Chapter 242: Marriage Arrangement
The person in the painting is wearing a light yellow long skirt. She is squatting under a ginkgo tree with falling leaves, teasing a lion cat with a bright smile.
Zhao Wan stared blankly at the charming figure in the painting, unable to recover from her shock.
Pei Wuyan whispered, "The first time I saw you, I felt that you should look like this."
Zhao Wan looked up at Pei Wuyan, only to see him speaking with tenderness, "Before I came to Beijing, my mother asked me what kind of wife I wanted to marry."
"I have no requirements for a wife, except that she must be well-versed in poetry and prose. I am a scholar, and if my wife is well-versed in poetry and prose, then when we get married, we will be able to enjoy harmonious music and be in perfect harmony with each other."
Pei Wuyan stared at Zhao Wan and said, "Mother said that you are good at poetry and literature, and that our marriage is destined."
Zhao Wan was a young girl who had never dealt with men outside of her family, let alone heard such straightforward and passionate words. Her cheeks flushed slightly and she turned her head away uncomfortably.
"Cousin, I'm here to ask you to marry me with all my heart. Since you have no interest in me, I won't force you." Pei Wuyan sighed softly, "I'm giving this painting to you to fulfill my wish."
He let the ink dry, rolled up the painting and handed it to Zhao Wan.
Zhao Wan didn't dare to leave her own portrait. She placed her fingers on the scroll and pulled them lightly, but there was no movement.
"Cousin, the Master said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I had planned to take you on a tour of the magnificent mountains and rivers of the Great Zhou after we married."
Pei Wuyan lowered his voice, a hint of temptation faintly revealed: "Would you like to go with me?"
Zhao Wan's fingers trembled, and the side of Pei Wuyan revealed was exactly the same as his second brother.
She was trapped in the inner house and longed for everything outside.
Especially Pei Wuyan's description, which satisfied all her fantasies about married life.
Suddenly, she thought of her mother's expectation that she marry Pei Wuyan and support the family, so she said in a mosquito-like voice: "Promise me that you will turn down this marriage in front of my grandmother."
Pei Wuyan smiled helplessly and said rather dejectedly, "I want to fight for myself."
Zhao Wan was stunned and was about to reply when she heard footsteps behind her.
She looked back and recognized the person as her mother's maid.
The maid said, "Miss, the madam wants you to come over."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan used a little force to snatch the portrait and hurried away with the maid.
Pei Wuyan looked at Zhao Wan's departing back, his eyes revealing a determined look.
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The old lady returned to Shi'an Hall and caught a glimpse of the Duke sitting on the couch, reading a letter.
"The second son's wife is a capable person. She secretly colluded with her brother from her mother's family and, using the power of the Duke's Mansion, accepted bribes. Not only that, she also opened a gambling house that sucked people's blood and made counterfeit goods to sell."
The old lady was so angry that she beat her chest: "If you take each of these things out, not only the second son's wife, but also our Duke's Mansion will suffer the consequences."
The Duke put down the letter in his hand and said in a deep voice, "I will first arrange for someone to investigate everything that the second son's wife did, and then submit a letter of apology and resignation to the emperor."
"The Second House's crimes are too numerous to list. The Heavenly Family has already shown us exceptional mercy. Now that we've been dealt this big a blow, I don't have the nerve to ask for mercy again." The old lady patted her chest and said, "What an injustice!"
The Duke fell silent, preparing for the worst.
"In order to protect the legacy of our ancestors, I have worked tirelessly. I have done everything I should and shouldn't have done. The royal family is unwilling to show any mercy and simply revokes the title. My family and I have to leave the capital and become commoners."
The Duke's face was filled with vicissitudes of life: "If my children and grandchildren are not capable, this family business will be ruined sooner or later. It's just a matter of time. If my children and grandchildren are capable, they will sooner or later lay a foundation for a new business."
When the old lady heard this, she knew that the Duke was unsure.
She gave a bitter laugh and said, "I'm already quite old. I don't know when I'll close my eyes, kick my feet, and go to the underworld to meet my ancestors. I can't care about what happens to my children and grandchildren."
She leaned on a cane and staggered towards the inner room.
At this time, Madam Wei came in and announced, "Madam, the Third Madam is here with Miss Wan'er."
The old lady's expression became even more pale. She had previously sent people to investigate the thieves who had broken into the West Garden. Not only did they find that the Second Lady had brought people into the West Garden, they also found that Pei Wuyan and Zhao Wan were painting in the West Garden.
He immediately asked Mother Wei to pass a message to the Third Madam, asking her to bring Zhao Wan to Shi'an Hall.
"Make the third son's wife kneel in the yard." The old lady said coldly, "Send Zhao Wan in."
"yes."
Mother Wei took the order and went out.
The Third Lady put on a smile and said flatteringly, "Mother Wei, what did the old lady invite us here for?"
She suspected that they were discussing the marriage between Pei Wuyan and Zhao Wan.
Mother Wei always knew that the Third Master and the Third Lady were timid and cowardly, and she thought they would always be honest and obedient. However, she didn't expect them to do something ridiculous and instigate their own daughter to meet a man outside her family in private.
If this matter gets out, the girls in the mansion will have no chance of marrying into a good family.
She said expressionlessly, "The old lady asked you to kneel in the yard."
The Third Madam was so frightened that her face turned pale: "What...what does this old lady mean?"
Mother Wei asked in return, "Third Madam, don't you know it clearly?"
The third wife was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat, her legs went limp, and she fell to her knees on the ground.
Zhao Wan's face turned pale, and she knew very well why her grandmother punished her mother.
Just as she was about to kneel down, she heard Mother Wei say, "Miss Wan'er, the old lady invites you into the house."
Zhao Wan nodded, walked into the house with her head down, and knelt at the old lady's feet.
"Grandma, I know I was wrong."
The old lady sat on the couch, her eyelids drooping: "What's wrong?"
Zhao Wan spoke clearly, "My granddaughter shouldn't have met Cousin Pei in private. If this gets out, not only will it damage my reputation, but it will also implicate the sisters in the mansion."
"I didn't decide on a marriage between you two because I wanted to take my time to see each other and see what kind of character he had. I was afraid I'd make a mistake and end up dragging you into a dangerous situation."
Having said that, the old lady put the teacup on the table with a clang, which scared Zhao Wan so much that her shoulders trembled.
"You are so kind, painting with him in the garden in private." The old lady suppressed her anger and said, "If you are in tune with him, I will arrange your marriage tomorrow."
Zhao Wan's fingers tightly pinched the fabric of the clothes, tears wet her eyelashes, and she suppressed the grievances in her heart.
"Grandmother, Wan'er doesn't want to marry Cousin Pei." Zhao Wan knelt on the ground, her forehead hitting the ground, tears streaming down her face. "Wan'er has failed to live up to your teachings. Please punish me."
The old lady looked at Zhao Wan's thin shoulders trembling and crying sadly, and finally softened her heart.
At this time, Mother Wei came in and said, "Old Madam, Master Pei is here."
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