Chapter 57: The Pei family's marriage proposal is entirely under his control; her daughter can...
In a corner of the hall, wisps of smoke rose from a gilded incense burner, and the hall was silent.
After a moment of silence, Madam Zhong gently stroked her teacup, her gaze falling on Pei Xu below the steps. "The Duchess of Dingguo's special visit today to propose marriage for Lord Pei is truly a surprise to us..."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xu immediately bowed deeply again, his expression becoming even more respectful. "In reply to your question, Aunt, it is indeed my request. I have long admired Miss Meng. The Duchess is of high moral character and great prestige, and I am deeply grateful for her kindness in doing this for me."
He raised his head, his eyes clear and sincere. "Please forgive my impertinence, Miss Meng is intelligent and talented, and her demeanor is as bright as the sun and moon. I sincerely wish to marry her. If I am fortunate enough to win her favor, I will cherish her as a treasure and protect her throughout her life, ensuring her happiness and well-being, so that you two will not have to worry."
These effusive compliments left Madam Zhong bewildered; was this really about her daughter?
I glanced at my daughter and saw that she was completely calm and composed, without the slightest hint of shyness. It was clear that these kind words had touched her heart, and she accepted them without hesitation.
Following her words, she said calmly, "Lord Pei, you flatter me. The Pei family is a noble family with strict family traditions and is known for its simplicity and dignity. My daughter, on the other hand, has been pampered since childhood and loves to dress up. She spends all her time either studying rouge and powder or thinking about what to wear and what accessories to use. I'm afraid..." Before she could finish her sentence, her meaning was clear.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with what you're saying, Auntie."
Pei Xu calmly replied, “Although my mother passed away early, I have heard that she was well-versed in this art and left behind a shop in the capital called ‘Linlang Pavilion.’ To my shame, I am truly ignorant of this art and fear that mismanagement might ruin my mother’s business. If Miss Meng were to marry into this family, this pavilion would be in dire need of a discerning and sophisticated owner to manage it. With her in charge, I would be overjoyed and could also bring comfort to my mother’s spirit in the afterlife.” In just a few words, he presented a shop renowned throughout the capital as a betrothal gift, as casually as if he were giving away a box of pastries.
Madam Zhong paused slightly. She was well aware of Linlang Pavilion, the most favored jewelry shop among noblewomen in the capital. Her household alone spent a considerable amount of money there every year, not to mention other wealthy families in the capital.
This Linlang Pavilion is so wealthy that it's no exaggeration to say it makes a fortune every day.
What truly moved her was not the shop that was so easily given away, but the deeper meaning revealed in Pei Xu's words—he not only did not dislike his daughter's preferences, but also wanted to support her with practical actions. Such magnanimity was truly rare.
Madam Zhong suppressed her inner turmoil, shook her head slightly, and softened her tone, "Shaoqing is too kind. That is your mother's legacy; how can it be given away so easily?"
She then changed the subject, "Furthermore, this young lady is outspoken and sharp-tongued, which has never been well-liked by the elders. Her family has never hoped to curry favor with them, nor has it strictly disciplined her, nor has it taught her the etiquette and manners of aristocratic families. If she were to actually enter your household, she would likely cause trouble."
"I understand your concerns, Aunt. However, among my family's elder relatives, only my grandfather is living a peaceful and prosperous life in the capital. He is an open-minded person who does not concern himself with worldly affairs and only wishes for the well-being of his children and grandchildren. In addition, there is Her Highness the Princess. Her Highness greatly admires Miss Meng and often praises her for her straightforwardness and loveliness. As for the miscellaneous affairs of the mansion, there are several stewards in charge of them outside, and the head maid personally selected by Her Highness the Princess has been managing them for many years. They are well-organized and there is no need for you, Madam, to do them personally."
He paused, his tone becoming even gentler, "If Miss Meng is interested, she can learn these things at her own pace. If she is not interested... what I seek is a soulmate, not a housekeeper for the Pei family. Everything depends on her wishes."
This statement was tantamount to openly declaring that the Pei family was entirely under his control and that his daughter could do whatever she wanted.
Madam Zhong listened quietly, the scrutinizing look in her eyes gradually turning into deep contemplation.
Even with her pickiness, she had to admit that Pei Shaoqing was far superior to the other young masters she had encountered. Whether it was his talent, appearance, family background, future prospects, or his sense of responsibility and sincerity, he was truly outstanding.
But... she sighed inwardly. How many men had spoken sweet words before marriage, only to reveal a completely different side afterward? She had seen far too many.
Madam Zhong smiled and said, "I understand Lord Pei's sincerity. However, when it comes to marriage, no matter how much we elders worry, it ultimately depends on the children's wishes. Other families may emphasize the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, but in our family, the daughter's thoughts are the most important."
Pei Xu remained expressionless and nodded solemnly to Madam Zhong, "Aunt is absolutely right." After saying that, his gaze naturally turned to Meng Lingyao, who had been sitting next to Madam Zhong.
Just then, Meng Lingyao seemed to finally come back to her senses from the cup of celestial tea. She gently placed the teacup on the table, stood up gracefully, and said to Madam Zhong, "Mother, I have something I would like to discuss with Lord Pei alone."
Madam Zhong frowned slightly. "Hmm?"
Meng Lingyao softened her voice, "Let's just take a walk in the garden of the mansion."
Madam Zhong stared at her for a long time before nodding, "Alright, go. Remember your manners and don't overstep your bounds."
The two got up and were about to leave when Meng Yan, who had been sitting upright like a wooden or clay sculpture, suddenly spoke up, "Young Master, please wait!"
All eyes in the hall were on him. Meng Yan, with a solemn expression, straightened his sleeves and looked directly at Pei Xu, "May I ask for your birth date and time, Young Master?"
The moment the question was posed, the air seemed to freeze.
Birth dates and times are always kept secret, especially for a prestigious family like the Pei family. The relationship between the two families is far from reaching the point of consulting divination for marriage compatibility, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his sudden question was impolite.
Madam Zhong frowned, "Master..."
Before she could finish speaking, Pei Xu met Meng Yan's gaze calmly and clearly stated his birth date and time.
Meng Yan silently noted it down, then waved and said, "Go."
After the two left, he immediately took out an old tortoise shell from his sleeve and began to calculate with his fingers. Madam Zhong was initially curious and watched from the side, but after the copper coins on the table were arranged repeatedly more than ten times without any movement, she gradually lost patience.
"Master, you've been calculating for so long, have you figured anything out yet?"
Meng Yan opened his mouth, then dropped the tortoise shell he usually treasured, and said dejectedly, "How can it be the most auspicious, a match made in heaven?"
"..."
The courtyard was unusually quiet, save for the rustling of the wind through the leaves and the chirping of birds. A young girl in a green skirt brushed against the grassy path, her steps steady yet slightly hurried. Pei Xu trailed half a step behind, his gaze fixed on that slender figure.
Meng Lingyao's fingertips curled slightly inside her sleeve. This was the first time they had been alone together since the Dragon Boat Festival.
Although there was no immoral act that day, if we were to be honest, it was he, not her, who lost his gentlemanly integrity. But now, with him standing so upright and handsome behind her, Meng Lingyao's heart still felt like it was shrouded in wisps of clouds, impossible to blow away or dispel, leaving her with an inexplicable awkwardness.
"Chirp chirp—"
The warbling of a thrush broke the delicate silence. Meng Lingyao stopped, and naturally reached out to take a slightly worn food box from the corridor. She picked up a few grains of millet with her fingertips and casually scattered them into the food bowl.
"Red window and green jade, new name and old name, still tied with twin snails."
As she approached, the parrot beside her immediately spread its brightly colored wings and began to recite poetry, its voice ringing out in the courtyard.
"A single glance is worth more than a thousand bushels of pearls."
Meng Lingyao paused slightly, her brows furrowing. This parrot was indeed intelligent, but sometimes it was really noisy.
Pei Xu slowly approached and stopped beside her. His gaze calmly fell on the ostentatious parrot, and he said indifferently, "I overheard some colleagues talking the other day. They said that a merchant in the East Market brought a parrot that was quite peculiar. It could recite a hundred poems, which caused quite a stir. Several young men from the capital competed to buy it, and it was eventually bought at a high price."
He paused slightly, as if it were just a casual remark, "The cost is so enormous that it exceeds the monthly salary of a sixth-rank military officer for a season."
Upon hearing the words "sixth-rank military officer," Meng Lingyao suddenly turned to look at him, a clear and knowing smile appearing in her eyes.
The slight bitterness in his words was like the tiny ripples on the surface of tea when it first boils, not well concealed, perhaps because such a state of mind was quite unfamiliar to him. Yet his face remained calm and composed, which was truly admirable.
She raised the corners of her lips slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips. "It's truly remarkable that you, sir, with your busy schedule and numerous affairs, still have the time to notice such a trivial matter."
Pei Xu met her gaze calmly, “It’s not without reason. Recently, the Dali Temple seized a batch of exotic beasts and rare birds that were smuggled in by foreign vassals. After checking all the account books, only one talkative parrot was missing.”
"It is my duty to be careful."
Meng Lingyao stared at him expressionlessly for a while, then suddenly threw the food box in her hand at him and turned to leave.
Pei Xu raised his hand and steadily scooped the food into his palm. His expression remained unchanged. He also picked up some millet and carefully placed it into the thrush's bowl. After arranging the bird food, he put down the food box and turned around to look for the slender figure that had already walked into the depths of the flowers and trees.
Meng Lingyao walked without stopping, passing through several winding corridors, and stopped under the wooden swing hidden deep in the shade of the trees. The beams and ropes had been polished smooth by the years, and had been replaced many times as she grew older.
She sat down lightly, her toes lightly touching the ground dappled with sunlight, and the swing began to sway gently like a small boat. The blue gauze on her skirt spread out with the swaying, rippling like water.
Pei Xu stared silently. He had noticed this swing during his last visit to the Meng residence. At that time, he had imagined what it would be like for her to sit on it.
Now that he had seen it with his own eyes, the scene was far more vivid than he had imagined.
"Young Master Pei." The swing swayed gently, and her voice came from the light. She looked up at him. His resounding words of "proposal" in the hall just now still echoed in her ears, sincere and heartfelt enough to move most people.
But she knew the ways of the world and people's hearts well, so how could she dare to believe it so easily?
Perhaps he is sincere and affectionate during the day, but at night, she will foresee another side of him that no one else knows.
Thinking of this, her expression suddenly turned indifferent.
"Are you really going to marry me?" The dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves was somewhat dazzling, forcing her to squint slightly. When she looked at him, she could only vaguely make out a tall, imposing figure standing in the halo of light.
“If you’re concerned about what happened on the Dragon Boat Festival, there’s really no need for this. It was just an accident, and we both know that.”
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