Chapter 249: Arrogant and Spoiled, A Decade of Determination
The newcomer wore a high-waisted dress, adorned with gold hairpins and jade ornaments, her entire appearance radiating wealth and luxury.
Although her face still held a touch of youthful innocence, her expression was stern and sharp, with a hint of arrogance. Supported by her maid, she strolled slowly towards them, her gaze aloof and indifferent, casually glancing around before looking away with a hint of disdain.
Lin Tianlu asked in surprise, “And this is…?”
“This is the young lady who wishes to speak with you, sir.”
Nie Qingyuan smiled, stepping back and gesturing towards her with a slight bow. “Her name is Pei Xueyang.”
Pei Xueyang?
Hearing the surname ‘Pei,’ Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow, a suspicion forming in his mind.
“The renowned Mr. Lin, living in such a shabby and desolate place. It’s quite a disappointment.”
A sharp, clear voice echoed as Pei Xueyang approached the gate, a playful smile on her face. “I thought there would at least be some scenic beauty here, but there aren’t even any guards. It’s no different from a common village!”
Nie Qingyuan’s smile faltered, and he sighed. “Miss… Pei, you’ve already witnessed your brother’s unfortunate fate. Shouldn’t you learn to restrain your arrogance? Be careful not to invite disaster upon yourself.”
“I…”
Pei Xueyang’s expression stiffened, and she pouted, humming softly. “I didn’t mean any harm. I just couldn’t help but comment. This residence is truly unimpressive. The fallen leaves haven’t even been swept. I wouldn’t normally come to such a rural place. I might even dirty my dress.”
“Regardless, Miss Pei, you need to mature. Things are different now.”
Nie Qingyuan offered a resigned admonition, then turned to Lin Tianlu. “I presume you’ve already guessed this young lady’s identity, sir.”
“Prince Pei’s daughter,” Lin Tianlu frowned. “Pei Yan’s younger sister?”
“Correct.”
Pei Xueyang nodded emphatically. “I came to Changling with Pei Yan a while ago and met your… future wives.”
She paused, placing her hands on her hips, a playful, provocative smile on her face. “I thought you would turn pale and attack me after hearing my name. You dared to kill my brother, Prince Pei’s son, but you’re afraid to touch me? Unlike Pei Yan, I’m a weak and defenseless woman. Any servant girl could easily overpower me.”
“Since you’ve come all this way, Miss Pei, I presume you have a purpose other than provoking me. I wouldn’t take my anger out on others.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently and bowed. “I’m more curious why you seem so calm and relaxed, knowing that I’m responsible for Pei Yan’s death. Could it be that the two of you…”
“What do I care whether he lives or dies?”
Pei Xueyang’s smile vanished, and she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You speak just like Pei Yan, all formal and stuffy. It’s so annoying.”
Lin Tianlu’s eye twitched.
Why was she generalizing about scholars?
Most scholars spoke like this. He hadn’t offended anyone.
But judging by her tone, she clearly didn’t care about Pei Yan’s death, as if he were a stray dog rather than her brother.
This was intriguing.
“Miss Pei, you asked me for an introduction last night, not to engage in meaningless banter.” Nie Qingyuan coughed, his tone stern. “If you continue with this childish nonsense, you might as well leave and not disturb Mr. Lin.”
“You…” Pei Xueyang’s face flushed with annoyance.
But after opening her mouth, she simply stamped her foot and muttered, “Fine! It was just a joke. No need to take it so seriously.”
“This is no time for jokes, Miss Pei.”
“…You’re right.”
Pei Xueyang sighed, her voice softening. “Mr. Lin, may I come inside and speak with you privately? We can’t discuss important matters out here in the open. If someone overhears us, it could spread rumors.”
Lin Tianlu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment of thought, he gestured towards the house with a smile. “Please, come in.”
…
Inside the study…
Lin Tianlu poured them tea, brought out fresh fruit, and sat down calmly.
Seeing his relaxed demeanor, Pei Xueyang frowned. “You don’t seem surprised by my visit, Mr. Lin.”
“Should I be feigning shock and awe, Miss Pei?”
Lin Tianlu lifted his teacup, smiling as he traced the rim. “I’m more surprised by your connection with Master Nie.”
Nie Qingyuan chuckled wryly. “I tutored Miss Pei for a while, so I suppose I’m something of a teacher to her. I couldn’t refuse her repeated requests, so I brought her here. However, this girl is rather… spirited and has a peculiar temperament. She hasn’t learned much, and her behavior is often… less than refined. I apologize for any offense she might cause, sir.”
“I see.”
Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s rude! What do you mean, ‘hasn’t learned much’?” Pei Xueyang tossed her hair, narrowing her eyes languidly. “Knowing how to survive the struggles for power and live a carefree life is true wisdom.”
She yawned. “Being learned and knowledgeable doesn’t guarantee survival… just look at my poor brother. He always seemed so clever and resourceful, but he ended up with not even a proper burial, hastily buried in some unmarked grave by a few lowly servants. Who knows when the news of his death will reach our family? By the time they retrieve his body, it will probably be nothing but bones.”
“This…”
Nie Qingyuan was speechless.
Pei Xueyang glanced at Lin Tianlu, who remained calm and composed, and a flicker of curiosity appeared in her eyes.
This man was even more unfazed than she had anticipated.
“Aren’t you—”
Lin Tianlu took a sip of tea, interrupting her. “Are you seeking help, Miss Pei?” “Hmm?”
Pei Xueyang paused, surprised that he hadn’t bothered with pleasantries and was so direct.
But she didn’t waste any time, replying after a moment of hesitation, “Not exactly help, but… cooperation.”
“Tell me more about this cooperation.”
“Hmph~ Since everyone in Changling praises you as ‘Master,’ and even that Cheng woman is head over heels for you, rejecting even Prince Pei’s son, why don’t you guess what I want—”
“There’s no need.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “If you don’t want to tell me, I won’t force you. Instead of playing guessing games, why don’t we play a few rounds of Go or discuss some poetry?”
Pei Xueyang fell silent, annoyed.
This man had no sense of humor, refusing to play along.
“Sigh!”
Nie Qingyuan chuckled wryly. “I told you not to waste your breath on meaningless banter with Mr. Lin. It will only frustrate you. Sir, allow me to be blunt. Miss Pei is here to discuss the… upcoming conflict.”
Lin Tianlu looked at Pei Xueyang and chuckled. “The internal power struggle within the Pei family?”
“Yes.”
Pei Xueyang crossed her arms and nodded emphatically. “I’ll provide you with some vital intelligence and help you clean up the mess. In return, you’ll help me. A mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“You were able to knock Pei Yan down with a single punch in front of all those guards and venerables, and even kill him later in his own home. This proves you’re quite capable. You would be a valuable ally.”
Lin Tianlu stroked his chin, his interest piqued. “What do you want me to do for you, Miss Pei?”
“Defeat the people who will be arriving in Changling soon.”
Pei Xueyang gestured with her hand, her voice cold. “Whether you kill them, capture them, or imprison them, it doesn’t matter. Just make sure they don’t leave Changling alive.”
“Who are these people?”
“One of them is Tang Qianmen, an incense master of the Zhaoxiao Courtyard. The other is a middle-aged man named Wei Shanyan. He doesn’t belong to any faction, but his power is no less than Tang Qianmen’s.” Pei Xueyang’s expression turned serious. “The others are also quite strong, but these two… are far beyond ordinary.”
“These two must have been summoned by your brother, Pei Yan.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “But why are you so worried, Miss Pei, even coming here to seek my help in eliminating them? If you explained the situation to them, couldn’t they help you avenge your brother’s death?”
“Because…”
“You don’t want to be involved in the power struggle and want to eliminate any potential threats before they arise, using my strength to your advantage.”
Lin Tianlu took a sip of tea and exhaled slowly, murmuring as if to himself, “Or perhaps Pei Yan thought he was in control, but he was merely a pawn, easily discarded when no longer useful. His death was predetermined. The truly important figures are those involved in the ‘Grand Concealed Dragon Formation,’ aren’t they?”
“After all, anyone with a discerning eye could see through his pretense and his wicked deeds. If such a person were to become the next Prince Pei, it would be a laughingstock, a stain on the family’s honor.”
Pei Xueyang’s eyes widened at his unexpected words, and she fell silent.
“And the reason you want to stop this is because you have some reservations, wanting to disrupt this plan and muddy the waters of the power struggle. Then you can return to your carefree life as a princess, pretending to be oblivious to everything.”
Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a viable plan. After all, even Master Nie, your former teacher, hasn’t noticed your true nature, let alone those easily swayed by appearances. Perhaps, for all these years, you’ve been playing the role of a spoiled and arrogant princess so perfectly that no one has ever suspected you, no one has ever paid you any real attention. In their eyes, you’re just a useless, pampered princess, nothing more than a pretty face.”
“…”
Nie Qingyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked at the silent Pei Xueyang.
The surprise on Pei Xueyang’s face faded, the arrogant facade crumbling, her expression becoming calm and serene.
“Were those just… speculations, sir?”
“Speculations… and intuition.”
Lin Tianlu smiled, tapping his finger against his eye. “But I’m a good judge of character. Your acting skills aren’t enough to fool me, Miss Pei.”
“…As expected of Mr. Lin. You’re truly remarkable.”
Pei Xueyang’s arrogant demeanor vanished, replaced by admiration. “I’ve honed my disguise for over ten years, and even my father hasn’t seen through it. But you saw through my act at a glance.”
“However, you’re no longer hiding your true self,” Lin Tianlu said thoughtfully. “Is it because your destination is no longer the Pei residence, but some remote and secluded village or town?”
Pei Xueyang sighed. “You’re right, sir.”
There was no longer any pretense in her voice.
Her years of disguise had been seen through, her intentions and escape route exposed. There was no point in continuing the charade.
Most importantly…
“Once this is over, I’ll abandon my identity and disappear, never to return to the Pei residence.”
A gentle smile appeared on Pei Xueyang’s face. “Continuing that annoying act would only upset Master Nie. There’s no point.”
Nie Qingyuan looked stunned. “Miss Pei, do you really…”
“Thank you for your patience, Master. I know I’ve been troublesome.” Pei Xueyang smiled warmly, bowing her head apologetically. “But under the watchful eyes of the Pei family’s secret guards, I had no choice but to act that way to avoid suspicion.”
