The Old Madam looked at Pei Cheng with a half-smile. “Could it be that I am wrong?”
Pei Cheng pressed his lips together, met the Old Madam’s gaze directly, and said with a smile, “Of course the Old Madam is right. I only think that besides knowing one’s place, a person should also understand the rules.”
The Old Madam frowned. Before she could question what Pei Cheng was insinuating with those words, she heard the sound of footsteps outside.
Jiang Linzhi’s personal young servant walked in, bowed at the waist, and said respectfully, “Old Madam.”
The Old Madam recognized him and said coldly, “What did Linzhi send you here for?”
“Early this morning, the Second Master summoned Master Wang, the tailor, to cut several new outfits for the Second Young Madam and Young Master Yanzhi. The Second Master and Master Wang have been waiting in the courtyard for quite a while, so he specially sent this servant to find the Second Young Madam and Young Master Yanzhi.”
Pei Cheng pressed his lips. Was Jiang Linzhi doing this on purpose?
The Old Madam gave a scoffing laugh. “It seems I really am old. Someone actually came to my courtyard to demand people. How utterly lacking in respect for seniority. Very well, you may go. I want to rest a while.”
After saying this, the Old Madam made as if to lie down and rest, making it clear that she did not welcome Pei Cheng.
After exchanging a few perfunctory farewell words, Pei Cheng immediately pulled Jiang Yanzhi away.
After the three of them left, the Old Madam lying on the couch said softly, “They say even a rabbit will bite when driven desperate. Tell me, if someone touches the sick rabbit that has always hidden in its hole and its own little rabbit, will it also jump out and bite?”
The room was silent. The two maids sewing clothes with their heads lowered did not dare make a sound at random.
The Old Madam’s temper was good at times and bad at others. Who knew whether a careless word might displease her?
The Old Madam had also hoped for some response from the two. She mused to herself, her eyes full of deep thought.
When they reached the courtyard gate, Pei Cheng thought for a moment, then set Jiang Yanzhi down and said, “Go measure first. I’ll come find you later.” Then he signaled to the young servant to take Jiang Yanzhi to be measured, while he himself walked toward Jiang Linzhi’s courtyard.
Jiang Yanzhi followed the servant unwillingly to be measured, turning back every few steps, his eyes full of reluctance.
Knock, knock.
After receiving permission from inside, Pei Cheng reached out, pushed the door open, walked in, and said, “Second Master.”
Jiang Linzhi stood by the table practicing calligraphy with brush in hand. Hearing this, he did not even raise his head. “Since there is nothing else, go rest. I do not need you here.”
Pei Cheng did not leave as told. He signaled with his eyes for the two maids standing in the room to go out first.
The two maids hesitated and exchanged glances, neither daring to leave without permission. For a moment they grew anxious.
Perhaps sensing something, Jiang Linzhi frowned and said, “All of you, get out.”
Both maids breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew quietly.
After only Pei Cheng and Jiang Linzhi remained in the room, Pei Cheng reflexively stepped forward, hesitated, then retreated half a step. Jiang Linzhi said, “Is something the matter?”
Pei Cheng’s gaze met Jiang Linzhi’s in midair. The former stiffened for a moment, then, pretending nothing had happened, said, “Second Master, you should know why I came back, shouldn’t you?”
The corner of Jiang Linzhi’s mouth curved upward, yet the motion did not make Pei Cheng feel at ease; instead, it made him more nervous.
“Oh?” Jiang Linzhi looked at him with a half-smile. “Could it be that you’ve come back carrying a secret?”
Pei Cheng lowered his eyes. He had not intended to lay his cards on the table with Jiang Linzhi this early, but after Old Madam had made things difficult for him for so long just now, Pei Cheng realized that he needed an ally.
He just did not know whether Jiang Linzhi could be relied upon.
“A secret? Not exactly.” Pei Cheng made up his mind. He raised his head and looked straight at Jiang Linzhi. “When I was driven out of the main residence five years ago, Second Master, you should have noticed my father’s aim, shouldn’t you?”
“Continue.” Jiang Linzhi put down the pen, wiped between his fingers with a hand towel; his deep eyes were full of cold indifference.
Pei Cheng had originally intended to spin out a fine speech, but when he saw the flicker of impatience on Jiang Linzhi’s face, he immediately said bluntly, “I no longer wish to work for the Pei family.”
Jiang Linzhi finally took interest. “You want to betray the Pei family?”
Pei Cheng smiled bitterly. “I wouldn’t call it betrayal. I merely suddenly understood that from the moment I married into the Jiang family, everything of the Pei family should have had nothing to do with me.”
Jiang Linzhi did not give a clear response. He waited a while, until Pei Cheng began to feel uneasy, and then Jiang Linzhi suddenly said, “But you should be telling Elder Brother these things.”
Jiang Linzhi’s implication was that he wanted to refuse Pei Cheng.
Pei Cheng raised an eyebrow. He understood the other meaning hidden behind Jiang Linzhi’s words, but he did not want to give up so easily on winning Jiang Linzhi’s favor. “But he is not my husband.”
Jiang Linzhi lowered his eyes, concealing the cold gloom that flashed through them. “That is indeed a good reason.”
Though he said this, Jiang Linzhi still did not make any clear stance. He was like a patient who had truly gone a long time without contact with the outside world; his entire body unconsciously exuded a cold, distant air.
The only impression such a Jiang Linzhi gave was that of a dying man.
Pei Cheng was not certain whether his choice was right or wrong, but judging from the clearly divided closeness among the three Jiang brothers, choosing Jiang Linzhi would surely bring a better outcome than choosing Eldest Master Jiang or Third Master Jiang.
The room was quiet for a long time.
It was not until Jiang Linzhi stood up, walked slowly to Pei Cheng, and then unfastened his cloak and draped it over Pei Cheng’s shoulders that the original silence was broken.
Pei Cheng stood dumbfounded in place, without the slightest resistance.
Only after the cold, gloomy air that had tightly wrapped around him moved away did Pei Cheng finally let out a breath as if he had come back to life.
Pei Cheng had never known that when Jiang Linzhi approached him, he would actually be so frightened that he could not catch his breath.
Jiang Linzhi held his hands behind his back and looked down at Pei Cheng from above. “Since you have returned to the main residence, live your days well from now on. Don’t think about all that other nonsense. As for your natal family, you still ought to keep in contact; don’t let the relationship grow distant.”
Pei Cheng raised his head, only to find that he could see nothing but Jiang Linzhi’s chin.
He had never known that Jiang Linzhi was actually so much taller than him—so much so that he had to look up to see Jiang Linzhi’s expression.
Jiang Linzhi lowered his eyes, his cold gaze sweeping across Pei Cheng’s face. “Anything else?”
Pei Cheng suppressed the odd feeling in his heart, shook his head, and said no more.
Pei Cheng knew that Jiang Linzhi had been testing him all along. One could even say that the other had never believed him.
Pei Cheng walked to the courtyard gate, paused, and looked helplessly at Jiang Yanzhi, who was squatting in front of him, tilting his head up and staring at him without blinking. His heart softened; he also squatted down and said in a gentle tone, “Why didn’t you wait for me inside?”
Jiang Yanzhi said nothing. He stretched out both hands and obediently burrowed into Pei Cheng’s arms.
The next second, however, Jiang Yanzhi’s body stiffened. He poked his head out, stared at the cloak draped over Pei Cheng’s shoulders, pressed his lips together, and said not a word.
Pei Cheng looked at the little one in confusion, but the latter soon buried himself in his arms again, so Pei Cheng did not take the matter to heart.
Jiang Yanzhi clutched Pei Cheng’s clothes tightly with both hands. His thin, sallow little face was buried against Pei Cheng’s chest, and his eyes were full of grievance. At the same time.
Qiuyi, who was keeping watch not far away, pursed her lips, gave a scoff, twisted her waist, and went back to report.
