The hotpot restaurant’s business was even better than Xi Ning had anticipated. She had initially slipped into the back kitchen to avoid Pei Zhao, but ended up genuinely helping out.
By the time the last batch of customers from the morning had left, her wrists were so sore she could barely lift them.
Madam Qiu poured her a cup of corn juice, her face beaming with an ingratiating smile.
“With your skills being so excellent, I knew the shop’s business would surely be booming. Indeed… Please, have a cup of corn juice and rest, miss. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Xi Ning was truly thirsty. She accepted it with thanks, picked up the cup, and drank slowly.
She had long known that Madam Qiu was fond of flattering and currying favor—a habit born from being bullied by her mother-in-law for so long. Xi Ning pitied her and, as long as there was no ill intent, didn’t mind this minor flaw.
After finishing the corn juice, Xi Ning emerged from the back kitchen to find Ren Dong standing at the entrance, winking and making faces at her.
Xi Ning paused, following her gaze, and immediately met the man’s deep, penetrating eyes.
Pei Zhao was still here.
Since he had already seen her, there was no time to hide.
She took a deep breath, put on a perfunctory smile, and stepped forward.
“Did Third Master enjoy the meal? It’s just crude fare—I hope you weren’t disappointed.”
Pei Zhao frowned at her forced, insincere smile. He wanted to smooth the corners of her mouth—was he really that bothersome to her?
If she didn’t want to smile, she didn’t have to.
“The hotpot is excellent, especially since many of the ingredients are things even I have never seen before.”
Pei Zhao fixed his gaze intently on her face. Hearing his words, Xi Ning stiffened, her fingers tightening around the handkerchief in her hand.
She had prepared herself for questioning the moment she introduced so many unfamiliar foods.
As Pei Zhao’s mistress, others would assume these ingredients came from him.
After their last falling-out, Xi Ning had resolved to cut ties with Pei Zhao completely, never expecting him to show up at the hotpot restaurant’s opening. Now her secret was exposed so soon.
Fortunately, she had prepared for this.
Suppressing her pounding heart, Xi Ning lifted her head, her expression calm once more.
“I enjoy experimenting with food. Previously, I had Ren Dong buy a few bags of seeds from a sundry goods shop. Since I purchased a manor, I had the farmhands plant them. I never expected the crops to turn out so delicious.”
It was true she had bought seeds—she wasn’t afraid of Pei Zhao investigating.
“Which sundry goods shop?”
“The smallest shop at the end of North Central Street. The shopkeeper is an old man blind in his left eye.”
Facing Pei Zhao’s questioning, Xi Ning remained unflustered, answering with a smile.
When buying the seeds, she had deliberately chosen old, leftover stock. Even the shopkeeper had forgotten what was inside, so Pei Zhao would find nothing even if he investigated.
“Hmm.”
Pei Zhao lowered his eyes, his thoughts hidden beneath his gaze. It was unclear whether he believed her or not.
Xi Ning didn’t want to stay near this man. His mind was too profound, and she knew she was no match for him.
Especially since Pei Zhao refused to return her deed of indenture, dashing her hopes of freedom. Resentment had begun to fester in her heart.
“I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t keep Third Master company any longer.”
She gave a slight curtsy and was about to step around him when Pei Zhao grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace.
“Watch out!”
“Third Master?”
Before Xi Ning could react, she heard the man grunt, followed by the scent of something sweet and metallic.
“You heartless Pei Sanlang! You embezzled our relief grain, causing us refugees to starve to death! Today, I will kill you to avenge my brothers and sisters!”A wave of refugees surged at the entrance of the hotpot restaurant, knives in hand, their eyes filled with hatred as they glared at Pei Zhao.
“Brothers, charge! Kill Pei Family’s Third Son to avenge Dog Egg and the others!”
“Kill!”
The refugees swarmed forward. Pei Zhao had come to the northern part of the city today without his guards, and Shen Ji had just been sent away by him. Although he had trained in martial arts, facing so many rioters was inevitably overwhelming, especially while protecting a woman in his arms.
Xi Ning encountered such a situation for the first time. She knew these people were after Pei Zhao’s life, and as his mistress, they would not spare her either.
Feeling the woman tremble in his embrace, Pei Zhao tightened his arm around her and whispered in her ear.
“I’ll draw them away. Find a chance to escape.”
The appearance of these refugees was suspicious, and they had easily found him. It was likely someone was plotting behind the scenes.
Darkness churned in Pei Zhao’s eyes. He had repeatedly thwarted Prince Xian’s plans, and now Prince Xian probably could no longer tolerate him.
“Alright.”
Xi Ning agreed without hesitation. She was powerless and would only hold Pei Zhao back here.
Moreover, this was a bustling market area with patrolling officials. If she escaped, she could call for help.
Pei Zhao shielded her with one hand while fending off the refugees’ attacks with the other.
Logically, these refugees had been starving along the way and were mere farmers—they shouldn’t have been so fierce.
Pei Zhao observed the agile men among the refugees and found his answer.
Prince Xian would not rest until he took his life this time.
Trapped in his embrace, Xi Ning felt the man’s slender yet not frail frame. Beneath his thin clothing were strong muscles.
Xi Ning wrapped her arms around his waist. The scent of blood grew stronger in her nostrils, her heart clenched, and her vision began to blur.
Would she die here today…
Just as Xi Ning’s thoughts wandered, the man shouted and pushed her away, “Run!”
A path was cleared before her. Xi Ning’s mind went blank as her legs mechanically carried her outward.
Her nose and mouth ached from suffocation, and her throat was filled with a sweet, metallic taste. Before she could reach the end of the street, she heard two terrified cries.
“Third Master!”
“Master!”
Chang Lin and Lu Yi arrived with reinforcements just in time to see a refugee raising a knife to slash at Pei Zhao’s back.
Blood bloomed like a vivid flower as Pei Zhao collapsed to his knees, unable to hold himself up.
“Someone’s coming, retreat!”
The refugees scattered in a flurry, leaving only Pei Zhao at the entrance.
Chang Lin rushed over and caught him. Bright red blood stained his blue robe. Amid the chaotic cries for help around her, Xi Ning felt dizzy and nearly lost her balance.
She was half a street away from the man, yet she could clearly see the look in his eyes.
Pei Zhao leaned against Chang Lin and beckoned to her.
“Come here.”
Xi Ning’s feet felt as heavy as lead, but she stumbled over nonetheless.
Chang Lin was shouting for Lu Yi to fetch a doctor. The wound on Pei Zhao’s back was deep and long, and the blood wouldn’t stop flowing.
“Third Master…”
Xi Ning stood before him, the tips of her shoes stained with his blood. Her face was even paler than Pei Zhao’s.
“Xi Ning, I saved your life again.”
The man spoke weakly, his eyes gleaming with a stubborn darkness.
Xi Ning was speechless. She wanted to say that these refugees had come for Pei Zhao in the first place and that she was merely an innocent victim.
But seeing the pool of blood beneath him, she closed her mouth.
“I saved your life, so you must repay me.”
“Pei Zhao!”
Xi Ning’s lips trembled. She hadn’t expected the man to be so shameless. In her anger, she called him by his name directly.
“Don’t even think about hiding from me again.”Pei Zhao reached out and grabbed the woman’s sleeve. After speaking, he could no longer hold on and fainted, yet his hand refused to let go.