Chapter 95: Is it because of excessive greed?
"Alright, you guys go ahead and pack up. I'm tired and want to rest for a while."
Chunzhi said with concern, "I'll go and get it ready right now, so you can rest well."
Ji Shu nodded, feeling sorry for their hard work, and said softly, "Once you're all done, go and rest. You started preparing before dawn, so you must be very tired now."
"I have hands and feet, I'll be fine."
The two reluctantly agreed.
In the evening, at the Pei residence.
After Pei Yanzhi returned from the military camp, he had just arrived at Wenxin Pavilion when he heard that the three of them, master and servant, had gone to Yuluozhai.
He chuckled inwardly and cursed: "They really can't wait even a moment longer. If I had known this would happen, I would have gone directly from the military camp to Changning Lane."
After freshening up a bit, just as I was about to leave, Wu Yang came to report that Shu Tong from Daofushou Garden had arrived.
Pei Yanzhi paused in his action of fastening his lapel. "Come in."
Shutong stood outside the house and said in a low voice, "My lord, the old lady requests your presence."
"Okay, I understand."
He strolled towards Fushou Garden, his steps exuding a sense of languor and ease. Lifting the curtain, he saw the old lady lying on a low couch, with a female physician attending to her behind him, gently massaging her forehead.
He raised an eyebrow, then silently sat down to the side, poured himself a cup of tea, and began to drink it.
Hearing the noise, Madam Pei knew it was him and asked irritably, "What? You came without making a sound? Are you trying to scare this old woman to death?"
"Such a temper!" Pei Yanzhi chuckled lightly.
"What happened? Who upset Mother?"
"Who in the entire mansion do you think can make me angry? I'm afraid that person doesn't know their own limitations!"
His hand holding the teacup paused slightly, feigning surprise, "Mother, are you perhaps referring to your son?"
"Alright, stop pretending." Madam Pei waved her hand, and the female physician behind her helped her sit up before stepping away.
At this moment, there was no one else in the room except for Granny Chang.
“This morning, Madam Ji came to say goodbye. I guessed it was mostly your idea, so I didn’t stop her.”
"What, are you thinking of letting them go?"
Pei Yanzhi looked at the pattern on the teacup and said in a calm tone, "Where did Mother hear this from?"
She paused slightly before continuing, "She's only going out to stay for a few days. I've arranged for her to stay in Yongning Lane."
Madam Pei leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze fixed on him. "I understand you even less now. There's more to it than meets the eye when you put her away. Do you think I don't know?"
He smiled faintly, took a sip of tea, and said, "The family will be holding a wedding soon, and I came here today specifically to tell my mother."
Madam Pei gasped, her hand trembling slightly as she pointed at him: "You...you...are you crazy?"
"Are you really going to marry her? Do you know how different you are in terms of status and position? Besides, is she even willing?"
She recalled Ji Shu's expression this morning, which clearly indicated she didn't know anything. Suppressing her surprise and doubt, she asked, "Could it be that Ji Shu doesn't know at all that you're planning to force her into marriage?"
Seeing Dalang's tacit expression, she was filled with shock. What kind of spell did Ji Shu cast on him to make him do such a thing?
She's so angry she's about to die!
Seeing his mother's agitated expression, Pei Yanzhi spoke gently with a coaxing tone: "I know this is a bit outrageous, but I brought her to Yanzhou precisely so that she could stay by my side for a long time."
"At first, I just wanted her to be by my side. Later, I wanted to be with her all the time. Now I'm getting more and more greedy. I just want her to have nothing but me in her heart and eyes."
“But… Jingchen.” Madam Pei hadn’t called him by his courtesy name in a long time, and even her voice had softened. “I think Ji Shu is not indifferent to you, but your actions… are really inappropriate.”
The word "Respectfully yours" momentarily made Pei Yanzhi feel somewhat dazed.
“Mother, I know all this, but my heart will not allow it. He is telling me that if I let her go, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”
"If one day, my daughter comes to her senses and realizes that she truly does not wish to stay by my side, then I will truly let her go."
Then, seemingly unconcerned, he added, "But right now, I know that she must stay by my side, even if it's with hatred!"
Madam Pei gave a bitter smile, her eyes filled with pity as she looked at him. Her son had taken power in his teens, and he would do anything to get what he wanted.
She was old and didn't know how many more years she had to live, but seeing Dalang so obsessed, she couldn't bear it in the end.
He sighed deeply.
He asked earnestly, "Has the date been set?"
Pei Yanzhi put down his teacup and smiled, "The eighth day of next month."
Madam Pei frowned and did the math, then was shocked: there were exactly half a month left!
"Why the rush? How could we have had time to prepare in all this time?"
As soon as he said it, he remembered that Pei Xingjian's wedding was in two months. If he didn't hurry, his father would be clashing with his son's wedding in January.
How could I not be anxious!
Then she remembered that it was precisely because Pei Xingjian was getting married that most of the preparations in the mansion had already been made.
He subconsciously glanced at his son across from him, wondering if he had planned this all along!
If we don't do it soon, and keep putting it off until next year, there won't be any auspicious days left.
This was exactly what Pei Yanzhi was thinking. If it was delayed until next year, who knew what changes might occur along the way? Therefore, the sooner the better.
Madam Pei rested her forehead on her hand, her mind still reeling. The person in Yongning Lane was mainly unaware of this news.
"So, are you going to keep it from her now, or tell her yourself?"
Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow and smiled, then slowly said, "On such a fine day, of course I should tell her myself."
"Didn't you ever think that if something went wrong along the way, your wedding day would become a laughing stock for you, Marquis Yan?"
Although they had only known each other for a few days, she could tell that the woman was extraordinary and that the glory and wealth that others saw were not necessarily what she sought.
I couldn't help but let out another long sigh. What a pair of sworn enemies.
It's as if all the anger of my life has been sighed out today.
He lowered his eyelids, concealing the emotions in his eyes, and when he looked up again, it was as if he had everything under his control.
"If that's really the case, my son will accept it."
Upon hearing this, Madam Pei's heart sank. Her eldest son's feelings for Ji Shu were far stronger than she had thought. If one day something were to happen...
I wonder if he can handle it!
...
After leaving Fushouin, I looked at the sky, which had become completely dark.
Wu Yang, carrying a lantern, suddenly asked, "Tell me, how do I treat Lady Ji?"
Wu Yang was startled and said respectfully, "I believe that even if Lady Ji wanted the stars in the sky, my lord would find a way to pluck them down."
"Then why is she so resistant to me?"
In the past two days, anyone with eyes could see that Ji Shu's attitude towards him seemed to have improved a lot, but he could sense that it wasn't genuine and was just a pretense.
He used to just want her to stay by his side, then he wanted her to bear him children, but now he wants her heart.
Could it be... that I'm just too greedy?
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