Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 65 - 63:

He always felt that everything that happened tonight was a figment of his imagination.

Pei Er: "..."

Having been pure-hearted and desireless for years, to see his master, who could almost be a Buddha, lost in kissing a young lady, how could he dare to take another look?

For a moment, Pei Er didn’t know how to respond, until his master, standing with his back to him, slightly turned, casting a glance his way, so he awkwardly said, "I dare not look too closely."

Speaking about his own impulsive actions with a subordinate, Pei Yuqing’s expression remained unaffected, showing not a hint of the shyness he displayed in front of Xie Wanqing.

He nodded slowly, turned around and lowered his eyes, asking again, "Do you think Wanwan has feelings for me too?"

Pei Er: "..."

...I’m just a rough man, standing far away, I couldn’t really hear what you discussed, so what could I know?

Seeing his usually composed master rarely show such uncertainty, filled with worries and doubts, Pei Er’s voice became firm. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"A young lady’s reputation is very important. For Miss Xie to meet you at night and allow you into her chamber, she must be very fond of you."

These words struck a chord with Pei Yuqing.

He thought so too...

While the young lady might be bold, if she didn’t trust him, how could she dare to tease him repeatedly?

Even if she wanted to break off with Lu Ziyuan’s family, among the noble young men of similar age throughout the Capital City, why didn’t she choose someone else to marry but him?

Continually seeking the special treatment he received from his beloved, Pei Yuqing finally smiled.

Recalling the sensation of holding her sharp chin and pressing down for a kiss, he swallowed, steadied his emotions, and said, "I’m going to marry a wife."

Pei Er hadn’t heard their conversation, but upon hearing this, he was overjoyed and immediately knelt on one knee, "Congratulations, Young Master."

He was almost over the moon, as his young master’s decisions over the years had never wavered.

Especially in matters of marriage, even the Princess and Lord couldn’t change his mind, each time their pressure was waved off with ’an incurable ailment, I cannot delay another’s daughter.’

Pei Er had thought their young master was destined to remain solitary for life, yet surprisingly, it was Miss Xie who moved him towards marriage.

He dare not imagine how delighted the Princess and Lord would be upon hearing this.

...

The next day, just as Xie Wanqing woke up, her little cousin came looking for her.

Xie Ruyu said enthusiastically, "Sister Wanwan, how about we go fishing today?"

Of course, the fishing wasn’t at the lakeside from last night, but at a large pond outside the manor, near the fields, which was visible from the carriage when they arrived yesterday.

Xie Wanqing sat at her dressing table and felt a bit guilty as she replied, "I need to return to the Capital City first, how about I accompany you fishing tomorrow?"

"Return to the Capital City?" Xie Ruyu said in surprise, "Didn’t we just arrive yesterday? Did you leave something behind? You can just send a servant to fetch it."

Xie Wanqing thought for a moment and felt it a bit inappropriate to confess to her cousin that she had pledged herself to a man overnight, so she vaguely said, "There’s something I need to tell my parents in person."

As she spoke, she turned her head slightly, Xie Ruyu’s gaze lingered, she pointed to her lips and asked, "Sister Wanwan, why are your lips swollen?"

Erqing, who was helping Xie Wanqing with her hair, heard this and also looked over, pausing with the jade comb in hand, concernedly asking, "They do seem a bit swollen. Did you accidentally eat something or are you feeling unwell?"

The room fell silent for a few moments.

Under the watchful eyes of her cousin and maid, a faint blush crept over Xie Wanqing’s face. She awkwardly said, "There’s nothing wrong, perhaps I bit myself while rinsing my mouth."

The two girls, both inexperienced, didn’t suspect anything upon hearing this.

Xie Wanqing moved closer to the copper mirror and looked carefully at her lips.

Feeling a bit ashamed and annoyed, she wondered how he could have bitten so hard, worrying that if it hadn’t gone down by the time she returned to the Capital, her mother might notice something was amiss.

After the sisters finished their breakfast, a servant came to report.

Pei Yuqing’s carriage was waiting outside.

Hearing that Xie Wanqing was going to take someone else’s carriage back to the Capital with her, Xie Ruyu, even with her slow realization, sensed that something was off, and was about to ask for details, but her cousin was already gone without a trace.

A carriage, engraved with the Pei Family emblem, stopped outside the farmhouse courtyard, its entire body pitch black, with a cap mounted with a red agate.

As Xie Wanqing came out, she saw Pei Yuqing dressed in a moonlight-colored robe in the morning light, appearing like a gentleman of graceful demeanor, his form upright and elegant.

She squinted her eyes unconsciously and walked over, smiling, "Have you been waiting long?"

Pei Yuqing shook his head slowly, reaching out to help her into the carriage.

The weather was too hot, plus this trip back to the Capital would be brief with plans to return in the afternoon, so Xie Wanqing didn’t even bring Erqing.

As soon as she got into the carriage, the person behind followed and sat opposite her.

The carriage was spacious, with an ice jar placed in the corner, making it very cool.

The two sat facing each other, yet for a while, neither spoke.

Xie Wanqing looked left, then right, purposely avoiding looking at the person opposite her.

This was their first time alone since their relationship had changed, having been so intimate the night before, now with daylight offering no cover, even someone as bold as her felt a bit awkward.

As for Pei Yuqing, needless to say, his fingers under his sleeves were nervously curled, though his demeanor remained composed.

After a brief silence, he was the first to speak, breaking the stillness, "Would you like some tea?"

Xie Wanqing murmured, "Not hot tea."

His hand, which was about to brew tea, paused. Pei Yuqing picked up the teapot on the small table and poured her a cup of cold tea.

"Have you thought about how to tell your father?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanqing, who was sipping her tea, almost choked.

This guilty look made Pei Yuqing squint his eyes slightly, taking the teacup from her hand, he asked softly, "Regret it?"

"No," Xie Wanqing quickly shook her head, "I don’t regret it."

Her heart, which had tightened, suddenly relaxed. Pei Yuqing looked at her and said in a gentle tone, "Then why do you look like that?"

Since they decided to get married, with plans to finish the wedding within three months, returning to the Capital now was for telling her parents the truth, so why was she so nervous about bringing this up?

Xie Wanqing pressed her lips together and said softly, "I don’t know how to say it."

Having just broken a marriage engagement, previously swearing not to marry, and after just one night at the manor, running back to tell her parents she wanted to marry, and within three months at that...

And this person was just next door at the manor.

Who wouldn’t overthink?

Pei Yuqing had thought about these things too, he cleared his throat, turned his head to the side, and said, "Perhaps I should be the one to say it."

Indeed, it wasn’t appropriate to let a young girl explain to her parents herself, asking for marriage was a man’s obligation.

He realized he had been mistaken.

Xie Wanqing furrowed her brows, worrying, "What if my father doesn’t agree?"

Her mother might be fairly content with him, but he was, after all, eleven years older than her, well-known for his frail health. Her father was always protective, so he might not easily agree to marry his daughter off.