Lu Tong and Pei Yunmeng’s marriage arrangement was progressing smoothly.
In Da Liang, marriages followed the "Six Etiquettes": nacai (engagement), wenming (inquiry about the name), naji (auspicious date selection), nazheng (betrothal gifts), qingqi (wedding date selection), and yingqin (welcoming the bride).
Since both Lu Tong’s and Pei Yunmeng’s parents had passed away, Pei Yunshu took charge. She hired a matchmaker who exchanged the betrothal letters. Blind Man He from West Street was also asked to match their birth charts. He proclaimed them a match made in heaven. Thus, they began deliberating the marriage and chose an auspicious day.
During those days, Pei Yunshu and Pei Yunmeng were both busy drafting the dowry list.
Qingfeng happened to glance over the dowry list once and couldn’t help but be astonished. Although their household was wealthy, she had never seen such a generous dowry. Was there any difference between this and handing over the entire Pei Mansion as a gift?
Pei Yunmeng, unconcerned, waved dismissively and added another estate to the list.
Qingfeng: "..."
Well, as long as he was happy.
As the days went by in busy preparation, one afternoon, Pei Yunmeng was painting in his room when Chi Jian came in from outside and said, "My lord, Young Master Pei Di requests an audience."
Pei Yunmeng paused in his brushwork and looked up.
"He has been persistent. He already visited twice when you were on duty in the palace," Chi Jian continued.
Pei Yunmeng had issued an order regarding the Pei Family members: if they ever set foot in his and Pei Yunshu’s residence, they were to be turned away without courtesies. However, now that Pei Di had passed, and the Pei Family had fallen into decline, even confronting them seemed to give them undeserved face.
After a moment of silence, Pei Yunmeng put down his brush and instructed, "Let him in."
Pei Yunxiao was quickly ushered in.
Lord Zhao Ning had three sons. The youngest was still a child, and although the second son, Pei Yunxiao, was illegitimate, he had always been genteel and graceful, with a charming appearance. However, having not seen him for a long time, the once elegant young master was no longer as composed as before; his clothes were wrinkled, and his eyes revealed a touch of impatience.
Pei Yunxiao stood still, gazing at the seated person.
Pei Yunmeng, his elder brother sat at the desk, his expression calm. The recent ascension of the new emperor brought turmoil but did not affect him in the slightest. He still looked impeccable, even more fearless than when he was at the Pei Mansion.
He had more confidence now.
"What brings you here?" the young man asked, looking down at his painting, nonchalantly starting the conversation.
"You’re getting married?"
"Did Second Young Master Pei come here to reminisce with me?" Pei Yunmeng replied.
Pei Yunxiao held back his emotions, "Father has passed away. It’s been so long; don’t you even want to go back and take a look?
Pei Yunmeng’s expression turned colder.
Pei Di was gone.
After the palace upheaval, news came from the Pei Mansion that Pei Di, upon hearing the news from the palace, was stricken with anger and agitation, triggering an old illness. Within a few days, he fell gravely ill and passed away.
And Pei Yunmeng, from beginning to end, never went back to take a look.
"Go back for what?" He began to laugh, looking up at Pei Yunxiao with an indifferent tone, "To lend my name to the Pei Family for face-saving appearances?"
Pei Yunxiao was at a loss for words.
Zhao Ning Manor was very close to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince was the loser.
Once Prince Ning, who had lain dormant for many years, ascended the throne, he ruthlessly began purging the old courtiers. Only the courtiers directly before the throne remained untouchable as mountains.
Anyone with discernment could see why this was so, and the Pei Family was no exception.
If they could now use Pei Yunmeng’s connections, perhaps the Pei Family might still have a flicker of hope.
Considering this, Pei Yunxiao’s tone softened.
"Elder brother," he began, trying to rekindle their past relationship, "even if you and father had misunderstandings, it’s been so many years, and any grudges should have been resolved by now. Ever since you left the Pei Mansion, father mentioned you every day, longing for you. On his deathbed, he was still calling your name..."
"Is that so?" Pei Yunmeng interrupted him, laughing sarcastically, "How did he die?"
Pei Yunxiao’s face stiffened.
"You don’t really believe I’m foolish enough to think he died of illness, do you?"
As if someone had suddenly exposed a deeply hidden secret, Pei Yunxiao involuntarily felt guilty.
"Who killed him?"
The young man’s stare was calm yet piercing, "Jiang Wan, Mei Yinang, or was it you yourself?"
Pei Yunxiao’s head buzzed, and he instinctively stepped back.
"No..." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
He stammered, unable to speak.
Actually, before the palace coup, Pei Di had already begun to lose control.
Zhao Ning Manor and the Crown Prince were too closely bound together, yet Emperor Liang Ming favored the Third Prince as the heir apparent. At that time, they were not aware that Pei Yunmeng was Prince Ning’s man, thinking instead that he was working for the Third Prince. However, once the Third Prince ascended the throne, the Pei Family would inevitably be suppressed.
But as the saying goes, "When the snipe and the clam grapple, it is the fisherman who profits." The ultimate winner turned out to be Prince Ning.
Prince Ning.
Yuan Lang and the previous Crown Prince, Yuan Xi, were as close as brothers, yet the death of Crown Prince Yuan Xi was far from clear-cut. Although Zhao Ning Manor was not directly involved, they certainly had a hand in facilitating the outcome. Prince Ning’s ascension to the throne would entail much graver consequences than if the Third Prince had become emperor.
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