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

Chapter 44 No one can be the only one, but Xiang Ning can.

Xiang Ning sat opposite Pei Yanzhi, frowning as she looked at him.

The girl reached out and gently stroked his face, her eyes filled with tenderness.

The First Madam's slap destroyed the last remaining mother-son bond with Pei Yanzhi.

Similarly, it shattered Pei Yanzhi's last hope.

From now on, he probably won't have any other thoughts in his mind.

"Yes, in her heart, I am nothing more than a tool that can be used."

"Master... Ah Jing, please don't say that."

Upon hearing Pei Yanzhi's words, Xiang Ning placed a finger to his lips, stopping him from speaking.

It is said that parents who love their children plan far ahead for them.

Over the years, Pei Yanzhi may have always held the thought that his mother wanted him to have a good life, which is why she urged him to do so.

But in the First Madam's heart, Pei Yanzhi was nothing more than a source of pride for her to boast about.

It was also a fit of pique between her and the old man.

It's as if only if Pei Yanzhi does better and better can he really slap the old man in the face.

Pei Yanzhi smiled inexplicably at Xiang Ning's reaction.

"When I heard you talk about your parents that day, I realized that all parents in the world love their children."

As Xiang Ning said, how could any parent not love their child?

But unfortunately, both the First Madam and the First Master are involved.

Pei Yanzhi rarely spoke so much, and Xiang Ning looked at him and shook her head.

"Humans have seven emotions and six desires, and emotions are also divided into many types, such as familial love, friendship, love... well, romantic love counts too."

"Beside you, Master, there is also the Old Madam and your friends. Since you don't have the love of your parents, then the affection between grandparents and grandchildren counts too."

After saying that, Xiang Ning withdrew her hand, somewhat embarrassed: "This servant is not good with words, unlike A Jing who has studied, so I can't say anything profound."

Her pursed lips and lowered head gave her a charming and adorable look, which made Pei Yanzhi a little envious.

Pei Yanzhi reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her sit on his lap: "Love, that's your affection for me, isn't it?"

He took her hand and asked a question. Xiang Ning looked up at him and felt inexplicably thirsty.

"Yes……"

She nodded, since these words came from her own mouth, and it was naturally up to her to explain them back.

The reason they gave back then was really bad.

Xiang Ning felt a pang of regret.

"You're right. I don't need to care about people who don't care about me."

Pei Yanzhi held her hand, placed it on his face, and hugged her even tighter.

"So, having you is enough for me, Xiang Ning. Perhaps it was fate that you barged in back then."

If it weren't for fate, how could she have barged in and been brought back by him?

Now, things are heading in directions that Pei Yanzhi never even imagined.

But he didn't want to get involved anymore, and now it's just right.

She stayed by his side obediently, offering comfort whenever he needed her.

When he returns home at night, it would be enough for him to see her standing at the entrance of Qingyi Residence every day, and to always be able to hold her in his arms.

Hearing Pei Yanzhi's words, Xiang Ning's heart sank.

That wasn't some divine will, but simply a choice she made after weighing the pros and cons.

If there is another person of high rank and power in the Lan Hui Pavilion who can intimidate Pei Yongcheng, she will also barge in.

Since Pei Yanzhi had already thought this way, Xiang Ning naturally wouldn't say anything more.

"This servant will go get the medicine... When we're out, I'll still call you 'Master,' but when it's just the two of us, I'll call you by your courtesy name, okay?"

Xiang Ning thought about it for a moment, then spoke up anyway.

If others, especially the old lady, knew that she called Pei Yanzhi by his courtesy name, they would only punish her for insubordination.

"what ever."

Pei Yanzhi was unusually easy to talk to at this moment, so he didn't refute Xiang Ning.

"Master, wait for me, I'll go get the medicine."

Xiang Ning said softly, then got up and walked towards the door. As soon as she stepped outside, she met the eyes of Cheng Hua and Bi Tao.

"Bitao, go and serve the food."

"Hey, I'll go right away."

After Bitao left, Chenghua looked at Xiangning, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. But what exactly happened at Qionghua Courtyard?"

Xiang Ning needs to know what happened in order to know what to do.

So I asked Chenghua.

"The old lady wanted the eldest master to bring that mistress home and give her a proper status and place her in a suitable position. The eldest lady refused and started arguing with the eldest master, smashing a lot of things. The eldest master tried to persuade her a couple of times, and that's when the eldest lady hit him."

Hearing Chenghua's explanation, Xiang Ning nodded: "I understand."

“Miss Xiangning, I am not as cold-hearted as outsiders say. It’s just that I have been treated coldly since I was a child, so I always feel distant from people.”

"But I've never seen any woman who could stay with the master for so long and still win his favor."

Chenghua looked at Xiang Ning, paused for a moment, and then continued, "No one can be the only one, but Miss Xiang Ning, you can be."

His words stirred up a storm in Xiang Ning's calm heart, causing ripples to spread outwards.

"Then I'll go get the medicine."

Xiang Ning didn't say much, but replied with this sentence. Cheng Hua quickly agreed and said he would go by himself.

Before long, the medicine and food were brought into the house.

Xiang Ning stood in front of Pei Yanzhi, but before she could speak, he pulled her to sit down.

"Sir, this is against the rules."

Fang's mother is here too.

"It's okay, I don't like people looking down on me."

Pei Yanzhi said coldly, then looked up at Fang's mother standing to the side.

Hearing this, Fang's mother looked somewhat embarrassed; she hadn't even said anything yet.

Furthermore, after Xiangning returned that day, the old lady also spoke with her.

The implication was that from now on, things could be turned a blind eye in Mosong Garden.

Having lived in the Pei household for many years, Fang's mother immediately understood the old lady's meaning: she was intentionally grooming Xiang Ning.

So last night, Pei Yanzhi went directly to Xiang Ning's room, and she didn't stop him.

"You all get out."

Pei Yanzhi disliked having so many people watching and directly told them to leave.

After everyone in the room left, only he and Xiang Ning remained.

“Ah Jing has bloodstains on his face, it might hurt a little, just bear with it.”

Only two people remained, and Xiang Ning, being quite perceptive, called him A Jing.

Pei Yanzhi didn't say much, but simply closed the distance between the two of them.

“I’ve suffered injuries far more serious than this at the Dali Temple.”

Seeing Xiang Ning applying the medicine to him with a serious expression, Pei Yanzhi finally spoke.

Xiang Ning paused, suddenly remembering the penetrating wound she had seen earlier, near his heart.

I wonder how Pei Yanzhi endured such a deep injury.

"I hope Ah Jing lives to be a hundred years old."

You want me to live to be a hundred?

Pei Yanzhi looked at Xiang Ning, their eyes met, and she nodded.

May you live a long and peaceful life.

My sincerest blessings are thanks to him for his protection.

"Okay, then let's all be safe and live long lives."

Pei Yanzhi smiled slightly and grasped Xiang Ning's warm wrist.

He hoped she wasn't lying to him and that what she said was true.

(End of this chapter)