allendalepharm Chapter 227 Memories of the Past
Chapter 227 Memories of the Past
After the palace banquet, on the carriage back to the Marquis's residence.
Wen Zongji and his wife Pei Rujing exchanged information.
Pei Rujing said, "My sister-in-law is two months pregnant. Mother is worried that it will be difficult for her to have a healthy pregnancy in the Duke's mansion, so she has asked her to move to the Princess's mansion tomorrow until she gives birth to the child."
Wen Zongji then said, "Second sister-in-law is also pregnant, already three months along. Second brother, you've been keeping it a secret for so long, only revealing it now."
Then the two of them froze.
Pei Rujing recalled Liu's condition today and realized she really couldn't tell she was pregnant: "I haven't received any news at all."
Wen Zongji was surprised that Lady Wei was going to the Princess's place to rest during her pregnancy: "The Duke of Pei might not agree to that, would he?"
It should be said that he definitely disagrees; wouldn't that be a slap in his face?
Pei Rujing snorted coldly: "Whether he agrees or not, it doesn't matter."
Pei Rujing is increasingly disrespectful to Duke Pei, and these words clearly indicate that Duke Pei's words have no effect whatsoever.
Wen Zongji didn't say much, only that "My elder brother's aunt is about to have her birthday, and my second sister-in-law is pregnant again. Next year, the Marquis's mansion will have two newborns."
Pei Rujing leaned against the car window: "It's good. It's too lonely for Wen-ge'er to be all alone in the manor... By the way, I heard that Wen-ge'er will be sent to the clan school after the New Year. He's only four years old, right?"
Wen Zongji said, "My elder brother and I all started our education at the age of six. My elder brother and sister-in-law probably thought that Wen-ge'er could adapt to the clan school earlier."
Pei Rujing pouted: "Poor Wen-ge'er, he has to go to the clan school at only four years old."
As someone who dislikes school, Pei Rujing knows all too well the pain of going to school.
Pei Rujing felt sorry for Wen Ge'er, who had to endure such pain at the age of four.
Wen Zongji chuckled and said, "If you really feel sorry for Wen-ge'er, don't refuse him next time he asks you to play."
"No way," Pei Rujing shook her head without hesitation, "I'm already tired enough dealing with Changning, I don't want another one."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zongji stroked his chin and said, "Looking at it this way, it seems my wife is very popular with children."
Pei Rujing pointed to her face and said without any modesty, "Because I'm pretty."
Wen Zongji laughed heartily: "That makes perfect sense."
Both Princess Changning and Wen Ge'er were clearly attracted to good looks.
Otherwise, given Pei Rujing's irritable and easily impatient nature, it would be difficult for children to like her, since children are quite sensitive to emotions.
……
Back at the Marquis's residence, everyone gathered in the main courtyard to celebrate the New Year, and inevitably the topic of Liu's pregnancy came up.
Liu accepted everyone's blessings with a shy expression.
After their marriage, Wen Zongjing continued to prepare for the imperial examinations, with Liu accompanying him. However, Liu's presence in the Marquis's mansion was not prominent, and the people in the mansion only knew that the second young mistress was gentle and kind, and knew nothing else about her.
After the New Year's Eve vigil ended, everyone returned to their respective courtyards.
The next day, news of Liu's pregnancy spread throughout the household.
At the same time, Pei Rujing, who married into the Marquis's mansion earlier than Liu but has yet to conceive, was inevitably mentioned.
However, the Princess of Anhe County was indeed quite imposing, so the servants only dared to mention it vaguely, and no one dared to say anything more.
Anyway, not a single word of gossip reached Pei Rujing's ears.
Meanwhile, at the Duke Pei's mansion...
The next day, after breakfast, Pei Shizhao went to the Duke of Pei's study to tell him about the eldest princess's plan for Lady Wei to go to the eldest princess's residence to rest during her pregnancy.
Upon hearing this, Duke Pei's face turned pale and then red, feeling like a joke for instructing his steward to prioritize Wei's health from now on.
"The daughter-in-law of a noble Duke's mansion, instead of resting at home during her pregnancy, is going out into the world? Do you want to make the entire Duke Pei's mansion a laughingstock?"
Pei Shizhao retorted, "The Princess's residence is not outside."
Duke Pei glared at him, his face ashen: "You wretched child, are you deliberately trying to make your father a laughingstock?"
"You were already a joke seventeen years ago!"
The eldest princess walked in from outside and said indifferently.
In an instant, everyone greeted her, saying, "Greetings, Princess."
Pei Shizhao stepped forward: "Mother."
Princess: "Go help your wife pack her things. She'll come back with me in a bit."
Pei Shizhao glanced at Duke Pei, then turned and left.
Duke Pei, like a rooster being strangled, remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "So many years have passed, yet Your Highness still hasn't forgotten to humiliate me."
The Eldest Princess: "You're overthinking it. If I weren't worried about the Eldest Princess's family, I would never have come here even once."
Duke Pei sneered: "The eldest princess is of noble birth, how could the Duke's mansion, a small temple, possibly contain such a great Buddha as you? When we first got married, my mother was still alive, but apart from visiting her at the beginning of each month, you ignored her and showed no respect for your mother-in-law whatsoever, let alone me."
The princess looked at him and said, "This is the first time I've heard of your filial piety towards your mother. If I remember correctly, I have never forced you to live with me in the princess's residence. You say I've neglected your mother, but what have you done in return? Even your own son behaves this way, so how dare you criticize me?"
Duke Pei's face froze.
"A woman's first pregnancy is always particularly dangerous. I must take the eldest son's child away. If Duke Pei wants to stop me, he may try."
After saying this, the princess left the study.
Duke Pei slumped behind his desk, remaining silent for a long time.
The steward beside him secretly breathed a sigh of relief; he was really afraid that Duke Pei might lose his temper and clash with the eldest princess.
When everyone in the Duke Pei's mansion learned that the eldest princess had arrived, they all stayed obediently in their places, and no one dared to move around.
Aunt Wang and the others dared not step out of their own courtyard, for fear that the Princess would remember them.
Even if they weren't very bright, they knew they couldn't even handle Pei Rujing, let alone the princess, so there was no need to humiliate themselves.
So, the eldest princess only made a brief visit to the Duke of Pei's residence before taking Wei Shi away, along with Pei Shizhao.
Pei Shirong also went to the Princess's residence.
Only after confirming that the eldest princess had left did Consort Wang dare to go to the study to find Duke Pei.
Duke Pei remained seated behind his desk, shrouded in shadow, making it impossible to discern his expression.
Aunt Wang placed the tea on the desk: "Lord Duke, please have some tea."
Duke Pei looked up at her: "Tell me, did I do something wrong?"
Aunt Wang's heart skipped a beat, and she asked with a stiff face, "This concubine does not understand what the Duke is saying."
Duke Pei waved his hand: "Go down, I need to be alone."
Aunt Wang originally thought that Duke Pei would be furious with the Eldest Princess, so she hurriedly came over to act as his confidante and win his favor.
It seems like it can't be done now.
Aunt Wang had no choice but to leave.
Duke Pei turned to look out the window, his mind replaying many past events.
Perhaps it's because he's getting older, but he's started to enjoy reminiscing about the past.
He recalled his first encounter with the eldest princess.
He recalled the pounding of his heart when he first saw that bright, flamboyant, noble, and proud princess.
Why did things change later?
Duke Pei lowered his head.