Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The moment Xing Shuwei shouted, the gate opened remarkably quickly.
The maid peered inside. At the sight of the blood-covered man lying on the ground, she cried out in terror.
Meanwhile, Xing Shuwei knelt on the ground, clutching Lord Zhang’s sleeve as though begging for mercy.
“His Lordship is injured! What are you standing there for? Hurry and fetch a physician!”
“An assassin infiltrated the estate, wounded someone, and escaped. Hurry and summon Lady Shen!”
Faced with such a scene, how could the maid dare hesitate? She turned and hurried off to fetch help.
Zhang Mingan looked calmly at Xing Shuwei. After a long while, he burst out laughing.
…
During the banquet, an old maid leaned close to Lady Shen’s ear and whispered a report.
Lady Shen started at what she heard. “I’ve long heard those brothers are at each other’s throats and each wishes the other dead.
“Could they be planning to pin a death on the Shen family?”
The old maid replied, “No one’s life is in danger, but the injuries truly are serious. You should go take a look first, my lady.”
Lady Shen shot to her feet-
She could not let that scoundrel ruin her son’s great occasion.
Princess Jin’an had waited so long without seeing Pei Xianjing that she was growing thoroughly bored. When Lady Shen prepared to leave, she asked, “Where are you going, Lady Shen?”
Lady Shen smiled placatingly. “I am going to see how the banquet preparations are progressing.
“I will also have Yanqi check whether Eldest Young Master Pei has arrived.”
Princess Jin’an felt much better at those words. Her expression brightened. “Then you should hurry and attend to your affairs, Lady Shen.”
Lady Shen bowed and withdrew in haste.
Lady Pei rose as well and said to Princess Jin’an, “Please rest for a moment, Your Highness. I had better go take a look in person.”
Princess Jin’an frowned slightly, then nodded.
Lady Shen had only just entered the secluded courtyard when Lady Pei followed close behind.
When she saw Xing Shuwei kneeling before the two young masters of the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate, she shot her a fierce glare.
Then she noticed that the person cowering in the corner was the maid Pei Xuanfei had recently purchased, and her expression darkened further.
“What happened?” Lady Pei demanded.
Before Xing Shuwei could answer, the maid dropped to her knees. “There was an assassin…”
Slap! Lady Pei’s palm struck her face.
“Lord Shen is Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Young Master Shen is Deputy Commissioner of the Northern Pacification Office.
“Are you suggesting that an assassin managed to wound someone right beneath the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s eyes?”
Lady Pei meant those words for Lady Shen.
If only Xing Shuwei had been involved, she could have been handed to the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate or the Shen family to dispose of as they pleased.
But Pei Xuanfei was implicated now as well. Her husband had always placed great importance on affection between siblings, and since the third branch was involved, Lady Pei could not ignore the matter.
The maid stammered and no longer dared utter another word.
“Lady Pei, Lady Shen, the two of us brothers have been wounded like this.
“Shouldn’t you at least summon a physician and see whether we’re about to die?”
Zhang Mingan sat carelessly on the ground with both knees raised, his posture bold and unrestrained.
“Why summon a physician?” Lady Shen ordered the courtyard gate shut. “Scourges like you are impossible to kill. You won’t die.”
Zhang Mingan had only just raised a hand toward the fat man on the ground when Lady Shen continued, “He’s a scourge too. He won’t die either.”
“Yanqi insisted on inviting both of us brothers here and even set a honey trap.
“If you don’t give me an explanation, my elder brother and I will die right here together.”
Zhang Mingan lay flat on the ground, pillowed his head on both hands, and acted every inch the shameless rogue.
Lady Shen looked at Xing Shuwei.
She had a graceful figure and a stunning face. Even without rouge or powder, her beauty bewitched the soul.
She looked every inch a seductive little vixen!
Reading the room, the maid seized the chance to kick Xing Shuwei while she was down. “My lady, she was the one who shouted that there was an assassin.”
Xing Shuwei raised her head and looked innocently at Lady Pei. “My lady, Weiwei has truly been wronged.
“Weiwei came here on the Princess’s orders.”
“Insolence!” Lady Pei said coldly. “You even dare implicate the Princess?”
Xing Shuwei shook her head desperately. “How would Weiwei dare? Weiwei may merely reside in the Duke’s estate, but Brother Jing often instructs me that whenever I am away from home, even if I cannot bring honor to the Duke’s estate, I must never become a burden upon it.”
Xing Shuwei turned toward the maid in the corner. “Weiwei has seen little of the world and truly cannot tell which household you belong to.
“Why are you so determined to implicate the Duke of Qi’s estate? Could it be…”
She turned back, then looked at Zhang Mingan with tears shimmering in her eyes. “That she serves the noble heir?”
Maids from powerful households all wore clothing that identified the family they served.
This maid, however, was not dressed in the Duke of Qi’s estate’s livery.
Otherwise, Xing Shuwei would never have been deceived and brought here so easily.
Yet Lady Pei’s reaction made it clear that the maid did belong to the Duke of Qi’s estate.
Zhang Mingan, that scoundrel, wanted to make the incident larger, so Xing Shuwei would add fuel to the flames.
And those flames had to burn the person Xing Shuwei suspected.
Only then did Lady Shen remember to examine the maid carefully.
What she saw was extraordinary: the maid was actually wearing the Shen family’s livery.
“Hah! So someone means to pin this on the Shen family even if it kills us.
“I don’t care which household you serve. You certainly did not wander in here by chance.
“Since the Princess is implicated, I have no authority to decide the matter. We will send you to the imperial prison for a thorough interrogation.”
“Someone, bind her,” Lady Shen ordered.
The maid panicked and knelt before Lady Pei. “My lady, I know I was wrong. My lady, please save me!”
Lady Shen might be blunt and carefree in her conduct, but she was no fool. At the sight, she passed the problem straight to Lady Pei. “Since she belongs to the Duke’s estate, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere. What do you think, Lady Pei?”
“Naturally, Lady Shen must receive an explanation.” Lady Pei’s expression was extremely ugly.
“There is no need for you to trouble yourself over the others. I will send men to escort them back to the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate.”
The two women reached a tacit agreement to suppress the incident.
If it became public, both families would lose face.
Since Princess Jin’an was implicated, Zhang Mingan had no choice but to let the matter rest.
Lady Pei addressed the maid. “Go and invite your young lady here.
“Have her bring two male servants from your household as well.”
The maid dared not delay and hurried off to find Pei Xuanfei.
The maid gave no details. Assuming the plan had succeeded, Pei Xuanfei entered the courtyard flushed with triumph.
Instead, she found Xing Shuwei in a fresh dress, standing obediently beside Lady Pei and looking entirely unharmed.
“Wretch!” Lady Pei cursed her without preamble.
Slap! A palm struck Pei Xuanfei’s face.
The blow left Pei Xuanfei dizzy. Through the ringing in her ears, she heard Lady Pei say, “Kneel before Lady Shen and beg her forgiveness!”
Thud!
Clutching her face, Pei Xuanfei dropped to her knees before Lady Shen.
As for the male servants she had brought, Lady Pei had already ordered them to carry Eldest Young Master Zhang out behind a Shen residence maid.
“You caused this disaster. Beg your father yourself and have him give the Marquis of Qingyuan an explanation,” Lady Pei ordered.
With that, she sent Xing Shuwei a look.
Xing Shuwei followed her out of the secluded courtyard.
Zhang Mingan picked up the bloodstained branch and walked over to Pei Xuanfei.
Pei Xuanfei was still staring at him in surprise when he used the branch to cut her hand.
Before Pei Xuanfei could lash out, he tossed the branch into her arms. “Hold on to your weapon.
“Tell your father to have a proper discussion with mine.”
“You…” Pei Xuanfei was momentarily speechless.
Her Eldest Aunt had spoken. She did not dare disobey.
Zhang Mingan strode away, heading straight for the banquet.
Before long, everyone had returned to the Lotus Garden.
The banquet was ready, and the dishes had been served.
Commander Shen personally escorted Pei Xianjing to the tables.
Pei Xianjing’s gaze swept over the guests, searching for Xing Shuwei.
Then he saw Xing Shuwei and Zhang Mingan hurrying through the arched gate, one just behind the other.
Pei Xianjing’s eyes chilled, and the faint smile at his lips vanished.