Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Do you prefer mine or his? ...
Wu Jingxun had no idea that the two brothers were secretly beating each other up, leaving both of them disfigured. She got off the carriage, but unexpectedly found Wu Peifeng getting off another carriage.
"Aye." Wu Jingxun called out to him, but was not prepared to say more to him.
Wu Peifeng nodded. Even though he had been staying at the government office for the past few days, his eyes were still bright and his brows were furrowed. He looked at Wu Jingxun with an inexplicable melancholy in his eyes. "The date for your wedding with the Marquis of Pingning has been set. You should stay home and prepare for your wedding. Don't go out unless necessary."
He spoke casually, as if this was the most normal thing.
Wu Jingxun didn't comment, only asking, "Aye, are you back because of Madam Sun and Shunhua's matter?"
Wu Peifeng quickened his pace slightly: "I know how to handle this matter."
Looking at his back, Wu Jingxun unconsciously sneered.
When Wu Peifeng received the news that Sun Luqiu was going to move out of the Wu Mansion with her daughter, he hurried back. Fengping Courtyard was deserted and even the flowers in the yard had been uprooted.
Don't leave him any thoughts.
Wu Peifeng stood dazed in the middle of the empty courtyard. Madam Tong, who had rushed over after hearing the news, saw his distraught state and felt a surge of jealousy and pain. She tugged at her shawl and said coldly, "Even if you've been willing to be a cuckold for over a decade, you couldn't persuade me to soften my heart. You immediately moved out with your bastard. Ha, who knows, maybe there'll be a wedding next month?"
The woman's voice was sharp. She was not afraid of Wu Peifeng's cold and somewhat gloomy expression. She just used a louder tone to cover up the slight hope hidden in her heart.
Sun Luqiu finally left, and now the four of them can live a good life.
But her expectations, just like the previous decade or so, were dashed.
Wu Peifeng made no secret of his dislike for her, even hatred for her. "Yes, back then, to curry favor with the rich and powerful, I chose to marry Qiu Niang, who was already pregnant, and even endured this cuckoldry for so many years! Don't you know why?"
The usually gentle and refined man suddenly turned surly and sinister. Madam Tong couldn't help but take a step back, but after hearing the meaning behind his words, her eyes widened in anger: "I know? What do I know?! Ever since I married you, I've diligently taken care of the household chores, gave birth to Cong'er and Jingxun for you, and even used my most precious dowry to support your studies and exams despite Father's objections. What have I done wrong?!"
Wu Peifeng closed his eyes. "Are you marrying me? I'm the one marrying into your Tong family. Everyone in the Tong family looks down on me. Even you, a mere merchant's daughter with a smell of money, dare to yell at me. If you continue to live like this, you might as well kill me."
So he was willing and even couldn't wait to reach a cooperation with Sun Luqiu. The two of them served as a cover for each other. She gave birth to a child through this marriage, and he could also worship the old minister as his father-in-law and have a place in officialdom.
But they didn't expect that Wu Peifeng would fall in love with Sun Luqiu.
Wu Peifeng looked at the empty courtyard, twitching his lips in self-mockery. He glanced at Madam Tong, whose face looked extremely pale, as if she had been struck by lightning. "I will live in the government office from now on. This house is yours. Do as you please."
"I will come back on the day Jingxun gets married. You don't have to expect anything else."
Looking at his ruthless back, Mrs. Tong's blood boiled. Was she fighting for so much just for an empty house?
·
Wu Jingxun no longer cares about what happened between Ye Niang.
It was said that Wu Peifeng had left the house in a hurry again, riding his horse towards the outskirts of Beijing, while Madam Tong fell ill in bed. The disease was so severe that the originally plump woman quickly lost weight. In just a few days, she was almost unrecognizable.
The mansion was filled with gloom and sadness, so naturally no one remembered her birthday.
Tong Pingfu stayed for only a few days. After giving her a birthday present in advance, he boarded a ship to Qiongzhou to sell goods and promised to give her the most fiery red and gorgeous coral tree in Qiongzhou as a wedding gift on her wedding day.
May 27th is Wu Jingxun’s sixteenth birthday.
When she woke up in the morning, she heard Cuiping and Ziping smiling and congratulating her: "May you have a worry-free life and a happy birthday."
The two of them seemed afraid that today would be too quiet, so they prepared longevity noodles and hung colorful paper lanterns in the yard. The dexterous Ziping even pasted red flowers on the wooden figures she had carved in the past to practice.
Wu Jingxun accepted their kindness with a smile and spent the day quietly. Seeing that the sun was setting, the magnificent sunset glowed almost half of the sky red. Wu Jingxun looked up and looked at the beautiful scenery of the green curtain and a streak of red. The last bit of sadness and unwillingness in his heart also evaporated with the clouds.
There was no movement from Madam Tong or Wuxu Cong. Cuiping stamped her feet anxiously in the backyard. "How could Madam and the eldest son be so heartless? Madam went to Madam's bedside a few days ago to ask about her well-being and did so much for the eldest son so that he could concentrate on his studies. But on such a big day as Madam's sixteenth birthday, these two didn't even bother to pay any attention. It's truly heartbreaking."
Ziping pulled her and told her to speak more quietly, saying that if her wife heard it, it would only make her more sad.
It would be a lie to say that Wu Jingxun didn't care at all, but the bitterness only lingered in his heart for a moment before dissipating with the night wind.
"Cuiping, Ziping, let's go out for a walk." In order to wash away the bad luck of the failed sacrifice on the day of the Flower God Festival, the emperor specially ordered the exemption of this month's curfew. Recently, the people of Jinling have also developed a hobby of going out at night and having fun all night long.
The two of them suddenly widened their eyes when they saw Wu Jingxun, who was rarely wearing bright clothes.
Wu Jingxun was stared at by two people with strange and intense gazes. She looked down at herself uncomfortably and asked, "Doesn't it look good dressed like this?"
It looks good, but it’s more than just good looking!
The girl who always liked to wear green clothes changed into a lychee red jacket with grape branches and a colorful blue necklace tied to her jade white silk skirt. Her clothes were bright and charming, and she was beautiful, which was really pleasing to the eye.
The master and his servants decided to put aside their unhappiness and go out happily.
The master was away and the mistress was ill and didn't want to take care of things. Wu Jingxun walked out of the main gate of the Wu Mansion in broad daylight. Before he had taken a few steps, someone suddenly grabbed his arm.
Wu Jingxun looked over in surprise and saw a smiling face.
It is Huangmeizhu.
"Zhuzhu?" Wu Jingxun was a little surprised, and her guard relaxed. Huang Meizhu pulled her to sit in the carriage. As soon as they sat down, the carriage started to move.
Wu Jingxun still didn't understand the situation: "Where are we going?"
"Celebrating your birthday!" Huang Meizhu winked playfully. "But don't be too touched. After all, I'm just a small fry who does things according to orders. The one who really wants to celebrate your birthday is still waiting for you in the villa."
Wu Jingxun silently ruled out her family members and hesitated for a while, a faint blush staining her lotus-like face: "But...Prince Pei?"
When she expressed this guess, not only did Cuiping and the others sitting in the carriage look at each other in surprise and joy, but even Huang Meizhu was laughing.
Seeing the girl's ears getting redder and redder, Huang Meizhu quickly stopped laughing and nodded: "Yes, that's right! If it weren't for Master Pei's pleading and saying so many nice things, I wouldn't be so easy to please!"
Begging so hard and saying so many nice things... Wu Jingxun found it hard to connect them with the cheerful and upright Prince Pei.
Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Huang Meizhu burst out laughing. She felt that if such a simple and gentle beauty married Pei Jinguang, she would definitely be eaten alive by that old fox. But she also felt that she was so cute that she couldn't bear to continue deceiving her.
"Well, actually, Prince Pei wanted to celebrate your birthday, but he was afraid of disturbing you, so he came to me." Huang Meizhu didn't mention the situation at home, but just smiled and said, "Not only me, but Ta Ge and the others are also waiting at the villa. We must not leave until we are drunk tonight!"
Wu Jingxun had never drunk alcohol before, but when she saw Huang Meizhu's bright and happy smile, she suddenly felt a surge of passion in her heart.
"Okay, I won't go home until I'm drunk!"
·
Wu Jingxun didn't have many friends. The ones who came were the eleven girls who had played the flower goddess with her and entered the underground palace that day.
This villa is quiet in the midst of the hustle and bustle, with pavilions by the water, willows on the steps and flowers in the courtyard, and the layout is very elegant. Considering that they are all female relatives, they are not served by servants, only maids come in and out. There are only female relatives at the table, so there are not many concerns when talking and chatting. Wu Jingxun was surrounded by them, holding a wine glass and listening to them talk and chat, with a faint blush on his face, looking a little drunk.
Although this banquet was organized at the instigation of Pei Jinguang, he never wanted to make things difficult for her, so he left enough guards outside the villa. Together with the few secret guards left for Wu Jingxun, it should be enough.
But he still wanted to give her the birthday present in person.
Besides the sound of Xuan Guangcheng's footsteps on the bluestone slabs, there was also another sound of footsteps.
He came slowly and calmly, perhaps the person was not afraid of being discovered by him.
Pei Jinguang subconsciously moved his eyebrows, and finally waited until the bruise at the corner of his eye disappeared before he dared to see Jingxun.
Otherwise, Jingxun would see the injuries on his face and out of politeness, he would inevitably say a few words of concern, but how should he say it?
To be honest, was it because he couldn't control his emotions for a moment and had a fight with his fiancée's brother, who confessed that he admired his future sister-in-law, that caused this bruise on his face?
Pei Jinguang felt that he could not afford to lose face, nor did he want to bring extra burden to Wu Jingxun.
The moonlight is bright tonight, falling on the young man's face. Although he is still injured, the fearless and wanton expression on his face reveals a kind of charming and handsomeness that is very eye-catching.
"I don't want to fight with you again, go back."
Pei Jinguang was brief and to the point. He had to deliver the gift before the banquet ended so that he could escort her home afterwards.
Prince Rong and his entourage were lurking behind the shadows like poisonous insects. Pei Jinguang would not let her take any risks until he knew their next move.
"You are the only one who has a gift to give, don't I have one?" Pei Huaiguang now didn't know whether to say that he was giving up or to express his desire to rob people openly.
He didn't want to use the Pei family's money to buy her a gift, and he didn't know what he could give her. In addition, Madam Qiong discovered the injury on his face and angrily punished Pei Jinguang to kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole night. Pei Huaiguang was so annoyed that he simply hid in the mountains for two days.
This hiding made him discover something good.
Pei Jinguang sat on his horse, looking down at the young man standing below. He was only five years younger than him. The young man's thin and tall but extremely powerful body stood straight. Perhaps even Erlang himself did not notice that when he mentioned Jingxun and his own feelings, the hostility on his face that was like frost on a snowy mountain all year round was replaced by a soft and awkward smile.
Pei Jinguang saw this and felt very displeased.
"She won't accept it." Pei Jinguang tried his best to make his aggressiveness and... that inexplicable jealousy less obvious. "Erlang, don't humiliate yourself."
These words were said in the past, oh no, there is no need to put the timeline too far back, even if it was a month ago, this brother was tolerant and accommodating to him in every way.
It’s nothing like now, where people almost put their harshness out in the open.
But Pei Huaiguang actually likes this state.
He doesn't like opponents who restrict and give in everywhere. If he wants to compete or fight, he'd rather be straightforward.
Pei Huaiguang raised his head. The faint bruises on his face did not detract from his handsomeness at all, but instead added a different kind of evilness.
“How do you know if you don’t try?”
"Or are you afraid, brother? Afraid that she will accept my gift, afraid that she is also looking forward to my arrival."
Looking at Pei Jinguang's gloomy face, Pei Huaiguang almost laughed out loud. He hummed a little song from the grassland happily as he passed by Xuan Guangcheng.
"Brother, aren't you coming?"
·
Fortunately, Pei Jinguang still had some rationality left and did not go forward to grab Pei Huaiguang and beat him up again.
When they arrived, the girls sitting in the yard were in a mess. Only Wu Jingxun was still barely awake, but when she saw the two brothers, she couldn't help but be stunned.
"Why are you here?"
It was not convenient to talk here, so Pei Jinguang paused and walked towards the Moon Gate, using the lush flower garden to block their figures.
Under the moonlight, he held out a rosewood box and said softly, "Today is your birthday, so of course I have to come and congratulate you in person."
Wu Jingxun drank a few glasses of wine, and her head felt dizzy, but she still remembered basic etiquette. She took the box and nodded seriously to Pei Jinguang: "Thank you."
Pei Jinguang nodded with a smile, and then told her about today's banquet, asking her if she liked this courtyard and whether she was used to the food cooked by the chef here.
Pei Huaiguang realized that this scheming elder brother just wanted to take away all of Wu Jingxun's patience and leave none for him.
How could he bear it?
"Here! This is a birthday gift I prepared for you!" A wooden box suddenly appeared before him. The material and workmanship looked much rougher than the previous one, but Wu Jingxun was dizzy and his vision was blurry. He subconsciously took it and muttered, "Thank you."
A smug smile appeared on Pei Huaiguang's face, and he raised his chin slightly towards Pei Jinguang.
She accepted it!
So what?
Pei Jinguang responded with a look. The girl held a box in each of her slender white hands. It was obvious which one she liked better.
Pei Huaiguang held his breath: "Which one do you like better?"
How can you say such rude words to my face?
Although Wu Jingxun was a little tipsy, her reason told her not to say anything that would offend others.
so--
"Let's go watch the fireworks!"
Pei Huaiguang felt that he had misheard the sudden words.
This old-fashioned guy also likes watching fireworks?
On the grassland, fireworks are very precious. Fireworks that have traveled thousands of miles often require a lot of things from the tribe to be exchanged for those magical items that can make the whole sky sing and glow from the hands of shrewd merchants from the Central Plains.
Pei Huaiguang also once lay on a haystack, away from the crowd, admiring the rare beautiful scenery on the open grassland.
After hearing his questioning words, Wu Jingxun glared at him unhappily: "I can't watch the fireworks?"
She specifically asked Cuiping and the others to buy a lot of fireworks so that she could watch the night sky filled with fireworks that belonged only to her on her birthday. This was a birthday wish that only she knew about.
If no one can help her achieve it, then she has to do it herself.
Pei Huaiguang wanted to say something else, but Pei Jinguang raised his hand to stop him. He smiled at the girl, who looked obviously a little uneasy, and said, "Okay, let's go set off the fireworks together."
As the fireworks soared into the sky, exploding with brilliant light in the originally silent and deep night sky, Wu Jingxun looked up and smiled a happy, almost carefree smile.
Pei Huaiguang looked at her, then looked at Pei Jinguang.
As expected, his serious and steady brother had already been staring at the girl's beautiful face, and was completely lost in thought.
Pei Huaiguang sneered, Jinling people, hypocrites!
But he was still better. This was the second time he had seen such a smile. His smile was not as out of control and ignorant as his.
Cuiping and the others not far away were setting off fireworks with all their heart and soul. It was their lady's birthday, so of course they had to fulfill this wish!
Amid the continuous sound of fireworks, Pei Huaiguang closed his eyes, lowered his head slightly, and made a wish in grassland language.
At that time, he heard that if you make a wish with your loved one under the fireworks, your wish will come true. At that time, he scoffed at it, thinking that the people in the tribe didn't want to waste such expensive fireworks, so they tried their best to come up with some tricks.
But when he really found himself in the situation, Pei Huaiguang hoped that it was not just a rumor.
He sincerely looked forward to watching fireworks with her every year.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Today’s diary mini-theater——
Wu Banban: I had a great birthday this year. I want to watch the fireworks again next year!
Pei Da: She looks so pretty when she smiles
Pei Er: Ha, it’s just a fireworks display, what’s so exciting about that… (After finishing his notes, Pei Er ran around the wall twenty times that night.)
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