Seeking recognition personally
Wen Zhibai revealed the emperor's intention, and as she expected, a cloud of gloom immediately descended upon the hall.
Shopkeeper A spoke first, his brow furrowed: "Miss, we own three cloth shops, and we mainly supply everyday clothing to the common people. Producing 10,000 bolts in three months is already a huge challenge, let alone the rare and precious goods that the Qian family supplies exclusively to the imperial court... This is simply impossible!"
“It is precisely because we have no rice to cook that we must find the ‘rice’,” Wen Zhibai said in a clear voice, suppressing all the noise.
Her gaze swept over the crowd, calm and resolute: "The imperial decree is difficult to disobey, but we may not be without a way out. I already have an idea, and I need everyone to be of one mind with me."
She gestured for Taozhi to carry the chest, inside which were silver coins wrapped in red silk that had been prepared beforehand.
"This relief effort for Liangchuan is largely thanks to your hard work. This is a small token of my appreciation from Wen Zhibai, and I hope you will not refuse it."
Shopkeeper C quickly waved his hand: "Miss, we helped you out of respect for Madam and your character, not for this reason..."
“I understand.” Wen Zhibai interrupted him, his tone gentle but unquestionable, “But loyalty is loyalty, and rules are rules. You all have families to support, and that’s the only thing I can do. Only by taking it on can we focus on overcoming this difficult time together.”
She gave no more chances to refuse and directly gave the order: "The two shopkeepers of South Street will come with me to Jiangnan in seven days to recruit weavers. The rest of you will do your best to recruit workers in Shangjing to sew ordinary cloth clothes in case of emergency."
Seeing that she was clear-headed and determined, the shopkeepers put aside their unease and replied in unison, "We will do as you command, Miss!"
After Wen Zhibai finished explaining everything, she boarded the carriage outside the courtyard. Pei Qinzhou took a sip of tea and asked, "Was everything alright?"
"Yes, everyone is doing well." Wen Zhibai sat down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Now I should think about how to make money quickly so I can pay you back."
"It's okay if you never pay it back, I can afford to support you."
"We agreed that we would be even, and you have to believe that I can do it."
"Okay, sure."
"By the way, I need to change my clothes when we get to the manor. Since Wen Xian dared to invite me, how could I, as her younger sister, refuse? I want to see what she's up to."
...
Wen Mansion
Guests arrived in an endless stream, and Qin Yanzhen and Wen Lingchen stood outside the mansion to greet the arriving carriages.
Everyone offered their congratulations, but in their hearts they were watching the show. After all, it was a rare sight to see the daughter of a high-ranking official marry the eldest son of the Prime Minister's family, who had gone mad.
Wen Zhibai got off the carriage first and walked slowly to Wen Lingchen and Qin Yanzhen: "Congratulations to your daughters on your marriage to the young master of the Gao family."
Wen Lingchen's face darkened: "Who sent you? You are no longer a daughter of the Wen family. You are not welcome here!"
“Lord Wen.” Pei Qinzhou stepped forward and took Wen Zhibai’s hand: “She has come to offer her congratulations as a member of the Pei family.”
Qin Yanzhen's anger remained unabated: "Wen Zhibai, leave my house right now, or else—"
"Otherwise what?" Pei Qinzhou's eyes turned cold, his voice as icy as ice. "If she can't get through this door today, I'll make sure the bridal sedan chair can't get out either."
One sentence silenced Qin Shi and Wen Lingchen.
Wen Zhibai had no intention of lingering, and simply said, "Pei Lang, let's go." He then took Pei Lang's hand tightly, and they stepped into the mansion gate side by side.
As soon as he entered, many people who wanted to curry favor with Pei Qinzhou surrounded him.
Wen Zhibai released his hand: "You deal with them first. I'll go find Wen Xian first. She should still be in her room, so it's not convenient for you to go."
As more and more people gathered around, Wen Zhibai walked away, looking displeased and giving those flattering faces no pleasantries whatsoever.
"Lord Pei is truly a promising young man. His battle against His Highness the Crown Prince Liangchuan has broadened our horizons!"
"Hmm." He replied coldly; he had heard such hypocritical words too many times and was tired of them.
"Oh dear, if I remember correctly, Lord Pei is about twenty-two years old. Um... excuse my boldness, but is Lord Pei married?"
As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes turned to him.
Pei Qinzhou rarely smiled in front of this group of people, and with a touch of arrogance, he took out the half of the wooden pendant that Wen Zhibai had given him last time from his waist: "This wooden pendant was a gift from my beloved."
Everyone was amazed, unaware that he had found someone he loved.
"Anyone who can catch Lord Pei's eye must be an extraordinary person. Then let's wait to drink Lord Pei's wedding wine."
He coughed twice, trying to hide his smile: "Um, thank you."
After Pei Qinzhou left, the group of people hesitated and stared at his retreating figure: "Did you hear that? Lord Pei spoke...?"
"Not only did I hear it, I also saw what looked like him smiling..."
——
Following the corridor, Wen Zhibai found Wen Xian's bedroom. Just as she was about to knock on the door, Wen Xian opened it first.
The two fell into a brief silence, and then Wen Xian took Wen Zhibai's hand and said, "Sister has been waiting for her for a long time, please come in."
Wen Zhibai remained silent and awkwardly pushed her hand away.
"Sister, please sit down." Wen Xian seemed unconcerned by Wen Zhibai's indifference and instead warmly invited her to sit down.
"You might as well be more open. On this joyous occasion, you're not here to chat with me about everyday matters."
Wen Xian's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned: "I know that you are still holding a grudge against me because of my mother, but you might as well think about it, do you really have any irreconcilable grudges between us? You have seen that I am about to be married off to a madman. You and I are both women, and you should understand that I am not happy about it."
"...What exactly are you trying to say?"
Wen Xian slowly poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wen Zhibai: "Zhibai, my mother even abandoned me for power and status. Marrying into the Gao family is a done deal, and I can't escape it. If possible, I want to try to get a divorce in the future. I know that you have a connection with the Crown Prince, and I am willing to help you bring down my mother and find a way out for my future."
Wen Xian spoke earnestly, her eyes brimming with tears. She slowly took Wen Zhibai's hand: "I have never harmed you. Even when I tripped you up before, it was because my mother instigated me. She was blinded by greed. Now, she has pushed me to the edge of a cliff, and I've seen everything clearly. So please, help me, okay?"
Wen Zhibai glanced at her hand holding his and said, "Let go."
"Sister...I—"
"I told you to let go."
"I'm sorry... I was being presumptuous." Wen Xian withdrew her hand sheepishly.
"Wen Xian, I may have been a bit slow on the uptake in the past, but I wasn't stupid. You've brought this upon yourself. If you called me here today just for this, then I'll be leaving now. Finally, I wish you a happy marriage and all the best."
After saying that, she got up to leave. As soon as she opened the door, Wen Xian called out, "Wen Zhibai, are you really so cold-blooded that you won't help me even once?!"
Wen Zhibai didn't turn around: "When you were forcing me, did you ever think about letting me go?!"
Wen Xian slumped to the ground, a slight smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with indifference.
"Zhibai." Pei Qinzhou saw Wen Zhibai come out and stood up to walk towards her: "Are you alright?"
She shook her head: "It's okay."
"Mmm." He patted her head.
"Would you like to come with me to take a look at my old yard?"
"good."
The two avoided the welcoming guests and quietly went to the west courtyard.
The house had been uninhabited for a long time, and the small windows in the west courtyard were covered with tattered spider webs.
The ground was covered with fallen leaves and water droplets left over from the melting snow.
“Jasmine used to grow here. When I was a child, I loved to wait here with my mother for the flowers to bloom. Unfortunately, they are now withered.”
"The Pei residence is rather deserted; how about we plant a patch of trees there too?"
Wen Zhibai smiled and said, "When two people are together, anything is fine."
...
Just as they were about to leave the Wen residence, Wen Xian called them back.
The guests all looked in their direction.
"I thought my sister would be with His Highness the Crown Prince," Wen Xian said with a smile.
“Sister is too kind. How could the Crown Prince condescend to do such a thing?” Wen Zhibai’s smile remained unchanged as she took Pei Qinzhou’s arm in a seemingly intimate manner. “Qinzhou, let’s go home.”
He smiled and said in a doting tone, "Okay, let's go home."
Wen Lingchen suppressed his anger, not wanting to lose his temper in front of the guests: "Wen Zhibai, you are not yet married, how can you be so shameless as to get entangled with Lord Pei like this? Is this how your father raised you?"
Wen Zhibai: "The person who gave me life and raised me has died here. Is the Wen family still my final resting place?"
"you-!"
Pei Qinzhou pulled her closer to him: "Lord Wen, you need to understand one thing: the backer behind Wen Zhibai is me, Pei Qinzhou. Let me tell you all, it was I who begged Miss Wen for a title. If she is willing, I am willing to submit. If any of you still have any objections, as long as you have the courage, the doors of my Pei residence are always open."
"Oh, congratulations, Lord Pei and Miss Wen! I will certainly come to the Pei residence to offer my congratulations then," one of the guests said.
The others immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, we will await Lord Pei and Miss Wen's good news."
As everyone watched the two figures walking intimately apart, they began to wonder if the rumors circulating in Shangjing about Wen Zhibai having an unusual relationship with the Crown Prince were true or false.
"Why..." Wen Xian gritted her teeth, her hatred spreading. Why was she the only one who wasn't loved?
On the carriage
Wen Zhibai's face gradually flushed: "I haven't even said... I want to marry you yet..."
"No rush. I just want to tell them that Pei Qinzhou has already found someone he loves, Wen Zhibai."
——
In the evening, Wen Xian got married.
Gao Zheli was pushed into the new house, but he was as confused as a child.
He slowly walked to Wen Xian's side and gently poked her shoulder with his finger: "You are my bride?"
Beneath the red veil, Wenxian's tears fell silently.
Gao Zheli gently lifted her veil and exclaimed in surprise, "Then, does that mean you can play with me every day?"
Seeing that he was indeed mentally challenged, Wen Xian was filled with grief and indignation, and suddenly pushed him away: "Get out of here!"
Gao Zheli fell to the ground, still somewhat dazed.
There were two figures loitering outside the door. Wen Xian felt agitated. She suppressed her humiliation and went forward to help Gao Zheli up.
"Don't move..." Gao Zheli said, taking out a handkerchief and wiping away the tears that hadn't dried under her eyes: "Sister, why are you crying?"
She was stunned.
But soon, Wen Xian pushed Gao Zheli's hand away: "I don't need your help."
"Okay... So, can you cook delicious food? Then, can you take me out to play in the future?"
"cannot."
"Why?"
"Because I hate you."
Why do you hate me?
"Because you are just annoying."
"...You're the first person to say they hate me; they all like me."
"Because you are the grandson of Prime Minister Gao, those who say they like you are all lying to you."
Who would like a fool?
"Even if you hate me, that's fine too." Gao Zheli tilted his head, thought for a moment, and his smile remained bright: "After all, you didn't lie to me, you're very honest with me, aren't you?"
Wen Xian pulled him to sit on the bed, gazing into his clear eyes, her pent-up resentment finding no outlet: "Fool..."
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