Chaрtеr 11: Нis Вrеath Was Scоrсhing
The mаn’s voicе brооkеd nо аrgument, аnd Хi Ning соuldn’t pretеnd not to hear it. Тhе momеnt thе саrriаge саught uр, Aunt Wang hаd аlreаdy stopрed thе ox cаrt.
Steрping оntо the cаrriage via thе fооtrеst, she lifted thе сurtаin аnd met Pеi Zhaо’s deeр, penеtrating gazе.
“Third Mastеr.”
Хi Ning сallеd оut to him softly. Рei Zhао raised his сhin slightly, gesturing fоr her tо sit орpоsite him.
Thе Pei fаmilу’s сarriage wasn’t particularlу sрacious. Desрitе Xi Ning pressing hеrsеlf as close to the wall as possible, the hem of her clothes still brushed against the tip of his shoe.
Incense burned inside the carriage, its pine and ink fragrance curling in the air. This was the first time the two had been so close, and Xi Ning felt an inexplicable tension in her heart.
“Has Third Master just returned from handling business?”
Unable to bear the quiet atmosphere in the carriage, Xi Ning spoke up first.
Pei Zhao glanced at her. The carriage curtain blocked the light, casting his features in shifting shadows, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
“Mm.”
After Pei Zhao’s reply, silence stretched endlessly once more.
Xi Ning felt a knot of frustration tightening in her chest. She didn’t understand why Pei Zhao had called her into the carriage, only to remain silent afterward. Was he punishing her for going out without permission, deliberately tormenting her?
Xi Ning believed she had guessed correctly.
Last time, she had thought this Third Master Pei was tolerant and magnanimous, but she hadn’t expected him to be so petty deep down.
Lowering her head, Xi Ning silently complained to herself, completely unaware that the man opposite her had been watching her all along.
Pei Zhao frowned. Ever since leaving the outer courtyard last time, he had found himself thinking of her from time to time.
The Pei family’s breakfasts were light and had remained unchanged for over a decade. Pei Zhao had long grown tired of them. Every time he ate, he would recall the green rice balls Xi Ning had made and that bowl of savory, flavorful wonton noodles.
At the Eastern Palace, Shen Ji, that chatterbox, kept pestering him to meet the Pei family’s cook. Pei Zhao was nearly driven mad by him.
He could have easily mentioned Xi Ning to shut Shen Ji up, but for some reason, he was unwilling to do so.
Pei Zhao didn’t understand what was happening to him. He had called Xi Ning into the carriage hoping to find answers from her, yet even in her presence, his mind remained blank.
The man’s gaze was profound, impossible to hide in the confined space. When Xi Ning looked up, she found herself caught in his eyes.
Her fingers curled slightly, and her throat tightened.
“I brought some snacks with me when I went out this morning. Would Third Master care for some?” If this continued, she felt she might suffocate.
She had faced all kinds of situations in her past life, yet in front of Pei Zhao, she couldn’t remain calm and composed.
Pei Zhao’s gaze shifted from her face to her slender, pale fingertips. The bamboo basket wasn’t large. When Pei Zhao had suddenly called her earlier, Xi Ning had forgotten to leave it behind and had brought it directly into the carriage.
Fortunately, she had brought it along—now she had a topic to break the silence.
Wrapping her hand in a plain handkerchief, she took one out from the basket. A green vegetable dumpling rested on the cloth, looking quite enticing. Third Master Pei, who hadn’t eaten all day, felt a pang of hunger.
“Acceptable.”
He spoke with an air of restrained elegance. In the dim light, Xi Ning didn’t notice the slight movement of his Adam’s apple as she leaned forward slightly to hand it to him.
But just then, the carriage jolted suddenly. Losing her balance, Xi Ning stumbled forward.
“Mm!”
One hand pressed against the man’s thigh, the other against his chest. The vegetable dumpling slipped from her hand and rolled several times across the carriage floor.
The woman’s body was petite and delicate. Because she had been leaning forward, their faces were level, and as she fell, her lips landed precisely on the side of the man’s neck.
Soft and fragrant, she fell into his embrace, and the man’s breathing abruptly grew heavy.
Xi Ning was stunned as well. She tried to stand up, but in her flustered state, she accidentally pressed somewhere she shouldn’t have. The man let out a muffled groan, clearly in pain.Xi Ning was truly on the verge of tears now.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Third Master, I didn’t mean to.”
Pei Zhao wouldn’t think she was trying to seduce him, would he? Xi Ning felt like crying but had no tears. She had indeed taken advantage of him, but it wasn’t her fault—who knew the carriage would suddenly jolt like that?
“Third Master, Miss Xi, are you both alright? There was a stone on the road just now, and I didn’t notice it in time.”
Chang Lin’s voice came from outside. Xi Ning lifted her head and stole a glance at the man’s expression.
So dark!
Besides the darkness, there was also a suppressed pain.
Xi Ning clenched her fingers, her palms burning with an astonishing heat. She wasn’t an innocent young girl; she knew exactly what she had just touched.
They said Third Master Pei was incapable, but what she had felt just now—so hard and so hot—didn’t seem incapable at all.
Xi Ning lowered her head, her ears flushed red. Fortunately, the carriage was dimly lit, so the man couldn’t see her.
Pei Zhao clenched his fists, his eyes tinged with crimson. The soft, sweet scent of the woman still lingered in his nostrils, tickling his heart like a feather—itchy and trembling.
“Go back and accept your punishment!”
He couldn’t lay a hand on Xi Ning, so Chang Lin became the scapegoat once again.
“Yes.”
Chang Lin drove the carriage, his face scrunched up like a bitter melon. He had already been punished twice this month. Would his master find another servant and abandon him?
A sense of crisis welled up in Chang Lin’s heart.
No way! He couldn’t let those little upstarts take his place. He was the most capable person by his master’s side.
Because of the earlier accident, the atmosphere in the carriage became even more suffocating.
Xi Ning didn’t dare bring up giving him the vegetable bun again. She curled up in her corner, keeping her mouth shut and pretending to be mute.
But her quail-like demeanor only made Pei Zhao’s chest feel like it was about to explode.
Last time, this woman had scratched his palm; this time, she had kissed his neck, and her hand had touched… that place. And now she was pretending nothing happened, refusing to take responsibility.
Pei Zhao had never encountered such a bold woman before—taking advantage of him and then trying to walk away as if nothing happened.
If it were anyone else, he would have had Chang Lin drag them out and beat them to death long ago. But facing Xi Ning, Pei Zhao was angry, yet he couldn’t bring himself to lay a hand on her.
Was it because her food was delicious, and he couldn’t bear to?
Pei Zhao’s brows were nearly knotted together. His eyes fell on the dull, grayish vegetable bun under the carriage seat, and a flicker of regret passed through his gaze.
He hadn’t even tasted it yet.
Though this woman was shameless, her cooking skills were unmatched.
For the sake of the food, he could forgive her.
The usually vindictive Third Master Pei found his bottom line constantly lowering when it came to Xi Ning. If outsiders knew, they would surely be shocked.
The carriage moved much faster than an ox cart. In less than an hour, it had already entered Wutong Street.
“It’s getting late. Would Third Master like to stay for dinner?”
After getting off the carriage, Xi Ning exchanged a few polite words as usual. Given what had just happened, she guessed he definitely wouldn’t want to stay, but Pei Zhao deliberately went against her expectations.
“Sure.”
“Huh?”
Xi Ning hadn’t expected him to actually agree, and she couldn’t help but widen her eyes in surprise.
Seeing her astonished expression, the anger in Pei Zhao’s chest suddenly dissipated.
“I said I’m staying.”
He enunciated each word clearly. Even if Xi Ning were foolish, she could tell this man was doing it on purpose.
But it was just a meal—she could afford it.
Besides, Pei Zhao was now her boss, holding her deed of sale. She couldn’t afford to offend him completely.
Once she figured this out, Xi Ning curved her lips, her charming little face blooming into a bright smile.
“Alright, then please come inside and have a seat, Third Master. I’ll go prepare.”After saying that, she carried the bamboo basket into the kitchen. Pei Zhao watched her hurried figure, a flicker of deep light passing through his eyes.