Chapter 33 Pei Zhun
In early spring in Lin'an, the air was filled with dampness as spring rains fell, and clothes clung to people's bodies with a dampness.
After a night of rain, the rivers rose, causing Wen Lingzheng and Pei Lin to spend several days just to reach Lin'an.
Why is no one here to greet the ship?
Xing Yun was the first to disembark. The dock, usually bustling with people, was deserted. There wasn't a single person from the Pei family's old residence to greet the ship. He couldn't help but look at Xing Zhou, who was following closely behind, and asked, "Are you sure you've sent someone by fast horse to deliver the letter to the Third Young Master?"
Not seeing Pei Zhun's men, Xing Zhou was completely baffled. "I really did deliver it! I even went to give the order myself! It's really like a ghost story today, there's hardly anyone at the dock?"
After days of travel, Wen Lingzheng was tired, her eyelids drooping, and she seemed drowsy until the boat docked.
Pei Lin reached out and helped her off the boat, a faint smile appearing on his usually cold face, tinged with apology. "It's my family's fault for dragging you down. We've only been married a few days, and you've already made me travel such a long distance with you."
Looking at the blurry Qinlou Tavern in the distance, Pei Lin seemed to remember something and said, "I've heard that the Thirteenth Young Master of Jiangnan is an excellent actor. After Third Brother settles this matter, shall we go and see him together?"
Thirteenth Prince?
The familiar address made Wen Lingzheng chuckle softly. She raised her hand to stroke Pei Lin's brow, which hadn't relaxed for days. "We're husband and wife, we're one. What's this about being a burden or not?"
"To have such a wife is my greatest fortune." Pei Lin smiled and squeezed Wen Lingzheng's slightly cool hand, but when he saw the Xingyun and Xingzhou brothers approaching with furrowed brows, his expression, which had just relaxed, became serious again.
Pei Lin: "What happened again?"
Having marched for many years, Pei Lin's intuition has always been sharp. Moreover, he knows Pei Zhun all too well.
Pei Zhun was a kind-hearted man who respected his elders and was also respectful to his brothers. However, he was too cowardly and easily influenced, making him very easy to be taken advantage of.
Therefore, when he went on the expedition years ago, he firmly disagreed with letting Pei Zhun bring Pei Jing back to Lin'an. However, he was forced by the circumstances at that time, and even he led his troops to the northern border with the determination to die.
Xingyun: "My lord..."
"My lord! Something terrible has happened!"
Before Xingyun could finish speaking, Pei Zhun's servant, Aman, rushed towards the dock in a flurry, a strand of his neatly tied hair falling loose beside his ear, and a corner of his clothes being torn at the cuff.
Xingzhou swiftly stopped Aman, "What's wrong with you?"
Upon seeing who it was, Aman seemed to snap out of his daze and knelt down with a thud. Ignoring the sand grinding against his knees, he took two steps forward and cried out, "My lord, something terrible has happened! There's a commotion in our manor!"
Ah Man's cryptic words made one's heart clench.
Her sleepiness vanished instantly. Wen Lingzheng frowned and looked at Xingyun, "Quickly, go and rent a carriage."
Xingyun immediately rented a carriage from a car rental shop outside and sent Wen Lingzheng and Pei Lin to the old house in a hurry. Xingzhou and his men stayed behind to pack up the luggage before sending it to the old house.
Inside the carriage, after Pei Lin's detailed questioning, the couple finally understood the origin of today's events.
This morning, just as Pei Zhun was about to lead his men out of the mansion to the dock to welcome the ship, Lin suddenly showed up at his door for some unknown reason, demanding that Pei Zhun give her and her child a proper status.
Upon hearing this news, Madam Song, who was peacefully resting during her pregnancy, was both shocked and furious. She insisted that Lin be thrown out and immediately summoned several strong maids to the mansion gate.
Pei Zhun already felt guilty towards Madam Song, and initially refused to let Madam Lin enter the mansion, only advising her to return to her outer residence first. However, upon seeing Madam Song's impressive entourage, he was taken aback. Considering the child in Madam Lin's womb, he had no choice but to protect her behind him.
Seeing Pei Zhun protecting Lin Shi, Xiao Song Shi was furious and became even more determined to drive Lin Shi out of the mansion.
The situation escalated into a stalemate, with servants and women getting into a brawl. It was during this time that Aman's hair and clothes were torn.
"Absurd!" Pei Lin was furious. His sharp eyebrows were like two deadly blades, and his powerful voice made Xingyun, who was driving the carriage, tremble.
Knowing Pei Lin's imposing manner, Aman dared not speak and could only shrink into a corner of the carriage. However, he saw Wen Lingzheng looking at him and broke out in a cold sweat.
"You've been by your third brother's side since you were little?"
"Yes, Madam, I have been serving the Third Young Master since I was eight years old."
"Hmm." Wen Lingzheng responded softly, but then changed the subject and asked, "Do you know how my third brother and that Lin family met?"
The air inside the carriage instantly plummeted to freezing point. Aman wanted to cover for Pei Zhun, but when he looked up, he met Wen Lingzheng's smiling eyes.
He shuddered, realizing that the Lady Hou before him, though young, was quite dangerous. He had no choice but to recount the story of Pei Zhun and Lady Lin from the moment they met.
By the time Wen Lingzheng and Pei Lin arrived at the old house, the situation was already out of control.
Inside the main hall, ceramic ware was shattered all over the floor, tables and chairs were overturned haphazardly, and servants in the courtyard were still tearing each other apart.
Ms. Song sat on the chair on the left, one hand unconsciously clutching her stomach, her hair disheveled, showing no trace of her former beauty.
On the other hand, Pei Zhun's face had already been slashed several times by Xiao Songshi amidst the chaos. Even Linshi, who was hiding behind him, was not spared, with injuries all over her face and neck.
"Stop it, all of you!" Pei Lin's voice, sharp as snow on a mountaintop, echoed into the old house.
The servants were taken aback at first, but when they met his bloodthirsty gaze, they trembled and hurriedly withdrew their hands.
"Are you trying to tear the house down?" Pei Lin ignored the servants and walked coldly toward Pei Zhun.
Perhaps it was the bloodline suppression that took effect; Pei Zhun had always been afraid of his second brother, who was prone to arguing and never forgiving when he was right. Coupled with his extreme guilt, his legs went weak and he knelt on the ground, hurriedly trying to explain, "No, second brother, I..."
Pei Lin frowned as his gaze swept over the mess on the ground, then pulled Wen Lingzheng up by the waist and picked her up.
"What...what are you doing?" Wen Lingzheng was shocked by his sudden action, but mindful of the situation, she could only whisper in his ear to ask.
With a look of disgust, Pei Lin wiped the armchair at the head of the table with his sleeve before letting Wen Lingzheng sit down, explaining in a low voice, "The floor is dirty."
Wen Lingzheng: ...What kind of reason is that?
Still reeling from the shock of Pei Lin's sudden appearance, Pei Zhun stared blankly at his sister-in-law, whom he had never met before. He thought the woman before him was as beautiful as an angel and as gentle and charming as a fairy, and couldn't help but feel resentment towards his deceased father.
—He was actually pushing his own son into a fire pit, forcing him to marry a woman more ferocious than a tiger or wolf.
What are you looking at?
Pei Lin sneered, straightened up, took two steps forward, and kicked Pei Zhun hard before quickly pulling his foot back. He even dusted off the dust on his sleeves and sat down next to Wen Lingzheng. "After all these years of studying, it seems you've learned nothing but dog food. You've even forgotten manners?"
Pei Zhun was a scholar, frail and weak. Pei Lin only used 30% of his strength, but he was kicked so hard that he staggered and crashed into the table leg behind him with a 'thud'.
It was clear that when Pei Lin asked the question, he still endured the pain, staggered to his feet, and bowed his head to greet Wen Lingzheng.
Lin, who had been hiding behind him, did not hesitate for a moment when she saw the scene before her, and instead clutched her belly and hid behind a pillar.
However, Madam Song, who was sitting to the side, saw Pei Zhun grimacing in pain but still not daring to stand up, so she knelt down and shielded him behind her.
"Third sister-in-law, what are you doing?" Pei Lin frowned slightly, wanting to help Xiao Song up, but hesitated because of the difference between men and women.
"Second brother, second brother, please calm down! My husband is just a weak scholar. If something serious happens to him, what will become of me and the child!"
Madam Song was heavy-bodied and pale. She spoke while wiping away tears, yet she still protected Pei Zhun.
Furious at her lack of ambition yet saddened by her misfortune, Wen Lingzheng was ultimately worried about Xiao Songshi's health, so she stood up and helped her up. "Third sister-in-law, don't worry, the Marquis knows what he's doing. You must take care of the child first!"
Wen Lingzheng's words struck the softest spot in Xiao Song's heart. She then stood up, supporting her belly, and lowered her eyes, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you for your concern, Second Sister-in-law. But I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you and Second Brother on your wedding yet, and I'm already troubling you to make a special trip to Lin'an for me... I'm truly ashamed!"
After comforting Madam Song, Wen Lingzheng instructed the maid to help her back to her room and also had Yaoguang and Xingyun send Madam Lin back to her outer residence for supervision.
After the two women caught up in the turmoil left, the atmosphere in the hall became slightly more somber than before.
In the quiet environment, where the only sound was breathing, Pei Zhun's shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
He subconsciously glanced at Pei Lin several times, wanting to explain, but he was too scared, so he could only shut his mouth in grievance.
"Now you're scared?" Pei Lin sneered and questioned, "Tell me honestly, how did you meet that Lin family? Is it related to your uncle's family?"
"No!--"
Pei Zhun suddenly became anxious, "No, Second Brother, this has nothing to do with my uncle! It was just that the other day, when I went to a poetry gathering with the young master of the Guo family, she happened to be playing the pipa in that teahouse..."
Seemingly realizing he had let something slip, Pei Zhun shrank back timidly, looking dejected and crestfallen, yet he somehow displayed a rare touch of manly spirit.
"Second brother, you chose your own marriage. Your wife is virtuous, well-read, and you are satisfied with her. But what about me? Has anyone asked for my opinion?"
"From the moment we got married, she pressured me to strive for success every day, but I didn't like officialdom or fame. I just wanted to write poetry and paint and live a life of leisure and wealth. But she was obsessed with fame and fortune. We were completely incompatible..."
Perhaps fearing a beating from Pei Lin, Pei Zhun's voice gradually weakened.
Pei Lin: "So you and that Lin family member are a perfect match, a match made in heaven?"
Sensing Pei Lin's suppressed anger, Wen Lingzheng quickly got up, went around to his side, placed her hand on his shoulder, and gently shook her head at him.
Perhaps seeing that Pei Lin had no intention of hitting him, Pei Zhun suddenly became bolder.
He readily agreed to Pei Lin's words, defending himself by saying, "Most women in the world are greedy for wealth and fame, hoping that the husband they marry can earn them an official title, but Yingying is different!"
Pei Lin: "How is it different?"
Pei Zhun, unaware of the danger in Pei Lin's words, continued his plea: "She is skilled in music and poetry, and handles people and affairs with propriety. She never covets worldly things, only hoping to stay with me forever. If only her status weren't so low..."
So angry she almost laughed, Wen Lingzheng couldn't help but retort, "Then why don't you take her into your household? You like her so much, yet you make her a mistress? Don't you know that a mistress is even worse than a concubine?"
Seeing that Pei Zhun did not answer, Pei Lin asked in return, "What? Do you think it's unfair to her to be a concubine? Do you want to divorce her and marry someone else?"
Pei Zhun: "No... Second Brother, no, I know our family and the Marquis of Xiangyang's family are close friends, I will not divorce my wife!"
"So you don't actually want to enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives and settle them in separate residences? How can you be so shameless?"
Enraged, Pei Lin stood up and swiftly kicked Pei Zhun again. Seeing that Pei Zhun was slumped to the side and unable to get up, he roared, "Kneel properly!"
Clutching his chest, Pei Zhun knelt upright, stammering and not daring to speak further. He simply lowered his head and muttered, "Food and sex are human nature; isn't that just common sense?"
With his exceptional hearing, Pei Lin could easily hear Pei Zhun's words, "Human nature? If it's human nature, then why is it that only you made this mistake, while I didn't?"
Already dizzy from Pei Lin's two consecutive kicks, Pei Zhun was unable to answer for a moment.
Unexpectedly, Pei Lin retorted the next second, "What? Do you think I'm not human?"
"Ah? No, Second Brother, I didn't..." Pei Zhun hurriedly explained, but he couldn't even speak properly. The more he explained, the worse it got.
Sitting back down, Pei Lin, too lazy to confront Pei Zhun any longer, simply asked, "Let me ask you again, how did you meet that young master of the Guo family?"
Seeing Pei Zhun's hesitant expression, Pei Lin chuckled twice and said, "You don't have to tell me, but I suppose you don't know the identity of that Lin family member? Do you remember those people with words carved on their faces in the twentieth year of Jianzhao?"
"The Lin family...the Lin family?" Pei Zhun froze on the spot, his face filled with disbelief. "Could it be?—"
Pei Lin didn't say anything more, only saying, "You've suddenly become clever? You've completely forgotten everything I taught you in the past!"
"I'm telling you straight today, there's absolutely no way that Lin will enter the Marquis's mansion. I'll give you two choices."
"First, you will be removed from the family genealogy and have no further connection with the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion. I will not care where you and she go. Second, you will be sent far away. If the child in her belly is a girl, it will be fine and you can arrange for her to live. But if it is a boy, I can only entrust him to a collateral branch for upbringing. You are not allowed to acknowledge him in this lifetime."
Pei Zhun was in a hurry and was about to retort when he saw Pei Lin shoot him a glare. The determination on his face just now vanished instantly, and he slumped back to the ground in a huff.
Whether it was intentional or accidental, just as Pei Zhun responded, Yao Guang, who had just accompanied Xing Yun to escort Lin back to her outer residence, rushed into the hall and reported, "My lord, Madam, Lin seems to have gone into labor; she was about to give birth when she reached the gate of the mansion!"
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Author's Note: I apologize to all my dear readers. The job market is tough this year, and I've been busy job hunting since graduating, which has caused the delay in updates. I will try my best to maintain regular updates from now on. I'm very sorry.
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