CHAPTER 345: CHAPTER 345: ABDUCTED

Tang Zan now appeared refreshed, a satisfied smile gracing his lips.

"Madam, are you thirsty?"

Pei Shu’er gave him a fleeting glare.

"Thirsty."

Tang Zan poured tea for Pei Shu’er and even thoughtfully tested the temperature.

Pei Shu’er was particularly finicky now: "I don’t want tea, I want plain water."

Tang Zan good-naturedly poured out the tea and went to the kitchen to fetch some plain water.

After drinking, Pei Shu’er felt her hoarse throat improve significantly.

She looked at Tang Zan, who obediently approached and stood beside Pei Shu’er, gently massaging her waist.

Pei Shu’er finally felt much better after lying on the bed for a while.

Pei Shu’er felt somewhat better.

Tang Zan said, "You must be hungry, after such a tiring night."

Pei Shu’er glared at Tang Zan, who had a meaningful smile on his lips.

So Tang Zan went to the kitchen again to bring food, and they ate breakfast together.

He was bossed around all morning, yet there was no sign of him getting upset, and he seemed in high spirits.

Afterward, he assisted Pei Shu’er in getting dressed, and although she glared at him, he remained unperturbed.

He merely laughed and said, "Next time, I’ll be more careful."

Pei Shu’er snorted: "With you like this, you still want a next time? I’ve already had enough of once."

Tang Zan’s expression changed; he couldn’t let this happiness slip away just like that. Thinking of this, he became more anxious and coaxed Pei Shu’er with increased effort.

They both woke up fairly early and heard from Yinxing that family members were already waiting in the main hall.

Entering the main hall, they found the atmosphere exceedingly strange.

In the main hall sat people from the third branch of the family, Liu Xu and Tang Qingning seated, while Jing Ci and Tang Peizhong stood in the middle of the hall, the servants had been dismissed.

Shen Wanqing had shown her face, but seeing the tense atmosphere, she returned to her room.

Tang Qingning’s complexion was extremely unsightly, her anger causing her breaths to deepen, whereas Liu Xu looked somewhat pale.

Tang Qingning said, "Since you are the Khan’s wife, why did you come to our Dayan?"

Moreover, if she remembered correctly, her father had spent the whole night with this woman.

It was impossible for her not to be angry.

Her mother didn’t fight or contest, did they really think she was easy to bully?

Jing Ci smiled as she turned around to gaze at Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan.

"I merely wished to attend your brother’s wedding and offer my blessings."

Tang Qingning rarely got so agitated.

"Thank you for coming, Kedun, but wouldn’t it be better if you spoke to the Khan about not opposing Dayan’s borders so aggressively?"

Jing Ci smiled leisurely, seemingly unconcerned, and looked toward Tang Peizhong.

"Your daughter seems to have a big opinion of me, so I won’t stay long."

Tang Peizhong’s gaze landed on Tang Qingning’s face, evidently disapproving of her rudeness.

"Stay a bit. After Zan’er serves tea, I will see you off."

However, Tang Qingning was unwilling to yield, having witnessed many of Liu Xu’s tears during her childhood.

They all knew that Tang Peizhong previously courted a certain female general who eventually married the Khan.

Pei Shu’er smiled, trying to mediate: "Starting a fight early in the morning won’t do anyone good; after all, we’re a family, and harmony should be valued."

Tang Qingning sneered: "She’s father’s old flame, and after so many years of no contact, she suddenly visits, pretending she can’t forget. Who is she trying to disgust?"

As soon as she spoke, Liu Xu sighed and said, "Ning’er, stop it."

Clearly, Liu Xu was also angry but was constrained by etiquette not to say much.

In those days, it was common for men to have several wives, and Liu Xu never really cared.

Back then, it was Tang Peizhong who proposed to her, but all these years, she always felt Tang Peizhong was like an unyielding ice block.

Upon seeing Jing Ci, she realized that the years with Tang Peizhong were nothing but a mockery.

Tang Zan’s gaze coldly swept over Jing Ci before saying, "Father, Mother, please be seated, we are about to honor you with tea."

Only then did they take their seats, and Liu Xu also tried to compose herself.

Pei Shu’er said, "Father-in-law, please have tea. Mother-in-law, please have tea."

Both drank the tea, looking at Pei Shu’er with satisfaction in their eyes.

After the tea, Pei Shu’er pulled Liu Xu into the courtyard to chat.

Liu Xu said nothing, simply advising Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan to live well and to let her have a fat grandson soon.

Thinking of this, Pei Shu’er’s cheeks flushed again.

That day, Pei Shu’er realized Tang Peizhong and Jing Ci were nowhere to be found.

At that moment, after spending a night laboring with Tang Zan, Pei Shu’er had no choice but to get out of bed.

After giving herself a three-day holiday, a soldier suddenly rode over to report.

"General, the Dazi are harassing the frontier again."

As soon as these words were spoken, Tang Zan’s expression turned cold.

Pei Shu’er looked at Tang Zan: "You should go quickly; the military situation is urgent."

Tang Zan held Pei Shu’er’s hand: "Wait for me to return."

Pei Shu’er nodded; it was time for her to return to Su County.

If she stayed here much longer, the people of Su County might not be able to hold out.

When they heard the newlyweds were to part, Liu Xu and Shen Wanqing had mixed feelings.

Pei Shu’er took Shen Wanqing’s hand, smiling and inviting her.

"Mother, come to the county with me. You’ll see that your daughter is, in fact, doing quite well."

Shen Wanqing also wished to spend more time with her daughter; surely, she wouldn’t make a once-in-a-lifetime 2,000-mile journey?

Shen Wanqing nodded and then said, "Alright, let’s go."

However, halfway there, Pei Shu’er suddenly felt the road became more and more wrong, usually seeing at least one or two vagrants here, but today there wasn’t a soul. The quiet was eerie.

Pei Shu’er hastily instructed Lin Yu to drive away, but before they could, bandits appeared ahead, stopping the horse.

Pei Shu’er quickly pulled Shen Wanqing off the carriage, and the two hurriedly walked forward.

However, a bit further along, Shen Wanqing began to cough violently due to the exertion.

She even coughed up some blood. Pei Shu’er hurriedly supported Shen Wanqing, intending to carry her and run.

But before she could open her mouth, a heavy blow struck the nape of her neck, and she passed out.

Before fainting, she saw a face remarkably similar to Liu Xu’s.

It was Jing Ci.

Jing Ci nonchalantly said, "This woman Tao Mingxuan specifically wanted doesn’t appear to be anything special."

This was the last sentence Pei Shu’er heard before losing consciousness.

When she arrived at the Gulan Military Camp, Pei Shu’er was awakened by a bucket of water.

Upon awakening, she discovered she was bound to a post.