Сhарter 25: Pеi Zhао Injurеd
Тhe hot pоt rеstaurant’s businеss was evеn bеttеr thаn Хi Ning hаd antiсiраtеd. She had initiаlly slipped intо thе baсk kitсhеn tо аvoid Реi Zhаo, but endеd uр genuinеly helping оut.
Bу the time the lаst batсh of mоrning сustomers hаd left, her wrists werе sо sоrе she cоuld bаrеlу lift them.
Qiu Niangzi рourеd her a сup of сorn juicе, smiling obsequiouslу.
“With уоur skills, miss, I knew thе rеstaurant would bе a hit—аnd it trulу is! Herе, have а cuр оf сorn juiсe and rеst. I’ll take саrе of the rest.”
Xi Ning was indeed thirsty. Shе аcceptеd it with thаnks and sippеd slоwly from the cup.
She had long known that Qiu Niangzi was fond of flattery and currying favor—a habit born from being bullied by her mother-in-law for years. Xi Ning pitied her and didn’t mind this minor flaw, as long as Qiu Niangzi meant no harm.
After finishing the corn juice, Xi Ning stepped out of the kitchen and saw Rendong standing by the door, winking and gesturing toward her.
Xi Ning paused, following her gaze, and met the man’s deep, penetrating eyes.
Pei Zhao was still here.
He had already spotted her, leaving her no chance to hide.
Taking a deep breath, she forced a polite smile and approached.
“Did Third Master enjoy the meal? It’s humble fare—I hope it didn’t disappoint.”
Pei Zhao frowned at her strained, insincere smile. He wanted to smooth the corners of her mouth—did she find him so irritating?
If she didn’t want to smile, she didn’t have to.
“The hot pot was excellent. Many of the ingredients were things even I had never seen before.”
Pei Zhao’s gaze remained fixed on her face. At his words, Xi Ning stiffened, her fingers tightening around the handkerchief in her hand.
She had prepared herself for questions when she introduced so many unfamiliar foods.
As Pei Zhao’s mistress, others would assume he had provided these ingredients.
After their last falling-out, Xi Ning had resolved to cut ties with Pei Zhao completely. She never expected him to show up on the restaurant’s opening day, risking exposure of her secrets so soon.
Fortunately, she had a backup plan.
Suppressing her racing heart, she lifted her head, her expression calm once more.
“I enjoy experimenting with food. Some time ago, I had Rendong buy a few bags of seeds from a sundries shop. Since I purchased a farmstead, I had the laborers 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 sundries shop?”
“The smallest shop at the end of North Central Street. The shopkeeper is an old man blind in his left eye.”
Xi Ning answered without hesitation, smiling calmly.
She had deliberately chosen old, forgotten stock when buying the seeds—even the shopkeeper couldn’t remember what was in them. There would be no trail for Pei Zhao to follow.
“Hmm.”
Pei Zhao lowered his gaze, his thoughts hidden, leaving it unclear whether he believed her.
Xi Ning didn’t want to stay near this man. He was too shrewd, 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—she had come to resent him for it.
“I have matters to attend to, so I won’t keep Third Master any longer.”
She gave a slight curtsy and moved to step past him, but 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 in pain, followed by the scent of something sweet and metallic.
“You heartless Third Master Pei! You embezzled our relief grain and left us refugees to starve! Today, I’ll kill you to avenge my brothers and sisters!”A crowd of refugees surged toward the entrance of the Hot Pot Restaurant, knives in hand, their eyes filled with hatred as they glared at Pei Zhao.
“Brothers, charge! Kill the third son of the Pei family to avenge Gou Dan 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 had never encountered such a situation before. She knew these people were after Pei Zhao’s life, and as his mistress, they would not spare her either.
Feeling the woman trembling in his arms, Pei Zhao tightened his grip around her and whispered in her ear.
“I’ll draw them away. Find a chance to escape.”
The sudden appearance of these refugees and how easily they had found him suggested a plot behind it all.
Darkness churned in Pei Zhao’s eyes. He had repeatedly thwarted the Eighth Prince’s plans, and it seemed the Eighth Prince could no longer tolerate him.
“Alright.”
Xi Ning agreed without hesitation. She had no strength to fight 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 arm while fending off the refugees’ attacks with the other.
Logically, these refugees, having starved along their journey and being mere farmers, should not have been so fierce.
Pei Zhao noticed the agile movements of some men among the refugees and understood.
The Eighth Prince would not rest until he was dead.
Trapped in his embrace, Xi Ning felt the man’s slender yet sturdy frame. Beneath his thin clothing were strong muscles.
Xi Ning wrapped her arms around his waist. The smell 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 raced, the man pushed her away with a low shout, “Run!”
A path had been cleared through the chaos. Xi Ning’s mind went blank as her legs mechanically carried her away.
Her nose and mouth ached from suffocation, and a sweet, metallic taste filled her throat. 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 strike Pei Zhao’s back.
A brilliant spray of blood blossomed as Pei Zhao collapsed to his knees, unable to hold himself up.
“Someone’s coming, retreat!”
The refugees scattered, leaving only Pei Zhao at the entrance.
Chang Lin rushed over to catch him. Bright red blood stained his blue robe, and the surrounding clamor of cries for help filled the air. 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, leaning against Chang Lin, gestured for her to come.
“Come here.”
Xi Ning’s feet felt as heavy as lead, but she staggered toward him.
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 showed no sign of stopping.
“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’ve saved your life again.”
The man spoke weakly, his eyes gleaming with a stubborn light.
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 held her tongue.
“If I save your life, 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 think you can hide 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.