After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 147 The princess will marry no one but him
Pei Yanzhi's words were quite blunt. If this got back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, wouldn't it just make him a target of hatred?

Chenghua lowered his head and asked, "Master, the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion is now highly regarded by the Empress Dowager..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi did not reply, but instead glanced at him.

Even without Pei Yanzhi saying anything more, Cheng Hua understood what he meant.

"I'll go and deliver the message right away."

After saying that, Cheng Hua was about to run outside when Pei Yanzhi called out to stop him.

Tell Sang Ruifeng that I'll be waiting for him at Dali Temple.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hua's previously somewhat distressed face immediately broke into a smile.

Pei Yanzhi walked towards his room, saying as he went, "Report to me directly after you find out where the remaining silver went."

"Remember not to get discovered."

Mingxiang nodded: "Don't worry, sir, I will act in secrecy and will not be discovered."

After saying this, Mingxiang left.

Many people at Huangwan Wharf saw the boat owner being taken away, so he had to go there again.

Pei Yanzhi sat in the room reading through the files for a while, and the sky outside began to brighten until a cacophony of voices drifted in.

"Master, Young Master Sang has arrived."

Cheng Hua walked over in a few steps, stood at the door and knocked, and then heard Pei Yanzhi's voice coming from inside.

He reached out and pushed open the door, gesturing for Sang Ruifeng to come in.

Sang Ruifeng had a handsome face and a gentle appearance. He didn't seem aggressive and was easy to get along with.

The Duke of Zhenguo's family has two sons and one daughter. Sang Ruifeng is the second son of the eldest son's family. He has an older brother who is currently working in the Ministry of Revenue.

That's why the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was willing to let him marry a princess, in order to better solidify the Duke of Zhenguo's position.

"Greetings, Lord Pei."

Sang Ruifeng was a commoner, so he was required to bow to Pei Yanzhi.

After bowing and speaking, Pei Yanzhi asked him to sit down to the side.

"I heard that Young Master Sang lost something, and that only I know where it is."

Pei Yanzhi's brows furrowed with impatience; he hadn't even planned to see Sang Ruifeng in the first place.

But Chenghua's words made sense. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was currently favored by Empress Dowager Feng, and he did not want to cause any trouble at this critical juncture.

If Sang Ruifeng had gone directly to see Empress Dowager Feng, in the end, it would have been Empress Dowager Feng who came to see Sang Ruifeng.

"Lord Pei, have you ever heard the saying, 'A gentleman does not take what others cherish'?"

The atmosphere in the room changed drastically the moment Sang Ruifeng uttered those words.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi gave a cold snort, leaned back, and crossed his legs.

He looked up at Sang Ruifeng: "Did I steal what Young Master Sang wanted?"

Sang Ruifeng knew Pei Yanzhi's temperament and knew he wouldn't do such a thing.

But he couldn't afford to gamble, after all, Pei Yanzhi was an exception.

Compared to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Empress Dowager Feng valued him more.

"Her Highness said she doesn't want to marry me; she likes Lord Pei."

Sang Ruifeng wasn't one to mince words, so he got straight to the point.

Although Sang Ruifeng was the second son of the eldest branch of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, his birth mother was not the first wife.

The eldest wife's son is the one who will inherit everything in the future.

He has come a long way, and marrying Princess Shang is his only chance to turn his life around; he cannot afford to miss it.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow: "Is this why you're wasting my time talking nonsense to me?"

He uttered those words without any politeness, and Sang Ruifeng seemed to hear him scoff.

What good will Princess Shang do for me?

Before Sang Ruifeng could speak, Pei Yanzhi added another sentence.

He could guess what Sang Ruifeng was going to say next; he would simply use the power of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the pressure from Empress Dowager Feng to intimidate him.

But when has Pei Yanzhi ever been afraid of these things? Moreover, he also knows what Sang Ruifeng is thinking.

Others thought that marrying Princess Jian'an would only bring harm and no benefit, but he needed Princess Jian'an's power.

However, Lu Ruoyao wasn't stupid. Perhaps she saw through Sang Ruifeng's intentions, which is why she pretended to disappear and didn't want to marry him.

His gaze swept coldly over Sang Ruifeng, revealing undisguised disgust.

Sang Ruifeng felt a tightness in his chest under that gaze, but since it concerned his future, he gritted his teeth.

“Lord Pei, although you are now favored by the Empress Dowager, in this court, it is always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.”

"My feelings for Your Highness are sincere, so please, Lord Pei, do not interfere."

Pei Yanzhi's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"This was originally your marriage to the princess. What? Now that the princess has her own plans, instead of trying to salvage the marriage, you're trying to persuade me?"

"Doesn't Young Master Sang know my temperament? I hate it when others tell me what to do."

Sang Ruifeng's face was a little pale. He was already in a difficult situation in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. If this marriage were to be cancelled, he didn't know what would happen to him in the future.

"Lord Pei, I am truly helpless. The princess is of noble birth, and since she is devoted to you, what can I do?"

Lu Ruoyao refuses to marry, and Empress Dowager Feng dotes on her, so the marriage will have to be called off.

Pei Yanzhi crossed his arms, his eyes growing increasingly cold.

Instead of getting entangled with me, you should think about how to please the princess.

Furthermore, when did it become anyone else's place to interfere in and arrange his marriage?

If Empress Dowager Feng were not confused, she would not grant Lu Ruoyao's request.

Sang Ruifeng was about to speak again when Pei Yanzhi suddenly stood up.

"see a visitor out."

Upon seeing this, Chenghua immediately stepped forward and gestured for him to enter.

Sang Ruifeng opened his mouth, but in the end, he had no choice but to get up and walk towards the door.

After Sang Ruifeng left, Pei Yanzhi sat back down in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his face terribly gloomy.

He had no idea that Lu Ruoyao would set her sights on him.

Chenghua returned from outside after seeing Sang Ruifeng off.

"Master, Young Master Sang left a message before he left."

After saying this, he looked up at Pei Yanzhi, unsure whether he should have said it.

"explain."

Pei Yanzhi frowned slightly, and then heard Cheng Hua say, "Young Master Sang said that His Highness told him that the Empress Dowager would reconsider this marriage."

"Your Highness also said that she would only marry you in this life. If Your Highness really has no such intention, then you should think of a way to make Your Highness give up on this idea."

After saying that, Chenghua raised his hand and scratched his head. He shouldn't have lost his memory, right?

Princess Jian'an and I have hardly ever met, so why is she so determined to marry me?

"I will marry no one but myself?"

Pei Yanzhi's lips curled up slightly. This matter was so absurd and ridiculous that it made him want to laugh.

"Understood, let's go down."

After a long pause, Pei Yanzhi finished speaking, and Cheng Hua nodded and left.

Princess's words were clearly intended to discourage Sang Ruifeng, but if they were true, the Empress Dowager might actually consider it.

At this moment, in the Prince Qing's mansion, Lu Jiamin heard that Lu Ruoyao was going to marry Pei Yan, and in a fit of anger, she swept everything off the table.

"Bitch!"

Why does everyone want to steal Pei Yanzhi from her?!

Upon hearing her words, Lianxiang was so frightened that she immediately knelt down on the ground. Had the princess gone mad? How dare she insult Her Highness the Princess.

She was Empress Dowager Feng's darling daughter, a true golden branch and jade leaf.

(End of this chapter)