allonlinenovel Chapter 242 Making a Marriage Agreement
Chapter 242 Making a Marriage Agreement
The figure in the painting, wearing a pale yellow dress, is squatting under a ginkgo tree with falling leaves, smiling brightly as she teases a lion cat.
Zhao Wan stared blankly at the captivating figure in the painting, somewhat unable to come to her senses.
Pei Wuyan said in a low voice, "The first time I saw you, I felt that you should look like this."
Zhao Wan looked up at Pei Wuyan, who said gently, "Before I went to the capital, my mother asked me what kind of wife I wanted to marry."
"I have no requirements for my wife, except that she must be versed in poetry and literature. I am a scholar, and if my wife is versed in poetry and literature, we can be in harmony and understand each other perfectly after we get married."
Pei Wuyan gazed at Zhao Wan: "My mother said you are well-versed in poetry and literature, and that our marriage is ordained by heaven."
Zhao Wan was a young girl who had never interacted with men before, let alone heard such direct and passionate words. A slight blush rose on her cheeks, and she turned her head away uncomfortably.
“Cousin, I come to propose to you with all my heart. If you have no feelings for me, I will not force you.” Pei Wuyan sighed softly, “This painting is for you; consider it fulfilling my wish.”
He let the ink dry, rolled up the painting, and handed it to Zhao Wan.
Zhao Wan dared not leave her own portrait. She placed her finger on the scroll and tried to pull it away, but it wouldn't budge.
“Cousin, the Master said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I originally planned to take you to travel around the beautiful landscape of the Great Zhou after we got married.”
Pei Wuyan lowered his voice, a hint of seduction in his tone: "Would you like to come with me?"
Zhao Wan's fingers trembled, and Pei Wuyan revealed a side of himself that was exactly the same as his second brother.
Confined to the inner quarters, she longed for everything outside.
Pei Wuyan's description, in particular, fulfilled all her fantasies about married life.
In a flash, she remembered her mother's expectation that she marry Pei Wuyan and then help the family, so she whispered: "Promise me you will turn down this marriage in front of Grandmother."
Pei Wuyan smiled helplessly and said rather dejectedly, "I want to fight for myself."
Zhao Wan was stunned. Just as she was about to reply, she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned around and recognized the person as her mother's maid.
The maid said, "Miss, Madam requests your presence."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan snatched the portrait with a little force and hurriedly left with her maid.
Pei Wuyan watched Zhao Wan's departing figure, a determined glint in his eyes.
-
When the old lady returned to Shian Hall, she caught a glimpse of the Duke sitting on the couch, looking through letters.
"The second son's wife is a capable woman. She secretly colluded with her younger brother from her own family and, by taking advantage of the Duke's mansion, accepted bribes outside. Not only that, she also opened a bloodsucking gambling den and made counterfeit goods to sell."
The old lady pounded her chest in anger: "If you take any of these things out of context, not only the second son's wife, but our Duke's mansion will also suffer the consequences."
The Duke put down the letter in his hand and said in a deep voice, "I will first arrange for someone to investigate everything that my second son's wife has done, and then submit a memorial to the Emperor to apologize and resign."
“The crimes committed by the second wife are too numerous to count, and the imperial family has already shown us extraordinary mercy. Now that we still have such a huge mess to clean up, I have no face to ask the imperial family for mercy again.” The old lady patted her chest to catch her breath: “It is truly a tragedy.”
The Duke fell silent, preparing for the worst.
"I have devoted myself to preserving the legacy of our ancestors. I have done everything I should and shouldn't have done. The imperial family is unwilling to make an exception, but they have taken back our titles and sent our family away from the capital to become commoners."
The Duke, his face etched with the marks of time, said, “If my children and grandchildren are incompetent, this family fortune will inevitably be lost sooner or later. If they are capable, they will eventually rebuild the family business.”
Upon hearing this, the old lady knew that the Duke was uncertain.
She gave a bitter smile: "I've lived to a ripe old age. I don't know when I'll close my eyes and kick the bucket, and go to meet my ancestors. I can't care what happens to my children and grandchildren anymore."
She leaned on her cane and walked unsteadily into the inner room.
At this moment, Wei Mama came in to announce: "Old Madam, Third Madam has arrived with Miss Wan'er."
The old lady's expression became even more indifferent. She had previously sent people to investigate the thieves who had trespassed into the West Garden. They not only found out that the Second Madam had brought people into the West Garden, but also that Pei Wuyan and Zhao Wan were painting in the West Garden.
Immediately, Wei Mama was instructed to relay a message to the Third Madam, asking her to bring Zhao Wan to Shi'an Hall.
"Make the third son's wife kneel in the yard," the old lady said coldly. "Bring Zhao Wan in."
"Yes."
Madam Wei accepted the order and went out.
With a fawning smile, the third wife asked ingratiatingly, "Mama Wei, what is the old lady's purpose in inviting us here?"
She suspected it was to discuss the marriage between Pei Wuyan and Zhao Wan.
Madam Wei had always known that the Third Master and Third Madam were timid and weak, and originally thought they would continue to be honest and well-behaved. Who knew they would do such an absurd thing, urging their own daughter to meet with men outside the marriage in secret.
Once this gets out, the young ladies in the manor will never be able to marry into a good family.
She said expressionlessly, "The old lady wants you to kneel in the yard."
The third wife was terrified, her face turning ashen: "What... what does the old lady mean by this?"
Madam Wei retorted, "Third Madam, don't you understand?"
The third wife broke out in a cold sweat, her legs went weak, and she knelt down on the ground with a thud.
Zhao Wan's face was pale, and she knew very well why her grandmother had punished her mother.
Just as she was about to kneel down, she heard Mama Wei say, "Miss Wan'er, the old lady invites you into the house."
Zhao Wan nodded, lowered her head and entered the house, kneeling at the old lady's feet.
"Grandmother, your granddaughter knows she was wrong."
The old lady sat on the couch, her eyelids drooping: "What did we do wrong?"
Zhao Wan said clearly, "Granddaughter shouldn't have met with Cousin Pei in private. If this gets out, it will not only damage her own reputation, but also implicate the sisters in the household."
"I'm not arranging your marriage yet because I want to take my time to see what kind of person he is. I'm afraid I might misjudge him and end up pushing you into a pit of fire."
At this point, the old lady placed the teacup on the table with a loud clatter, startling Zhao Wan so much that her shoulders trembled.
"And you, secretly painting with him in the garden," the old lady said, suppressing her anger. "If you are truly in love with him, I will arrange your marriage tomorrow."
Zhao Wan gripped the fabric tightly with her fingers, tears wetting her eyelashes as she forcefully suppressed the grievances in her heart.
"Grandmother, Wan'er doesn't want to marry Cousin Pei." Zhao Wan knelt on the ground, her forehead hitting the ground, tears streaming down her face. "Wan'er has failed your teachings, please punish me."
Seeing Zhao Wan's thin shoulders trembling and her heartbroken tears, the old lady finally softened her heart.
At this moment, Madam Wei came in and said, "Grandma, Young Master Pei has arrived."