Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Miss Li?
At the other end of the arched bridge, beneath the ancient locust tree, beside the round stone table, a young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture like jade.
He wore a purple straight-cut court robe, a girdle of matching color with a gold spiderweb pattern at his waist, his black hair fixed with a jade-gold crown, his back long and straight, exuding an innate nobility and coldness.
There was a great sense of solemnity and seriousness as if he was preparing to interrogate a prisoner.
Even under the bright sun, there was an inexplicable chill that could not be dispelled.
Qu Fulan suppressed the inexplicable tension in her heart and walked onto the three-meter long arched bridge.
During this time, she kept recalling the recent events in her mind. She hadn’t done anything out of line, nor had she made any mistakes. Why was Heir Pei in such a serious state?
Was it directed at her, or was there something else?
By the time she crossed the short arched bridge and stepped onto the stone steps, she still hadn’t come up with a clue.
Given the Heir Pei’s hearing, he surely heard her footsteps, yet he did not turn around, as if enveloped in a transparent barrier, unable to hear anything.
Qu Fulan collected her jumbled emotions, adjusted her expression, and walked forward, slightly bowing.
"Princely Heir."
Her voice seemed to penetrate the transparent barrier, which shattered instantly.
The detached and aloof feeling around Pei Ji’an vanished in an instant. He turned around, looked at her, and his face returned to the calm and untroubled demeanor of the past.
He even gave her a light smile and gestured with his hand, "Sit."
After speaking, he sat down first.
The table was already set with a tea set, and the pot on the stove beside it was steaming, suggesting that the water inside was already boiling.
The man’s slender fingers picked up the teapot and began to brew the tea.
Qu Fulan hurriedly stood up to offer, "Princely Heir, let me do it."
The man ignored her, poured water to warm the cup, brewed a cup of tea, and handed it to her. Qu Fulan took it, thanked him, sat down again, but did not drink.
"Why did the Princely Heir summon me?" If he didn’t speak first, she would ask directly; there was no need to beat around the bush or test the waters.
Qu Fulan was not one to seek victory or hegemony. Even in modern times, she had suffered at her boss’s hands. When not at the same level, better to not attempt a comeback but to do well in one’s duties.
Not acting rashly avoids courting death.
This Heir Pei before her was far more formidable than a modern boss. Thinking she could outsmart him was fanciful; after all, he was a victor from the battlefield, carrying real wit and strategy far beyond her experience in mere commerce.
"This is the latest tribute of tea from various states, the quality is superb, and the taste is excellent. Try it," Pei Ji’an said warmly.
Qu Fulan instantly felt the saying "there’s no such thing as a free lunch," and if not for Heir Pei drinking a sip in front of her, she might have suspected the tea was poisoned.
She took a sip; whether it tasted good or not, she couldn’t tell. With the current ambiguous situation high on alert in her heart, where was there any mood to savor the tea?
"Has the Princely Heir encountered some good fortune today?" Qu Fulan dared not play any "enemy inactive so I remain inactive" tactics, still speaking very straightforwardly.
Pei Ji’an ignored her question and poured himself another cup of tea, asking, "This Lixiang Courtyard, are you comfortable residing there?"
Qu Fulan could somewhat see the current situation; the person opposite was like a lazy lion, casually and leisurely toying with the prey held in his palm.
Qu Fulan was precisely this prey, yet she didn’t understand why she had become prey.
But she knew, since the situation was under his control, it was best to follow his rhythm, hurriedness was of no use.
"I am comfortable," she replied truthfully.
"Do you sleep soundly at night?"
"I sleep soundly."
"It’s said that those who have done nothing wrong have no fear of ghosts knocking at midnight. It seems Fulan is someone who is true to her conscience, enabling her to sleep soundly every night."
Why did it suddenly involve doing something wrong? What wrong had she done? The more Qu Fulan listened, the more confused she became, "Princely Heir seems to speak with a deeper meaning? Fulan is dull and doesn’t understand, I ask the Princely Heir to enlighten me clearly."
"Do not do to others what you do not want done to you—such a simple truth, how does Miss Qu not understand? Or perhaps, should I address you as Miss Li?" Pei Ji’an spoke with a facade of a smile.
Qu Fulan’s eyes widened in disbelief, an indescribable shock—did he know?!
When did he find out, and how much did he know? Where had she slipped?
A series of questions entangled her heart like vines and spread out, seeming to suffocate her entirely.
Pei Ji’an took in her shocked and flustered expression, the corners of his lips curving slightly wider, "Do you think our conversation from here should be straightforward, or continue with pretense?"
Qu Fulan tightly gripped the teacup in her hand, looking at Pei Ji’an.
Though he smiled, it felt like a smile concealing a knife within.
She felt an invisible pressure.
The book mentioned Heir Pei’s smile concealing a knife; when reading, it was just words, though admired, it was hard to truly empathize.
Now, the chill that surged from her heart was real and experienced firsthand.
In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Qu Fulan’s mind.
Ultimately, all thoughts converged into one: honesty.
At this point, all excuses and dying struggles would only worsen matters.
Better to be honest, honest for lenience.
So, she quickly calmed down, steadied her mind, and lowered her eyes, stating, "I choose to be straightforward."
Pei Ji’an’s smile widened, "A wise person who understands the times, Miss Li is insightful and decisive, worthy of admiration."
Whether he admired her or not, she didn’t care; his current address for her was also not her concern. What she cared most about now was—
"Since I choose honesty, will the Princely Heir first inform me exactly where I slipped up, so I can understand and avoid being complacent in the conversation ahead and making a fool of myself in front of the Princely Heir?"
Pei Ji’an, hearing this, chuckled a few times, "Astute as you are, you haven’t forgotten to leave yourself room even now. Well, it’s not any crucial secret, no harm in telling you."
...
Xiao Family.
"What? Not a single one of our people sent out has returned?!"
Inside the room, Xiao Shinuan was shocked and sat down heavily on the armchair.
"Yes, miss, the assassins we hired at a great price, not only did none return, even the contact person for that organization has disappeared. Could it be we were deceived?" her trusted maid worriedly said.
Xiao Shinuan was not concerned about that issue; being deceived would be fine, but if the plan failed and they were captured, that would be most disastrous.
Previously, Mrs. Zhao clearly intended to make Li Jirou a concubine for Old Master Zhao, yet it had been delayed for so long without any movement, coupled with what elder brother said, Xiao Shinuan naturally couldn’t sit still.
Rather than pinning hopes on others, why not take matters into her own hands?
Her intention was to kill Li Jirou, so that once elder brother found out, he would certainly give up.