Lu Teng lowered her head, no longer paying attention to the commotion outside, focusing only on what she needed to do.

At the doorway, Meng Xian Yan looked at the person standing by the couch, her face unable to hide her shock.

How could Pei Yunying suddenly appear here?

Today the Emperor had hosted a banquet at Ming Lin Garden, with Pei Yunying and Prince Wen attending court together, and the banquet wouldn’t end until nightfall. Even if Pei Yunying’s people had secretly sent word and he had rushed here after receiving the news, where was Prince Wen? Why wasn’t he here?

Seeming to realize something, Meng Xian Yan’s beautiful face twisted slightly with fear.

Pei Yunying had come for his sister, and with Prince Wen absent, who in the manor could protect her now?

Meng Xian Yan couldn’t help taking a step back.

She feared Pei Yunying.

While Princess Pei Yunshu appeared aloof and cold, she was weak and easily bullied. Her kind-heartedness resulted in everyone in the manor treating her with disrespect and deceit. But her younger brother, born of the same mother, had an entirely different temperament.

This man was strikingly handsome, with a witty and cheerful disposition. Young as he was, he enjoyed the Emperor’s favor and had the Marquis of Zhaoning as his father. Yet this noble son showed none of the arrogance typical of wealthy young lords. He was polite and smiled even at servants and lowly folk. Every time he visited the manor, he set the young maids’ hearts aflutter, and even Meng Xian Yan had to admit that if Pei Yunying had intentionally tried to seduce her, she might not have been able to resist.

But she didn’t dare.

Meng Xian Yan still remembered her father, the Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud, standing before her with a grave face, warning her not to contend with Pei Yunshu. He spoke of Pei Yunying’s dark ruthlessness, of how those who opposed him at court mysteriously met with misfortune, of how when this young master of the Zhaoning Marquis was killed, the blood of his victims could dye an entire stream red.

He had said: “You’ve always been competitive, and in the past the Prince protected you, but now Pei Yunying has returned to the capital. He’s a madman – don’t offend him, or he’ll dare to move against anyone!”

Meng Xian Yan had scoffed – her father had always been timid and fearful. No matter how aggressive Pei Yunying was, he still had to observe propriety and law.

But deep down, she felt her father hadn’t exaggerated.

Because it wasn’t just her – even Prince Wen showed hints of wariness in his eyes whenever he faced Pei Yunying.

Now this man, whom even Prince Wen feared, had come with Imperial Guards to demand justice – how could she escape unscathed?

Pei Yunshu’s intermittent moans came from the room. Meng Xian Yan snapped back to reality, her gaze sweeping over the guard’s corpse lying in a pool of blood, her eyelids twitching involuntarily as her fear grew.

Lu Han had been Prince Wen’s most trusted guard, yet he had killed him without hesitation…

A thought suddenly struck her – Pei Yunying would never let her go!

Meng Xian Yan raised her eyes fearfully.

The Imperial Guards had surrounded the doorway. Before the pale gauze curtain stood the young man, his crimson embroidered clothes startlingly bright against the bloody floor, while the cold glint of the blade at his waist cast an awful killing intent over his handsome features.

Gone was his usual bright friendliness. His expressionless gaze fixed on Meng Xian Yan was as cold as if he were looking at a corpse.

Meng Xian Yan felt chilled to the bone under his stare. She stepped back, nearly tripping on her skirts, and pleaded: “Commander Pei, these people conspired to harm the Princess—”

Pei Yunying gave a short laugh.

When he smiled, his features became even more striking, but his dark eyes were filled with mockery.

Meng Xian Yan felt her heart race at his laugh, then heard him sneer: “They’re my people. Are you suggesting that this young master would try to harm the Princess in broad daylight?”

She froze for a moment, suddenly understanding.

No wonder these people were so loyal to Pei Yunshu, no wonder she could never buy off these two maids – because they were Pei Yunying’s people placed by Pei Yunshu’s side!

But new servants in the Prince’s manor all underwent strict screening by the Prince’s men to prevent infiltration by those with ulterior motives.

How dare he, and how could he so openly place people in the manor?

Wasn’t he afraid of arousing the Emperor’s suspicion?

As Meng Xian Yan stood shocked, Pei Yunying seemed tired of talking to her and raised his hand indifferently: “Take her away.”

How could the manor’s guards compare to the mighty Imperial Guards? In moments, they had subdued all the guards, servants, and matrons both inside and outside the room.

Meng Xian Yan struggled desperately as the Imperial Guards pressed her toward the door: “Let me go!”

Since entering the Prince’s manor, she had always been Prince Wen’s favorite. Though titled a consort, her status far exceeded that of Princess Pei Yunshu. Now, to be arrested like a criminal before the entire household by Pei Yunying’s men was an utter humiliation. How could she command respect in the future? How would the manor’s servants view her in their hearts?

Meng Xian Yan suddenly twisted around, gnashing her teeth as she shouted at the figure before the curtain: “Have you gone mad? I am the Prince’s consort – how dare you treat me like this! The Prince won’t let you get away with this when he returns!”

How could Pei Yunying be so brazen in someone else’s Manor? Did he truly think the capital’s laws couldn’t touch him? This was outrageous!

“Won’t let me get away with it?”

He started as if hearing something amusing. His smile grew more brilliant, but his dark eyes held the coldness of winter forest snow, utterly chilling.

He spoke softly: “You’d better pray my sister remains safe, otherwise…”

“Not one person who acted today will escape.”

The Imperial Guards, well-trained, moved swiftly to drag away the crowd at the door. The corpses in the room were also cleaned away. Only Pei Yunshu’s painful moans echoed in the room.

With the obstacles cleared, it now depended on Pei Yunshu herself.

Lu Teng didn’t look up: “Everyone else out, leave Yin Zheng to help me.”

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying instinctively looked to Pei Yunying, who gave them a slight nod, and they immediately withdrew.

Only Pei Yunying remained in the room.

Lu Teng: “You too, out.”

The gauze hung high above the bed like light smoke, blurring the crimson figure outside like a tender old dream.

He shifted, walked toward the door, took two steps, and then suddenly stopped.

The wind stirred the moonlit gauze, making the figure behind the curtain appear and disappear. The young man’s voice had lost its usual casual laughter, showing unfamiliar complex restraint.

“Doctor Lu,” he asked, “Can I trust you?”

Lu Teng’s movements paused.

The room was quiet except for the woman’s scattered moans. The crimson reflection on the gauze was like a blooming peony, graceful in form, yearning for spring’s emotion.

After a moment of silence, Lu Teng lowered her head again and spoke calmly.

“When treating and saving patients, I am simply a doctor.”

…

Pei Yunying waited in the courtyard for a long time.

Moonlight spilled like water across the ground, gently illuminating the entire courtyard. Osmanthus flowers floated like jade, the night air was clean and cool – on this fifteenth of August in the capital, the full moon was especially clear.

The young man stood in the courtyard, silent as a stone. Silver moonlight flowed through the fragrant osmanthus clusters, then washed over the faint gold floral patterns on his embroidered clothes, finally gently tracing his features, leaving a mesmerizing gleam in his eyes.

He kept gazing at the latticed window.

The dim yellow light from the small window made this already quiet night seem even more desolate. He watched silently as if he would stand there until the end of time.

The guard at his side advised: “Master, perhaps you should rest.”

Pei Yunying gently shook his head, but his grip on his blade tightened.

Intermittent low moans came through the latticed window, and occasionally maids would come out carrying silver basins. Those basins of bloodied water were painfully red, disturbing to anyone who saw them.

He lowered his eyelids, long lashes hiding the look in his eyes.

When his mother died, she too had bled profusely.

At fourteen, he didn’t understand, trying desperately and clumsily to cover her neck wound with his hands, but the blood still gushed out endlessly, instantly soaking his hands. The woman who had always loved to smile held him tightly in her arms, that warm liquid flowing continuously from her body, becoming sticky and cold. His mother looked at him, those eyes usually full of laughter now holding only heartache and longing, as life gradually drained away.

Gasping for breath, she spoke urgently: “Ying’er… Ying’er, protect your sister… run quickly!”

Run quickly.

Those were his mother’s last words.

Pei Yunying closed his eyes briefly.

He had promised his mother to protect Pei Yunshu, but as a youth, he couldn’t even control her marriage. When he learned that Marquis Zhaoning Pei Di planned to send Pei Yunshu to the palace, he tried desperately to prevent it but was powerless.

Then he understood – he needed power. He didn’t want to be controlled by the Pei family. He wanted to determine the fate of both himself and his sister. Being the heir to the Marquis of Zhaoning wasn’t enough.

So he left the manor and the capital, allied himself with others, and climbed upward by any means necessary. He obtained conditions that could let him bargain with Pei Di, but when he returned to the capital, he discovered Pei Yunshu had already married.

Pei Yunshu hadn’t entered the palace but instead, the Prince’s manor, married to that waste Mu Sheng.

He was one step too late – he was always one step too late.

Just like when he learned of Pei Yunshu’s trouble at Ming Lin Garden today, he felt the same self-hatred for his powerlessness as he had years ago. In that instant, intense anger swept over him, making him want to slaughter everyone in Prince Wen’s manor. But in the end, he only rose with restraint, explained the matter to the Emperor, and rushed back with the Imperial Guards.

He was no longer the reckless, ignorant young master of the Pei family from years ago. The bullying and scheming his sister had endured in this Manor – he would make them pay for every bit of it. Whether it was Meng Xian Yan, Mu Sheng, or anyone else.

“Waaah—”

A loud infant’s cry pierced the sky, breaking the deathly silent night.

Yin Zheng’s joyful voice floated out from the small window, “A girl! The Princess has given birth to a little girl! Congratulations, Princess, congratulations!”

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying waiting at the door immediately brightened and hurried inside. Pei Yunying stood frozen, as if unable to believe his ears. After a moment, he seemed to come to his senses and took several steps to the door, only to be blocked by Yin Zheng’s arm.

Yin Zheng hesitated: “Sir, Miss has just delivered the young lady, but the young lady was born with poison in her body. Miss still needs to remove the poison – it will take some time. You cannot enter now.”

Pei Yunying’s expression changed slightly.

Yes, safe delivery was only the first step. His sister had been unknowingly poisoned in the Prince’s manor, and her child was daily consumed by toxins. Lu Teng had only managed to bring the child out at the last moment before the poison could consume her completely, but that was just the beginning.

This newborn girl’s future was still like a pitch-black night, murky and unclear.

The person before him had a grave expression, seeming to emit a slight chill. Yin Zheng felt inexplicably nervous, hearing Pei Yunying ask coldly: “How is the Princess?”

The earlier pressure dissipated, and Yin Zheng secretly sighed in relief, “The Princess is fine, just somewhat weak. Lord Pei need not worry.”

He said nothing more, so Yin Zheng quickly ducked back inside. This Lord Pei, when not smiling, always made people feel quite pressured.

He didn’t leave, still waiting at the door, quietly listening to the infant’s soft cries from within. The sound was very weak, like a newborn kitten, making tiny mewling sounds as it stretched out its paws to softly scratch, yet it held a strange vitality that was particularly moving in the night.

Guard Chi Jian walked to Pei Yunying’s side, sincerely happy for him, but amid the joy, there was also a hint of uncertain doubt. He quietly reminded: “Master, can that Doctor Lu be trusted?”

Chi Jian had been present the night Lu Teng detained Duan Xiaoyan. He had personally witnessed how that seemingly gentle and charming female doctor had confronted Pei Yunying, her mocking tone, challenging gaze, and unhesitating scheme to frame Duan Xiaoyan – none of it inspired belief that she had no ulterior motives.

And now, the lives of Pei Yunshu and her daughter were in her hands, at her mercy.

Pei Yunying lowered his eyes in silence.

After a moment, he spoke softly: “I have no other choice.”

After learning of Pei Yunshu’s pregnancy, he arranged for Fang Zi to enter her courtyard, then sent Qiong Ying. The servants in Pei Yunshu’s courtyard were carefully screened, and food and daily necessities were checked meticulously without fail. Physicians would come to check her pulse periodically, but even so, Pei Yunshu had been poisoned right under his nose.

Those palace physicians prided themselves on their medical skills, yet they couldn’t even discover Pei Yunshu’s poisoning. Since they couldn’t even detect it, believing they could cure it would be laughable. He didn’t want to trust Lu Teng – this female doctor was full of lies, without a single truth, killing, framing, falsely accusing – yet he had to place his precious person before her.

Because right now, only Lu Teng could save her.

He didn’t typically pray to gods or buddhas and usually sneered at people begging deities for mercy in their darkest hours, but at this moment, he prayed to the void, willing to trade his remaining life span for the safety of Pei Yunshu and her daughter.

The pale moonlit gauze curtain was like smoke and mist, softly covering the slender figure before the couch. Her voice was cool without a ripple, like a mountain peak’s stone or a valley’s flower, enduring wind and rain, leaving a lasting impression in one’s heart.

“When treating and saving patients, I am simply a doctor.”

Just a doctor…

Pei Yunying’s gaze shifted slightly.

He could threaten Meng Xian Yan, threaten Mu Sheng, but he couldn’t threaten a madwoman who could die together with others at any moment. She couldn’t be threatened, so he could only trust her.

There were extremely few people in this world he trusted, but he hoped she would prove worthy.

Someone approached in the courtyard – it was guard Qing Feng. Qing Feng stopped before Pei Yunying and said quietly: “Master, Prince Wen has returned to the manor and is extremely angry about you detaining his guards and Consort Meng. He’s confronting the Imperial Guards at the courtyard gate, demanding you release them immediately.”

Pei Yunying gave a derisive laugh, his smile somewhat contemptuous.

At Ming Lin Garden, when he received the news, Mu Sheng was already tipsy. He had asked leave of the Emperor but deliberately left out Mu Sheng. The Emperor always had a malicious interest in the subtle tensions between his officials’ families but that didn’t stop him. His Imperial Guards had surrounded Pei Yunshu’s courtyard, preventing anyone from the Prince’s manor from approaching.

It was indeed like a cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest.

However…

A mere waste, daring to shout at him.

The young man took two steps forward, the gentleness and quietness from standing beneath the window instantly falling away, his features becoming ice-cold as if he were a different person.

His voice too was merciless, speaking softly: “Tell him to get far away, otherwise…”

“I’ll flay his beloved consort alive before his eyes.”