Chapter 38: Go Too
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Speaking of the Zheng family's meeting, the three young masters of the Pei family had all received the invitation.
The Eldest Young Master had a child and was not interested in such a banquet, so he rejected it.
The Third Young Master loved to be lively, so he would naturally go.
However, Prince Pei was busy with work and was often not at home, so he had no time to pay attention to these things.
One day, Pei Yuan came back from paying his respects to the old lady. When he passed by the pavilion under the moon, he saw his Second Brother sitting in the pavilion and drinking tea. He could not help but feel curious.
"It's rare for Second Brother to be at home today."
Pei Jin'an chuckled. "Sometimes, I have to live my own life and have half a day of leisure. Big Brother, sit."
Pei Yuan lifted his shirt and sat down. "I want to ask you something too."
"Big Brother, please speak."
"The Zheng family's private party is coming soon. Will Second Brother attend? "
"Vice Minister of Works, Zheng family?"
"That's right. I heard that many high-ranking officials and dignitaries were invited. Third Brother said he would go, but he's not a good person. It's good that you can go. Although the Ministry of Works is disdainful to the six ministries, it's also because of this that you don't have to worry about moving around with them."
In the current situation, one was the Pei family and the other was the Xiao family. In the court, there were people who stood on the side of the Pei family and the other on the side of the Xiao family. There were also many neutral parties. The three factions just happened to reach a peaceful situation.
This was the scene that the Emperor wanted to see the most. Whoever destroyed it would be doomed.
Therefore, these three factions were very cautious in their actions. They had to consider for a long time whether they would attend the banquet or not. Otherwise, they would be suspected of forming a faction for personal gain if they were not careful.
However, if it was a meeting of the Vice Minister of Works, Zheng family, it would not be associated with the words 'forming a party for personal gain.'
Because of the scholar's agriculture industry and commerce, the Ministry of Works was an existence that the Emperor and the officials did not value.
Therefore, attending the Zheng family's banquet had no impact on the party's disputes. On the contrary, it was more comfortable to enjoy, or more convenient to do other things.
"Since that's the case, let's go." Pei Jin'an picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Pei Yuan smiled and said, "Now, my mother and grandmother are worried about our marriage. They are rushing to make a booklet. However, how can this booklet be as clear as the real person? I'm fine with it, but with your personality, you must find someone who suits you to be happy. I can take this opportunity to take a good look at the Zheng family's banquet."
Pei Jin'an raised his eyebrows. "So Big Brother was waiting for me here."
"In the past when you were at the border, the old lady was worried about you all day. She did not think about food or tea and could not even sleep well. Now that you are back, let the old lady watch you start a family. Isn't it the best of two worlds?"
Pei Jin'an didn't think so. "Speaking of which, Big Brother's marriage is more urgent than mine. Tuan Tuan is still young. How can he lack the education of a stepmother? Grandmother must have nagged at you about this?"
Pei Yuan was a little embarrassed. Not only did she nag a lot, but she also nagged at him every morning and every evening. His ears were almost getting calluses. Now, his Second Brother finally came back to help him share some of the pressure.
He really had no feelings for those pretentious women. If he were to get married to such women, it would be better not to get married. However, there were many virtuous and dignified women, and he also did not feel anything when he looked at them. If it were not for the pressure that he needed to vent sometimes, he was afraid that there would not even be tongfang. He did not even summon the two tongfang in the room often.
He didn't care about feelings or desires.
However, Pei Yuan did not expect that one day, he would make these two unimportant things more important.
As the two of them were talking, the Third Young Master of the Pei family, Pei Lian, also arrived. His newly-wedded wife kept pestering him to see the old lady. After a while, he couldn't sit still and came up with an excuse.
"What a coincidence, Big Brother and Second Brother are both here." Pei Lian entered the pavilion with a cheeky smile and sat down. He picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself some tea, only to find that there was no more tea.
He turned his head and saw a maidservant walking over from not far away. He waved his hand and said, "Come here."
This maidservant was Qu Fulan.
Yao Xing went to the old lady's room to pay her respects. She was about to serve tea when someone called her over, so she had to walk over.
Pei Lian shook the teapot in his hand. "Go and bring a pot of tea over. You don't have good eyesight, you..." As he spoke, he looked up. When he saw the person's appearance clearly, the Third Young Master's tone instantly changed. "You're the old lady's maidservant, Hai Tang, right? I didn't pay attention just now and my tone was a little harsh, please don't mind."
The flowers by the lake were in full bloom, attracting the fish in the lake to eat them. Prince Pei was looking at them indifferently, and when he heard this, he turned his head.
Qu Fulan smiled politely. "Third Young Master, what are you saying? It's our duty to serve the masters tea. Please wait a moment. Hai Tang will bring the tea over."
With that said, she bowed again and retreated.
Pei Yuan shook his head. "Third Brother, you're too reckless. This is the old lady's courtyard. How can the old lady's maidservant allow you to be so presumptuous? You're already married, so you should be more prudent in your actions."
Pei Lian hurriedly waved his hands and begged for mercy. "I know I'm in the wrong. Please don't blame me, Big Brother. I promise I won't do it again."
The three brothers continued to chat.
Logically speaking, since they had finished chatting and there was no more tea left, Prince Pei should have gotten up and left by now. However, it was unknown why he was still sitting there.
Pei Lian had been waiting for a long time before Hai Tang returned.
"What took you so long?"
"The old lady is also waiting for tea in the room. Hai Tang first sent it over before coming over. I hope you can forgive me."
Originally, she wanted to send someone to serve tea, but it just so happened that no one was around, so she could only run errands.
Coincidentally, when she was delivering tea to the old lady's room, she heard that the Third Young Mistress wanted to invite her and Hai Yue to the Zheng Residence to attend a banquet.
She said that the third household did not have any maidservants and wanted to borrow two of the old lady's maidservants to put up a front. This was the first time the granddaughter-in-law had opened her mouth, so how could the old lady not agree?
The Third Young Master of the Pei family laughed. "Forgive, forgive, of course I will forgive you. Hai Tang has been working hard to serve the old lady every day. I should not have bothered you."
Qu Fulan didn't waste any words with him. She had an official smile on her face as she poured them tea.
Logically speaking, when they were resting here, there should be a maidservant who was specially left to serve them tea and pour water. It seemed that the previous one had left because of something, and she was unlucky enough to be called over. She still had to face such a flirtatious young master.
It wasn't hard to tell if a man was a playboy or not. Just like how the Third Young Mistress was not easy to get along with, it was easy to tell from her face without much contact.
What kind of bad luck did she have to run into this couple today?
Thinking of Third Young Mistress's words, Qu Fulan was puzzled. Why did she want to bring her to the Zheng family's banquet?
Speaking of this, she thought of what Miss Zheng had told her. Did Prince Pei know?
She glanced at him discreetly and thought about whether she should find an opportunity to mention it. In the end, she met Prince Pei's gaze and was so shocked that she almost poured the wrong cup of tea.
Fortunately, Eldest Young Master Pei opened his mouth. "Third Brother, when can you change your bad habit of making fun of girls? Just now, your Second Brother said that he was going to attend the Zheng family's banquet too. Later on, you should help to reply to the post too."
The Third Young Master of the Pei family asked, "Second Brother is also going?"
Pei Jin'an retracted his gaze and hummed in agreement.
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