Chapter 18: Pei Taifu, Load the Cargo! [Repair]

Pei Che sat in the carriage, and the wheels slowly began to roll forward. The curtains swayed gently as the carriage moved.

Pei Che turned his head, his gaze peeking through the gap in the curtains, watching Jiang Shiyuan standing foolishly by the roadside. First, he looked stunned, then he excitedly took out an Eastern Pearl, raising it high in the sunlight. His beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons.

Pei Che let out a soft laugh.

Old Madam Pei had never seen her son act this way. She rolled her eyes and said with disdain, “Load the cargo!”

…

Meanwhile, Concubine Jiang had Jiang Shiyuan stay overnight at the palace.

Jiang Shiyuan, treating the Eastern Pearl as a treasure, seriously admired its dazzling brilliance before putting it away. She then cheerfully returned to Concubine Jiang’s palace.

She was thinking of using the Eastern Pearl to make something special for Concubine Jiang when she unexpectedly bumped into Princess Wenhe, who was about to leave the palace.

“Princess, isn’t that Jiang Shiyuan? Why is she in the palace?” Princess Wenhe’s maid, Granny Liu, was the first to notice Jiang Shiyuan and couldn’t help but comment.

“Could it be that she knew the Young Master was coming to the palace today, and she followed him in? I’ve never seen someone so shameless.”

Granny Liu spoke with disdain, and Princess Wenhe made no effort to stop her. She simply stopped walking and looked up at Jiang Shiyuan, waiting for her to come over and bow to her, as usual, to flatter her.

If it were before, Jiang Shiyuan would indeed have gone over and shown great respect to Princess Wenhe.

Jiang Shiyuan wasn’t sure how much she liked Shen Luchu, but what she was certain of was that she was very grateful to him. When her life had taken an abrupt turn and she needed a friend the most, he had voluntarily spoken to her.

She would always remember the first thing Shen Luchu had said to her when she had finished her studies with top marks, her name written on the recognition board as number one.

She stood under the recognition board when a graceful young man came over and smiled at her, saying, “You’re the first place? That’s impressive.”

At that time, Shen Luchu’s eyes held surprise, joy, and admiration.

It was that admiration that encouraged her.

She had once thought that Shen Luchu was different from the others.

Besides the Shen family, Pei Hou had treated her very well too. He was kind and considerate, remembering her birthday and even copying her father’s and mother’s battle reports and giving them to her.

So, even though she could sense Princess Wenhe’s dislike, she still respected her as usual.

But that was in the past.

Now…

Jiang Shiyuan walked straight past Princess Wenhe without even acknowledging her.

Granny Liu’s voice was loud, and Jiang Shiyuan heard every word.

Since trying to please her hadn’t earned respect, it was better to just turn her face.

Besides, she would never have anything to do with Shen Luchu or the Shen family again, and no one could do anything about it.

Jiang Shiyuan walked past without even sparing a glance at the pair of them.

Princess Wenhe’s expression froze, and then darkened.

Granny Liu was so angry that she nearly fell over. “Princess, look at her arrogance!”

Princess Wenhe’s face darkened. “Don’t mind her. I had thought that although she came from a lowly background and could never become my daughter-in-law, given her devotion to Luchu, I might let her enter as a concubine. Now, it seems I overestimated her.”

“She’s just an unrefined girl who never learned manners. She’s not worthy of standing before me.”

Princess Wenhe was even more upset by the attitude of her son than Jiang Shiyuan’s lack of manners.

Her son had always been respectful and filial, and today, he was the first to openly show his displeasure toward her.

Ever since Jiang Shiyuan had appeared around her son, she had felt them drifting apart.

No!

She couldn’t let her son be led astray.

Fuming, Princess Wenhe ordered when she returned to the mansion, “If Jiang Shiyuan comes to the door again for any reason, chase her out immediately.”

The servants in the mansion exchanged glances, confused.

What was going on?

Half an hour ago, the Young Master had returned home, and the first thing he ordered them was to let anyone from the Jiang family enter the door without hesitation.

So, should they let her in or not?

…

Night fell, and Jiang Shiyuan changed into the nightclothes that Concubine Jiang had personally prepared for her, then nestled into Concubine Jiang’s embrace.

“Aunt, I’m here.”

Concubine Jiang patted her on the backside. “You’re getting married soon, yet you’re still so mischievous? You have your own bed, why come squeeze with this old woman?”

“I want to tell you a secret, Aunt,” Jiang Shiyuan said, hugging Concubine Jiang’s waist, acting coquettishly.

“Aunt, tell me, do you have any dirt on the Pei family?”

Jiang Shiyuan finally asked the question she’d been holding in all day.

Concubine Jiang froze. “What nonsense are you talking about?!”

Jiang Shiyuan continued, “Then how could Pei Taifu agree to marry me? I always thought it was Pei Ziye who was going to marry me.”

Concubine Jiang was stunned, and then exclaimed, “Is that why you’ve been upset for three years? You thought Aunt wanted to marry you off to Pei Ziye?”

“Then why would Pei Che accept the marriage alliance?” Jiang Shiyuan asked in return.

Concubine Jiang’s eyes flashed, and after a pause, she muttered, “That was an imperial decree. He had no choice but to comply.”

Jiang Shiyuan was shocked again. “An imperial decree? Why would the emperor arrange a marriage for us?”

If it was an imperial decree, why wasn’t the General’s Mansion notified, and why was she allowed to refuse the order three years ago?

“Why wouldn’t it be possible? The Jiang family has been generals for generations. Your parents gave their lives for Xie Linyuan, and their bodies are still missing. Why wouldn’t the emperor be able to issue a marriage decree for you?”

Concubine Jiang’s emotions suddenly became agitated, her breathing rapid. But before she could finish speaking, two arms wrapped around her tightly.

Jiang Shiyuan hugged Concubine Jiang and softly comforted her, “Alright, alright, Aunt Wanping, don’t be angry. You’re right, Aunt Wanping, you’re absolutely right.”

Wanping—Jiang Wanping, Concubine Jiang’s maiden name.

Concubine Jiang froze for a moment. It had been a long, long time since anyone had called her by her maiden name.

Concubine Jiang calmed down, turned to look at the young girl in her arms, and her nose grew a little tight.

She was clearly the one who was the most heartbroken, yet she was comforting others instead.

“Yuan’er, what heaven owes you, it will repay you someday. Trust Aunt, Pei Taifu is worth it,” Concubine Jiang said with heartfelt sincerity and a meaningful look.

Jiang Shiyuan, however, was thinking: If this was really an imperial marriage arrangement, did it mean that her emperor uncle was also willing to see the Pei family become a strong ally for her cousin?

In other words, the emperor highly valued her cousin, and the possibility of her cousin becoming the heir was very high.

Could this be the real reason Pei Taifu agreed to the marriage alliance? His so-called desire to go further?