Chapter 48:
The two did not chat for long before Xie Yanyu, having heard the news, came looking for them.
His usually aloof expression was somewhat cold. He lowered his eyes and looked at his younger sister for a long time without asking much, instead saying, “Shall we go back?”
Xie Wanning had always felt some awe toward this elder brother, and seeing his cold expression now made her even more uneasy, so of course she chose to go back with him.
Pei Yuqing did not try to keep them either, personally escorting the brother and sister to the main gate, and even after the carriage disappeared from sight, he still did not withdraw his gaze for a long time.
Behind him, Princess Duanyang’s confidant granny waited a moment before stepping forward and softly urging, “Young Lord, Your Highness has been waiting for you for nearly two hours.”
Pei Yuqing lowered his eyes to glance at her before turning and entering the residence.
The flower appreciation banquet was still ongoing, with Princess Duanyang receiving guests in the main hall, and the madams from the other branches of the Pei Family sitting beside her.
A maidservant hurried in from outside and whispered a few words in her ear. Princess Duanyang’s expression shifted, she set down the teacup in her hand, smiled, rose from her seat, and walked away while softly instructing, “Go to the front courtyard and invite the consort over.”
Having waited twenty-seven years, her son finally showed signs of coming around—how could she not investigate thoroughly?
Even a three-branch trial would not be too formal.
As soon as Pei Yuqing entered the door, he saw his mother beaming with smiles and his father pretending to be calm.
His footsteps paused slightly as he endured his parents’ burning gazes and bowed in salute.
Princess Duanyang pointed to the seat beside her. After her son sat down, her face full of joy, she said, “Quickly tell Mother, what is that Xie Family young lady like? Is she truly as your younger sister said—dignified and virtuous, with a gentle temperament?”
“…Not at all,” Pei Yuqing was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on his younger sister huddled in the corner as he said, “She is lively and playful, with a very fiery temper, not a dignified and gentle young lady.”
The princess was slightly stunned, then waved her hand dismissively, not minding at all: “That’s no problem; a young lady should have some temper.”
She had longed for a daughter-in-law so much her eyes were turning green, and now with hope in sight, even if that Xie Family young lady was a fierce demoness, she would surely be the best demoness.
So what if she had just broken off an engagement with someone else? This was someone her son had finally taken a liking to, and she absolutely would not allow any mistakes.
Thinking of this, she was even more eager: “As long as my son likes her, that’s fine.”
Likes her is good…
Pei Yuqing uncomfortably turned his face away and said nothing.
Seeing this, Duke Pei stroked his beard and said, “You’re not young anymore. Since you’ve found a young lady you like, marry her soon to settle one of your mother’s worries.”
Princess Duanyang shot him an annoyed glare: “As if it isn’t your worry too.”
Though teased by his wife, Duke Pei was not annoyed at all and smiled, saying, “It’s a shared concern of ours.”
The couple appeared to have extremely good relations.
Back when Duke Pei was still the young lord, he had entered the palace as a study companion for His Majesty and grew up as childhood sweethearts with Princess Duanyang. Now, many years after their marriage, they were still as loving as ever.
The princess had injured her body due to a difficult labor when giving birth to her youngest daughter and could no longer get pregnant. Her eldest son also had a heart condition and was not fated for a long life. She had once made the decision to have her husband take a concubine to continue the family line, but Duke Pei had firmly refused.
Over these years, Princess Duanyang’s marriage was one of the most perfect among the many princesses of the imperial family.
When the trend of princesses keeping male companions swept through the capital city, Princess Duanyang never gave it a second thought.
The two were faithful to each other from beginning to end, never straying.
The Pei Family brother and sister had long grown accustomed to their parents’ loving sweetness over the years.
Pei Yuqing lowered his eyes and said, “For making you two worry for so many years, it is your son’s filial impiety.”
“What are you saying that for? As parents, if we don’t worry about our children, who do we worry about? As long as you…”
At this point, seeing her son’s expression, Princess Duanyang was suddenly stunned, her smile unconsciously fading as she frowned and said, “You still refuse to marry?”
Duke Pei’s expression also darkened as he said gravely, “Are you concerned about that young lady’s entanglement with the Lu Family young master?”
Pei Yuqing said nothing, and Princess Duanyang comforted him: “What’s there to worry about? Hasn’t the engagement already been broken? I hear it was that young lady who took the initiative to break it off, which shows she has severed emotions for the Lu Family young master. Why should my son care?”
“…It’s not like that,” Pei Yuqing said helplessly. “I have long resolved that I will never marry or have offspring in this lifetime.”
His tone was gentle, but extremely firm.
The moment his words fell, the room fell silent.
Even Pei Yuxuan, who had been huddled in the corner without speaking, turned her head to glare at her elder brother, never imagining he harbored such thoughts.
Even Xie Wanning could not change this decision of his?
But her elder brother clearly liked that young lady very much.
All her hopes dashed in an instant, Princess Duanyang’s expression stiffened, and she was silent for a long time.
After a good while, it was still Duke Pei who spoke. He looked at his eldest son and asked, “Do you dislike the Xie Family young lady? Or are you afraid that your health will fail first, leaving your beloved to suffer?”
Pei Yuqing said nothing.
“If you won’t say, then forget it,” Duke Pei said quietly. “In any case, your several cousins already have offspring. If worst comes to worst, we can adopt one under your knee so our line doesn’t lose its incense after a hundred years.”
“Your mother and I are long at the age for grandchildren filling the hall, yet our knees remain desolate…”
With that, he let out a long sigh, full of bitterness.
Even knowing this was their parents’ ploy of bitter meat, Pei Yuqing still felt some reluctance and was silent for a long time.
Seeing this, Princess Duanyang knew his determination was set and would not change, so her earlier excitement deflated, and she suddenly lost all spirit.
Her eldest son, ever since he became sensible, had always made his own decisions about his affairs, rarely causing her worry.
But being too sensible didn’t seem good either.
…………
On the carriage back to the residence, Xie Wanning kept her head lowered and refused to lift it.
Across from her, Xie Yanyu’s fingertip twitched, his hand slowly tightening around the beaded string, his voice low and deep: “What did he do to you?”
The onlookers had arrived late and did not see Lu Ziyan’s indecent act—this was at least a blessing amid misfortune.
Since it was family, Xie Wanning had no intention of hiding it. Forcing down her discomfort, she lifted her head and pointed to her still somewhat swollen lips, saying, “He dragged me into the rockery cave and molested me.”
Her voice was very soft, but in Xie Yanyu’s ears, it was like thunder. His fingertip suddenly pressed hard, crushing the jade bead that had just turned.
Seeing this, Xie Wanning quickly comforted him: “He suffered too; I bit him.”
The force of her bite was not light at all—it made him bleed on the spot, and he probably wouldn’t be able to eat properly for many days.
She knew how to comfort herself. Xie Yanyu let out an “oh,” coolly raised his eyes, and asked, “Where did you bite him?”
“…” Xie Wanning choked, her just-lifted head dropping again as she said somewhat annoyed, “Elder Brother, don’t ask anymore.”
With her reaction, what more was there Xie Yanyu couldn’t see? His usually stern and impassive handsome face suddenly turned cold and fierce. “Lu Ziyan!”
Begging for votes~~ There will be torment for that scummy Lu, and the plot moves quickly.
The ‘broken engagement’ plot in the book title is already done; now it’s the ‘remarry’ plot.
