She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Chapter 277 Entering the Palace

Qin Yao was so shocked that she didn't know what to do. She wanted to help him up, but she was afraid of hurting him. Her eyes reddened and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Ayan, I thought it was... I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you." Qin Yao said with heartache in her eyes, "Are you alright? Can you stand up and walk around?"

Pei Wuyan felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow it down. Facing Qin Yao, whose eyes were brimming with tears, he couldn't vent his anger.

He forced down the anger that was stuck in his throat, and his chest ached from the suffocation.

He had never suffered such humiliation since he was a child.

"Yaoyao, this isn't your fault, don't blame yourself." Pei Wuyan pretended to be nonchalant and patiently coaxed Qin Yao: "I came to Yijiang Tower to meet a friend, but I accidentally went to the wrong private room."

"If I had known this would happen, I would have stayed in the private room, and they wouldn't have attacked the wrong person," Qin Yao said, sounding aggrieved. "I promised you I would persuade my parents to let me marry you, so naturally I can't meet with any other men..."

Pei Wuyan could only accept the beating: "Your parents arranged for you to be a matchmaker because they don't agree to you marrying me?"

"My parents love me very much. They were originally going to agree, but then some things changed." Qin Yao said in a muffled voice, "My father donated money and was rewarded with a plaque by the emperor, which fueled his ambition."

Pei Wuyan had a bad feeling.

As expected, Qin Yao's words confirmed his guess.

“My father is no longer as steady and cautious as before. He has invested all his cash and there is still a shortfall. If the shortfall is not filled, the money he has invested will be wasted.”

Qin Yao wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes: "My father wants to marry me off to the son of a wealthy merchant, so that he can use my husband's family's wealth to fill the gap."

Pei Wuyan frowned, pulling at the wound on his face, causing his features to contort in pain.

“Your family’s wealth is only slightly less than the Gu family’s, how could it not fill the gap?” Pei Wuyan did not believe Qin Yao’s words: “You have a good relationship with Second Madam Zhao, you can ask her to help you.”

"Ayan, no matter how good my relationship with Sister Shen is, it can't compare to how close you are to me." Qin Yao said somewhat embarrassedly, "Could you help my family? Consider this sum of money as your betrothal gift. Even if my father is unhappy after receiving the money, he will still betroth me to you."

Pei Wuyan's gaze darkened. Qin Yao had made this request, so the amount of silver she wanted must not be small.

If it were twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver, he would naturally be willing to give it.

After all, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.

If it were to cost more than 100,000 taels of silver, it would be equivalent to emptying half of the Pei family's coffers and shaking the foundation of the family.

Even if he were willing to do such a foolish thing, his parents would not allow it.

But Qin Yao had already said it, and if he refused, all his previous efforts would be in vain.

Pei Wuyan was reluctant to part with the Qin family's vast fortune, so he planned to agree first and then investigate further to see if Qin Yao's words were true.

If it's true, he'll reassess whether the Qin family is worth the risk.

Pei Wuyan said gently, "Yaoyao, the money your family needs is no small sum. I'll go back and write a letter to my parents, asking them to help you out."

If the Qin family isn't worth the risk, he can just say that his family doesn't agree. He really wants to help, but unfortunately, he can't make decisions for his parents.

A flicker of emotion crossed Qin Yao's eyes; this letter was a pretext set up by Pei Wuyan.

-

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Duke's mansion. Shen Qingtan and Zhao Yi got off the carriage and returned to Lanxue Garden.

Liu Mama came forward and said, "Second Master, Second Madam, someone from the palace came today. Eunuch Cao left a message asking you to go to the palace after you return to your residence."