Chapter 218: Chapter 98 Gifts_2
He, however, didn’t seem to care much, "What’s your hurry?"
"Of course, I’m worried!" Pei Yunshu gave him a sidelong glance, "I was chatting with Doctor Lu today and found out that even Doctor Lu is already betrothed. You are four years his senior, he has a fiancé, what about you? You don’t even have someone you fancy, except for the bitches at the Palace Front Office, and they already have other dogs coveting them!"
Pei Yunmeng laughed and cried at the same time, "Why are you comparing me to dogs?"
"Even dogs are more sensible than you!"
Pei Yunmeng: "..."
Pei Yunshu looked at the young man in front of her, a trace of concern flickering in her eyes.
Actually, she wasn’t truly anxious about Pei Yunmeng’s marital affairs; with his good looks and promising future, there was an uncountable number of people who wished to be related by marriage to such a talent. But now that he was increasingly favored by the Emperor, and his standing increasingly high, his marriage matters were less and less within his own control. Now that the Empress Dowager showed signs of arranging a marriage for him, if they delayed a few more years, he might truly lose any opportunity to make his own choice, just like her...
She didn’t wish for Pei Yunmeng to follow in her footsteps. Moreover, Pei Yunmeng was like an unsheathed knife now — too sharp and bound to hurt himself. If he had someone he liked, perhaps he would leave some leeway in his actions, which would be good for him as well.
Pei Yunshu softened her tone, "Ah Ying, tell your sister, what kind of girl do you actually like? The legitimate daughter of the Imperial Censor’s family is said to be exceedingly beautiful; her mother even asked about you today. I have met that young lady — she’s like a heavenly fairy, really full of grace and elegance..."
Pei Yunmeng pinched his forehead, sounding helpless, "There are so many pretty girls in the world, I can’t possibly like them all, can I?"
"Then what kind do you like?"
Pei Yunshu, looking determined not to give up until she had an answer, Pei Yunmeng pondered and then said, "Someone intelligent, I guess."
"Intelligent?" Pei Yunshu’s eyes brightened, "The second daughter of the Scholar’s residence at the Hall of Gathered Talent is overflowing with talent; she was composing poetry at the age of five, very clever indeed. What do you think..."
"But I don’t like poetry."
Seeing his absent-minded demeanor, Pei Yunshu became angry, "Did you come here this late just to upset me?"
"Not at all." Pei Yunmeng replied earnestly, "I came to deliver a gift to avoid Treasure Bead saying that I’m stingy."
Pei Yunshu looked at his empty hands, "Where’s the gift?"
Just as Pei Yunmeng was about to speak, the voice of the guard Chi Jian rang out from outside, "Master, we’ve captured the person."
Pei Yunshu was taken aback, casting a doubtful glance at him.
"Look," Pei Yunmeng smiled, "Here comes your gift now."
...
In front of the Military Inspection House at the entrance of West Street, several Pawn Shop Soldiers stopped an old woman carrying a burden, bought several bowls of spicy lung soup, and squatted at the doorway, enjoying their meal with gusto.
It was nearly early winter, with the weather getting colder by the day. By night time, the soldiers were terribly hungry, and the spicy lung soup was so fiery that once a bowl reached the stomach, they would feel a burning warmth arising within.
Shen Fengying leaned against the pillar at the entrance of the Patrol House, biting into the last piece of spicy lung, when he saw several people approaching.
The leader was a man, holding another man in black; the man in black was tied up, being half-dragged, half-pushed forward by the man. Following behind them was a young woman. These three people walked through the bustling streets, drawing countless gazes. Seeing that they were headed to the Patrol House, Shen Fengying hurriedly swallowed the spicy lung, but was caught off guard and choked on the oil, starting to cough violently.
The soldiers rushed to get him a water flask, and Shen Fengying guzzled nearly half of it before he finally managed to quell the spiciness in his throat. When he looked up, the three people were already in front of him.
He didn’t recognize the two men, but the woman walking behind seemed somewhat familiar. Before Shen Fengying could speak, the woman addressed him first, "Officer Shen."
As soon as she spoke, Shen Fengying immediately remembered, pointing at her and saying, "You’re that... Onion from the mountain!"
Heaven have mercy, he still remembered this person. Last month after the contribution case in Shengjing, he received a report that a small clinic on West Street was accused of murder and burying the corpse. At the time, Shen Fengying was eager for a big case, ready to enhance his achievements and reach the pinnacle of his career, only to end up searching the clinic all night and finding nothing but half a dead pig.
A dead pig, not a dead person!
At that time, all of Shen Fengying’s enthusiasm was thoroughly doused.
And the irony of it all — he wasn’t sure if he was lucky or unlucky — before he could even clear up the situation, he received another accusation: a male corpse was found on Mount Wangchun with a purse from the Imperial Guards on its person.
And just his luck, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Pei Yunmeng, was right there in front of him.
At that moment, Shen Fengying felt like his career had probably come to an end right there and then.