Xu Hou Lei was staring at Pei Nan with a hint of mischievousness. He had been over at the palace bright and early the next morning. An hour had passed since he was reporting his findings to Pei Nan. But how come he felt like Pei Nan was not listening to him at all. The man sitting at the desk was furiously glaring at the corner. Any longer and he would burn a hole in it.
Xu Hou Lei walked a step forward and threw the report in his hand on the desk, catching Pei Nan by surprise.
"Your highness, if you are not going to pay attention, why did you have me come over for?" he honestly asked.
Pei Nan slightly tilted his head like a maniac. "You're job is to report to me when I want. When did it become your job to question me? If I want, I can have you report to me a hundred times. Shall I?" he warned.
"Your highness is thinking too much! Reporting once is enough. No need for a hundred times. I'm afraid my voice would bore you to death." Hou Lei joked around with him.
"Okay, okay!" Pei Nan waved his hand. "I don't want to listen anymore. You can leave."
Instead of listening, Hou Lei took it as a sign that his duty as his advisor was over for the day. This meant he could become the nosy and annoying friend, Xu Hou Lei. Hou Lei slowly walked over, step by step until he reached Pei Nan. He was carefully observing Pei Nan.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Pei Nan asked annoyed.
"No! But…" Hou Lei put a finger on his chin and carefully tried to word his next sentence in his mind. One wrong word and his head would roll. That was just how bad Pei Nan's mood was right now.
"Something's off about you. Not only are you not focused, you are more quick tempered than usual and…the annoyed look on your face. The last time I saw you like this was when Consort Pan and you had a fight."
*Slam* Pei Nan slammed both his palms on the table and glared. "When did I say I had a fight with Pan Yu Mei. It's just that she is not talking to me after the incident. How is that a fight?" He corrected the smiling Hou Lei.
"Aiya~ Pei Nan…you really don't know women. What will I do with you?" Hou Lei shook his head.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Of course Xu Hou Lei found out about what went down in the palace. Who was he after all...personal adviser and close friend. Pei Nan had actually put her in the Taiji Palace without investigation. This news had left him shocked. He was sure Pei Nan was found of Yu Mei. But this sudden move made him reanalyze the relationship of the two.
"Did you apologize?" was his first question.
"Who do you take me for? Of course I did." Pei Nan crossed his arms and looked away suspiciously.
Hou Lei knew him well enough to know that wasn't the whole truth. "If Consort Pan is still mad at you, that means that your apology was not sincere. I don't blame her for not talking to you."
"Eh? Are you on my side or hers?" A face filled with shock and disbelief.
"Of course I'm on Consort Pan's side." Hou Lei didn't think twice before answering.
"You!" Pei Nan immediately shot up from his seat.
*Hehehe* "Your highness should calm down. I don't want you to faint from an increased blood pressure." This teasing response blew up Pei Nan. He grabbed the report on the table and pushed it roughly at Hou Lei's chest. "Since you have so much idle time, finish reading these reports and report back to me tomorrow. I want you hear before the sun rises." Pei Nan started to leave before Hou Lei came back to his senses.
"Pei Nan, I'm a very busy man. How can you throw stuff at me like this?"
Pei Nan paused and slightly turned his face.
"Busy? I don't remember you being busy. I only remember you gossiping." Pei Nan sarcastically waved goodbye to him. "Remember to be here bright and early or else I'll dock your pay."
***
Speaking of Yu Mei, she was having a stroll around the garden with Chu'mei. Her mind was still focused on finding the evidence. She needed to find the connection between that maid and Fei Ning. Not to mention, Fei Ning's motive for stealing.
Who knew she would run into her arch enemy at the crossway.
Fei Ning was accompanied by her personal maid Lu'er, four maids and a servant boy. She would need to be careful not to let anything slip. Fei Ning stood mighty tall with a straight back. She looked down on Yu Mei. "I'm glad Sister Yu Mei has the courage to walk out in public. If it was me, I would't know where to put my face." She pitifully said.
"An innocent person has nothing to be embarrassed about. But what about a two-faced white lotus?" Chu'mei lightly chuckled when she heard her lady's words. Her lady was the best.
"Stupid servant. What are you laughing at?" Fei Ning snapped at Chu'mei. Chu'mei grit her teeth.
"What is Sister Fei Ning getting so worked up over? Surely you don't think I implied you? I was speaking about that thief who framed me. If they had the guts to steal, they should also have the guts to admit it. Am I right, Chu'mei?"
"Xiaojie is right! Such a coward."
Fei Ning swallowed her anger. "The thief has already been caught. If you want to scold and curse that person, I'm afraid it's too late. She's probably met the king of hell already." Fei Ning spoke.
Yu Mei took a step forward. "You're right! It's a pity she was used. We both know who is the mastermind behind this. Don't think that I will let it go just like this. I am going to find the evidence." Yu Mei bumped into her shoulder before walking away.