"Ah Huai, come and see. I've found you a wife. Are you happy?"

After the Empress finished speaking, she looked at Shang Huai with a teasing expression.

Shang Huai looked at Pei Zhi, who was sitting next to his aunt, and then at his aunt.

Realizing what was happening, Shang Huai immediately knelt on the ground and shouted, "I'm willing, I'm willing!"

Shang Huai, as expected of a military general, spoke so loudly that everyone in the entire hall could hear him.

This made everyone laugh.

The Empress also covered her mouth with a handkerchief, "Look at my nephew, he's so happy he's lost all sense of direction."

Xiao Chengci was stunned for a moment, then realized how absurd it was.

Are you kidding me? Pei Zhi and Shang Huai are getting married?

That's absolutely impossible. Pei Zhi is his woman. How could Pei Zhi marry Shang Huai?

Xiao Chengci cupped his hands and said, "Mother, I'm afraid this marriage is not appropriate."

Xiao Chengci's words brought the laughter in the hall to a halt.

The Empress was also somewhat puzzled, "Why is it inappropriate?"

The Pei family agreed, Shang Huai was happy, but His Highness the Crown Prince jumped out and said it was inappropriate? What's inappropriate about it?

"I remember that Ah Huai once told me that he had a girl he liked. If you, Mother, were to bestow this marriage upon us, I'm afraid it would damage the harmony between our two families."

Pei Zhi sighed deeply; she had messed up in the next second.

The Empress chuckled, "Aci, you don't know yet, do you? The girl Ahuai likes is Pei Zhi."

"After Ah Huai returned to the capital, he stayed at his aunt's place. Pei Zhi went to Mr. Yuan's residence to learn chess. This boy fell in love with Pei Zhi at first sight, and after returning, he became very distant with me."

The Empress was afraid that people would think that Shang Huai and Pei Zhi had a close relationship in private, which would be bad for Pei Zhi's reputation, so she gave an explanation.

"That's why I'm here today to arrange a marriage between two people."

Everyone pretended to suddenly realize something, "Oh, I see. They are a match made in heaven."

"Yes, General Shang and Miss Pei look like a perfect match."

Xiao Chengci clenched his fists, his mind filled with the words his mother and Shang Huai had spoken to him.

Therefore, Pei Zhi accompanied Shang Huai on his travels. They rode horses together, hunted together, and did much more.

Then what is he?

No wonder he said that Pei Zhi looked down on the status of a concubine.

She kept belittling herself, saying she wasn't good enough for him.

So, Pei Zhi had already chosen her target.

The person Pei Zhi is going to marry is not him at all.

Xiao Chengci looked at Pei Zhi with a sinister gaze, while Pei Zhi had already lowered her head when the Empress spoke.

To outsiders, Pei Zhi appeared to be shy.

In reality, Pei Zhi was feeling guilty and was also wondering what the chances were of her surviving the day she would leave the Princess's residence alive.

"Mother, I still believe that this marriage is inappropriate."

The Empress frowned, somewhat displeased. "I arranged a marriage for A-Huai, but why are you rejecting one after another?"

The Empress practically told him outright that this matter had nothing to do with Xiao Chengci, and that she wanted him to shut up.

“Ah Huai is the only son of the General of the North’s Mansion. How could he marry a woman of unknown origin?”

Madam Pei accidentally knocked over a teacup on the table, clearly not expecting that His Highness the Crown Prince would bring it up in front of so many people.

“Ah Huai, you don’t know this yet, do you? Miss Pei didn’t live with her maternal family before. She was switched at birth and raised by a butcher couple.”

"After the butcher and his wife left, she was just an orphan. Who knows what she went through?" Xiao Chengci said, head held high. "Therefore, I believe that she..."

"Enough." Shang Huai stood up and looked directly at Xiao Chengci. "Cousin, I already knew all this."

Shang Huai shouted, "I don't care whose daughter she is, or what she's been through in the past, I don't care about any of that."

Shang Huai declared, "She is the best girl I have ever met. Of all the girls in the world, I only want to marry her."

Xiao Chengci wanted to speak again, but was stopped by the Empress's stern voice, "Xiao Chengci, shut up for me."

Today, Xiao Chengci is bringing up the affairs of the Duke Pei's mansion in front of everyone.

They really trampled on the dignity of the Duke of Pei's mansion.

However, everyone believes that His Highness the Crown Prince is just feeling sorry for his cousin and can't bear to see him being deceived.

Pei's mother's face was also very ugly. She had always said that Pei Zhi was raised in her maternal family.

Whether outsiders believe it or not, things are at least presentable on the surface, and now things are much better.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Princess Duanyang, the birthday girl, stepped forward.

"I knew it! I felt an instant connection with the second daughter of the Pei family today. I never imagined we'd become family."

The Empress nodded in agreement, "When the two of them get married in the future, my sister must come and have a drink at their wedding."

"Mother, since this is an imperial marriage, does the second young lady of the Pei family agree to it?"

Xiao Chengci stared intently at Pei Zhi, "It's best to follow the young lady's opinion regarding marriage."

The Empress was surprised that Xiao Chengci could still find fault.

But since Xiao Chengci had spoken, everyone's attention was focused on Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi could no longer pretend to be silent.

Pei Zhi took a deep breath, stood up, and met Xiao Chengci's gaze.

Xiao Chengci's gaze was sinister, as if he could devour her the next second if she agreed.

This really stirred up Pei Zhi's rebellious spirit.

Now that things have come to this, she has no way out.

In that case, why not provoke Xiao Chengci?

Anyway, she had disliked Xiao Chengci, that scoundrel, for a long time.

A person who thinks too highly of themselves just because of their noble status.

Pei Zhi walked to Shang Huai's side, then knelt down and bowed, "This humble woman is fortunate to have received the Empress's bestowal of marriage, and is extremely honored."

Pei Zhi then looked at Shang Huai, "General Shang, you are a man of extraordinary appearance, courageous and resourceful. I know I am not worthy of you."

Upon hearing this, Shang Huai became somewhat anxious, "You're so wonderful, how could you not be good enough for me?"

Xiao Chengci curled his lips, seemingly pleased with Pei Zhi's tact.

“But since General Shang is willing to marry my daughter, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse.”

Pei Zhi paused for a moment, then said loudly, "This subject is willing to marry General Shang."

Shang Huai also knelt down beside Pei Zhi, saying, "I, Shang Huai, am also willing to marry Pei Zhi. Heaven and earth can bear witness to my heart."

When the Empress saw the two men kneeling side by side in front of her, she was truly moved and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xiao Chengci's face was gloomy, and his sinister eyes were fixed on the backs of Shang Huai and Pei Zhi.

If looks could kill, Pei Zhi would have been dead long ago.

Pei Zhi said she was willing to marry him, but could she actually marry him?

Has Pei Zhi asked for his opinion?

Xiao Chengci only now realized that Pei Zhi had been playing him from beginning to end, treating him like a fool.

Now Pei Zhi wants to turn around and marry Shang Huai, does she think that he can't stop her?

Anger filled Xiao Chengci's mind. If that's how it is, then let's all just die.