Chapter 37 Lodging
No one knows how much time passed, until the last assassin committed suicide by swallowing poison.
Pei Yanzhi sat on his horse and scanned the surroundings. He saw the corpses scattered all over the dense forest, some belonging to his secret guards, others to his own personal guards, and even more than half of his personal guards had been lost.
With such a display, the other side has truly gone all out.
He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, he had regained his composure. "Clean up the battlefield and give them a proper burial."
Lu Changming accepted the order and stepped forward to look at the wound on his lord's arm. He said urgently, "My lord, let's bandage the wound first to prevent excessive bleeding."
"It's alright, let's bury them first." Pei Yanzhi looked up at the dark forest. "How far is it from Chongzhou?"
Lu Changming: "It's probably still more than twenty miles away, and we won't be able to get back tonight."
"Go ahead and scout out if there's a post station for resting."
"yes."
The dream was bizarre and fantastical. Not only did I dream of the day of war when I led Chongzhou to escape, but I even dreamed that when I was fleeing, I passed a cliff, lost my footing, and fell off.
The scene changes.
The curtains were heavy, and through them, a woman with a rosy face appeared, tilting her head back and reluctantly accepting the man's advances.
Gasping sounds could be heard coming from inside.
Suddenly, a fair and smooth leg stretched out, trying to escape, while a large, wheat-colored hand slowly kneaded it, leaving numerous red marks.
Ji Shu suddenly opened her eyes with a cry of "Ah!" Her chest heaved violently. The scene in her dream was both strange and familiar.
She stared blankly at the lotus-colored hibiscus curtains, only then realizing that she was now at her own estate, no longer at the Ji residence.
I need to forget everything that happened the day before.
The oil lamp on the table was not extinguished. Originally, Chunzhi was supposed to sleep on the couch, but Ji Shu thought that there were still martial servants she had carefully trained in her own manor and courtyard, so she let her go back to her bedroom to sleep.
She was wide awake now, her throat was dry, so she got up and poured herself a cup of tea.
Just as I drank it, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the window, and soon a torrential downpour began.
Ji Shu frowned slightly, went forward to close the window that had been blown open by the wind, and then heard a series of hurried footsteps.
There was a commotion outside the room. Chang Wu whispered to the door, "Young lady, there are guests outside the manor."
Ji Shu's heart tightened. It was past dusk; who else could be coming? "Who is it?"
Chang Wu's voice was somewhat tense, "That person seems to be the Marquis of Yan." As soon as he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck down in the night, and Ji Shu stood there stunned, not making a sound for a moment.
"Lady! Lady!" Chang Wu was still waiting for a reply outside the house.
Ji Shu suddenly came to her senses. How could he be here at this hour?
I've run so far away, how come I still can't get away from the Pei family? Why are they everywhere?
"It's alright, let them move in, so as not to arouse suspicion."
Then he thought that no one knew he was on this estate, and that most of them were just looking for lodging. If they stayed for one night, they would leave the next day at most.
There's no need for me to show my face. It's better to avoid trouble. I came here to escape Pei Xingjian in the first place. If I'm discovered, my peaceful days will be over.
He instructed, "Chang Wu, he has never seen you before, so don't reveal that I'm here. Just serve him as you normally would, and pretend you don't know his identity at all."
Chang Wu replied, "Yes, young lady."
Lu Changming followed behind Pei Yanzhi, while Chang Wu led the way.
The pavilions and terraces, with their soaring eaves, are breathtakingly beautiful the further you go inside, with every piece of furniture and decoration being exquisite.
The lake is surrounded by springs, creating a clear blue water. I never expected such an elegant place to exist in such a remote location.
The garden was adorned with a profusion of flowers, including many rare and precious plants, suggesting that the owner of the estate must have been extremely wealthy and powerful.
Along the way, Lu Changming has seen a lot of the world. He grew up by his lord's side since childhood. Take Yang County for example, there are many aristocratic families that have been around for centuries, but none of them have such an elegant place in their mansions.
This Chongzhou is truly a place where hidden talents abound. Today, I've certainly broadened my horizons. It's quite a coincidence, really.
He rode for several miles, but there was no inn in this desolate wilderness. His lord was also injured, and if the wound was poisoned, he could not afford to delay any longer.
As luck would have it, just as they were about to head back, they saw candlelight flickering here. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a manor, which is why they brought Pei Yanzhi and his entourage over.
Rain fell on Pei Yanzhi, water droplets dripping down his hard jawline and pooling at his feet, reminding him of his lord's injuries.
Lu Changming said urgently, "Young man, look how disheveled we are now. Are there any clean toiletries in this manor? My master urgently needs to bathe and change his clothes so that he can sleep more comfortably."
Remembering the young woman's instructions, Chang Wu cautiously glanced at Yan Hou Pei Yanzhi. The early spring weather was not yet warm, and a large patch of this man's back was already soaked.
Pei Yanzhi noticed something in that glance, his eagle-like eyes instantly seizing the opportunity, making Chang Wu even more careful in choosing what to say.
"Sir, we have toiletries in our guest rooms. If you would like hot water, I will have my servants prepare it for you right away."
Pei Yanzhi raised his narrow eyes slightly. He naturally noticed the environment of the manor, which was quite elegant and clearly the residence of a young woman.
Seeing the servant's shifty expression, his eyes darkened: "You've come seeking lodging so late; is your master in residence?"
Chang Wu instinctively declined, saying, "My mother... my master is not in the manor; only we servants are here."
After speaking, he looked up at the master and servant. The rain was pouring down, so they probably hadn't heard him.
Chang Wu was unaware that a casual remark he made had sparked Pei Yanzhi's curiosity about the owner of this place.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word.
Chang Wu repeatedly said, "This way, please."
As he walked through the corridor, Lu Changming followed closely behind. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he whispered, "My lord, is there anything strange about this courtyard?"
Pei Yanzhi shook his head, "No, it just feels somewhat familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on it."
"Never mind, it's just a private residence, we'll only be staying for one night."
Chang Wu led the people to Hanqiu Garden, the side room furthest from the main courtyard, and bowed his head respectfully, saying, "My lord, this is where you two will rest tonight. There are two servants on duty outside the door. If you need anything, just call them."
Pei Yanzhi glanced around casually and realized that this place had been deserted for a long time. It seemed that they were being treated with great suspicion, which was why they had been arranged to be here.
But this is not the time to be picky.
Lu Changming hummed in agreement, took out a gold ingot from his pocket, and tossed it to him. "Not bad. This is the reward. I hope this young man won't mention that we rested here tonight. It'll be better for both of us."
"I understand." Chang Wu carefully put away the gold, bowed his head, and withdrew.
"My lord, your wound is still bleeding. I will bandage it for you."
The night was deep, and Pei Yanzhi was dressed in black. If it weren't for the faint smell of blood in the room, his injuries would be completely undetectable.
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