Pei Moning was obviously shocked by Yang Zijin's words, “What? You…you are that child! So, you are a Commandery Princess, aren't you?”

“Exactly!” Yang Zijin had already expected the reaction from Moning, her sworn brother. After all, she also looked ignorant when she first knew her ident.i.ty.

Pei Moning nodded suddenly, “So it is. No wonder Spring Breeze was turned to ashes overnight. The people in the Mansion of Duke Mu couldn't tolerate them.”

“In order to protect these girls, I opened the Blossoming Peach! Since the Spring Breeze's crisis, the Mansion of Duke Mu hasn't had any movement for a while now. However, I fear that if I slack off one day, they may take advantage. Though I'm not afraid myself, I'm afraid that they may make articles about Blossoming Peach again! That's why I let you come back to Jing City and help me find a way.” Yang Zijin told Pei Moning the reason.

Pei Moning nodded, “That's right. You're so sincere and righteous, and I'm right about you. Since that is the case, I will stay with you in Jing City.”

“Really? You agreed to the matter?” Yang Zijin asked with excitement and couldn't believe it.

As she thought, Moning was used to living a free life out there. How could he stay with her in the restricted Jing City? Unexpectedly, he agreed so readily.

Seeing Yang Zijin react like this, he said angrily, “Of course I'm telling the truth. Have I ever lied to you?”

“It's you who cares about me and treats me well.” Yang Zijin leaned against Pei Moning's shoulder.

Pei Moning sc.r.a.ped Yang Zijin's nose. He smiled and said, “Of course, you are my sister!”

“Hush…” After hearing Pei Moning call her “sister,” Yang Zijin quickly put her hand on her mouth.

When Moning found Yang Zijin so nervous, he smiled.

When they were having a great conversation, Xian entered the yard with wine and dishes. He took them one by one, put them on the table and filled the gla.s.ses with wine.

“Young Master, if it's not enough, please call me again. I'll be waiting outside the door.” Xian said.

Yang Zijin nodded.

After Xian retreated, Pei Moning picked up the gla.s.s of wine and said, “Come on, let's get drunk!”

“Well, okay.” Yang Zijin raised the gla.s.s and was about to drink it. Suddenly Zijin recalled Uncle Liu's words that drinking was not allowed while taking antidote.

Seeing Yang Zijin raise the gla.s.s without drinking, Pei Moning asked, “What's wrong?”

“Moning, I'm afraid I can't drink with you today.” Yang Zijin put down the gla.s.s and said.

Pei Moning frowned slightly and asked worriedly, “Why? Are you not feeling well?”

“I'm not feeling unwell. It's just that I was poisoned earlier and shouldn't drink alcohol.” Yang Zijin lowered her voice.

Hearing it, Pei Moning stood up again and increased his voice, “What? Poisoning?”

Yang Zijin glanced outside the yard and gave Pei Moning a sign to lower his voice.

“Did you find the antidote?” Pei Moning had to lower his voice, seeing Xian standing outside the yard.

She nodded and replied, “Yes, I'm taking the antidote. I'm fine.”

“Do you know who poisoned you? Tell me, I will peel the man's skin for sure.” Anger rushed to Pei Moning ‘s face again. The person who dared to hurt his sister wouldn't end well.

Seeing the anger on Moning's face, Yang Zijin said, “I know you want justice for me, but this matter is not as simple as we think. I have preliminarily determined who poisoned me, but I don't know the motive yet. It's not late for you to start the payback after I find the reason!”

“Then you need to be cautious everywhere, knowing that false friends are worse than bitter enemies!”

“You're right. I got that. Come on, let's continue to drink. Don't let it spoil the fun.” Yang Zijin said, and filled Moning's gla.s.s with wine again.

Pei Moning took the gla.s.s with a smile, but said nothing.

At this moment, Pei Moning was thinking that according to Yang Zijin's current situation, she is an archery target. Even if she was cautious everywhere, someone may inevitably set her up in secret. As long as Yang Zijin restores her ident.i.ty as a Commandery Princess, she will definitely get in the way of some people.

Even not to mention this for a while, Pei Moning thought, if Yang Zijin restored her ident.i.ty and someone knew she had lived in a dire place since she was a child, there would be more than one Mansion of Duke Mu that wanted Blossoming Peach to disappear like Spring Breeze overnight at that time. The Emperor would do the same to protect the royal face!

It seemed that if he wanted to protect Yang Zijin and these girls, it would be a long-term plan to stay in Jing City so as to let those who had wicked minds know that the girls couldn't be hurt easily.

After thinking about it, he decided to use the forces out there to open a martial arts hall in Jing City first, and then make other plans after everything was settled.

Having decided in this way, Pei Moning emptied his gla.s.s at one draught. He didn't tell Yang Zijin his plans, but chatted with her instead.

Of course Yang Zijin didn't know that Pei Moning, who was always a loner, would decide to settle in Jing City for her. She had no idea that her sworn brother would protect her in such a way. Several years pa.s.sed before she even knew about it.

After having enough wine and food, Pei Moning was already drunk. When Yang Zijin settled him well, it was already late. She told Wufu and Lu'an to take good care of Moning and she said she would come over early tomorrow. Then she returned to the Mansion of Marquis Shuo.

Going back to the yard, Zijing found the door of Qiao Shu's yard closed tightly. Presumably it was hard for her to find time to go to the Mansion of Marquis Shuo. Yang Zijin smiled and walked into the yard. She talked a lot with her sworn brother today. With Moning's help, she could also get relaxed for a little bit.

…

Early the next morning, Yang Zijin came to Blossoming Peach and looked around the yard without seeing Pei Moning.

Then Zijin called Xian, “Where's Pei Moning? Has he told you his whereabouts?”

“Young Master Pei left early in the morning,” Xian replied.

Yang Zijin asked again, “Did he leave any message?”

“He said that there was no need for you to worry, he needed to do something, and he would be back in a few days.” Xian scratched his head and said.

Her sworn brother was always secretive in his trace. She was already used to it.

Yang Zijin sat alone under the peach tree in the front yard and took out the antidote she took with her. “Today is the third day of taking the medicine. The toxin can be completely removed in a few days.” She thought.

She was about to take a break in the yard when she heard a familiar voice coming from the gate, “Oh, this place is really magnificent! It's not bad. It looks much bigger than our Moonlight. Right, girls?”

“Yes, Madam Lin.”

“Isn't that right? Even the gate looks impressive.”

“Madam Lin, get a big house as well some time!”

The girls responded one after another….

Yang Zijin looked around following the sound, and it turned out that the proprietress of Moonlight brought her girls here.

She stood up, smiled and stepped forward to welcome, “Ms. Lin, I thought it would take you another two days to arrive! I didn't expect you to be so fast.”

“Of course. After receiving your letter, I rushed to Jing City nonstop. Eh? Why didn't I see Madam Yang?” Lin Mei asked Yang Zijin.

Yang Zijin replied, “Ms. Lin, my mother is resting in the other courtyard. She used to work really hard in Spring Breeze. Now I want her to take a good break.”

“Oh, Young Master Yang has grown up. Madam Yang is going to live a happy life!” There was a trace of envy on Lin Mei's face when she said it.

Seeing the change on Lin Mei's face, Yang Zijin stopped talking. She said to the girls behind, “You must be tired after traveling for so many days. Come with me to the backyard to get some rest. I'll have the meal prepared.”

The girls nodded one after another. It was b.u.mpy all the way these days, so they did not rest well. They were already exhausted. When Yang Zijin said so, they were surely very happy.

Along the way, Yang Zijin heard the girls' exclamation…

“What are these flowers? I've never seen them!”

“There is also a three-story pavilion over there. It must be nice to see the scenery from above!”

“Look! Look! There is a bright house where the birds cannot fly out.”

“This garden is so big! If we just keep walking like this, we might need the duration of a joss stick!”

“Madam Lin, didn't you say that you wanted to settle in Jing City? Also get a house like this for us.”

Everyone laughed…

At the moment, Lin Mei was also surprised by the layout of Blossoming Peach. She nodded again and again, “Before entering the city, I've heard people say that there is a house called Blossoming Peach where the girls are versatile. Now I know it is true when I see it today! It seems that you, the young master, are doing well.”

“You are flattering me, Ms. Lin. I'm just doing the business in a different way by getting some new things, which happened to catch people's attention.” Yang Zijin looked at Ms. Lin and said.

Lin Mei gave Yang Zijin a quick glance, “Tut-tut…You are not the same after becoming the young master. You learned to be modest.”

“You must have heard the rumors outside, Ms. Lin. Now it's a long story to talk about Blossoming Peach's business.” Yang Zijin looked sad.

“Right, I was going to ask you about it. How did you get involved with Marquis Shuo?”

“It's a long story and hard to be explained shortly. Take a rest first. When there is time in the future, I'll take time to tell you about it, Ms. Lin.”

“Alright, my old bones are broken up these days. I really need a good rest.” After saying that, Lin Mei led the girls to rest in their rooms.

After seeing the girls go to bed, Yang Zijin sat on the stone bench in the yard by herself.

A few years ago, Lin Mei's Moonlight got involved in a murder case. The person who died was a very rich merchant. His family wouldn't let it go. They bribed the local authority to confiscate Moonlight's possessions. Hearing the news, Yang Zijin went around to bribe the officials and finally Lin Mei got to keep Moonlight.

After the incident, Lin Mei trusted Yang Zijin with all her heart. Lin Mei was also a sentimentalist at heart. She was gracious and forthright. In the early years, she was hurt by an unfaithful lover. Since then she found men most distrustful. Later she started up Moonlight and kept poor girls who were broken-hearted because of men.

That's why Lin Mei left Moonlight and brought the girls to Jing City as soon as she received Yang Zijin's letter.

Yang Zijin was worried that although she had opened the Blossoming Peach to whitewash herself and the girls, the Mansion of Duke Mu would inevitably harm them in secret if she had to restore her ident.i.ty one day. That's why Yang Zijin asked Lin Mei to come to Jing City.

Now that Lin Mei settled in Jing City, she could let these girls transfer to Lin Mei's place and carry out the Empty City Ruse again if she found out Duke of Mu had such plans. In this way, the girls' lives could be saved and they wouldn't have to worry about their lives anymore.

Yang Zijin called Lu'an and Wufu and told them, “Preparing more food and send them here after the girls wake up.”

Wufu and Lu'an responded, and went to prepare.