Chapter 32 (2/2)

Xiao Zai looked pitifully at Pei Jin. ‘Ninth prince, I did want to follow her to the Yan Manor but the wall there is too high for me to climb. In the future I’ll learn how to climb high walls.’

‘Nonsense, hurry and go follow her,’ Pei Jin said. ‘But this time be careful.’

Xiao Zai left Bei Dou’s chamber and Pei Jin’s complexion darkened.

‘What secret do you think Princess Kang Hua is hiding from your wife?’ Bei Dou asked.

Pei Jin took a deep breath. ‘I fear the death of my wife’s mother wasn’t natural.’

Bei Dou was shocked speechless.

‘Princess Kang Hua isn’t someone who can easily be threatened,’ Pei Jin said. ‘To be safe I want you to send Xiao Hui to accompany Xiao Zai. Instruct Xiao Hui to protect widow Li and don’t let widow Li be assassinated. Also, you can’t tell my wife about this.’

Yan Shi Ning loved her mother, Pei Jin feared she would do something reckless if she found out.

That evening, west of Pei Jin’s manor, widow Li got out of bed and walked to the toilet hole outside.

‘Why is there only one person home?’ Xiao Hui asked. ‘Where’s widow Li?’

Xiao Hui rolled old Li’s body over. ‘Ah! Did I kill someone?’

‘Nonsense,’ Xiao Hui said.

Xiao Hui suspected Princess Kang Hua sent an assassin to kill widow Li.

In that moment widow Li walked back toward her chamber but she saw two dark figures who were standing in front of her older cousin’s bed. She didn’t see her older cousin move and was about to scream but one of dark figures covered her mouth.

Xiao Hui and Xiao Zai carried widow Li to an abandoned shelter nearby.

‘We’re not bad people,’ Xiao Zai said. ‘Right now our master is sleeping with our mistress. It’s safe for you to sleep here tonight, tomorrow you can see our master.’

‘Who is your master?’ widow Li asked.

‘You don’t need to worry,’ Xiao Hui said. ‘What you need to know you’ll know. What you don’t need to know even if you ask no one will tell you.’

Xiao Hui and Xiao Zai walked outside the shelter. Xiao Hui locked the door while Xiao Zai cried and held Xiao Hui’s arm.

‘Someone died… scary…’ Xiao Zai muttered.

Xiao Hui pulled his arm free. ‘You can die too.’

At Pei Jin’s Manor, Yan Shi Ning was dreaming. She dreamt her mother was hugging her and singing her a song. Suddenly her mother’s body began to bleed and her mother held her hand, ‘Shi Ning, you need to live a good life. I only want you to be safe. Don’t become like me…’

‘Mother… don’t go!’ Yan Shi Ning mumbled in her sleep. ‘Don’t leave me by myself…’

‘Shi Ning, Shi Ning!’ Pei Jin called.

Yan Shi Ning was startled awake, she opened her eyes and cried loudly. ‘Pei Jin, my mother…’

‘Don’t cry,’ Pei Jin said. ‘You have me.’

Yan Shi Ning hugged Pei Jin tightly. ‘Why did you go to Southern Jiang and didn’t come back to visit me… I was by myself…’

In Xuan Qing Yan Shi Ning didn’t have any friends because of hers and her mother’s status. Although Pei Jin bullied her, she knew that he cared about her and someone who would protect her. But when she needed him the most he disappeared to Southern Jiang.

‘In the future I won’t leave you by yourself again,’ Pei Jin promised.

***

End of Chapter Thirty-Two