The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 679 Marrying Only the One in Your Heart (3)_1

Chapter 679: Chapter 679 Marrying Only the One in Your Heart (3)_1

After exchanging glances over dinner, Mo Heng invited Xiao Yong to join him in picking some peach blossoms. Pei Wendong and Pei Qian kept Jiujiu entertained, careful not to disturb Pei Qin.

Pei Wendong thought Mo Heng was going to have a secret rendezvous with Wei Shu and even used Xiao Yong as a shield, which made his face darken instantly.

Xiao Yong patted him, "Do you want to come along? You can also meet my father!"

Pei Wendong was startled, "Your father..." Wasn’t his father Prince Yong’an?

Xiao Yong smiled and nodded, "Come with me!"

"No... No thanks." Pei Wendong had thought Mo Heng was going to meet quietly with Wei Shu, but he was actually going to see Prince Yong’an.

Pei Qian, recalling what Xiao Guangjing had said about Mo Heng eloping with Wei Shu, found herself disliking Prince Yong’an. With Xiao Yong staying at their house, he even entertained the thought of making her brother-in-law abandon her sister for another woman, which wasn’t virtuous at all!

Xiao Yong patted Jiujiu’s little head, "Jiujiu be good! Uncle Yong will get you some peach blossoms!"

Rubbing her eyes, Jiujiu said, "I want to go too!"

Xiao Yong glanced at Mo Heng, then carried Jiujiu along, "I don’t have anything else to do anyway, I’ll go and play with her!"

Mo Heng gave another look at the tightly shut chamber door, saw the mute guard standing coldly beside it guarding the door, told him to take good care of Pei Qin, and left with Xiao Yong and Jiujiu for the Peach Blossom Forest.

Before long, an Attendant Student came to summon Mo Heng.

Chang Yonglin noticed Pei Wendong’s complexion wasn’t great, and said directly, "Brother-in-law Qin keeps company with his daughter... picking peach blossoms." When Prince Yong’an leaves his estate, he surely brings many skilled men to hide nearby. He must have come here to talk with brother-in-law Qin. If anyone suspicious approaches, they would probably be left dead or injured.

Wei Shu did not go to the Peach Blossom Forest, but rather came to find Pei Qin.

From a distance, Pei Qian saw her coming and quickly stepped forward to stop her, "... I’m sorry if you wish to visit my elder sister. She hasn’t woken up yet, and my brother-in-law instructed us not to disturb her."

Wei Shu’s complexion turned pale, unable to suppress it upon hearing it was already the hour of si and she hadn’t risen yet... Pei Qian made no effort to disguise her unfriendly gaze, and Wei Shu forced a smile, "I intended to show Madam Yuanyang the Academy as a gesture of hospitality."

"No need for such hospitality. We have already toured the Academy yesterday." Her grandfather was merely the head of the Academy; it wasn’t owned by her family. Offering hospitality!? She was clearly trying to allure someone else’s husband!

Seeing her spiteful and unfriendly demeanor, Wei Shu pursed her lips in a smile, nodded, "Then I’ll wait until Madam Yuanyang is available." She turned to leave.

Faintly overhearing her disdainful snort, Wei Shu remembered hiding under the corridor last night, feeling her cold heart slowly warm up. The words Jiu Heng spoke last night about his heart’s desire... were they meant for Pei Qian? Was she here specifically to keep watch on behalf of Pei Qin?

With this thought, when Mo Heng returned and they were having lunch, Wei Shu brought several calligraphy and paintings for Mo Heng, "These pieces are all ones you like. Keeping them here is like pearls gathering dust; just take them for your leisurely appreciation."

Mo Heng glanced at them and noticed one unsealed piece among the works of famous artists, and declined gently, "A gentleman doesn’t take what others love."

Wei Shu’s eyes turned to Pei Qin, "Consider it a gift for our first meeting, Madam Yuanyang."

Pei Qin laughed, "No need, no need at all! Calligraphy and paintings and all that, I don’t understand them!"

Wei Shu saw that she too had refused, and it was not proper for her to insist, "Actually, I don’t understand much about it either, only Jiu Heng has done quite a bit of research. Having not seen him for six years, he has not regressed in the slightest; on the contrary, he has become even more proficient."

Pei Qin, standing by, smiled in accompaniment. When it came to studies and painting, she understood nine out of ten things; it was just that one thing she didn’t grasp. Even after crossing over, her calligraphy skills were hard-earned and barely presentable to others.

"May I ask what the Madam usually studies?" Wei Shu, seeing that Pei Qin didn’t say much, glanced at Mo Heng and then ventured a question.

"Study? Just planting crops, weeding, looking after children, and such! Just blindly studying!" Pei Qin laughed again.

Mo Heng’s expression turned slightly cold, "What she studies is not such vulgar things as poetry and prose; none of you would understand."

Inside, Wei Shu felt a sting of coldness. Since when had poetry become vulgar? And since when had farming, weeding, and childcare become noble pursuits?

Disdain flashed in Pei Qian’s eyes. Just because someone can recite a few sour poems and make a few sketches, they think themselves noble and refined. Could they even compare with the things her eldest sister dabbles in using poetry and painting?

There were more visitors outside, inviting Mo Heng to join in the academic discussion.

Wei Shu also urged them to stay, "Soon, there will be a scholarly debate between Songyang Academy and Yuelu Academy. It’s a rare occasion; you should stay and watch before leaving."

Even if Pei Qin stayed, she would just be watching for fun, an outsider through and through!

Pei Wendong and Pei Qian showed no interest. Mo Heng didn’t want to stay any longer either and got up to bid farewell to Old Mr. Wei.

Wei Shu accompanied them all the way down the mountain, watching the carriage go far into the distance.

After leaving Songyang Academy, Pei Wendong finally felt the air freshen up, and his complexion improved. Glancing at Chang Yonglin and Xiao Yong, he apologized, "Sorry, it’s all because of me that you’ve made this trip in vain."

Chang Yonglin patted him on the shoulder with a smile, "I wasn’t even planning to come out before! If it’s about studying here, I’d much rather learn with Sister Qin!"

"These studies can be learned anywhere, but I’ve just started with arithmetic. Coming out has been to my detriment!" Xiao Yong also chimed in.

Pei Wendong still felt somewhat guilty. Songyang Academy was renowned, a place of longing for countless scholars and students. Staying here to study would surely have led to success.

Pei Qin was a bit worried, looking at Little Radish, who was usually the most obedient and now turned so willful; it seemed he would be difficult to teach in the future. He used to be so well-behaved when he was little!

On the way home, they came across another academy, but Pei Wendong was adamant about not wanting to study away from home, "The teacher at the county school isn’t bad either. Didn’t my eldest sister say, ’A teacher can lead you to the door, but your progress depends on yourself’? Studying at the county school, I can do just as well!"

"Then let’s go back to the county school!" Mo Heng said. On this trip, Pei Wendong’s attitude towards him had changed markedly, no longer as respectful as before.

"If you think the county school is not good, I can also go find Brother Songming!" After Pei Wendong said this, he glanced at Mo Heng and looked down.

Mo Heng looked at him but said nothing further. The group ate their way back home.

Back home, they had already received a letter from Shen Songming, delivered by Lu Hao, who started by congratulating Pei Wendong on his achievement as Scholar and handed Pei Qin the letter, saying, "Young Master Shen asked me to help escort Young Master Pei to Capital Jingcheng! Although Young Master Pei has achieved the rank of Scholar, he still needs someone with profound knowledge to guide him. Fortunately, Second Master Fang and Sir Fang are also in the Capital, so there will be companions there."

Fang Liuming had secured a Seventh-rank principal position at the Ministry of Labour and was temporarily observing politics in Capital Jingcheng.