A glint of interest flashed across Pei Zhaolin's eyes in a split - second.
This is really interesting.
The moment Gao Yunzhi sensed something and quickly turned around, Pei Zhaolin had already retreated behind a screen that could hide him.
Gao Yunzhi was still preoccupied with impressing Cui Sheng.
He glanced at the terrified faces of the merchants and whispered menacingly, "If any of you blabber nonsense when we see Steward Cui later, don't blame me for losing my temper and taking it out on you."
Gao Yunzhi was brought by Cui Sheng.
In the eyes of the Liangshan merchants, Gao Yunzhi's words were as good as Cui Sheng's.
They nodded in a hurry, fearing that if they were a second slower, Gao Yunzhi's fist would land on their heads!
—
After leaving Tian Gongfang, Cui Jintang went to the Cui family ancestral mansion.
After only two days there, she couldn't stand the constant nagging of the elder and quickly fled.
The moment Cui Jintang stepped into the Pei Mansion, an urgent shout came from behind her.
She stopped and looked back, only to see the steward running up out of breath.
Cui Jintang and Yinglan exchanged a look. The latter shook her head blankly, obviously having no idea what was going on.
"Steward, what's the matter?"
After the steward caught his breath, he quickly stepped aside, revealing a huge pile of gifts behind him. "Just now, someone from the Yue Mansion came. They said that the second young master of the mansion sent these gifts to thank the young lady for helping out on her wedding day."
"Miss, it's Cui Heng," Yinglan said.
Cui Jintang let out a laugh, feeling a bit incredulous.
She glanced at the gifts that were almost piled up like a mountain and waved her hand. "I see. Please handle them for me, steward."
The steward quickly replied, "Yes, miss."
Yinglan followed closely behind Cui Jintang. Looking back at the gifts, she couldn't help but gasp. "I heard there was quite a ruckus with people threatening to kill each other that day. How come in just a few days, Cui Heng has become the second young master?"
He went from being the youngest to the second - oldest in one go!
Cui Jintang reached out and tapped Yinglan on the forehead, frowning and reminding her, "Don't gossip about others behind their backs."
Yinglan covered her forehead and replied listlessly, "Yes, miss."
As the mistress and maid were talking and about to return to the east wing, Yinglan suddenly grabbed Cui Jintang.
She excitedly pointed at a flowerbed not far away.
"Miss! Look!"
Cui Jintang muttered, "Don't shout all of a sudden. You almost deafened me."
Her words stopped abruptly.
When she saw the crabapple flowers all over the yard, her eyes trembled slightly.
The crabapple flowers in the yard were in full bloom!
Layers upon layers of red and white petals crowded the branches.
The crabapple flowers with a strong rouge color on the branches hung heavily.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew, and thousands of crabapple flowers swayed gracefully. The sight was truly beautiful.
The most eye - catching were the three Xifu crabapple trees standing side by side, spreading out in turn.
Cui Jintang felt as if something had gently touched her heart.
Her feet involuntarily walked towards the flowerbed.
As she got closer, her nose was filled with the rich fragrance of the flowers.
Cui Jintang reached out and gently touched a delicate crabapple flower.
The soft and delicate touch immediately came to her fingertips.
The crabapple flower drooped slightly, and a cold water drop rolled down, then fell from her fingertips.
She felt that her heart was also swaying.
Yinglan happily followed up and curiously touched the tender yellow stamens in the middle of the crabapple flower.
When she looked up and saw the seemingly endless crabapple flowers, she was stunned.
"I heard from the servants in the mansion a couple of days ago that the prince knew the young lady liked crabapple flowers and specially had them planted in the mansion. I didn't expect there to be such a large area!"
Cui Jintang didn't seem to care. She pulled Yinglan and walked quickly towards the east wing.
She said, "So what? Master had farmers plant a whole mountain of crabapple flowers in the back mountain. I'll take you to see them some other day!"
Yinglan quickly caught up, peeked at Cui Jintang with a smile, and covered her mouth to tease.
"Miss, you can say that, but you can't hide the smile on your face at all!"
Cui Jintang quickly glanced at her and scolded, "Yinglan!"
Yinglan happily dodged.
After being with Cui Jintang for a long time, she had become bolder.
"Miss, the prince's wing is in the north!"
Cui Jintang reached out to hit her!
— "Bang!"
A sudden sound instantly stopped the joking mistress and maid.
They looked at each other and noticed that the sound came from the east wing.
They stopped playing around and quickly walked in.
What greeted their eyes was a pool of scarlet blood!
Next to the pool of blood, a man was kneeling in a sorry state.
Cui Jintang took a closer look.
Wasn't that Gao Yunzhi?!
Pei Zhaolin, standing with his hands behind his back on the stone steps with a coiled dragon carving, was looking down coldly.
"Aren't you good at using your power to bully others? You're quite capable, aren't you?"
His deep and cold voice sent shivers down people's spines.
The deputy general raised the black club in his hand high and slammed it down hard on Gao Yunzhi's spine with a "bang"!
Instantly, Gao Yunzhi heard the crisp sound of his bones breaking!
Gao Yunzhi struggled to spit out a mouthful of blood. His vision began to blur, and it seemed that he would faint at any moment.
Cui Jintang didn't have time to think. She shouted sternly, "Stop!"
Almost the moment he heard the voice, Pei Zhaolin immediately changed his expression.
He quickly walked down the steps and directly met Cui Jintang, who was in a hurry.
His tone was gentle and doting. "Tangtang, you're finally back."
The next second, his robe was firmly grabbed by Cui Jintang.
She threatened without hesitation, "Gao Yunzhi can't die, and you can't touch him!"
Pei Zhaolin was stunned for a moment, then quickly regained his senses. He frowned and smiled, trying to explain, "He used your name without permission to threaten..."
"Regardless of what he did, no one can touch his life!"
Cui Jintang interrupted him urgently.
Pei Zhaolin looked at her. His thin lips opened and closed several times.
He pursed his lips and swallowed all his jealousy and resentment.
"Okay."
Cui Jintang immediately let go of his robe and trotted forward. Without caring about the blood on the ground, she reached out to support Gao Yunzhi's shoulder.
She immediately reached out and placed her hand under his nose. Feeling his weak breath, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Without looking back, Cui Jintang hurriedly said, "Yinglan, go and call Zhu San for me!"
Yinglan quickly agreed and was about to turn around to go to the Cui family ancestral mansion to invite him, but was stopped by Pei Zhaolin raising his hand.
There was a hint of hurt in Pei Zhaolin's eyes. "There's no need to go through so much trouble. Doctor Wu is already in the mansion. I'll send someone to look for him right away."
"Gao Yunzhi is very important!"
Cui Jintang interrupted.
She stared directly at Pei Zhaolin and said word by word, "I won't trust anyone except Zhu San."
Pei Zhaolin tightened his fingers.
He managed to squeeze out a sentence, "Okay, I'll do as you say."
Cui Jintang turned back to support Gao Yunzhi.
Gao Yunzhi weakly raised his head and said in a faint voice, "Miss... I just... just wanted to find some good jade materials to practice with. I didn't expect to be misunderstood by the prince..."
"It's Yunzhi's fault."