Chapter 63:
He always felt that everything that happened tonight was just his own imagination.
Pei Er: “……”
His master, who had been pure-hearted and desireless for many years and seemed about to become a Buddha, was holding a young lady and kissing her obsessively—how could he dare to look even once more.
Pei Er didn’t know how to respond for a moment, until his master, standing with his back to him, slightly turned and cast a gaze over, then he awkwardly said, “Subordinate dare not look more.”
Discussing his own reckless actions with a subordinate, Pei Yuqing’s expression showed no difference, without revealing even a bit of the shyness he had in front of Xie Wanning.
He slowly nodded, turned and lowered his eyes, then asked again, “Do you think Wanwan has feelings for me too?”
Pei Er: “……”
……I’m just a rough man, standing far away, couldn’t even hear clearly what you two talked about—how could I know anything?
Seeing his master, who was always devising strategies, uncharacteristically restless and insecure, Pei Er’s voice was firm.
“A young lady’s reputation is so important. Miss Xie was willing to meet you at night and allow you into her boudoir—surely she likes you extremely in her heart.”
These words struck right at Pei Yuqing’s heart.
He thought the same……
That young lady was bold, but if she didn’t trust him, how could she dare to tease him repeatedly.
Even if she wanted to get rid of Lu Ziyan’s family, with so many young lords from prominent families in the capital city around her age, why didn’t she choose to marry someone else, but insisted on choosing him?
Constantly seeking the favoritism he received from his beloved, Pei Yuqing finally smiled.
Thinking of pinching her pointed jaw and pressing against her to kiss, his adam’s apple rolled, he steadied his mind, and said, “I am going to take a wife.”
Pei Er hadn’t heard their conversation, and upon hearing this, he was overjoyed and immediately knelt on one knee, “Congratulations, Young Lord.”
He was almost beside himself with joy. Over these years, his family young lord’s decisions had never changed.
Especially on marriage matters, even the princess and the duke couldn’t change his mind; every time they pressured him to marry, he dismissed them with “My chronic illness is hard to cure, I don’t want to delay another family’s young lady.”
Pei Er had thought his family young lord was destined to be lonely for life, but unexpectedly, because of Miss Xie, he had the thought of marriage.
He dare not think how joyful the princess and the duke would be if they knew.
…………
The next day, as soon as Xie Wanning got up, her cousin came looking for her.
Xie Ruyu said excitedly, “Wanwan sister, how about we go fishing today?”
Fishing, of course, was not at that lakeside from last night, but outside the farmhouse, near the fields at a large pond, which she had seen from the carriage when coming yesterday.
Xie Wanning sat at the dressing table and, upon hearing this, said somewhat guiltily, “I need to return to the capital city first. Tomorrow I’ll go fishing with you, okay?”
“Return to the capital city?” Xie Ruyu said in surprise, “Didn’t we just come yesterday? Did we forget something? Just send a servant to fetch it.”
Xie Wanning thought for a moment, still too embarrassed to confess to her younger sister that she had mutually pledged lifelong commitment with a man overnight, so she vaguely said, “I have something I must tell Father and Mother in person.”
As she spoke, her head slightly turned this way. Xie Ruyu’s gaze swept over, paused, and she pointed at her lips, “Wanwan sister, why are your lips swollen?”
Er Qing, who was helping Xie Wanning with her hair, looked over upon hearing this, stopped the jade comb in her hand, and anxiously said, “Indeed somewhat swollen. Young lady, did you accidentally eat something? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
The room fell silent for a few breaths.
Under the gaze of her cousin and personal maidservant, a faint blush appeared on Xie Wanning’s face, and she said dryly, “Nowhere uncomfortable, perhaps I bit it while rinsing my mouth just now.”
Both were young ladies innocent of worldly matters, and they didn’t doubt it at all upon hearing this.
Xie Wanning leaned close to the bronze mirror and carefully looked at her lips.
She felt some shame and anger in her heart—how could that person bite so fiercely; if it hadn’t subsided by the time she reached the capital city and Mother noticed, what would she do.
After the two sisters had breakfast, a servant came to report.
Pei Yuqing’s carriage was waiting outside.
Hearing that Xie Wanning was going to take someone else’s carriage back to the capital city together, even the slow-witted Xie Ruyu sensed something was off and was about to ask in detail when her cousin had already left without a trace.
A carriage engraved with the Pei clan emblem was stopped outside the farmhouse courtyard, with a jet-black body throughout and a red agate inlaid on the roof.
When Xie Wanning came out, she saw Pei Yuqing in the morning light, dressed in a moon-colored long robe, gentlemanly and warm, standing tall and graceful.
Her eyes unconsciously narrowed as she walked toward him and smiled, “Waited a long time?”
Pei Yuqing slowly shook his head and reached out to help her onto the carriage.
The weather was too hot, and since they planned to return in the afternoon this time, Xie Wanning didn’t even bring Er Qing.
As soon as she got on the carriage, the person behind followed up and sat opposite her.
The space inside the carriage was spacious, with an ice urn in the corner, very cool.
The two sat facing each other, but for a moment, neither spoke.
Xie Wanning looked left and right, just not looking at the person opposite.
This was their first time alone together after their relationship changed. They had been so intimate last night, but now without the cover of night, even she, who was usually bold, felt a bit awkward at this moment.
No need to mention Pei Yuqing—even more so; his fingers under his sleeve curled up in embarrassment, though his facial expression remained fairly composed.
After a quiet half moment, he spoke first to break the silence, “Tea?”
Xie Wanning hummed, “Not hot.”
The hand about to brew tea paused, and Pei Yuqing picked up the teapot on the small table and directly poured her a cup of cold tea.
“Has Wanwan thought about how to tell your father?”
Upon hearing this, Xie Wanning, who was sipping from the teacup, nearly choked.
This guilty conscience appearance made Pei Yuqing’s eyes narrow slightly as he took the teacup from her hand and said faintly, “Regretting it?”
“No,” Xie Wanning quickly shook her head, “Not regretting.”
The heart he had just lifted suddenly relaxed, and Pei Yuqing looked at her warmly, “Then why this appearance.”
Since they had decided to marry, and complete the wedding ceremony within three months, they were now returning to the capital city to confess to the parents—how could she still be so nervous just mentioning it.
Xie Wanning pursed her lips and said softly, “I don’t know how to say it.”
She had just canceled the engagement, and before that swore she would never marry, but after staying one night at the farmhouse, she runs back to tell her parents she wants to marry, and within three months at that……
What’s more, this person was right next door to the farmhouse.
Who wouldn’t overthink it.
Why so eager to marry?
Could it be……
Pei Yuqing also thought of this, coughed lightly, turned his face away, and said, “I’ll go say it.”
Indeed, he shouldn’t let the young lady confess to her parents herself; asking for marriage is something the man should take the initiative on.
He had thought wrong.
Xie Wanning frowned and worried, “What if my father doesn’t agree?”
Her mother was somewhat satisfied with him, but he was eleven years older after all, and his reputation for frailty was widespread; her father had always been protective of his daughter and might not easily give her away.
The backend showed a Xiaoxiang ticket leaderboard; our book is still over a hundred Xiaoxiang tickets short of making the list.
Can it make it……
……Not holding much hope
