Chapter 43: Jiang Lingwan, Do Not Rely on Grandmother's Power to Bully Others

What should she say?

Should she say that Pei Xingzhi had no romantic intentions toward her, and might even harbor a liking for Song Lian'er?

Or should she say that she had no feelings for Pei Xingzhi and had no intention of marrying him?

After a brief contemplation, she raised her eyes and said, "Grandmother, I have no feelings for Pei Xingzhi. I do not like him."

The old matriarch was slightly startled. She gently patted the back of her hand and said with a serious expression, "Mingzhu, I remember you used to be the one who loved following behind that Pei boy the most. How could you have no feelings for him now? Is it because you worry the Duke's Manor will hold you back, or because you are concerned about the gap between the Pei family and the Manor?"

Her grandmother was the only one in this household who truly cared for her.

For some reason, Jiang Lingyao suddenly recalled Wenqiu's questioning of Madam Jiang just moments ago, and her eyes grew slightly warm. "Grandmother, I truly do not like him. His temperament is too cold. The only reason I had some interest in him before was simply because he possessed a handsome appearance and outstanding talent."

"But you also said yourself that you hope I can find a good match. In my heart, the man I desire does not necessarily have to be handsome and exceptionally talented, but he must be considerate and warm, someone whose soul resonates with mine."

As Jiang Lingyao spoke, she actually smiled. She stood up, crouched down in front of Madam Jiang, rested her head against the older woman's knees, and said, "Grandmother, do you think what I said is right?"

The old matriarch was taken aback, then could not help chuckling softly. "What Mingzhu says is certainly right, but grandmother feels you should find a man who is both handsome and outstanding, yet also understands your heart. You are grandmother's precious pearl; you deserve the best!"

Jiang Lingyao smiled, but as she smiled, the corners of her eyes grew sour and ached. She quickly reached out to wipe away her tears, not wanting her grandmother to see her looking so disheveled.

Yet separated only by a wall, the three people outside the door wore completely different expressions.

Pei Xingzhi's customarily indifferent face showed a hint of bewilderment. Jiang Xiuyuan's astonishment held a trace of unconscious delight, while Song Lian'er covered her mouth, desperately suppressing the joy swelling in her heart.

She quickly turned her head to glance at Pei Xingzhi's current expression, feeling utterly overjoyed.

Jiang Lingyao got what she deserved. Without a doubt, she herself was the only favored daughter of the heavens in this world—Heaven was truly helping her!

Low laughter drifted out from inside. Pei Xingzhi's expression grew increasingly grim as he stared fixedly into the room, a tempest raging in his heart.

She truly didn't like him? She had only been infatuated with his looks? She found him cold-natured and wanted to seek a warm, considerate partner instead?

Yet wasn't she the one who used to cling to him relentlessly?

How could Jiang Lingyao have the audacity to utter such words!

"Eldest Brother, Brother Pei, younger sister must have said those things in a fit of extreme anger. She is merely throwing a tantrum; please do not take her words to heart."

Pei Xingzhi let out a cold laugh.

In a fit of extreme anger? The one who had the right to be extremely angry was him.

Jiang Xiuyuan also knitted his brows. "With Mingzhu's temperament, how could she ever serve as the mistress of the Pei household!"

Hearing the commotion from within, Jiang Lingyao raised her voice and asked, "Who is outside?"

"Sister, Eldest Brother and I have come with Commandery Prince Pei to check on grandmother."

Jiang Lingyao's brows furrowed tightly. Sensing her displeasure, the old matriarch spoke up immediately, "I am feeling unwell today, so we shall—"

Before she could finish her sentence, however, Song Lian'er had already pushed the door open and entered. With a naive and affectionate expression, she asked the old matriarch, "Where does grandmother feel unwell? Someone come quickly, go fetch a physician!"

Jiang Lingyao's face turned icy. She stood up and blocked the group outside the folding screen. "Grandmother is unwell and requires quiet."

She raised her eyes, only to see Pei Xingzhi gazing at her coldly. The outer corners of his eyes were slightly red, filled with a dark, suppressed anger.

Judging by his expression, had he heard her telling her grandmother that she didn't want to marry him?

Jiang Lingyao felt no ripples of emotion in her heart. Seeing them, she remained completely indifferent and pointed toward the door. "Please leave."

Song Lian'er burst into tears the moment she wanted to. "Sister, do you dislike me that much? If so, I will leave right now. But Brother Pei and Eldest Brother are both very worried about grandmother. Please don't vent your anger on them; let them go in and see grandmother, won't you?"

She made a show of turning to leave, whereupon Jiang Xiuyuan hastily stopped her. He turned to look at Jiang Lingyao with mounting anger and said, "Mingzhu, grandmother is not your grandmother alone. Commandery Prince Pei even went so far as to put aside his own birthday banquet to accompany us here upon hearing she was unwell."

"Can't you learn from Lian'er and see how sensible she is?"

Jiang Lingyao was already cursing furiously in her mind.

If grandmother hadn't been right inside, she truly would have resorted to physical force! How could these people be so utterly incapable of human speech? Could they not see that neither grandmother nor she wished to see them?

Her gaze grew progressively heavier. Lowering her voice, she stated bluntly, "Jiang Xiuyuan, take the people you brought and get out. If you insist on causing trouble and upsetting grandmother here, I won't mind teaching you a lesson the exact same way I taught Jiang Xiushu."

"You!"

Jiang Xiuyuan flew into a rage, pointing straight at the bridge of her nose and scolding, "Jiang Lingyao, what right do you have to bully others under the protection of another's prestige?"

"Eldest Young Master!"

The old matriarch suddenly spoke up from behind the folding screen, her voice laced with fury. "What are you doing? Are you actually going to help outsiders bully your own biological sister right in front of my face?"

Hearing the old matriarch speak up, Jiang Xiuyuan panicked and hurriedly explained, "How could that be? Grandmother, I am Mingzhu's eldest brother; how could I possibly bully her? Besides, Lian'er is also part of the Duke's Manor, and she addresses you as grandmother as well. How can she be considered an outsider?"

The only reply he received was a long, deeply disappointed sigh echoing from behind the screen.