Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Neither of them seemed to have expected me to say such a thing. They stared at me as if struck dumb.

I poured them both more wine and let them look all they liked.

“And after the engagement is broken, what will you do?” The question came from Yuan Shen.

Though we had only spent a short time together, his words and bearing were enough to show that he was an earnest man-one who took things seriously, perhaps too seriously.

He had a pair of eyes that were cool and distant, yet utterly untainted by the world. Faced with someone like that, I could not bring myself to brush him off.

“Did Second Young Master truly injure his head so badly that he forgot me? Or is there another young lady he admires? Or is he simply dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement? Whichever it is, since the wedding was first postponed and now you have personally come calling, I imagine this engagement will be dissolved sooner or later. Since it will happen eventually, it is better that I know than not know-and better to know early than late.”

“Marriage is not the only path a woman can take. It was no easy thing for Mother to raise me, and I had intended to obey her and marry Second Young Master. But now that Second Young Master is unwilling, I will not force the matter.”

“In these chaotic times, I, a mere woman, would not dare claim I can live especially well. But I do want to live a little more freely, so that I will not have come into this world in vain.”

These were my true thoughts, so I told them honestly.

“I did not expect Fifth Lady to think this way. The two of us were presumptuous.” Pei Qian raised his cup to toast me. I poured myself a cup of wine and drank it down in one go.

A sliver of goodwill rose in my heart toward him. At the very least, he was not someone who appeared charming and carefree on the surface while being rotten and pedantic within.

But that bit of goodwill had nothing to do with whether or not I wanted to marry him.

Yuan Shen frowned and looked me over once more. His gaze was clear, so I let him look.

“Do you have money to rely on? In times as turbulent as these, living freely is no easy thing,” Yuan Shen said.

He had touched upon my sore spot. I had money, but far too little.

“I do, but not much.” I thought my face must have reddened. I had spoken so confidently about living freely, yet I had no real money to fall back on.

Just as when they had come, the two of them soon left in a hurry.

The next day, the Pei Family sent a maidservant over-or, to be more precise, Pei Qian sent one.

Her name was Zhu Tao. She was tall and slender, with full cheeks and a grace all her own.

So this was the Pei Family. Even a maidservant was different from those of other households.

“This is a gift from my lord. No matter what trouble you encounter, my lady, you may send someone to find him.” Smiling brightly, she handed me a pouch.

I had already guessed what was inside, and I did not refuse.

Whether he meant it as compensation or as sincere assistance, I accepted the sentiment.