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

Chapter 159 Let’s grow old together

In the end, Pei Yanzhi lightly brushed the matter aside, as if it had never happened.

The two continued to interact as usual, but Xiang Ning felt that Pei Yanzhi didn't seem so happy.

Princess Jian'an, Lu Ruoyao, and the Duke of Zhenguo's family finally set their marriage for April.

When spring arrives and the flowers bloom, it will be a good time.

According to Pei Yanzhi, Lu Ruoyao even fainted from crying because of this, but the matter was already settled and there was no room for retreat.

Even if she didn't want to get married, Empress Dowager Feng wouldn't give her the chance to continue her nonsense.

As for Lu Jiamin, I heard that Prince Qing is looking for a suitable match for her, and she may get married after the New Year.

Xiang Ning simply nodded to indicate that she understood.

She wasn't too interested in other people's affairs; more than that, she wanted to know when her embroidery workshop would be completed.

A few days before the New Year, Han Jun took Yao Yao into his household as a concubine.

Han Jun even held a banquet for this occasion, inviting Pei Yanzhi and Xiang Ning to the Marquis's residence.

While in the carriage, Pei Yanzhi suddenly said to Xiang Ning that Yao Yao was Han Jun's first legitimate concubine.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning turned to look at him: "But..."

"Are you saying that the young marquis has a reputation for being a womanizer, so how could he not have concubines by his side?"

Pei Yanzhi noticed what Xiang Ning wanted to ask and said with a smile, "That's indeed the case. If you really want to know, you might as well ask Yao Yao later."

After saying that, he pulled Xiang Ning into his arms.

Why should I know anything about the young marquis?

Xiang Ning leaned against him and said this. She now knew what Pei Yanzhi liked to hear, so she deliberately said what he liked to hear.

Pei Yanzhi looked down at her, but did not continue speaking.

Before long, the two arrived at the Xuanwei Marquis's residence.

The Marquis and his wife didn't interfere much in Han Jun's affairs. As long as he didn't have any children before marriage, they wouldn't say anything else.

So neither of them cared about his holding a banquet for a concubine today.

In addition to inviting Pei Yanzhi, Han Jun also invited two scions of prominent families with whom he had a good relationship.

Yao Yao, dressed in red, accompanied him, making the scene quite lively.

Seeing Xiang Ning and Pei Yanzhi walk in, Yao Yao stood up to greet them: "If you hadn't come, I would have been bored to death."

Yao Yao pulled Xiang Ning to sit down beside her and said with a smile, "I don't know most of the people in this mansion, so you're the only one who can keep me company."

Looking at Yao Yao's bright smile, Xiang Ning said softly, "There's still a long way to go, you'll get to know each other better eventually."

“Sister is right. For someone like me, being able to enter the Marquis’s mansion and obtain a legitimate status is not bad at all.”

Yao Yao smiled and peeled an orange for Xiang Ning, then revealed the red jade bracelet on her wrist.

"It was a gift from the young marquis, worth a thousand gold pieces."

Listening to Yao Yao's words, and looking at the bracelet on her wrist, the bright red jade made her wrist appear even whiter.

It is said that it is better to be a poor man's wife than a rich man's concubine, but Yao Yao did not think so much about it.

She even felt lucky to have met Han Jun and been taken back to his mansion by him.

Otherwise, they would only be able to grow old and die in a brothel for the rest of their lives.

"This is a gift for you, just a small token of my appreciation. It's nothing too expensive."

Xiang Ning handed the box to Yao Yao, whose eyes lit up with joy as she smiled and opened it.

Inside was a carved bronze mirror, surrounded by gold-carved flowers, with a handle at the bottom, small and exquisite to hold in one's hand.

"It looks beautiful, thank you, sister."

"This is the best gift I've received today."

Yao Yao turned to look at Xiang Ning, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

Pei Yanzhi was talking with Han Jun and other young masters from prominent families, but his gaze kept drifting towards Xiang Ning.

Seeing that she and Yaoyao were getting along quite well, her expression softened slightly.

After the banquet began, everyone toasted each other, and the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Xiang Ning wasn't good at drinking, so she only took a few sips, while Yao Yao drank quite a bit to fit in, her cheeks flushed and her eyes became somewhat glazed.

"Sister, do you know? I originally thought that entering the Marquis's mansion would bring many unpleasant things, but the young Marquis treats me quite well..." Yao Yao leaned closer to Xiang Ning and whispered, her words carrying a hint of relief.

Xiang Ning frowned slightly and whispered, "Even so, you must think more about yourself. In this deep mansion, you have to be careful in everything you do."

"I know, I know everything, sister. I'm so touched by your sincerity towards me."

Yao Yao clung to Xiang Ning, uttering these words with a hint of drunkenness.

Seeing that Yao Yao seemed a little drunk, Han Jun got up and went over to pull her into his arms.

Yao Yao leaned against him, but her eyes were fixed on Xiang Ning, as if she had something to say, but in the end she didn't say it.

She followed the maid back to her room and left the banquet.

After a few rounds of drinks, Xiang Ning got up to wash her hands, and Pei Yanzhi also got up to accompany her.

On a path in the garden, Pei Yanzhi asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Upon hearing Pei Yanzhi's question, Xiang Ning turned to look at him, then shook her head.

"It's nothing, I just remembered that Yao Yao said the young marquis treats her very well, and she's very happy."

"Then, A-Ning, how do you think I've treated you?"

Pei Yanzhi pulled her into his arms, and looking at the flush on her face caused by drunkenness, he couldn't help but reach out and touch her long hair.

Xiang Ning disliked wearing hairpins; her silky black hair was held up by only a few simple hairpins.

He stroked her hair and listened as she said, "Pei Lang and the young marquis are incomparable."

Even if Xiang Ning didn't want to admit it, she had to say that she could see love in Pei Yanzhi's eyes more than in Han Jun's.

Pei Yanzhi liked her, so he was willing to do many things for her.

Within the limits he permitted, she had her own freedom.

Although he had said that she should pay the price for her running away and betrayal, he did not do so.

Occasionally, Xiang Ning would feel that she was about to fall for him.

But when she opened her eyes again, she was awake.

She doesn't deny that she's attracted to him, but she won't give in to it.

Looking into her eyes, which seemed to be filled with stars, Pei Yanzhi couldn't help but lower his head and give her a light kiss.

The hand that landed on her hair supported her head.

She hadn't combed her hair in the past, and her silky hair draped over her shoulders.

She stretches gracefully on her lover's lap; how could she not be pitied? [Note]

She was both adorable and pitiful, and his heart softened completely.

Xiang Ning had also drunk too much, and let him kiss her. In the end, she didn't even know how she left the Marquis's mansion.

Snowflakes began to fall softly on the quiet streets. She refused to ride in the carriage and insisted on dragging Pei Yanzhi along to admire the snow.

Chenghua and Bitao hurriedly grabbed umbrellas and went over, but Pei Yanzhi stopped them before they could open them.

The two had no choice but to follow behind them.

Snowflakes fell on Xiang Ning and Pei Yanzhi. She held his hands in her own, completely enveloping them.

"Pei Yanzhi, have you ever heard this saying?"

"what?"

"If we are together again in the snow someday..."

Xiang Ning walked up to him and looked up at him.

Pei Yanzhi's eyes flickered slightly, and the second half of his sentence lingered on his lips. Just as he was about to speak, she reached out and pressed her hand against his lips.

"I know."

But I can't say it, because if I do, things will be different.

They are not a couple who can grow old together.

Now, she is merely his concubine, his caged bird, his canary, a kite that can never soar.

[Note] This poem is from the third of the forty-two poems in the "Midnight Songs" collection, written by Ziye of the Jin Dynasty. It is a creative form, belonging to the category of short poems with four lines of five characters each.

Translation: I never used to comb my hair up; it was always left long and flowing over my shoulders. My hair would reach my lover's legs, and I looked incredibly beautiful and lovely then.

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(End of this chapter)