Chapter 57 Sending Someone Away

After several rounds of drinks, Song Zhaonian clapped his hands, and the butler, understanding the gesture, led three beautiful young women in gracefully.

These three were specially selected by Empress Dowager Song from the palace, chosen for their outstanding looks as the most beautiful singing girls.

Whether it's talent or appearance, he's second to none. At least, before the Marquis of Yan appeared with his wife, he thought so without exaggeration.

The woman in the lead was named Lian'er. She wore a thin red gauze dress, through which her bra was faintly visible, and even the fair skin on her legs was visible, adding a touch of decadent beauty.

Song Zhaonian downed his wine in one gulp and said to Pei Yanzhi at the head of the table, "Lord Yan, this girl is named Lian'er. She is my adopted daughter. She has admired you since childhood. When she learned that you had come to Kangzhou, she hoped to serve you."

Everyone at the table held their breath, their eyes darting between Yan Hou and Song Zhaonian's fingertips, secretly wondering whether Yan Hou would accept the gift.

Song Zhaonian strolled into the hall and whispered to Lian'er, "This is the Lord of Yanzhou. Haven't you always told me that you admire the Marquis of Yan? Now I'm giving you a chance. Let's see if the Marquis of Yan will take a liking to you."

From the moment Lian'er stepped into the hall, she immediately saw the tall and upright man sitting at the head of the table.

Those long, narrow phoenix eyes casually swept over her standing below, their imposing presence deterring her from approaching. Originally, Lian'er was extremely confident in her appearance.

But when she caught a glimpse of his favorite concubine beside him, her heart sank, and just one glance made her feel ashamed of herself.

Having spent so many years in the Hanzhong palace, she had seen countless beauties and witnessed countless different kinds of their charms.

I've never seen anyone like her before. She just casually rested her chin on her hand, looked up, and her eyes seemed to be filled with water. She was stunningly beautiful.

Lian'er felt remorse, but then she remembered that her parents were in Song Zhaonian's hands.

If I back down now, I'm afraid not only I will lose my life, but my whole family will too. My heart is filled with despair.

Seeing that Pei Yanzhi remained unmoved and showed no emotion, Song Zhaonian noticed Madam Shu beside him.

He gritted his teeth and continued, "Lian'er is a skilled dancer, with the grace of a swallow. Since you have come to Kangzhou, I have no good gifts to offer you, so I will present my daughter to Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will accept her."

"As long as you are willing to let her serve you, you can give her any title you like."

This was both the Empress Dowager's instruction and his carefully planned scheme. If he could place his own people in the impenetrable Pei family mansion, it would be a great achievement.

This is why Song Zhaonian was so eager for Pei Yanzhi to bring Lian'er into his household.

Pei Yanzhi, seated at the head of the table, merely twirled the jade thumb ring in his hand upon hearing this, then suddenly turned to look at Ji Shu: "Madam, what do you think?"

Ji Shu was eating while watching the woman below, and she even found it more interesting than watching a play.

Unexpectedly, she was suddenly chosen while watching the play, and in an instant, she became a character in the play herself. Ji Shu slowly turned her head and stared at him for a while.

Pei Yanzhi stared at her with a cold expression.

When Ji Shu saw him looking at her, and then glancing at the beautiful woman kneeling below, she suddenly understood.

It turns out he brought her here specifically to use her as a shield; he really had a clever plan.

Ji Shu blinked and parted her red lips slightly: "I find this lady to be quite beautiful, and she would be a good fit to be my personal maid. What do you think, my lord?"

A fleeting smile crossed Pei Yanzhi's eyes. The little fox was truly clever. He then looked at Song Zhaonian: "Prefect Song, did you hear that? My wife has taken a liking to you. What a coincidence, you see..."

Song Zhaonian's face turned ashen. How could he not know that this was the humiliation Pei Yanzhi had inflicted on him? Your "adopted daughter" is only fit to be a maidservant to my favorite concubine.

But... fortunately, I can enter the Pei family. I thought I could test the waters with Lian'er's looks, but it seems that won't work now.

He could only force a smile and say, "Very well, very well, it's her good fortune to be able to serve the madam!"

"Lian'er, after you go to Yanzhou, take good care of Lady Shu, understand?" After saying that, she pinched her shoulders and whispered, "Don't forget your parents and brothers, okay?"

Lian'er looked up at Song Zhaonian in disbelief, her body swaying uncontrollably, her fingertips digging deeply into her palm.

She gave a bitter laugh and vaguely said "yes".

After everyone raised their glasses again, Song Zhaonian stroked his beard and said, "If Your Excellency has some free time, you could accompany you and your wife on a tour of Kangzhou these next few days. Kangzhou is a beautiful place with clear waters and beautiful mountains!"

Everyone present knew that this was just a polite remark; Pei Yanzhi was merely passing through and would not linger.

Sure enough, Pei Yanzhi glanced at the people below and said in a calm tone, "Military affairs are busy, I will leave the day after tomorrow."

Everyone had different thoughts at that moment.

After the banquet, Ji Shu and Pei Yanzhi boarded a carriage, with Chunzhi and Lian'er following closely behind.

The carriage rumbled forward, and Ji Shu suddenly lifted the curtain.

"parking!"

Pei Yanzhi, who was leaning against the carriage wall after drinking too much, opened his eyes upon hearing the sound and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ji Shu: "I want to go for a walk to digest my food."

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, Ji Shu jumped down impatiently, and Chunzhi hurriedly followed behind. Unexpectedly, after taking only a few steps, she heard steady footsteps behind her.

She turned her head and saw that he had followed her.

Pei Yanzhi followed her leisurely, stopping when she stopped and following when she walked.

Ji Shu didn't know what he was going to do. It was a rare moment of freedom for her in these unfamiliar streets, without having to think about anything else.

It felt as if I were still in Chongzhou.

When they come across something pretty or fun, they stop and take a look.

Pei Yanzhi gazed at her profile, framed by the tassels of Huasheng. Her delicate nose and lips, adorned with gold and jade, were radiant and alluring, her skin as white and translucent as a piece of mutton fat jade.

Finally, the two sat down at a tea stall.

The tea stall owner, noticing the two's striking appearances, couldn't help but glance at them a few more times.

Chunzhi stepped forward and wiped the table before letting the young lady sit down. Pei Yanzhi picked up his teacup and took a sip, which slightly relieved the effects of the alcohol.

The chatter at the next table never stopped, and the volume gradually increased.

"Sigh, when will this ever end!"

“These officials only think about themselves and don’t care about our lives at all. They’re raising taxes again right after the New Year. How are we supposed to survive?”

"Damn it! The old mother next door starved to death! What a tragedy!"

Hearing this, Ji Shu frowned slightly, and waited until those people left.

Ji Shu shifted her gaze to Pei Yanzhi, temporarily setting aside her resentment, and asked, "Since this Prefect Song treats the people so harshly, shouldn't Your Excellency do something about this trip?"

She didn't believe this man would do nothing; he was always driven by self-interest, but he did have some compassion for the people.

The book itself proves this point: after he unified the Central Plains, the people were well-fed and clothed, and there were no more external disturbances.