The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 49

Xu Wanxin still had tears hanging on her cheeks. As if only noticing now, she hurriedly picked up her handkerchief to wipe them away. “I heard Cousin has entered the Censorate. Have you just returned from the yamen?”

When she spoke, her voice was still hoarse from crying, her eyelids were pink and swollen, and she carried a lingering sadness as she lowered her head.

Generally, when a man sees and hears this, he can’t help but feel sympathy in his heart, wanting to know the reason for her sorrowful dejection.

Xu Wanxin had always been a beautiful but weak woman.

Pei Jian frowned, pondering his heavy thoughts. After a moment, he nodded and asked, “It’s getting late. Why are you here?”

Xu Wanxin bowed her head slightly. “The weather is hot, and the cicadas and birdsong are bothersome, so I came out to take a stroll.”

She called it “taking a stroll,” but who would choose such a small, secluded alley for that?

Xu Wanxin was innocent and frail, not someone who was good at lying.

Pei Jian did not intend to expose her. His eyes passed over her slightly swollen eyes, and he said calmly, “Once you’ve finished your walk, return home early.”

He urged his horse to move, but as he passed the carriage, he heard Xu Wanxin gasp, “Cousin, what happened to your face? Did someone hurt you?”

Her concern was intense. Her eyes were filled with worry, like a startled rabbit, even her voice carrying a hint of anger. “Who was it!”

Pei’s mother had liked Xu Wanxin in the past and had booked a marriage for the two early on. Because they were distantly related, Xu Wanxin had called Pei Jian “Cousin” since childhood. Even after the unexpected turn of events and the broken engagement, this address had never changed.

Pei Jian said indifferently, “It’s nothing.”

Gu Ci had used deadly force that night. The injury on his face had only slightly faded in the past few days, but he hadn’t held back either; Gu Ci was equally badly off.

A fight was better than bearing resentment toward each other.

Xu Wanxin’s eyes flickered. She tucked a wisp of loose hair behind her ear. Her white jade-like cheek wore a gentle, familiar warmth. “The other day I sent a letter to Cousin, but unexpectedly, Cousin had changed residences. Where does Cousin live now?”

Her eyes were glistening with tears. She was naturally three parts more delicate than others, and her earnest words were genuinely moving.

The place Pei Jian now lived was the home he shared with Nianxi. “We are grown up now. Considering the avoidance of suspicion (Guā Tián Lǐ Xià), it’s not very convenient.”

He did not inform her, refusing tactfully.

Xu Wanxin’s face immediately flushed red, even her earlobes turning crimson. “It was Wan’er who was inconsiderate. I thought we were still little, without any worries. Cousin, I always remember when Auntie was still alive.”

Pei Jian roughly guessed the reason for Xu Wanxin’s distress today.

It was nothing more than the word “marriage.”

Since Xu Wanxin had grown older, especially after her coming-of-age ceremony, Minister Xu had been actively looking for suitable matches from noble families for her. Xu Wanxin was a weak person; she dared not resist her father and did not want to marry randomly.

So, she sought help from Pei Jian.

“Cousin, I don’t want Father to marry me off casually. Father wants to use my marriage to climb the ladder, and I feel truly wronged. But I am just a woman of the inner chambers; Father won’t consider my wishes at all, just like when the engagement was broken…”

“I couldn’t think of a good solution. I could only pretend to tell Father that I… have feelings for Cousin, and won’t marry anyone else!”

Pei Jian did not think her idea was good. “With such a reputation, how will you marry in the future?”

He had his own pride.

Since the engagement was broken, Pei Jian was determined never to marry Xu Wanxin.

Moreover, he had no romantic feelings for Cousin Xu at all.

Xu Wanxin gave a light, ethereal smile, like a harmless little deer, her eyes moist and innocent. “Cousin, don’t worry. In the future, when I meet a gentleman I like, I will simply say those were rumors. There is no proof anyway, and Cousin wouldn’t spread gossip about it.”

When Xu Wanxin was young, Pei’s mother often brought her to the Duke of Zheng’s manor to play. Pei’s mother loved girls and always said, “Wan’er is my daughter too.”

In Pei Jian’s vague memories of his parents, there was always a scene where his mother and Xu Wanxin played in the courtyard. He would be trained by his father in basic skills, his legs trembling from standing in position, watching his mother and cousin laugh under the tree. At that time, he was very envious…

This was a cherished memory hidden deep within his heart.

He, too, had experienced the good times when his parents were alive.

Therefore, he always had a little more patience for Xu Wanxin than for others.

“A young lady’s reputation is precious; you should consider it carefully.”

He agreed to Xu Wanxin’s request.

Later, the rumor of Xu Wanxin’s deep affection for him spread for many years. In reality, both of them knew perfectly well that he was just a shield for Xu Wanxin to avoid marriage.

But he had always kept his word and never mentioned the matter to others.

Besides, he had far too many major issues to attend to and worry about. This matter was truly insignificant to him, and Pei Jian no longer paid it any mind.

Seeing Xu Wanxin distressed now, and hearing her mention his late mother, Pei Jian thought for a moment and said, “This is a small, secluded alley. I will see you off to the main road before I leave.”

Joy immediately burst forth in Xu Wanxin’s eyes, and she nodded, tearfully.

The carriage headed towards Zhuque Street, passing through the marketplace where restaurants and taverns lined up one after another. Xu Wanxin lifted the curtain. “Cousin has been busy all day and will be alone when he returns home. Why don’t I treat Cousin to dinner?”

Her voice lowered. “I don’t want to go home so early. My father…”

Pei Jian gradually became impatient.

His patience was the scarcest commodity now. He felt he was barely suppressing his own emotions, so it was truly difficult to spare any for others.

Besides, Xu Wanxin would eventually have to marry.

Such constant evasion, using him as a shield, was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst. For some unknown reason, since his rebirth, whenever he heard others gossip about him and Xu Wanxin, he always felt a twist of discomfort in his heart.

He ought to belong to Wen Nianxi!

That was also why his words to the matchmaker sent by Minister Xu were so harsh—to make Xu Wanxin face reality.

He was not going to marry her anyway.

Before he could refuse, Xu Wanxin suddenly changed her tone. “Look at me, being thoughtless again. I was only thinking of comforting Cousin, but I forgot that after a busy day, you’d rather go home and rest.”

She blinked, showing a rare bit of playfulness. “Then, will Wan’er invite Cousin for a meal next time?”

Pei Jian nodded noncommittally. “I am busy these days. We’ll talk about it later.”

Without waiting for Xu Wanxin to say anything more, he pulled the reins of his horse, ready to leave.

Just then, he encountered a familiar carriage stopped in front of a restaurant across the street.

Immediately after, Gu Ci helped Nianxi alight from the carriage.

Pei Jian abruptly halted.

Sensing someone looking their way, Gu Ci turned his head.

The two men were separated by a noisy main street, staring at each other.

Gu Ci’s expression suddenly changed, turning extremely ugly.

He did not notice Xu Wanxin beside the horse, only focusing on Pei Jian. He thought of this man, who shamelessly coveted his Nianxi, disregarding all etiquette and decency. Meeting him here might even be a deliberate act of tracking and harassment by Pei Jian.

In short, there is no sordid deed Pei Jian cannot do.

Pei Jian was no better.

He looked at Gu Ci as if he were a mortal enemy. The mere thought that this man, whose future was uncertain, was still dragging Nianxi down, immediately ignited a ferocious anger in him. He wished Gu Ci would just roll far away at once.

Gu Ci’s face suddenly changed, and Nianxi, by his side, noticed it somewhat. Following his gaze, she saw Pei Jian across the street… and Cousin Xu next to him.

How interesting.

Just two days ago, he was acting crazy and harassing her, and today he was meeting his dear cousin at a restaurant.

Hmph, men.

Nianxi indifferently withdrew her gaze, turned her head, and gently held Gu Ci’s sleeve, giving it a slight shake.

Gu Ci snapped out of his daze, naturally took Nianxi’s hand, and the two walked into the restaurant without looking back.