Perhaps due to his frail health in childhood or the burdens of his mind, Pei You'an's sleep had grown increasingly light and scarce as he aged. Though exhausted from the day's journey, even late into the night, he found himself unable to sleep. Tossing and turning, he finally rose, lit a lamp, and picked up an old book. In the stillness, a faint cry of "Save A'fu!" suddenly pierced through the wall. Though muffled, it shattered the quiet like a ripple in still water, and his mind instantly conjured a figure both indistinct yet strikingly clear.
He recognized the voice unmistakably—it belonged to that cousin from the Zhen family. Yet it was hard to believe she would suddenly appear here, calling for him through the wall. When he followed the sound and stepped outside, he never expected to witness such a scene. Even more unprepared was he when she rushed over and clung to him.
Pei You'an could clearly feel the slight tremble of the body in his arms. After speaking, she seemed not to hear him, still holding onto him tightly, evidently terrified.
The sudden presence of fragrant warmth and soft jade in his embrace... was deeply unsettling. His heartbeat grew erratic, his breath uneven, and his hands awkwardly hovered, unsure where to place them. Yet seeing her so frightened, he couldn't bring himself to push her away. After a moment's hesitation, he let her be and instead raised his gaze to the woman from the palace opposite, saying, "She is my cousin and has always lived in Quanzhou. Who gave you the audacity to engage in human trafficking, abducting her and bringing her here?"
Though usually gentle and composed, his sharp gaze now cut like lightning, his voice low but laced with unmistakable anger.
Before venturing out, Granny Zhu had been warned not to reveal their mission. So when she encountered Pei You'an earlier at the door, she hid immediately, fearing he might see her. Never had she imagined that though Pei You'an wasn't the girl's blood brother, they were indeed cousins. A seasoned fox outwitted by a mere child—this seemingly meek and timid girl had not only set a fire that nearly killed her but also managed to summon Pei You'an with her cries.
Recalling the girl's reaction upon seeing Pei You'an earlier, the woman finally realized she had been thoroughly fooled.
Granny Zhu seethed with anger and panic but forced herself to steady her nerves. She stepped closer, forcing a smile. "Young Master Pei, you misunderstand. How would I dare commit such a crime? I truly didn’t know she was your cousin. Just now, she set the room on fire and nearly burned me alive—you saw it yourself. I chased her out in fear she might disturb others, acting hastily. If I’ve offended, I beg your forgiveness. Truly, it’s nothing serious—just a noble’s invitation for the young lady, with no ill intent. Please rest assured and hand her over to me."
"Which noble?" Pei You'an asked coldly.
Granny Zhu opened her mouth, then closed it again. Seeing the Zhen girl clinging to Pei You'an and shaking her head frantically, she knew the mission was utterly ruined.
The name of the Heir Apparent must never be mentioned, but without it, how could Pei You'an possibly release the girl to her? And if she failed to retrieve her, how could she explain herself?
"Young Master Pei! Is everything all right?"
The voice of the innkeeper echoed from the end of the corridor.The commotion earlier had drawn the attention of the stationmaster, who was horrified to see flames rising from the direction of the rooms where the prince's men were staying. He quickly called for people to put out the fire. Fortunately, the building wasn’t connected to others, and the fire was discovered early, preventing it from spreading. Once the fire was extinguished, he hurried over here. In the dim light, he saw a woman clinging tightly to Pei You'an, with the prince’s woman also present. There seemed to be some conflict between them, the scene strange and unsettling. The stationmaster guessed there must be some hidden trouble, and since it involved the prince’s household—something beyond his authority—he dared not approach, merely shouting from across the corridor.
Granny Zhu turned and saw a crowd gathering at the other end of the corridor, likely drawn by the earlier disturbance. Her expression darkened.
The plan had failed. If word got out, there would be no way to explain it.
“Everything’s fine here! It’s late—tell everyone to get some rest!” Pei You'an called out in response.
Soon, the corridor fell silent again.
Granny Zhu steadied herself and said, “Master Pei, mercy is a virtue. You know I’m just following orders. Please don’t make this difficult…”
“My cousin is like a sister to me. Go back and tell your noble master that I’m taking her with me. If there’s any issue, he can find me—I’ll be waiting in Wuding Prefecture.”
Pei You'an cut her off, then gently removed Jiafu’s arms from around his waist and said softly, “It’s alright now. Come inside with me.”
Granny Zhu watched as he led the girl from the Zhen family through the courtyard gate. As the gate closed behind them, their figures disappeared. She touched her face, still stinging from the flames, gritted her teeth, and hurried away.
…
Jiafu’s hair was disheveled, her face smudged with soot. She clutched the cloak draped over her, but even so, it couldn’t fully cover her exposed calves and bare feet. Her delicate toes curled tightly together, as if ashamed to be seen—pitiful yet endearing, with an undercurrent of allure.
The once-quiet room suddenly brimmed with life and color with the presence of such a girl.
Pei You'an averted his gaze, his voice slightly strained. “Do you have any clothes over there? I can have someone fetch them for you.”
Though she was now safe, Jiafu was still shaken. At his mention of clothes, she suddenly felt the cold air creeping up under the cloak, her shame overwhelming. She pressed her legs tightly together and said miserably, “That woman took all my clothes at night so I couldn’t escape. The fire must have burned everything…”
Pei You'an paused, then fetched one of his own heavy outer robes and placed it nearby without a word, turning his back to her.
Understanding, Jiafu swallowed her embarrassment, walked over, and took the robe. She removed the too-short cloak and slipped into his garment, pulling the lapels tightly together and tying the sash. Though it hung loosely, it at least covered her feet.
“I’m decent now,” she murmured.
Only then did Pei You'an turn around, his eyes briefly sweeping over her before he motioned for her to sit.
Jiafu stole a glance at him. His expression had returned to its usual sternness. Obediently, she sat down, hands resting primly on her knees, perfectly still.
“What happened?” he asked.Jiafu recounted everything from the moment Xiao Yintang had forced her out of the city to the accident that occurred outside the Mazu Temple that day. As she spoke, Pei You'an listened without interrupting a single word. Even after she finished, he remained silent, merely turning to walk slowly to the window, gazing outside as if lost in thought.
Watching his back, Jiafu gradually grew uneasy.
Because of his help in her past life, she had taken it for granted that he would assist her now.
Indeed, he had acted just as she expected earlier, allowing her to finally escape safely. But the matter was clearly far from over, and given his position, this was likely something that would put him in a difficult situation.
Jiafu bit her lip and slowly stood up, speaking softly, "Eldest Cousin, have I made things difficult for you?"
Pei You'an turned back and glanced at her. Seeing her wide eyes fixed on him, he smiled faintly and said, "It’s nothing. Don’t be afraid—I’ll handle everything."
"I promise to see you safely home. Nothing like this will ever happen again."
He repeated the words with emphasis.
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