Chapter 80 Be careful in everything, but only after meeting her did the stagnant waters begin to ripple...
"...For...me?"
She looked at Pei Xu almost pleadingly. For a moment, even she herself couldn't tell whether she wanted him to admit it or deny it outright.
Pei Xu looked at her without making a move.
Meng Lingyao subtly tugged at his sleeve.
His eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he finally nodded slowly.
Madam Yang slumped into a chair, muttering to herself absentmindedly, broken sobs escaping her throat, her eyes churning with overwhelming confusion and self-doubt.
That look was even more terrifying than his earlier hysteria.
Divorce...
Even though her husband was a womanizer who had made her lose face, those two words never crossed her mind. They were like an inviolable prohibition, sealing her life of hardship.
At that moment, a crack appeared in the seal.
In an instant, countless wild grasses grew wildly in her barren heart.
The trusted old nanny standing to the side was terrified!
If Miss Meng were to say another word, her mistress might be about to do something earth-shattering. At that point, how could this old woman possibly have a peaceful life?
She rushed forward and grabbed the swaying Madam Yang, practically dragging her out, trying to remain calm. "Madam! Madam, what's wrong? You must be heartbroken that Lord Shaoqing has been wronged. This must be a sudden surge of anger! Prepare the carriage! Quickly, quickly, back to the manor!"
She dared not look at the two figures in the hall any longer, and as if fleeing, she pulled her distraught master out of the Pei residence.
The flower hall suddenly fell silent. Meng Lingyao let out a soft sigh of relief before looking up at Pei Xu beside her.
He was gazing down at her, the sharp, merciless analysis from before still ringing in his ears, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“It’s laughable,” Pei Xu said slowly, “Since I entered officialdom, I have advised my aunt to divorce her husband several times, but to no avail.”
His gaze shifted to the unfinished cup of tea on the table, as if recalling the futile words exchanged in the past. "Today you came, and with just a few words, she..." His mind reeled, and he almost tore off the tattered skin of "Madam Cui" on the spot.
Upon hearing this, Meng Lingyao's brows relaxed, and her smile, both gentle and sly, tinged with a hint of triumph, resembled that of a cat that had just caught a fish. "I told you so—"
"Women's affairs should be handled by women. Even if you, Shaoqing, explain the laws and scriptures thoroughly, it will be less effective for Madam Yang than to give her a practical lesson."
Her smile faded quickly, and she looked up, meeting Pei Xu's eyes directly. "Shaoqing, you needn't take it to heart. I can speak so harshly only because I'm an outsider. But Shaoqing is different. You have a childhood bond with her, a debt of gratitude for raising her, and you naturally consider her every word and action, afraid of hurting her, afraid of betraying her heart. With so many constraints, the word 'divorce' softened threefold from the moment it left your lips. And I—"
She paused, her voice becoming even more steady, "To me, she is merely Madam Yang, a lady from a prominent family whom I've occasionally heard of. At most... she's my future aunt, nothing more. There's no need to dwell on the care she received at my sickbed as a child, nor to consider her crumbling reputation in the Cui household. What needs to be said will be said without reservation, directly addressing the crux of the matter. 'Affection' is the bond that connects people's hearts, but it can also be a shackle that binds their hands and feet."
Her words were effective, not because she was eloquent, but precisely because she was free from the burden of heavy emotional attachments, allowing her to speak with penetrating insight and pierce the heart with every sentence.
Pei Xu gazed at her quietly, without revealing that he and Madam Yang did not actually have a deep bond of parental affection, and that his willingness to care for her was merely a duty he should fulfill as the head of the Pei family. People value filial piety, and he could not be lacking in this aspect.
As my grandfather said, he was indeed a boring person, rigid and meticulous, always measuring himself by the most standard criteria.
It was only when he met her that the stagnant waters began to ripple.
After a moment, he bowed slightly and raised his hand in an impeccable teacher's salute, "Thank you for your guidance, Yao Yao. Yanxing has benefited greatly from your teachings."
Meng Lingyao's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile. She coughed lightly, accepting the composure, and tapped Pei Xu's shoulder with her fingertip, deliberately lowering her voice and drawing out the syllable, "A promising young man—"
The light and shadows outside the window gradually became more slanted, signifying the passage of time.
Meng Lingyao was about to say goodbye when she glanced at the sky outside the window and suddenly stopped!
broken!
She came to the Pei residence today with one matter on her mind…
Previously, he was preoccupied with the old master's enthusiastic invitation to paint and Madam Yang's sudden disruption, and had completely forgotten about this important matter!
A rare hint of annoyance appeared on Meng Lingyao's face, and she even let out a soft "ah," which immediately drew Pei Xu's concerned gaze.
"I..." She opened her mouth, her usual composure tinged with a hint of guilt, and her voice lowered slightly, "I have troubled you for a long time today, and it is time to take my leave. However, there is still something I have not yet told you."
She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, and spoke quickly, "The opening of the Juxianglou branch is imminent, and I need to go to Jinling. My parents have already agreed, and I will set off at the beginning of next month to take care of some trivial matters."
Jinling?
A noticeable ripple appeared in Pei Xu's eyes. He paused almost imperceptibly, his gaze fixed intently on Meng Lingyao. "How long will it take?"
"We need to get things sorted out before we can return." Meng Lingyao considered everything carefully. "We're traveling by water. It's summer now, and the south wind is prevailing, which is a headwind, so the boat won't be fast. It will probably take more than a month. After arriving in Jinling, we'll likely stay there for another month or two. When we return, the north wind will be howling, which will also be unfavorable, so it will take another month..."
Month after month, she was gone for at least a season.
Hearing her calculations clearly, Pei Xu already understood that she had made ample preparations and that her visit today was not to seek his opinion, but to inform him.
He always knew that she was an extremely intelligent woman, and that love would never be the most important thing to her.
Pei Xu never felt that this was bad. That's just how the world is, and it's always more demanding of women. If she wasn't bound by love and affection, her life would be much easier.
"Jinling...it's a long and arduous journey." After a long silence, he spoke, his voice deeper than usual, "The new branch of Juxianglou is quite busy. If needed..."
"Don't worry, Shaoqing," Meng Lingyao met his gaze, her eyes clear and bright. "I already have a plan in mind regarding the location, furnishings, and materials. I just need to see it for myself to be at ease."
Pei Xu gave her a deep look. He knew her personality all too well: ambitious and audacious. The powerful families of Jinling were a mixed bag, and her actions, without careful protection… His fingertips curled slightly in his sleeve, but he was preoccupied with official duties and couldn’t spare the time.
All the worries and reluctance ultimately turned into a barely audible sigh, sinking into the deep pool in my eyes.
“I understand.” He nodded, his speech quickening slightly. “Nanjing is a hub of land and water transportation, a place where power is deeply entrenched. I have a retainer named Zhang, whose family has been based in Nanjing for generations. He has connections with all walks of life and knows every nook and cranny of the city like the back of his hand. He can…”
Before he could finish speaking, Meng Lingyao smiled and shook her head, "You've gone to so much trouble, Shaoqing. I've already arranged to go with Miss Xie. She was raised in the Xie family's old residence in Jinling and is very familiar with the ways and places, making her the perfect guide."
Pei Xu naturally knew that Miss Xie Chengyu was Meng Lingyao's close friend. Rather, traveling with Miss Xie made him feel a certain secret anxiety.
Miss Xie is broad-minded and unpretentious, with many close friends throughout the capital. The Jiangnan region, in particular, has always been a gathering place for talented and romantic men…
Pei Xu's lip line was slightly taut.
The silence that moment seemed to carry weight. Meng Lingyao looked into his increasingly deep and unfathomable eyes, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind.
She raised an eyebrow, took a step closer, and whispered, "Pei Xu, if I refuse your kindness... you wouldn't—" She paused deliberately, her voice even softer, like a feather brushing against the heart, "...and then secretly send someone to follow me and 'look after' me, wouldn't you?"
Pei Xu's gaze was deep and unwavering as he stared intently into her clear eyes, which were so close to his own. His Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.
After a moment, he responded in a hoarse voice, "Mm."
Just one word.
Clear and concise.
Meng Lingyao stared in astonishment, truly not expecting him to admit it so readily! The cunning look in her eyes hadn't even faded before it turned into genuine surprise.
She looked into his eyes, which were so open and without a trace of remorse, as if to say, "Yes, I'm going to have someone watching you." She was both annoyed and amused.
Well, they're not even pretending yet, they're not even married!
Before she could get angry, Pei Xu took half a step forward and stood almost level with her toes. Their clothes intertwined, and he leaned down slightly, looking directly at her. His cool aura enveloped her completely, and the air suddenly became thick and ambiguous.
“Yaoyao,” he said slowly, “it’s not that I doubt you, it’s just that we are too far apart. If something were to happen suddenly… I’m in the capital, and I really wouldn’t be able to help you. How can I put my mind at ease?”
Pei Xu lowered his eyes, "I was born with little affection and few connections; there are very few people in this world I care about."
"..."
He had such beautiful eyes; looking at someone with such deep affection, who could bear to refuse?
“…Alright then,” her attitude softened, feeling slightly embarrassed by his heavy gaze. She blinked her eyelashes and turned her face away. “If I were to refuse your kind offer, it would seem that I am heartless. As for Mr. Zhang, I would be grateful if you could ask him to accompany me. Consider it as an extra layer of protection for me.”
After he finished speaking, Pei Xu's tightly pursed lips finally relaxed a little. He didn't say anything more, but simply nodded slightly, "Okay."
"It's getting late, I should head back to my residence."
Pei Xu nodded. "I'll see you off."
The two walked through the courtyard as dusk fell.
The mansion gates were wide open, letting in the sounds of the city mingled with the evening breeze. A small carriage with a blue curtain was parked at the foot of the steps.
Pei Xu stopped at the edge of the last stone step. Twilight streamed over his tall figure, outlining his cool and silent silhouette.
Meng Lingyao walked to the carriage, intending to turn around and say goodbye. Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her wrist.
It was Pei Xu's hand.
His fingers were long and slender, covered with a thin layer of calluses. He grasped her wrist with lightning speed and lightness, then withdrew as swiftly as a butterfly. The movement was so fast that it was almost an illusion.
"Be careful in everything you do on your journey to Jinling."
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Author's Note: Changing the setting and speeding up the pace, I can't wait to write about the young couple getting married! [cheering emoji]
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