Chapter 85 Amnesia and Forgetfulness "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't know you!..."
Seeing that he looked unwell, Xingyun quickly caught up and looked him around warily: "Young Master!"
"Could there be someone with ill intentions?"
But at this moment, Pei Lang seemed to hear nothing. The deafening sound of his heartbeat almost shattered him, and the heavy stone pressing on his chest was grinding back and forth.
He was terrified that that one glance was a hallucination born from his obsessive longing.
“...I saw Lin Zhi.”
Xingyun paused, turned her head slightly in fright, thinking Pei Lang was talking nonsense.
But when he saw the extremely solemn and serious expression on that handsome face, he had a vague premonition: "...Young master, is this really true?"
"Forgive my bluntness, but the lady has been gone for quite some time now, and it's snowing lightly today. There are many people around, so could you have mistaken her for someone else?"
But before he could finish speaking, he was grabbed by the collar and nearly pulled up from the ground. Pei Lang's narrow eyes were slightly red, and he gritted his teeth, enunciating each word clearly: "I can't be wrong, that's someone I would never mistake day or night!"
With just a fleeting glance, Pei Lang noticed another man beside her. That damned man dared to be so intimate with her!
His clenched fists cracked, revealing his suppressed anger.
Pei Lang abruptly released Xingyun's hand, pushing her a few steps away, and coldly ordered, "Have people search these streets thoroughly, especially the women who have recently moved in and haven't lived here long!"
"yes!"
Seeing that Pei Lang was so unyielding, Xingyun didn't dare to delay for a moment and immediately led people to search.
Pei Lang stood there for a moment, but eventually couldn't resist and personally led people to search for it.
The two jogged all the way to the carriage. Luo Qinzhi was still out of breath and stared at Lin Zhi in surprise: "Miss Lin, why are you running?"
"But who did you see?"
But when he turned his head, he saw Lin Zhi's face was as pale as paper, and he hurriedly helped her sit down in the carriage.
"...No...I just suddenly remembered that there's an urgent matter at home that I can't delay."
A metallic taste rose in Lin Zhi's throat, and her heart pounded wildly with panic.
She never expected to run into Pei Lang in Pingyi Town!
Shouldn't this man be content being the Grand Secretary Pei in the capital? Why has he come to such a small place?
Just thinking about Pei Lang's sharp, eagle-claw-like eyes, as if they could hook her in place and render her immobile with just his gaze.
Lin Zhi slowly released the crumpled hem of her skirt and forced an awkward smile: "Brother Qinzhi, let's go back first. The weather is bad today, and I'm afraid the snow will get heavier soon."
Although Luo Qinzhi was full of confusion, he couldn't bear to ask Lin Zhi any more questions after seeing her like this. She must have her own reasons.
On the way back, Lin Zhi huddled in a corner of the carriage, futilely hugging herself, trying to draw a little warmth, but still couldn't help trembling.
Images of Pei Lang, whom she had glimpsed from afar, kept flashing through her mind, as well as his presence at the Pei residence and at the Prime Minister's mansion.
Each time Pei Lang met her, her expression remained indifferent, making Lin Zhi feel uneasy.
"Don't be afraid...don't be afraid...maybe it's just a coincidence, he won't know I'm here..."
She murmured to herself, trying to calm herself down, but the cruel words Pei Lang left in her ears still made her heart tremble.
She doesn't want to hear it a second time!
Luo Qinzhi, whose attention was somewhat diverted from driving the carriage, frowned with worry and looked back, but didn't know what to say.
"Little sister...why aren't you eating? You went all the way to town today, aren't you hungry?"
Feng Yujiao knocked on Lin Zhi's door with some doubt, but could not hear the slightest movement inside.
Instead, Pei Mingli took her wrist first and gently led her back: "She's not a child anymore. If she's hungry, she'll come over by herself."
"If you don't want to eat it, there's no need to force you."
"But..." Feng Yujiao's eyes widened, somewhat at a loss, still worried in her heart.
"Alright, my wife, I'll come check on my sister again later. It's cold today, so you and the child should stay home."
After watching his wife enter the room, Pei Mingli frowned and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. Although he didn't know what was wrong with Lin Zhi, he felt uneasy.
"What do you mean you didn't find them? It's just these two streets! You can't even find a single living person?"
Pei Lang sat upright in the main seat, his cold and stern face obscured by the dim candlelight. His subordinates, kneeling in unison, trembled and none dared to speak first.
"Please forgive us, young master. It is all due to our incompetence."
“But our subordinates searched and inquired throughout the entire streets of Pingyi, and found no such woman.”
"If we make a big fuss, I'm afraid we'll alarm the people and the county magistrate."
Xingyun knelt on one knee, somewhat afraid to look up at Pei Lang's face, but even without looking, he could tell how unpleasant his master's expression was.
The jade prayer beads that Pei Lang held in his hand creaked and were on the verge of cracking.
"A bunch of useless trash."
His calm tone sent chills down everyone's spines. Just as everyone closed their eyes in despair, Jifeng suddenly strode into the hall, ignoring the deathly silence. He frowned and said with concern, "Please go and see the young lady, sir. The servants and wet nurse say that the young lady has an upset stomach and has vomited milk!"
Upon hearing that it concerned his daughter, Pei Lang disregarded the need to continue punishing the servants, stood up, and strode away.
As soon as he stepped into the bedroom, he heard Lin Mianmian's deafening and pitiful cries.
"Please forgive us, sir. We are all useless servants. But today, I don't know what happened, the young lady kept spitting up milk. In addition to the milk fed by the wet nurse, we also fed her some goat milk."
"But the young lady vomited it all up, and the doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong."
With a sullen face, Pei Lang reached out and took his daughter, letting the little bundle rest on his broad shoulders, and patted her back with practiced and patient movements.
The gentle yet firm touches gradually stopped her crying.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the child on Pei Lang's shoulder suddenly vomited onto Pei Lang's expensive clothes, causing everyone to gasp in shock.
Pei Lang merely frowned slightly and reached out to a servant for a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth.
"What's wrong with Mianmian? Why don't you talk to your father?"
Lin Mianmian, who only knew how to eat and sleep all day, slowly and comfortably fell asleep by patting the child's back repeatedly.
Pei Lang felt a warm breath on his neck and breathed a sigh of relief before gently placing the little one on the crib.
But she stopped in her tracks as she raised the handkerchief to wipe away the milk stains. "...Whose handkerchief is this?"
The maid from the Deng household immediately knelt down with a thud, lowering her voice so as not to wake Lin Mianmian: "Reporting to you, sir, this is my handkerchief."
Pei Lang's eyes held a mixture of longing and resentment: "Where did you get this handkerchief?"
The maid had never seen such a scene before, and hurriedly said, trembling, that it was the steward who had given the order.
"The steward instructed that since you are a distinguished guest, even these small items should be of good quality. So a few days ago, he sent someone to the market to buy them and brought back these handkerchiefs to distribute."
"If you are not pleased, then we will no longer be needed!"
Just as the woman was about to kowtow and apologize, Pei Lang stopped her, lowering his voice to try and reduce his intimidating presence.
"Don't be afraid. Just tell me where you bought it from and who sold it to you?"
The maid was a little stunned. After thinking for a while, she slowly said, "The steward once said that this was bought from a young woman. That woman's skills were exquisite, much better than many of the embroiderers in town."
"The steward bought more than a dozen handkerchiefs in one go, but the man's appearance... I have never seen him in person, so I can't remember much about him."
"But I know that she is not bad looking, with a slightly protruding belly."
While listening to the beginning, Pei Lang could barely maintain his composure, but upon hearing the last sentence, he was as close as a fuse to an exploding gunpowder.
"What did you say? A slightly protruding belly? What does that mean?"
The maid shuddered, but still spoke clearly: "The steward wanted to buy a few more handkerchiefs from that woman, but she said she was pregnant and that he might not be able to buy as many in the future."
"Tell the housekeeper that if she still wants to buy it, she should wait a little longer..."
With a loud "bang," shards of porcelain from the teacup exploded in everyone's ears.
"Get out, all of you."
Pei Lang's limp hand trembled slightly as he glanced at Lin Mianmian, who was sleeping soundly without being woken up, but his heart was bleeding with pain.
"yes!"
No one dared to delay and fled the room, fearing that they would further anger this capricious man.
Xingyun didn't dare to respond, fearing that the pregnant woman they were talking about might actually be Lin Zhi.
"You go out too, let me have some peace and quiet."
Still quite worried, Xingyun spoke softly, "Please calm down, sir. I will go and ask the steward of the manor. If there are any new clues, I will inform you."
The door creaked shut, blocking out the cold wind, but Pei Lang felt no different than if he were on the snow.
It seemed as if an unbridgeable hole had been torn in his already desolate heart, and the cold snow mixed with the wind poured in, making it difficult for him to even breathe.
Lin Zhi... has a new husband and even a child?
Each word and phrase, when put together, is like an incredibly sharp blade, slowly and painfully slicing him apart.
"No, no... People are wearing thick clothes in winter, maybe they're mistaken..."
He had been wondering what audacious person dared to take over his place while he was away, but he never imagined that he was the one who didn't deserve to stand beside Lin Zhi.
His fingernails slowly dug into his palm, drawing blood, but this was nothing compared to the excruciating pain in his heart.
As the candlelight flickered, a cruel smile crept across Pei Lang's thin lips in the shadows.
"No matter who they are, they are not worthy to stand between me and Azhi."
The woman who sold handkerchiefs was quite famous; with just a few inquiries, Xingyun learned that she lived in Pingyi Village.
"I can't quite remember which household it was, but if we want to find it, we can just ask a couple more households and we'll get the answer."
As soon as Xingyun finished speaking, Pei Lang got up, neatly put on his thick fur cloak, and strode out of the house to mount his horse.
"Jifeng, stay and take good care of Mianmian. There must be no mistakes."
Looking at the young master sitting upright on his tall horse, Jifeng nodded firmly: "Your subordinate will certainly live up to your mission!"
Watching Xingyun ride away with Pei Lang, a complex look flashed in Jifeng's eyes, but he remained silent and hurried back to his room to guard Lin Mianmian.
Looking at the table full of dishes prepared by Pei Mingli, Feng Yujiao asked with a puzzled expression, "These are all dishes that my sister usually likes. Why hasn't she wanted to eat for the past two days?"
"But did you make her angry?"
Pei Mingli, however, looked equally puzzled: "I haven't seen her since she left yesterday. What makes you say that, my wife?"
"However, the Luo brothers have been following her the whole time. Why don't we ask someone to come and inquire?"
Feng Yujiao's eyes lit up, and she quickly sent him to invite people over for a meal.
At the dinner table, Feng Yujiao stared intently at Luo Qinzhi's face, which clearly showed he hadn't slept well. "Brother Qinzhi, I noticed yesterday that quite a few handkerchiefs were sold, but my sister has been cooped up in her room ever since she came back. Do you know what's wrong?"
Luo Qinzhi, who had lost his appetite, hesitated. He had also caught a glimpse of a tall and handsome man out of the corner of his eye yesterday. The man was too conspicuous, but Miss Lin's reaction was too quick. He was unsure whether he had any connection with that man.
He shook his head blankly, only to receive disappointed looks from Feng Yujiao and Pei Mingli.
After finishing the meal in silence, Feng Yujiao still felt uneasy, so she put some of the food into a food box and said, "I'll trouble Brother Qinzhi to deliver these to Feiyi for me."
But before she could finish speaking, there was a gentle knock on the door. Feng Yujiao's face lit up with joy, and she put the things back on the table. She hurriedly went to open the door, but a sharp pain shot through her abdomen, causing her to bend over and dare not move.
"My wife? What's wrong with you?"
Pei Mingli quickly reached out to steady her and carefully helped her sit down, but Feng Yujiao frowned and waved her hand: "...I'm afraid Fei Yi has arrived. Go and open the door for her quickly."
"I'll do it."
As Luo Qinzhi spoke, his feet were already moving. He reached out and removed the latch, but he was startled by a pair of dark eyes peeking out from outside the door.
Upon seeing the same man from yesterday, Pei Lang could no longer suppress the burning anger in his heart, and kicked open the door, storming inside.
Who are you?!
Seeing Luo Qinzhi being choked and pinned against the wall, Pei Mingli and his wife were startled. Pei Mingli's face turned pale, and he quickly shoved Feng Yujiao into the room, closed the door, and used his back to prevent her from coming out.
He turned his head and growled, "Lock the door and don't come out!"
Before Feng Yujiao could react, she reached out and pounded on the door but couldn't open it. She quickly ran to the window and opened it, only to see a tall, handsome, and aloof man appear in her yard with his men.
He exuded a chilling aura; you could tell at a glance he wasn't a good person!
Luo Qinzhi was originally a weak scholar. Even though he had done farm work at home and had some strength, he was still like a chicken to be slaughtered in front of Pei Lang.
He was pinned against the wall, his feet slightly off the ground.
Her face flushed red, she struggled to pry Pei Lang's hands off: "Who...who are you? Let go...let go of me!"
But when Pei Lang saw his frail and gentle demeanor, which even resembled his former self, he couldn't help but be consumed by jealousy, which burned away all his reason.
Whenever he made a move, he was determined to kill the person, and he showed absolutely no mercy in the slightest.
Even Xingyun, who was following behind, had a complicated expression on his face. However, he knew even more clearly that his master was not listening to anything right now, so he could only do his best to protect him and prevent Pei Mingli from getting close.
Seeing that Luo Qinzhi's eyes were glazed over from being choked, Pei Mingli, despite Xingyun's attempts to stop him, roared, "Pei Lang! You're attacking a defenseless commoner! Who do you think you are!"
"If you kill him here today, I will never let you go!"
Pei Mingli's voice brought Pei Lang back to his senses. He slowly turned around, stared at Pei Mingli's face, his expression changed, and suddenly let go of his hand and walked towards him.
Luo Qinzhi, who had fallen to the ground, lay sprawled on the ground in a very disheveled state. After clutching his throat and coughing violently a few times with a pained expression, he collapsed unconscious on the ground.
"Pei Mingli, how dare you show your face in front of me? I ask you, where exactly did you take Lin Zhi?"
The distance between Pei Mingli and Pei Mingli was only a fist's width, but neither of them could see the other; they only saw endless hatred.
Upon hearing his hoarse voice, Pei Mingli merely chuckled dismissively: "Someone like you dares to dream of seeing Lin Zhi again?"
"Whether she's a human or a ghost, you'll never see her again, Pei Lang, you don't deserve it!"
The blatant provocation made Pei Lang's blood boil and his eyes turn bloodshot. He drew his long sword from his waist and stabbed it heavily into Pei Mingli's left shoulder, splattering blood on Pei Mingli's handsome and sinister face as he pulled the sword out.
"I'll only ask you once, where is Lin Zhi?"
Pei Mingli clutched his shoulder and took a step back, still smiling even as his facial muscles trembled with pain: "You want to know? You'll find out when you're dead."
But the next sword flashed with a cold light and landed on Pei Mingli's vulnerable neck. With Xingyun blocking his way from behind, Pei Mingli had no way to escape.
“I really thought Lin Zhi died in the fire, but I never thought that you were the one who kidnapped her, causing my husband and me to be separated and my daughter to lose her mother at a young age.”
"You deserter, do you even have the right to question me?"
Pei Mingli let out a rough, panting breath, his chest heaving rapidly, and stared at Pei Lang without fear: "Pei Lang, you are still as self-righteous and self-proclaimed noble as ever."
"You've completely shirked all your responsibility, and now you're going to say that leaving you was Azhi's fault?"
Ignoring the threat of the sword at his neck, Pei Mingli stepped forward, murmuring softly, "You think A-Zhi left you because she wanted to die?"
"You're wrong. She left you because she wanted to live."
“You are the root of her pain, you are the culprit who ‘killed’ her.”
A few light words completely broke down Pei Lang's defenses. He was furious and grabbed his sword, wanting to stab him, but was stopped by a sharp female voice.
"You're not allowed to touch my husband!"
Feng Yujiao was terrified, but when she saw the long sword about to fall and take Pei Mingli's life, she bravely rushed out and tremblingly stood in front of Pei Mingli with her arms outstretched.
She glared at the man before her, who bore a slight resemblance to her husband but was filled with a sinister aura: "If you touch him, I will kill you and our unborn child!"
"Even in the underworld, our family of three will not let you go!"
Seeing the unfamiliar woman standing in front of Pei Mingli, Pei Lang's gaze fell down to her slightly protruding belly, and he was momentarily distracted.
"Ah Jiao! Leave now! This has nothing to do with you. Take care of yourself and the child."
Pei Mingli tried to push Feng Yujiao away, but dared not use too much force. However, his wife held onto his arm tightly and refused to let go: "I won't leave! If you dare to die, I will not live alone!"
Pei Lang watched the couple put on an act in front of him with a cold eye, his eyes flashing slightly but he remained unmoved.
"Since you are willing to die together, I will grant your wish."
Xingyun reluctantly looked away, but her eyes widened as she glanced towards the doorway. "...Young Master..."
Even the man who was usually ruthless and merciless was trembling in his voice.
"Yes...yes, Madam!"
Pei Lang's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly turned his head to look in the direction the man was pointing, but was suddenly bumped, and the long sword in his hand clattered to the ground.
Lin Zhi gripped the small dagger tightly with both hands and stabbed it hard into Pei Lang's arm, standing in front of Pei Mingli and his wife. Her hands and voice trembled as she said, "You...you can't touch my brother and sister-in-law!"
Despite the bleeding arm appearing as if it were someone else's body, Pei Lang's expression remained unchanged as he stared intently at Lin Zhi's face. The person he had longed to see day and night was now right in front of him.
It was as if this was a beautiful dream he never wanted to wake up from.
“A-Zhi…”
"Get out of my way!"
The burning passion in Pei Lang's eyes made Lin Zhi tremble with fear. She had seen such an expression before, but she dared not believe it again. Pei Lang was a power-hungry man who put everything and everyone else after power.
Even at the cost of his wife and children's lives.
The sweetness and pain of the past intertwined into an impenetrable net, trapping Lin Zhi within it, rendering her unable to move. Her hands, gripping the dagger, became numb, unable to feel anything.
He could only rely on his instincts to scare Pei Lang away: "Get out of my way!"
Looking at Lin Zhi, who was staring at him warily and hatefully like a frightened little animal, Pei Lang suppressed his heartbreak and tried to soften his voice to comfort her: "A-Zhi, it's me. It's so good that you're still alive."
"You have no idea how much I miss you... Don't you miss me and our daughter?"
At the mention of Lin Mianmian, Lin Zhi's hand trembled almost imperceptibly, but then she suddenly realized that she had a way to get rid of Pei Lang.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I don't know you! Don't even think about hurting my brother and sister-in-law!"
The light in Pei Lang's eyes dimmed instantly. He couldn't believe his ears, couldn't believe what Lin Zhi had just said. The smile on his lips vanished, and he forced a weak smile: "...How could this be? A-Zhi, don't talk nonsense. Come home with me, okay?"
But Lin Zhi's eyes were truly devoid of affection, filled only with unfamiliarity and wariness towards him. Those eyes, which once held nothing but him, were now devoid of him.
This realization was like a knife twisting in Pei Lang's heart, something he found hard to accept.
"Get out! Get out!"
Lin Zhi screamed and squatted on the ground, as if she couldn't bear the shock and covered her ears, screaming to make Pei Lang leave.
She curled up in a ball, feeling vulnerable and helpless, and her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Pei Lang.
Pei Mingli also realized what was happening and quickly stepped forward, pulling Pei Lang's arm aside and warning him in a low voice, "Pei Lang, if you want Azhi to live, leave here and stop provoking her!"
Pei Lang's eyes were filled with immense heartache as he frowned and asked, "What happened to her? How could a perfectly healthy person turn into this?"
"She doesn't remember me?"
Suppressing a sneer, Pei Mingli stared at him with a serious expression: "What's wrong with you? You've driven Azhi crazy long ago."
"She really wanted to end it all with a fire, to put an end to everything. If I hadn't arrived at the Pei residence in time, she would probably have turned into ashes under the ruins long ago!"
"But I was too late. When I pulled her out of the fire, she had already inhaled a lot of ash smoke and passed out. It was not easy to find a doctor to save her, but she had forgotten many things."
Pei Lang's heart skipped a beat as he recalled Lin Zhi's resistance and hostility earlier, and his heart sank slowly: "...What did she forget?"
"The doctor said that she suffered too much emotional trauma and has completely forgotten the most painful things and people."
"I discovered that she still remembered me, but not anything from before the arson."
So... they just forgot about him and their daughter?
Pei Lang, his face ashen, swayed precariously, seemingly about to collapse, but gritted his teeth, refusing to believe it: "Impossible, I am her lover, she could forget anyone but me..."
He was determined to go and take Lin Zhi away. He was willing to invite any renowned doctor to help her slowly remember him, as long as she was willing!
But a heavy punch landed on his side, which brought Pei Lang back to his senses.
Pei Mingli withdrew his strength and looked at him with a stern face: "Do you think I haven't tried to make her remember? Even if those memories are painful, I still want her to remember them completely, and I don't want her to be deceived again."
"How many methods have we tried, except that they almost cost A-Zhi her life, and none of them worked."
"If you really want the best for her, you'd better be honest and stop thinking about hurting her."
Pei Lang staggered two steps, looking at the two women embracing and leaning against each other, his eyes dimmed and he lowered them, but at least he felt some comfort in his heart.
At least Azhi wasn't pregnant, and at least that weak scholar had nothing to do with Azhi.
But his heart was still heavy and he could hardly breathe: "...Then I must take her back to the capital. This place is too rudimentary, and even if she stays here, it will not be good for her to recover."
“We still have a daughter; she can’t abandon her own child.”
But Pei Mingli's eyes were filled with unreadable emotions, and he took a half step back with an ambiguous expression: "Fine, as long as you can persuade her, I will not stop her if she is willing to go with you."
Pei Lang had never been so uneasy. Even when he worked with Xiao Ting to plot against the rebels, he was already about 80% confident.
But now, facing Lin Zhi, he had not even a tenth of the confidence.
Standing in front of Lin Zhi, Pei Lang's straight back hunched slightly, and even in the cold winter, his straight and handsome nose was covered with a thin layer of sweat.
"...Azhi, I am your husband. Would you like to leave with me?"
“We still have a child waiting for you, a lovely daughter.”
But all he received in response was a long silence, a deathly stillness that made Pei Lang's heart pound.
"Husband? Only the one who loves and protects me is my husband."
Lin Zhiqing's clear and questioning voice suddenly rang out, startling Pei Lang.
Where were you, my husband, when I was hurt and in pain?
Where were you, my husband, when I was lost and suffering?
"Now that you already have a child, haven't you achieved your goal? What else do you want from me? To have another one?"
The innocent and bewildered words pierced Pei Lang's heart time and time again, tearing apart his most vulnerable spot before discarding it heavily on the ground.
Pei Lang felt as if a sharp arrow had pierced his lung, making it difficult to breathe: "No, A-Zhi, it's not like that..."
But what exactly happened? Lin Zhi was absolutely right; it was because he hadn't fulfilled his responsibilities as a husband that she had suffered so much.
"Since you can't say it, young master, you don't need to bother me. I'd rather die here than be taken away alive by you."
Lin Zhi's delicate, fair profile, now thinner, possessed an even sharper edge, like the most piercing spear, causing him unbearable pain.
"Ah..." Pei Lang's throat tightened, and he realized with a start that he could no longer make any sound.
Pei Mingli, clutching his wound, helped Luo Qinzhi up from the ground and led him into the room, glaring coldly at Pei Lang: "I hope Lord Pei will be sensible and leave my house, otherwise I cannot guarantee what Azhi might do."
"This is not what I want to see, nor is it what Lord Pei wants to see."
With a bang, the door slammed shut in front of him, and Pei Lang stood there dumbfounded, unable to move as if his feet were rooted to the spot.
"My lord... at least the lady is still alive, that's a good thing."
"But for now, you shouldn't be too hasty, take it slowly."
Xingyun racked his brains for words of comfort, but Pei Lang's face didn't seem as bad as he had imagined. However, just as he was about to relax, he saw Pei Lang's expression change and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Young Master!"
Xingyun was so frightened that she quickly sealed the acupoints on his body, fearing that it would get worse. Pei Lang, however, stared at the closed door with resentment in his eyes, and then fell straight down.
Seeing the people in the courtyard flee in a panic, Pei Mingli finally looked away, but then he saw Lin Zhi's fingers, white from gripping the door frame.
He looked at her deeply with a complicated expression, and couldn't help but say, "Azhi, this might be Pei Lang's ruse."
"A person like him would always have a backup plan; he wouldn't be so fragile."
"Don't forget what he was like before; a person's nature doesn't change easily."
Lin Zhi blinked her long eyelashes, then quickly lowered them to conceal the dark look in her eyes, and silently nodded.
"Mingli...why do you all call her 'little sister,' Azhi?"
Pei Mingli heard his wife's question and pursed his lips guiltily, wanting to find an excuse to brush it off, but Lin Zhi spoke first.
"I'm sorry, sister, we lied to you."
"Feiyi is not my name. My name is Lin Zhi. I escaped from the capital."
Feng Yujiao leaned back in her chair, blinking her big eyes, seemingly processing the fact that she had been deceived.
Seeing that she looked upset, Pei Mingli quickly went over and held her shoulders: "Ajiao, don't get angry. We are indeed siblings, but Azhi had her own reasons for keeping it from you."
Feng Yujiao glared at him, and Pei Mingli reluctantly withdrew his hand, slinking away to bandage his wound, leaving the inner room to the two of them.
Lin Zhi didn't dare to look up at her, afraid of seeing the disappointment in Feng Yujiao's eyes.
But after waiting for a long time, I finally felt a warm touch on the back of my hand: "That person said you have a daughter? How old is she?"
Hearing her voice, which contained no blame but only pity, Lin Zhi felt a lump in her throat: "...She's almost a year old."
Feng Yujiao frowned slightly and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Then that means... when you first arrived in Pingyi?"
"You've already traveled to such a far place before you've even finished your postpartum confinement period!"
"Sister, I shouldn't have kept it from you..."
Lin Zhi's tears fell in a stream, but Feng Yujiao gently pulled her into her arms and patted her back: "Sigh... I love you so much, how could I blame you?"
"But now that this person has come looking for you, you clearly haven't forgotten but you said you had, so you want to... break things off with him?"
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Author's Note: Woohoo! Nobody will question that Zhi Mei should win Best Actress, right?! [Starry-eyed]
Life is so boring, Pei Gou cosplays as a Buddhist monk [pat on the head]
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