Madam Pei asked in disbelief, "Is that really true?"

"My daughter and the maid witnessed it with their own eyes, so I hope Mother will keep an eye on things." Pei Zhi had no intention of complaining, so she just asked her mother to be careful.

"Your sister has excellent handwriting. She was once asked by a noble lady in the palace to copy scriptures, and I reckon she will do the same this time. Don't worry."

Pei Zhi didn't mean to worry; she was just afraid that Pei Yin would cause trouble and implicate the Duke's mansion, as well as Pei's parents.

Pei Zhi was prepared to die, but she couldn't do much for her parents.

Seeing that Pei's mother said this, Pei Zhi did not say anything more. After bowing, she said that she was tired and went back to the courtyard to rest.

After Pei Zhi left, Pei's mother couldn't hold back any longer. She braced herself on the table and took a deep breath.

Granny Wang hurriedly asked, "Madam, are you alright?"

Mother Pei shook her head, panting heavily, "I'm afraid Ayin has gone astray this time."

Granny Wang murmured, "Didn't Madam just say that the eldest young lady had copied scriptures for noble ladies in the palace before? How come this time..."

"That time, it was Consort Shu from the palace who spoke to me."

Madam Pei took the tea handed to her by Granny Wang, took a sip, calmed herself down, and felt much better.

"It was said to be copying scriptures, but in reality, it was for the Second Prince to have his fortune told."

It was merely an excuse to have Consort Shu see whether Pei Yin was suitable to be her daughter-in-law, using the pretext of copying scriptures.

Pei Yin was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but her appearance was average.

This perfectly matches the criteria used by wealthy and powerful families when choosing a matriarch.

Consort Shu was initially very satisfied with Pei Yin, and repeatedly praised Pei Yin in front of Pei's mother.

It is said that Pei's mother is good at raising her daughter, and that she will definitely treat Pei Yin like her own daughter after she enters the family.

“Granny, keep a close eye on A-Yin’s courtyard these next few days. Whenever she goes out, you should send someone to follow her.”

After thinking it over, Pei's mother said, "Especially when we go to the temple, we should try to find out which noble person from the palace also went to the temple on the day A-Yin went there."

Granny Wang was part of Pei's mother's dowry and had been by her side for many years.

"Madam, are you worried about the eldest daughter...?"

Madam Pei said sternly, "You must not speak recklessly before things are settled."

Granny Wang asked with some concern, "Should we tell the Duke?"

After hesitating for a moment, Pei's mother shook her head. "If it's just a false alarm, it'll save him from worrying and hurting his fatherly feelings."

It's still uncertain whether Pei Yin did anything shady.

Duke Pei refused the marriage proposal for Pei Yin's sake, truly out of his heart for her well-being.

Upon receiving the order, Granny Wang immediately sent someone to make the arrangements.

After asking the gatekeeper a few questions, I learned that the young lady had to go to the temple every two or three days.

When Pei's mother found out, she didn't summon Pei Yin to ask her any questions, so as not to alert Pei Yin.

She only instructed Granny Wang to tell her subordinates to keep a close eye on things.

Pei Zhi originally planned to fake a frightened horse on the way to the temple and then fall to her death.

After surveying the route once, Pei Zhi found that this route was not suitable.

There are too many horse-drawn carriages on this road, making it easy to accidentally injure bystanders.

Just as Pei Zhi was worrying, Pei Minxue suddenly gave her an idea.

Pei Minxue is already engaged; his fiancée is the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official.

I'm just waiting for next spring so I can marry the girl.

Unexpectedly, when Pei Zhi was having breakfast with her mother that morning, the gatekeeper came to report that Pei Minxue's fiancée had left in the middle of the night the previous night.

Startled, Pei's mother dropped her spoon. "Gone?"

The servant of the Minister's household said, "Yes, the coffin has been sealed, and the burial will take place this evening."

Madam Pei nodded. "I understand. Granny, go and prepare the gifts. Tell the Minister's wife that I will visit her again in a few days."

The Minister's daughter was an unmarried girl, and after her death, her body will not be laid to rest.

There won't be a big celebration; when someone dies, they'll be buried simply in a coffin.

If you have a servant inform the relatives, they won't come to cause trouble at this time.

We will visit the Minister's residence once it has been cleaned up, as a gesture of comfort.

Upon hearing this news, Pei's mother lost her appetite for breakfast.

"It's such a pity. What a wonderful girl. She was gone just because of a cold."

Pei Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Yes, this was in ancient times when medical standards were low.

A place where even a common cold can easily take a person's life.

These young ladies, confined to their chambers, rarely exercised and disliked being in the sun.

How could she forget this?

Why would she go to such lengths, even resorting to jumping off a cliff?

Why not just have an illness and "take" her away?

"Zhizhi, why aren't you saying anything?"

Pei Zhi snapped out of her daze: "Huh? Mother, what did you just say?"

“I told you to take care of yourself and not get sick. Look at your sister, she hasn’t been feeling well these days.”

Since the family banquet, Pei Yin has not come to pay her respects to her mother.

Anyway, the Chinese medicine in the yard has never stopped being used.

Pei's mother assumed that Pei Yin was in a bad mood because the marriage had not gone through, and did not take this into consideration to criticize her.

"I've got it."

Mother Pei sighed, "Your eldest brother is pitiful too. He was hoping your sister-in-law would marry into the family next year, but now..."

Pei's mother shook her head helplessly. She had finally found a wife she liked, but this had happened.

Pei Zhi asked, "Then, daughter, should I buy some gifts to comfort my elder brother?"

Madam Pei chuckled and shook her head, "Your eldest brother has only met the Minister's daughter once, what is there for him to comfort him about?"

"The one who's worried is me, because I have to pick a wife for your brother again."

Pei Zhi almost forgot that in this era, arranged marriages were common.

They met briefly just before the engagement, and then the two families discussed the engagement arrangements.

Therefore, even though Pei Minxue's fiancée had passed away, he would at most sigh and say it was a pity.

That's all there is to it.

Pei Minxue might not even remember what his fiancée looked like, since he had only met her once.

Pei Zhi comforted her, "Brother is so outstanding, there are plenty of girls outside who want to marry into our family, so Mother doesn't need to worry."

Mother Pei smiled and nodded, "You're right."

Pei Minxue was the Crown Prince's study companion and is now working under the Crown Prince.

Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, Pei Minxue's official career will be smooth sailing, as he is the only son of the Duke's family.

Once upon a time, wherever Pei's mother went, she was the envy of everyone.

She raised her two children exceptionally well, if it weren't for... the incident of the girl being switched.

Pei's mother gently shook her head, no longer thinking about these things: "How are you doing with your chess studies?"

“My daughter is already trying.”

Every time Pei's mother asked, Pei Zhi would answer that she was trying her best.

Pei's mother also knew that it would be difficult for Pei Zhi to suddenly learn these things.

But there was no other way; if Pei Zhi wanted to find a good family in the capital, she would have to know something.

Can't you be good for nothing but a pretty face?

Those with beautiful appearances were often chosen as concubines by wealthy and powerful families.