Chapter 76 Refusal
A hint of amazement flashed in Pei Song's eyes, but due to his status, he dared not look at her for too long.
Pei Yanzhi, standing to the side, suddenly chuckled, breaking the silence in the room: "What's wrong? Didn't Mother always want to see her?"
"Shu'er, this is my mother, this is my second brother Pei Song, and next to him is my sister-in-law Song."
Ji Shu stepped aside and curtsied, saying, "Ji Shu greets the old lady. May the old lady be blessed with good health and longevity."
He then nodded slightly to Pei Song and Song Yunshu in greeting.
The old lady did not immediately tell her to get up. Ji Shu remained in a half-squatting position. After a while, her body inevitably trembled slightly, in addition to her already feeling somewhat unwell.
Pei Yanzhi saw this and felt sorry for her. He himself couldn't bear to hit or scold her, so he really couldn't bear to see her suffer like this.
He stepped forward and said, "Alright, get up."
Madam Pei, who was beside him, glared at him fiercely. He had lost face in front of outsiders. Finally, Ji Shu heard Madam Pei's voice from above: "Get up and sit down to have dinner with us!"
Pei Yanzhi realized his mistake and touched the tip of his nose.
Ji Shu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she straighten up.
Upon noticing that one person was missing from the room, Pei Yanzhi frowned slightly.
He asked, "Where is Xingjian?"
Ji Shu's heart tightened, and Song Shi continued, "Brother, wasn't Xingjian assigned by you to train the new recruits?"
Thinking of this, Pei Yanzhi glanced at Ji Shu's expression and saw that her expression had softened slightly, which made him feel a surge of frustration.
He knew it was his jealousy acting up again. After calming himself down, Pei Yanzhi frowned silently when he saw the dishes on the table.
She called out loudly, "Granny Chang, take the dishes downstairs and heat them up. How can we eat them cold?"
He paused, then added, "Have the kitchen prepare some dishes from the Chongzhou region!"
These words shocked everyone present. Madam Pei's expression darkened slightly, and Ji Shu was secretly alarmed.
Didn't he know that Madam Pei was already displeased by her expression? Besides, what was his status now? This special treatment as a temporary resident was really putting her in a difficult position.
The atmosphere gradually cooled down because of her, and no one dared to speak at this moment.
Ji Shu lowered her eyelids slightly, but Pei Yanzhi seemed oblivious, pouring himself a cup of tea and taking a small sip.
"Hmm, it's not as good as the West Lake Longjing tea from the other day!"
Madam Pei squinted at Ji Shu and said, "If Marquis Yan likes it, I'll have Granny Chang prepare some to take with him later. How can such a large manor like this leave Marquis Yan without tea?"
"Am I right, Madam Ji?"
Ji Shu raised her eyes and smiled slightly, looking at the gaze coming from across the room. She curled her lips and said, "You're right, the entire Yanzhou belongs to you, Lord Jun."
Madam Pei nodded slightly, and Song Yunshu suddenly asked, "I wonder where Madam Ji is from? Does she have any relatives?"
Ji Shu shook her head, her expression turning somewhat somber: "No, there used to be another grandmother, but she hanged herself on the day the city fell!"
Song Yunshu's face turned pale, and she apologized repeatedly, "Ah!"
"I'm so sorry, little sister, I touched on something that hurt your feelings!"
Ji Shu glanced at it indifferently and said in a low voice, "It's alright, Grandmother has been gone for several months."
Madam Pei hadn't expected that she and her eldest son had such a past. If that was really the case, then in the end, it was her eldest son who had wronged her.
His last remaining relative had all left him, and now he had been forcibly brought here to a place where he knew no one.
He sighed inwardly: What a terrible thing!
She couldn't help but glare at Pei Yanzhi again, as if to say, "Look at the beastly things you've done."
Pei Yanzhi glanced helplessly at Ji Shu, knowing that this little fox was putting on an act again. Didn't he know that her relationship with her grandmother was never very good?
The reheated food was served, and he nodded in satisfaction when he saw that there was finally something she liked on the table.
He instructed, "The kitchen did a good job today, there's a reward for you!"
Wu Yang quickly replied, "This subordinate thanks the lord for the reward on behalf of the kitchen."
Madam Pei said calmly, "Alright, everyone eat. It's rare for lunch to be served so late."
Ji Shu's face was slightly flushed. "It's all because we arrived late. Perhaps it's because we're new here and we're not used to the local environment. We felt a little unwell this morning."
Madam Pei glanced at Pei Yanzhi with a reproachful look, but her tone softened considerably when she turned to Ji Shu: "Madam Ji is new to Yanzhou and needs some time to adjust. Your eldest son has just returned and must be very busy with official duties. Why don't you let Madam Ji keep me company and talk to me more?"
Pei Yanzhi paused slightly as he twirled the ring on his finger, then smiled and said, "There are many official matters waiting for me to handle."
Madam Pei nodded in satisfaction, "Your husband can go about his business after he finishes eating. Let Madam Song and Madam Ji keep me company for a while."
She glanced at Pei Song and Madam Song indifferently, and Madam Song hurriedly replied, "Yes, Mother."
Madam Pei was quite troubled to see that the two of them were not like an ordinary couple, and that there was a distance between them in their hearts and eyes.
Erlang and Dalang were truly worlds apart. Perhaps it was because he was too spoiled that Erlang could not even make decisions in his own room, and even taking a concubine required Song's approval.
After lunch, Pei Yanzhi and Pei Song left first. As they left, he glanced at Ji Shu.
At this moment, only three women remained in the room.
Shutong brewed the tea and poured it for the two of them in turn. Suddenly, Madam Pei spoke up: "I heard from Dalang that this Qiuyinong is Madam Ji's shop?"
Madam Song glanced at Ji Shu, then lowered her eyes to conceal her emotions. A pleasant female voice rang out beside her: "Reporting to the old lady, my mother is skilled in making incense and taught me this craft. Opening the shop is just to supplement the family income."
In this world, very few women go out to do business and do it so well. The items in Autumn's Breeze are not only exquisitely made, but also perfectly suited to the tastes of noble ladies of the time.
Based on this alone, Madam Pei felt a great liking for her. Thinking of her difficult life and the fact that she had no relatives left, she sighed softly.
"It's rare that you have such a thoughtful thought. Now that you and Jingchen are together, I will make the decision to have him welcome you into the manor with the courtesy due to a concubine. What do you say?"
The old lady's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the silent hall.
Ji Shu trembled upon hearing this, and suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief. Even Song Shi, who was standing beside her, was startled. She subconsciously looked at the old lady, her tone slightly hesitant: "Mother, shouldn't we discuss this matter with my eldest brother?"
How could such a major decision be made so hastily?
Ji Shu swallowed hard, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and said respectfully and firmly with her head bowed, "Please forgive me, Madam. The Marquis promised me that I would only stay for a short time and would leave soon."
"If I agree to your request now, and the lord questions me about it later, then I will be in the wrong. I hope the old lady will understand!"
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent again.
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