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

Chapter 114 Call My Name

When Wen Caifu looked at her, Lüzhi shook her head: "This servant did not see Miss Xiangning. I heard that Miss Xiangning was injured and is now recuperating in another courtyard."

"However, they accepted the gifts, and I have met with Lord Pei."

Green Branch paused, looked up at Wen Caifu and said, "Lord Pei said that he will assist the government in wiping out that band of mountain bandits."

Upon hearing this, Wen Caifu's face showed a complex mix of emotions.

Duan Zhuo's flamboyant face flashed through her mind, and Wen Caifu sighed, "I believe in Lord Pei."

Suppressing bandits was not originally the responsibility of the Dali Temple. Pei Yanzhi did this perhaps because she was sensible enough to break off the engagement.

Wen Caifu leaned back on the cushion, closed her eyes, and said nothing more.

As evening approached, Wen Caifu arrived at Xiangguo Temple. The abbot had already received the news and prepared accommodations for her.

There is a small, independent courtyard on the back mountain of Xiangguo Temple.

The worshippers in front of her wouldn't bother her, and she could peacefully cultivate herself here, away from the gossip and rumors outside.

Thus, Wen Caifu settled down at Xiangguo Temple, while Xiang Ning, after seven or eight days of bumpy travel with the caravan, finally arrived in Yangzhou.

When Pei Yanzhi was teaching her to read and write, he once said that the scenery of Yangzhou in March is the most beautiful.

Unfortunately, Xiang Ning arrived at an inopportune time; winter is already approaching.

But the weather in the south wasn't as cold as in the north. Xiang Ning smiled as she paid the caravan the money and prepared to find a place to stay.

Stepping into the streets of Yangzhou, you are greeted by cobblestone pavement and well-arranged shops on both sides.

Not far away are pavilions with upturned eaves, their vermilion pillars and dark gray tiles complementing each other.

Xiang Ning reached out and lifted a corner of the veil, the light gauze fluttering, her eyes full of smiles.

At a high vantage point in the corner restaurant, someone holding a wine glass paused, nearly spilling the drink.

"Boss Pei, what did you see?"

A drunk man came up and hooked his arm around his shoulder, trying to follow his gaze.

Pei Mingxiu's hand slipped, and the wine spilled all over him: "Boss Li, I'm sorry, my hand was shaking."

Upon hearing this, the person who had just been clamoring to see quickly stepped aside.

"Ping An, take Mr. Li to change his clothes."

Pei Mingxiu gave an order, and Ping An quickly came in and pulled Boss Li away.

Once Pei Mingxiu was the only one left in the private room, he turned his head to look downstairs, but Xiang Ning was nowhere to be seen.

A slight smile played on his lips, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of relief.

She was indeed very clever; she actually managed to escape from Pei Yanzhi's encirclement.

"Sir, Boss Li has ordered two courtesans."

Ping An walked in with a completely embarrassed look on his face and replied with a single sentence.

Upon hearing this, Pei Mingxiu poured himself a glass of wine: "Let him be."

"Is he really willing to let us do the silk business?"

Ping An was somewhat worried. Ever since her father went to Mosong Garden last time and came back, he seemed to have become a different person.

They stopped hiding anything and started doing business in a big way.

Now, for the sake of Yangzhou's priceless shimmering brocade, he has personally traveled to Yangzhou.

They had talked to Mr. Li countless times, but he still refused to budge.

They have been in Yangzhou for about ten days.

"I just saw Xiang Ning."

Pei Mingxiu did not reply with "Peaceful" but instead said something else.

Upon hearing this, Ping An was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant: "Miss Xiang Ning?"

"Should I check it out?"

After Ping An asked the question, she waited for a long time without receiving a reply from Pei Mingxiu.

After an unknown amount of time, Pei Mingxiu put down his wine glass and stood up: "No need."

Now that they've escaped, they definitely don't want any further involvement with the Pei family. If he were to approach them, he'd only annoy them.

After saying that, Pei Mingxiu walked away from the restaurant.

Xiang Ning found an inn to stay in, gave the innkeeper some silver, and inquired about vacant houses and embroidery workshops in Yangzhou that could be rented.

She decided to go to the embroidery shop tomorrow to take some work so she could have money to rent a house.

As night fell, Xiang Ning lay on the bed in the inn, feeling a sense of peace in her heart.

She really escaped. Here, nobody knows her, and she can start a new life.

The next morning, before Xiang Ning was awake, she heard the sound of children playing outside.

"It's snowing! It's snowing!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning rubbed her eyes, put on her clothes, and walked to the window.

The light snowflakes drifted down from the horizon, instantly melting into a puddle on the ground.

Yesterday I was thinking that snow in the south would come later than in the north, but I didn't expect that the snow this winter would come exceptionally early.

A cold wind blew in, and Xiang Ning smiled as she closed the window. Luckily, she had bought a few winter clothes yesterday.

After changing her clothes and having a simple meal, Xiang Ning headed towards the embroidery workshop she had inquired about the day before.

This embroidery workshop is the largest in Yangzhou. I heard that the owner is a royal merchant, and many of his embroidered works are sent directly to the palace for the use of the empresses.

"Who are you looking for?"

As soon as Xiang Ning entered the embroidery workshop, a little girl with her hair in two buns came over and asked her a question.

"I'd like to ask if your embroidery workshop still needs embroiderers?"

She wore a veil to conceal her face, and was wrapped in heavy winter clothes, leaving only her bright eyes visible.

“Our embroidery workshop never hires outside embroiderers, you can leave now.”

At this moment, the woman behind the counter came out, looked Xiang Ning up and down, and showed a hint of disdain in her eyes.

Another poor, down-on-their-luck family. Do they really think their Huang family embroidery workshop is a refugee camp?

Xiang Ning noticed the woman's disdain, but didn't ask any further questions, and turned to leave.

"Hurry up and sweep the snow. What are you looking at? If you delay our distinguished guests, I'll dock your pay."

Even after walking away, you could still hear the woman scolding the little girl.

Xiang Ning shook her head helplessly. Since they were imperial merchants, they naturally looked down on her.

It's alright, they're not the only ones in Yangzhou.

Xiang Ning strolled through the streets of Yangzhou, wondering if there was anything else she could do.

Light snowflakes drifted down onto her shoulders, while a man in blue robes stood by the stone bridge in the distance, holding an umbrella.

The umbrella was slightly raised, revealing Pei Mingxiu's eyebrows and eyes. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Like Xiang Ning, he seemed not to have expected to run into her here.

As Xiang Ning watched him walk towards her, she instinctively turned around and tried to run away.

"Why are you running?"

However, Pei Mingxiu was tall and had long legs, and he blocked the person at the corner in just a few steps.

"I'm not going to hand you over to my older brother."

He reached out, and the oil-paper umbrella landed on Xiang Ning's head, shielding her from the falling snow.

"Third Young Master..."

"Now that you've left the Pei residence, you no longer have a Third Young Master. Call me by my name, Mingxiu, how about that?"

Pei Mingxiu looked at Xiang Ning with a faint smile on his face.

The girl looked up, met his gaze, then lowered her head again: "Third Young Master..."

Once a habit is formed, it's hard to break. Pei Mingxiu shook his head helplessly: "It's cold in winter, why are you outside?"

Pei Mingxiu asked a question, but Xiang Ning pursed her lips and remained silent, her posture somewhat defensive.

She really does have a knack for connecting with the people around Pei Yanzhi; she met Wei Ziqian in Jinzhu Town and Pei Mingxiu in Yangzhou.

How can Pei Mingxiu and Xiang Ning's relationship not be considered a form of uncle-sister literature?
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(End of this chapter)