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

Chapter 72 Seeking a Different Path to Leave the Mansion

After taking a bath, Pei Yanzhi had Xiang Ning accompany him for a meal.

Xiang Ning chewed slowly and carefully, wishing this meal could last forever.

Unfortunately, Pei Yanzhi didn't have the patience to eat with Xiang Ning here.

Seeing that she had almost finished eating, they immediately had someone come in and clear away the food.

As soon as the door closed, Pei Yanzhi got up and picked Xiang Ning up in his arms.

"This servant hasn't rinsed her mouth yet..."

Pei Yanzhi was extremely anxious because Pei Yanzhi hadn't rinsed his mouth or taken a bath.

The man frowned slightly, using one hand to stop her while taking a cup of tea from the side and bringing it to Xiang Ning's lips with the other.

"Drink."

Xiang Ning glanced at Pei Yanzhi, feeling somewhat helpless, and had no choice but to drink the glass of water from Pei Yanzhi's hand.

After they finished drinking the water, Pei Yanzhi carried them directly to the bed.

Xiang Ning knew she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but she hadn't expected Pei Yanzhi to have such good stamina.

She felt like she was falling apart. No matter how much she begged for mercy, all he said was to obey and do it again.

When Xiang Ning woke up the next day, Pei Yanzhi had already gone to the morning court.

She rubbed her lower back and got up, only to hear Bitao's voice coming from outside.

"Sister, sleep a little longer. Master wants you to get some rest."

Upon hearing Bitao's words, Xiangning intended to get up and return to her room, but she collapsed back onto the bed twice.

She had no choice but to lie back down and agree to Bitao's words.

Pei Yanzhi still had a conscience; he knew the state he had left in the people he had tormented.

Xiang Ning rested comfortably all morning and didn't wake up even when Pei Yan came back for a visit.

Inside the flower hall of the Pei residence, a huge commotion had already broken out.

People from the Qingyuan Earl's Mansion came, saying they wanted to ask Old Madam Pei for an explanation.

Madam Pei then knew that their purpose in coming to the Pei residence was nothing more than seeking justice for Qin Bijun.

"Go and find out which damned lackey dared to pass on messages to Qin Bijun."

With a cold expression, Madam Pei said that when she sent Qin Bijun to the manor, she had instructed that no one was allowed to help her send messages.

These people are really something else, pretending to comply while secretly disobeying, they actually dared to send messages to the Qin family.

Madam Kang nodded in agreement and helped the old lady to the flower hall.

Two women were sitting in the flower hall; they were Qin Bijun's eldest sister-in-law, Zhu Tinghe, and her third sister-in-law, Qi Shuyi.

Upon seeing these two, Madam Pei felt a headache coming on; these two were notoriously difficult to deal with in the capital.

"Greetings, Madam Pei."

Upon hearing the sound of the cane, the two men stood up and bowed.

When it comes to etiquette, the two of them naturally wouldn't give the Pei family any leverage to criticize them.

Madam Pei smiled and indicated that they didn't need to be so polite.

After she sat down, Zhu Tinghe said with a smile, "Madam, we came today to see our second sister, Bijun. Why didn't she come out to greet us?"

Zhu Tinghe is a smooth talker; when she speaks, you can't find the slightest fault in her words.

Madam Pei looked at her as if she were a fox.

“Bijun is sick, so I told her to rest well in her room.”

The two spoke in cryptic language, yet understood each other perfectly. Zhu Tinghe nodded knowingly and said, "I see. Then why don't we go and see Bijun?"

"Madam, to be honest, Bijun was pampered and spoiled in our family. Her eldest brother misses her the most."

After saying that, Zhu Tinghe was about to get up when Qi Shuyi, who was standing next to her, added, "My second sister took good care of me before she got married, so I should go and see her."

"Please wait a moment, both of you. Bijun is ill and should not see anyone. Perhaps we should wait a few days until she has recovered before she comes to see you."

Madam Pei knew what they were thinking.

If they wanted to completely sever ties, they would have exposed her sending Qin Bijun to the estate long ago. The reason she's not saying anything now is to save face and avoid making the relationship between the two families too strained.

Therefore, upon hearing the old lady's words, Zhu Tinghe looked troubled: "This... what the old lady said makes sense. Third sister-in-law, why don't we go back first and come to see Bijun again in a couple of days?"

"I'll do whatever my older sister says."

Qi Shuyi replied politely, and the two made a decision in just a few words, without giving Old Madam Pei a chance to speak.

"Then, Madam, we won't bother you any longer. We'll come back in a couple of days. We'll be leaving now."

Upon hearing this, Madam Pei smiled slightly, watching the two arrive in a flurry and leave in a hurry.

After they left the Pei residence, Pei Yanzhi also came to the flower hall.

"grandmother."

"Yanzhi, come sit here."

Madam Pei beckoned Pei Yanzhi over, and after he sat down, she remained silent for a long time before saying, "The Dali Temple is not busy today. If you are free this afternoon, go and pick up your mother."

Hearing Madam Pei's words, Pei Yanzhi did not refute them: "I will go this afternoon."

"Originally, I planned to let your mother reflect on her actions at the estate for a while, but unfortunately, she is not a woman who can be easy to deal with. She sent a message to the Marquis of Qingyuan's residence, forcing me to bring her back."

The thought of this incident still ignited a fire within Madam Pei.

Qin Bijun used all her intelligence on these kinds of things.

If she had put even a little effort into treating Pei Yanzhi, things wouldn't have come to this...

“Yanzhi, your grandmother knows you’re feeling wronged.”

Hearing Madam Pei's words, Pei Yanzhi shook his head to indicate that he was alright.

He doesn't care about them anymore, so naturally he won't care about these things either.

After exchanging a few more words with Pei Yanzhi, Madam Pei sent him back.

"This child still harbors resentment."

After expressing her feelings, Madam Pei also got up and left the flower hall.

In Qingyi Residence, Xiang Ning was lying asleep in bed when she felt a hand stroking her cheek.

Her fingers were slightly cool, but the gaze she gave her was burning hot.

She opened her eyes and saw Pei Yanzhi, instantly regaining her senses.

"Master..."

"You can sleep so much, it took two trips back to see you awake."

Pei Yanzhi said this with a smile, making Xiang Ning blush crimson.

She's now bedridden and can't get up. Who's the reason?
"Lie down. If you're hungry, I'll have Bitao bring you food. I have to go out this afternoon."

Pei Yanzhi didn't care about any of that. When Xiang Ning was asleep, she was very well-behaved.

Especially when she unconsciously puts her arm around him and murmurs a few words in her sleep, it's truly endearing.

"wait me back."

Pei Yanzhi gave one more instruction, then lowered his head to kiss Xiang Ning before getting up and leaving.

After he left, Xiang Ning called Bi Tao. She got dressed and went over, and Bi Tao told Xiang Ning what had happened in the flower hall.

"Are we going to fetch the First Madam back?"

"That's right. The First Madam and the Third Madam of the Qingyuan Marquis's Mansion are not to be trifled with. They only stayed for a short while, but they forced the Old Madam to go and fetch the First Madam back."

As Xiang Ning listened to Bi Tao's words, she suddenly thought of something.

If she can't get through to the old lady, wouldn't it be easier for the first lady to let her go?
After all, the First Madam didn't like her at all.

Thinking of this, Xiang Ning's heart started racing. She turned to look at herself in the bronze mirror, forcing herself to calm down.

Pei Yanzhi: Wife, love me.

Xiang Ning: I want to leave the manor.

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(End of this chapter)