retain

Pei Qinzhou didn't press her for an answer this time, because he knew perfectly well that she wouldn't give him one, and even if she did, he would never give up.

"Let me lean against you for a while, I'm... a little tired."

His shoulders relaxed, and Wen Zhibai felt the weight on his left shoulder increase as he leaned on her.

However, she did not refuse the request.

Consider this a thank you gift for spending his money today.

When he slowly raised his head again, Wen Zhibai saw that his eyes were red. He slowly released Wen Zhibai's hands and ordered the servants in the mansion to bring a jar of wine.

On the table were two wine glasses and a light pink crystal wine jar.

“This wine is called Tear of the Passing Years.” Pei Qinzhou filled his own cup and poured half a cup into Wen Zhibai’s cup.

Unexpectedly, Wen Zhibai raised his wrist as he was about to withdraw, until the cool wine filled his own cup: "Since Lord Pei wants to drink, I will definitely accompany you to the end."

He saw through her feigned nonchalance and, after a few seconds, smiled helplessly: "Okay, thank you... Miss Wen."

Drinking to drown one's sorrows only makes them worse.

“I used to always be waiting for someone.” Pei Qinzhou’s eyes dimmed as soon as he spoke, as if he were lost in memories.

“During the countless days and nights of waiting, I never liked the dawn, because then I wouldn’t be able to dream of her. Later, I tried to use my pen to depict the world where she was, as if recalling every detail of being with her, as if that way, she could always be by my side. I really want to tell her that without her, many people hate me, and without her, I have no home.”

Having said that, he drank another glass of wine.

"But later, I figured it out. Rather than waiting for her to come back and share a home with me empty-handed, I should create our own home first. When she comes back, she won't be homeless and adrift like I was at the beginning. So I traveled around, working for others and enduring humiliation, but I wasn't afraid. As long as I thought of her, I was fearless. At first, I only had a thin blanket on snowy nights, and I was so cold. If she were here, she would have draped a warm cloak over me. Later, I had everything, but in the midst of heavy snow, I could only go home alone. But she wasn't here, and the house was still so cold."

"I originally planned to—"

Wen Zhibai: "Alright, stop talking... I don't want to hear it."

Pei Qinzhou blushed, his eyes slightly glazed as he looked at Wen Zhibai's turned face. Then he stood up, walked to her, and insisted on meeting her tearful gaze.

The next second, he knelt down on one knee in front of her, and then on the other knee as well.

"What are you doing?" she asked, forcing back tears.

Pei Qinzhou took her wrist and touched his left cheek: "Zhibai...can you...remember me?"

His tears slowly fell into her palm, and Wen Zhibai couldn't help but wipe them away: "..."

I dared not look into his pleading eyes again.

Pei Qinzhou placed his palm on the back of her hand, rubbing it against her palm, trying to retain that warmth.

“Okay, I understand…” he said softly.

This time, he didn't try to stop him.

Love in this world is never something that one person can decide, nor can it always last until the end if two people are in love.

Seeing her again is enough.

The next day, when Wen Zhibai woke up again, she was already lying on her bed in her room. She rubbed her throbbing head and waited for Tao Zhi to do her hair and makeup.

“Miss, why did you drink so much last night? It was the master who carried you back.” Tao Zhi folded the wrung-out face towel and stepped forward to wipe Wen Zhibai’s face. “This morning, the master ordered all the guards in the mansion to be removed. It seems that you can come and go freely in and out of the mansion, Miss.”

Wen Zhibai was surprised for a few seconds. She had clearly achieved her goal, but she showed no joy whatsoever.

"Miss, what's wrong?" Tao Zhi asked, looking at her drooping lips.

"Oh, it's nothing. By the way, Taozhi, where is Pei Qinzhou...?"

Tao Zhi shook her head: "This servant does not know. I only know that the master did not even have breakfast this morning and was no longer in the manor. However, Xie An is in the manor. Would you like to go and ask him?"

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Xie An, standing outside the door, knocked on the door: "Sister Taozhi, is Miss awake?"

Wen Zhibai quickly changed his clothes and went to open the door.

Xie An handed Wen Zhibai a letter addressed to her: "Miss Wen, this is a letter that the master left for you before he left."

Wen Zhibai took the package, opened it, and prepared to read it.

Xie An continued, "The master said he knows what Miss wants to do, and Miss should just do it; he won't stop her."

A breeze brushed her cheek as she opened the envelope. Inside, written on black paper, was a note: "Zhibai, the Crown Prince urgently summons me. I must leave home for several days. The servants in the household are at your disposal. Don't skimp on their food, clothing, or other necessities; they can afford it. Xie An, though young, is quite skilled in martial arts. I'm keeping him by your side; I hope you won't feel constrained. He knows his place, and I'm at ease with that. All the offerings needed for your mother's funeral will be sent to the Wen residence."

Everything is fine.

Signed: Pei Qinzhou.

Upon reading this, Wen Zhibai's pupils trembled slightly. The meaning conveyed by those words made her feel as if she were in April, with summer flowers in full bloom.

Pei Qinzhou is still Pei Qinzhou, the same Pei Qinzhou who softened his heart for her time and time again, and made sacrifices for her time and time again.

"Thank you, Pei Lang."

She silently recited it in her heart.

"Xie An, prepare the carriage, come with me back to the Wen residence."

The carriage stopped two streets away from the Wen family residence.

As Pei Qinzhou said, the items needed for the memorial service have been delivered to the Wen family.

Today is the seventh day after Wen's mother's death. According to custom, she will be buried in three days. Wen Zhibai, ignoring the steward's objections, led Xie An and others to carry the sacrificial offerings directly into Jiang Xuwan's mourning hall.

When the sounds of the funeral reached Qin Yanzhen's ears, she was kneeling in front of the Buddha statue chanting sutras, her hand still fiddling with the red beaded bracelet.

Butler: "Madam, we tried to stop them, but the guards around the Second Miss drew their swords. We just couldn't stop them. What do you think..."

"The people sent by the Crown Prince to chant sutras for her soul and burn paper money to keep vigil are still in the mourning hall. For now, they really can't do anything to her. In three days, I will make her understand what the rules are. Since Wen Zhibai wants everyone to keep vigil for Jiang Xuwan, then spread the news that the Crown Prince sent people to pay respects to Jiang Xuwan. The more people who know, the better."

"yes."

Even the Crown Prince has been implicated by Wen Zhibai, so the most important thing now is to ensure that Wen Xian marries into the Gao family smoothly.

"Has the Gao family sent a message?" Qin Yanzhen continued to ask the steward.

"I just received news that the wedding date is set for the beginning of next month. After that person is buried, the Gao family will send someone to propose marriage."

"Hmm." Qin Yanzhen tore off the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, and the blood-red beads scattered all over the ground.

When the prayer beads break, murderous intent arises.

Jiang Xuwan's coffin was placed in the smallest room on the west side. As soon as Wen Zhibai arrived at the entrance of the mourning hall, he saw people chanting sutras for his mother's soul, and people dressed in plain white burning paper money and kneeling in worship.

Dust floated in the air, spiderwebs still held unburnt paper ash, and two white candles glowed faintly.

It was clearly impossible for Wen Lingchen to be sitting there; given that Qin Yanzhen was in the house, it was absolutely impossible.

But who could it be that even they dared not stop?

Although the answer had already formed in Wen Zhibai's mind, she still turned to Xie An and asked him.

“Miss, these people were sent by His Highness the Crown Prince, so you don’t need to worry.”

With tears streaming down his face, Wen Zhibai donned mourning clothes and knelt before the coffin, kowtowing.

Tears soaked the paper money, which I then sent to my mother.

Gradually, the faint sobs turned into uncontrollable weeping.

A light rain began to fall from the overcast sky.

Heaven gave her a chance to be reborn, and also gave her the right to choose between pain and happiness.

But choosing the path of happiness inevitably brings sorrow; this life is destined to be a waning moon, never to be full.

Half an hour later, wave after wave of carriages arrived outside the Wen residence.

Everyone in Shangjing knows that the Fourth Prince, Xia Chengen, has just entered the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Prince, but he has yet to choose a Crown Princess, leaving the position next to him vacant.

At the last banquet, Wen Zhibai accidentally fell into the lotus pond. The Crown Prince personally issued an order to severely punish all the servants who had made the mistake.

Even if some people know it's because of Pei Qinzhou, as long as Xia Chengen is alone and Pei Qinzhou remains unmarried, who can predict the final outcome? And who would be willing to easily give up the title of Crown Princess?

Even if things don't go well, there's still Pei Qinzhou by Wen Zhibai's side.

Xie An looked at the people who were arriving one after another at Jiang Xuwan's mourning hall and called out to Wen Zhibai, "Miss, a lot of people have arrived."

Wen Zhibai ignored him and pretended not to know, continuing to kneel in front of the memorial tablet and burn paper money.

They didn't come a few days ago, but they all gathered here today just as she returned home.

What is An's intention? What is the purpose of bringing it?

it goes without saying.

Seeing that Wen Zhibai did not react and was still facing away from them, a man in his thirties spoke up first.

"Miss Wen, we have all come to pay our respects to your late mother. Please accept our condolences."

Having knelt for so long, it was difficult for her to stand up. She braced her hands on the ground, and Xie An rushed to help her up, but Wen Zhibai refused.

Wen Zhibai turned around and slowly raised her eyes. The group of people were all dressed in casual clothes and were gathered together, looking her over.

An unbearable gaze, like prey being watched.

"Thank you all for your kindness, but I am not Miss Wen Er. Please call me Wen Zhibai." She half-squatted in greeting, and the people opposite her nodded in acknowledgment and continued to listen to her.

"My mother prefers quiet, and this mourning hall is small. It is already difficult enough to accommodate the Buddhists who are chanting sutras for my mother's soul, let alone allow you all to enter. Therefore, please return home first. Please forgive any inadequacy in our hospitality."

“Miss Wen’s filial piety is something we naturally appreciate. However, we have been on a long journey, and Miss Wen has not asked anyone to make tea for us. Isn’t that a bit too much…” The man deliberately didn’t finish his sentence, but waited for the people behind him to echo him.

A sharp female voice immediately chimed in: "Yes, although the journey is not far, we have walked this funeral hall step by step. How can we deny our feelings by saying that the funeral hall is too small?"

"If this young lady and all of you wish to have some tea, I can tell you all that I currently possess nothing, let alone tea leaves that meet your expectations. I, Wen Zhibai, cannot and have no intention of fulfilling your requests." She raised her chin with a touch of authority and then gave the order to leave: "Xie An, see them out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone started talking again, but Wen Zhibai ignored the noise around him.

Say whatever you want.

"Yes, Miss." Xie An mimicked Wen Zhibai's indifferent tone and said towards the door, "Everyone, please leave!"

Unexpectedly, just when Wen Zhibai thought he could finally have some peace and quiet, Qin Yanzhen arrived, supported by her maid, carrying a wooden basket filled with paper money on her arm.

"What is the reason that my second daughter is in such a hurry to send the guests away?" Qin Yanzhen said, exchanging greetings with the others. She first looked at the man who had just confronted Wen Zhibai: "Ah, so you are the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue?"