Chapter 43 You Are My Person
"I sent you here to learn manners, and you're so willing to debase yourself, so eager to play the pipa to please men?"
He brought her here so that she would realize her mistake.
Let her understand that he can rescue her, and he can also send her back, so she knows who she should please and who she should fawn over.
But what is she doing? She would rather belittle herself than submit to him.
He used the gleaming tip of his sword to lift her wrist, his anger seething: "Who do you think you are? If you dare to play the pipa for another man again, I'll chop off your hand."
"What is my identity?" Mingying stopped backing down, gripping the sharp blade tightly in her other hand, a mixture of sorrow and irony spreading in her eyes. "You've sent me to a place like this, what do you think my identity is?"
Her actions and words shocked Pei Xiaoyun, catching him completely off guard. Faced with her questioning, he was speechless for a moment.
His stern brows furrowed, and he scolded her, "You are mine, and I will not allow you to please others."
“You’re right.” Mingying curled her lips in a mocking smile, stubbornly gripping her sword. “I’m just your prostitute, merely serving a group of men. What’s the difference between serving one man and serving a group of men? How do you think I’m any different from them, or how much better am I?”
That statement was truly earth-shattering.
The blow made Pei Xiaoyun stagger, her heart pounding, realizing that her words were utterly absurd.
He didn't use any force, but the sword, using her momentum, buried itself in the collar of her clothes, about to pierce her skin and go even deeper.
That's where the heart is.
"Let go," he commanded her in a deep voice.
Mingying's palm was cut open, and drops of blood stained the sword red.
She continued to press forward, and Pei Xiaoyun's face became somewhat disheveled. He had no choice but to grab her wrist and twist it hard. She let out a soft groan, and the sword fell to the ground.
"I think you're asking for it!" he cursed inwardly, then swept the man up and carried him back to the room.
His outburst of anger at Ningxue Tower today has led everyone inside to guess that he is no ordinary person and is not someone to be trifled with.
But he was also very generous, and the money he paid out was enough to buy most of Ningxue Tower.
Madam Zhou's face was stiff from smiling. When she heard him say that he didn't like noise, she ordered the door to be closed to avoid customers and that she would not do business with other people today.
Inside the room, Jin Kui was applying medicine to Ming Ying.
That was a deadly sword; flesh was as fragile as tofu, and a slight cut would leave it a bloody mess.
Upon seeing this, she couldn't help but feel terrified, and her nose tingled with emotion.
Mingying stared blankly at her scarred palms, remaining motionless as the medicinal wine was applied, her expression calm.
This hand has been cut twice by a sharp blade.
The first time was three years ago, when she knelt in the pavilion in humiliation, picking up the sharp porcelain shards one by one.
That time it hurt so much that she cried.
This time, the pain became numb and dull, unable to reach her heart at all.
For a fleeting moment, Pei Xiaoyun didn't want to see her.
Her words were like thorns stuck in his heart, impossible to remove.
From the very beginning, he pitied her background, took her in, and trusted her wholeheartedly. He once thought that everyone in the world would deceive and scheme against her, but she would not.
But she did the same thing as everyone else.
He could have killed him without hesitation, but he didn't.
He had never cared for a woman so much before, tolerating her scheming and betrayal, and repeatedly forgiving her audacity. He had been good enough to her.
But she still had feelings for someone else, saying he treated her like a prostitute?
He leaned alone against the wooden railing, gazing at the empty, fragmented shadows scattered on the ground, lost in thought, his pupils dark and deep, unfathomable.
Then he opened the door and went in, where he saw a prostitute sitting next to her, applying medicine to her while talking to her.
His face contorted with deep disgust. "Get out of here, and don't touch her."
Jin Kui was startled, knocking the jar of ointment to the ground. Looking at the man's murderous gaze, she broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly retreated.
Mingying glanced at him, she was extremely disgusted by his arrogance and prejudice, her breathing became uncontrollably heavy, she bent down to pick up the medicine pot and put the medicine in her left hand.
Holding the bamboo strip in his left hand was quite inconvenient, and he almost spilled the medicine.
Pei Xiaoyun stood by the bed for a while, then suddenly stepped forward, snatched the bamboo strip from her hand, and wanted to apply the medicine for her herself.
Mingying immediately snatched it back, turned to the side to avoid him, and said a few words: "You get out too, I find you disgusting."
A moment later, the bed sank slightly, sinking in a little.
Pei Xiaoyun turned her face around, glaring at her angrily, her words clenched between her teeth: "Do you think I'm as fickle and prone to changing my mind as you?!"
He had considered marriage before, for mutual benefit and to get what he wanted.
He ruled the country and never lacked women. But ever since she faked her death during childbirth to deceive him, he became irritable and restless whenever he saw a woman, and no one could catch his eye anymore.
But what about her? She became his woman, yet she still hooked up with Lin Xian, betraying him first.
"How would I know if you have it or not?" Mingying said, craning her neck as she applied the medicine. "I am just a maid, so naturally I am not qualified to ask about your affairs, and I don't want to know. If you are covered in ash, you can just wipe it off and change your clothes. But if you have a heart condition, even if you are clean, you are black inside and out, beyond cure."
Pei Xiaoyun slowly looked at her, his face turning white then green, then green then white again, as if he had been struck by lightning and his mind was stunned, sparks flying all over his body.
Her lips were red and her teeth white, her voice like a nightingale's, yet her words were barbed, leaving no part of your skin unscathed.
What a string of witty remarks, every word a gem!
He pinched her face, an invisible fire fiercely torturing her. Meeting her resolute and unyielding eyes, he suddenly realized that no fire could melt this stubborn rock. He threw her aside roughly: "You stay here and reflect on your mistakes. You can come back to follow me when you admit your mistakes."
He didn't want to see her and went straight out of Ningxue Tower.
Before leaving, he reminded Madam Zhou: "Don't let her entertain guests, don't punish her, and use any other methods you can."
He didn't believe he couldn't break her.
Late at night, amidst the revelry and banquet at Ningxue Tower, the sounds of unrestrained frolicking between men and women drifted from the next room.
Mallow had long been used to this sound. She sat alone by the window, wiping away tears, lost in thought.
She is not pure, and although the young master says he will not betray her, he probably still despises her in his heart.
Otherwise, why would he not have come to see her since he got married?
Youth fades quickly, and staying in this place is not a way out; she doesn't want to wait any longer.
Therefore, she took the money she had saved over the years to Zhou Niangzi to redeem herself. It was enough, but Zhou Niangzi refused to let her go and took away half of her money, accusing her of hoarding it. She really didn't know what to do.
Am I supposed to stay in Ningxue Tower until I die? What will happen to me when I grow old and lose my beauty?
Tears dripped onto the back of her hand, her sobs drowned out by the soft, seductive music.
Madam Zhou opened the door and came in beaming. Seeing her crying, she quickly wiped away her tears: "Oh my darling, why are you crying? Quickly wipe your tears. Look who's here!"
Jin Kui stood up, hurriedly wiping away her tears, when she saw a man walk in.
The man was dressed in fine clothes and exuded an air of nobility; he was none other than Xiao Yuanyan, the second young master of the Qinghe Prince's Mansion.
Seeing that Jin Kui's eyes were red from crying, he took her hand and hurriedly wiped her tears with his sleeve: "Jin Kui, I've come to see you. What's wrong? Who bullied you?"
"Young master, you've finally arrived! I thought you'd forgotten about me."
Mallow wondered if she was dreaming until she pressed herself against the man's hot chest and realized it was all real.
Xiao Yuan Yan missed her, and without saying a word, he took her hand and led her into the bedchamber.
After their lovemaking, the two embraced tightly, reluctant to part.
Xiao Yuanyan kissed her eyebrows and eyes, and made a promise to her: "Jin Kui, don't worry, in a few days, when the family can't keep such a close watch on me anymore, I will redeem you and raise you outside for now. My father will eventually agree, and then he will take you into his family."
His father asked him to choose between the title and the mallow.
But he and Jin Kui truly loved each other. How could he be the kind of heartless and fickle person who would abandon the woman he loved for the sake of power?
"As long as you still remember me, that's enough." Jin Kui pressed herself against his chest, agreeing with whatever he said. She knew he wouldn't be so heartless as to abandon her.
After whispering sweet nothings to each other for a while, Xiao Yuanyan took out a letter sealed with wax and tucked it under her pillow.
"Young master, what is this?" Jin Kui reached out to explore.
Xiao Yuanyan grasped her hand and said, "I have another matter to ask of you this time."
Pei Xiaoyun came to Xuzhou, not to investigate the Kongchan Sect, but he had to act cautiously.
If he were to personally meet with those people again, it might arouse Pei Xiaoyun's suspicion, thus bringing trouble to the Prince's Mansion.
After much thought, he thought of mallow.
She was originally from Ningxue Tower. She had a delicate appearance and was not easy to attract attention. Moreover, she would never betray him. He was completely at ease letting her handle the communication with those people.
"On the night of the fifteenth, two men will come to the Moon Gazing Room of Ningxue Tower for tea. You will give this to them." He touched Jin Kui's face. "You must not tell anyone about this, understand?"
Jin Kui didn't ask any further questions, thinking it was just a trivial matter. She was so immersed in the tenderness that she could only nod.
The next morning, Mingying was awakened by the sound of a mocking zither.
The girls in the building all have skills to rely on, practicing playing musical instruments and singing from dawn till dusk.
It wasn't time to rest, and she was urged to get up and given a set of clothes to change into.
She touched the fabric of the dress and examined it carefully. It was just an ordinary plain dress, so she changed into it without saying a word.
As soon as they stepped outside, Mallow and a man emerged from the next room.
Mallow had a rosy complexion and smiled at the man, who then helped her tuck her hair behind her ear.
This intimate gesture doesn't seem like a casual fling, but rather suggests a deeper connection.
After the man left, she went up to Jin Kui and asked, "Who was that person just now?"
Jin Kui concealed her embarrassment, pulled her aside, and said with a hint of joy in her voice, "It's the second young master of the Qinghe Prince's Mansion. He said he would redeem me, and it will be soon."
Mingying had met her several times. She was a gentle and taciturn person, and it was rare to see deep emotions on her face. This was the first time she had seen such a hopeful smile on her face.
She couldn't help but be happy for her.
If such a place were to truly appear, that would be wonderful.
As for the rest, everyone has their own fate, and not everyone is like her, encountering a heartless person like Pei Xiaoyun.
Xiao Yuanyan thought that by entrusting the items to Jin Kui, everything would be safe.
As he strode out of Ningxue Tower, many eyes were fixed on him.
Xingwei, holding his sword, said to someone, "Go and report to the master that Xiao Yuanyan has been to Ningxue Tower."
After receiving news that Xiao Yuanyan had visited Ningxue Tower, Pei Xiaoyun lowered her eyes and smiled inwardly, seemingly having everything under control.
He ordered his men to remain hidden around Ningxue Tower and not to make any rash moves.
The net is cast down, and once the show begins, it's pulled up to catch them all in one fell swoop.
Just as the guard who came to report left, a clear and loud male voice came from outside.
"Pei Xiaoyun, are you even human? You sent her to a place like that!"
He Lianqing followed him to Xuzhou. Thinking that she hadn't seen Mingying for several days, she sensed something was wrong. She was afraid that he was still holding a grudge because he had been tricked by Mingying and would use some violent means to retaliate against her, a weak woman.
Only after making a secret inquiry did I learn that he had sent Mingying to Ningxue Tower.
Ningxue Tower is a brothel.
He didn't know what kind of heart Pei Xiaoyun had. He was selfish and cold-hearted, hypocritical and arrogant. Whoever got close to him would become unhappy.
"Dr. He, if you take another step forward, don't blame us for being impolite."
The guards standing outside the door gleamed with malice and drew their swords at He Lianqing, who had intruded without permission.
He Lianqing was so angry that he was practically fuming. He flicked his sleeve and sneered, deliberately dragging out his words so that Pei Xiaoyun could hear: "If you have the guts, then kill me. I've had enough of living under your thumb. After I die, someone like you will come to join me. That way, my life won't have been in vain."
He was naturally free-spirited and unconventional, and was never one to willingly live under someone else's roof.
Unfortunately, due to a tragic fate, he was detained by Pei Xiaoyun and became his private doctor, treating him alone and at his beck and call.
This person is cold and ruthless, regarding others as lowly ants, and does not allow anyone to disobey him. If anyone is displeased, no matter who it is, they will be punished.
He had seen through it long ago; this person was utterly ruthless and a complete madman.
"Let him in."
Pei Xiaoyun found it extremely noisy, and her face was so dark it looked like it was about to drip water.
The guard sheathed his sword, and He Lianqing barged in. Seeing that he still had the leisure to drink tea and read, she clenched her fists and said, "You sent her to a place like that. Did you think about the consequences? You know what kind of life she used to lead!"
He had been to such a place and knew how tragic the fate of women there was.
To pull someone out of the abyss only to push them back in is tantamount to killing them out of their spirit.
Pei Xiaoyun ignored his words, turned the pages of her book with her slender fingers, took a sip of tea, and said firmly, "I just want to remind her not to forget what kind of life she used to live, and not to forget who her benefactors were. Only then can she learn her lesson."
Her outrageous words still echoed in his ears, and every time he thought of them, his ears ached, and he would no longer soften his heart in the slightest.
“You’re not trying to win her back.” He Lianqing saw through his stubbornness and saw through his strange and absurd thoughts. “You’ll only push her further away. A heartache is hard to cure. A physical injury can heal slowly, but a broken heart is incurable.”
"What do you know? She's my woman. I know her personality." Pei Xiaoyun slammed the book down, her voice turning slightly cold.
It's always been like this: if she doesn't listen to him, he punishes her or treats her coldly, and she will realize her mistake and take the initiative to come back and beg for reconciliation.
This time was no exception; she remained stubborn, simply because the light punishments weren't enough.
He Lianqing felt dizzy.
I spent all my time treating him, but I couldn't cure his madness.
Because he is incurable.
All my words can be summed up in one sentence: "I hope you can always remain proud and composed, and never regret it."
"I won't regret it."
Pei Xiaoyun blurted it out almost without the slightest hesitation.
In his life, he also did things he regretted, such as not having any feelings for others and not believing in so-called blood ties.
The word "regret" will never appear in a woman's mind, no matter what.
Everything he does now is right, and he has never regretted it.
"Finished? Get out before I rip out your tongue." His face was gloomy, like a sword about to be drawn, only his sinister intent raging.
He Lianqing wanted to say something more, but Pei Xiaoyun couldn't bear it any longer, so she called someone in to cover his mouth and drag him away.
—
He Lianqing was worried about Mingying and wanted to go to Ningxue Tower to see her.
He still couldn't imagine what Pei Xiaoyun's intentions were in sending her to Ningxue Tower.
A petty person who uses his power to oppress others.
As he thought about it, veins throbbed on his forehead, and he gritted his teeth inwardly.
He was naturally unaware that Pei Xiaoyun had sent guards to defend the building. Before he even entered, he was stopped by a long arm.
What are you doing here?
When Xingwei saw him, she frowned slightly, somewhat surprised.
They hadn't seen each other for a long time since that day in Guanzhou Prison.
Her outstretched arm hung limply in the air, seemingly unable to muster any strength, and trembled slightly.
He Lianqing was initially surprised, but then realized it wasn't unusual and guessed that she was acting as a spy around the area.
"I was worried about my old friend, so I came to see her," he confessed honestly.
He thought that he and Xingwei had been through thick and thin together, that she had saved him, brought him food, and talked to him, so she couldn't be so heartless.
"Master said you can't go in." Xing Wei remained expressionless as she blocked the doorway, but her voice was weak and feeble. "Hurry up and leave. I can pretend I didn't see you."
Pei Xiaoyun was afraid that he and Mingying would cheat on him again, so she had long forbade them to see each other again.
“You can search me, I won’t bring anything in,” He Lianqing persisted.
"Go quickly." Xingwei shook his head in disapproval, and pointed his sword sheath in the direction he had come from.
Under the blazing sun, her lips turned pale, and beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead.
He Lianqing noticed the blood flowing from her arm and gasped, "What happened to you?"
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Xingwei wiped her sweat and turned away from his gaze.
She had just noticed a suspicious man wearing a straw hat loitering at the entrance of Ningxue Tower. The man had also noticed her and was trying to leave by blending into the crowd.
Fearing she might alert the enemy, she was determined to capture the man. Although she managed to capture the Wuhuan spy, she was also injured, and the sword that wounded her seemed to be poisoned.
"You haven't been poisoned, have you?" He Lianqing noticed her pale complexion and her lips slowly turning blue, and a bad feeling welled up inside her.
Xingwei gradually lost her grip on the spread of the poison, and her limbs began to weaken. There was nowhere to get treatment around, so He Lianqing could only help her into Ningxue Tower.
Mingying was teaching a new girl to play the pipa. She was teaching her very carefully, and a group of young girls were surrounding her.
She understood that Pei Xiaoyun just wanted to humiliate her and prevent her from entertaining customers. If he didn't come, there was nothing wrong with her eating and sleeping here.
The musician in the building thought the new girls were dull and couldn't learn anything, so he wanted to punish them by not letting them eat. So she took the initiative to teach them to play.
Young girls who excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting don't necessarily have to sell themselves. Perhaps when they're older, they'll find a way to redeem themselves or meet a kind person.
She could only offer her modest help, hoping it would be of some assistance.
After playing a piece of music, she saw a familiar figure downstairs and her heart skipped a beat: "Dr. He!"
He Lianqing is a good person. Just because of a childhood connection, he risked offending Pei Xiaoyun to help her time and time again. She appreciated all of this.
Unfortunately, she herself was a caged bird, of humble status, and had nothing to thank him for.
I haven't seen him for a long time since we parted ways in Hangzhou.
He Lianqing helped Xingwei sit down.
He was finally reunited with Mingying and relieved to see that she was unharmed and able to move freely.
"I'm relieved to see you're alright."
After Mingying came down, she asked about Xingwei's injuries. She knew that this person was a woman and also Pei Xiaoyun's capable subordinate. She wondered why he had suffered such serious injuries.
He Lianqing took Xingwei's pulse and immediately knew what kind of poison she had been poisoned with.
He had lived in the Northwest, where the Wuhuan people frequently invaded the six regions of the Northwest and used various poisons to harm the people.
He had seen this poison many times, but fortunately it was not an incurable poison. His master had taught him how to make an antidote for this poison.
He happened to have some pills on him, so he took one out and gave it to her.
As Xingwei's mind gradually cleared, he asked in a calm voice, "When you were on missions before, were you poisoned by anything?"
Her pulse was weak and slow, which was somewhat abnormal, but he couldn't tell the specifics.
"I don't know either." Xingwei shook her head.
She truly didn't know and didn't remember.
Once she regained her strength, she picked up her sword, stood up, and pushed He Lianqing away, saying, "Thank you for healing my wounds. You should leave now; you can't stay here."
“There’s still medicine left to apply.” He Lianqing grabbed her arm. “Without the external medicine, the medicine will be useless.”
Xingwei not only had injuries to her arms, but also new injuries to her back. She looked at the medicine bottle for a while, then reached out and snatched it, saying, "I can manage on my own."
"Let me apply the medicine for you." Mingying noticed that she was slightly hunched over and guessed that she had an injury on her back, which would make applying the medicine inconvenient.
Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. The person she hates is Pei Xiaoyun, while Xingwei has never offended her.
Perhaps it was because she was also a woman, but a strange feeling arose in her heart; if she were a man, she would never have said such a thing.
"I don't need it."
Xingwei gave a curt refusal and turned to leave.
"If you don't take the medicine, you'll die," He Lianqing called out to her.
She is stubborn and obstinate.
At first, he thought she was a heartless and emotionless person, just like Pei Xiaoyun, who was indeed master and servant.
Later, he discovered that she was not completely cold and heartless; she was grateful and could listen to what he said.
Why would she disregard her own life and death, risking her life for revenge?
Xingwei was momentarily stunned, then slowly loosened his grip on the medicine bottle, wavering slightly.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mingying took her to her room.
In a place like Ningxue Tower, there is no medicine to cure illness, and even if you have money, no doctor is willing to treat these courtesans.
The women here have no access to medical care when they are sick, and minor illnesses turn into major ones. If the major illness is left untreated, the body that is carried out is just a tattered straw mat wrapped around a corpse.
During a break from applying the medicine, He Lianqing provided free medical consultations for the women inside the building.
Many women initially disbelieved that there could be such a kind doctor. After peering around for a while, they saw that he spoke gently and his diagnostic skills were smooth and experienced. Gradually, they lowered their guard, called their friends and swarmed over, forming a long queue to wait for treatment.
He Lianqing took their pulses and wrote prescriptions for each of them, just like treating ordinary patients, and gave them instructions on various matters and dietary restrictions.
Back then, if it weren't for his master and senior sister coming to Mianyue Tower for free medical consultations, he wouldn't be where he is today.
His master told him that medical treatment should not be based on social status or wealth.
There is only one exception: the wicked bullies who commit numerous evils. Keep an eye on them, because they will turn around and harm good people in the blink of an eye.
The woman inside the building was just a pitiful person who had no choice in the matter.
When Mingying and Xingwei came out, he had already finished his consultation.
"Thank you so much, Dr. He. You are a good person, and you will be rewarded." The woman holding the prescription he wrote thanked him repeatedly.
Xingwei was feeling much better. He straightened up and regained his usual cold expression. He said to He Lianqing, "This place is not safe to stay any longer. We should go."
If their master finds out, none of them will have a good time.
Mingying nodded to He Lianqing, fearing that he might offend Pei Xiaoyun and bring about consequences she dared not imagine.
"Thank you for coming to see me. You should go now. I'll be fine."
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