No sooner had Pei Yan left than Nanny Liu brought people to clean the study.
Now that he lived in his own residence, all important belongings had already been moved out. The courtyard he used at the General’s Manor had essentially become a guest courtyard.
Pei Yan had no opinion on how it was managed.
The Mei family did not lack a courtyard, yet aside from Pei Yan, no one else had ever been allowed to stay there.
Nanny Liu also brought medicinal soup for Mei Wanying.
When she heard that Mei Wanying had already taken her medicine and gone to bed, she carried the unused medicine back to Madam Mei’s courtyard.
The candlelight inside the room was dim and yellow.
All the servants had been dismissed.
In a low voice, Nanny Liu asked,
“Madam, are we truly not going to let His Highness know?”
Madam Mei remained silent.
Her expression was grave and conflicted.
For a long time, she said nothing.
Then, as if recalling something, she suddenly began coughing violently.
Nanny Liu hurried over to pat her back.
Once she recovered, a cup of warm water was immediately handed to her.
“Madam, you must take care of your health. Our young miss only has you left. You need to see her get married, have children, and live a happy life.”
While Madam Mei was still alive, the Mei family’s relatives were already eyeing the estate greedily.
Some shameless relatives had even proposed sending their sons to the General’s Manor, hoping to have them adopted under Madam Mei’s name to inherit the family wealth and continue the family line.
Fortunately, Madam Mei loved her daughter deeply and had never become obsessed with preserving the bloodline.
Otherwise, those people would have long since climbed over Mei Wanying’s head.
Without anyone protecting her, all those internal and external threats would devour the young miss alive.
A sorrowful look crossed Madam Mei’s face.
“These illnesses were left behind from my younger years. I don’t know how much longer I can live. If I don’t settle A-Ying’s future first, I won’t be able to rest in peace even in death.”
Her health had never been good.
After losing her husband, grief weighed heavily on her heart, and the endless worries only made her condition worse.
Fortunately, the General’s Manor was wealthy enough to afford expensive medicine.
Otherwise, her body would have collapsed long ago.
“Please don’t think such things. As long as you relax and take care of yourself, you’ll surely live a long life,” Nanny Liu comforted.
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Pei Yan was the best possible match for their young miss.
Perhaps Pei Yan felt that the Mei family was repaying kindness with pressure.
But no matter how angry he became, he would still treat Miss Ying well.
Though he appeared cold, he cared deeply about the Mei family.
Otherwise, would he have tolerated Miss Ying’s pursuit all these years?
There had never been another woman by Pei Yan’s side.
Given enough time, he would eventually discover how wonderful Miss Ying truly was.
Madam Mei stared at the flickering candlelight.
“A-Ying would rather die than marry him. I can’t force her to her death.”
Nanny Liu replied,
“Her Majesty the Empress is already choosing a daughter-in-law. If we keep hesitating, and another woman is selected, Miss Ying will truly suffer the greatest loss.”
A woman’s chastity was of utmost importance.
Even if Miss Ying did not marry Pei Yan, she would eventually marry someone else.
And if the truth came to light then…
How would she survive?
Before Pei Yan’s future wife was officially chosen, they had to let him know the truth.
Then he could request an imperial decree from the Emperor and Empress to grant the marriage.
Once that happened, every problem would be solved.
But Madam Mei could not make up her mind.
The image of her daughter pressing a hairpin to her own throat remained vivid in her memory.
Her heart pounded heavily.
“You know how much A-Ying loves Pei Yan. Yet today she was so abnormal, so determined not to marry him that she would rather die. Could something have happened that we don’t know about?”
Nanny Liu pondered for a moment.
“Miss Ying is kind-hearted. She simply doesn’t want to force someone.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“It must be.”
Madam Mei exhaled deeply.
Determination gradually appeared in her eyes.
“You’re right. Pei Yan needs to know the truth. But we must keep it from A-Ying. We can’t let her do anything foolish.”
If she did not marry Pei Yan, what would become of the rest of A-Ying’s life?
As long as Madam Mei lived, she could still protect her daughter.
But what if she died?
She needed to find a reliable support for her daughter before she could peacefully join her husband in the afterlife.
Other than Pei Yan, there was no one more suitable.
Everything she did was for her daughter’s sake.
…
After leaving the Mei residence, Pei Yan headed directly to the military camp.
He had been extremely busy lately.
Soon, he would depart for the border.
His return date was uncertain.
It might be several months.
It might be several years.
If not for General Mei’s death anniversary, he would not have visited the Mei residence today.
And naturally, he would not have seen Mei Wanying.
Walking through the night, his dark robes blended seamlessly into the darkness.
A gust of wind cleared his mind.
Recalling everything that had happened earlier, a trace of self-mockery flashed through his eyes.
Why had he rushed over to find Mei Wanying?
Anyone seeing it might think he cared deeply about her.
The only reason he had tolerated her relentless pursuit all these years was because of General Mei.
He was not Mei Wanying’s childhood fiancé.
Nor had he ever intended to become the Mei family’s son-in-law.
Even if his biological parents had never found him, his thoughts would not have changed.
At most…
At most, he would have treated Mei Wanying as a younger sister and cared for her accordingly.
But if she pushed too far, he would wash his hands of her entirely.
Whether she was forcibly married by the Crown Prince or targeted by some other man, he would no longer interfere.
Fortunately, Mei Wanying had behaved herself.
She had not done anything she shouldn’t have.
At least, that was what Pei Yan believed.
The tension in his heart gradually eased.
Mei Wanying had come of age three years ago.
She was still young.
She had lost her father and spent three years in mourning.
She had already suffered enough.
Being five years older than her, he decided he could indulge her one more time.
Otherwise, Mei Wanying would undoubtedly complain behind his back that he was narrow-minded.
As if he didn’t know.
Mei Wanying and that maid of hers had criticized him countless times.
By the time he arrived at the military camp, he forced thoughts of Mei Wanying from his mind.
He ordered people to keep a close watch on the Crown Prince.
If the Crown Prince dared make a move against Mei Wanying, he would stop it at any cost.
The military camp was heavily guarded, making it impossible for Madam Mei to meet him.
Nor did she dare send a letter.
She worried someone might secretly open and read it.
For now, she could only bury the matter in her heart.
Turning to Nanny Liu, she instructed,
“Send someone to keep watch at the city gates. The moment Pei Yan returns to the capital, invite him to the manor.”
Nanny Liu suggested,
“Why not simply send someone to the military camp and ask His Highness to come back?”
In the past, Madam Mei might have done exactly that.
But things were different now.
Pei Yan was a prince.
If she summoned him at will, the person in the palace would certainly be displeased.
After finally recovering her long-lost son, the Empress treasured Pei Yan more than her own eyes.
If she came to dislike the Mei family and persuaded the Emperor to grant the Crown Prince’s request, making A-Ying his secondary consort, how could A-Ying possibly survive?
The Crown Prince behaved recklessly.
His Eastern Palace was filled with countless beauties.
No one even knew how many had already died.
A woman without a ruthless heart would have only one fate there.
Death.
A-Ying could never compete against them.
Massaging her temple, Madam Mei said,
“Be patient. We’ll wait until he returns to the capital. We must avoid creating unnecessary complications.”
Nanny Liu immediately fell silent.
She no longer dared offer suggestions.
Yet anxiety filled her heart.
What if they were wrong?
What if Pei Yan absolutely refused to marry Miss Ying and refused to take responsibility?
Wouldn’t all their efforts amount to nothing?
The thought was too frightening.
Nanny Liu hurriedly pressed a hand to her chest.
Miss Ying was beautiful beyond compare.
A celestial beauty.
Looking across the entire capital, who could rival her brilliance?
That Pei Yan had been blind for all these years.
Surely it was time for him to finally open his eyes.
Inwardly, Nanny Liu prayed to every god and Buddha she could think of.
She hoped their young miss would receive a perfect ending.
She loved Pei Yan so much.
She deserved to become Pei Yan’s legal wife.