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Chapter 32: Only By Returning To Youth Can One Win A Beauty Into The Dream

This is a more difficult and awkward situation than not letting him marry a wife.

Pei Wenxuan remained silent, contemplating in his mind how to gracefully address the issue of delaying his debts. The woman looked at him, with a smile on her face, but there was a hint of mockery in her eyes, as if she was enjoying the show.

After a moment, Pei Wenxuan finally found his composure. Just as he was about to speak, he heard an urgent shout from outside: “Young master! Young master!”

Everyone turned their heads, and Pei Wenxuan saw that the gatekeeper was running towards him. With a slight thought, he knew that it might be the imperial decree for the marriage.

The servant gasped for breath, stopped in front of Pei Wenxuan, and stammered, “Imperial decree… Young master… At the gate…”

Without waiting for him to finish, Pei Wenxuan smiled, turned around, and walked out towards the door.

The money-seeking maid finally reacted and hurriedly asked the gatekeeper, “What Imperial decree is this?”

“Someone from the palace has come outside,” the gatekeeper explained as he caught his breath. “They want to announce the imperial decree, and the master, madam, and young master of the mansion all need to go over. It seems like something important is about to happen.”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, quickly ran to the front yard, wanting to see for themselves what was happening.

When Pei Wenxuan reached the door, the Pei family members had already gathered. Pei Lixian’s eldest son, Pei Wende, sneered when he saw Pei Wenxuan approaching, taunting, “Big brother always acts high and mighty. I didn’t expect that even when the big shots from the palace come, he still acts this way.”

“Wende,” Pei Lixian, with hands in sleeves, stood in front, slowly opening his eyes and reprimanded, “Shut up.”

Pei Wenxuan walked up to Pei Lixian and Pei Liwen, the two uncles, and respectfully bowed, “Second uncle, third uncle.”

Then he turned to his mother, Wen Shi, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time, “Mother.”

Wen Shi nodded at him, showing a hint of fatigue in her expression. After all the members of the Pei family had gathered, Pei Lixian approached and said to the eunuch holding the imperial decree, “Official, the entire Pei household is present. Please proceed.”

The eunuch smiled and nodded, Pei Lixian stepped back, then the eunuch loudly shouted, “Kneel—”.

Everyone collectively kneeled, and the eunuch began reading the decree. The content initially praised Pei Wenxuan, and as the extravagant praises were heard, everyone secretly looked at Pei Wenxuan.

Pei Wenxuan remained calm. When the decree reached the part “The emperor greatly pleased upon Pei Wenxuan, hereby bestows marriage to princess Rong,” everyone suddenly understood. Even the servants hiding in the distance widened their eyes, feeling a bit bewildered.

Pei Wenxuan gracefully accepted the decree. The eunuch looked him up and down, then said, “Princess Rong is usually favored by His Majesty. Lord Pei is truly fortunate.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Pei Wenxuan bowed with proper manners and humility.

After reading the decree, the palace personnel retreated. After seeing them off, Pei Wenxuan turned around, lifted the decree, and looked at Pei Lixian.

Pei Lixian, with hands in sleeves, calmly said, “Being bestowed marriage by His Majesty is your fortune. In the future, serve Princess Rong well and uphold the manners of the Pei family.”

Pei Wenxuan: “…”

He originally wanted to bow but, hearing these words, he felt something was off. It seemed as if he were a newlywed bride…

After Pei Lixian finished speaking, he turned to the others and said, “You can disperse.”

Pei Lixian was used to having the final say at home. Upon hearing this, no one dared to linger and dispersed. Only Pei Wende couldn’t resist taunting Pei Wenxuan before leaving, “Big brother is so fortunate. You’ll have meals thanks to the princess in the future.”

“Yeah,” Pei Wenxuan flicked his sleeves, spoke calmly, “Jealous, second brother? Unfortunately,” before Pei Wende could respond, Pei Wenxuan smiled gently, “with second brother’s appearance, it’s probably unlikely to have a chance with princess Rong. In this lifetime, apart from relying on father, there’s nothing else to rely on.”

“You!”

“Wenxuan.” Before Pei Wende could unleash his anger, Wen Shi hurriedly approached, her face filled with anxiety. After giving Pei Wende a glance, he also refrained from arguing further with Pei Wenxuan. After all, she was the elder, so he bowed in respect and withdrew.

Once Pei Wende left, Wen Shi grabbed Pei Wenxuan’s hand and said urgently, “Come with me.”

Saying that, Wen Shi dragged him into her courtyard.

Pei Wenxuan knew what Wen Shi wanted to discuss, feeling somewhat helpless, but still followed her into her courtyard. As they entered the room, Wen Shi dismissed the servants, then turned to him urgently, “Did you know about this marriage decree in advance?”

Pei Wenxuan calmly found a place to sit down. He knew that with his recent attendance at the spring banquet and collaboration with Li Rong on an investigation, it was impossible to keep the news from her.

So, he admitted frankly, “Yes, I knew.”

“You knew, and for such a significant matter, you didn’t inform me?” Wen Shi, upon hearing Pei Wenxuan’s admission, immediately raised her voice, “Do you still consider me your mother?”

“I only knew, mother,” Pei Wenxuan poured himself some tea, calmly saying, “Are you going to resist the decree, or argue with the emperor?”

Wen Shi paused for a moment, then sat down weakly. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, “It’s mother’s fault, causing you such grievance. If your father were still here, you wouldn’t have encountered such a situation. Dealing with princess Rong is not easy; which princess has a good temper?”

Listening to Wen Shi’s lament, Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a moment, then finally said, “I am willing to do this.”

Wen Shi looked at him in disbelief. After a moment, feeling incredulous, she sat down and tears rolled down her cheeks, “You are willing?”

Wen Shi looked up in disbelief. Pei Wenxuan thought for a moment, lifted his gaze to Wen Shi, and calmly said, “Mother, I sought this girl out on my own.”

“Did you come to plead?”

Wen Shi was shocked: “You were perfectly fine, why plead for a princess to come in?”

“Isn’t a princess good?” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “A princess is also an ordinary girl. She’s a good person, you’ll know when you meet her.”

“What kind of spell did you cast on me?” Wen Shi said, crying again, “I know you’re comforting me. You’ve liked Zhenzhen since you were little, and your temper is just like your father’s. How could you easily like someone else?”

“Mother,” Pei Wenxuan laughed and cried, “don’t talk nonsense in the future.”

“You are my son, my flesh and blood,” Wen Shi cried uncontrollably, and Pei Wenxuan hurried to comfort her, listening to her words, “How can I not know your thoughts? I couldn’t stop your second uncle from talking nonsense at the Qin family, and I didn’t expect Qin Lin from the Qin family to hear your second uncle’s words and directly say that his sister couldn’t marry into the Pei family. It’s all my fault, and now you have to comfort me…”

“Mother,” Pei Wenxuan couldn’t withstand Wen Shi’s crying, his head was about to explode, but he knew his mother’s temper, so he could only patiently persuade her, “She’s really good, and I really like her. I went through a lot to marry her. Please don’t talk nonsense in front of her in the future. If you really care about me and want me to have a good marriage, please don’t mention Qin Zhenzhen, and get along well with the princess, okay?”

Listening to Pei Wenxuan’s soothing words, Wen Shi, half-believing and half-doubting, raised her head: “Are you not tricking me?”

“Could I trick you?” Pei Wenxuan sighed, “I really like her.”

“What about Qin Zhenzhen?”

Wen Shi looked confused.

Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to his forehead, “I was not clear-headed back then. I was so young, what did I know about liking or not liking?”

“Well…” Wen Shi hesitated for a moment, surprisingly convinced by his words, and said slowly, “That makes sense.”

Pei Wenxuan looked puzzled and raised his head, “Do you think I don’t like Qin Zhenzhen?”

“That’s just childishness,” Wen Shi said gently, “emotions should be like your father and me, thinking about each other when apart, feeling excited when meeting, time passing quickly when together. Even if your father casually teased me, I found it very interesting.”

Speaking, a trace of nostalgia appeared on Wen Shi’s face. Pei Wenxuan knew that Wen Shi was thinking about his father again. He remained silent, and Wen Shi also realized that she shouldn’t indulge in reminiscing about the past in front of others. After a pause, she sighed and said, “During those years in Luzhou, you never sent a letter to Zhenzhen because of missing her. When you saw her, you were always proper and polite. How can that be called liking?”

“According to you,” Pei Wenxuan smiled, “I should find someone I like to tease, right?”

“I don’t know if you’ll tease her or not,” Wen Shi also smiled, “but in front of her, you must be different from how you are in front of others. In front of that person, you will always be a child for a lifetime.”

Pei Wenxuan was stunned for a moment, and after a while, he couldn’t help but say, “Was father like that too?”

“Yes,” Wen Shi liked talking about Pei Lizhi very much. When Pei Wenxuan brought it up voluntarily, her gaze softened, “Despite appearing strict in front of you, he has always been a child who never growed up. Do you remember how he used to buy toys for you? He bought them for himself, saying it was for you. Clearly, he just wanted to play.”

“Yeah,” Pei Wenxuan agreed with Wen Shi, “I remember.”

Pei Wenxuan accompanied Wen Shi to talk about Pei Lizhi. As Wen Shi’s health was not good, after a while, she became a bit tired. Pei Wenxuan saw that she was exhausted and served her to rest before leaving the room.

After leaving the room, he stood at the door with Tong Yezhan following behind him, looking puzzled. “Young master, what are you thinking?”

“I think,” Pei Wenxuan sighed, “it’s a good thing that Her Highness doesn’t cry easily.”

Tong Yezhan was a bit confused, “Ah?”

Pei Wenxuan chuckled and walked away.

While talking to Wen Shi just now, he had been thinking about Li Rong.

In his previous life, he always said that Li Rong was too rigid. Every time they argued due to differences in political views, he would wonder how a girl could be so tough.

However, just now, watching Wen Shi, he suddenly felt that Li Rong was doing well. No one can hide behind others forever. One day, one has to stand up, face the storms, and confront this cruel world.

His mother was not a bad person. She was gentle, kind, and his father had protected her all her life, allowing her to live the first half of her life happily like a canary.

But all gifts come with a price, and perhaps his father never thought that he would leave so early one day.

He had protected this person so well, and after he left, this person, in turn, became so fragile.

Before his father’s death, he had made many arrangements to protect them, but at the age of barely seventeen, under the pretext of mourning, he was forcibly sent away to Luzhou, leaving his mother in the Pei residence.

His mother was a person with a soft heart, easily yielding, always avoiding disputes and making concessions. So, no matter how much his father left for them, when he returned three years later, it had all been completely squandered by his mother.

In his youth, he had envied his parents. They were different from ordinary couples in prestigious families; they truly loved each other, their marriage was harmonious, and they taught Pei Wenxuan about the commitment and anticipation of a relationship.

He had fantasized countless times that if he had a wife, he wanted to live such a life. He wanted to learn from his father, give everything to protect that person, and love that person.

However, when he saw his mother, he suddenly felt that excessively doting on a woman, giving her everything, without teaching her to fly, was no different from breaking her wings.

But fortunately—

Pei Wenxuan thought of Li Rong, and he felt somewhat comforted.

This woman, no matter how much you pamper her, she can soar to great heights. The only thing to worry about is a careless move, and she might reach a place you cannot see, making you gaze up for a lifetime, unable to touch her again.

Pei Wenxuan just realized this idea and immediately felt a bit ridiculous about himself.

After all, in this lifetime, they were just getting by, and in a few years, they would have to part ways. Why should he be thinking about marital relations at this moment?

However, strangely, as soon as he thought about these things, he felt a bit happy.

He briskly walked back to his courtyard and saw the maid who had asked for money standing nervously at his door. He frowned, stared at the maid, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly spoke, “About that carriage…”

“Take your time!” the maid immediately said, “Imperial husband… oh no, young master, the servant is here to apologize. The servant didn’t recognize the great kindness, and in the future, hopes that young master won’t remember the servant’s wrongdoing. You can return the carriage whenever it’s convenient for you!”

Pei Wenxuan was amused by this maid, suddenly realizing what it meant to assert authority.

He had no intention of getting involved with these little troubles, waved his hand, and said, “It’s fine, you can go.”

The maid hurriedly ran away, and Pei Wenxuan returned to his courtyard. That night, he contemplated the key figures in the dark web and the next day went to the princess’s residence, got the money, hired people, and everything began to take shape in an orderly manner.

When he returned home in the evening, just as he reached the door, he saw the minister of the princess’s residence standing at the entrance. Pei Wenxuan was stunned, quickly got off the carriage, and greeted him, “Lord Lu, why are you here?”

“The princess has a letter for you,” Lu Minzhi handed a letter to Pei Wenxuan, “I happened to be passing by and thought of delivering it on my way.”

“You’re very considerate.”

Pei Wenxuan took the letter, exchanged pleasantries with Lu Minzhi for a moment, and after Lu Minzhi left, Pei Wenxuan hesitated for a moment before opening the letter. In the evening, after dealing with all official matters, he lay on the bed and opened the letter, seeing Li Rong’s handwriting.

Li Rong succinctly mentioned three things. Firstly, she provided him with two sketches of wedding dresses for reference.

Secondly, she inquired about the progress of the dark web construction.

The third thing was a silver ticket that she gave him, saying to slap it on the face of that servant woman.

Pei Wenxuan lay on the bed, looking at Li Rong’s letter, and recalled Li Rong’s raised eyebrows and teasing manner. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter. After earnestly studying the two wedding dress sketches, he selected one set. Then he set the letter aside and lay down to sleep.

That night, he dreamt. In his dream, Li Rong wore the chosen wedding dress, twirled in front of him, and asked, “Pei Wenxuan, do you think it looks good?”

He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

When he woke up with a smile from the dream, he lay quietly for a while.

He realized that, for the first time in his long and countless memories, he woke up with a smile from a dream.

After youth, there were no more beautiful dreams.

Only when he returned to his youth did a beauty enter his dreams.

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