In Cui Jintang's memory,
she had seen Pei Zhaolin looking dejected.
But she had never seen him so humble, pleading with tears in his eyes.
His gaze was like a deep pool of water, black and unfathomable, as if it could swallow even a cry for help.
At this moment, Pei Zhaolin was like a drowning man desperately begging her for a little help.
Even though this "her" was just a figure in his dream.
It was a pity, though.
Cui Jintang turned around and was about to leave.
This move seemed to completely startle Pei Zhaolin. He panicked and reached out his hand towards her.
When his fingertips touched hers that were hanging down,
it was warm.
It wasn't a dream!
In an instant, all the humility on Pei Zhaolin's face was torn to shreds.
Pei Zhaolin's eyes suddenly turned cold. As his hostility surged, he tightly grabbed Cui Jintang's slender neck.
His movements were so fast and fierce that before Cui Jintang could react, she was pressed against the screen by Pei Zhaolin.
Her back hit the wooden lattice and broke it, making her frown in pain.
Pei Zhaolin looked cold and increased the strength in his hand.
Choked by him, Cui Jintang had to tilt her head slightly to catch her breath.
But this exposed her slender neck more completely under his palm.
Due to the movement, the veil hat on her head swayed and was about to fall off.
"Bang!"
A black shadow broke in through the window.
The blade glinting with cold light rushed straight towards Pei Zhaolin's face. He immediately withdrew his hand and dodged.
With a "clang" sound, the big knife chopped straight into the red - painted pillar.
At the same moment, the woman he regarded as an "imposter" was grabbed by the black - clothed man and protected behind him.
Without thinking, Pei Zhaolin launched an attack with a palm strike.
Even though he was drugged, every time Pei Zhaolin made a move, he aimed to kill them!
With one palm strike, Zhu Er staggered back. Unable to hold it back, he turned his head and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
Cui Jintang quickly grabbed his wrist and whispered in a low voice, "Hurry up and leave!"
She deliberately lowered her voice and made some disguises.
Zhu Er nodded. The next moment, he threw out a cloud of sleeping powder at Pei Zhaolin.
Unexpectedly, Pei Zhaolin suddenly froze in place.
He stared blankly in the direction where Cui Jintang had left, looking a bit confused. His voice was so soft that it was almost a murmur.
"... Tangtang?"
Cui Jintang was struck like by lightning.
She couldn't believe that Pei Zhaolin could still recognize her like this!
Without daring to look back, Cui Jintang grabbed Zhu Er and immediately melted into the guests coming and going in the Ruanhong Pavilion.
By the time Pei Zhaolin reacted and chased after them, there was no trace to be found.
The warmth finally returned to his eyes as he anxiously searched around.
But there was no trace left at all.
"Sir!"
Fu Li rushed over in a hurry. Seeing the mess all over the place, he was immediately stunned. "Has the drug on Sir been resolved?"
But Pei Zhaolin suddenly let out a low laugh. It became hoarser and crazier with each sound.
As soon as the words fell, he glanced at Fu Li.
That look was as sharp as a blade, making Fu Li not even dare to raise his head.
Pei Zhaolin said calmly, "This is the first time, and I hope it will also be the last."
Cold sweat immediately broke out on Fu Li's forehead. He quickly responded, "Fu Li knows his mistake. He will never make it again!"
The medicinal effect in Pei Zhaolin's body came back stronger than before, like thousands of fire ants gnawing at him.
But he suddenly let out a low laugh.
It became hoarser and crazier with each sound.
Pei Zhaolin's appearance made Fu Li's scalp tingle. He carefully called out, "Sir?"
"She's alive..."
"She's still alive!"
Fu Li was even more at a loss. "Sir! Doctor Wu is waiting in the private room next door."
Pei Zhaolin gradually restrained the smile on his face.
He hooked his lips, but his eyes were half - closed dangerously.
Pei Zhaolin's voice was extremely calm, looking as if he regarded the lives of others as mere ants.
"Kill all the officials of the prefecture who hosted the banquet tonight, as well as all the guests who came and went."
Those who dared to drug him would not be allowed to live.
Pei Zhaolin flicked his sleeve and slightly raised his eyebrows. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let them keep their whole bodies."
"Yes."
---
"Why did you come back so late, Miss?"
Ying Lan, who was waiting at the door, immediately greeted Cui Jintang as soon as she saw her and took the veil hat from her.
Cui Jintang looked pale, but still shook her head. "I'm fine. Where's An'er?"
"Master An'er has had his dinner and gone to bed."
Ying Lan quickly followed up. When she saw the red mark on Cui Jintang's neck, she immediately exploded like an angry cat.
"What happened to your neck, Miss?!"
Ying Lan immediately turned to Zhu Er and shouted angrily, "How did you take care of Miss? Miss still has an old injury on her neck! If Miss is a bit uncomfortable, I'll be the first to deal with you."
Zhu Er, who was scolded, felt extremely ashamed and immediately lowered his head.
The incident of Cui Jintang trying to commit suicide with a sword five years ago was like a thorn deeply stuck in Ying Lan's heart.
As long as it was related to it in the slightest, Ying Lan would become extremely irritable.
Cui Jintang quickly pulled Ying Lan back and explained, "It was my own carelessness. It's not Zhu Er's fault."
"I'm hungry. What delicious food did you make tonight?"
Looking at Cui Jintang, Ying Lan finally calmed down. Treating Cui Jintang like a fragile treasure, she helped her in.
"I made the sweet - scented osmanthus meat soup that Miss likes today. Miss must be tired from playing with Master An'er these days. You should eat more today!"
Cui Jintang responded while giving Zhu Er a look.
Zhu Er understood and immediately retreated.
After dinner, after being carefully checked by Ying Lan, Cui Jintang was finally able to return to her own room.
Zhu Er had already presented all the information he had found.
"Pei Zhaolin came to Longxi to search for beautiful girls for Qi Xuan. But tonight, the official of the Longxi prefecture made his own decision. He not only drugged Pei Zhaolin with an aphrodisiac but also sent several women to him."
"Just now, all the people who attended the banquet held by the prefecture tonight were killed by Pei Zhaolin."
Hearing this, Cui Jintang frowned tightly.
In the past five years, Cui Jintang had always been skeptical about the death of Sister Rou.
But at that time, Pei Zhaolin was reluctant to talk about it, so she had to find other ways.
Cui Jintang had been secretly investigating. Every time she got a clue, there would be all kinds of "coincidences".
Just like the official of the Longxi prefecture tonight, he was killed cleanly by Pei Zhaolin's people.
Cui Jintang was extremely annoyed. She simply threw the brochure onto the desk.
The clue in Longxi was broken.
She frowned. "Pei Zhaolin must have noticed me today. We'll set off for Qinghe early tomorrow morning."
"Counting the days, it will soon be A Xun's birthday."
Hearing this, the loneliness on Zhu Er's face was especially conspicuous.
Cui Jintang shook her head and smiled. "If you're worried about Miss Yuli, I'll allow you to return to Qinghe later."
Unexpectedly, Zhu Er immediately refused. "This subordinate will never leave Miss for a moment again!"
If he had been a little later tonight, Miss would have died at Pei Zhaolin's hands!
Cui Jintang responded with a smile.
Just as Zhu Er was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He turned around and said, "Miss, Young Master Chu sent a letter a few days ago, saying that he passed the imperial examination with the highest honors this time and was appointed to serve in Qinghe."