The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 20: Don’t Get Involved in Other People’s Relationships
Du Peilan’s carriage hit someone, and she sent a gift of compensation to the Duke Mansion immediately.
She was injured and looked rather disheveled, so she did not personally visit to apologize.
The Grand Tutor Mansion was managed by her stepmother. Du Peilan, as a widow, was not allowed to reside there permanently as the stepmother claimed that once married, a woman belongs to her husband’s family in life and in death.
Currently, she was living in a house owned by the Zheng family in the capital.
Du Peilan knew her stepmother found her unlucky and, as there was no blood relationship, was purposely making things difficult for her.
After staying in the family house for a day, she moved out.
In the Zheng family’s house, she was the sole owner, unrestricted and free, fulfilling her stepmother’s wishes.
Her close friend, Xiao Feixue, who wrote her letters, came to visit her.
"Why didn’t you let me know in advance that you were returning to the capital? I could have met you at the city gate so you wouldn’t have suffered so much."
With bandages on her forehead, Xiao Feixue looked worried, "What if you end up with a scar?"
Du Peilan appeared bitter, "A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her. Zheng Lang is gone; it doesn’t matter whether my face is scarred, as no one will be looking at it anyway."
Xiao Feixue cradled Du Peilan’s face, examining it closely. She had once been a beauty famous throughout the capital.
Perhaps due to caring for her ailing husband and enduring much hardship, her skin was no longer taut.
Fortunately, with good foundations and no shortage of silver for maintenance, she managed to retain about seventy percent of her beauty.
"Who says it doesn’t matter? Isn’t Xie Yunzhen still waiting for you? If your face gets ruined, perhaps some little vixen will lure him away in the future."
The words "little vixen" were uttered by Xiao Feixue through clenched teeth.
She and Ji Mingzhu both came from military families. Over ten years ago, General Xiao served as deputy to Ji Mingzhu’s father.
Times have changed, and now the Xiao family and Ji family are no longer in the same social circle.
Xiao Feixue and Du Peilan were the same age and married one after another. She married into the Marquis Mansion, becoming the Marchioness.
But her husband was useless, holding no official position in the court, merely a wealthy idler.
As if that wasn’t enough, he regularly brought back mistresses who annoyed her.
Xiao Feixue held resentment in her heart, seeing all young and beautiful girls as vixens seducing men.
During a previous visit to the Xie family, she had caught a distant glimpse of Ji Mingzhu.
With a captivating appearance and a graceful figure, her gait was enchanting, full of allure.
Even women like Xiao Feixue couldn’t forget her once they’d seen her.
Such a beauty roaming the household daily, wouldn’t those young gentlemen of the Xie family feel tempted?
Xiao Feixue earnestly said, "Fortunately, you returned early; otherwise, Ji Mingzhu would surely have climbed into Xie Yunzhen’s bed. This fallen noble lady would do anything shameless to preserve her wealth and status."
Du Peilan thought to herself, isn’t that so?
In that dream, Ji Mingzhu married Xie Yunzhen while pregnant.
"Miss Ji and I are not familiar, so don’t speak of her like that. If a misunderstanding arises, it would be embarrassing."
Xiao Feixue snorted, "Just looking at her seductive nature irritates me; she’s born to seduce men!"
Grasping Du Peilan’s hand, she said, "You must guard against her and ideally hurry back to Xie Yunzhen’s side. If you let her find an opening, things could get troublesome." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Du Peilan withdrew her hand, wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, "Don’t speak like that again. I was once married, how could I be worthy of him?"
Xiao Feixue couldn’t care less. She just couldn’t tolerate anyone climbing to great heights on their looks alone.
Regardless of their enchanting demeanor and extraordinary beauty, was that their reason for snatching men?
If they liked seducing men so much, why not flaunt themselves at brothels?
"Xie Yunzhen is waiting for you, which is why he hasn’t married. If you take initiative, you’ll surely have your wishes fulfilled."
Du Peilan blushed, "Stop saying such things. Ah Zhen was engaged in battles outside for the past few years, that’s why he hasn’t married, what has that to do with me?"
"Ah Zhen..." Xiao Feixue deliberately drew out the tone, "Besides you and his family elders, what other woman dares call him that?"
Nor does anyone call him Ah Zhen, not even any other women around him.
Du Peilan’s confidence grew; she truly was special to Xie Yunzhen.
That Ji Mingzhu was just an anomaly. Even if she secured Ah Zhen, she couldn’t win his heart; solving that would be easy.
Touching her forehead, she said, "I bumped my head and it hurts terribly, while Miss Ji was unconscious for three days, suffering a hundredfold more than I did. I’ve heard she’s awake now. I should apologize to her both logically and emotionally."
"You should meet her; know your enemy, then you’ll never lose!"
Du Peilan sighed, "That’s not what I meant."
"Yes, yes, yes, that’s not what you meant, but if Xie Yunzhen hears you went to the Duke Mansion, he’ll definitely go out of his way to meet you."
Du Peilan acted as if about to hit her, "You’re making things up again!"
The two of them jested and bantered, just like when they were unmarried.
After a long while, their playful laughter finally subsided.
"But speaking of, I’ve heard your stepmother has met with the Commandery Princess. It seems they’re considering arranging for Du Peifang to marry Xie Yunzhen. If the Commandery Princess is also pleased, the situation could get difficult."
Du Peilan’s smile faded slightly, "Even if Ah Zhen and I are fated not to be, marriage is always the parents’ decision, articulated by matchmakers. If the Commandery Princess favors Peifang, that would be her lucky break."
Xiao Feixue was exasperated, "Oh you, you don’t know how to fight for yourself. If you had refused to marry that sickly husband back then, you might have already been with Xie Yunzhen."
"Some things can’t be grabbed. What is meant to be yours will come back around, even after twists and turns. What isn’t will be lost even if obtained for a short while."
"That’s logical, but don’t worry too much; your sister isn’t remarkable in talent or beauty. Xie Yunzhen might not even be interested in her."
Du Peilan rotated the jade bracelet on her wrist, weighing in her heart who represented a bigger threat: Ji Mingzhu or Du Peifang.
The former had beauty, the latter had the support of elders.
Du Peilan’s heart sank, it seemed her best approach was to start with Ah Zhen.
As long as he agreed, he would remove all obstacles on his own.
...
Upon hearing that Du Peilan came with gifts to visit her, Ji Mingzhu’s first reaction was to refuse.
She didn’t want to hear or see anything related to Xie Yunzhen.
She pondered further about Du Peilan’s true intentions.
In the last life, knowing that Xie Yunzhen was married, she didn’t keep her distance. If she claimed innocence, Ji Mingzhu wouldn’t believe it.
Back then, during her pregnancy, it wasn’t likely that Du Peilan came to visit her at the mansion.
Now bringing gifts might just be an excuse to meet with Xie Yunzhen.
Ji Mingzhu knew it was unwise to assume ill-intent on others, but when it came to Xie Yunzhen and Du Peilan, she couldn’t stay rational.
She couldn’t help but suspect them with the greatest malice.
Wasn’t trampling her enough in the previous life? Did they want to use her as a scapegoat again in this life?
These shameless people, let them keep dreaming!
Given her rebirth, perhaps Du Peilan had the same fate.
Her early return to the capital seemed to be for Xie Yunzhen.
Thinking of this, her irritation grew.
She wanted no involvement in others’ messy love entanglements, avoiding a tragic end.
Ji Mingzhu candidly stated, "I’ve received your apology. I just can’t get up to receive guests, please have Madam Zheng escort her back."
Gold wore a troubled expression, "Miss, Young Master is also here, they’re at the gate of Xiao Xiang Courtyard."
