Back in the Ninth Heaven, Jiang Chuting first went to the main hall to see his third senior brother, Ji Chun, and briefly explained what had happened that day. Out of personal motives, he didn't mention Lin Zhi's name, only saying that someone had recognized him and was deliberately causing trouble.
Ji Chun had some connection with Yao Qian's father, and he was the one who strongly advocated for this matter. He never expected things to develop this way, and was both shocked and furious. He slammed his fist on the table and said, "Which sect are they from? Who are they? Let's teach them a lesson!"
Jiang Chuting said, "I don't know who it was. But Young Master Yao believed it and left angrily."
Ji Chun sighed, "Never mind, I can only say that you two are not meant to be."
Jiang Chuting was about to return to the back mountain after finishing her speech, but unexpectedly, Chonghua kept her there, and the two sat down facing each other.
Jiang Chuting felt a sudden, unnerving tension when Jiang Chuting was given a casual glance. Though he didn't show it, he called out, "Senior Brother?"
Chonghua's expression was stern as he asked in a deep voice, "Tell me honestly, who injured you with a sword before? And who deliberately caused trouble today?"
He probably had some suspicions last time, and knowing he couldn't hide it from him, Jiang Chuting had no choice but to admit, "It's Lin Zhi, Zi Que's son."
Chonghua frowned deeply, and Jiang Chuting interjected, "Senior brother, it's not his fault. That's what everyone says, and Lin Xuan certainly wouldn't let him know the truth, so he misunderstood me."
Chonghua stared at him without blinking, and he blinked slightly.
Chonghua had always been dissatisfied with Yun Zique, not to mention Lin Zhile. But seeing that Jiang Chuting was clearly trying to protect that kid, he closed his eyes in frustration and gritted his teeth, cursing, "Useless."
Jiang Chuting leaned forward slightly, lowering her eyes and remaining silent.
Chonghua glared at him for a moment, feeling a deep headache, and said succinctly, "There won't be a next time, otherwise, I will take action myself."
"Thank you, senior brother." Jiang Chuting paused, then lowered his voice, "I will explain it to him when I have the chance in the future."
As he walked out of the main hall, Pei Jing was still waiting for him outside. Jiang Chuting hadn't spoken to him on the way back, and seeing his cold face, he ignored him and walked past him without saying a word.
"Ignoring me?" Pei Jing chased after him angrily. "You lied to me, and you still think you're in the right?"
Jiang Chuting moved with light and quick steps, looking straight ahead, and said, "I didn't lie to you, it's just that this is my private matter, and it doesn't seem like I need to explain it to you specifically." Lin Zhi harbored resentment because of a misunderstanding and wanted to make his reputation worse, but Pei Jing simply didn't want him to be good to others, so he also recklessly smeared him without thinking that he had done anything wrong.
Jiang Chuting's tone was unreadable, but Pei Jing could tell that he was actually a little angry.
Is he really that concerned about that man in purple?! Pei Jing followed closely, his pace quickening as he spoke: "Who was that person just now? Why are you so concerned about him? If you want to hide it, I can find out myself."
"The son of an old friend."
"An old friend? Which old friend? Is it the one you called out to when you were crying that day?"
Jiang Chuting suddenly stopped, glanced at him, then quickly looked away, saying in an extremely cold tone, "You're asking a bit too many questions."
Pei Jing felt a tightness in his chest and said angrily, "If you don't explain yourself clearly, I'll have someone hunt down your so-called old friend's son and tear him to pieces!"
Even though she knew this child didn't care about other people's lives, Jiang Chuting was still shocked that he would attack someone so casually and without any reason. She looked at him and said, "He has no grudge against you, why did you have to attack him?"
"He's been holding a grudge against me ever since this happened! Who told you to value him more than me!"
Jiang Chuting paused for a moment, then shook his head and sighed, "Xiao Jiu, don't be so willful. This is not a reason for you to want to kill someone."
Pei Jing grabbed his wrist, staring intently at his face. "Then look at me more, spend more time with me, and don't see him anymore. I promise you I won't touch him."
Jiang Chuting remained silent for a moment, then withdrew his hand and looked at him with his clear, black eyes, as clear as a spring, and said, "Xiao Jiu, if you truly call me Master, then no matter what happens, don't ask too many questions or try to control my will."
This meant that unless he was forced to comply with his status, he wouldn't do as he pleased. Pei Jing knew this man's nature; he could be as soft as water or as hard as ice. If he wanted more, he couldn't be forced. He bit his lower lip, filled with resentment.
After Jiang Chuting finished speaking, he turned and left. Pei Jing tried to grab him again, but only managed to pull on a small section of his sleeve.
Jiang Chuting turned to look at him, and he looked at her with a pitiful expression. "Master, don't leave me behind."
Jiang Chuting's heart softened, his expression relaxed slightly, and he said nothing, nor did he shake him off, continuing forward. Pei Jing gazed at his profile, his lips twitching slightly, before obediently taking the sleeve with him and following him back to the wooden house.
Ever since Pei Jing and Wei Jia became friends, Wei Jia has never stopped snacking, and in a short time he has gained weight and his face has become rounder. When they returned, Wei Jia was hunched over the table eating pastries. These were not the food provided by the Nine Heavens, but were specially bought by Pei Jing from Wuxiangzhai. They were expensive and tasted absolutely delicious. If Jiang Chuting hadn't limited his intake for fear that he would eat too much, Wei Jia could have devoured three plates in one go without stopping.
Jiang Chuting entered the room with his sword. Pei Jing's eyes darted around, and he sat down next to Wei Jia with a smile, asking, "Senior Brother, are the pastries delicious?"
Wei Jia has recently become quite pleased with this junior brother, mumbling between bites, "Delicious, delicious!"
Pei Jing curled the corners of his lips and tempted, "Actually, this is nothing. The food in the palace is much better."
Wei Jia was astonished: "There's something even tastier than this?"
"Of course, and there's so much that you could never finish eating it all in your lifetime. Would you like to come to the palace with me sometime in the future?"
With glistening saliva on his lips, Wei Jia looked on with longing and asked, "Really?"
Pei Jing's younger brothers, all around ten years old, were adept at reading people and shrewdly calculating. In comparison, Wei Jia was as slow-witted as a two- or three-year-old child, easily fooled. He spoke to Wei Jia in a tone that was like coaxing a child, "How could it be fake? I'm only taking you because you're a good friend of mine. So, do you want to go?"
Wei Jia nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!"
Pei Jing smiled smugly.
Wei Jia turned to find Jiang Chuting, rested her head on his knees, and raised her little face, saying, "Master, I want to go to the palace with my junior brother."
Jiang Chuting was taken aback and asked him, "Why?"
"Junior brother said there are many delicious things in the palace that I haven't tried yet. Master, let's go together!"
Jiang Chuting said to him solemnly, "No." Wei Jia was stupid. He knew that Pei Jing was the Ninth Prince but was not afraid of him. He had no concept of the palace and did not know how the palace was a place that devoured people. He could not be allowed to go there.
Wei Jia pouted, a little annoyed, "Why not?"
"Good food can be found everywhere, you don't necessarily have to go to the palace." Jiang Chuting knew that no matter how much he said, he would be confused, so he simply tapped his forehead with his finger. "Are you going to listen to your master?"
The only thing more important to Wei Jia than food was her master. Although she was frustrated that she wouldn't be able to eat anything more delicious, she still firmly said, "Of course I'll listen to my master."
Jiang Chuting smiled with relief, patted his head, and said softly, "Good boy. Go out and play."
Pei Jing's poison had been under control since he started soaking in the medicinal spring, and it hadn't flared up again. But that night, for some unknown reason, there were signs of an attack. Pei Jing was in excruciating pain and even vomited blood.
Jiang Chuting took him to the medicinal spring to soak for a while, and his face gradually regained some color.
Seeing that he was alright, Jiang Chuting felt relieved and sat cross-legged on the futon next to him, slowly becoming lost in thought.
"Don't underestimate him, there might be more than just us."
Just thinking about those words made Jiang Chuting's eyes dim, and she raised her hand to cover her chest. So young, yet she already knows how to pierce the heart.
In Lin Zhi's eyes, he was such a shameless and dissolute person. Because he was so indifferent, he could hurt people wantonly.
But even though she didn't have that prejudice, Lin Zhi really liked him and was very willing to be nice to him and interact with him...
A low groan of pain came from Pei Jing's side. Jiang Chuting snapped out of her daze and quickly got up to call out to him, "Xiao Jiu!"
Pei Jing leaned against the stone wall in the medicinal spring, his eyes closed, and did not respond.
"Xiao Jiu!" Jiang Chuting didn't have time to think and rushed into the water. Just as she was about to check on him, Pei Jing suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze was bright and sparkling, and he had a smile on his lips. He didn't look like anything was wrong at all.
Jiang Chuting's clothes and hair were soaked before she realized she had been tricked. She glanced at him sternly, then turned around and prepared to go upstairs without saying a word.
Pei Jing suddenly stood up, stretched out his wet arms, and locked his waist tightly from behind.
"Master, I'm so bored." Jiang Chuting struggled a bit, but Pei Jing wouldn't let go. He buried his face in his hair and said coquettishly, "Since your clothes are all soaked, just soak with me for a while."
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