After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 14 Even feeling wronged, I dare not cry.
Pei Yanzhi stood at the door, and after hearing Xiang Ning's words, Cheng Hua behind him also called out.

"Go down."

He coldly rebuked him, and Chenghua's steps were halted at the bottom of the steps.

The door closed in front of Chenghua, who was still somewhat puzzled.

Xiang Ning covered her body with the quilt, the strap of her undergarment tied around her neck, with only a corner showing.

There were two scratch marks on his rounded shoulders, and his body trembled slightly, as if he had been frightened.

"Sir, you've finally arrived."

Xiang Ning watched as Pei Yanzhi walked up to her and reached out to grab his sleeve.

The man's expression remained indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever. She pursed her lips and boldly reached out to hug his arm.

"I was punished by the Madam today. I had just finished having Xu Mama apply medicine to me and was about to rest when he came in."

Xiang Ning discarded the unsightly blanket in front of her and nestled her pert, full breasts against Pei Yanzhi's arm.

Even through the layer of clothing, Pei Yanzhi felt an unbearable heat rising up.

Xiang Ning frowned when she didn't get a reply from Pei Yanzhi after she finished speaking.

"Master?"

"Is it my fault for not coming back to save you?"

Pei Yanzhi tried to push her away, but Xiang Ning wouldn't let go. She looked up, her reddened eyes filled with tears.

Tears welled up but wouldn't fall; she was filled with grievance.

She pulled out one hand and showed it to Pei Yanzhi, palm up.

"How could I blame you, Master? I am your person. Even if you wanted to beat me to death, I wouldn't say a word."

"But I cannot lose my innocence and cause you to lose face."

There was a thin layer of calluses on her soft palms, and besides that, there were marks left from gripping the mouth of the vase tightly.

The vase was heavy to begin with, so Xiang Ning had to use all her strength to lift it up and smash it at Xiao Wu.

If Xiao Wu succeeded, she would die a terrible death, so Xiang Ning didn't hesitate and attacked immediately.

She never made enemies in the Pei household, but unfortunately, her excessively striking face was the reason she was bullied.

Possessing a treasure is a crime; Xiang Ning can only make herself stronger.

Today's events also made Xiang Ning realize a truth: it's too difficult to remain untainted in the Pei family.

Now, the only person she can rely on and who can protect her is Pei Yanzhi.

Thinking of this, Xiang Ning stood up and presented her graceful and exquisite figure to Pei Yanzhi.

The girl's figure was like a willow, her waist as supple as a willow branch in the wind, and her chest was slightly raised, as if hiding two flower buds waiting to bloom.

The tingling sensation that climbed upwards made Pei Yanzhi momentarily forget to push her away.

"I know you don't want me, but I beg you to do me a favor. Otherwise, I will have no face to live in this Pei family anymore."

She withdrew her hand, knelt on the bed, and kowtowed to Pei Yanzhi.

The crisscrossing blue and purple whip marks on her back came into Pei Yanzhi's view. Xiang Ning's voice was choked with sobs, but she remained neither humble nor arrogant.

As the warm, fragrant woman suddenly left, Pei Yanzhi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he looked down at her.

"You're quite sensible; you don't even cry when you're wronged."

His voice remained indifferent. Xiang Ning looked up at him and said, "I don't like women who cry all the time."

Xiang Ning was never a stupid person; on the contrary, she was very smart.

He pretended to be stupid in order to remain an inconspicuous person in the Pei family.

But now, she needs Pei Yanzhi's high regard so that she can intimidate Pei Yongcheng, Qingzhu, and those who want to trample her underfoot.

For some things, you have to give something in return for what you gain.

What she could offer Pei Yanzhi was a well-behaved and sensible woman who was devoted to him.

"Chenghua, come in."

She waited for an unknown amount of time, until Xiang Ning's heart began to pound with anxiety, and she couldn't quite figure out Pei Yan.

He took off his outer garment and draped it over Xiang Ning's shoulders, then called Cheng Hua in. "If such a thing happens again in Mo Song Garden, you will be held responsible."

Upon hearing Pei Yanzhi's words, Cheng Hua nodded in agreement, and then Pei Yanzhi reached out and picked Xiang Ning up.

His clothes were draped over her body, and their fragrances intertwined, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

Seeing this, Cheng Hua lowered his head and avoided the scene.

However, after this incident, Xiang Ning will definitely have a place in the master's heart.

The scene of Pei Yanzhi carrying Xiang Ning out was seen by many people, especially Qingzhu, whose eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

She hadn't received any special treatment from Pei Yanzhi during all this time at Mosong Garden, so why was Xiang Ning, who had only been there for such a short time, so favored?

Xiang Ning hooked her arms around Pei Yanzhi's neck and rested her head in his chest.

The hot breath he exhaled circled around Pei Yanzhi's collar and then seeped into his body.

"Thank you sir."

Xiang Ning was placed on the soft couch in Pei Yanzhi's room. After gathering her clothes, she thanked Pei Yanzhi.

Pei Yanzhi didn't say much, but after getting up, he started taking off his clothes in front of Xiang Ning.

Her hands tightened, somewhat confused about what Pei Yanzhi meant.

The man's body appeared somewhat slender, but once he took off his clothes, his muscular skin was revealed.

There were also whip marks on his back.

Pei Yanzhi picked up the casual clothes from the side, put them on, and after changing his clothes, he sat opposite Xiang Ning and looked at her.

"What's wrong with following Bae Young-sung?"

He reached out and poured himself a cup of hot tea, took a small sip, and this somewhat abrupt remark immediately set off alarm bells in Xiang Ning's mind.

Could it be that Pei Yanzhi thinks she's a troublemaker and wants to hand her over to Pei Yongcheng?

She got up and was about to get off the soft couch.

"Sit down."

Pei Yanzhi lowered his eyes and said something, and a wisp of white steam rose from the teacup, as if it had dampened his eyelashes.

Xiang Ning stopped moving after his words and had no choice but to sit back down.

"This servant loves you, Master, and has no desire to be with the Fourth Young Master."

Xiang Ning's words carried a hint of coquetry and dissatisfaction, which was quite different from her usual taciturn personality.

Pei Yanzhi recalled what the servants had said when he returned to the mansion.

Having such a beautiful face is something that others would envy.

Therefore, when Xiang Ning was punished, most people saw it as an opportunity to kick her when she was down.

In the past, she would never approach him unless he sought her out.

But today, her initiative was far too unusual.

"How about I make you my concubine?"

Pei Yanzhi uttered a sentence leisurely, and Xiang Ning's eyes widened considerably.

She never considered becoming Pei Yanzhi's concubine.

A concubine needs to go through official paperwork. Once she becomes Pei Yanzhi's woman in name only, how can she leave the Pei residence?

Thinking of this, Xiang Ning disregarded everything else, got off the soft couch, and knelt at Pei Yanzhi's feet.

"I would be happy to be your woman, but my reputation is now damaged, and the Madam would never agree to it."

She reached out and grabbed Pei Yanzhi's hem, her watery eyes still glistening with tears.

Seeing this, Pei Yanzhi felt a surge of anger rising within him.

He lifted his toes and used the clean tip of his soap boot to lift Xiang Ning's chin.

"Is it the First Madam who disagrees, or is it you, Xiang Ning, who disagrees?"

(End of this chapter)