Chapter - 36
By Tea Time Translations
In the hall, only Pei You'an and Old Lady Hu remained.
The old lady smiled and said, "My granddaughter is so good and capable that she can win the favor of the eldest son. I see no reason to decline your proposal. However, there's something I must discuss, but I'm not sure if it's the right time."
Pei You'an respectfully replied, "Please, go ahead, Grandmother."
The old lady continued, "Young Lord Pei, I understand your intentions. It seems that you will be busy with important matters in the court. As for these political affairs, I am not knowledgeable. I don't intend to inquire further about your affairs, as I can imagine the inconveniences you face now. However, I must be honest with you. Before you came, there was a pending marriage proposal for Ah Fu. We had arranged a local match with a family from our province, who hold positions in the government. They were interested in my granddaughter. Some time ago, they sent someone to inquire about her. I was planning to respond to them, but you have arrived at this moment..."
The old lady paused.
Pei You'an's eyes moved slightly, but he didn't speak, just waiting for the old lady to continue.
"That family may not be as prestigious as the Duke's household, but they hold a prominent position here. They have several officials in their family, and they are well-regarded..."
The old lady sighed.
"I shouldn't discuss these matters with outsiders, but since you have a connection with our Zhen family, and you are not an outsider, I will tell you openly. You probably know our family's situation. Running a business is not easy, and with the loss of the family's backbone, my granddaughter needs more time to mature. After careful consideration, I thought the arranged marriage was a good match. It would have been a great marriage for my granddaughter. But when you arrived, I felt honored and had no choice but to accept your proposal and decline the other. Now, Young Lord Pei, can you give us a firm assurance from your side as well? Ah Fu may be young, but she is at the age to get married. If we have some assurance, we won't worry, even if it takes a few years. We would gladly wait for you to officially come for the marriage proposal. What do you say, Young Lord?"
Mrs. Hu has been shrewd all her life, so she naturally has to make clear plans for her granddaughter's marriage. She understood that Young Lord Pei's visit had a different taste, especially when he mentioned not having time for marriage.
The situation regarding the Emperor and the prince was precarious. Young Lord Pei's unexpected visit hinted at a deeper involvement. She understood that he might be entangled in the power struggle. Connecting the dots, she realized that this matter had become more complicated.
Old Lady Hu thought to herself that Young Lord Pei was no ordinary man; he had once been the heir to the Duke's household and had served the former Emperor closely. If he was involved in such critical matters, it meant there was a lot at stake.
This made things easier for her.
Old Lady Hu decided to privately agree to the proposal without revealing the news. If, in the future, Young Lord Pei could use the changing political tides to rise again, her family would naturally be pleased. If, by any chance, he failed, it wouldn't affect her family. This was similar to a business deal, with potentially great profits if it succeeded and minimal losses if it failed. Such a deal was too good to pass up.
Old Lady Hu also liked Young Lord Pei as a person. She saw that he had concerns in this regard, which was why he didn't immediately arrange a formal proposal. But now that he was considering her family and granddaughter's well-being, he had earned her trust.
Now, all she needed was for him to provide further reassurance.
After she finished speaking, Old Lady Hu looked at Young Lord Pei with a smile on her face.
Young Lord Pei, being a highly intelligent person, had already sensed Old Lady Hu's intentions before she finished speaking. He smiled faintly and said, "I thank my grandmother for her trust. Please rest assured that if one day I can't ensure my own safety, I will inform my grandmother in advance. My grandmother can then choose another suitable match for my cousin. If I am fortunate enough to marry my cousin, the Zhen family will be treated as my own family."
He took out a small black pouch from his bosom, opened it, and removed a jade pendant. He offered it with both hands and said respectfully, "Words alone may not be enough. This was a keepsake from my late father during his final moments. I have kept it for many years, and today, I leave it as a token for our visit. Please let my grandmother keep it on behalf of the family."
Old Lady Hu took the jade pendant in her palm. She examined the intricately carved intertwined branches and orchid patterns in the center, realizing it was a top-quality beautiful jade. She gently put it away and smiled, saying, "Young Lord Pei, you have a good heart. I will temporarily keep this for you."
.....
Meng Shi hugged her daughter and whispered comforting words. Suddenly, she remembered and said, "It seems like Young Lord Pei's intention is that he currently has some inconveniences and wants us to keep you for now until he formally proposes on a later date. Just now, I talked about this but I got brushed aside by your grandmother; I don't know what she wants to say. In case it's unfavorable, it's better for me to check it out first."
Jia Fu grabbed her mother's sleeve, shaking her head, saying, "Mother, if grandma refuses, then she refuses. You don't need to go there again."
Meng Shi looked at her daughter with a hint of suspicion, "Are you unwilling to marry him again?"
Jia Fu whispered, "I'm not worthy of him."
Meng Shi was taken aback but quickly understood. Suppressing her own sadness, she hugged her daughter's shoulder and comforted her softly, "Ah Fu, your elder cousin saved you, and he is well aware of your ordeal. Since he personally came to propose, it means he doesn't mind. Where else can you find such a man? Don't dwell on it too much. Mother will go and see."
She got up and, at this moment, heard her son's voice coming from outside the door, "Mother, Young Lord Pei is leaving. Grandmother asked me to call you over."
Meng Shi was surprised and immediately opened the door, asking, "He just came, didn't even finish a cup of tea, and now he's leaving so soon?"
Zhen Yaoting scratched his head, "I don't know either."
Meng Shi hurriedly left. In a short time, she returned, having sent the servants away, closed the door, and wore a happy expression as she whispered, "Good news! Your grandmother agreed to Young Lord Pei! She said to wait for him to come back and propose formally in the future. She also emphasized that this matter cannot be disclosed to anyone except you!"
Madam Meng was extremely pleased with Pei You'an. However, he wanted them to keep their daughter for now and wait for him to propose formally in the future. This was somewhat unusual, and she was worried it would take a lot of persuasion with her mother-in-law. She had not expected things to go so smoothly, and she was filled with joy. After her hurried return, she personally shared this news with Jia Fu to reassure her and said, "I tried hard to keep Young Lord Pei here, but he insisted there was another urgent matter, and now he's leaving. Mother will go and see him off. You can rest assured and avoid overthinking it!"
Madam Meng left again, leaving Jia Fu alone in turmoil, pacing back and forth in her room. After a few rounds of contemplation, she finally made up her mind and hurried to the front hall, stopping outside the door.
Pei You'an had his back turned to her, and her grandmother was being helped up by her mother from her seat. Her grandmother spoke with a cheerful expression, "Since Young Lord Pei has more urgent matters to attend to, I won't insist on keeping him. Take care on your way, Young Lord, and I look forward to receiving good news from you soon."
Pei You'an bade farewell to her grandmother, and although her grandmother intended to see him off personally, he declined. Jia Fu stepped forward and said, "Grandmother, Mother, I'd like to have a private conversation with Cousin."
In the room were her grandmother, Meng Shi, Zhen Yaoting, and a few servants, and they all turned their attention to her, their faces showing surprise.
The room fell silent.
Pei You'an turned his head and looked into Jia Fu's eyes. From the moment he entered the door, he had been wearing a smile on his face, and it remained there. However, Jia Fu could clearly see that his gaze, as he looked at her, was no longer as warm as before.
He was still smiling, but his eyes held a certain coldness and a hint of surprise, as if he hadn't expected her to show up like this.
Jia Fu's eyes met his, and her heart felt as though it had turned upside down. She recalled the brief time she spent in the Little Round Pavilion at Wuding Manor. Back then, she had often acted foolishly in front of Pei You'an, but now, thinking back, it was heartwarming.
His protective and tolerance allowed her to regress in front of him, as if she were a bold and unscrupulous child. He gave her a certain intuition that he would continue to be this way, no matter what she did.
It was this intuition and the courage he provided that allowed her to take such drastic action that fateful night when she learned she was being sent away.
His unexpected visit today reaffirmed her intuition. She had indeed succeeded, although some time had passed.
She had achieved her goal, but she felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. Winning, while bittersweet.
Without averting her gaze or minding the others present, Jia Fu locked eyes with him and softly said, "Elder Cousin, I have something important to tell you."
Her grandmother, Hu Laotai, furrowed her brows slightly.
It was clear to Hu Laotai that something had transpired between her granddaughter and Pei You'an during the days when Jia Fu had gone missing. Otherwise, it wouldn't explain his unwavering attention and the fact that he had come to seek her hand in marriage.
Whether her granddaughter was willing or not, the decision had been made, and she had shared it with her daughter-in-law. Jia Fu was likely aware of it now. Her sudden appearance, coupled with her demeanor, suggested that there might be a change in the situation.
Hu Laotai glanced at her daughter-in-law, and Mrs. Meng hurriedly approached Jia Fu, speaking in hushed tones, "A Fu, what's going on? Come with your mother..."
Jia Fu remained unmoved, her gaze fixed on Pei You'an. In response to her silent plea, Pei You'an turned to his grandmother and said, "If Grandmother has trust in me, may I listen to what my cousin has to say?"
Hu Laotai hesitated briefly before nodding with a smile. "Of course. You can talk here. But A Fu has been spoiled by us, so please bear with her if she says something inappropriate."
Pei You'an chuckled. "My Cousin is gentle, courteous, and virtuous. Grandmother is overthinking it. I thank Grandmother for making it convenient."
Hu Laotai gave her granddaughter a meaningful look before leading her daughter-in-law outside. The others followed suit, leaving them alone in the room.
As the others departed, the spacious guest hall fell silent, leaving only Jia Fu and Pei You'an. Jia Fu hadn't expected him to visit, nor was she prepared for a guest. She wore a simple home attire, a plain silk robe on top, and a finely pleated silk skirt below. Her outfit was unadorned except for a circle of intertwined plum blossoms embroidered at the hem. Standing at the door in her attire, she appeared fragile, like a delicate flower swaying with the water's ripples.
She took a few steps towards him under his cold gaze and eventually stopped a few paces away from him, next to a decorative screen. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Cousin, I heard from my mother about the purpose of your visit. I'm truly grateful, but let's forget about it. I'll speak with my grandmother myself. You don't need to keep this matter on your mind."
Pei You'an's brow furrowed slightly, but he remained silent, fixing his gaze on her face.
Jia Fu cast her eyes downward.
"This matter was all my plan. Back then, I was just too frightened. I only wanted to rely on you and didn't consider your feelings at all. These days, I've thought it through. There's nothing to be afraid of. I deeply regret my actions. It's all my fault. You haven't done anything wrong. If you marry me, there's really no justice in that…"
The man across from her remained silent, letting her ramble on. Jia Fu felt a growing sense of tension between them. She took a deep breath, raised her eyes again, and saw that his brows were now knitted tightly, his gaze even more somber than before. She hesitated before saying, "Cousin, I didn't lie to you just now. Everything I said was true… Do you believe me?"
Her voice trailed off.
"Is this what you wanted to tell me?" he asked after a moment.
Jia Fu gave a soft "hm."
Pei You'an nodded and spoke more gently, "Let me ask you, if the Crown Prince pursues you again, how will you respond?"
Jia Fu remained silent for a moment and then replied lightly, "There's always a way, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Besides, those are just my own speculations. If it didn't work out last time, he might have already forgotten about me. I don't want to discuss this further…"
She didn't want to continue this conversation. She turned her face away and gazed out of the window.
"In any case, I deeply regret what I did before. I didn't care about it myself. I said that back then just to cling to you. I've changed my mind now. I don't want to rely on you anymore… Cousin, you didn't do anything, so there's no need to be concerned…"
Pei You'an followed her gaze outside, where she was looking at a clump of plantains. He furrowed his brow and said, "I've made up my mind. I've already spoken to your grandmother, and I've promised her that if, by some chance, I can return in the future, I'll marry you as I've pledged. I have other matters to attend to, so I'm leaving."
After he finished speaking, he walked past Jia Fu and stepped over the threshold.
Jia Fu turned her head and watched his figure disappear gradually at the end of the courtyard's walkway. He didn't look back. She felt a lump in her throat, and tears welled up in her eyes.
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Chapter - 36
By Tea Time Translations
In the hall, only Pei You'an and Old Lady Hu remained.
The old lady smiled and said, "My granddaughter is so good and capable that she can win the favor of the eldest son. I see no reason to decline your proposal. However, there's something I must discuss, but I'm not sure if it's the right time."
Pei You'an respectfully replied, "Please, go ahead, Grandmother."
The old lady continued, "Young Lord Pei, I understand your intentions. It seems that you will be busy with important matters in the court. As for these political affairs, I am not knowledgeable. I don't intend to inquire further about your affairs, as I can imagine the inconveniences you face now. However, I must be honest with you. Before you came, there was a pending marriage proposal for Ah Fu. We had arranged a local match with a family from our province, who hold positions in the government. They were interested in my granddaughter. Some time ago, they sent someone to inquire about her. I was planning to respond to them, but you have arrived at this moment..."
The old lady paused.
Pei You'an's eyes moved slightly, but he didn't speak, just waiting for the old lady to continue.
"That family may not be as prestigious as the Duke's household, but they hold a prominent position here. They have several officials in their family, and they are well-regarded..."
The old lady sighed.
"I shouldn't discuss these matters with outsiders, but since you have a connection with our Zhen family, and you are not an outsider, I will tell you openly. You probably know our family's situation. Running a business is not easy, and with the loss of the family's backbone, my granddaughter needs more time to mature. After careful consideration, I thought the arranged marriage was a good match. It would have been a great marriage for my granddaughter. But when you arrived, I felt honored and had no choice but to accept your proposal and decline the other. Now, Young Lord Pei, can you give us a firm assurance from your side as well? Ah Fu may be young, but she is at the age to get married. If we have some assurance, we won't worry, even if it takes a few years. We would gladly wait for you to officially come for the marriage proposal. What do you say, Young Lord?"
Mrs. Hu has been shrewd all her life, so she naturally has to make clear plans for her granddaughter's marriage. She understood that Young Lord Pei's visit had a different taste, especially when he mentioned not having time for marriage.
The situation regarding the Emperor and the prince was precarious. Young Lord Pei's unexpected visit hinted at a deeper involvement. She understood that he might be entangled in the power struggle. Connecting the dots, she realized that this matter had become more complicated.
Old Lady Hu thought to herself that Young Lord Pei was no ordinary man; he had once been the heir to the Duke's household and had served the former Emperor closely. If he was involved in such critical matters, it meant there was a lot at stake.
This made things easier for her.
Old Lady Hu decided to privately agree to the proposal without revealing the news. If, in the future, Young Lord Pei could use the changing political tides to rise again, her family would naturally be pleased. If, by any chance, he failed, it wouldn't affect her family. This was similar to a business deal, with potentially great profits if it succeeded and minimal losses if it failed. Such a deal was too good to pass up.
Old Lady Hu also liked Young Lord Pei as a person. She saw that he had concerns in this regard, which was why he didn't immediately arrange a formal proposal. But now that he was considering her family and granddaughter's well-being, he had earned her trust.
Now, all she needed was for him to provide further reassurance.
After she finished speaking, Old Lady Hu looked at Young Lord Pei with a smile on her face.
Young Lord Pei, being a highly intelligent person, had already sensed Old Lady Hu's intentions before she finished speaking. He smiled faintly and said, "I thank my grandmother for her trust. Please rest assured that if one day I can't ensure my own safety, I will inform my grandmother in advance. My grandmother can then choose another suitable match for my cousin. If I am fortunate enough to marry my cousin, the Zhen family will be treated as my own family."
He took out a small black pouch from his bosom, opened it, and removed a jade pendant. He offered it with both hands and said respectfully, "Words alone may not be enough. This was a keepsake from my late father during his final moments. I have kept it for many years, and today, I leave it as a token for our visit. Please let my grandmother keep it on behalf of the family."
Old Lady Hu took the jade pendant in her palm. She examined the intricately carved intertwined branches and orchid patterns in the center, realizing it was a top-quality beautiful jade. She gently put it away and smiled, saying, "Young Lord Pei, you have a good heart. I will temporarily keep this for you."
.....
Meng Shi hugged her daughter and whispered comforting words. Suddenly, she remembered and said, "It seems like Young Lord Pei's intention is that he currently has some inconveniences and wants us to keep you for now until he formally proposes on a later date. Just now, I talked about this but I got brushed aside by your grandmother; I don't know what she wants to say. In case it's unfavorable, it's better for me to check it out first."
Jia Fu grabbed her mother's sleeve, shaking her head, saying, "Mother, if grandma refuses, then she refuses. You don't need to go there again."
Meng Shi looked at her daughter with a hint of suspicion, "Are you unwilling to marry him again?"
Jia Fu whispered, "I'm not worthy of him."
Meng Shi was taken aback but quickly understood. Suppressing her own sadness, she hugged her daughter's shoulder and comforted her softly, "Ah Fu, your elder cousin saved you, and he is well aware of your ordeal. Since he personally came to propose, it means he doesn't mind. Where else can you find such a man? Don't dwell on it too much. Mother will go and see."
She got up and, at this moment, heard her son's voice coming from outside the door, "Mother, Young Lord Pei is leaving. Grandmother asked me to call you over."
Meng Shi was surprised and immediately opened the door, asking, "He just came, didn't even finish a cup of tea, and now he's leaving so soon?"
Zhen Yaoting scratched his head, "I don't know either."
Meng Shi hurriedly left. In a short time, she returned, having sent the servants away, closed the door, and wore a happy expression as she whispered, "Good news! Your grandmother agreed to Young Lord Pei! She said to wait for him to come back and propose formally in the future. She also emphasized that this matter cannot be disclosed to anyone except you!"
Madam Meng was extremely pleased with Pei You'an. However, he wanted them to keep their daughter for now and wait for him to propose formally in the future. This was somewhat unusual, and she was worried it would take a lot of persuasion with her mother-in-law. She had not expected things to go so smoothly, and she was filled with joy. After her hurried return, she personally shared this news with Jia Fu to reassure her and said, "I tried hard to keep Young Lord Pei here, but he insisted there was another urgent matter, and now he's leaving. Mother will go and see him off. You can rest assured and avoid overthinking it!"
Madam Meng left again, leaving Jia Fu alone in turmoil, pacing back and forth in her room. After a few rounds of contemplation, she finally made up her mind and hurried to the front hall, stopping outside the door.
Pei You'an had his back turned to her, and her grandmother was being helped up by her mother from her seat. Her grandmother spoke with a cheerful expression, "Since Young Lord Pei has more urgent matters to attend to, I won't insist on keeping him. Take care on your way, Young Lord, and I look forward to receiving good news from you soon."
Pei You'an bade farewell to her grandmother, and although her grandmother intended to see him off personally, he declined. Jia Fu stepped forward and said, "Grandmother, Mother, I'd like to have a private conversation with Cousin."
In the room were her grandmother, Meng Shi, Zhen Yaoting, and a few servants, and they all turned their attention to her, their faces showing surprise.
The room fell silent.
Pei You'an turned his head and looked into Jia Fu's eyes. From the moment he entered the door, he had been wearing a smile on his face, and it remained there. However, Jia Fu could clearly see that his gaze, as he looked at her, was no longer as warm as before.
He was still smiling, but his eyes held a certain coldness and a hint of surprise, as if he hadn't expected her to show up like this.
Jia Fu's eyes met his, and her heart felt as though it had turned upside down. She recalled the brief time she spent in the Little Round Pavilion at Wuding Manor. Back then, she had often acted foolishly in front of Pei You'an, but now, thinking back, it was heartwarming.
His protective and tolerance allowed her to regress in front of him, as if she were a bold and unscrupulous child. He gave her a certain intuition that he would continue to be this way, no matter what she did.
It was this intuition and the courage he provided that allowed her to take such drastic action that fateful night when she learned she was being sent away.
His unexpected visit today reaffirmed her intuition. She had indeed succeeded, although some time had passed.
She had achieved her goal, but she felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. Winning, while bittersweet.
Without averting her gaze or minding the others present, Jia Fu locked eyes with him and softly said, "Elder Cousin, I have something important to tell you."
Her grandmother, Hu Laotai, furrowed her brows slightly.
It was clear to Hu Laotai that something had transpired between her granddaughter and Pei You'an during the days when Jia Fu had gone missing. Otherwise, it wouldn't explain his unwavering attention and the fact that he had come to seek her hand in marriage.
Whether her granddaughter was willing or not, the decision had been made, and she had shared it with her daughter-in-law. Jia Fu was likely aware of it now. Her sudden appearance, coupled with her demeanor, suggested that there might be a change in the situation.
Hu Laotai glanced at her daughter-in-law, and Mrs. Meng hurriedly approached Jia Fu, speaking in hushed tones, "A Fu, what's going on? Come with your mother..."
Jia Fu remained unmoved, her gaze fixed on Pei You'an. In response to her silent plea, Pei You'an turned to his grandmother and said, "If Grandmother has trust in me, may I listen to what my cousin has to say?"
Hu Laotai hesitated briefly before nodding with a smile. "Of course. You can talk here. But A Fu has been spoiled by us, so please bear with her if she says something inappropriate."
Pei You'an chuckled. "My Cousin is gentle, courteous, and virtuous. Grandmother is overthinking it. I thank Grandmother for making it convenient."
Hu Laotai gave her granddaughter a meaningful look before leading her daughter-in-law outside. The others followed suit, leaving them alone in the room.
As the others departed, the spacious guest hall fell silent, leaving only Jia Fu and Pei You'an. Jia Fu hadn't expected him to visit, nor was she prepared for a guest. She wore a simple home attire, a plain silk robe on top, and a finely pleated silk skirt below. Her outfit was unadorned except for a circle of intertwined plum blossoms embroidered at the hem. Standing at the door in her attire, she appeared fragile, like a delicate flower swaying with the water's ripples.
She took a few steps towards him under his cold gaze and eventually stopped a few paces away from him, next to a decorative screen. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Cousin, I heard from my mother about the purpose of your visit. I'm truly grateful, but let's forget about it. I'll speak with my grandmother myself. You don't need to keep this matter on your mind."
Pei You'an's brow furrowed slightly, but he remained silent, fixing his gaze on her face.
Jia Fu cast her eyes downward.
"This matter was all my plan. Back then, I was just too frightened. I only wanted to rely on you and didn't consider your feelings at all. These days, I've thought it through. There's nothing to be afraid of. I deeply regret my actions. It's all my fault. You haven't done anything wrong. If you marry me, there's really no justice in that…"
The man across from her remained silent, letting her ramble on. Jia Fu felt a growing sense of tension between them. She took a deep breath, raised her eyes again, and saw that his brows were now knitted tightly, his gaze even more somber than before. She hesitated before saying, "Cousin, I didn't lie to you just now. Everything I said was true… Do you believe me?"
Her voice trailed off.
"Is this what you wanted to tell me?" he asked after a moment.
Jia Fu gave a soft "hm."
Pei You'an nodded and spoke more gently, "Let me ask you, if the Crown Prince pursues you again, how will you respond?"
Jia Fu remained silent for a moment and then replied lightly, "There's always a way, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Besides, those are just my own speculations. If it didn't work out last time, he might have already forgotten about me. I don't want to discuss this further…"
She didn't want to continue this conversation. She turned her face away and gazed out of the window.
"In any case, I deeply regret what I did before. I didn't care about it myself. I said that back then just to cling to you. I've changed my mind now. I don't want to rely on you anymore… Cousin, you didn't do anything, so there's no need to be concerned…"
Pei You'an followed her gaze outside, where she was looking at a clump of plantains. He furrowed his brow and said, "I've made up my mind. I've already spoken to your grandmother, and I've promised her that if, by some chance, I can return in the future, I'll marry you as I've pledged. I have other matters to attend to, so I'm leaving."
After he finished speaking, he walked past Jia Fu and stepped over the threshold.
Jia Fu turned her head and watched his figure disappear gradually at the end of the courtyard's walkway. He didn't look back. She felt a lump in her throat, and tears welled up in her eyes.
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