Chapter 458: Chapter 167 Qi Huaying_2
This remark was laden with implication, and Lu Tong asked, "Who are ’the others’?"
Lin Danqing’s hand, peeling the pine nuts, paused.
She turned around, looked at Lu Tong, and said earnestly, "The Grand Preceptor’s Mansion."
A thought flickered through Lu Tong’s mind.
She glanced sideways, "What does this have to do with the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion?"
"Of course, it’s related!" Lin Danqing lowered her voice, "A top-secret message from inside the Palace, don’t ask me how I know, but the Empress Dowager intends to arrange a marriage for Lord Pei, choosing none other than the Qi Family’s young miss!"
Pei Yunmeng and Qi Huaying?
Lu Tong’s expression shifted slightly.
In the past, when she was unaware of Pei Yunmeng’s background and they were testing each other, she had unkindly speculated that Pei Yunmeng would marry into the Qi Family as a sought-after son-in-law. However, after getting to know him, she hadn’t detected any special intent from Pei Yunmeng towards the Qi Family.
Otherwise, surely knowing that he would be dealing with the Qi Family, wouldn’t he have long since ’tied himself to the law’ for the sake of his future father-in-law’s family?
Why sit back and watch indifferently?
Such behavior surely didn’t seem like someone who intended to become part of the family.
Lin Danqing bent her head and started peeling the pine nuts again, "From what I see, the running water may not care but the falling flowers are certainly intentional. If the Qi Family really didn’t want this alliance, with the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion’s strong and cautious style, this top-secret news would never have reached my ears. There’s no such thing as a baseless rumor, this is why I’m warning you."
"People say beauty causes trouble, and it’s the same with handsome men. You just be careful on usual days, avoid misunderstandings and trouble."
Lu Tong remained silent.
Lin Danqing recalled something else and further cautioned, "About what I told you earlier, you mustn’t let it slip."
Lu Tong nodded, her head bowed as she sank into thought.
If Lin Danqing spoke the truth, at least the Qi Family was now interested in an alliance with the Pei Family.
Suddenly, she remembered a past encounter at Yuxian Tower with Qi Yutai. On that occasion, she had hidden in Pei Yunmeng’s embrace, only hearing Qi Yutai implying he wanted to befriend Pei Yunmeng—although Pei Yunmeng had refused at the time...
She had only seen the Grand Preceptor’s daughter once, a fleeting glimpse beneath Baoxiang Tower. Although her face had been veiled, and her countenance unseen, just from her posture and grace, she was clearly extraordinary, charming and elegant, coupled with what she heard about Miss Qi being a celebrated talent of Shengjing, proficient in poetry and literature. Even without the title of Grand Preceptor’s daughter, she would be enough to make countless men bow down.
Pei Yunmeng was also a man.
On one hand was a rich and powerful father-in-law, and on the other, a gentle, dignified, and beautiful wife. Any ordinary man would know how to choose. If Pei Yunmeng chose to be Qi Qing’s impressive son-in-law, it would seem like a natural development.
Only that would put him on the opposite side from herself.
Her reflective demeanor caught Lin Danqing’s eye, inadvertently confirming her suspicions and stirring a touch of pity. Pushing the small dish of peeled pine nuts toward her, she stood up and said, "I’ve peeled these pine nuts for you; remember to eat them tomorrow morning. You can’t keep up without proper nourishment."
As she stood up to go to her own bed, Lu Tong called out from behind, "Danqing."
"Hm?"
After a moment of hesitation, Lu Tong finally asked, "Do you know which noble family in Shengjing is most fond of using golden dishware?"
"Golden dishware?" Lin Danqing was taken aback, "Why do you ask about this?"
Lu Tong didn’t reply.
During her last visit to the Palace Marshal’s Mansion, the new prescription that Pei Yunmeng showed her, although the ingredients had changed, the content was still the same as the last prescription she’d seen: when served in gold, a life-saving remedy could turn into a deadly poison in an instant.
She felt there was something amiss.
Seeing that she remained silent, Lin Danqing didn’t press further, only smiling as she said, "Golden dishware is precious, and too ostentatious. Wealthy merchants favor such items, but Shengjing’s noble families prefer jade dishes and cups, to show their dignity. If we must speak of someone... it’s the Palace that uses gold."
Lu Tong suddenly looked up, "The Palace?"
"Yes," Lin Danqing nodded.
She added, "Younger Sister Lu, don’t you know that in the Palace, all items used by the Royal Family are made of gold and silver?"
...
It was deep into the night and the lights were still bright inside the Palace Marshal’s Mansion.
Xiao Zhufeng entered from outside and glanced at the young man dealing with official documents at the table, saying, "Have they gone?"
"They have."
Then he coldly said, "You really went to great lengths."
Lu Tong had come to the Palace Marshal’s Mansion, and Pei Yunmeng had to pretend to have a sudden headache; if he were to play sick, he needed to be thorough. Instead of going to the Martial Arts Field for archery practice, he had to stay in his room pretending to be frail.
Lu Tong had even taken his pulse for real, telling him his blood was surging and prescribed him two sets of medicinal formulas.
It was rare for him to fall ill in years, so faking weakness this once caused the guards of the Palace Marshal’s Mansion to show concern, each of them expressing warm inquiries.