"Sigh." Seeing Pei Yin like this, Duke Pei also sighed deeply.

"If you become the Second Prince's concubine and enter his household, how can you expect the Second Prince's principal wife to give you a good life?"

This was also the real reason why Duke Pei broke off the engagement.

Pei Yin said with a sob in her voice, "Father, there's no need to say anything. Your daughter knows everything."

Duke Pei could only nod and say, "It's good that you know, it's good that you know."

Pei's mother glanced at Pei Yin and sighed. Pei Yin's marriage prospects would be even more difficult in the future.

The rumors outside that Pei Yin was going to marry the Second Prince were quite detailed and convincing.

Now that it's suddenly stopped working, Pei Yin's reputation will inevitably be damaged.

At the family dinner, none of them had much of an appetite.

Pei Zhi, on the other hand, barely spoke a few words all night, but she ate and drank her fill.

After the meal, Pei Zhi and his two siblings took their leave and returned to their courtyard, leaving behind their mother and the Duke of Pei.

As soon as the child left, Pei's mother couldn't help but show her displeasure.

“So be it, a concubine. Given Pei Yin’s status, being a concubine isn’t a bad thing for her.”

Pei's mother still felt a pang of heartache thinking about it, "Why did you have to act like a villain when you were perfectly fine?"

Duke Pei said with dissatisfaction, "Although Yinyin is not our biological daughter, she grew up with us since she was a child."

“When she was sick as a child, you didn’t trust the wet nurse to take care of her, so you stayed by her side for several days and nights. She got better, but then you became seriously ill.”

Duke Pei asked, "Have you forgotten all of these?"

Of course, Pei's mother hadn't forgotten, but Pei Yin wasn't their biological daughter after all.

"If she marries the Second Prince, she'll be jumping into a fire pit. Can you really bear to do that?"

Although Pei's mother was the principal wife, she also knew that being a concubine was not easy.

Pei's mother was kind and never easily beat or scolded her concubines.

"Yes, yes, you always mean well, you're always trying to be a good person." Mother Pei said angrily, "Don't you even look at her just now? Did she seem appreciative at all?"

"I bet she's still secretly resenting you for being a meddlesome father."

Pei Yin was raised by her mother. Even though Pei Yin tried her best to be patient, her mother knew exactly what Pei Yin was thinking.

"She doesn't understand now, but she will in the future. As her father, all I need to do is have a clear conscience."

Madam Pei stood up. "Fine, you, Duke Pei, are so capable that you didn't even consult me ​​about such a big matter? From now on, you can also take over the trivial matters in the backyard."

When Duke Pei saw that his mother was angry, he lost his tough stance.

"I'm just worried that even after discussing it with you, you still won't agree."

Madam Pei pursed her lips and remained silent. Indeed, if Duke Pei were to discuss it with her, she would not agree.

“Pei Yin is the eldest daughter of the Duke’s mansion. Leaving aside your other daughters, our daughter Zhizhi will not be able to marry into a higher social class.”

Pei's mother asked, "Now even Pei Yin has married up to Wu Wang. Marrying up a daughter and taking in a wife down, will the Duke's mansion rely on Min Xue alone to support it in the future?"

"I've already refused, so even if Minxue can't shoulder this responsibility, I'll accept it."

Pei's mother wiped away her tears, "I just feel sorry for Zhizhi and Minxue."

Pei's mother had originally hoped that Pei Yin would become the prince's consort.

Pei Zhi's net worth has also increased, making it easier for her to find a husband.

Minxue also has a prince as his brother-in-law, which will make his future career path much smoother.

Duke Pei patted his mother on the shoulder, "Alright, alright, as long as the children are safe, that's more important than anything else."

"At this point, I have no choice but to accept my fate."

Even if Pei's mother was dissatisfied, the matter was already settled, and she could only grumble but couldn't change anything.

Meanwhile, after returning to her room, Pei Yin chased away all the servants, closed the door, and then smashed everything in the room.

Pei Yin didn't care whether the servants outside could hear her or not.

Whether she heard it or not, Pei Yin didn't care.

Pei Yin had been controlling her emotions since the beginning of the day, but once she returned to her courtyard, she couldn't hold back any longer.

After smashing everything in the house to pieces, Pei Yin grabbed a pair of shoes she had made and shredded them with scissors.

These shoes were made by Pei Yin for the Second Prince.

When getting engaged, the woman is expected to make two pairs of shoes for the man.

Pei Yin prepared in advance, fearing that she wouldn't have enough time or that she wouldn't do a good job and would be disliked by the nobles in the palace.

After tearing the shoes to shreds, Pei Yin burst into tears.

It's over, everything is over.

How could she ever face anyone again?

Every time Pei Yin attended a banquet, her girlfriends would congratulate her with envy.

Now that she can't be a princess consort, who knows how they'll mock her behind her back after the second prince gets engaged.

Thinking of this, Pei Yin's hatred was unstoppable.

She was about to become a prince's consort.

I was about to become someone of high status, but in the end, it all vanished like a bubble.

All of this is Pei Zhi's fault.

Why didn't Pei Zhi die outside? Why was she found and brought back just when she was about to get engaged?

If it weren't for Pei Zhi, she wouldn't have been disliked by Consort Shu for her background.

And then there's her father, who said it was for her own good and helped her refuse the status of a concubine.

It's simply because she's not his biological daughter, and he's unwilling to make plans for her.

Hypocrite, utterly disgusting.

Pei Yin gripped the scissors tightly. No, she couldn't just resign herself to fate.

Her marriage to the second prince fell through; where would any wealthy and powerful family be willing to marry her now?

Which family wouldn't be secretive about a woman who had been engaged to a prince?

Father, mother, and brother all have their hearts set on Pei Zhi; none of them can be relied upon.

Now she can only rely on herself; otherwise, her life will truly be over.

After the family banquet, Pei Yin fell ill for a few days, and her mother sent her a lot of tonics.

Pei Zhi was an outsider; she politely had her maid send some tonics over, but she didn't go to visit them herself.

Pei Zhi thought to herself that Pei Yin probably didn't want to see her at this time, so she shouldn't go looking for trouble.

Before she knew it, the seven days of chess lessons that Mr. Yuan had instructed her to take arrived. Pei Zhi got ready early in the morning and set off for Mr. Yuan's residence.

As I was leaving, I bumped into Pei Yin.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Pei Yin learned that Pei Zhi was going to learn the zither from Mr. Yuan.

Pei Zhi also found out that Pei Yin was going to the temple to burn incense, saying she wanted to get rid of her illness.

Pei Zhi noticed that Pei Yin's complexion was rosy, and she didn't look like a patient at all.

Moreover, Pei Yin was dressed exceptionally beautifully today.

Pei Yin has an ordinary appearance, but her simple and quiet attire today makes her look exceptionally beautiful.

Pei Yin was already known for her talent, and this outfit suited her well.

Pei Yin's unusual appearance also caught Pei Zhi's attention, prompting her to take a second look.

Seeing Pei Zhi lost in thought, Afu asked, "Miss, what are you thinking about?"

Pei Zhi murmured, "Do we have to dress up so carefully to go to the temple to burn incense?"

Afu didn't quite hear him. "Girl, what are you saying?"

Pei Zhi shook her head. "It's nothing, I was just muttering to myself."