Chapter 81 The Death of Chun Tao Mentioning Wang the blacksmith, Lin Zhi's face turned even paler...
Pei Lang gradually lost his strength, feeling his fingertips go numb and tremble. He rushed towards the direction where everyone was surrounding and holding Mianmian. After watching her whimper a couple of times and fall back asleep, the weight on his heart finally lifted.
"What exactly happened? How could there be a fire!"
Pei Lang rarely interacted with his servants, and now that he was suddenly being questioned by him, the maids and servants were all somewhat afraid.
"My lord, although we were extremely careful today, there were still too many guests, and even with the utmost care, some oversights still occurred."
"Thankfully, the young lady is unharmed, otherwise we servants would have to atone with our lives!"
Pei Lang held his daughter tightly, feeling a chill run through his body. Lu Heng had just disappeared, and now Mianmian was in danger of getting burned.
If it had nothing to do with him, he certainly wouldn't believe it.
With a dark expression, he spoke in a low voice: "Where is Lu Heng?"
Xingyun shook his head, his face pale: "We've already sent people to chase after them, but they haven't found any trace yet. Besides, sir, we don't have any evidence right now."
He watched Lu Heng grow up, but he had to admit that old habits die hard.
Even though Lu Heng is not as fierce as his father and brothers, he has now shown his claws.
Holding his sleeping daughter in his arms, whose innocent face was filled with bewilderment at the crisis, Pei Lang said with a stern expression, "Go to the palace and report that Lu Heng, the son of a disgraced official, has fled. Please make a decision, Your Majesty."
Since Lu Heng is ruthless, then don't blame him for being unjust.
"My lord! Miss Chuntao...she's dying!"
Upon hearing Chun Tao's name, Pei Lang's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again: "How could this be? Wasn't she recuperating?"
The maid who came to deliver the news knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "It was Miss Chuntao who risked her life to rush into the room and rescue the young lady. If it weren't for Chuntao, I'm afraid the young lady would also..."
"Miss Chuntao is burning up, and now the doctor has come but can only say... there's nothing he can do."
Thinking of how Lin Zhi and Chun Tao used to be as close as sisters, Pei Lang's expression turned cold as he quickly went to look at Chun Tao.
Upon seeing the person whose face was burned beyond recognition, even Pei Lang couldn't bear it and looked away. He couldn't imagine that if it weren't Chun Tao, it would be his daughter lying here.
“...Young Master”
Chun Tao's voice also became hoarse as she spoke with difficulty to Pei Lang, addressing him as "Young Master."
That was the title we used when we were still in the Pei family.
Pei Lang walked up to her with a solemn expression. "Chun Tao, thank you for what happened today. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid Mianmian's life would have been in danger."
Hearing Pei Lang express his gratitude, Chun Tao could only shake her head with difficulty: "This servant... failed to save Miss, and cannot bear to see... the young lady suffer."
"I only hope that you, young master, will always remember the young lady and never forget her."
"This servant... would die willingly..."
Chun Tao clutched tightly to the sachet that Lin Zhi had embroidered for her by hand, which was hanging from her waist. Although a corner of it was charred black from the fire, she was still reluctant to let go.
Pei Lang, unable to bear it, turned his head and called the doctor in: "No matter how good the medicine, we must prolong her life and let her live a few more days..."
No sooner had Pei Lang finished speaking than Chun Tao's hand fell limply to her side, and everyone knew that it was all over.
After staring at Chun Tao's horrific injuries for a long time, Pei Lang finally spoke in a slightly hoarse voice: "Give Chun Tao a proper burial and find her a good place."
With a "clang," the wooden stick in Lin Zhi's hand suddenly fell into the water, splashing half of her clothes. Her face was pale as she clutched her chest, her expression pained.
"Oh dear, Fei Yi, what's wrong with you?"
The aunts and older sisters nearby quickly came over to her side and helped her to the side: "Are you feeling unwell?"
"Take a rest."
Lin Zhi took a couple of sips of the water she had brought, and her expression softened slightly: "Thank you, I'm fine."
"You all go about your business."
After everyone had left, Lin Zhi looked down at her slightly trembling hands, feeling as if she had lost something extremely precious, and a void filled her heart.
I was somewhat absent-minded all day, and by the time I finished washing the clothes, only half the sun had set.
"Feiyi, you're not getting any younger. Have you thought about getting married?"
The last person to leave with her was Aunt Zhao, a well-known matchmaker in the village. She had approached Lin Zhi as soon as she arrived in Pingyi Village, but Pei Mingli had driven her away, and the matter was dropped.
Lin Zhi, still holding the wooden basin, continued walking, her tone somewhat perfunctory: "Auntie, I haven't thought about these things yet. My brother and I are new here, and we just want to live a good life."
But Aunt Zhao persisted, saying, "Look at you, a young lady, how can you compare to your brother?"
"If your brother gets married, he will have a woman by his side to take care of him within a few days."
"But you are different. If a woman wastes too much time, no matter how beautiful she is, it will be of no use!"
"Feiyi, Wang the blacksmith at the east end of our village may be a bit quiet, but he's very skilled. His blacksmith shop makes a lot of money, and he's a kind man. He won't treat you badly!"
The two followed her all the way to Lin Zhi's house, pulling and tugging at each other. Only then did she become a little impatient and pull away from Aunt Zhao's hand: "Auntie, I don't want to find a husband like that. I like scholars and I don't want to marry a blacksmith."
"You should go back now!"
Aunt Zhao left somewhat dejectedly, carrying the wooden basin, and Lin Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But when he turned around, he bumped into Luo Qinzhi standing behind him, and he didn't know when Luo Qinzhi had returned to the village.
"Brothers Qin?"
Luo Qinzhi's eyes showed some panic, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips and quickly took the things from his hands.
"Miss Lin, these are pickled vegetables my mother made herself. Please have a taste!"
Before Lin Zhi could refuse, Luo Qinzhi quickly put down his things and walked away.
Lin Zhi frowned as she stared at the small jar of vegetables, and finally could only sigh and take it back.
However, when Pei Mingli heard about this during dinner that day, he became somewhat annoyed: "This Aunt Zhao must have taken money from Wang the blacksmith! Otherwise, why would she be chasing after you so persistently?"
"When my cousin gets back, I'll give him a good beating, then he won't dare to even think about it!"
Lin Zhi sighed helplessly: "We came later, so if we really start fighting, I'm afraid we won't be in the right."
"Cousin, you just said you were coming back? Where are you going?"
Pei Mingli's expression turned serious: "I haven't heard from my brothers in this area for a long time. I was thinking of asking him to help you send the things to Jiangnan, but it's not possible now."
Seeing Lin Zhi suddenly grip her chopsticks tightly, Pei Mingli quickly added, "But don't worry, since it's something for Mianmian, your cousin will definitely deliver it for you."
"But now I'll have to personally deliver it to Xie Jin, so you must take good care of yourself."
"Yu Jiao also said that she would come to keep you company whenever she had free time while I was away, so you don't need to worry."
Pei Mingli said this, but his eyes were full of worry. His sister was too beautiful and attracted many people, and he was ultimately worried.
Lin Zhi nodded in agreement: "Sister Yu Jiao is kind and easy-going. If my cousin comes back, let's find a good day to finalize the marriage."
“My sister is not young anymore. If we wait any longer, I’m afraid her family will have to find her a husband.”
Pei Mingli didn't say anything, but nodded with his ears turning red.
Feng Yujiao was not like an ordinary peasant woman; instead, she was spirited and dignified, like a daughter of a military family. She had once helped Luo Qinzhi save him, and the two had fallen for each other then.
Now that he had the approval of his family, Pei Mingli felt more confident: "Okay, you wait for your cousin to come back, and I'll invite you to his wedding."
Pei Mingli was never one to procrastinate; he said goodbye the night before and was already packing his things to leave the next day.
Feng Yujiao's delicate and dignified face showed some reluctance: "Mingli, when will you be able to come back?"
"I...I will take good care of your sister."
Although she didn't say she was reluctant to part with it, every word she uttered conveyed her reluctance.
Pei Mingli pursed his lips, reached out and pulled the jade pendant off his body and placed it in her palm: "I'll trouble you to take care of her these days. When I come back... I have something to tell you when I come back."
Lin Zhi watched the two bid each other farewell until Pei Mingli's figure was out of sight. Then she teasingly nudged Feng Yujiao's shoulder and said, "Sister, you can't even see him anymore, what are you still looking at?"
"Feiyi!"
With a flushed face, Feng Yujiao stamped her foot and hurriedly ran back home.
Seeing the two so affectionate, Lin Zhi's smile faded as she thought of the person she shouldn't be thinking about, and her mood plummeted again.
After experiencing all these upsetting things, she thought she was no longer moved by these emotions, but unexpectedly, her heart was still being stirred by Pei Lang.
With a sigh, Lin Zhi rubbed her cheeks to cheer herself up and went back into the room to get a new set of bedding for Feng Yujiao.
The two went to bed early and turned off the lights early.
No one noticed the rustling noise coming from the corner of the wall outside the house.
Luo Qinzhi, fighting off his drowsiness, washed his face with well water, but then strained his ears and seemed to hear someone talking.
The young lady Lin who lives next door lives alone. Why would she be talking to someone so late at night?
"That man surnamed Pei left the village early this morning. If you miss such a great opportunity, you'll never be able to marry such a good wife again!"
"If we've already made it a fait accompli, I'm not afraid that little girl won't give in!"
Luo Qinzhi frowned and quietly went around to the outside of the room, only to see a burly figure hiding outside the door, sneaking over the wall to get in, while a woman walked along the base of the wall ahead of him.
By the moonlight, I could see the man's face clearly; it was none other than the blacksmith Wang!
However, the man moved so quickly that Luo Qinzhi dared not shout loudly, for fear that if others found out about this, it would ruin Miss Lin's reputation!
He had no choice but to run to the door and knock, saying that his mother needed to speak with him.
When Lin Zhi was awakened by the knocking on the door, she saw a dark figure flash past the door before she could even light a candle.
"Sister Yu Jiao!" Lin Zhi was so frightened that she gasped for breath and quickly woke up Feng Yu Jiao, who was standing next to her.
The two men dressed and listened to the commotion outside: "It seems to be Brother Qin knocking on the door, but who is in the courtyard?"
Seeing Lin Zhi's bewildered expression, Feng Yujiao's face turned grim.
Lin Zhi was new to the area and didn't know, but she knew all too well what kind of people these were!
She grabbed a feather duster from the house, her face darkening, and rushed out, kicking the man to the ground before he could react.
Feng Yujiao is a skilled housekeeper; she may look petite, but she's incredibly strong.
"Ouch!" Seeing the man fall to the ground unexpectedly, she grabbed a woven basket and put it over his head. Feather dusters rained down on him, making him howl in pain.
"Feiyi! Quickly open the door and call for help! A thief has broken into the yard!"
Lin Zhi understood perfectly now. With a pale face, she went to open the door and met Luo Qinzhi face to face.
"Feiyi! Are you alright?"
Lin Zhi shook her head, "Fortunately, Sister Yu Jiao is keeping me company today..."
"If you've got the guts, don't run away! Let the villagers see what kind of lowlife you are!"
Feng Yujiao stood with her hands on her hips, watching the man scramble away over the wall in a disheveled state, but she stopped Lin Zhi from chasing after him.
"Don't chase after it, or it might do something desperate and hurt you again."
Lin Zhi bit her lower lip, "I don't even know who we've offended. Will we have to live in constant fear from now on?"
Feng Yujiao glanced at her with a complicated expression: "Feiyi, that man is obviously Wang the blacksmith. Do you have any grudge against him?"
Mentioning Wang the blacksmith made Lin Zhi's face turn even paler. She had just asked the matchmaker to sound her out yesterday, and now that she had been rejected, she was going to try to force her way in.
If she actually chased after him, who knows what might happen...
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Please!] We, Chuntao, are filled with regret in our midnight dreams for not saving Azhi. Now, we can say that our regret has been fulfilled.
The best peaches [pat on the head]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
