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

Chapter 91 Those are Pei Yanzhi's people

Seeing Pei Yanzhi's insistence, Mingxiang did not try to persuade him further, but instead went down to make arrangements for the matter.

After Mingxiang left, only Pei Yanzhi remained in the room. He looked at the sachet on the table and felt that everything Xiang Ning had said was a lie.

Not a single word he uttered was sincere, yet he found it all quite enjoyable.

Pei Yanzhi asked himself, why bother chasing after a woman who is so insincere and has already run away?

But Pei Yanzhi was unwilling to accept it.

He was unwilling to accept that he had been completely manipulated by a woman, and he couldn't believe that he had come to this.

He didn't even know what to ask Xiang Ning if he saw her.

Pei Yanzhi leaned back, rested his head on the chair, and let out a long sigh.

After a three-day voyage, Xiang Ning finally arrived in Ling An.

Over the past three days, she and Qi Niang have talked a lot and become good friends. Qi Niang even said that if she ever wanted to leave Ling An, she should write to her.

They also have friends in Ling'an who can help take care of Xiang Ning.

However, Xiang Ning knew what she was carrying on her back. She was afraid that Pei Yanzhi would find her, so she stopped contacting Qi Niang and the others in order to better protect them.

Ling'an is not a large city, but its streets are very bustling.

Seventh Sister explained to Xiang Ning that Ling'an is a porcelain city, and because of its geographical location, the soil here is different from other places.

The porcelain produced was especially loved by nobles.

Therefore, commerce is very developed here, especially the Lu family trading company.

Seventh Sister helped Xiang Ning find a place to stay. Thanks to Seventh Sister, Xiang Ning finally had a place to rest in Ling An for a short time.

However, Seventh Sister and Seventh Brother still have things to do in Ling'an, so they cannot stay here to help Xiang Ning.

After the three said goodbye, Xiang Ning tidied up a bit in the courtyard and then prepared to go to the Lu family business to inquire about it.

The Lu family business was very famous in Ling'an, and Xiang Ning found it soon after.

She was just about to walk over when she spotted the people across from the Lu family business, which startled her so much that she quickly pulled her foot back.

Those were Pei Yanzhi's men.

Xiang Ning had seen the waist tags hanging on these people on the two guards from before.

Those were Pei Yanzhi's private guards; very few people could see them.

Why would his men be outside the Lu family business?
Xiang Ning leaned against the pillar and took a deep breath.

She seemed to have heard Mingxiang mention the Lu Family Trading Company before...

Xiang Ning peeked out again and saw that the people were still guarding the Lu family business, so she had to return to her own courtyard first.

Does the presence of these people in Ling'an mean that Pei Yanzhi will also come to Ling'an?

She had only just arrived in Ling'an and hadn't found out anything before leaving. She was truly unwilling to accept this.

However, Xiang Ning couldn't afford to gamble. If she really ran into Pei Yanzhi in Ling'an, she would truly be doomed.

Pei Yanzhi's kindness towards her was based on her obedience and docility. If she dared to deceive him, Pei Yanzhi would never let her off the hook.

"Girl, why do you look so pale?"

The door was pushed open, and Seventh Sister walked in carrying food.

Seeing Xiang Ning's pale face, Qi Niang hurriedly stepped forward and touched Xiang Ning's forehead.

"Oh, why am I covered in sweat?"

Hearing Qi Niang's voice, Xiang Ning sighed: "I may have to leave Ling An tomorrow."

"Huh? You only arrived in Ling'an today, why are you leaving so soon?"

Upon hearing Xiang Ning's words, Qi Niang felt a little strange and quickly asked a question.

“I saw him today. I’m afraid he might come to Ling’an. I’d better leave first. Anyway, I can come back later.”

Now that she had left the Pei residence, Xiang Ning didn't want to see Pei Yanzhi again, nor did she want to have any further involvement with him. She didn't want to go back.

"Okay, have you decided where you want to go?"

Hearing this, Xiang Ning shook her head: "I haven't decided yet. I'll ask tomorrow morning which caravan can depart the fastest. As long as I don't run into them, I'm fine with going anywhere."

Seven Sister sighed: "I remember there's a caravan going to Lanzhou tomorrow. It's a long way off. Why don't you go and hide there first?"

The emperor is far away, so Pei Yanzhi is unwilling to let go now, probably because the novelty hasn't worn off yet.

Perhaps if Xiang Ning stays away for a long time, he won't be so persistent.

Lanzhou is a hundred and eight thousand miles away from Beijing, and if you go any further, you'll be outside the Great Wall.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Seventh Sister, to help me make the contact. If he really finds out, just put all the blame on me."

"Seventh Sister, you and Seventh Brother are both my saviors. I don't want you to get involved in this kind of thing."

Pei Yanzhi is known as the King of Hell outside. Although he has never said anything harsh to Xiang Ning, Xiang Ning understands that Pei Yanzhi is not someone to be trifled with.

"Don't worry, it's okay."

After talking with Xiang Ning for a while, Qi Niang got up and left.

Xiang Ning felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the food that Qi Niang had brought, but she had no appetite for it.

The next morning, Xiang Ning packed her things and prepared to leave.

"Girl, I just asked that caravan, and they said they haven't finished loading their goods, so they might not be able to leave for another two days."

"This is the only caravan that needs to go out recently. Can you wait two days?"

Seventh Sister has finished unloading her goods and will be leaving Ling'an tomorrow, so she hurriedly came to find Xiang Ning.

"I'm afraid we can't wait any longer. The sooner we leave, the better. I'll go find a caravan to help me."

Xiang Ning dared not delay this matter at all, for fear of running into Pei Yanzhi.

“I’ve inquired, and no one said that Lord Pei is coming to Ling’an. You’ve only just arrived and haven’t even had a chance to rest before you have to leave again.”

Although Qi Niang understood Xiang Ning's worries, she also felt sorry for her running around like she was escaping for her life.

Hearing Qi Niang's words, Xiang Ning smiled and shook her head: "If we really wait for him to come, I won't be able to escape at all."

“Now that we’re out here, there’s no reason for us to go back. Being a concubine isn’t a free life.”

She was Pei Yanzhi's concubine, and everyone thought she enjoyed wealth and luxury.

But some people have said, "It's better to be a poor man's wife than a rich man's concubine."

"Alright, I can't persuade you otherwise, but I'll go with you to ask."

The two asked the local people and found a security escort agency, but the agency said they had no plans to go out recently.

“Ling An, something's happened recently, and nobody dares to go out.”

The bodyguard looked at Qi Niang and Xiang Ning and whispered, "A fire broke out at the Lu Family Trading Company's Jade Shop, killing many people."

This caused widespread panic among the merchants in the city; no one dared to go out, fearing that their homes would catch fire if they did.

Who knows how the fire started? That person even dared to burn down the Lu family business, so they have to be careful.

Xiang Ning emerged from the escort agency with a cold and aloof expression.

"Seventh Sister, I must leave Ling'an today."

Since neither caravans nor escort agencies were working, Xiang Ning decided to buy her own horse or hire someone; in any case, she needed to leave Ling An first.

"I always feel like someone's following us. What do you think?"

As soon as Xiang Ning finished speaking, Qi Niang pulled Xiang Ning aside and whispered something.

"Don't look back."

(End of this chapter)