The Empress asked, puzzled, "Why?"

With such an outstanding nephew, what wouldn't she dare to do?

No matter how noble the girl's status is, her nephew is a good match for her.

"I will definitely go back to the north in the future, it's not as prosperous as Beijing."

Shang Huai thought for a moment and continued, "My mother is not used to life in the north. She gets sick every winter."

The Empress was surprised to learn that there was this other reason behind it.

Shang Huai's mother couldn't adapt to life in the north, but she couldn't return to the capital either.

She's already married. If she comes back, does she expect to stay at her parents' house?

There is a General's Mansion in the capital, but Shang Huai's grandparents are both in the north.

If Shang Huai's mother were to return to the capital alone, who knows how she would be insulted by those scholars outside.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to take good care of her."

The Empress stood up, walked to Shang Huai's side, and gently patted Shang Huai's shoulder.

"Ah Huai, since that girl is willing to marry you even though you're just a guard, what are you afraid of?"

The Empress continued to reassure her, "If you're really worried, go and ask her if she'd be willing to live in the north."

"Besides, I heard you say that the girl can ride horses and hunt with you, so she must be in good health and certainly not like your mother."

Shang Huai's eyes immediately lit up. "That's it! She likes horseback riding and hunting. She'll definitely be able to adapt to life in the north."

The Empress smiled and nodded. "Now can you tell your aunt which family she belongs to?"

Shang Huai hesitated, seemingly unsure how to begin.

"Don't worry, your aunt won't arrange a marriage for you until you ask her."

The Empress said softly, "Your aunt will keep an eye on her for you. Such a good girl, lest someone else get there first."

"Her name is Pei Zhi, the daughter of Duke Pei."

Upon hearing this, the Empress immediately frowned.

She had also heard the Emperor mention the matter of the Duke Pei's real and fake daughters.

The Emperor also said that it was a pity about the Duke of Pei's daughter. With such beauty, if she had really grown up in the Duke's mansion, she would have been a suitable candidate to be the Crown Princess.

The Empress said thoughtfully, "How could it be her?"

Shang Huai asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, is there something wrong?"

The Empress looked at her anxious nephew and gently shook her head. She finally understood why her nephew had treated this girl differently.

The nephew looked down on the women in the capital, but the daughter of Duke Pei had not grown up by his side since childhood and was unlike the noble ladies in the capital, which is why the nephew was able to be attracted to her.

"Her background is somewhat complicated. Has she told you about it?"

Shang Huai shook his head blankly, "We never ask about each other's family matters."

Every time Shang Huai and Pei Zhi went out together, they really just went out to have fun.

The Empress did not intend to hide it from Shang Huai and told him about Pei Zhi's background.

After listening, Shang Huai said indignantly, "Since you know she is real, why keep the fake one in the mansion?"

The Empress found it somewhat amusing; was this how she was going to protect him?

"Even if it's fake, it was raised from a kitten, for more than ten years. Even if it's just a cat or dog, you'd still have feelings for it."

The Empress retorted, "Besides, where do you expect the fake heiress to go? A weak woman, powerless to even kill a chicken, wouldn't she be devoured alive by wicked people?"

Shang Huai immediately said, "We can find someone from a lower social class to marry her off, so that at least she won't be an eyesore in front of Pei Zhi."

"In the end, it's nothing more than seeing Pei Zhi as easy to bully and wanting to wrong her."

The Empress simply smiled and remained silent; her nephew was still young and did not understand the implications.

The Duke's mansion used to have only one legitimate daughter. Now that they've driven her away, how can they arrange a marriage?

Are you expecting something from a girl who came from humble beginnings?

"If you feel she's being wronged, then marry her and treat her well."

Shang Huai seemed to have made up his mind. "Aunt, wait for me to find an opportunity to discuss it with her. If she is really willing to go to the north with me, I will go home and tell my father."

"Okay, your aunt will arrange a marriage for you then."

Seeing that her nephew's marriage was settled, the Empress happily ate an extra half bowl of rice that evening.

After finishing his meal, Shang Huai hurriedly left before the palace gates were locked.

Meanwhile, Pei Zhi was also in a good mood, sitting in the courtyard drinking and admiring the moon.

Although Shang Huai is a bit of a hothead, if she marries him, he'll listen to her in the future, so she's a good choice.

This task isn't that difficult; it's just that the system is being overly cautious.

Pei Zhi poured herself another glass of wine, humming a little tune.

I don't know how she failed last time either.

Wait a minute, Pei Zhi suddenly realized something was wrong.

She was the one who had the choice after the previous mission failed.

Therefore, she must have chosen Shang Huai, this hothead, just like she did last time.

But why did the world collapse afterward?

If Shang Huai takes a concubine, at most the mission will fail; it won't cause the world to collapse.

Is it possible that Shang Huai is not a suitable marriage partner? Is Xiao Chengci the right one?

Something's not right, something's very wrong.

Pei Zhi's drunkenness had subsided somewhat, and the most important thing was to figure out why the world had collapsed.

What if Shang Huai was the son of a military household?

What is Xiao Chengci's identity?

Pei Zhi couldn't care less about admiring the moon anymore; she still needed to find out Xiao Chengci's true identity.

Xiao Chengci is a man, so if Pei Zhiru asks the people of the Duke's Mansion, she will inevitably become suspicious.

Pei Zhi was also worried about whether Xiao Chengci was his real name, or what if it was an alias?

Pei Zhi put down her wine glass, got up and left the courtyard.

Although the maid didn't know why Pei Zhi suddenly went out, she still followed closely behind Pei Zhi to serve her.

The servant held up a lantern in front to prevent it from being too dark and causing Pei Zhi to fall.

Pei Zhi went straight to Pei Minxue's courtyard.

The servant guarding outside the courtyard saw that it was Pei Zhi and quickly came over to bow.

"Second Miss, unfortunately, the young master is with the Duke and hasn't returned yet."

Pei Zhi tugged at her cloak. "Can I go inside and wait for my brother?"

The servant hurriedly replied, "Of course, I'll show you the way."

Everyone in the manor knows that the Second Miss is currently the most favored member of the household.

How could he dare to turn away the second young lady?

The servant led Pei Zhi into the main hall and served her a cup of hot tea.

Pei Zhi had just drunk some wine and was now a little thirsty.

Pei Minxue discussed Pei Yin's marriage with his father, and suggested that his father take the initiative to go to the emperor to cancel the engagement.

The Duke was still somewhat hesitant, as Consort Shu had given Pei Yin gifts on several occasions before.

Rumors had been circulating that Pei Yin was to become the prince's consort.

Once the engagement is annulled, the prince will naturally be unaffected, but Pei Yin's marriage may face difficulties.

Secondly, even if Pei Yin were to marry the Second Prince as a concubine, she would still be listed in the imperial genealogy.

If this marriage falls through, when Pei Yin is set up with a new partner, her true identity must not be kept secret from the prospective spouse.

Otherwise, if the other party finds out later, the in-laws will become enemies.

After a while, it became another troublesome matter.