EFB Chapter 20 Love or Not?
Chapter 20 Love or Not?
Wen Zongjing had just left Yunguang Courtyard when he was summoned by the head of the main courtyard.
Wen Zongjing respectfully greeted his mother: "Mother, are you well?"
Madam Jiang asked gently, "You just went to Yunguang Courtyard. Did you see the County Princess?"
Wen Zongjing shook his head: "I didn't see the county princess. However... I discovered that my third brother seemed to have stayed in the study. He explained that he was studying too late and didn't want to disturb the county princess if he went back to his room."
Mother would never tolerate her third brother being humiliated like this by the Princess of Anhe County!
Wen Zongjing felt a little smug—what a good elder brother he was!
Jiang's eyes flickered: "Is that so? I know about it."
He then dismissed Wen Zongjing.
Madam Jiang's expression darkened slightly: "That day, Yun Guang Courtyard sent someone to say that the county princess was unwell and would not be playing mahjong for the time being. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now several days have passed and there's been no movement from Yun Guang Courtyard. Even the servants in the courtyard rarely leave Yun Guang Courtyard. I feel that something is wrong."
"It seems that Zongji has offended the county princess, to the point that they have to sleep in separate rooms."
The excuse that studying too late might disturb Princess Anhe was one that even Wen Zongjing didn't believe, let alone Jiang.
Granny Liu said, "Granny Feng is incredibly capable. She took control of Yunguang Courtyard in just one month, and we haven't received a single piece of information from her."
Madam Jiang sighed, "Yun Guang Courtyard has a small kitchen. Before the wedding, I gave the servants' indentures to Zongji. They are responsible for all their own food, clothing, and daily necessities. In other words, they are still living in the Marquis's mansion, but otherwise, it's no different from a separate household."
Wen Zongren has been married for three years, but the expenses of Hongyi Academy are still covered by the Marquis's mansion.
Even Wen Zongji was unaware that the expenses of Yunguang Academy for the past month had not been accounted for through the public accounts.
Pei Rujing was wealthy and didn't care about the money, while Granny Feng was shrewd and knew that using public funds would make them vulnerable to being controlled. Besides, Wen Zongji was just an illegitimate son with limited resources, so being restricted for such a small amount of money was not worthwhile.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to take control of Yunguang Academy so quickly.
Madam Jiang began to worry: "Zongji is, after all, a man. He has studied the classics for many years and values his reputation. If the county princess forbids him from going back to his room to sleep, he probably won't be able to bring himself to go back to his room on his own."
Jiang never imagined that Wen Zongji would take the initiative to request separate rooms. Pei Rujing dared to speak frankly and break the rules on the second day of her wedding. With such an arrogant and willful personality, kicking her husband out of the room was something she was capable of doing.
This is the reputation of the Princess of Anhe County!
Knowing Jiang's worries, Granny Liu comforted her, "They should have been sleeping in separate rooms for a few days now. The county princess hasn't gone back to the princess's residence to complain, so things aren't that bad. It's normal for young people to bicker sometimes. After all, they're newlyweds, and it's a sweet time. As long as the third young master says a few nice words, everything should be fine."
Jiang sighed, "I'm just worried that Zongji won't take the initiative to make amends. Never mind, Zongji is going out with Zongjing tomorrow. I'll try to persuade him when they get back."
As the head of the household, this is within her scope of duty, and she cannot avoid it.
"Should we inform the Marquis?"
Madam Jiang shook her head: "The Marquis's residence is already busy enough with official business every day, don't bother him with these things."
Actually, it's not unusual for husband and wife to sleep in separate rooms. Whether the man goes to the main room to sleep is entirely up to him. This is a private matter between the young couple. Although Jiang is the legal mother, she shouldn't interfere too much in the private affairs of her illegitimate son.
But Wen Zongji was an exception!
Whether his relationship with Pei Rujing is good or bad will directly affect the stability of the Marquis's mansion.
Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to intervene, whether he wanted to or not.
……
Granny Feng was unaware that what she was trying to hide had already been discovered by Madam Jiang.
She was in her room reporting Wen Zongjing's visit to Pei Rujing: "The young master will be going out to a banquet with the second young master tomorrow."
Pei Rujing's expression grew increasingly cold; she hadn't smiled at all these past few days.
"What are you going to do?"
"I heard it's a gathering of scholars who have passed the imperial examinations. They're probably going to discuss academic matters and talk about next year's metropolitan examinations."
Pei Rujing scoffed, "He's quite carefree, leaving the manor whenever he wants."
Granny Feng glanced at Pei Rujing and hesitated before saying, "Why don't you tell the Madam that the Princess should also go out for a stroll tomorrow?"
Pei Rujing showed absolutely no interest: "I don't want to go."
She was very concerned about her image and couldn't control her emotions. If she ran into an acquaintance outside the manor, people could tell that she and her husband were not getting along without her saying a word.
Pei Rujing would never do something so shameful!
Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed obediently in the mansion.
Thinking of this, Pei Rujing couldn't help but grit her teeth: "What did Mother say about Zhong Qizheng's fate?"
If it weren't for this beast's schemes that forced her to marry Wen Zongji, she wouldn't have had such troubles, and wouldn't even dare to go out when she was upset.
Granny Feng said, "He has been dismissed from his post and the Ministry of Justice sentenced him to exile for three thousand li. He should still be on his way to exile."
"Exile? That's too lenient on him!"
Granny Feng whispered, "Princess, rest assured, the Princess will certainly not let him go to his place of exile in peace."
Pei Rujing finally felt relieved, but couldn't help pouting, her eyes suddenly reddening: "Granny, I miss my mother."
In the past, no matter what grievances she suffered, she could simply cry in the arms of the princess and everything would be fine.
Granny Feng said with concern, "Why don't we go back to the Princess's residence?"
Pei Rujing shook her head, sniffed, and said with a pitiful expression, "I can't go back! Mother will worry so much she won't be able to sleep."
She was determined to create the image of herself as comfortable and at ease after marriage, not only for the sake of appearances, but also to put the princess at ease.
Hearing this, Granny Feng felt even more distressed: "The county princess has been wronged."
Pei Rujing lay on the table, repeatedly tossing and catching mahjong tiles in her hand: "Granny, do you think Wen Zongji and I will end up like Mother and that person?"
When she was young, she had seen the eldest princess cry at night and heard her talk about her past with the Duke of Pei. However, in the end, the eldest princess's expression would always change from hatred to sorrow.
Outsiders all say that the princess is ruthless and decisive, abandoning years of marriage affection without hesitation.
But Pei Rujing knew how much her mother suffered in those early years.
Granny Feng said, "Princess, your son-in-law is not a prince consort! Many things depend on fate. You and your son-in-law are destined to be together, and you will surely live happily ever after with many children and grandchildren."
Pei Rujing lowered her eyes, thinking to herself that what the old woman said was really nice.
She was still clueless and didn't understand the difference between being moved and not being moved.
The biggest difference between her and Wen Zongji and the Princess was that the Princess married Duke Pei because she loved him.
The eldest princess married with the expectation of marrying the man she loved!
Pei Rujing only regarded Wen Zongji as her husband!
She was possessive of Wen Zongji and valued his attitude towards her, which was a requirement of what she considered her possession.
But whether she loves him or not? Pei Rujing doesn't know.