Chapter 32: Sudden Change, Fourth Miss Secretly Meets with Someone?
Pai Yuange stood by the railing of the pavilion, watching Pai Yuanrong struggling to stay afloat in the water, calling out for help. Memories from her past life suddenly flooded back, and she clenched her fists tightly, staring at Pai Yuanrong with eyes that were as black as coal. But soon, she revealed a panicked expression, shouting loudly: "Someone, please come quickly! Third sister has fallen into the water, someone please come quickly!"
When Bae Won-yong was rescued, Jang Eun had already rushed over upon hearing the news.
Pei Yuanyong was both ashamed and angry, and she rushed into Zhang Yun's arms and started crying, saying: "Auntie, please take charge of me, I really don't know where I offended Fourth Sister, how could she push me into the lake and almost kill me?" The chaos just now came too suddenly and caught her off guard, and until now she still didn't understand what was going on. But thinking that she had lost face in front of everyone like this, she wanted to shift the blame onto Pei Yuansong's body, making everyone think that Pei Yuansong was cruel and ruthless, plotting against his sister.
Zhang Yun's heart ached as she stared at Pei Yuange and asked, "Fourth Miss, what's going on?"
Yang Xiu thought it was her own fault and didn't want to implicate Pei Yuange, so she gritted her teeth and pinched her arm hard, tears welling up in her eyes as she exclaimed: "I didn't mean to, I really didn't mean to! I just twisted my foot for a moment and lost my balance, I didn't think..."
Everyone knew she was hot-tempered and would hit people when she said she would, but no one expected her to be deceitful as well, and they all nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Miss Yang just accidentally fell and bumped into Miss Pae."
"Miss Pei Si was kind-hearted and wanted to go help her!"
"This isn't the first time something like this has happened. In the Xiangxiang Temple, Miss Pei San framed Miss Pei Si, and in the end, Miss Pei Si even covered for her. What's the result? Now she's come to slander Miss Pei Si again! I used to think she was relatively straightforward, but it turns out she's so despicable..." Some of the people who attended the flower viewing banquet with Princess Liu whispered among themselves.
The female audience members all testified on behalf of Pei Yuange, and the situation became increasingly unfavorable to Pei Yuanrong. Zhang Yun knew that she couldn't keep biting Pei Yuange, or else it would reach Pei Zhucheng's ears and might stir up the old affair at the imperial banquet again. It was only with great difficulty that she had managed to regain her composure in front of Pei Zhucheng, and now all her efforts would be wasted. Anyway, after the birthday banquet was over, there would be plenty of time for Pei Yuange to cry, so there was no need to rush! Zhang Yun thought to herself, pinched Pei Yuanrong's arm, and smiled: "It was just that Rong'er was frightened from falling into the water and made a mistake. It's nothing, nothing!" She then loudly ordered, "Someone, quickly send Third Miss back to Caiwei Garden to change her clothes."
Pei Yuanyong was still indignant and wanted to say more, but Zhang Yun glared at her fiercely, signaling the nearby Wang Yiniang to send her back.
"Hmph, Zhang Niang and Pei San Miss have such big temper, fell into the water and panicked, actually took Pei Fu's legitimate daughter to vent their anger, finished a few words and that's it. This Pei Fu is getting more and more unscrupulous!" A noblewoman wearing a silver-red silk skirt spoke up, her apricot eyes and peach cheeks, with a sharp aura in her beautiful eyes, making people feel an invisible pressure, her words as overwhelming as her beauty.
Bai Yuange felt a sense of familiarity, and just as she was thinking about it, she suddenly saw the young girl next to the beautiful woman winking at her, and suddenly realized.
That young girl in a yellow shirt was delicate and beautiful, with a face that resembled the beautiful woman by three points. She was actually Wen Yilan, who had stood up for her at the imperial palace last time. The beautiful woman should be her mother, Madame Wen.
Recognizing the person, everyone took a cold breath, and suddenly there was dead silence.
Mrs. Wen's husband, Wen Mouyan, was only a Hanlin scholar, but her father-in-law, Wen Jingge, was a Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet. The Grand Secretary had the power to "draft" and review all memorials that the emperor would see, writing down their opinions before presenting them to the emperor for preview. These opinions often influenced the emperor's decisions, and it can be imagined how great his power was. More importantly, Wen Jingge was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law and held her in high esteem, even surpassing his own son. Therefore, in the circle of noblewomen in the capital, few people dared to provoke Mrs. Wen, who was known for her fierce temper and straightforward personality.
Mrs. Zhang vaguely felt that this lady was somewhat familiar, but couldn't think of it, but when she heard the surrounding people's discussion mentioning "Madam Wen", her face suddenly turned pale. She had also heard of Madam Wen's reputation, only didn't expect that at their first meeting, she would offend Madam Wen. Although bowing to Pei Yuange made her very resentful, in order to win over Madam Wen's favor, she could only endure it. Stepping forward and making a curtsy to Pei Yuange, she said with restraint: "This servant just misspoke and offended the Fourth Miss, please forgive this servant."
Pei Yuange looked at her quietly for a while before curling up his lips and smiling faintly. "Get up, auntie!" he said softly.
When Pei Yuange saw her, she deliberately ignored her. Zhang Yun's heart was burning with anger, but she didn't dare to lose her temper. She hurriedly invited the ladies back to the courtyard, especially trying to please Madame Wen. Seeing that Madame Wen was indifferent, there was a bit of awkwardness. Thinking of Miss Wen Yilan being together with the other young ladies, she secretly instructed someone to call Pei Yuanrong over quickly and think of ways to get along with Miss Wen.
In the garden, Wen Yilan pulled Pei Yuange to the willow tree in the corner and stomped her foot, saying: "You're too good-natured! Being bullied by your aunt and stepdaughter like that, and just now my mother took your side, you should have made her kneel down and apologize to you with a cup of tea, but instead you let it go so easily!"
"It's always a family affair!" Pei Yuange smiled faintly and changed the subject, "How did you come?"
She also wanted to humiliate Zhang Yun a bit, but if this matter were to be taken to her father, although she would be in the right according to the rules, her father was a person who valued emotions over rules. If Zhang Yun were to cry and complain to him, he might think that she was bullying Zhang Yun with her power, so it's better to let Zhang Yun off for now and gain a reputation for being magnanimous in front of her father, which would be more beneficial to her.
"My mother knew you early on, and after hearing me talk about the things in the palace, she was very grateful to you. She said that since your father is celebrating his birthday, we should come visit you!" Wen Yilan smiled and said, "My mother said that this time she brought me here, she won't leave, wants to stay at the Pei residence for a night, asking if the master would be willing to take us in?"
Why bother staying overnight just to see her? Besides, Madame Wen has in-laws above her, perhaps there's something else going on?
However, seeing that both Madam Wen and Wen Yilan had no ill intentions towards her, Pei Yuange nodded with a smile: "As long as Father agrees, I'm more than happy to!"
"Don't worry, my mother won't make things difficult for you. I've already mentioned it to your father and mine earlier. When I asked you that question just now, I was testing whether you have a conscience or not! If you dare say no, I'll turn against you!" Wen Yilan said with a smile, suddenly remembering something, she stopped in her tracks and said, "By the way, have you heard? The illegitimate daughter of Wu's family, who entered the palace with us last time, was recently appointed as a Cairen. I heard that it made the two legitimate misses of the Wu family so angry that they smashed flower vases. My mother said that if you hadn't fallen ill at an inopportune moment, maybe this title would have gone to you!"
Pei Yuansong was shocked in her heart. It seemed that her guess the other day was not wrong, and Liu Guifei was indeed helping the emperor to select concubines!
Wen Yilan was straightforward and had a good impression of Pei Yuange from the start. As the day went on, the two became increasingly close. After the birthday banquet, the various madams took their leave one after another. Madame Wen indeed stayed behind, but it was under the pretext that Wen Yilan and Pei Yuange were getting along well and she couldn't bear to part with them. Pei Yuange was even more bewildered in her heart - could it be that this Madame Wen had some ulterior motive?
Take another look at Pei Zhucity, although nodded in agreement, but frowned, as if knowing her intention, and felt even more strange.
Could it be that Father and Madame Wen know each other?
Zhang Yun didn't expect Madame Wen to stay behind either, and she felt a bit hesitant. After thinking for a moment, she still nodded at Wang Nai Nai, indicating that she should proceed with the plan.
At this time, when everyone gathered for dinner, Zhang Yun's personal maid, Xi Yan, suddenly came over and whispered something in her ear. Zhang Yun listened, and was immediately shocked, dropping the chopsticks in her hand, and exclaimed: "What did you say? Fourth Miss actually had an affair with someone, and there are men's clothes hidden in the courtyard?"
Digression
Recommend a friend's rebirth revenge article "Rebirth of the Marquis's Eldest Daughter" by Miao You Piao, which has already exceeded 600,000 words and can be slaughtered.
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