Chapter 487: Chapter 175 Old Friend_3

Lu Tong: "No need."

"It’s the Palace Front Office’s responsibility to compensate for the damaged Zhizi.

"Besides," he smiled, "I saw that the quality of the jade pendant is not bad; it’s warm and lustrous, must be something you treasure."

"The craftsman that Duan Xiaoyan found is very skilled at repair work. Doctor Lu can rest assured, it won’t be noticeable at all."

After saying this, he lifted the tent curtain and walked out, bending over as he left.

Lin Danqing happened to come in from outside and was startled to see him, only turning back to ask Lu Tong after watching him walk away: "Why has he come again?"

Lu Tong said nothing and picked up the medicine bottle from the table.

The medicine bottle was exquisite, with a narrow body, and the stopper was made of a small piece of red wood.

Lu Tong’s gaze flickered slightly.

Immortal Jade Skin Ointment.

She looked towards the tent.

This person...

Actually brought the same medicine as Ji Xun.

...

Once Pei Yunmeng had left the camp, he returned to the stables beneath the hunting grounds.

The moment he stepped out of the tent, the tenderness and smiles disappeared instantly, as if shedding a mask, his expression turning calm and indifferent.

The Ban Wei riders had already followed the Crown Prince and departed, leaving only a few scattered troops behind. Seeing the typically cheerful Commander’s face now sullen and dark, they dared not speak and quickly made way for him.

Xiao Zhufeng was standing in front of the horses, re-tying the reins. Seeing him arrive, he kept working without raising his head and said, "The hero returns?"

Although he loved to mock on a normal day, he restrained himself to some extent. Perhaps today, because he was particularly irritated, his words were especially cutting.

"Your act of rescue has messed up the Crown Prince’s plans. The Qi Family was already dissatisfied with you, and the teacher can’t hide it either..."

He yanked at the reins, his tone impatient: "Can’t you just endure for once?"

Pei Yunmeng stood on the side, watching him fit the reins to the horse.

"Xiao Er, do you still remember I told you, five years ago in Su Nan, I was being chased and a young girl saved me?"

The hand Xiao Zhufeng had on the reins abruptly stopped, and he lifted his gaze toward him.

"She is the one who saved me."

The night breeze on the hill was cool, causing the lights on the distant river bridges to flicker.

After a long silence, Xiao Zhufeng spoke: "So, you saved her for that reason?"

Pei Yunmeng didn’t answer.

The Palace Front Office Guards often joked about the saying—one good turn deserves another—repeating it over and over to those they had rescued.

But his reason for saving her was not this.

He remembered the moment he had seen Lu Tong during the day.

She stood amid the power brokers, bloodied, her complexion pale, and although the knuckles she clenched tightly were white, her eyes remained indifferent, refusing to show any weakness.

She was like an injured beast fighting alone against hyenas.

Determined to die rather than surrender.

In that moment, he had an intuition that if Lu Tong had really knelt before that vicious dog of the Qi Family before everyone that day, something would have been broken forever.

Actually, even if there had been no silver ring, even if she wasn’t an "old acquaintance"...

In such a situation, he was unable to remain a bystander.

"What now?" Xiao Zhufeng asked: "Offending the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion ahead of time is big trouble, and your Doctor Lu will be in danger, too."

Given Qi Yutai’s nature, it was unlikely he wouldn’t make a move against Lu Tong, who was just a female doctor from the Hanlin Medical Institute.

Pei Yunmeng said, "Starting today, I’ll have someone watching the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion’s movements, and afterwards, I need to make a trip to the palace."

"So rash?"

Pei Yunmeng remained silent.

"Never mind, it’s better than what I thought. Fortunately, you were restrained today. I was worried you might kill Qi Yutai in a fit of rage."

Pei Yunmeng interrupted him: "You’re not wrong; I did want to kill him."

Xiao Zhufeng paused.

The young man’s expression was icy cold, and in his black eyes, a killing intent slowly solidified.

When Lu Tong had been surrounded by the crowd, her body covered in wounds, he had almost been unable to resist drawing his sword to end that man.

If Yuan Zhen hadn’t been there, if he wasn’t worried about bringing her trouble, even if it would startle the snake in the grass, he would have had to kill Qi Yutai today.

Xiao Zhufeng observed his complexion.

"Even if she’s your lifesaver, why do you become so irrational whenever it involves her?"

Xiao Zhufeng said, "This isn’t like you."

The woods of Huangmao Hill were tranquil, the clouds dissipating above the mountain tops, and a bright moon shone on the mid-mountain, casting a layer of melancholy over the night.

Pei Yunmeng didn’t speak.

Why did he become unlike himself whenever it was about her? Why did he lose control when she was in trouble? Why did he get so angry when he saw her being humiliated?

All these years, his heart had long turned to stone...

People must experience hardships to grow, and he had always followed this rule, applying it to himself and others alike.

Yet, when it came to her, he felt an unbearable compassion, unwilling to see her drenched by the cruelties of the world, unwilling to watch her relentlessly crash into the south wall without turning back.

In the distance, the lanterns of the market swayed, the shadows of interlacing branches fluttering in the wind, casting a patchy pattern on the people beneath the trees.

The young man lowered his eyelids.

"I want to know why, too," he said.

Why...

Only she was different.

...

The summer nights in Shengjing were always hot.

The shadows dissipated, a clear radiance filled the air, and a breeze blew, slightly tilting the two clumps of green bamboo in the courtyard.

By the pond in the courtyard, a figure stood quietly, the full head of white hair reflecting a cold hue in the silver moonlight.

The pond water was crystal clear, reflecting a complete moon. When the fish food was sprinkled down, various colorful koi surfaced to scramble for it, scattering the light into specks like stars.

As the last bit of fish food was thrown, someone hurried onto the small bridge and stopped a few steps behind the elder, whispering, "Master, the young mistress has retired for the night."

Qi Qing nodded.

Qi Huaying had been dispirited these days.

She declined all invitations to flower viewings and banquets, lacked interest in outings and spring jaunts. As the jewel of the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, Qi Qing had invited the noble daughters that Qi Huaying used to get along with to accompany and cheer her but to no avail. And now, she would retire early at night.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the young mistress was troubled, yet no one knew why the Miss of Qi Family, who could have anything she desired at her beck and call, was so distressed.

"How went the encircled hunting ground?"

Today, Xia Miao and the royals went to Huangmao Hill for hunting. Being of advanced age, he wasn’t fit for such events anymore, but Qi Yutai still had to go with the Ban Wei.

"I was just about to report this to you, Master," the steward bowed, "Master, the hunt has been called off, and the Crown Prince and his party have returned to the palace."

"Called off?"

The steward bowed his head and narrated the accident that involved the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

After listening, Qi Qing pondered for a moment and then said, "It seems they can no longer hold back."

The steward dared not make a sound, and Qi Qing asked again, "Has the young master returned?"

"He should be arriving at our doorstep soon, but..."

"Speak."

"Master, Wood has been killed."

This time, a flash of surprise truly appeared on Qi Qing’s face as he turned around.

"Dead?"

"It seems there was some mishap at the hunting ground, the female Doctor Lu killed Wood. She should have been held accountable, but Marshal Pei stepped forward to shield her, therefore..."

He didn’t dare continue, and silence fell all around.

The eldest son had taken Wood to the hunting ground and had made arrangements with the Medical Officer Institute in advance, all for the sake of avenging Qi Huaying at the hunting event. But the plan backfired, not only losing Wood but also losing face in front of everyone.

The loss of a dog was trivial, but losing face for the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion was a grave matter, especially since they had initially set their sights on a marriage alliance with the Pei Family.

"Useless trash," Qi Qing closed his eyes, looking somewhat disdainful, "can’t even handle a small matter properly."

"Master, about the Pei Family..."

The Qi Family had invited the Prince of Zhaoning to their mansion several times, and Pei Yunmeng must have read between the lines. His father, Pei Di, was more understanding, yet he had no control over his son and couldn’t decide for Pei Yunmeng.

Initially, Qi Huaying wasn’t resistant to the marriage proposal, but now that Pei Yunmeng was involved with a common female doctor and the matter had been exposed, the engagement could no longer proceed.

"Pei Di has raised a fine son," Qi Qing said with a chuckle, his cloudy eyes reflecting the clear pond and emanating a dull white glint.

"Truly like a calf not afraid of tigers," he said with a hint of lamentation, "What a pity."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read