Chapter 143: Pei Zhi, you're asking for death!

The soldier was frightened out of his wits by his sudden aura, stammering in reply: "Back, back to the Junior Tutor… I also just heard from a merchant who came from Jingcheng that the Prince Yan's heir exchanged military merit for an imperial edict and personally went to the Duke's mansion to ask for marriage."

Just as he was speaking, Yan Zhen galloped over on horseback from afar, reining in his mount and spitting: "Those guys ran off again; this damned weather, we've chased half the night—should we keep chasing?"

No sooner had his words fallen than he saw Pei Zhi seize his subordinate's collar, face ashen, the aura around him low and frightening; he couldn't help but stare, then dismounted and stepped forward.

"Master Pei? What's wrong?"

Pei Zhi didn't turn his head; wind swept sand past, making his robes snap, yet it couldn't dispel the gloom in his eyes.

But when Yan Zhen approached, all the emotions on his face instantly withdrew, his expression returning to normal.

"No chase, return to the capital!"

Yan Zhen widened his eyes: "But the bandit chief hasn't been caught—how can we go back and report?"

He was referring to Xie Yan, the major criminal the court wants to apprehend this time.

Pei Zhi said calmly: "A few days ago, when we surrounded and swept the hideout, didn't we leave behind several charred corpses? Gather them up and bring them back to report."

Yan Zhen instantly understood Pei Zhi's meaning, hesitated a moment, then said without adding more: "I understand, sir."

These days they've been out chasing rebel remnants, eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew; the whole party is already filthy, clothes covered in dust and blood.

Although they hadn't personally captured Xie Yan, they had successively destroyed several of his important hideouts, seized a large quantity of arms and grain; in terms of merit, it counts as a major achievement, sufficient for reporting.

In the days that followed, Xiao Jingyuan continued to come on schedule to detoxify Shen Shuangning, still using the old method of feeding her blood; each time after detoxing he would rise and leave, saying nothing more, never lingering even a moment.

Xiao Jingyuan seemed to have taken Shen Shuangning's earlier words to heart; he no longer offended her, becoming ever more proper.

Between them, politeness was as if they'd just met, with a faint estrangement; they were nothing like an impending married couple, more like ordinary partners.

Shen Shuangning had no objection to this; she even thought it was just right. Since they had already agreed to part after two years, she didn't want him to become too involved, nor did she want to hinder him in this life.

Soon it was Shen Shuangning's birthday, the seventh day of the seventh month; unexpectedly, Duke Shen Lang returned.

Upon seeing Shen Shuangning, he beamed with affection, lifted her up and spun her around.

"Ning girl has grown."

Shen Lang was travel-worn, having been away from home for several months; his face had grown a little gaunt, yet he looked all the more resolute.

Shen Shuangning felt a bit embarrassed, softly calling out "Father."

Shen Lang stroked her head just as he did when she was young, his expression somewhat complex: "How did you grow up only to be marrying off?"

Having heard that his daughter was engaged to the heir of Prince Yan's mansion, he felt somewhat dissatisfied, but the matter was settled; further talk was useless, he only hoped his daughter would find happiness.

Later that evening the mansion held a family banquet, with no outside guests invited.

Except for Lady Yang of the third branch, who claimed illness and didn't come, basically everyone was present.

Shen Lang had come to Jingcheng to report on his duties; he wouldn't stay long before heading back to Zhen Ding, but at the table he called out Shen Er's name, saying he wanted to take him along for experience.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yingcai instantly felt his waist sore, his back aching, and couldn't eat another bite.

Seeing him like that, Shen Shuangning wanted to laugh; the second brother had always been a lover of ease and food, unable to tolerate any hardship—sending him out from the capital for training could kill him.

The old matriarch sat in the seat of honor, brought up the younger generation's marriages, especially mentioning Shen Xiuci.

"Yun Jie'er has already married into the Zhao family, and now Ning girl is to wed—you, as the elder brother, are still unmarried; what sort of talk is that?"

Whenever this topic came up, Shen Xiuci acted like a sealed gourd, avoiding answering.

The old matriarch could do nothing with him, nor bear to speak harshly; since he was the family's most promising, she could only glance disapprovingly at Lady Liu, his mother.

Lady Liu's face showed a moment of helplessness.

She hadn't failed to look over prospects for Shen Xiuci; but this child either claimed official duties kept him busy, or was picky about girls, thus dragging things to now.

Lady Liu also couldn't force him to marry a girl he disliked; she felt Shen Xiuci should have someone he likes, but for some reason he just wouldn't say.

This topic had been brought up more than once; this time likewise yielded no result, trying to get a word from him was harder than climbing to heaven.

"Today is Ning Ning's birthday, let's not talk about this." It was Shen Lang who spoke, thus setting the topic aside.

Everyone had prepared gifts for her; truly, all manner of favor was heaped upon her.

Shen Shuangning, however, thought: at this time in her previous life, it was she who spent it, her last complete birthday.

The banquet soon dispersed.

Shen Shuangning was happy today; she had a few cups of the fruit wine Shen Lang brought back, drinking together with A Heng and Shen Ling.

Shen Ling couldn't hold her liquor; after two cups she felt dizzy, and a maid helped her back.

A Heng's tolerance was actually decent, but she didn't dare let Shen Shuangning drink too much, pretending she couldn't handle it, whereupon Shen Shuangning let her off.

That fair-as-snow face soon bloomed with two flushes of red, lovely as peach blossoms.

A Heng wanted to support her, but was refused.

"I'm not drunk. A Heng, watch me walk in a straight line."

Shen Shuangning spread both hands, eyes fixed on the gaps between the floor tiles, lifting her foot step by step.

A Heng saw her swaying, barely managing a straight line, about to fall, and hurried over to support her.

Just then, a maid hurried from the flower-adorned gate, speaking softly: "Miss, someone is looking for you."

Shen Shuangning asked: "Who is it?"

The maid replied: "Third Young Master Pei."

Shen Shuangning took a moment to respond, then shook her head, touched her slightly flushed face, trying to clear her mind, and said: "Take me there."

Pei Zhi was waiting outside the Duke's mansion gate, standing by the stone lions, still in a white robe with a silver-silk cape draped over his shoulders, peerless in elegance, warm and smooth like jade.

"Master Pei." Shen Shuangning lifted her skirt and stepped down the stairs.

Pei Zhi turned to face her, gazed for a while, then smiled gently: "Miss Ning."

Shen Shuangning laughed: "Have you just returned?"

Pei Zhi nodded, looking at her flushed cheeks, then asked: "Have you been drinking?"

Shen Shuangning said: "I had a little. Since you're back, did you catch Xie Yan?"

Pei Zhi paused, then said: "I did."

"Great!" Shen Shuangning laughed, feeling much lighter in heart. "By the way, why do you keep calling me Miss Ning?"

Pei Zhi pressed his lips, gave no answer, a flicker of sorrow passing in his eyes: "You don't like it?"

Shen Shuangning shook her head: "No, not that."

Pei Zhi glanced at A Heng behind her, then said: "I have something to tell you."

Shen Shuangning startled, then had A Heng step back first.

A Heng didn't go far, just sat on the threshold of the Duke's Manor gate, cheeks cupped in both hands, gazing at the moon in the sky.

Pei Zhi took Shen Shuangning's hand, slipped something onto her wrist, probably warmed from being held in his bosom, still carrying a hint of warmth.

"Today is your birthday, I give this to you. Do you like it?"

Shen Shuangning was a bit dizzy from drink, momentarily forgetting to ask how he knew today was her birthday; she lifted that hand, using moonlight and lantern light to look at the bracelet on her wrist.

It wasn't very clear, yet she nodded, smiled, and said: "Mm, it's lovely, I like it."

Pei Zhi suddenly said: "What's good about marrying him?"

"Huh?" Shen Shuangning didn't catch that.

Pei Zhi stared at her eyes, his expression hard to read, yet it sent a chill down Shen Shuangning's spine.

Pei Zhi stepped forward two paces, emerging from the shadows; Shen Shuangning was forced back until her spine hit the cold stone lion, only then realizing a sense of oppression.

Shen Shuangning lifted her gaze, only then noticing his eye sockets were red.

"Young Master Pei..." she wanted to retreat, but had nowhere to go, so she clenched her cuffs, her voice hoarse from drink.

Pei Zhi's breath fell on her ear, carrying the night breeze's chill, yet scorching hot to an astonishing degree.

He raised his hand, fingertips almost touching the stray hairs at her temples, then halted in midair, instead clenching his fist till his knuckles whitened: "I said, what's good about marrying him? You've forgotten how he used to treat you."

"Miss Ning, he's not worthy of your affection; you should be mine."

Pei Zhi's voice carried a hint of hoarse obsession; without waiting for Shen Shuangning's reaction, his cool palm cupped her face, gripping so hard she could not break free.

The next moment, he bent down without a word and kissed her deeply.

Shen Shuangning's mind went blank; she instinctively tried to open her mouth to resist, but he pried her lips apart, leaving her only able to emit broken sobs.

Shen Shuangning finally realized what madness lay beneath the calm lake surface.

But just then, Pei Zhi suddenly stiffened all over, as if sensing an extremely dangerous aura, his face abruptly changing.

Yet before he could react, a fierce gust of wind struck from the side, a heavy kick slamming into his lower back!

With a "thud," Pei Zhi, caught off guard, was sent sprawling like a broken kite.

He lifted his head, still shaken, and saw a black-clad figure leap from the darkness like a leopard, standing before Shen Shuangning.

Under the moonlight, Xiao Jingyuan exuded a terrifying chill from his whole body.

"Pei Zhi, you're courting death!"