Early in the morning, after washing up with the help of her maid, Pei Zhi went to her mother's courtyard to pay her respects, as usual.
Pei Yin was also there this time, but she looked pale and her eyes were swollen.
Madam Pei said with concern, "Since you are sick, you should rest well. Just have a maid tell you."
Pei Yin smiled and said, "With my mother's care, I don't feel uncomfortable."
Madam Pei shook her head with a sigh, "Later, I'll have your father invite an imperial physician to take a look at you and prescribe some nourishing medicine to help you recover."
Pei Yin declined, saying, "There's no need to trouble Father. I'm fine; I just caught a cold from the wind last night."
Pei's mother disagreed, saying, "That won't do. You can't have any lingering health problems, as it will be detrimental to your ability to have children in the future."
Pei Yin lowered her head shyly, "Mother, what are you saying?"
Pei Zhi, who was standing to the side, was eating snacks and drinking porridge with her chopsticks, showing no interest whatsoever in the conversation between the two.
Pei's mother gently patted Pei Yin's hand, "It's settled then, let's have our meal."
After the meal, Pei Zhi took her leave first, while Pei's mother asked Pei Yin to help her check the accounts.
Pei Yin had been learning household management from her mother for a long time without interruption.
Holding the account book, Pei Yin suggested, "Mother, let my younger sister learn with us too."
"She..." Pei's mother had this idea and mentioned it to Pei Zhi, but Pei Zhi refused.
Pei Zhi's reason was also very straightforward: she would not marry into a wealthy family in the future, and she would not need to learn to manage a household.
These words were true, but they saddened Pei's mother, though she didn't bring them up again.
“Your sister doesn’t like studying this, and the family doesn’t plan for her to marry into a wealthy family.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Yin felt a surge of inexplicable joy, but outwardly feigned anxiety, saying, "With your looks, wouldn't it be a pity for you to marry down?"
Pei's mother held Pei Yin's hand and said, "Your father and I have been thinking about finding a girl with good character and appearance among the new candidates this year. You and your older brother can help her and ensure that she is not bullied for the rest of her life. That will be enough."
Pei Yin quickly reassured her mother, "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely help my sister with anything I can in the future."
Madam Pei said with great relief, "That's good. I can rest assured now that you sisters get along well."
Over here, Pei Yin and her mother put on a show of their deep mother-daughter bond.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhi had just returned when the gatekeeper came to report that the bookstore clerk had come to inform her that the books she had ordered had arrived.
Pei Zhi couldn't remember when she had ordered the book and was about to refuse when she remembered that she seemed to have an appointment with Xiao Chengci today.
Pei Zhi said calmly, "Go and tell the bookstore clerk that I'm busy today and won't be going."
The maidservant accepted the order and ran off to report.
Afu served Pei Zhi a cup of hot tea and asked curiously, "Miss, didn't you used to really like the books in this bookstore?"
Pei Zhi said calmly, "I used to go to bookstores to read books often?"
"Yes, every time I go, the girl locks herself in a cubicle and stays there for several hours."
Pei Zhi had long suspected that something was amiss with the bookstore.
Therefore, Pei Zhi was not surprised when she heard the maid mention it.
On the surface, she was reading a book, but in private, she was on a date with a man.
"So you just wait outside every time?"
Afu nodded. "Xingzhi Bookstore is the largest bookstore in Beijing. Every time Miss goes to the private room to read, we juniors will drink tea and listen to the story from across the street."
"Xingzhi Bookstore has many rare books that it doesn't lend out. Every day, young men and women come to the bookstore to read books in an endless stream."
Pei Zhi asked curiously, "Who owns this bookstore?"
Afu shook her head, "Miss, you've come to ask this servant."
Pei Zhi didn't believe a bookstore could have so many rare books without some connections.
Moreover, Xiao Chengci chose the bookstore as the meeting place, so it's likely that the bookstore is owned by him.
Pei Zhi knew that her decision not to keep the appointment today would anger Xiao Chengci.
Xiao Chengci is a prince, and Pei Zhi should be mindful of her actions if she wants to sever ties with him.
If she really angered Xiao Chengci, and he obtained an imperial decree to take her as a concubine, she would have no way to resist.
There's nothing we can do; this is a world where imperial power reigns supreme.
Pei Zhi never expected that Xiao Chengci's identity was actually that of a prince.
Pei Zhi pondered. Last time, she had completed her mission, so she definitely wouldn't marry Xiao Chengci.
How many princes can be truly virtuous and upright?
There's a high probability she'll marry Shang Huai, probably because she didn't handle her relationship with Xiao Chengci well.
Even if Xiao Chengci harbored resentment towards her and used coercive methods after their marriage, why would the world collapse?
Pei Zhi paced back and forth in the room. There was only one possibility: Shang Huai's identity was not what she had guessed, but rather that he came from an ordinary military officer's family.
In this way, she can't marry either Xiao Chengci or Shang Huai.
The best course of action is to sever ties with both of them.
Find a suitable new partner and get married.
"Miss, the bookstore clerk is back. He said his master sent you a gift and asked you to take a look before deciding whether you have time to keep your appointment today."
Pei Zhi looked at the dark box in A Fu's hand and reached out to take it.
Pei Zhi went into the inner room before opening the box.
Pei Zhi was already prepared, so she wasn't surprised to see a white handkerchief stained with blood in the box.
Xiao Chengci, who was perfectly fine, gave Pei Zhi a white handkerchief stained with blood, which was clearly a threat to her.
She also informed Pei Zhi that she had slept with Xiao Chengci.
Perhaps these are the legendary fallen petals.
It has to be said that Xiao Chengci is quite perverted, still retaining this kind of thing.
Pei Zhi tapped her head; things were getting complicated now.
Having already slept with Xiao Chengci, it's now even more difficult to sever ties with him.
She couldn't anger Xiao Chengci; she had to make him dislike her and reject her.
Otherwise, endless troubles will follow.
Pei Zhi summoned her maid and changed her clothes in preparation for going out.
Xiao Chengci has already brought out this thing, so there's no way I won't go today.
The carriage stopped outside the bookstore, and the servant at the door immediately came to greet Pei Zhi.
"You've finally arrived. We've reserved a room for you upstairs. Just go up there."
Pei Zhi nodded and thanked the servant. Afu stepped forward and gave the servant a reward.
The servant took the silver coins and naturally expressed his gratitude profusely.
Upon entering the bookstore, Pei Zhi looked around curiously.
Everywhere you look, there are elevated walkways filled with all sorts of books, categorized by subject.
It does resemble a modern library in some ways.
The people reading downstairs are mostly young men in plain clothes.
Pei Zhi went upstairs, looked around, and followed her body memory to walk forward, stopping at a room in the far corner.
Pushing open the door, the room was empty.
Just as Pei Zhi thought she had entered the wrong room, she was suddenly restrained from behind and unable to move.
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