Chapter 68 Madam Pei

As Ji Shu looked at his tall, straight back, a hint of darkness flashed in her eyes. She couldn't tell whether he was being unintentional or deliberate.

He clearly knew what kind of relationship he had with Pei Xingjian, yet he still insisted on moving into the mansion and doing so in such a grand manner.

She could even imagine what she would face if she encountered Pei Xingjian anywhere in the mansion. His son was so young and impetuous; there was no guarantee he wouldn't cause trouble.

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to live outside the government office?

We arrived at the main hall of Fushou Garden.

When Madam Pei saw him arrive and there was no one else behind him, a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she did not show it.

He said to him in a flat tone, "Big Brother is here." He gestured for him to sit down.

Pei Yanzhi glanced around and saw that everyone was already seated, except for him.

"Mother." After greeting her, he sat down opposite her, glancing sideways at Pei Xingjian sitting by the window, and then his brows furrowed.

Madam Pei looked at Pei Xingjian, who was drinking alone in silence, and then glanced at Pei Yanzhi, who seemed to be in a much better mood. She sighed softly.

She said in a deep voice, "Xingjian, your father has arrived, why don't you greet him?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Song, who was talking to Pei Song, fell silent. The room suddenly became quiet, and Pei Xingjian paused in his hand holding the wine cup, spilling the wine onto his robe.

He casually brushed it aside, stood up, and said in a muffled voice, "Father!"

A gentle breeze suddenly blew by, and the room became dimly lit, so dark you could hear a pin drop. Even Madam Song knew that Pei Yanzhi was about to get angry.

The second wife has no children to date. Xingjian grew up in her presence, and it's hard to bear to let him be scolded in front of so many people.

Madam Song coughed lightly: "Xingjian, the Marquis is over there!"

It turned out that Pei Xingjian had greeted the wrong person; he was facing the opposite side, which was Lord Gongsun.

Pei Yanzhi's cold and deep voice rang out from the side: "I heard from your grandmother that you have been addicted to drinking since you came back. Now that your grandmother and uncle are here, I'm giving you a chance. Tell me, what is it that makes you so depressed all the time?"

"I...I..."

He wanted to annul the engagement and marry Ji Shu, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Before returning to Yanzhou, Shu'er had already clearly rejected him.

Now that the two are so far apart, if they break off the engagement, then can Shu'er marry him?

Not necessarily.

After a long silence, Pei Xingjian lowered his head and said, "It's nothing. It's just that there are some things I haven't figured out these days... I'm sorry to have troubled you, Grandmother."

Madam Pei tried to ease the tension by saying, "Alright, we've talked things out, let's have our meal."

Song chimed in from the side, "Yes, elder brother, you rarely stay home all year. Now that you're finally back, you should get some rest."

Pei Xingjian ate without tasting anything. After finishing his meal, it was completely dark. He then sent Song Shi and Pei Song away.

She said to Pei Yanzhi, "Eldest brother, come into the room, I have something to ask you."

Pei Yanzhi glanced coldly at Pei Xingjian, gave a reply, and then went to the old lady's room.

Upon entering, he smelled a familiar fragrance. Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent.

"Shutong, serve the newly arrived tea to the Marquis." Madam Pei sat down as she spoke, and Shutong calmly ordered everyone else to leave.

Pei Yanzhi looked at his mother's face and chuckled softly, "What major event has happened that warrants such a reaction from Mother?"

Madam Pei gestured for him to look towards the main hall, and then asked about Xingjian.

Thinking of his son's past with Ji Shu, his eyes darkened, but he quickly regained his composure.

"He's getting more and more outrageous these days. He gets himself completely drunk before the banquet even starts. His mother is spoiling him too much."

Pei Xingjian had grown up by her side since childhood, so the bond between the two was naturally special. Seeing him like this, Madam Pei felt sorry for him.

"Has anything happened to you in Chongzhou? I've noticed that Xingjian and Heng'er have become quite distant since they came back. They used to visit us frequently, but they haven't done so at all lately."

"If these two have a falling out, they are young and pampered, so we, as elders, can just offer some advice."

"We can't let this kind of discord carry over into our marriage..."

Since Pei Yanzhi took charge of Yanzhou, he has strengthened the military and waged wars in all directions, which is why the Xiongnu and Xianbei in Yanzhou dare not provoke him.

Pei Xingjian, relying on his status as the heir apparent, instead of doing something practical for the people of Yanzhou, became addicted to drinking every day because of his romantic relationships with women.

He couldn't help but sneer: "If my mother hadn't insisted on having me adopted out of the clan because she was afraid I would have no children after Gu's death, things would probably be very different now."

Madam Pei's heart tightened immediately, knowing that he was blaming her. Back then, she also thought that Madam Gu was carrying Yan's child, but who knew that she would be so bold.

In order to ensure the safe delivery of her child, she even went to Buddhist temples to burn countless incense offerings, but who knew... this would happen.

She sighed, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have let you marry into the Gu family in the first place... Is Dalang still blaming me?"

As she spoke, there was a hint of caution and helplessness in her voice, because after this incident, she and Dalang had become somewhat estranged.

Pei Yanzhi was slightly taken aback, but in fact, he had long since let go of the past over the years.

Perhaps it was fate playing tricks on him; he used to think that God had deprived him of the right to be a father.

That's why he wanted Ji Shu to bear him a child; how wonderful it would be if the child came from her womb.

He will personally raise and educate him, and he will not only conquer Yanzhou, but also the entire world.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke: "Your son no longer resents your mother. Your mother is also planning for Yanzhou and Yangjun. You have your considerations, and I have my responsibilities to fulfill."

"We're not wrong, it's just that things often turn out differently than we hoped."

"As for Xingjian and the Wei family, Mother, there is no need to force it. A marriage that is forced is not a good thing, just like my marriage with Gu Shi."

Madam Pei said anxiously, "But this is a marriage agreement personally arranged by your grandfather..."

Pei Yanzhi smiled helplessly: "Mother, how can the living be troubled by the dead? If a marriage contract ruins two generations, I believe that is something Grandfather in heaven would not want to see."

"Sigh... I can't argue with you." Madam Pei shook her head.

"So, you mean I should just leave it alone?"

“Mother, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. If Xing Jianlian can’t even handle his own affairs, then it’s a problem with his abilities.”

At this point, Madam Pei's expression turned solemn: "How dare you ask? What's the story behind Shanshui Residence? And what about the woman who moved in two hours ago?" Madam Pei asked two questions in a row, clearly annoyed.

At first, she was overjoyed to hear that her son had brought people back to the mansion, but after moving in, no one came to pay their respects, which made her feel depressed.

Pei Yanzhi thought it was something serious, and his expression relaxed upon hearing this.

"Now the whole mansion is buzzing with discussion, wondering who the woman Marquis Yan brought back is?"

"Besides, everyone's speculating whether you're about to take in a new member for your backyard?"

He leaned back casually, not intending to hide Ji Shu's matter from his mother.

Therefore, he calmly said, "That woman's name is Ji Shu. I met her in Chongzhou. I liked her very much, so I forcibly abducted her to Yanzhou."