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

Chapter 186 Old acquaintance

Xiang Ning avoided Pei Yanzhi's gaze as she uttered those words, which felt like a sharp blade piercing deep into his heart.

She said it three times: she didn't know him.

Those five seemingly light words weighed as heavily as ten thousand pounds, crushing him completely.

Pei Yanzhi gripped the armrest of the chair tightly and withdrew his gaze from Xiang Ning.

"Lord Pei, you heard that too. If there's nothing else, please step aside."

Lu Jiang made a gesture of invitation and said this to Pei Yanzhi without any politeness.

But Pei Yanzhi ignored him, standing there like a gatekeeper, refusing to leave.

It has a feeling of being worn down to the very end.

Seeing this, Lu Jiang clenched his fists. Just as the two remained silent, Xiang Ning swayed and suddenly fell backward.

Hearing the noise, Shang Yan, who had been protecting her, quickly turned around to help Xiang Ning.

Pei Yanzhi also got up, but was stopped by Lu Jiang as soon as he took a step forward.

"Thank you for escorting my sister back, young master Shang."

Lu Jiang turned to Shang Yan and said something. Shang Yan nodded, bent down and picked up Xiang Ning. While Lu Jiang and Pei Yanzhi were entangled, he led his men to the door.

However, Chenghua at the entrance stopped them.

"My younger sister has been unwell since leaving the Pei residence. If Lord Pei truly cares for her, please make way."

Lu Jiang lowered his voice and said this. Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi raised his hand to let Cheng Hua move aside.

Shang Yan hurriedly left with Xiang Ning in his arms, with Lu Jiang following closely behind, leaving Pei Yanzhi standing there with a gloomy face like the sky before a storm.

Back at the Lu residence, Xiang Ning opened her tightly closed eyes and looked at the scene before Lu Jiang, who was also somewhat bewildered.

"Ah Ning, what's wrong?"

"It's an act, I'm fine."

After saying this, Xiang Ning got up from Shang Yan's embrace, bowed to him, and said, "Thank you, Young Master Shang."

Shang Yan felt a little unaccustomed to the sudden emptiness in his arms.

"Second Miss, you're too kind."

"Now that you're alright, I'll head back first. We can discuss the cooperation later when you're feeling better."

After saying that, he nodded and left.

After Shang Yan left, Lu Jiang sat down next to Xiang Ning and said, "A Ning, did you recognize Pei Yanzhi?"

Lu Jiang's question startled Xiang Ning. She pursed her lips and remained silent, lowering her head.

In fact, she remembered everything about her time at the Pei residence.

The reason she told Lu Jiang and the others that she didn't remember was because she didn't want Lu Jiang and Lu Weimin to worry.

For her, everything that happened with Pei Yanzhi at the Pei residence was already in the past.

Now that she has come to the Lu family and has a new identity, she is no longer the little maid who was bullied by everyone.

She now has loving family and wants to make a clean break with everything from the past.

"It's okay, just pretend you've forgotten it all, it's better that way."

Xiang Ning's silence made Lu Jiang understand what was going on, and he smiled and said this.

Seeing the concern in Lu Jiang's eyes, Xiang Ning nodded: "Big brother, I just think life is good now."

A fleeting moment of attraction can never compare to a lasting one; what she wanted, Pei Yanzhi couldn't give her.

Men in high positions will never learn how to love someone.

Her fate and Pei Yanzhi's relationship were sealed from the very beginning.

Hearing Xiang Ning's words, Lu Jiang reached out and ruffled her hair: "Brother is very happy to hear you say that."

He and Lu Weimin were afraid that Xiang Ning would be wronged, and they wished they could give her everything they owed her over the years.

Hearing Xiang Ning say that made Lu Jiang truly happy. The brother and sister chatted for a while longer in the flower hall before letting Xiang Ning go back to rest.

Both of them knew perfectly well that Pei Yanzhi was not one to give up easily.

Lu Jiang was even more afraid that Pei Yanzhi would secretly sabotage him, so in order to make Xiang Ning's identity legitimate, he went to Lu Weimin to discuss the matter.

Lu Jiang rushed to Lu Weimin's study and saw his father reviewing accounts at the table. He went up to him and told him about Pei Yanzhi's arrival in Ling'an.

After listening, Lu Weimin put down the account book in his hand, frowned, and fell into deep thought.

“Father, Pei Yanzhi will definitely not let this matter go easily. I am worried that he will harm A Ning.”

After Lu Jiang finished speaking anxiously, Lu Weimin nodded slowly: "Pei Yanzhi holds a high position and great power in the court, but he is also a court official. A Ning's identity is legitimate, and there is nothing he can do."

After much discussion, the father and son decided to reveal that Xiang Ning was the long-lost second young lady of the Lu family, Lu Weimin's niece, and Lu Jiang's younger sister.

In this way, Xiang Ning became a legitimate daughter of the Lu family, and a person with a proper status.

At the same time, Pei Yanzhi recalled Xiang Ning's words, "I don't know him," which struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

She had completely forgotten him, utterly abandoning all their past affection for each other, wanting nothing more.

"Master, Miss Xiangning is now with the Lu family and is regarded as a treasure by everyone in the Lu family. The Lu family claims to the outside world that she is the Lu family's long-lost second young lady."

After Cheng Hua finished speaking, he lowered his head. In this way, Xiang Ning had a better status, and Pei Yanzhi naturally couldn't do anything to her.

"Go and find out who protected Xiang Ning that day."

Now that Xiang Ning has a status, her status is no longer an obstacle between them in the matter of marrying her.

The current priority is to figure out how to get married.

The Lu family would certainly not hand Xiang Ning over to him, and Xiang Ning doesn't remember him now.

Thinking of this, Pei Yanzhi frowned slightly, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Lu Jiang and the others were unaware of Pei Yanzhi's plans. Ever since Xiang Ning's identity was revealed, the Lu residence had become quite lively.

Many people who wanted to befriend Lu Weimin and Lu Jiang took this opportunity to flock to them.

Lu Weimin selected some suitable families to introduce to Xiang Ning.

One day, Lu Weimin invited several old business friends and their children of school age to his home.

On the day of the gathering, the Lu residence was brightly decorated, and guests arrived one after another.

Xiang Ning wore a light blue brocade robe and adorned with pearls and jade, making her appear gentle and charming.

She and Lu Jiang greeted the guests and exchanged pleasantries with everyone.

When the young men saw Xiang Ning, most of them looked at her with admiration and went up to chat with her.

Just then, there was a sudden noise outside the door.

The servants of the Lu family tried to stop them, but were blocked by the guards.

"Lord Pei's uninvited visit is truly impolite."

When Lu Jiang saw Pei Yanzhi, his face darkened, and he quickly stepped forward to question him.

Pei Yanzhi ignored Lu Jiang and instead focused his gaze on Xiang Ning, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"I have a past relationship with the Second Miss. I'm just here to join in the fun. How can that be considered uninvited?"

As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Xiang Ning. After finishing his sentence, he walked to Xiang Ning's side and looked her up and down.

"Is A-Ning still angry with me?"

"Lord Pei, the Lu family did not send you an invitation."

Xiang Ning looked up and met Pei Yanzhi's gaze. Her hands, hidden by her sleeves, revealed nails digging deeply into her palms, which helped her maintain her calm and composed demeanor.

"I will send you an invitation when I have time another day."

"There's no time like the present, Second Miss, why don't you give me an invitation today?"

Pei Yanzhi relentlessly pursued
(End of this chapter)