Chapter 8 Rejection
Pei Xingjian sat in the hall, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the teacup. The tea had been refilled three times, but he still couldn't calm his mind and felt inexplicably nervous.
Remembering her father's words, as long as Madam Ji was willing, everything would be fine.
My heart was burning with excitement, even impatient.
As soon as the door opened, the heavy snow outside continued. Chunzhi tied the cloak, lifted the brim of the cloak onto her, and placed the hand warmer into her palm.
He couldn't help but complain, "It's so cold. How can the young lady, who has just recovered from a serious illness, stand it?"
Ji Shu walked along the veranda towards the main hall, paused, and tapped her nose. "You, do you even know who he is?"
Chunzhi: "I don't care about his status. I only know that the young lady is frail. If she catches a cold, she will probably have to stay in bed all winter."
Ji Shu looked at the snow falling heavily in the courtyard. "His father is Pei Yanzhi, the governor of the twelfth prefecture of Yanzhou. He is also the Marquis of Yanzhou. The young master Pei we met yesterday is his only son, the heir of Yanzhou."
Chunzhi gasped, her heart skipping a beat: "What?"
She suddenly remembered that man; she had actually summoned the Marquis of Yanzhou to serve her for a whole night.
Before I could think about it carefully, we arrived at Yunxi Pavilion.
When Pei Xingjian sat down and saw Ji Shu under the eaves, he forgot his previous disheveled state.
Today she wore a moon-white pleated top with a silk sash adorned with jade pendants around her waist, and a light green skirt that trailed on the ground, graceful and elegant.
Wearing a dark red mink cloak over her head, Chunzhi stepped forward and removed the brim of her hat, revealing a beautiful face.
Pei Xingjian suddenly stood up from his chair, his handsome face breaking into a smile when he saw her arrive.
"Is Lady Ji well?"
Ji Shu curtsied and returned the greeting, saying, "Please sit, Young Master Pei."
Pei Xingjian was overjoyed: "You know who I am?"
Ji Shu sat opposite him, "Even if you didn't know at first, you know now."
Pei Xingjian pondered for a moment and realized that with his status, he couldn't hide it anyway, not to mention that he had no intention of hiding it.
Seeing that he was staring at her like that, she felt puzzled and asked, "Young Master Pei, is there something on my face?"
The young man's ears turned red. Although most men his age were already aware of matters of the heart, he had not yet taken a concubine in his own household.
She had come entirely on impulse, but seeing his somewhat unnatural expression, Ji Shu's doubts deepened. What was wrong?
Pei Xingjian suddenly asked, "Does Madam Ji have a suitor she admires?"
Ji Shu paused slightly in her teacup, her eyelashes trembling. She looked up, her voice already cold, "Why does Prince Pei ask such a question?"
Pei Xingjian didn't notice anything amiss. When he saw the water stains on her dress, he felt a little annoyed, but his eyes lit up.
His eyes were fixed on Ji Shu as he said, "Madam Ji, I am in love with you. May I welcome you into my family?"
After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Ji Shu suddenly realized that everything from yesterday to Chunzhi's request for help was a complete revelation.
Does he think that if I save him, I will agree to repay him with my body?
That's a huge joke.
So she turned around and slowly shook her head. "Your Highness, I am very grateful to you for calling the military doctor to examine me last night. It's just that my maid did not get my permission. But my grandmother has only been gone for a short time, so I am not considering marriage for the time being."
Pei Xingjian frowned, staring at Ji Shu, "What military doctor? I didn't..."
Ji Shu spoke again, "Alright, Prince Pei, I am not fully recovered and cannot stay any longer. Chunzhi, please see me out."
Chunzhi held her breath. The young woman had mistaken her for someone else. Last night, she had asked Yanhou for help. But she carefully observed the young woman's expression.
He gave up and then tried to persuade her, "Young Master Pei, my wife had a fever last night and just woke up an hour ago."
Sure enough, seeing that her face was still slightly pale, he felt a pang of pity, but at the same time, he was also annoyed.
He had never been rejected by a woman like this before. In Yanzhou, or even in other prefectures, only women from various places were infatuated with him, and some even offered themselves to him.
His handsome face fell slightly, but he still maintained his composure.
Chunzhi was a little scared. She glanced at the young woman and saw that she was just sitting in the chair, calmly drinking tea, as if she hadn't noticed anything.
Pei Xingjian composed himself and said, "Since Madam Ji is unwell, she should rest for a few days. I hope she will think carefully about what I have to say."
After saying that, he stood up, turned around, and left.
After the others had gone some distance, Chunzhi hurriedly spoke up, "Young lady, last night it was Marquis Yan, not Young Master Pei."
Ji Shu, "What do you mean?"
“Last night you had a fever, so I went to the prefect’s mansion but couldn’t find Young Master Pei. I happened to run into Marquis Yan on patrol, so I called the military doctor to examine you.”
Ji Shu raised her voice angrily: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Chunzhi said aggrievedly, "You didn't even ask whether it was the son or the father."
"..."
Ji Shu had no direct contact with Pei Yanzhi; the only contact was yesterday when he escorted her back to her residence. Therefore, she naturally thought of Pei Xingjian.
Ji Shu sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"Never mind, it's already been said."
Chunzhi had been secretly observing her expression. Seeing that her expression had softened considerably, she carefully chose her words: "Then... I saw that Young Master Pei was so sincere towards you, young lady, why did you refuse him..."
"A pure and sincere city?"
A cold smile crept across her beautiful lips: "Why don't you ask him whether he wants to marry me as his legal wife or take me as a concubine?"
"ah!"
Ji Shuxue blushed slightly and gave a cold smile: "If I'm not mistaken, he just thinks that it's already a great favor to take me, a merchant's daughter, as a concubine, and that he's even doing me a favor."
Chunzhi said indignantly, "Pah! I thought this Prince Pei was good-looking and from a good family, but it turns out he's just so obsessed with social status."
Ji Shu looked out the window, a chill running through her heart. In this world, men could have beautiful concubines and wives, and even dote on them a little more, but when it came to interests and politics...
Always know what to give up.
Ji Shu stared blankly at the falling snow outside the window, secretly deciding in her heart that if she were to become someone's concubine...
Absolutely impossible!
Pei Xingjian's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water after he stepped outside.
Seeing this, Lu Changfeng guessed that the young master had most likely been turned away.
He said jokingly, "Young Master, have you run into a snag?"
Pei Xingjian's anger surged, and he snorted coldly, "There is nothing in Yanzhou that I, Pei Xingjian, cannot obtain if I desire it!"
Lu Changfeng looked at the plaque outside the door and lowered his voice, saying, "Young Master, you must not let Madam Ji know about this. You know, Madam Ji is beautiful and has a bit of a temper, which is fine. I think it's because you spoke so abruptly that you were being abrupt. You can take things slowly later, that would be the best course of action."
Seeing that the prince's expression softened, he pressed on, "You can give him some things that young ladies of this age like to use, such as jewelry, rouge, and face powder."
Pei Xingjian glanced at Lu Changfeng and said with a smile, "I didn't expect you to know these things."
"Women only love a few things: a handsome young man, and it would be best if he were rich and powerful."
"Besides, Your Highness, with your status and position, it would be a piece of cake for you to please a young lady. I guarantee that Lady Ji will obediently wait for you to take her into your household."
Pei Xingjian's anger gradually dissipated, and he chuckled as he cracked his whip: "Alright, as you wish."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com