Chapter 17: Lord Pei Lowers His Head and Apologizes to Jiang Shiyuan

“Who was Lord Pei just speaking to?” Jiang Shiyuan stepped forward and looked outside, faintly seeing a blurry figure that seemed somewhat familiar.

Pei Che turned his body, blocking her view. “Just an insignificant person.”

He looked at Jiang Shiyuan and then asked, “Did you find it?”

The two had been standing for a while, and suddenly, Jiang Shiyuan had said she needed to find a cat.

Jiang Shiyuan hesitated and shook her head. “It’s a wild cat, but not the one I was looking for.”

She had once treated a tabby cat in the palace and hadn’t been back for a while, so she thought she would try to find it.

But looking for the cat was just an excuse. She wasn’t used to being alone with Pei Che, so after a while, she used it as a reason to step away and get some air.

“They must have finished talking by now. Should we go back?” Jiang Shiyuan suggested.

“Are you afraid of me?” Pei Che lowered his eyes and looked at her.

Could Lord Pei be so perceptive?

Jiang Shiyuan clicked her tongue and awkwardly rubbed her hands together.

Pei Che had already read the answer from the way she lowered her head, and he asked, “Why?”

Why?

Jiang Shiyuan froze.

Why was he asking why? Didn’t he know what he had done to her? He didn’t remember? Of course, Lord Pei was so high up and busy every day, why would he remember her!

Suddenly, Jiang Shiyuan became a little angry. “Lord Pei, with your high position, are you so forgetful that you need a stubborn fool like me to remind you?”

Pei Che opened his mouth, as if recalling something, and then looked at her, who was clearly still upset. “You’re still holding onto it?”

“Not only am I holding onto it, I often dream of it—of being picked up in front of everyone, then you stretch out your two hands to give me a spanking, from when I was eight years old until I was eighteen. Ten years, all of it!” Jiang Shiyuan placed her hands on her hips, loudly accusing.

Pei Che couldn’t help but turn his head and laugh.

He could still laugh? He really had a heart of stone, with no humanity!

While Jiang Shiyuan was grumbling inwardly, a voice sounded above her head. “Jiang Shiyuan, are you sure you’re afraid, not guilty?”

Jiang Shiyuan looked up. “What should I feel guilty about?”

“Then who burned my study? Who snuck the cat into my class? When I said something, your cat would meow. And you would respond to it?”

Pei Che looked at her quietly with lowered eyes.

His expressionless face could make even the experienced officials in the court feel intimidated, let alone a young girl.

Jiang Shiyuan straightened her back instantly, then lowered her head, feeling heat rise to her face.

“Can’t you call him Pei Ziye instead?”

She couldn’t help but mumble. After all, it was just a marriage alliance. Anyone should be able to do it.

“Hm?”

Jiang Shiyuan suddenly felt a chill down her back. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or something else, but Pei Che’s tone had held some teasing earlier, and now, it had turned cold.

Jiang Shiyuan shook her head, not daring to speak again, and subconsciously took a step backward.

Pei Che saw the gap between them and restrained his imposing aura, helplessly saying, “Jiang Shiyuan of Luming Academy was young and ignorant, and made some mistakes. But the Jiang Shiyuan in the dream is innocent. I apologize. I apologize to the Jiang Shiyuan in the dream.”

Jiang Shiyuan froze, staring at the man in front of her with a confused expression.

Pei Che took a step forward and handed her a hibiscus flower.

“Will you accept it?”

Lord Pei, so high and mighty, was apologizing. If Jiang Shiyuan didn’t accept it, that would be too unreasonable. Moreover, she had indeed been a bit mischievous back then.

Jiang Shiyuan pursed her lips. Pei Che was right; she wasn’t afraid; she was guilty.

She nodded and reached for the flower, but the person didn’t let go.

“I’m not just apologizing.”

Pei Che held the flower branch and asked again, “Will you accept it?”

His voice was soft, like a gentle breeze, mixed with the warmth of autumn, the fragrance of the hibiscus, and the rustling of leaves, all blowing into Jiang Shiyuan’s heart.

How could she not accept it?

With unmatched appearance, unmatched power, and although his personality was a bit indifferent, that also meant there would be fewer problems in the inner house.

Most importantly, with Pei Che around, her cousin would be one step closer to the crown prince position.

If marrying Pei Ziye had ten benefits, marrying Pei Che had countless benefits.

This marriage alliance, she was gaining a lot.

But what did Lord Pei want?

“Why me?”

Many people wanted to marry into the Pei family, to become Pei Che’s wife. Why would Lord Pei choose her?

Jiang Shiyuan voiced her doubts.

Pei Che lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes. Jiang Shiyuan’s dark eyes were filled with confusion and even a bit of wariness.

“The Pei family wants to advance further, and the Third Prince is the best candidate.”

Was that so?

Well, it was a very standard marriage alliance.

For some reason, Jiang Shiyuan felt a bit relieved.

Because it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, that feeling of guilt in her heart lessened.

“Now, will you accept it?”

Pei Che once again extended the flower.

Jiang Shiyuan pursed her lips and nodded, “Mm.”

The hand holding the flower loosened, and the pale knuckles regained their original color. Pei Che placed the flower into her arms.

“It’s beautiful.”

Pei Che complimented.

Jiang Shiyuan wasn’t sure whether he was complimenting the flower or her, but she couldn’t stop the sweetness that rose inside her heart.

Perhaps it was because she, this stubborn fool, hadn’t been praised by him even after learning for half a year.

Jiang Shiyuan held the flower, and the two walked back.

As they reached the hall entrance, they heard Lady Pei’s joking voice from inside.

“Your Majesty doesn’t know, but my old lady has been worried sick over this marriage for years. She even fell ill from it. The old lady once said that if Tenth Young Master didn’t marry, he couldn’t come home. Thankfully, Miss Jiang was here, and our Tenth Young Master finally has a home to return to. Mother and son are reunited.”

Pei Che was the tenth son in the Pei family.

Aside from the family’s strategy, this might also be one of the reasons why Pei Che agreed to the marriage alliance.

No matter how high and mighty Pei Che was outside, when it came to Lady Pei, he still had to follow the family’s wishes.

The two of them walked side by side into the main hall.

Lady Pei, from a distance, looked at the matching pair and smiled broadly.

What a perfect match.

Lady Pei was extremely proud of her youngest son. He was talented, and his looks perfectly inherited the best features of her and her husband—graceful and majestic.

Though she was anxious, she was still picky about her future daughter-in-law.

But the moment she saw this young lady, Lady Pei’s eyes brightened.

She was satisfied. Very satisfied.

Lady Pei waved at Jiang Shiyuan, who walked up and respectfully bowed.

“Greetings, Old Madam.”

Jiang Shiyuan’s etiquette was learned from the best palace instructors when she was young. Every movement was dignified and graceful, pleasing to the eye.

Lady Pei became even more pleased. “Although the wedding date is a little short, everything that should be done cannot be skipped. This is the meeting gift I’ve prepared for Shiyuan.”

As she spoke, Lady Pei took out a small brocade box from behind and opened it with a snap, handing it to Jiang Shiyuan.

Jiang Shiyuan’s eyes widened in surprise.

Inside the box were not ordinary items, but a set of gleaming East Pearls.

Jiang Shiyuan remembered that one year, Lu Feng had won a battle, and the Emperor, in his delight, rewarded Concubine Lan with an East Pearl.

Concubine Lan had set the pearl into a hairpin, proudly showing it off every day.

Now, there was a whole box of them!

And each one was even bigger than the one the Emperor had given to Concubine Lan!

Jiang Shiyuan was stunned by the extravagant gift and hurriedly waved her hands. “This is too precious. I can’t accept it.”

“Take it. What’s so hard about accepting a few pearls? You can make a set of jewelry, wear whatever you like.” Lady Pei directly pushed the brocade box into Jiang Shiyuan’s hands.

Jiang Shiyuan instinctively glanced at Pei Che, who nodded.

Only then did Jiang Shiyuan thank her and accept the gift.

The following discussions went very smoothly, and even the wedding date was agreed upon without any objections.

“We’ve already consulted the divination. The eighth of next month is the perfect day. Not too early, not too late, just the right day,” Lady Pei said.

That was the very date that Pei Che had initially suggested.

This marriage had been delayed for three years due to various reasons, so Concubine Jiang naturally had no objections.

Since the wedding date was so soon and Jiang’s family had no major decision-maker, the two families agreed to simplify the pre-wedding rituals and focus on the wedding on the eighth of next month.

Thus, her marriage to Pei Che was essentially settled.

From now on, she would be Pei Che’s fiancée.

Jiang Shiyuan was still in a bit of a daze.

Just an hour ago, she had thought of Pei Che as nothing more than a stern elder in the Pei family. Now, an hour later, she was already his fiancée.

As they left the palace, Jiang Shiyuan couldn’t help but steal glances at Pei Che.

Lord Pei, with his flawless demeanor, remained stoic, always imposing and upright, never giving a chance to find fault.

Jiang Shiyuan felt even more dazed. How could she, such a stubborn fool, have reached the highest point of the capital, where no one could touch?

While her mind was racing, she didn’t notice that Pei Che, who always kept his eyes forward, had turned to look at her.

By now, they had reached the palace gates, and Lady Pei had gotten into the carriage, with Pei Che standing beside it.

Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Shiyuan stepped forward and returned the box of East Pearls.

“It’s too precious. I can’t accept it.”

Pei Che only asked, “Do you like it?”

Could Jiang Shiyuan say she didn’t like it?

That would be a lie!

And it was a gift specially chosen by the Old Madam. Saying she didn’t like it would be too rude.

“I like it, so I’ll keep it.”

Pei Che turned to board the carriage but paused, then turned back to add, “If it’s not enough, just come to me.”