Chapter Forty: It Was Pei Xingzhi Who Extricated You
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Things were even worse now. After giving some thought to the Pei family's eldest daughter, whose reputation was one of gentleness and dignity, as well as to the few occasions on which they had met before, Jiang Lingyao chose to follow the maid away.
After walking a short distance, Jiang Lingyao stopped and asked, “May I ask why Her Highness wishes to see me?”
The maid turned and replied, “This servant does not know. Her Highness has a favorable impression of you, though, so there is no need for you to worry.”
With so many eyes upon them, the Third Prince's Consort could hardly disregard her reputation and do anything to Jiang Lingyao.
Jiang Lingyao continued after the maid. Only when they reached the inner courtyard did the maid knock on the door and announce, “Mistress, Miss Jiang has arrived.”
“Come in.”
The door opened. Pei Ningyue sat at a small table in the courtyard. Looking up, she smiled warmly. “It has been so long, Pearl. Come and sit.”
Both Pei Ningyue and Pei Xingzhi were strikingly beautiful, but Pei Ningyue was gentle and approachable, unlike Pei Xingzhi's cold aloofness.
“Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to my aid.”
After saluting, Jiang Lingyao sat down. Pei Ningyue personally poured her a cup of tea and said gently, “There is no need to be so formal. Call me Sister Pei, as you used to.”
Then she smiled. “I accompanied His Highness the Third Prince to guard the frontier for four years and only returned to the capital a short while ago. In the blink of an eye, Pearl, you have grown so much. When I left, you and Xingzhi even chased me beyond the city gates to see me off, bringing me all sorts of pastries.”
At the memory, a trace of warmth finally appeared on Jiang Lingyao's face. Recalling how patiently Pei Ningyue had once braided her hair, she said softly, “After so many years, Sister Pei is still as beautiful as ever.”
Pei Ningyue's smile deepened. “Indeed. My Xingzhi has been strange-tempered since childhood, and he never lets anyone approach him. You were the only one who could follow after him.”
Jiang Lingyao paused. Unsure whether Pei Ningyue had spoken deliberately or not, she replied politely, “Sister Pei is teasing me. I was simply too persistent back then, pestering Commandery Prince Pei until he could not shake me off. That was the only reason I was able to follow him.”
Pei Ningyue shook her head. “No, no. With Xingzhi's temperament, if he had no feelings for you, you would not even have been able to catch sight of his shadow.”
After only a few words, Jiang Lingyao had already begun thinking of leaving.
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Pei Ningyue was not wrong. If that had not been the case, Jiang Lingyao would never have mistaken Pei Xingzhi's behavior for something special.
She inclined her head. “I am feeling unwell and may need to leave first. I still have to thank you, Sister Pei, for helping me today.”
Pei Ningyue could hear that something was amiss. Astonished, she had not expected the two, who had once been so close, to have fallen out. Maintaining her gentle smile, she said, “No, my information is not nearly that swift. Someone else was the one who came to your aid.”
Jiang Lingyao stiffened.
The next moment, Pei Ningyue turned toward the room and called, “Xingzhi, come out at once. Pearl is feeling unwell and must return.”
Pei Xingzhi was inside?
Jiang Lingyao's heart clenched violently. She almost failed to maintain her composure. Looking up, she met Pei Xingzhi's cold, severe gaze.
She immediately rose and saluted. “Thank you, Commandery Prince Pei, and Your Highness, for your kindness. Since today is the commandery prince's birthday, I can leave on my own. I should not disturb you both any further.”
Before Pei Ningyue could speak, Pei Xingzhi had already crossed the distance between them in a few strides. Looking down at her with detached indifference, he said, “Leave.”
Jiang Lingyao remained silent for a moment, then followed behind him without a word.
Once, she could never see him. Now, she encountered him countless times in a single day. She could not say what she felt about it.
Lost in thought and worrying about Wenqiu, who had gone to deliver the gift, she nearly collided with Pei Xingzhi when he suddenly stopped.
“Jiang Lingyao.”
Pei Xingzhi's expression was distant and cold, his tone slightly lowered. “Where is my birthday gift?”
Jiang Lingyao was startled. “I already told Wenqiu to deliver it to the steward.”
Pei Xingzhi's heart sank faintly. Unable to stop himself, he pressed, “In previous years, you always brought it to me yourself. Why?”
Jiang Lingyao opened her mouth, but did not know what to say. Her throat felt slightly dry and hoarse.
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What was this supposed to mean?
Now that she had begun keeping her distance, he was the one drawing near again. Was this what men were like?
Mockery stirred in her heart. Maintaining her outward indifference, she said, “Men and women should observe proper boundaries. In previous years, I was young and ignorant of propriety. I ask the commandery prince to forgive me.”
Pei Xingzhi could not shake the feeling that something was wrong, as though something were about to slip beyond his control.
His expression shifted slightly. He stared fixedly at her, and the coldness on her face stirred anger within him. His discomfort grew more intense, as though he were holding a breath in his chest.
When he turned and walked away, Jiang Lingyao followed silently.
Pei Xingzhi was pretending to care about her right in front of her. If this had happened before, she would certainly have been moved.
He was exactly like everyone else in the Duke's residence. They were all exceptionally skilled at putting on an act.
But who still cared about their honeyed words?
As they stepped beyond the gates of the Pei residence, Jiang Lingyao was about to bid him farewell when Song Lian'er suddenly appeared from somewhere in the distance and said aggrievedly, “Sister, so you really were leaving. I was the one who spoke out of turn earlier.”
Pei Xingzhi turned instinctively. When he saw the familiar hairpin in Song Lian'er's hair, his expression changed.
It was part of the jewelry set he had given Jiang Lingyao.
She had actually given it to Song Lian'er the moment she turned around!
The anger that had lain dormant within him for so long gradually surged to the surface.
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