Chapter 34: Circumstances Beyond Control Part 2

Others’ words, I can disregard. But she is your mother, your only remaining blood relative. How can I not respect and obey…?

After a long silence, Pei Lianyi closed his eyes in utter despair. He clenched his fingers tighter and tighter, almost roaring out: “Cao Xian, quickly… quickly help her up…!”

“Madam Huo, please get up quickly! You can’t do this, you really can’t…”

Cao Xian hurriedly went to pull her up. Who knew Madam Huo was as stubborn as her son? She suddenly brushed aside Cao Xian’s hands and said firmly: “No! If Master Pei doesn’t agree, this commoner woman will kneel here until she dies.”

Pei Lianyi’s lower lip trembled. He gazed deeply at the man on the bed, slowly loosened his palm, which he’d pinched until it bled, and answered with an exceedingly strained voice:

“I promise you. I will definitely have someone heal Jingzhao’s injuries. When he wakes up, whether he stays or leaves… it will be up to him to decide.”

“Thank… thank you, Master Pei…”

Receiving his promise, the frail Madam Huo nodded with a smile and finally collapsed, unable to hold on any longer.

“Madam Huo—! Family Head! Madam Huo has fainted…! Quick, quickly fetch a doctor!”

Hearing Cao Xian’s panicked shouts, the servants immediately carried Madam Huo back to her room, feeding her ginseng soup and summoning a doctor.

After confirming with the doctor that she was merely physically exhausted and needed rest, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Young Master Huo was hovering between life and death. If on top of that, his mother was also pushed to the brink, wouldn’t that be forcing two lives to a tragic end?! If word of this spread, what would become of the reputation of the Pei Manor and Master Pei?

Understanding the gravity of the situation, after settling Madam Huo, Cao Xian quickly went to report the situation to Pei Lianyi.

Back in the bedchamber, Pei Lianyi was leaning his head against the bed canopy, closing his eyes in exhaustion. One of his hands rested on the back of Huo Jingzhao’s hand. He didn’t move it away even when hearing Cao Xian enter.

Learning that Madam Huo was not seriously harmed, his frozen face relaxed. Then he asked in a muffled voice:

“Cao Xian, do you also think I’ve done wrong?”

Knowing he was referring to the incident of “inviting” Shi Wuya out, Cao Xian stood where he was and replied: “The Family Head’s decisions naturally have the Family Head’s reasons.”

“You’re the only one who says that.” Pei Lianyi’s long lashes drooped, and he laughed hoarsely: “Now in Ziying’s heart, I’m probably not only an old-fashioned father, but also a cold and heartless one.”

“Family Head…”

Pei Lianyi frowned, his tone turning low: “I forbade that person from getting near Jingzhao because I feared Jingzhao would be in even greater danger.”

Truthfully, even he couldn’t figure out why he harbored such deep hostility toward Shi Wuya from their very first meeting. Even the mere sight of that person looking at Huo Jingzhao enraged him beyond measure.

Unlike the sour jealousy he felt seeing Jingzhao and Ziying together… this strange, bone-deep fury would throw him into utter disarray, even making him want to throw himself into Huo Jingzhao’s arms right there in public, to have him hold tight and announce their relationship to the world.

“With a family and business as large as ours, it’s only right to be more wary of people with unclear origins.” Cao Xian echoed him, then sighed: “But if Young Master Huo keeps lying here like this, it’s not a solution either.”

“Knowing the Little Young Master’s temper, I’m afraid more trouble will arise…! It would be terrible if the marriage is delayed.”

Hearing Cao Xian’s worried words, remembering his son’s resentful face, the agitation in Pei Lianyi’s heart couldn’t be dispelled. And the word ‘marriage’ sent a stabbing pain through his chest like a knife.

After a moment of silence, he said deeply: “Go invite Li Man’er here. She might have a way.”

“Family Head Li?” Cao Xian paused for a second, then smacked his forehead: “Right! How did this old servant not think of her!”

As one of the Four Great Clans, the Li family monopolized half the medicinal business in the entire Rong Kingdom. For three generations, Li Man’er’s ancestors had studied at the Imperial Medical Academy. And she herself had tasted hundreds of herbs since childhood, possessing superb medical skills. She might actually succeed.

“I’ll go right away.” Cao Xian hurriedly left.

“Wait.” Pei Lianyi suddenly called out to him.

“Family Head…?”

Pei Lianyi’s eyes flickered. He instructed: “Avoid the people in the manor. Don’t let Ziying know.”

Though he didn’t understand why the Master had to hide this from the Little Young Master, at this critical juncture, the fewer disputes between father and son, the better. Cao Xian responded “Yes” and left in a hurry.

After he had gone far, Pei Lianyi bent down and took Huo Jingzhao’s hand in both of his.

Rubbing his cheek against the man’s warm palm, he chuckled lowly: “To think that after so many things have happened, we’re back to the very beginning.”

“After you wake up… be good to Ziying…”

Half a shichen later, a woman appeared in the bedchamber. She wore a red dress, her black hair braided and embedded with jade marrow.

She stood with one foot on a rosewood stool, checking the injured man’s pulse. Her meanderingly beautiful face revealed neither joy nor anger.

“Family Head Li, how is it…?” Cao Xian asked anxiously.

Li Man’er withdrew her hand and said seriously: “First, the stagnant blood inside his body needs to be dissolved.”

She turned to the man sitting at the table: “Family Head Pei, Young Master Huo has a good physical foundation. Once we clear his internal injuries, I expect he’ll improve significantly.”

“I’ll go gather the herbs.”

Pei Lianyi stood up: “I’ll go with you.”

“Family Head, you absolutely must not…” …gathering herbs is dirty and tiring—how could you endure it! Cao Xian, who had just been thanking heaven and earth, hesitated.

Staying in the manor had become too stifling either way. Pei Lianyi just wanted an excuse to go out for some air. Instructing Cao Xian to look after Jingzhao well, he changed into a riding outfit and left the Pei Manor with Li Man’er.

In the corridor, watching his father’s distant figure alongside the woman’s, Pei Ziying’s face darkened in disbelief.

The maid behind him, seeing this, whispered: “Young Master Huo is gravely injured and bedridden, yet the Master has the mood to go out with another woman…”

“Shut your mouth!” Pei Ziying spun around and slapped her across the face.

“Little Young Master, spare me!” The maid shrieked and knelt, hurriedly covering her face: “This slave… this slave will never dare gossip again!”

Pei Ziying was so angry his face swelled red, but he was helpless. He could only turn around and return to the main hall.

Leaving the Pei Manor, two Ferghana Horses galloped at full speed, arriving at the vast ten-thousand-mu medicinal fields kept by the Li family outside the city.

Watching Li Man’er dismount and skillfully pick herbs, Pei Lianyi asked mildly: “How does Family Head Li know it’s these specific herbs?”

“Thanks to Family Head Pei’s notebook, of course.” Li Man’er pulled the thick notebook from her bosom and laughed easily: “It helped me rule out many useless medicines.”

“So that’s how it was.” Pei Lianyi also smiled: “I must trouble Family Head Li.”

He wore a narrow-sleeved magnolia-colored riding outfit. The collar and front placket were embroidered with orchid brocade patterns, making his pampered, noble body seem even more translucent. Standing in the fragrant medicinal field now, it was as if a gust of wind could damage his waist.

Li Man’er was stunned. No one would ever know that the resolute, shrewd, and formidable Master Pei could reveal such a fragile smile.

“What’s wrong, Family Head Li?” Pei Lianyi asked, holding a medicinal herb.

“Nothing.” Li Man’er laughed a couple of times, scratched her nose, and said: “There’s one more ingredient. It’s on that cliff face over there.”

Following where she pointed, they indeed saw a steep cliff there.

Taking advantage of the light before dark, the two brought tools and rushed over.

This particular herb only grew in rock crevices and couldn’t be pulled out by hand. It required a hammer to break the stone before it could be extracted. So Li Man’er tied a rope, climbing and searching.

Pei Lianyi searched the other side.

Just as they were clinging to the cliff face, prying stones loose to find the herb, a clattering sound suddenly came from above.

Pei Lianyi looked up and saw the boulder overhead was loose and about to fall.

“Family Head Li.” He called out in warning.

“Wait… just… just a little more!” Li Man’er stretched her arm, using every ounce of strength to reach the herb in the crevice.

“…” Pei Lianyi narrowed his eyes calmly.

“Got it!” Li Man’er yelled at that moment.

Simultaneously, the loose rocks above came crashing down, plummeting straight towards her.

“Family Head Li, watch out!” Fearing the sharp stones would cut Li Man’er’s face, Pei Lianyi lunged over and pushed her away.

“Ah—!” In that instant, Pei Lianyi heard the dull thud of stone smashing through flesh and bone.

“Family Head Pei—!” Seeing the blood spreading from his thigh, Li Man’er, who had fallen to the ground after catching the basket, went pale with fright. Her scream echoed through the entire mountain.

Sometime later, a slender hand reached into the stream, washing a bloodied handkerchief.

“Family Head Pei, the medicine is ground.” Li Man’er walked over and said to the person sitting by the stream.

That impact had likely injured his leg bone. But Pei Lianyi absolutely refused to let anyone touch him. Even as a doctor, she had to keep her distance, only able to pass the medicine.

“Thank you.” Receiving the ointment, Pei Lianyi endured the pain that seemed to twist and churn him, rolled up his trousers, and exposed his right leg.

“Family Head Pei… why… did you shield me?” One glance was enough to know his injury was not light. Li Man’er couldn’t help but blame herself.

Pei Lianyi cleaned the wound and said calmly: “You are an unmarried young woman. It wouldn’t be good if your face got scarred.”

Li Man’er froze, then burst out laughing: “Family Head Pei thinks I would marry?”

“No.” Pei Lianyi’s expression was serious: “I think that one day, you will meet someone you love. When that time comes, all past experiences will make you feel circumstances are beyond your control.”

“You…” Li Man’er was shaken by his words, a bitterness spreading on her lips.