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

Chapter 120 Dreaming of Him

Pei Mingxiu walked all the way to the government office, where the clerk on duty treated him with great respect.

They knew Pei Mingxiu's identity; although he was an illegitimate son, his surname was quite prestigious.

"Third Young Master? What brings you here?"

"Where are the girls who were put into prison today?"

Pei Mingxiu asked the question directly. Upon hearing this, the clerk was taken aback at first, and then remembered what Pei Mingxiu was asking.

"Is the Third Young Master asking about the woman who committed the crime at Huang's Embroidery Shop today?"

The advisor asked somewhat uncertainly, and Pei Mingxiu nodded slightly, which was taken as an agreement.

"What about people?"

"She has already been detained. May I ask, what is the relationship between the Third Young Master and this woman?"

Looking at Pei Mingxiu's expression, the advisor asked a question.

Pei Mingxiu turned his head, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Ping An, go and deal with the tail behind you first."

Upon hearing this, Ping An nodded in agreement and left the government office. Pei Mingxiu stepped forward and looked at the clerk.

Even though nothing was said, the advisor felt an invisible pressure pressing down on him.

"I'll take the Third Young Master there right away."

The advisor turned around and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Wasn't it said that this third young master was just an illegitimate son in the family?
Why is his demeanor in no way inferior to that of the family's carefully groomed heir?

Just a moment ago, he even felt a killing intent.

"Lord Lin, the Third Young Master wishes to see the girl who was imprisoned today."

The advisor led Pei Mingxiu to the prison and said something to Lord Lin.

Upon hearing this, Lord Lin looked up and met Pei Mingxiu's eyes.

"Please."

He didn't ask any more questions, but he felt that someone who could be treated with such respect by the advisor must be someone of great importance.

In that case, it might be possible to save Miss Xiang'er.

Lord Lin led Pei Mingxiu into the prison, where wails of agony filled the air.

The damp air was mixed with various unpleasant smells, and Pei Mingxiu frowned slightly.

"Miss Xiang'er is here."

Lord Lin pointed forward, and Pei Mingxiu saw Xiang Ning sitting against the wall.

She was relatively clean, except for the hem of her skirt and the sleeves where her hands were stained with blood.

The girl's hands were bound by handcuffs, and even her ankles were locked in shackles.

Anyone who didn't know better would think she had committed some heinous crime.

"Xiang Ning?"

Pei Mingxiu called out to her, and Xiang Ning turned to look.

"Third, Young Master Pei?"

"I've heard everything from Shuanglu. Don't worry, I will definitely save you."

Pei Mingxiu bent down and said something comforting to Xiang Ning. Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning frowned.

“I didn’t kill anyone, Young Master Pei, you don’t need to get involved in these things.”

They are currently in Yangzhou. If Huang Xu wanted them dead, it would be incredibly easy for him.

Upon hearing this, Pei Mingxiu's face showed a hint of melancholy.

Do you think I have ulterior motives?

His words were too blunt. Xiang Ning lowered her eyes, wanting to shake her head, but found herself at a loss for words.

If he didn't have ulterior motives, why would Pei Mingxiu care so much about someone he had only met a few times?

But if there was something she wanted, Xiang Ning really couldn't think of anything about herself that Pei Mingxiu would want.

"I do have ulterior motives."

He suddenly smiled and raised an eyebrow at Xiang Ning.

"I'm after you."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning's eyes widened immediately: "You..."

“You know my secret. Pei Yanzhi already knows about me, but I also have things I’m hiding from him that I don’t want him to know.” “But you know, Xiang Ning.”

Pei Mingxiu's words were roundabout, leaving Xiang Ning somewhat confused.

What she knows, how could Pei Yanzhi not know?

"If we can escape this time, Xiangning, I will take you away from Yangzhou."

He suddenly said this, and Xiang Ning's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to refuse, but she understood something from his eyes.

Pei Mingxiu had no feelings for her; in his eyes, it seemed, there was only the same possessiveness as with Pei Yanzhi.

This possessiveness made Xiang Ning unable to fathom his true thoughts.

How could he have taken possession of me?

"Alright, I should go now. I'll take care of everything, don't worry."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiang Ning saw Pei Mingxiu stand up.

He was tall but somewhat thin, but his hand, which hung down to his side, was clenched tightly, as if he had made up his mind.

After being released from prison, Pei Mingxiu spent money to have his advisor take care of everything.

At least it can ensure that Huang Xu's hand cannot reach into the prison, and Xiang Ning will not suffer.

He wanted to save Xiang Ning, but he also had to be wary of Cheng Hua.

Chenghua came to see him today only to ask him to help find someone.

It was Shi Hao who escaped from Ling'an. Pei Mingxiu knew more about business matters than Pei Yanzhi.

Since Pei Yanzhi intends to transform Pei Mingxiu from an unknown illegitimate son into a true member of the Pei family, there are some things Pei Mingxiu must do.

Unexpectedly, things turned out so coincidentally that Shuanglu came to Pei Mingxiu to rescue someone and happened to run into Chenghua.

Moreover, when Pei Mingxiu came to the government office, the tail following behind him was from Chenghua.

There are many people in the world named Xiang'er, but if their appearances are too coincidental, Chenghua will become suspicious.

Once the seed of doubt is planted, Chenghua will not give up until the truth is found.

Fortunately, Xiang Ning was clever and concealed her appearance with yellow earth, so very few people have seen her true face.

She rarely leaves her home and has little interaction with her neighbors.

Ping An also said that he had instructed Shuanglu not to tell anyone about Xiang Ning's situation.

"Please deliver my visiting card; I need to see Huang Xu."

Pei Mingxiu gave Ping An an instruction, and Ping An nodded and withdrew.

After nightfall, someone brought bedding to Xiang Ning.

Although the snow in Yangzhou had stopped, the prison was underground and extremely cold.

The faint candlelight flickered nearby, making the entire prison seem extremely cold and gloomy.

In the distance, the yamen runners on duty drank and made lewd remarks, while Xiang Ning, wrapped in a quilt, sat leaning against the corner.

She felt uneasy; this inexplicable panic always seemed to be related to Pei Yanzhi.

It was as if they would meet again in the near future.

Xiang Ning buried her head in the blanket and shifted slightly. The shackles on her feet rattled, reminding her of her current situation.

She sighed, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep, feeling somewhat drowsy.

After an unknown amount of time, the cool moonlight disappeared from the window, and suddenly the sound of dripping water began.

It was so close to her ear, as if it were falling right next to Xiang Ning's ear.

Then came a series of footsteps, one step at a time, as if measured out beforehand, treading on her heart.

The sound of those footsteps reminded Xiang Ning of that noble and aloof man.

No matter the situation, he always walked with such ease and never showed the slightest sign of panic.

The locked cell door seemed to open, and someone grabbed her shackles and dragged her in front of them.

'Is this the kind of life you'll lead without me?'

'Pitiful.'

His words made Xiang Ning open her eyes abruptly, but all she saw was the dark prison cell, with nothing else in front of her.

She had a dream that Pei Yanzhi came.

He seemed to have come to save her, yet it also seemed as if he was sending her back to hell.

With a gentle push, a bottomless abyss lies behind you.

(End of this chapter)