Chapter 45

Zhou Jiangcheng was a fierce general, not very intelligent but physically strong, with muscles all over, unstoppable among the troops.

Suddenly, a burly man rushed towards her. Baoning was almost scared silly. Zhou Jiangcheng arrived in front of her. She reacted only then, instinctively dodging backward.

Zhou Jiangcheng staggered, eyes closed. In the momentum, he fell towards Liu Mama who was beside Baoning, tightly grabbing her shoulders.

His expression was strange. Initially, he had called her 'Green Cloud' sweetly with a face full of blush. After a couple of calls, for some unknown reason, he flew into a rage, suddenly grabbing Liu Mama's neck. 'Green Cloud, did you deceive me? Did you steal the Tiger Seal? Tell me it wasn't you, okay?'

Liu Mama screamed, her umbrella face torn apart by Zhou Jiangcheng, leaving only a sharp umbrella bone. While yelling, she stabbed Zhou Jiangcheng's leg with the umbrella bone.

Zhou Jiangcheng winced in pain, opening his eyes. Only then did he realize he had grabbed the wrong person. He abruptly looked up towards Baoning not far away, fixing his gaze on her.

Baoning stood in the rain, at a loss, a slender emerald shadow.

"Green Cloud?" Zhou Jiangcheng gasped like a wild beast, suddenly rushing towards her. He was incredibly fast and powerful, tearing the sleeve off Baoning with one motion.

Everything happened in an instant, from his rush out the door to now, just a couple of breaths.

The gate guards were too shocked to move. It was Qiu Mingshan who shouted, 'Quick, restrain him!' Several people finally moved to pull Zhou Jiangcheng's arms.

Baoning came to her senses, helping the still trembling Liu Mama into the house.

Pei Yuan happened to come out of the house, seeing her disheveled appearance, his brows furrowing deeply. 'Who did this?'

Baoning, tears welling up, completely soaked and with her right sleeve torn to shreds, revealing fair skin. Before she could speak, Liu Mama exclaimed, 'Madman! That martial lunatic outside!'

Pei Yuan's eyes blazed with anger, throwing off his clothes to cover Baoning's shoulders. With a sharp 'clang,' he drew a precious sword hanging on the wall, ready to go out.

Baoning tightly held him back. 'Pei Yuan, don't act rashly!'

Outside, Qiu Mingshan had already knocked Zhou Jiangcheng unconscious with a slap, leaving him limp in the rain. Several guards had wounds on their faces from him. Zhou Jiangcheng was half-conscious, still in a frenzy, reaching towards Baoning. He mumbled incoherently, then suddenly laughed. His smile was not pleasant, frightening Baoning.

"Fool!" Pei Yuan was furious, hurling the sword. It grazed Zhou Jiangcheng's cheek deeply, embedding into the ground. Blood mixed with rainwater flowed down his face.

Liu Mama screamed and fell to the ground.

Baoning was also frightened, dragging Pei Yuan into the house.

She had seen blood before, but this was the first time she had witnessed such a violent act. Her heart raced uncontrollably. If the sword had moved just an inch more, it would have pierced Zhou Jiangcheng's neck. The thought sent shivers down Baoning's spine. She was scared—more scared than when Zhou Jiangcheng rushed at her.

Baoning wiped away tears, her soaked clothes clinging coldly to her body. Facing Pei Yuan, she sought some comfort, but when she lifted her head, she met Pei Yuan's cold gaze.

He spoke in the same cold tone, "What are you doing here without reason?"

Baoning froze, looking at Pei Yuan in disbelief. "What are you saying?"

Pei Yuan frowned, "The study is restricted. Without permission, no one, especially women, is allowed inside. Don't you know that?"

Baoning felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head. She stared at Pei Yuan's stern face, panting heavily, her eyes slowly turning red.

Pei Yuan noticed her expression, his fists clenched at his sides, tightening and then loosening. Helplessly, he raised his hand to cover Baoning's face, his thumb rubbing her eyelids. "Alright, don't cry."

Baoning pushed his hand away sharply. "I don't need your concern, you heartless wolf."

"Fine, I take back what I said earlier." Pei Yuan realized he had spoken too harshly. Holding Baoning's wrist gently, he softly led her into his embrace. "I was just impulsive and spoke without thinking."

But Baoning didn't want to stay in his arms. She struggled to break free, and Pei Yuan held her back, pressing her against his chest. "What are you causing a scene for?"

Baoning's shoulders trembled with anger. "Pei Yuan, have you gone too far?"

"It's my fault." Pei Yuan sighed.

He felt sorry for Baoning and regretted not protecting her just now. But his emotional expression was too restrained. He had never been gentle. Even now, despite wanting to express tenderness towards Baoning, his words came out like a reprimand to a subordinate.

Baoning pushed him away, her palm pressing against the bruise left by Pei Yuan in daylight. Pei Yuan winced in pain, deliberately prolonging the sound. Baoning noticed it, but snorted and said nothing.

She turned and walked out.

Pei Yuan saw this move ineffective, hurried two steps to block her path. 'I'll escort you back.'

"No need," Baoning tightened her collar, her voice cold and distant, "You're busy with military affairs. As a woman, I shouldn't be here in the first place."

A few days later, they argued again, but this time Baoning was truly angry, unwilling to give in.

The two stood in deadlock for a moment.

Pei Yuan was the first to lower his head. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have said those words."

Baoning mocked him, "Where? Everything you said was right. As a man, the husband is the head of the household. Whatever you say, I'll listen."

Pei Yuan's large hand covered Baoning's forehead, coaxing her. "Let me escort you back. You just got caught in the rain. You need to drink ginger soup to avoid catching a cold."

Baoning said, "It's my fault for coming here for no reason. If I catch a cold, it's my own fault."

Pei Yuan was speechless.

Baoning, emboldened by unknown courage, would usually have followed Pei Yuan's words long ago, especially since Pei Yuan wasn't feeling well today, she was concerned.

But today was different; she was holding back her anger. She felt that if she continued to endure and indulge Pei Yuan, things wouldn't go well.

Like when she was at the Duke's mansion, Mrs. Tao scolded the Duke of Rongguo, saying all men were spineless, they would back down once confronted.

Baoning always felt the words were unpleasant, but now it seemed to be the case.

Pei Yuan pulled her sleeve to prevent her from leaving. Baoning turned her head away, ignoring him. When she turned around, her eyes fell on the table, seeing two finely carved statues resembling a tiger.

Baoning liked these things and couldn't help but glance at them a few more times.

The two statues were both exquisite. At first glance, they looked similar, but upon closer inspection, they had subtle differences in the tiger's expression and color.

Baoning suddenly remembered what Zhou Jiangcheng shouted when he grabbed Liu Mama earlier—did he lose his Tiger Seal?

Baoning almost instantly figured it out. Half of the Tiger Seal was lost. Among the two tiger statues on the table, one was a fake, so they couldn't fit together.

Baoning's heart sank.

Pei Yuan lowered his eyes, carefully observing her expression, seeming somewhat anxious.

He hadn't encountered this situation before. His expression remained serious, but his eyes inadvertently revealed a hint of pleading.

He turned Baoning's face, gently touching her cheek. "Alright, don't be angry. Go back first. I'll come back early tonight to accompany you."

Baoning hesitated, "You..."

Outside, Qiu Mingshan's voice came, "Zhou Jiangcheng has been subdued by me and tied up in the firewood room. I saw him acting strangely and worried he might have been drugged. I've sent someone to investigate about the Tiger Seal too."

As he spoke, he walked inside, catching Pei Yuan hugging Baoning in an awkward position. He awkwardly stopped talking.

Pei Yuan immediately raised his head and discreetly distanced himself from Baoning.

Baoning's heart sank further.

"Oh, Baoning's here too." Qiu Mingshan first asked her with concern if she was scared. Seeing Baoning was still okay, he relaxed and said, "I just saw the nanny beside you leave and thought you had left too, so I came in abruptly," he explained.

"Well, you two talk first. I'll come back later." Qiu Mingshan tactfully left them some space and walked away.

Pei Yuan's expression turned cold. His hand pressed against Baoning's back, gently guiding her a few steps forward. "I'll escort you back."

Baoning said, "I'll not go..."

Pei Yuan scolded her, "Don't talk nonsense. This isn't where you should be."

Baoning scratched her palm with her fingernails and suddenly raised her head. "I can help you."

Pei Yuan asked in surprise, "What?"

Baoning said each word deliberately, 'If you want the Tiger Seal, I can help you.'

Neither Pei Yuan nor Qiu Mingshan believed it. Qiu Mingshan hesitated, 'Baoning, can you really do it?'

Baoning replied, 'At least I can make it look somewhat similar to the half piece on the table.'

Qiu Mingshan remained skeptical, but Baoning didn't say more. The matter was urgent; they only had three days left. They had to try everything they could.

Qiu Mingshan gritted his teeth, 'Baoning, if you can really do this, whatever you want, Uncle can find a way to get it for you.'

Baoning glanced at Pei Yuan and smiled at Qiu Mingshan, 'General, I don't want anything. I just need Pei Yuan to agree to three things. As for what they are, we'll discuss them after we go back.'

Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. Baoning noticed his gaze but said nothing.

...

Early the next morning, Baoning accompanied Pei Yuan to a secluded place on the outskirts of the capital—a small alchemy workshop with complete tools.

A goldsmith was already waiting there; the half Tiger Seal that Zhou Jiangcheng had found was crafted by him.

Baoning hadn't spoken to him all night, and now, upon arrival, she got off the carriage by herself without letting him assist her. Pei Yuan rubbed his nose and followed behind her.

At the door, Baoning suddenly stopped. She turned back, 'Regarding the three agreements we talked about in the General's study, are they still valid?'

Pei Yuan replied seriously, 'Of course.'

'First,' Baoning said, 'I want you to apologize for your attitude yesterday. Write a repentance letter, over five hundred words, memorize it, and read it to me with sincerity.'

Pei Yuan's face gradually darkened.

Patiently, he asked, 'And then?'

Baoning pursed her lips, 'You also have to wash my feet for a month. Moreover, during this month, you must serve me in dressing, eating, and daily life. Whatever I ask you to do, you must do.'

This demand was more acceptable, at least easier to accept than the repentance letter, but it was just a little easier.

Pei Yuan tightened his lips, 'And the third?'

'I haven't decided yet,' Baoning lowered her eyelids, 'We'll talk about it later.'

She ignored Pei Yuan and lifted her skirt, stepping over the threshold and into the room.

Pei Yuan followed her.

The goldsmith's name was Meng Fan. He had received news late last night that a woman was coming to take over his shift, feeling humiliated, he hadn't slept all night, waiting for Baoning to arrive.

Baoning sat down at the table and discussed with Meng Fan. Their conversation wasn't harmonious; Meng Fan was rude several times, and Pei Yuan was inclined towards Baoning, almost losing his temper, but Baoning stopped him.

Finally, Meng Fan sneered, 'The Tiger Seal is like a person's left hand and right hand. Now only the left hand remains. Even if you have the most exquisite mold, you can't replicate the right hand, only carve each piece individually. But the remaining half of the Tiger Seal is already old, its color has changed, and there are complex signs of wear. Even if you have supernatural abilities, you can't make an exact copy. I've been studying this craft for ten years and can only achieve this much. You, a naive girl who knows nothing of the world, might as well hurry home.'

Pei Yuan looked nervously at Baoning. He didn't want her to be discouraged and tried to support her, leaning close to her ear, 'If it doesn't work out, we can leave now. Pretend this never happened, and you don't have to feel embarrassed.'

Baoning suddenly smiled, 'You should worry about yourself first.'

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