The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 1180 - 271: Drawing a Memorial Portrait_4

An Zhouyuan laughed, "I’m already very content! To have these few years, I’m really content! I sought them out myself."

"Forced melons aren’t sweet, but they quench thirst!" Pei Qin replied without lifting her head.

Mo Heng looked at her, "I forced it, and it’s sweet."

Pei Qin rolled her eyes at him and focused on her painting.

Listening to the meaning of those words, An Zhouyuan was stunned for a moment, "You two... forced it?" Was it that Jiu Heng forced Pei Qin?

Watching Mo Heng, the doting expression as he carefully offered her water from the small water bottle he carried, and even being so cautious that he wouldn’t touch a drop himself, An Zhouyuan found himself at a loss for words.

Pei Qin drank half the bottle of water, handed it back to him, and continued painting the finishing touches.

When Wei Shu entered again, Pei Qin’s painting was complete.

"Once it dries, it can be framed! Offering it to the memorial tablet feels so lifeless, better to offer a portrait, like facing him in person!" Pei Qin laughed as she showed the painting to Wei Shu.

A jolt hit Wei Shu’s heart—the painting... it was so lifelike!

Pei Qin then showed it to An Zhouyuan, "Feels like looking in a mirror, doesn’t it?"

An Zhouyuan stared at the portrait, which looked exactly like him, and was momentarily lost in thought, "I heard General Pei once presented a ’Beauty Picture’ that looked just like a real person, vividly exquisite. Seeing your work today, your skill is truly extraordinary."

Mo Heng put down the painting and rubbed her cold hands, "It’s time to go."

Pei Qin was also tired, having not slept well these past few days with the move and hosting.

The two of them took their leave directly.

Wei Shu came out to see them off.

Mo Heng led Pei Qin ahead while she lingered behind, the cut in her heart felt like it had been sprinkled with salt.

Once seated in the carriage, Mo Heng wrapped her hands in his, placing them on his body, "I’ll warm your hands."

Pei Qin had already ignored his shamelessness, who uses that part of the body to warm someone’s hands!

Back at home, Jun Suxue greeted them, "The kitchen has prepared chicken soup wontons and rice wine dumplings."

"Give me half a bowl of wontons." Pei Qin didn’t like eating sweets before bed.

Seeing Mo Heng didn’t say anything, Jun Suxue got the same for him too—two bowls of chicken soup wontons with a plate of pea shoots. Seeing that Pei Qin looked okay, she smiled and asked, "How is Eldest Young Master An doing?"

"Probably not very well." Pei Qin had seen An Zhouyuan’s frail state and guessed he wouldn’t last much longer.

"Well, being able to see an old friend before the end, he probably has no regrets." Jun Suxue nodded.

Pei Qin just chuckled, finished her meal, washed up, wandered around a bit, and then went to sleep.

The following day, Grandma Jiang sent someone to report that the An family had gone to Wei Mansion to mourn before dawn, as An Zhouyuan had passed away.

"So soon!?" Pei Qin was taken aback, seeing his vigor, he should have lived at least a few more days. Was it a final rally of energy?

Jun Suxue asked Mo Heng, and since there was no need to convey mourning protocols, she decided not to make any arrangements but just to focus on managing Tiance Mansion and to keep an eye on the external news.

Xie Yi also quickly learned of the news. She lived far, but she found there were some benefits too. In General Mansion, Xie Ze didn’t live with her; now, as siblings living together, she couldn’t go out, but Xie Ze, who had to leave for school, could bring back news from outside.

When the Zheng family received the news, they sent a letter for Xie Ze, who brought it back and informed Xie Yi.

Xie Yi came to visit and saw Jun Suxue discussing the annual gifting affairs with Pei Qin. She plucked up the courage to say, "Madam is busy, and there are many important matters in Tiance Mansion. How about I come to help too? I’ve learned some official manners with Pei Yuan."

Jun Suxue glanced at her and smiled, "Sure! With the General and the Marquis family moving in, and it coinciding with the New Year, there’s suddenly so much to deal with! The General is busy, still overseeing the Manufacturing Bureau, and I am almost too overwhelmed all alone. If you could help me, that would be fantastic!"

Hearing her complain, Pei Qin was skeptical, "We don’t interact with many people; it’s not too much to handle." Currently, there were only the four of them in the family, which was quite manageable.

Jun Suxue smiled at her, "Let Ms. Xie help! That would make things easier for me."

Seeing that she had put it this way, Pei Qin agreed.

Xie Yi was overjoyed by this; now she could come over daily and would see Mo Heng more frequently.

A young maid came to report, "Ms. Suxue! The fish ordered for madam has arrived."

Upon hearing about the fish, Jun Suxue promptly responded and took Xie Yi with her to check.

Xie Yi felt a bit confused, and only after hearing the servants address Jun Suxue did she realize it. Jun Suxue, previously a young lady from a well-off family, had deep connections with Pei Qin. And Pei Qin’s attitude towards Jun Suxue was fairly obvious, much warmer than towards her. Jun Suxue was entrusted with managing all matters of Tiance Mansion. Could it be, Pei Qin was preparing to let Jun Suxue join Mo Heng’s household?

With this thought, her view of Jun Suxue changed.

She was just a sheltered young lady without insightful upbringing by her parents.

Although Jun Suxue wasn’t born into an official family, she hailed from a moderately wealthy family in the county. Her parents raised her well, and her engagement to Pei Qin followed her abduction by the rebel army, traveling from Daxing to Capital Jingcheng, she developed a much keener perspective. Observing Xie Yi’s talk about her marriage, and with early warning from Pei Yuan and her spying on Mo Heng with Zheng family’s daughter, she had to be wary, "Well! The General already mentioned allowing me to marry within Tiance Mansion."

Xie Yi’s expression changed, "To marry into Tiance Mansion? Well... you are indeed very fortunate!" frёewebηovel.cѳm

"To serve the General is truly a blessing in my life!" Jun Suxue smiled.

It turned out Pei Qin had already chosen a concubine for Mo Heng, none other than Jun Suxue. Xie Yi offered her congratulations, then mentioned, "The Marquis and his wife are indeed deeply in love!" Given Mo Heng’s affection for Pei Qin, he wouldn’t easily take a concubine at this time.

"It’s just that the madam can no longer conceive," Jun Suxue whispered sadly.

Xie Yi was even more convinced that Jun Suxue was designated as Mo Heng’s concubine to bear his progeny. Having already won over Pei Qin, even if Mo Heng wasn’t fond of her, multiple opportunities would still be created, right? Following Jun Suxue would also allow her access to these opportunities? Jun Suxue was undeniably graceful, but her own beauty and charm were even more enticing.

Jun Suxue, catching the changes in her expressions, watched her skeptically, her gaze growing cold, "You are not bad either. Although Young Master Pei is to marry Xi Yun, he is kind and loyal to you, and you are definitely set for a good future."

Speaking of Pei Wendong, Xie Yi’s expression stiffened, her enthusiasm cooled, replaced by a despondent demeanor, "I lack such fortune. Let’s drop the subject!" Unwilling to elaborate further.

Seeing this, Jun Suxue could almost confirm that Xie Yi had ulterior motives and decided to test her. If she passed the test, what face would she have to stay in Tiance Mansion any longer!