Chapter 188: Selected

Chapter 188: Match Made

Pei Xiao looked up at the tea leaves on his forehead and roared in fury, "Xie Wushi, are you three years old? Spitting tea all over my face."

So what if I sprayed you?

I’d even like to splash you in the face!

Xie Wushi threw the teacup aside, took the wet handkerchief offered by Ding Yi, wiped his mouth and hands, and sneered, "Do you even need a matchmaker? Just go straight to the bridal chamber!"

"Am I the kind of person who acts without rules and propriety?"

Pei Xiao took the handkerchief Zhu Qing handed him, wiping his face while shouting at Xie Wushi, "Careful, or Lady Yan will give you a good beating when she finds out."

She’ll beat you!

Xie Zhifei was too lazy to argue with this person. He glanced sideways and saw Ding Yi still standing there, and angrily said, "What are you waiting for? Where’s my fan? My tea? My fruits?"

Ding Yi: "..."

"Do you have no sense at all? Did a few compliments make you so arrogant that you forget your place?"

Ding Yi: "..."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!" Xie Zhifei waved his hand impatiently.

Ding Yi: "..."

Ding Yi left, feeling very wronged.

After a few steps, he suddenly turned his head and looked at Xie Zhifei with resentment, coming to a conclusion in his heart.

This conclusion was voiced by Little Master Pei.

"Xie Wushi, you really need to find a woman to relieve some stress. Why are you so angry? How about I recite a passage from the Diamond Sutra to calm you down?"

Calm your sister!

Xie Zhifei didn’t know why, but he felt an inexplicable anger within him, looking at Pei Xiao with disdain as never before.

"Xie Wushi, you didn’t answer my question just now."

"Answer what?"

Xie Zhifei sneered, "In Xie Mansion, no one can dictate what Lady Yan does."

Pei Xiao frowned and muttered to himself, "Marriage is a matter of parental command and the words of a matchmaker. She has no parents, and a matchmaker won’t work either. It seems I’m truly at a loss here."

Be confident, remove the words 'it seems.'

Xie Zhifei didn’t believe that the Pei family had already given their approval, so he asked deliberately, "Does your father know about this?"

Pei Xiao shook his head.

"What about your mother?"

Pei Xiao shook his head again.

"Then where is your parental command?"

Pei Xiao replied seriously, "I’ve communicated with Buddha, and Buddha said that the body moves according to the heart, and the heart moves according to emotions."

Xie Zhifei: "..."

Silence.

The atmosphere in the room was almost suffocating.

Beside them, Zhu Qing held his breath, trying to reduce his presence. Master Pei’s actions were too childish.

"Xie Wushi, what’s that look on your face?"

Pei Xiao pointed to his official robe, "I am an official of the Buddhist Office; Buddha is my bread and butter."

"My ancestors!"

Xie Zhifei somehow felt the anger dissipate, leaving only schadenfreude.

"Marriage is not a game. You need to discuss this with your parents and seek their approval. Once they agree..."

"The flowers will have wilted."

Pei Xiao coldly interrupted him.

"Our Pei family has been doctors for generations. Our status isn’t too high, but it’s not low either. Do you think they would agree to me marrying a mysterious shaman?"

"You should know better."

"So, this is called acting first and explaining later, leaving no room for retreat. Do you understand?"

His words sounded unserious, but his face was dead serious.

Only then did Xie Zhifei realize that the person in front of him wasn’t joking; he genuinely wanted to marry Yan Sanhe.

Suddenly, the anger rose from his abdomen again.

"Are you moved by Lady Yan?"

A faint blush appeared on Pei Xiao’s face.

Xie Zhifei had been close to this person for nearly twenty years and had never seen any sign of "shyness" on his face.

"What is it about her that moved you?"

Pei Xiao tugged at the corner of his mouth, "You forgot, she saved my life in the woods. Saving someone's life means I should offer myself in return."

Xie Zhifei was so angry he wanted to curse.

"Hey!"

Pei Xiao's lips twisted, "What's that look on your face? I don't just offer myself to anyone; only her."

Xie Zhifei: "Is she a shaman?"

Pei Xiao: "Funny thing, I'm a coward. Having a shaman around will keep all the ghosts away from me."

Xie Zhifei: "Her personality won't allow you to take a concubine."

Pei Xiao: "Marrying her, I never thought of taking a concubine."

Xie Zhifei: "So devoted?"

Pei Xiao looked at him, "How can I explain it? My goal in life used to be helping you ascend to power, then living off you. Now, it's changed."

Xie Zhifei: "Changed into what?"

Pei Xiao's brows slowly relaxed, "I want to share a harmonious life with her, have children with her, grow old with her."

Whoosh!

The anger surged uncontrollably, almost reaching the sky.

Xie Zhifei coldly said, "Enough of the lovey-dovey talk. You should think about how to investigate the Zheng family case first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Yi hurried in.

"Sir, the Grand Prince has left the palace."

Xie Zhifei stood up and asked, "How does he look?"

Ding Yi: "His expression is the same as usual."

Xie Zhifei: "Did he return to the Crown Prince Residence or another residence?"

Ding Yi: "The carriage from the Crown Prince Residence was waiting at the palace gates. As soon as the Grand Prince came out, he was taken away."

Xie Zhifei turned to look at Pei Xiao.

Pei Xiao put aside his "lovey-dovey" expression, "Don't worry, if anything happens, he'll let us know."

Xie Zhifei took the opportunity to lecture him, "So, put your feelings aside. We have a lot of serious matters to deal with..."

"Lord Xie!" A guard's voice sounded outside the courtyard.

"What is it?"

"A messenger from your residence has come to convey a message, asking Lord Xie to return home tonight no matter what."

Before Xie Zhifei could respond, Pei Xiao said, "It's been a while since I paid respects to the matriarch and lady. Xie Wushi, I'll go back with you!"

Saying this, he stepped over the threshold and instructed:

"Huang Qi, buy a roasted duck later. Last time, she didn't get to taste it properly. This time, we're not in a rush, let her enjoy it."

Xie Zhifei's eyes flickered with surprise.

What paying respects to the matriarch and lady—this bastard is after Yan Sanhe!

...

Duanmu Palace was the Crown Prince's palace, located in the eastern part of the city.

Zhao Yishi got out of the carriage, and the eunuch Gao Xing approached, bowing respectfully, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is waiting in the study."

Zhao Yishi straightened his clothes and said expressionlessly, "Let's go."

Not having returned home for several days, Zhao Yishi suddenly felt that Duanmu Palace seemed even more dilapidated than before. The black paint on several palace gates had peeled off badly.

His father had been the Crown Prince for seventeen years, and this palace had not been repaired since then. Every brick and tile remained as they were before.

Seventeen years—it had been too long.

Soon, they arrived at the Crown Prince's quarters.

As Zhao Yishi stepped forward, he saw a figure sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding a cane—it was his father.

He quickly straightened his clothes and knelt down, "Father."

Crown Prince Zhao Yanluo looked at him for a moment, then glanced coldly at Gao Xing, who silently retreated.

In the courtyard, father and son sat and knelt in silence for a long time.

Seeing his father's delay in acknowledging him, Zhao Yishi knew something was wrong. Just as he was about to speak, his father snorted,

"Such a virtuous Grand Prince Your Highness."

"Please forgive me, Father!"

Zhao Yishi's heart sank, and he bowed lower.