Сhарter 12: Whose Саrd Will Zhaozhаo Flip?
“Yоu—уоu—уоu! Yоu unfilial sоn!” Тhе Dukе’s facе flushed red with agitatiоn. “Аt my аgе, hоw соuld I pоssiblу mаrry Prinсеss Chаng?”
Pei Yan’s gаze wаs as cold аs an iсy аbуss. “Father dеceived Моthеr fоr over а dесаde, seсretlу keeрing a mistress аnd raising illegitimаte children. If а mistrеss сan bе brоught into the housеhold, thеn Рrincess Сhang cаn alsо bе mаrried.”
“Сould it be thаt Father hаs suddеnlу grown a sense of shame?”
His iсу tone contаinеd not a single рrоfane word, yet it left the Duke feeling guilty and short of breath, choking on his words.
Seeing this, the Duke’s second son chimed in, “Pei Yan, it’s only natural for a man to have three wives and four concubines! It’s your mother who’s jealous and narrow-minded, insisting on a divorce and causing unrest in the household!”
“Second Uncle, watch your words!”
Pei Yan’s cold, sharp gaze turned toward him. With just one look, the Duke’s second son broke out in a cold sweat and dared not utter another word.
“Yan’er, you are the legitimate eldest grandson of the Pei family! For the sake of the Duke’s Manor’s glory for the next hundred years, you cannot marry that orphan girl Yun Zhaozhao!” Old Madam glared angrily at her two cowardly sons before turning to Pei Yan with a tone of earnest persuasion.
“Yan’er, Grandmother is doing this for your own good!”
Pei Yan’s handsome face remained cold and unmoved.
His gaze toward everyone in the Duke’s Manor was indifferent, heartless, as if they were mere strangers.
Pei Yan’s thin lips parted coldly. “Mother and I have long since established our own household. What does the glory of the Duke’s Manor have to do with me?”
“You! You unfilial son, have you forgotten that your surname is Pei?” The Duke widened his eyes in agitation.
“I can change my surname—to follow Mother’s or my wife’s.”
Pei Yan’s icy words stunned everyone.
By the time they regained their senses, they didn’t even know when Pei Yan had left.
Old Madam clutched her head, moaning and groaning about a headache. The Duke quickly tried to soothe her. “Mother, Pei Yan wouldn’t dare! He holds a high-ranking official position, and every move he makes is watched by the entire nation. He wouldn’t dare to be unfilial!”
“What’s so great about that Yun Zhaozhao? She’s bewitched my grandson—I think she’s a fox spirit!”
Hearing Old Madam’s curses, Pei Yuzhu recalled Yun Zhaozhao’s face—dressed plainly, yet strikingly beautiful, fresh and radiant.
So beautiful and so wealthy—Pei Yuzhu was green with envy!
She immediately echoed Old Madam, fanning the flames as she tattled, “Grandmother is right! Yun Zhaozhao is a fox spirit! We absolutely cannot let her marry Big Brother!”
“If Big Brother refuses to break off the engagement, we’ll go find Yun Zhaozhao and make her back down on her own! Make her leave the capital in disgrace!”
Pei Yuzhu’s words struck a chord with everyone.
But Yun Zhaozhao refused to come to the Duke’s Manor!
As for them going to visit her—everyone wore expressions of haughty disdain, looking down on Yun Zhaozhao as a lowly orphan and considering it beneath their dignity to visit her.
So what could they do?
Old Madam issued an order, “Eldest Son, she’s your future daughter-in-law. You handle this!”
Unable to refuse, the Duke returned to his courtyard and sternly summoned Concubine Liu. “Go to the Grand Tutor’s Manor and make Yun Zhaozhao break off the engagement!”
“Ah? Me?”
Concubine Liu shook her head repeatedly in fright. “Master, have you forgotten? That vicious woman lives in the Grand Tutor’s Manor. I’m scared—I don’t dare go.”
Madam Yun had once caught them in bed!
Her temper had been as fierce as fire—she beat the Duke until even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him, and even delivered a heavy kick to his manhood, leaving him unable to perform in bed to this day.
Although Concubine Liu hadn’t been beaten, she was too cowardly to confront Madam Yun head-on.
At the mention of this, the Duke felt a faint ache in his manhood. He gritted his teeth in anger. “It’s all that vicious woman’s fault, corrupting Yan’er and driving a wedge between father and son!””Yun Zhaozhao is her own niece—don’t even think about her becoming my daughter-in-law! She’ll never enter the gates of our Duke’s Manor!”
After venting his anger, the Duke looked at his delicate childhood sweetheart, who seemed so fragile and dependent on him, and his heart softened.
He spoke gently, encouraging her: “Rou Niang, you’re representing the Duke’s Manor—she wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you! If you succeed in this matter and call off the engagement, I’ll immediately beg Mother to elevate you to the position of Duchess. How does that sound?”
Concubine Liu was tempted, but she was still timid and afraid.
She was the mistress, and Madam Yun was a tigress—what if her face got scratched? How could she compete for favor and rise in status then?
Just then, a young woman in a green dress entered the room. “Father! I’ll go!”
That afternoon.
Three young ladies met face-to-face at the entrance of the Grand Tutor’s Manor.
“Xiao Shuyue? What are you doing here!”
Xiao Shuyue stammered, unable to get the words out, her eyes darting away as she awkwardly said, “I have business with Yun Zhaozhao. Pei Yuzhu, what are you two doing at the Grand Tutor’s Manor?”
Pei Yuzhu laughed gleefully. “I’m here to watch the show!”
She knew her uncle’s illegitimate daughter was coming to break off the engagement with Yun Zhaozhao and immediately dragged Pei Yuzhen along.
Pei Yuzhen was the same age as Pei Yuzhu, and she could no longer bear the stigma of being an illegitimate daughter! If the engagement could be successfully called off, her mother could be elevated to the proper wife, and she could openly become a young lady of the Duke’s Manor!
Hiding the ambition in her eyes, Pei Yuzhen gave Xiao Shuyue a gentle, sweet smile and advised her in a cloying tone: “We’re here representing the Duke’s Manor to see Yun Zhaozhao. Miss Xiao, you should go back first. Yun Zhaozhao won’t have time to see you after meeting us.”
“Hmph! An illegitimate daughter dares speak to me? Pei Yuzhu, your Duke’s Manor truly has no manners!”
Xiao Shuyue huffed angrily as she handed her visiting card to the gatekeeper. “Let’s just see who Yun Zhaozhao chooses to meet!”
Pei Yuzhen, insulted, clenched her fists in anger and deliberately put on a fragile, wronged expression as she looked at Pei Yuzhu.
Although Pei Yuzhu disdained treating an illegitimate daughter as a sister, even when beating a dog, one must consider its master!
Pei Yuzhu immediately glared at Xiao Shuyue and boasted on purpose: “If Yun Zhaozhao wants to marry my eldest brother, she’ll have to curry favor with the Duke’s Manor! Xiao Shuyue, while we’re invited inside for tea later, you’ll be left at the Grand Tutor’s Manor’s gate, drinking the northwest wind!”
Xiao Shuyue rolled her eyes.
But deep down, she was actually quite anxious and couldn’t help overthinking—wasn’t this just like waiting for Yun Zhaozhao to flip a card and choose?
Yun Zhaozhao, who would she pick?
Two visiting cards were brought before Yun Zhaozhao.
Without a second thought, Yun Zhaozhao said, “Invite Miss Xiao to the tea room.”
“Huh? Why?” Bi Zhu was stunned. “Miss, aren’t you close friends with the Third Miss Pei? Miss Xiao has always been at odds with you!”
“Bi Zhu, your information is outdated.”
Yun Zhaozhao propped her cheek on one hand, smiling as brilliantly as peach blossoms, so beautiful it was hard to look away. “Xiao Shuyue is here to thank me!”
Then her smile faded, and Yun Zhaozhao snorted with proud displeasure. “Pei Yuzhu is an ungrateful wretch! She wants to see me? Let her wait in line.”
Bi Zhu was utterly confused. What had she missed?
Unexpectedly, as soon as she went out to invite Xiao Shuyue in, Xiao Shuyue excitedly jumped up. “Haha! Yun Zhaozhao flipped my card! Looks like someone’s going to drink the northwest wind~”
Pei Yuzhu and Pei Yuzhen watched as Xiao Shuyue bounced her way into the Grand Tutor’s Manor, their expressions turning extremely unpleasant.
How dare Yun Zhaozhao not invite them in?”Bi Zhu!” Pei Yuzhu haughtily called out to Bi Zhu. “Does Yun Zhaozhao know it’s me who’s here? Why isn’t she coming out to greet me!”
Bi Zhu was displeased upon hearing this. “My young lady said that if you want to see her, you’ll have to queue up!”
What?
Pei Yuzhu could hardly believe it!
She stomped her feet in anger—today, she would definitely make Yun Zhaozhao cry! She would make her pack her bags and leave the capital!