After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 226 The wind and moon cannot understand my longing

Xiao Ming arrived in Lin'an and uncovered Xiang Ning's true identity.

Lu Weimin and Lu Jiang were almost moved to tears, and specially hosted a banquet for Xiao Ming and the others.

The group talked about the past, including the pieced-together treasure map.

Lu Jiang, holding a wine glass, said that the treasure map looked a lot like something.

"It's an embroidery pattern."

Xiang Ning spoke up, and Lu Jiang nodded, "Yes, the embroidery pattern..."

"A-Ning, how did you know?"

After realizing what was happening, Lu Jiang was somewhat surprised, and then Xiang Ning began to explain.

“I compared that treasure map before. It looks like a map, but upon closer inspection, it always feels like it’s just an embroidery.”

"Logically speaking, if these treasure maps are put together, they should be able to find a location."

After Xiang Ning finished speaking, Chun Xi also took the two treasure maps.

She pieced the treasure map together, and Lu Jiang leaned over to look, quite surprised.

"It really does look like an embroidery."

The group gathered around, and the more they looked at it, the more it seemed like an embroidery.

"It turns out that the treasure map contained the embroidery pattern that made the Lu family rich."

Lu Weimin sat in the chair and suddenly smiled, but his eyes were quite red.

"Uncle, what do you mean by that?"

Xiang Ning looked at Lu Weimin sitting there and felt as if some knot in his heart had been untied.

Lu Weimin sighed and told them the origin of the embroidery.

The Lu family prospered because of Lu Weimin's mother, Zhao.

Zhao was very skilled at embroidery, which enabled her to have enough capital to support her father's business.

“My mother said that this embroidery is the foundation of the Lu family’s prosperity. It’s not worth much money, but it can serve as a warning to us.”

"No matter what happens in the future, never forget the path you came from."

This treasure map is a treasure to Lu Weimin and Lu Hualan.

If those who fought so fiercely over this treasure map knew that it was just an embroidered picture...

Will I die of anger?

"The meaning of 'hiding treasure' is actually one's true nature."

Lu Jiang sighed and said something. Xiang Ning lowered her eyes and looked at the treasure map, her fingertips gently tracing its surface.

When she was little, her mother taught her how to make this embroidery.

At that time, she did not know the origin of this embroidery.

After the treasure map incident was over, the banquet returned to its lively atmosphere.

Xiang Ning put away the treasure map and quietly got up from the banquet and went to the courtyard.

Tonight, the moon is bright but the stars are few; a crescent moon hangs in the sky, giving the scene a somewhat desolate feel.

Xiang Ning asked Chunxi to fetch her cloak, but before she could turn around, she was caught in a warm embrace.

The sound of his heartbeat made Xiang Ning tremble even more than her breathing.

"A Ning."

"Pei Yanzhi?"

Xiang Ning was somewhat surprised, as she had received a letter before and knew that Old Madam Pei had passed away.

Pei Yanzhi should still be in the capital at this time...

"I missed you, so I came."

Pei Yanzhi slowly released Xiang Ning. She turned around and saw the black hairband covering his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

So, this is the "see" he was referring to?

“Others said it was inappropriate for unmarried people to meet, so I covered my eyes, which is not considered overstepping the bounds.”

These words made Xiang Ning burst out laughing.

"Should I then praise your intelligence, Marquis Jian'an?"

Hearing Xiang Ning tease him like that, Pei Yanzhi pulled her back into his arms.

“Ah Ning, I’ve returned to the Pei family, but don’t worry, we won’t live with the Pei family.”

As if afraid that Xiang Ning would overthink things, Pei Yanzhi immediately offered an explanation.

Xiang Ning poked her head out from his embrace: "It's alright, the Pei family is still your family after all."

For Pei Yanzhi, who had never received parental love since childhood.

Madam Pei has already shown him much care. Pei Yanzhi's return to the Pei family is probably also because of Madam Pei.

Upon hearing this, a subtle glint flashed in Pei Yanzhi's eyes, which were hidden by a black hairband.

As Chunxi turned back to the corner of the corridor with her cloak, she saw two overlapping figures in the small garden.

She hurriedly took two steps back, blushed, and lifted her skirt to walk in the opposite direction.

The flower branches rustled in the night breeze, shaking off a few drops of night dew.

Xiang Ning's back pressed against the cool Taihu stone, while her body was enveloped in scalding hot breaths.

Pei Yanzhi's blindfold, a black headband, hung down her neck, swaying gently as he lowered his head, tickling her collarbone.

"you……"

Just as she was about to speak, a cool fingertip suddenly pressed against her throat.

Pei Yanzhi's fingertips slowly moved along his jawline, lingering on his earlobe for a moment before suddenly hooking onto the jade earring.

"do not move."

His voice was hoarser than usual, "Let me remember you as you are now."

Xiang Ning held her breath, almost afraid to wake herself from the dreamlike atmosphere.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in his hairband, casting dappled silver light on his high, straight nose.

The fingers traced along the earlobe, pausing when they touched the jade hairpin in the hair: "I gave it to you?"

"How do you know..."

Before he finished speaking, his fingertips had already touched her slightly parted lips.

Pei Yanzhi's Adam's apple trembled slightly as he chuckled, making her palm, which was pressed against his chest, go numb.

"That day I spent two hours at the Treasure Pavilion choosing a style, and the shopkeeper said that the young ladies all love this style."

“I’m so happy that A-Ning likes it.”

Xiang Ning blushed and lowered her head, suddenly noticing a new wound on the inside of his wrist, a dark red scab winding like an earthworm.

She instinctively grabbed that hand, and the silk sleeve slipped down, revealing more old scars of varying depths.

"Why are you getting hurt again?"

Pei Yanzhi shook his head as he ran his fingertips over the raised scar: "It was from when I was teaching His Majesty how to shoot arrows. It's nothing to worry about."

Moonlight streamed through his hair ribbon into his dark pupils.

He raised his hand and touched her lips: "A-Ning, you are all I have now."

"We'll never be apart, right?"

In this world, only Xiang Ning gave him a home.

A gentle breeze blew, and his kiss landed on her forehead with devotion and sincerity.

He wanted to tell Xiang Ning that these days were too unbearable.

But he was worried that he might have made some mistakes in his preparations because of the rush.

Well, good things come to those who wait. There's no rush to marry her.

However, Fengyue did not understand his longing and did not tell her his feelings.

"So this is what it means when you say 'a day apart feels like three autumns.'"

He shook his head helplessly, and Xiang Ning softly hummed in agreement, then reached out and nudged him.

"Pei Yanzhi, you should go back."

If they don't leave now, they'll be coming out after the banquet in the flower hall ends.

"Okay, got it."

He sighed and reached out to touch her hair.

"Wait for me to come and marry you."

This time, he was able to tell her to wait for him, because he would definitely come.

Xiang Ning nodded, but as Pei Yanzhi turned around, she slipped the handkerchief from her waist into his hand.

Pei Yanzhi lowered his eyes, then placed the glass to his nose.

He couldn't see it, but he could smell the fragrance of flowers spreading from the handkerchief.

It's her scent; it smells wonderful.

Pei Yanzhi didn't say much, but carefully put the handkerchief away.

The moment he turned around, the dark hairband he used to apply to his eyes was handed to her.

"Reciprocity is reciprocated."

Xiang Ning accepted it with a smile, and when she looked up again, he was already far away.

Looking again, Pei Yanzhi realized he probably wouldn't be able to leave today.

Tsk tsk tsk, these young lovers, they don't even kiss.