The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 1172 - 270: Up to No Good

Grandma Jiang was startled when she heard that Eldest Young Master An was in critical condition, "Wasn’t it said that he was in good health not long ago? Otherwise, Grandmother An wouldn’t have the heart or the time to attend banquets!"

Zhou Yeqin sighed, "An Zhouyuan has always been in poor health, and the turmoil caused by the Wa Ci invading the border has worsened it, and now he can’t hold on any longer."

Yet, Grandma Jiang thought of something else. Lady Mo’s hostility towards Pei Qin could still be seen as a disdain for Mo Heng, who had been expelled from the family, extending the same hatred to Pei Qin as well. But Wei Shu’s targeting of Pei Qin had a different purpose.

A decade ago, throughout Bei Zhili, everyone was talking about who the young scholar Mo Heng would marry, as countless young ladies admired and adored him. However, she had heard that the Mo family and the Wei family had already an oral agreement. If it hadn’t been for Mo Heng’s expulsion from the family, Wei Shu might have been the one to marry Mo Heng.

Now Wei Shu was married to An Zhouyuan, and she had neither son nor daughter. With An Zhouyuan close to his death, she would become a widow. It was the An family who insisted on the marriage back then, and if An Zhouyuan passed away, it was unlikely the An family would prevent Wei Shu’s return to her maiden home.

But Pei Qin could no longer bear children, only having two daughters. Now that Mo Heng had become independent from the Mo family, would he tolerate not having a son to continue the family line?

Thinking of this, Grandma Jiang’s eyes flickered as she quickly gathered clear information about the situation, and also asked whether the Wei family had decided to let Wei Shu return to her maiden home.

Knowing that his sister was always eager to inquire about such matters, Zhou Yeqin didn’t think too much of it. He told her all he knew and even brought her two boxes of shelled abalone and conch.

Grandma Jiang instructed him to send someone to inform her immediately if there was any news.

"Why are you suddenly so interested in the affairs of the Wei family? Aren’t you on bad terms with the ladies of the Wei family?" Zhou Yeqin teased his sister with a smile.

Grandma Jiang gave him a look, "If Grandmother An returns to her maiden home, she’s still young. Could it be that she’ll marry again?"

Zhou Yeqin paused, thinking of Mo Heng, remembering how Pei Qin had been injured and poisoned and could no longer bear children, and how Jiang Dahai had joined Mo Heng’s revolt, earning merits, and quickly rose to the rank of Third Rank commander. His expression turned serious, "Madam Pei is not of ordinary status; it is impossible for Mo Heng to stop being married and take another wife. Even if Grandmother An returns to her maiden home, the Wei family will not allow her to become Mo Heng’s concubine. Mo Heng, having no heirs, could perfectly take two beautiful concubines. If they bear sons, they could be recognized under Madam Pei’s name, raised in her chambers, and treated no different from her own children!"

"A woman’s thoughts are entirely different. In any case, brother, pay more attention, and send someone to report to me immediately if there is news." Grandma Jiang felt that Pei Qin, such a formidable and fierce woman, would not tolerate raising another woman’s children with her husband. And the Emperor had also granted her the title of Tiance Deity General; all these honors and power were obtained through her desperate struggles—why should the son of another woman reap the benefits?

Thinking it over, she felt her brother was unreliable, so she spoke to her mother, asking her to pay more attention. After taking the boxes of shelled abalone and conch home, she prepared to attend the banquet at the Deity Mansion.

It was Pei Qin’s first time organizing such a gathering of distinguished ladies, relying entirely on the Eunuch in charge to plan and prepare, although she made a few suggestions.

Jun Suxue didn’t want her to lose face in front of other noblewomen and young ladies, so she was learning all sorts of banquet etiquette and procedures early on. From where to greet upon entrance, the dining hall for the meal, card games for entertainment, where to start and end when admiring the scenery, to what dishes and soups to serve at the meal, she had already pre-ordered a variety of seafood and vegetables.

Before Dan Mingzhu left for home, she had a message for Pei Qin; if there were any special seafood she wanted, it could be directly picked up and brought back from Tongzhou Harbour, and she had arranged everything already.

Pei Qin found the preparations so complex and intricate that she looked skyward, "Don’t hold any banquets at home unless necessary in the future!"

The Eunuch in charge laughed with a trembling bouquet of flowers, "Look at what the General is saying! These banquets are organized by families with a purpose! Especially before and after New Year’s, it’s the perfect time for young talents and maidens to meet and make acquaintances!"

"Let them hold their events; our family’s Radish has already been dealt with; we don’t need to hold such functions!" Pei Qin issued a direct order.

The Eunuch in charge thought for a moment, "Oh! The Crown Prince is still available! His age is also right for marrying!"

"I’m not concerned about his business!" Even before, Pei Qin wouldn’t have bothered with this matter for him, let alone now. The wife he would marry wouldn’t be like Shen Songming and Pei Wendong, who had to take many things into consideration!

With this thought, she remembered that both Pei Wendong and Chang Yonglin were in love, and Xiao Yong was of the same age and should also be dating. Pei Qin caught Xiao Yong returning to pick up some belongings and cornered him in the house.