Chapter 87 Unbelievable
The sun sets in the west.
Pei Yanzhi lifted the curtain with one hand, picked up Ji Shu horizontally and got off the carriage, and walked straight towards Wenxin Pavilion.
Just then, Pei Xingjian, who was sitting by the railing opposite the pavilion in the middle of the lake, saw his father carrying a woman and walking away.
Across the lake, the woman's face was obscured; all that could be discerned was her beauty, and even from this distance, her drooping wrist was dazzlingly white.
He glanced at her casually and asked Lu Changfeng, "Who is that woman?"
Lu Changfeng looked troubled. They had only returned home that afternoon, and when asked, he didn't know either.
On the day the Marquis returned to his residence, all they knew was that he had brought back a woman, and at the time, everyone was just speculating.
The specifics of the rules are unknown, but it seems certain that the Marquis will be brought into the inner circle in the future.
He replied in a low voice, "It should be a woman that the Marquis brought back from Chongzhou."
Pei Xingjian looked across the lake in shock. His father was nowhere to be seen. In the past ten years, he had never seen his father so close to any woman, let alone hold her in his arms like such a precious jewel.
Just now, he even saw Wu Yang quickly step forward to hold an umbrella for the woman, as if worried that the light was too bright and would disturb the woman in his arms.
No one knew Wu Yang better than him. In the military camp, Lu Changming was his father's right-hand man, while Wu Yang was the most important person in his inner quarters.
This is the first time someone like this has held an umbrella for a woman.
For a moment, he stood there, stunned and incredulous: was this still the father he dared not offend?
"Changfeng, you said your father brought him from Chongzhou? But I don't remember such a person?"
Lu Changfeng lowered his eyes and said, "I heard from my men that the Marquis rescued her on his way back to Yanzhou. Seeing that she was all alone and helpless, he took her back to Yanzhou."
"What?" Pei Xingjian couldn't believe it. "Father, have you lost your mind? How can a woman of unknown origin be allowed to enter the manor so easily?"
Lu Changfeng looked up at him and said solemnly, "Your Highness, be careful with your words!"
He thought about it again and again, but it didn't seem like his father's style. Pei Xingjian continued to press, "During the time I was away, did Grandmother say anything?"
"It is said that the old lady is very satisfied with that woman, and even said that the Marquis should choose a day to bring that woman into the manor."
Pei Xingjian sneered: "So, I'm the only one who hasn't seen that woman? Perhaps she's come here with the intention of climbing the social ladder after witnessing the prosperity of Yanzhou!"
Lu Changfeng said solemnly, "I'm sure the Marquis has his reasons."
As a son, he dared not interfere in his father's private affairs.
Seeing that they couldn't get anything more out of him, they asked about another matter.
Thinking of Ji Shu, his expression immediately darkened: "Have you still not replied to a single letter sent to Chongzhou?"
Since returning to Yanzhou, his longing for Ji Shu has grown stronger day by day. So much so that he writes letters to Chongzhou every few days, but the letters he sends never return.
Lu Changfeng shook his head: "Still no, perhaps Madam Ji didn't receive it?"
Pei Xingjian: "No, I can't just wait like this. My father originally sent me to train the new soldiers because he was afraid I would break off the engagement. You should keep it from my father for now and not tell him that I have returned to the manor. I will set off for Chongzhou tonight."
"If we can persuade Shu'er to come to Yanzhou, that would be the best outcome. Even if we can't, we can't let her stay angry with me forever."
Looking at the prince's infatuated expression, Lu Changfeng thought to himself, "It's not that Lady Ji is angry with you; it's that she never cared about you at all. So no matter what you do, she doesn't care."
...
Inside the West Garden of Wenxin Pavilion, Pei Yanzhi had just placed her on the couch when Ji Shu's eyelashes trembled slightly. She slowly woke up, looking at the unfamiliar furnishings in the room, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
Where is this?
Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow: "Awake? Do you want some water?"
Ji Shu saw that there was no one else in the room except him, so this was obviously not where she lived.
Nodding, Pei Yanzhi gestured for her to sit down and then personally poured her tea, giving her a chance to observe his daily life.
The room was spacious and bright, but not at all luxurious. The furnishings were extremely simple and cold, clearly a man's residence.
Their gaze fell upon Pei Yanzhi, who had likely come directly from the military camp to Nanshun Street, his robes still slightly dusty.
She looked away from him, but her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the intricate plum blossom knot peeking out from beside the pillow.
The intricate plum blossom pattern looked somewhat familiar to Ji Shu, so she gently hooked it.
The object was so easily pulled out. Ji Shu looked closely and her pupils widened slightly. Wasn't this the sachet she had given him when she was in Chongzhou?
He actually carried it with him all the time, and just as she told him, he put it under his pillow.
Pei Yanzhi brought over a cup of hot tea, and Ji Shu hurriedly shoved it into the cup.
Forcing herself to remain calm, she found a way to start the conversation and asked, "I ran into Wei Ziming today. I wonder if he saw me?"
Pei Yanzhi maintained his calm and composed expression: "So what if I see you?"
Ji Shu said anxiously, "But I still need to do business in Yanzhou in the future. How can others trust someone with a bad reputation?"
"Besides, this world is inherently harsh on women. You are the dignified Marquis of Yan, the ruler of Yanzhou, so it's no problem for you. At most, it's just a romantic affair for you."
“For me, it’s a huge loss. Besides…” she looked up at him, “You, Lord Yan, have a stake in this business.”
Seeing her quick wit, Pei Yanzhi smiled slightly. "Don't worry, even if he sees it, he would never dare to tell Xingjian a word."
"Don't forget, the Wei family has a marriage agreement with our Pei family. How dare they offend me?"
Ji Shu's heart finally calmed down a little. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that it made sense. If this matter became too big, it would not do any good for the Wei family.
She worried that the marriage might fall through, and the thought of the way Wei Ziming looked at her today made her hair stand on end.
Dinner time.
The servants set out the dishes, and the two sat facing each other in the main hall of Wenxin Pavilion, having not eaten together for a long time.
Pei Yanzhi watched silently as she picked up food, ate in small bites, and took more of what she liked, while frowning slightly at what she didn't like and setting it aside.
Her manners were elegant, and her table manners were refined; she really didn't seem like a daughter raised in a humble family.
He asked casually, "I heard your parents passed away early. Do you still remember them?"
Ji Shu paused slightly with her chopsticks, then picked up some rice again and chewed it slowly, shaking her head very gently.
“I fell into the water and hit my head. I don’t remember many things, but my grandmother told me that my parents were very loving when they were alive.”
“After my mother gave birth to me, my grandmother forced my father to take a concubine because I was a girl, but my father always refused.”
Her tone carried a hint of envy; though they were not wealthy, they were a loving couple.
Even in death, we'll end up together.
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