Chapter 51 The Wind Rises and the Rain Falls "Consort Hui's younger sister, could it be He..."
The possessiveness and oppression that had been building up in Pei Lang's eyes made Lin Zhi shrink back uncontrollably; she had never seen Pei Lang like this before.
She admitted that she liked Pei Lang's assertiveness, which gave her a sense of security, but the current Pei Lang had far exceeded her control. He was like a wild wolf that had been kept in captivity and suppressed for a long time; even if he was usually obedient, he couldn't help but show his sharp claws.
Noticing the fear in Lin Zhi's eyes, Pei Lang's expression suddenly darkened. He gently released Lin Zhi's hand and spoke in a low voice as she turned to leave.
"I didn't want her to die."
"When she entered the Pei family, she also drove my mother to her death."
“It’s common for wealthy and powerful families to have three wives and four concubines. My mother is not a jealous person. If Lin Shaowan hadn’t been so insatiable, would my mother have been so intolerant of her?”
"It's all her fault for giving birth to a son, and then she wanted me to die."
Lin Zhi's back froze, and she couldn't move an inch, as if rooted to the spot.
Pei Lang slowly walked up behind her and gently embraced her from behind as if she were a precious treasure: "Azhi, do you know how my mother passed away?"
"She ate a bowl of sweet porridge that someone had prepared for me, and then died in front of me, bleeding from all seven orifices."
Pei Lang's voice was calm, but Lin Zhi could feel his arms around her waist tighten and tremble: "In those years, whenever I closed my eyes, I would think of the tragic scene of my mother's death in front of me. I can't forget it."
"Lin Shaowan also admitted that she only wanted to drug me to make me stupid and unable to compete with Pei Mingli for the Pei family, but she did not expect my mother to accidentally ingest it."
"Ironically, my mother had been depressed and physically and mentally exhausted because of my father's change of heart. Even without that bowl of poisoned porridge, she probably didn't have much time left."
Pei Lang's large hands were clenched tightly, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.
"But Lin Shaowan couldn't even wait that long."
“I hate her, but I’m also grateful to her, at least she brought you into my life.”
Lin Zhi closed her eyes in despair. At this moment, her mind felt as if it were being pierced by a hundred needles, and her head was throbbing with pain. No matter which side she turned to, she felt pain.
Only then did Lin Zhi finally understand why her aunt had insisted that she become Pei Lang's concubine.
After a long while, Lin Zhi finally opened her reddened eyes. "Pei Lang, please let me go, and I'll let you go too."
"Neither of us can forget the hatred between us, and binding us together will only increase the pain."
That's enough for now...
Even after hearing these words, Pei Lang still wouldn't let go of her hand, clinging to Lin Zhi like a rogue.
"Let go..."
Lin Zhi, her eyes red, tried to pry his hand away. Even though she knew she was no match for his strength, she still tried her best, not knowing whether she was angry with Pei Lang or competing with herself.
The disparity in strength between men and women filled her with despair. In her sorrow, she gritted her teeth, pulled a plain hairpin from her hair, and stabbed it into Pei Lang's forearm.
Despite his weak but accurate strike, Pei Lang's arm trembled slightly but he didn't let go. Instead, he turned Lin Zhi's shoulder to face him.
"No one will die, you know that."
Pei Lang held Lin Zhi's trembling hand and slowly pressed the hairpin against his throat. His most vulnerable Adam's apple moved up and down, leaving his thin skin completely unguarded.
"Only then can you kill someone with a single blow."
Pei Lang's large hand was still warm and reliable, but now it was teaching him how to kill him.
Lin Zhi felt as if her heart was being torn apart; the events of the past few days had left her physically and mentally exhausted.
"Pei Lang, have you made enough of a scene?"
"There are countless women in the world. Now that you have avenged my aunt, why do you still insist on holding me captive?"
Lin Zhi took a deep breath, and fine veins bulged on her slender neck. "Let me go!"
The two remained deadlocked until Pei Lang, seeing Lin Zhi on the verge of tears, finally let go first. "You've been too tired these past few days, so I can't blame you for saying these things."
"You should rest well, and we'll talk again later."
Lin Zhi pursed her lips, unwilling to waste any more words on him, and turned to leave.
He had only taken a few steps when suddenly everything went black, and he collapsed before he could react.
Warm water slid down her throat, and with the faint sound of crying in her ears, Lin Zhi had no choice but to open her tired eyes. She had cried so much that even opening her eyes felt like a struggle.
"Miss! Miss, you're finally awake!"
Looking at Xia Ying, who was crying her eyes out, Lin Zhi narrowed her eyes and reached out to touch her face: "I'm just too tired, why are you crying?"
Xia Ying shook her head, sobbing, "No, no, Miss, Lord Pei has been taken away by the Emperor's men!"
"This time he's really been imprisoned!"
Lin Zhi's half-formed smile froze on her face, filled with disbelief: "What did you say?"
"Xia Ying! Who gave you permission to say these things to Miss!"
When Chun Tao came in carrying the basin of water, she heard Xia Ying crying and saying these words, and she was so anxious that she almost dropped what she was holding.
Lin Zhi, her face pale, climbed out of bed and frowned at them: "What exactly happened?"
Chun Tao frowned and hesitated for a long time before kneeling down with a thud: "Miss, before the master left, he told us not to tell you."
"Just say that you don't want to see him."
"But now... the person who came was His Majesty's personal eunuch. He said that Consort Shu in the palace intended to assassinate His Majesty, but fortunately Consort Hui blocked the attack, so His Majesty was safe and sound."
"But the Emperor was furious, and at this time, some people even submitted memorials impeaching him, saying that... that Your Excellency deliberately arranged for the Consort to enter the palace to assassinate him..."
Chun Tao's voice grew softer and softer, but Lin Zhi's body grew colder and colder.
Qin Lu'er? How could that be!
Isn't she someone close to the princess? How could she assassinate the emperor!
Lin Zhi's mind was a bit muddled, but even so, she struggled to get down: "I want to enter the palace!"
But Chun Tao knelt down in front of Lin Zhi to stop her: "Miss, you just woke up! You fainted suddenly! The doctor hasn't come to see you yet. What will we servants do if something happens to you!"
Lin Zhi's lips were pale, and she was breathing with some difficulty: "What kind of juncture is this? I know my own body."
"I did Qin Lu'er's plum blossom makeup. Even if the Emperor wants to punish me, he will punish me."
She may not care about Pei Lang, but she is unwilling to owe him any more.
Only when the two owe each other nothing can they have no further dealings.
If Pei Lang is truly punished because of her, she will owe him for the rest of her life.
But when they reached the carriage, Lin Zhi stopped, her expression grim.
"What's wrong, Miss?"
Xia Ying thought that her mistress was unwell, but she only saw Lin Zhi close her eyes in despair: "Only the principal wife is qualified to enter the palace for an audience."
Even though she was the mistress of the Grand Secretary's mansion, and even though Pei Lang gave her the most glamorous wedding, she was still ultimately a concubine.
The two young maids were also disheartened upon hearing this. The pillar of the household had fallen, and they were extremely anxious.
Lin Zhi's pupils shifted slightly before she instructed the coachman to head in another direction, her face filled with determination as she boarded the carriage.
Upon arriving at the princess's villa, Lin Zhi took a deep breath before letting Xia Ying knock on the door.
After knocking a few times, the door slowly opened from the inside. The person who came was not surprised at all when he saw Lin Zhi, but respectfully invited him in.
"Greetings, Madam Pei. The Princess has been waiting for you for a long time."
Lin Zhi clenched her fists and slowly walked in. When she saw the princess, she felt even more uncertain.
"Greetings to the Princess."
The princess in the main seat couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at Lin Zhi kneeling below her: "Madam Pei, why are you being so polite? Please rise."
Lin Zhi remained kneeling, pressing her body even lower, and forced her voice to tremble as she spoke: "Please, Your Highness, spare Pei Lang."
Upon hearing this, the princess narrowed her slightly creased eyes and stared at the audacious concubine: "Does Madam Pei mean that I intentionally framed your husband?"
Lin Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly kowtowed, "That was not what I meant..."
"Hmph! I'm not stupid, that's exactly what you mean!"
Sensing the princess's anger, Lin Zhi could only bite the bullet and say, "Consort Shu's father was once the princess's confidant, and naturally a loyal person. There must be something fishy about this, or perhaps someone is framing her."
Even though Pei Lang has been arrested, if the matter is investigated, the princess will still face considerable scrutiny...
Lin Zhi's voice grew weaker as she spoke, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "It's one thing to wrong Pei Lang, but if it causes a rift between the princess and the emperor, then the princess will be innocently implicated!"
After a long pause, the princess finally chuckled softly, "Well, well! Pei Lang really has a good wife!"
Lin Zhi knelt on the cold, hard ground, not daring to get up. But she saw the princess walk up to her, reach out and lift her chin. Lin Zhi stiffened her neck and dared not move, for fear of angering the princess.
"Tsk tsk, she really is a beauty. No wonder she has captivated the Grand Secretary Pei Lang so devoted to her."
"It's a pity that, though beautiful, Lin Zhi, you're too stupid."
The princess casually turned her face away from Lin Zhi's, as if she were treating an insignificant object.
"If I were you, I would have packed up my valuables and left the capital long ago. How dare you stay here and come to me to beg for mercy? Or even threaten me?"
"Assassinating the Emperor is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! You, Lin Zhi, personally painted plum blossom makeup on Qin Lu'er to attract the Emperor's attention. If you weren't the mastermind behind it, why would you go to such lengths?"
With each additional word the princess spoke, Lin Zhi's face paled a little more.
"Now that Qin Lu'er is dead, the dead cannot speak."
"With just one word from me, only one of you and Pei Lang can live."
Lin Zhi finally understood the princess's words, and a bitter feeling rose from her throat to the tip of her tongue.
She spoke with difficulty: "Princess, please tell me what you want me to do."
"Consort Hui's younger sister is the second daughter of Prime Minister He. How can a noble lady of such status share a husband with another man?"
"As long as you die, Pei Lang will be safe and sound. I always keep my word."
Lin Zhi's heart jolted, but her body went limp and she lay prostrate on the ground for a long time before slowly speaking, "Please, Princess, let me see Pei Lang one last time..."
He only received a light click of his tongue: "It seems that Madam Pei is still reluctant to die. Then let Pei Lang wait for His Majesty to investigate."
Lin Zhi, her eyes red, hurriedly straightened up, only to see the princess's departing figure: "See the guest out."
When she was driven out of the princess's villa, a few drops of cold snow fell on her face, and Lin Zhi squinted her eyes to realize that it was snowing again.
This time, however, it was exceptionally cold, a chill that seemed to emanate from deep within my heart.
"Miss, shall we return to the manor?"
Lin Zhi was helped into the carriage, and her frozen body finally warmed up a bit. Her beautiful and stubborn profile was superior and perfect, and her excessive paleness made her look even more delicate and pitiful.
"...No, go to Dali Temple."
Xie Zheng buried himself in the case files that had been delivered recently; he hadn't been back to his residence for quite some time.
"Shaoqing, someone requests an audience."
These days, there have been at least fifty or a hundred jailers coming to see him, all saying they couldn't take it anymore and were asking for leave. Xie Zheng didn't even look up before letting them in.
He was curious to hear what new reasons they had come up with.
This time, after waiting for quite a while without hearing his subordinates speak, Xie Zheng instead caught a faint, cool fragrance, which made him frown in confusion.
As soon as he looked up, he saw Lin Zhi with her hands clasped in front of her, quietly looking at him.
At first, Xie Zheng thought he was just seeing things because he hadn't slept enough. He blinked hard but realized he wasn't dreaming. He quickly dropped what he was holding and strode forward.
"...Madam Pei? What brings you here?"
Xie Zheng stared at Lin Zhi as if he were greedy and insatiable. Several months had passed since her marriage, and he had been numbing himself with official duties, but he still lost his composure when he saw Lin Zhi.
But it was only after he walked in that he noticed Lin Zhi's strange expression, and a thought suddenly occurred to him: "You came for Pei Lang?"
As expected, Lin Zhi nodded slightly. Xie Zheng's expression remained unchanged, but his heart ached as if it were bleeding.
If it weren't for Pei Lang, she wouldn't have come looking for her.
Xie Zheng slightly suppressed the surprise in his eyes, hardened his heart, turned his back to her, and said, "Pei Lang has gone too far this time, and there is nothing I can do about it."
"Even if Madam Pei comes to me, there's nothing I can do..."
Xie Zheng thought he would drive Lin Zhi away in anger, but he didn't hear Lin Zhi leave for a long time. He couldn't hold back and turned around, only to find that Lin Zhi had actually knelt down in front of him!
"Lin Zhi!"
He stopped calling her Madam Pei and rushed forward, grabbing Lin Zhi's arms with both hands to forcibly pull her up. But he couldn't help but be shocked. How could she have become so thin?
Lin Zhi shook her head blankly: "Please, Xie Zheng, I beg you."
"Let me see him, just once. Whatever you want, the Pei family can give you."
"Pei Lang was framed."
Xie Zheng gripped Lin Zhi's arms tightly, but couldn't help clenching his teeth and trembling: "Who is Pei Lang? Do you think it's just a coincidence that he's escaped danger so many times?"
"What can a weak woman like you do? He can get out unharmed even without you."
Why do you have to do this?
Seeing Xie Zheng's disappointed expression, Lin Zhi swallowed her words, knowing that Pei Lang couldn't handle this matter.
Only she can.
Looking into Lin Zhi's heartbreakingly sad eyes, Xie Zheng's heart sank: "...Okay, I promise you."
"I will do everything I can to get you in."
As dusk fell, Xie Zheng hurried to the imperial prison with his men, only to be stopped by the guards as expected: "Young Master Xie, please wait. Do you have any imperial edict?"
Xie Zheng glared at him impatiently: "Can't you see I'm in a hurry to ask questions? His Majesty personally ordered me to interrogate Pei Lang. Otherwise, do you think anyone in the court can interrogate him?"
The guard hesitated for a moment, then took a half step back, but seeing the troubled look on the man behind him, he said, "You can go in, but what about your men..."
Xie Zheng stepped back to block his view. "You can't even take one person with you? Do you mean I have to carry all those things myself?"
After being thoroughly scolded, the guard dared not say another word and quickly stepped back to let the person in.
The prison was dark and damp, filled with a strong smell of blood. Lin Zhi hurried behind Xie Zheng, but couldn't help gagging.
"How about it?"
Xie Zheng frowned and turned his head to look at her, but only saw her raise her hand and wave it, her face pale but still saying that she was fine.
Seeing her stubbornness, Xie Zheng could only remind her as they walked: "We only managed to find this opportunity today because His Majesty is busy with official duties. When you see Pei Lang later, we'll keep it brief."
"I'll stay here and keep watch for you, but I'm afraid I won't be able to hold out for long."
"If we are exposed and suppressed, we will face certain death."
Lin Zhi nodded, clenching her fists, and solemnly said, "I won't thank you for your great kindness. Xie Zheng, I owe you this."
But Xie Zheng looked away awkwardly when he met her clear eyes: "You once saved Xie Jin, I'm just returning the favor."
The two walked quickly, but Lin Zhi suddenly stopped.
Xie Zheng frowned and looked over, only to see Pei Lang lying on the haystack. Although his clothes were still neat, there were many wounds on his face and hands.
"Pei Lang! Wake up!"
Lin Zhi held back her surging tears, gripped the railing tightly, and called out to him softly, afraid that he wouldn't hear her and that she would disturb others.
Pei Lang stirred, struggling to open his eyes, only to see Lin Zhi standing before him. A dark glint flashed in his eyes before he quickly stood up: "What are you doing here?"
Before Lin Zhi could even speak, he noticed Xie Zheng standing to the side, looking particularly obstructive.
Xie Zheng understood his look, frowned, and walked a few steps away.
Lin Zhi lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him: "What happened today was because I meddled in other people's business and dragged you into it. I don't want to owe you anything."
“The princess promised me that as long as I confess to this crime, she will protect you.”
Pei Lang's brows furrowed more and more tightly until he saw Lin Zhi take out a small white porcelain bottle from her sleeve. Only then did he step forward with eyes wide open and reach over the railing to grab her wrist tightly.
"Lin Zhi, you're insane!"
Lin Zhi smiled bitterly, "If the Emperor doesn't see my body, he probably won't believe me. Rather than suffer torture, I'd rather say I committed suicide out of guilt; that would be a quick and painless end..."
But before Lin Zhi could even put the poison to her lips, the porcelain bottle in her hand was suddenly knocked out and overturned to the ground.
Looking up, she saw that Pei Lang's expression was more gloomy than she had ever seen before: "Did you come to see me or to threaten me?"
"Lin Zhi, you are not allowed to die."
"Before anyone notices, quickly leave with Xie Zheng. I'll be fine, don't worry about me!"
No matter how Pei Lang tried to persuade her, Lin Zhi refused to leave, and even took out a delicate dagger from her bosom.
"Between you and me, we already owe each other an immeasurable debt. This whole affair started because of me, and I don't want to owe you anything more!"
Xie Zheng turned around by chance, only to see Lin Zhi pull out a dagger and slash it at his own neck. He was terrified!
However, he was too far away from Lin Zhi, and even at his fastest speed, he couldn't stop her in time.
In a flash, Lin Zhi gritted her teeth and pressed the blade against her neck, but then she heard the eunuch announce, "His Majesty has arrived!"
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