Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 75 - 71

The man’s slender fingers locked on the girl’s lower back, beginning to think that three months was a bit too long.

They should marry sooner, so he could better hold her in his arms.

At least, the incident of the intruder barging into her boudoir at night wouldn’t happen again.

......

The idea of marrying soon wasn’t only Pei Yuqing’s; his mother was even more eager.

The eldest son finally expressed the desire to marry, a long-held wish was about to be fulfilled, and the moment Princess Duan Yang received the message, she impatiently started to make arrangements.

Within two days, she prepared lavish gifts and, together with her husband, personally knocked on the door of Marquis Xuanping Mansion.

Having been notified in advance, Xie Shu and Mrs. Zheng were well-prepared, unlike the confusion during Pei Yuqing’s previous visit.

The crimson main door opened, and the couple solemnly greeted them.

Entering in the morning, they left at dusk.

Princess Duan Yang’s cheeks were slightly flushed with a tipsy hue; she walked unsteadily, supported by her husband, yet never forgot to frequently speak to Mrs. Zheng, the two women laughed warmly, their demeanor extremely close and intimate.

Clearly, it was a state of happiness for both hosts and guests.

The next day, Princess Duan Yang visited again; this time Duke Pei didn’t accompany, yet she spent the entire day at the Xie family’s home, returning with a smile only at dusk.

On the third day, Princess Duan Yang consistently visited again, her face full of smiles, her demeanor not only devoid of the arrogance typically associated with royal women but subtly revealed a hint of eagerness.

This scenario allowed some insightful families to speculate a bit.

Some familiar with both families visited to gather news.

Soon, the news of Pei and Xie families discussing marriage spread fast.

Mrs. Zheng was helplessly worn out; on the evening of Princess Duan Yang’s third visit, she complained to her husband, "The Eldest Princess really set aside her status, visiting three days in a row just to finalize the children’s wedding date sooner."

Yet, each time she greeted with a smile, talking softly and kindly, without showing any royal dignity, Mrs. Zheng couldn’t refuse sternly, only expressing subtly that marriage is a lifelong matter and not suitable to decide too hastily.

As a result, perhaps her attitude wasn’t firm enough, Princess Duan Yang persisted and visited repeatedly just for this matter...

Xie Shu stroked his beard and laughed; he was quite generous, not getting angry, instead comforted his wife, saying: "Madam, don’t be upset; this precisely shows how Pei family values our Wanwan."

Mrs. Zheng, with her hair already undone, gathered her long hair to her chest, slowly brushing it with a jade comb. Hearing this, she glanced up at her husband and complained: "Of course I know this, I’m not truly upset, just Pei family is too hasty."

Raising a daughter is like tending a flower; caring carefully involves countless efforts to nurture her to such graceful stature. Although Mrs. Zheng was prepared to send her daughter to marry, this was indeed too fast.

Of course, Xie Shu was also reluctant for his youngest daughter to marry; otherwise, he wouldn’t have glared and puffed up when Pei Yuqing visited a few days ago.

But, after all, he was a man, more rational, and his emotions weren’t so delicate.

He laughed: "It’s understandable why Pei family is anxious; if it were Yan’er fancying a girl from another family, you as a mother wouldn’t be any better off."

This statement made sense; after all, they also had a son in his twenties still unwilling to marry, never before having felt so empathetic.

Since agreeing to the marriage, whether it’s earlier or later by months isn’t much of an issue.

Thinking this way, Mrs. Zheng sighed, "If that’s the case, should I agree?"

The children’s marriage has always been the internal affairs decision of the ladies in the household; Xie Shu had no objections and nodded.

He took the jade comb from his wife’s hands, casually placing it on the dressing table, and laughed: "Night has fallen, it’s time to rest."

...

On the fourth day when Princess Duan Yang visited again, Xie family finally agreed to the request for a wedding within three months.

At this statement, Princess Duan Yang was instantly overjoyed, her well-maintained visage breaking into several wrinkles, her face beaming with joy as she repeatedly uttered ’good’ several times.

After calming from the excitement, she thought about the future in-laws having only one daughter, marrying off hastily, might leave some discontent.\p>

Thinking this way, Princess Duan Yang paused slightly and said, "Master Yuan Kong from Huguo Temple happens to be in the Capital; I shall invite him to review the children’s birth dates and calculate a good day."

Naturally, with her status, her eldest son’s marriage could invite the Astronomical Bureau to determine a good day, but that might take endlessly long; currently, she couldn’t wait to marry quickly.

Master Yuan Kong is a renowned monk in the Capital; finding him to calculate the date, Mrs. Zheng certainly had no objections.

Seeing her satisfaction, Princess Duan Yang added: "Once the date is determined, I shall ask the Holy Emperor to issue a marriage decree."

Mrs. Zheng was slightly taken aback.\p>

"Don’t worry," Princess Duan Yang laughed, "Under my care, having only one son, the girl he fancies won’t be treated poorly, though the marriage date is rushed, no courtesy will be neglected for your daughter."

Though many noble girls were in the Capital, few received the honor of the Holy Emperor personally bestowing a marriage decree.\p>

At these words, Mrs. Zheng’s last little concern completely vanished.\p>

...With a marriage decree, even though their Wanwan just annulled an engagement and immediately married into a prestigious family, no matter how hastily the date was set, nobody would dare harbor any malicious speculation.\p>

......\p>

While the elders were enthusiastically busy, the two involved lived an almost isolated life at the suburban villa.\p>

Every day, if not fishing by the lakeside, was spent together burning incense, brewing tea, playing music, and enjoying oneself.\p>

Initially, for the first two days, there was Xie Ruyu tagging along like a little shadow; but upon the Liu Family learning of the engagement between the eldest daughter and Duke Pei Mansion’s Heir, and realizing they were at the suburban villa, promptly sent a close maid to fetch the daughter back.\p>

Xie Ruyu was reluctantly unwilling, pouting her lips, not wanting to leave.\p>

Though she understood well, her cousin was nurturing emotions with her future husband; as a younger cousin, indeed, it wasn’t appropriate to follow closely.\p>

Currently, Xie Wanqing and her little cousin shared a strong bond; seeing this, she laughed coaxing her, "I’ll stay for a few more days, then it’s about time to return to the Capital; I’ll play with you then."\p>

Xie Ruyu hummed and said, "Are you willing to leave your Heir Pei behind to play with me?"\p>

Resentful that her cousin secretly decided on an engagement right under her nose.\p>

"You’re saying, of course I’m willing."\p>

Xie Wanqing already understood clearly her younger cousin’s sharp yet proud nature, hearing this she showed a ’men are nothing’ expression, continued coaxing: "He’s nowhere near as important as our Rurou."\p>

"That’s more like it." Soothed by her words, Xie Ruyu happily got on the carriage.\p>

Watching the gradually distant carriage, Xie Wanqing withdrew her gaze, turning intending to return, only to see a silhouette in cyan standing not far away, observing her with an unknown expression.\p>