8 008

The moment she saw him, Jiang Xinyue didn’t even hesitate to turn her head away, her mind spinning wildly. She prayed fervently to every deity she could think of, repeating only one thought: Please don’t see me! Please don’t see me!

“Aunt—” Qing Fei barely uttered a sound before Jiang Xinyue cut her off sharply, whispering, “Don’t speak. Follow me.”

Her expression was so serious that her two maids grew anxious, unsure of what was happening but too afraid to make a sound. They trailed behind their mistress, trying their best to behave normally.

But perhaps it was nerves; Qing Fei began to move awkwardly, as if her limbs no longer obeyed her.

Jiang Xinyue’s mind buzzed. Noticing the commotion behind, she grit her teeth and muttered, “Can’t you just walk properly?”

“Ah?” Qing Fei was so flustered by the rebuke that her arms and legs flailed wildly, no longer under control.

Though the street was crowded, few behaved as oddly as they did. Passersby glanced over in disgust, suspecting the girls might be afflicted with some madness, and instinctively gave them a wide berth.

The three were quickly isolated, drawing conspicuous attention—hardly something they wanted.

——

Pei Yannian had initially thought that riding a fast horse would enable him to catch up with Xu Yanli’s group. Yet, despite galloping from one post station to another, he found no trace of Xu Yanli. Nearly half a month had passed since he reached the capital before his men finally informed him that Xu Yanli had returned.

Without delay, he sought out Gu Junheng, a mutual friend of the Xu family in the capital, and delivered a formal letter of introduction to meet Xu Yanli.

Xu Yanli received him politely, reflecting for a moment before saying, “Apologies. I headed south to investigate the Xu family’s business affairs. There were so many matters, I honestly don’t remember having such a maid. But if the county magistrate says so, then she’s probably really dead.”

Pei Yannian looked at him.

Both men knew this was a blatant excuse.

Yet Xu Yanli met Pei Yannian’s gaze calmly and deliberately, his eyes sincere and unflinching, with an unspoken challenge.

Two men of vastly different temperaments but equally renowned reputations faced off, the air so tense that a single spark could ignite a blazing inferno. Even the servants nearby dared not utter a word. Gu Junheng, acting as mediator, involuntarily took a step back.

Clicking his tongue, he shook his head and carefully adjusted the hem of his freshly made brocade robe, hoping to avoid getting bloodstains should a fight break out.

But the anticipated bloody clash never came.

After a brief silence, Pei Yannian bowed slightly and said, “Thank you for your time,” before striding away with his entourage.

——

Once outside, he instructed Wenshan to keep a close watch on Xu Yanli’s every move.

He simply refused to believe Chu Qiaoqiao was truly in danger.

Only today did Wenshan receive news. He hurried from the military camp, only to find no sign of the person he sought.

His calm eyes caught the emblem of the Huaiyuan Marquis’s carriage ahead, sensing something amiss. A quick glance revealed three young ladies behaving oddly.

Just as he was about to look away, his gaze landed on a figure he recognized instantly. Realizing this, he strode forward decisively.

Sensing danger, Jiang Xinyue’s hairs stood on end. The moment Pei San approached, she grabbed her two maids and ran.

“Run! Quickly!” she urged.

Though she was a delicate noble lady with limited stamina, she counted on her two maids, Qing Fei and Qing Cui, to help her escape. They planned to lose Pei San by dodging into the twisting alleys ahead.

With the maze-like streets, shaking off an unfamiliar outsider like Pei San should have been easy.

Yet as they ran, she felt her arms being yanked backward, as if pulled like noodles.

Looking to the sides, both maids were gasping for breath, seemingly even less capable of running than she was.

What traitors!

Jiang Xinyue’s scalp tingled as the man’s silhouette drew closer. In a moment of distraction, they veered into a dead end.

Trapped against a solid wall, Jiang Xinyue felt tears welling up.

Qing Fei, utterly breathless, leaned against the wall, hands on her hips, panting heavily. “Miss… I… really can’t run anymore…”

Qing Cui was no better off, barely standing. “Miss, did some bad people catch up with you?”

Judging by their state, capture was inevitable.

Relentless as a shadow.

Jiang Xinyue cursed inwardly, utterly baffled as to why Pei San had suddenly appeared in the capital.

Surely she didn’t possess some special power to call him by name, summoning him like a spirit?

Besides, was it really worth it? Pei San, a mere hunter, had traveled a great distance at considerable expense just to catch her? She admitted to a certain coldness in love, but she’d only deceived feelings, nothing worse. If anyone had suffered losses, it was her. Why should he make demands?

She straightened her back, though her mind involuntarily pictured Liu Ernniu’s battered, multicolored face and the man’s piercing screams. A shiver ran through her.

Yet the more frightened she felt, the clearer her resolve became: the most important thing was not to reveal her true identity.

She knew all too well the greed of human nature. Though Pei San didn’t seem like someone who chased fame or fortune, she could not be sure that upon learning her noble background, he wouldn’t ruin her reputation before forcing marriage.

After all, she was the legitimate daughter of a marquis’s household, and her mother, along with the Xu family, had prepared a dowry so generous it drew envy. Otherwise, why would her eldest aunt, despite suspecting her innocence was lost, still try to arrange a match with Yang Cong’an?

Her hands trembling, she quickly removed her hairpin, placing it in Qing Fei’s hair. She also transferred all removable ornaments onto Qing Fei.

“Miss…” Qing Fei was bewildered, too stunned by the hairpin on her head to move.

“Don’t call me Miss. You are the lady now,” Jiang Xinyue said urgently, pulling a finely embroidered cloak adorned with begonia blossoms over Qing Fei’s head. Locking eyes with her, she said seriously, “I am now your maid, Chu Qiaoqiao. Understand?”

“Ah?” Qing Fei was confused but obediently nodded, “Understood.”

Qing Cui, sharper, asked, “Miss, what’s going on?”

“I owe someone a debt in my time of trouble,” Jiang Xinyue said, adding silently in her heart, an emotional debt.

“We’ll pay him back,” Qing Cui said firmly.

Jiang Xinyue’s headache worsened. “The creditor is not someone to be trifled with!”

“But under the emperor’s watchful eye, I don’t believe anyone would dare cause trouble openly!” Normally timid Qing Cui suddenly grew fierce and started to step forward. “I’ll go find him—”

Her words cut off abruptly.

At the alley’s entrance, a tall man appeared without warning.

Pei San was the kind of person who instantly drew attention in a crowd—not only for his striking, handsome features and upright, athletic build but also for the commanding aura he exuded without anger.

He stood in the alleyway’s shadow, blocking much of the light. His elongated silhouette resembled the king of the underworld from classic tales, making his handsome face look terrifying.

Frightened, Qing Cui stepped back two paces like a startled quail, standing behind her lady for safety. She peered out and warned, “I warn you, our lady is the daughter of a court official. If you dare lay a hand on her, we will never forgive you.”

Jiang Xinyue felt the fierce determination behind her, almost wishing to scream.

She vowed to herself that once she returned, Qing Cui would be replaced.

Suppressing her panic, she forced a tight, unconvincing smile and pulled Qing Cui to stand beside Qing Fei, placing Qing Fei in the middle.

“Pei San, my lady is here. Don’t make a move.”

“Ah? Oh.” Qing Fei immediately nodded again, “Don’t make a move.”

Pei Yannian’s face darkened completely.