Did Miss become a nun today?

"But this old servant has noticed that the Second Young Master has been looking lost and dejected lately. He often stands at the entrance of Shifang Courtyard and has become much quieter."

"Don't worry about it. It'll all stop once Yun Chu's marriage is settled."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a maidservant came in to report, "Madam, the Second Young Master has arrived."

Cen Jingyan said calmly, "Let him in."

Pei Changfeng entered the room without saying a word, immediately kneeling down with bloodshot eyes. "Mother, I want to marry my cousin."

Cen Jingyan looked up at him. "Have you thought it through?"

"I've made up my mind."

"Since you've made up your mind, then go and talk to your grandmother. I think Lan Shu would be willing."

Pei Changfeng was stunned. "Mother, what are you talking about? When did I say I was going to marry Lan Shu?"

Cen Jingyan remained indifferent. "Not marrying Lan Shu? Then who do you want to marry? Su Yao?"

"Mother!" he cried, his eyes reddening further, "I want to marry Xie Yun Chu!"

"Snapped!"

Cen Jingyan threw the teacup in her hand in front of him, shattering it into pieces.

"You really have the nerve to say that?"

Pei Changfeng knelt in front of the pile of broken porcelain shards, neither dodging nor moving.

The splattered shards grazed the back of his hand, leaving a bloody mark, but he seemed oblivious, staring straight at his mother.

"Mother, I know you're angry, but I mean it."

"Sincerity?" Cen Jingyan sneered. "Your sincerity is to abuse people and then pick them up again? Pei Changfeng, is that what I taught you?"

"She's been in this household for ten years, and when have you ever given her a second glance? Now that she's finally living a good life, you come kneeling before me. Are you kneeling to me, or to express your own resentment?"

"I'm not resentful." Pei Changfeng's voice rose a few decibels. "I... I was ignorant before, I didn't know what I wanted, but now I know, Mother, I know, I..."

"What do you know?" Cen Jingyan interrupted him. "Do you know how much Yun Chu has suffered because of you? Do you know how people outside talk about her behind her back? Do you know how your cronies look down on her?"

"I always thought you were about the same age and had similar personalities, so I asked you to take care of her and treat her well. If you could become husband and wife in the future, that would be a good thing."

"Now it seems I was wrong. If you didn't treat her well, then don't hold her back. Now that the child has finally given up on you, don't bother her anymore. Is that so hard?"

Pei Changfeng's face drained of color, and his lips trembled slightly.

He wanted to argue, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a single word.

What Mother said is all true.

Cen Jingyan took a deep breath, suppressing her surging anger. "What do you plan to do about your grandmother? And Lan Shu, you should be able to see what she's thinking."

Pei Changfeng lowered his head. "I will talk to my grandmother and make things clear. I will not marry Cousin Ji. There is nothing between us."

"and then?"

"Then...then I want to marry Yun Chu, Mother, please grant my wish."

Cen Jingyan stared at him for a long time, growing angrier and angrier. "How could I have given birth to such a scoundrel like you!"

"You don't cherish her when she's here, but you only realize how precious she is now that she's gone. Yun Chu isn't someone you can summon and dismiss at will. I won't help you, so you'd better give up on that idea as soon as possible."

"To tell you the truth, your older brother brought this up before you, and your grandmother has already agreed."

Pei Changfeng looked up abruptly, his face deathly pale. "What?"

"Changyu will arrange everything if he wants to marry Yunchu. Your grandmother was furious last time, but she never caused trouble for Yunchu. You should be ashamed of yourself for that."

It was like a thunderbolt exploding in his head. "Impossible! How could this be! Yun Chu wouldn't agree..."

"Whether they agree or not is their business. What does it have to do with you?" Cen Jingyan said.

"Your elder brother has the confidence and courage to make Yun Chu agree, but what can you do besides make Yun Chu angry and sad?"

Yun Chu is a stubborn girl; once she's made up her mind, she won't turn back until she hits a wall. Once she's given up, she won't go back.

Pei Changfeng's eyes welled up with tears, and his voice was hoarse, "But... she liked me first."

"So what? She fell for you first, and you ruined her first. This outcome was expected. It was all your own choice, so what's there to regret?"

He felt as if all his energy had been drained away; his shoulders slumped and his back bent like a bow.

Cen Jingyan looked at her son, rolled her eyes, and thought to herself, "He got what he deserved."

Yun Chu is such a good child. She has cried countless times in front of her because of this unfilial son.

Now let him experience that feeling too.

"Get up, go back and think it over. If you're just unwilling to accept it, give up on this idea as soon as possible. If you really regret it, you shouldn't have caused trouble for Yun Chu."

Pei Changfeng didn't move. After a long time, he slowly stood up. His knees were numb from kneeling, and he staggered before he could steady himself by holding onto the edge of the table.

He turned and walked out, his steps unsteady, his back looking forlorn.

Granny Zhao hurriedly stepped forward to pick up the broken porcelain shards on the ground, and said worriedly, "Madam, the second young master..."

Cen Jingyan waved her hand, watching his departing figure with annoyance, "Serves you right."

Granny Zhao laughed. "That's the Madam's temperament. She doesn't even give her son any face."

Pei Changfeng left the main courtyard and headed towards Songhe Courtyard. Pei Changyu was leaning against the window reading a book. Hearing the noise, he showed no surprise, as if he had expected Pei Changfeng to come. He waved his hand, signaling the people in the courtyard to leave.

"Sit down." He gestured with his chin towards the chair opposite him.

Pei Changfeng didn't move, his tightly clenched fist hanging at his side, his knuckles white.

"Big brother..." his voice was low and hoarse, "You're going to marry Yun Chu?"

Pei Changyu turned a page of his book, glanced over unhurriedly, and asked, "Got it?"

"Why?" Pei Changfeng took a step closer. "You know...you know she loves me and will marry me!"

When Pei Changyu's eyes weren't smiling, they were calm and devoid of any extra emotion, like he was looking at a child throwing a tantrum.

"In the past," he emphasized.

"She was young then, and easily swayed by small favors and easily seduced by outsiders. She mistook a momentary interest for true love. That's alright, I will teach her."

Pei Changfeng looked as if he had been slapped, his face turning pale and then red.

"But she's my fiancée! You're trying to steal your brother's woman? What will people think of you?"

"So what?" Pei Changyu stood up, backlit, his face hidden in shadow. "I haven't been intimate with any other women, nor have I made her cry or angry. Why can't I?"

Pei Changfeng was speechless, his chest heaving violently.

"You're just taking advantage of her heartbreak and vulnerability!"

Pei Changyu didn't deny it; he even nodded. "You're right. I took advantage of her vulnerability, but if she had feelings for you, how could I have taken advantage of her vulnerability?"

Pei Changfeng was stunned.

He patted his younger brother on the shoulder. "Changfeng, it's time for you to grow up. Not everything that's missed can be regained."

"I gave you ten years, but alas... you were useless."