Chapter 15: Jiang Lingyao, come with us.

He instinctively turned his head to avoid her gaze, though his voice rose in volume, "It was merely a momentary oversight; why must you be so petty?"

Jiang Lingyao curled her lips in a sneer, taking in every flicker of his expression while suppressing the bitter, aching pain in her heart.

After Lady Jiang was escorted away and most of the maids had retreated from the courtyard, Jiang Xiuyuan looked at her again. After hesitating for a long while, he finally spoke, "Yesterday... it was my negligence. You are right to blame me."

He paused, then added, "I will have some things brought to you later. The Pearl Pavilion may have burned down, but the Duke’s estate is not lacking in treasures. I will use my private treasury to compensate you."

"There is no need."

She was leaving the Duke’s estate soon; what would she need these for?

Jiang Lingyao’s tone was calm. "Brother, please return. I have enough for my daily needs; there is no need for such extravagance."

Jiang Xiuyuan retorted without hesitation, "How can that be! You are my own sister, the pearl of the Duke of Zhen’s estate. How can you be so destitute?"

No matter how destitute he might be, he would never let his own sister suffer.

A pearl?

Jiang Lingyao let out a slow, mirthless laugh, her eyes devoid of warmth. "Please return, Brother. I was freezing last night and felt unwell; I would like to rest for a while."

She watched Jiang Xiuyuan’s back as he walked away, then glanced toward the direction of the Pearl Pavilion.

Where was there any "pearl of the Duke’s estate" left?

Now that the pavilion had burned, it served as a dark metaphor. Perhaps heaven was telling her that there was no pearl in the Duke of Zhen’s estate—only a pile of ruins.

A few days later, perhaps because Jiang Lingyao had yet to agree to the marriage, the servants watching her were extremely vigilant; even Wenqiu could not leave the estate.

Jiang Lingyao grew anxious. If she could not get the message out, Liao Yun would surely be worried.

After much deliberation, she finally found a way. Under the pretext of preparing a birthday gift for Pei Xingzhi, she managed to lead Wenqiu out of the estate.

Stepping out of the Duke’s residence and moving forward, the sounds of street vendors crying out reached her ears. Jiang Lingyao felt as if she had stepped into another lifetime.

She stared at the bustling crowd for a long while, soaking in the vitality of the world around her. Her heart lightened, and she could not help but find it ironic.

She would never have imagined that leaving home would make her feel more at ease than being inside it.

"What does the young lady wish to buy?"

Wenqiu pursed her lips. "Young Master Pei is cold, but... but if you could marry him, you would no longer have to be troubled by the affairs of the Duke’s estate. It would be a wonderful thing. You must not listen to the Lady or the Eldest Young Master and give up the marriage to Song Lian'er for nothing."

Jiang Lingyao, immersed in the lively atmosphere, laughed at these words. "You don't need to worry so much. I have my ways."

Hearing this, Wenqiu assumed that Jiang Lingyao meant she could secure the marriage, and she finally let out a sigh of relief, a smile returning to her face.

Jiang Lingyao noted the smile on her face and sighed inwardly.

Once upon a time, she had thought the same way, hoping to marry Pei Xingzhi early so she could leave the Duke’s estate and get away from Song Lian'er.

But who would have guessed that the Duke’s estate would come up with such an absurd idea—to have Song Lian'er marry into the family alongside her!

She no longer cared for this marriage, but she could not easily yield. Song Lian'er was insatiable; if she got this marriage, she would certainly set her sights on everything else that belonged to her.

With her departure imminent, Jiang Lingyao did not want to invite any new trouble.

As she pondered, she was suddenly called out to, and she cursed her bad luck under her breath.

"Sister, why are you here? How did you come out all by yourself? Is there no gentleman to accompany you?"

Song Lian'er emerged from somewhere, followed by Pei Xingzhi and Jiang Xiuyuan. The three of them stood there, staring at her with varying expressions.

Jiang Lingyao felt a wave of annoyance. "I came out alone because I have errands to attend to."

Song Lian'er walked over slowly, surrounded by the two men and her personal maids, looking every bit like the center of attention.

Seeing Jiang Lingyao standing there alone with only a small maid, her smile widened, and her gaze even held a hint of pity.

"What kind of business must be kept from us?" Song Lian'er asked with a meaningful smile, feigning a tease. "Don't tell me... don't tell me you have a secret lover, and you’ve slipped out to meet him?"

At these words, Pei Xingzhi’s expression turned icy. He blocked Jiang Lingyao as she was about to leave and said in a cold, rigid tone, "It is not safe for you to be alone. Come with us."

His tone was forceful, his eyes fixed intently on her.

Jiang Lingyao took a deep breath, suppressing her irritation. "Lord Pei, you are not my elder. By what right do you command me?"

In her heart, she was already cursing; the opportunity she had worked so hard to find had been ruined by these people.

"Jiang Lingyao, we have a marriage contract. In the future, you will be my wife and the mistress of the Pei household."

His tone allowed no room for argument, and his gaze grew increasingly cold and heavy.

Before Jiang Lingyao could retort, Jiang Xiuyuan, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "I am your brother. If Pei Xingzhi cannot command you, can I not? Come with us, or I shall have you sent back to the estate immediately!"

Seeing that the chance to be with Pei Xingzhi had been interrupted by Jiang Lingyao, Song Lian'er barely maintained her smile. Regretting her interference, she said softly, "Perhaps... perhaps it would be better to let Sister play on her own. She doesn't want to be with us, and we shouldn't force her."

"Hmph."

Jiang Xiuyuan snorted coldly and beckoned to Jiang Lingyao. "Do you want me to send you back, or are you coming with us?"

Jiang Lingyao’s palms turned white as she clenched them, and without a word, she followed the three of them.

The three in front seemed distracted. Jiang Xiuyuan, unaware of his own actions, kept turning his head to look at her, his gaze complex.

Song Lian'er was furious. Wanting to make Jiang Lingyao uncomfortable, she pointed to a shop in the distance and smiled, "Since Sister has just returned, why not buy her a few new sets of jewelry? She hasn't been to the capital in a year; I fear she doesn't know what is currently in fashion."

Jiang Xiuyuan agreed immediately, sighing, "You are always so thoughtful."

He turned his head toward her. "Jiang Lingyao, look at Lian'er; she thinks of you in everything she does! Don't you feel a pang of guilt when you bully her? You should learn from her!"