Chapter 43 "Madam, just pretend I never said anything..."
Prince Heng demonstrated exceptional initiative in arranging his daughter's marriage.
He first had Princess Heng take the incessantly crying Princess Rongcheng away to "reason with her," and before the banquet was over, he sent a letter to the palace.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Prince Heng obediently performed the full kowtow, and after rising, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, saying, "Uncle Prince An is also here."
Prince An smiled, looking like a kind old man, "Yes, my imperial brother summoned me to the palace to play chess with him."
Speaking of which, Prince An was the youngest son of the late emperor, a few years younger than Prince Heng.
Emperor Qingxi instructed palace servants to offer Prince Heng a seat and tea, casually remarking, "Wasn't your wife hosting a banquet at the Prince's residence today? Why have you suddenly come to the palace?"
Prince Heng, who had just sat down, lifted his buttocks again. "Father, I have come to report good news to you."
He went on and on, basically saying that Princess Rongcheng and the top scholar of this year's imperial examination, Jiang Ping, fell in love at first sight. As her father, he didn't want to go against his daughter's wishes, so he specially went to the palace to ask Emperor Qingxi to grant them a marriage, adding to their already wonderful relationship.
Emperor Qingxi remained strangely silent for a moment, then spoke in a subtle tone: "Rongcheng... fell in love with Jiang Ping at first sight?"
Is it that he's gotten senile and doesn't know his granddaughter's temperament, or that he's never met Jiang Ping in person?
Prince Heng forced himself to admit, "...Indeed, Rongcheng greatly admires Jiang Ping's talent. Today at the banquet, he composed a poem in seven steps, stunning everyone present. Father, didn't you always say that one should cultivate inner beauty and not be a superficial person who only cares about appearances?"
Emperor Qingxi, who had favored Consort Gao for over a decade because of her beauty: ...I feel like you're insulting me.
He coughed twice, then raised his voice slightly: "My lord, there are no outsiders here. Tell me the truth, is Rong Cheng really in love with Jiang Ping and wants to marry him?"
Prince Heng recalled the aggrieved and unwilling look in his daughter's eyes before he left home. He hesitated for a moment, but quickly made up his mind.
Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. He has always cherished Rongcheng, and she will surely understand his painstaking planning.
He raised his head and said firmly, "Yes, it was all Rongcheng's own choice."
Emperor Qingxi's eyebrows drooped slightly, indicating a hint of dejection.
He waved his hand and instructed the chief eunuch beside him: "Go to the Ministry of Rites and convey my oral decree. Have them draft an imperial edict to grant the marriage."
The chief eunuch accepted the order and left.
Prince Heng hurriedly knelt down to express his gratitude, and was about to flatter the emperor a few more times when Emperor Qingxi impatiently chased him away.
"Get lost! Your game of chess with your uncle isn't over yet. Didn't you say you were going to marry off your daughter? Go back and make the preparations now."
Prince Heng was completely oblivious to Emperor Qingxi's displeasure; his heart was filled with the joy of his successful scheme, and he happily withdrew.
Prince An smiled and asked, "Brother, shall we continue playing this game?"
"Screw you, I'm not in the mood anymore." Emperor Qingxi said sternly. "Anyway, I can't beat you."
He's a typical example of someone who's good at nothing but addicted to things. These past two days, Consort Gao has been throwing a tantrum at him and won't see him. Emperor Qingxi was so bored that he dragged Prince An into the palace.
Prince An leisurely tidied up the mess. “Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, with the two capitals and eighteen provinces on your shoulders. How could you have the leisure to ponder such trivial matters as chess? Your Majesty is just a leisurely prince. It is thanks to Your Majesty’s great care over the years that I can live such a relaxed life.”
Emperor Qingxi looked at him with a touch of gentleness, which was why he and Prince An, despite not having the same mother, were still willing to frequently interact with this younger brother.
Prince An, a famous philanthropist in the capital, has no son yet.
No sooner had Prince Heng left than Emperor Qingxi began to complain to him without any politeness: "The eldest son was not like this before. He was such an honest child. I don't know who led him astray. How could he come up with such a terrible idea?"
The imperial court held special imperial examinations to select officials, but to put it bluntly, the top scholar was just like leeks harvested every three years—there were plenty of them, and Emperor Qingxi didn't really care for them.
In order to establish his reputation among the literati, Prince Heng was willing to marry his precious daughter to an ugly top scholar.
Emperor Qingxi tossed a chess piece into the chess box, and the white jade chess piece made a clinking sound.
He scoffed, "If he doesn't even love his own daughter, how can he be expected to love all the people in the world?"
Prince An knew that Emperor Qingxi only used him as a confidant, so he didn't respond and silently marked Prince Heng with a cross in his heart.
My nephew is hopeless; he's ruined his own life.
Emperor Qingxi suddenly slapped his forehead, "Hey, is Lekang the same age as Rongcheng? I'm not that heartless old man who sells his daughter."
He then summoned a eunuch and said with great interest, "Send Princess Lekang's birth date and time to the Imperial Concubine and have her do some divination to find a good husband for the princess. Go quickly."
Hehe, now he has a reason to reconcile with the Imperial Concubine.
Prince An hesitated, wondering if his elder brother had forgotten that Princess Lekang was born to Consort Xian.
...Never mind, it's not important.
*
The Ministry of Rites drafted the decree very quickly, and within two days the decree of bestowing the marriage had spread throughout the capital.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi met up immediately to gossip.
"No way, the old emperor really agreed? Didn't he himself think Jiang Ping was ugly?"
Yan Yi attempted a rational analysis: "Although Jiang Ping is not handsome, he is indeed a pillar of society. If he can marry the prince's daughter with his talent, then scholars all over the world will take him as their role model?"
Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many stories about top scholars marrying princesses, with the phrase "once you pass the imperial examination, you become a perfect husband" appearing on the market.
Ten years of hard study, isn't it all for the day when you can bring honor to your ancestors and stand out from the crowd?
Shen Lingyue pouted: "With such a beauty as Consort Gao by his side every day, the old emperor doesn't care about his granddaughter's life or death."
And then there's Prince Heng, who's also heartless, truly using his daughter as a sacrifice to boost his reputation.
"Although we all know that the Princess of Rongcheng went there to scheme against Qi Xiuyuan, why did Jiang Ping appear in that room and keep saying that the Princess invited him to a secret meeting... He's no good either!"
Shen Lingyue was disgusted. It was one thing for him to be ugly, but his heart was also so black!
Yan Yi chuckled and comforted her, "Jiang Ping took advantage of her vulnerability, and Princess Rongcheng is no pushover either. Even if they get married, there will be plenty of drama to watch in the future."
Shen Lingyue took a sip of tea and sighed, "Qi Xiuyuan is really lucky. He escaped before we even made a move."
The next day was the day to go to Songhe Hall to pay our respects to the Dowager Madam once a month.
On the day Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi entered the house to serve tea, Pei Xian had said that the Grand Madam usually preferred quiet, and the primary task of the two granddaughters-in-law was to take good care of their husbands and assist their mother-in-law in managing the Marquis's mansion. As for paying respects to their grandmother, it was enough to do so once a month. The form was not important; what mattered was the sentiment.
Whether the old lady liked Jing or not is unknown, but the most important thing is that the two of them don't have to run to pay their respects and serve her every morning.
As soon as they entered Songhe Hall, Madam Qian greeted them warmly: "Please come in, young mistress."
When it was Shen Lingyue's turn, her face immediately fell. "The Second Young Mistress is here too."
Shen Lingyue and Qian's mother were old rivals, and they disliked each other so much that Shen Lingyue ignored Qian's little provocative thoughts.
Upon entering the room, the Dowager Lady had already risen, dressed neatly, and sat at the head of the table, exuding an air of elegance and poise, much like an old feudal lord.
Below, Meng Wanyin and Pei Yuzhen sat on the left and right respectively, while Dong Lanyi stood behind her mother. Next to her was a little girl of about eleven or twelve years old, who curiously peeked out to look at the two of them.
Meng Wanyin took the initiative to introduce: "This is your aunt's youngest daughter, Yunzhi. She was sick a while ago and has been resting."
"Ah Zhi met with her two cousins-in-law and wished them a long and happy marriage."
Dong Yunzhi stepped forward to greet the two, her round, dark eyes sparkling with liveliness.
She doesn't look like Pei Yuzhen and Dong Lanyi at all like mother and daughter/sisters.
Shen Lingyue instantly took a liking to this sweet-smiling little girl, patted her head, and said, "Thank you, Azhi. Are you feeling better now? You can come visit us when you have time."
Since she and Yan Yi hadn't prepared any gifts for their first meeting, they each took off some small pieces of jewelry and gave them to her.
"Thank you, cousin-in-law. I've wanted to visit you for a long time, but my illness hasn't fully healed, and my mother won't let me go out and wander around..."
Ah Zhi's smile grew even brighter, and she looked so soft and cuddly, it was really easy to pet her.
Pei Yuzhen coughed twice, "When Azhi comes back, don't bother your cousin-in-law with nonsense."
She called her daughter back and nervously shielded her behind her, seemingly unwilling to see her being too close to the two of them.
Shen Lingyue deliberately made a face at Azhi, which made Pei Yuzhen glare at her angrily.
Yan Yi asked with concern, "Cousin, you also went to the Prince Heng's residence that day. I wonder if you found someone you liked?"
She meant well, but Dong Lanyi reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately asking, "What do you mean by that, cousin-in-law? Are you mocking me for being unwanted?"
Shen Lingyue immediately retorted, "Cousin, you're being too sensitive. Can't we, as your sisters-in-law, even ask you a few questions about your marriage?"
"Is that concern? You're clearly just looking to see me make a fool of myself!"
Dong Lanyi felt extremely wronged. On the day she went to the banquet, she specially wore a newly made moon-white dress. She was naturally delicate and graceful, and this kind of elegant outfit was most suitable for her. Standing among the flowers, she looked like a fairy who did not eat the food of the mortal world.
It wasn't that no young men approached her to chat about poetry and literature, but once they inquired about her family background, nothing came of it.
Although Dong Lanyi repeatedly expressed her admiration for her cousin, she was not unwilling to settle for someone better than Pei Jingyi.
However, those sons of noble families all formed their own factions and talked about topics that outsiders couldn't get into. She was proud and arrogant and refused to join them, waiting for them to approach her. Naturally, she got nothing.
In the latter half of the banquet, the "private meeting" between Princess Rongcheng and Jiang Ping completely stole the spotlight, and no one paid any attention to her anymore.
Seeing that the two sides were about to start arguing again, the old lady impatiently tapped the table, "Enough, what kind of family is this, arguing like this?"
She looked at her two granddaughters-in-law and said in a stern tone, "You two, as sisters-in-law, keep saying you care about your cousin's marriage. Don't just talk the talk, take some concrete actions. If any of our relatives have suitable young men, please help introduce them. If anyone can find a good match for Lanyi, I will be grateful for her help."
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi stood up and agreed, "Grandmother, you flatter us. We will do our best to find out."
Dong Lanyi's expression softened a bit, and she snuggled up to the Grand Madam, pouting, "Grandmother, you still love me the most."
As they were talking, Qian's mother brought in a bowl of dark-colored stuff from outside and placed it in front of Yan Yi.
"Young Madam, these are virgin eggs that the Grand Madam specially prepared for you. They are believed to help you conceive. Please eat them while they are still hot."
After saying that, he glanced at Shen Lingyue with a smug look.
This is a privilege usually reserved for the eldest grandson's wife. You must be so envious!
The bowl emitted a strange, foul odor, and everyone quickly covered their noses as soon as it was brought in.
Shen Lingyue covered her face with a handkerchief and asked in a muffled voice, "What is this thing?"
"It's a secret recipe, of course. Second Young Madam, please don't ask about it."
Shen Lingyue pulled Yan Yi back, "Don't drink it. Who knows what strange things are in it? What if it mixes with the medicine you're drinking now?"
Mother Qian immediately retorted, "Nonsense! These eggs are boiled with the first urine of boys under eight years old in the morning; they're incredibly nutritious..."
"Hah!"
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi both let out nauseous vomiting sounds.
Even Meng Wanyin's expression changed, and she covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, saying, "It's filthy, take it out quickly."
How come she'd never heard of such a secret formula for conceiving a child? Who in respectable families would take this?
Madam Qian persisted, "Young Madam, this is all thanks to the Grand Madam..."
Even Yan Yi, with her good temper, couldn't bear it any longer. "Your granddaughter-in-law is truly unworthy of such a gesture. If eating this could guarantee the birth of a son, would there be any women in the world?"
The old lady's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant, but being of advanced age, her sense of smell wasn't as sharp. She simply frowned and asked Qian Mama, "Is this the secret formula for conceiving a child that you mentioned?"
Madam Qian felt wronged. "Yes, this is a secret recipe passed down in my hometown. Many newlywed women have gotten pregnant with sons after eating it for a month."
Eat it for a month...
Is it possible to get pregnant without eating this stuff?
Shen Lingyue felt like vomiting again. If she had known that Songhetang would be so disgusting, she wouldn't have eaten so much this morning.
"...Take it away now, and don't you dare mess with these dirty, smelly things in my yard again."
After the old lady dismissed Qian Mama, she ordered the maids to quickly open all the doors and windows to air out the smell, and the women in the room looked a little better.
Shen Lingyue couldn't help but reply, "Grandmother, it's the same whether you have a boy or a girl. We are all women, so why should women make things difficult for each other?"
The old lady glared at her: "What do you know? You and the second son don't need to worry about the inheritance of the title, so it doesn't matter whether you have a son or a daughter."
She emphasized to Yan Yi again, "You are the eldest grandson and eldest daughter-in-law of our Pei family. You must give birth to a son as soon as possible to carry on the family line. Do you understand?"
Yan Yi: "...Yes, granddaughter-in-law remembers."
Leaving Songhetang, Shen Lingyue was still shaken.
"That was close! You almost ate that virgin boy egg. Luckily, the old lady isn't completely senile."
She whispered to Yan Yi, "Pei Jinghuai and I have already discussed it. Neither of us wants to have children anytime soon. I'm still a young and beautiful girl, and I don't want to become a mother so early."
However, Yan Yi and Pei Jingyi are indeed under a lot of pressure to have children.
"Have you talked about this with your older brother?" Shen Lingyue asked, then continued, "Actually, it's not a bad idea to have one while you're still young. Everyone says that you'll recover faster that way. At worst, I can help you take care of the child."
Yan Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and she stammered a few words: "We haven't talked about this, so... let's just let nature take its course."
Anyway, Pei Jingyi said he would handle it, so even if the elders kept urging him, they wouldn't hide it under their bed.
Shen Lingyue chuckled twice and leaned close to her ear: "I asked Pei Jinghuai to find a safe method of contraception, and I'll share it with you later."
Yan Yi was both amused and exasperated, and blushed as she agreed.
When Pei Jingyi returned from his shift that evening, Si Xiang immediately reported what had happened at Songhe Hall that day.
Pei Jingyi frowned when he heard about the "virgin boy's egg". What nonsense is this?
He entered the room, and Yan Yi was sitting by the window engrossed in reading, so she didn't notice his footsteps for a moment.
Until Pei Jingyi stood in front of her and gently took the book from her hand, Yan Yi looked up and said, "You're back."
Pei Jingyi stared at her intently: "Did you suffer any injustice at Grandmother's place today?"
Yan Yi forced a smile and shook her head, "Fortunately, she was also deceived by Madam Qian and didn't actually make me eat that..."
The indescribable stench seemed to waft back to her nose, and Yan Yi gagged uncontrollably twice before quickly turning her head away.
Pei Jingyi anxiously held her arm, "Where does it hurt?"
He was about to call someone to fetch a doctor.
Yan Yi quickly pulled him back, "No need, I just feel a little nauseous."
She gagged, clutching her handkerchief, tears welling in her eyes, her eyes slightly red, looking like a little rabbit cornered and with nowhere to escape.
Pei Jingyi tried hard to suppress the urge to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but instead spoke in an even softer voice: "Shall we have something light tonight?"
"Hmm." Yan Yi nodded gently, then added after thinking for a moment, "I don't eat eggs."
She hasn't wanted to see eggs lately.
Pei Jingyi rarely saw her show such a sulky and charming expression. His smile deepened. "Alright, I'll do as Madam says. Chicken eggs, duck eggs, and quail eggs are all forbidden from appearing in Jiusi Courtyard."
When it was time to go to bed in the evening, Yan Yi got into bed first and lay down inside.
Pei Jingyi suggested, "The incense you used last time was nice, how about we light another one tonight?"
"Okay, it's in the second drawer from the bottom of the wardrobe. Take it yourself."
Yan Yi didn't move. She wasn't in a good mood today and felt inexplicably tired.
Pei Jingyi walked to the wardrobe, first pulled open the right drawer, opened the wooden box on top, took out a spice, smelled it, and frowned slightly.
He looked toward the bed and asked again, "Are you sure it's the spice from the second drawer?"
"Yes, it's the one I used last time."
Yan Yi had already closed her eyes, preparing to drift off to sleep amidst the soothing fragrance.
Pei Jingyi picked up the pink perfumed block that emitted a faint sweet fragrance with his fingertips, his eyes flashing slightly.
He took the spices to the incense burner, lifted the lid, and deliberately buried them a little deeper to slow down the spread of the fragrance.
After doing all that, he lingered on the small couch for a while before lifting the bed curtains and lying down.
In her half-asleep state, Yan Yi vaguely smelled an unfamiliar fragrance.
It's sweet, like a soft and juicy peach picked from a tree, like a watermelon soaked in well water in summer, like a bowl of milk ice with lots of raisins and nuts.
Gradually, the sweet smell changed, and the aroma lingered and invaded her five senses, transforming into the image of Pei Jingyi.
It was a drop of water that fell on his collarbone as he emerged from his bath; it was the slender, curved fingers of his as he wrote, the undulating muscles beneath her palm as he rode his horse; it was the quiet, long breath of him lying beside her.
An indescribable heat swept over her body, forcing Yan Yi to open her eyes and subconsciously reach out to touch the person next to her.
The lights in the room were off, the bed curtains were half-rolled up, and only a few specks of moonlight slipped in, writing a love poem for the stars on the floor tiles.
Pei Jingyi lay quietly on the outside and accurately caught Yan Yi's hand in the darkness.
Her slender fingertips were slightly warm, like a small flame.
He cupped her hands in his palms, trying his best to keep his voice steady and restrained, and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Yan Yi rolled over toward him, unconsciously moving closer to his chest, her brow furrowed slightly, and murmured as if talking in her sleep, "Pei Jingyi, I feel a little unwell..."
"Where does it hurt? Should we call a doctor?"
Yan Yi's remaining consciousness made her shake her head repeatedly, "No, I don't want to see a doctor, I just, I just feel really uncomfortable..."
As she finished speaking, her voice even trembled slightly with tears. She unconsciously snuggled closer to him, eventually wrapping her arms around his waist and letting out a long sigh.
I touched it again.
Ever since that day we rode together, I've been thinking about the feel of it.
Yan Yi was half asleep, thinking: Little Moon always brags to her about how good Pei Jinghuai's pectoral muscles feel, and she has wanted to say several times that Pei Jingyi's abs are also very impressive.
But she was always too embarrassed to speak up, or rather, deep down, she just wanted to keep this a secret between her and him.
Pei Jingyi finally waited for her to "walk into the trap"—the little rabbit had nowhere to escape and could only willingly fall into the trap.
With a soft, fragrant body in his arms, he was no saint.
Pei Jingyi lowered his head and placed light kisses on the ear and the crook of the neck within reach.
Will this make you more comfortable?
Yan Yi tightened her embrace around him, pressing her cheek against his slightly open chest, which felt cool and smooth. She couldn't help but gently rub against him a few more times.
The early summer night was already quite hot, but Pei Jingyi's body remained cool, like jade.
Yan Yi couldn't explain why she felt so bad; she only knew she needed to get closer to him, even closer.
Pei Jingyi lifted her face with one hand, and by the dim moonlight, he could see her trembling eyelashes, her small and straight nose, and that softness he had longed for.
His eyes were dark, and he kissed her without hesitation.
He was the most patient teacher, guiding her from unfamiliarity to unconscious cooperation, gradually deepening her understanding.
The aroma gradually spread, like a musical score finally reaching its climax, stirring up the deepest and strongest desires in people's hearts.
Long, slender fingers, like white jade, traced along the spine, causing the sash to slip gently.
The epiphyllum blooms quietly under the cover of night. The layers of petals require the patient attention of the flower admirer to soothe and explore in order to glimpse the heart of the flower.
In a daze, Yan Yi seemed to regain a bit of consciousness. Two fair arms were still hanging around his neck, and her watery eyes stared blankly at the man above her.
Her voice was broken and intermittent, "You, we, agreed on three rules..."
Pei Jingyi leaned on her, his dark, peach-blossom eyes fixed on her without blinking, a bead of sweat trickling down his taut forearm muscles.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, his voice hoarse, "Madam, just pretend I never said those crazy things."
If he had the chance to go back to his wedding night, Pei Jingyi would really like to slap his past self.
What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for?
The emperor bestowed a marriage upon him, and his wife, whom he formally married in a grand sedan chair, actually behaved as a mere decoration for a month.
He deserves to be left with soup while others eat meat.
Pei Jingyi had long regretted it. Perhaps it was from the moment the two of them kowtowed to the memorial tablet of Princess Qinghe, or perhaps it was from the moment he returned to the Zhou family with Yan Yi and offered incense to his mother-in-law in the ancestral hall.
He never imagined that there would be a woman in the world who suited him so perfectly in every way, without a single flaw.
This makes his cold and indifferent proposal of three rules on their wedding night seem like a joke, highlighting that he was just a figurehead husband.
Fortunately, it was not too late, and fortunately, she did not dislike him.
Pei Jingyi slowly savored the delicacies that had arrived more than a month late, while constantly paying attention to her feelings.
To play beautiful and melodious music, the musician needs superb skills, pressing each note on the correct string position.
The force of vibrato should not be too light or too heavy. It should be a gentle plucking, slow twisting, and repeated picking. Only through a lot of practice can one achieve the ability to move at will and control the movement freely.
Yan Yi let out a soft sob, her tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxing as she took small, rapid breaths.
Pei Jingyi slowly withdrew his hand, his fingertips leaving a small water stain on the quilt.
He leaned down to kiss her, gently biting her earlobe as he asked slowly, "Are you still feeling unwell?"
Yan Yi was completely exhausted and could only lightly slap him.
She leaned against him, feeling the increasingly intense heat behind her, her face flushed. "Aren't you... uncomfortable?"
Pei Jingyi's eyes lit up with a smile as he slowly traced circles on her lower abdomen with his fingertips.
"As long as Madam is comfortable, that's all that matters."
Yan Yi frowned slightly. Isn't it said that men will...
She wanted to say something, but the lingering fragrance continued to influence her thoughts.
Yan Yi turned over and lay on top of him. Without the clothes blocking her view, she could freely touch his well-defined abdomen and poke at it.
She suddenly whispered, "Leopard."
Pei Jingyi didn't hear clearly: "What?"
“Leopard, you are a leopard.” Yan Yi raised her head and stared at him intently as she repeated, “A leopard that lives alone on the snowy mountains. It is said that they only seek out mates during the mating season, and once the mating season ends, they return to living alone.”
"...From which miscellaneous book did you read that?"
Pei Jingyi was both amused and exasperated. He pulled her into his arms again and breathed into her ear.
"I'm not a leopard in heat. I'll stay with you forever and never be apart again."
Before Yan Yi could react, the world spun around her, and she found herself lying on her back on the bed.
Pei Jingyi supported her waist and slowly retreated to the foot of the bed. He pinched her groin with his large hand, looked at her deeply, and then lowered his head.
By the time Yan Yi realized what he was about to do, it was too late to stop him.
The word "别" (bié) only started before turning into a discordant ending note, dissipated in the moonlight.
When the last bit of spice burns out, it turns into sweet ash.
This was the longest and most beautiful night of Yan Yi's life.
*
Tanghua Garden.
Yan Yi didn't come again this morning.
Shen Lingyue stroked the fluffy ball with one hand and touched her latest favorite, a long-haired cow cat, with the other, looking puzzled: "I didn't hear anything about her feeling unwell yesterday."
Meng Wanyin coughed lightly and said with a smile, "You forgot, Yunzhao is off today."
A day off means not having to get up early, and if you don't have to get up early, then naturally...
Shen Lingyue chuckled mischievously, "Looks like I'll be an auntie soon?"
Although she would have preferred to be the godmother of Yan Yi's child.
Never mind, it doesn't matter. Let them call her whatever they want. Anyway, they're both their children, and she'll definitely treat them like her own!
"Don't just think about being someone's aunt, why don't you have one yourself?"
After finishing her sentence, Meng Wanyin quickly explained, "I didn't mean to rush you. You and Huaizhou are still young, and there's no need to rush to have a child."
Secretly, Meng Wanyin hoped that she and Pei Jinghuai would have children later, at least until Yan Yi and Pei Jingyi had the eldest grandson of the fourth generation of the Pei family.
Otherwise, given Madam's suspicious and protective nature, who knows how many troubles she would have caused, affecting their brotherly relationship? Why bother?
Seeing Meng Wanyin's cautious expression, as if afraid of being misunderstood, Shen Lingyue smiled broadly and said, "I understand what Mother means, and I won't take it to heart."
This is why she likes to go to Tanghua Garden even when she has nothing to do. It's not just to pet the cats, but also because she feels comfortable with Meng Wanyin. She's not like a mother-in-law, but more like a caring older sister.
The two were chatting about their experiences raising cats when Qi's mother suddenly came in, looking troubled. "There's been a bit of a problem in Xiaowangzhuang in the west of the city..."
Xiaowangzhuang was one of the estates under the Hou family's name. The estate was responsible for supplying most of the meat, eggs and vegetables that the family ate every day, and new grain would also be delivered in the autumn.
“Xiaowangzhuang dug a large fishpond on the back mountain. Besides the ones sent to our residence, the rest are transported into the city to be sold, which is also a source of income.”
Mother Qi said, "But these past two days, for some reason, the fish in the pond have started dying in large numbers. The head of the manor suspects that someone is poisoning the water and has sent someone to the manor to inform you. Please give us some advice."
Meng Wanyin frowned. "How could there be such a despicable person? Did the village offend some villagers nearby, and someone is retaliating?"
Madam Qi shook her head: "The estate is surrounded by tenants of our Marquis's household. Who would dare to scheme against our master?"
“That’s true, but someone can’t just poison the water for no reason, can they?” Meng Wanyin sighed. “This could be a big deal or a small one. Today the fish in the pond were poisoned and it was discovered in time, but what if they poisoned the food being sent to the Marquis’s residence tomorrow?”
She then instructed Madam Qi to prepare a carriage, as she intended to personally go out of the city to investigate.
He had only taken two steps after getting up when his body swayed uncontrollably.
Shen Lingyue quickly stepped forward to support her, "Mother, are you feeling unwell?"
Meng Wanyin shook her head, "It's nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night. I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep."
Qi's mother couldn't help but interject, "You didn't just not sleep well last night; you've been suffering from insomnia for days."
"How about I go to Xiaowangzhuang for you?"
Shen Lingyue took the initiative to speak, "This round trip will take at least two days, and the journey will be bumpy. You should stay home and rest."
Meng Wanyin was somewhat tempted, but asked uncertainly, "Can you... manage alone?"
She knew how lazy her youngest daughter-in-law was; she never saw her take the household management seriously, leaving it all to Yan Yi.
Shen Lingyue puffed out her cheeks. "I also learned how to manage things from my mother at home, so don't underestimate me."
Meng Wanyin couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Alright, alright, it was Mother's fault. I shouldn't have underestimated your abilities. So, I'll leave the affairs of Xiaowangzhuang to you?"
Shen Lingyue patted her chest, "I guarantee I'll complete the mission."
Upon returning to Danyue Pavilion, she immediately instructed Qingchan Shuangxu to pack her belongings.
It takes almost a day to travel by carriage from the capital to Xiaowangzhuang. If she sets off now, it will be almost evening when she arrives, and she will definitely have to spend the night at the village.
Qingchan and Shuangxu busied themselves packing Shen Lingyue's bedding, pillows, and changes of clothes into boxes.
Pei Jinghuai returned from the front yard and was stunned by the scene before him. He rushed into the house in a flash.
Where are you going with all these bags?
Is that not the case?
Shen Lingyue stared at him, clutching her bundle, for a long while before she finally came to her senses.
"What? I'm running errands for my mother, going to Xiaowangzhuang."
She explained the whole story in just a few words.
Pei Jinghuai immediately said, "Then I'll go with you."
He called over Duofu and Duoshou and asked them to help with the tidying up.
Shen Lingyue looked helpless. "I'm just going out of the city to take a look at my own estate. I might be back tomorrow. Why are you making such a fuss?"
Pei Jinghuai said with a righteous expression, "Have you ever left the city? Do you know how dangerous it is for a young and beautiful woman like you to go out alone? What if you get kidnapped by bandits?"
Shen Lingyue's lips twitched. "This is the capital, right under the emperor's nose. Are there still bandits here?"
"These are all uncertain things, what if?"
Pei Jinghuai hugged her tightly from behind, clinging to her affectionately, "What if I lose my only beautiful, generous, and understanding wife?"
Shen Lingyue found his mushy talk nauseating, but she couldn't help but fall for it.
"Okay, okay, I'll take you, alright?"
Pei Jinghuai gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and began to dream: "I've been to Xiaowangzhuang. The scenery there is beautiful. We can go horseback riding, fishing, picnicking, and then we can go to the mountains..."
Some unspeakable images flashed through his mind, and his smile grew even brighter.
Shen Lingyue didn't think much of it, but instead became eager to try it out, "Is the scenery really that good? Then why don't we invite my older brother and sister-in-law..."
Pei Jinghuai covered her mouth, "Big brother has official duties to attend to, how can he have so much time to go out of the city to play?"
Regardless, he was determined to go out with her for some alone time this time, and no one was allowed to disturb them.
Pei Jinghuai mentally listed four dating plans.
Soon, the maids packed up all the things needed for the trip, filling the carriage to the brim.
Shen Lingyue and Pei Jinghuai left the city in a carriage, but then they couldn't sit still any longer. They got out of the carriage and rode horses for a while until Shen Lingyue felt her thighs were chafing sore, at which point she returned to the carriage.
They traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way, and finally arrived at Xiaowangzhuang in the evening.
"It's really far."
Shen Lingyue jumped off the carriage and stretched for a long time; this was the first time she had ever traveled such a long distance.
The head of the village received the news and came to the gate to greet them.
After having a sumptuous dinner, Shen Lingyue suggested going to the fishpond to take a look.
The headman, carrying a lantern, led the two out of the house, across the field ridges, and to a wide pond.
With a pained expression, he explained, "Second Young Madam, look, in just one afternoon, quite a few fish have died, and we can't even keep up with the demand." Shen Lingyue squatted down to take a closer look. A dead fish floated to the shore belly up, its eyes cloudy and its belly bulging.
She asked the head of the farm, "Have you seen a doctor? Are you sure it was poisoned and not some kind of disease outbreak during the fish farming process?"
"We found a doctor, and when he inserted a silver needle into the fish's belly, the needle immediately turned black. It must be poisoning."
The head of the farm slapped his thigh and said, "Damn short-lived bastards! This batch of fish fry was almost fully grown, and they all died from my poisoning. Second Young Madam, please be careful; the water might be poisoned."
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Author's Note: Hehehe, our cunning Pei Da finally couldn't resist making his move! [heart emoji][heart emoji]
Pei Da: (Seriously) How can something between husband and wife be called drugging? It's just a little trick to help you sleep. [doge][doge]
Congratulations to Strong for secretly getting to eat meat... you know what I mean, hehe.
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