Chapter 5: Cousin protects and seduces Lin Zhi; Lu Jue, that good-for-nothing...

Lin Zhi's mind was in a mess. If she went out to call for help, who knows what kind of rumors would spread about her.

But once that door closes, his reputation will be ruined.

Lu Jue had been pestering her for a while, but he had only said a few words to her in front of many people. Even so, she was still criticized by others.

Lu Jue's actions now are clearly an attempt to kill him!

There are two paths: either be taken in by him, or seek out the white silk ribbon to die.

Lin Zhi looked down at his large hand that was holding her wrist, and then gripped it back through the fabric of her clothes.

Lu Jue raised an eyebrow in surprise, but before he could speak, Lin Zhi pulled him toward the incense shop manager.

The two maids had already stopped the shopkeeper, and the door only moved slightly.

The shopkeeper was not an inexperienced young man, but he was still frightened by the coldness in Lin Zhimei's eyes. How could a young girl have such a look?

Lin Zhi, suppressing her nausea, pulled Lu Jue along, reached out and raised a candlestick, laughing at Lu Jue's puzzled look.

The beauty was aloof, but her sudden smile was like spring flowers and autumn moon, leaving Lu Jue somewhat stunned.

"Since the young marquis enjoys fragrance, how can we dampen his spirits?"

Staring at Lu Jue's somewhat infatuated gaze, Lin Zhi threw the candlestick in her hand into the corner where incense was stored without hesitation.

Spices are flammable. We just received a new shipment of discarded spices today, and before we could even take them out, thick smoke was billowing out.

Chun Tao was quick-witted; her eyes darted around and she immediately understood what her young mistress meant.

"Fire! Fire!"

Lu Jue then realized how docile she had been, and his handsome face darkened. He didn't even notice that Lin Zhi had broken free from his grasp.

The shops on this long street catered exclusively to wealthy and influential families. Each shop held the entire family's wealth, and upon hearing of the fire, they would all rush over to check, fearing that they might be affected.

The shopkeeper watched as crowds gathered at the entrance, and the young marquis beside him looked like a demon, the cold sweat on his forehead increasing with each wipe.

He really tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead! Who said this Miss Pei was gentle and dignified? She's practically a madwoman!

"It's alright, it's alright! Everyone, there's no need to worry. It's just that some discarded incense accidentally caught fire!"

"Please return, everyone!"

Although the candles were extinguished in time, the incense shop was still filled with thick, choking smoke, and from a distance it looked as if it were on fire.

Pei Mingli was riding slowly beside his elder brother when he glanced up and saw the thick smoke. He asked curiously, "Brother, look, I wonder which merchant has been robbed."

Pei Lang sat upright on his horse, glancing at it indifferently: "It's just a perfume shop."

Pei Mingli slapped his thigh and said, "Azhi said she wanted sandalwood a few days ago, but the weather is bad today and she is weak, so it may be inconvenient for her to come out."

"Brother, you go back to the manor first, I'll be right back!"

Pei Mingli spurred his horse and headed towards Xiangfang.

Pei Lang watched from behind as he looked on with concern for Lin Zhi, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Lin Zhi tried to get into the carriage and leave, but was suddenly grabbed by the sleeve.

She turned around in alarm, only to see that Lu Jue's face had turned completely gloomy.

"No one in the entire capital city dares to play tricks on me, Lu Jue."

"Lin Zhi, you are the first one."

Lin Zhi's eyes darted around, and she felt uneasy.

Although the two maids were loyal, they dared not approach or pull at the nobleman, let alone the ruthless and unpredictable young master of the Lu family.

Many of the people around had been dispersed, and Lin Zhi steadied herself: "Young Master Lu, my daughter may not have a noble status, but she is still a guest of the Pei family."

“Even if you look down on me, you can’t look down on the Pei family, especially since the Lu family has something to ask of my cousin.”

"The invitation that Lord Lu sent to my cousin Pei is still here. Surely the young master doesn't want the two families to become enemies, right?"

Lu Jue looked surprised for a moment, then his eyes darkened and he laughed angrily.

"How dare you threaten me, the young master?"

"Leaving aside who Pei Lang is, you're just an orphaned cousin, yet you're using his power to bully others!"

Lu Jue used force to drag Lin Zhi, who had already boarded the carriage, down from it.

Her light purple dress was covered in mud and dust from being stepped on the ground.

"Lu Jue! How dare you!"

Upon hearing the angry shout, Lin Zhi's eyes regained their light.

Seeing Pei Mingli dismount and stride towards him, Lu Jue's expression remained unchanged, but he narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Let go of my cousin!"

Pei Mingli was physically robust, and even without armor, he still looked exceptionally heroic.

He grabbed Lu Jue's collar, and the two collided, evenly matched.

Lu Jue's eyes were full of disdain as he raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Pei Mingli, how dare you, a mere concubine's son and martial artist, act so presumptuously in front of this young master?"

"Everyone knows how your mother became the legal wife."

"As expected of the Lin family girl, she comes from a humble background and is just like everyone else, with a seductive and wanton nature."

"Today, I, the Crown Prince, am determined to take this insolent little illegitimate daughter away. What can you do about it?"

Lu Jue's words not only humiliated Lin Zhi but also her mother.

Pei Mingli felt a surge of anger rising in his chest, and before he could react, he raised his fist and slammed it down.

"ah!"

Lin Zhili was closest to the two, so she clearly saw the murderous aura in Pei Mingli's eyes and the blood seeping from the corner of Lu Jue's mouth.

She felt cold all over and her mind went blank.

But she also knew that she couldn't fight; the Pei family couldn't afford to offend Marquis Lu!

She rushed forward in a panic to stop Pei Mingli, but Pei Mingli was loyal and filial. He had already turned red with anger after hearing her insults to his mother, and he punched her hard. Even when Lin Zhi tried to pull him away, he was pushed away.

Lin Zhi stumbled and was pushed three steps away, twisting her ankle hard and nearly falling to the ground.

"stop."

Lin Zhi was caught off guard by a warm, large hand and was about to thank him when she heard a cold and indifferent voice from behind her.

She slowly turned her head and saw only Pei Lang's sharp, taut jaw.

He didn't even glance at her, yet Lin Zhi still couldn't help but shudder.

Pei Mingli, who had the upper hand after countless battles, stopped when he heard his brother's words, but Lu Jue, who had just realized what was happening, punched him in the face.

Lu Jue was so angry that his eyes turned red. He was still not satisfied and wanted to raise his fist to hit her again, but his forearm was restrained and he could not move.

"Young Master Lu, I said stop."

Pei Lang's eyes were sharp as knives. He just stood there quietly, and everything around him seemed to freeze, with an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Lu Jue's expression changed slightly. Although she was still indignant, she released her grip on Pei Mingli's hand.

Chuntao and Xiaying, the two little maids, rushed forward to protect their young mistress. With their mistress's help, they felt more confident.

Pei Mingli wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glared at Lu Jue as he complained to his brother.

"Brother! When I came over just now, I saw him pestering Azhi and wouldn't let go, and he was spewing all sorts of foul language!"

Lu Jue sneered, seemingly wanting to say something, but after glancing at Pei Lang, he swallowed his words.

Lin Zhi endured the excruciating pain in her ankle, her lips pale as she watched the scene spiral out of control, her heart filled with sorrow.

She originally came to buy incense, so how did it turn into this mess?

As the powerful figures engaged in a battle of wits, the surrounding shops all kept their doors and windows tightly shut.

Who dares to watch the young Marquis Lu make a fool of himself? They're asking for trouble!

Pei Lang looked around and released Lu Jue's arm.

"It was our Pei family who were rude today, please forgive us, young marquis."

When Lu Jue heard Pei Lang apologize to him, he was first taken aback, and then his expression became even more arrogant.

“I am not an unreasonable person. Today’s events all started because of this Lin Zhi.”

"If you are willing to hand her over to me, this matter will have nothing to do with your Pei family."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhi trembled uncontrollably, her delicate body trembling like an autumn leaf falling in the wind.

Pei Mingli frowned and looked at his elder brother, only to see him walk straight toward Lin Zhi, as if he were really going to be handed over to Lu Jue!

"Big brother..."

Pei Lang ignored Pei Mingli's words and walked up to Lin Zhi, glancing at the two trembling maids.

Lin Zhi bit her moist lower lip and pushed the two of them away.

They are members of the Pei family, and their lives are in the hands of their master. If they disobey, their fate will be even worse.

Her anger had long since subsided, leaving only sorrow.

She knew long ago that she would be abandoned; her parents abandoned her, and her uncle abandoned her.

Now that they finally have someone to rely on, Lu Jue has ruined everything.

It's no surprise that Pei Lang abandoned her, given that she's a useless person who only causes trouble.

Lin Zhi closed her eyes in despair, letting Pei Lang hold her wrist.

It should be delivered to Lu Jue.

The sudden lift of her body startled her, and she hurriedly opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around Pei Lang's neck.

She opened her eyes slightly and watched as Pei Lang picked her up and carried her to Lu Jue.

“Young Master Lu, Lin Zhi is a relative of the Pei family, not an inanimate object; she is a living person.”

Pei Lang spoke slowly, his calm tone causing a huge uproar.

Lin Zhi's brow twitched slightly as she stared intently at Pei Lang's perfect and superior profile.

Aesthetic appeal has nothing to do with facial features, but rather with his calm and composed demeanor, as still as a deep pool.

"I, Pei, can discern right from wrong in my own heart."

"I will personally discuss this matter with Marquis Lu; there is no need to trouble the young master."

Pei Mingli watched as his elder brother carried Lin Zhi onto the carriage, his eyes filled with admiration and respect.

He glanced at Lu Jue, whose black hair was as dark as ink, gave a disdainful snort, and mounted his horse.

"Young Master Lu, you should really work on your fancy but ineffective martial arts!"

Watching the Pei family leave triumphantly, Lu Jue angrily grabbed the guard beside him and shouted, "Smash this incense shop to pieces for me!"

Upon arriving at the Pei residence, Lin Zhi dismounted from the carriage and was immediately helped by Pei Mingli, who had also dismounted hastily: "A-Zhi, you look quite badly injured. Let's go and have the female physician apply some medicine first."

Lin Zhi hesitated, pursing her lips and remaining silent, waiting for Pei Lang to speak.

Pei Mingli, however, did not understand her hesitation. He thought she was too weak to walk because of foot pain, so he squatted down and carried her on his back to the mansion.

Xingyun came out of the mansion, took the horse from Pei Lang, and said in a low voice, "The master is back, and he's in a terrible temper."

"Perhaps we should blame the second young master."

However, when Xingyun looked up, he noticed that his master's face was unusually warm.

He was somewhat startled. Having served the young master for nearly ten years, he had never seen the young master show such an expression.

Unable to resist, she tentatively asked, "Young master, you... seem to be in a good mood?"

Pei Lang stared at the direction where Pei Mingli had disappeared with his back to someone, and chuckled softly, "Not bad."

"I just suddenly realized something that had been bothering me."

"People are like water; it's better to dredge than to block, and better to guide than to dredge."

If you want Pei Mingli to come to his senses and turn back, forcibly suppressing his feelings will only make him fall even more deeply in love. Perhaps letting him see for himself what kind of person Lin Zhi is will be the most effective way.

Lu Jue, that good-for-nothing playboy, isn't good enough to seduce Lin Zhi and make her reveal her true, cunning nature.

But I am content with myself.

Xingyun scratched his head in confusion. He didn't understand, but the young master's words were always right.

"Your Highness is wise."