Inside the carriage, Bai Zhi couldn't help but complain, "That damned young master Pei is blind and heartless, how could he so blatantly protect Qiao Zixi! It seems all men are the same, only caring about appearances and not whether the person in their arms is a human or a ghost!"
Su Muxi chuckled and said, "You can't generalize and condemn all men. At least I think Zhong Bin is pretty good; he's sincere towards you."
Bai Zhi blushed and said coquettishly, "Miss, don't talk nonsense! Zhong Bin and I have nothing going on!"
Su Muxi smiled but remained silent. However, thinking of the mute girl lying in the Shanci Hall, she couldn't help but harbor resentment towards Pei Yuan.
They fail to distinguish right from wrong and blindly protect others.
If Pei Yuan hadn't suddenly appeared, the lessons she taught Qiao Zixi would certainly have been far more than just these.
Sun Shan's death was left unresolved and was ultimately ruled an accident.
Since there was no evidence, Xu San had to bear the responsibility for his intention to commit arson and murder alone.
It seems that power is indeed a good thing nowadays; one can manipulate people's lives and deaths without even having to show one's face.
Oh!
But she refused to believe it!
She hit Qiao Zixi today, and if Pei Yuan wants to settle the score with her, he can come and get her!
In reality, Pei Yuan had long forgotten the harsh words he had uttered earlier. What he wanted to find out most right now was whether Qiao Zixi was the woman who had saved him back then.
"Xi'er, was the purse embroidered with money plants at Huguo Temple yesterday yours?"
Qiao Zixi looked at Pei Yuan's serious expression, and her hand, hidden in her sleeve, slowly clenched.
Pei Yuan showed no concern for her injuries; instead, he inquired about her purse…
Could it be that Pei Yuan wasn't initially smitten with her, and that his marriage proposal was solely due to Su Muxi's ugly purse?
Suppressing her anxiety and resentment, Qiao Zixi said softly, "That purse is mine, so what?"
Hearing this, Pei Yuan breathed a slight sigh of relief, then continued to ask, "Does Xi'er remember saving a man in Shiliu Lane three years ago?"
Even if Qiao Zixi was slow-witted, she could tell what was going on.
Su Muxi saved Pei Yuan's life, but Pei Yuan mistook Su Muxi for her!
"I did save a man that year, but I don't remember it very well. I was very flustered at the time and afraid that my mother would scold me, so I never mentioned it. As time went by, I forgot about it."
Qiao Zixi said against her will, then looked surprised, "Could it be that the young master I saved that day was Young Master Pei?"
Pei Yuan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally at ease. He gently took Qiao Zixi's hand and said with deep affection in his eyes, "That's right, the person you saved that night was me... Xi'er. You have no idea how long I've been looking for you. Fortunately, I finally found you."
Although Qiao Zixi's face was full of surprise, her heart grew colder and colder.
We must not let Pei Yuan know the truth.
Otherwise, she would become the biggest joke in the capital!
After much deliberation, Qiao Zixi decided to take the initiative.
“Young Master Pei, that day Mother sent someone to deliver silver to Su Muxi, and indeed, more than eight hundred taels were short. However, she did send a lot of gold and silver jewelry, but Su Muxi did not accept the jewelry. Unexpectedly, she later spread rumors about our Marquis's mansion. Those pieces of jewelry are worth several thousand taels!”
Pei Yuan nodded slowly. Let alone the Marquis of Anyang's mansion, even it would be difficult for his family to come up with so much cash all at once.
Then Qiao Zixi continued, "Yesterday, before I went to Huguo Temple, I wandered around Xuantu Street, thinking of buying some food for my sister-in-law, the princess. Unexpectedly, a beggar suddenly appeared. That beggar was very fierce. If it weren't for the servants protecting me, I'm afraid I would have been pushed to the ground by her."
I initially thought the beggar had done it unintentionally, but I never expected her to try to steal my purse. When my guard saw this, he rushed forward to stop her, but unexpectedly, he didn't know his own strength and accidentally broke the beggar's leg.
My brother had broken his leg before, and Su Muxi healed him. I was thinking of having someone take that beggar to Su Muxi's pharmacy so she could treat him, but Su Muxi thought I was trying to cause her trouble.
Seeing Pei Yuan frown, Qiao Zixi quickly added, "Now that I think about it, it's terrifying. A beggar stole my purse, and today Su Muxi stopped my carriage in the street, and coincidentally, I ran into Young Master Pei, who then took out a purse I used before..."
As she spoke, large tears welled up in her beautiful peach blossom eyes, making her look pitiful and causing Pei Yuan to feel a little distracted.
"Xi'er, why are you suddenly crying?"
Qiao Zixi choked up, "I was afraid that Young Master Pei would believe Su Muxi's words and break off the engagement with me..."
After saying that, she boldly threw herself into Pei Yuan's arms, her soft, boneless body pressed tightly against his chest.
“Young Master Pei, I fell in love with you at first sight yesterday. You don’t know how happy I was when I learned that Madam Pei had come to propose marriage today. But now I’m afraid. I’m afraid that this joy is just a mirage and that I will be disappointed.”
With a beautiful woman in his arms and they already engaged, Pei Yuan put aside his reservations and reached out to embrace Qiao Zixi.
Smelling the delicate fragrance emanating from Qiao Zixi and feeling the softness of her body, Pei Yuan no longer doubted her and said firmly, "Don't worry, Xi'er, I won't believe those rumors outside, nor will I believe Su Muxi's nonsense. I only believe in you!"
Qiao Zixi looked up, her peach blossom eyes sparkling with charm, and tears still clung to her pretty face, making Pei Yuan somewhat infatuated.
He subconsciously lowered his head, his thin lips slowly approaching those luscious red lips…
"Mmm~~"
Hearing Qiao Zixi's sweet cry, Pei Yuan finally realized what he had just done.
He hurriedly released Qiao Zixi, "Xi'er... I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself for a moment. Don't worry, I will take responsibility for you!"
Qiao Zixi smiled shyly and nodded, "I believe Young Master Pei."
…
When Pei Yuan returned to the manor, he still felt lightheaded.
He touched his thin lips and smiled like a fool.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the mansion, they heard from the servants that Xie Xuan had been waiting in the flower hall for a long time.
He strode into the flower hall and saw Xie Xuan drinking tea. He quickly cupped his hands and apologized, "I am really sorry for today, Brother Xie. Brother Xie kindly invited me to dinner, but I left halfway through. Next time, I will host the dinner and return the favor to Brother Xie."
Xie Xuan put down his teacup, stood up, and said, "Who was talking to you about dinner?! I'm telling you, hurry up and go to the Marquis of Anyang's residence to cancel your engagement with Qiao Zixi!"
Then he told her about the beggar.
"I was afraid of wrongly accusing Qiao Zixi, so I went to the Charity Hall and saw with my own eyes that little beggar lying on the bed, barely alive. If you marry such a wicked woman, you'll surely cause chaos in your household! Before it gets dark, hurry up and break off the engagement! I, your brother, will never betray you!"
Xie Xuan finally had a change of heart, but Pei Yuan not only didn't appreciate it, but also said angrily, "Brother Xie, I don't want to hear you say anything bad about Xi'er again, or don't blame me for breaking off our years of friendship!"
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