I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

"Your Highness, do you think this way of writing is acceptable?"

A quarter of an hour later, Pei Yunhe stopped writing, placed the wolf-hair brush on the jade brush holder, and looked at Qin Li to ask.

Qin Li frowned as he looked at the three documents on the table: the betrothal letter, the gift letter, and the welcoming letter.

Pei Yunhe is moving too fast. Is he in such a hurry to marry off Pei Qingluan?

The Pei family is large and powerful; they certainly don't need Pei Qingluan to provide for them.

What exactly has Pei Qingluan done all these years?

What makes Pei Yunhe so eager to drive Pei Qingluan out?

I can't figure it out, I really can't figure it out.

Seeing Qin Li frown, Pei Yunhe misunderstood.

He quickly stood up, took a step back, and bowed, saying:

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I acted without authorization."

"It's alright, it's alright."

Qin Li waved his hand, gesturing for Pei Yunhe to sit down.

Logically speaking, the three books should not have been written by Pei Yunhe.

Moreover, Qin Li is the crown prince, and his actions are an overstepping of his bounds and a grave offense of disrespect.

"Your Highness, please don't be offended. I'm just too excited. It's a blessing for my Pei family to become in-laws with Your Highness."

Pei Yunhe quickly explained, afraid that Qin Li would blame him.

"It's alright."

Changing the subject, Qin Li added, "However, this would make it seem like I lack sincerity."

The three letters should have been given by the man to the woman.

As the woman's elder, Pei Yunhe only needed to sit at home and wait for Qin Li to personally visit or send someone to deliver the three letters.

But who would have thought that in this way, Pei Yunhe would personally handle the three books, writing them for himself and reading them himself, and they would have no connection with Qin Li anymore.

Qin Li saved himself some trouble, but if word got out, people would just say that Qin Li was insincere.

No, no, that's not true at all. Your Highness's sincerity is as clear as day. I was just too hasty and acted on my own initiative. Please don't take offense, Your Highness.

"If Your Highness minds, then all of this is invalid."

"However, I still want to settle this matter as soon as possible. Your Highness, please rest assured, and our Pei family will be at ease as well."

Pei Yunhe said.

He would be laughing in his sleep if he could snag Qin Li, this golden bachelor.

Not only did it help him solve the big problem of Pei Qingluan, but it also gave the Pei family the backing of the Crown Prince, which can be described as a win-win situation.

If possible, he wanted to get the wedding done in the next couple of days to avoid any unforeseen complications.

But he knew that was impossible. The process of a crown prince taking a concubine would take more than half a year, let alone the formal entry into the family.

"Very well, since your Pei family is in such a hurry, how could I refuse?"

After saying that, Qin Li reached out and picked up the three books on the table, then put them down again, which was considered as delivering the three books to the woman.

Upon seeing this, Pei Yunhe immediately beamed with joy and ordered the three books to be taken to the ancestral hall in the backyard for worship.

Although he wrote it, in name, it was the three letters sent by the current crown prince to ask for the marriage of the Pei family's daughter, and it was worth keeping.

Whether the Pei family can prosper after the continuation of their lineage depends entirely on these factors.

After the three books were respectfully taken down and enshrined, Pei Yunhe never saw Pei Qingluan return.

He beckoned over a servant and whispered to him, "Go and see what's going on with Miss Twelve. Why aren't you here yet?"

After saying that, Pei Yunhe looked at Qin Li with a big smile and invited Qin Li to eat the dishes on the table, all of which were carefully selected by him and were famous dishes from all over Jiangnan.

Qin Li nodded and began to taste it, nodding frequently and saying that it tasted good.

A short while later, Xiao Si returned, looking flustered.

He approached Pei Yunhe from behind, leaned down and whispered, "Master, something terrible has happened! The Twelfth Miss has escaped."

Pei Yunhe was startled and turned his head, looking at the servant with disbelief: "Escaped? What do you mean by escaped? Explain yourself."

The servant said, "She escaped! The Twelfth Miss knocked the maid unconscious and tied her up in the room. The Twelfth Miss is no longer in the manor; we don't know where she went."

Pei Yunhe clenched his fist and said urgently, "Then hurry up and chase after them! If you don't bring them back today, you're all dead!"

The servant was so frightened he almost wet his pants and quickly retreated.

After everyone left, Pei Yunhe's expression was still not very good, but when he looked at Qin Li, he forced a smile: "Your Highness, eat quickly, eat quickly. This fish was just caught from the river this morning, it's very fresh."

Qin Li put down his chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mouth: "I heard your conversation just now."

Pei Yunhe was startled and quickly stood up, bowing deeply and saying, "Please forgive me, Your Highness! Qingluan didn't mean to escape; there must be another reason!"

"Please give me some time, Your Highness. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you an explanation! Please, Your Highness, do not break off the engagement!"

To be able to become in-laws with the Crown Prince is something many noble families would kill for, and he would never allow anyone to sabotage the marriage between the Pei family and the Crown Prince.

Pei Qingluan doesn't want to get married, but the Pei family has plenty of girls who want to marry. If one isn't enough, then two, three, or four will do. We must keep Qin Li here.

Pei Yunhe thought to himself.

"Who said I'm going to call off the engagement?"

Qin Li glanced at Pei Yunhe and said, "I've seen many ordinary women, but a woman like Miss Twelfth is the first I've ever seen in my life. Otherwise, why would I want to become in-laws with your Pei family?"

"I'll give you three days to bring the Twelfth Miss back to me."

"But one thing, under no circumstances should you hurt her."

"If she loses a single hair, your Pei family will offer a head in return."

Although Qin Li's words were light and casual, they felt like heavy blows to Pei Yunhe's heart.

"Alright, I'm full. Thank you for your hospitality. I'll be leaving now. Please enjoy your meal."

After saying this, Qin Li smoothed his sleeves, got up, and left the Pei residence.

Pei Yunhe remained bowed, not daring to raise his head, and respectfully saw Qin Li off as he left the Pei residence.

After the person left, Pei Yunhe finally breathed a sigh of relief, straightened up, and coldly ordered, "Dispatch all the people in the manor out and find Pei Qingluan within three days!"

"yes!"

……

On the carriage back to Yellow Crane Tower.

Qin Li sat in the main seat, with women on his left and right sides.

On the left sat Chun Tao and Xia Liu, and on the right sat Pei Qingluan.

They remained silent the entire way until they were almost at the Yellow Crane Tower. Then, Qin Li couldn't help but glance at Pei Qingluan and said calmly, "Am I saying you're clever, or are you stupid enough to walk right into a trap?"

Who would have thought that Pei Qingluan had been hiding in his carriage all along?

Pei Qingluan chuckled and said, "Of course I'm smart, otherwise I would have been captured by the Pei family within an hour."

That's true. In Jiangxia City, the Pei family only dared not search Qin Li's territory. In other places, no matter where Pei Qingluan hid, the Pei family would eventually find her.

"Miss Pei, your second uncle is absolutely right. You look stunning in a dress instead of men's clothes."

Looking at Pei Qingluan sitting opposite the sisters, Xia Liu said from the bottom of her heart.

Pei Qingluan had already changed out of her men's clothing and was now wearing a light green long dress.

She had cherry lips and almond eyes, a beautiful face, and a gold-inlaid floral decoration on her forehead.

Her hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin, as fresh and refined as a lotus emerging from the water, yet exuding a subtle air of nobility.

Pei Qingluan didn't like this. She pulled out the jade hairpin, loosened her hair, and peeled off all the floral decorations on her forehead. She also reached out and vigorously wiped her face, ruining all her makeup.

Upon seeing this, Chuntao and Xialiu couldn't help but cover their mouths and giggle.

"What are you laughing at?"

Pei Qingluan asked, puzzled.

Qin Li said, "Of course I'm laughing at how you look like a little kitten now."

After saying that, Qin Li handed over his handkerchief.

Without a second thought, Pei Qingluan took the handkerchief and wiped her face.

After wiping, she looked at Qin Li and asked, "You're not really going to marry me, are you?"

"Of course it's true," Qin Li said. "Your second uncle has already sent out the engagement letter."

Pei Qingluan's face fell, and she couldn't help but scold, "Are you really sick? What's so good about me that you have to keep harping on this?"

"Just because you're a member of the Pei family," Qin Li replied.

Pei Qingluan narrowed her eyes and said, "I understand. You, like everyone else, want to curry favor with our Pei family."

"Whatever you say, that's fine. Anyway, your Pei family is the head of the six great families. If I don't curry favor, there are plenty of others who want to. Why don't I get there first?"

"ill!"

After cursing again, Pei Qingluan fell silent, puffing out her cheeks and hugging her arms, turning her face away and deliberately avoiding looking at Qin Li.

Soon, the carriage stopped, and Pei Qingluan did not leave, but followed Qin Li and the others straight into the Yellow Crane Tower...