novelaction Chapter 416 Suspicious Behavior
Chapter 416 Suspicious Behavior
Pei Huaijin threw a centipede out.
"Thank you, brother," Pei Shijing breathed a sigh of relief. "I was almost scared to death just now."
Pei Huaijin looked at Wen Jiayue and asked, "Is Yue'er alright?"
Pei Shijing's smile froze slightly.
Wen Jiayue did not answer, but sat on the round stool, resting her chin on her hand and looking out the window.
"Yue'er?" Pei Huaijin called her persistently.
He would keep asking her as long as she ignored him.
Wen Jiayue had no choice but to say, "I'm fine."
Pei Huaijin nodded and said, "That's good. If there are any more mosquitoes, I can switch rooms with you."
He went out and closed the door behind him.
Pei Shijing pursed her lips and sat opposite Wen Jiayue, blocking her view and forcing her to look at her.
Wen Jiayue asked, "What's wrong?"
Pei Shijing didn't speak, but carefully examined Wen Jiayue.
Wen Jiayue felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.
Pei Shijing also frowned in her manner, but felt that she was just imitating her.
She asked dejectedly, "Sister Yue'er, does my brother not like me? Is it because my appearance and temperament are not gentle and dignified enough?"
Everyone says she's charming and cute, and she likes herself that way, but now she always feels insecure.
If she were a little taller, if she were a little slimmer, if her round face were an oval face...
If only my brother liked her.
“That’s not how it is,” Wen Jiayue said softly. “The more you try to please him, the more disdainful he will be of you.”
Just like in her previous life, she always compromised and yielded when facing Shen Fuhan, almost losing her own sense of self.
“But he doesn’t like the original me,” Pei Shijing said, distressed. “He only likes you. As long as you’re here, he won’t even spare me a glance.”
Wen Jiayue didn't know how to persuade her, so she could only remain silent.
Fortunately, Pei Shijing didn't insist on getting an answer and went to bed looking dejected.
Wen Jiayue looked out the window again, lost in thought.
For the past few days, Pei Huaijin has maintained a routine of spending one night in the wild and another night in an inn.
Before leaving each time, she would have Pei Shijing slip something into her bag, hoping it would be circulated and discovered by Shen Fuhan.
She thought about it silently, not knowing if it would have any effect.
She didn't have many things left. If she lost her earrings, they would be too conspicuous. She also didn't have many hairpins left, so she couldn't hide them anymore.
She could find nothing left on her body that could represent her identity, and she didn't know what to do next.
If the trail goes cold after this point, Shen Fuhan will be powerless to continue searching.
Wen Jiayue racked her brains, wondering if there was any other way.
Someone knocked on the door next to the guest room.
Recognizing it was Uncle Liang's voice, Pei Huaijin invited him in.
"Master, we've found out that those people are indeed from Changyuan Escort Agency. The dark-faced man surnamed Song is the head of the escort agency, and his wife also works there. They have twenty or thirty men under their command, all from Yizhou."
Pei Huaijin frowned. A native of Yizhou? From the Song family?
He felt he had heard the name somewhere before, and had a vague impression of it in his mind.
However, it wasn't worth wasting his energy on such a small matter, so Pei Huaijin didn't take it to heart and asked, "Where are they going?"
Uncle Liang said, "This time, we're escorting some goods to Yangzhou. We haven't found out the specifics yet. Would you like to continue investigating, Master?"
Pei Huaijin shook his head and asked again, "Are they going to Yangzhou too?"
"Yes."
Pei Huaijin couldn't help but regret agreeing to that person's request. If they had suggested traveling together, it would have been incredibly troublesome.
To avoid trouble, Pei Huaijin said, "We won't go to Yangzhou. They're heading south, so we'll head west and get the map."
Uncle Liang laid the map flat on the table.
Pei Huaijin glanced around and pointed to Yunzhou, saying, "Change course, go here."
Yunzhou borders the Western Regions, which are beyond the reach of the emperor, resulting in widespread chaos.
He has friends in the Western Regions royal family. If there is still a chance to rebel, he can make contact with the Western Regions royal family and take the opportunity to recuperate here.
In the middle of the night, the snow fell silently.
The next morning, the streets and alleys were covered in white. After a quick clean-up, we prepared to set off.
Just as Pei Huaijin saw Wen Jiayue and Pei Shijing onto the carriage, he heard someone behind him call out, "Young master, thank you so much for last night!"
He turned around with a smile and said, "It's only right to help others when you're traveling, no need to thank me."
"Hahaha, great!" Brother Song laughed heartily. "By the way, my name is Song Ang. What's your surname, young man?"
"My surname is Zhao," Pei Huaijin casually gave a false surname. "May I ask where Brother Song is headed?"
"Yangzhou, and you?"
Pei Huaijin made up another place name.
"It's a pity I can't travel with Brother Zhao anymore," Song Ang said regretfully, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "Until we meet again!"
Pei Huaijin said gently, "Until we meet again."
Song Ang took one last look at the carriage, then turned and left.
The two teams parted ways.
Wen Jiayue listened to the conversation from inside the carriage and frowned slightly.
Why did Pei Huaijin say he was going somewhere else? Did he not want to go to Yangzhou?
Was he just saying it casually to get rid of these bodyguards, or was he serious?
Wen Jiayue hesitated for a long time, then suddenly realized that if she really wanted to go to this place, Pei Huaijin would definitely not say it to her face.
So, we still have to go to Yangzhou?
We'll only know when we reach the next place.
She tried desperately to recall the travelogues she had read. Although she couldn't remember them all, she had a vague impression in her mind, and at least knew a few places leading to Yangzhou.
If the next place is one she is familiar with, perhaps she will be able to find the answer.
The snowy roads were difficult to traverse, and the group struggled to leave Qingta Town.
The coldest time was when the snow was melting. Wen Jiayue's hands and feet were stiff from the cold, and she kept her hands tucked into her sleeves. Although there was only a little warmth left, she couldn't bear to take them out.
Upon seeing this, Pei Huaijin got out of the carriage and soon brought two hot water bottles.
Pei Shijing exclaimed with delight, "Thank you, brother!"
Pei Huaijin handed another one to Wen Jiayue: "Yue'er, here you go."
Wen Jiayue silently accepted it, but unexpectedly, her fingertips suddenly touched his and she recoiled as if she had been electrocuted.
Pei Huaijin paused for a moment and placed the hot water bottle next to her cushion.
Wen Jiayue then picked it up and held the hot water bottle in her arms.
“If you need anything else, remember to tell me,” Pei Huaijin said, “I will buy it for you.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Jiayue tentatively asked, "I'd like to sleep in the inn every night, is that alright?"
Before Pei Huaijin could answer, Uncle Liang knocked on the carriage wall.
Pei Huaijin's expression hardened, and he stepped down from the carriage.
"what happened?"
Uncle Liang lowered his voice and said, "The head of the Changyuan Escort Agency, Chief Song, is following behind us. His behavior is suspicious. Should we take care of him?"