Сhаpter 11: Grand Тutоr Pei’s Нeart Is Fillеd with Zhаоzhао
“Yаn Qing, I havе а quеstiоn for yоu.”
Yan Qing, the Deputу Сhief оf thе Grаnd Judiсiаl Cоurt, wаs twеnty-six уеars оld, excеptiоnally talеnted, аnd pоssеssed an аlmost divine abilitу tо sоlvе casеs.
Оn his wау out of thе pаlacе, he was stоppеd by the pоwеrful аnd renоwnеd Grand Tutor Рei. Yаn Qing shоwed no surрrise on his fаcе, instеаd curling his liрs into a рlayful, tеаsing smilе. “Grand Tutor Pei, how did things go yеstеrday with your littlе сousin?”
Pei Yаn’s еyes darkened slightly, his tone restrained and controlled. “Quite well.”
“Your advice was quite good.”
If it weren’t for Yan Qing’s suggestion, he wouldn’t have known how to accompany Zhaozhao shopping or dining.
Hearing this, Yan Qing’s handsome, picturesque face lit up with delight. “To receive a single word of praise from Grand Tutor Pei would make me wake up laughing from a dream. Alright, speak! What do you want to ask today?”
Pei Yan’s eyes were deep and cold, like an unfathomable frozen lake, making it difficult to discern his emotions.
His voice was equally cold, like the striking of jade, delivered unhurriedly: “My cousin used to fear me, avoided me. She lived in my household for two and a half years. We met fifteen times and exchanged thirty-six sentences.”
Of those thirty-six sentences, thirty consisted of just two words—”Cousin.”
“Heavens, Grand Tutor Pei, you sound like a resentful husband locked away in the inner chambers! You actually remember how many sentences your little cousin spoke over two and a half years?” Yan Qing looked utterly astonished, the mockery and teasing in his eyes nearly overflowing.
Pei Yan shot him an icy glare.
Calmly, he offered an excuse: “My cousin lost both parents and has been deeply sorrowful, which is why she behaved that way. However, starting the day before yesterday, things changed. My cousin spoke to me.”
“Yesterday, she was no longer afraid of me. She…”
Pei Yan lowered his gaze to his arm, remembering Zhaozhao pulling his hand; then glanced at his palm, recalling Zhaozhao rushing over, allowing him to embrace her soft, fragrant form fully…
His Adam’s apple bobbed violently.
Pei Yan’s eyes darkened further, his pale, thin lips pressed tightly together, unwilling to share the details of their interactions with Yan Qing.
But who was Yan Qing?
The Deputy Chief of the Grand Judicial Court, renowned for his almost divine case-solving abilities!
From Pei Yan’s expression and movements, he deduced the situation. Immediately, he doubled over with laughter. “So you hugged and held her, didn’t you? Hahaha, Grand Tutor Pei, you’re so innocent! How will you manage to have children after marrying?”
“None of your concern.”
Pei Yan’s gaze was as cold as icy blades, freezing Yan Qing into silence and surrender, daring not to laugh further. Only then did Pei Yan ask, “What should I do to make things better?”
“Take the initiative! Look at you—others praise you as a sage descended from the heavens, but I see you as an ice sculpture. Cool in summer, but anyone near you in winter would freeze to death!”
Yan Qing mercilessly teased him: “Your little cousin lost her parents, has no one to rely on, is delicate and pitiable. If you remain so cold and aloof, sooner or later you’ll freeze her away!”
“You take the initiative, she takes the initiative, then you’ll have a story!”
Yan Qing looked up at the sky, sighing with emotion. “Like me and my wife! We met on a narrow path. She thought I was a pretty boy and kidnapped me back to her mountain stronghold to get married! I saw my wife’s heroic, beautiful demeanor, fell in love at first sight, so I yielded to her, consummated the marriage… Now, our second child is already old enough to run errands!”
“I’m telling you, Grand Tutor Pei, if you don’t take the initiative soon, your little cousin will really run off… Huh? Where’d he go! Grand Tutor Pei, wait for me!”
Pei Yan didn’t want to hear his love story.
All the officials at court had heard it so many times their ears were calloused.
Take the initiative?
He would go see Zhaozhao right now!
Pei Yan shook off Yan Qing and boarded his carriage, coldly urging, “Leng Zhu, drive!”
“Yes, sir.”
Whoa—
Leng Zhu abruptly tightened the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt. “Sir, someone is blocking the carriage.”Pei Yan’s eyes were as cold as ice. When he pushed open the carriage door to look, his handsome face turned even frostier.
The Duke’s Estate steward blocked the carriage and shouted, “Eldest Young Master! The Old Madam asks you to return home! Return to the Duke’s Estate!”
Pei Yan directly closed the carriage door, his voice so cold it could freeze a person to death coming from inside: “Submit a visiting card.”
“Oh dear! Eldest Young Master, the situation is urgent! The Old Madam is gravely ill and on her deathbed, longing to see you one last time!” The Duke’s Estate steward cried, tears and snot streaming down his face: “Eldest Young Master, you are the Old Madam’s most beloved legitimate eldest grandson!”
Gravely ill?
Pei Yan’s eyes turned icy and sharp as he called out, “Leng Zhu, go buy mourning clothes.”
“Yes.”
The Duke’s Estate steward was stunned for a moment. What was the need to buy mourning clothes?
But once the mourning clothes were bought, Pei Yan had the carriage change course to the Duke’s Estate. The steward immediately breathed a long sigh of relief, secretly revealing a smug smile.
The older ginger is spicier!
The Old Madam’s move had firmly grasped the Eldest Young Master!
The steward’s smug smile lasted until the carriage stopped at the Duke’s Estate’s grand entrance between two stone lions. The moment Pei Yan stepped down from the carriage, the steward stiffened all over, his eyes nearly popping out: “E-eldest Young Master! Why are you wearing mourning clothes?”
“To attend a funeral.”
Pei Yan coldly and mercilessly tossed out these words and strode directly through the Duke’s Estate’s main gate.
On the way to the Old Madam’s courtyard, maids and servants greeted him with smiling faces, “Eldest Young Master, you’ve returned.”
The next second, every flattering and admiring expression froze solid upon clearly seeing Pei Yan’s attire.
“Grandmother, your grandson has come to see you off on your final journey.”
Pei Yan walked into the room, bent at the waist, clasped his hands, and bowed!
The people in the room who had mustered all their energy to put on an act were caught off guard by his preemptive strike. They were completely dumbfounded, gaping foolishly and forgetting their lines.
The Old Madam, who had originally been feigning illness, saw Pei Yan directly wearing mourning clothes for a funeral. Temporarily heart-stricken, her aged face turned ashen, and she fell backward!
“Mother!”
“Grandmother!”
The Duke’s Estate’s people fell into chaos. The Duke, furious, glared at Pei Yan and scolded, “Bastard! You unfilial son, do you want to anger your grandmother to death?”
Pei Yan was frosty: “The steward said Grandmother was gravely ill and on her deathbed. What have I done wrong?”
The Duke was choked up and could only glare viciously at the steward.
The steward immediately took the blame, kneeling down and slapping his own face: “This old servant was confused! This old servant deserves death!”
“Get out!” The Duke glared at Pei Yan again: “Hurry up and take that off!”
Pei Yan leisurely removed the mourning clothes, every movement elegant and pleasing to the eye.
He specifically handed the mourning clothes to Leng Zhu, instructing, “Keep them well, for next time.”
Those unaware might praise Grand Tutor Pei for being frugal and managing the household diligently.
Those who knew the inside story, the Duke’s Estate’s people, all felt guilty and dared not look at him.
“Yan’er, come here.” The Old Madam, thick-skinned, called Pei Yan to her side.
She extended her wrinkled, age-spotted hand, forcefully grasping Pei Yan’s hand. Her cloudy eyes filled with old tears: “Yan’er, Grandmother is old, her days are numbered. Before Grandmother dies, I just want to see you start a family!”
Pei Yan nodded, “There are still six months, Grandmother, please wait a little longer.”
“You want to marry that Yun Zhaozhao?”
The Old Madam instantly changed her expression, “She is not worthy to be your principal wife! Nor is she worthy to be the Pei clan’s matriarch!”
“Grandmother had someone calculate their birth characters. She brought death to both her parents; she’s a calamitous star! Yan’er, listen to Grandmother, break off the engagement! Drive her out of the capital!”
Pei Yan slowly straightened up, forcefully pulling his hand back.
He took a handkerchief to wipe his hand, his eyes as cold as a deep abyss or a snowy lake, staring straight until even the Old Madam felt a bit uneasy in her heart.Pei Yan’s voice was icy cold: “Grandmother, who calculated the eight characters?”
The Duke hurriedly answered: “The Fortune-Teller Sai on South Street in the capital! He’s extremely accurate!”
“Spreading rumors to deceive the masses.” Pei Yan swiftly ordered: “Leng Zhu, arrest him and send him to the authorities!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Wait!” The Duke jumped in agitation: “Pei Yan, your grandmother only has this one wish, shouldn’t you fulfill your filial duty?”
“Fine, who does Grandmother wish to marry?”
Old Madam, flushed with excitement, sat up and shouted: “Marry Princess Chang!”
Pei Yan nodded, looking at the Duke: “Did you hear that, Father? You marry her, that would also be fulfilling filial duty.”
“You… you… you…” The Duke was so angry he began to stammer.