The next day, after Pei Yuan left, Bao Ning sent Aunt Liu away and went to the room alone to take out the box and the key.

He turned the key half a circle to the right, heard the lock core click, and the lid popped open a crack. Bao Ning guessed what this relic was, probably a hairpin or jewelry. Pei Yuan's mother was Concubine Qin Xiang, one of the four concubines. She was the most favored concubine in the six palaces during her lifetime and had countless jewelry in her hands. After opening it, it was indeed a hairpin.

But it was not gorgeous at all, on the contrary, it was a bit gloomy. This is what Bao Ning thought when he saw it for the first time.

A peach wood hairpin, it has been too long, and it has turned a dark brown color, with clear wood grain. It was not a usual flower or auspicious cloud pattern. The whole hairpin looked like a precious sword. On the left end of the hairpin were three copper coin-shaped carvings. They felt cool and smooth to the touch. They were not made of mahogany, but rather looked like the teeth of something. Baoning examined it carefully and confirmed her guess. She had raised many dogs and was sure that it was dog teeth.

But... how could a favorite concubine use such a hairpin that was made of nothing and was as plain as a village woman's jewelry? And she also wanted to embed such a strange thing as dog teeth.

"Young Madam." Nanny Liu knocked on the door outside and said softly, "Madam Su is here."

Why is she here again?

Baoning frowned. She quickly put away the box, put it back on the cabinet, and turned around to open the door.

Su Mingyou was being held by Zhao Qian, looking at the fish in the tank at the gate. Baoning stood facing the light, squinting her eyes, and thought that Qian was really tall, about one finger taller than Su Mingyou, with a thin waist and long legs, a charming beauty.

Baoning called her: "Sister-in-law is going to give birth in a month, why don't you rest in the house, you can always come to me when you have time?"

Pei Yuan said that she could chase Su Mingyou away, but Baoning couldn't bear to do that, so she said something sarcastic to Su Mingyou, hoping that she would feel ashamed and leave in disgrace. Unexpectedly, she smiled gently, walked towards her and said, "I miss my sister-in-law so much that I feel itchy when I don't see you for a day, so I came here. Doesn't my sister-in-law welcome you?"

Baoning smiled and said, "Not bad."

She made way for her and said, "Sister-in-law, please go in if you want."

Su Mingyou and Zhao Qian really went in together.

Baoning's forehead ached. How could she have thought that Su Mingyou would be so shameless. Wasn't she the Crown Princess, the apple of the eye of the honest and upright Minister Su? Why couldn't she even understand what she was saying? Did she have to be chased away with a broom before she would leave? But she was not a shrew, so she couldn't chase people away so blatantly!

Aunt Liu was watering the flowers with the flower pot in her hand, looking at Su Mingyou's back and shaking her head helplessly.

Baoning whispered, "Don't serve tea later, she will leave when she is thirsty."

Aunt Liu agreed.

In the room, Su Mingyou saw that Baoning did not come in, and called out, "Baoning, what are you doing? Come quickly, my sister-in-law brought you some good things, take a look and see if you like them!"

Baoning responded, hesitated for a while, and went in.

Su Mingyu looked at her face and asked softly, "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Very well." Baoning forced a smile, "Are you sleepy, sister-in-law? Do you want to go back to sleep?"

"I'm not sleepy! It's broad daylight, why should I be sleepy!" Su Mingyu quickly waved her hand to deny it. She looked back at the shelf and saw that the box was placed there neatly. Her expression froze for a moment, and she asked Baoning again, "Did you and fourth brother ask about that?" Baoning

said, "Why would sister-in-law ask about these things? It's a marital affair, how can you tell others about it?"

Su Mingyu smiled awkwardly, "I care, I care."

Baoning also laughed "haha", then frowned, sat facing her expressionlessly, and stopped talking.

Su Mingyu felt extremely embarrassed. She was not a fool, how could she not tell the difference between good words and bad words? It was obvious that the other person didn't want to pay attention to her. Thinking of this, Su Mingyu's heart skipped a beat. She wouldn't be exposed, would she? But then she thought, how could that be possible? Her contact with Pei Xiao was so secretive. Even if she acted a little eager for quick success, she wouldn't be discovered.

But it seemed that what she said yesterday was useless.

Su Mingyu was a little anxious. She didn't have much time. After her child was born, Baoning would definitely not let her continue to live there. Then what would be the use of her and Zhao Qian? Not to mention whether Zhao Qian could still stay with her, it was not certain whether Pei Xiao would kill her secretly.

After thinking about it all night, Su Mingyu finally regretted that she had rashly accepted Pei Xiao's benefits. Now she was in a difficult situation and was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she explained the situation to Pei Yuan, Pei Yuan would kill Zhao Qian and would definitely not forgive her. If she continues to help Pei Xiao, will she end up being abandoned after her usefulness ends?

But... she still wants to save Zhao Qian. She just wants to experience the feeling of being loved, even if it's only for a few months or a few days, she won't regret it. There are many women in the world as infatuated as her, and those who elope with men and leave their hometowns are not much better than her.

Baoning asked, "What are you thinking about, sister-in-law?"

Su Mingyou suddenly came to her senses: "No, nothing."

Zhao Qian secretly poked her on the back, and Su Mingyou remembered why she came here this time. She calmed down, took out a small box from her sleeve and handed it to Baoning, and said with a smile: "Baoning, I went out for a walk the other day and saw a very interesting little jewelry. I'll give it to you."

Box, another box. Baoning now feels uncomfortable when she sees the box, thinking that something bad is going to happen.

"Thank you, sister-in-law." She took it and opened it. It was a delicate dog-tooth bracelet.

Dog teeth... Baoning remembered the peach wood hairpin left by Pei Yuan's mother, and the copper coins on it were also made of dog teeth.

Su Mingyou explained, "This is a good thing, used to ward off evil spirits. Wear it more often when you have nothing to do."

When she heard the word "ward off evil spirits", many things flashed through Baoning's mind. She remembered the time she met her second sister at the full moon banquet in the Duke's Mansion, and talked about the life of Concubine Xian. She said that when Concubine Xian married into the palace, the national teacher predicted her fate, saying that she was destined to bring disaster to the country. Later, the year Concubine Xian died, a major earthquake happened in Gyeonggi Province by coincidence.

Peach wood can also ward off evil spirits. So the hairpin was meant to suppress Concubine Xian's fate?

This realization horrified Baoning. She couldn't help but wonder why Concubine Xian died. Was she sick, or fell into the water, or was it a man-made disaster? Did the emperor kill her? This was too scary.

Pei Yuan was so smart, he must know something. The things he said last night...

something slowly surfaced, but Baoning couldn't grasp it.

"Does it look good?" Su Mingyu asked her, and then instructed, "Wear it more often, it's good for the girl. The girl's body is yin, so I'm afraid it will attract some evil things, which will be troublesome."

She learned her lesson this time and no longer instigated openly. Pei Yuan hated this kind of thing very much, perhaps because Concubine Xian liked it when she was alive. Su Mingyou could never understand why such a beautiful woman with unparalleled charm would always wear these things. But no matter what the reason was, as long as Pei Yuan hated it now, it would be fine. If Baoning wore the animal tooth bracelet in front of him, Pei Yuan would definitely be dissatisfied, but he had a strange temper and would not say it directly. In this way, they would quarrel, Baoning would be wronged, and there would be a rift.

Su Mingyou was no longer in a hurry to finish it all at once, she took her time.

Baoning put the things away and thanked him gently, and Su Mingyou continued to talk to her. Baoning was thinking something and answered her carelessly. Su Mingyou refused to leave. Later, Baoning felt sleepy and asked her to leave. Su Mingyou seemed not to understand and still refused to leave. She went to get a pear and peeled it for Baoning.

Baoning was drowsy with his hands on his head. Seeing her like this, he quickly waved his hand and said no.

Su Mingyou said, "Hey, we are a family. Why should we be polite? My sister-in-law has caused you a lot of trouble by living here. I just want you to be happy by doing a little thing."

Baoning felt strange. He thought it was rare for Su Mingyou to speak human words, and he also felt that this change came too fast. She sat up straight, and then she realized that the tall maid next to Su Mingyu had gone somewhere. She asked in confusion: "Where is Qian'er?"

Su Mingyu's face was not natural: "I don't know, she should be back soon."

She lowered her head to peel the pear, and Baoning's eyes fell on her fingers, which circled with the blade.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, and it sounded like Chen Jia was talking. Su Mingyu's expression immediately became tense. Baoning looked outside. Su Mingyu wanted to interrupt, but Baoning ignored her and stood up to walk out. He saw Chen Jia and Zhao Qian standing under the tree at the gate of the courtyard. The two were arguing about something. Chen Jia's face was as black as ink. He stepped back a few steps and suddenly reached out and pushed Qian'er to the ground!

Su Mingyu rushed out with a knife in hand, and saw this scene, and cried out.

Baoning was shocked and said, "Chen Jia, why did you push her!"

"Madam, this little girl always flirts with me." Chen Jia came over aggrieved, and he spoke directly, not caring what others thought. He showed Baoning a pair of black thousand-layer cloth shoes in his hand, "She gave me shoes, but I didn't want them, but she forced them on me. Can shoes be accepted casually? If I accepted them, wouldn't she misunderstand that I wanted to marry her? I didn't want to marry her, but she forced shoes on me. I was nervous and pushed her down."

Baoning looked at Qian'er again, who was standing there with tears in his eyes, and was extremely sad and angry.

Baoning had a headache. She thought of Su Mingyu's strange behavior just now. Was she stalling for her son? Did she dislike her son? Why did she allow her son to send shoes to Chen Jia? What a messy relationship.

Su Mingyu said awkwardly, "It's a misunderstanding. It's a matter between the servants. They can handle it themselves. Don't worry about it."

She was anxious to change the subject. She held up the knife and the pear and asked Baoning, "Do you want to eat it?"

Before Baoning answered, Su Mingyu said, "I'll peel it for you."

She was in an uneasy mood and her hands were shaking. She didn't cut the pear with the knife, but cut a big gash on her hand. Bright red blood gushed out and dripped onto the ground. Baoning took a breath, her back felt cold, and she couldn't help but take a step back.

Su Mingyou had no time to treat the wound and looked at Baoning in surprise: "Are you afraid of blood?"

"No." Baoning shook her head. She was dizzy from Su Mingyou's torture and said anxiously, "Madame Liu, bring the medicine and gauze to bandage Madam Su."

Su Mingyou understood and said, "I know. You are not afraid of blood, you are afraid of swords, right? You are afraid of the moment when you are cut by a knife, and the blade touches your skin..."

Baoning said angrily, "Go away!"

Su Mingyou was surprised at her rudeness. Before she could react, Baoning winked at Chen Jia. Chen Jia understood and went to the woodshed to unlock the door and let Jixiang out. The big dog barked and ran around the yard. Su Mingyu screamed and was pulled away by Zhao Qian.

Before leaving, Zhao Qian looked at Chen Jia with hatred, secretly scolding him for being unromantic and like a stinking wood.

He thought of Pei Yuan again. Pei Yuan was married and understood the beauty of women. She would definitely not be like Chen Jia! Zhao Qian had a plan in his mind. He was not stupid enough to seduce Pei Yuan to win Pei Yuan's love. He just needed to do something that would make Bao Ning misunderstand. Men would be jealous, but wouldn't women be too? And when Bao Ning was lonely and frustrated, he cared for her, wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone.

...

When Pei Yuan came back, Bao Ning was sitting on the bed fiddling with the dog-tooth bracelet. When he saw him come in, he raised it and complained: "Is your sister-in-law trying to hurt me again?"