Luo Xiang felt annoyed as if she had been performing for a long time without an audience.
Luo Xiang struggled to prop herself up, and her face turned even paler.
Pei Zhaolin didn't respond, merely raising his eyebrows slightly.
"Eunuch Wang, who serves Concubine Rong, came to return your cat."
Hearing this, Luo Xiang bit her lower lip, and a mist quickly welled up in her eyes. "Have you even forgotten the cat, Zhaolin?"
She sniffed gently, her voice growing softer and accusing. "This is the cat we raised together!"
As she spoke, she carefully reached out her hand and timidly touched the cuff of his robe.
"We've known each other since childhood for more than a decade. Isn't that enough for you to fully trust me?"
"When I was fifteen, we found it at the end of an alley in Anyi Fang. We took pity on it and brought it back to the mansion. Later, knowing that something had happened to my family, I didn't want it to be homeless again, so I asked Concubine Rong to take care of it for me."
Pei Zhaolin quietly avoided her touch, unmoved by Luo Xiang's coquettish accusations.
He spoke, his voice low and cold. "What's its name?"
Luo Xiang's fingertips froze, and there was a momentary flash of annoyance on her face.
She felt annoyed as if she had been performing for a long time without an audience, but she quickly regained her composure.
"S-Songzi."
She said softly, and tears finally rolled down her face, yet she still forced a smile. "It loves pine nuts the most."
Coincidentally, upon hearing the sound, the cat turned its head and glanced at Luo Xiang.
"Look, this gluttonous cat!"
Looking at the cat, a hint of emotion finally appeared in Pei Zhaolin's eyes.
He reached out his hand, and the cat nimbly leaped into his arms.
Seeing that Pei Zhaolin was about to leave, Luo Xiang hurriedly said, "Zhaolin! Since Songzi has been taken care of by Concubine Rong for so long, I'd like to thank her."
"I heard from the wet nurse that in three days, Concubine Rong will be hosting a banquet. Zhaolin, can you accompany me?"
They were both unmarried. If they went together, it might cause some gossip.
Luo Xiang was very nervous.
But fortunately.
Pei Zhaolin nodded and stroked the cat's head. "As you wish."
The corners of Luo Xiang's mouth curved up, and there was a hidden look of triumph in her eyes.
This time, she was determined to teach Cui Jintang a lesson!
---
After finally sending Pei Ying back, Cui Jintang rubbed her throbbing temples and returned to the Autumn Water Courtyard.
As soon as she entered the door, Yinglan happily welcomed her with a scroll in her hand.
"Miss! Yinglan finally found the painting you wanted today."
Cui Jintang's eyes widened, and she eagerly took it.
When the scroll was unfurled, it depicted the scene of her first encounter with Pei Zhaolin.
It was painted by her own hand.
The rain was depicted with light ink, and the cyanish green color stained the tiles, leaving a sliver of sky.
A man was bending down to tease a cat, and the white cat's tail was curled up as if it was about to pounce.
A woman in a cloak was quietly standing under the eaves. Her hood had slipped off halfway, and her wet hair was sticking to her snow - white cheeks. Her gaze pierced through the rain and was fixed on the man's face.
Cui Jintang sighed.
She stroked the white cat on the painting and murmured softly, "If Pei Zhaolin has forgotten me, that's fine. But why did you also leave me and run away?"
Yinglan didn't want to see her sad, so she quickly said, "Maybe Fa Cai was just being playful for a while and got lost."
"Yinglan will send this painting to the East Courtyard right away. Maybe when the eldest young master sees it, he'll remember you!"
With that, she was about to put away the painting and go outside.
"No need."
Scenes from today at Chaihengfeng flashed through Cui Jintang's mind.
Pei Zhaolin couldn't remember after seeing the painting she made, let alone this one?
She shook her head and gave up. "Put it away."
Yinglan looked at her with pity on her face. "Yes."
The next day.
Early in the morning, Cui Jintang received a secret letter.
It was secretly sent by Zhu San, who was still in the palace.
The palace maid who had drugged someone was found dead in a dry well this morning. People in Qixiang Hall all said it was because it was dark and the road was slippery, and she accidentally fell in.
Xie Rou's pregnancy was unstable, and she should have been resting in peace. Everyone in Fengyi Palace had kept this matter a closely - guarded secret.
But this morning, many concubines went to pay their respects to Xie Rou under the pretext of congratulating her.
This made Cui Jintang angry and amused.
People all said that as a noble concubine, Sister Rou was extremely honored to live in Fengyi Palace.
But now it seemed that living in a palace as leaky as a sieve was hardly an honor!
Cui Jintang suppressed her temper and turned the page. Her gaze instantly froze.
It only said one sentence: Concubine Rong intends to murder Noble Concubine Xie during the play - choosing at the banquet.
Concubine Rong had spent a great deal of money and had the craftsmen build a stage in the palace within half a month.
The twin lotus was an auspicious symbol, and a play was arranged based on it.
Everyone knew that the noble concubine loved plays, and sometimes when she was in high spirits, she would even perform on stage herself.
If the stage collapsed at that time...
Cui Jintang stirred the candle flame. Suddenly, she remembered the servant who had run from Liuyi Alley to look for Pei Zhaolin during the day.
The servant had said that Luo Xiang had had a fit of hysteria while practicing the play.
Concubine Rong, who had entered the palace relying on the Luo Mansion, probably wouldn't dare to disobey Luo Xiang's arrangements.
Since Concubine Rong wanted to promote Luo Xiang with this banquet, she should let Luo Xiang perform on stage herself.
Then, when Sister Rou was in high spirits, the stage would collapse, killing two birds with one stone.
But the strange thing was that Concubine Rong was too greedy. She wanted to promote Luo Xiang and kill Sister Rou in one go.
After thinking for a while, Cui Jintang fetched a brush and ink. It took her a long time to finish writing. She put down the brush and handed the written letter to Yinglan.
"Go out through the back corner gate and give this to Zhu Er. Tell him to do as it says in the letter."
Yinglan agreed.
---
On the day of the banquet.
Concubine Rong's banquet was held at Yanqiu Gate. In order for everyone to see the twin lotus more clearly, the palace people were specially ordered to transplant the lotus to Yanqiu Gate.
As soon as Cui Jintang stepped into the palace gate, a fragrant mist surged towards her like a tide.
It was overpoweringly fragrant.
She was able to enter the palace for the banquet because of the Pei family, and her seat was arranged at the end.
This seat was also convenient for her plan today.
Concubine Rong had already arrived and was sitting in the front row with many imperial - titled ladies.
Suddenly, a palace maid carrying tea and snacks specially brought a booklet.
"The empress has ordered that today's banquet is for entertainment. If the young lady has any favorite plays, feel free to choose one or two."
Pei Ying immediately happily took it and carefully flipped through it.
Cui Jintang looked around and was confused. "But there doesn't seem to be a stage anywhere around here?"
The palace maid replied, "Back to the young lady, the empress specially had a stage built in the side hall for today's banquet."
Cui Jintang was surprised. "The empress has really gone to a lot of trouble."
She asked a few more irrelevant questions, then excused herself on the grounds of dizziness and got up from her seat.
Others didn't know how familiar she was with this deep palace.
After walking around a few times, she found the side hall.
The stage in front of her was so magnificent that it was blinding.
There were twelve strings of gilded silver wind chimes hanging from the eaves. When the wind blew, the tinkling sound was like the sound of broken jade and could even be heard outside the palace gate.
Cui Jintang shook the railing, and she heard a "click" sound.
She sneered and let go of her hand. "Sure enough."
From this height, although Sister Rou wouldn't die if she fell, the fetus in her womb, which was already unstable, definitely wouldn't last long!
"What are you doing?"
Cui Jintang was startled by the sound and quickly turned around.
It was Pei Zhaolin.
He was standing in the shadow of the vermilion columns.