Chapter Thirty-Two: More Harm Than Good

Xu Yunxuan was not a man of few words, but he was a gentleman by nature and strictly forbade himself from engaging in petty verbal squabbles. In all matters, great or small, he firmly believed that justice resided in the hearts of the people rather than in the back-and-forth of argument.

He had suffered for this belief in his youth, yet he had never changed; he was convinced that the teachings of the sages must hold merit.

This was the first time in his life he had ever loathed his own self-restraint. Had it been otherwise, he would have pointed a finger at Pei Yanzhou’s nose and let loose a torrent of abuse.

Xu Yunxuan ground his molars so hard he nearly shattered them, yet he could not force out a single harsh word.

He took several deep breaths before retorting, "And what of you, Heir?"

His tone was icy, stripped of his usual humility and warmth. He pressed forward, step by step: "You are unusually preoccupied with these affairs. Is it because you have a lady you admire but cannot name, and thus you fear that others, too, will miss their chance or waste their lives?"

Xu Yunxuan’s sharp-tongued wit was on full display at that moment.

Even Pei Jingxing could not help but frown. He did not understand his elder brother’s odd behavior, nor did he understand Xu Yunxuan’s sudden fury. The confrontation between the two was far too blatant, leaving him utterly bewildered. He did not believe his brother’s repeated inquiries were born of kindness, yet he could not fathom why Xu Yunxuan was so incensed.

As Pei Jingxing instinctively stepped forward to mediate, Pei Yanzhou calmly held him back and answered Xu Yunxuan’s question: "What makes you say so?"

His composure only fueled the other man's anger.

Xu Yunxuan felt as though he had thrown a punch into a pile of cotton—soft, airy, and suffocating. He had vented a carriage-load of words that, for him, were already harsh, yet Pei Yanzhou treated them as trivialities, refusing to take them to heart. Instead, it made Xu Yunxuan appear irrational and overly defensive.

Xu Yunxuan’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched tightly. "Your curiosity is not for me, but for Shanru. Since you entered the manor, you have questioned me time and again. You know your own intentions best; why must you force someone to spell it out?"

"And what if I do?" Pei Yanzhou admitted it so readily, so openly, that Xu Yunxuan was left speechless.

Pei Yanzhou took a half-step forward, his eyes burning as he locked his gaze onto Xu Yunxuan, staring him down. "Do you truly think I am unaware of the history between you and Cousin Shanru? The Old Madam has her reservations, but what of you?"

He let out a cold laugh. "You don't even dare to admit whether you have feelings for her. You would do well to stay away from Cousin Shanru in the future and stop delaying her life."

"Young Master Xu, my Third Aunt was truly incensed by this matter. Do not think for a moment that Cousin Shanru is still the girl of years past, who lacked the genuine affection and protection of her elders. From this day forward, she has those who care for her and shelter her. She is not someone whom just anyone can bully at will—not even you, nor the Xu family."

Xu Yunxuan was jolted, blurting out a rebuttal: "I never did!"

He was desperate to prove that he had never looked down upon Liang Shanru. Their betrothal had been arranged by their parents when he was but a child. As he grew older, he had always considered Shanru part of his own circle, assuming that she would one day grow up under his protection to become his bride. Even when General Liang met with disaster, his heart had not wavered. How could anyone say he looked down on her?

"You don't understand the bond between Shanru and me. I need time..."

"What you need is irrelevant to me, and there is no need to explain it to me. In truth, you are the one who should understand most clearly—" Pei Yanzhou cut him off, unwilling to listen to his sophistry, and drew out his final words: "The Old Madam has already made the decision and the choice for you. You will have no chance in the future."

Xu Yunxuan’s face turned ashen.

With Lady Liang involved, Pei Yanzhou was right—what chance did he have? Even if he possessed the skill to make Shanru change her mind, he would never make it past Lady Liang.

A smile gathered in Pei Yanzhou’s eyes once more. He stepped aside, leaving the path clear. "I have been to the Xu manor many times and know the way to the library; I do not need you to guide us. I imagine you are feeling unsettled, Young Master Xu; it would be better for you to find a quiet place to reflect. Shall we make our own way there?"

No matter how polite his words, his actions were anything but.

Xu Yunxuan truly did not wish to accompany them any further. It felt as though Pei Yanzhou had seen right through him, leaving him entirely defenseless. He knew Pei Yanzhou was saying these things specifically to rattle him for Shanru’s sake, but he could not deny the truth of it, and he found it impossible to remain calm.

Pei Jingxing chimed in, "Shall we just head over ourselves? You really needn't be so courteous."

*Courteous?*

The two brothers were truly a pair—one dared to speak, and the other dared to listen. They were the guests, and he was the host; providing an escort was only proper, yet they made it sound as if he were shamelessly forcing himself upon them.

But at that moment, Xu Yunxuan lacked even the strength to refute them. He offered a stiff bow and hurried away, practically fleeing the scene.

Pei Yanzhou watched his retreating figure, which could only be described as a rout, and the curve of his lips could no longer be suppressed.

Pei Jingxing frowned and whispered to his brother, "What are you doing? If he goes to tell Old Madam Hu about what you just said, and she sends a family letter to the palace, the Imperial Concubine will surely summon you for questioning."

"I spoke the truth. Why should I fear his complaints?" Pei Yanzhou did not take it to heart at all. He walked forward with his hands behind his back, looking entirely carefree. "They are the ones who committed the wrong first; even if it reaches the ears of the Imperial Concubine, it is the Xu family who will lose face. Third Brother, do you not feel aggrieved for our cousin?"

Pei Jingxing pursed his lips and thought about it. In truth, he did.

His cousin claimed she didn't care, but who could truly be without resentment in such matters? The Xu family looked down on her because her uncle died in battle. The court had clearly not charged her uncle with any crime, yet these people acted as if they had privately condemned him, subjecting his niece to endless criticism and disdain.

His cousin did not love Xu Yunxuan, so her heartbreak was lessened, but as she herself had said, she felt indignant and aggrieved on her uncle’s behalf. Furthermore, his cousin was clever and beautiful; these people were truly insane to look down on her over such trivial nonsense.

"Did you discuss doing this with Mother before you acted?" Pei Jingxing’s tone softened.

Pei Yanzhou shook his head. "Do you not know Third Aunt’s temper better than I? If I had mentioned it, she would be here at the Xu manor with us right now, and her words would be far harsher. It is better to avoid unnecessary complications; one does not need Third Aunt to intervene to vent for our cousin. I had intended to let the matter rest and feign ignorance, but after coming to the Xu manor and seeing Xu Yunxuan—"

At the mention of Xu Yunxuan, he sneered again. "Old Madam Hu has no intention of the match, but he? He may not be so indifferent. Dragging this out does our cousin nothing but harm. It is best to extinguish his hopes as soon as possible for her sake."

Pei Jingxing was stunned. "Brother, are you saying he actually fancies our cousin?"

Pei Yanzhou glanced at him. "Observe more and learn more so that you may act with greater thoroughness. You are still lacking."