Inside the Splendid Manor, the cloying scent of incense mingled with the lingering smell of blood, weaving an unsettling oppression under the dim yellow lamplight.
Lu Li sat on the rosewood chair in the private booth, her eyes lowered as she watched Qingluan use a wet cloth to slowly wipe away the blood from the side of her neck. The scene on the long street earlier had been thrilling; even now, recalling it made her fingertips feel cold.
"Miss, I don't know how deep this cut is. I'm afraid it will leave a scar..." As she cleaned the wound, Qingluan couldn't help but redden her eyes, her voice filled with lingering fear and worry.
"It's fine," Lu Li raised a hand to touch the edge of the wound, her tone as calm as if she were discussing someone else's business. "The wound isn't deep; it just looks scary. I'll apply some medicine powder when we get back to the inn, and it will heal."
Qingluan, however, could not suppress her indignation. "That fugitive was clearly targeting the daughter of Grand Tutor Wei's family from the start. If not for her guards intervening, why would you have suffered this undeserved calamity? It was truly a malicious intent!"
Lu Li lowered her eyelids, masking the look in her eyes.
Presumably, Zhao Tiezhu fled here and saw the Grand Tutor's magnificent carriage, which gave him the idea to take a hostage. If he had taken that noble daughter today, he might really have been able to hold the officers at bay and perhaps even escaped with his life.
Unfortunately, through a twist of fate, he took her, a worthless commoner.
"But Miss, why did you suddenly make a move just now?" Qingluan wrung out the cloth, asking with lingering fear. "You are always calm and steady, but today was a bit risky. Although the fugitive was fierce, there were many officers from the Patrol Camp. Even if you hadn't acted, they would have saved you."
The corner of Lu Li's lips curled in self-mockery.
Lei Zhen would save her?
She clearly saw the archer behind Lei Zhen with bowstring drawn taut, the arrowhead pointed straight at them, with not the slightest intention of caring whether she lived or died. Furthermore, judging by the words of that Commander Pei earlier, Lei Zhen seemed intent on killing Zhao Tiezhu to silence him.
She was the most insignificant part of this case; her death would carry no weight, and might even save them a lot of trouble.
"Because I don't trust them," Lu Li said indifferently.
Qingluan was stunned. "Miss?"
"They were determined to get the fugitive. I was afraid that to catch him, they would conveniently use me as a target." Lu Li's voice was calm, revealing a chill that comes from seeing through the ways of the world. "I am not a noble daughter, just a commoner. In the eyes of these officials and powerful families, a life is like grass, worth less than an ant."
"I didn't want to put my life in their hands. I only trust myself."
Qingluan froze for a moment, saying nothing, feeling that the young lady today seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
Amidst the silence, a voice suddenly sounded.
"It sounds like Doctor Lu holds quite a grudge against the powerful in the capital. Could there be some past grievance?"
Lu Li suddenly looked up.
From behind a large screen painted with peonies in full bloom, a person walked out slowly. The young man was dressed in a scarlet brocade robe with arrow sleeves, a black leather belt fastened around his waist, gleaming with a cold, hard luster, accentuating his tall and martial figure. He also possessed an extremely handsome face, with fine features and bone structure. Standing there, he seemed to brighten the dim room, like a fierce fire suddenly ignited in the dark night.
Lu Li's gaze shifted slightly.
This was the "Commander Pei" Lei Zhen had mentioned.
In the chaos earlier, she hadn't examined his face closely. Now, seeing him, his conversation sparkled, his attire was luxurious, and his bearing extraordinary. Recalling the verbal sparring between him and the Patrol Camp commander earlier, the other party had addressed him as "Commander" repeatedly. This young man looked to be just over twenty; to hold such a high position at such a young age, his family background must be prominent.
A clever and ruthless scion of a powerful family—she should stay as far away as possible.
As Lu Li thought this, she saw him smile and place an object on the small table before her. He spoke unhurriedly, "Doctor Lu, you dropped something."
Lu Li's heart skipped a beat.
The kingfisher velvet flower lay on the table, glowing with a cold, bloody light under the lamp, looking inexplicably chilling.
She steadied herself, then spoke calmly, "Thank you, My Lord." She reached out to pick up the velvet flower.
A slender, powerful hand pressed down on the velvet flower.
Lu Li looked up.
The young man's knuckles were long and strong, pressing against the deep blue velvet flower, making his hand look like white jade.
His fingers tapped lightly on the flower, as if pondering something. Though he was smiling, his eyes were pitch-black and profound, as if they could see right through a person.
Pei Yunzheng said, "There is still something I don't understand. I ask Doctor Lu to clarify it for me."
Lu Li looked at him coldly.
He smiled. "Why does Doctor Lu's velvet flower have three silver pins?"
Ordinary velvet flowers only had one pin to fix the hair, but Lu Li's flower had a full three.
Qingluan stood to the side, her face revealing nervousness.
Lu Li replied with composure, "My hair is thick. An ordinary single pin slips out easily, so I used three for reinforcement."
Pei Yunzheng raised an eyebrow slightly. Lu Li's expression was frank, showing no trace of panic.
His gaze lingered on Lu Li's cloud-like hair for a moment before moving away. "I see."
Before Lu Li could speak, she heard him speak again with an air of indifference. "Then, Doctor Lu, why did you grind the pins of the velvet flower so sharp?" He reminded her with a half-smile, "The scratch on Zhao Tiezhu's face couldn't have been made by an ordinary flower pin."
Lu Li's heart sank slightly. This man was truly difficult to deal with.
When women wore flowers in this era, whether pearl or velvet, the pins on the back were always ground round to avoid injury. But the kingfisher velvet flower Lu Li wore had pins that were sharp and fierce. Even a light graze would leave a thin mark on the skin, let alone a heavy scratch.
She had sharpened these pins herself.
The cloying incense in the shop cast a surreal hue over the surroundings. Lu Li's gaze traveled up from his hand, catching sight of the exquisite silver dark patterns on his wrist guard. She paused for a moment before raising her head and speaking calmly, "My Lord, as far as I know, there is no law in the Capital that forbids a woman's hairpin from being sharp, is there?"
Her tone was flat, but her gaze hid a sharpness that refused to yield an inch.
A flash of surprise crossed Pei Yunzheng's eyes, then he inexplicably laughed and nodded. "True."
His expression relaxed again. He released the hand pressing on the velvet flower and took a palm-sized white porcelain bottle from his bosom, placing it on the table. "Doctor Lu's injury needs proper care; it wouldn't do to leave a scar. The scar removal ointment from the Divine Martial Right Army is quite effective. Doctor Lu might want to try it."
Lu Li didn't move, only looking at him and saying, "Thank you."
Someone outside called for him, "My Lord, people from the Grand Tutor's residence request an audience."
He answered, then glanced at Lu