A little earlier, at Tianshui Bridge.
Pei Xiangjun had just returned from a business trip and was faced with nearly a month's worth of trivial matters. She was busy in the accounting room until nightfall before roughly sorting them out.
She returned to the Pei Family's Grand Mansion feeling a bit tired. The mansion was very quiet.
Pei Xiangjun went directly to the inner courtyard of the residence. She saw that Madam Zhang, her sister-in-law, was sitting in the tea hall, holding a needle and thread, with a look of great satisfaction between her eyebrows.
"Sister-in-law, what's making you so happy?"
"San Niang, you're here. Have a seat. This morning, Luo'er was unconvinced and took it upon himself to go out on business with Jingtang. As a result, Jingtang single-handedly fought from Wutong Street to the West Market, which impressed Luo'er. When he came back, he kept praising how amazing Jingtang was. Then he packed his bags and went back to the academy. It seems that he felt the pressure and realized that if he didn't study, there would be no place for him in the Pei Family in the future."
Pei Xiangjun wasn't surprised by this and sat down opposite the tea table:
"Jingtang is indeed remarkable. This time when he went out, he handled things quite well. It's just... he was a bit impulsive..."
Madam Zhang poured a cup of tea for Pei Xiangjun:
"You're talking about the matter of Zhou Huaili? If Jingtang can solve the subsequent troubles, then it's not impulsive; it's real ability..."
"Sigh..."
Pei Xiangjun was actually talking about the matter of the leader's wife, but she really didn't dare to let her sister-in-law know about it. After thinking for a while, she said euphemistically:
"Jingtang has met a female hero in the martial arts world. She's from the Pingtian Sect..."
Madam Zhang's eyes focused, and she said alertly:
"Is the Pingtian Sect trying to poach him?"
Pei Xiangjun nodded: "The Pingtian Sect definitely has the intention of poaching, but it seems that Jingtang really likes her..."
Madam Zhang put down the needle and thread, and her expression became serious:
"San Niang, I told you when Jingtang first came that we should guard against other martial arts forces poaching him. Didn't you make any preparations at all?"
Pei Xiangjun let out a soft sigh: "I didn't expect the Pingtian Sect to act so quickly. Jingtang has promised me that he will continue to help the Pei Family..."
Madam Zhang tapped the tea table lightly, looking a bit annoyed:
"Jingtang has no relatives with our Pei Family. Second Brother even ran away from home. That he's willing to help is out of kindness and righteousness. Our Pei Family shouldn't take it for granted. Now that he has someone he likes, how can you be so shameless as to keep him here?
"I've said it for a long time that either you should make a move yourself, or you should choose a fair-skinned and beautiful girl in the building to win his heart first. But what happened? You didn't make a move yourself, and you didn't allow anyone in the building to get involved.
"Xiuhe has been longing for him for so long. Didn't you notice? When discussing matters in Dayuan Building, the hall master of Zezhou Hall even had the nerve to mention his granddaughter. You rejected the person outright, and now an outsider has made the first move. What on earth do you mean?"
"..."
Pei Xiangjun originally thought it was no big deal. But now, after hearing her sister-in-law's scolding, she realized that what she had done was not much different from what Uncle Song did. After a moment of hesitation, she let out a soft sigh:
"So what do you suggest we do, sister-in-law?"
Madam Zhang frowned and said: "The Pingtian Sect used the beauty trap. Can't you do the same? You're in a more favorable position. Can't you outdo the Pingtian Sect which is thousands of miles away?"
"I... Sigh... I haven't known Jingtang for long. It's really hard for me to make a decision about such a big matter..."
Madam Zhang thought for a while, and her face became stern:
"If you can't make the decision, I'll make it for you. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. Your elder brother and master are not here, so I should be the one to decide your marriage. Such a great young man is right in front of you, and you haven't won his heart. If your master knew about this, he might even kick open the coffin lid to come out and lecture you.
"If you miss Ye Jingtang, you'll definitely regret it for the rest of your life. I'll make the decision on this matter. Even if you regret it in the future, you can only scold me for mismatching you. At least Honghua Building can still hold on. It's better than having him leave and Honghua Building being gone, and you regretting it for the rest of your life."
Pei Xiangjun blinked her eyes: "I... Sigh, I'll find an opportunity to talk to Jingtang about this matter again..."
While the two were chatting, there was a commotion outside the door.
Looking over, Xiuhe ran in through the decorated archway, holding a big bird in her arms:
"San Niang, Young Master Ye's bird suddenly flew here..."
"Jiji~~"
When the bird saw Pei Xiangjun, it flew to the windowsill, raised its wings, and pointed outside:
"Jiji!"
Pei Xiangjun was a bit confused. She stood up, held the bird, and asked:
"What's wrong? Has something happened to Jingtang?"
"Jiji jiji..."
The bird flapped its wings and chirped, indicating that it had just gone to chase the thief. It好不容易 (finally) followed the thief back to the lair, but when it went back, it found that Jingtang had already left work earlier.
It couldn't find him at home, so it went to Mingyu Tower. But it found that the Fat-headed Dragon Sister wasn't there either, so it could only come to find her...
Pei Xiangjun didn't understand half of the chirping, but she knew that the bird must have something important. She didn't dare to delay and went out with the bird.
The bird was also smart. It didn't directly lead Pei Xiangjun to the place where the thief was hiding. Instead, it first took her to the Theft Suppression Department yamen.
Pei Xiangjun made some inquiries and learned that Ye Jingtang had just had a big battle with the murderer and had already gone to Imperial Physician Wang's residence.
Pei Xiangjun really didn't expect that on the first day Ye Jingtang came back, he could fight from morning to night. Worried, she quickly rushed to Wende Bridge.
The gentle breeze parted the flowing clouds, revealing the silver moon and starlight.
Pei Xiangjun hurried to the vicinity of the medical hall and found that the carriage of Jingwang's Mansion was parked not far away. She hesitated a bit.
But since the princess had come, Jingtang might be seriously injured.
After thinking it over, Pei Xiangjun still went to the door of the medical hall with the bird.
It wasn't too late yet. Occasionally, the family members of the wealthy households on Wende Bridge came to seek medical treatment. The guards of the Black Yamen nearby didn't stop a woman from entering the medical hall.
Pei Xiangjun came to the door. Before she went in, she vaguely heard a sentence:
"... Pretend not to know anything, wait for him to come and get close, and then act reluctantly..."
?
Pei Xiangjun recognized it as Madam Wang's voice and was a bit confused. She peeked in to take a look.
As a result, when she looked up, she saw Madam Wang standing in the corner of the medicine cabinet, talking in a low voice with someone.
And opposite Madam Wang was a stunningly beautiful and cold woman with those rather eye-catching peach blossom eyes...
Wasn't this Jingtang's...
No! Wasn't this the wife of the leader of the Pingtian Sect?
Pei Xiangjun's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly reacted, and a strange look appeared in her eyes.
The bird was very enthusiastic. It peeked out from the corner of the door and raised its wings:
"Jiji~"
There was a moment of silence inside and outside the medical hall.
Madam Wang turned around and looked a bit surprised:
"Miss Pei, why did you come here alone at night? Is there an urgent matter at home?"
Luo Ning was startled when she suddenly saw San Niang. She originally wanted to act like a gentle young wife, but then she thought it wasn't right...
One night makes San Niang's white hair grow more...
If she was the fiancée, then this female owner should be her rival in love...
Luo Ning's mind raced. She assumed an attitude of neither being servile nor overbearing and nodded in greeting:
"San Niang, are you here to visit Jingtang?"
Seeing that the leader's wife didn't know her identity as the owner of Honghua Building, Pei Xiangjun felt much more at ease. She walked into the room with a proper demeanor, like an elder coming to visit a younger generation:
"Ning'er, you're here too. Madam Wang, Jingtang is the young master of my family. I heard that something happened to him, so I came to visit..."
Madam Wang really didn't know the family background of Ye Jingtang. She said in surprise:
"Is that so? I was just wondering which family raised such a handsome young man. So he's the young master of Tianshui Bridge. Young Master Ye is fine. The old master is giving him an acupuncture treatment. You can chat for a while."
Since Miss Ning'er had met the family members of her lover, Madam Wang naturally didn't want to stand there chatting. So she left the main hall of the medical hall.
Pei Xiangjun folded her hands around her waist and walked slowly in front of Luo Ning, with a concerned look in her eyes:
"Why are you dressed like this, Miss Ning'er? Were you out on business with Jingtang just now?"
"Yes. Hmm... Why did you come, San Niang?"
"The bird flew to find me, so I came."
Pei Xiangjun was a bit curious. She peeked towards the back of the medical hall and asked:
"The princess is also inside. Did you meet her just now, Miss Ning'er?"
"Hmm?"
Luo Ning really didn't notice that the princess had come. She went to the door to check and found that the carriage of Jingwang's Mansion was parked on the street.
With her current identity, Luo Ning was a rival in love to the princess!
And her real identity was even more outrageous. One was the emperor's sister, and the other was the wife of the leader of the rebels. Meeting each other would mean a life-and-death struggle.
For this reason, Luo Ning didn't dare to stay for long. After thinking for a while, she said:
"I didn't see the princess. Hmm... Jingtang is inside. He'll probably come out soon. I'm a woman from the martial arts world, and I don't dare to disturb the princess. How about I go back first, and you wait here, San Niang?"
Pei Xiangjun knew that the leader's wife didn't dare to "face the princess". Although she really wanted to teach this leader's wife who was trying to poach someone a lesson, she was afraid that her identity would be exposed and Luo Ning would take revenge later. After thinking about it, she gave up and said understandingly:
"Then be careful on the way, Miss Ning'er. Hmm... What's this?"
Pei Xiangjun looked at the medicine box in Luo Ning's hand.
?!
Luo Ning, who was just about to leave, froze in expression and pretended to be calm:
"This is the medicine that Madam Wang prescribed for Jingtang to regulate his body..."
Pei Xiangjun suddenly understood and naturally reached out to take the medicine box:
"Is that so? I'll give it to Jingtang later."
Luo Ning held the small medicine box and really didn't want to let go.
Unexpectedly, this San Niang in front of her was quite domineering. With a clean and利落 pull, she took the medicine box away.
"Ah?"
Luo Ning was shocked. She opened her mouth but didn't say anything.
Pei Xiangjun thought that this leader's wife regarded her as a rival in love who was "eager to serve her lover". At this moment, she was a bit unhappy. She put the medicine box into her sleeve and asked:
"Do you have anything else to do, Miss Ning'er?"
I'm fine, but I'm afraid you'll have something wrong...
Luo Ning widened her eyes and felt very strange in her heart. She wanted to say that this was an aphrodisiac, but if this rival in love in front of her knew that she had asked Madam Wang for such medicine, she didn't know what the rival would think of her.
After much hesitation, Luo Ning finally didn't dare to explain. She just reminded euphemistically:
"This medicine was prescribed by Madam Wang, and I haven't asked about its usage and effect yet. Hmm... San Niang must listen to the doctor's instructions first. I'll take my leave now."
After saying this, Luo Ning quickly left.
Pei Xiangjun thought that this leader's wife was a bit strange, but she didn't pay much attention to it. She went to the back of the medical hall and found Madam Wang who was busy and asked:
"Madam Wang, how should this medicine be taken?"
Madam Wang was tidying up the dried medicinal herbs. She turned around and saw the small medicine box in Pei Xiangjun's hand. She was slightly taken aback and thought to herself: Miss Ning'er is really silly. How could she give this kind of thing to someone else? Isn't it already enough to be wronged with the princess pressing down on her?
After all, these were other people's family matters, and Madam Wang didn't want to meddle. She just explained softly:
"Take one pill each time, and the effect will be seen in a quarter of an hour."
"Oh..."