Chapter 15 Secret Meeting "Gossip is a fearsome thing! You've disgraced Mingli..."

Lin Zhi's pupils contracted; she was quite frightened.

It wasn't until Pei Lang swayed unsteadily that she hurriedly reacted, grabbing the handkerchief she carried with her and pressing it tightly against the wound on his palm.

"Cousin, you're injured!"

She quickly helped him sit down, staring at his pale lips, Lin Zhi's hands trembling: "You... I'll send someone to find a doctor!"

But as soon as Lin Zhi turned around, she was pulled back firmly. Turning her head to look at Pei Lang, who was using his arm to brace against the table, trapping her between his body and the table, Lin Zhi's heart trembled slightly.

"No need, it's just a minor injury."

Although Pei Lang was sitting in a round-backed chair, his oppressive aura was no less. Lin Zhi felt terrified under his gaze, as if she were being hunted by a wild beast lurking in the shadows.

But in the blink of an eye, Pei Lang's eyes softened again, as if it had just been Lin Zhi's illusion.

"Cousin, didn't you want to ask where my injury came from? Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother's death, but no one in the Pei family remembered it."

"I was thinking of teaching my cousin calligraphy to pass the time, but I didn't expect that my cousin was not feeling well yesterday. So I drank a few more cups, and without realizing it, my hand fell on a shard of porcelain."

Pei Lang's tone was indifferent, almost devoid of emotion, without any complaint or grievance. Yet, Lin Zhi felt as if her heart had been gripped tightly, and regret welled up in her almond-shaped eyes.

"I'm so sorry, cousin, I had no idea yesterday was like this,"

"It's all my fault for leaving the manor without permission yesterday... Did my cousin see Xie Shaoqing?"

Lin Zhi's expression was weak and aggrieved, but her lowered eyes were warily watching Pei Lang out of the corner of her eye:

Only Chun Tao and Xia Ying knew that she left the manor yesterday. How did her cousin find out?

Pei Lang sighed: "Yesterday, Lan Xin went shopping and told me about the case that Dali Temple was investigating. I am familiar with Xie Zheng, so I naturally had to check on it. I didn't expect that this matter would also involve my cousin."

Hearing his words, Lin Zhi finally calmed down a little. She was walking on thin ice in the Pei family. If she couldn't even trust the people around her, she was afraid she would never be able to turn things around.

Pei Lang neatly tied the handkerchief around the wound to stop the bleeding with one hand, but carefully picked up Lin Zhi's right hand to apply medicine: "This is Jade Condensation Ointment made by the imperial physicians in the palace. It was a gift from Princess Wenyu."

"My wound was just torn open again in a moment of excitement. My cousin should use it first, as long as it doesn't leave a scar."

Lin Zhi stared at Pei Lang's movements, wanting to dodge, but her hand was held so tightly that she couldn't break free. After a thousand thoughts, she could only murmur, "Men and women should not touch each other."

Upon hearing this, Pei Lang suddenly burst into laughter.

“Since we will be family in the future, Mingli has sent me a message asking me to take good care of you. As your elder brother, I will naturally do so.”

“I value propriety, and naturally I also value my cousin.”

Lin Zhi's words were already against her will, and now she was even more disappointed after hearing Pei Lang's words. Such good medicine was given by Xiao Wen, so the princess must care about Pei Lang very much.

The two are a perfect match; it's truly an excellent marriage.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhi forced a smile and lowered her eyes, thus missing Pei Lang's probing gaze.

"The world is in turmoil these days. If my cousin wishes to leave the manor, I will arrange guards and servants to protect her."

Lin Zhi was somewhat listless after the medicine was applied. She simply curtsied and left.

The moment Pei Lang stepped out of Lanxue Pavilion, he raised his hand to wipe away the powder from his lips, revealing a rosy lip color. He frowned and looked down at the pale blue handkerchief, now stained with blood, wrapped around his hand, then casually tore it off and held it in his palm.

Lin Zhi thought the matter was over, but unexpectedly someone knocked on the courtyard gate late at night.

"Aunt Yu Shu? Is there something important that you've come so late at night?"

Chun Tao frowned and rubbed her sleepy eyes, but she didn't expect that her usually kind aunt would have such a stern face, looking somewhat frightening.

"Has Miss Biao settled down for the night?"

Chun Tao nodded, puzzled, but then saw Yu Shu push her aside and lead a large group of people into the courtyard.

"Aunt! Aunt Yu Shu! Miss has already retired for the night!"

Chun Tao knew something was wrong, and her drowsiness vanished instantly, but she still couldn't stop it.

Lin Zhijue was light-skinned and had already woken up when Yu Shu knocked on the door. When she let her in, she had already put on an outer robe over her slender shoulders, and her eyes were tired and red at the corners.

"Aunt, is there something important you need to tell me now?"

Lin Zhi spoke politely, but Yu Shu still frowned: "Miss, Madam is kind-hearted and took you back to the manor to take care of you. You can't hurt Madam's feelings like this."

Lin Zhi was stunned for a moment: "What brings you to that, Aunt?"

But Yu Shu was unwilling to say anything more. "Please change your clothes, Miss. Madam is still waiting for you in the small hall."

After quickly changing her clothes, Chun Tao's face scrunched up: "Miss, could it be that Madam finds out about the embroidery workshop? Is she going to blame us for not taking good care of you?"

She took Lin Zhi's hand and carefully avoided the wound, but Lin Zhi felt uneasy.

He said slowly, as if deep in thought, "My aunt is not such a demanding person, and neither is Aunt Yushu."

"Her behavior today doesn't seem to stem from concern for me..."

Kneel down!

Seeing her aunt wearing a headband and holding her head in pain, Lin Zhi didn't hesitate and immediately knelt down, fearing that her aunt's headache had flared up again.

Lin Zhi's throat tightened a little. Just as she was about to say something, she looked up and saw Lan Xin bringing tea to her!

What's she doing with her aunt?!

"Please don't be angry, Madam. Miss is beautiful, and there are probably many people in the capital who covet her. I just didn't expect that the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would be so reckless."

Lan Xin spoke slowly and deliberately, but it made Lin Zhi's heart skip a beat, and she stared at her with wide almond-shaped eyes.

"aunt!"

Lan Xin has made it so clear, how could Lin Zhi not understand the meaning of summoning her here today!

But Lin Shaowan raised her hand to stop her explanation, and after taking several deep breaths, she was able to barely manage to speak: "Your uncle is not at home today, Azhi, tell your aunt the truth, is it true or false that you had a secret meeting with Xie Shaoqing?"

Lin Zhi steadied herself and said calmly, "Aunt, that's not the case."

“Yesterday, Azhi went to the embroidery shop, but unexpectedly she ran into the Dali Temple arresting a fugitive. The fugitive went into the embroidery shop, and that's how my niece met Xie Shaoqing.”

But Lin Shaowan's disappointment did not fade, and she still stared at her and questioned, "Is it true or false that Lan Xin said that all the customers in the embroidery shop were kicked out, leaving only you and Xie Zheng inside?"

Lin Zhihong's lips parted slightly as if she wanted to explain, but her throat felt like it was blocked by a wad of cotton, and she couldn't say a word.

Seeing Lin Zhi's reaction, Lin Shaowan knew that it was most likely true. She closed her eyes, her expression as if she was suppressing her anger.

After opening her eyes, she only glanced coldly at Lan Xin, who had come to report her, then stood up, leaning on Yu Shu's arm, and walked to Lin Zhi.

“Azhi, when your aunt first met you, you were a thin and helpless child, but now you have grown into a graceful young lady.”

"Your aunt doesn't expect you to repay her kindness, yet you can't hurt her feelings like this!"

Lin Shaowan's voice trembled, as if she was using all her strength to suppress her anger and disappointment.

"Even if you have no personal relationship with Xie Zheng, it's still a big deal that so many people have seen this in broad daylight! How can you expect Mingli to save face!"

Lin Zhi stiffened, knowing that nothing she said would make a difference.

What her aunt cared about wasn't that she was in a room with another man, but rather that Pei Mingli's reputation was at stake.

Although she had already sensed it, Lin Zhi still couldn't help but hunch her thin back slightly, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth: "...Aunt, you're right, I won't dare to do it again."

Lin Shaowan sighed and waved her hand, "The Pei family has strict family rules. Although this was an accident, it was still your mistake. Go to the ancestral hall and kneel for one night as punishment."

Chun Tao panicked and quickly knelt down to apologize: "Madam, you mustn't! Miss is weak, and the night air is chilly. I'm afraid she'll ruin her health by kneeling all night!"

Lan Xin glanced at her and said softly, "If the mistress makes a mistake, it is also the servant's negligence."

Lin Zhi turned her head to stare at her, her watery eyes seemingly frozen solid, making Lan Xin feel a little uneasy.

Lin Shaowan couldn't help but frown. If it were any other servant who had spied on their master's private affairs, they would have been sold off even if they weren't killed. But this person was from Pei Lang's courtyard...

Thinking of this, Lin Shaowan's anger intensified. It was one thing for Pei Lang to disrespect her on a daily basis because of his position in the court, but now even one of his servants dared to take advantage of her.

Staring at Chun Tao, who was apologizing, he immediately turned his anger on her: "As a personal maid, how could you put your master in danger! Drag her away and give her twenty lashes as a lesson!"

Upon hearing that Chun Tao was to be punished, Lin Zhi immediately crawled forward on her knees, her voice choked with emotion and her eyes moistening: "Aunt! This matter has nothing to do with Chun Tao! Kneel all night as punishment, I, Lin Zhi, will accept the punishment! I, Lin Zhi, was wrong!"

But Lin Shaowan only had her servants pull Lin Zhi up: "Take Miss Lin to the ancestral hall, and don't let her out before noon tomorrow!"

"Guards, drag this disloyal servant away!"

As Lin Zhi was forcibly dragged away by her arm, she could still hear the sound of the cane being struck repeatedly as she walked out of the courtyard, mixed with Chun Tao's heart-wrenching screams.

With a creak, the ancestral hall door closed, and Lin Zhi slumped onto the prayer mat, listening to the sound of the door being locked outside.

The ancestral hall was already cold and gloomy, but now, in the dead of night, it was even more chilling, sending shivers down one's spine. Only the dim light of the ever-burning lamp illuminated a corner of it.

Lin Zhi struggled to get up from the futon, but felt dizzy and lightheaded. She raised her hand to touch her forehead and found it was burning hot, perhaps from the fright.

The wound on my hand still had a faint medicinal scent, the smell of Yu Ning Ointment.

When Lan Xin returned to Lanxue Pavilion, she tiptoed through the small door and slipped inside without making a sound.

She had just breathed a sigh of relief when she turned around and saw a tall, imposing figure. "You finally decided to come back?"

"Ah!" Lan Xin was so frightened that her soul almost left her body and her legs went weak. She never expected Pei Lang to appear here.

"Young master... why haven't you rested yet?"

Seeing the smile on Lan Xin's face that looked more like a grimace, Pei Lang clicked his tongue impatiently, "Where's Lin Zhiren?"

Lan Xin's eyes moved somewhat stiffly, and under Pei Lang's sharp gaze, she finally managed to squeeze out the words "ancestral hall" after a long while.

Before he could finish speaking, Xingyun swiftly struck, knocking the man unconscious with a chop to the neck and hoisting him onto her shoulder. She then quickly followed Pei Lang toward the ancestral hall.

Two old women, who were dozing off, sat cross-legged in front of the door and suddenly felt a chill. When they opened their eyes, they saw a young man standing with his back to the light. The moonlight was cold and clear, and the man looked like a jade-faced demon who had come to take their lives.

"Young...Young Master!" The two immediately knelt on the ground, trembling, feeling that they had been caught red-handed by their master for slacking off.

Pei Lang didn't even glance at the two of them, staring only at the large lock on the door, his expression unreadable: "Open it."

The two old women exchanged a troubled glance, but still gave in and quickly bowed to unlock the door.

Pei Lang lifted his brocade robe and stepped into the ancestral hall, only to see Lin Zhi kneeling on the ground, seemingly drained of all strength, swaying precariously. Seeing that she was about to collapse, Pei Lang instinctively stepped forward and caught her steadily in his arms.