Chapter 60

 "Sir, we've searched the main residence, but we didn't find Gong Sunzhu."

"Sir, we've checked the banquet hall, but Gong Sunzhu isn't there."

"Sir, we've searched several side courtyards, but there's no sign of anyone."

...

One subordinate after another reported back with no good news. Wei Meng clenched his teeth, smashing his fist against a nearby tree. "Damn it, where did this old bastard run off to!"

He glanced at the fire; the mansion had many guards and over two hundred palace servants. Though the fire was urgent, they were close to getting it under control. Time was running out.

A flash of insight struck Wei Meng's mind. There was one place that had been overlooked: "In the southwest corner of the backyard, there's a grove of plum trees. Has anyone checked there? Go and take a look!"

...

Bao Ning was afraid of being discovered by those two people. She crouched down, covering her lips, her heart pounding.

Green Cloud. Bao Ning had heard this name from Pei Yuan. According to Pei Yuan's speculation, Green Cloud was Pei Xiao's concubine, later sent as a camp entertainer to Zhou Jiangcheng in order to deceive him and retrieve the imperial token in his possession. Green Cloud loved Pei Xiao and hoped to secure a place in the mansion upon his return. However, Pei Xiao married Ji Jiaying instead, leaving her feeling unfairly treated. She had written hundreds of hateful words in blood and buried them under a locust tree to curse him.

Pei Yuan had said that Green Cloud might now target Ji Jiaying.

Considering the current situation and the conversation she had overheard earlier, Bao Ning's suspicions were confirmed.

Green Cloud had seduced Gong Sunzhu, using her body to entice him, in exchange for a method to kill Ji Jiaying.

She had stumbled upon an affair!

Bao Ning turned to run. Before she could rise, however, she remembered that Pei Yuan was searching for this person, and Gong Sunzhu likely held the antidote to the poison in Pei Yuan's body.

She hesitated, then decided to wait here. If she left now, and Gong Sunzhu escaped, all her efforts over these days would be wasted.

Nervously awaiting, lost in her thoughts, Bao Ning didn't notice a small emerald-green snake creeping out from behind her. The snake silently slithered, its tongue flickering, about as thick as two fingers and as long as a child's arm. It slowly climbed onto her foot. Bao Ning felt an itch but initially paid it no mind. As the sensation intensified, she looked down, meeting the snake's bright eyes.

"Ah!" Bao Ning screamed, jumping up and throwing the small green snake away.

"Who's there!" Gong Sunzhu immediately looked over. Malice gleamed in his old eyes. He was completely naked but retained some sense of shame, hastily grabbing a robe to wrap around his waist upon seeing someone approaching.

Green Cloud was also startled, quickly putting on her clothes and spotting Bao Ning. She shouted and was about to chase after her.

Faster than Green Cloud, Gong Sunzhu leaped over the tree wall, extending his arm to grab Bao Ning's arm. Bao Ning intended to throw the quicklime powder but, nervous and trembling, mistakenly threw a handful of leaves. Gong Sunzhu anticipated this, dodging aside. His voice turned sinister, "Young lady, who sent you? What did you hear..."

Before he could finish, Bao Ning steadied herself, took aim at his face, and scattered the quicklime into Gong Sunzhu's eyes.

Unexpectedly facing such a retaliation, Gong Sunzhu couldn't dodge in time and was hit squarely. He had just finished his deed, covered in sweat. Upon contact with this substance, which heated up upon contact with water, he suffered burns. His eyes felt like they were going to explode, and his face burned painfully.

He screamed in agony, stepping back two paces and desperately patting his face and head. He shouted, "I can't see, I'm blind!"

Seeing this scene shocked Green Cloud. She was initially frantic, looking at Bao Ning, then at Gong Sunzhu writhing on the ground. She staggered back two steps, realizing her end was near.

"Your Highness... it wasn't me..." Green Cloud stammered. Her arrogance had vanished; she didn't know how to explain herself. She turned to run.

Pei Xiao picked up a sword from the ground, threw it, and pierced her through the back!

Wide-eyed, Bao Ning watched everything unfold before her. Green Cloud fell forward, blood splattering on her dress and face. She didn't even scream, her fingers digging deep into the ground, leaving two deep marks. Her throat gurgled briefly before she breathed her last.

Someone had died right in front of her.

Bao Ning's heart tightened, her limbs went weak, and she couldn't even stand up.

Pei Xiao tightly pursed his thin lips, almost squeezing out two words from between his teeth: "Despicable woman!" He pulled the sword from Green Cloud's back and turned as if to go after Gong Sunzhu, but couldn't bring himself to do it. His face twisted in a ferocious expression for a moment before he angrily threw the sword to the ground with a clang.

With the loud noise, Bao Ning's heart contracted as well. She watched Pei Xiao turn around, his gaze locking onto her.

Pei Xiao approached her. He was truly angry, coughing violently, his fist against his lips as he coughed twice. Under the moonlight, his face was deathly pale.

Bao Ning sat on the ground, breathing heavily, her makeup smeared, clutching her torn sleeve, her lips drained of color.

Pei Xiao looked at her, his expression surprisingly softened a bit. He reached out towards her face, his voice gentle: "Don't be afraid."

Bao Ning instinctively backed away, her lips trembling. Just now, she had the courage to act in order to save herself. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, immense panic surged through her.

She remembered Pei Xiao's fierceness when he killed Green Cloud just now. His fingers still stained with blood, Bao Ning suddenly realized she was covered in blood too—both Shaolan's and Green Cloud's—a strong metallic smell overwhelmed her, making her feel nauseous and uncomfortable. Bao Ning covered her mouth, dry heaving.

Pei Xiao froze in place.

In that moment of hesitation, a gust of wind swept in from behind, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound. Pei Xiao startled and turned back, only to see a figure darting past. He turned back towards Bao Ning, who had already been lifted up, her arms softly draped around the person's neck, her face pressed against their chest. Pei Xiao felt a pang of jealousy.

"Si'er, why did you trespass into elder brother's mansion at night?" Pei Xiao raised his head, looking at Pei Yuan's eyes.

He wore a black face mask, revealing only his eyes, with a hint of disdain: "First, take care of your own woman."

Pei Xiao was furious. He picked up the sword from the ground, shouted to summon the Imperial Guards, and strode away, sword in hand, intending to attack Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan evaded a couple of times, not intending to fight, trying to take Bao Ning away. Pei Xiao was about to chase after them when he heard the commotion behind him. Wei Meng had already arrived with his men, grabbing Gong Sunzhu by the collar and throwing him over his shoulder. The rest of his men had set up a defensive formation, surrounding Pei Xiao, swords drawn.

The Imperial Guards also arrived, their footsteps echoing. Pei Yuan shouted, "Withdraw!"

Following his command, Wei Meng waved his hand, and the originally densely packed group of over a dozen men scattered and quickly left. Wei Meng himself swiftly departed, carrying the unconscious Gong Sunzhu. Pei Xiao stood alone, his hand still dripping with blood from the sword. Green Cloud's body lay at his feet. Furious, he leaned the sword against the ground, gasping for breath, before forcefully coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The eunuch, Chang Xifei, rushed over upon hearing the commotion, quickly supporting him. "Your Highness, Your Highness..."

The Imperial Guards who had rushed over looked around at the scene, exchanging glances.

...

Pei Yuan carried Bao Ning straight back to their residence. Bao Ning sobbed all the way, clinging to his shoulder. Pei Yuan felt heartbroken. He kicked the door open with one foot and gently laid Bao Ning down on the bed.

He half-knelt down, leaning forward to gently touch Bao Ning's face with his hand, whispering softly to her, "Don't be afraid anymore, we're home now, I'm right here beside you."

"I feel like vomiting," Bao Ning curled up on the bed, she saw the blood stains on her skirt, retched again, propped herself up with her arms, sat up, and threw the skirt on the ground. After a moment of daze, she threw herself into Pei Yuan's arms again, crying as she said, "It's so disgusting, I feel awful."

"Yeah, I know, I know," Pei Yuan held her shoulders, kissing her cheek, "Ning Ning, you were especially brave today, exceptionally brave."

Pei Yuan blocked her view, "Don't think about those things anymore, it's all over now. You won't have to see any of this again, I promise you, I won't let you near these things again."

Bao Ning looked at him through tear-filled eyes.

Pei Yuan held her hand, gently biting her fingertips, "Are you hungry?"

"Not hungry..."

"How about a bath and then sleep?" Pei Yuan leaned against her cheek, "I'll watch you sleep. After a good night's rest, everything will be forgotten. I'll be with you."

Bao Ning said, "I feel like eating something again. I want pork and cabbage dumplings."

Pei Yuan smiled, "I'll make them for you. We'll eat a little something, take a bath, and then sleep. How does that sound?"

His tone was gentle and soothing. Bao Ning's remaining panic slowly dissipated as she sat cross-legged on the bed. Pei Yuan wrapped the blanket around her, leaned over, trying to make her smile.

"Give me a kiss."

Bao Ning hesitated for a moment but leaned over and pressed her lips against his cheek.

The familiar scent rushed into her nostrils, grounding Bao Ning's mind that had been floating in the clouds. She felt a sense of security.

Pei Yuan cupped her face, lightly biting her lower lip, whispering, "Let me undo your hair first, okay? Just relax, Ah Huang will keep you company, and I'll go make dumplings for you."

Bao Ning quietly agreed. Pei Yuan started, removing all the hairpins from her hair.

Her black hair cascaded down, and Pei Yuan ran his fingers through it. Bao Ning glanced at him and smiled faintly.

But Pei Yuan noticed something strange about one of the hairpins.

The wooden hairpin, as thick as a pinky finger, intricately patterned, felt weightless in his hand, almost as if it were hollow inside. It didn't seem like much, but the problem was that this hairpin was too light.

Pei Yuan subconsciously flicked the hairpin with his finger, and it made a hollow sound—it wasn't solid wood, it was hollow inside.

Bao Ning was frugal, but she was generous when it came to jewelry and clothes. When had she bought such a cheap thing?

Pei Yuan found it odd but didn't dwell on it.

Bao Ning's head hung low, her face still pale from being truly frightened. Ah Huang was at the edge of the bed, sniffing around.

Pei Yuan casually placed the hairpin on the small table next to the bed and comforted Bao Ning, "Be good, the lamp is on. I'll be back soon, okay?"

Bao Ning murmured in agreement. Pei Yuan relaxed a bit, picked up Ah Huang by the back of its neck, and placed it by Bao Ning's pillow before hurrying to the kitchen to fetch things.

..................................................................................................................

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