allonlinenovel Chapter 258 Encourage
Chapter 258 Encourage
Pei Wuyan glanced through the booklet briefly, his brows furrowed: "If our deeds are exposed, I will also be implicated."
A cold glint flashed in Zhao Jue's eyes. How could he not know that Pei Wuyan was unwilling to help him anymore because he had lost power?
He said casually, "This is Prince Yu's arrangement."
Pei Wuyan paused in his action of pushing the booklet.
“Brother Pei, now that I have been expelled from the clan, everything in the Duke’s mansion is no longer my concern. There is really no need for me to target the eldest branch of the family.”
Zhao Jue took out a few coins and placed them on the table: "You should weigh it up."
After saying this, Zhao Jue got up and left.
Pei Wuyan stared at Zhao Jue's retreating figure with a dark look in his eyes until he disappeared into the teahouse before turning his gaze back to the booklet.
Prince Yu did indeed harbor hostility towards the first wife's family; otherwise, he wouldn't have approached him.
Because of his close relationship with Qin Yao and his being a distant cousin of the old lady of the Duke's mansion, he was well-suited to be a pawn, lurking in the Duke's mansion.
Every man has ambition, and he was no exception.
He not only needed the help of the Duke's mansion's connections, but also needed to climb up to Prince Yu's powerful backing.
Without much hesitation, he packed his bags and headed to Beijing.
He was forced to marry Zhao Wan by circumstances, but he was truly devoted to Qin Yao. After he achieved success, he would only dote on her.
Before that, Qin Yao has to make do with this.
Thinking of this, Pei Wuyan's expression turned gloomy.
Ever since he arranged to meet Zhao Wan at the West Garden to cover for the Second Madam, he has lost the Old Madam's trust.
The old lady was re-evaluating Zhao Wan's situation and was unwilling to marry her off to him again.
Feeling annoyed, Pei Wuyan put away the booklet and took a carriage to the Qin residence.
The carriage stopped opposite the Qin residence. Pei Wuyan lifted the carriage curtain and saw Qin Yao, Boss Qin, and Madam Qin getting out of the carriage.
Qin Yao noticed someone was watching her, turned around, and met Pei Wuyan's direct gaze.
She pursed her lips and said to Mr. Qin and Mrs. Qin, "Father, Mother, please come in first. I'm going to see a business friend."
Upon hearing that he was a business partner, Mr. Qin didn't say much.
Qin Yao handed the gift in her arms to the maid, then walked straight to Pei Wuyan's carriage and sat inside.
Pei Wuyan smiled and said, "Yaoyao, I thought you didn't want to see me again."
Qin Yao retorted, "If I don't want to see you, can I simply not come looking for you?"
Pei Wuyan replied without hesitation, "I can't do it."
Qin Yao looked at Pei Wuyan with curiosity, her peach blossom eyes filled with affection as she gazed at her tenderly.
Perhaps it was her words that hurt him, for his ever-smiling face now held a hint of desolation.
If it weren't for Sister Shen exposing his true colors, someone with her expertise wouldn't have been able to tell that it was all a facade.
"That's true. If you did that, it would show that you weren't sincere with me."
Qin Yao was somewhat smug, but then, as if thinking of something, her face fell: "My father is keeping me at home to find a son-in-law. Will your family agree to you becoming a live-in son-in-law?"
Pei Wuyan's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered.
When he was in Jiangnan, he wanted to marry her.
After arriving in the capital, all he could offer Qin Yao was the title of concubine.
"Forget it. You come from a scholarly family, and scholars have pride. Your parents won't allow you to be a live-in son-in-law."
Qin Yao said with a worried look, "My father won't allow me to marry outside the family."
Pei Wuyan's heart skipped a beat: "Is this why you don't want to talk to me?"
"What else can we do? There's no point anyway," Qin Yao said hesitantly. "Unless Sister Shen is willing to help me."
Pei Wuyan's eyes flickered slightly as he said gently, "Yaoyao, I am a scholar. In order to get to know you, I went into business against my parents' wishes. I even used these hands that were used to write articles to cook for you."
“My friends all say you are a lowly merchant’s daughter and not good enough for me. I can’t stand their contempt for you and I no longer associate with them.”
“I don’t care about your background. I want to marry you, not your status. I’m willing to go against my family for you.”
Pei Wuyan said solemnly, "Yaoyao, I hope that you can be brave just this once for my sake."
Qin Yao was shocked. This man recounted all the things he had done for her, while also belittling and putting her down.
That's bad enough, but they even encouraged her to fight against her family.
She didn't know what it was like to love someone, but it was definitely not like Pei Wuyan.
At least he is a responsible person who will face the situation with her and gain the approval of her family.
Pei Wuyan watched as Qin Yao lowered her head and remained silent.
“Yaoyao, no man likes his woman to be out in public, but you are free-spirited and have to run the family business, so you are destined not to stay at home to be a wife and mother.”
Pei Wuyan said with tender eyes, "I love the real you, and I won't restrict your freedom."
Qin Yao understood Pei Wuyan's words perfectly.
It's simply that no one but him could tolerate her.
Qin Yao seemed moved by him: "Ayan, I will persuade my parents for your sake."
Pei Wuyan smiled: "Yaoyao, I will not let you down."
He paused, then asked, "How is your sister Shen?"
Qin Yao came to the capital for Shen Qingtan's sake, and Pei Wuyan knew this.
But Pei Wuyan lives in the Duke's mansion, so how could he not know about Shen Qingtan's situation?
Now he's still pretending to be stupid in front of her.
She pondered, "Sister Shen is nice, but she's a bit strange."
Pei Wuyan asked calmly, "What's strange about it?"
“I overheard her instructing her brother-in-law’s men to keep a close watch on the Duke’s mansion until she returned.”
Qin Yao asked, puzzled, "I remember that only the second branch of the Duke's family and Sister Shen didn't get along. They've already moved out. Who is Sister Shen still wary of?"
Pei Wuyan looked at Qin Yao, who seemed completely unprepared, just like in Jiangnan, and was totally unguarded around him.
After thinking it over for a moment, he realized that Shen Qingtan was on guard against him.
If each room is closely monitored, his hiding of the ledger in the main room will definitely be exposed.
A dark glint flashed in his eyes. He decided to investigate when he got back. If Qin Yao's words were true, the ledger could not be put back for the time being.
“I’m going back now. If I stay out too long, my parents will get suspicious. If they send someone to look for me and see us alone in a carriage, they’ll probably think you’re not a decent person and won’t agree to me marrying you.”
After saying this, Qin Yao hurriedly got off the carriage and left.
Pei Wuyan was about to get off the carriage to see Qin Yao off when he saw a letter fall from her body.
-
After leaving the teahouse, Zhao Jue returned to the Zhao family home on Xingning Street. As soon as he entered, he saw Shen Mingzhu standing under the eaves waiting for him.
"Third Master, you're back." Shen Mingzhu greeted him, her face full of worry. "My father-in-law is back and asked me for money, but I don't have a single copper coin."
She touched her belly: "The baby is getting bigger, I need to buy clothes for the baby, and I also need to find a wet nurse, and I need to spend money everywhere."
Zhao Jue understood; Shen Mingzhu and the others were here asking him for money.
He looked at Shen Mingzhu's belly, his brows furrowed.
Even before the child is born, money is being spent everywhere. What will happen after the child is born?
It's a bottomless pit.
Zhao Jue kept a straight face, took out his money pouch and gave it to Shen Mingzhu, then turned to find Yue Niang.