Cui Jintang stood at the door of the side room, holding a medicine bowl. Her fingertips were red from the heat.
She turned around and called out to Zhu San, who was about to follow her: "Since he's awake, come back later when he's asleep."
Zhu San, with his dark face, nodded obediently: "Yes, miss."
He deftly picked up the huge medicine chest and scurried away, huffing and puffing as he climbed over the rockery.
Carelessly, his robe got caught on a sharp stone as he climbed over, and he staggered.
Cui Jintang was startled. Holding the medicine bowl, she was about to rush over when she saw a thumb shakily poking out from behind the rockery.
"..."
Neither of the brothers was reliable.
Cui Jintang took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Pei Zhaolin was half - reclined on the couch, eyes closed, resting.
Hearing the noise, he slowly opened his eyes and rolled them. His gaze landed on her, cold enough to send a shiver down one's spine.
"Lord Pei, it's time to take your medicine."
Cui Jintang placed the medicine bowl on the table. The crisp sound of the porcelain bowl hitting the wooden surface was especially jarring at this moment.
She scooped up a spoonful of the steaming medicine, blew on it, and then brought it to his lips.
After a long while and seeing no movement from him, Cui Jintang looked at him blankly: "You..."
"Isn't Madam Jiang being a bit too eager? Doesn't it seem cheap?"
His deep voice had no inflection. His cold, icy eyes gave off no warmth at all.
To Cui Jintang, every word was like a poisoned arrow, stabbing deeply into her heart.
Cui Jintang put down the spoon.
She could, of course, hear the barb in his words.
She placed the bowl on the wooden table beside her and her tone turned cold: "I simply have a favor to ask of Lord Pei."
"But it seems Lord Pei has heard too many kind words and now is eager to be scolded?"
It was obvious that Cui Jintang was angry. Her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her rosy lips were pursed.
At the sight of her like this, Pei Zhaolin's Adam's apple bobbed.
He averted his gaze as if to avoid something.
But Pei Zhaolin's attitude remained just as bad.
It was as if she was not his savior but the culprit.
"I've already given you the token. Madam Jiang, don't be insatiable."
Pei Zhaolin raised his eyes. All emotions had faded from his eyes, leaving only a pure, emotionless scrutiny.
That kind of aloof, indifferent scrutiny, like one examining a criminal.
Cui Jintang didn't understand where his vague hostility towards her came from.
The temper that was about to burst out of her was barely held back after she took a look at Pei Zhaolin's face.
"Lord Pei should remember that I told you I was sent by the emperor, right?"
Pei Zhaolin remained silent.
"I've heard that Lord Pei is about to be promoted soon. It's just that he might be short of an excuse."
"I know your intention for going to the Huben Army Camp. I'll help you find out why Zheng Ting went there. As long as Lord Pei mentions me a little when claiming credit, that's all I ask."
Considering recent events, that dog of an emperor must have been up to a lot of things, hiding them from everyone.
Even her secret intelligence network couldn't find a single clue, which gave Cui Jintang a bad feeling in her heart.
Looking directly into Pei Zhaolin's unmasked scrutinizing gaze, Cui Jintang smiled brightly.
"A spy only earns three taels of silver a month. Lord Pei, please be kind. Consider it as taking care of this lonely and pitiful woman."
Pei Zhaolin was stung by her smile.
His face darkened instantly. With a wave of his big hand,
the porcelain bowl on the table suddenly fell to the ground. The dark - brown medicine splashed on their hems.
A lot of it also splashed on the back of her hand.
The scalding medicine instantly burned the back of her hand red.
Cui Jintang quickly took two steps back. Looking at the medicine stains on her skirt, the anger in her heart could no longer be contained.
"What on earth has gotten into you!"
Pei Zhaolin's gaze suddenly swept over, his black eyes sharp.
He coldly curled his delicate lips, smiling icily and distantly.
"Why should I cooperate with a woman of low status?"
As if looking at Cui Jintang one more time would dirty his eyes, Pei Zhaolin closed his eyes again in annoyance: "It's really bad luck to be saved by you."
Cui Jintang looked at him in disbelief, trying to find any sign of pretense on his face.
But there was none, never any.
In an instant, the words Pei Zhaolin had said to her in the Censorate flashed through her mind.
He had said that all people were equal, and the distinction between high and low was a shackle imposed by the secular world.
But today, Pei Zhaolin was being so picky because of her identity?
"So this is what you've always thought."
She slowly loosened her clenched fist. As if remembering something, she let out a self - mocking laugh and took out the token from her sleeve.
She slammed it down in front of Pei Zhaolin.
Cui Jintang couldn't hide the disappointment on her face: "I don't need Lord Pei to repay the favor of saving his life. Leave as soon as your injuries are healed."
She turned around and left without mercy.
The moment the door closed, Pei Zhaolin suddenly started coughing violently.
He no longer tried to control his shaking body. Bending over, he stared at the pool of medicine on the ground.
A complex emotion flashed across Pei Zhaolin's eyes.
In this lonely and cold room, Pei Zhaolin became even more gloomy and cold.
---
A thunderstorm was approaching. Everyone in the manor was busy closing the windows and doors.
Cui Zhu was sitting in front of the dressing table, inserting the last plain silver hairpin into her hair.
The mirror reflected a gentle and dignified face, except that it was a bit pale.
In her slightly upturned phoenix eyes, there was a calculation that didn't match her appearance.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Cui Zhu lowered her eyes and resumed her gentle appearance: "Come in."
"Miss, the news has spread all over."
The maid Chun Xing pushed the door open and whispered: "A big shot from the capital is staying in the guest courtyard on the west side. Even Manager Li, who is usually the most arrogant, is walking around with his head down today."
Cui Zhu's fingers paused. The rouge left a rosy stain on her cheek.
In an instant, she went through all the possibilities in her mind but couldn't really guess who the distinguished guest in the guest courtyard was.
"I heard that the distinguished guest caught a cold on the way and has a fever. No one is allowed to get close."
Chun Xing leaned in closer: "Miss, should we..."
"Go and invite a doctor."
Cui Zhu suddenly stood up. Her plain dress swept across the floor: "I'll go myself."
Chun Xing was stunned: "But miss, don't you hate..."
"What do you mean hate?"
Cui Zhu looked back and smiled, but there was a coldness in her eyes: "Hate these noble people? Or hate... being trapped in this god - forsaken place forever?"
She slowly walked up to the clothes rack. Her fingers glided over the rows of plain clothes and finally stopped on a moon - white long dress embroidered with dark patterns.
This was the fabric she had bought with the monthly silver she had saved for half a year on her birthday last year. She had always been reluctant to wear it.
"This one." Cui Zhu's voice was soft but carried an undeniable determination. "And take out my pearl headdress."
Chun Xing quickly responded: "Yes!"
---
Inside the guest room, it was much warmer than outside, but there was a bitter smell of medicine in the air.
Cui Zhu lowered her eyelids and followed the young servant past the screen. When she saw the man sitting on the couch, her heart skipped a beat.