Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Test
Pei Ji’an let out a cold laugh, "It sounds like I’m not tolerating you, this is my territory, get as far away as you can."
Xiao Shiqing’s anger had also reached its peak at this moment.
As the war seemed about to break out, the guards on both sides tried hard to dissuade them.
After all, these two causing trouble wouldn’t get into trouble themselves, but if it reached the emperor’s ears, those following them would suffer.
This kind of hardship was not a first, so both sides were quite earnest in their persuasion.
"Injuring the other is minor, but if it affects the surrounding residents, that wouldn’t be good."
"Wait until next time at the training ground to fight, it’s more spacious there, and you can fight to your heart’s content..."
Fortunately, neither of them were impulsive people, so they wouldn’t start a fight without considering the occasion just because they disagreed.
Xiao Shiqing suppressed the anger in his heart, said nothing more, shrugged off the guards trying to break it up, and without looking at Pei Ji’an again, turned and left.
Pei Ji’an also disdainfully looked away, not glancing sideways, heading towards the Pei Mansion.
The storm thus subsided, and the guards on both sides secretly breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.
In the Pei Mansion.
Qu Fulan had just finished her morning exercise.
Early in the morning, she woke up and ran around the small courtyard several times, worked up a sweat, and then alternated between lifting her legs, kicking, aerobic and anaerobic exercises.
After all, the pace of life in ancient times was not as fast as in modern times; she could take out an hour every morning and evening to exercise.
Perhaps she hadn’t finished growing yet, plus exercising appropriately, she felt that she had grown taller, which she noticed while dressing as some sleeves became short.
Fortunately, before winter came, she had her clothes made longer. At the time, she thought wearing many clothes in winter, short clothes would not only make her cold but also difficult to add clothes underneath, but now the size is just right.
Qu Fulan was someone who couldn’t sit still. When not reading account books, she liked to arrange flowers and plants to relax and now had arranged Furong Courtyard with a strong pastoral style, even planting some vegetables, though unfortunately she couldn’t raise chickens, ducks, geese, or pigs, otherwise it would be a real country life.
The pastoral life Qu Fulan always yearned for was not simply facing the soil and working hard for a living; she didn’t want such exhausting labor.
The pastoral life she dreamed of was poetic and romantic, dealing with flowers and plants every day, freely and without pressure.
But to achieve this kind of life, one would need enough financial support. Only by realizing financial freedom, then experiencing rural life, can it truly be icing on the cake, beauty upon beauty.
It’s a pity that she hadn’t the time to realize this rural life in modern times; now in ancient times, although not as fast-paced and stressful as modern times, various feudal ideas in ancient times also made people hesitate.
More importantly, in ancient times, having money was not enough; one also needed a decent status to truly gain a foothold.
Now she hadn’t earned enough money; there was no need to mention the others.
Qu Fulan had her own goals, and others would have theirs, like the Third Madam.
After more than a month’s effort, all the maids in the Pei Mansion of "unknown origins" had been tested, and there were no issues.
When the Third Madam began to doubt the effectiveness of Lv Daopo’s sorcery, the maid next to her gave a hint.
"There’s one we haven’t had the chance to test yet."
The Third Madam couldn’t recall at that moment, "Who is it?"
The maid’s smile instantly became somewhat meaningful, glanced in a certain direction, "Madam, have you forgotten the one living in Furong Courtyard? We haven’t tested her yet."
No matter her current identity, she was originally a maid of the Pei Mansion, and her family background was unknown.
"That maid climbed up too fast. Ask which maid in this mansion can, like her, in such a short time, get promoted and obtain a sold contract. Knowing she was a death contract maid if she’s not odd, I wouldn’t believe it."
Therefore, Qu Fulan’s journey today, regardless of what she paid or how hard she worked, in others’ eyes, was always too smooth, unusually smooth, strangely smooth.
How could other maids not be jealous? How not to overthink?
Reminded by the maid, the Third Madam also felt there was reason, "Hearing you say it, she’s the most suspicious, but now she’s not a maid of the Pei Mansion, how can we command her?"
If she were a maid, a simple excuse to call her over to solve the problem would suffice, but now she’s a distinguished guest, the Heir Pei’s guest, how could they easily approach?
The maid thought for a moment, leaned in and whispered, "Lv Daopo said unrelated personnel drinking that medicine wouldn’t matter, so Madam could do this..."
A few days later, under the pretext of receiving her daughter’s specialties, the Third Madam sent some tea and snacks to each courtyard, including the distinguished guests of the mansion.
Then the Third Miss, Fang Yuan, and Qu Fulan came to the third room to thank the Third Madam in person.
Cheng Ru did not come; because of the "outhouse incident," she was still depressed and needed time to gradually heal her psychological wounds.
She naturally received the Third Madam’s "gift" as well and only asked the Third Miss to convey her thanks.
The Third Madam warmly received the young ladies, had tea and snacks brought up, and talked to them a lot during which everyone naturally drank tea.
Lv Daopo’s medicine was tasteless, so mixed in the tea, no one could detect it.
Throughout the process, the Third Madam kept glancing at Qu Fulan, watching her for any changes.
According to Lv Daopo, it would show its effect in less than half the time of an incense stick.
So the Third Madam deliberately went in circles, hard pressed to chat for half an hour, the Third Miss cooperated until her smile became a bit stiff, and finally, they were able to leave.
Throughout the process, nothing happened to Qu Fulan.
The Third Madam watched her leave unscathed, dumbfounded.
After the Third Miss and the others left the third room, they also felt strange, "What’s with the Third Madam today? We’ve never seen her enjoy chatting with us before. I was about to lose my patience."
The Third Miss was also puzzled, "I’m puzzled too; maybe she’s had a change of personality."
Things the Third Miss and Fang Yuan couldn’t understand, Qu Fulan, as an outsider, shouldn’t understand either, logically speaking.
But that wasn’t the case.
After everyone went their separate ways, Qu Fulan returned to her room, first calmly asking the maid to withdraw, then entering the room, closing the door.
Qu Fulan took out from her space the piece of jade Master Huideng had given her; the jade was glowing, flashing on and off.
She had experienced the jade glowing before.
It was when she was taken during the incident at Hanshan Temple, intending to use the poison in her space to escape when she suddenly sensed the arrival of the Heir Pei because the jade pendant flashed, she sensed it.
She didn’t understand why it happened then, but later she remembered that the Heir Pei also had a similar jade pendant, which she inadvertently saw hanging around his neck while attending to his clothing, usually unseen easily.
So in times of certain crisis, she could sense the arrival of the Heir Pei through the jade pendant.
But the glow this time was not due to the Heir Pei, so what was it?
Just pondering this, the maid’s voice came from outside.
"The Princely Heir is here."