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

Chapter 38 Will you keep my secret?

Two days later, Xiang Ning finally finished embroidering the handkerchiefs. After saying a word to Bi Tao, she left the Pei residence with the pile of handkerchiefs.

When Li Niangzi arrived at Ruyi Embroidery Workshop on Pingshun Street, she was overjoyed to see Xiang Ning.

"You're here."

Lady Li pulled Xiang Ning directly into the backyard of the embroidery workshop.

"Is there some good news? Why is my wife so happy?"

Xiang Ning asked with a smile, and Madam Li looked at her with a smile and said, "You are truly my lucky star."

"The peony and phoenix painting you revised last time was very popular with the lady of the government office. The painting was originally intended as a birthday gift for her mother. After seeing it at the family banquet, many people came to my embroidery shop to place orders."

"I just didn't say it was you, knowing that you probably wouldn't want to stand out."

Lady Li asked Xiang Ning to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.

"Thank you, madam."

Xiang Ning nodded gently. She just wanted to exchange some money so that she could save enough to redeem herself as soon as possible.

She didn't want to expose herself too much, and she was very grateful to Li Niangzi for taking the initiative to cover her up.

He only made a move last time to gain Li Niangzi's favor.

"By the way, if you have some free time, why don't you embroider this picture of two phoenixes flying together? The lady of the government specifically asked for you, but as I said, I'll ask around for you. It all depends on you."

Hearing what Madam Li said, Xiang Ning gently shook her head: "I have to serve my master in the mansion, so I really don't have much energy. I just embroidered these handkerchiefs when my master wasn't home."

Embroidering such a large piece would require too much effort for Xiang Ning, and she couldn't keep her skills hidden.

She didn't want to cause trouble.

Madam Li was somewhat disappointed, but she didn't say much.

Being a maid in a wealthy family is already difficult. It is said that scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are at the bottom of society, but in reality, those who serve as slaves or maids are at the very bottom.

"Alright, I'll talk to the lady of the yamen later and have someone settle the payment for you."

As she spoke, Madam Li called for someone to fetch the money. Xiang Ning thanked Madam Li, received her due wages, and then left.

Madam Li told her to come back in a few days, saying there might be new orders to do, and Xiang Ning agreed to all of them.

After leaving Ruyi Embroidery Shop, Xiang Ning was about to buy some snacks when, unexpectedly, someone entered the restaurant across the street.

Pei Mingxiu was tall and slender, possessing a scholarly air of elegance and refinement.

The coarse linen clothes he used to wear in the mansion have been replaced with a moon-white brocade robe.

Ping An followed behind him and held up an umbrella. Pei Mingxiu reached out and took it, his well-defined hands gripping the umbrella ribs and lifting it slightly.

Caught off guard, Xiang Ning's eyes met his.

Pei Mingxiu didn't react much. He just lowered his head and said something to Ping An before walking towards Xiang Ning.

"Third Young Master."

Xiang Ning lowered her head and took a step back, her dodging manner eliciting a light laugh from Pei Mingxiu.

"Did you see everything?"

He had seen Xiang Ning coming out of Ruyi Embroidery Workshop as soon as he got off the carriage.

If he wanted to hide, Xiang Ning would never see him, but for some reason, Pei Mingxiu suddenly wanted her to see his different side.

It's as if there's a secret that belongs only to the two of them.

"This servant didn't see anything..."

Xiang Ning clenched her fists. She should have left earlier. Now look what happened, she's run into Pei Mingxiu's affair.

If he's ruthless, his own life is in danger.

"It's okay if you see it, but can you keep it a secret for me? I don't want anyone else to know."

Pei Mingxiu saw Xiang Ning lower her head and take a step back, then reached out and grabbed her: "Be careful."

There are pillars behind that; if you run into one, you'll get a bloody head wound.

"This servant really didn't see anything," Xiang Ning repeated. Pei Mingxiu laughed and said, "Alright, just pretend you didn't see anything."

The umbrella that was originally held over Pei Mingxiu's head was moved to Xiang Ning's head, and the umbrella ribs were placed in Xiang Ning's hands.

"It's raining, you should go home early."

After saying that, he paused for a moment, and then said, "Thank you for helping Ping An last time. He is very grateful to you."

"This restaurant is mine. If you ever encounter any trouble in the future, you can come here to find the manager. Consider it repayment of a favor I owe you."

After Pei Mingxiu finished speaking, he walked into the restaurant. Xiang Ning slightly parted her lips and gripped the umbrella in her hand tightly.

He didn't look like someone who was bullied and humiliated at will, as he did in the mansion.

For a moment, the gaze directed at her made Xiang Ning feel as if it were directed at Pei Yanzhi.

This third young master is definitely not as simple as the people in the manor think.

And today she stumbled upon his secret.

Xiang Ning took a deep breath, turned and left. In the private room on the second floor of Zhenweizhai Restaurant, Pei Mingxiu stood there watching the girl's back and smiled.

"You've let that Miss Xiangning know your identity. Won't she be too talkative and expose you in the future?"

Ping An poured Pei Mingxiu a cup of tea and asked him a question.

Pei Mingxiu countered with, "What do you think?"

"Miss Xiang Ning doesn't seem like that kind of person."

In his heart, Ping An felt that Xiang Ning was far better than the maids in the Pei household.

They neither fawn over the powerful nor flatter the weak; they simply do their own thing quietly and steadily. Most importantly, they are grateful for kindness shown to them.

"She's very interesting, but I wonder if my older brother knows about her other side."

Pei Mingxiu reached out and pulled the window shut, blocking out the noise from outside.

She was obedient, sensible, and knew how to behave appropriately. She never overstepped the bounds or made any demands, so it's no wonder that Pei Yanzhi treated her differently.

But everyone has another side, and Pei Mingxiu could see that Xiang Ning was unwilling to be a servant for the rest of her life.

"The eldest young master is so cold-hearted, and he still works at the Dali Temple. People outside say that there is no case that he cannot solve once it falls into his hands."

"If Miss Xiangning is really hiding something from the young master, I'm afraid she won't have a good ending."

Ping An shrugged and said something. Upon hearing this, Pei Mingxiu didn't say anything more.

If it were someone else, they might not have had a good ending, but it's different for Xiang Ning.

The door was pushed open, and a person walked in, calling out "Master," thus ending the interlude.

After Xiang Ning returned to her residence, she put away the oil-paper umbrella. It was a hot potato to keep it in her hands.

She sighed, just in time to see Bitao walking over.

"Sister's back from outside? Did things go well?"

Knowing that Xiang Ning was going to sell embroidery, Bi Tao asked her a question. Xiang Ning nodded and handed her the candied fruit.

"I think what you're thinking about is this dried fruit."

"No way, she's thinking about her sister too."

Bitao smiled and leaned closer to the dried fruit, saying, "However, there's something I need to tell my sister."

Her face showed a hint of seriousness: "I went out today and saw that Qingzhu went to Xiuchun Courtyard. Sister, you must be very careful. Who knows what she's up to?"

Hearing Bitao say this, Xiangning also remembered.

Because of the incident of snatching flowers, Yuzhen was forced by the Second Madam to learn etiquette, and it is said that her legs were bruised from kneeling.

Although this was a warning from Pei Yanzhi, Yuzhen didn't dare to offend Pei Yanzhi, so she blamed Xiang Ning for it.

Add green bamboo...

"I understand, I will be more careful."

(End of this chapter)