Chapter Thirty-Five: Jiang Lingyao Will Not Attend Your Birthday Banquet
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Awakening, Jiang Lingyao suddenly opened her eyes, only to realize that it was already noon.
“How long was I asleep?”
“Answering the young lady, you slept for a full twelve hours.”
“What?”
Jiang Lingyao froze, her cheeks turning faintly red. “Where is Grandmother?”
“The Old Madam is in the outer room.”
As they spoke, the people outside heard the commotion.
“Pearl is awake?”
Jiang Lingyao hurriedly dressed herself. When she emerged, her face was even redder, and she said shyly, “I hope I haven’t made a fool of myself before Grandmother. I actually slept for so long.”
The Old Madam laughed merrily. “Sleeping more is a good thing. Now that I’m old and in poor health, I can hardly sleep. Seeing you sleep so soundly puts my heart at ease.”
“Enough talking. Eat something first and settle your stomach.”
Jiang Lingyao was indeed famished. At once, she sat down beside the table and wheedled, “Grandmother, will you eat with me for a little while? Please?”
It had been an exceedingly long time since she had shown such a childish, girlish side.
The Old Madam agreed and accompanied her through lunch. She was just about to give some instructions when they suddenly heard a knock at the door.
“Madam, Fifth Miss, today is Prince Pei’s birthday. His carriage is waiting outside. May I ask whether Fifth Miss wishes to go?”
Jiang Lingyao shook her head without hesitation. “I’m not going. I want to stay with Grandmother.”
Yet, unusually, the Old Madam did not indulge her. Instead, she said with disapproval, “Go. You and Pei Xingzhi are betrothed. You ought to attend.”
“Grandmother!”
“Someone, help the young lady wash and dress.”
Seeing that her grandmother’s attitude was unyielding, Jiang Lingyao pressed her lips together. All the joy in her heart vanished.
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She knew that Grandmother was worried about her.
But she truly did not wish to waste her time watching the unpleasant faces of Pei Xingzhi and the others.
She agonized over it for quite some time, but in the end, under the Old Madam’s expectant gaze, she nodded.
Very well. If it could put Grandmother’s mind at ease, then it was worthwhile.
…
Outside the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence.
Pei Xingzhi stood beside the carriage, his expression cold and detached.
Today, he had abandoned his usual modest attire and was dressed in a black-and-crimson brocade robe embroidered with gold. The golden patterns shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight, and paired with his bearing, they made him appear all the more steady and resolute.
The moment Song Lian’er stepped outside, she stared at him in a daze. Then she hurried forward and said, “Brother Pei, you arrived so early?”
“Mm.”
Pei Xingzhi answered with a hum, but his gaze remained fixed behind her, as though he were searching for someone.
Following his line of sight, Song Lian’er saw nothing but empty space, and irritation immediately flared within her.
Why was he looking for Jiang Lingyao? What was so special about that woman that she could occupy Pei Xingzhi’s thoughts?
Pei Xingzhi possessed extraordinary fortune and a noble status. Naturally, only an exceptional transmigrator like herself was worthy of him!
Suppressing her anger, she asked as though casually, “My elder brother and I have already come out. Why aren’t you leaving yet, Brother Pei?”
Jiang Lingyao was certainly staying with that old woman today. She would not come!
“Someone else has not arrived yet. You may go ahead.”
Song Lian’er clenched her fists, though she forced a smile. “Are you waiting for my younger sister, Brother Pei? But no one has seen her these past few days. There was no movement at all in her courtyard today either. Could it be… could it be that you forgot to send her an invitation?”
Pei Xingzhi’s expression turned cold, and his gaze swept toward the servant.
“Please calm yourself, Master! I personally delivered Miss Jiang’s invitation. How could I possibly have forgotten?”
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Upon hearing this, Pei Xingzhi felt even more displeased. So she simply did not want to come?
Remembering the promise Jiang Lingyao had made with a smile the last time they met, he suppressed the trace of displeasure in his heart and said indifferently, “I’ll wait here.”
Song Lian’er’s eyes reddened. She tugged at Jiang Xiuyuan’s sleeve.
Jiang Xiuyuan said gravely, “Brother Pei, I’m afraid she won’t come. Today is your birthday, and if you, the host, arrive late, it may cause trouble.”
Pei Xingzhi lifted his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. There is still plenty of time.”
Song Lian’er was furious, but she could only wait alongside Pei Xingzhi. In her anger, she nearly shredded the handkerchief in her grasp.
Another half hour passed. She raised a hand to her forehead once more, then allowed her legs to give way as she collapsed toward Pei Xingzhi.
“Lian’er!”
Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Jiang Xiuyuan caught her and hurriedly asked, “Are you feeling unwell? Why don’t you return first?”
Song Lian’er was annoyed that Jiang Xiuyuan had reached her before Pei Xingzhi. Her expression darkened, but she replied weakly, “I’m fine. I’ll wait for my younger sister with all of you.”
Jiang Xiuyuan lost his temper. Turning to Pei Xingzhi, he urged, “Jiang Lingyao has been throwing a tantrum these past few days. Let’s go instead of waiting here for nothing. In the past, she would be the first to leave the residence and climb into your carriage whenever you came to fetch her. Since she hasn’t shown herself today, she clearly isn’t coming.”
“Exactly. Elder Brother is right. Brother Pei, stop waiting. She has treated your kindness as though it were nothing. How heartless of her to make you wait this long. Lian’er feels so sorry for you.”
Pei Xingzhi’s gaze grew dark, and several marks had already been pressed into his palm by his clenched fingers.
In the past, whenever he came to collect Jiang Lingyao, she would wait for him by the gate long in advance.
Would she really come today?
As he sank into thought, his face had already filled with anger.
Song Lian’er’s eyes lit up with delight.