After Pei Yu and Song Wanying's figures completely disappeared from the courtyard, Jiang Xueran walked up to Song Ruotang and smiled at her. "Was it you who saved my son just now?"
"The young heir spoke up for me. It was only right for me to protect him. I just came a bit late," Song Ruotang replied, her eyes downcast, neither overbearing nor humble.
A look of approval flashed in Jiang Xueran's eyes. "You were also a victim in this incident. If it weren't for your quick actions, my son would surely have been seriously injured. I should be thanking you."
"You're being too kind, madam," Song Ruotang said, bowing. Jiang Xueran didn't say more but only said, "You saved my son today. It's as if the Guangping Marquis Mansion owes you a favor. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to the mansion and find me."
"Thank you, madam," Song Ruotang thanked her. Then Jiang Xueran left with Xiao Che.
By this time, the banquet was almost over. Song Ruotang wanted to leave, but since she had just won the favor of the Guangping Marquis's wife, Wen Fang naturally kept her for a meal before letting her go.
When Song Ruotang left the mansion, she scanned the surroundings but didn't see Pei Zhiyan's figure. She didn't know when he had left.
For a moment, her expression dimmed, but then she perked up and got into the carriage. This time, she didn't have to walk through the long line of carriages as the carriage had been waiting at the gate of the Minister's Mansion early.
Song Ruotang lifted the curtain and just as she entered the carriage, she saw Pei Zhiyan sitting upright inside. Today, he was dressed in plain clothes, which made him look cold and noble, like a noble son from a prominent family.
"My lord..." Song Ruotang was a bit surprised. Pei Zhiyan opened his eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering, revealing a pair of bright starry eyes. "You're here?"
Song Ruotang walked over and sat down beside him. She reached out to pour him a cup of tea. "My lord, if others see us sharing a carriage, it will..."
"It doesn't matter," Pei Zhiyan interrupted her. Under Song Ruotang's surprised gaze, he slowly said, "Let me see your injury."
Song Ruotang didn't move, so he reached out and gently pulled her wrist. Knowing she was injured, he was extremely gentle, as if she were a fragile treasure.
Song Wanying and Nie Rong had been very brutal. They didn't just try to snatch the bracelet; they took the opportunity to teach Song Ruotang a lesson. As a result, her hands were covered in wounds. After some time, they looked rather hideous.
Pei Zhiyan's eyes darkened, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes. It seemed that a few lashes were too lenient on them...
He picked up the ointment he had prepared earlier and applied it to Song Ruotang's wound. Although he tried his best to be gentle, the medicine still made her flinch slightly and take a deep breath when it touched the wound.
"Sorry, bear with it a bit longer," Pei Zhiyan said with a look of distress in his eyes. He gently spread the ointment with his thumb and massaged in circles around Song Ruotang's wound.
Song Ruotang looked down at Pei Zhiyan's gentle movements. A ripple rose in her heart, like a feather brushing across her heart, causing a slight itch.
After applying the ointment, Pei Zhiyan leaned down and gently blew on Song Ruotang's wound. Song Ruotang was stunned and quickly tried to pull back her hand. "My lord, what are you doing..."
"Isn't it said that blowing on the wound can relieve the pain?" Pei Zhiyan said somewhat uncomfortably, seeing Song Ruotang's surprised expression.
Seeing the tips of his ears turn slightly red, Song Ruotang knew he was trying to comfort her. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
Pei Zhiyan looked at her in confusion. "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. I'm just very happy," Song Ruotang said as she moved closer to Pei Zhiyan, reached out and hugged him, burying herself in his arms.
Pei Zhiyan hugged her back, his big hand supporting the back of her head as he gently stroked her smooth hair. He lowered his eyes and whispered, "Sorry, I didn't protect you well."
"It's not your fault, my lord..." Song Ruotang shook her head. Pei Zhiyan looked into her watery almond eyes and slowly tightened his hand on her waist.
It was all because Song Ruotang's relationship with him was not aboveboard that she was subject to people's criticism. Even the things he gave her would be snatched away by others, while he had to pretend to be a fair and just official and judge a fair case.
He couldn't even speak up for Song Ruotang openly as her husband...
Song Ruotang's relationship with him must be made public. He also wanted to openly welcome her into his mansion, but the two in the main residence were really difficult to deal with...
Pei Zhiyan weighed in his mind what reason he could use to let Song Ruotang enter the main residence openly...
The entire Song family had been whipped, and this incident had caused quite a stir. Almost all the nobles knew about the Song family. After they were punished in the Court of Judicial Review, the officials of the Song Mansion arranged for carriages to take them back from there.
Pei Yu also returned to the Song Mansion with them. He had taken fifty blows for Song Wanying. Usually, he was lazy in practicing martial arts and had a weak constitution. Like Song Wanying, he was lying in the carriage, groaning so faintly that it was barely audible.
Originally, he was supposed to return to the Pei Mansion, but Pei Zhiyan had given an order. Since he loved Song Wanying so much and defended the Song family so strongly, he could stay in the Song Mansion and never come back.
The doctors hired by the Song family were naturally not as good as those in the Pei Mansion. Moreover, many doctors were reluctant to come and treat them because of what the Song family had done. Therefore, the injuries of the Song family and Pei Yu healed extremely slowly, and the recovery process was extremely painful.
After half a month of treatment, Pei Yu still had difficulty walking. He could no longer maintain his act of being a passionate and righteous person. He had to limp to the medical clinic on his own with a cane.
When Pei Yu left home, the weather was still quite good, but it started to snow on the way. He quickened his pace and rushed to the medical clinic in the snow. Unfortunately, the snow was getting heavier and heavier. Because of the injury from the cane punishment, he couldn't wear too thick clothes, and now he was shivering with cold.
Seeing that he was getting closer and closer to the medical clinic, Pei Yu managed to show a smile with difficulty. Just as he was limping along, he suddenly heard the rustling sound of someone stepping on the snow behind him. He couldn't help but look back.
Song Ruotang was still holding an oil-paper umbrella painted with hibiscus on a white background. Today, she was wearing a very light pink winter dress with a slightly darker pink jacket of the same color over it. A circle of soft rabbit fur was clustered around her neck and cuffs, making her look like a charming and innocent fairy who didn't eat the earthly fireworks.
"Song Ruotang, why are you here?" Pei Yu asked in surprise, leaning on his cane.
Song Ruotang slightly turned her eyes to look at him. Her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, so beautiful that it made one's heart skip a beat. She slightly parted her lips, and the words that came out were as gentle as the spring breeze, making people feel intoxicated.
"Lord Pei, why are you here?"
Pei Yu paused. Seeing that he was shivering uncontrollably from the cold all over his body, and because of the injury, he had been in great pain during this period and hadn't had a good rest. Not only had he lost a lot of weight, but his eye sockets were sunken and his eye circles were black. He looked listless, like a withered person whose essence had been sucked out.
If no one told them, who would have guessed that he was only eighteen years old.
Not to mention standing next to the beautiful Song Ruotang, he looked like a beggar, hunched over and not daring to look her in the eye.
Song Ruotang took two steps closer and looked at him leisurely. "Lord Pei, why aren't you saying anything?"