It was a dark and windy night.
A dejected Zhu Er turned a corner. He looked up at the ancestral mansion of the Cui family and knocked on the door dejectedly before walking in.
The two men following him looked at each other. After making sure there was no problem, they immediately turned around and left.
They didn't notice that on the wall, Zhu Er with a dog - tail grass in his mouth expressionlessly straightened his dislocated hand.
Below, Ying Lan took out the silver she had prepared and handed it to a maid.
"Once you leave this door, keep today's events to yourself. If I hear that the news of you cooperating with our young lady in this play spreads—"
The maid quickly adjusted the cloak on her head and eagerly snatched the purse from Ying Lan's hand.
"Don't worry. If a fourth person knows about this play - acting, may my whole family die a bad death!"
After saying that, she happily left through the back corner gate.
Ying Lan withdrew her gaze and glanced at Zhu Er still sitting on the wall. Her expression immediately turned sour.
"Aren't you afraid that others will notice you?"
Zhu Er with the dog - tail grass in his mouth leaped down and said with a look of disgust on his face.
He said, "I was just wondering if the young lady's plan will really work?"
Hearing this, Ying Lan also honestly shook her head. "I don't know."
"But when we were at the Pei Mansion, when Fa Cai was being picky about food and not obedient, the young lady would find a doll and beat it in front of Fa Cai."
Zhu Er was shocked. "Is she training it like a pet for Pei Zhaolin?"
Ying Lan choked on the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She said awkwardly, "Your words are unpleasant. Don't talk next time."
"Tsk."
Zhu Er turned his face away and was extremely eager to go out and find a tavern to drink.
As soon as the door opened, a woman suddenly threw herself into Zhu Er's arms.
Zhu Er got anxious and subconsciously drew his knife.
But a soft call of "My lord!"
It was tender and full of endless grievances.
It even drew Ying Lan, who was about to leave, back.
She grabbed the door and curiously poked her head out to look.
The disheveled woman was about to speak.
But her neck was suddenly firmly grabbed by Zhu Er, and her breathing space was greatly reduced.
The culprit obviously didn't know how strong his grip was.
Zhu Er shouted sternly, "Who are you? What did you hear just now?!"
"If you don't confess honestly, I'll cut you into pieces right now!"
Seemingly frightened by Zhu Er, the woman's dark little face turned from flushed to deathly pale.
"My lord... It's me..."
The woman's face turned as red as liver. She used her last bit of strength to grab Zhu Er's arm and weakly struggled.
Zhu Er frowned and looked at her dark face.
Suddenly, he let out an "eh".
The woman thought he finally remembered her and was overjoyed to the point of crying. But halfway through her sobs, she heard Zhu Er's simple - minded laughter.
Zhu Er turned his head and greeted Ying Lan, who was watching the show. "Don't you think she looks a bit like Zhu San?
"Both are so dark!"
Ying Lan gave him a disdainful look and then turned her gaze to the woman who was almost rolling her eyes.
Her expression immediately changed.
She immediately rushed forward and heavily slapped Zhu Er's hand that was choking the woman's neck. She scolded, "You heartless man. Can't you tell that this is Miss Yu Li?!"
"No wonder the fortune - teller said you're doomed to be single!"
As soon as he heard the name "Yu Li", Zhu Er immediately let go of his hand.
He hugged the tottering Hei Yu Li and let out a howl that was simply like a ghost wailing.
Yu Li barely managed to hold back the urge to roll her eyes. She tremblingly grabbed Ying Lan's hand with tears in her eyes.
"I'll never forget your kindness in saving my life!"
Ying Lan's hands moved quickly. "Don't talk anymore. Hurry into the mansion and call a doctor!"
Hearing this, Zhu Er immediately bent down to pick up Yu Li and took a big step up the three - level stone staircase.
The jolt made Yu Li in his arms twitch all over.
Ying Lan, who witnessed all this: "..."
It's really life - threatening to be liked by Zhu Er!
—
A gust of wind blew. Pei Zhaolin's eyes sharpened. He turned around and snatched a long sword from the guard's hand. Following the sound, he stabbed the sword into the bamboo forest.
Fu Li immediately shouted, "Who's hiding there?!"
Soon, a man limped out of the bamboo forest, holding the thing that Pei Zhaolin had just thrown.
As the shadow slowly faded from his face.
The man bared his teeth and showed a flattering smile to Pei Zhaolin.
"My lord."
Pei Zhaolin lifted his eyelids.
This man was the one sent by Qi Xuan to Qinghe to find out who the woman imprisoned in his mansion was.
Chen Mingyuan wasn't dead?!
Fu Li frowned and turned to signal the guards to leave.
"You're that—" Pei Zhaolin squinted his eyes. "The newly - appointed left censor of the Censorate?"
Hearing this, Chen Mingyuan bent his waist even lower.
"I'm Chen Mingyuan. I'm lucky to catch the emperor's eye and get this official position."
Pei Zhaolin was still thinking about how to explain things clearly to Cui Jintang later and didn't have much patience.
He said calmly, "Fu Li, arrange a side room for Lord Chen."
The implication was to kill the man directly.
Fu Li smiled slightly. "Yes, my lord."
Chen Mingyuan wasn't in a hurry. His expression didn't change at all. He still looked as flattering as ever.
"I've just been to the prefectural yamen and submitted my jade tablet. Lord Chu in Qinghe was my classmate back then. He's very hospitable. He even invited me to have tea just now!"
Hearing this, Fu Li's expression changed slightly.
Submitting the jade tablet was equivalent to telling everyone that he, Chen Mingyuan, was in Qinghe!
If they killed him like this, it might bring a lot of trouble to their lord.
Pei Zhaolin glanced at him indifferently.
It was the first time he was really looking at this man.
Previously, he had been a teacher in the Imperial College. It was said that he was selected to the Ministry of Revenue when Qi Xuan came to check on the princes' studies.
It hadn't been long, and now he had become the left censor.
"I have another matter on this trip. I need to get the lord's approval before I dare to do it."
Pei Zhaolin hooked the corner of his lips. He was actually a bit interested in this man. "What's the matter?"
Chen Mingyuan quickly said, "I've heard that there are many beautiful women in the Qinghe area. I'm here for the draft three months later."
Chen Mingyuan's words were very clever.
Since he was here on the emperor's order, if they killed him, it would be an act of disobeying the emperor's order.
Just now, Pei Zhaolin could rely on his status and find an excuse of not liking him to kill Chen Mingyuan.
But now he couldn't.
Pei Zhaolin lazily glanced at him, swept over his limping leg, and let out a sneering laugh with an unclear meaning.
"Lord Chen should do his job well. Don't try to take shortcuts, or else your other leg might also get crippled."
Chen Mingyuan "thumped" and knelt in front of Pei Zhaolin. He kowtowed deeply. "I'll keep it in mind!"
Pei Zhaolin walked away, too lazy to pay any more attention to him.
Seeing Pei Zhaolin change direction and not go to the east wing, Fu Li was confused. "My lord, aren't you going?"
"Chen Mingyuan could sneak in silently, which means there are his people here. This place is no longer safe. Arrange for Tangtang to leave as soon as possible!"