Jiaojiao is getting married, and the male leads fall for her and fight over her.

Chapter 41 Her cousin takes her to see a potential husband: If I'm really going to get married, it will be him.
Shen Shuyi glanced back at Nanyuan, her gaze falling on the copper bells swaying in the wind under the eaves.

She suddenly remembered the five words used to describe Pei Nanzhou in the original novel: cruel compassion.

In fact, all four Pei brothers are cold-blooded; they only do things that are profitable for themselves.

Pei Nanzhou felt that she shouldn't have any improper thoughts about him, so he used this method to force her away, simply because he was afraid she would become attached to him.

"I'm not angry, why are you getting so worked up?" Shen Shuyi said calmly.

She didn't care about Pei Nanzhou as a person, so his words couldn't hurt her in the slightest. It was only because A-Jian valued her so much that she felt she had been humiliated.

Her strategy to win over the Pei brothers was to change her fate of dying young, which was more important than anything else.

A-Jian was still heartbroken and advised her not to get close to Pei Nanzhou again.

Shen Shuyi naturally couldn't tell the little girl that she wasn't in control of everything; the system was the one who decided everything.

In just eleven months, she will regain her freedom and be able to control her own destiny.

She worked until midnight that night and finally finished making the garment.

The next day, she slept until late morning, and it was only when A-Jian came to wake her that she groggily sat up: "Didn't I tell you to let me sleep until I naturally woke up?"

In the past, because of her poor health, she could pay her respects to the old lady at her own pace, but today she was happy to stay up a little later.

"Qingzhu just came to tell you that the young master is still waiting for you in front of the Marquis's mansion." Ajian hurriedly helped Shen Shuyi up.

Shen Shuyi opened her eyes, all sleepiness instantly gone: "Oh no, I forgot about that."

She washed up and dressed as quickly as possible before hurrying through the hanging flower gate, where she saw Pei Dongzhou waiting not far ahead.

Hearing her footsteps, Pei Dongzhou looked over. After sizing her up, he frowned slightly: "Cousin, you're dressed like this to go on a blind date?"

Shen Shuyi looked down at herself and felt that there was nothing wrong with her outfit.

"Is this not good enough for me?" Shen Shuyi said energetically. "The people Cousin Prince introduces must be used to seeing beautiful women. Today, my outfit is rather simple, which will actually attract men's attention. I'll try to make it work on the first try and not bother Cousin Prince too much!"

Pei Dongzhou looked at Shen Shuyi with a deep gaze, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Is my cousin so eager to get married?"

Shen Shuyi was puzzled when she heard this: "Didn't my cousin, the Crown Prince, want me to get married as soon as possible?"

He was afraid she would bring trouble to the Pei brothers, so he even personally found her a man. Wouldn't it be just what he wanted for her to get married sooner? I really don't know what he's being sarcastic about.

Pei Dongzhou fell silent.

Yes, he felt that his cousin Shen was restless and fickle, seducing one man after another. If such a woman were to remain in the Marquis's mansion, she would inevitably cause great trouble sooner or later.

It would be better to marry her off as soon as possible to eliminate any future troubles.

"Let's get in the carriage, we shouldn't keep people waiting." Pei Dongzhou turned around and got into the carriage first.

Shen Shuyi boarded another carriage.

Pei Dongzhou was probably afraid of being extorted by her, because before she could even settle in, the carriage carrying the young master Pei had already started moving.

The location for this matchmaking was still Dajue Temple. As soon as she arrived at the place, Shen Shuyi recalled the scene of her kissing Pei Dongzhou on the seventh day of the lunar new year.

Unexpectedly, this time when she came to Dajue Temple, it was Pei Dongzhou who brought her to find a partner. Before long, she met the person she was to be paired with.

The man's name was Ling Zong, and he was the head chef at the Imperial Academy. Although he didn't hold an official rank, his job was stable. In addition, Ling Zong was handsome, gentle, and intelligent; he was a well-educated, polite, and humble young man.

Ling Zong's mother, Wang, also had a kind and gentle appearance.

Previously, Madam Wang had worried that Shen Shuyi was not presentable enough. But seeing that Shen Shuyi was articulate, dressed simply, unlike the high-profile young ladies of noble families, and had a gentle and sensible demeanor, she took a liking to her at first sight.

Afterwards, Wang wanted to call Pei Dongzhou away so that the two young men could have a chat by the lotus pond.

Pei Dongzhou subconsciously looked at Shen Shuyi, but Shen Shuyi didn't even glance at him; she was instead sizing up Ling Zong.

Cousin Shen is really not picky at all. Did she fall in love with someone on the first meeting?

He thought that, having grown accustomed to the men of the Pei family, ordinary men wouldn't catch her eye.

Ling Zong didn't have high hopes for this matchmaking. He felt that even the orphan girl being fostered in the Pingyang Marquis's mansion might not be interested in him.

However, Miss Shen was kind and looked at him with curiosity, not disdain.

Looking at Miss Shen, she was so beautiful that even in the simplest clothes, she looked like a fairy. If he were lucky enough to marry her, he would be extremely fortunate.

Shen Shuyi and Ling Zong actually had a lot to talk about. Before she transmigrated, she wasn't an ambitious person. She would have been content as long as she had a stable job and married an honest man.

She had a very good first impression of Ling Zong and they got along very well. Ling Zong seemed taciturn, but he was actually very knowledgeable, and he perfectly matched her criteria for a partner.

If this were a modern blind date, she and Ling Zong would definitely hit it off immediately.

Seeing that she had suddenly fallen silent, Ling Zong thought he had said something wrong: "But what did I say that made Miss Shen unhappy?"

Shen Shuyi came to her senses and smiled, "Of course not. Ling Lang is very good, it's me who's not good. Ling Lang doesn't know yet, does he? My health is very poor, I almost lost my life a while ago. When my grandmother saw that my health was better, she hurriedly helped me find a fortune teller, but I think Young Master Ling has the right to know."

She wasn't lying.

If she fails to complete her mission, she will inevitably die young within a year. If that happens, wouldn't she be gone the moment she marries into the Ling family? She's harming Ling Zong; she can't do such a despicable thing.

Another point is that she fears men in ancient times, knowing that it was common for them to have multiple wives and concubines, and she definitely couldn't share the same man with other women.

Therefore, she doesn't want to get married, not at all.

“So that’s how it is. I noticed your rosy complexion, but I didn’t know that until you told me.” After a pause, Ling Zong continued, “Regardless of your health, I want to marry you. I hope you will consider my offer.”

Shen Shuyi chuckled upon hearing this: "Ling Lang has only met me once, how could he know what kind of person I am? Aren't you afraid of misjudging me?"

“The girl is excellent, I trust my intuition,” Ling Zong replied decisively.

Shen Shuyi was slightly taken aback. After she transmigrated into the book, apart from the old lady, Ling Zong was the first person to be so certain of her.

After the inspection was completed, Pei Dongzhou and Shen Shuyi walked out of Dajue Temple hand in hand: "Cousin, what do you think of Ling Zong?"

“He’s a good person, and my cousin has excellent taste. However, I’m not in good health and don’t want to be a burden to him. But he said he’s willing to wait a year for me until I’m fully recovered before marrying me, and he even promised that he would never take a concubine after marrying me.” Shen Shuyi’s eyes softened slightly as she recalled Ling Zong’s resolute expression when he said those words. “I think, if I really have to get married, it will be him.”

Pei Dongzhou paused, clearly not expecting that Shen Shuyi and Ling Zong would lock eyes after only one meeting.

(End of this chapter)