The alley was near Heavenly Water Bridge, and the commotion of the fight was not small. When Ye Jingtang turned out of the dead-end alley, he could see that the street was already full of people watching the excitement nearby. Chen Biao, Yang Chao, and the other escorts were among them.
Third Lady was dressed as a woman from a merchant family. She was wearing a snow blue dress and stood at the entrance of the alley with a maidservant. She said apologetically, "Jingtang is young and rash. I will definitely discipline him well in the future. Sir She's injury…"
"Miss Pei, there's no need to be so polite. We were ordered to investigate, and the government will take care of the injury. This matter has nothing to do with Young Master Ye. Please forgive us for disturbing the Pei residence."
"It's nothing…"
Pei Xiangjun was an unmarried young lady of the Pei family. Although the shopkeepers and workers called her Third Lady, she was generally addressed as Miss Pei on formal occasions.
Ye Jingtang tidied his robe and made sure that he was presentable before walking out of the alley. Third Lady hurriedly ran over while the escorts chased away the idlers watching the commotion.
Pei Xiangjun's heart was full of anger, but she couldn't flare up. She arrived in front of Ye Jingtang and carefully examined his chest and arms. "Jingtang, are you hurt?"
Ye Jingtang wanted to say that he was fine, but he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. He pulled up his sleeve to take a look. The blood vessels on his forearm were swelling, his skin was red, and there was a dull pain.
Pei Xiangjun looked at his arm and could tell that his injury was due to withdrawing his move forcefully, causing internal energy backlash. Fortunately, the injury wasn't serious. She held Ye Jingtang's left hand and covered it with her sleeve. "How did you get hurt like this? Those constables are really…"
Ye Jingtang's hand was held. Her warm hand felt tender and smooth…
But Third Lady's concern came from the bottom of her heart. He wanted to pull his hand away. "I'm fine. It's just a scratch." But he didn't pull his hand away.
"It's just a scratch? It's already a serious injury." Pei Xiangjun pulled Ye Jingtang to the front of the carriage and pushed him up, looking fierce.
Ye Jingtang entered the carriage. He was a little unaccustomed to such overly considerate care. "Third Lady, don't be so worried. In the past, at home, my foster father chased and beat me with a stick every day. This small injury is nothing."
After Pei Xiangjin got into the carriage, she closed the curtains and got the carriage driver to return to the manor. She took out some medicinal wine and soft pillows from the side.
She placed the soft pillow on her knees and put Ye Jingtang's arm on it. "What's wrong with you? If the constables ask, just tell them the truth. Why did you pull out your saber and cut him?"
"It's a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Pei Xiangjun gently applied the medicine on his forearm, her eyes full of annoyance. "What kind of misunderstanding requires you to be so ruthless? I heard that even Grandmasters of Jianghu might not be able to injure the Iron-Armed Impermanence. How did you injure him?"
"My foster father taught me a unique skill as my trump card. I didn't expect it to be so powerful."
Hearing this, Pei Xiangjun became even angrier!
When she went to test Ye Jingtang's martial arts, Ye Jingtang had 'pretended' to know nothing.
In the end, when the Black Office came to interrogate him, Ye Jingtang took out the 'peerless saber technique'. Wasn't he courting death?
But Pei Xiangjun also wondered why the Black and White Impermanences didn't see the clues. She asked, "Did Second Brother really teach that saber technique?"
"Yes. Who else could it be?"
"What is the name of the saber technique?"
"White Slash…"
Snap~
Pei Xiangjun patted Ye Jingtang's shoulder as he spouted nonsense. She bit her lower lip, and her eyes were pitiful, looking as though she had been deceived by a heartless person. "You're even deceiving me? Do you know how scared your aunt and I were today? We were even going to look for the sirs at Literary Virtue Bridge to help intercede…"
Ye Jingtang really couldn't bear the look in her eyes and comforted her gently. "I really practiced it casually. Third Lady, don't worry. The officials have already investigated everything. There's no problem. They even gave me a token."
Pei Xiangjun knew that Ye Jingtang didn't want the Pei family to be involved in the affairs of Jianghu. After looking at Ye Jingtang for a while, she didn't ask further. She took Ye Jingtang's token and looked at it. "The token of the Prince of Jing Estate? This thing isn't simple…"
This token was equivalent to an olive branch thrown out by the Prince of Jing. If Ye Jingtang handled this properly and formed a strong relationship with the Prince of Jing, it would be equivalent to having a close relationship with the Black Office.
And the Black Office was the government office that specialized in dealing with the people of Jianghu. If such a person were in charge of the Red Flower Pavilion, it would not be an exaggeration to describe him as 'all-powerful'. Even if he didn't know martial arts, how many forces in Jianghu would dare to provoke him?
Thinking of this, Pei Xiangjun placed the token back into Ye Jingtang's hand. "You have to take good care of this token. Um… the Prince of Jing appreciates you, so you have to be sincere. I'll go prepare some things and send them to the Prince of Jing Estate in your name. You don't have to pay her a visit. If you really visit her without any special reason, it will make it seem like you don't know your place…"
"Third Lady, please make the arrangements as you see fit."
Pei Xiangjun pondered for a moment and said gently, "I'll give you a few days off. Rest well these few days and don't be busy with the matters of the shops. When I'm done preparing, come to the Pei residence. I'll introduce you to the other businesses of the Pei family and bring you to meet a few shopkeepers from other places."
Ye Jingtang was slightly surprised. "Other than Heavenly Water Bridge, the Pei family has other businesses?"
"A little."
When Pei Xiangjun thought of the internal and external troubles of the Red Flower Pavilion, she felt vexed and said quietly, "It's such a big family business. As a woman, I really have my hands full. You have been doing well these few days. In the future, you will have to take over officially and help share the burden."
"Third Lady, you're paying me such a high salary. I feel guilty because I have nothing to do. If there's anything, just arrange it."
"You said it yourself. When the time comes, you can't quit because you find it too troublesome."
"How is that possible? I always keep my promises."
Only then was Pei Xiangjun satisfied. She wiped his arm gently and virtuously.
Ye Jingtang had his hand on Third Lady Pei's legs. Although there was a soft pillow between them, this posture was indeed a little intimate.
Third Lady lowered her head to apply medicine. The pearl hairpin on her bun swayed slightly as the carriage moved forward. Her soft red lips and heavy clothes were within reach.
Ye Jingtang originally thought that his willpower was outstanding enough that he wouldn't be bewitched by beauty. But after arriving in the capital, he became less and less confident. His gaze moved away from her plump red lips, and he moved to get the medicine. "I can do it myself."
Smack!
Pei Xiangjun patted Ye Jingtang's hand. "Do you dislike me?"
"How can that be? I'm just afraid that you will be tired. Sigh~ Okay, continue…" Ye Jingtang could only retract his hand and sit upright. To be honest, he felt a little strange.
After sitting for a while, he recalled the matter of the Red Flower Pavilion and quietly looked at Third Lady a few times. She was gentle, delicate, and charming. She even spoke coquettishly at every turn. No matter how he looked at her, she didn't seem to be related to the 'female sect master' of a wealthy and powerful Jianghu sect.
It was impossible for Ye Jingtang to make a move to probe her. After looking at her for a while, he found that Third Lady had raised her eyes to look at him before shifting her gaze elsewhere…