In the evening, the border town was ravaged by wind and snow, making travel difficult. The people of Yongzhou City were all staying at home for the winter, and there were few pedestrians on the streets.
Du Feiyan was wrapped in a bright red cape, holding an umbrella in her left hand and a lunch box in her right hand. Her face was pale and her lips were purple from the cold. She stood quietly outside the door waiting, motionless, lost in thought.
After a moment, with a "creak", the courtyard door was opened, and Pei Wenfeng appeared. He stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, the corners of his robe fluttering, and a hint of anger was revealed in his eyes.
Du Feiyan's eyes lit up instantly, and she walked over happily, calling out with a smile, "Brother Pei!"
"Look, this is osmanthus cake. I just learned how to make it. Want to try it?"
Pei Wenfeng said in a flat tone, "Thank you, but I don't like sweets."
Nonsense! Ji Yingyue makes pastries every other day, and you obviously love them… Du Feiyan felt choked up and smiled awkwardly, “Then, then I’ll learn to make salty ones next time.”
"Miss Du, last time at the restaurant, I thought I had made myself perfectly clear." Pei Wenfeng's face was stern, completely baffled. Straining his anger, he asked, bewildered, "Why are you still pestering me?"
Du Feiyan stopped in her tracks awkwardly, shook her head hastily, and explained sadly, "I, I didn't mean to get involved. It's just... last time at the restaurant, I was impulsive and spoke without restraint, and accidentally offended you. Thinking about it afterwards, I felt extremely regretful, so I came all the way here to apologize. I hope Brother Pei will be magnanimous and not hold it against me."
"It was just an angry remark. Pei doesn't take it to heart and will never bear grudges or seek revenge. You can rest assured, young lady." Pei Wenfeng raised his hand, making a gesture to send the guest away, and solemnly warned: "Also, you and I are not related in any way. Please don't call me 'big brother' from now on to avoid misunderstandings."
"As a girl, you really shouldn't be meeting strangers so frequently. Please go back and don't come again!"
Du Feiyan clenched the handle of the lunch box, her knuckles whitening, her face a mixture of blue and red, and she forced a smile. "You still say you don't take it to heart? Benefactor, you're clearly angry. You don't even allow people to call you 'Big Brother' anymore."
"'Big Brother,'" Pei Wenfeng took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "It was because I drank a little too much that day and you insisted on 'changing the name,' and I was in a hurry to get home, so I agreed without thinking. Now thinking about it, it was my fault for agreeing rashly."
"Well, it's just a title, I'll change it! Since my benefactor is not happy with it, I will still call you 'Lord Pei' from now on, how about it?" Du Feiyan's eyes were hot, but she pretended to be cheerful, with handsome eyes and well-trimmed eyebrows, and a heroic air in her cuteness.
Pei Wenfeng nodded, determined to reject her. He raised his hand again and said sternly, "It's snowing and windy, and it's getting late. Please go home quickly, young lady. Otherwise, your brother will get worried and might come to your house again with a knife and a group of people, asking me to find your sister."
At this moment, the two servants in his entourage couldn't help but speak up. Cai Chun angrily said, "Our young master is an upright gentleman, but because Miss Du has been visiting us so many times, not only has the neighbors been gossiping about him, but he's also been surrounded and questioned by your escorts. It's as if someone has deliberately hidden you. How unfair!"
Wu Liang responded earnestly, "The young lady keeps saying 'repaying a favor,' but in reality, she's practically repaying kindness with hatred. Please, please, be kind and leave our young master alone."
"No, no... I'm sorry for causing you some trouble lately."
"Thanks to Lord Pei's impartial judgment, my eldest brother was able to be released from prison safely. The Du family will always be grateful for your kindness!"
Du Feiyan's eyes were red with embarrassment and shame. She was so anxious that she wished she could grow ten mouths. She said apologetically, "Well, as for what happened last time, it's all my fault. I came home a little late, and my brother was worried and anxious. I rashly came to ask about it. Brother Pei..." She bit her lip and said, "Please calm down, Master Pei. No matter what the punishment is, I will take the consequences myself. I just ask that you don't blame my brothers."
"Forget it, let bygones be bygones." Pei Wenfeng stood on the steps, his narrow eyes gazing at the white sky in the wind and snow. He said calmly, "I only ask that you stay in the escort agency in the future and don't cause me any more trouble. That will be considered as repaying your kindness."
"I—" Du Feiyan's eyes burned, and she stood at the bottom of the stairs in a panic, looking up at the elegant and talented man she had admired for nearly a year. After a long silence, she mustered up her courage and asked tentatively, "I heard that you're getting engaged to the daughter of Governor Ji soon, is that right?"
Pei Wenfeng looked down at her and answered slowly, "We're already engaged."
Two servants surrounded the young man on his left and right. Cai Chun raised his head and answered, "Yes, we are engaged!"
"They are a perfect match, and it was officially confirmed the day before yesterday with the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. They will get married in May next year." Wu Liang said proudly.
Pei Wenfeng glanced at them, and the two servants understood and immediately shut up.
Du Feiyan was shocked, her body swaying slightly, and her face, originally flushed with embarrassment, suddenly turned pale. She stared at the other person and muttered, "Engaged? Really?"
"Marriage is such a big deal, how can it be fake? How can you joke about Miss Ji's reputation? Of course it's true." Pei Wenfeng had a blank expression on his face, and his patience gradually disappeared.
"Ha, ha ha, congratulations, congratulations!"
With a "thump", the food box fell, and a few pieces of Jiangnan-style osmanthus cake fell out, and were instantly covered with dirt and dust.
Du Feiyan's eyes sparkled with tears, and for a moment her heart seemed to break. She pointed at the osmanthus cake and said with a smile, "Oh, it seems that I've been too involved and have absolutely no self-awareness. I heard that Miss Ji is both talented and beautiful, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is also an outstanding needlework and cook. In the future, she will take care of my benefactor's food and daily life. Why should I, why should I interfere?"
"Hahaha, isn't it ridiculous that such a shameless woman keeps pestering her benefactor?"
In the cold winter wind and snow, dusk was falling, and she was the only one who was laughing, laughing while crying.
The two servants looked at each other helplessly, watching anxiously. Pei Wenfeng sighed, his head aching. He said tiredly, "It's getting dark. Miss, you should go home. Otherwise, your brother will be anxiously looking for you everywhere."
Du Feiyan's lips trembled, tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked out a sob as she asked, "My benefactor has suddenly driven me away so cruelly. Could it be that Miss Ji is jealous? Are you afraid she'll misunderstand something?"
"Miss Ji is dignified and generous, so stop making random guesses!" Out of sight, out of mind, Pei Wenfeng turned his face away, "I'm honest and upright, so what do I have to fear?"
"oh?"
Du Feiyan gritted her teeth, gripping the umbrella handle tightly with her left hand. She was so upset that she suddenly burst into laughter and asked meaningfully, "Don't you think Miss Ji minds at all? Alas, I really doubt it."
Pei Wenfeng was stunned for a moment, "What do you mean by that?"
"Why do you have to pretend to be stupid, benefactor?" Du Feiyan stood straight, but tears kept streaming down her face, filled with loss and unwillingness.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Otherwise, please go back." Pei Wenfeng became increasingly impatient.
Du Feiyan smiled and slowly backed away, step by step, saying as she did so: "Last time at the restaurant, you were drunk at a social gathering and we 'happened' to meet, and ended up arguing. After we parted, I quietly followed you and overheard you drunkenly muttering 'Sister Shu' several times."
"But I don't know who 'Sister Shu' is?"
Pei Wenfeng's expression suddenly changed. Unable to bear it any longer, he quickly stepped down the stairs and shouted coldly, "You heard wrong!"
"I heard right." Du Feiyan continued to retreat. Seeing the other party's anxiety, she smiled sadly and gave up completely. "I have secretly inquired about everything about you. 'Sister Shu' should refer to your cousin, Mrs. Guo, right?"
Cousin Yushu was a scar deep in Pei Wenfeng's heart, like a reverse scale. When it was accidentally revealed and spied on by an outsider, his face immediately darkened. He chased after her a few steps, glaring at her, and shouted, "Shut up!"
The two servants followed in shock, and Cai Chun nervously stopped them: "That's nonsense!"
Wu Liang's face turned pale with anxiety. "Our master has been patient with you for a long time, considering you are a young and ignorant girl. He has given you several kind words of advice. You, you are really ungrateful!"
One against three, the situation is tense.
Du Feiyan held the umbrella and kept backing away, staring at the man she loved who approached her for the first time. She was overwhelmed with emotions, and she cried and laughed at the same time. She said softly, "Don't worry, benefactor. I will keep this secret."
Pei Wenfeng was furious when he heard this and sternly said, "It's none of your business to meddle in my private affairs! Listen carefully, if you dare to spread rumors or cause trouble, I will not let you off lightly!"
"Your sister Shu has already married Captain Guo and even has a child, yet you still protect her like this... Alas, to be honest, I really envy Madam Guo." Du Feiyan did not stop and retreated faster and faster.
"stop!"
"If you don't explain yourself clearly today, you can't leave!" Pei Wenfeng looked at him fiercely and chased after him, worried that the other party would slander his and his cousin's reputation.
“Hahahaha~”
Du Feiyan laughed heartily, tears soaking her face. A cold north wind blew, "whoosh!", blowing away her umbrella. "It's getting dark, the snow is deep and the roads are slippery. I should go home. Didn't you just advise me to do that? I'll listen to you and go home right away."
“Wait!”
Pei Wenfeng and his two servants caught up with her, but it was inconvenient for them to use force to pull her away, so they could only stare blankly.
The snow fell heavier, and Du Feiyan's hair and eyelashes were covered with snowflakes, making her shiver. She stamped her feet, stopped, and did not retreat. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bowed gracefully and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself again today and came to trouble you again. Please calm down, I'll leave immediately."
"you--"
Pei Wenfeng frowned and wanted to interrogate the man about the "drunk talk and sister Shu", but the other party turned around and ran away.
"I'm leaving. Please stay, benefactor. There's no need to see me off." Du Feiyan looked back and smiled, her bright red cloak fluttering in the wind as she ran away quickly.
"snort!"
"How can this be!" Pei Wenfeng was so angry that he almost fell backwards. He kicked the snow and sent it flying. He gritted his teeth and ordered:
"If nothing unexpected happens, she will definitely come back in a couple of days. We must try to calm her down then."
The two servants bowed and said, "Yes."
Pei Wenfeng's face was gloomy as he calmly thought of a new strategy. "Next time, I will definitely deal with her!"
The next day at noon, Tuning County
The biting cold wind whistled across the border town, heavy snow flew everywhere, and the sky and the earth were covered in white.
Jiang Yushu and his party set out from their home in Heqin County, Xicang, braving the wind and snow, riding non-stop, taking shortcuts, and managed to enter Tuning before the snow blocked the mountain.
"There's an inn ahead!" shouted the driver.
Everyone was exhausted, cold, and hungry, unable to move forward. Jiang Yushu trembled as she gave a few instructions, and the maid opened the curtain and said loudly, "Madam has ordered: It's noon, let's go to the inn to eat first, and then make plans!"
"Okay!"
"Hiss, ouch, it's so cold." The coachman and the guards were wrapped tightly from head to toe and stopped outside the inn as instructed.
Jiang Yushu got off the car, her nose reddened. She rubbed her hands to cheer herself up, and walked towards the inn. As she walked, she observed her surroundings. When she glanced around, she accidentally saw an acquaintance:
Diagonally opposite, an old woman was carrying a basket, with a handkerchief covering her mouth and nose. She was walking hurriedly and accidentally bumped into a pedestrian. She stumbled and the handkerchief fell off, revealing her face.
"Madame Pan?" Jiang Yushu called out, subconsciously waving her hand. "Madame Pan!"
However, the north wind was howling, but Nanny Pan did not hear it. She picked up the handkerchief, covered her mouth and nose with it, and trotted away.
Strange! Wasn't the nanny in a village near Tuningwei? Where was the wet nurse? Where was the child? Jiang Yushu suddenly became anxious and worried, and she chased after him.
Seeing this, the followers hurriedly followed, and the group ran after the old lady.
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