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

Chapter 7 Only a fool would like Pei Yanzhi
Xiang Ning knelt on the ground, feeling as if she had shot herself in the foot.

But Pei Yanzhi had already gone far away. She got up from the ground, straightened her clothes, and tied her hair up.

Pei Yanzhi's words made Xiang Ning feel uneasy.

This man is incredibly perceptive.

Fortunately, every word she said was a mixture of truth and falsehood, so it wasn't entirely a lie.

If I go to serve at Qingyi Residence in the future, I'll have to be extra careful.

With a long sigh, Xiang Ning picked up the basket from the ground and walked towards the main kitchen.

Behind the artificial rockery, a figure in a light blue linen robe and somewhat worn boots stepped on the grass. Long, slender fingers picked up a silver hairpin from the ground.

"Young Master, we should go back now."

The servant behind him spoke up to remind him, and received a "hmm" in response.

The place returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

After Xiang Ning retrieved the things the cook needed, she returned to Mo Song Yuan. The cook, grateful to her, gave her two papayas.

It's said that it can make her more voluptuous.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning's face flushed red and then turned pale.

However, not wanting to offend the cook, he took the two papayas and went home.

Pei Yanzhi told her to go to Qingyi Residence to serve him the next day, but no one came to tell her until evening.

Xiang Ning twisted the handkerchief in her hand, wondering if Pei Yanzhi's words were just casual remarks that he had forgotten after returning to Mosong Garden.
It's better to forget about him; there's no need to serve him anymore. Xiang Ning is doing quite well on her own in the outer courtyard.

Once she has saved enough money, she will definitely be able to redeem her indenture.

At this moment, Pei Yanzhi, who was at Qingyi Residence, was looking at the box that Chenghua had brought back.

The box was opened, and inside lay a contract of servitude.

"Lu Xiangning? So she has a name."

He reached out and took the contract of indenture, looking at the words on it.

"A Ling'an person?"

Upon hearing this, Chenghua nodded and replied, "I went to Qionghua Courtyard to retrieve Miss Xiangning's indenture and asked Mama Liao a few questions."

"Mother Liao said that three years ago, she voluntarily sold herself into the mansion. Because she was the most beautiful among the maids in the same batch, the First Madam kept her by her side to serve. Originally, she was prepared for you, Master."

Unexpectedly, the First Madam sent one over, but Pei Yanzhi chased one away.

Before it was Xiang Ning's turn, the First Madam was also exhausted and lost her will to do anything.

"Okay, put it away."

Pei Yanzhi casually tossed Xiang Ning's indenture into the box, and Cheng Hua left with the box in his hands.

When it was time for dinner, Qingzhu brought in the cook to serve the dishes.

"Sir, today the kitchen made your favorite braised crab meat lion's head meatballs. Please try them."

Just as Qingzhu picked up a piece of lion's head meatball and was about to put it in Pei Yanzhi's bowl, she saw him frown.

"Did you use face powder today?"

Upon hearing this, Qingzhu blushed and then nodded.

It's said that a person's scent has the greatest influence on them, so Qingzhu thought that since she served Pei Yanzhi every day, if he remembered her...

"Go down and kneel down."

Before Qingzhu could continue thinking, Pei Yanzhi put down his chopsticks, looked at her, and coldly uttered four words.

Qingzhu's moon silver is high, so the perfume powder she uses is naturally not of inferior quality.

But Pei Yanzhi disliked the scent of cosmetics on women the most.

The rich aroma wafted straight into his nose.

Qingzhu looked up at him and saw him sitting there, a hint of disgust appearing between her brows and eyes.

"Master...this servant..."

"I thought you were a person who knew your limits and knew when to advance and retreat."

Pei Yanzhi only said this one sentence, and his dark eyes seemed to see right through her.

Qingzhu bit her lip, her face somewhat pale.

Having been reprimanded twice, she knew that it would be difficult for her to serve Pei Yanzhi in the future. Qingzhu withdrew, and Chenghua, who was standing to the side, took over what she had just done and served Pei Yanzhi the dishes.

"Go and call Xiang Ning here."

It's unclear what Pei Yanzhi was thinking, but he spoke up and gave an order.

Cheng Hua raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded in agreement.

When they went out, Qingzhu was kneeling under the eaves, looking as if she had been hit hard.

Chenghua glanced at it and then looked away.

"What? The master wants me to go right now?"

Xiang Ning, who was holding a steamed bun, nearly choked to death upon hearing Cheng Hua's words.

Chenghua quickly poured her a glass of water and said with a smile, "Didn't Master already tell you to go to Qingyi Residence to serve me?"

"Why did you return to Mosong Garden but not go there?"

Xiang Ning squeezed the steamed bun, thinking that Pei Yanzhi had just said it casually and had forgotten about it.

Besides, if we're going, it'll be tomorrow, won't it?
“What I say is never to be taken back, so please don’t take it as a casual remark in the future.”

Chenghua seemed to see through Xiang Ning's thoughts and offered an explanation.

This was also a reminder, telling her not to take Pei Yanzhi's words to heart in the future.

"I'll go right away."

Xiang Ning slowly exhaled and put the steamed bun down.

She didn't bring much when she arrived, but when she went to Qingyi Residence, she brought two heavy papayas.

Chenghua thoughtfully carried it for her, and even said a few words to her on the way.

"From now on, young lady, you will serve by my side. You only need to remember to be quiet and not to have any improper thoughts."

Those like Qingzhu had inappropriate and improper thoughts, which aroused Pei Yanzhi's disgust.

Xiang Ning nodded and thanked Cheng Hua.

As they were talking, the two arrived at Qingyi Residence. Xiang Ning turned her head and saw Qing Zhu kneeling there.

Qingzhu clearly hadn't expected to encounter Xiangning here.

Chenghua, who was standing to the side, was carrying a package. Qingzhu's eyes widened. What did this mean?
The master actually allowed Xiang Ning to serve him at Qingyi Residence?
Xiang Ning glanced at it once and then looked away, wondering why Pei Yanzhi had thought of her.

"Master, Miss Xiangning has arrived."

Cheng Hua stood at the door and said something. Pei Yanzhi replied from inside, telling Xiang Ning to go in.

Upon hearing this, Chenghua pushed open the door, stood aside, and let Xiangning enter the room.

Pei Yanzhi's house was very large, and when the floor-to-ceiling windows were opened, a babbling brook flowed right in front of you.

He sat with his back to the door, and on the table in front of him were exquisite dishes.

"Master."

Xiang Ning stood behind him and called out to him.

Pei Yanzhi glanced sideways and said, "Didn't you say you were in love with me? Then why, now that you have the chance to serve me closely, do you want to run away like the plague?"

His tone was indifferent, his voice like a cold spring in a secluded mountain stream, chilling to the bone.

Her brief words were like cold arrows, piercing straight into Xiang Ning.

Suddenly, Xiang Ning felt a cold hand climbing up her neck, trying to break it.

"I am so happy that I must have misheard."

Besides, Pei Yanzhi told her to come tomorrow, but he asked her to come today.

"Xiang Ning, have you forgotten what I said today again?"

He disliked the little tricks she played in front of him.

But she kept telling these deceptive lies, one after another.

Hearing Pei Yanzhi's words, Xiang Ning lowered her head. Her biggest regret today was that she had blurted out "I love him" in her haste.

Only a fool would like Pei Yanzhi's personality.

(End of this chapter)