Chapter 8 The Temple
I heard there was a very effective temple outside Jinling.
Since I had nothing to do today, I took a carriage and went there.
I wanted to pray for my father.
The carriage could not go up the mountain, so it stopped at the foot. We had to walk into the temple.
Halfway up, I saw a woman in the distance.
Her steps were light and refined.
The maid said, "That is Miss Su."
Miss Su?
Su Yunqing.
Pei Zhao's former fiancée.
I had heard the servants in the mansion mention her.
She was known for her kindness and gentle nature. Our families were a good match.
She must have come to burn incense today to pray for a smooth marriage.
I sighed softly.
I entered the temple and drew a divination lot.
It was the worst omen.
The verse read, "Violent rain and fierce wind threaten to break the tree. The road ahead is shrouded in fog."
I frowned and was about to find someone to interpret it.
Suddenly, I saw a familiar figure.
Pei Ye.
Madam Pei's biological son.
Pei Zhao's second brother.
Why was he here?
He looked hurried.
I ordered the maid, "Go and see."
Moments later, the maid returned in panic. She whispered in my ear, "Miss Su is resting in the meditation room because she feels unwell. Just now... Second Young Master went in."
I was shocked. "The two of them?"
The maid shook her head anxiously. "This servant saw that Miss Su seemed to have been drugged."
I rushed over.
Looking through the window, Pei Ye had already taken off half of Su Yunqing's clothes.
I didn't have time to think.
I grabbed a wooden stick nearby.
I pushed the door open, ran over, and hit him several times.
While hitting him, I cursed, "Are you even human?"
When he saw his dirty deed exposed, rage filled him. He threw the stick away.
He grabbed my neck. "You cheap woman, why meddle in my business!"
I had told the maid earlier to fetch Su Yunqing's servant girl.
She searched around and only found an old nanny.
The nanny came in and was frightened by the scene.
Pei Ye shoved me to the ground and took the chance to flee.
I had almost been strangled to death.
I gasped for air.
The nanny helped Su Yunqing put on her clothes and cried, "Thank you so much today, Madam."
She said Su Yunqing had felt dizzy and came to rest in the meditation room.
Her maid had gone down the mountain to find a doctor out of worry.
She herself had drunk two cups of tea, gone to the toilet, and was knocked unconscious at the door.
"About today's matter, I beg Madam not to speak of it. I will definitely visit to thank you another day."
"May I ask which family Madam belongs to?"
The maid beside me said, "Our madam is the Young Madam of the Pei family."
The nanny was stunned.
Su Yunqing had not lost consciousness, only her limbs were weak.
She looked at me, moved her lips.
In a soft voice, she said, "Thank you."
On the way down the mountain, the maid looked nervous. "Young Madam, what should we do about today's matter?"
"Should we report it to the master?"
"But if we say anything, Madam Pei will definitely blame us."
I comforted her, "Don't be afraid."
"Wait until I discuss it with my husband and see what he says."
The moment I finished speaking.
Pei Ye appeared with a young servant, blocking my path.
He stared at me viciously. "Do you think you can still go back?"
I stepped back. "What do you want to do?"
"I am your eldest sister-in-law!"
"If you dare hurt me, Pei Zhao will not let you go!"
Pei Ye laughed. "You were clearly killed by mountain bandits."
"Who can prove that I harmed you?"
Seeing the situation turn bad, I pushed the maid. "Run separately!"
Pei Ye caught up with me by a river.
During the struggle, I pulled out my hairpin and stabbed it hard into his shoulder.
He instinctively pushed me.
I fell into the river.
The current was fierce.
Fortunately, I knew how to swim.
When I was young, my maternal grandfather was an official in Penglai.
I went to stay with my mother and nearly drowned while playing in the sea.
For some reason, after that incident, I learned how to swim.
I seemed to carry some luck with me.
I always managed to survive desperate situations.
The water carried me to an unfamiliar place.
I used all my strength to climb ashore.
My ankle hurt badly. I could not walk far.
I could only lean against a nearby wall.
I prayed that someone would find me soon.
Pei Zhao found me on the third night.
When I saw the light from the lantern, I was chewing wild vegetables.
Pei Zhao ran toward me. "Xue Chan!"
He held my shoulders and checked me up and down. "How are you?"
"Are you hurt?"
I burst into tears with a loud wail.
While crying, I said, "Why did you only come now!"
"I was almost starved to death!"
He paused, then let out a breath of relief. A smile appeared on his face.
He coaxed me gently, "Okay, okay, it's my fault."
"I'll make you something to eat when we get back."
As he spoke, he helped me up by the arm.
I hopped in place a few times and fell into Pei Zhao's arms.
I looked up, sniffed, and said pitifully, "My foot is injured. I can't walk."
He bent down. "Get on. I'll carry you."
The place was very desolate.
Weeds grew everywhere.
The servants followed behind with lanterns.
Pei Zhao walked steadily step by step.
But I started crying again.
I buried my face in his shoulder.
His body stiffened. His steps slowed unconsciously. He asked softly, "Why are you still crying?"
"If you cry like this, your eyes will hurt tomorrow."
I hugged his neck tightly and said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry."
"What?"
"Before, I locked you alone in the schoolroom."
"You must have been very scared and anxious, right?"
I cried even harder. "I'm sorry!"
"I shouldn't have bullied you like that before!"
"I am guilty!"
Pei Zhao smiled and adjusted me higher on his back. "That was so many years ago."
"I don't even remember it anymore."
"Since I don't remember, it means you didn't hurt me."
"So you don't need to apologize."