Pei Zhao had a cool and aloof temperament, but upon hearing his little nephew’s soft voice, his heart couldn’t help but soften.
“Mm, Uncle also…”
“Uncle, can we eat this pastry?”
Before Pei Zhao could finish, Pei Qi pointed at the chilled rice cakes and asked him.
Pei Zhao’s face immediately darkened.
Why did he feel that his little nephew’s claim of missing him was just a sweet talk, and that wanting to eat the pastries was the real reason?
Yet, looking at his little nephew’s adorable, clueless expression and his little niece’s timid gaze, Pei Zhao swallowed his refusal.
“You may, but don’t eat too much.”
After all, chilled rice cakes were cooling in nature, and children’s stomachs were delicate—eating too much could easily cause discomfort.
With permission granted, Pei Qi immediately slid down from Pei Zhao’s lap, reached out to take two pieces, and even remembered to hand one to his sister first.
“Yueyue, you eat.”
Pei Yue was born half an hour later than Pei Qi. Compared to her sturdy older brother, Pei Yue was thin and frail due to being a picky eater. This meant that Pei Qi always fed his sister first, and if she liked something, he would eat less of it.
After all, he wasn’t picky—he liked everything.
Pei Yue timidly accepted it and, under her brother’s expectant gaze, lowered her head to take a bite.
“Mmm.”
The chilled rice cake was soft and glutinous, and the red bean paste was sweet without being cloying.
Pei Yue’s eyes lit up, and she took another big bite.
“Brother, this cake is delicious.”
The little girl’s voice was even sweeter than the red bean paste, though she rarely spoke, and her voice was soft.
This was the first time Pei Yue had ever praised food as delicious, and even Pei Zhao couldn’t help but take notice.
As the youngest child in the family and a delicate little girl, Pei Yue was undoubtedly the family’s beloved treasure. The entire family had gone to great lengths just to get her to eat a little more.
Seeing that Pei Yue liked the chilled rice cakes, Pei Zhao reluctantly gave her a few extra pieces.
“Then Yueyue can eat a little more.”
“Mm, thank you, Uncle.”
Xi Ning had sent quite a lot, and the chilled rice cakes kept well—even in hot weather, they could last two or three days. Pei Zhao had eaten only half, leaving plenty left.
After all, Pei Qi and Pei Yue were children; even if they ate their fill, they could only manage one each. Moreover, Pei Zhao was worried they might upset their stomachs, so he set a limit.
“Uncle, I want to eat one more.”
Seeing Pei Zhao put the plate away, Pei Qi clung to his leg, acting cute and pleading.
“No.”
Pei Zhao was cold and unyielding, unmoved no matter how much Pei Qi pleaded.
But when his little niece also looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes, Pei Zhao couldn’t hold out any longer.
“I’ll pack a few for you to take when you leave, and you can eat them tomorrow. Glutinous rice is hard to digest, and if you upset your stomachs, Uncle will never give you pastries again.”
Even though they couldn’t eat them today, with Pei Zhao’s promise, both children nodded eagerly.
“Don’t worry, Uncle, we’ll be good and eat them tomorrow.”
Only a few glutinous rice cakes remained. Pei Zhao kept enough for his own snack the next day and packed the rest for the two children.
Pei Qi, acting like a little adult, carried the bamboo basket in one hand and held Pei Yue’s hand with the other, toddling on his short legs toward the main household.
In the Duke’s residence, it was Madam Lin, the wife of the eldest son, who managed the household. Her husband, Pei Xun, the current Duke, held a nominal position in the Ministry of Revenue and spent his days clocking in before meeting colleagues for tea or drinks.
The Duke’s residence had a simple family structure, and the men of the Pei family did not take concubines. Pei Zhao keeping a mistress outside was practically an anomaly in the Pei family.
Although Madam Lin had never met Xi Ning, she somewhat looked down on her in her heart.
A woman who relied on her looks to please a man—what proper wife would like such a person?
“Mother, we’re back.”
“Mother.”After Pei Qi and Pei Yue entered the room, they threw themselves into Madam Lin’s arms. The two little ones had walked all the way and were sweating profusely from the heat. Madam Lin took out a handkerchief to wipe their faces.
“Where have you been playing again? You’re all damp.”
Pei Qi grinned and rubbed against his mother’s palm.
“We went to see Third Uncle, and he gave us delicious pastries.”
As he spoke, he proudly presented the bamboo basket to Madam Lin, pulling his sister along as a witness.
“Yueyue, tell her, weren’t those pastries delicious?”
“Delicious.”
The little girl nodded obediently, and Madam Lin was astonished.
She knew how picky her daughter was with food. For Pei Yue to call a pastry delicious, it must have been exceptionally tasty.
Moreover, it came from Third Master’s quarters. Could the Pei family’s chef have created some new pastry?
But as the lady in charge of the household, she hadn’t heard anything about it.
Filled with curiosity, Madam Lin picked up a piece from the bamboo basket.
The aroma of milk mixed with the sweetness of red bean paste wafted to her nose, and she couldn’t resist taking a bite.
“Mmm, delicious.”
She finished the piece in just a few bites. In truth, Pei Qi’s gluttonous nature came from her. Madam Lin had always loved all kinds of food since she was a girl, but after marrying and taking charge of the Duke’s household, her status as the Duchess no longer allowed her to indulge freely.
After finishing one piece, Madam Lin wanted another, but when she looked down, she saw her son’s pitiful gaze and withdrew her fingers.
“Mother didn’t quite taste it properly just now. Let me try another one.”
The young child, unaware of the world’s cunning, truly believed Madam Lin hadn’t tasted it properly and reluctantly let her take another piece.
“Then eat slowly this time, Mother. Once it’s gone, there won’t be any more.”
Madam Lin felt embarrassed. “Alright, I’ll eat slowly.”
She was ashamed of herself for competing with a child for food at her age, but the pastry was so delicious that she couldn’t help wanting more.
She wondered where Third Master had gotten it from.
Madam Lin naturally felt too awkward to ask Pei Zhao directly, but she could send someone to inquire with his attendant.
“You’re saying this chilled cake was made by Third Master’s mistress?”
Upon hearing Nanny Lin’s words, Madam Lin paused her actions of flipping through the account book.
Nanny Lin nodded. “Chang Lin wouldn’t lie about it. I also found out that Third Master has been visiting Wutong Street quite often lately. Do you think he might actually be growing fond of this mistress?”
Third Master Pei was such a noble and esteemed man. The sudden appearance of a stain on his reputation was something no one could accept.
Madam Lin closed her eyes slightly. “Old Madam won’t just sit by and do nothing.”
If the mistress remained quiet and well-behaved, Old Madam might pretend not to notice. But now that she was luring the master to visit her repeatedly, for the sake of Pei Zhao’s marriage, Old Madam would surely take action.
Madam Lin sighed, feeling a tinge of regret. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to enjoy this chilled cake anymore.
Sure enough, Old Madam in the main courtyard had also received the news.
“That woman on Wutong Street dares to send things to the Duke’s residence. It seems her ambitions run deep.”
Old Madam held her prayer beads, completely ignoring the fact that Pei Zhao had sent fruit to Xi Ning first, firmly believing that Xi Ning was the one seducing him.
Third Master was young and inexperienced. It was only natural for him to be captivated by a beautiful young woman, but this woman had to be dealt with early. Otherwise, if Third Master grew attached and brought her into the household in the future, she would surely become a source of trouble.
Upon hearing that Pei Zhao had visited Wutong Street several times over the past few months and that Xi Ning’s pastries had won over the twins from the main branch, Old Madam grew vigilant.
No, she absolutely could not watch as Pei Zhao sank deeper into this.
A mistress was merely a plaything. How could she truly be cherished? Even if she were to be cherished, now was not the time.Old Madam’s murky eyes flashed with a glint of shrewdness as her fingers tightened around the prayer beads.
“It’s time for Third Son to take a wife.”