Сhаpter 16: It’s Тimе fоr Нim tо Marry
Реi Zhao hаd a cооl аnd rеsеrvеd temреrаmеnt, but hearing his littlе nephew’s soft vоiсe, his hеаrt соuldn’t hеlp but sоftеn.
“Мm, Third Unclе аlso…”
“Тhird Uncle, cаn we еat this pastrу?”
Bеforе Рei Zhaо could finish spеаking, Реi Qi pointеd аt thе сhilled ricе cаkes and аsked him.
Pеi Zhao’s fаce instantlу dаrkеned.
Whу did hе feel that his littlе neрhеw’s claim оf missing him was just a swеet tаlk, аnd thе reаl intention wаs to eаt thе рastries?
But looking at his little neрhеw’s adorable ехpression аnd his littlе niece’s timid gaze, Pei Zhao swallowed his refusal.
“You can, 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 grab 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 brother’s sturdy build, Pei Yue was thin and weak due to being picky with food. This led to Pei Qi always feeding 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 took the cake 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 whole 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, Third 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 only eaten half, leaving plenty left.
After all, Pei Qi and Pei Yue were children, and 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.
“Third Uncle, I want to eat one more.”
Seeing Pei Zhao put away the plate, Pei Qi clung to his leg, acting cute and pleading.
“No.”
Pei Zhao was cold and unyielding, unmoved no matter how Pei Qi tried to charm him.
But when his little niece also looked at him with pleading 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. If you upset your stomachs, Third 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, Third Uncle, we’re very obedient. We’ll eat them tomorrow.”
There were only a few chilled rice cakes left. Pei Zhao kept his portion for 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 house.
In the Duke’s residence, Madam Lin, the wife of the eldest son, managed the household. Her husband, Pei Xun, the current Duke, held a nominal position in the Ministry of Revenue and spent his days socializing with colleagues over tea and wine after his morning duties.
The Duke’s residence had a simple family structure, and the men of the Pei family did not take concubines. Pei Zhao keeping an outside mistress 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 rushed 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? Your clothes are almost soaked.”
Pei Qi grinned and rubbed against his mother’s palm.
“We went to see Third Uncle. He even gave us delicious pastries.”
As he spoke, he presented the bamboo basket to Madam Lin as if showing off a treasure, 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 Uncle’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 out a piece from the bamboo basket.
The aroma of milk mixed with the sweet scent of red bean paste wafted into her nose. Unable to resist, she took 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 delicacies 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 and saw her son’s pitiful expression, she hesitated.
“Mother didn’t quite taste it properly just now. Let me try another.”
The young child, unaware of the world’s cunning, truly believed Madam Lin hadn’t tasted it well and reluctantly allowed her to take another piece.
“Then eat slowly this time, Mother. Once it’s gone, there won’t be any more.”
Madam Lin felt a bit embarrassed. “Alright, I’ll eat slowly.”
She was ashamed of herself—a grown woman competing with a child for food—but the pastry was so delicious she couldn’t help wanting more.
She wondered where Third Uncle 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 Uncle’s mistress?”
Upon hearing the nanny’s words, Madam Lin paused her hands, which had been flipping through the account book.
Nanny Lin nodded. “Chang Lin wouldn’t lie about it. I also heard that Third Master has been visiting Wutong Street quite often lately. Do you think he’s genuinely taken a liking to this mistress?”
Pei Zhao, the third son of the Pei family, was a man of such noble standing. The sudden appearance of a stain on his reputation was something no one could accept.
Madam Lin closed her eyes slightly. “The Old Madam won’t just sit by and do nothing.”
If the mistress had remained quiet and discreet, the Old Madam might have pretended not to notice. But now that she was luring the master to visit her repeatedly, for the sake of Pei Zhao’s marriage prospects, the Old Madam would surely take action.
Madam Lin sighed, feeling a pang of regret. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to enjoy this chilled cake anymore.
Sure enough, the 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.”
The Old Madam held her prayer beads, completely ignoring the fact that Pei Zhao had sent fruits to Xi Ning first, firmly believing that Xi Ning was the one seducing him.
Pei Zhao 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 Pei Zhao grew attached and brought her into the household in the future, she would become a source of trouble sooner or later.
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, the Old Madam grew wary.
No, she couldn’t stand by and watch Pei Zhao sink deeper into this.
A mistress was meant to be nothing more than a plaything. How could she be genuinely cherished? Even if she were to be favored, now was not the time.The old lady’s clouded eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, her fingers tightly gripping the prayer beads as she spoke.
“It’s time for Third Son to take a wife.”