Pei Zisu had always known that his cousin Anian was breathtakingly beautiful.
Yet, every time he saw her, he felt a unique surge of joy. After returning from the Princess’s manor yesterday, although he hadn’t received a definitive answer, the lack of a refusal was already good news to him.
Seeing her dressed this way today—though not in full formal regalia—was a promising sign in his eyes. The corners of his mouth turned up irrepressibly. Before he could even speak, his aunt, Lady Pei, rushed forward. She took Jiang Shiyuan’s hands, looking her up and down with delight. As she looked, she said joyfully:
“Has Anian had a change of heart today? Usually, when I tell you to dress more vibrantly, you’re always reluctant. But look at you today—you’re truly like a fairy descended to the mortal world.”
Lady Pei’s words brought a flush of crimson to Jiang Shiyuan’s face, and she replied with a hint of shyness:
“It’s not that exaggerated, Aunt. You’re just like Old Dame Wang selling melons—praising your own goods.”
“Haha! Who told the family to produce such a beautiful girl like you? It’s only because you don’t like appearing in public; otherwise, who knows how many noble madams would be falling over themselves to inquire about you.”
She spoke quickly and without thinking, but as she caught sight of her nephew, she suddenly remembered his proposal in the flower hall a few days ago. The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
Seeing this, the eldest cousin’s wife, Lady Xiang, stepped forward to block Pei Zisu’s gaze. She took Jiang Shiyuan’s hand to help her mother-in-law out of the predicament.
“Mother is just happy. You are naturally beautiful; even I, your cousin-in-law, find my heart fluttering looking at you. They say a niece takes after her aunt—if the child in my womb is a girl and can look even seventy or eighty percent like Anian, I, as her mother, will surely be grinning from ear to ear.”
Her words immediately drew everyone’s attention to her. Jiang Shiyuan’s eyes widened in surprise. Seeing Lady Pei looking equally triumphant, she immediately said with joy:
“Cousin-in-law, are you… expecting?”
“After you went to the Princess’s manor yesterday, I felt a bit unwell, so we called for a physician. He said it’s been nearly three months.”
“And don’t get me started!” Lady Pei interjected. “Your cousin and his wife are truly muddled. These first three months are when one must be most careful, yet these parents-to-be were completely oblivious. We only found out now that the pregnancy is almost stable. When I heard the news yesterday, I wanted nothing more than to give your cousin a good beating!”
Now that her daughter-in-law was “precious cargo,” Lady Pei wouldn’t dream of scolding her; she could only take her frustration out on her son.
Jiang Shiyuan could easily imagine the scene of her aunt jumping in anger while her eldest cousin remained stoic and unbothered. It must have been quite a sight. She shot a teasing glance at Lady Xiang and said:
“Aunt, you should give Eldest Cousin some face. After all, he’s a father now. If your grandson or granddaughter hears that you have such a temper after they’re born, they might not want to be close to you.”
“They wouldn’t dare!”
Lady Pei was straightforward and could always take a joke. She wasn’t annoyed by Shiyuan’s remark, but her eyes soon filled with a lingering worry as if she had remembered something.
Jiang Shiyuan was clever; she knew exactly what her aunt was thinking.
She had been enlightened by Liuhua’s words yesterday, and today, she was here to provide the answer. She looked up at Pei Zisu. Seeing the same determination and persistence in his eyes, the last trace of uncertainty in her heart vanished.
With Lady Xiang’s pregnancy, the entire Marquis of Wenyuan’s estate was filled with auspicious joy.
This was only the beginning. There were still the second, third, and fourth cousins. Once they all married and started families, the estate would be livelier than ever.
Knowing that her grandmother would not be lonely and would have great-grandchildren to dote on, Jiang Shiyuan felt much more at ease. She took her aunt’s and cousin-in-law’s hands and walked toward Old Madam Wang. She offered a graceful and polite bow. Old Madam Wang knew her granddaughter had something to say and signaled for someone to help her up.
“What is it? Did something happen at the Princess’s manor yesterday?”
“I was greedy for a few cups and was sent back drunk, causing Grandmother to worry. I came today first to apologize, and second, to take this opportunity to tell everyone: I accept Cousin Pei’s proposal. I am willing to marry him.“
The people of the Marquis’s estate were accustomed to grand occasions, but within the span of just two or three days, they had first been startled by Pei Zisu’s bold proposal and were now utterly shocked by Jiang Shiyuan’s response.
Just two days ago, she had clearly stated she wouldn’t marry.
How was it that after a trip to the Princess’s manor and sleeping until dawn, she had undergone a complete change of heart? Even her manner of speaking and acting had become so bold.
While the rest of the family was still in shock, Pei Zisu was the first to snap out of his daze. He immediately stepped to Jiang Shiyuan’s side. They exchanged a look; he clearly hadn’t expected his usually delicate cousin to be so direct in accepting the marriage. Amidst his joy, he had to step forward and make his stance clear.
He bowed deeply to Old Madam Wang and spoke with profound respect and sincerity:
“Old Madam, please rest assured. Since I, Zisu, have made this request, I will not allow the things you fear to happen. I originally intended to wait until everything was settled before proposing again, but I didn’t expect Anian to agree so readily. Since she trusts me, I will never fail her. Today, I swear before everyone of the Wang family: If I ever betray Anian in the future, may I be trampled into mud by the Southern Army! May I never find rest in the cycle of reincarnation!“
His vow was as solemn and severe as a military order.
Families of military officers like theirs often believed in gods and Buddhas more than the scholarly elite. Lady Pei was pained to hear such a harsh oath, but having finally seen her niece and nephew take a step forward, she couldn’t interfere.
Old Madam Wang, however, frowned and gave a cold scold:
“Nonsense! How can you make such a poisonous vow so casually? Quick, spit it out, and touch some wood!”
“I will never have cause to fulfill the oath,” Pei Zisu replied, “so even if it were harsher, I would not fear it.”
The determination in his eyes surpassed even Jiang Shiyuan’s. Old Madam Wang looked back and forth between the two children. They stood there together, and though they had only met a few times before, they looked incredibly well-matched!
Phrases like “a talented man and a beautiful woman” or “a match made in heaven” seemed redundant. For the past few days, she had been constantly thinking of how to refuse the marriage for her granddaughter without offending the Pei family, and now it had come to this.
She gave a smiling sigh, took her granddaughter’s hand, and said with a “blaming” expression:
“When children grow up, they follow their own path. First, I watched your mother marry far away to Xuzhou, and now it’s your turn to marry to Hanzhou. All of you just want to get as far away from this old woman as possible! I see how it is—do you find me too talkative? Is that why you must hide so far away?”
She feigned anger, but everyone present could hear the underlying sorrow of parting. Jiang Shiyuan understood this perfectly; she stepped forward and took the old lady’s hand, acting spoiled as she always did.
“How could you say that? Having a grandmother like you is a blessing I’ve earned over many lifetimes. If it weren’t for the meticulous care of you, Aunt, and everyone in the estate, how could I live as openly and freely as I do today?”
With tears in her eyes, Old Madam Wang stroked Jiang Shiyuan’s hair. No matter how reluctant she was to let her go, she was happy that Shiyuan had found a path she was determined to walk.