Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 650

Chapter 650: Unease

“Chi Jiayun won’t leave the city easily.” An Zhi smiled as she held her daughter, standing up. “He’s such a cautious person; he would never leave Yongning.”

Once he leaves the city, he might fall into an ambush.

Although Pei Que didn’t intend to assassinate Chi Jiayun, Chi Jiayun didn’t know that, regardless, as long as one was alive, there was a future.

Fusheng wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart softening as he looked at the adorable little girl in his Madam’s arms. “If only we could settle down sooner, our young lady would be famous throughout the capital.”

An Zhi chuckled. “I also want it to end sooner, but I don’t want Yue’er to be too famous. This world, it isn’t easy being a woman. You wouldn’t understand. Go change into clean clothes; don’t go out this afternoon. Your nails are almost healed; you should continue your studies.”

At the mention of studying, Fusheng’s face instantly froze, and he quickly turned away, not wanting his Madam to see.

The shock in the young man’s eyes wasn’t well hidden; An Zhi could see through Fusheng’s little scheme at a glance.

Although Pei Que hadn’t said it explicitly, from the moment Fusheng was brought to her, she knew he wasn’t an ordinary slave.

The weather grew hotter each day, and An Zhi, feeling uncomfortable holding Yue’er, went to the cooler first-floor hall.

An Zhi called Pei Que twice but received no response.

Lin Feng came out instead. “Madam, Master went out early this morning with the Prince of Jiuyi.”

“His hand isn’t fully healed; how could he go out?” An Zhi asked worriedly.

“Master’s just checking a few places and meeting with Lieutenant Zhu. Don’t worry, I’m here in the courtyard, and Shuo Feng’s there with Master. He will be fine,” Lin Feng said confidently.

An Zhi felt a little uneasy.

Going out at this time couldn’t be interpreted as anything good.

But since Lin Feng said so, An Zhi couldn’t do anything about it; she couldn’t just impulsively say she wanted to go see Pei Que.

Meanwhile, Pei Que didn’t actually go to see Zhu Hao.

Zhu Hao was surrounded by Chi Jiayun’s spies. If Pei Que went to see Zhu Hao, even if he was careful, he would be discovered.

As for why Lin Feng said that, it was because Pei Que was going to do something even more dangerous.

Pei Que had He Xun impersonate him, while he himself would also make an appearance, all to keep his whereabouts a mystery to Chi Jiayun.

With the enemy in the shadows, Pei Que held the upper hand.

He Xun had left the city early that morning, while Pei Que headed towards the governor’s mansion in the north of the city.

Currently, Pei Que was hiding in a small building outside the governor’s mansion.

Shuo Feng stood behind Pei Que. “Master, the King of Jiuyi should be meeting with our people outside the city by now. Do you think Governor Chi still won’t come out?”

“Chi Jiayun’s terrified of death; he won’t come out easily.” Pei Que didn’t want Chi Jiayun to come out. “We will just wait. When the governor’s mansion sends another group of people, we will go in and send Chi Jiayun some gifts.”

With the gambling den destroyed, Chi Jiayun had lost his source of income and the money to bribe Minister Xu, rendering him useless. To make up for his losses, Chi Jiayun could only atone for his mistake by killing Pei Que for Minister Xu.

But Pei Que wasn’t so easily killed.

Pei Que’s purpose was to see Chi Jiayun lose his composure so that he could gain entry into the governor’s mansion once chaos erupted.

Half an hour passed, and a group of soldiers hurriedly left the governor’s mansion.

Shuo Feng handed Pei Que a bow and arrow.

A crack opened in the wooden window, and Pei Que drew his bow, aiming at the governor’s mansion’s plaque.

“Whoosh!”

The arrow struck the center of the plaque.

The gatekeeper, hearing the sound, came out and saw the arrow. He was terrified and stumbled back to call for help.

Pei Que looked at the bow and arrow in his hand with satisfaction. His arrow had struck Chi Jiayun’s heart.

“Leave the bow and arrow; let’s retreat,” Pei Que said.

The group hurried downstairs, leaving the small building and entering a secluded room. The wooden window offered a direct view of the building they had just left.

Chi Jiayun, hearing someone shoot at the plaque, immediately knew Pei Que was provoking them. He led his men to the door but didn’t come out, instead sending his servants out to investigate.

But just as Chi Jiayun’s men discovered the bow and arrows Pei Que had left behind, several more arrows flew from nowhere, killing one of Chi Jiayun’s men.

Pei Que, satisfied, put down his bow and arrows and said to Shuo Feng, “Alright, with these arrows, I don’t believe Chi Jiayun can remain calm.”

He led Shuo Feng out of the room, but instead of returning to the steamed bun shop, they secretly hid in the courtyard of a wealthy merchant.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng, back at the steamed bun shop, only dared to tell An Zhi the truth after not receiving any news from his master by evening, knowing that his master was safe.

“Please punish me, Madam,” Lin Feng said, kneeling.

An Zhi’s heart pounded, as if in a dream, unsure of reality.

“Actually, after Uncle Gong reinjured Master, his right hand has been improving. However, Master knew you wouldn’t allow him to take risks, and coupled with his distrust of the King of Jiuyi, he didn’t dare say so openly,” Lin Feng explained.

An Zhi understood that Pei Que wouldn’t trust He Xun.

But being deceived still made her uncomfortable. She took a deep breath. “So, Pei Que’s right hand has already healed, right?”

“No, Master’s right hand has only regained sensation, but the wound’s too deep. He still needs medicine and exercise for a period of time before he can be like a normal person,” Lin Feng quickly replied, sensing his Madam’s anger.

An Zhi snorted coldly, “Where is he now?”

Lin Feng, thinking his Madam was going to find the master, changed his kneeling position to prevent her from doing so. “The master said he offended Chi Jiayun today and doesn’t dare return now, fearing it would endanger you. He will stay outside for two days until things calm down.”

The more An Zhi listened, the more she wanted to curse.

She was most angry that Pei Que didn’t tell her the truth, that he went on a dangerous mission behind her back. Knowing she would worry, he still did it.

If Pei Que were with her, she would definitely give him a good beating.

However, despite her anger, she felt uneasy without Pei Que by her side.

“Waaah!” Yue’er in the cradle suddenly cried.

An Zhi picked up her daughter and, after comforting her, saw Lin Feng still kneeling. Helplessly, she said, “Get up. Scolding you won’t change anything. Pei Que’s a man of his word; you all have to listen to him. Since he’s so opinionated, we will just wait at home. If he comes back missing an arm or a leg, I will cripple his good limbs and see if he dares to run away again.”

“Achoo!”

Pei Que, in the woodshed, suddenly sneezed, rubbed his nose, took the wine Shuo Feng offered, and only after his throat burned did he feel warm. He laughed. “It must be Madam scolding me.”

Shuo Feng, hearing his master still able to laugh, couldn’t help but worry, “Master, aren’t you afraid Madam will be angry?”

“Yes, that’s why I left Lin Feng here,” Pei Que said. “But Madam’s stubborn but soft-hearted; she doesn’t dare pinch me too hard.”