With a simple remark, he not only dampened their eagerness to watch the show but also silenced their tongues.
Then he lowered his head and continued to place a piece on the chessboard. His fingertip made a soft clicking sound as the piece landed.
The sound was steady and crisp, showing no sign of confusion.
---
Twilight was falling.
In front of the Benevolent Heart Medical Hall, a group of servants casually tossed Cui Chunniang aside and then drove the on - lookers away.
Cui Chunniang lay prone on the ground. Her hairpin was loose, and her body was covered with whip marks oozing blood. She was barely breathing.
Passing villagers all covered their noses and walked around her, ignoring her hands that were clawing at the dust.
Blood foam constantly gushed from the corner of her mouth, and there was a strong will to survive in her eyes. "Save... save me..."
Just as she closed her eyes in despair, a pair of black boots stopped in front of her nose.
But before Cui Chunniang could even look up, she fainted.
"Ah Xun? Do you know this woman?"
Noticing that Ah Xun, who was walking with him, had stopped, his classmate, who had been lowering his head to organize books, asked in confusion.
Ah Xun was dressed like a young man, with the pattern of green bamboo on the cuffs, the symbol of the academy. Two classmates beside her were holding her books.
A look of hesitation flashed across Ah Xun's eyes.
After all, this was her mother.
Ah Xun waved to her two classmates, signaling them to go back first.
One of the classmates poked his head out, took a look at Cui Chunniang's plump body, and then glanced at Ah Xun's slender frame. He hesitated. "Do you really not need our help?"
Ah Xun waved her hands repeatedly and even pushed them away.
The two classmates had no choice but to leave first.
After they were out of sight, Ah Xun turned back. Gritting her teeth, she managed to help Cui Chunniang into the medical hall.
Fortunately, she still had the silver she had borrowed from Yan Liangwen.
As soon as they saw the silver, the people in the medical hall treated Cui Chunniang as if she were a noble guest.
I don't know how long it took. After drinking several doses of medicine, Cui Chunniang finally regained consciousness.
She looked around blankly. Hearing the sound, Ah Xun quickly walked in from behind the screen.
"Little slut?" Cui Chunniang roared hoarsely, spitting out blood foam. "Why is it you!"
In Cui Chunniang's memory, Ah Xun should have been a skinny beggar or a slut who made a living by selling her body in brothels!
But she must never be like this, looking like a rich person, just like those official ladies today!
Filled with jealousy and hatred, Cui Chunniang shouted abuse at Ah Xun. "What kind of look are you giving me?! I really wasted my time giving birth to you. You should have been sold to a brothel! Shameful thing. Now you've even learned to dress like a man to seduce people?!"
She cursed viciously and still felt it was not enough. "I should have strangled you when you were born! Then I wouldn't have to be laughed at by you now!"
"Good - for - nothing, slut! You're just like your father. You should have died long ago - "
The joy in Ah Xun's eyes faded away bit by bit.
Cui Chunniang's curses mixed with blood foam splashed at her feet.
Ah Xun took a step back, her eyes full of horror at Cui Chunniang.
"I should have strangled you!"
In a fit of rage, Cui Chunniang grabbed everything within reach and threw them wildly at Ah Xun!
Ah Xun covered her head and dodged repeatedly, then fled the medical hall in a hurry.
But Cui Chunniang's venomous curses still chased after her.
It made the back of her ears tingle, and she swallowed hard but couldn't make a sound.
Ah Xun turned into an alley. Stumbling, she knelt directly on the ground.
Her robe fluttered in the night wind, revealing the worn - out inner clothes.
Cui Chunniang's scolding still echoed in her mind, getting louder and louder, like nails being driven into her back one by one.
Ah Xun leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.
She felt so wronged.
Tears rolled down, but she couldn't even cry out. She could only bury her face in her arms, her shoulders trembling.
---
The Pei Mansion.
After the guests had left.
Under the long vermilion corridor, Cui Jintang was holding on to the corridor pillar. In her hand was the letter of explanation written by Luo Xiang.
Zhu Er brought a candle.
Without even looking at it, Cui Jintang burned the letter directly.
No matter how angry Nanny Zhang was, she said lightly. "It's not sincere enough. Rewrite it."
There was a soft sound of footsteps behind her. Pei Zhaolin lifted his robe and walked over.
He stopped about ten meters away and watched Nanny Zhang, who was jumping up and down in anger.
"Miss Cui, don't be so arrogant! After all, if it weren't for Old Madam Pei protecting you today, what right would you have to be so arrogant?"
Cui Jintang raised her eyebrows slightly, her voice lazy and confident. "Luo Xiang doesn't even dare to show up. What right does she have to compare with me?"
Nanny Zhang was so angry that her face turned ashen. She had never seen such a shameless person!
Nanny Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up when she saw Pei Zhaolin. She shouted proudly. "My Lord Pei! You must uphold justice for our miss."
Cui Jintang raised her eyes. When she saw Pei Zhaolin, her face turned a bit colder.
The words on the tip of Pei Zhaolin's tongue suddenly got stuck.
He said. "Miss Cui, I'll explain today's matter to you in detail later - "
Before he could finish.
Cui Jintang stepped aside slightly and bowed. "My Lord Pei is busy with official business. There's no need to say more."
Pei Zhaolin was stunned for a moment.
Was Miss Cui... angry?
But why?
At that moment, it felt as if something very thin had sliced through his heart, and a sense of foreboding welled up.
"I still have something to do." She nodded slightly at Pei Zhaolin and then lifted her skirt and walked down the steps.
She didn't even look back.
Pei Zhaolin subconsciously took two steps after her and called out. "Miss Cui!"
Cui Jintang didn't stop. She just calmly told Zhu Er, who was following her, at the corner.
"Pack up all my things in the next two days. Make sure not to leave anything behind when we leave."
A look of shock flashed across Pei Zhaolin's otherwise calm eyes.
That word "leave" was like a blunt knife, cutting through all of Pei Zhaolin's calmness of "we'll talk about it tomorrow".
Was it because he didn't greet her at the birthday banquet and had prepared a birthday gift that his grandmother liked for her without asking?
---
The next day.
The whole Pei Mansion was in an uproar when they heard that Cui Jintang was leaving.
Old Madam Pei sighed, patted her hand, and said lovingly. "Is it because of what happened yesterday, Tang'er?"
Cui Jintang nodded with a smile. "Yes."
Pei Ying was anxious. She quickly stepped forward. "Sister Jin, are you worried that we'll look down on you because of Aunt Cui? Sister Jin is you, and Aunt Cui is Aunt Cui. We will never take our anger out on you!"
"The main reason I came here was to find my aunt. Now that I've found her, even if she has gone astray for a while, she's still my aunt."
Cui Jintang comforted Pei Ying. "I'm just leaving the mansion, not the capital. My house is on Shili Street. If you miss me, you can come and find me."
"But..." Pei Ying was still reluctant to let her go.
Old Madam Pei asked someone to bring a set of makeup and gave it to Cui Jintang. "Grandmother knows you have a stubborn temper. I'm sure you've thought it through. I originally planned to give this to you on your wedding day with Zhaolin. I don't know if you still want it."
Cui Jintang looked at the bright fire and gave Old Madam Pei a playful smile. "I will surely accept what Old Madam has bestowed upon me."
Old Madam Pei sighed. "Good child, go."
Cui Jintang bowed her head and backed out.
She couldn't wait to go to Shili Street.
If she stayed in the Pei Mansion any longer, how could she take revenge on Cui Chunniang?