Chapter 059

Pei Yuantang is getting married, is he willing to compromise?

After all, he was his cousin. Pei Yuantang's words successfully pulled Jiashan's thoughts out of the myriad of thoughts. Jiashan turned his gaze to him and asked softly, "Which girl is so lucky?"

Jiashan was trying to praise Pei Yuantang, and Pei Yuantang could hear it. He snorted, stared at Jiashan's snow-white face, and said, "Don't bluff me."

Pei Yuantang was just like that. Jiashan didn't bother with him. He just smiled and said, "How can I scare you? Although you have shortcomings, you are still a handsome young man. You were the runner-up in the last imperial examination. Wouldn't it be a blessing for an ordinary girl to marry you?"

"Is it considered one?" Pei Yuantang gritted his teeth.

He bit the words and slowly repeated Jiashan's words, seeming very dissatisfied with Jiashan's "ambiguous" compliment.

Pei Yuantang stood there for a while, then hugged his shoulders and said, "My fifth uncle is the matchmaker. She is the daughter of a famous official in Jiangnan."

"Oh?" Jiashan raised her eyebrows slightly. Since they had arrived at the gate of the Duke's Mansion, she simply invited Pei Yuantang to come in and sit down.

As they walked, Jiashan looked at him and said, "You looked down on those talented women from Jiangnan, saying that they were all the same. Why do you have a different personality now?"

Pei Yuantang's pair of black eyes were long and beautiful. He said coldly, "I look down on you."

He paused, then relaxed a little, and said, "But, Uncle Wu has promised me. If I don't like it, he will personally write the 'divorce letter' for me."

Jiashan: “…”

Fifth uncle Pei Ziqi was always unrestrained and uninhibited in his dealings with others, which was quite similar to Pei Yuantang's unorthodoxy. It was also for this reason that the Pei family did not dare to let Pei Ziqi serve as an official in the court. Pei Ziqi was very eager to do so, but he only passed the examination to become a judge.

Pei Ziqi is currently running his business in the south of the Yangtze River and is quite happy.

If Pei Yuantang had not been so outstanding in his studies since childhood, the Pei family would not have been willing to give up such a good seedling. Perhaps Pei Yuantang would have followed Pei Ziqi's footsteps and become a carefree and unrestrained person.

Jiashan sighed and said helplessly: "Don't be like this. This is the girl's life. You can remarry after you divorce her, but after she divorces you, she may have to endure strange looks and live alone for the rest of her life."

"After all, it is a matter of life and death. You should think about it carefully and don't agree to it lightly." Jiashan said.

Pei Yuantang curled his lips and said disapprovingly: "You think too much."

"After the divorce, at least she won't be forced by her parents to get married. Who knows if she wouldn't be happy with that kind of life?" Pei Yuantang kicked the stone under his feet. When he thought about things, he always liked to judge others by himself.

He whispered, "I just don't think there's anything good about getting married. It's actually more enjoyable to be alone and free."

"Of course." Pei Yuantang's eyes sparkled, and he said lightly, "If you marry a girl you love, that's another matter."

Jiashan stopped and looked at him.

Several people have already walked into the backyard of the Anguo Mansion. Because Zhan Yue is not here, the autonomy of the courtyard is now in the hands of Jiashan.

Even though Zhan Yue is a man and doesn't know much about the ways of the inner courtyard, he still manages the servants in the yard in an orderly manner.

Seeing that there were foreign guests, no one violated the rules. Some greeted them politely, some served tea, and they almost outdid Su Yu and the others.

Now that Pei Yuantang said something ambiguous, they just pretended not to hear it. After serving tea, they left, leaving a suitable space for them.

I agree with your opinion. This can prove that Zhan Yue fully respects and trusts Jia Shan in this marriage.

Pei Yuantang saw all these actions, and although he still felt unconvinced, he just snorted in dissatisfaction. He heard Jiashan didn't reply, so he didn't ask any more questions and just let the topic pass.

He said, "Today at the morning court, His Majesty gave the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang to the eldest prince as his wife."

"Do you know about this?" Pei Yuantang asked.

Jiashan was stunned. She really didn't know.

Now that she has left the palace, she is no longer as clear-headed as before. When Zhan Yue comes back, he will tell her, but Zhan Yue is on duty today and has no chance to tell her.

Hearing Pei Yuantang's words, Jiashan hummed and asked, "Is it about what happened this morning?"

"Yes." Pei Yuantang lowered his head and took a sip of tea slowly. He replied, "The date has been set. The Ministry of Rites has proposed March 16 next year."

The Marquis of Pingyang was also a wealthy family. Jiashan had some dealings with the Marquis of Pingyang's wife in the past and had an impression of their family.

It is said that the wife of Marquis Pingyang gave birth to three sons before she had this daughter, and the couple treasured this daughter very much. Although this child is called the eldest daughter, she is actually the youngest daughter in the Marquis Pingyang family.

However, she remembered that Pingyang Hou was already quite old and would soon retire. She had never heard in her previous life that any of Pingyang Hou's descendants were particularly capable.

But if the people in Pingyang Marquis's Mansion were all mediocre, given Concubine Zhuang's nature of not doing anything without benefits, how could she be willing to easily grant them the position of Zhao Youcheng's legal wife?

Jiashan frowned slightly, and she thought: "I remember that the prince of Pingyang should be the deputy envoy to Guangdong and Guangxi."

"That's right." Pei Yuantang nodded, leaning back leisurely on the mahogany chair, blowing a sip of tea leaves and saying, "The old marquis can only work for two more years at most. The lack of successors in the Pingyang Marquisate is not a big concern."

No, it's definitely not that simple, Jiashan thought intuitively.

Concubine Zhuang was full of cunning minds, and Yuankang's eyesight had healed. If the poisoning was really related to her, she would have double anxiety - she would be afraid of the truth being exposed, and she would also worry that Yuankang would steal Zhao Youcheng's favor.

Zhao Youcheng's marriage was an opportunity to tie her and him together. How could she be willing to choose Pingyang Marquis's Mansion at this critical moment of winning people's hearts?

Jiashan half-narrowed her eyes, and she lightly scraped the blue and white porcelain pattern on the teacup with her fingertips. A sharp "hissing" sound echoed in Pei Yuantang's ears.

Pei Yuantang's eyebrows knitted together, and he lowered the corners of his mouth and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Jiashan said succinctly: "I think Concubine Zhuang is someone who cannot grasp the opportunity. Otherwise, she would not have been able to dominate the harem for more than ten years."

"Yuankang's eyesight is getting better, but Zhao Youcheng's marriage is also coming soon. Will she just sit there and wait for death?" Jiashan raised his eyebrows, glanced at him and said, "I'm afraid this marriage is not that simple."

Pei Yuantang yawned and said slowly, "I have thought about what you said. His Majesty has been deliberately establishing the hierarchy of legitimate and illegitimate children recently. It seems that he originally considered Shouning Marquis, but later changed his mind, so Pingyang Marquis got the upper hand."

"Hey, it's not cheap actually," Pei Yuantang blinked and said arrogantly, "He can't be the crown prince anyway, and the Pingyang Marquis family can afford a princess."

He was used to speaking without restraint. Jiashan's face turned serious and he immediately shouted, "Don't talk nonsense."

"Father is still in his prime, it's too early to talk about establishing a national foundation." Jiashan's eyes quickly swept across his face, and she said softly, "Don't talk nonsense like this in public. Do you think your neck is strong enough?"

Pei Yuantang said nonchalantly: "I know, you are not a three-year-old child. We are at home."

Jiashan said, "It's fine if you tell me, but if you tell your uncle, he will beat you with a cane again."

Although Pei Yuantang was smart, he had been punished countless times since he was a child, mostly because of his character. Sometimes, even Mrs. Pei, who loved him, could not find a reason to protect him.

The relationship between father and son is always cold, and this is probably the reason.

Pei Yuantang curled his lips, his long black eyelashes fluttering. He said, "I'm not busy these days. I'll help you check the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion to see if there are any conspiracies or tricks hidden there."

Jiashan pursed his lips and was about to thank him when Pei Yuantang continued, "You begged me for it."

Jiashan had no choice but to say, "Then consider it as a favor from you."

Pei Yuantang hummed, raised his eyes, looked at Jiashan quietly, and said calmly: "If you are bullied, you can also tell me and I will help you out."

He had said something like this in his previous life, but unfortunately, at that time, Jiashan thought that she and Zhan Shaoying got along well and did not give him this opportunity.

Jiashan felt warm in his heart and his expression became calm, but he asked with a smile: "I'll tell you. Can you beat him?"

"You!" Pei Yuantang was furious, as if someone had stabbed him in the spine.

He slammed the table and stood up, angrily saying, "Can't I find someone? Do you have to do it yourself? Can't I find more people? This is not a martial arts competition, why do you have to fight alone?"

Pei Yuantang's words became more and more angry. It was obvious that he was very angry at Jiashan's attitude of looking down on him.

As soon as he said these words, everyone in the room laughed. Su Yu and Dan Cui covered their mouths, not daring to laugh out loud, while Liu Qi, who was ordered to protect Jiashan, lowered his head, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

Jiashan also smiled. She stood on tiptoe, patted his shoulder and said, "Okay."

"You are the smartest." Jiashan coaxed him, "If I am bullied, I will tell you."

Pei Yuantang's expression never calmed down. He looked at Jiashan with bright eyes and said in a bad tone, "I'm leaving. The tea at the Duke of Anguo's Mansion is not good. I won't come here again."

Jiashan thought it was funny, but she didn't provoke him again, lest this fox get angry again. She personally sent Pei Yuantang out the door.

Zhan Yue didn't come back, so Jiashan slept alone tonight. It was just the beginning of spring, and the temperature at night was still very cool.

I didn't notice anything before, but a few days ago, I snuggled up with him as usual. Tonight, when I got into the quilt, I found that there was a person missing. I always felt like something was missing.

Jiashan lay on the pillow, tossing and turning, and even the chirping of insects, which usually did not attract much attention, became harsh.

It turns out that humans are really strange animals. We have gotten used to being alone for so many years, so why do we have to cling to those few days of warmth?

Jiashan closed her eyes slightly and turned over several times, feeling very hot inside. It was not until dawn that she fell into a deep sleep.

Because she slept late at night, Jiashan woke up late the next day. When Suyu and Dancui came to help her dress, they saw two dark eyes under the princess's eyelids. They covered their mouths and smiled silently.

Dan Cui said boldly: "I heard that the prince consort has to go to the palace to watch the night every three days. In the future, when the prince consort is not at home, I will accompany the princess."

Jiashan said, "Okay, I'll punish you by making you sleep on the floor tiles."

Dancui refused and was about to make a few remarks when she saw someone coming in by lifting the curtain.

It turned out that Zhan Yue had returned from the palace!

Jiashan raised his head. Seeing him, he was startled at first, and then his voice softened: "Didn't you say you would be back at noon? How could you be back early?"

Zhan Yue smiled and said complacently, "I miss you."

Jiashan blushed slightly, and Suyu and Dancui quickly stepped away from her so that the couple could be together.

Jiashan said lightly: "Don't talk nonsense."

Zhan Yue sat down calmly, his beautiful eyes half closed, and he explained: "Something happened at the Five Armies Commandery, and my father asked me to deal with it. I will come back to change my clothes and leave immediately."

It was indeed for official business.

Jiashan nodded and asked Dancui to follow Jianlan to get the clothes he usually wore. Suyu was smart and seeing this, she quickly found an excuse to leave the room.

Zhan Yue looked towards Jiashan. His delicate features were like a painting. He smiled and sighed as he said, "I haven't seen you for a night."

"Won't you let me hug you, Princess?" Zhan Yue said softly with a smile on his lips.