Soon, the carriage arrived at the gates of the Dali Temple. As soon as it stopped, Ning Hui jumped out, followed by Ning Sang-sang. Once she was out, Ning Sang-sang looked up and studied the Dali Temple. Two stone statues of ferocious beasts stood at its gates, their imposing, fearsome presence exerting an overwhelming pressure.
Throughout the journey, Ning Hui had been dying to know what his sister had meant when she said in her thoughts that the minister of the Dali Temple would suffer terribly. He casually brought up the junior minister of the Dali Temple. "Sis, let me tell you, Pei Xingjian, the junior minister of the Dali Temple, is amazing at solving cases. He's cracked all kinds of bizarre mysteries."
Pei Xingjian really is a decent man. What a shame that a trusted confidant of his is going to kill him.
Hearing this, Ning Hui felt towering waves crash through his heart. His idol was going to be murdered? Which damned bastard was out to kill him? The news was so shocking that he could not help asking Ning Sang-sang, "Sis..." But no matter how hard he tried, he could not get out the question of who wanted to harm Pei Xingjian.
"What is it?" Ning Sang-sang looked at him in confusion.
Unwilling to give up, Ning Hui tried again. "Sis..."
He still could not say what he wanted to ask.
Aaaah!
Ning Hui could not help screaming inwardly in frustration. Then, deflated, he said morosely, "Nothing."
"You don't look like it's nothing. If something's wrong, just say it. Stop hemming and hawing."
Sigh.
Ning Hui sighed inwardly. He wanted to tell her, but some mysterious force was stopping him, keeping him from saying what he wanted to say.
"Sis, I'm really fine. Don't worry. Let's go inside." Ning Hui pulled himself out of his dejection and forced a smile at Ning Sang-sang.
"Little bro, that smile looks worse than crying. Stop smiling. I scare easily, and my nerves can't take it."
Smack!
Ning Hui received a slap on the head.
"Ning Hui, act normal! If you scare Sang-sang, you'll answer to me." Ning Xiaotian glared at him angrily, warning him with his eyes not to say anything out of turn to Ning Sang-sang.
Ning Hui knew what his father was warning him about, so he kept his mouth shut.
The three of them approached the gates of the Dali Temple. After Ning Xiaotian stated his identity and purpose, a guard led them inside to the main hall.
A man sat in the seat of honor in the hall. His face was handsome and refined, his expression calm. The red official robes he wore set off his jade-white skin and striking bearing.
A baby-faced guard stood beside him, looking honest and guileless.
"Sis, the man in the seat of honor is Pei Xingjian, the junior minister of the Dali Temple," Ning Hui introduced him quietly, his voice brimming with delight.
Hearing the delight in Ning Hui's voice, Ning Sang-sang inwardly savored the gossip about him and Pei Xingjian.
So Pei Xingjian is little bro's idol. No wonder he sounds so happy whenever he talks about him.
Pei Xingjian: "??!"
A clear voice suddenly rang in his ears. Pei Xingjian froze briefly, then turned his gaze to Ning Sang-sang, the only young woman present. The voice he had just heard sounded young, like a young girl's, and there was only... Before he could work it out, that young voice rang out again.
Pei Xingjian is pretty handsome.
At this lovestruck declaration, Pei Xingjian's brows creased almost imperceptibly. He opened his mouth and was about to speak when the voice sounded again, filled with regret.
Unfortunately, Pei Xingjian is going to be killed by Chai Bao, his most trusted confidant, and meet an untimely end.
Pei Xingjian trusts Chai Bao and gives him important responsibilities, never realizing that this trusted, valued subordinate is the illegitimate son of Deng Haishan, the prefect of Jiangzhou who was beheaded for corruption and bribery in a case Pei Xingjian handled.
Deng Haishan and Chai Bao were very close as father and son. After Deng Haishan died, the seed of hatred for Pei Xingjian took root in Chai Bao's heart. Wanting to avenge his father, he spent years becoming Pei Xingjian's confidant while plotting his murder.
Pei Xingjian was utterly shocked. What? Chai Bao is Deng Haishan's illegitimate son? He approached me to avenge Deng Haishan?!
He recalled every detail of his time with Chai Bao. Whenever he had encountered danger, Chai Bao had risked his life to save him on numerous occasions.
When the two of them ran into danger while investigating cases, Chai Bao had also protected him with his life.
If what this woman said is true, and Chai Bao wants to kill me, he's had so many opportunities. Why would he...
As though aware of the question in his heart, the voice sounded again.
Chai Bao wants to personally send Pei Xingjian to meet the King of Hell on the tenth anniversary of his father's death. That's why he's passed up so many opportunities to kill him and protected him with his life whenever he was in danger.
Next month is the tenth anniversary of Chai Bao's father's death. On some dark, windy night next month, Chai Bao will reach his wicked hand toward Pei Xingjian. With no defenses against Chai Bao, Pei Xingjian will fall straight into his trap. Then Chai Bao will torture him to death, skinning him and tearing out his tendons, subjecting him to every unimaginably cruel method. His fate will be horrific.
After hearing all this, Ning Xiaotian looked at Pei Xingjian with immense sympathy. At the sight of his grim expression, Ning Xiaotian's own expression suddenly grew complicated.
Pei Xingjian could actually hear Sang-sang's thoughts too. Their family could hear them, his father-in-law could hear them, and so could Pei Xingjian. Then everyone else...
Ning Xiaotian hardly dared follow that thought any further.
Hearing that his idol would suffer such a terrible fate, Ning Hui was furious. He clenched his fists and looked at Pei Xingjian. When he saw how grim his expression was, Ning Hui's eyes lit up. His idol could hear his sister's thoughts too! Wonderful! Now he would not have to warn his idol that Chai Bao wanted to harm him.
Bang! After hearing all this, Pei Xingjian could not contain his anger and slammed his hand down on the table.
The sudden bang startled Ning Sang-sang, who had been distractedly recalling the plot. Coming back to her senses, she looked at the rather grim-faced Pei Xingjian and blinked, utterly bewildered. What had happened?
Qingfeng, the baby-faced man standing beside Pei Xingjian, was startled too. He asked cautiously, "My lord, what's wrong?"
Pei Xingjian's gaze was unfathomable. "Come closer."
Qingfeng bent slightly and brought his ear closer.
Pei Xingjian whispered something into his ear.
Qingfeng was puzzled. Why did his lord suddenly want to investigate Chai Bao's background? Although confused, he did not dare ask unnecessary questions. He obediently nodded his agreement and went off to make the arrangements.
After watching Qingfeng disappear from the hall, Pei Xingjian rose to greet Ning Xiaotian.
"Duke Ning."
"Junior Minister Pei." Ning Xiaotian respectfully exchanged greetings with Pei Xingjian.
Pei Xingjian was Princess Yongle's son. His father was the prime minister, and his mother was the emperor's younger sister, born of the same mother. His status was so distinguished that even Ning Xiaotian, a duke, had to greet him with proper deference.
"Junior Minister Pei." Ning Hui also greeted Pei Xingjian obediently.
Seeing this, Ning Sang-sang dutifully greeted Pei Xingjian as well.
"Junior Minister Pei."
At the sound of that clear, familiar voice, Pei Xingjian's eyes flickered. The voice he had heard earlier really did belong to this young girl.
But she had not opened her mouth, yet he had heard her voice...
Suddenly, a bold thought surfaced in his mind. Could what I heard have been this young girl's thoughts...?
Although towering waves of shock had already surged through his heart, Pei Xingjian's expression remained perfectly composed.
Before you continue