I'm already a concubine, who wants to fight with you?

Chapter 234 The past is like smoke

Everyone knew that the person Pei Yuan really "wanted to marry" was the high and mighty princess, not the concubine's daughter of a fifth-rank official.

Therefore, they looked down on Xie Fei, thinking that this woman was just lucky and favored by the royal family, which allowed her to occupy the position that did not belong to her.

Since she was not the best candidate in Pei Yuan's mind, it would be easy to pull her down from the position of mistress.

Even Xiang Xiaoniang thinks so.

Pei Yuan seldom spoke harshly to his concubines, nor did he treat them too harshly.

Just as Xie Fei said, it is not easy for women to survive, and the life of a concubine is even more like walking on thin ice.

Even though these concubines were not married by him, as long as they behaved themselves, he could support them and let them live a peaceful life in the backyard.

But if one or two of them wanted to stir up trouble and make Xie Fei worry about these trivial matters, he would not tolerate it.

Xiang Xiaoniang knelt on the ground, trembling, not even daring to raise her head.

Pei Yuan rolled up the book and slapped his palms from time to time. He seemed calm and composed, but the sound was heavier than thunder, striking Xiang Xiaoniang's heart again and again.

"You are very smart," Pei Yuan said slowly, "I don't have a deep impression of you, but you were able to keep a low profile during the years when Xiao Shirong was rampant. This shows that you know how to be low-key and cautious."

His voice was as cold as frost and snow, which made Xiang Xiaoniang feel a chill on her spine. Her mind, which was originally filled with calculations and plans, seemed to be completely frozen, and she could not think of anything.

She had never met a real master, and even when she was a slave in her childhood, she could not be considered Pei Yuan's real personal maid.

She could see through the fake Pei Yuan, but she didn't understand the true character of her master.

He tried to gain control, but was seen through instead. Like a wet chicken drowned, he was defeated by just a few words.

Pei Yuan pinched her chin and forced her to raise her head, tears of fear falling from her eyes.

Pei Yuan had no mercy on women and his hands were so strong that Xiang Xiaoniang felt as if her jaw was being crushed and her teeth were chattering.

"I'll give you two choices," Pei Yuan stared at her with eyes as cold as a pond, and said, "Either you behave yourself like before and don't cause any trouble, or you leave the mansion, and I'll arrange a way out for you."

Xiang Xiaoniang's mind was almost unable to think, and she just wanted to escape from Pei Yuan as soon as possible, otherwise she would fall into the abyss from which there would be no escape in the next moment.

She was trembling all over with fear, her lips were shaking violently, and she looked very pitiful.

There was not a trace of pity in Pei Yuan's eyes, he just gave the ultimatum expressionlessly.

"If you try to stir up trouble again, the mass grave will be your final destination."

After Xie Fei finished his work outside, he wanted to go find Xiang Xiaoniang for a good "chat", but was told that Xiang Xiaoniang was sick.

She went to Xiang Xiaoniang's yard and saw that she had a high fever and was talking nonsense.

Then I learned from Su Lu that Xiang Xiaoniang went to see Pei Yuan alone. After a little thought, I knew what she meant.

After seeing Pei Yuan, Xie Fei said, "You scared her. This kind of thing should be handled by me."

Pei Yuan pulled her to sit on his lap, his warm hands lingering around her waist.

"A Fei has been working hard enough, so I should share what I can."

Xie Fei's eyes sparkled, and he said happily, "It's not hard at all! You don't know how happy I feel every time I check the accounts!"

All the shops and farms were in operation, and there was always a harvest every day. She was so happy when she thought about the money coming into her account.

Pei Yuan also knew her money-loving personality, so he pressed her waist and reminded her, "Follow the old rules, transfer everything that needs to be transferred, and keep a backup plan."

Xie Fei frowned and said, "Do you think Emperor Xuan would really find an excuse to confiscate the property?"

"Prepare for a rainy day." Pei Yuan said calmly.

Xie Fei nodded seriously, and then said: "If there is nothing else, I will go back to Songyueju first."

She tried to get up and leave, but Pei Yuan held her waist tightly, and she couldn't get away at all. She glared at Pei Yuan angrily, and Pei Yuan said pitifully: "It's only been a short time since we got married, and Ah Fei has already despised me and doesn't even want to stay in the same room with me?"

Xie Fei pried his fingers apart one by one, but he kept clinging to them like an octopus.

Blinking his eyes, Pei Yuan said aggrievedly: "I only have you, A Fei. Can you bear to leave me alone in my empty room?"

"There are rumors outside that you and I don't get along," Xie Fei struggled in vain and said helplessly, "If we are always stuck together, someone will always get suspicious."

Pei Yuan said nonchalantly: "Someone has already become suspicious. Ah Fei should come up with an excuse."

He suddenly picked the man up and carried him sideways. Xie Fei exclaimed and quickly hugged his neck.

"Pei, Yuan!"

"A Fei's body is cold, why don't you take a bath with me to warm yourself up." He calmly carried the struggling Xie Fei towards the compartment. The wooden barrel that had been prepared was filled with hot steam.

The fourth branch inherited the title, but the one who was most angry was the old lady.

Pei Sheng, the son she gave birth to, was the eldest son. It was reasonable and logical that Pei Sheng should inherit the title of Marquis of Anyuan.

Who knew that once the imperial decree came out, the wealth and glory she had planned for half her life would become a thing of the past.

How can I swallow this?
In the study, the old lady leaned on her cane and angrily said to the old marquis: "Is this a conspiracy between you and the fourth house? You want to take away the title from my son and my grandson! You are so cruel, where do you put me, your first wife!"

The old lady was furious, but the old marquis just sneered.

"You want to occupy something that doesn't belong to you forever?"

The old lady's breathing was slightly stagnant and her hands were shaking slightly.

The old marquis just looked at her, without a trace of affection in his eyes.

"You know very well that she is my original wife. Until now, I have only returned the title to her child. How can you have the nerve to complain?"

The old lady's face changed drastically, but she couldn't utter a word of rebuttal.

The old marquis thought back to the past and was filled with sorrow.

Back then, Pei Yuan’s grandmother was his first wife.

His first wife's surname was Mu, and she was the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family in Beijing.

The two met by chance and fell in love with each other, but were obstructed by their families and had to elope and flee the capital.

The heaven and earth are witnesses, and all things are matchmakers. Although there is no matchmaker, in the heart of the old marquis, the girl from the Mu family is the only wife he will have in this life.

They went far to the border, and the old marquis joined the army, starting from an unknown soldier.

Miss Mu also followed the army, washing clothes for him, cooking for him, and accompanying him throughout all the journey, rain or shine.

Although their lives were hard and poor, they were content with it.

Later, Miss Mu rescued the old lady Miao Jiu who was almost taken away by a wild wolf in the mountain village.

Miao Jiu is an orphan who was raised by her uncles and aunts. Although she had support in name, her life was actually extremely miserable.

She also learned some basic medical skills from the barefoot man, which came in handy in the army, so Miss Mu kept her by her side and took care of her like her own sister.

A few years passed, and the brave and incomparable old marquis emerged in the army. He rose from an ordinary soldier to a high-ranking official with a high salary. He had a bright future and was about to rise to the top.

It was at this time that Miao Jiu accidentally learned that the old marquis was originally from the royal family. Seeing that Miss Mu and the old marquis were getting along well, he thought it would be no problem for her to be granted an imperial title in the future.

She began to think more and more, always wanting to snatch the old marquis from Miss Mu.

(End of this chapter)