At this time, the Duke's Mansion became more and more lively with the arrival of the carriage two days ago.
Except for the people in Zhuya Courtyard, no one cared that the eldest son Pei Yanzhou was out of the city, and no one cared whether his errand would be dangerous.
Even the old lady who occasionally chanted sutras and prayed for him after he went out now temporarily put the matter of his eldest grandson in the back of his mind because of Pei Jinzhi's return home.
The whole Fulu Courtyard was in a happy mood, and even the concubines and concubines from several houses gathered together, listening to the always kind second brother talking about the hardships along the way.
Mrs. Liu bought a new heater for the old lady, and stayed by her side with a smile, dignified and proper, and did not speak until the others had finished speaking.
"Two days ago, Aunt Fu was still counting the days. Unexpectedly, as soon as the door opened, she saw the figure of our second young master, which made people sigh with joy. It just so happened that today is the day when everyone comes to pay their respects to the old lady. This blessing Luyuan, it’s really busy.”
"Several young masters are here. Let them go back first. There is no need to say hello today."
The old lady couldn't help but be happy. She was focused on the grandson in front of her, and she was not willing to listen to the compliments she heard every month.
"Maybe they also want to take part in the joy."
Mrs. Liu touched the corner of her lips with her handkerchief and said with a smile: "Even our second girl's Aunt Yu and Aunt Fang, who are now in good health, knew that the old lady was happy and wanted to come and take a look."
"As for Aunt Yu, let Fang Lin stay with you later. As for the other aunts, if they are sensible, they should know that they shouldn't get too far ahead today."
The old lady didn't even raise her head, she just waved her hand towards her. She obviously didn't want to see other people, and she didn't even bother to mention those who had no heirs.
Mrs. Liu nodded in agreement, her eyes swept across the room, and then stopped for a moment on Pei Jinzhi.
When he came back from sending the people, the second young master was the only one left in the house accompanying the old lady.
Mrs. Liu consciously took over Aunt Fu's work, and the lonely look on her face when Aunt Fang left just now flashed through her mind.
She sneered in her heart, such a strange thing was even more ridiculous than when she was forcibly sent to the Duke's Mansion.
"Grandma, my grandson brought back a lot of things from Xianzhang County. They are not valuable items, but are the craftsmanship of the people's hard work. It's just that I can't enter the eldest brother's courtyard, and I haven't seen those familiar followers. But the mansion What happened recently?"
"What could happen? He has always been like this."
When Pei Yanzhou was mentioned, the old lady's smile faded a little, "You are really serious. You are willing to live with the people without any pretense of identity."
"My grandson has no identity. He is just a small official who can do things for the people."
Pei Jinzhi noticed the old lady's annoyance.
After receiving this attitude, his mind changed instantly, and his humility was revealed both in and out of his words.
"Besides, it's thanks to my eldest brother that I can get an errand to advance and retreat with the people. Now the errand is done fairly safely. Although such a small thing can't be said to earn face for our Pei family, after the grandson gets together with the people, I am still excited in my heart, and my grandma cares about me after I return home... Speaking of which, my grandson should express his gratitude to his eldest brother."
"How can he listen to this? Besides, you are on an errand. It is your ability to do it well. But now that you are back at home, you should try to worry more about the things in the house."
"The affairs of the house...don't we have to go beyond my eldest brother? Grandma, you must not do things like this that will make your eldest brother worried!"
Looking at this scene, Liu's eyes flashed with ridicule.
It sounds like one is advancing and the other is retreating, one wants to give and the other dare not take it, but in fact they all want to advance and do whatever it takes to get that high position.
But how could the position of the heir apparent fall to someone else so easily?
Unless there are no heirs to the big house, the old lady will have to put everything in her power to ask for the order.
But the Duke of Guo has always been a ruthless person. He doesn't even trust his own son, let alone nod for a nephew. He will only hold on to that position until his death, guarding his greedy and cold-blooded heart.
Therefore, Ms. Liu never cared about what was going on inside the Duke's mansion, she wished these people would rot to the core.
If the old lady hadn't really put her favoritism into practice this time and had the intention of suppressing Pei Yanzhou, she would never have thought of interfering at this time.
She will wait a little longer, until her Yin Yin escapes completely, and there is no more news, and she will no longer be stained by half of the mud here.
But now, the second young master of the Pei family, who is described as gentle as jade, is eyeing her, which just matches the old lady's thoughts. The impatience of the Duke has become more and more obvious. Pei Yanzhou's future may not go smoothly.
Mrs. Liu's ears were still filled with the chatter between her grandfather and grandson.
With a slight smile on her face, she quietly patted the old lady's shoulders, but her thoughts drifted further and further away.
The Duke's wife took care of their mother and daughter that year. She remembered it for eight years, and she will remember it for the rest of her life, carrying her sin with her.
So no matter how much Pei Yanzhou hated her, she couldn't let others threaten his status.
Just because he is the son of the Duke's wife, that gentle and quiet woman, the last concern in this life, and the only person in the world who can protect Yin Yin.
Mrs. Liu vaguely guessed that Pei Yanzhou's cruelty and cold-bloodedness came from the mouth of his father, the Duke of Guo.
She was also betting back then that a son raised by such a woman would never be so ruthless and cruel.
I bet that Zhuyayuan is the only place where Yinyin can survive, even if she will no longer have any relatives by her side.
Mrs. Liu figured it out.
Her Yin Yin didn't need her mother who couldn't protect her, all she needed was to survive.
If the bet loses, she will go with him. If the bet wins, she can watch Yin Yin grow up.
As for herself...
Mrs. Liu came back to her senses, her smile adding a bit of fearlessness and coldness.
From the moment she was forced into that sedan by the Duke, she was destined to have no future.
She once looked forward to meeting Yinyin's father again after he was buried, but now that every year has passed, she clearly understands that it is best not to meet her father again.
She is no longer the girl from the Liu family back then. She is sorry for that elegant, humble and ambitious man, and she is also sorry for Yin Yin.
She probably won't die well in the future, but fortunately, she won the bet.
No matter how cruel Pei Yanzhou was, he was still not willing to force her to death.
"You must stay and dine with grandma today. Grandma has given orders to the chef to cook everything to your taste. Those colleagues outside who are invited are not in a hurry to get together in these two days."
The old lady said firmly, which made Grandma Fu joke and broke Liu's thoughts.
Pei Jinzhi would not refuse.
"My grandson listened to my grandmother, but I still want to go to Zhuya Courtyard later. All the homes have given me gifts, so I can't leave my eldest brother alone. What's more, my grandson also heard from people in the mansion that His Majesty granted me a marriage." The imperial edict has been issued, this is a great joy, and my grandson also wants to be happy."
"We have ordered not to mention this matter, so who is so bold and still talking about it in front of you? The marriage is still going on, so Jinzhi must not mention it again in the future."
"It's my grandson who is being reckless, so he will just give away things."
After saying that, Pei Jinzhi's expression did not change, and he looked at Mrs. Liu who had been waiting quietly with a smile, looking polite and graceful.
"Mrs. Liu Zang has been taking good care of my grandmother all these years. I am grateful and specially brought some food that is only available in Xianzhang County. Mrs. Liu Zang can also share it... with others. Try it, it doesn’t cost much, I hope Madam Liu Zang won’t dislike it.”
"Then I'll thank the second young master first. I'm not afraid of the old lady and the second young master making fun of me. I'm boring on weekdays, so I just like to eat some snacks."
"Are you still boring on weekdays?"
The old lady took over the conversation and gave her a fake look, "It seems that the work I gave you is too little!"
Mrs. Liu did not forget to downplay her status when she was talking and laughing. Her tone was as humble as Pei Jinzhi's, as if she had never had any trouble with her second wife, which made people unprepared.
...
Another day near sunset.
At this time in the General's Mansion, General Xu's eyes were heavy, and it took him a long time to recover from his deep thoughts.
He knew that the emperor's thoughts were convoluted and not as kind as he appeared on the surface, and Pei Yanzhou had no intention of accepting this imperial edict of marriage.
But this imperial edict has been sent to his general's palace, even if someone suppressed the matter, this is also a decree granting marriage.
General Xu didn't take this matter to heart at first, but now that he thought about it, he suddenly had some thoughts.
Maybe if he really married You Yi and tied her to Pei Yanzhou, his daughter would be able to calm down and stop thinking about a deceased person all day long.
Thinking of this, General Xu called the guards outside.
"Let someone go check it out. The Pei family made such a big fuss a few days ago, but for whom?"
"No need to check, father."
Xu Youyi came in from outside, still holding a long whip in his hand, as if ready to go out.
"It's for a woman."
She chuckled softly, as if remembering something, her eyes darkened a bit, "Speaking of which, the Pei family's eldest son's backyard is empty, maybe it's just a matter of love."
General Xu's expression changed, and he finally gave up the idea of asking anyone to investigate.
When Xu Youyi left, she raised her eyes and looked at the sunny sky.
There were no missing attendants in the city, but she thought that Song Jinyin should still not be found.
Otherwise, when she saw Pei Yanzhou a few days ago, she wouldn't have seen the suppressed dejection in his cold black eyes.
So that girl really got the freedom she longed for, and really left everything in Kyoto behind.
It was a bit enviable, and even the unwillingness in her heart was suppressed a bit.
