Chapter 80 will be cancelled; at least we'll have to wait a little longer.
When Pei Ji returned, it was already 1:45 PM. He habitually went straight to the side room where Yu Man lived.
Before even reaching the door, he saw Shan Chun standing guard in the shadows of the corridor, her back straight, her eyes shining fiercely in the darkness. Upon seeing Pei Ji, she bowed slightly, her lips pressed tightly together.
Pei Ji stopped in his tracks. It was unusual that Shan Chun was outside, not inside. He glanced at her directly and asked, "What's wrong with her?"
Shan Chun raised her eyes, and her usually emotionless eyes now clearly reflected a rare anger and indignation. She spoke concisely, her voice low but each word clear: "At three-quarters of the hour of You (5:45 PM), on Zhuque Street, the youngest son of the Marquis of Yongchang, the nephew of Minister Li, the second young master of the Liang family, and several others were riding horses. My wife, protecting Manager Xue, was injured in the left shoulder. The doctor has examined her; it's a sprained bone and muscle, requiring over a month of rest. The Imperial Guards… dared not intervene."
In just a few words, he recounted what had happened. Pei Ji listened without any expression on his face, and didn't even say anything, but the wind in the corridor seemed to stand still.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Xue Han emerged carrying a basin of water, her eyes still slightly red. Upon seeing Pei Ji, she quickly curtsied, her voice hoarse with a sob: "Lord Pei..."
Pei Ji nodded almost imperceptibly, his gaze passing over her and landing on the door. "Thank you for your trouble, Manager Xue. Please go and rest."
Xue Han nodded, exchanged a worried look with Shan Chun, and the two silently withdrew.
Pei Ji stood outside the door for a moment before raising his hand and gently pushing the door open.
Only a small lamp was lit in the room, casting a dim light. Yu Man was lying on her side on the inner side of the bed, facing outwards, covered with a thin blanket. Her left shoulder was slightly raised, clearly bandaged and immobilized. She didn't seem to be asleep; she opened her eyes when she heard the door open.
In the candlelight, her face was pale, her lips were thin, and a few strands of hair were damp with cold sweat, clinging to her forehead. When she saw Pei Ji enter, she was startled for a moment, then smiled.
Pei Ji walked to the bedside, stopped, and quietly looked at her.
Yu Man immediately understood from that look in his eyes—Shan Chun must have already told him everything.
She smiled helplessly, her voice low but reassuring: "Why are you like this? Every time I get a minor injury, you act like this..." She paused, then teased, "like you wish you could hurt yourself instead."
Seeing that Pei Ji remained motionless, she extended her uninjured right hand, palm up: "Hmm?"
Pei Ji finally moved. He walked to the bedside, but instead of taking her hand, he leaned down and gently placed three fingers on her right wrist pulse. He lowered his eyes and concentrated for a moment before withdrawing his hand, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his voice low and deep: "What did the doctor say? Is there any serious damage to the bones? Will there be any lingering pain in the future?"
"Don't worry, no bones are broken, just a sprained tendon and some bruising," Yu Man answered honestly. "The doctor said that with proper care and timely application of medicine, it won't leave any lasting damage. It's just that for the past month, I haven't been able to use my left arm much, and it's been a bit inconvenient for me to move around." As she spoke, she added, "Don't worry."
Pei Ji's gaze lingered on her heavily wrapped left shoulder for a long time. Then, he reached out and tucked a strand of sweaty hair behind her ear.
"Focus on recovering from your injury first." He finally spoke. "Don't worry about the shop. I'll have Gu Qiu go over tomorrow to help Xue Han and Shan Chun with the arrangements. He can handle any errands or heavy lifting. Just rest and don't think about anything."
Yu Man scrutinized him carefully but couldn't discern anything, though her heart remained slightly tense. Suddenly, she spoke, "Pei Ji, tonight's events were just an accident. It was those spoiled brats acting lawlessly; it has nothing to do with you... You don't need to..."
“It’s related.” Pei Ji interrupted her, raising his eyes to look directly into hers, where the complex emotions churning within him were finally no longer concealed. “I admire you, so when you came to the capital, I was secretly delighted, hoping to see you every day.”
He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and confessed, "But I care about you just as much as I do, even more than I'm happy. The capital is a place teeming with powerful and influential people, and fraught with hidden dangers. If... it would put you in danger, then I'd rather not stay in this capital. I'd rather not hold this official position."
Yu Man was deeply shocked. She understood the unspoken meaning in his words—he was actually considering resigning from his official post? For her sake, to give up his carefully cultivated, nascent career? Perhaps even to give up something far more far-reaching that he was secretly planning?
"No!" She tried to sit up in her haste, but the movement aggravated her injury, causing her to hiss in pain and break out in a cold sweat. Pei Ji immediately reached out to steady her.
"Don't move!" Yu Man, her pain subsiding, spoke urgently, "Pei Ji, listen to me! This was purely an accident. Those people were acting arrogantly; what does it have to do with you? You came to the capital to become an official, you earned it through your own abilities, it's the path you were meant to take! As for me," she looked at him, her eyes clear, and said, word by word, "I came to the capital to open a shop and build a career, also from my own heart. I'm not a vine clinging to you; I like you, I want to be with you, that's why I came. But that doesn't mean we have to give up for each other, do you understand?"
She took a deep breath and softened her tone: "Let's forget about tonight, okay? Promise me you won't mention resigning."
Pei Ji listened quietly. These were words he had longed to hear, but now he felt no joy, only heartache. After a long while, his tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and he finally nodded very slightly: "...I understand."
Yu Man was slightly relieved, but still added with lingering concern, "You promised me? You can't go back on your word!"
"Okay." Pei Ji responded and stood up. "I'll go get some water to help you wash up. Get some rest."
"You'd better remember that!" Yu Man reminded him from behind.
When Pei Ji returned with hot water, he carefully wiped her face and hands, watched her drink the medicine, tucked her in, blew out the lamp, and left a lamp in the corner of the wall in case she got up at night. Only then did he quietly leave the room.
The moment the door closed, the deliberate calm he had maintained vanished. He turned and headed towards the door, nearly bumping into Xi Queping, who was hurrying back from outside the courtyard.
Xi Queping had clearly just returned from outside, still carrying the chill of the night wind. He had a casual smile on his face as usual, but the moment he looked up and saw Pei Ji's expression, that smile vanished without a trace.
Pei Ji's expression at this moment was icy and somber, yet a dark fire seemed to burn deep within his eyes, and an aura of near-tangible danger permeated his entire being. Even the light from the corridor illuminating his face made him appear grim and sinister.
Xi Queping's heart skipped a beat, and all his jokes caught in his throat. He suppressed his frivolous expression, stepped forward, lowered his voice, and asked with a serious expression, "What happened?" He had never seen Pei Ji like this before.
Pei Ji did not answer. He didn't even glance at Xi Queping, but simply brushed past him and walked out of the courtyard.
Xi Queping knew him all too well. This demeanor meant something serious had happened, something that had touched a raw nerve. He almost immediately recalled the scattered rumors he'd vaguely heard that evening about the street conflict, and the strange atmosphere he'd sensed when he entered the courtyard. Without the slightest hesitation, Xi Queping turned and silently followed.
The two, one after the other, moved like ghosts through the quiet streets under the cover of night. Gu Qiu caught up and gave them the address. The three of them left the city and headed straight for the western suburbs. About half an hour later, they arrived near a secluded and elegant villa nestled against the mountains and beside the water. The villa had high walls and deep courtyards. Although there were no conspicuous signs at the entrance, its grandeur and imposing style clearly indicated that it belonged to a wealthy and powerful person and was likely the private property of some influential figure.
Pei Ji stopped in the shadows of the woods not far from the back wall of the detached courtyard. Xi Queping followed him, glanced around, lowered his voice, and asked with unprecedented seriousness, "What exactly are you planning to do?"
Pei Ji's gaze fell on the brightly lit courtyard not far away, where the faint sounds of drinking could be heard. His voice was flat and even: "Murder."
Two words: decisive and efficient.
Xi Queping's pupils contracted slightly, but he showed no shock, nor did he try to dissuade him. He simply stared intently at Pei Ji's profile and asked a crucial question: "Is killing him absolutely necessary?"
Pei Ji remained silent.
Xi Queping took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He didn't ask "why" again. Since Pei Ji said that he had to be killed, there must be a reason why he had to be killed, and that reason was most likely related to that Lady Yu.
"Okay." Xi Queping only said this one word, then his eyes sharpened. "How do we get in? What's the situation inside?"
Pei Ji didn't say much, only gesturing to a corner hidden by branches and leaves behind the back wall. Both of them were highly skilled, and using the darkness and the trees as cover, they silently scaled the high wall and landed in the courtyard. The garden was lush with flowers and trees, with artificial hills and pavilions scattered about, and the main house in the distance was brightly lit; the noise was coming from there.
They hid behind a dense clump of Xiangfei bamboo, listening intently. Interspersed among the sounds of string and wind instruments were the drunken, unrestrained laughter of several young men, their language crude and vulgar:
"...That woman on the street was so pretty! If I bumped into her like that, her back must have broken, hehe..."
"What a waste of that face. And the one next to him is not bad either... You said you knew the young man from the Yongchang Marquis's family? Ask around and find out which family he belongs to?"
"What are you asking about? Why not just go to their door? They're a small family, give them some money, and we can take them in for a bit of fun..."
"Exactly! That kind of girl is only good for a novelty. Judging from how she protected the maid today, she might actually be quite fierce, which would be even more interesting!"
"Hahaha! It's a deal, we'll go tomorrow! I refuse to believe that there's a woman I can't get in the capital!"
"We'll deal with it when we're tired of it. Anyway, this kind of background isn't even worth a pot of peonies in my family..."
The language was foul and offensive, and it was unbearable to hear.
Xi Queping instantly looked at Pei Ji. The latter's face was half-lit and half-shadowed by the bamboo shadows and distant lights.
Xi Queping patted Pei Ji on the shoulder and whispered, "You go. I'll guard the outside and the escape route."
Since he had no choice but to kill, what else could he do?
All that's left is to guard the gate.
Pei Ji glanced at him and nodded slightly. The next moment, his figure silently darted towards the brightly lit main room.
Xi Queping quickly hid behind a rockery where he could observe the courtyard gate and keep an eye on the main house.
After half an hour of fussing, the lights in the main room remained on, but the laughter and chatter had ceased, replaced only by occasional faint sobs.
After an unknown amount of time, a figure reappeared beside Xi Queping, carrying a faint, fresh scent of blood.
Pei Ji's indigo casual clothes remained impeccable, even his hair was perfectly styled, except for a small, barely noticeable dark damp patch on his right sleeve. His face remained expressionless, but the murderous intent surrounding him had gradually subsided.
"Is it resolved?" Xi Queping asked.
"He was left with a breath of life." Pei Ji's voice was somewhat low and hoarse.
Xi Queping breathed a sigh of relief. If they were all dead, the commotion would be too great, and there would be a lot of trouble. Leaving them alive would mean serious, difficult-to-treat injuries, or even crippling them—something these spoiled brats would likely find even harder to accept. He quickly slipped into the main room to check, returning a moment later with a complex expression.
He suppressed his nausea. "Alright, I'll handle the rest." Xi Queping exhaled and looked at Pei Ji. "You owe me another one, Junior Brother Pei."
Pei Ji looked up at him and said in a rare low voice, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Xi Queping smirked, "Tsk, only at times like this do I hear you willingly call me 'Senior Brother'." He recalled the things Pei Ji had asked him to secretly prepare, and said seriously, "Those things you wanted—the finest South Sea pearl jewelry, the gold necklace inlaid with rubies, and the pair of white jade bracelets, along with the list of the three letters and six gifts prepared according to ancient rites—I've secretly prepared them all for you and stored them in a secluded private residence in the west of the city. When do you plan to retrieve them? When do you plan to propose to Lady Yu?"
He had assumed that Pei Ji would set a date immediately, since their feelings for each other were clear, and after tonight's events, Pei Ji would surely want to establish their relationship as soon as possible to protect her.
To everyone's surprise, Pei Ji remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "For now... we don't need it. You can keep the things with you for now."
Xi Queping was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard: "What do you mean?" He was incredulous, "You... you're not planning to propose marriage? Just because she was injured? Or because of what happened tonight?" This was unlike Pei Ji's style.
Pei Ji looked down at his hand, which, even after careful wiping, still felt sticky and hot. His fingertips unconsciously curled up slightly.
"Let's wait a little longer," he repeated, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
“At least…” He raised his eyes and looked at the faint outline of lights in the direction of the capital, but he didn’t say the rest of the words.
Looking at Pei Ji's enigmatic profile, Xi Queping seemed to understand something, yet also seemed even more perplexed. In the end, he simply sighed and patted Pei Ji's shoulder: "Whatever you want. I'll keep your things safe; come and get them anytime."
...
For the next few days, Yu Man was forced to live a life of quiet confinement, with everything done for her. Pei Ji practically treated her room as a second duty room, and every day after court, after finishing his necessary official duties, he would come to watch over her without fail. At first, he would just sit beside her reading or handling some documents, but the two of them staring at each other was really boring.
Under Yu Man's strong protests, Pei Ji finally relented and agreed to set aside an hour each day to sit by her bedside and read her travelogues, anecdotes, poems, and songs. His voice was deep and pleasant, and he read at a leisurely pace, which was quite enjoyable. However, the nourishing soups and broths, consumed three times a day without fail, made Yu Man feel like she was turning into a walking medicine cabinet.
Perhaps it was a case of good fortune and misfortune being intertwined. Business at the food stalls in Yulin Lane unexpectedly improved while Yu Man was recuperating. It turned out that the zongzi gift boxes they had launched for the Dragon Boat Festival, although not selling well initially, were highly praised by those who gave them away and by neighbors who tried them. The Eight Treasures Zongzi, in particular, with its hearty ingredients and delicious flavor, and the sweet yet not cloying Red Bean Paste Zongzi, earned excellent reviews.
In addition, the shop had an elegant environment, unique murals, and reasonable prices, which gradually attracted many students from Qingyan Academy to come and patronize it. They would order a pot of tea and some snacks, study and chat, and it became a well-known "student canteen". Every day when Xue Han returned, she would excitedly report the revenue and interesting stories to Yu Man, which reassured her a lot.
Yu Man listened, her heart itching with longing, wishing she could fly to the shop immediately to see it for herself. But every time she mentioned it, Pei Ji would give her a dismissive glance, his eyes clearly saying, "Don't even talk about it until you're fully healed." She could only continue to suppress her curiosity, counting down the days on her fingers.
When the pain in her left shoulder had greatly subsided and she could move her arm slightly, Yu Man could no longer hold back. She pleaded and begged until Pei Ji finally agreed to let her go to the shop with Xue Han and Shan Chun. She was only allowed to look around and not to do anything strenuous.
The sun shone brightly that day. Yu Man, wearing a veiled hat and a cloak, was carefully helped into the carriage and arrived at Yulin Lane, which she hadn't visited for several days. The shops were indeed bustling with customers; groups of students sat scattered about, discussing their studies in hushed tones, while ordinary people bought snacks to take away. Xue Han efficiently served the customers, while Shan Chun quietly calculated the accounts behind the counter; everything was in perfect order.
Yu Man looked around the partitioned inner room for a while, feeling much more at ease, and a smile appeared on her face. Just as she was about to quietly leave without disturbing the business, she heard a somewhat familiar male voice coming from the outer room:
"Shopkeeper, please pack two servings of jujube and yam cake and one serving of osmanthus-flavored lotus root."
Yu Man's heart skipped a beat, and she peered out through the gap in the bamboo curtain. She saw a young man in a spruce green casual suit standing in front of the counter. He was tall and upright, with an aloof and upright demeanor. It was Zhang Jian, whom she had not seen for a long time.
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