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

Chapter 5 Please, Master, Show Some Love to This Servant
Xiang Ning ignored the stares directed at her and went back to her room to change her clothes.

As soon as I came out, I saw Qingzhu standing at the door.

Qingzhu held a cup of tea in her hand, and the way she looked at her was hardly friendly.

"Sister Qingzhu".

Xiang Ning lowered her head and said something to her. Qing Zhu smiled slightly, looked away, and left.

She didn't believe that the master had any feelings for Xiang Ning. If he really did, he wouldn't have let her arrange things so casually.

But today, for Xiang Ning's sake, Master actually kicked Xiao Wu into the stream and even had Cheng Hua beat Xiao Wu.

Qingzhu gripped the tray tightly with her hand holding the tea.

She absolutely would not allow anyone to gain a foothold by the master's side before her.

Thinking of this, Qingzhu looked down at herself, reached out and slightly opened her clothes, revealing her slender and fair neck.

Having served Pei Yanzhi for so long, she believed she knew his temperament best.

He disliked servants who acted on their own initiative, but Qingzhu couldn't wait that long.

After passing through the second courtyard gate, Qingzhu stepped onto the wooden bridge and arrived at Qingyi Residence.

This is where Pei Yanzhi lives; besides Cheng Hua, only she is allowed to enter.

Therefore, Qingzhu felt that she held a place in Pei Yanzhi's heart.

"Master."

She stood at the door and called out, and Pei Yanzhi's voice came from inside, telling her to come in.

Qingzhu pushed open the door and went in. Pei Yanzhi was changing his clothes. His red official robe was taken off, revealing his inner garment.

Even through that layer of clothing, Qingzhu could almost see the skin beneath, which must be strong and muscular.

"Let me help you change, sir."

Qingzhu put down the tray in her hand and was about to step forward when she saw Pei Yanzhi turn to look at her.

"Have you forgotten the rules of Mosongyuan?"

Upon hearing this, Qingzhu's face turned deathly pale, and she knelt down.

As she bent down, the open hem of her dress revealed half of her long and beautiful swan neck.

This reminded Pei Yanzhi of the scene at Lanhui Pavilion that night, when Xiang Ning begged for mercy in a low voice.

"This servant has overstepped her bounds; please punish me, Your Highness."

Qingzhu's voice brought Pei Yanzhi back to his senses. He looked away and told her to leave.

Upon hearing this, Qingzhu, though unwilling, had no choice but to leave.

She was well aware of the rules of Mosongyuan. In Pei Yanzhi's tranquil residence, she could only do chores like serving tea and water.

Changing his clothes, or even taking another step to serve him with writing materials, was not permitted.

Pei Yanzhi never liked anyone interfering too much in his affairs.

Qingzhu bit her lip, standing outside Qingyi Residence, her eyes slightly red.

She thought that with her beauty, she could at least gain a foothold by Pei Yanzhi's side.

She didn't aspire to be his legal wife; Qingzhu was willing to serve him as long as she could.

But Pei Yanzhi treated her only slightly better, pitifully, as if it were a charity.

When Chenghua returned, he looked at Qingzhu's red, tear-stained eyes with a cold gaze and entered Qingyi Residence.

Qingzhu was arrogant and self-important, and everyone in Mosong Garden treated her like a concubine.

This made her feel that one day, with Master, she could become the mistress of Mosong Garden.

They were just too self-righteous and arrogant.

"Sir, the trail went cold. When our men went after them, all that was left was a pile of charred corpses."

Cheng Hua placed the handkerchief in her hand on the desk, and then reached out to pour Pei Yanzhi a cup of tea.

Are there fewer people now?

"We've checked, and the most important one is missing: Yuan Kaiming."

Cheng Hua placed the teacup in Pei Yanzhi's hand.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi raised his eyes slightly: "He can't have gone far; he's still in Ling'an."

Having received this instruction, Chenghua complied.

After the master and servant finished talking, Chenghua left, and Pei Yanzhi never mentioned Xiang Ning again.

After being beaten by Chenghua, Xiao Wu spent almost half a month recuperating in the house.

Without his targeting, Xiang Ning's days became much easier.

That day, the old lady of Mosongyuan asked Xiangning to go to the small kitchen to get some fresh fruits and vegetables.

It is said that the eldest young master is returning home for dinner today. In the two years since Pei Yanshang took office as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he has rarely returned home, either investigating cases outside or spending the night at the Court of Judicial Review.

Just a few months ago, the old lady of the Pei family fell ill, and that's when he slowly started to return.

Days like this, when we go home for a meal, are truly rare.

Hearing the cook's words, Xiang Ning couldn't refuse.

Although she doesn't work in the kitchen, the cooks here see that she is well-behaved, obedient, and helpful, and sometimes they secretly save some good food for her.

Xiang Ning felt she had gained weight in less than a month since arriving at Mosongyuan.

"I'll go right away."

She quietly put away the knife in her hand, picked up her vegetable basket, and went to the main kitchen in the mansion to get something.

The Pei residence is very large; I heard that it was once the residence of a prince.

Because of the merits of the Pei family's ancestors, the emperor bestowed a house upon the Pei family.

Xiang Ning previously served at Qionghua Courtyard, and sometimes she would go to the main kitchen to help the First Madam fetch some things.

The road was fairly familiar, and besides, Pei Yongcheng usually sobered up in his own courtyard during the day and didn't come out often.

Just as Xiang Ning was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she was hugged from behind.

The murky smell of alcohol settled on her hair, then blew into her collar, circled around to the front, and entered her nose.

"Xiang Ning, you must be feeling neglected at Mo Song Yuan."

"For someone with your brother's personality to keep you around, you must have served him very well that day."

Pei Yongcheng's voice came, and Xiang Ning froze on the spot, but she quickly reacted and directly drew the knife in her hand and stabbed backward.

Although he was drunk, his reaction was quick; he grabbed Xiang Ning's wrist and pinned her against the artificial rock.

Pei Yongcheng raised Xiang Ning's hands above her head, looked at her, and smiled.

"She's gained weight, become more voluptuous, and looks even better now."

Pei Yongcheng smiled and then leaned closer.

Meat that you can't eat is indeed delicious; that's just how Bae Young-sung is.

The more unattainable or unseen a thing is, the more he longs for it and the more he wants to get his hands on it and taste it.

Xiang Ning's hands were held by him, and her mouth was covered by Pei Yongcheng.

The location of this artificial rockery is quite hidden, and it's unknown how long Pei Yongcheng has been waiting here.

She swallowed hard to calm her wildly beating heart, and as Pei Yongcheng leaned closer, she kicked him in the groin.

Pei Yongcheng winced in pain and loosened his grip slightly.

Xiang Ning used all her strength to push him away and ran outside.

She didn't even dare to call for help.

Pei Yongcheng is the fourth young master of the Pei family and the apple of the eye of the second wife.

Even though she is now Pei Yanzhi's maid, in order to protect the reputation of the Pei family, she will only say that she seduced Pei Yongcheng.

Footsteps sounded behind her, but Xiang Ning didn't dare to turn around until she bumped into someone.

She clung to his arm and looked up from his embrace.

The man had excellent bone structure, revealing a face with distinct features, and his lowered eyes held an unfathomable emotion.

"Master..."

Upon seeing Pei Yanzhi, Xiang Ning suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

She and Pei Yanzhi were truly destined for each other.

Time and again, he was the one who saved her.

Pei Yanzhi frowned for a moment as he looked at Xiang Ning, whose hair was disheveled and clothes were loose.

When she looked up again, she saw Bae Young-sung catching up.

Pei Yongcheng, who had been so arrogant just moments before, immediately fell silent upon seeing Pei Yan, like a mouse before a cat.

"Big, big brother."

"What, can't a whole courtyard of people serve you?"

As the two were talking, Xiang Ning's mind raced, and she reached out and hugged Pei Yanzhi, choking back tears as she spoke.

"Please, sir, have mercy on me and don't give me to the fourth young master."

A beautiful woman shedding tears naturally evokes pity, and what's more, her current disheveled appearance makes her seem both pitiful and adorable.

She looks much better when she cries than when she laughs.

Hey, I'm reporting Pei Yanzhi for being a jerk.

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(End of this chapter)