Chapter 38: Pei Che Didn’t Spare Jiang Shiyuan So Much as a Glance

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Great—memories that should’ve been laid to rest had clawed their way back from the grave, landing a punch squarely in her face, right in front of her.

It wouldn’t be the first time. And it definitely wouldn’t be the last. Jiang Shiyuan had a sinking feeling that the mortifying blunder of mixing up her betrothed would haunt her for the rest of her miserable life.

She gave a bitter smile and turned to Pei Zanxue with a pleading expression.

But Pei Zanxue had no intention of letting her off. Instead, she looked at her in surprise and said, “It’s actually true? Auntie, how did you ever think you were going to marry Pei Ziye? With how pretty you are, how could someone like him possibly deserve you? Didn’t Her Ladyship the Noble Consort tell you? Three years ago, even though His Majesty made the engagement casually, Uncle readily accepted it without hesitation.”

Jiang Shiyuan’s heart skipped a beat. “Why would His Majesty even think of arranging a marriage between me and the Grand Tutor?”

To this day, she had no idea how her aunt had convinced His Majesty to grant the match—or how she’d ended up paired with Grand Tutor Pei.

Her aunt and His Majesty had known each other since youth. She had once entered the royal household with great honor and had shared many loving years with His Majesty. But after her parents fell in battle, her aunt’s nature had grown cold and distant.

Pei Zanxue shook her head. “I don’t know the details either. None of the elders in the family do. All I remember is that day, Uncle—who rarely ever returned to the old estate—suddenly showed up. Grandmother was overjoyed and arranged for a big family reunion dinner. Then right at the table, Uncle suddenly announced, ‘I’m getting married.’”

Pei Zanxue recalled the scene and couldn’t help laughing. “You should’ve seen it! The whole family was stunned. The Pei family patriarch dropped his chopsticks. My father nearly choked on his soup. And Pei Ziye straight-up sprayed a mouthful of rice all over the patriarch, who’d bent down to pick up his chopsticks. Afterward, the patriarch even made a new family rule about it. What was it again…”

Expressionless, Jiang Shiyuan replied, “‘Pei Family Rule No. 731: When dining with elders, if they speak—lower your head and shut your mouth.’”

“Eh? Auntie, how’d you know that?” Pei Zanxue was amazed.

Sure enough—she really was fated to be part of the Pei family.

Jiang Shiyuan clicked her tongue. So behind all those absurd Pei family rules… there were equally absurd stories.

“Anyway, when the news came out, everyone was shocked. But Grandmother was thrilled. That very night, she opened up her personal vault and pulled out a box of her finest Eastern pearls to use as a wedding gift. But then, just a few days later, Uncle had someone deliver a message—saying the wedding was off. So Grandmother put the pearls right back into her vault.”

“That engagement came and went like the wind. Quick to arrive, quicker to vanish. But still, Auntie—even though you never showed your face or even gave your name, you became a legend in the Pei family.”

“To dare turn down the Grand Tutor himself—you’re honestly kind of amazing.” Pei Zanxue gave her a big thumbs-up.

Jiang Shiyuan felt her stomach twist with nerves. She gave a dry laugh. “I didn’t know back then I was turning down Grand Tutor Pei.”

“So… you misunderstood from the start?” Pei Zanxue suddenly asked. “Then if you hadn’t, would you still have rejected Uncle?”

Pei Zanxue meant no harm. She just found it a pity, now that she understood the whole story.

In her eyes, Sister Jiang was beautiful, gentle, with a hint of playful charm. Standing beside her uncle, they were a perfect match made in heaven.

She couldn’t imagine anyone more suitable than Jiang Shiyuan to be her aunt.

If Sister Jiang had married her uncle three years ago, they’d already be family now—and likely living happily ever after.

Jiang Shiyuan was caught off guard by the question. If she’d known back then that the marriage was with Grand Tutor Pei… would she still have agreed to Shen Luchu’s plea?

“Maybe.” Jiang Shiyuan really didn’t know. Her feelings toward Pei Che were… complicated.

In the past, it had been mostly gratitude and awe. But these past few days together had started to stir… something else.

Last night, she had another dream.

She dreamed she was getting married.

On the wedding night, she sat with the red bridal veil over her head. Slowly, it was lifted.

The one lifting it was still Grand Tutor Pei—but this time, he didn’t use a measuring stick. He used that golden ruyi scale of his, lifting it gently, even… cautiously.

Jiang Shiyuan had never had such a vivid, detailed dream before. She even saw his hand, slightly trembling as he held the scale’s shaft.

And in that moment, her heart trembled with it.

“Let’s not talk about that anymore,” Pei Zanxue realized she’d dragged the mood down and quickly changed the subject. “Didn’t you say you were going to send an invitation for me and Cousin to come hang out? I waited days and didn’t hear a word, so I just showed up on my own.”

“Come on, go get changed and go out with me for a bit.”

Before Jiang Shiyuan could protest, Pei Zanxue tossed her a bundle and pulled her toward the dressing room.

Inside was a full set of men’s clothing: a twilight-purple robe with a bamboo motif, matching belt, hair ribbon, and hair crown—everything included.

It looked oddly familiar.

Jiang Shiyuan couldn’t refuse. She had promised to invite them, after all. So she went along with it and changed into the outfit.

The robe was a little loose, but the length was just right. A snug belt helped fix that.

Pei Zanxue expertly redrew her brows. The more she looked at her, the more satisfied she seemed, beaming with pride.

“What a dashing young gentleman! Someone’s going to be unable to take his eyes off you later.”

Once fully dressed, the two swaggered out the door.

Pei Zanxue clearly had experience with this sort of disguise. The moment she stepped out, her posture and even her voice were convincingly ambiguous—hard to tell if she was male or female.

They wandered through the streets, drank tea, watched a play, and when they got hungry, Pei Zanxue dragged Jiang Shiyuan into the famous Wangxian Pavilion in the capital.

“Order whatever you want!” Pei Zanxue jiggled her money pouch proudly.

Jiang Shiyuan was just thinking about what to eat when suddenly Pei Zanxue stood up and shouted, “Uncle!”

Jiang Shiyuan looked up—and even though the place was packed, she immediately spotted Pei Che in the crowd.

Tall and straight-backed, his expression cold and unreadable—his presence alone exuded a commanding aura.

Pei Che clearly heard Pei Zanxue call out. He glanced in their direction… and then walked upstairs without so much as a second look.

He didn’t spare Jiang Shiyuan a single glance.