Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 273 Intuition
After Gu Jingnian rolled up his sleeves and tidied up the house, he turned to look out the window and saw that it was already late, but Pei Nian had not yet returned.

He then changed his clothes and prepared to go to the princess's residence to pick her up. Just then, Yin Wanqing sent someone to say that she and Pei Nian had not seen each other for a long time, and that Pei Nian would stay overnight at the princess's residence, so Gu Jingnian did not need to wait.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingnian was slightly surprised. He and Pei Nian were just getting into the swing of things, and now that they had returned to Zhuojing, they were finally going to have a few peaceful days. Yin Wanqing's actions were rather tactless.

Could it be that Yin Wanqing did this on purpose, intending to take Pei Nian hostage? This is not in line with her usual character.

Gu Jingnian was deep in thought when Old Hei's call came from the front courtyard.

"Young master, dinner is served!"

The meal prepared at the Marquis of Chengye's residence today is very lavish, and it was cooked by Miao Chunniang herself.

Previously, at the Gu residence in Ruijing, Miao Chunniang, as the eldest young mistress, had never set foot in the kitchen. Now, she was showing off her skills for the first time, and every dish she served was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

"Cherry meat, mandarin fish, three-delicacy duck, pork tenderloin... and this dish—stir-fried chicken tongue."

As Miao Chunniang introduced the last dish, Fengniang, who was taking a sip of wine, looked up and glanced at her with a smile in her eyes.

"Oh? I wonder what kind of tongue it is?"

"This is a famous dish from Switzerland. It is originally made with the tongue of the rice flower bird, which is known as 'ginseng in the air'. However, the rice flower bird is expensive, so I used pigeon tongue instead."

Where did you get so many pigeons?

"A family on the south side of the market just slaughtered a batch of pigeons."

Fengniang glanced at Miao Chunniang with annoyance and muttered under her breath, "She's deliberately giving me a name that's meant to annoy me."

After saying that, she leaned against Gu Jingnian and whispered in his ear, "I know about this. That family was actually a messenger who delivered news from the capital to the Crown Prince. The people there have been killed by Emperor Yong, and the hundreds of carrier pigeons they kept were captured by the people."

"understood."

"Pei Nian hasn't returned yet. Should I inquire for you?" Feng Niang asked with a smile.

Gu Jingnian could tell from her smile that she had already sent the bird to inquire at the princess's residence, so he asked, "What do you want to say?"

"Everyone says you're in your prime, and even she can't stand you anymore." Feng Niang teased, covering her mouth. Before Gu Jingnian could reply, she sat back down, leaving only a faint fragrance behind.

She appeared calm and composed, but a thoughtful look lingered in her eyes.

Everyone ate their dinner with great relish. Gao Changgan, Lao Hei, and Yan Er scooped the entire rice bucket clean, leaving not a single grain. At the end, they praised Miao Chunniang's cooking skills.

Fengniang glared at them, but turned to Miao Chunniang with a smile and said, "I'll treat you to tea."

"it is good."

The two stunningly beautiful women then set up a low table in the back courtyard and drank a few cups together.

“I haven’t had a chance to ask you until now,” Feng Niang said. “Did you alter some of her memories before Pei Nian decided to stay and help Gu Jingnian?”

Miao Chunniang picked up her teacup to drink, but upon hearing this, she paused, then shook her head and said, "No."

"No?"

“She was also confused and did not know why she was loyal to Rui Kingdom,” Miao Chunniang said. “So I continued to examine her memories, but in the end, I was too weak and exhausted, and I fainted for a moment.”

Feng Niang said, "I see. So Pei Nian stayed because Gu Jingnian persuaded him?"

Miao Chunniang frowned slightly and replied, "I suppose so."

Feng Niang's tone carried a hint of teasing as she said, "Sister-in-law knows him well; with that physique, seducing Pei Nian wouldn't be a problem."

Miao Chunniang sensed the attack and looked at Fengniang defiantly.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and finally, Feng Niang smiled in a conciliatory manner and said, "I came to talk to you because I have a guess—is Pei Nian staying by Gu Jingnian's side under orders from the Kaiping Division?"

Miao Chunniang asked in confusion, "From the time she escaped until we caught up with her, she did not see anyone from the Kaiping Division."

“Let’s not talk about how Pei Nian contacted the Kaiping Division,” Feng Niang said. “I know her. She’s a stubborn person and shouldn’t change her mind so easily.”

Miao Chunniang didn't believe her and asked in return, "You suspect her, isn't it because you're jealous?"

“You’ve got it all backwards. My suspicion of her stems from her deliberately avoiding Gu Jingnian,” Feng Niang said. “She went to the Princess’s residence today on her own initiative. Yin Wanqing is a shrewd woman; why would she deliberately keep her here? Then let me ask you, why is Pei Nian avoiding Gu Jingnian? It’s simply because she feels guilty towards him and doesn’t dare to stay by his side.”

Upon hearing this, Miao Chunniang believed it to some extent and pondered to herself.

Feng Niang said, "You must understand that feeling very well, right? Although you are with him, it's a pity that as a spy, you have to keep many things from him. In fact, he has spies from the Kaiping Division or the Yue Kingdom around him."

"Do you have any evidence?"

“No,” Feng Niang said. “These are all my intuitions.”

"You can gather information using birds, yet you only tell me your intuition?"

"My intuition is often very accurate."

Miao Chunniang finished her tea, put down the cup, and said, "I know what you're planning. You want to tell him to sow discord between Shiyilang and Pei Nian, but you're afraid he'll blame you, so you've encouraged me to be the villain."

“You guessed right.” Feng Niang smiled sweetly.

She had actually dressed up carefully to see Miao Chunniang. Although her makeup was clean, she had washed her hair and applied a touch of rouge to her lips, all to outshine Miao Chunniang in terms of beauty. As for Miao Chunniang, although she wore plain clothes, her hair was carefully styled, and even her belt was designed to perfectly accentuate her slender figure.

Both women looked effortlessly beautiful, each with their own unique charm. After sizing each other up for a while, Miao Chunniang took her leave.

As Fengniang watched her head towards the main house, her fighting spirit was rekindled. She felt that Gu Jingnian was the one she had to snatch away.

--------

"Tuk, Tuk, Tuk."

There were three knocks on the door, and it was opened quickly.

Gu Jingnian stood there, and when he saw that it was Miao Chunniang who had come, a look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

To be fair, Miao Chunniang was more beautiful than Pei Nian. Her simple clothes added to her charm, her eyes were like autumn water, and even her shoulders were just right, making her whole body graceful and elegant.

Yet his body was still hidden inside the loose robe.

"sister in law?"

"The food tonight was too greasy, so I brought you a pot of tea to cleanse your palate."

"give it to me."

Gu Jingnian took the tray, but Miao Chunniang didn't let go. She lowered her head, stepped over the threshold, and went inside to talk.

"Just now, Fengniang told me something. I know you don't want to hear it, but I still have to say it."

Unlike Feng Niang, who was quite cunning, Miao Chunniang was quite honest in front of Gu Jingnian.

After much deliberation, she decided that rather than keeping it from Gu Jingnian, it would be better to tell him directly that he was a smart man who could distinguish between those who were good to him and those who were bad to him.

As expected, after Feng Niang's guess, Gu Jingnian remained silent and did not get angry. Presumably, he also had his own guesses about Pei Nian's strange behavior.

Finally, Miao Chunniang added, "You don't understand a woman's thoughts. But I can understand what Pei Nian is thinking. Back then, I was also in love with you, but I also felt guilty..."

The atmosphere changed somewhat at this point in the conversation.

Miao Chunniang had a vague feeling that comforting Gu Jingnian tonight might be an opportunity for them to clear up their doubts.

But at that very moment.

"Tuk-tuk-tuk."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

The door wasn't actually closed. The two people inside turned around and saw Pei Nian standing outside the door.

She could have just walked in, but she knocked on the door politely.

"Come with me."

Pei Nian looked at Gu Jingnian with a determined gaze and a slight smile on her face, and said, "I have found a way to rescue the hostages."

At this moment, all of Feng Niang and Miao Chunniang's doubts about Pei Nian were shattered.

Gu Jingnian and Pei Nian exchanged a glance, their eyes already conveying a tacit understanding.

Without hesitation, he strode toward Pei Nian, and the two walked together, conversing in a language only they understood.

Miao Chunniang watched their retreating figures, but couldn't understand what they were saying, and was very disappointed.

Finally, she rubbed her forehead and muttered to herself, "Did I forget something?"

Over there, Pei Nian and Gu Jingnian walked side by side, talking softly.

"We have secretly captured Han Youxin and discovered his method of contacting the Kaiping Division. Don't worry, we acted quickly; Han Youxin hasn't even received news of your return to Yongjing yet."

"You've thought of everything; I almost overlooked this."

“The important thing is that we can use Han Youxin’s contact information to find out the whereabouts of my father and your sister from the Kaiping Division.”

With that, Pei Nian led Gu Jingnian into the carriage parked inside the mansion.

Once inside the carriage, it began to move slowly.

Pei Nian then whispered, "To avoid suspicion, take me there via teleportation. I'll tell you where we've detained Han Youxin; you know where it is."

She whispered in Gu Jingnian's ear, and Gu Jingnian turned his head and gently touched her cheek with his lips. She did not resist, but instead held Gu Jingnian's arm tightly.

"Let me see your eyes."

"Ah."

The next moment, their teleportation reached another location in Yongjing City.

(End of this chapter)