Du Yuheng was caught off guard, pierced by Cai Fei’s golden hairpin. The three-inch long pin lodged in his shoulder, causing him to scream like a pig being slaughtered.
"Ah— Come here, come here—"
Clasping his injured shoulder, he retreated while crying out so loudly he almost toppled the entire Zuihua Pavilion!
Taking advantage of his yelling, Cai Fei scrambled to her feet and quickly adjusted her short robe. Just as she finished, the door burst open with a "thud", and four attendants who followed Du Yuheng rushed in, "Second Young Master, did you call us? My goodness, Second Young Master, what happened to you?"
Du Yuheng cried out shrilly, and viciously pointed to Cai Fei, saying, "Strip this slut and tie her to the bed..."
Upon hearing the command, excitement immediately appeared in the attendants’ eyes.
"Yes, young master, you just wait. Don’t bother, we’ll tie her up in position..."
With that, several men eagerly rushed toward Cai Fei, their faces revealing a sleazy expression.
Having spent their days with Du Yuheng, they naturally picked up his sleazy habits. Du Yuheng had means to vent his desires, but they, as servants, could only covet. Therefore, they would not pass up any opportunity to take advantage.
"Hehe, Second Lady, excuse us..."
The attendants jeered, closing in. Seeing Fei’er’s tear-rimmed eyes and her haggard looks, they immediately imagined her stripped and bound, their faces becoming even more obscene.
But Cai Fei stood on the low couch, with nowhere left to retreat or hide. Biting her teeth, she suddenly turned around and jumped down to the floor below—
In the alley, nightingales chirped, fragrant powder permeated the air, and the courtesans of all the brothels half-leaned against their flowered doors, soliciting business from the passing carriages.
"Young Master, come and have a drink at my place, I’ll sing a song for you...."
"Young Master, I’m good at massaging. Come in, and I’ll give you a massage, you’ll feel comfortable..."
The man being solicited held a cold face, staring straight ahead and ignoring the vulgar women around him. He rode his horse, donned a rainy sky-blue brocade robe, cloud-patterned with dark flowers, a belt of brocade tied around his waist. On the left side was a cyan jade pendant with emerald green tassels and on the right was a red jade flute. His jade belt fastened the gold crown, the crown adorned with an eastern pearl the size of a dragon eye. The radiant light reflected on his unparalleled handsome features, splendorous and extraordinary.
The courtesans leaned on the doors and laughed for customers every day, mostly dealing with obscene and perverted men. They had never seen such an exceptionally gorgeous and graceful man. Even if he didn’t pay, they would still gladly attend to such man.
"Young Master, come on, let me serve you..."
The man on horseback still remained unmoved. He kept his face cold, moving forward, when all of a sudden, it seemed as if he saw something and his eyes flickered. Then he leaped up, landed on the horse’s back, and flew into the air like a soaring eagle. In the midst of his flight, he caught and landed back on the horse, holding a young girl.
Fei’er had jumped from the building with a desperate mindset. Even after being held by Mo Ziqi, her eyes were tightly shut. Her long eyelashes were trembling, and her porcelain-like face was even paler. Her little hand clenched the man’s clothing tightly, looking so fragile that it made people’s heart ache.
"Miss, are you okay?"
Mo Ziqi softly asked. Despite the young beauty’s captivating looks, he was no lustful man with an intention to save her initially. However, the moment he saw her falling, he reflexively jumped and caught her.
After his question, the girl indeed opened her eyes. They were beautifully shaped, clear as a stream, a stark contrast against her porcelain face and rosy lips, stunningly beautiful!
Seeing her blooming beauty, Mo Ziqi was taken aback.
Normally, he would probably have put her down and left by now, but seeing her frightened and wronged face, he strangely enough, asked further, "Did someone bully you?"
Hearing the word ’bully’, Cai Fei’s emotions instantly collapsed. The fear, humiliation, anger, and grievance she had just experienced uncontrollably surged, causing her eyes to redden instantly.
Cai Fei knew that crying in a stranger’s arms was improper. She bit her lips, trying hard to suppress her grievances. Yet the tears, like a broke-dammed flood, rushed out uncontrollably, instantly making her cheeks look like pear blossoms hit by rain.
Seeing her red eyes, resembling a frightened rabbit, alongside her tear-stained face, Mo Ziqi instantly felt a wave of pity.
"Miss, don’t cry. If someone really bullied you, I might be able to help."
Cai Fei bit her lip while wiping her eyes, but her tears, like unset pearls, wouldn’t stop no matter how much she wiped.
"Hey, this young master, this girl was procured by our young master. Could you kindly return her to us?"
A few attendants from the Duke An’s mansion ran down from the upstairs, reaching Mo Ziqi’s horse, looking up and boldly demanding Cai Fei back.
Seeing them, Cai Fei instinctively nestled into Mo Ziqi’s arms, her petite body uncontrollably shaking, "No...I don’t...they are bad guys..."
Mo Ziqi gave a soft ’oh’, looked down at those attendants, spoke in a cold voice, "Tell your master to come and see me!"