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

Chapter 157 The Whereabouts of Asahi

When Pei Yanzhi and Xiang Ning descended from the Star-Picking Tower, it was already broad daylight.

Stepping out of the Star-Picking Tower, you can still see the pleasure boats along the moat, with extinguished lanterns hanging on them.

Xiang Ning yawned, and Pei Yanzhi reached out and tied the cloak around her neck.

After the two had walked away, Lu Jiamin emerged from the shadows. Seeing the scene before her, she nearly threw the hand warmer in her hand away.

After searching for so long, she finally realized who the woman was who could keep Pei Yanzhi by his side.

Lu Jiamin had met a woman so beautiful that even women couldn't ignore her; she had met her at her birthday banquet.

Ironically, after Wen Caifu stopped her, she didn't pay much attention to her.

"Go check her identity."

"Princess... Your Highness..."

Lianxiang said this with concern, knowing what Lu Jiamin was planning.

Since that woman was just a concubine, she probably didn't have any powerful family background. If she fell into the hands of the princess, wouldn't she be able to bully and manipulate her at will?

"Are you my maid, or my father's?"

Lu Jiamin turned to look at Lianxiang, her eyes fixed on her. Lianxiang lowered her head, not daring to say anything more.

After Xiang Ning and Pei Yanzhi returned to the Pei residence, they smelled that familiar aroma of scallion pancakes again.

She smelled it last night, but Pei Yanzhi didn't say anything, so she didn't ask.

"Grandpa waited a long time before he finally managed to buy it yesterday."

After Chenghua finished speaking with a smile, he took the scallion pancake from Xu's mother.

Although it's not as delicious as freshly cooked, the aroma tells you it's from that old shop in Dong'an Lane.

"I heard it was delicious, so I bought it last night but forgot to tell you."

I was so focused on taking her out that I completely forgot about this.

Xiang Ning smiled and thanked Pei Yanzhi, then pulled him down to sit and have breakfast.

“Pei Lang and I will eat together.”

She smiled gently, her eyes crinkling with a soft, rounded smile. Wisps of white mist rose and enveloped her features, and in her eyes, he saw the essence of everyday life.

Hearing himself agree, Pei Yanzhi realized he was now finding it difficult to refuse her request.

At this moment, Lu Jiang was on his way to the trading company at Ling'an Road residence when he bumped into someone.

"Young Master, there is a letter for you."

The servant rushed over and handed over a letter. Lu Jiang saw the handwriting on the envelope and quickly took it.

"Was it sent by Young Master Tang?"

Upon hearing this, the servant nodded. Lu Jiang opened the letter and, after reading the words on it, was overjoyed. He immediately turned around and went to find Lu Weimin.

"Father, Father! There's news about Aunt!"

Not long after returning home, Lu Weimin fell ill and has been recuperating at home for the past few days.

Upon hearing his son's words, Lu Weimin got out of bed and was about to leave.

"What did you say?"

"Father, Brother Tang has found out news about Aunt."

Lu Jiang walked over and helped Lu Weimin inside, then closed the door.

As the warmth spread, Lu Weimin raised his hand to tuck the stray hairs behind his ear and, using the daylight streaming through the window, began to read the letters.

“Hua Lan is clever. She changed her name and took your grandmother’s surname, which is why she can’t be found.”

"But we found her too late; my aunt was already gone."

After listening to Lu Weimin's words, Lu Jiang said this with some heartache.

"In any case, we have found the person. Although Hualan is gone, Chaoguang is definitely still alive."

"Go to the capital again and search for it in person. Take the token with you. If Hua Lan has told Chao Guang about the Lu family, she will definitely recognize this token."

Holding Lu Jiang's hand, Lu Weimin said, "We must find your sister."

This was his greatest wish in this life.

"Father, rest assured, I will set off for the capital immediately."

After saying this, Lu Jiang looked at Lu Weimin and said, "But Father, what about Prince Qing..."

"I'll handle things with Prince Qing; you don't need to do anything."

Upon hearing Lu Jiang mention Prince Qing, Lu Weimin's eyes darkened, and he said no more. Lu Jiang knew Lu Weimin's temperament; once he made up his mind, he wouldn't allow anyone else to interfere, not even his son.

After leaving Lu Weimin's courtyard, Lu Jiang immediately had someone pack their things, preparing to go to Beijing again.

This time, he will definitely be able to bring his sister back safely.

After the New Year passed, people in the capital began preparing for the holiday. Days passed by, and the New Year was just around the corner.

Manager Xu and his team also brought over the interior design plans for the embroidery workshop.

Xiang Ning lay on the soft couch looking at the blueprints, while Pei Yanzhi sat beside her handling official business.

Occasionally, a gentle breeze would drift in from outside the window, dissipating some of the heat in the room.

Her fingers traced the things on the drawing, and she couldn't help but smile.

"So happy?"

When Pei Yanzhi put down the folded document, he saw the smile on her face.

"This is my first shop."

It was also the means by which she left the Pei family, so of course she was happy.

Pei Yanzhi listened to her words, his heart moved, and he reached out and grasped her ankle.

His cool fingertips brushed against her ankle, then he leaned down and looked at the blueprints with her.

"It would be better to add some decorations here. You can pick some out from the warehouse later."

"Pei Lang has already given me a shop, it's not appropriate for me to ask for anything from you again."

Xiang Ning felt his breath rushing against her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

She instinctively shifted to the side.

Then, he pulled out a box from somewhere and placed it in front of her.

"This is?"

"You'll know when you open it and take a look."

Xiang Ning glanced at him and reached out to open the box.

Inside, there lay a hairpin, the one she had seen when she went to the Star-Picking Tower that day.

The jade used for the magnolia hairpin wasn't of the finest quality, but the craftsman's skill made the petals on the hairpin look as if they had just been picked.

"The workmanship is decent. Do you like it?"

Pei Yanzhi reached out and tied her hair up, then took the magnolia hairpin and pinned it in her hair.

He had never done anything like that before, let alone do something like tying someone's hair up.

But he was willing to do such a thing for Xiang Ning.

Pei Yanzhi simply felt that she was perfect in every way, except for not loving him.

"I like it, thank you, Pei Lang."

Xiang Ning's smile slowly faded, and a strange look flashed in her eyes.

The better he treated her, the more she wanted to break free.

Like a kite, it wants to break free from the tangled string.

Pei Yanzhi pulled her into his arms, rested his head on her chin, and said, "A Ning, once you've recovered, we'll have a child."

"When the time comes, we'll build her a swing and a grape trellis in Mosong Garden."

He experienced firsthand the human emotions and love that he had never felt in the past few decades.

They then turned this unchanging Mosong Garden into their home.

"What if Pei Lang were to get married?"

Xiang Ning's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing all of Pei Yanzhi's expectations.

He held her tightly and said only one sentence: "Marrying a wife is not my intention. The Pei family needs a matriarch."

She managed the household affairs and took charge of the Pei family.

"Does Master Pei mean that the mistress will manage the affairs of the Pei family, while I will accompany you to enjoy myself at the Ink Pine Garden?"

Being his woman, especially his wife, must have been truly miserable.

But ironically, everyone wants to marry him.

(End of this chapter)