These past few days, Li Mo'er had been visiting daily, mostly bringing food for Pei Changqiu, with Ye Qingcheng just tagging along.
She found it rather exasperating, this friend who prioritized romance over friendship.
As Li Mo'er's visits became more frequent, the people at the yamen got to know who she was. They would often tease, "Haha, Officer Pei, your little wife is here to see you again."
Pei Changqiu smacked him on the head, "Your mouth is so foul. What if someone with ulterior motives overhears this? What about the girl's reputation?"
Upon hearing this, the man could only rub his head where he'd been hit and sheepishly walk away.
As for Ye Qingcheng, she hadn't intended to go out today, but there was no choice. Li Mo'er had practically dragged her out of the house.
Sitting in the carriage, Li Mo'er was exceptionally excited.
Ye Qingcheng rubbed her temples in exasperation.
"Mo'er, can you be a little quieter?"
Li Mo'er giggled, "I'm just too nervous!" Realizing she might be bothering Princess Consort Wang, she quickly sat up straight. However, she couldn't stay composed for more than a few minutes before she began fidgeting again.
Ye Qingcheng sighed.
As the carriage drew closer to the yamen, Li Mo'er grew more nervous. "Princess Consort Wang, what do you think of my attire? Does it look good?"
Ye Qingcheng, who had been pretending to sleep, opened her eyes, glanced at her, and then nodded, "It's beautiful, it's beautiful."
Li Mo'er pouted, displeased. "You didn't even look properly."
This time, Ye Qingcheng opened her eyes and meticulously examined her from head to toe. "Mm! It's beautiful."
Li Mo'er, however, still lacked confidence.
She adjusted her clothes, "Really? But I think the back of this dress doesn't look very good, and my hair accessories aren't made very well either, and my..."
"Stop!" Ye Qingcheng finally interrupted, unable to bear it any longer. "You've already thoroughly inspected these matters at the princely manor. We only left after you were finally satisfied with how you looked. Don't you remember?"
Li Mo'er smiled sheepishly, "Hehe, that's right! It's just that I'm nervous, aren't I?"
Ye Qingcheng looked at her blossoming girlish demeanor and sighed, "Alas~ You truly like him."
Li Mo'er nodded earnestly, "It's true. I've never felt this way before. For the first time, I can't sleep at night, always thinking of him. I think of him when I eat, I think of him when I bathe. Everything is him."
Ye Qingcheng was puzzled, "But you haven't known each other for long!"
Li Mo'er couldn't quite explain the feeling. "Perhaps, this is destiny."
Ye Qingcheng still couldn't comprehend such a feeling, but she added, "I can help you ask him and see what his thoughts are about you."
Li Mo'er's eyes instantly lit up.
In a room, Pei Changqiu sat somewhat awkwardly. Ye Qingcheng sat in the main seat, sipping tea. As soon as Ye Qingcheng put down her tea, Pei Changqiu immediately sat up straighter.
"Pei Changqiu," Ye Qingcheng said, leaning her hand on the table. "What do you think of Li Mo'er?"
Pei Changqiu didn't understand why the Princess Consort would ask such a question, but he still replied, "She... she's very good."
Ye Qingcheng chuckled lightly, "I know she's good, but in what way is she good?"
Hiding behind a screen, Li Mo'er quietly eavesdropped.
Pei Changqiu thought of her lively personality and his liking for it. "Probably... she's very cute."
"Then..." Ye Qingcheng stroked the tea set, gently shaking her head. "Have you thought about marrying her?"
Pei Changqiu shook his head, "No!"
Li Mo'er was stunned, her heart jolted, and she suddenly felt unable to breathe. She tried hard to hold back the tears that welled up.
Ye Qingcheng looked somewhat surprised, "Why?"
Pei Changqiu gave a bitter smile, "I'm an officer of the law. An officer's status is not as high as that of nobles. How could someone of my status be worthy of her? I'm often looked down upon by young ladies and gentlemen of noble families. Following someone like me, she would suffer."
Ye Qingcheng disagreed with this line of thinking. He hadn't even asked Li Mo'er's feelings. He couldn't unilaterally exclude her without her input; it wasn't fair. "But she doesn't care about these things!"
Pei Changqiu downed the tea like wine, gulping it in one go, using this method to vent his frustration. "Then what about her parents?"
Li Mo'er was taken aback.
Pei Changqiu smiled bitterly, "Then, would her parents be willing to marry her off to me?"
Ye Qingcheng fell silent, because it was the truth. No matter how much they discussed it here, they hadn't considered Li Mo'er's family. Would her parents be willing to let their daughter marry into an officer's family?
Even if Pei Changqiu were exceptionally outstanding, Li Mo'er was the darling of her family. Her parents doted on her, her brothers doted on her, and her elder sister also doted on her. But if she had to endure another twenty years of hardship, they would certainly not agree.
Suddenly, a sound echoed. Both of them turned to look and saw Li Mo'er walking out from inside.
She rushed straight to Pei Changqiu and, with her actions, told him that Li Mo'er liked him.
Because Li Mo'er directly gave him a peck on the lips, a fleeting kiss.
While Pei Changqiu was still stunned, Li Mo'er directly yelled out.
"Pei Changqiu, let me tell you, the Li Mansion is not what you think. My parents are not that pedantic. Their experiences together are unique. Their education for us is that liking someone has no reason. No one can love another girl while still having a girl in their heart; it's unfair to both girls. I know I'm very clumsy. What others can do in one go, I might take half a year or a year to learn. I've always been self-conscious, but I often use happiness to cover up my insecurity. At home, my elder sister was raised by our grandmother, beautiful and graceful. But I'm not good at anything. Yet now, I feel like all those superficial things don't matter anymore. What matters is you. I want you to tell me now, Pei Changqiu, do you like me?"
Pei Changqiu nodded blankly, "I do."
It felt like a knife was at Pei Changqiu's throat, forcing him to answer.
Ye Qingcheng chuckled, "Lovers eventually get married. This is a happy ending for all."
But Pei Changqiu was troubled.
"Mo'er, liking is one thing, but marriage is a matter for both families."
Li Mo'er, who had been joyful moments ago, could no longer smile.
"Why?"
Pei Changqiu felt very inferior.
"I have no money, no status, no power, no strength. What do I have to marry you with?"
Just as Li Mo'er was about to speak, Ye Qingcheng interrupted her. "What's the big deal? I'll directly give you a few acres of land, how about that?"
Both of them were stunned.
Pei Changqiu waved his hands, refusing, "Princess Consort, how can I accept your land? This... this is not acceptable."
Ye Qingcheng smiled, "Just accept it! Otherwise, look, Mo'er is about to cry."
Pei Changqiu looked at Mo'er's tear-filled eyes, stubbornly refusing to let them fall. At that moment, Pei Changqiu's heart felt as if it were being seared in oil. With a hardening of his resolve, he agreed.
"Alright, I accept."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "Mm~ That's more like it!"
Returning home in the afternoon, Pei Changqiu immediately told his mother they would go propose tomorrow.
Madam Pei was a little stunned.
"Propose what?"
Pei Changqiu's heart was filled with excitement and joy. He had never been so happy.
"It's Minister Li's daughter, the youngest one."
Madam Pei was astonished, "What did you say? Minister Li's family? Are you perhaps delirious and not yet awake?"
Pei Changqiu patted Madam Pei's shoulder, "Mother, it's true. Tomorrow, we'll hire a matchmaker and prepare some generous gifts to go to Minister Li's residence."
Madam Pei listened to him, utterly bewildered.