After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 111 I'll Pretend I've Never Seen You

Wei Ziqian stood with his arms crossed under the window. When he saw Xiang Ning, he smiled slightly and let out a soft laugh.

"I knew that figure looked so familiar from behind."

"What's wrong with you?"

Before Xiang Ning could say anything more, the door was suddenly opened, and the waiter hurriedly said, "Honored guest, there is a fire in the kitchen. Please go to the main hall to take shelter."

Xiang Ning's heartbeat gradually calmed down as they talked, and finally returned to peace. It turned out that she had scared herself and had given herself away.

Before long, everyone in the inn came down from their rooms and sat in the lobby, waiting for the fire in the kitchen in the backyard to go out.

Wei Ziqian sat opposite Xiang Ning and poured her a cup of tea.

"Why is Miss Xiang Ning here?"

He held the teacup, his gaze sweeping over Xiang Ning.

Xiang Ning pursed her lips and remained silent, not taking the teacup that Wei Ziqian pushed towards her.

"I heard that a few days ago, Pei Yanzhi was making a big fuss about catching some fugitive in the water town. Could that fugitive be you?"

Wei Ziqian propped his head up with his hand and suddenly laughed.

Even if Xiang Ning didn't say anything, he could guess most of the story if he thought about it carefully.

Why would Pei Yanzhi need to personally go and make such a big fuss to catch a fugitive? Is he afraid the fugitive won't know his reputation?
It turned out that his concubine had run away, which was why he was making such a big fuss to catch her.

"If Your Excellency is willing to tell Pei Yanzhi about my whereabouts, please do so."

After saying this, Xiang Ning got up to leave, but Wei Ziqian's attendant reached out to stop her.

Wei Ziqian raised his hand, took a sip of tea, and looked at Xiang Ning: "Why should I hand you over to Pei Yanzhi?"

"Didn't he tell you that he and I are mortal enemies?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning's expression softened for a moment. Wei Ziqian reached out and tapped the table: "Sit down, don't make it seem like I'm going to do something to you."

Xiang Ning looked at the person blocking her way and knew that without Wei Ziqian's order, she probably couldn't leave, so she had no choice but to sit down again.

"Answer me a question and I'll consider letting you go. Let's pretend we've never met."

Wei Ziqian put the teacup back and looked at Xiang Ning with a smile.

His hands were on the table, his palms supporting his head, and he seemed very interested in Xiang Ning.

"Does Your Excellency want to know why I am unwilling to be with the eldest young master?"

Xiang Ning placed the teacup in front of her and looked up to meet Wei Ziqian's probing gaze.

"Yes, I really want to know. Everyone says that Pei Yanzhi is a prodigy, having risen to the rank of one of the Nine Ministers at such a young age, with an immeasurable future. What's wrong with being his woman?"

So many people in the capital wanted to marry Pei Yanzhi, but when it came to Xiang Ning, she wanted to escape even at the cost of her life.

"As the Marquis himself said, those are outsiders. You are not a fish, how can you know the fish's joy?"

Xiang Ning curled her lips into a mocking smile. She had indeed learned a lot from Pei Yanzhi.

He taught her to read and write, to know how to write her name, and to understand the meaning of words and phrases in the text.

That's all. I'm grateful, but I can't love you.

"That's right, then I'll pretend I never saw you today."

Wei Ziqian's eyes darkened for a moment before he smiled and withdrew his hand.

"After all, she almost became my sister. Where are you going? I'll take you there."

"No need, thank you for your kindness, Lord Marquis."

Xiang Ning's words still revealed some wariness towards Wei Ziqian, and besides, she had no reason to accept Wei Ziqian's help.

As long as he doesn't reveal her whereabouts, she considers him a person who keeps his promises.

As Xiang Ning stood up, Wei Ziqian suddenly said, "I've been fighting with Pei Yanzhi for so many years, we're both enemies and friends, and this is the first time I've seen him scheme for the future for someone like this."

Xiang Ning paused briefly, then left without looking back.

Wei Ziqian watched her retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.

This time, Pei Yanzhi really fell for a woman.

Unfortunately, this woman is incredibly ruthless. "Not a single word of what happened today is to be revealed."

Hearing Wei Ziqian say this, his attendant said with some concern, "My lord, wouldn't doing this completely offend Pei Yanzhi?"

Since Pei Yanzhi was willing to go to great lengths and go to great lengths to find her, it means that this maid is special to him.

If this maid falls into Pei Yanzhi's hands in the future, and he finds out that it was the Marquis who let her go...

"I have no obligation to find him. He couldn't have let someone go on his own, so how can he blame me?"

Wei Ziqian scoffed and stood up. Was he afraid of Pei Yanzhi?

After the fire in the backyard kitchen was extinguished, Xiang Ning lay in bed but couldn't fall asleep.

If she goes to Yangzhou, Wei Ziqian might find out where she is.

She can't afford to gamble even a little bit.

The next morning, after Wei Ziqian woke up, he heard from the waiter that Xiang Ning had left before dawn.

As for where they went, the waiter didn't know.

Wei Ziqian lowered his head and chuckled. He must have been terrified of him finding out his whereabouts, because he ran away before dawn.

Xiang Ning was on her way to Yangzhou, planning to find a city to stay in along the way.

In this way, even if Wei Ziqian knew where she went, he could only find out that she went to Yangzhou, but no one knew where she was.

Pei Yanzhi sat in the Dali Temple, holding the letter sent back by Chenghua in his hand.

They had disappeared without a trace, but instead they found Xiao Ming and his group.

They said they went to the border with the travel permit, but there was no trace of Xiang Ning with them.

He raised his hand to rub his temples, feeling as if he had a lump in his throat that he couldn't release.

"Sir, we have a lead."

Mingxiang walked in a few steps and saw the crumpled paper ball next to Pei Yanzhi, and sighed inwardly.

"The bandits around Xiangguo Temple are surnamed Duan."

Upon hearing this surname, Pei Yanzhi instantly opened his eyes: "Are you sure?"

"It's absolutely true, his surname is indeed Duan. The news came from the government office. Also, after our people withdrew, someone did see Shi Hao. Shi Hao has now left Ling'an."

"Keep staring."

Pei Yanzhi stood up, uttered these words, and walked outside.

"Young Master, Madam Wen has come to the manor. The Old Madam requests that you return to the Pei residence."

As soon as Madam Kang arrived at Dali Temple, she encountered Pei Yanzhi, who was about to leave. Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi frowned.

After returning to the capital from the water town, Pei Yanzhi only visited Wen Caifu at the Wen residence, and then dealt with matters at the Dali Temple, without returning to the Pei residence.

Therefore, Madam Pei has not seen Pei Yanzhi to this day.

"Okay, I'll head back now."

Pei Yanzhi took the reins from his subordinate, mounted his horse, and headed straight for the Pei residence.

Upon arriving at the Pei residence, the servants at the gate saw Pei Yanzhi and hurriedly stepped forward to bow respectfully.

"Young Master."

Pei Yanzhi tossed the reins to him and walked toward Ningfu Residence, where the old lady was.

"Madam, the eldest young master has arrived."

"Master Pei."

Madam Wen, who was sitting in the room, saw Pei Yanzhi walk in and concealed the regret in her eyes.

"Madam Wen."

Pei Yanzhi said in a deep voice, and then the old lady sighed and said, "The Wen family wants to break off the engagement."

(End of this chapter)