Chapter 69 Mingli is not dead "...Second cousin!" ...

Chun Tao stared at Lin Zhi in a daze, then cautiously stepped forward: "Miss...aren't you going to take a look at the embroidery workshop?"

Lin Zhi's expression was so indifferent that it was almost undetectable, but Chun Tao clearly saw her fingers tremble slightly.

"I'm not going. It's all burned down, what's the point of going to see it? It'll only cause more trouble."

But Chun Tao understood that her mistress was just saying things out of anger, and couldn't help but gently comfort her: "The weather is dry and the air is irritable. Perhaps something accidentally ignited the embroidery workshop."

"But since the master cares so much about the young lady and the child, he will surely restore the embroidery workshop to its original state."

"Miss, why don't you go and take a look first? Even if you're not satisfied, we can come back later. But if the master is truly concerned for you, wouldn't it be disheartening if you didn't know?"

After being persuaded like this, Lin Zhi was inevitably moved. After hesitating for a moment, she put down her needlework and stood up: "Even if the embroidery workshop really burned down, I still want to see with my own eyes what it looks like."

Having a premonition in one's heart is one thing, but seeing the devastation of the embroidery workshop with one's own eyes is quite another. The once brightest and most exquisite embroidery workshop is now half-burnt black, and even though it hasn't collapsed, it's no longer what it used to be.

Lin Zhi unconsciously tightened her grip on Chun Tao's hand, frowning as she looked at the charred exterior wall in front of her, feeling a pang of pity.

"Greetings, Concubine!"

Lin Zhi turned around hesitantly to look at the steward in front of her, followed by several unfamiliar craftsmen: "This is...?"

The steward smiled and said, "It's not that the embroidery workshop burned down. The master specifically instructed me to bring the craftsmen here to repair it as soon as possible."

"I urge you, Madam, to stay away these days; it is extremely dangerous!"

Hearing Pei Lang's instructions, Lin Zhi felt a sense of relief, but still couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

After instructing the servants to prepare food and tea for the craftsmen, Lin Zhi left, supporting her back.

She had thought a lot these days and realized that He Luochen was a man who couldn't tolerate anyone. She was afraid that from the day she was rescued, she had fallen into his trap.

No matter how much she tries to appear weak, He Luochen will not let her go.

Rather than compromise himself or provoke her, Lin Zhi decided to stay as far away from her as possible.

She's quite far along in her pregnancy now, and she can't afford to take that risk for the sake of the baby.

Even Chun Tao was worried about her being cooped up in her room. "Miss doesn't have a smile on her face these days, and she doesn't have a good appetite either."

"Unfortunately, these days the master has been busy going to the palace and hasn't come back often."

Xia Ying was also worried, and two red marks appeared on her face as she supported her cheeks.

"Yes... Oh! I saw that the restaurant that Miss used to love the most was making their crispy mountain dish again last time. Why don't we take Miss to try it?"

The two still remembered the flavors Lin Zhi had wanted a few months ago. Chun Tao, reminded of this, also felt that there was some truth to it: "Yes, rather than letting Miss stay at home bored, it would be better to let her eat some of her favorite snacks to whet her appetite."

The two got right to work, and after going inside, they pestered Lin Zhi to arrange for a carriage to take them out.

Lin Zhi was still a little dazed when she got into the carriage: "You two little devils, I'm so pregnant now that I don't look good, but you still insist on dragging me out."

That's what she said, but Lin Zhi's lips were clearly curving upwards.

The two maids told the waiter about Lin Zhi's preferences, and Lin Zhi then helped herself slowly up to the private room on the second floor.

Just as he pushed open the door to the private room, someone covered his mouth and tightly closed the door.

The large, rough hand covering her face rubbed against her skin, causing her pain. Lin Zhi's heart leaped into her throat as countless terrifying thoughts flashed through her mind, but she couldn't be sure who wanted to harm her!

She instinctively covered her stomach, trying to suppress her trembling as she gently shook her head to indicate that she would not make a sound. Sure enough, the man hesitated for a moment before releasing her hands.

"Have mercy, brave man... I'm just an ordinary woman. If you want money, take it and go. I won't report you to the authorities..."

Although she was trembling with fear, she still dared not speak loudly, for fear of angering the person behind her and causing the death of both mother and child.

But as the man remained silent, Lin Zhi's heart grew colder and colder.

"Cousin Azhi..."

As soon as the hoarse male voice opened its mouth, Lin Zhi froze, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning and her scalp tingled.

"...Second cousin!"

Turning around to look at Pei Mingli, whose skin was light brown and slightly rough, Lin Zhi blinked in disbelief, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.

Her legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground, but Pei Mingli reached out and steadily helped her sit down.

Lin Zhi dared not blink, looking at Pei Mingli, who appeared more mature and weathered, as if afraid that the person in front of her would disappear in the blink of an eye, or that this was just a dream.

Pei Mingli's gaze was also very complicated. He stared at Lin Zhi's bulging belly and sighed softly, "It's been a long time. I never imagined that my little cousin would be going to be a mother now."

In front of Pei Mingli, Lin Zhi burst into tears, as if nothing had changed, just like when they were young and innocent teenagers who grew up together.

"Don't cry, your cousin is back alive..."

Lin Zhi sobbed as she gripped Pei Mingli's hand tightly: "Second cousin, they all said you fell off a cliff and died, but now... what exactly happened?"

Pei Mingli frowned slightly: "On the way back to the capital, there was indeed a group of people who wanted to assassinate me. They failed several times, so they bribed my personal guards to lure me into the woods to make their move."

"But my warhorse had already sensed something was wrong and carried me, who had been shot and fainted, to the edge of a cliff. When I woke up, I was surrounded by dozens of people at the edge of the cliff."

“I recognized them as Lu Hou’s men, and thinking that I would rather die than be captured and tortured by them, I jumped off the cliff.”

Listening to Pei Mingli calmly recount the harrowing experience he had gone through, Lin Zhi's eyes slowly filled with pity and heartache. She should have known better; her second cousin wouldn't have died so easily.

A person like him is like the rising sun, and should shine brightly in front of everyone.

Seemingly sensing the heavy atmosphere, Pei Mingli chuckled softly, "Fortunately, fate has been kind to me, allowing me to survive being swept away by the current."

"After I recovered from my injuries, I changed my name and rejoined the army. Fortunately, I didn't run into my former subordinates or colleagues and wasn't recognized. Now I'm a deputy general."

Hearing his feignedly relaxed tone, Lin Zhi's tears fell silently again. He was clearly a proud and promising young man, but now he had to start struggling all over again.

How is my cousin doing these days?

Hearing his concern for her, Lin Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Thinking of her aunt and uncle, she hesitated to speak.

Pei Mingli was puzzled when he saw Lin Zhi get up, but when he saw her about to kneel down, he quickly helped her up and stopped her: "What are you doing! You are pregnant now, get up quickly!"

But Lin Zhi stubbornly refused to listen: "Cousin, if you still consider me your cousin, then let me finish."

Not daring to use force for fear of hurting her, Pei Mingli had no choice but to let go, allowing her to kneel down with difficulty. He then half-squatted down to look her in the eye.

"It is Lin Zhi who has wronged you. Back then, when she said she wanted to marry you, it was only because she wanted someone to rely on for her own selfish desires. But Lin Zhi's feelings for you are only those of a brother and sister."

Upon hearing her words, a complex expression flashed across Pei Mingli's eyes. After a moment of silence, he softly hummed in agreement: "I've known all along that you've always been carefree and relaxed in front of me. You do have feelings for me, but they're not romantic. You only see me as an older brother."

Lin Zhihong's lips parted slightly in surprise. Although she had expected it, she still felt sorry for him.

"And also, my aunt and uncle... have both passed away..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Mingli's expression vanished completely, and he gripped Lin Zhi's shoulders somewhat uncontrollably: "Mother... how did Father pass away!"

Holding back her tears, Lin Zhi recounted how Pei Xuan, after burying his son, fell seriously ill and eventually died of anger. Feeling the hand on her shoulder gradually lose its strength, she felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

"So much has happened while my cousin was away, I really don't know how to bring it up."

Pei Mingli frowned in pain, raised his hand and slapped himself several times, his face turning red.

Lin Zhi rushed forward to stop him, tears streaming down her face, but then heard him give a bitter laugh: "Why can't my cousin speak up? Is it because you also know that the one who started all of this is my dear brother, your husband Pei Lang?"

Lin Zhi's expression froze. Pei Mingli was always smiling and easygoing, but now he suddenly spoke like this, his imposing manner intimidating Lin Zhi so much that she dared not speak.

Pei Mingli didn't do anything. Instead, he gently helped Lin Zhi up from the ground and sat her down. "Azhi, I didn't mean anything by it. Not long after I returned to the capital, I found out about my mother being divorced and Pei Lang marrying his legal wife."

"We grew up together, how could I not know what kind of person you are? Pei Lang is like this, how can you tolerate it?"

“Even though he and I are brothers, I have been on guard ever since my mother sensed something was wrong and sent me a letter to warn me.”

"Now he has not only harmed my mother, but also caused my father's death. How can I still consider him my elder brother!"

Seeing Pei Mingli's bloodshot and furious eyes, Lin Zhi panicked and quickly grabbed his arm: "Cousin... Pei Lang also has his reasons. Aunt did something wrong back then, and Pei Lang did it for his own mother... Even for my sake, for your unborn nephew's sake, please don't be impulsive, okay?"

Lin Zhi couldn't finish her sentence. Her aunt was clearly her blood relative, yet she was only defending Pei Lang.

Pei Mingli was both brave and resourceful, and naturally understood what Lin Zhi meant.

"Azhi, you're too naive."

Do you think Pei Lang married you because he truly loves you?

Pei Mingli softened his tone, but each sentence was more cruel than the last: "He had already found out about my mother's wedding dress back then. He only married you to use you to make my mother find the wedding dress herself, so that he could make a big deal out of it and kill her with a borrowed knife."

Seeing Lin Zhi's bewildered and helpless eyes, Pei Mingli still cruelly stabbed her in the heart: "Pei Lang has always been arrogant and greedy. He never does anything without benefit."

"Now he's only marrying your wife because you're pregnant; there's no need to waste time trying to seduce you anymore!"

"I'll only ask you one question: have you truly seen through Pei Lang?"