Chapter 6 Have you ever loved me a little bit?
"Miss, would you like to recite a poem for us?" Two maids came to her with smiles on their faces, apparently not noticing the uninvited guest.
"No, he likes someone else." Shen Yuning suddenly replied.
Pei Yanzhou, who was standing not far away, suddenly stiffened and realized that he was a heartless man.
But soon, he remembered his sister's death and Shen Yuning's cruelty, and he quickly adjusted his mentality:
Shen Yuning has behaved badly. I did this just to help Pei Yan get revenge. There is nothing wrong with it!
The two maids were stunned for a moment, then laughed softly: "The girl is so beautiful, how could the general be willing to like someone else?"
"The girl must have drunk some sweet-scented osmanthus wine and is talking nonsense here."
Nanny Fang and Nanny Gui just thought Shen Yuning was being lazy, so they said this on purpose.
They pretended to be angry and said, "Come on, girl, stretch out your hand. If you don't read, you will be beaten with a stick."
Shen Yuning did not explain, but really stretched out her fair hand and was hit by a ruler.
“Pah.”
"Girl, do you still want to read?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Then do it again?" The maids were still laughing and gesturing in front of Shen Yuning with the ruler.
"Okay." She still didn't resist.
“Pah.”
"Do you still read it?"
"No!"
“Snap, snap, snap—”
The long ruler was raised high every time, but was put down gently every time.
However, those crisp sounds were particularly clear in the dark night.
Pei Yanzhou stood in the dark, feeling unhappy.
During the day in the tent, she said she was willing to learn the etiquette of women for him, but unexpectedly, when she got home, she started to be lazy again.
She says one thing and means another. How could she like me as much as she says?
Haha, she is indeed a hypocritical woman, not at all like Ruyan. Everything she says and does is out in the open.
Pei Yanzhou had been observing quietly from the side for a long time. When he first saw Nanny Xi teaching Shen Yuning the etiquette of staying in the boudoir... he felt awkward but also expectant.
Especially under the moonlight, looking at Shen Yuning's graceful figure and beautiful face, he was full of charming imagination.
He had already followed the maids' lyrics and imagined many fantastic things - he almost thought about how many children he would have after marriage, what names he would give them, and how many months of pregnancy he would have before he could have sex.
However, he thought of Chu Ruyan again.
Thinking back to that year at Huxiao Mountain, when she saved him and was so good to him... Pei Yanzhou began to blame himself again, feeling that he was ashamed of Ruyan.
Later, when he watched Shen Yuning being beaten with a stick, Pei Yanzhou felt the pleasure of revenge again.
He knew that given her current situation, she definitely hadn't told her family about the cancellation of the engagement.
She must be sad, so she drinks to numb herself.
"Is this the attitude you usually use to learn the rules at home?"
A deep voice sounded, and several people turned around in surprise.
After seeing who was coming, there was no joy on Shen Yuning's face. On the contrary, there was a little surprise in her eyes.
What was he doing here so late? Looking for trouble again?
She did not stand up, but picked up the osmanthus wine pot and drank it in small sips.
However, the two Nannies were extremely happy. They thought Pei Yanzhou was missing Shen Yuning, so he came to the mansion to look for her at night.
They saluted him with smiles on their faces, "Greetings, General! Please take a seat! Have some tea!"
Nanny Fang and Nanny Gui deliberately stood closer to Pei Yanzhou.
The two looked at each other and instantly came up with an idea.
The handsome son-in-law looks like a person in a painting. I finally have the chance to observe him up close. I have to take a closer look, right?
So, the two maids used their sharp eyes to look Pei Yanzhou over and over again.
Height, physique, height of nose bridge, thickness of lips, even length of fingers, curvature of waist... they all looked carefully and remembered everything in their minds.
What a heroic man, with broad shoulders and narrow waist, my daughter will be blessed in the future!
They poured Pei Yanzhou a cup of tea and smiled from ear to ear:
"The girl will be married in a month. General, you will be able to see my girl every day from now on. You don't have to run back and forth."
Pei Yanzhou's expression changed slightly, and he looked embarrassed.
The person I am going to marry is Yan'er, not your young lady.
Shen Yuning took everything in. She didn't put down the osmanthus wine pot in her hand. She just said, "I wonder what brings you here tonight, General?"
"Could it be that General Pei, Prince Pei, is here to supervise me in learning the rules?"
She waved her hand to let the maids and maids leave, and then she got straight to the point: "General, are you not going to break off the engagement with me? You even want to control everything I do in the mansion?"
Pei Yanzhou choked and his handsome face turned red in an instant.
After a long while, he said, "I came here to discuss with you about going to the palace to see the emperor! It would be better for everyone if we cancel the engagement as soon as possible!"
Shen Yuning drank the osmanthus wine in her hand and said sarcastically, "Are you sure you want to cancel the engagement?"
"Sure!" Pei Yanzhou said firmly.
"Then can I tell His Majesty that we should just cancel the engagement, not the betrothal gifts?"
Her expression was subtle, but she remained calm.
"What?" Pei Yanzhou raised his eyebrows slightly.
Shen Yuning looked at him with an inquiring look and said word by word: "The betrothal money will not be returned. This will serve as compensation to the Shen family. General, are you still willing?"
Pei Yanzhou sneered, with a hint of sarcasm on his lips: "Of course, our Pei family is not short of that little money!"
He replied very quickly, but felt contempt in his heart.
He had not originally intended to ask for the betrothal gift back, but when the other party brought it up, he felt that the Shen family was vulgar.
What Yan'er and Mingzhao said was indeed correct. Shen Yuning might not have much feelings for me. She was clinging to me just for the status of the Pei family.
Thinking this way, Pei Yanzhou originally felt a little guilty about breaking off the engagement, but now he doesn't feel any burden at all.
He breathed a sigh of relief and became more confident:
"Except for the betrothal money, we, the Pei family, will not take back the head ornaments, jewelry, silks, and cloths that we sent you before. You can rest assured!"
"As long as you are willing to go with me to see the emperor, I will also give you some additional gifts as compensation."
"Oh!"
Shen Yuning couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Pei Yanzhou, if I don't return the betrothal gift, how can you marry the daughter of the prime minister?"
"Is Chu Ruyan willing to put herself in a difficult position?"
The recent war situation has intensified, and floods have hit the south, so the imperial court has been slow to allocate funds. Pei Yanzhou is already using his family's silver to subsidize the Xuanjia Camp... Logically, his family shouldn't have much cash left.
It will probably take some time before the court sends the money.
"Yan'er and you are not the same kind of people. You don't need to worry about me marrying her!"
Pei Yanzhou showed disdain on his face. He originally wanted to say that the Pei family was wealthy and it would not be difficult for them to marry a wife.
But when the words came to his lips, he wanted to deliberately use Chu Ruyan to ridicule Shen Yuning:
"Prime Minister Chu is a man of radiant elegance, and Yan'er is a simple-minded person. She truly loves me and will definitely not embarrass me over such superficial matters as the betrothal gift."
"Of course, I will not let such a kind-hearted girl down!"
Shen Yuning was silent for a long time before speaking: “It seems that you have really made up your mind.”
"Even in such a difficult time, you must draw a clear line between you and me..."
She stood up, carrying the aroma of osmanthus wine, and slowly walked to Pei Yanzhou, "Pei Yanzhou, have you ever loved me even a little bit?"
The gaze was too intense, and Pei Yanzhou quickly turned his face away.
"The person I love is Yan'er!"
"I asked: 'Have you ever loved me?'"
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