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

Chapter 140 The Heart Burns for Desire
In the center of Qingyi Residence, Xiangning and Bitao sat facing each other, talking.

Bitao, with her keen eyes, noticed the lingering weariness in Xiangning's eyes, like a gloomy cloud hanging over them.

She knew in her heart that Xiang Ning had an unresolved issue, like a tangled mess tightly binding her.

"Sister, now that you're back at the Pei residence, try to relax. Only when you're fully recovered will you have the strength to do other things. Don't you agree?"

Bitao leaned forward slightly and spoke softly to Xiangning, her tone full of concern.

Xiang Ning looked up at Bi Tao, and the moment their eyes met, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

Only Bitao's care, like a warm ray of light, dispelled the chill.

She treated me like a sister, giving me her whole heart without reservation.

"it is good."

Xiang Ning responded softly, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible sob.

Seeing that Xiang Ning agreed, Bi Tao smiled and then got up and walked out of the room.

Xiang Ning sat on the edge of the bed but was not sleepy at all. The room was still the same room she used to know.

The interior furnishings and layout haven't changed much, but it feels like many things have changed beyond recognition.

That corridor connects not only two rooms, but also the close yet heavy relationship between her and Pei Yanzhi.

Now she lives under Pei Yanzhi's watchful eye, and he sees everything she does, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Everyone said how good Pei Yanzhi was to her, how he meticulously decorated the courtyard for her, and how he did everything himself.

However, Xiang Ning only felt an endless suffocation.

If Pei Yanzhi truly cares for her, why does he treat her like a bird trapped in a cage?

He used the rules of the grand mansion and his strong possessiveness to tightly imprison her.

She was not allowed even the slightest chance to fly away and pursue freedom.

Is this really love? Is it just liking?
What Pei Yanzhi called "good" brought her was not sweetness and peace of mind, but endless confusion and pain.

She leaned against the headboard and let out a long sigh.

Although that's what she thought, if she wanted to leave, she still had to continue dealing with Pei Yanzhi.

Hopefully, she can escape successfully thanks to Pei Yanzhi's keen observation.

After leaving the Pei residence, Pei Yanzhi entered the palace, where Wei Ziqian was already waiting for him on the palace road.

Upon seeing Pei Yanzhi arrive in a hurry, Wei Ziqian went straight to the point and said, "I've been thinking about something all day."

"If Your Highness was kidnapped, why are there no signs of struggle in the room?"

Whether it was the neatly folded bedding or the orderly arranged writing implements, there wasn't a single trace of dragging or pulling inside the hall.

"So what did you find out?"

Pei Yanzhi's expression, as if saying "You only just realized this now," made Wei Ziqian feel inexplicably embarrassed.

So he already knew all along, but didn't tell him alone.

Wei Ziqian coughed lightly to cover up his unease.

“I checked with the eunuchs and palace maids who were on duty outside His Highness’s palace that day, and they all said they did not hear any unusual noises, and they did not see any suspicious people coming or going before His Highness disappeared.”

Pei Yanzhi smiled slightly: "Who do you think could abduct His Highness without anyone noticing and without leaving a trace of struggle?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Ziqian frowned: "This person must be extraordinary, as he is extremely familiar with the layout and security of the palace."

"It is very likely someone His Highness knows."

After listening to Wei Ziqian's words, Pei Yanzhi took a step forward: "Have you ever considered that this might be a scheme orchestrated by His Highness himself?"

Although he spoke in a low voice, Wei Ziqian heard him clearly.

Upon hearing this, Wei Ziqian was stunned: "What did you say?"

"Didn't I send Marquis Anping to inquire about it?"

Pei Yanzhi strolled leisurely, as if he were simply taking a leisurely walk in the garden.

Upon hearing this, Wei Ziqian paused, as if talking to himself, "I've heard that Empress Dowager Feng is going to arrange a marriage for Your Highness..."

"The betrothed is the grandson of the Duke of Zhenguo, a refined young man with a respectable reputation in the capital, but His Highness seems to dislike him greatly." After saying this, Wei Ziqian walked a few steps to Pei Yanzhi: "Has His Highness run away from the engagement?"

Pei Yanzhi hummed in agreement: "If not, who else could leave so quietly?"

"The person should still be in the palace. Search the place; perhaps we can find them."

Princess Jian'an's health was already poor, and now that she has been hiding in the palace for so long, finding her shouldn't be too difficult.

At this point, things have progressed.

Wei Ziqian then saw Pei Yanzhi turn around and leave.

"Aren't you going to Cining Palace?"

If we could find Princess Jian'an, it would be a great achievement.

He doesn't want this fame and fortune?

"No, I have something to do at home."

Pei Yanzhi replied calmly, "The Empress Dowager isn't stupid. Would she not know that he did this?"
"Didn't you say you were going to find me a little sister? What happened?"

Wei Ziqian seemed to have thought of something, and raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at Pei Yanzhi and asked a question.

He had seen Xiang Ning and knew that she had run away, but he didn't know if Pei Yanzhi had found her or not.

However, he guessed that it probably hadn't been found; if it had, things wouldn't be like this.

His face was colder than the winter sun.

"In a few days."

Pei Yanzhi gave Wei Ziqian a meaningful look before looking away.

Wei Ziqian watched him turn and leave, and for some reason, he felt that there was something wrong with the look in his eyes when he looked at him last.

He watched Pei Yanzhi's retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.

At least Wei Ziqian never imagined that Pei Yanzhi would change because of a woman.

After leaving the palace, Pei Yanzhi went to the Dali Temple. After discussing matters with Mingxiang, it gradually got dark.

Pei Yanzhi hadn't eaten much at noon, and he only felt a momentary spasm in his stomach.

"Sir, have some water. Should we call a doctor to take a look?"

Cheng Hua looked at Pei Yanzhi's expression and asked with concern.

After drinking the water, Pei Yanzhi put on his coat and said, "No need, let's go back to the manor."

Cheng Hua responded and helped Pei Yanzhi out of the Dali Temple.

Once inside the carriage, Pei Yanzhi leaned against the side and closed his eyes for a short rest.

The carriage slowly drove back to the Pei residence. As soon as he entered the gate, Pei Yanzhi went straight to Qingyi Residence.

The charcoal glowed red-hot in the brazier, radiating warmth.

Xiang Ning and Bi Tao sat together chatting casually, and he saw the smile on her face.

For some reason, Pei Yanzhi suddenly felt that his stomach, which had been cramping and aching a little, didn't hurt as much anymore.

"Master is back?"

Bitao turned her head and saw Pei Yanzhi. She immediately stood up and bowed.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning looked up and met Pei Yanzhi's gaze.

"Pei Lang."

Xiang Ning smiled slightly and called out to him.

Although the smile was somewhat stiff, it had become more genuine, at least no longer feigned.

But Pei Yanzhi's heart, which had just warmed, turned completely cold with her smile.

My heart burns with desire, your breath cools it.

In an instant, we were back to how we first met.

"My heart burns with desire, your breath cools it" is a line from a poem by the famous ancient Greek lyric poet Sappho.
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(End of this chapter)