Pei Yan remained in the military camp for two full days.
The moment he returned to his residence, a messenger from the palace arrived.
The Empress wished to see him.
He was to enter the palace immediately.
Before he could leave, however, someone from the Mei family arrived as well.
“What is it?”
Pei Yan’s expression remained indifferent.
His voice carried no warmth.
The coldness seemed to radiate naturally from his very bones.
His noble bearing was overwhelming.
The servant delivering the message barely dared to breathe.
Keeping his head lowered, he replied,
“Madam says there is an important matter to discuss and requests that Your Highness visit the manor.”
Pei Yan’s expression became unreadable.
His thumb slowly rubbed against his fingers as the chill surrounding him deepened.
Everyone present unconsciously held their breath.
His Highness rarely punished people.
But when he fell silent, he was truly terrifying.
“Did something happen to Mei Wanying again?” Pei Yan asked.
The servant wiped sweat from his forehead.
“After the General’s memorial day, Miss fell ill. She hasn’t left the manor or received visitors these past two days.”
The Crown Prince had even visited to check on her.
She refused to see him.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince did not take offense and merely left gifts before departing.
Since Pei Yan had not asked, the servant omitted that detail.
Pei Yan let out a cold laugh.
Mei Wanying was exactly the same as before.
Whenever she wanted to see him, she either pretended to be sick or persuaded an elder to arrange a meeting.
She was full of tricks.
And here he had actually thought she had become more sensible.
Only a few days had passed before she revealed her true nature again.
Without even seeing her, Pei Yan could imagine her reaction.
She would wear a wronged expression.
Bite her lip lightly.
Then stare at him with watery eyes.
Every single time, it made his chest tighten.
As though an invisible hand were twisting his heart.
The sensation was uncomfortable.
Sometimes it even stirred a nameless anger within him.
Pei Yan thought to himself that he truly disliked Mei Wanying.
She was delicate.
She cried easily.
She liked acting spoiled.
And she clung to people endlessly.
If Mei Wanying were not General Mei’s daughter, he would not spare her a second glance.
Not even one.
His voice remained emotionless.
“Tell Madam Mei that I am occupied with official duties. I will not be visiting the manor in the near future. If there is an urgent matter, she may send a message directly. I will handle it.”
If he actually went, Mei Wanying would only become even more demanding.
That was her specialty.
The year General Mei died, she had fallen seriously ill.
When he visited her, she immediately began ordering him around.
One moment she wanted him to feed her medicine.
The next, she wanted him to feed her sweets.
Naturally, he refused.
Then she stared at him with those damp, pitiful eyes.
In the end, he softened and gave in once.
After that, she started pushing her luck.
She declared that she would be observing mourning rites and demanded that he wait for her for three years.
She even ordered him not to interact with any other women during those three years.
According to her, he was supposed to preserve his purity for her.
Pei Yan almost laughed again.
Why should he wait for Mei Wanying?
And why should he remain faithful for her sake?
Did she truly believe he was her childhood husband?
Ridiculous.
Without waiting for the servant’s response, Pei Yan turned and left.
Tall and broad-shouldered from years of martial training, he carried an undeniable presence even while walking.
Exiting the residence, he boarded the carriage bearing the insignia of Prince Chen’s estate.
The carriage departed toward the imperial palace.
The servant returned to the Mei Manor with a miserable expression.
When Madam Mei learned that Pei Yan had not come, disappointment flashed through her heart.
Yet she had expected as much.
If Pei Yan were so easy to manipulate, he would have agreed long ago when she first asked him to marry A-Ying.
But he had refused.
Claiming he only saw A-Ying as a younger sister.
Even invoking the late General had failed to change his mind.
Pei Yan truly was stubborn as stone.
Madam Mei instructed Nanny Liu,
“Go wait outside the palace gates. Give him a hint first. I’ll handle the rest.”
Nanny Liu hesitated.
“What if His Highness still refuses to come?”
“He will come.”
Pei Yan might be impossible to persuade, but he was not a man who shirked responsibility.
Once he learned that he had shared intimacy with A-Ying while drunk, whether he wanted to or not, he would marry her.
Madam Mei was absolutely certain of this.
Otherwise, she never would have risked everything by sending her own daughter to attend the drunken Pei Yan.
Putting his personality aside, Pei Yan was an exceptionally good man.
He did not even keep a bedchamber maid.
Even after being reclaimed by the imperial family, he remained unchanged.
Still distant from women.
If A-Ying married him, she might suffer some grievances.
But at least she would not have to fight bloody battles against countless rivals in the inner household.
Pei Yan was the best choice.
Perhaps one day he would rise to even greater heights.
By then, A-Ying would likely have children to rely upon.
She was kind-hearted, but clever.
Given time, she would learn how to protect herself.
And even if other women eventually appeared around Pei Yan, she would know how to deal with them.
Madam Mei thought that she had already done everything she could for her daughter.
The road ahead would have to be walked by A-Ying herself.
“Mother!”
Mei Wanying entered from outside.
Her face was pale.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
No one knew how much she had overheard.
Madam Mei froze.
Panic flashed across her heart for a moment before she quickly regained her composure.
She gave Nanny Liu a look, signaling her to leave and carry out the task.
Just as Nanny Liu lifted her foot to go, Mei Wanying stopped her.
“I already said not to look for him!”
Mei Wanying had always been gentle.
Occasionally she threw small tantrums.
But this was the first time she had truly become angry.
Her gaze was sharp.
Her aura imposing.
Under that stare, Nanny Liu actually felt her legs weaken.
Instinctively, she looked toward Madam Mei.
Madam Mei spoke firmly.
“Go. Bring him here.”
If this continued, A-Ying would make herself sick from overthinking.
Madam Mei comforted herself.
Everything she did was for her daughter’s own good.
Perhaps A-Ying felt ashamed.
Perhaps she felt guilty toward Pei Yan.
But those emotions would fade.
Once this step was taken, everything would be better.
Mei Wanying’s eyes reddened.
The tears within them fell like strings of pearls.
This time, she did not threaten her life.
That would be foolish.
She had already died once.
She cherished the chance to live.
Taking a deep breath, she forced down the lump in her throat and finally spoke.
“If Father knew about this, he would never rest in peace.”
Madam Mei gripped the armrest tightly.
“The General… the General would understand my decision.”
“My father was upright and honorable. He would never resort to schemes to force another person. He wouldn’t understand, and he would never approve!”
Mei Wanying slowly stepped forward.
“This brings shame upon Father’s name!”
Madam Mei’s face turned deathly pale.
A tickle rose in her throat, and she hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing quietly.
Nanny Liu immediately poured water and patted her back.
“Madam, please calm down. Your health is most important.”
Then she turned to Mei Wanying.
“Miss Ying, you are Madam’s flesh and blood. If she had any other choice, would she really have gone this far? Things have already reached this point. Please listen to Madam. She would never harm you.”
Looking at the gray strands appearing beside her mother’s temples and her slightly hunched posture whenever she coughed, Mei Wanying felt as though needles were piercing her heart.
She could not deny it.
From the day she was born, her mother had loved her deeply.
Instinctively, she stepped forward to support her.
Then she heard Madam Mei say:
“Whether you understand or not, you must marry Pei Yan! When I die, I will personally go to your father and beg his forgiveness!”
Mei Wanying stopped in her tracks.
Her expression became hollow.
“I won’t marry him.”
Madam Mei replied coldly:
“A marriage arranged by one’s parents is not yours to refuse.”