Xie Xuan wasn't angry. Instead, he earnestly advised, "It's not that I'm saying anything bad about Qiao Zixi, but you should go out and ask around. Her reputation is terrible! By the way, I personally saw a woman causing trouble at Shanci Hall yesterday. That person was someone Qiao Zixi hired! You can't be fooled by Qiao Zixi's appearance!"
Unexpectedly, Pei Yuan asked, "If what you say is true, why didn't Su Muxi take people to report to the authorities? I think that woman must have been brought here by Su Muxi herself, just to smear Xi'er!"
"I think the one who got fooled isn't me, it's you! You were fooled by the illusion Su Muxi created! That beggar must have been sent by Su Muxi too!"
Xie Xuan felt that Pei Yuan hadn't been around women enough and had been bewitched by Qiao Zixi, which was why he was acting this way. He took a deep breath and continued to persuade him, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. If you think I've been deceived, then you can go and find out for yourself, or go to Shanci Hall to take a look. Also, I suspect that the woman who saved you back then was very likely Su Muxi. You've made a mistake."
"Impossible! Su Muxi has an ugly face, how could she be the woman who saved me that day? I've already asked Xi'er, and she was the one who saved me that night!"
Pei Yuan spoke firmly, and after finishing, he turned to the side, issuing an order to leave.
"Alright, you can go now. I'll handle my own affairs."
Xie Xuan felt somewhat annoyed by Pei Yuan's attitude.
Years of brotherhood and friendship couldn't compare to a woman he'd only met twice.
He angrily flicked his sleeves, stopped trying to persuade him, and strode away.
He who does not heed his brother's advice will suffer the consequences!
He wanted to see how Pei Yuan would regret it later!
That evening, Pei Jian returned home and inquired about Qiao Zixi.
Qiao Xiuyuan's influence in the court has grown rapidly in recent years, and he is highly valued by the emperor. It would be a good thing if he and Qiao Xiuyuan, who are both from the same empress family, became in-laws.
Therefore, he didn't care much about Qiao Zixi's character.
Anyway, he has more than one son, Pei Yuan, and Pei Yuan has no interest in officialdom, so it's good to use him for marriage.
But now there are more and more bad rumors about Qiao Zixi, so he can't help but care.
Pei Yuan, recalling everything that had happened in the carriage that day, simply did not believe the rumors circulating outside.
"Father, it was all Su Muxi's doing. Xi'er is kind and innocent, not like what people say."
Madam Pei nodded in agreement, "Yes, sir. I met Xi'er today. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also incredibly innocent and adorable. It's impossible that she's being slandered by Su Muxi because she's dissatisfied with the actions of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion."
Seeing that Pei Jian's brows were still furrowed, Pei Yuan quickly said, "Father, I will handle this matter. You don't need to worry. For Xi'er's reputation, and for the reputation of our Pei family, I will definitely expose Su Muxi's hypocritical mask!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Jian's brows finally relaxed. "Well, Marquis Anyang should be able to return to the capital in a couple of days. If we resolve this matter before then, we can get Marquis Anyang to do us a favor. However, I've heard that Su Muxi has some connection with Xie Chi. Be careful in your actions, lest someone find fault with you."
“My son knows.”
…
Meanwhile, Qiao Zixi was frantically searching for the purse embroidered with a money plant pattern.
"Where did it go?!"
"Speak! Did any of you steal it?!"
Qiao Zixi was hysterically yelling at the servants in the courtyard.
She knew that the purse was the key to Pei Yuan's marriage proposal. Before marrying into the Pei family, she absolutely could not let Pei Yuan know the truth. It would be best to keep it a secret for life and let Pei Yuan believe that she was the woman who saved him back then.
Therefore, the purse is the key.
But she took it to Huguo Temple yesterday, so why can't we find it today?
When Jiang arrived, she saw Qiao Zixi in this somewhat deranged state.
"What's going on? What kind of purse is so important?"
When Qiao Zixi saw Jiang Shi, it was as if she had seen her pillar of support. After dismissing all the servants, she told them about the purse.
"Mother, Young Master Pei absolutely cannot find out about this, or he will stop liking me!"
Jiang never expected that the Pei family would come to propose marriage because Pei Yuan mistook Su Muxi for Xi'er.
Su Muxi is ugly and of low status; how could she compare to her precious daughter?!
After pondering for a long time, Madam Jiang patted Qiao Zixi's hand, "It's just a purse. I'll have someone go to Su Muxi to get one, or find an embroiderer to embroider one for you. In any case, as long as you insist that you were the one who saved him, Pei Yuan will definitely believe you. Otherwise, would he have married that ugly woman, Su Muxi?"
Qiao Zixi's panicked heart was instantly calmed by Jiang's words.
good.
Even if Su Muxi recounted what happened back then, as long as she insisted on it, Young Master Pei would be more willing to believe her.
After all, no man would want to marry someone as ugly as Su Muxi!
On the other hand, after leaving the Pei residence, Xie Xuan did not return home, but instead went to Xunfang Tower to drink and frolic.
Although Xie Chi was strict with himself, he couldn't control his unruly son, Xie Xuan.
Fortunately, although Xie Xuan may seem frivolous and dissolute, he is very principled and never does anything illegal or disorderly.
He was a skilled painter, and even received praise from the emperor himself, which brought honor to Xie Chi.
Therefore, Xie Chi could only let go of his son Xie Xuan and not interfere, as long as Xie Xuan didn't cause him any trouble.
Xie Xuan was a regular at Xunfanglou. The girls there would always pester him to paint their portraits. As usual, when they saw Xie Xuan come in today, they all swarmed around him.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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