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

Chapter 135 Buddha Will Not Blame

The atmosphere inside the carriage was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Pei Yanzhi leaned forward slightly, his well-defined fingers pinching Xiang Ning's chin.

The force wasn't enough to hurt her, but it rendered her unable to move.

She was forced to look up and meet his deep, unfathomable eyes.

When their eyes met, Xiang Ning felt as if she were tightly bound by his gaze, with nowhere to escape.

"I know."

Xiang Ning's throat tightened, and she squeezed out those three words with difficulty.

Her voice trembled slightly, with a hint of imperceptible nervousness.

Pei Yanzhi looked at her like this, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he smiled.

There was a hint of satisfaction and amusement in that smile.

"Very nice."

He spoke softly, with a hint of doting affection.

After praising Xiang Ning, Pei Yanzhi released his fingers that had been gripping her chin.

"But you probably won't see him again when you return to the capital."

Pei Yanzhi sat up straight, straightened his clothes, and picked up the folded document that was on the table.

His fingers tapped lightly on the folded paper, and then he uttered this sentence in a low voice.

Xiang Ning felt a sudden tightness in her chest, as if she were being gripped by an invisible hand.

She had countless questions she wanted to ask, but when she met Pei Yanzhi's deep gaze, she dared not ask a single one.

Pei Yanzhi's current possessiveness towards her means he doesn't want to hear her care about other men.

A silence fell between the two of them, and after a long while, Pei Yanzhi finally spoke again.

“He wants to take the imperial examination, but the Pei family might not be a suitable place for him to prepare for it, so I had him move out.”

His tone remained calm, but Xiang Ning could detect a subtle emotion hidden behind his words.

Pei Yanzhi couldn't bear to see her looking so worried.

However, he will only explain this once; he will not say anything more in the future.

In the following days, the carriage sped along the road like an arrow, its wheels rolling and kicking up clouds of dust.

They would only stop briefly at post stations to allow the horses to catch their breath and the passengers to rest before setting off again without stopping.

In comparison, Xiang Ning seemed more relaxed.

Pei Yanzhi, on the other hand, was completely different. He became noticeably busier, with more and more official documents being sent to him, and he had little time to talk to Xiang Ning anymore.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and after a slight bump, the carriage slowly came to a stop on the outskirts of the capital.

Pei Yanzhi stepped down from the carriage first, then turned around and reached out his hand to Xiang Ning inside the carriage.

Xiang Ning placed her hand in his palm and used it to step out of the carriage.

"A-Ning, rest at Xiangguo Temple tonight."

Pei Yanzhi turned slightly to the side, getting closer to Xiang Ning, and whispered an explanation.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for Xiang Ning to hear clearly.

After saying that, he naturally took Xiang Ning's hand and stepped onto the steps leading to Xiangguo Temple.

As a royal temple, Xiangguo Temple is renowned and is always bustling with worshippers who come to pray for blessings.

Although it is the dead of winter and the weather is bitterly cold, this has not dampened the enthusiasm of the pilgrims in the slightest.

The temple was bustling with people.

Xiang Ning was draped in Pei Yanzhi's cloak, a black overcoat made of soft material, yet extremely large.

It enveloped her petite body, leaving only her bright and lively eyes visible.

Just as they stepped into the temple, several melodious and deep bells rang out from within.

The sound of bells echoed through the valley, and Pei Yanzhi suddenly stopped, as if he had sensed something.

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze meeting the person standing high on the steps. Xiang Ning keenly felt Pei Yanzhi tighten his grip on her hand instantly, and she subconsciously followed his gaze.

Upon looking up, one could see Duan Zhuo standing on a high place.

Duan Zhuo's eyes held complex emotions: resentment, unwillingness, and above all, an indescribable persistence.

When the two reached the entrance of Xiangguo Temple, Pei Yanzhi stopped and turned to Cheng Hua, whispering a few instructions before instructing Cheng Hua to lead Xiang Ning into the temple first.

Chenghua nodded in acceptance and led Xiangning into the temple.

At this moment, Pei Yanzhi and Duan Zhuo were facing each other.

Duan Zhuo crossed his arms, his posture seemingly relaxed, but in reality full of provocation.

A mocking smile curled at the corners of his lips, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Master Pei, how are you?"

Pei Yanzhi's face was cold and his eyes were like knives as he stared straight at Duan Zhuo.

"You dare to show up here so openly? Aren't you afraid I'll arrest you and take you to the Dali Temple?"

His voice was icy cold, carrying an unquestionable authority.

However, Duan Zhuo knew very well that although Pei Yanzhi said this, he would not actually make a move against him easily.

"Duan Zhuo, you've already ruined someone. If you're coming after me, then stop now."

Pei Yanzhi's tone softened slightly.

"How can you just stop here after you've owed me?"

Duan Zhuo chuckled, his hand unconsciously falling on the sword at his waist, his fingers applying slight pressure, the patterns on the hilt deeply embedding themselves in his palm.

Just as he was about to draw his sword, he seemed to suddenly change his mind, abruptly released his grip, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Pei Yanzhi turned to look at Duan Zhuo, his eyes flickering slightly.

He truly owed Duan Zhuo a great debt, forcing the late emperor's most loyal minister, General Duan's only son, to become an outlaw.

That's just how the world is; he simply chose the most suitable path.

Composing himself, Pei Yanzhi entered the temple. Xiang Ning stood at the entrance of the main hall, her expression indifferent, lost in thought.

A young novice monk approached from a distance, carrying sandalwood in his arms, his figure unsteady.

Seeing this, Xiang Ning stepped forward to help him up, and the young novice thanked her profusely.

Xiang Ning smiled, though she didn't know what he said.

After the young novice monk had walked away, Pei Yanzhi stepped forward and asked, "What are you saying? Why are you so happy?"

Hearing his voice, Xiang Ning turned to look at him: "Little Master said I have good news today."

She replied truthfully that the little novice monk's original words were that Xiang Ning had a kind heart and would surely be blessed by Buddha in the future, and that there was also a happy event today.

Xiang Ning didn't feel that anything happy was happening around her.

If she can truly receive Buddha's blessing, then may she be protected so that she can leave Pei Yanzhi as soon as possible.

"Wen Caifu is in the back mountain. Chenghua will take you there. You can rest at Xiangguo Temple tonight. I will come to find you tomorrow after I leave the palace."

"A-Ning, be good."

Pei Yanzhi smiled slightly and reached out to touch Xiang Ning's head.

He was worried that the people in the Pei residence might cause trouble while he was away, which is why he wanted to leave her at Xiangguo Temple.

He has men both inside and outside the house; she can't escape.

"Alright, I'll wait for Pei Lang here."

She still responded obediently. Pei Yanzhi should have been happy that she was so well-behaved, but he still felt unsatisfied.

When the light kiss landed on Xiang Ning's forehead, she couldn't help but take two steps back.

"This is a temple..."

Who would do such intimate things in a temple?

Pei Yanzhi, however, didn't care. He pulled the person into his arms and said only, "Buddha won't blame you."

(End of this chapter)