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

Chapter 201 Let's Not Be Even
Xiang Ning's outstretched hand was grabbed by Pei Yanzhi. She looked up, but through the fabric, she couldn't see his expression.

"Do you know how to heal?"

She heard him chuckle softly, and then he removed the blindfold.

By the time Xiang Ning realized what was happening, the ribbon had already blindfolded him.

"I won't look. I just want to make sure you haven't broken any bones."

"The bow and arrow are very heavy. If they injure the inside, it will cause chronic illness and make you feel very uncomfortable."

His voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of coaxing.

The man's cold, sharp features were concealed by the hairband, which dispelled much of the frostiness.

Xiang Ning could only hear his gentle tone.

"I don't know medicine, but does Lord Pei know it?"

"We're out of danger, and there are doctors outside who can help me..."

Before she could finish speaking, Pei Yanzhi interrupted her: "Unfortunately, I've studied it."

A smile faded from his lips as he placed his hand on Xiang Ning's wrist.

There are no towns here, and the only ones who can treat Xiang Ning's injuries are the army doctors.

Does she expect those roughnecks to show her?

"you!"

"Men and women should not touch each other, Pei Yanzhi, let go of me."

Xiang Ning looked at the man who could accurately touch her shoulder even when he was blindfolded, and pushed him.

But he held her wrist with one hand, encircling her in his arms, and placed the other hand on her shoulder, making her unable to move.

Even though we shouldn't touch each other, you and I have been intimate countless times.

"Could it be that after the Second Miss found her family, she no longer recognizes me as her?"

Pei Yanzhi's lips curled slightly as he channeled some internal energy into his palm, relieving the pain she had experienced from drawing the bow for so long.

Hearing her soft gasp, Pei Yanzhi breathed a sigh of relief.

This proves that his judgment was correct; she had indeed injured her bones and muscles.

Fortunately, it's not too serious; applying the medicine for a couple of days should be enough.

"Pei Yanzhi, you shameless bastard!"

Xiang Ning was completely enveloped by his cloak, and in the airtight space, a corner of her clothes was pulled off.

His cool fingers felt like they were setting her on fire, but his palms offered a warmth that was both alluring and comforting.

"Then just consider me a shameless lecher. But Ah Ning, save your energy for cursing, we still have a long way to go down the mountain."

Pei Yanzhi teased her, and after massaging her tense muscles, he gathered her clothes together.

The cloak covering her head was pulled down, revealing her face, which was as red as a ripe apple, and her eyes were glaring at him angrily.

“You took me in for several days, and I have now repaid your kindness.”

"Prince Qing is probably trying to deal with you right now, so the Lu family should be safe."

"Let's just say goodbye."

Xiang Ning fastened her clothes and wanted to dismount.

Pei Yanzhi listened to her words, pulled off the hair ribbon, and wrapped it around her waist.

"You really don't want to be alone with me?"

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his hand holding her trembled slightly.

Everyone says he has nothing to fear, but in reality, what he fears most is hearing heartless words from Xiang Ning.

"Isn't my performance enough to make you see clearly?"

"Yes, I don't want to be alone with you, and I don't want to see you at all."

Xiang Ning struggled, and the white horse, as if startled, kicked its front hooves uneasily.

"I know I did something wrong, but I can change..."

“You can change it, but I can’t forget it. From the moment you learned my identity, to when you hid it from me and tried to use the forget-me-not to change my memories, you should have known that this day would come.”

Xiang Ning lowered her eyes and said softly, "I admit that I have been moved, but compared to a moment of pleasure, what I want is a lifetime of peace, and you can't give me that." She and Pei Yanzhi were from two different worlds.

Their relationship was destined to have no good ending.

The best way to resolve this situation is to let go.

"I can give you, respect your ideas, and give you the freedom you want."

"A-Ning, I'm already learning how to love someone."

Pei Yanzhi looked at the top of Xiang Ning's head and uttered these pleading words: "Give me a chance to love you, okay?"

She had never seen him plead like that before.

Like someone who has just awakened their six senses, like a child, stubborn and unwilling to let go.

All I could do was ask her again and again what I needed to do to win her favor.

“Pei Yanzhi, we are from two different worlds. Now, I owe you nothing.”

"I've already repaid you for the protection I received from you back then, we..."

Before Xiang Ning could finish speaking, Pei Yanzhi reached out and covered her mouth.

He lowered his head and nestled against Xiang Ning's neck: "No, no, we shouldn't be even. I owe you."

Having spent so much time together, Pei Yanzhi immediately guessed what Xiang Ning was going to say.

She wanted to be even, with no further connection between them, but Pei Yanzhi didn't want that; he didn't want to be a stranger to her.

Something dripped onto the back of her neck, hot and burning.

His pleas were so humble they were utterly base.

If he remains cold-hearted and indifferent, that would be fine too.

In any case, love has always only killed lovers.

In that instant, Xiang Ning felt as if Pei Yanzhi's tears had scorched her skin and seeped into her very bones.

It seemed to make her cold and hard heart tremble slightly again.

"Let's talk about it after everything is resolved."

After a long while, Xiang Ning finally uttered those words.

If she doesn't back down and say something today, it seems Pei Yanzhi can keep her trapped here until she agrees to his demands before letting her go.

"You're just trying to comfort me."

He raised his head, revealing a pair of reddened eyes, and said something resolute.

"If I don't try to comfort you, do you want to come here and argue about the past with me?"

Xiang Ning's gaze fell below, where Cheng Hua and his men had already cleaned up the corpses of the group of men in black.

If they didn't finish their conversation, countless people would see Pei Yanzhi's pitiful and pleading appearance.

"Then you promise me."

Pei Yanzhi took her hand and intertwined their fingers. Xiang Ning nodded in agreement.

Since there's no written agreement, once she returns to the Lu family, Pei Yanzhi can't force her to do anything.

He looked at her expression, and although he knew she was lying, he didn't call her out on it.

It doesn't matter, at least she's still willing to play with him.

The two quickly composed themselves, and Xiang Ning originally intended to return the black cloak to Pei Yanzhi.

But he simply tied the ribbon around her neck and refused to let her return it.

Helpless, Xiang Ning had no choice but to wear the clothes that were full of Pei Yanzhi's scent.

Anyway, he's the one who's freezing, so he'll naturally ask her for clothes when he gets cold.

The group descended the mountain, but there were very few towns around Tingzhou. After meeting up with Lord Zhou, they decided to set up camp on the spot.

"Since Lu Yongkang has already discovered this, why not take Tingzhou first and cut off his escape route?"

Upon hearing Lord Zhou's words, Pei Yanzhi nodded: "Lord Zhou has led troops before, so why don't you take command?"

"Take Tingzhou, and we'll make sure he can't survive even if he cuts off his tail."

Pei Yanzhi: It's okay, the fact that she's willing to comfort me means she still cares about me.
(End of this chapter)