Negotiated marriage

Gu Heng's mind went blank with a "boom," and all his rationality crumbled in an instant.

He looked at her lips so close to his own and the undisguised invitation in her eyes, and the beast of desire that had been suppressed in his heart finally broke free of its cage.

Without hesitation, he lowered his head and precisely captured her two soft, rosy lips.

At first, it was just a clumsy, tentative touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

But the moment their lips touched, the imagined fragrance of jasmine did not take over. Instead, it was her captivating aura, like the strongest liquor, that instantly ignited all his senses.

Gu Heng, without any instruction, deepened the kiss, not content with a mere nibble, but passionately almost fiercely. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her even closer into his embrace, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

It turns out that lip rouge tastes sweet.

Pei Qingwu trembled slightly under his awkward yet passionate advances, then closed her eyes, reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, responding to him awkwardly yet boldly.

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly, elongating and intertwining the shadows of the two people embracing tightly and kissing passionately under the plum tree.

The next morning, Pei Qingwu packed Xu Rong's belongings.

She didn't have much to begin with, just a small bag, which she packed casually.

Knowing that pleading was useless, Xu Rong simply stood there with her head down, waiting without saying a word.

Pei Qingwu handed her the luggage: "Considering that you've worked for the shop for a few days, I've paid you some wages."

Upon hearing this, Xu Rong looked up in surprise, momentarily finding it hard to believe.

Unexpectedly, after she betrayed Pei Qingwu, he not only didn't say anything harsh to her, but also treated her so kindly.

Overwhelmed by intense regret, she was instantly consumed by it.

"Master..."

Pei Qingwu acted as if he hadn't heard her, his face stern: "Aheng, Dayong, come with me and her to Ganweizhai again."

"Alright, boss, are we going to confront Ye Cheng?" Shi Dayong immediately became very enthusiastic.

“I suppose so, but more importantly…” Pei Qingwu’s gaze swept over Xu Rong’s still-flat stomach: “Ye Er has to give her an explanation.”

After saying that, Pei Qingwu led the two of them, along with Xu Rong who was bowing her head and remaining silent, straight to Ganweizhai.

It wasn't peak business hours, and the shop was rather quiet. Only Ye Chengzheng was leaning against the counter, idly fiddling with the abacus beads, while his father, Manager Ye, was in the back room checking accounts.

Upon seeing Pei Qingwu and her group, especially Xu Rong behind her with red and swollen eyes and a distressed expression, a hint of panic flashed across Ye Cheng's face. He quickly regained his composure and forced a flippant smile: "Oh, isn't this Boss Pei? What brings you here?"

Pei Qingwu was too lazy to play games with him and went straight to the point: "Young Master Ye, let's not beat around the bush. The recipes for the pastries in my shop have been leaked one after another, all of which you obtained through Xu Rong. You know this very well."

Ye Cheng's expression changed, and he was about to deny it, but Pei Qingwu did not give him the chance and continued, "I am not here today to argue with you about the formula. I only ask you, Xu Rong is already carrying your child, what are you going to do?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Ye from the back room immediately came out with a sullen face.

When Ye Cheng saw his father come out, his arrogance immediately diminished by half, but he still remained defiant and sneered, "Master Pei, don't make false accusations! Who knows whose child that bastard in her belly is? She's just a lowly apprentice, how dare she slander my Ye family?"

"Lowly?" Pei Qingwu sneered, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing Ye Cheng: "Although Xu Rong comes from a humble background, she is still an upright and honest woman! According to the 'Commentary on the Law,' 'those who commit adultery shall be sentenced to one and a half years of penal servitude; those who are married shall be sentenced to two years of penal servitude.' If you insist that you have no affair with her, then she is framing you. I can immediately take her to the authorities and accuse her of defamation! At that time, the authorities will investigate, the neighbors will testify, and we will see if her pregnancy and the time she spent with you match up!"

She paused, her voice growing colder, and turned to Manager Ye, whose face was grim: "Manager Ye is a sensible man. If your second young master is accused of adultery, he will be imprisoned according to the law. Not only will his own future be ruined, but it will also damage the reputation of his family!"

"Furthermore, if Xu Rong is driven to desperation by being abandoned and framed, and commits suicide, causing a death, according to the Miscellaneous Laws, 'those who coerce or force others to death,' those involved will also be implicated. Manager Ye should understand the implications of this better than I do."

Pei Qingwu quoted extensively from classical texts, meticulously analyzing the consequences of the law, delivering his arguments with conviction.

Manager Ye's face grew increasingly grim, and he glared fiercely at his good-for-nothing son.

He knew that Pei Qingwu was not bluffing. If this matter really went to court, not only would the Ye family lose face, but his son would also likely face legal trouble.

Ye Cheng was also frightened by this series of legal provisions. His face turned pale, his lips trembled, and he could no longer utter any words of defense.

Manager Ye took a deep breath, weighed the pros and cons, and finally gritted his teeth, cupped his hands to Pei Qingwu: "Master Pei, please calm down. It was my son who was unruly and committed such a disgraceful act."

He turned to Ye Cheng and shouted sternly, "You wretched child! Quickly apologize to Master Pei and Madam Xu! Since she is your bloodline, how can my Ye family do such an irresponsible thing! We will choose an auspicious day to welcome Madam Xu into our family!"

Under his father's sharp gaze, Ye Cheng wilted completely, like a frostbitten eggplant.

He stiffened his neck, extremely unwilling yet not daring to disobey, and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Yes, Master, I... I will take her into the household."

He deliberately used the word "纳" instead of "娶".

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingwu's eyes sharpened, and he did not let the matter rest: "Have you taken her in? Under what title does Young Master Ye intend for Xu Rong to enter the manor? As a concubine?"

Ye Cheng was taken aback by her question, his eyes flickering.

Manager Ye frowned, trying to smooth things over: "Master Pei, given Madam Xu's background, it's already an honor for her to become a concubine in my Ye family..."

“To flatter?” Pei Qingwu interrupted him: “Manager Ye, have you forgotten what the ‘Household and Marriage Law’ stipulates? ‘Anyone who takes a wife as a concubine or a maid as a wife shall be sentenced to two years of penal servitude.’ Conversely, if someone who could be a wife is forcibly taken as a concubine, it is also unreasonable!”

“Xu Rong is from a respectable family, not of lowly status, nor is she a maid of your Ye family. She carries the blood of your Ye family in her womb. If you force her to become a concubine simply because of class distinctions, and this matter gets out, it may even reach the prefectural government. I wonder how Magistrate Zhao will judge the Ye family’s act of ‘taking a respectable woman as a concubine’?”

"Furthermore, the law states, 'If a maidservant has a child or has been released to a free family, she may be made a concubine.' Xu ​​Rong's situation is similar; she is pregnant with the Ye family's child. How can she be dismissed as a mere concubine?"

"Furthermore, according to the Six Codes, only officials can take concubines, and commoners can only take concubines if they are forty years old and have no children. Young Master Ye is neither an official nor forty years old, so he is not qualified to take concubines at all!"

She quoted the law in every sentence, and every word was piercing to the heart.

In this era, both etiquette and law were highly valued. If the Ye family were truly accused of "confusing the legitimate and illegitimate children" or "taking a good woman as a concubine," their reputation would be completely ruined, which would be far more serious than the leak of the pastry recipe.

Manager Ye's face immediately turned extremely ugly. He did not expect Pei Qingwu to be so familiar with the law that he knew even such details clearly.

He glared fiercely at his good-for-nothing son. If it weren't for his son causing this trouble, he wouldn't have been driven to such a state by a woman!

Ye Cheng was even more pale. He only knew that taking a concubine was easy, but he didn't know that there were so many legal intricacies involved.

Seeing the changing expressions on the father and son's faces, Pei Qingwu knew the time was right. He softened his tone but remained firm: "Manager Ye, Second Young Master Ye, I have come today to seek justice and to give Xu Rong and her unborn child a proper status. I do not wish to make an enemy of your Ye family."

"A lawfully wedded wife in exchange for the Ye family's reputation intact and the second young master's future secure. Manager Ye must know the value of this deal."

Manager Ye's chest heaved violently. After a long while, he finally seemed to have all his strength drained away, and said dejectedly, "Manager Pei is truly... eloquent and skillful!"

He turned to Ye Cheng, almost gritting his teeth as he said, "You wretch! Just as Master Pei said, choose an auspicious day, go through the proper formalities, and marry Madam Xu as your principal wife! If you dare to utter another word of objection, I'll break your legs!"

Under his father's almost fiery gaze and Pei Qingwu's icy stare, Ye Cheng completely lost the courage to resist and slumped down, replying, "Yes, I... I will marry her."

With the matter settled, Pei Qingwu was unwilling to linger any longer.

She glanced at Xu Rong, who was standing there dumbfounded, but felt little joy. She simply said to the Ye family father and son, "I hope the Ye family keeps their word and behaves themselves."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Gu Heng and Shi Dayong followed closely behind.

However, just as Pei Qingwu was about to step out of Ganweizhai's doorstep, Xu Rong seemed to suddenly wake up from a dream and rushed out, kneeling down on the bluestone slab at Pei Qingwu's feet with a "thump".

"Master—!" she cried out in anguish, clutching Pei Qingwu's skirt tightly with both hands, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam. "Master! I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I was bewitched, I'm so sorry! Master... please don't abandon me, I beg you..."

She cried her heart out, her whole body trembling.

She finally got the title of wife that she had always dreamed of, but the price was that she forever lost the master who truly gave her warmth and hope.

At this moment, immense regret overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, causing her a hundred times more pain than when she was deceived by Ye Cheng before.

Pei Qingwu stopped in his tracks, but did not turn around.

The cold wind whipped up the hem of her crimson cloak, and her silhouette appeared exceptionally tall and cold in the thin winter sunlight.

Xu Rong's cries echoed through the silent street, filled with despair.

She knew that some paths, once taken the wrong way, could never be retraced.

Her master's words, "It has nothing to do with us anymore," were not just said in anger. The marriage she obtained through betrayal was destined from the very beginning to be overshadowed by a shadow that could never be erased.