CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 220: RARELY DOES GENERAL PEI HAVE A WEAKNESS

Over the years, Prince Rong kept a low profile, and with the instability in the northwest in recent years, even if any household in the court had some scandal, it was insignificant during the war between the two countries, so in the capital city, the reputation of Prince Rong’s Mansion was relatively good.

However, once Pei Yu revealed the scandal of Prince Rong’s Mansion, the city’s rumors exploded. Precisely because Prince Rong had a decent reputation in the past, the sudden revelation that Yang Zhan attempted to disrupt the newlywed of Pei Zhan, the General Pingxi, stirred much more discussion than usual.

Especially since Guo Song was ordered by Pei Zhan to spread the matter, the whole affair appeared as if it was happening right before everyone’s eyes, even exposing how Yang Zhan trained skinny horses in Yangzhou, intending to send them to the Pei family as spies.

By the time Yongping sent someone to invite Xu Yin back from the Xu Mansion, Xu Yin had indeed returned home. And it was precisely because he heard the news of the Pei family holding someone accountable that he hurried back to the mansion.

"That Yang Zhan is truly more of a hindrance than a help! They’ve directly offended the Pei family with this move, making it even harder for me to associate with the Pei family in the future!"

Xu Yin paced back and forth in his study with a sullen expression, "Doesn’t he use his brain at all? He was the same six years ago, and still the same now!

"If he hadn’t messed up that small affair back then, how could there be all this trouble afterwards?"

Under his anger, Lian Rong’s breath was not as steady as usual.

He said, "But I think the Pei family is making a big deal out of this. Based on the Princely Heir’s actions, proposing to send a woman to Pei Zhan isn’t such a big deal.

"He disagreed, he could have directly refused, there was no need to resort to force. They are exploiting the situation."

Xu Yin glanced at him, "What else could they do?"

Lian Rong remained silent.

Xu Yin said coldly, "I’ve long noticed that Pei Zhan has a hostility towards me. From the first time he greeted me, there was an inexplicable coldness in his eyes.

"Later, when I went to the Liang Family a few times, Liang Chen just happened to invite him to accompany, that’s when we had formal contact. And that wasn’t particularly cordial either.

"At first, I thought it might just be my imagination. But later, when we met on the street, he left some unpleasant words, and I realized that I wasn’t mistaken at all.

"He simply doesn’t like engaging with me.

"Now that today’s affair has happened, I can further conclude that he not only dislikes me, but also detests Prince Rong’s Mansion."

Lian Rong remained silent for a while, "But he’s only in his twenties, perhaps he’s young and energetic, not tolerating you being better than him."

"Who would believe such reasoning?" Xu Yin glanced at him, "If he doesn’t understand the principle of forming connections even with courtiers, then I’d really question how he fought those battles over the past six years.

"Be more confident, he simply doesn’t want to associate with me from the bottom of his heart, not even superficially.

"Instead of speculating repeatedly on this point, think carefully about why he rejects me so much?

"Have I not behaved well enough over these years in public? Is there something about my conduct that makes him feel I’m unworthy of association?"

Xu Yin spread his hands, raising his tone, the sarcasm in his words barely concealed.

Lian Rong lowered his head, "Your reputation outside is well-recognized, there’s certainly no impropriety. If there were any, the Liang Family wouldn’t have maintained contact with you."

"So, why exactly does he reject me?" Xu Yin narrowed his eyes, "I’ve always been adept at handling relationships at the court, whether it’s up or down, I’m quite confident in manipulating people’s hearts.

"Moreover, he’s a military general, and I’m a civil servant, our official duties have no intersection at all, there’s no conflict of interest."

Lian Rong lowered his head, "I, too, am perplexed as to why."

Xu Yin chuckled, "Don’t you find Pei Zhan’s marriage to Fu Zhen odd?"

Lian Rong raised his head, "What do you mean?"

Xu Yin gazed deeply at a helmet on the wall, "Besides the interests at the court, perhaps there are other reasons. Such as the Liang Family."

Lian Rong looked puzzled, "What does this have to do with the Liang Family?"

Xu Yin reached out and took down the helmet, holding it in his hands, "For many years I’ve painstakingly maintained relations with the Liang Family, partly to connect with the Cheng Family and Du Family through them, and partly because the situation compelled me to.

"Back in the day, Liang Ning had many admirers, including her suitors. I wonder if Pei Zhan was one of them."

Lian Rong was at a loss for words, "That can’t be. The heads of those families have sworn brotherhood, which basically makes them siblings of different surnames. Logically, Pei Zhan should call Miss Liang ’Aunt.’"

"So what?" Xu Yin chuckled, "If he truly likes someone, why bother about those things? Even if she’s married, he’d still want to take her away."

Lian Rong frowned deeply, "But earlier, you sent me to inquire about Pei Zhan and Miss Liang’s past, and I didn’t hear any evidence of interactions between them."

"That, I know too."

Xu Yin paused, then slowly continued, "But he married Fu Zhen."

"..."

"Fu Zhen looks so much like her." Xu Yin said slowly, stroking the helmet with his fingers, "Every time I see her, she inevitably reminds me of someone else."

Lian Rong inhaled deeply, "Are you suggesting that Fu Zhen might be Miss Liang?"

Xu Yin didn’t say a word, just shook his head slightly.

Lian Rong then stepped forward, "I only ask you this: If Fu Zhen is truly her, what would you do?"

Xu Yin’s finger paused at the edge of the helmet.

"Such assumptions are meaningless."

He set the helmet down, "I just mean that Pei Zhan marrying someone so similar to Liang Ning, and with such short engagement and disparity in status, doesn’t it indicate something?

"Even if you haven’t heard of any interactions between them, shouldn’t the frequent contact between Pei Zhan and the Liang Family make it impossible for him to avoid encountering Liang Ning?

"And if he has affection for Liang Ning, wouldn’t his hostility towards me, her former fiancé, be very normal?"

Lian Rong pondered after listening, "Then how should we respond now?"

Xu Yin said, "Even if Fu Zhen couldn’t possibly be Liang Ning, Pei Zhan’s urgent marriage to her suggests he values her highly.

"The events of today were caused because of Fu Zhen, and the Pei family father and son made such a commotion, even if half of it was to deal with Prince Rong’s Mansion, the other half was to appease her.

"Investigate her background thoroughly; I’ve heard she’s had frequent dealings with Cheng Chili and Liang Chen’s couple recently. It’s best to understand her interactions with all these people.

He took a deep breath, "Her sudden appearance, only over three to four months, has been so eventful one after another, making it impossible not to take notice."

Lian Rong nodded and asked, "If she is indeed significant to Pei Zhan, what then?"

Xu Yin glanced at him, "If she truly is significant, isn’t that a good thing? Even the impeccable General Pei has a weak spot."