You’re the outsider!
These words left Princess Changle’s face deathly pale. Even though she knew Pei Zhao disliked her, being publicly humiliated in front of so many people made her wish she could vanish into the ground.
“Pei Zhao, you’ll regret this!”
She stamped her foot, covered her face with a handkerchief, and hurried out, with Xiu Tao quickly following. Master and servant soon disappeared from the northern part of the city.
The crowd of onlookers had been watching the spectacle, many of whom had spoken ill of Xi Ning. Now, seeing Pei Zhao’s protective stance, they were filled with fear.
This is bad! Who would have thought Third Master Pei would dote on this mistress to such an extent, not even sparing a glance for Princess Changle?
They had slandered Xi Ning—would he hold a grudge?
Trembling, the crowd shrank back into the throng, afraid of catching Pei Zhao’s eye.
Xi Ning buried her face in Pei Zhao’s chest. The man’s arm was like a branding iron—hot and unyielding—and she couldn’t break free.
“Th…Third Master.”
Xi Ning called out to him sweetly, her hand resting on his chest. Though she exerted force, to Pei Zhao, it felt like a kitten’s scratch, sending a tingling sensation through his body.
“Behave.”
He patted the small of her back, an intimate gesture that flushed Xi Ning’s face crimson. She dared not move again.
H…how could he hit her there!
And now that Princess Changle had left, why hadn’t this man let her go?
Xi Ning’s mind was in disarray, feeling that something was off about everything.
Pei Zhao had appeared so timely and had protected her. Was it truly because she was his mistress? Yet they had agreed that once Pei Zhao’s affairs were settled, their relationship would automatically end.
By making such a public display now, was he afraid their ties could be severed?
Nanny Su and Ren Dong watched Pei Zhao’s protective demeanor with beaming smiles.
She had always said that her young lady was so wonderful—Third Master was bound to like her.
And indeed, Third Master had already taken an interest.
With so many eyes and ears outside, Pei Zhao had no desire to become the subject of gossip. He carried Xi Ning into the carriage.
Besides Chang Lin, the coachman, there was also an unremarkable-looking guard—the one Pei Zhao had sent to secretly protect Xi Ning. It was thanks to his report that Pei Zhao had arrived so quickly.
“If I hadn’t come, would you have just let her bully you?”
Once inside the carriage, Xi Ning extricated herself from Pei Zhao’s embrace and sat on the cushioned stool opposite him.
The sudden absence of her soft body left Pei Zhao feeling hollow.
Though he usually kept his distance from women, he found himself easily stirred by Xi Ning.
He looked at the woman sitting across from him, her head bowed, and questioned her sternly.
“Third Master knows my status is lowly. If Princess Changle wanted to crush me, she could do so with a flick of her finger.”
Xi Ning twisted the hem of her clothes, her voice soft and fragile, though inwardly she felt otherwise.
Even without Pei Zhao, she wouldn’t have simply waited to be struck—she would have fought back.
But this wasn’t her previous life, where justice prevailed. Here, the one with power held the upper hand.
The original body was merely a lowly mistress, even less than a servant. Facing Princess Changle could easily cost her her life.
This situation had arisen because of Pei Zhao, and she had seen the man’s attitude. If not now, when would be the time to play the victim and sow discord?
The handkerchief in her hand was nearly torn to shreds. Pei Zhao watched her fragile appearance, his brow furrowing even more tightly.
If she was this easy to bully, how could he feel at ease leaving her outside?”You are my person, no one in this capital can bully you. If anyone comes looking for trouble again in the future, feel free to fight back—I’ll be right behind you to handle the aftermath!”
If he, Pei Sanlang, couldn’t even protect a woman, there would be no point staying in the capital.
Xi Ning felt reassured by his promise.
With Pei Zhao’s words, anyone who thought of bullying her in the future would have to think twice.
“Thank you, Third Master. Without you, I truly wouldn’t know what to do.”
Xi Ning looked up, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Though it was meant as a grateful smile, in Pei Zhao’s eyes, it was filled with nothing but grievance.
His heart clenched, and he instinctively avoided her gaze, his fingers curling at his side. When he spoke again, his tone softened.
“Since I’ve taken you in, I will naturally protect you. No one can lay a finger on you.”
Though Pei Zhao was cold by nature, he was responsible, dependable, and of excellent character. If not for the disparity in their statuses, Xi Ning might have been moved.
It was a pity—she was merely an outside mistress, destined never to have a future with the man before her.
But could he protect her for a moment? Could he protect her for a lifetime?
Now it was Princess Changle; in the future, there would be other women.
Pei Zhao was peerlessly handsome, and every noblewoman in the capital admired him. She had long become a thorn in their eyes. Troubles like today’s would surely arise again—would Pei Zhao appear every time?
Moreover, what Xi Ning didn’t say was that Pei Zhao was already over twenty-three, an age at which men in the Zhou Dynasty could already be fathers. The Duke’s household was already arranging a marriage for him. Given her lowly and humble status, once his proper wife entered the household, her situation would only become more awkward.
Xi Ning lowered her eyelids, her thoughts hidden beneath them.
She needed to earn money quickly and plan an escape route for herself—to obtain her deed of sale before Pei Zhao married, so she could disappear into the vast world, never to see him again.
The two remained silent for the rest of the journey. When the carriage stopped on Wutong Street, Xi Ning snapped out of her thoughts.
She looked up to find Pei Zhao staring at her.
The man’s eyes were deep, holding emotions she couldn’t decipher. In the cramped carriage, his gaze made her entire body tense.
“Th-Third Master, we’ve arrived at the outer courtyard.”
Her voice trembled as she spoke. Everything had been fine just moments ago—why had Pei Zhao suddenly become like this?
Xi Ning didn’t know that her earlier thoughtful expression had been mistaken by the man for fear. Princess Changle was notoriously willful and spoiled—how could a delicate woman like Xi Ning ever be a match for her?
Pei Zhao had wrestled with his thoughts the entire journey, even entertaining the idea of bringing her into the household.
He had bought Xi Ning merely as a cover, never truly seeing her as his concubine.
Yet, after these few encounters, he had gradually grown fond of this woman.
Pei Zhao didn’t want to admit he liked her—she was just a woman, hardly worth his attention.
Moreover, the men of the Pei family had no tradition of taking concubines. If he brought her into the household, Xi Ning’s situation would likely become even more difficult.
Having reasoned it through, Pei Zhao lowered his eyelids and replied softly.
“Mmm.”
Xi Ning couldn’t discern his thoughts. Gathering her skirt, she rose to leave. Before stepping out, she turned to thank Pei Zhao once more.
Just as she was about to lift the carriage curtain, the man’s voice sounded from behind.
“How will you thank me?”
“Third Master?”
Xi Ning froze. What did Pei Zhao mean by this?
She didn’t understand.
The faint light outside filtered in, casting shadows in the dimness and illuminating the woman’s startled face—as delicate as peonies and as captivating as peonies, tempting one to pluck her.Pei Zhao clenched his fingertips, forcefully suppressing the impulse to pull her into his embrace.
The fragrance on her collar kept reminding him that this woman had just fallen into his arms.
She was his.
Pei Zhao was no inexperienced youth; he clearly understood his own desires.
He had developed feelings for Xi Ning.