The winter sun shone on the gates of the imperial palace in Shangjing, carrying with it a touch of chill.
Pei Shushu walked out of the palace gate step by step. Although it was just a formality, she was still exhausted and her stomach was growling with hunger.
Looking around, I didn't see any of the Marquis's carriages.
Pei Shushu looked around in confusion. Jiang Shuwan had told her earlier that she would wait for her here.
Why is it gone now?
With a sigh, a familiar figure came into view.
The man was dressed in a sky-blue official robe, and his temperament and manners were excellent. However, his handsome face with its well-defined features looked strangely familiar.
"You, you, you're not the thief who broke into our manor that day...?"
Pointing at Yao Zhijie, Pei Shushu covered her mouth in astonishment.
Yao Zhijie never expected to meet Pei Shushu here.
Looking at her clothes, I could tell she had failed to be selected in the talent show, and I was immediately filled with joy.
"There was a misunderstanding about what happened that day. I am not a thief, but a classmate of your brother Pei Yanzhi. I went to the Marquis's residence to discuss something, and I had no intention of offending him."
He seemed very excited, which startled Pei Shushu.
The little girl took a few steps back and looked at him warily.
However, thinking about it, the Marquis's mansion is indeed not a place that a thief can visit again and again.
Besides, this is the palace gate; even a conman wouldn't dare to wear an official's robe to scam people here.
"I see... Then don't do it secretly anymore..."
I can't describe how I feel.
Anyway, it's quite a strange feeling that the handsome thief I met before has become my brother and friend.
After staring blankly at Yao Zhijie for a couple of seconds, Pei Shushu turned to leave after speaking.
Seeing that she was about to leave, Yao Zhijie stepped forward and stared into Pei Shushu's clear eyes, mustering his courage.
"Fourth Miss, do you have a betrothed?" He used all his strength to ask this question.
From the very first day he met Pei Shushu in the manor, this sentence seemed to have taken root in his heart.
Only now do I dare to say it.
"..."
Unexpectedly, he, a grown man, would ask such a question. Her face turned ashamed and she was too embarrassed to face anyone. She was also so angry that she was panting heavily. Pei Shushu pointed at him angrily.
"You are extremely rude. Men and women should not touch each other. I have only met you twice. Why are you asking about such private matters?"
After saying that, she glared at him and continued walking forward without turning her head.
Yao Zhijie realized he had acted rashly in his haste. He apologized while following closely behind Pei Shushu, wanting to stop her but not daring to.
"What are you doing? Get away from me..."
"Don't be angry, I didn't mean to offend you..."
"Then go away..."
"..."
Yao Zhijie dared not leave; if he did, he would lose his wife.
"Fourth Miss..."
He wanted to explain further, but Jiang Shuwan, carrying two bags of pastries, came around the corner.
"Young Master Yao, what are you doing?"
Jiang Shuwan scrutinized Yao Zhijie, and as she spoke, she pulled Pei Shushu behind her, the girl staring at Yao Zhijie with hostility.
Who would have thought Yao Zhijie was such a lecher?
"What's it to you? I'm not talking to you." Yao Zhijie still had the same disdainful attitude towards Jiang Shuwan as he did that morning.
"..."
Frowning, Jiang Shuwan waved to signal the guards to send him away, but Pei Shushu jumped out from behind her and started cursing at Yao Zhijie.
"How can you be so rude? My sister-in-law hasn't offended you, yet you speak to me so impolitely. I used to think you were a thief struggling to make a living, and I even gave you some money. I never expected you to be so impolite..."
"..."
What thief?
Pei Shushu had met Yao Zhijie before?
After a long pause, Jiang Shuwan remembered that Pei Shushu had told her a while ago that it seemed a thief had broken into the mansion.
She even sent people to investigate, but nothing was stolen from the mansion, so she put the matter aside.
Could that thief be Yao Zhijie?
And if she remembered correctly, Pei Yanzhi hadn't entered officialdom yet at that time, so Pei Yanzhi and Yao Zhijie were already on good terms?
And they met secretly.
The Yao family is connected to Consort Li and the Sixth Prince. If that's the case, Pei Yanzhi's involvement in the Sixth Prince's enfeoffment as a prince was also inevitable.
With her eyes narrowed, Jiang Shuwan's thoughts became increasingly profound.
"Fourth Miss, I was rude today. I will take my leave now. Tomorrow... I will definitely come to apologize in person tomorrow."
the next day.
As expected, Yao Zhijie arrived with gifts, accompanied by his elder sister, Yao Jinshu.
Jiang Shuwan and Yao Jinshu had a good relationship. Yao Jinshu had spoken up for her at the plum blossom banquet, so even though she didn't want to talk to Yao Zhijie, Jiang Shuwan didn't turn him away.
Most importantly, she discovered that Pei Shushu's feelings for Yao Zhijie were different from her feelings for others.
Pei Shushu is a very easy girl to understand. If she really dislikes someone, she won't even give them a glance.
"Sister Jinshu, please have some tea."
Jiang Shuwan sat in the main seat and gestured for Yao Jinshu to drink. Yao Jinshu smiled, picked up her teacup, and drank. Yao Zhijie sat to her left, holding his teacup but glancing outwards.
What a worthless piece of trash!
"Whoosh—"
With a shout, Yao Jinshu stomped on Yao Zhijie's foot, and Yao Zhijie jumped up with a "whoop!" while clutching his foot.
"Elder sister, what are you doing..." He quickly shut his mouth when he realized everyone was looking at him.
His sister's kick was truly merciless; it hurt him terribly.
My buttocks weren't even healed yet, and now my feet hurt too. It's really miserable.
"Cough cough."
After coughing twice, Yao Jinshu smiled and said, "Wanwan, where is your fourth sister? I hope my foolish brother didn't take it to heart last time."
Understanding each other perfectly, Jiang Shuwan gave Qingxing a look.
"Go and invite the Fourth Miss out."
Pei Shushu arrived in a flurry of activity. The little girl's face fell as soon as she saw Yao Zhijie, and she glared at him.
"What, it's you again? Are you causing trouble for my sister-in-law again?"
"I..." Yao Zhijie was speechless.
He wanted to say that I wasn't, that I didn't.
However, Pei Shushu completely ignored him, not even glancing at him, and only greeted Jiang Shuwan and Yao Jinshu.
"I...I...I..."
Yao Zhijie talked for a long time, but couldn't come up with a clear answer.
"Miss, the snow-viewing banquet is ready. Please move to the snow-viewing pavilion."
"Sister Jinshu, please."
Jiang Shuwan smiled and stood up, inviting Yao Jinshu to walk into the garden.
Pei Shushu and Yao Zhijie were a step behind them. Yao Zhijie kept looking at Pei Shushu, but Pei Shushu still didn't seem to care.
Seeing that Jiang Shuwan and her sister were chatting in front and no one was paying attention to them, Yao Zhijie quickly took a step towards Pei Shushu.
"Don't be angry. I really didn't mean it yesterday. I know you're a woman, and I shouldn't have asked about your marriage so easily..."
He spoke softer and softer, and his face flushed with a particularly innocent blush.
Pei Shushu blushed deeply after hearing his words.
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