Chapter 43 Willing to be a concubine "I can grant your wish. Aunt, please continue..."

"A-Zhi...A-Zhi?"

Lin Shaowan called several times before Lin Zhi turned around hesitantly: "Aunt, did you call me?"

Seeing that she looked absent-minded and her complexion wasn't good, Lin Shaowan reached out and took her hand and touched it: "Oh dear, why are your hands so cold?"

"Quickly, bring Miss Biao a cup of hot tea."

"I don't know what happened last night, but the palace banquet ended abruptly, and I noticed that His Majesty's expression wasn't good either."

Hearing her aunt's words, Lin Zhi felt even more uneasy. Pei Lang had been summoned to the palace early that morning, and she wondered if he would be implicated in Xiao Wen's death.

She forced a smile and shook her head: "It's nothing, it's just that it's getting a little chilly now, and I'm still getting used to it."

"Don't worry, Aunt."

Despite saying that, Lin Shaowan was still worried. "There is a doctor in the capital who is very famous for treating cold constitutions, but he has an eccentric personality and cannot be invited."

"Why don't you go and have the doctor take a look and prescribe some medicine so you can drink it as soon as possible?"

In the past, Lin Zhiding would have agreed without hesitation, but after what happened last night, she felt uneasy and couldn't accept it even with servants with her.

He vaguely declined the offer.

As soon as Pei Lang entered the gate of Lanxue Pavilion, he was rushed into someone's arms.

After he steadied himself, he looked down and saw that it was Lin Zhi. His cold gaze gradually softened. "What's wrong?"

Lin Zhi rubbed against his chest without saying a word.

She wasn't usually this enthusiastic. Pei Lang thoughtfully stroked her long hair: "Did you need something from me?"

After a long while, Lin Zhi finally spoke in a muffled voice: "Could you come with me to see a doctor... I'm scared."

Pei Lang put his arm around her, but a cruel smile curled at the corners of his lips: "Okay, don't be afraid."

"Why were you summoned to the palace today? Has His Majesty made things difficult for you?"

Inside the carriage, Lin Zhi held Pei Lang's large hand tightly, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at him.

"No, it's just that Xie Zheng is off today, so he asked me to go through the motions."

"After all, apart from the Dowager Consort, no one in the palace cares about Xiao Wen's death now."

"The coroner also examined the body and said that the person accidentally fell into the water and suffocated after being entangled in the grass and leaves underwater."

Lin Zhi, who knew perfectly well how Xiao Wen died, fell silent, her lips pursed, her thoughts a jumble of complex emotions.

Xiao Wen had impure thoughts about her. If Pei Lang hadn't arrived in time yesterday, she would probably be the one who died.

But for some reason, Lin Zhi felt a vague sense of unease, as if something was amiss.

The carriage slowly came to a stop, and to avoid suspicion, Lin Zhi got out of the carriage and went inside first.

However, when Pei Lang got out of the carriage, he seemed to sense something and stared sharply at a carriage on the long street. Although it was not high-profile, it was clear that the person in question was either rich or noble.

He stood there staring for a while, convinced that the feeling of being spied on was not an illusion.

But Lin Zhi was worried and came out to call him, so Pei Lang looked away.

"Miss, is that man really Lord Pei? He's actually accompanying a young lady to see a doctor! Could they be...?"

Hearing his personal maid's complaints, He Luochen remained calm: "Isn't there a cousin in the Pei family? Since we're relatives, what's wrong with that?"

"Even if we take a step back and assume that he is a concubine or mistress, as long as I am the proper wife in the mansion, I don't believe he can be seduced by such vulgar women."

"No need to say more, and there's no need to tell Father about what happened today."

The maid bit her lip, seemingly unwilling, but could only obey her mistress and say yes.

Seeing the doctor come out, Lin Zhi was even more afraid that her aunt would find out that the two of them had gone to the same place again, so she half-pushed and half-coaxed Pei Lang to wander around outside before returning to the mansion, while she took Chun Tao back first.

As soon as she entered, Yu Shu, who was waiting at the door, pulled her over: "Miss, you're back! Madam and our distinguished guests are waiting for you!"

"Distinguished guest? What distinguished guest?"

Lin Zhi was pulled away in a daze, but her heart tightened when she saw Xie Zheng and Madam Xie appear at the Pei family's house.

"Greetings, Madam Xie, and Xie Shaoqing."

When Lin Shaowan saw her return, she quickly pulled her over, "Look at these two children, they really get along well, they look so perfect together now!"

Lin Zhi suddenly turned to look at her aunt, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

Lin Shaowan squeezed her hand, but still smiled as she spoke, "Since both children are here, let's be frank and talk about marriage..."

Looking at Xie Zheng's reserved and shy smile, Lin Zhi only felt that he was hypocritical. Yesterday he said that she would never have any sad things again, but today he actually came to propose marriage.

Others may not know about her relationship with Pei Lang, but surely Xie Zheng knows!

With a buzzing sound in her ears, Lin Zhi could hardly hear what her aunt and the Xie family mother and son were saying, but seeing the smiles on their faces, she knew that both families were very satisfied with the marriage.

Lin Zhi's mind was in turmoil, but she knew she couldn't continue to be manipulated like this. Xie Zheng wasn't Su Heng; he came from a respectable family and was an upright person, so even Pei Lang had no right to intervene.

She can only rely on herself...

With a "plop," Lin Shaowan was startled to see Lin Zhi suddenly kneeling in front of her. Xie Zheng, who was standing to the side, rushed forward to help her up, but Lin Zhi shook him off.

"Azhi, what are you doing?"

Lin Shaowan stared at her niece's stubborn and aloof eyes, feeling a vague unease in her heart.

"My niece doesn't want to agree to this marriage!"

The girl's soft yet resolute voice stunned the three people present.

Lin Shaowan's smile froze on her face. She stepped forward and reached out to pull her up, trying to smooth things over, but Lin Zhi stubbornly refused to get up. "My niece already has someone she likes! I hope Aunt will grant her wish!"

Xie Zheng's face fell, and he was completely at a loss, gripping his robe so tightly that his fingertips turned white.

In the end, it was Madam Xie who realized something was wrong and quickly pulled Lin Shaowan aside with a smile, saying, "I'm afraid it's all a misunderstanding. My rascal has been presumptuous."

"Madam Pei, please don't be upset. The children's affairs are all about fate; you can't force them."

"Azhi, you get up too."

"Knowing you're a good kid, even if we don't have the chance to become a family, we wish you all the best."

Seeing the regret in Madam Xie's eyes, Lin Zhi felt a pang of guilt and apology in her heart, but she didn't know what to say. She could only keep muttering that she was sorry.

Madam Xie immediately realized that Lin Zhi had no such intention, and she felt somewhat embarrassed. She tried to pull Xie Zheng away, but Xie Zheng seemed to be rooted to the spot and could not be dragged away no matter what she did.

"Ah Zheng!"

Lin Zhi didn't look up at Xie Zheng's eyes, but she saw him walking towards her with heavy steps: "Miss Lin, are you really unwilling?"

Even the usually ruthless Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was trembling in his voice.

Lin Zhi pursed her lips, looked up at him with a determined gaze, and said, "You said I would never be sad again, so I will listen to you."

"I will not be sad if I do not wish to marry you."

The crisp, resolute voice fell, and even Madam Xie couldn't help but frown. But upon reflection, Lin Zhi hadn't really done anything wrong.

Ultimately, it was because they came to our door too hastily.

A hint of hurt flashed across Xie Zheng's gentle and handsome face; even the corners of his narrow eyes seemed to redden slightly. After a moment of silence, he lowered his head, his voice choked with emotion: "Okay..."

Watching Xie Zheng flee the Pei residence in a panic, Lin Shaowan's face darkened completely. "Lin Zhi!"

Her aunt rarely called her by her full name like that. Lin Zhi closed her eyes and knelt down again before her aunt: "Aunt, A-Zhi does not wish to disobey you."

"I don't want to go through what happened to Su Heng again. Xie Shaoqing and I are just friends, and we have never had any romantic feelings for each other. Even if I marry into the Xie family, I will not be happy."

Lin Shaowan nearly fainted from anger upon hearing her words, slamming her hand on the table in exasperation: "What are you talking about?!"

"Why are you so stubborn, girl! Do you have to drive me crazy before you're happy?!"

"What did the Xie family do to you? Why would you humiliate Xie Zheng like this to his face!"

"You even said you had someone you liked? How could you spout such nonsense and slap someone in the face like that?"

Seeing her aunt's angry face, Lin Zhi met her gaze with unwavering determination: "I'm not talking nonsense. You really do have someone you love, Aunt, didn't you already know that?"

Lin Shaowan was stunned, her face instantly darkening: "What did you say?"

"Say it again?"

Lin Zhi clenched her sleeves, her mind blank, yet she still refused to give up. She didn't want to keep hiding from Pei Lang and living in the shadows forever.

“A-Zhi is in love with Cousin Pei Lang.”

A seemingly casual remark struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. Lin Shaowan's lips trembled uncontrollably, and she staggered, nearly losing her balance.

But she still suppressed her anger: "Azhi, you were joking with your aunt, weren't you?"

"Young Master, you must go and see! Our young lady has angered the Madam!"

Chun Tao rushed to the gate of the Pei residence with a pale face and bumped into Pei Lang, who was returning home.

Pei Lang was also carrying a small bag of candied fruit, the kind that Lin Zhi usually liked to eat.

Upon hearing that it was related to Lin Zhi, Pei Lang strode over, his brows furrowing: "How could this be?"

Chun Tao's voice trembled, but she spoke clearly: "Today, Madam Xie and Xie Shaoqing came to propose marriage, but Miss rejected them to their faces."

"Miss...Miss also said that the person she loves is the eldest young master..."

Pei Lang paused, not because of Lin Zhi's words, but because of Xie Zheng. He actually dared to come to the Pei residence to propose marriage.

A flash of sinister glint crossed his eyes. Just as Lin Shaowan raised her hand to strike, Pei Lang strode into the main hall and said, "Mother, wait!"

Lin Shaowan had seen him long ago, but her expression became even more ferocious. If he hadn't used some underhanded means, how could Lin Zhi, a well-behaved girl, have turned into this?

Seeing that Lin Shaowan was still moving, Pei Lang stepped forward and caught her heavy slap, while using his other hand to pull Lin Zhi, who was kneeling on the ground, up and protect her behind him.

"What happened today is something I also wanted to tell my mother."

"My son wants to strengthen our family ties with my cousin Lin Zhi, and I hope my mother will grant his request."

Lin Shaowan's eyes widened in disbelief. She never expected him to say it so bluntly. She tried to pull her wrist away, but Pei Lang's hand was like an iron claw, impossible to break free from.

"Pei Lang, are you crazy? Azhi is the girl your own brother is engaged to!"

"That's because they weren't engaged yet."

Pei Lang's eyes were cold and indifferent as he glanced at her and released his grip on her.

"Besides, even if they are engaged, it is not the same as marriage. Now that Mingli is gone, it is reasonable for Azhi to be engaged to anyone."

Lin Shaowan gasped, never expecting Pei Lang to say such a thing.

"You...you!"

Seeing that the lady swayed twice and fainted, Yu Shu quickly called for help.

Lin Zhi was also anxious to follow, but Pei Lang grabbed her arm: "Someone is taking care of you, you don't need to come along."

Lin Zhi's face turned ashen, and she slowly nodded: "I suppose my aunt wouldn't want to see me right now either."

Pei Lang stared at the small, cute whorl on the top of her head and softened his tone: "Don't worry, I'll take care of this."

Seeing that Lin Zhi was still listless, Pei Lang stuffed the candied fruit in his hand into her hand: "As long as you prepare the wedding dress, I will take care of everything else."

The two embraced quietly and then quickly separated, but even such a light embrace gave Lin Zhi courage.

As night deepened, Lin Zhi was still in turmoil, unable to eat or drink anything.

"How is it? Has Aunt woken up?"

Seeing Xia Ying nod as she hurried back, Lin Zhi finally felt relieved.

"Don't worry, Miss, Madam has woken up and is fine."

"But the master has learned of today's events and has summoned you and the eldest son..."

Lin Zhi's heart sank, but she knew that things had come to this point and she had no way to turn back.

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Although Pei's father had recovered most of his health, the room was still filled with the bitter smell of medicine. He leaned back in his chair, his battlefield prowess diminished considerably, but he remained sharp and dignified.

Lin Zhi rushed over and saw that her aunt and Pei Lang had also arrived. Her aunt's face was still a little pale, but she was still glaring at Pei Lang and wouldn't give her a second glance.

"My aunt and uncle are well."

Lin Zhi lifted the hem of her skirt and knelt down in front of the two men, one on each side of Pei Lang beside her. At first glance, it looked as if they were bowing to heaven and earth.

Mr. Pei frowned as he looked at the two children in front of him, one was his own son, and the other was his wife's niece.

If it weren't for all the things that have happened lately, these two children would have been a match made in heaven. It's just a pity...

Father Pei cleared his throat and spoke to Lin Zhi first: "A-Zhi has been in my Pei family for several years now. Over the years, your aunt and uncle have treated you like their own daughter. Although they once intended for you to be my Pei family's daughter-in-law, that was only when Mingli was still alive."

“You and Mingli have been close since childhood. Now, if you say you want to be with your older cousin… how can we possibly accept that?”

Her uncle's tone was not harsh, even mild, which made Lin Zhi feel even more guilty. How could she explain that her friendship with Pei Mingli in the past was only for seeking protection?

Respect for the deceased is paramount. Her words were not only disrespectful to her second cousin, but would likely further enrage the two elders, escalating the situation.

Seeing that Lin Zhi did not speak, Pei Lang spoke first: "Father, Mother, this matter has nothing to do with A-Zhi. It is because I am in love with A-Zhi, but I have never had the opportunity to spend time with her before."

"But after my brother passed away, I didn't want her to leave the Pei family, for fear that she would suffer in another family."

"Azhi is a good girl, and it's not uncommon for someone to be in love with her. I only wish that my father and mother would grant us their wish!"

Seeing Pei Lang kowtow to the two elders for her sake, Lin Zhi's tears welled up and she could no longer hold them back.

She crawled on her knees to her aunt, tugged at her skirt, and whispered, "Years ago, it was my aunt who saved Azhi, allowing Azhi to survive until now and experience the warmth of family."

“Now that you have hurt your aunt’s feelings, A-zhi deserves to die.”

"But if Aunt cannot grant her wish, I'm afraid Azhi will regret it for the rest of her life and die in despair."

Looking at Lin Zhi's tear-streaked face, Lin Shaowan's eyes were filled with complex emotions, including helplessness, heartache, and some that Lin Zhi couldn't decipher.

After a long silence in the face of Lin Zhi's tearful complaint, Lin Shaowan finally spoke slowly and with difficulty: "I can grant your wish..."

Lin Zhi raised her head, but then heard her aunt continue, "But Pei Lang is the eldest son of the Pei family and is now the Grand Secretary of the court. He has a very important status. If A-Zhi marries him, she can only be a concubine, not the principal wife."

Upon hearing this, not only Lin Zhi was stunned, but Pei Lang and Pei's father, who were standing beside him, also showed surprise. They did not expect Lin Shaowan to agree, let alone make such a request.

Pei Lang's eyes flashed, but he spoke sternly: "Since Mother has agreed, then please let A-Zhi be Pei Lang's legal wife!"

"Pei Lang is willing to marry only her in this lifetime and will not wrong her!"

Even so, Lin Shaowan still refused to budge, and Pei Lang wouldn't listen when she asked him to step down.

Seeing him kneeling for so long for a woman, Pei's father felt his temples throb with anger. He slammed his fist on the table and ordered a servant to fetch the family punishment.

Lin Zhi panicked immediately. She was not unfamiliar with the Pei family's discipline; Pei Mingli had been beaten severely back then.

If military generals are like this, one can imagine how Pei Lang, a civil official, fares.

As Pei Lang's outer robe was stripped off and he was struck repeatedly with a heavy stick, he still refused to give in, only saying that he wanted to marry Lin Zhi as his principal wife.

Lin Shaowan, sitting upright on it, watched without changing her expression, showing no sign of wavering or pity.

Lin Zhi bit her lower lip until it bled, her heart pounding as she watched Pei Lang's face grow paler and paler. Finally, when Pei Lang could no longer bear it and leaned forward to support himself, Lin Zhi's tears burst forth, and she quickly begged for mercy.

"Aunt! Aunt! Azhi agrees! Azhi agrees to be my cousin's concubine! Azhi is not worthy to be the principal wife!"

"Uncle! Please stop hitting him!"

Amid Lin Zhi's cries, the sound of the heavy stick gradually ceased, but Pei Lang, with blood at the corner of his mouth, still refused to change his mind: "Lin Zhi... should be the legal wife..."

"Pei Lang! Stop talking... stop talking!"

Lin Zhi knelt beside Pei Lang, tears streaming down her face, and gripped Pei Lang's hand tightly to stop him from continuing.

After all, he was his own son. Even Pei's father couldn't stand it and turned to look at his wife. But Lin Shaowan's expression remained cold and hard: "Since Azhi has agreed, then let's do it that way."

“You two are in love, but if you don’t agree, you’ll accuse us of breaking up a loving couple.”

"Take the family discipline away, and let's end things here today."

After Pei Lang was carried away and Lin Zhi left, Pei's father sighed deeply: "Madam, you love Lin Zhi so much, why do you make things so difficult for her?"

"If it weren't for the need to maintain proper etiquette, it would be a good thing if these two children got married."

Lin Shaowan shook her head with red eyes, her voice very low, as if she were speaking to her husband, or perhaps to herself.

"A concubine would be better, but a concubine is not included in the Pei family's official register. What if, in the future..."

She spoke the rest of her words very softly, and although her father didn't hear them clearly, he didn't press her for details.

Since that day, Lin Zhi has been confined to her own courtyard, unable to go out or see Pei Lang.

Unsure of Pei Lang's condition, she could only force herself to embroider her wedding dress each day to pass the time. After half a month, she had even lost a considerable amount of weight.

When the courtyard gate was opened again, Lin Shaowan led her people in with a stern face.

"Since you insist on marrying Pei Lang, this dowry can be considered as fulfilling our aunt-nephew relationship. After you move to the Prime Minister's residence, you don't need to think of me as your aunt anymore."

Lin Zhi put down her embroidery needle with some restraint and stood up, only to see that the dowry was no less than before, and even the servants who came to deliver it were standing in a long line.

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Author's note: I'm late, my girlfriends [please] I'll add more tomorrow!

Thank you all for supporting genuine reading. Love you all! [heart emoji]