"You're outnumbered and already injured. Be sensible and let me go..." The man knelt on the ground, covering his dislocated wrist and gasping for breath.
Pei Zhiyan swept his gaze around the black-clad men surrounding them. Suddenly, he let out a soft chuckle. "Do you know who I am? You think you're in a position to bargain with me."
At these words, the masked man was stunned. His eyes suddenly widened. The sound of footsteps around them didn't stop. Song Ruotang looked up and saw a troop of men coming in a grand manner, holding torches.
The black-clad men around exchanged glances and fled in all directions tacitly. But Pei Zhiyan had just sent up a signal flare. There were already guards who had come to look for them. Just as the black-clad men were about to escape, they turned around and ran into Pei Zhiyan's guards.
"Take them alive." Pei Zhiyan commanded in a cold voice. The guards immediately took action and captured all those who hadn't had time to run away. But as soon as they were captured, the enemy took poison and committed suicide, leaving Pei Zhiyan no chance to question or investigate.
The man held at sword point by Pei Zhiyan didn't have time to take poison. He was the only one left alive.
"Who sent you?" Pei Zhiyan asked in a low voice. But the masked man refused to say a word. Pei Zhiyan knew he couldn't get any information this way, so he handed the man to his subordinate. "Take him back to the Supreme Court of Judicature. Don't let him die."
Hearing this, the masked man on the ground opened his eyes wide and struggled to get up. "Kill me! Kill me..."
Pei Zhiyan's words meant he would be tortured in the Supreme Court of Judicature. It would be more painful than just being killed.
But Pei Zhiyan ignored him. The guards took the man away. Seeing that the danger had passed, Song Ruotang gently held Pei Zhiyan's injured hand. Bowing her head, she said in a trembling voice, "Why did you grab the sword with your bare hand? If you weren't careful, your fingers could have been..."
"A Tang..." Pei Zhiyan wanted to comfort her, but Song Ruotang had her head down. Her thin shoulders trembled a few times. In the dim yellow light of the torches, Pei Zhiyan saw several teardrops like silver-white pearls fall from her face.
The moment they hit his hand, a warm feeling spread. Song Ruotang trembled as she carefully covered his knuckles with her sleeve. But the bright red blood kept flowing out, staining the white rabbit fur on her sleeve.
"I can't stop it... What should I do..." Song Ruotang bit her lower lip. Her voice was full of helplessness. "I can't stop the bleeding..."
She looked up. Her face was covered with tear stains. Pei Zhiyan clearly saw the pain in her eyes, a pain that was only for him. Song Ruotang, she was worried about him.
But seeing her sad face, Pei Zhiyan felt even more heartache. Through this face, he seemed to see the sixteen years of darkness in Song Ruotang's past. Had she been as helpless as this before?
Pei Zhiyan pulled her into his arms and comforted her in a low voice. "A Tang, don't cry. I'm okay."
But Song Ruotang buried her head in his arms and sobbed softly.
The main force that came to look for Pei Zhiyan finally arrived. Pei Zhiyan took Song Ruotang into the carriage. After both of them were treated by the doctor who accompanied them, they finally headed back to the mansion smoothly.
Song Ruotang stayed by Pei Zhiyan's side all the time. Seeing the bandages on his body, her face was full of worry.
Pei Zhiyan tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. "Why do you look so worried? Smile."
"You're in this state. How can I smile?" Song Ruotang frowned and looked at him angrily.
Pei Zhiyan was helpless. He raised his hand and put it around her waist. He leaned his head on Song Ruotang's shoulder. "Can I rest on you for a while?"
Song Ruotang paused for a moment and adjusted her posture to make him more comfortable. Seeing him close his eyes, she asked softly, "Is this okay?"
"Very good."
Pei Zhiyan leaned gently on Song Ruotang's shoulder. The carriage moved forward slowly. The carriage became quiet. Only their breathing could be heard.
I don't know how long it had passed. More than half of the candle in the carriage had burned. Pei Zhiyan suddenly said, "A Tang, come back to my mansion with me, okay?"
A moth flew into the candle flame. Its wings caught fire. It flew away in all directions and finally died by the candlestick. Only the candle flame flickered a few times to show that it had been there.
Song Ruotang almost thought she had misheard. She stiffened and didn't move. She even breathed carefully and didn't dare to reply.
"Hehe..." Pei Zhiyan suddenly let out a soft laugh. He sat up straight and looked into her eyes. Seeing the shock still in Song Ruotang's eyes, he raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek. "Don't doubt. I've said this twice."
Song Ruotang looked even more shocked. She really had no impression of when Pei Zhiyan had said such words to her.
After all, how could she forget such an important thing?
But Pei Zhiyan wouldn't lie. So Song Ruotang began to doubt herself.
Pei Zhiyan didn't explain. He just stared at her. "A Tang, do you want to?"
Song Ruotang couldn't tell what she was feeling. It seemed that the happiness that came from her heart had nothing to do with Pei Yu and Song Wanying.
She didn't think of these two people at all at this moment. She was really happy just because of Pei Zhiyan's change towards her.
Song Ruotang's nose felt a little sour. She lowered her head. Pei Zhiyan thought she had concerns and was just about to speak when he heard her say in a suppressed voice, "Okay."
Pei Zhiyan's hanging heart finally fell. He raised his hand and hugged Song Ruotang. The latter buried her head in his arms and quietly shed a tear.
The carriage slowly headed towards the capital. There were people escorting them all the way. Because Pei Yu was a menial servant, he was blocked on the outer circle. He only saw the carriage drive past him from afar. The curtain of the carriage was lifted by the wind. A familiar side face came into view, making him a little dazed.
He seemed to see Song Ruotang, but the sight was dim just now, so he wasn't very sure. When he wanted to take a closer look, he was blocked outside by the guards.
"It's impossible. How could Song Ruotang be with father? It's impossible." Pei Yu shook his head and laughed at himself for his wild imagination.
Song Ruotang liked him. How could she be with Pei Zhiyan?
Just as he was indulging in his own thoughts, he heard someone beside him say, "Did you see just now? There seems to be a woman in the master's carriage."
"Don't you know? The master jumped off the cliff to save that woman." Another person answered in surprise.
The man opened his eyes wide. "What? The master jumped off the cliff to save her?!"
"That's right. It's said that when they were just found, the master was still protecting her in his arms. That woman is as beautiful as a fairy. When she cries, she looks so pitiful. No wonder even the master is attracted to her..."
"Bullshit!" Pei Yu suddenly interrupted their conversation. "My father would never be attracted by a woman!"
"Master Pei, what we said is true." The two of them knew Pei Yu's identity and were still a little careful when speaking to him. "It seems that the master knew her before. They are familiar with each other. The way he looks at her is different."
Hearing this, Pei Yu couldn't help but doubt. The man continued, "Master Pei, don't you have any idea?"