Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Is There Still Time
The four bodyguards moved quickly, arriving just as she finished speaking.
Unfortunately, the person behind her had already escaped through the window.
Qu Fulan was panting heavily, feeling her legs trembling a little.
The last time she faced so many thugs she wasn’t afraid, but now, facing just one, perhaps because he was too strong, she felt a heavy sense of crisis.
Pei Ji’an returned quickly, his expression serious and cold. After finding nothing during his inspection, he ordered a search everywhere, then walked up to her and looked her over.
"You’re trembling," he stated.
Qu Fulan was holding a teacup, the lid trembling with her hand, lightly hitting the rim of the cup with a faint ceramic clink.
"Yes, I’m a bit scared," Qu Fulan admitted honestly.
Being targeted by a thief and almost falling into his hands—who wouldn’t be scared?
Pei Ji’an sat down in front of her, "How did you notice something was wrong?"
After all, the other party could use the Bone Shrinking Technique, deceiving even the four bodyguards with his disguise.
Qu Fulan said, "For someone to imitate another, without long-term observation and mimicry, it’s hard to do it exactly. When I saw him, despite the resemblance, I just felt something was off; your spirits were different. Most importantly, he had hostility towards me."
Even if a person disguises well, a murderous gaze can’t be hidden.
Pei Ji’an would never show a hostile gaze towards her.
After two days of confinement and strict defense, he found no opportunity. When activities resumed in the temple today, the villain took advantage of it to enter.
With the opponent’s skills, if he had killed her immediately, she might not have had the chance to fight back. It was because the opponent still wanted to use her to escape that he didn’t kill her right away.
Holding an important hostage gives leverage for negotiation.
The only regret was that the drug she threw wasn’t poison. The incident happened suddenly, giving her little time to prepare, so she used whatever drug she had at hand, barely securing a chance to escape.
However, her drug wasn’t entirely useless. Besides temporarily confusing the enemy, it had another significant use.
Qu Fulan told this use to the Heir Pei.
Speaking of Miss Tan, after being rejected by Pei Yuan, she regretted it and asked her mother to explain to the Pei Family that those conditions were no longer necessary.
Madam Tan was embarrassed by this change of heart on her old face.
"If he agrees, it means he has feelings for you; if not, it means he’s not interested in you. We can find better, so why cling to it?"
Madam Tan also felt regret and pity in her heart, but being declined like that by the Pei Family made her unwilling to take the initiative unless they sought reconciliation.
Parents always feel their children are the best in the world, deserving of the best.
By rights, even while in mourning, Miss Tan could arrange a betrothal and marry after the mourning period, without any delay.
But her standards were high, dismissing this and that, causing a delay.
In the end, she met Pei Yuan, who she liked.
Miss Tan didn’t think her demands were excessive. She liked him and wanted to have him completely. If he felt the same, they would be a match made in heaven, promised to lifelong happiness.
But this darn guy didn’t agree to her demands, and she couldn’t let go.
She knew if she delayed much longer, she’d become the butt of jokes. When sisters gathered, others would be betrothed early, while she’d be laughed at secretly by many.
If she married Mr. Pei, those sisters would surely envy her.
"Mother, just find someone to talk to them. The Pei Family will agree," Miss Tan pleaded with her mother. "Your daughter is of age, she can’t wait any longer."
Good men are scarce in this world. Once you find one, marry first, and deal with other matters once she’s the mistress of the house.
Madam Tan also approved of Mr. Pei; among so many, he alone satisfied her. She was just slightly concerned about that child, but thought differently—that without that child, her daughter might not have this chance.
"Alright, for you, mother will try again. But if it fails, don’t cry."
Miss Tan was convinced Mr. Pei would agree. She had already compromised so much.
Besides, when they met, he was attentive to her, indicating he had feelings too. He just might never have received such conditions before, needing time to accept them.
Compared to Mr. Pei’s marriage troubles, Third Miss’s path seemed much smoother.
While sitting in the pavilion with her sisters, a servant brought some snacks.
"These are snacks sent by Mr. Wen, please enjoy," the servant said.
"Go back and thank Mr. Wen for his thoughtfulness; we’ll gladly accept," Fang Yuan said with a smile.
"Mr. Wen is such a considerate person, Third Sister is fortunate," Cheng Ru said, fanning herself.
Third Miss blushed at their teasing but didn’t forget to tip the servant some money.
In the evening, after bidding her sisters farewell, Third Miss returned to her room.
After sitting for only a short while, she heard voices outside.
Third Miss opened the door and saw the same servant from earlier.
The guards, not recognizing him, wouldn’t let him pass.
"Third Miss, our master sent me to bring you some fruit," the servant said.
Third Miss had someone accept the fruit, and the servant added, "Our master said the peaches are the best."
Then he left.
The peaches are the best?
Third Miss saw that the peaches were at the bottom of the fruit tray. Why put the best things at the bottom?
She didn’t think much of it and started taking other fruits, but when she took out a peach from the bottom, she unexpectedly discovered a letter beneath it.
Curious, Third Miss picked up the letter and opened it, her heart beating rapidly.
He asked her to meet him at the Crescent Pavilion to talk.
Before she could think further, there was a knock on the door.
"Third Miss." It was Qu Fulan’s voice.
Third Miss quickly hid the letter and got up to open the door.
"Fulan, what brings you here?"
Qu Fulan handed her a prepared medicine pouch, "For you and the sisters, it might come in handy for self-defense."
With the recent confinement lifted, allowing free movement, there was no guarantee villains wouldn’t target other Pei Family ladies. Anyway, as a doctor, it was reasonable for Qu Fulan to make some medicine pouches for everyone’s self-defense.
Third Miss hurriedly invited her in, "Thank you, Fulan, for your thoughtfulness. Come in for tea and some fruit."
Originally not intending to enter, Qu Fulan sat for a while at her insistence. Third Miss washed grapes and handed them to her. Qu Fulan took one and was about to eat it.
Just then, someone came looking for her, saying the Princely Heir had returned and wanted to see her.
Qu Fulan got up to leave, and on her way out, Third Miss handed her some grapes. Unable to refuse, Qu Fulan took them and ate them on the way.
As she ate, she gradually stopped.
The grape about to go into her mouth was halted at her lips.
"What’s wrong?"
The Princely Heir approached.
Qu Fulan looked at Pei Ji’an, and something suddenly flashed in her mind.
She seemed to understand why, in the original story, Third Miss ended up swallowing gold!