Cui Zhu steadied her nerves, quickly lowered her head, and stepped aside to introduce the doctor behind her.
"This is Doctor Liu, who is well - known for his medical skills in the vicinity. He came here specifically to treat the honored guest tonight."
Cui Zhu had already seen the portraits of the high - ranking officials in the capital when she was in Qinghe. She recognized at a glance that this was the Left Censor - in - Chief of the Censorate.
This lord was even more handsome than the rumors.
Even when ill, his fierce aura remained undiminished.
With just one glance from him, Cui Zhu could barely stand still.
After realizing who the honored guest was, Cui Zhu instantly changed her original plan.
"Who are you?"
Pei Zhaolin spoke, his voice hoarse with illness. "Raise your head."
Cui Zhu slowly raised her head. At the moment their eyes met, she fluttered her eyelashes just right, showing an expression between fear and anticipation. "I'm Cui Zhu. I'm weak, so I was raised in this manor by my master to recuperate."
Cui?
Pei Zhaolin subconsciously thought of Cui Jintang. Then he suddenly remembered that this was Jiang Wu's manor. The master this woman mentioned should be Jiang Wu.
Cui Zhu gave a look to Doctor Liu, who was about to step forward with his medicine box. Just as she was about to speak, she saw a slight change in the man's eyes.
"Get out."
His tone was cold and unyielding.
Cui Zhu frowned slightly and pulled Doctor Liu, who was standing still, out.
Chun Xing immediately led the others out and didn't forget to close the door.
Suddenly, Cui Zhu's eyes turned red. She knelt straight in front of Pei Zhaolin, stubbornly biting her lower lip. "I've long heard of your lordship's reputation for being upright and dedicated to the people. I have grievances in my heart. Please, my lord, do justice for me!"
She could feel a cold gaze on her, making her feel as if she had thorns on her back.
Cui Zhu lowered her head, not hiding the fact that she was trembling with fear.
"I lied just now. I'm not here to recuperate because I'm weak!"
Pei Zhaolin slowly glanced at her. Thinking of Jiang Wu, he said calmly, "Go on."
"My mother was born into a merchant family. My father embezzled silver when he was an official. He fancied my mother's dowry to fill the deficit. However, after she was married in through an eight - sedan - chair wedding, her dowry was used up, and she was regarded as a concubine instead!"
"My mother couldn't get a divorce. Instead, she was poisoned to shut her up!"
After saying that, Cui Zhu kowtowed heavily to Pei Zhaolin. When she raised her head, a tear rolled down just right.
"Please, my lord, clear my mother's name and avenge her!"
She deliberately made her voice tremble, but there was a hint of feigned strength in that tremor.
"I really dare not stay here any longer!"
Cui Zhu knelt on the ground and slowly moved closer to Pei Zhaolin. A look of pleading appeared on her face. "I don't dare to ask for much. I just... just want a place to stay. Why is it so difficult..."
"A place to stay?"
Pei Zhaolin repeated.
That penetrating look made Cui Zhu tremble with fear.
At that moment, she felt as if Pei Zhaolin could see through her.
Pei Zhaolin tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the pearl hair accessories on her bun and the mysterious dress she was wearing.
"For you, this manor is not just a place to stay. Or rather..."
He suddenly paused, and Cui Zhu almost showed her nervousness.
Pei Zhaolin enunciated each word very slowly. "What you really want is to return to the capital?"
Cui Zhu's pupils shrank slightly.
She had been seen through!
This realization made cold sweat break out on her back. At that moment, she made up her mind to cling to Pei Zhaolin.
Cui Zhu suddenly knelt on the ground, pressing her forehead against the cold floor. "I know that this matter involves officials, and it's hard to get a good result."
"But the draft is coming soon. I'm willing to be your lordship's pawn and help you get promoted!"
"Presumptuous."
Pei Zhaolin's light scolding was more powerful than a thousand words, making Cui Zhu's heart sink like an ice cellar.
Cui Zhu could feel the man's scrutinizing gaze on her. She suddenly shivered.
There was real fear of him on her face.
Cui Zhu bit her lip. Suddenly, she straightened up and reached out to undo the buttons of her clothes.
Her outer robe slipped off, revealing the red bellyband inside.
She bit her lip, knowing how to look the most pitiful in front of a man.
"My lord, I'm willing to serve you..."
Cui Zhu looked up, showing a sad and pitiful expression.
When their eyes met, Cui Zhu clearly saw that the man in front of her had a cold look in his eyes, without a trace of warmth.
The way he looked at her showed no trace of lust. It was more like he was looking at a dead person.
— And that's exactly what he did!
With a flick of Pei Zhaolin's wrist, a black shadow flew towards her!
Cui Zhu didn't even have time to react. A sharp pain came from her shoulder, and she knelt down on the spot.
The fear in Cui Zhu's heart came over her later.
She could even see the displeasure in Pei Zhaolin's eyes, as if he was unhappy that he hadn't killed her with one blow!
Cui Zhu backed away again and again.
Suddenly.
"Bang!"
The door was suddenly pushed open!
Cui Zhu grabbed her outer robe in panic to cover herself. But when she turned her head, she met a completely strange face.
Cui Jintang's gaze moved from her exposed skin to the man on the couch. The anger in her eyes was almost overflowing.
"Who... who are you?!"
Cui Zhu let out a scream and wrapped the outer robe around herself even tighter.
Cui Jintang sneered and kicked Cui Zhu, who was trying to get up and run away.
She bent down and grabbed Cui Zhu's chin tightly. Without hiding the anger in her eyes at all, she gritted her teeth and scolded in a low voice, "Cui Zhu, how dare you covet my man?"
Cui Zhu was stunned for a moment. After reacting, her face turned ashen. She stammered and tentatively asked, "M... Master?"
Looking at this face that was similar to Sister Rou's, Cui Jintang felt a surge of nausea in her heart.
Cui Jintang threw her face away and shouted angrily, "Servants!"
Steward Li led a group of servants, along with Chun Xing and Doctor Liu, who were all waiting quietly outside the door. "Master."
Cui Jintang pointed at her, her face as cold as frost. "Drag her out and feed her to the dogs."
Hearing this, Cui Zhu's face turned ashen. She didn't care about her dignity anymore.
She kept kowtowing to Cui Jintang and apologizing, "Please spare my life, master—"
These seemingly unremarkable words caught Pei Zhaolin's attention.
Just as Cui Zhu was about to be dragged out of the door, he suddenly said, "Wait."
Meeting Cui Jintang's angry gaze, Pei Zhaolin's heart skipped a beat.
"This woman is a candidate for the draft I've selected."
Pei Zhaolin's voice suddenly became extremely calm.
He looked at Cui Jintang and enunciated each word. "Where is Lady Jiang taking my people?"
After saying that, Pei Zhaolin stared fixedly at Cui Jintang's facial expression, not missing any slightest change in it.