Chapter 67:
His tone was serious, and Madam Zheng involuntarily straightened her expression: “What is it?”
Pei Yuqing said softly: “This junior wishes to hasten the wedding ceremony and marry within three months.”
……The room fell quiet once more.
This time, it was dead silence.
Madam Zheng fell silent, and Xie Shu did not nag that his daughter was superficial and only cared about looks.
The couple exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.
Madam Zheng glanced at the servants in the hall, all confidants, before relaxing with a breath, her gaze falling on her daughter’s face as she said gently: “Such a rushed wedding date—was this something you both discussed?”
The atmosphere around them changed greatly, and Xie Wanning noticed. She nodded carefully.
Pei Yuqing could not bear for the young lady to be questioned by her parents and took the initiative to explain: “It is that this junior is not young anymore, and my parents at home are anxious, so I wish to hasten the wedding date…… There are no other reasons.”
The last sentence was said with difficulty and embarrassment.
Hearing this, Xie Shu and Madam Zheng’s expressions both eased a little, and their suspended hearts slowly relaxed.
Indeed, it was no wonder Princess Duanyang and Duke Pei were anxious. If it were their own son who was already twenty-seven and had finally agreed to marry, they probably could not wait even three months.
But Madam Zheng did not easily agree to hasten the wedding date to three months. She only said they would discuss the wedding day on the day they came to propose marriage.
Even if marriage was urgent, it was not so urgent in a moment or half. Matching birth charts and selecting an auspicious date both required time.
Hurriedly marrying off their daughter like that—what kind of matter was that.
Pei Yuqing smiled calmly and no longer pressed the matter.
Xie Wanning, the culprit who had proposed marrying within three months, did not say a single word.
She was not foolish; how could she show in front of her parents that she was desperate to marry.
Besides, this kind of matter should naturally be left to Princess Duanyang, who was also the lady in charge of the household.
This was His Majesty’s own elder sister, with deep sibling affection. Throughout the imperial court, even the Grand Secretary had to give this princess some face. If she wanted to quickly bring her daughter-in-law through the door, she would surely think of some way.
Chatting to this point, the time had unknowingly reached noon.
It was mealtime, and having already verbally agreed to the engagement, Xie Shu could not chase the guest away. Pei Yuqing stayed to dine together.
The dining table was rectangular. Xie Shu and Madam Zheng sat at the head, while Xie Wanning and Pei Yuqing sat facing each other.
Prominent families emphasized not speaking while eating, so the noon meal passed in complete silence.
The weather was hot, and Xie Yanyu did not return for the meal. At this moment, he still did not know that his younger sister’s engagement had been verbally promised again.
Today was not a rest day, so after the meal, Xie Shu also had to go on duty.
The servants were clearing the table when Madam Zheng rose and led her daughter into the inner chamber.
“I’m a bit tired, so I won’t keep you to talk.” She looked at her daughter and said: “Wanwan, remember to see Young Lord Pei out of the estate.”
Xie Wanning nodded obediently and added: “Mother, I plan to return to the farmhouse this afternoon.”
Madam Zheng was stunned: “Aren’t we about to discuss the marriage proposal? You’re still going back…”
As if thinking of something, she frowned and said: “Tell Mother the truth—are you asking if Young Lord Pei is also at the farmhouse?”
Madam Zheng was an open-minded mother, and Xie Wanning was very close to her. Hearing this, she said: “The Hot Spring Villa next door belongs to Duke Pei’s Mansion.”
“…” Madam Zheng was silent for a few breaths, then pulled her daughter’s hand and said seriously: “You are not yet married; you must not do anything improper.”
“Oh Mother, what are you thinking? I know,” Xie Wanning linked arms with her mother and hummed softly: “Looking at him like that, even glancing at him once makes him embarrassed. He is a gentleman who has not even touched a young lady’s hand—how could he do anything improper to me.”
“Do you think Mother is worried about him?” Madam Zheng glanced at her and said irritably: “What Mother is worried about is you.”
A mother knows her daughter best; she had long figured out her daughter’s temperament.
Her courage was extraordinarily great.
As long as her family’s young lady truly took a liking to someone, even facing a killing god like Lu Ziyan who was as cold as ice and kept people at a distance, she could still be enthusiastically radiant.
Pei Yuqing’s gentle, shy, accommodating good temper would only make her even less know restraint and follow her feelings to bully him fiercely.
Being pointed out her true nature by her own mother, Xie Wanning’s face flushed somewhat, and she said unhappily: “What is Mother saying? I would not do anything improper to him.”
As she spoke, she even turned her face away with a guilty conscience.
Madam Zheng was always indulgent toward her daughter and never refused her. At this moment, what more could she say? Naturally, she said no more.
“If you want to go play at the farmhouse, then go for a while,” she lightly tapped her daughter’s forehead and instructed: “Be mindful of propriety yourself; do not act recklessly.”
In any case, the marriage matters could be handled by the elders like them.
Their daughter’s marriage preparations had been made for several years, but the engagement was broken off one month before the wedding date. Now the dowry and such were all ready-made. If not for disliking the bad luck, even the wedding dress was ready-made.
Xie Wanning nodded obediently, diligently helped her mother lie down, and then left Jinxiu Hall.
Raising her eyes, she saw Pei Yuqing on the nearby corridor, standing quietly with his back to this side. His figure was tall and slender, his back straight like green bamboo, and his wide-sleeved long robe gave a sense of ethereal immortality.
Xie Wanning blinked, secretly thinking that he was indeed alluring, before walking behind him and patting his shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
Pei Yuqing was slightly startled, turned around, lowered his gaze to look at her: “Where to?”
“Back to the farmhouse.”
Xie Wanning originally wanted to take his hand, but considering this was her own home where servants could easily see and report to her parents or elder brother, she refrained. She only looked up at him and said: “Didn’t we agree last night? Return to the capital in the morning, and go back in the afternoon.”
It was just early afternoon now; even taking a nap before setting off would not be late. But she feared that if they did not leave soon, her elder brother would get the news, rush home, and catch them.
If Xie Yanyu returned, whether she could still leave smoothly would be uncertain.
Pei Yuqing had no idea she feared her own elder brother so much. Hearing this, he was somewhat surprised and smiled faintly: “…Your mother agrees to you returning to the farmhouse with me again?”
“Why wouldn’t she?” Xie Wanning said as she tugged his sleeve: “Come on, it’s so hot—whatever you want to say, we can talk in the carriage.”
In just those two sentences, a thin layer of sweat had appeared on her forehead. Seeing this, Pei Yuqing said no more.
The front courtyard gate was very close; without taking a sedan, they arrived in no time.
Once in the carriage, the cool air inside made Xie Wanning breathe comfortably. She had just sat down when someone was added beside her.
Just as she was about to speak, her chin was lifted, and the sweat on her forehead was gently wiped away bit by bit with a cotton cloth.
Xie Wanning was first stunned, looking at the person in front of her who was focused on wiping her sweat, and moved her lips: “You…”
Pei Yuqing paused his movements and lowered his gaze to her eyes: “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Xie Wanning closed her mouth and held her breath.
She waited until the soft cloth left her forehead and he withdrew his hand before taking a deep breath.
This appearance of not daring to breathe made Pei Yuqing smile as he looked at her. Helplessly, he said: “What are you nervous about?”
Hahaha, three chapters done~~~ Sorry for the wait~~~~ Dear ones, please vote generously~~
