Feudal Heart
Chapter 23: Feudal Heart
On that day in early July, Peng Zuoyuan deliberately waited for Cui Luan to come out after she finished checking the accounts.
Thinking of what they had said last time they met, Cui Luan quickly asked, "How did you know we would meet today?"
There was clearly a hint of surprise in her eyes. Peng Zuoyan said matter-of-factly, "My wife goes out of the house to check the accounts at the beginning, middle, and end of every month. Today is the fifth day of the month, the end of the month."
"I don't think there's a pattern to leaving the house. The captain observed carefully."
"I'm sorry for trying to find out your itinerary without permission."
Cui Luan boldly stepped forward, looked him in the eye, and asked, "But you knew this was my personal matter, yet you still came here, Captain Peng. You keep pressing me. How can I forgive you?"
Peng Zuoyan smiled sheepishly and praised, "I can't hide it from my wife, you are so smart. I am here to fulfill my promise."
"Abacus?"
In his right hand, he held a small abacus, made of bright gold, slightly larger than his palm, with round and full beads. Cui Luan had been around this kind of objects since he was a child, so he could tell that the size was specially made for girls. And was Peng Zuoyao presenting this gift really for the sake of a promise he had made before?
"I always carry it with me. I've been looking forward to it."
Peng Zuoyang said this happily and moved forward expectantly.
Seeing the wet hair on his ears, Cui Luan stopped all the polite words she wanted to say. The end of summer was when the autumn heat was at its peak. He was waiting for her here, not knowing when she would appear. She would only appear after she had finished her work. With such a focused look in her eyes, her emotion became extremely common.
Taking the golden abacus, Cui Luan raised his palm and said in a calm tone, "It's hot, Captain, wipe off your sweat."
"good."
Peng Zuoyan could sense her unconscious concern, and he took the light-colored handkerchief awkwardly, wiped his cheek with it, and then tucked it into the side of his waist.
"Eh..." Cui Luan said with an accent, tacitly approving his behavior of hiding it.
After he finished speaking, Cui Luan suddenly called out to stop the tall figure that was turning away from him in the carriage.
"Peng Zuoyuan."
Peng Zuoyao stopped in his tracks and looked back expectantly, "Madam Cui."
Cui Luan leaned out the window and simply called out his official title. Peng Zuoyao took two steps forward and said, "Madam Cui, I'll follow behind and take you back home."
“We haven’t made it clear yet.”
The suggestive words were expressed on the other side, and Peng Zuoyan laughed softly.
"I ordered them to follow you from a distance and not disturb you."
With one hand resting under the car window, Peng Zuoyan's face was filled with a cheerful expression. "We'll see each other again in ten days' holiday. I'll go and see the betrothal goose and lamb myself."
Cui Luan smiled lightly and replied gently, "I'll wait for you."
"Cui Luan, have a safe journey." Peng Zuoyuan raised his hand and then put it down again, saying a simple farewell wish.
"Captain, you too."
It was Cui Luan who finally agreed to the Cui family's marriage. After two months of contact, Peng Zuoyang had some confidence and ordered Chang Er to get the paperwork for Yi Huan's marriage.
Peng Zuoyan had some rare free time, so he took her around the mansion to familiarize herself with the route.
"The ancestral hall at home is so gloomy that we won't go there."
Yi Huan curled his lips indifferently and walked slowly, one step behind him.
In front of them was the courtyard that had been locked for twenty-five years. Peng Zuoyuan was silent for a few breaths, then called the Peng family's housekeeper over and said, "Bring the key here. I'll take my aunt to see my mother."
"Yes, Mr. Dalang."
Although it was a deserted courtyard, someone would clean it every day. Peng Zuoyuan was more silent than reminiscing. After more than ten years, he stepped into the mistress's courtyard again. He wanted to rekindle his dependence on the Hu family, but his beating heart was not moved.
"The courtyard inside is so spacious. I still remember that she didn't like crowds, so the layout of the house and the courtyard was simple and spacious."
"For your filial piety and face, I don't have to kneel, right?"
Peng Zuoyan snorted, "There is no mistress at home. You are the boss in the backyard. You can kneel down if you want."
Those were just nice words to cheer her up. Yi Huan looked at the main house quietly, feeling a strange respect for the deceased.
Peng Zuoyuan walked into the main hall and sat down, leaning against the armchair. He closed his eyes and recalled, "That November, I only told her my decision to join the army. My mother told me, 'I'm not an obstacle to you, and neither should the Peng family.'"
Hu taught him elementary education and took him to school. After Peng Pang was born, Peng Xun was unable to control the relationship between his wives and concubines. Hu confined herself to the courtyard, and the relationship between them, mother and son, was like the mist after boiling, falling from the peak.
"When I was little, I didn't understand the old man's hesitation. Now that I'm older, I realize it's all my fault."
In Peng Zuo'an's opinion, Hu Shi was unable to maintain the dignity of the legitimate wife, Peng Xun favored his concubine over his wife, and Deng Shi was too ambitious. The main fault lay with Peng Xun.
Yi Huan stood at the door and looked at him with his face raised. Half of his face was warm and red in the sun, but the feeling he exuded was more of a coldness.
"Your Peng family has always been eating from your bowl and monopolizing the pot."
Peng Zuoyan suddenly laughed, in a playful and carefree manner, "So, is Ah Huan in the bowl or in the pot?"
Yi Huan glanced at him without saying anything.
Passing by the fire-damaged courtyard outside the mansion, Peng Zuoyuan raised his mouth, "This is the old man's former concubine. She was favored, but also lonely. Now that she has a bastard, she can't control her mind anymore. She relies on her appearance to climb up the social ladder."
"snort."
His disparagement was condescending. Yi Huan didn't understand the nature and grudges of the previous generation, so he lowered his eyes and looked away.
"Ah Huan, you must abide by your duties and not follow in others' footsteps."
Facing his warning in a smile, Yi Huan argued: "If there is a choice, not everyone is willing to be a concubine."
"Being self-reliant is very touching, but Ah Huan, not everyone has this ability. The daughter of Dayu costs 100,000. If concubines are abolished and prostitutes are banned, you can smell the stench of corpses in the West Mountain in the suburbs at Peng Mansion."
“If education is equal and opportunities are equal, no one will be left behind.”
Peng Zuoyan disagreed with her words from the bottom of his heart, and said half-coaxingly and half-scornfully, "Perhaps when all the women become officials, Ah Huan will get to see her."
"There will be such a day." Yi Huan looked him straight in the eye, the confidence in his eyes truly sinister. "Sooner or later, it will come."
Peng Zuoyuan nodded with disbelief and turned to walk towards the gate of the house.
As the carriage moved towards the designated destination, Peng Zuoyao handed her a memorial, "Ah Huan, this is my letter of appointment as my wife. When the Cui and Peng families marry, I will raise your status."
"Wife? After all, isn't she still a concubine? Oh, a high-ranking concubine."
Peng Zuoyan's initial anticipation gradually faded, and he said impatiently, "Ah Huan, why are you being so sarcastic?"
"Am I a commodity? Have you ever asked me what I think? My name is on this matter. Was I involved from beginning to end? You're the one who's got everything covered up."
"Oh, I am your God?"
Peng Zuoyuan's mood brightened up after hearing her words. He took her hand and slowly explained, "Ah Huan, with the written document, you will be able to live comfortably in the Peng Mansion, except for being the mistress of the house. The rank of wife is second, and I will also greet you when I see you."
"I didn't expect you to care about me so much?"
Peng Zuoyan curled his lips under her sarcastic gaze, and said in an unexpectedly high and mighty manner: "You are the one who benefits, Ah Huan, why are you hesitating to accept it? I allow you to be happy."
Yi Huan laughed, "You think this is a great thing?"
Meeting his dark eyes, the silent words clearly said, wasn't it?
"Hehe, this great thing is for you, do you want it?"
"Ah Huan, no one in my life would dare to give me such a good thing."
Yi Huan glanced away, no longer looking at his stubborn and conceited face, and looked at the sparse flow of people outside the car.
The main street of Zhuque was several dozen feet wide. There were two carriages parked side by side, with space between them. After waiting quietly for a cup of tea, Peng Zuoyuan pointed outside and said, "Here they come."
Cui Luan got off the carriage with the help of her maid's arm. Her light-colored narrow-sleeved shirt revealed her neck and cheeks. Yi Huan saw her profile. As soon as she appeared, the shop owner came in with his hands in his pockets to welcome her.
She does not have the greed of a businessman, nor is she as cautious as a lady from an aristocratic family. She is elegant and calm. Even if she is only accompanied by a maid and an accountant, she can keep the situation under control just by the presence of the boss.
Guessing her possible future identity, Yi Huan turned around with a questioning look.
"Today I'll take you to meet your future mistress. If you're going to get along with each other in the future, you must control your temper and respect Cui Luan. You two will also have to look after each other in the backyard."
"You think you have Ehuang and Nvying by your side?"
"Ah Huan, I will tell her that she is gentle and polite, and will definitely accept you. Besides, you have me behind you to protect you, so she won't dare to touch you. You don't need to be so humble."
Yi Huan was amused by his flattering words and sarcastically said, "Peng Zuoyuan, you are not qualified to be a husband, and you are not qualified to be a master either."
Peng Zuoyuan avoided her sudden sharpness when she knew that she was about to become the mistress, and sighed and advised: "I know you won't take the initiative to provoke, but your stubborn temper will cause trouble sooner or later. You are already mine, Cui Luan will also enter the Peng family, and you will have dealings with each other. Harmony between wife and concubine, and peace in the home, Ah Huan, you can give it to me."
"She is the wife, and I am just the concubine."
Peng Zuoyan grabbed her voice and continued, "Ah Huan, don't belittle yourself."
"Are you trying to instigate me to steal your favor? She's the wife you begged for, not a resource you picked. You keep telling me to fear her and respect her, but if a concubine isn't afraid, she's not a concubine."
Yi Huan was slightly agitated and spoke rapidly, "You are too greedy. You want more and more. Peng Zuoyan, if you don't give, you won't get anything in return. People like you can't get true love."
"I've paid, will you stay by my side?"
"No," she answered with certainty, her words still human, without hesitation.
Peng Zuoyan followed the topic she had diverted, leaned over and opened his mouth, "Then it's done. I'll pay and you'll provide the people."
Su Qi's face showed disgust, and Yi Huan cursed: "You are the one selling jokes."
"Tsk, talking back again."
On the day of the wedding, after the ceremony was completed and the date was finalized, Peng Zuoyuan met Cui Luan alone and talked to him on the bridge in Cui's courtyard.
"It's a bit chilly in early winter, Aluan, please dress carefully and don't catch a cold."
Cui Luan was wearing heavy makeup today, her face was flawless, like a delicate flower blooming in the sun. His eyes were fixed on her, but the wind was just like the wind blowing across the lake, not shallow enough to cause a single ripple.
"Peng Xishan, what do you want to say to me?"
Peng Zuoyuan paused for a moment, then spoke truthfully, "Aluan, you and I are already engaged. I shouldn't have hidden it from you. I have a concubine who has been with me since Gongzhou. She's been kind to me, so I should have mentioned this to you in advance."
"Will you abandon her before next spring?"
After hearing his refusal, a flash of disappointment passed through Cui Luan's eyes. It was normal for a man to have a wife and concubines, but she had crossed the line.
"Aluan, I am only a concubine. You are different. Since I have accepted you, I will not humiliate you. I will not favor a concubine over a wife. I mentioned this because I didn't want to hide it from you."
"Will you let her humiliate me? Will my status, my... our offspring's status, be threatened by him?"
Peng Zuoyao immediately denied it: "You have the Cui family and the shop. I will definitely restrain her and will not offend you. The honor of the mistress and the legitimate son is also the face of the Peng family."
Cui Luan trusted his own judgment and his words, forcing him to dispel his last doubts: "Peng Zuoyuan, I want you to swear that you will never let me fall into a situation where my wives and concubines fight and I lose face."
"If I'd spoiled her to the point of losing my mind, I wouldn't have come to the Cui family and asked you to marry me, Ah Luan. After spending these past few months together, can't you see how much I love you? I respect you, simply because you're Cui Luan."
The human heart is hidden beneath the flesh and blood. Cui Luan guessed through his own experience and felt the other party's sincere care. Peng Zuoyao relied on his own hypocritical behavior to pretend to be clumsy and learn to love, so as not to trample on the other person's true feelings at all times.
Cui Luan held his slightly excited hand and said gently and firmly, "I am willing to believe you."
Peng Zuoyang touched the pads of her index and middle fingers and suddenly said, "It's hard to get rid of the calluses on your fingers, and you have to worry about the Cui family's courage. Ah Luan has worked hard."
Cui Luan was a little unable to keep up with his sudden change of thought, but his heart was warmed by his concern, so he smiled and shook his head.
The next day, Cai Deng brought in a plate of ointment and sat down beside her, saying, "Captain Peng cares about you, and you care about him too. That's really nice."
"Why would I care about him?"
The innocence of a girl when she is in love is the most precious thing. Caideng did not say anything, but tilted her head and said, "My lady, you see him in your eyes."
"Really?" Cui Luan touched the corner of his eyes unconsciously, but he was thinking of him.
Emotionally moved.
Cui Luan had never thought that she would meet a man who shared the same feelings with her. Now, when she thinks about it, she feels fortunate that she met him at the right time in her best years. The process of getting to know each other was filled with warmth.
Caideng rested her arms on the table, reminiscing with a touch of sadness, "I'm happy for you, my lady. You have someone to keep you company, and you like him. When you go out and do business, you won't have to compromise or compromise. Humph, those reckless men will only be eyeing our family's money and hindering you."
Cui Luan paused for a moment, then said softly, "I will still be myself, and he will treat me well."
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