Chapter 8 Confession
"...Later in Xuancheng, I accidentally saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince intercepting a group of assassins. Seeing that I was a beggar, he spared my life and took me back to Hutou Village to be a maid."
"As for the captain mentioned by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he is just a scum who is tempted by beauty. I just wanted to teach him a lesson. I never intended to kill him. He stepped into the trap in the woods, which is why..." Song Lingyi's voice became weaker and weaker. When she thought of Xu Er's death, she felt a pang of fear in her heart.
While my thoughts were in a mess, I suddenly heard a sigh from inside the car.
Pei Zhao said gently, "Since he was at fault first, why should you blame yourself?"
Song Lingyi was slightly stunned, as if she hadn't expected the gracious and kind Pei Zhao to comfort her in this way. A life had been lost, and she had expected a gentleman like Pei Zhao to condemn her for being cruel and unkind.
"A strong and brave captain attacking a weak woman is unjust; a minister attempting to commit adultery with the prince's maidservant is disloyal. A disloyal and unjust man dies as a result of his own actions; it is also karma."
"But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doesn't think so." Song Lingyi was dejected.
After what happened today, he will definitely not let her go.
"That's not necessarily true."
Pei Zhao smiled calmly, "I've always heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince rules strictly. The situation was special at the time, and he was desperate for personnel, so he didn't deal with the captain in time. Now that the situation is settled, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince won't offend the Lu and Pei families for him. Furthermore, you saved the emperor's carriage and hold the token personally bestowed upon you by His Majesty."
Hearing what he said, Song Lingyi's heart knot eased a little, and her sparkling black eyes blinked, "But he kidnapped me to the teahouse today and threatened me."
Pei Zhao thought for a moment and said, "That captain has been with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince through thick and thin. This case must be thoroughly investigated and his family given an explanation. The people in the teahouse just now were also under His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's command and must have had some ties to the captain. But they let us go so easily, they probably didn't know the captain's death was related to you."
Song Lingyi frowned and pondered for a moment.
Oh yeah...
Xuanfeng and Xu Er both work for Xiao Mingyi and are Xiao Mingyi's confidants.
But on the night of the abdication, Xuanfeng was clearly unaware that she had escaped because she was guilty. If Xiao Mingyi suspected that she was involved in Xu Er's death, why didn't he tell anyone else? Did she wrongly accuse Xiao Mingyi?
Pei Zhao looked at the girl with a frown on her face, pondering for a moment.
The court has been very busy lately. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really wants to investigate the death of the captain, wouldn't it be easier to just take him to the imperial prison for interrogation? Why bother with "interrogating" him in a teahouse? It's clear that he has other intentions.
"Lingyi, how did the Crown Prince treat you when you were in Xuancheng?"
Song Lingyi withdrew her thoughts and said without hesitation, "This is terrible! Not only does he despise me for being dirty, he also stepped on my leg, causing me pain for several days. In the village, I work from dawn to dusk every day to serve him..."
Listening to the girl's endless accusations, Pei Zhao curled his lips slightly.
"I didn't mean to see him intercepting those assassins. The scene that day was terrifying. I almost thought I was going to die there..."
"I didn't expect you to have such a bad impression of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Pei Zhao's eyes darkened, and he spoke softly, "I've often heard my second uncle say that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is quick to respond to good advice, gentle and elegant, and the perfect crown prince praised by all officials."
"……"hehe.
I really can't tell.
While Song Lingyi was secretly complaining, she also asked, "Then why did Your Majesty send him to such a dangerous place to fight against pirates?" If something happened, the perfect crown prince would be gone.
"Even the emperor has his own selfish desires." Pei Zhao shrugged and changed the subject, "Do you remember what I told you before?"
“…” Song Lingyi was stunned.
"Heaven will not send down sweet dew or thunder just because of our selfishness. Pirates are brutal. If Your Highness the Crown Prince still had the same character as before, you would never have made it this far. Whether you are merciful or cruel, it is a choice made based on the current situation. There is no right or wrong."
Pei Zhao stared at her and said, "So you don't have to dwell on the captain's death."
As they were talking, the carriage had already stopped at the gate of the Duke's Mansion.
When the doorman saw the Pei Mansion's carriage, he immediately came over and placed stools.
After Song Lingyi got off the car, she saw several luxurious carriages parked at the gate and couldn't help but ask, "Are there any guests in the mansion?"
"This afternoon, several wives of officials came to the mansion." The doorman looked a little hesitant. "They said they came to propose marriage."
"Propose marriage?"
Song Lingyi was puzzled for a moment, then frowned.
Since the palace banquet, many dignitaries have come to the Duke's Mansion to submit invitations. Today they play polo, tomorrow they enjoy the scenery, the day after tomorrow they go boating on the lake... their main purpose is to meet her. But she doesn't like any of those guys.
Thinking of this, Song Lingyi looked back at the sandalwood-colored figure standing beside the carriage, her mood extremely complicated.
A-yu had told her that the Ruyang Pei family was one of the four great aristocratic families of the dynasty. Jianzhi's brother was both talented and handsome, and with the support of his family, he would likely be one of the three highest officials in the future. Although the Lu and Pei families were old friends, the news of Song's mother's regretful engagement had caused a stir. As an orphan, how could she possibly be worthy of him?
Even if they had gotten along well during this period, it didn't mean anything. Brother Jianzhi had always been polite and considerate in his dealings with others, so it wasn't necessarily the case that he only treated her as a younger sister.
When it comes to love, the worst thing is to be too sentimental.
If you expose it rashly, there will be no chance of us being friends in the future.
As if he had noticed the girl's gaze, Pei Zhao, who had originally focused his attention on the carriages, shifted his gaze slightly and met her gaze.
"What's wrong?" The inquiring voice was gentle.
Song Lingyi shook her head slightly: "Nothing, thank you Brother Jianzhi for sending me back home today."
They were silent for a moment. Seeing that she had no intention of keeping him, Pei Zhao didn't say much and turned to get on the carriage.
After the Pei Mansion's carriage had left, the gatekeeper dared to ask, "Why didn't Miss Cousin invite Pei Erlang into the mansion, even for a cup of tea?"
"Aren't there other guests in the mansion?" Song Lingyi said sullenly.
She didn't want to discuss marriage with those officials' wives in front of Pei Zhao.
…
The sound of laughter drifted faintly from the front hall. Wang was chatting happily with several officials' wives. When she saw Song Lingyi return, she beckoned her in to pay her respects. She stayed with them until dusk, then sent them away.
"Lingyi, Madam Yang's second son has just come of age this year and is working in the Dali Temple. The Yang family is a prominent family, and the second son has good character and appearance. Your aunt has met him several times. He is honest and careful, and he is a good match for you." Wang said with a smile.
Song Lingyi hesitated and said, "But aunt, I have never met this Young Master Yang."
"That's fine. In a few days, the old lady of the Pei family will be celebrating her birthday and inviting us to a banquet. It's a good opportunity for you and Yang Erlang to meet."
"I……"
Song Lingyi knew that her aunt was not in a hurry to push her out because she thought she was a burden, but she was looking at Kyoto and felt that this Young Master Yang was indeed quite good, so she was afraid that she would miss out on such a good man.
It was because her aunt's intention was for her own good that she found it difficult to refuse.
Seeing her hesitation, Wang Shi continued, "Didn't your aunt ask you to make a decision now? It won't be too late to discuss other matters after you meet Mr. Yang."
Song Lingyi nodded hesitantly.
Anyway, it's just a meeting, not an engagement, so you can find an excuse to refuse later.
…
At night, Lu Yu came to Zhilan Garden and asked Song Lingyi why she hadn't returned to the shop during the day. Song Lingyi deliberately concealed the details about Xiao Mingyi and only told about her encounter with Pei Zhao.
"So, it was Second Brother Pei who sent my cousin back home today?" Lu Yu smiled meaningfully.
Song Lingyi was worried about something and nodded absentmindedly.
"There are many noble ladies in Kyoto who admire Brother Pei Er, but he always keeps his interactions with them to a certain extent." Lu Yu stroked her chin and gently nudged her cousin with her elbow. "I guess Pei Erlang must be interested in my cousin."
"..." Song Lingyi was stunned at first, then startled, her eyes widening like a cat's: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Why are you talking nonsense?"
Lu Yu pursed her lips. "The Lu and Pei families are very close. Second Brother Pei is a few years older than me, so he's been there to watch me grow up. Anyway, I've never seen him take the initiative to send another woman home. Don't be fooled by Second Brother Pei's gentle demeanor and easygoing nature. People like him are often the most defensive and the hardest to approach."
Song Lingyi chuckled: "You are just a little girl who has just come of age, and you can already understand people's hearts."
"Hmm?" Lu Yu puffed her cheeks, feigning dissatisfaction. "If you don't believe me, let's just give it a try."
"Try what?"
"Didn't mother ask you to meet the second son of the Yang family? Let's..." Lu Yu leaned over and whispered in Song Lingyi's ear, her little head full of bad ideas.
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