Chapter 57 Have you lost your mind?

Terror flashed in Jiang Lingyao’s eyes, and she instinctively stepped back, preparing to jump out of the carriage.

"Don't move."

Pei Xingzhi reacted with lightning speed. He grabbed her hand, hooked an arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace. "It's all right. The man has been dealt with, and your maid is right behind."

Where on earth was she? Why was Pei Xingzhi in front of her?

What about Liao Yun?

Jiang Lingyao forced down the urge to flee, her chest heaving as she gazed at him with guarded vigilance.

After a long moment, she asked in a hoarse voice, "Thank you, but..."

She paused, lapsing back into silence.

Had Liao Yun failed to come, or had he been...

Jiang Lingyao’s heart hammered wildly. Her face grew paler and paler as she clenched her fists. "Prince Pei, may I ask... how is it that you came to rescue me?"

Pei Xingzhi’s expression grew murky and inscrutable, and he remained silent.

Was she trying to ask how he had saved her, or was she trying to find out where that man was right now?

After a brief pause, Pei Xingzhi answered coldly, "Today, I happened to see you go into a teahouse. When you didn't come out for a long time, I knocked on the door to check."

Yet she had distinctly heard Liao Yun’s voice right before she lost consciousness.

Jiang Lingyao felt even more unsettled, but the most urgent priority now was to figure out what was truly going on. "I am in your carriage now? Are you taking me back to the Duke’s Estate?"

Pei Xingzhi fixed his gaze steadily on Jiang Lingyao.

Perhaps she did not realize how anxious she appeared right now, her tone flustered like a frightened cat.

The anger in his chest abated slightly, and his tone softened a fraction. "I saved you, disposed of that man, and intended to take you back to the Duke’s Estate after you woke up, except..."

For some reason, upon hearing this, Jiang Lingyao lifted her previously lowered head, her heart sinking abruptly.

"People from the Duke’s Estate tracked us to the teahouse and found the two of us sharing a room. Right now, we are on our way back to the estate, and your father and your third and fourth brothers are following behind."

Jiang Lingyao’s heart plunged to rock bottom, and anger gradually filled her chest.

How could the people from the Duke’s Estate have found her? Could it be that this entire setup was their doing all along?

She forced a sliver of a smile. "Thank you, My Lord, for saving my life. I..."

"Shut up."

Pei Xingzhi glanced at her indifferently. "I saved you not to hear your thanks."

Sensing his current displeasure, Jiang Lingyao obediently closed her mouth and let out a long, internal sigh.

The rest of the journey passed in silence. When they finally returned to the Duke’s Estate, the group walked toward the front hall without a word.

Once she stepped down from the carriage, Jiang Lingyao belatedly felt a sharp pain in her thigh. She drew in a sharp breath and stumbled slightly.

Pei Xingzhi moved to steady her, but suddenly Song Lian'er hurried over from behind, clutching his sleeve with tear-filled eyes. "Brother Pei, you saved my sister out of righteousness. I just spoke with Father, and he said he would never use this to trap you into repaying the favor, nor would he force you to marry her."

Before she could finish, Jiang Lingyao was caught by Wenqiu, who had run over in a breathless scramble.

Pei Xingzhi furrowed his brow involuntarily. For the first time, he showed a trace of coldness toward Song Lian'er, not even turning his head to look at her. He shook off the hand clutching his sleeve and strode quickly toward the front hall.

The Duke of Zhenguo and the twin brothers saw his anger and followed with stern faces. As they brushed past Jiang Lingyao, they shot her a cold, vicious glare, as fierce as if they were looking at a criminal.

Song Lian'er’s expression turned ugly, and her gaze fixated on Jiang Lingyao with a hint of malice.

"Are you feeling quite smug?"

Hearing those words, Jiang Lingyao raised her head and let out a scoff, her eyes dark and cold.

This whole affair had taken a twist of fate. Seeing herself and Pei Xingzhi alone in the same room must have driven Song Lian'er out of her mind with fury.

"Smug about what?" Jiang Lingyao replied leisurely. "Song Lian'er, did you have something to do with this?"

Song Lian'er paused, a trace of sarcastic amusement in her smile. "So what if I did? What if I didn't? Either way, there is nothing you can do to me. Jiang Lingyao, you can only put on a false show of authority in front of me."

"Do you really think that once the Old Dowager returns, you will get your old good life back?"

Song Lian'er sneered. "She only has a few months left to live; how long can she protect you? We still have a long road ahead. Coming here to act smug with me now, you—"

Before she could finish, a sharp *slap* rang out. Song Lian'er’s face was knocked to the side, and she staggered back a step.

"How dare you!"

Song Lian'er’s face turned white with rage. But Jiang Lingyao merely smiled, though the smile did not reach her eyes. "Why wouldn't I dare? Song Lian'er, if I ever hear you curse my grandmother again, the next thing landing on your face will be a blade."

"You lunatic!" Song Lian'er widened her eyes in disbelief. Looking at Jiang Lingyao’s serene expression, an inexplicable chill crept into her heart, and she instinctively stepped back. "Have you lost your mind?"