Chapter 248: My Dear Ah Yin, I Know I Was Wrong
Pei Yan and Mei Wanying were no ordinary distinguished guests. Mrs. Gu hurried after them to see them out of the manor.
Gu Xun was still lost in that "Long time no see."
Just as he had expected, Mei Wanying was completely candid, without a trace of awkwardness.
It made his own hesitation and conflict seem rather pathetic.
’I should be more magnanimous, too. Only then will the guilt in her heart dissipate.’
With just one look, Gu Xun had caught the emotion in Mei Wanying’s eyes.
She felt guilty towards him.
This wasn’t the outcome Gu Xun wanted.
Mei Wanying had done nothing wrong; she shouldn’t have to carry this burden.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Xun turned and headed toward the main gate.
She had chosen Pei Yan. Barring any surprises, she would spend the rest of her life with him. He wouldn’t compete with that man any longer.
As long as Mei Wanying was at ease, he could pretend to have let everything go.
Pei Yan had long legs and caught up to Mei Wanying in just a few strides. He carefully observed her expression. Although she wore a faint smile, Pei Yan just knew that Mei Wanying was furious inside.
This was his love rival’s home. Pei Yan resisted the urge to apologize and quietly wrapped an arm around Mei Wanying’s waist.
The back of his hand was slapped.
A soft SMACK—not loud, but clearly audible.
’No doubt about it, she’s furious!’
Pei Yan shamelessly wrapped his arm around Mei Wanying’s waist once more.
He whispered, "Give me some face. I’ll kneel on a washboard when we get back, I promise."
Mei Wanying shot him a glare.
’If I wasn’t giving him face, would I be listening to this nonsense?’
"My dearest Ah Yin, I know I was wrong."
The man who was so cold, proud, and noble in public was now lowering his head, softly coaxing Mei Wanying.
"I won’t dare do it again."
Mei Wanying snorted and muttered, "Not a single word out of your mouth is true. I’m not falling for your tricks!"
As long as she was still talking to him, Pei Yan could shamelessly press his advantage.
"It’s me. I’m petty and jealous. I can’t stand seeing flies buzzing around you..."
"Shut up!"
Mei Wanying shot him a warning glare.
’What flies? If this man doesn’t know how to talk, he should just shut his mouth!’
Ling, not knowing what flies were in this context, asked curiously, "Are Daddy and I flies too?"
She and her daddy loved buzzing around her mommy.
Pei Yan: "..."
If Ling hadn’t included herself in the insult, he would have thought the little one was deliberately making fun of him.
The corner of Mei Wanying’s mouth twitched as she suppressed a laugh. "That’s right, your daddy is a fly."
Ling: "Then I am too!"
She was her daddy’s daughter. Whatever her daddy was, she was too.
The little one looked proud.
Mei Wanying was momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say.
All she could do was shoot Pei Yan another glare.
’It’s all his fault for spouting nonsense and corrupting Ling!’
Pei Yan had been scolded, but he was still happy.
’My daughter is on my side. She’s truly my sweet, caring girl!’
He whispered, "Flies are annoying people. Daddy and Lingling aren’t annoying. We’re the good guys, not flies."
Ling nodded, only half-understanding.
Pei Yan continued coaxing Mei Wanying, "I won’t use that word to describe him again, I swear..."
The attendants hung back at a distance, preventing Mrs. Gu and the others from getting close.
Although they couldn’t hear what was being said, Pei Yan’s posture, with his head lowered, clearly showed he was trying to appease Mei Wanying.
Mrs. Gu pressed a hand to her chest.
She didn’t know whether to praise the Emperor for being so devoted and utterly obedient to Mei Wanying...
...or to say he was besotted, willing to cast aside his own dignity for a beautiful woman.
And as for Mei Wanying, she was far too bold, daring to give the Monarch the cold shoulder.
’Acting so arrogant because she’s favored... when her beauty fades and his love wanes, will she come to a good end?’
She saw Mei Wanying slap Pei Yan’s hand away and even glare at him, showing not a shred of reverence.
Mrs. Gu quietly let out a breath. It was a good thing that her Xun and Mei Wanying had never gotten together.
Otherwise, with such a formidable daughter-in-law who feared neither heaven nor earth, what good would ever come to her, the mother-in-law?
She whispered, "Though she is a woman, she’s untamable to the bone. You can’t subdue her. The right path is to give up on her sooner rather than later."
In Mrs. Gu’s eyes, her son was perfect in a thousand, ten thousand ways, and deserved to be matched with a gentle and considerate woman.
Mei Wanying looked gentle, but she actually had quite a temper. Only a man like the Emperor could handle her.
Xun was not a good match for her!
Gu Xun frowned. "That’s all in the past. Please don’t bring it up again, and don’t cause trouble for her and Ling."
Hearing the first half of his sentence, Mrs. Gu was delighted, thinking her son had finally seen the situation for what it was and was ready to let go of Mei Wanying.
But when he finished the sentence, Mrs. Gu realized she had celebrated too soon!
She squeezed the words out from between her teeth, so only the two of them could hear, "If you’re really thinking of her, you’ll hurry up and get married and have children. As long as you remain unmarried, people will keep whispering about the two of you behind your backs."
No matter what, it always came back to getting married and having children.
Gu Xun’s stance was firm.
As long as he couldn’t let go of Mei Wanying, he would not marry and have children.
Otherwise, who would that be fair to?
Back in Jiangnan, he had met Xue Xingyao and learned of her entanglement with Chen Shujing.
Gu Xun felt his situation was very similar to his; they both had someone else hidden in their hearts.
But he was luckier than Chen Shujing.
He didn’t bear the heavy responsibility of producing an heir, so the pressure on him to marry and have children was lighter.
He had no intention of hurting an innocent person. If he couldn’t let go of Mei Wanying, he wouldn’t carelessly start a family.
It would hurt others, and it would hurt himself.
He couldn’t marry anyone other than Mei Wanying and spend a lifetime with them.
Gu Xun had seen Mei Wanying long ago. That one glance had been so stunning that he had never forgotten it.
Later, fate brought him and Mei Wanying together, and the seed that had been planted in his youth instantly took root and sprouted.
He could never forget Mei Wanying again.
Realizing this, Gu Xun didn’t feel sad. Instead, his heart felt light.
’Since I can’t forget Mei Wanying, I’ll just think of her forever, and protect her and Ling. If that man’s heart ever changes, if he ever thinks of harming the mother and daughter, I’ll take them away and never return to this place of conflict!’
Gu Xun said nothing, his gaze fixed elsewhere, but only he knew that Mei Wanying never left his peripheral vision.
Mei Wanying and Pei Yan had not yet left the manor when they ran into the returning Mr. Gu.
Mr. Gu had important matters to report and invited Pei Yan to the study to discuss them.
When he was with Mei Wanying, Pei Yan didn’t want to discuss politics, so he told Mr. Gu to write a memorial and submit it to the Imperial Study Room.
Seeing Mr. Gu hesitate, wanting to speak but holding back, Mei Wanying gave Pei Yan a look.
Without a word, Pei Yan knew what she meant.
He could be willful and act as he pleased, but he couldn’t let people think he was neglecting his political duties for Ah Yin. People outside wouldn’t dare scold him; they would only aim their spears at Ah Yin. He couldn’t bring storms down upon Ah Yin’s head, as that would only harm her.
Putting Ling down, Pei Yan’s eyes asked a question: "Will you wait for me?"
He still had so much to say to Ah Yin. He hadn’t fully appeased her yet and didn’t want to let her leave.
Mei Wanying wasn’t in such a hurry. She had used their departure as an excuse earlier because she didn’t want Pei Yan to target Gu Xun.
Mrs. Gu stepped forward at the opportune moment. "There’s still a litter of Little Raccoons in the manor that the Little Prince hasn’t seen yet. I’ll have someone bring them over so you can play a while longer."
Ling indeed hadn’t seen enough and was very tempted.
Mei Wanying patted her little head. "Then let’s wait for your daddy."
’I wonder when that Miss Lin will arrive,’ she mused, calculating the time.
’If we run into her, it’s bound to be awkward.’