Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Interrogation
After giving instructions, Pei Ji’an walked inside with one hand behind his back.
But after a few steps, the more he thought about it, the more something felt wrong.
He summoned guards Shi Yi, Shi Er, Shi San, and Shi Si.
"How did Xiao Shiqing know about this place? You follow me all day and didn’t notice any movement?"
Shi Yi and the others looked at each other for a while, momentarily unable to explain.
Pei Ji’an saw this and frowned, "Speak if you have something to say. Since when did the Pei Family guards become so hesitant?"
Shi Yi immediately said, "Yesterday, Miss Qu met with Prince Xiao, and shortly afterward, a group began investigating around here."
They naturally knew, but since their duty was to protect secretly and the other party hadn’t done anything, they didn’t come forward.
They just didn’t expect someone to investigate yesterday, and today Prince Xiao’s people came by to deliver something.
Perhaps Miss Qu is aware of this?
After all, what was said during yesterday’s meeting with Prince Xiao, they didn’t know.
Pei Ji’an laughed in anger, "They met yesterday, how come I didn’t know?"
Shi Yi and the others immediately understood something was amiss, and dared not hide anything. They explained everything truthfully about yesterday’s occurrences.
How they met, how long they talked, they said it all, but didn’t know what was specifically said.
There was no one else in the private room at the time, two young maids stood guard outside, so even if they wanted to investigate, they couldn’t find a way.
After listening, Pei Ji’an called upon guards Qi, Ba, Jiu, and Shi Si.
"Yesterday when Shi Yi came looking for me, were you blocking him outside the door?" Pei Ji’an asked with a smile.
Having followed the Heir Pei for so long, these guards knew a real smile from a fake one, and immediately, cold sweat broke out. Knowing the situation was bad, they dared not tell a lie, "Y-yes, we saw the heir was very busy, so, so we didn’t tell the heir..."
Pei Ji’an’s smile remained unchanged, "Look at that, I’ve trained people who know to make decisions on their own, thinking I’m dead?"
Lao Qi and the others immediately knelt down, "We don’t dare!"
"You say you don’t dare after it’s done?" Pei Ji’an sneered coldly.
"Please, heir, punish us!"
Lao Qi and the others knocked their heads on the ground.
Pei Ji’an’s smile gradually faded to none and, word by word, he said, "Go accept your punishment, contemplate facing the wall. If there’s a next time, I’ll personally skin you."
Lao Qi and the others shivered and expressed their gratitude.
The guards’ punishment was to first kneel for four hours, then receive fifty lashes.
For those trained in martial arts, it’s not that they couldn’t bear it; it’s just that their cleverness had displeased the master, which was truly unforgivable.
Even though Shi Yi and the others felt vindicated, they didn’t dare gloat, fearing the slightest mistake would have them as the next punished.
Pei Ji’an arrived at the backyard, where Qu Fulan had organized the maids and elderly to set the dinner table; when she saw him arrive, she casually said, "I heard some people came outside, what’s that about?"
This residence is just a two-part building; it’s impossible for the rear to be unaware of what’s happening at the front.
Not to mention today so many people came, bringing quite a lot of maids. When Mrs. Chen went to open the front door, someone noticed.
Pei Ji’an couldn’t help but think the house was indeed too small, creating many inconveniences. Anything he did, others knew about, yet he opened his mouth very earnestly, "Oh, they got lost and came asking for directions."
Listening to this, Qu Fulan only found it strange; what sort of people would come here asking for directions? But she paid it no mind.
Dinner soon began; originally everyone was discussing the issues of mahjong, who lost money, who won money, etc., but once they sat at the table, they were captivated by the enticing smell of the dishes.
The dishes were brought up plate by plate, starting with a large platter, containing thin skewers, with various meats and vegetables, all soaking in red broth, sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Just looking at them made one’s mouth water.
"What kind of delicacy is this? Just looking makes one drool," Fang Yuan swallowed his saliva and said.
Qu Fulan smiled and explained to everyone, "This is Bobo chicken, skewered with boneless chicken pieces, chicken feet, chicken heart, pork skin, lotus slices, black fungus, and so on."
Just hearing about it made it seem delightful; if not for his upbringing, Fang Yuan would have eagerly eaten right away, but managed to hold back, waiting for all the dishes to be served before starting.
As soon as the first dish was explained, the second dish was served; everyone saw it was chicken wings, but they seemed different from the chicken wings usually eaten, so big and round, where did such big chicken wings come from?
Qu Fulan explained again, "These are stuffed chicken wings, filled with glutinous rice, with seasonings sprinkled on the outside. Not much of this dish is made, everyone can have only one each, as glutinous rice is hard to digest."
Then the third dish came out, which was eggplant stuffed with meat, followed by the fourth, fifth...
The last dish was secret pork ribs noodles.
As for the so-called secret pork ribs noodles, it was once desired by Master Lu when it was being made.
"Did you make all of this?" Third Miss asked in amazement.
Qu Fulan replied, "There were helpers, otherwise I couldn’t have made so much by myself."
Ultimately, it was all her ideas, these many varieties, maids, and others merely assisted.
Third Miss and Fang Yuan were truly impressed by Qu Fulan.
Since all dishes were served and Mrs. Pei started eating, everyone followed.
Fang Yuan started with the Bobo chicken; picking up the bamboo skewer made for easy eating.
A bite into the delicately seasoned sauce indeed presented a unique flavor; trembling bamboo skewer tips with chicken soaked in broth, bright red juices slowly dripping down the chicken, sesame’s richness mingled with spicy chicken flavor emulated on the tongue, snowy tender lotus slices, smooth and thick black fungus, a meat-vegetable combination enticed one to skewer after skewer.
And those stuffed chicken legs, eggplant stuffed with meat, pork ribs noodles, etc., all were immensely tasty.
"Fulan, whoever marries you is blessed for life," Fang Yuan spoke after eating, bluntly without the slightest feminine bashfulness.
Fortunately, after a day of bickering, especially with the Truth or Dare game, many outrageous things had been said, making this comment rather insignificant now.
The conversation somehow shifted to Heir Pei.
Speaking of her grandson, Mrs. Pei had much to say.
"Don’t be deceived by his mature manners now; when he was young, he was so naughty that even dogs found him bothersome. If I hadn’t shielded him, who knows how many times his father would have beaten him."
This topic was particularly interesting to Prince An and the others, prompting them to ask, "What did he do to get beaten by Uncle?"
In fact, Prince An and Mr. Wei had grown up together, and which child hadn’t been beaten before? Single beatings were light; a combined beating from the parents was the most torturous.
They met Pei Ji’an in the academy, and before Pei Ji’an arrived, they were the most formidable in the academy, untouchable, known as the four young masters of the Capital City.
Later when Pei Ji’an arrived, he appeared so innocent that he tricked them; they considered making him their underling, only to be severely whipped by him and pressed onto the ground.
This led to submission, with Pei Ji’an as their leader, leading them to carve out a legacy within the academy.
Mrs. Pei laughed, "Since young, he loved causing trouble; gathering to fight was mild. Leading classmates to burn the sleeping master’s beard, framing others; during swimming trips, organizing classmates to steal clothes, leaving others without clothes; also, I don’t know how he learned some officials’ secrets, used for blackmail; his childhood pocket money came from this. The whole family thought he would turn villainous. I thus prayed sincerely, hoping he wouldn’t stray. Fortunately, he grew up righteous. Now I visit the temple yearly to fulfill vows, isn’t it for this reason?"