Chapter 15: Social Death—My Fiancé Turns Out to Be the Grand Tutor Pei!

The figure of Pei Tingtuo, the esteemed Grand Tutor, strode in from outside the palace hall. He must have just finished his court session, as he was still dressed in a purple official robe and wearing a black official hat, exuding a powerful presence that made it impossible to look directly at him.

Jiang Shiyuan was about to lower her head, but Pei Che turned his gaze toward her, capturing her attention instantly.

At the same time, as his steps moved forward, the hem of his robes lightly swished, and the faint scent of dragon’s saliva suddenly became clearer and stronger.

It was like an untamed wild horse racing across the vast plains, charging straight into Jiang Shiyuan’s mind through her nostrils, shattering her thoughts.

What was happening?

Why was the scent she had prepared for Pei Ziye now emanating from Pei Che?

She was certain the fragrance she made was unique in the capital.

Had Pei Ziye passed on the scent she gave him to Pei Che? Or was it something else?

A possibility she had never considered suddenly surfaced in Jiang Shiyuan’s mind.

Some fragments she had never noticed before quickly gathered in her mind at an unstoppable speed, forming one undeniable conclusion:

Her betrothal wasn’t to Pei Ziye—

It was to Pei Che!!!

Pei Tingtuo was her fiancé, which was why he had said he could make all decisions and had finalized the marriage with just a few words!

Jiang Shiyuan barely had time to be shocked, her face already burning hot as if it were about to boil.

If Pei Che was her fiancé…

Then who was it that, when her fiancé had offered to escort her back to the residence, she had rejected and then blatantly requested another man to escort her instead?

It was her! Jiang Shiyuan!!

Ahhhhh!

She had even told Pei Ziye that she wouldn’t interfere with his private life!

How could a person be so embarrassed?!

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her head, wishing she could dig a hole and bury herself.

Pei Che had already reached the front, and his sharp gaze caught sight of her quail-like figure, almost wanting to bury its head in the ground.

Pei Che’s gaze moved from her burning ears back to her face.

When Empress Jiang saw Pei Che enter, she thought that Jiang Shiyuan was blushing because she was shy, so she hurriedly said, “Yuan’er, the hibiscus flowers in the Imperial Garden have bloomed. Go and cut a few branches for your aunt.”

Jiang Shiyuan felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly complied, exiting.

As Jiang Shiyuan walked from Zhuangxia Palace to the Imperial Garden’s hibiscus flowers, she confirmed that she hadn’t made any mistakes these past few days. She should be the only one who knew she had misunderstood the identity of her betrothed. It was only then that her mind started to process another matter—Pei Che was actually her future husband.

Had it been Pei Che three years ago?

Three years ago, she had resisted being arranged for marriage and had liked Shen Luchu. So when her aunt first brought up the idea of a marriage alliance, she had interrupted and directly rejected it.

She never even thought that the Pei family was arranging a marriage for her with Pei Che.

Why Pei Che, though?

A high-ranking official, the current Grand Tutor, the son of heaven, and her former teacher—no matter how she looked at it, she felt that there was an insurmountable gap between her and Pei Che. She would never dare to dream of him as her husband!

What was even more bizarre was that Pei Che had agreed to the marriage.

Pei Che didn’t seem like someone who would be willing to have an arranged marriage. Why had he agreed to marry her?

“What are you thinking about?”

Jiang Shiyuan, lost in thought, didn’t notice the person next to her until his voice broke through her reverie.

Along with his voice, there was the lingering scent of dragon’s saliva, an intense fragrance that seemed to carry a strange lightness and absurdity when associated with Pei Che.

Just smelling it made Jiang Shiyuan feel flustered.

She didn’t want to answer, but when she looked up, Pei Che was staring at her, and there was no way to avoid it.

“I was thinking… this fragrance suits the Grand Tutor quite well.” Jiang Shiyuan pretended nothing had happened.

“Is that so?” Pei Che’s deep eyes flashed with a hint of amusement.

Pei Che’s words gave her the answer.

As expected, she could fool everyone else, but she couldn’t fool Pei Che.

Pei Che must have noticed!

So the question was, how could she quietly get rid of the current Grand Tutor?

Poison? Assassination? A drowning accident?

Jiang Shiyuan frantically calculated in her mind, but eventually, when she concluded that there was no way to eliminate Pei Che, she resigned herself to fate.

After resigning herself, Jiang Shiyuan was secretly glad that she hadn’t asked earlier.

She didn’t dare to imagine how big a joke it would have been if she had publicly mentioned Pei Ziye’s name in the palace just now.

After a long while, Jiang Shiyuan finally calmed down.

She couldn’t help but glance up at the man beside her. “Grand Tutor Pei, may I ask you a question?”

Jiang Shiyuan looked up at him, her tone respectful, just like ten years ago in the classroom at Luming Academy.

“Mm.” Pei Che nodded.

“Grand Tutor, do you have any compromising evidence in my aunt’s hands?”

Jiang Shiyuan asked sincerely.

Pei Che pressed his thin lips together and let out a soft laugh. “Is this why you thought your betrothed was Pei Ziye?”

Jiang Shiyuan froze, her face, which had just lost its heat, flushed once more.

Get rid of him!

Now! Immediately!

She had just been secretly thankful for him, and how could he directly expose it?

Jiang Shiyuan was angry, but out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed Pei Che frowning lightly, his fingers subtly rubbing his brow.

Suddenly, Jiang Shiyuan recalled a small detail from long ago—

Ten years ago, when Pei Che was teaching at Luming Academy, the older female students would always try to “accidentally” encounter the young teacher Pei and then “accidentally” leave behind a handkerchief or a scented pouch.

Every time Pei Che saw these items, he always had this expression.

So… Pei Che couldn’t stand the incense?

He couldn’t stand the scent, yet today, he was wearing such a strong fragrance…

Jiang Shiyuan’s heart stirred slightly.

After a brief silence, Jiang Shiyuan quietly asked, “Grand Tutor Pei, do you usually read storybooks?”

Pei Che’s frown immediately relaxed, and he shook his head.

Jiang Shiyuan smiled, “So that’s why you thought The Hairpin Chronicles was just an ordinary storybook?”

Pei Che was puzzled and slightly furrowed his brow as he stared at her, waiting for an explanation.

It was rare to see this expression on his face.

Jiang Shiyuan felt a great sense of achievement.

Alright, it’s even now.

And just the thought of the dignified, stern Grand Tutor Pei wearing such frivolous fragrance to court made Jiang Shiyuan strangely want to laugh.

Jiang Shiyuan didn’t explain further and turned to pick flowers.

Pei Che glanced at her, his eyes filled with a hint of schadenfreude. He turned and tiptoed to reach a high branch, the flowers swaying slightly, slipping through his fingers again and again.

Pei Che didn’t pluck the flowers immediately but gently pressed down the branch.

The flowers hung down straight and landed near Jiang Shiyuan’s hand.

This way, without having to tiptoe, she could easily reach them.

Jiang Shiyuan glanced sideways, following the hanging flower branch, and quietly stole a glance at the man beside her.

With his crane-like posture and unique elegance, he looked extraordinary.

The sunlight was in full bloom, and Jiang Shiyuan felt a bit dazed—

She was going to marry the Grand Tutor Pei.