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

Chapter 45 She had expectations of him
Listening to Pei Yanzhi's words, Xiang Ning felt that this man was being far too easy to talk to today.

This left her somewhat at a loss for how to react.

She had no choice but to turn her attention back to Pei Yanzhi's wounds and carefully apply medicine to the wounds on his face.

After treating the wound, Xiang Ning was about to get up when Pei Yanzhi said, "Don't move."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning was stunned for a moment, holding the medicine in her hand, somewhat at a loss.

"Ajing?"

"Stay with me."

Pei Yanzhi took the medicine from her hand and put it aside, then used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for Xiang Ning.

He didn't eat, he just stared at Xiang Ning as if he wanted to make her bloom with his gaze.

Xiang Ning had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks, put the piece of meat in her mouth, and reply that it was delicious.

Pei Yanzhi's lips curled slightly as he looked away.

He remembers clearly that when he was young, he would have a meal at his teacher's house, and his teacher and his wife would eat at the same table.

My mentor was poor, but extremely learned. However, his wife was a peasant woman who could hardly read a single word.

But the teacher loved her very much, and there were never any concubines in the family.

The first bite of the dishes on the table was always given to the teacher's wife.

The teacher would look at his wife with expectant eyes, as if asking her if it tasted good.

The teacher will be very happy to receive an affirmative answer.

Later, Pei Yanzhi learned that his teacher's wife had been hit in the back by a falling beam while trying to save his teacher's cherished books.

Unable to bend over and do rough work, all the household chores, big and small, fell to the teacher from then on.

As a child, Pei Yanzhi did not understand that it is said that a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen.
But the teacher always said that he felt sorry for his wife and couldn't bear to see her work so hard all her life.

The teacher also said that seeing his wife smile made him happy, and he was very satisfied that she smiled because of what he had done.

Just like now, Pei Yanzhi also really wants to see Xiang Ning smile.

She is different.

He thought so.

After Xiang Ning finished her meal with Pei Yanzhi, Pei Yanzhi asked Cheng Hua to go to the Dali Temple to ask for two days' leave.

"Just say I'm sick."

Pei Yanzhi sat to the side and gave instructions to Cheng Hua.

Chenghua nodded in agreement and didn't ask any further questions.

After the room quieted down again, Xiang Ning watched him go to the bookshelf and find two books.

"I happen to have two free days, so I can tutor you properly."

The two books were placed in front of Xiang Ning, and Pei Yanzhi explained, "These were the books I used to learn when I was young."

He simply treated these two days as a rare period of peace and quiet.

Give yourself a chance to catch your breath and rest.

"But I haven't learned how to write my own name yet."

Xiang Ning was a little embarrassed. She had practiced for a long time, but her handwriting was still not very good.

Compared to Pei Yanzhi's, my own handwriting looked like a rat dropping, ruining his whole pot of rice porridge.

"No rush, I'll teach you."

Seeing Xiang Ning's somewhat bewildered expression, Pei Yanzhi bent down and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Didn't I tell you to eat more?"

Why is it that her face still doesn't gain any weight? When you pick her up, she's all bones, like a gust of wind could blow her away.

"This servant has eaten enough."

Xiang Ning had no choice but to look up at him as he pinched her cheek.

Since arriving at Mosongyuan, Xiangning has been able to eat two bowls of rice.

She just can't stay still; once she starts working, she never stops, and I guess she's already digested all the food she ate.

Besides, why is he so concerned about whether she has eaten?
"from now on……"

Pei Yanzhi had just started to speak when he heard Fang Mama's voice from outside.

"Sir, the old lady has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning quickly stood up and even picked up the calligraphy copybook on the table. The old lady would not want to see Pei Yanzhi teaching her to read and write.

After all, the saying goes that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent; those who haven't read books are easier to manipulate.

When Pei Yanzhi turned around, he caught a glimpse of Xiang Ning's movements out of the corner of his eye, but didn't say anything.

Before long, Madam Pei walked in. She saw Xiang Ning, then looked at Pei Yanzhi, and immediately noticed the injury on his face.

"Xiang Ning, you can go down now."

Upon hearing Madam Pei's words, Xiang Ning bowed and left the room.

"grandmother."

Pei Yanzhi walked over and poured a cup of tea for Old Madam Pei.

"Yanzhi, you may also sit."

Madam Pei sighed and gestured for Pei Yanzhi to sit down.

"I heard about what happened at Qionghua Courtyard. I feel sorry for you, child, you got slapped for nothing."

After hearing from Madam Kang that Qin Bijun had hit Pei Yan at Ningfu Residence, Old Madam Pei nearly fainted.

How could Qin Bijun lay a hand on Pei Yanzhi? She's truly heartless and insane.

“It’s alright. As a son, I should accept my mother’s punishment.”

Pei Yanzhi said this with a hint of sarcasm, and Old Madam Pei looked at him: "Do you resent your mother?"

"Don't complain."

Just as Xiang Ning said, in this world, it's not only family that can make people care.

All his hopes were shattered by that slap.

“Yanzhi, you are the eldest grandson of the main branch. Over the years, your grandmother knows that the burden on your shoulders has been very heavy.”

Madam Pei's words were tinged with heartache, and as she spoke, she turned her gaze to Pei Yanzhi.

His face was expressionless, making it difficult to see into his heart.

She sighed inwardly: "The Pei family will be handed over to you in the future, Yanzhi. Sometimes, you have to make choices."

"I'm planning to send your mother to the estate for a while so she can reflect on her actions. What do you think?"

This is something that Madam Pei has always wanted to do.

However, I hadn't done so before because of Pei Yanzhi's feelings.

However, those whom Pei Feng keeps outside must be brought back to the Pei family.

They couldn't let Pei Feng never return to this home for the rest of his life. Old Madam Pei felt guilty towards the father and son.

If Qin Bijun hadn't been chosen for Pei Feng, perhaps the Pei family wouldn't have been in such turmoil.

"I'll do whatever Grandmother says."

Pei Yanzhi naturally wouldn't say much; it was up to Old Madam Pei to decide what to do.

Qin Bijun's whereabouts have nothing to do with him, and she won't care about him anyway.

"As for your father's mistress and that child, Grandmother guarantees that he will never be allowed to cross your line."

After saying this, Madam Pei stood up.

"Then you should rest well. Grandma will head back now."

After Pei Yanzhi escorted the person to the door, he noticed that the old lady glanced at Xiang Ning for a moment before leaving.

Madam Pei came to Mosong Garden to comfort Pei Yanzhi, but unexpectedly, he became estranged from the Pei family because of Qin Bijun's slap.

Pei Yanzhi could naturally understand the unspoken meaning behind Madam Pei's words.

Even his grandmother, who loved him the most from childhood, couldn't help but be influenced by her own interests.

What exactly is he in the Pei family?
"Master?"

The girl's clear voice rang out, as if tearing open the gray fog before Pei Yanzhi's eyes, piercing through everything, coming only for him.

Pei Yanzhi lowered his eyes to look at Xiang Ning, who was standing at the bottom of the steps, and hummed in agreement.

"Come in and practice your calligraphy."

It's okay, anyway, he now has someone who cares about him.

She hoped he would live a long and peaceful life.

(End of this chapter)