SFS Chapter 243 Rejection of Marriage
Chapter 243 Rejection of Marriage
The old lady's face darkened. What happened between Pei Wuyan and Zhao Wan in the West Garden today made her have a very bad impression of Pei Wuyan, and she gave up the idea of betrothing Zhao Wan to him.
She said in a cold tone, "Please let him in."
Then, she gestured to her maid to help Zhao Wan to her feet.
Madam Wei went out and invited Pei Wuyan into the house.
Pei Wuyan stepped into the room and saw Zhao Wan sitting quietly beside the old lady with her head down.
When he learned that the Second Madam's deeds had been exposed and that the Third Madam had brought Zhao Wan to the Old Madam's courtyard, he knew why.
Sure enough, when he arrived at Shian Hall, he saw the Third Madam kneeling in the courtyard.
Pei Wuyan bowed and said, "Yan'er greets my great-aunt."
The old lady changed her expression, a smile on her face: "Yan-ge'er, it's so late, is there something important that you've come to your great-aunt's courtyard?"
“Grandma, I was painting in the West Garden today when I happened to meet my cousin Wan’er. We share the same interests and are of one mind.”
Pei Wuyan lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on the ground: "Yan'er has come here specifically to ask you for the hand in marriage with my cousin Wan'er."
"Is that so?" The old lady turned to look at Zhao Wan, her smile kind: "Wan'er, tell your grandmother, is it what Yan'er said?"
Zhao Wan turned pale and looked at Pei Wuyan in astonishment, seemingly not expecting him to go back on his word.
Before going to the West Garden, her mother said that unless Pei Wuyan was unwilling to marry her, she would have to marry him even if she didn't want to.
In order to force her to go to Xiyuan, he even went so far as to stab her neck with scissors, threatening her with death.
She compromised and decided to go to Xiyuan and then leave, which would also be considered as giving her mother an explanation.
Unexpectedly, Pei Wuyan said that she would paint for him, so he turned down the marriage proposal.
She naively believed that Pei Wuyan was a gentleman, gentle, considerate, understanding, and would not force anyone to do anything against their will. She was once swayed by his words.
Now, however, he's all talk and no action, using his painting as a pretext to ask his grandmother for her hand in marriage.
He's no gentleman at all; he's clearly a hypocrite.
“Grandmother…” Zhao Wan said, her fingers digging into her palms, her eyes red, “I treated Cousin Pei as a guest of the manor, but I did not expect him to misunderstand.”
The old lady patted Zhao Wan's head, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
“Yan’er, although marriage is usually arranged by parents and matchmakers, the Duke’s mansion is very open-minded and values the wishes of the younger generation.”
The old lady turned to look at Pei Wuyan and said earnestly, "If you two are in love and understand each other, I would be happy to see you get together and help you form a happy marriage. But if you are willing but not willing, forcing you to marry will only make you a resentful couple."
At this point, the old lady sighed and said, "As elders, we ask for nothing more than for our younger generations to live in harmony and happiness."
Pei Wuyan was surprised by the old lady's attitude, yet felt it was also within expectations.
Tonight's events did not go according to his plan.
The second wife was exposed, but his secret meeting with Zhao Wan was not, and instead, the news reached the ears of the old lady.
In the old lady's view, his private meeting with Zhao Wan was of improper conduct, and she would probably reconsider the marriage.
He could no longer proceed slowly; he had to strike while the iron was hot, ask the old lady for Zhao Wan's hand in marriage, and finalize the engagement as soon as possible.
I'll find another opportunity to explain to Zhao Wan later.
But the old lady pretended not to understand and directly rejected the marriage proposal from both families.
“Grandma, if my cousin Wan’er and I were to have our affair in the West Garden, it would damage her reputation.”
Pei Wuyan, with great integrity and responsibility, said, "As a man, I have studied the classics. In order to protect my cousin Wan'er's reputation, I am asking you for her hand in marriage."
At this point, he continued, "The elders in my family hope that the two families will become even closer through marriage, and my marriage to my cousin Wan'er will fulfill their wishes."
“Yan’er, you are a guest in the manor, and Wan’er is the mistress of the manor. You two met by chance, and it is only right and proper that she treats you with courtesy.”
The old lady changed the subject: "Besides, if you don't say anything and I don't say anything, it naturally won't get out and ruin Wan'er's reputation."
The implication was that if rumors about him and Zhao Wan were to circulate outside, it would be because he had leaked them.
Pei Wuyan's expression changed slightly. Although he was unwilling, he dared not offend the old lady by making trouble.
"Yan-ge'er, it's getting late, go back to your room and rest." The old lady gave him the order to leave.
Pei Wuyan stood up, bowed to the old lady, and withdrew.
If he continues to pester her, it will only make the old lady more dissatisfied.
Pei Wuyan glanced at the Third Madam kneeling in the courtyard, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
He would need the help of the Third Madam if he wanted to successfully marry Zhao Wan.
The third wife dared not raise her head, suppressing her fear of being punished for doing something wrong. Her whole body trembled slightly, and she caught a glimpse of a robe that reached the ground passing by her out of the corner of her eye.
Once everyone had gone far away, the Third Madam dared to cautiously raise her head, only to see the Old Madam standing by the window, looking at her with icy eyes. She was immediately terrified.
She hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look directly at the old lady.
The old lady withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Zhao Wan: "I just gave you a chance, but you yourself were unwilling to marry Yan Ge'er."
Zhao Wan quickly replied, "You can decide Wan'er's marriage."
The old lady advised, "Your mother is an unreliable person, so you need to be clear-headed. You must take control of your own destiny."
Zhao Wan dug her fingers into her palm and took a deep breath: "Wan'er will remember Grandmother's teachings."
The old lady looked exhausted: "You've had a long day, go back to your room and rest."
Zhao Wan bowed and withdrew from Shian Hall.
She stopped at the doorway, looked at the Third Madam kneeling in the middle of the courtyard, and walked towards the gate with her head down.
"Wan'er." The Third Madam called in a low voice, reaching out to grab Zhao Wan's skirt: "What is Yan'er doing in the Old Madam's courtyard? Are you discussing your marriage?"
Once Zhao Wan and Pei Wuyan's marriage is finalized, their family will enjoy a life of wealth and luxury.
Thinking of this, the Third Madam sighed.
The second branch of the family was expelled from the clan, leaving only the eldest branch as the direct descendant. Although the eldest branch was kind, they would never hesitate to act if their interests were threatened.
Although the third branch was also the Duke's son and grandson, the third wife dared not let the Duke help her son, fearing that the first branch would misunderstand that they had ambitions and kick them out.
Zhao Wan lowered her eyes, looking at the cut on the Third Madam's neck from the scissors, and then thought of the Old Madam's words of admonition.
If she continues to be so disappointing, the old lady will no longer care whether she lives or dies.
“Go ask your grandmother yourself.”
Zhao Wan clenched her fingers, snatched the skirt from the Third Madam's hand, and quickened her pace to leave.
The third wife was dumbfounded; she never expected that Zhao Wan would disregard her life or death.
Surprisingly, no one pleaded for her in front of the old lady, leaving this old woman to continue kneeling as punishment.
This was in the old lady's courtyard, so the third madam dared not act rashly and decided to question Zhao Wan properly when she returned.
-
Shen Qingtan returned to Mingde Hall with the First Madam and brought up the Second Madam's sum of money: "Mother, the Old Madam knew that the money was ill-gotten, but she still gave it to me. Is there some other hidden story behind this?"
The First Madam gazed gently at Shen Qingtan's bright and beautiful face. Her features were still slightly childlike, like a flower bud just beginning to bloom in the garden—delicate, fragile, and needing to be carefully protected.
However, Shen Qingtan was outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, indomitable, and possessed an exceptionally intelligent mind, which allowed her to thrive in the inner quarters of the household.
"This money is nothing to worry about; it's free for you, so please accept it happily." The First Madam thought of the Second Madam's fate and felt a sense of satisfaction: "After this incident, Luo Lingzhi will never be able to cause any more trouble."
A dark glint flashed in Shen Qingtan's eyes. If the Second Madam couldn't withstand the blow and became despondent, the hard times were yet to come.
She doesn't even need to lift a finger; Shen Mingzhu will torment the Second Madam to death.
“Mother, my husband took a medicinal bath today, and my cousin gave him acupuncture. He will be detoxified tomorrow, so I’m going back now.”
The First Madam wanted to ask about the situation, but she was worried that if she did, Shen Qingtan would also become concerned.
"Okay, I'll arrange for someone to take you back."
Before Shen Qingtan could utter her refusal, she heard a maid outside the door call out, "Old Madam."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged a glance and hurried to the door to greet the old lady.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, Tan'er, I apologize for taking up some of your time." The old lady held a booklet in her hand: "I will not be at ease until this matter is resolved tonight."