleman, all of which Pei Lang was proficient in, but she hadn't expected him to be so refined and elegant even in playing the zither. The zither music, like a clear spring, flowed gently, seemingly truly nourishing the soul.

But her uneasy heart became even more restless. The thoughts that were vaguely separated by a thin layer of paper made Lin Zhi dare not think too deeply, for fear that a moment of carelessness would lead her to fall into an endless abyss.

Lin Zhi was lost in thought, her pen remaining motionless for a long time, and she didn't even notice when the music stopped.

Lin Zhi only snapped back to her senses when a warm, tall body enveloped her in its embrace from behind, but her hand holding the pen was also firmly grasped.

"cousin!"

The scene that had appeared in her dream suddenly reappeared, and Lin Zhi felt extremely ashamed. She nervously moved her wrists, trying to break free, but she was restrained and could not escape even a little bit.

"My cousin seems very confused. What's she thinking about?"

"Are you thinking about the injury on your hand? Or are you thinking about Xie Zheng, who saved the damsel in distress?"

Pei Lang had never spoken to her in such a gentle tone before; his clear, tender voice rang in her ears, yet Lin Zhi's spine stiffened. How did her cousin know...?

Seeing that she didn't speak, Pei Lang tightened his grip on her delicate hand, pressing precisely on the wound at the base of her palm.

The stinging pain brought Lin Zhi to her senses, making her realize how far their current position had crossed the line. She tried to struggle, but her hand felt itchy. A trickle of bright red blood slowly dripped onto the paper and spread, like a blooming poppy.

"Blood......"

At first, Lin Zhi thought the blood was hers, but after shaking off Pei Lang's big hand, she realized that the bloodstains were actually flowing from the hideous wound in Pei Lang's palm!

A note from the author:

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Sorry I'm late today, thank you all for your likes and favorites! Chef Songsong is working hard to prepare food and save up some content!

After it becomes a paid service, it will update every Saturday!