Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 71 - 67:

He spoke in a serious tone, prompting Mrs. Zheng to change her expression: "What is it?"

Pei Yuqing said softly, "I wish to expedite the wedding ceremony, and marry within three months."

... The room fell silent once more.

This time, it was a deathly quiet.

Mrs. Zheng was speechless, and Xie Shu didn’t mention his daughter’s shallow appreciation of mere appearance.

The couple exchanged glances and could see the alarm in each other’s eyes.

Mrs. Zheng glanced at the trusted servants in the hall, then relaxed a bit, her gaze falling on her daughter’s face. She said tenderly, "The wedding date is so urgent; is this decided by you both?"

The atmosphere changed dramatically, and Xie Wanqing noticed it. She nodded cautiously.

Pei Yuqing, not wanting the young girl to be questioned by her parents, proactively explained: "It’s because I am not young, and my parents are anxious, so they wish to hasten the wedding... there is no other reason."

The last sentence he said with difficulty and embarrassment.

Upon hearing this, Xie Shu and Mrs. Zheng both relaxed their expressions and slowly let go of their tension.

It’s understandable; it’s not surprising that the Eldest Princess and Duke Pei are anxious. If it were their son who reached twenty-seven and had only just agreed to marry, they probably couldn’t even wait three months.

However, Mrs. Zheng did not readily agree to hasten the wedding to within three months, only saying that they would discuss the wedding date on the day of the proposal.

Marriage, even when rushed, is not urgent in a moment; matching the couple’s birth charts and determining a good day take time.

Rushing to marry off their daughter so hastily is not proper.

Pei Yuqing smiled calmly and did not press further.

Xie Wanqing, the culprit who proposed marrying within three months, remained silent.

She wasn’t foolish; how could she dare to appear eager to marry in front of her parents?

Besides, such matters should naturally be handled by Princess Duan Yang, who is also the household mistress.

She is the blood sister of the current Holy Emperor, deeply affectionate with her brother. Even the elders in the court must respect this Eldest Princess. If she wants to quickly bring a daughter-in-law into the family, she surely has to find a way.

As they chatted, time unknowingly reached noon.

It was mealtime, and since they had already allowed the engagement, Xie Shu did not feel it appropriate to send people away; hence, Pei Yuqing stayed for the meal.

The dining table was rectangular, with Xie Shu and Mrs. Zheng sitting at the head, while Xie Wanqing and Pei Yuqing sat facing each other.

In large families, it is customary not to speak during meals, so the lunch was finished quietly.

The weather was hot, and Xie YanYu did not come home for lunch; he was unaware that his sister’s engagement had been verbally agreed upon again.

Today was not a day off, so Xie Shu, after finishing lunch, needed to attend to his duties.

As the servants cleaned the table, Mrs. Zheng stood up to lead her daughter into the inner room.

"I’m feeling a bit tired, so I won’t keep you here to talk," she said to her daughter, "Wanwan, remember to see Heir Pei out of the mansion."

Xie Wanqing nodded obediently and said, "Mother, I plan to return to the farm this afternoon."

Mrs. Zheng was taken aback: "Isn’t the engagement being discussed, and yet you still want to return..."

Thinking of something, she frowned and asked, "Tell me honestly, is Heir Pei also at the farm?"

Mrs. Zheng was an open-minded mother, and Xie Wanqing was very close to her, so she replied, "The neighboring Hot Spring Villa belongs to Duke Pei Mansion."

"..." Mrs. Zheng was silent for a few moments, took her daughter’s hand, and said seriously, "You are not yet married, you mustn’t do anything inappropriate."

"Oh mother, where are your thoughts? I know," Xie Wanqing wrapped her arm around her mother and hummed lightly, "Just look at him! He gets shy even if I glance at him; he’s a gentleman who hasn’t even touched a girl’s hand. He would never do anything inappropriate to me."

"Do you think I’m worried about him?" Mrs. Zheng gave her a sideways glance, speaking in a vexed tone, "I’m worried about you." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

No one knows a daughter better than her mother; she knew her daughter’s nature well.

Her courage was quite great.

If her daughter truly took a liking to someone, even someone as cold and dismissive as Lu Ziyuan—like a God of Killing—she could still be passionately enthusiastic.

Pei Yuqing, with his gentle, shy, easy-going nature, would only make her more uninhibited and treat him according to her whims.

Having her nature exposed by her mother, Xie Wanqing’s face reddened slightly, her voice unhappy, "What is Mother saying? I would never do anything inappropriate to him."

She spoke, and her face turned embarrassed, sliding away.

Mrs. Zheng was known for indulging her daughter, complying with her every wish. What more could she say in this situation? Naturally, she did not say much.

"If you wish to go to the farm to play, then go for a while," she lightly tapped her daughter’s forehead and advised, "Take care of yourself, and don’t act impulsively."

After all, the marriage is something that they, the elders, will arrange.

The preparations for her daughter’s marriage had been underway for several years, but the engagement was broken off a month before the wedding; all the dowry is ready, and if it weren’t for superstition, even the wedding dress is available.

Xie Wanqing nodded obediently, served her mother until she was comfortable and lying down, then left the Brocade Hall.

When she looked up, she saw, a short distance away on the corridor, Pei Yuqing standing quietly with his back to her, his figure upright and straight like bamboo, his wide sleeves and long robe having an ethereal fairy-like quality.

Xie Wanqing blinked, murmuring to herself that indeed he was charming, before walking up behind him and patting his shoulder.

"Let’s go."

Pei Yuqing was slightly surprised, turned around, and looked down at her: "Where to?"

"Back to the farm."

Xie Wanqing originally intended to hold his hand but thought better, considering they were at her own home and it would be easy for the servants to report to her parents or her brother, so she refrained. She only looked up at him and said, "Didn’t we agree last night? Morning back to the Capital, afternoon back to the farm."

It’s now only afternoon; even if they took a nap and then set out, it wouldn’t be too late. But if she didn’t leave, what if her brother found out and rushed home to catch them?

If Xie YanYu returned, there would be no way for her to slip away.

Pei Yuqing did not know why she was so scared of her brother; hearing her words, he was a bit surprised and smiled slightly: "Did your mother agree to let you go back to the farm with me?"

"Why wouldn’t she agree?" Xie Wanqing said while pulling his sleeve, "Come on, it’s so hot, let’s talk in the carriage."

Just in the time it took to speak those two sentences, a thin layer of sweat had formed on her forehead. Seeing this, Pei Yuqing also said no more.

The front yard gate was close, and without needing a sedan chair, they reached it quickly.

Once in the carriage, the cool air made Xie Wanqing comfortable enough to take a breath. As soon as she sat down, there was someone beside her.

Just as she was about to speak, her chin was lifted, and the sweat on her forehead was wiped away gently by a cloth.

Xie Wanqing was momentarily stunned, watching the person in front of her attentively wiping her sweat; she moved her lips: "You..."

Pei Yuqing paused his movements, looked down into her eyes: "What is it?"

"Nothing." Xie Wanqing closed her mouth, holding her breath.

Not until the soft cloth left her forehead, and he withdrew his hand, did she take a deep breath.

This klutzy, unable-to-breathe demeanor made Pei Yuqing smile. He said helplessly, "What are you so nervous about?"