After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 35 The old man is back

Qin Bijun knelt in the Buddhist hall for more than an hour before Madam Pei allowed her to get up and go back.

Supporting her, Liao's mother said with some concern, "Why does this old lady always seem to dislike you, Madam?"

In the past, it was just verbal reprimand, but today, they made the lady kneel in the Buddhist hall for so long.

Hearing Liao's mother's words, Qin Bijun said calmly, "In her mind, I should be generous and stop caring, but how can I swallow that anger?"

“It’s not that I can’t tolerate people, I just hate him. Originally, we could have had a second child.”

Qin Bijun knew that for aristocratic families, having three wives and four concubines was nothing unusual.

What she cared about was the unborn child, and the joy she was filled with, which she wanted to share with Pei Feng.

But on the night she miscarried, her husband was in another woman's bed, and she caught him with her own eyes.

All she wanted was an explanation, an answer, but what she got in return was accusations that she was immature and lacked common sense.

"Madam, it's all in the past now, you should let it go."

Liao's mother offered a word of comfort, but she also knew that no woman could easily let go of the pain of losing a son, the excruciating pain that cuts to the heart.

Qin Bijun didn't say anything more, and the two returned to Qionghua Courtyard together.

Distracted by the old lady, Qin Bijun forgot to look for Pei Yanzhi, which gave him a day of free time.

In the evening, Xiang Ning was being forced by Pei Yanzhi to practice calligraphy.

After writing all afternoon, her wrists were sore, but Pei Yanzhi was in high spirits and insisted that she finish writing ten calligraphy templates before he would let her go.

Xiang Ning had no choice but to lower her head and write. Eventually, the characters stopped being crooked and started to look like something.

"Sir, the servants in the front yard said that the eldest master has returned and the old lady invites you to Ningfu Residence for dinner."

Cheng Hua's voice came from outside, and Pei Yanzhi responded with an "Mmm."

Xiang Ning put down her pen and was about to get up when Pei Yanzhi walked to her side, took her hand, and wrote two words next to her handwriting.

"wait for me?"

She looked at the two words and said something, and Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly: "Go and rest."

Pei Yanzhi took the wolf-hair brush that Xiang Ning was holding, and he reached out to rub Xiang Ning's head before leaving.

This slightly intimate gesture made Xiang Ning hesitate a bit, but Pei Yanzhi had already walked away.

She blushed as she looked at the two characters on the rice paper.

Why does it feel like Pei Yanzhi is more tender than before?
Xiang Ning shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Even so, she was determined to leave the manor.

The Pei family is not her final destination, and she will not stay here to become Pei Yanzhi's concubine.

This secluded mansion confined her for life.

At this moment, Ningfu Residence was quite lively.

Pei Feng had not returned to the manor for a long time. If it weren't for the old lady's words, he probably wouldn't have wanted to come back.

Every time he returned to the Pei residence, he would have a big fight with Qin Bijun, and the couple had reached the point where they had nothing left to say to each other.

"Why are you keeping such a long face? Do I have to ask you to sit down?"

The matriarch of the Pei family, sitting in the main seat, snorted coldly and said something to Pei Feng. Then Pei Feng bowed and said, "Your son wouldn't dare."

"Brother, please sit down. It's been a long time since the three of us brothers have seen each other. We must drink until we drop today."

Second Master Pei Zhiyuan smiled and invited Pei Feng to sit down. Fourth Master Pei Changqing sat to the side, bowing to Pei Feng and calling him "elder brother."

Pei Yongcheng's injuries hadn't healed yet, and Dong Yan was forcing him to study day and night, so naturally he couldn't come.

Before long, Pei Yanzhi walked over slowly. Only then did Old Madam Pei smile and say, "Yanzhi, come and sit next to your grandmother."

There was an empty seat next to her, reserved for Pei Yanzhi.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi walked over and, seeing Pei Feng standing to the side, called out, "Father."

Pei Feng simply hummed in response. The father and son were polite and distant, almost like strangers.

Pei Zhiyuan smiled and smoothed things over: "Yanzhi, your second uncle would like to offer you a toast. A few days ago, my concubine was ignorant and offended you. Please don't take it to heart."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi said calmly, "Second Uncle, you flatter me."

Pei Zhiyuan's words made the reunion dinner lively.

Madam Pei deliberately didn't invite Qin Bijun and Dong Yan; today's meal was just a gathering of the Pei family's sons.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the old lady had something to say.

Sure enough, after a few rounds of drinks, Pei Zhiyuan staggered and fell onto Pei Changqing. The old lady put down her chopsticks and looked at them.

“The Pei family’s offspring are not numerous. In my whole life, I have only four children, and I have devoted all my energy to raising you.”

“Your father passed away early, and for so many years, this huge Pei mansion has been supported entirely by me.”

"To outsiders, the Pei family's current prosperity makes them seem like an unshakeable, towering tree. But do you know what this means to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?"

Madam Pei's gaze swept over them, and she uttered only two words: "Threat."

That's why today's dinner party only includes members of the Pei family.

The reason why Madam Pei specifically asked Pei Feng to come back.

The Pei family has been through so much and has seen all sorts of storms, but the old lady of the Pei family still gets a headache whenever she thinks about Qin Bijun wanting to marry a Hanlin scholar.

"The future of the Pei family is in your hands. You brothers must work together to protect the Pei family, understand?"

As Madam Pei spoke earnestly, Pei Zhiyuan immediately stood up and said, "Mother, rest assured, your son will definitely listen to you."

"Alright, go back now that you've finished eating. Boss, Yanzhi, you two stay here."

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhiyuan was helped away by a servant, while Pei Changqing bowed and also turned to leave.

As soon as he stepped out of Ningfu Residence, Pei Zhiyuan pushed aside the servant, his eyes clear and lucid, showing no signs of being drunk.

A mother is ultimately just a mother; she can't be a "mother" in the traditional sense. Even when she needs to discipline her son, she has to do it privately with him.

What's this talk of brothers working together? It's nothing more than sacrificing their own interests to elevate the eldest son's family.

Otherwise, why would Pei Yanzhi be able to hold such a high-ranking official position, while he could only hold a sinecure and spend his days in a daze?

The fourth son did not enter officialdom but became a businessman.

At this moment, in the center of Ningfu Residence, Old Madam Pei looked at Pei Yanzhi and said, "Today I punished your mother, making her kneel in the Buddhist hall for more than an hour."

"Do you know why?"

"Your grandson is foolish, please enlighten me, grandmother."

Pei Yanzhi's eyes were devoid of emotion, as if the old lady Pei was not talking about his mother.

"You are now the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Your mother wants you to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family, a Hanlin Academy scholar. You must know about the relationship between the Cheng family and Prince Qing. Do you understand why I am punishing her?"

Marriages among aristocratic families are inherently complex. When considering a couple, one must consider not only the newlyweds themselves but also their families and the influence they wield.

Qin Bijun was only interested in marrying into a powerful family, but she didn't consider how such a marriage relationship was viewed by the officials.

(End of this chapter)