Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 143 Canglan Ferry (13)

These words caused the expressions on everyone's faces to become even more subtle.

Pei Wangzhou not only intends to take this girl as a concubine, but also plans to have her surpass Yan Jinhe, the principal wife, to give birth to the first child in four generations of the Duke's family.

Madam Pei was furious. She kept glancing at Yan Jinhe, but said to Pei Ji, "Your wife hasn't even given birth yet, and you've let a concubine who just entered the household give birth to your eldest son. If this gets out, people will gossip about you. You're an official in the court. Aren't you afraid that the censors will seize on this and impeach you?"

Pei's mother was completely clueless when it came to managing household affairs and accounting, and had been scolded by her mother-in-law many times in the past. But ever since Yan Jinhe entered the mansion, all the big and small matters in the mansion have been handed over to her, and she has managed them in an orderly manner.

She was extremely satisfied with her virtuous and filial daughter-in-law.

She was afraid that Pei Wangzhou's actions would hurt her feelings.

"I don't care." Pei Ji looked like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water, but when he turned to look at Yan Zhen, his expression softened. "I promised A Li that I would never betray her in this life."

"you……"

Seeing that Pei's mother and Pei Ji were about to start arguing, Yan Jinhe said, "Alright, Mother, my husband has just returned and must be very tired from his journey. Let him and Miss Jiang rest first, and we can discuss other matters later."

These words gave Pei Ji and his mother a way out, and Pei's mother quickly said, "Alright—Zhou'er, you go back to Jinxiu Garden first. As for Miss Jiang, I will have someone prepare a courtyard for her to rest in."

"No need," Pei Ji refused directly. "Ali can stay with me in the Bamboo Garden."

After he finished speaking, he ignored the expressions of the others and took Yan Zhen's hand and left.

Yan Jinhe watched the two figures leave hand in hand, her hands clenched into fists hidden under her sleeves.

Yan Zhen followed Pei Ji through corridors and courtyards, and entered a courtyard planted with many green bamboos.

This courtyard was where Pei Wangzhou lived before he got married. He usually used it as his personal study, and the furnishings and decorations inside were in a cold and hard style.

After dismissing the servants, Yan Zhen lay down on the large bed and stretched out a long yawn: "Ah, sleeping in a bed is still the most comfortable."

After traveling for three days, enduring wind and rain, and not even having a place to stay in an inn, she felt like all the bones in her body were stiff.

Pei Ji ignored her, sat down at the desk as if he knew his way around, and began to rummage through the things on the table.

Yan Zhen watched his actions and asked curiously, "You seem to know the Duke's mansion very well."

"Yes, I've come here many times at night."

Yan Zhen understood that Pei Ji wanted revenge. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory, and he probably had sneaked into the Duke's mansion at night quite a few times in the past.

The two talked for a while, when a maid's voice came from outside: "Young Master."

Yan Zhen and Pei Ji exchanged a glance.

Pei Ji got up and opened the door. Outside was Yan Jinhe's personal maid, Yin Xin.

"What's the matter?"

“Young Master, Madam requests your presence.” Yin Xin carefully chose her words. “She says she wants to discuss with you the procedures for bringing Miss Jiang into the household.”

Pei Ji paused for a moment, then replied, "Alright, I'm coming."

He turned back and winked at Yan Zhen, then followed Yin Xin away.

Jinxiu Garden was the courtyard where Pei Wangzhou and Yan Jinhe lived after their marriage. When Pei Ji walked in, Yan Jinhe had changed out of her plain clothes and into a light purple pleated skirt with embroidered butterflies. She was preparing dinner at the table.

It was completely dark when the lights in the courtyard were turned on, and her beautiful face looked even more lovely and charming under the light.

Seeing Pei Ji approach, she smiled and said, "My husband must be tired from your journey. I had the kitchen make your favorite crab roe soup. Please try it."

"Thank you for your trouble, Madam." Pei Ji did not refuse. He sat down at the table, took the crab roe soup that Yan Jinhe had served, took a small sip, and put it down.

Seeing this, Yan Jinhe asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is the cook's cooking not to your liking?"

Pei Ji said, "These days I've been living in the mountains with A Li and have gotten used to light food. This crab roe soup is a bit fishy."

Yan Jinhe paused, then picked up a piece of bamboo shoot from his chopsticks and said, "Try this. It's fresh bamboo shoots from Yushan that were delivered this morning."

This time, Pei Ji didn't even touch the fresh bamboo shoots, and frowned, saying, "Ali doesn't like bamboo shoots, and neither do I."

Seeing that he kept mentioning "Ali" in every other sentence, Yan Jinhe's expression darkened. She put down her chopsticks and sighed softly: "Husband, do you really like Miss Jiang that much?"

“Of course, otherwise why would I bring her back to the manor?” Pei Ji said. “She’s new here and doesn’t know anyone. She’ll be scared if she’s left alone in the Bamboo Garden. If you have something to say, just say it. After you’re done, I have to go back to the Bamboo Garden to keep her company.”

Yan Jinhe: "..."

She suppressed the bitterness and anger in her heart and said gently, "Since my husband likes her, then let's choose an auspicious day to bring her into the manor. But I don't know where Miss Jiang lives, how old she is, or who else is in her family. What should be the scale of the concubine ceremony?"

Pei Ji seemed to have already thought it through, and blurted out: "Just treat her as a concubine. You can handle the rest. I only have one request: she must not be wronged."

Yan Jinhe: "..."

After Pei Ji left, Yan Jinhe stared at the almost untouched dinner table for a long time without touching it.

Yin Xin came in from outside and, seeing her like this, also felt sad: "Madam, the young master has rested in the bamboo garden."

Yan Jinhe looked at the dark sky outside: "Yes, I understand."

Yin Xin couldn't help but complain: "That Miss Jiang is some country bumpkin. She just came back to the manor with the young master, and before the formalities of taking a concubine have even been made, she's already clinging to him and trying to get him to stay overnight at her place. She doesn't respect you, the mistress of the house, at all... She has absolutely no manners."

Yan Jinhe's expression was inscrutable: "Yinxin, be careful what you say."

Yin Xin retorted indignantly, "I'm standing up for you. During the days the young master has been missing, you've been the one holding up half the sky of this huge Duke's mansion. And what's wrong with the young master? He brought back a shameless hussy who had an affair and was pregnant without any matchmaker, and he didn't even say a word of concern to you... It's too much."

Yan Jinhe sighed softly, got up and walked into the inner room, and sat down in front of the dressing table: "Never mind, the young master is young and full of vigor. Miss Jiang has saved his life, so he is just feeling grateful and excited. He will be fine in a few days."

Yin Xin stepped forward to remove her makeup: "That's right. No matter how much favor that slut is currently receiving, she's still just a concubine. You are the future mistress of the Duke's mansion."

These words struck a chord with Yan Jinhe. She thought for a moment and smiled slightly: "Yinxin, give the order to prepare a few sets of fine clothes and jewelry. I will go to the Bamboo Garden to see this Miss Jiang tomorrow."

"Yes."

When Pei Ji returned to the Bamboo Garden, Yan Zhen had just finished his dinner, and the maids were clearing away the leftovers.

"What did Yan Jinhe say to you?" Yan Zhen asked gossipily. "Did she complain or cry to you? Was she so jealous that she crawled around in a dark and twisted state?"

"No." Pei Ji was used to the strange words she used. After thinking for a moment, he added, "But there is definitely resentment. I have to go to the Ministry of Justice to report on my work tomorrow. Given Yan Jinhe's personality, she might come and cause you trouble. Good luck."

Pei Wangzhou is a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Justice. He has been missing for so long, he has to come forward and give an explanation.

Yan Zhen cracked his knuckles, his face full of eagerness: "I'm not afraid of her causing trouble, I'm just afraid she'll hold back. I can't wait to confront her."