Chapter 250: Chapter 107: The Fox Spirit_2
What am I to do!
Lady Dong felt as if her head were as big as a bucket, still pondering over the matter even after she had left the Jin Mansion and was seated in her carriage.
The maid by her side noticed her mistress’s poor mood and sat quietly, as silent as a cicada in winter. Lady Dong felt as though there was a huge stone blocking her chest, becoming increasingly irritable. She simply pulled back a corner of the carriage curtain to let in so fresh air.
The carriage rolled through the streets, leaving tracks in the thin layer of snow. Lady Dong looked up into the distance.
The morning after the snow was cold, and there were fewer people about than usual. In front of an oil cake shop by the street stood a young man in a wisteria-colored brocade, chatting and laughing with the vendor.
Lady Dong’s gaze paused.
Wasn’t that the youth who followed Pei Yunng?
Previously, at Wan’en Temple, when her own Lin’er fell ill, she had tussled with Doctor Lu. At that ti, Pei Yunng appeared, and it was this youth who was with him. He had a likable appearance... what was his na? Duan... Duan sothing?
Sothing stirred in Lady Dong’s heart, and she hurriedly ordered the carriage to stop. Without waiting for her maid’s assistance, she hastled out of the carriage.
In front of the small shop, Duan Xiaoyan had bought two oil cakes from the vendor, wrapped them joyfully, and kept them in his bosom, about to leave, when he heard soone call from behind him, "Duan... Duan..."
Duan Xiaoyan turned around and saw a maid supporting a beautifully dressed woman approaching him.
"Does the lady recognize ?" he asked sowhat dubiously. The woman looked sowhat familiar, but he t so many people every day that he couldn’t rember where he had seen her.
The woman in front of him smiled and spoke in a friendly tone, "Back at Wan’en Temple, my son was suddenly taken ill, and I’m grateful for the help your lord offered."
With that, Duan Xiaoyan imdiately rembered, "Oh, it’s Lady Dong!"
But she hadn’t been so friendly toward him in the beginning. Just like her arrogant and domineering tall guard, they acted as if they wanted everyone in the world to make way for their family.
The woman nodded and then smiled, examining his surroundings, "How co I don’t see your lord with you today?"
"The lord is on duty in the palace," answered Duan Xiaoyan. "Does the lady have business with him?"
"No, no," Lady Dong laughed. "I just happened to think that I haven’t seen Marshal Pei’s face around Renxin dical Hall these days. It seems Lord Pei has been quite busy with official duties lately."
Duan Xiaoyan was sowhat puzzled, "The lord goes to Renxin dical Hall?"
Lady Dong’s eyes flickered, "What, hasn’t your lord been looking for Doctor Lu lately?"
"Looking for Doctor Lu?"
Upon hearing this, Duan Xiaoyan beca alert.
After the incident on Mount Wangchun, Pei Yunng had warned him not to provoke Lu Tong unnecessarily. Duan Xiaoyan had thought it over and concluded that with Lu Tong’s skills and temperant, he was indeed no match for her, and he might fall into her trap on any given day. Therefore, upon hearing Lady Dong ntion Lu Tong, Duan Xiaoyan’s instinct was to distance himself, lest he be made a scapegoat again, like in the purse incident, without clarity.
"Lady Dong jests," Duan Xiaoyan said with all seriousness. "Doctor Lu practices dicine and keeps to her dical hall, and my lord has his duties in the palace. They didn’t have much of a relationship to begin with, so there’s no talk of one seeking the other. Moreover, there is nothing questionable between our lord and Doctor Lu, and spreading such rumors would harm the lady doctor’s reputation."
He solemnly bowed to Lady Dong, "I would ask that the lady not ntion this to others in the future."
Lady Dong didn’t speak but watched him, as if trying to discern whether his words were true or false.
Duan Xiaoyan tried to widen his eyes to appear utterly sincere.
After a mont, Lady Dong nodded, "Understood, thank you for the reminder, Guard Duan."
She seed to have suddenly lost interest and said goodbye distantly before lifting her skirts and getting back into the carriage. Duan Xiaoyan stood in place for a little while as if just now coming to terms with the situation, imitated her words, "Guard Duan?"
The cold wind blew, and he sneezed, mumbling to himself, "That sounds so bad," and shook his head as he left.
...
Lady Dong returned ho, let the maids remove her outer garnts, and slouched on the couch with a hand stove, looking extrely distressed.
Lu Tong and Pei Yunng indeed had parted ways!
That Guard Duan, in everything he said, implied that he wanted to make it clear he had nothing to do with Lu Tong. Being soone close to Pei Yunng, his words undoubtedly represented Pei Yunng’s intentions.
It was not long ago that Lu Tong had saved Pei Yunshu and her mother. Even if they wanted to sever ties, it shouldn’t have been this clean. But Guard Duan’s words clearly hinted that Pei Yunng was looking to deny past relations with Lu Tong and wholeheartedly beco the Qi Family’s favored son-in-law.
It was true, n are all the sa, quicker to turn their faces than to drop their trousers. As Lady Dong berated Pei Yunng for his fickle heart, she contemplated her next move.
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