After hearing what Pei Xuanzhi said, Song Jing's expression grew serious. He was furious and slammed his fist down on the table, saying in a deep voice, "What a jerk Yin Yichen is! When I questioned him, he denied it. He kept spouting a bunch of high moral principles. How dare he do such a thing?"

"Uncle, don't be angry. I'm not under his control right now. I'm just worried..." Pei Xuanzhi looked at Song Jing and expressed his hidden worries. "Now that I've left the capital, I'm afraid it's just a trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Once I'm gone, he'll come and propose marriage, cutting off the source of the trouble."

Song Jing felt that what Pei Xuanzhi said made sense, so he reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Xuanzhi. As long as you like Wan Ning and promise to treat her well for the rest of your life, then I will recognize you as my son-in-law. What about Yin Yichen? I won't even look at him, and there's no way I'll let Wan Ning marry him."

Pei Xuanzhi felt happier after hearing this. A smile appeared on his face. He looked at Song Jing and said, "Thank you for your trust, uncle. I'm just waiting for my nephew to come back from Jiangnan. I'll come to propose marriage and strengthen the relationship between our two families."

Song Jing looked at Pei Xuanzhi with satisfaction. He liked this boy very much. He acted in an upright and orderly manner. He was much better than the prime minister who was full of cunning schemes.

Song Jing thought of something else and said silently, "I have to think of a way to make Yin Yichen give up this idea."

"Looking at Yin Yichen's attitude, I'm afraid my nephew won't let it go easily." Pei Xuanzhi's face was gloomy.

The capital city is full of powerful officials, and as the saying goes, a higher rank can crush someone to death. With Yin Yichen's current power and status, if he were to ask the current emperor for permission to marry, I'm afraid he wouldn't refuse. Yin Yichen's power is probably even greater than that of the crown prince. Even the court officials today would flee in panic like mice at the sight of a cat. Who would dare to offend him?

Song Jing had now made up his mind. "It's not up to him. Wan Ning has an aunt who has become a nun in Putuo Mountain. I will have Wan Ning go to Putuo Temple to bathe and fast in a few days. When you return to Beijing, I will bring her back and you two can get married."

Pei Xuanzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing what Song Jing said. He bowed and said to Song Jing, "Thank you, uncle, for your consideration for me."

"Good boy, you've done this for Wan Ning, and your uncle should be very grateful to you." Song Jing reached out and patted Pei Xuanzhi's shoulder, saying in a deep voice, "You can go without worry. Everything in the capital is under your uncle's care. A real man should be upright and not just care about his children's personal feelings."

-

Song Wanning was now in her own courtyard, listening to the news brought by Caique. "Miss, when I just came from the main hall, I heard the Pei family's personal maid say that the Pei family's business in Jiangnan had run into trouble, and they were just waiting for Mr. Pei to go back and see. This trip will take quite a while."

Song Wanning looked slightly surprised and asked, "Something went wrong with the Pei family's business? Why did it go wrong at this moment?"

Cai Que shook her head. "I feel bad for Mr. Pei. He has to go back to Jiangnan right after coming back. It's really tiring."

Song Wanning sat in the courtyard, feeling that something was amiss. The Pei family's business was a royal one, so how could it go wrong so quickly? Yin Yichen's face flashed through Song Wanning's mind, but then she thought, "As Prime Minister, Yin Yichen couldn't possibly resort to such despicable tactics."

Just as Song Wanning was thinking, Song Jing and Song Lan came in from outside. Both of them looked unhappy, as if they were going to have a trial.

Song Wanning was shocked and saw the two people entering the yard.

Song Lan came to Song Wanning, looked at her and sighed, "Sister, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

Song Wanning didn't even raise her head, and said with a guilty conscience, "Bad news."

"The bad news is... Yin Yichen said outside that he's interested in you and wants to marry you." Song Lan crossed her arms. "From what I heard so far, I'm afraid it's true. Besides, Xuanzhi has returned to Jiangnan to handle business, so your marriage with her can't be finalized."

Song Wanning held her forehead with her hand, her eyes fixed on Song Jing. "Father, I believe I can take care of myself and I want to be a filial son to you. Do you really want to marry me off so badly? I never agreed to marry Xuanzhi."

"Wan Ning." Song Jing knew Song Wan Ning would react like this. His face was quite melancholy. He looked at Song Wan Ning and spoke earnestly, "Father doesn't really want you to get married, but the forces in the capital are surging right now. If you stay at home, the rumors in the capital will spread. Secondly, I'm afraid that you will always be targeted by others. Father doesn't want my good daughter to be plotted against."

Song Jing was a ruthless general, and it was rare for him to feel so discouraged. He simply looked at Song Wanning and said, "Although Yin Yichen may seem like a powerful official in the capital, he has experienced many setbacks. Father doesn't want you to be caught up in the vortex of power. Besides, the intrigues in the Yin Mansion right now are probably no less intense than those in the harem. The Pei family and ours are old friends, and we know each other well. Xuanzhi is also a good child, and most importantly, he truly cares about you. Wanning, if you marry her, although I can't say you will be honored, you will at least be able to live a peaceful life."

“Daddy…”

Song Wanning sighed. In her previous life, Song Jing and Song Lan had both died on the battlefield, and she had wasted her entire life in the Marquis of Zhongping's mansion. Now that Song Jing and Song Lan were both well, she truly couldn't bear to see Song Jing running around for him again. "Daddy said Xuanzhi is the best. I believe you. I'll just wait for Xuanzhi to return from Jiangnan. If everything goes well, we'll discuss marriage."

Although Song Wanning said this, she knew in her heart that given Yin Yichen's personality, he would not let her go and watch her marry someone else. She just hoped that the Pei family would not be implicated.

When Song Jing heard Song Wanning say this, he didn't quite believe that she had just let it go. "Is what Wanning said true?"

Song Wanning nodded slightly and said, "The most important thing in life is to live an open life. Even if you get married, you can still do what you can do. If marrying Xuanzhi can make father feel at ease, then Wanning is willing to marry."

Song Jing knew that Song Wanning had long been extremely disappointed in the Marquis Zhongping Mansion. Hearing Song Wanning's words, he did not try to dissuade her. He only sighed and said, "When time passes, you will surely see the good in Xuanzhi."

The Pei family is wealthy, and if Song Wanning can marry Pei Xuanzhi now that she is a second bride, it will be a blessing that others cannot obtain in several lifetimes.

Song Wanning didn't say anything to defend herself. She just looked at Song Lan and said, "Didn't big brother say there was good news? What is the good news?"

Song Lan's eyes wandered, and finally he curled his lips and said, "You haven't seen your aunt who has become a nun for a while. She is now living in Putuo Temple. Father asked you to accompany your aunt to bathe and fast until Xuanzhi returns."

Song Wanning raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at the two of them in disbelief. "Going to Putuo Temple to find your aunt?"