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

Chapter 6 I Don't Like Your Little Tricks
After Xiang Ning hugged Pei Yan, she tilted her head back at just the right moment, revealing a pair of misty eyes.

Before Pei Yanzhi could push her away, she snuggled against him like a docile, ingratiating cat.

"The Fourth Young Master said that since I am not favored by the Eldest Young Master, it would be better to ask the Eldest Young Master to give me to him as a maid."

After saying that, Xiang Ning sobbed and looked at Pei Yanzhi with a look of dependence.

In her current predicament, her only option is to have Pei Yanzhi protect her in front of Pei Yongcheng.
Let Pei Yongcheng know that Pei Yanzhi has eyes for her.

Thinking of this, Xiang Ning withdrew her hand, and the warm, soft body in her arms suddenly left.

For some reason, Pei Yanzhi felt somewhat displeased.

Before he could speak, Xiang Ning grabbed Pei Yanzhi's sleeve, shook it gently, and wiped away her tears with her other hand.

"The Fourth Young Master also said that I've gained weight, become more voluptuous, and even more..."

Xiang Ning didn't finish her sentence, but dragged out the last syllable, leaving room for imagination.

Sure enough, Pei Yanzhi's gaze towards Pei Yongcheng was almost as cold as a series of knives.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yongcheng sobered up considerably, his eyes widened, and he hurriedly explained, "No, no, that's not it, brother, don't listen to her nonsense."

Is this brat trying to kill him?!

"I... I just complimented her on her looks. Big brother has excellent taste."

As he spoke, Pei Yongcheng tried to flee.

He had timed it perfectly today, knowing that Pei Yanzhi wouldn't be home at this hour.

Who would have thought that Xiang Ning would be so lucky, running into Pei Yanzhi every time?

"But Fourth Young Master still tried to take liberties with me. If I hadn't struggled desperately, I would have almost lost my chastity. I am of lowly birth, so naturally I am not as noble as Fourth Young Master. But I am now the eldest young master's woman. If you do this, aren't you showing no regard for the eldest young master?"

Xiang Ning caught a glimpse of Pei Yongcheng about to leave and quickly tugged at Pei Yanzhi's sleeve again.

She pressed her head against it, let out a sob, and looked extremely aggrieved.

"How can I not!"

As Pei Yongcheng listened to Xiang Ning's words, which were all aimed at sending him to hell, he was almost ready to kneel down and beg her to stop.

"Chenghua, take the fourth young master back and ask the second aunt if there aren't enough servants in the fourth brother's courtyard. If so, I'll send him a few."

Pei Yanzhi's cold words immediately turned Pei Yongcheng's face pale.

That's it, I'm doomed.

If his mother found out that he had trespassed into his elder brother's yard, she would break his legs without hesitation.

Cheng Hua walked up behind Pei Yanzhi and gestured for Pei Yongcheng to proceed.

Pei Yongcheng was heartbroken. After bowing to Pei Yanzhi, he followed Chenghua away.

Hearing the footsteps behind her gradually fade away, Xiang Ning breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave Pei Yanzhi's embrace.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed Xiang Ning by the neck.

The sudden constraint forced her to look up at Pei Yanzhi.

This was the third time Xiang Ning had truly met Pei Yanzhi's gaze.

Those were a pair of emotionless, cold eyes, like swords about to be drawn.

“You’re smart; you know how to use me to get rid of Pei Yongcheng completely.”

Pei Yanzhi wore silver armor on his hands, and the force of his grip made the sharp edges of the armor almost scratch Xiang Ning's delicate neck.

"Sir, what... what are you saying?"

Xiang Ning frowned and managed to utter a sentence with difficulty.

The only person she can use is Pei Yanzhi. If she doesn't use him, who else can she use?

"Xiang Ning, I don't like your petty schemes."

Pei Yanzhi's expression remained indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

The force of his grip only increased; in that instant, Xiang Ning knew that he truly intended to kill her. From that night at Lan Hui Pavilion, in Pei Yanzhi's heart, she had been nothing more than a maidservant who would stop at nothing to climb into his bed.

In order to stay, she didn't explain much.

Today, she used Pei Yanzhi to extinguish all of Pei Yongcheng's hopes.

In Pei Yanzhi's mind, she was probably a scheming woman through and through.

The feeling of suffocation made Xiang Ning feel a flash of white light in her mind. She reached out and grabbed Pei Yanzhi's sleeve.

"But I love the young master. Is that wrong?"

Xiang Ning closed her eyes, and tears welled up in her eyes, dripping like beads from a broken string onto Pei Yanzhi's hand.

When she cried, she never opened her mouth to wail; she just pursed her lips and looked at him with stubborn yet sad eyes.

Pear blossoms wept tears like raindrops.

Pei Yanzhi stared at her before withdrawing his hand.

Even though he had seen too many tears at the Dali Temple, today's tears gave Pei Yanzhi a strange, burning sensation.

Like boiling water being scalded by fire, dripping and burning the back of his hand.

“Even if the eldest young master doesn’t believe me, I still have to explain. That day at Lanhui Pavilion, I was drugged by the fourth young master and accidentally wandered in.”

“I have been in this household for three years. From the first time I saw the young master, I secretly fell in love with him. But the young master is as rare as a crane in the sky, and I am just a lowly servant. How dare I aspire to such a high position?”

Xiang Ning knelt on the ground, still feeling somewhat dazed.

But if she doesn't dispel Pei Yanzhi's doubts today, she might be kicked out when she returns to Mosong Garden.

She has completely offended Pei Yongcheng; once she leaves Mosongyuan, she will surely die.

"This servant does not ask for your attention, but only begs that you take pity on me for my loyalty and not give me away to someone else."

After Xiang Ning finished speaking, she felt disgusted to death.

A noble young master like Pei Yanzhi, who is of high moral character, would probably feel disgusted if a maidservant expressed her affection for him.

All Xiang Ning wanted was protection, nothing more.

After saying that, she raised her head, her eyes slightly red and swollen, and her disheveled hair made her look truly affectionate and righteous.

"You like me?"

"Then you will come to Qingyi Residence to serve me tomorrow."

Pei Yanzhi's gaze swept across Xiang Ning's face, then moved to the scars on her neck.

He can still distinguish between sincerity and pretense.

If he couldn't even see through a person, he wouldn't need to be the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, responsible for interrogation and torture.

This maid is very bold.

Mingming's presence in Mosong Garden was so low that he seemed like someone who could be bullied at will.

But she was audacious and reckless, deceiving him time and time again after he had said he disliked her scheming.

Xiang Ning's pupils widened slightly, and she quickly lowered her head: "Thank you, Master. This servant will serve you with all my heart."

She felt a pang of regret, wishing she hadn't said so much.

If he were to go to Qingyi Residence, Qingzhu would probably try to find a way to kill him.

But once Pei Yanzhi spoke, she didn't even have the right to refuse.

Seeing her lower her head and respond obediently, Pei Yanzhi's mood improved considerably.

The servants in the Pei household were mostly afraid of him. Even his own brothers and sisters would respectfully address him as "elder brother" or "young master."

It's rare to see someone so outwardly compliant yet inwardly defiant, daring to scheme and use tricks in front of him.

I'm begging for votes! I'm begging for anything, just give them all to me!
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(End of this chapter)