Chapter 24 Provocation
Manager Zhang breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, I'll get right on it!"
After everyone had made the arrangements, Chun Tao looked at Ye Wanning and asked, "Miss, is this really going to work? The Third Prince will definitely come back to cause trouble again!"
“Of course.” Ye Wanning’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Besides, I have a backup plan.”
She turned around, wrote a note, and handed it to Chun Tao: "Send this to the Pei residence and personally deliver it to Prime Minister Pei."
Chun Tao held the note, somewhat puzzled, but still obediently went.
Ye Wanning knew that dealing with someone like the Third Prince couldn't be done by herself alone; she had to get Pei Zhi's help.
Sure enough, not long after, Pei Zhi sent someone. It was his trusted guard who brought Pei Zhi's message, saying that he had ordered an investigation and would soon find out who was behind the sabotage, and that Ye Wanning could rest assured. At the same time, he also sent some men to protect the shop.
With Pei Zhi's help, the Third Prince's petty actions indeed became much less disruptive. The investigation into the warehouse fire was quickly completed; it turned out that a servant from the Third Prince's residence had started the fire, and Pei Zhi's men caught him red-handed and sent him directly to the Ministry of Justice.
No one came to cause trouble at the clothing shop anymore, and the patrolling soldiers seemed to have forgotten about it, never bothering to inquire about it again.
The bookstore's business gradually improved, and the newly printed heroic tales sold very well; even the princes in the palace sent people to buy them.
"Miss, Prime Minister Pei is truly remarkable," Chun Tao said with a smile. "With just one move from him, the Third Prince dared not cause any more trouble."
Ye Wanning didn't speak, but she felt a surge of gratitude towards Pei Zhi. This man always appeared when she needed him most.
As Ye Wanning was closing the shop that evening, she was about to return home when she was stopped by someone.
"Miss Ye, my master invites you in," the servant said respectfully.
Ye Wanning recognized him as someone from Pei Zhi's side.
Where is Lord Pei?
"It's in the carriage up ahead."
Ye Wanning hesitated for a moment, but still followed the servant into the carriage.
Pei Zhi was indeed inside, having changed into casual clothes, and was resting with his eyes closed.
"Lord Pei, what brings you to me?"
Pei Zhi opened his eyes, his gaze falling on her: "The matter of the Third Prince has been almost thoroughly investigated."
"Oh? What did you find out?"
"He not only sent men to burn down your warehouse, but he also tried to collude with salt merchants in Jiangnan to smuggle sea salt for profit," Pei Zhi said slowly. "I've already had the evidence handed over to the censor, and I believe he'll be in trouble soon."
Ye Wanning was somewhat surprised: "You moved so quickly?"
Pei Zhi smiled and said, "To deal with this kind of person, you have to be quick, accurate, and ruthless."
He paused, then looked at Ye Wanning: "However, this means the Third Prince will now be completely clear about our relationship. You might be in danger from now on."
Ye Wanning felt a warmth in her heart: "I'm not afraid." She looked directly into Pei Zhi's eyes and said earnestly, "From the moment I decided to cooperate with you, I haven't been afraid."
Pei Zhi looked into Ye Wanning's clear and determined eyes, and a sudden feeling stirred within him, as if something was about to burst forth from the earth. He looked away, his tone somewhat unnatural: "I'll have someone follow you."
"Thanks."
The carriage remained quiet for a long time, with only the sound of wheels rolling over the road. Ye Wanning looked at the street rushing past the window, her mind in turmoil. She didn't know if her feelings for Pei Zhi were gratitude or something else entirely.
Just then, Pei Zhi suddenly spoke up: "The day after tomorrow is the anniversary of my mother's death. I'm going to Bao'en Temple on the outskirts of the city to offer incense. Do you... want to come with me?"
Ye Wanning turned her head sharply, looking at him with some surprise. He actually invited her to go with him to offer incense to his mother? Did this mean that in his heart, she was no longer just a simple business partner?
Seeing the expectant look in Pei Zhi's eyes, Ye Wanning nodded almost unconsciously, "Okay."
The day we went to Bao'en Temple, the weather was beautiful. The autumn sky was clear and cloudless. As the carriage traveled along the country road, the rice paddies on both sides were golden. The wind blew, and the rice ears rustled, conveying the joy of a bountiful harvest.
Ye Wanning sat in the carriage, looking at the scenery outside the window, but her heart was filled with unease. She didn't know if agreeing to come to Bao'en Temple with Pei Zhi was the right or wrong thing to do.
"What are you thinking about?" Pei Zhi suddenly asked.
Ye Wanning snapped out of her reverie, met his smiling eyes, and felt a little flushed: "I wasn't thinking about anything, I just thought the scenery here was quite nice."
Pei Zhi followed her gaze to the window. "Yes, it's quite beautiful." He paused. "My mother loved this place most of all. Every year around this time, she would come here to burn incense and look at the rice paddies."
Ye Wanning was somewhat surprised: "I didn't expect Lord Pei and my mother to have such a good relationship."
"Hmm." Pei Zhi's eyes softened. "My mother was a very gentle person, but she passed away when I was very young."
Ye Wanning thought of her mother, and her heart warmed: "She must have loved you very much."
“Yes,” Pei Zhi said with a smile, “she said I’m too impatient and need to learn to be more composed in the future.”
Pei Zhi chatted with her casually, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Ye Wanning discovered that, setting aside his status as prime minister, Pei Zhi was a very gentle person, and his words and actions made people feel comfortable.
Bao'en Temple is located halfway up the mountain. It is not large, but it is very ancient.
The two alighted from the carriage and walked up the stone steps. The monks in the temple all recognized Pei Zhi and respectfully greeted him: "Lord Pei, you've arrived."
Pei Zhi hummed in agreement: "Take me to offer incense to my mother."
The monk nodded and led them inside.
Pei Zhi's mother's memorial tablet was in a small Buddhist shrine in the back hall. It was very clean, indicating that it was regularly cleaned.
Pei Zhi devoutly burned three incense sticks, kowtowed three times, and then stood in front of the memorial tablet in a daze, as if speaking to his mother. Ye Wanning also burned three incense sticks, silently praying that her mother's spirit in heaven would bless her to take revenge.
After leaving the Buddhist hall, the monks led them to the guest hall for tea. Just as they sat down, a commotion arose outside: "His Highness the Third Prince has arrived!"
Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. Why was the Third Prince here?
Soon, the Third Prince entered with a group of people. Upon entering, he saw Pei Zhi and Ye Wanning, paused for a moment, then gave a forced smile: "Oh, isn't this Prime Minister Pei and Miss Ye? What a coincidence?"
Pei Zhi responded indifferently. Ye Wanning didn't say anything, but she felt in her heart that the Third Prince's visit to Bao'en Temple was no accident.
"I wonder what brings the Third Prince to Bao'en Temple?" Pei Zhi cut straight to the point.
"What else could I possibly want to do here to offer incense and pray for blessings?" the Third Prince said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Ye Wanning with an unfriendly scrutiny. "But Prime Minister Pei, what brings you here to offer incense with Miss Ye? Could it be...?"
"Third Prince, you jest." Pei Zhi interrupted him calmly, his tone devoid of emotion. "Miss Ye and I merely met by chance."
"A chance encounter?" The Third Prince was clearly skeptical, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "I've heard that Prime Minister Pei has been quite attentive to Miss Ye's shop lately? He even dared to arrest people from my own residence?"
This is a blatant provocation.
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