Chapter 4

Chapter 4

After I finished getting ready, I followed Miss Zhao’s instructions and took the nanny and two little maids with me, sneaking out through the back gate and leaving by carriage.

Along the way, I silently recited the lines Miss Zhao had taught me over and over again.

Perhaps I had eaten too many pastries, because drowsiness crept over me, and my thoughts began to wander.

The laws of our dynasty did not forbid marriages between officials and merchants, but very few prominent official households would marry a daughter of a merchant family.

It was only because the Pei Family and the Zhao Family had ties from the previous generation that the two families had arranged a betrothal while the children were still infants.

Lord Pei was now serving as the Assistant Prefect of Jinling. Pei Jianchen was the fifth son of the family, and he was said to be an unconventional sort-uninterested in officialdom or worldly advancement, but deeply fond of painting and ink landscapes.

At first, Lord Pei had been ruthless in trying to correct his son, but Pei Jianchen stubbornly refused to sit for the imperial examinations.

Lord Pei had beaten him and scolded him, but in the end, there was nothing he could do.

After all, his four elder sons had all passed the examinations with flying colors. As for this youngest one, he might as well let him be. In the future, he could simply spend some silver to buy him a sinecure.

I thought to myself that this Pei Jianchen sounded like a stubborn stone in a latrine-foul and hard. Miss Zhao had been raised in luxury, and her temper was not exactly good either. What if the two of them quarreled after they got married?

I slapped my own forehead. What nonsense was I thinking? Miss Zhao was so beautiful. Who would bear to quarrel with her?

In the blink of an eye, the carriage arrived at Puyun Temple.

I straightened my clothes, imitated Miss Zhao’s bearing, and strode ahead with my chin high.

Just then, I saw a man standing beneath a peach tree beside the pavilion. His back was to me, so I could not make out his features, but he was tall and upright, with a clear, graceful bearing like a pine or cypress.

At least he had passed the height test.

Perhaps he heard movement behind him, because Pei Jianchen suddenly turned around.

I froze on the spot. He was truly handsome. Never mind his features, which were exquisitely refined-his brows carried an unrestrained, carefree air, as if he were an immortal banished to the mortal world.

Pei Jianchen was clearly studying me as well. He asked tentatively, “Are you Miss Zhao?”

Mm. His voice was pleasant too. He really was a match for Miss Zhao!

For some reason, my heart suddenly began to race, and I actually felt too embarrassed to step forward.

All of a sudden, Nanny Li gave me a light push from behind.

My mind was a muddled mess, and I vaguely remembered Miss Zhao saying that this Pei Jianchen was proud of his talents, wildly arrogant, and conceited. Once, the Prince of Ruyang had sent him an invitation to admire paintings together, but he had put on airs and refused to go.

Refusing would have been one thing, but the brat had even written a poem mocking the prince for having no ink in his belly while still loving to put on a cultured act.

The prince held a grudge and had often tripped up the Pei Family father and son in official circles.

Miss Zhao had said that if Pei Jianchen truly was the sort of arrogant mule who refused to lower his head, then there would be no need to discuss marriage at all.

After I walked closer, I cleared my throat and deliberately lifted my chin. “So you’re Pei Jianchen, brat?”

Any ordinary man with a bad temper who could not keep his composure would surely have looked displeased.

But Pei Jianchen only paused for a moment, then laughed heartily, cupped his hands, and bowed. “I am indeed. Greetings, Miss Zhao.”

“Oh. Good, good.”

I spat inwardly. I had failed to test his temper, and instead only made myself look rude.

How awkward.

Just then, Pei Jianchen gestured behind him with one arm. “Since Miss Zhao invited me here, I would not dare decline. Please, come inside and sit.”

“You sit. I… I’ll just stand.”

What status did I have? How could I dare sit with Young Master Pei?

After he sat down, I walked into the pavilion and stood there, casually taking in the beautiful scenery around us.

It was April, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom, petals drifting down in a riot of color.

I was so nervous I was practically dying, and I completely forgot the lines Miss Zhao had taught me. Instead, I blurted out, “Young Master Pei, what do you think of me?”

Pei Jianchen froze again, then smiled. “Miss Zhao is poised, frank, and quite interesting.”

I looked at him from the corner of my eye. His gaze was clear and sincere; he did not seem to be lying.

He did not despise me for being fat and ugly. His character seemed decent enough.

I asked again, “I hear Young Master Pei excels at painting and is the very picture of carefree romance, often going in and out of pleasure houses. I have a question, so I’ll ask it plainly. Is that true?”

At that moment, I saw Pei Jianchen’s face slowly turn red. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and his thin lips pressed tightly together, as if he were holding something back.

Hah. I had hit the mark. He really was a libertine who lingered in brothels! Filthy man!

I gave a cold laugh. “So the rumors are true. Young Master Pei really does love visiting brothels.”

Pei Jianchen clenched his fist and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Whether it’s true or not, let’s set that aside for now. Big sister, could I trouble you to move your precious foot? You’ve been stepping on mine for quite a while. My toes have gone numb!”

My face instantly flushed scarlet, and I hurriedly retreated several steps. “Then why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

…

Fine. My first time pretending to be Miss Zhao on a marriage meeting ended in an extraordinarily awkward fashion.