Chapter 24 Adultery "A letter arrived from the border, saying that Pei Mingli's whereabouts..."
Even though Lin Zhi had calmed down, she was still confused, feeling that she couldn't understand her aunt's words.
Lin Shaowan pulled the person aside and lowered her voice to say, "Good child, your aunt knew that you were also a help in getting us down the mountain earlier."
"That's the right thing to do. Don't be afraid. Pei Lang is Mingli's older brother after all, and he will be a pillar of the Pei family in the future."
"Both you and Mingli have to flatter this person to achieve your goal."
Lin Zhi's eyes flickered slightly. So her aunt only thought that she had come to plead with Pei Lang... But that makes sense, in the eyes of outsiders, they were worlds apart.
Even if someone had witnessed what happened in the room, they would probably say that Pei Lang was drunk and mistook someone else for him. The heart that had just been surging with passion was suddenly doused with cold water.
The night breeze was still warm, but Lin Zhi felt a chill creeping up on her body, inch by inch.
"How is it?"
Pei Lang stood by the window with his hands behind his back. Lin Shaowan had already left with her entourage, and she probably didn't even see him. She must be furious.
The thought of her complaining to Pei Mingli about this filled Pei Lang with a strange sense of satisfaction. Lin Shaowan and her son had taken too much from him; now they would taste the bitterness of it all.
He was only slightly drunk at the time, but he saw Lin Zhi's emotions and tears. Noticing the awkwardness in his heart, Pei Lang raised his hand to drink tea, but couldn't help frowning.
Such people are too good at putting on an act; why should I cherish their pretentious tears?
Pei Lang frowned slightly, belatedly realizing that Xing Yun hadn't said anything about how angry Lin Shaowan was.
"What? Has she made people kneel in the ancestral hall again?"
Xingyun hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Young master, Madam Lin is not angry. She even... she sent Miss Biao back."
Pei Lang tightened his grip on the teacup, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"Lin Zhi is indeed eloquent; even Lin Shaowan was fooled by her."
Xingyun thought that the young master would be angry because the plan had failed, but unexpectedly Pei Lang chuckled softly.
But this only made him more alarmed. The young master was usually very reserved and never showed his emotions, but now he was an exception because of Miss Biao.
"If she were truly an idiot, I wouldn't be taking her so seriously."
"That's good, that's what makes it interesting."
Xingyun didn't understand the deeper meaning, but he knew something was wrong and even felt sorry for Lin Zhi.
She just had to provoke the young master.
"Azhi, today the steward received an invitation from the Xie family, saying that Madam Xie has found a rare embroidery pattern and invited you to attend."
"When did you become so close to the Xie family?"
During lunch, Lin Shaowan calmly looked at Lin Zhi. Since what happened yesterday, she had confirmed Lin Zhi's feelings for her son. Moreover, Lin Zhi and Xie Zheng were originally the result of Lan Xin's attempts to sow discord, and now the two of them, aunt and niece, were in the same boat.
Lin Zhi paused with her chopsticks, glanced at Pei Lang quickly and casually, and slowly said, "I have met the second young lady of the Xie family a few times before, and we got along quite well... but I have never met Madam Xie."
Lin Shaowan nodded, "Since Madam Xie has taken the initiative to invite you, then you should go. It would be good to make more acquaintances with the noble ladies of the capital."
Thinking of Xie Jin's appearance that day, Lin Zhi nervously pursed her lips, wanting to refuse, but unexpectedly, her usually taciturn uncle also spoke up in agreement.
"Your cousin and Xie Shaoqing are good friends, so it would be good for you to spend more time with his sister."
The matter was settled, but Lin Zhi found it strange.
"I made everything perfectly clear to Xie Shaoqing back then, so why would the Xie family still invite me?"
Chun Tao's face was full of worry: "Miss, maybe we should just forget about it. What Miss Xie did last time was really too terrible."
Lin Zhi hesitated, clutching her handkerchief. In the past, she would have asked Pei Lang for his opinion, but after last night, she felt awkward and didn't know what to say when she saw Pei Lang again.
As luck would have it, she had only taken a few steps when she heard Pei Lang instructing his servants. There was no way to avoid it, and Lin Zhi's stiff hands didn't know what to do.
"What? Cousin doesn't want to go to the Xie residence?"
Lin Zhi's thoughts were written all over her face, making it hard for anyone not to notice.
Lin Zhi looked at Pei Lang with an open and honest gaze, seemingly without the embarrassment or awkwardness she felt, and felt a little disappointed.
"Cousin, is the Xie family's invitation related to Miss Xie's matter? Otherwise, why would an orphan like me go to such lengths?"
Lin Zhi thought about it seriously, but still couldn't make up her mind. She wanted Pei Lang to decide for her, her tone unconsciously showing dependence.
Pei Lang frowned slightly upon hearing her self-deprecating words, but said nothing more: "This is your business, it has nothing to do with me."
How could someone who was so affectionate with him last night, and even shed tears of vulnerability in front of him, now be so indifferent?
Lin Zhi bit her lip, feeling somewhat embarrassed, unable to swallow her anger: "If that's what you think, then why did you... last night?"
Lin Zhi couldn't bring herself to say the rest, but Pei Lang finally looked at her properly and asked, "What happened last night?"
"I drank some good wine last night, I don't remember."
Lin Zhi's round eyes widened slowly, trying to find some evidence that Pei Lang had lied to her, but she could only see a completely expressionless face.
Lin Zhi felt a surge of anger at being tricked. She had thought she had at least glimpsed a glimpse of Pei Lang's true self, but now he was telling her that he remembered nothing at all!
In a flash, Lin Zhi suddenly remembered what he had said to her in the carriage: This will not happen again.
What's wrong? You flirted with me and then pretended not to remember?
Lin Zhi's face burned with embarrassment. She lowered her head, held back her tears, and hurriedly ran away, not even caring about Chun Tao. As soon as she got back, she locked herself in her room.
Looking at the tightly closed door, the two girls had no idea what was going on.
"Saying you dreamed about me... saying I'm the best woman! It's all a lie!"
Lin Zhi threw all the homework she had finished writing on the floor in her room. She was so angry that she almost fainted. She had to hold onto the table for a while to calm down.
“Yes…” Lin Zhi slowly sat down on the carpet, holding onto the table leg, and let out a long sigh. “No one will treat me any differently.”
The scattered pages in front of her were precisely the characters Pei Lang had written for her when he was making examples for her, written with vigorous strokes. One glance revealed that Pei Lang was a man of noble character, proud and aloof.
Lin Zhi suppressed her disappointment and silently cleaned up the mess on the floor by herself.
Her life had never been full of surprises or unexpected events; now she only needed to wait patiently for Pei Mingli's triumphant return—that was her fate.
"I really liked the embroidered handkerchief Xie Jin gave me last time, and I would like to thank Miss Lin for that as well."
Looking at the gentle and virtuous young girl in front of him, Xie Zheng suddenly wanted to refute his previous words. It was not impossible for such a beautiful young woman to enter a high-class family.
Lin Zhi carefully took a half-step to increase the distance between herself and Xie Zheng, and smiled politely: "It's a good thing that Miss Xie has come to her senses. Young Master Xie, you flatter me."
"If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have agreed to go to Jiangnan. Our whole family should thank Miss Lin."
Lin Zhi exhaled slowly, knowing that her "ill-fated relationship" with Xie Jin was finally over after today. However, before leaving, she made one last request: if anyone needed help in the future, please come to her.
Lin Zhi couldn't understand what important matter she could possibly have that would alarm her.
After escorting the person to the gate of the Xie residence, Xie Zheng was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly drew the sword from the guard beside him and rushed forward.
He skillfully pushed her aside, and Lin Zhi belatedly realized that she had just dodged the thief who was trying to assassinate her with a dagger!
The coachman was lying in a pool of blood in front of the Xie residence's carriage, which frightened Lin Zhi so much that she unconsciously held her breath.
After Xie Zheng stabbed the man and took him away, he discovered that the Pei family's coachman had been harmed.
"Miss Lin, this person came here today specifically for me. I'm so sorry to have dragged you into this."
"You can't ride in this carriage anymore. Shall I take you back to the Pei residence?"
With the red still before her eyes, Lin Zhi couldn't bear to look any longer and could only nod in agreement.
It was too conspicuous for the Xie family's carriage to stop in front of the Pei family's residence. Even though it was getting dark, Lin Zhi still asked Xie Zheng to stop the carriage first.
"What happened today was Xie Zheng's oversight. I hope Miss Lin will not be alarmed."
Lin Zhi didn't dare to say anything more. She just wanted to go back to the manor, but Xie Zheng was still worried and insisted on following her to the Pei manor.
Lin Zhi looked troubled, afraid that if others saw her, rumors would spread.
Xie Zheng stared at her retreating figure for a long while before slowly speaking, "Miss Lin, are you and Pei Mingli very close?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhi couldn't help but stop and look at him, her eyes filled with wariness: "What do you mean by that, Young Master Xie?"
Xie Zheng frowned, somewhat unaccustomed to her behavior, but still softened his tone: "Miss Lin, please don't be anxious. I just want to tell you something."
"I went to the palace for an audience yesterday, but I overheard news from the border..."
Upon hearing that it was related to Pei Mingli, Lin Zhi's heart jumped: "What happened to my second cousin?"
Seeing the anxiety in her almond-shaped eyes, Xie Zheng couldn't help but reveal the news that Pei Mingli was missing. Even though this was a military secret within the palace, and he clearly knew that Lin Zhi might be waiting for Pei Mingli's triumphant return for their wedding, he still blurted it out as if possessed.
"Unknown? No way... My second cousin is a brave and skilled warrior, how could he be missing..."
Lin Zhi's mind was buzzing with disbelief, but Xie Zheng held an important position, so his information must be true.
Seeing Lin Zhi turn and leave somewhat numbly, Xie Zheng, worried, strode after her: "Miss Lin, the message from the border only says she's missing, she might still be alright..."
Lin Zhi couldn't hear anything at that moment. She was like a piece of duckweed floating on the water, but now Xie Zheng was telling her that her last straw was gone...
Seeing her distraught expression, Xie Zheng suddenly regretted telling her about it; even a day later would have meant a day more freedom.
Lin Zhi's vision blurred, and she could no longer see the road ahead clearly. Xie Zheng's voice and a piercing buzzing sound filled her ears.
In a daze, she finally arrived at the gate of the Pei residence, only to see Pei Lang waiting outside. Tall and elegant, he looked down at her and Xie Zheng behind her.
Seeing him made Lin Zhi feel a little more at ease. However, Pei Lang stared coldly at Xie Zheng behind her as he slowly walked over.
How could he not know when Xie Zheng had become so tender-hearted towards women? He even personally escorted Lin Zhi back to the mansion.
Two figures, one tall and one petite, standing side by side, would surely be a sight to behold in the eyes of others.
"Thank you for bringing my cousin back, Mr. Xie."
Although the words were polite, Pei Lang's expression didn't seem like gratitude at all; rather, it looked like he was there to catch his mistress cheating.
A note from the author:
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Finally, we've updated to Pei Mingli's scenes! Although it's only mentioned in dialogue, the real show is about to begin!
Pei Lang is finally about to start fighting and grabbing; what came before was just an appetizer.
Thank you for saving this post and sending me some nutritional supplements! Please save it and keep reading! [Upright-eared rabbit head]
A sneak peek at the synopsis of my upcoming historical romance novel, "The Restriction on Wives-Slave Crematorium": Feel free to add it to your favorites!
[A delicate and obsessive young princess x a gloomy and resentful scholar]
After Xie Yun, the newly appointed third-ranked scholar, found himself in a relationship, he heard that many noble ladies in the capital were weeping and fainting, and everyone secretly resented Mingyao.
But behind closed doors, no matter how considerate and shy she was, she couldn't earn a single glance from her husband.
Three months into their marriage, the only time the two were truly intimate was when they held hands in front of others.
Mingyao was hopeful, Mingyao was frustrated, Mingyao gave up hope.
When she awoke from her dream, she was shocked to find herself in a sensual novel, but only as a minor character who died young.
The woman truly cherished by the young general, the foreign prince, the celestial prime minister, and her aloof husband was a woman of commoner origin.
In the storybook, Xie Yunzhi is addicted to the pleasures of the flesh, giving and taking whatever she wants, clinging to people until they can't escape, her aloofness gone, a decadence she has never seen before.
Mingyao became suspicious, but found a woman's undergarment, delicate and soft, in a box that her husband had carefully hidden away in his room.
It turns out that Xie Yunzhi was not a saint, but he just couldn't handle her.
A forced melon is neither sweet nor thirst-quenching.
Although the Emperor decreed that the marriage could not be dissolved, Mingyao was magnanimous and took the initiative to sleep in separate beds from Xie Yunzhi.
He let the beautiful woman cling to him, while she chatted and laughed with the handsome scholar.
Rather than being a miserable couple, it's better to each do your own thing.
Although Xie Yunzhi crushed the delicate teacup in front of her, Mingyao felt that he was overjoyed.
The princess beckoned with her finger, and generals, the crown prince, and the chief minister all flocked to her.
Mingyao always felt that there was a pair of eyes watching her from the shadows.
Not only that, but several of her undergarments have also mysteriously gone missing.
During a slightly tipsy palace banquet, Mingyao was abducted into an empty hall. In her fear and trepidation, she felt a cold dampness on her neck.
The resentful husband behind her took her undergarment ties into his mouth, and Xie Yunzhi gritted her teeth in jealousy:
Why haven't I seen this before?
Xie Yunzhi was afraid that she would despise him and therefore dared not reveal his true, obsessive nature.
But I was also afraid that if she didn't play, I would find fun elsewhere.
"You're trying to drive me crazy!" (1v1, both partners are virgins/clean)
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