Chapter Forty-Four: I Don’t Want to Marry Pei Xingzhi

"Grandmother, Lian'er will take her leave."

Tears welling in her eyes, Song Lian'er departed with a deeply aggrieved expression.

To her surprise, neither of the two men stopped her, nor did they accompany her outside.

Jiang Xiuyuan was mindful of the Old Dowry Lady, fearing she would reprimand him and cause outsiders to view him as unfilial. He cared most about his reputation, and his mind was entirely occupied with figuring out how to appease her wrath.

Pei Xingzhi, on the other hand, was completely focused on Jiang Mingzhu.

"Eldest Grandson, these ears of mine may be old, but they are not deaf! You dared to disparage Mingzhu right before my very eyes. How can you expect me to rest easy?"

Jiang Xiuyuan's face paled slightly.

Though frail and sickly, the Old Dowry Lady had once been the pillar of the Duke's estate. Even after living in seclusion for many years, the female relatives of various noble households in the capital had never looked down upon her, always addressing her respectfully as Madam Jiang.

Should she let slip even the slightest hint of her displeasure toward him, he would drift further away from the position of Heir. Unfilial piety was a grave offense he could ill afford to bear.

He knelt before the folding screen, rare humility softening his tone as he said, "Grandmother, it was your grandson who was foolish. Please forgive me."

The Old Dowry Lady remained silent. Jiang Mingzhu lowered her gaze, looking down at the kneeling Jiang Xiuyuan from a position of authority, a surge of irony rising within her.

A hypocrite who bullied the weak and feared the strong.

Seeing that the Old Dowry Lady ignored him, Jiang Xiuyuan grew anxious. He raised his eyes to cast a pleading look at Jiang Mingzhu, pressing his lips together in a rare display of weakness to beg for her help.

Yet Jiang Mingzhu merely cast a cold glance at him and averted her eyes.

Stunned, Jiang Xiuyuan froze in disbelief.

In the past, no matter how angry Jiang Mingzhu might be, she could never bring herself to ignore him, let alone stand by and watch him incur the Old Dowry Lady's wrath.

Panic mounted within him, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he subconsciously began to blame Jiang Mingzhu.

How could she be so devoid of sense? Just because she had the Old Dowry Lady backing her up, she dared to be this arrogant. If it were Lian'er, she certainly wouldn't have the heart to watch him suffer reprimand, nor would she ever stand coldly by the sidelines.

Why couldn't Jiang Mingzhu learn from Song Lian'er and show a little sense?

Jiang Mingzhu took in every expression on his face, finding it rather comical. Just as she was about to speak and tell the two men to leave, she heard Pei Xingzhi, who had remained silent all this while, suddenly speak up.

"Hearing today that the Old Dowry Lady was indisposed, Xingzhi came specifically to pay a visit. I hope you will not fault my abruptness."

This time, the Old Dowry Lady slowly emerged from behind the folding screen, her tone softening slightly. "Today is your birthday, yet you cast aside so many matters to come here. You have shown much thoughtfulness."

Jiang Mingzhu hurriedly stepped forward to support the Old Dowry Lady, leading her to sit upon a nearby daybed.

Pei Xingzhi paused, his expression composed as he raised his gaze and said, "Old Dowry Lady, since I have called upon you today, there is also a matter I wish to discuss."

For some reason, Jiang Mingzhu felt her brow furrow as she listened to him speak, harboring a lingering sense that Pei Xingzhi was acting rather strangely today.

Surely, however, he could not have come for the sake of marriage.

To her astonishment, the next moment he spoke with utter earnestness. "Now Mingzhu and I are both of an age. If we do not discuss marriage soon, I fear we shall delay her prime years. I beg of you to grant me a suitable date so that I may bring my mother to formally visit and discuss this with you in detail."

Lifting her head, Jiang Mingzhu's eyes were filled with astonishment.

Had Pei Xingzhi lost his mind?

How could he possibly take the initiative to bring up marriage? Could it be that he had overheard everything she and her grandmother had just discussed, and it had somehow provoked his competitive spirit?

Yet he had always been prudent in his actions; when had he ever been so impulsive?

Jiang Mingzhu's heart leaped into her throat, her gaze turning guarded as she pondered what scheme Pei Xingzhi might be plotting.

She did not trust him.

Jiang Xiuyuan was equally panicked. Why hadn't Pei Xingzhi consulted him before bringing the matter directly to the Old Dowry Lady? If Grandmother truly consented, what would become of Lian'er?

The Old Dowry Lady was startled. Subconsciously turning her head, she saw no joy on Jiang Mingzhu's face, but rather a trace of unease. Instantly forming a plan, she smiled toward Pei Xingzhi and said, "Marquis Pei, my Mingzhu is still young, and her nature is innocent; she cannot bear the responsibilities of the Pei family's matriarch. I am old now, and I only wish for her to be happy in the future. Rather than a match above her station, I would much prefer she find someone of equal standing."

"Besides, the promise made back then was merely idle talk and cannot be taken seriously."

Pei Xingzhi's gaze darkened slightly. Instead of yielding, he looked directly at Jiang Mingzhu and asked word for word, "Then what does Mingzhu think? You used to love following at my heels, and I have never once neglected this marriage. Perhaps Grandmother would prefer to let her speak."