“ You like him, do you?”
Within the gauze bed curtains, the woman pinned beneath the bedding had tears glistening in her eyes, the corners of which were flushed red.
Hearing his words, she shook her head wildly.
Her slender, porcelain-white fingertips clenched tightly, the joints turning bluish white.
Her soft voice was choked with sobs, trembling heavily.
“I don’t like him… I don’t like him…”
The corner of his lips curved slightly.
His cold, pale hand gripped the slender, yielding waist of the person beneath him and pressed her into his arms with excessive force.
He was clearly smiling, yet he made her feel cold all over.
His icy fingertips traveled upward along her waist. Everywhere they passed, they caused her to tremble uncontrollably.
She clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound, but the mist in those autumn eyes grew heavier—so heavy that she could hardly conceal the resistance and insincerity in their depths.
He sneered as he tore away the last undergarment from her body.
Fury churned in his eyes like a bottomless abyss.
Yet his tone was eerily calm.
She struggled, trying to retreat farther inside.
But he had her waist clamped in his grasp, leaving her unable to move.
“Has Wanwan forgotten? Your marriage contract is still in my hands. Even if he wants to marry you, can you marry him?”
The woman on the bed stopped breathing for a moment, her dark lashes trembling even more violently.
The man’s fingers tightened around her soft, full waist, and pain struck. She furrowed her brows, but before she could make a sound, her red lips were fiercely sealed by his kiss.
“Boom—”
A muffled peal of thunder exploded in the distance.
It was as though the heavens were venting their rage.
Immediately afterward, raindrops as large as beans came crashing down one after another.
In the elegant, cool-toned bedchamber, Pei Yanchen awoke with a frown.
A thread of restlessness had gathered deep in his cold eyes.
Outside the window, the rain grew more urgent, pattering against the eaves with a force that seemed capable of toppling mountains and overturning seas.
As though it meant to swallow everything.
He walked to the window and pushed it open, looking out at the mighty curtain of rain in the courtyard.
A cool breeze blew in through the half-open window.
It carried a fine mist of rain.
He lowered his head and brushed a hand over his sleeve. His thin, sharp eyelids drooped as his thoughts involuntarily returned to the dream he had just had.
For days now, he had been dreaming the same dream.
In the dream, the woman was forced to remain by his side. He could clearly see that she was unwilling; he knew perfectly well that she had repeatedly sought opportunities to leave. Yet the man he became in the dream refused to let her go.
He could not explain the origin of this inexplicable dream.
Nor could he remember the woman’s appearance.
Only occasionally, deep within the dream, could he glimpse her face. But the moment he opened his eyes, that face would dissipate like cooking smoke, becoming exceptionally indistinct.
Only those limpid eyes remained.
They were very beautiful eyes.
Clear and luminous, especially when they became veiled by a thin mist of tears. They were like the hazy autumn ripples after rain.
Fragile, yet possessed of a sorrowful beauty that made one want to destroy it.
Her ability to conceal her emotions, however, was clearly insufficient.
No matter how convincingly she spoke, those eyes—which appeared innocent and docile, yet always concealed an urgent desire to escape—would unconsciously betray her true thoughts.
“Knock, knock.”
Two faint taps sounded at the door, interrupting Pei Yanchen’s thoughts.
Under the corridor eaves, a household servant stood outside the door and reported inward:
“Young Master, the young lady from the Jiang family has arrived today. Old Madam has already sent people to receive her.”
Pei Yanchen responded with an indifferent “Mm.”
He did not take it to heart.
The rain today had come suddenly and would leave just as quickly.
Before an hour had passed, the pattering sound of rain gradually stopped.
His close subordinate, Ji Hong, stood beside one of the round pillars beneath the corridor, checking the time.
Every so often, he turned back to glance through the wide-open door into the room.
He saw that his master was standing by the window as usual, flipping through the book in his hands.
He appeared completely unconcerned with the Miss Jiang who was about to arrive at the residence.
Another quarter of an hour passed.
Pei Yanchen set down the book and walked out of the room.
The weather today was fickle. The heavy rain had only just stopped when fine, dense strands of rain began drifting down from the sky once more.
Ji Hong was just about to fetch his master an umbrella.
Before he could move, a sudden commotion came from outside.
He turned his head and happened to see several older female servants leading a slender, graceful woman through the hanging-flower gate toward them.
The woman held a pale blue oil-paper umbrella, concealing most of her face.
Only when she drew closer did it become apparent that her beauty was utterly peerless. She was exceptionally lovely, especially her eyes, which seemed almost capable of speaking.
Ji Hong paused.
Then he quickly realized who she was.
Nanny Fang, who was at the front, stopped and bowed to Pei Yanchen before introducing her.
“Young Master, this is the young lady from the Jiang family. She will be staying at the residence temporarily from now on.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yingwan lifted her lashes and glanced in that direction.
The man beneath the corridor wore dark, splendid robes. His bearing was straight as a pine, and his features were refined and dignified.
He possessed a rare and handsome appearance, while his air was even more distinguished and exceptional.
Only, his brows and eyes were cold and weary, radiating aloofness.
He gave off an intense sense of distance.
Jiang Yingwan merely swept him with a faint glance before withdrawing her gaze.
After finishing her introduction, Nanny Fang turned to Jiang Yingwan and introduced him as well.
“Miss, this is the eldest legitimate son of the Pei family.”
Jiang Yingwan inclined her head and gave a slight curtsy.
“Young Master Pei.”
Pei Yanchen’s gaze fell upon her.
The young girl’s features were richly beautiful, and her dark eyes were clear and bright. Perhaps because of the damp weather, they were veiled with a faint mist, but that did nothing to conceal the spirit within them.
At first glance, she looked very docile.
He gave a low “Mm.”
He said nothing else.
The rain in the sky showed signs of growing heavier again. Nanny Fang said a few words to Pei Yanchen, then continued leading Jiang Yingwan to the courtyard where she would be staying.
Seeing his master frown as he looked toward Miss Jiang, Ji Hong came over and asked at an appropriate moment:
“My lord, would you like to go see Old Madam?”
To ask about this Miss Jiang’s background.
Pei Yanchen lowered his eyes, his face revealing no emotion.
“No need.”
“Prepare the horse. I’m going to the palace.”
Nanny Fang led Jiang Yingwan to an elegant and tranquil courtyard pavilion on the southern side of the rear compound.
As she led Jiang Yingwan inside, she said:
“Miss, Jadewater Pavilion is elegant and quiet, and its layout is excellent as well. Old Madam personally had people prepare this courtyard for you. You will stay here from now on.”
After saying that, she continued:
“The weather is poor today, and you caught a chill on the road. Old Madam specifically instructed that you need not go over today. Rest well in your room, and anything that needs to be discussed can wait until tomorrow.”
Jiang Yingwan agreed to everything one by one.
She thanked Nanny Fang with perfect courtesy.
Nanny Fang then sent several people to the courtyard to attend to her properly. Only after confirming that nothing else needed to be arranged did she return to report to Old Madam.
The front hall of the main compound.
As soon as Nanny Fang returned, Old Madam asked:
“Did you bring that child back safely?”
Nanny Fang nodded.
“Miss Jiang has already settled into Jadewater Pavilion, and everything in the courtyard has been arranged properly.”
Seeing how much their mother-in-law cared about the only daughter of the Jiang family, even personally sending her trusted Nanny Fang to receive her, the first and second branches exchanged a glance.
Madam Wei of the second branch could not restrain her curiosity and asked first:
“Mother, isn’t that girl the only daughter of the Jiang family, the imperial merchants? Could she have some connection with our Pei family?”
“Of course she does.” Old Madam sat in the principal seat. Although she was already past sixty, she remained spirited and vigorous. “That girl’s grandfather not only saved the lives of members of our Pei family—”
“That girl also has a marriage betrothal with the Pei family, arranged many years ago.”
Upon hearing the words “marriage betrothal,” everyone present was astonished.
The Pei residence was a household of bells and cauldrons, the foremost among the great families—a prestigious clan with a history spanning several hundred years. The Pei family’s sons had all achieved distinction, each holding important positions at court.
Take the eldest legitimate son of the Pei family, Pei Yanchen, for example. At a young age, he had already risen to the lofty position of Grand Chancellor, becoming the powerful minister most valued by the emperor of the day.
The Pei family had deep foundations, and its sons were outstanding. No one knew how many people outside were watching the marriage arrangements of the Pei family.
Even Madam Chen of the first branch had recently been considering the marriage of her son, Pei Yanchen. Yet now, without any warning, their Pei family had suddenly produced a marriage alliance whose date of arrangement no one even knew.