Logically speaking, since Pei Zhiyan and Pei Yu were from the same family, and Pei Zhiyan had a sweetheart whom he was so familiar with, Pei Yu should have known about it.
So when the other person asked this question, Pei Yu was stunned for a moment and then coughed lightly to cover up his awkwardness. "Oh, this. I naturally know her, but this is my father's private matter. It's not appropriate for us to elaborate."
The other person thought his words made sense. Maybe Pei Zhiyan didn't want to make it public for the time being, so they all wisely kept their mouths shut.
Wu Shen, who fell off the cliff with Pei Zhiyan, was the culprit behind several consecutive murder - theft cases in the capital. He had eluded capture due to his elusive whereabouts.
Now that his body was found at the bottom of the cliff, and Pei Zhiyan had solved another case while getting injured in the process, the emperor granted him another leave to recuperate.
Pei Zhiyan just had time to prepare for Song Ruotang to enter his mansion. This time, he was going to marry Song Ruotang into his mansion openly. Naturally, he couldn't be as perfunctory as last time with just a small sedan chair.
Song Ruotang was worried about his injury and asked him to recover first before dealing with other matters. Unable to resist her persuasion, he had to agree.
But when he heard from the servants in the mansion that Song Zhen and his wife had come, he asked Uncle Pei about the matter.
"They came to ask the madam for money. When the madam refused, they tried to snatch her jewelry." Uncle Pei also showed disdain when talking about this. The Song family was at least an official family, yet they could do such a thing, which was really astonishing.
Pei Zhiyan knew that the Song family was thick - skinned, but what he cared about was whether Song Ruotang had been bullied. Uncle Pei understood him well and immediately explained, "Don't worry, sir. The madam wasn't bullied, and they didn't get a single copper coin from her."
Uncle Pei smiled as he said this. "That Song Zhen tried to snatch the jewelry and tripped over a chair and fell onto the stove. He's got a taste of his own medicine."
Pei Zhiyan also found it a bit funny. The Song Zhen's family was really making a fool of themselves. It served them right.
He picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. His expression calmed down. "Any news about the masked men that night?"
Uncle Pei also became serious and shook his head. "They seem to be the dead soldiers of some family. But we checked the Lin and Du families, and there was nothing unusual about them. They should not be the ones who sent the men."
"It's not them." Pei Zhiyan said firmly. "The two families are at odds over the salt transportation in Pengzhou. It's not beneficial for them to attack me at this time."
Uncle Pei nodded in agreement but then frowned. "Exactly. So we have no clue..."
Pei Zhiyan's fingers rested on the rim of the teacup. He felt the hot steam curling around his fingertips. He lowered his eyes, and the tea in the cup was rippling in circles.
The two black - clothed men that night were clearly after Song Ruotang.
"Check the Song family." Pei Zhiyan tapped the table lightly with his index finger. If it wasn't an enemy of his, it could only be someone from Song Ruotang's side. And those who disliked her were probably only the Song family.
Uncle Pei's eyes flickered slightly, but he still had some doubts in his heart. "The Song family is not a powerful one. How could they afford to raise so many dead soldiers?"
Pei Zhiyan smiled faintly, with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. "Let alone Song Zhen is a capital official. Even a small local magistrate can probably amass a fortune and be wealthy in his area."
Uncle Pei pursed his lips and sighed. "I understand, sir."
The Song mansion used to have such high expenses, which was enough to show what kind of life they had led. It was probably not surprising for them to raise a few dead soldiers.
Two days later, Uncle Pei came with news. It was indeed the Song family's doing.
Pei Zhiyan wasn't surprised. He just stood up. "Bring a few people with me to the Song mansion."
At this time in the Song mansion, Song Wanying was standing in front of Song Zhen's couch, looking extremely unwilling. "None of the dead soldiers I sent back."
"Does she have such great skills that she didn't let a single dead soldier go?" Song Zhen stared with wide eyes, looking at Song Wanying in disbelief.
Although she didn't want to admit it, she really hadn't received any news. The only well - known news that reached her ears was that Pei Zhiyan had solved the theft - murder case and fallen off the cliff.
As for Song Ruotang, she had gone out of the mansion and returned safely. It seemed that she was completely unaware of the assassination attempt by the dead soldiers and it had no impact on her at all.
"Maybe it's because her husband is capable." Song Wanying said angrily.
But Song Zhen was still puzzled. "No matter how capable he is, could he have predicted this? We came up with this plan on the spur of the moment."
Song Wanying bit her lips but didn't know how to explain. Now that the dead soldiers hadn't returned, she was on tenterhooks all day. If Song Ruotang didn't know about this and didn't pursue it, it would be fine. But if she did...
She didn't dare to think about it. Just as she was in a daze, Cai Lian stumbled in from outside, looking panicked.
"What on earth has scared you like this?" Song Wanying frowned in dissatisfaction and her tone was a bit reproachful.
Cai Lian was out of breath and stammered, "Lord... Lord Pei..."
Song Wanying's heart skipped a beat. Song Zhen also felt that something bad was about to happen. Nie Rong looked at her husband helplessly. "Husband, what should we do?"
Song Zhen gritted his teeth. Before he could say a word, Pei Zhiyan led a group of people into the courtyard.
Song Wanying's legs hadn't fully recovered from the torture last time, and Song Zhen was also in a similar situation. The father - daughter pair could only look at Nie Rong, giving her a look to indicate that she should go out to greet the guest.
Nie Rong was very nervous, but she had no choice but to come forward. She forced a smile and walked up to Pei Zhiyan. "Lord Pei, what brings you here today?"
She led Pei Zhiyan into the house and said as she walked, "I heard that you were injured when you fell off the cliff while capturing the culprit. Are you feeling better?"
Nie Rong sized Pei Zhiyan up and her tone was concerned. Pei Zhiyan entered the room and his gaze swept over Song Wanying and Song Zhen. The father - daughter pair stiffened and didn't dare to move.
"Cai Lian, serve tea." Song Wanying was nervous and quickly called the maid to break the awkward silence.
Cai Lian ran to pour tea. Song Zhen half - leaned on the couch and said with a smile, "Lord Pei, what a rare visit today. You're still injured. If you have something important, you could just send someone to deliver a message. There's no need for you to come here in person."
Pei Zhiyan didn't drink the tea. Hearing Song Zhen's words, he just smiled faintly. "If I hadn't been ambushed a second time on the official road, I wouldn't have been so seriously injured."
The smile on Song Zhen's face froze. Song Wanying was even more shocked. She quickly looked at Song Zhen, and both of them understood the meaning in each other's eyes.
Maybe their dead soldiers didn't kill Song Ruotang but instead injured Pei Zhiyan.
But Song Zhen still wanted to take a chance and asked carefully, "My lord, haven't you already killed the theft culprit? Why were you still ambushed?"
Pei Zhiyan looked at him. His eyes were as calm as water, but it made Song Zhen feel terrified. He heard Pei Zhiyan's voice, full of playfulness and coldness, slowly saying, "Shouldn't I ask you this question, Lord Song?"
Cold sweat broke out on Song Zhen's forehead instantly. He was so excited that he almost sat up regardless of his injury. He propped up half of his body and said anxiously, "What do you mean, my lord?"