Chapter 3: Developing Feelings for Young Master Pei

“You, you, you!” Madam Tang Er’s fingers trembled with rage.

Tang Qingwan snapped, “No matter what I do, you should be supporting me!”

Madam Tang Er’s face turned pale and then flushed as she grew furious—not only at Jiang Nian’s ingratitude but also at her daughter’s inability to hear that Jiang Nian was actually insulting her.

“Fine! This is the kind of daughter your sister raised! There’s no way our Tang family can connect with the Jiang family! Qingwan, come back with me to the mansion!”

Madam Jiang hurriedly rose to follow her, “Second sister-in-law…”

Jiang’s father scolded, “Why are you chasing after her?”

“But second sister-in-law…”

Hearing Jiang Nian cry out in pain, Madam Jiang turned back.

“Nian Nian?”

“Mother, Miss Xiao was furious today and even hired someone to tear my mouth. If I hadn’t caught sight of Young Master Bo, I fear I would have been humiliated to despair…”

Jiang’s father, filled with righteous anger, said, “Our daughter has suffered such great injustice, and you still want to make peace with your second brother’s family? They’re clearly trying to ruin Nian Nian for their own future!”

“I’m just worried that if we completely break ties, second brother and sister-in-law will refuse to repay the money…”

“Trying to hold the debt over us! There’s no such logic in the world!” Jiang’s father stormed off in anger.

Madam Jiang felt wronged, caught between two difficult sides.

Finally, she looked at Jiang Nian softly and said, “Nian Nian, are you hurt anywhere?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “No injuries, just shaken in spirit... Mother, today’s incident was Cousin’s fault, and Aunt’s blind protection shows no good intentions. Do you still want to maintain relations with Uncle’s family?”

“But they still owe us money, and besides, we’re family—broken bones still connect by sinews…”

Jiang Nian sighed almost imperceptibly; her mother feared upsetting her own parents.

Fine. Even if her mother couldn’t bear to be harsh, Jiang Nian had her own ways to sever ties with her uncle’s family.

The sordid affairs of the concubine’s family in the male lead’s downfall—turns out it was all about her uncle’s household…

After sending her mother away, Jiang Nian suddenly remembered she still had to collect debts at the estate today.

“Green Wax… help me up, I can still fight…”

The appearance of madmen and lunatics was a heavy blow, but life must go on, and the money must be collected.

Jiang Nian climbed into the carriage, head heavy and feet light.

Just as she was about to drift off, the carriage suddenly braked sharply.

She heard her maid scream, “Miss! There’s a bloody man lying ahead! He’s blocking our carriage!”

Jiang Nian immediately snapped awake, alarm bells ringing in her heart. Could she have stumbled into another plot?

She jumped down and ran to the man, and the moment she saw his face, her scalp tingled.

The man on the ground was well-built and handsome, his eyes shattered but still shining with a fierce light!

He was clearly no ordinary man, and she dared not get involved.

The man looked up, stretching out a hand: “Miss, save me…”

Jiang Nian hesitated.

“Miss… save me…”

He was truly pitiful.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Nian asked, “What’s your name?”

“I am Pei Jiuru…”

Jiang Nian racked her brain to recall any character by that name from the books but drew a blank. She breathed a secret sigh of relief.

A fellow nobody, like herself!

She would help him.

“Carefully, lift him onto the carriage and take him to the clinic.”

“No,” Pei Jiuru grabbed Jiang Nian’s skirt, “I cannot go to the clinic—I was attacked…”

“Someone’s after you? You…”

Jiang Nian worried about inviting trouble.

The man seemed to see through her thoughts and whispered, “I will not bring trouble to you… once I recover… I will reward you handsomely…”

“Alright, I’ll help.”

As soon as Jiang Nian agreed, Pei Jiuru fainted.

Jiang Nian had a modest estate on the outskirts of the city, modest among the grand mansions. She settled him inside and summoned a doctor.

Then she braced herself to check her accounts. Half an hour later, Green Wax reported that the man had awakened, and Jiang Nian closed her ledger and went to the guest room.

Wiping the blood from his face, she noted that this man was even more handsome than Bo Yijin by a few degrees.

Jiang Nian’s mind stirred—strangers like them should help each other.

“Pei Gongzi is awake?”

Pei Jiuru propped himself up and tried to rise to greet her but collapsed heavily back onto the bed.

“No need for formalities, Pei Gongzi.”

“Thank you, Miss, for saving my life. May I ask your name?”

“Jiang Nian.”

“When I recover, I will reward you handsomely.”

Jiang Nian lowered her gaze, noticing the exquisite white jade pendant at his waist. She knew he was not short on money.

Nor was she. What she lacked was...

“Pei Gongzi, have you met with difficulties?”

Pei Jiuru, with no suspicion toward the kind and beautiful woman who saved him, spoke frankly:

“Last month, my father and mother died unexpectedly… my uncles and elder cousins are all scheming to seize my father’s estate. I came to Bianjing to prepare for the imperial examinations next spring. I was careless; I didn’t expect their reach to extend here.”

“Can’t you evade them, Pei Gongzi?”

“I purchased a residence, but I need to devote myself to study fully. It’s impossible to guard against all threats.”

“Since you’re honest with me, Pei Gongzi, I won’t hide anything either.” Jiang Nian stared at Pei Jiuru’s face, increasingly convinced this was a good idea. “I’m rushing to get married soon and want to find a husband who will live with me…”

Pei Jiuru was momentarily confused.

Jiang Nian continued, “Of course, since you have considerable wealth, it wouldn’t be proper for you to become a son-in-law. But if you’re willing, we can share a life— you help me with my urgent needs, and I ensure your peace so you can study in safety. Would you agree?”

Pei Jiuru was taken aback.

Jiang Nian asked kindly, “Do you have someone you love? Or are you already betrothed?”

“No, but marriage is a matter arranged by parents and matchmakers—one cannot be so hasty.”

“My parents have already promised me freedom in marriage. As for your family…” Jiang Nian paused, smiling softly, “Pei Gongzi, this is bold of me, but I am sincere.”

“Miss Jiang…”

“Pei Gongzi, please consider it carefully. Even if you refuse, I will care for you until you recover.”

“Alright…” Pei Jiuru was dazed, unsure if it was from his injuries or Jiang Nian’s proposal.

Jiang Nian left the estate in high spirits.

Bo Yijin harbored ill intentions toward her; Xiao Ru and Meng Yingying kept hinting at her; the only bright spot of the day was meeting Pei Jiuru.

In Bianjing, any reasonably prominent young man usually had some connection to the protagonists.

But Pei Jiuru would not.

He didn’t exist in the original story; likely, no one would have saved him today. She found him agreeable and, for now, no better option presented itself.

“Green Wax, return to the mansion.”

“Miss, are you taking a fancy to Pei Gongzi?”

“See it but say nothing.”

After speaking, Jiang Nian frowned slightly, glancing left and right. Pei Jiuru didn’t seem likely to accept, and holding a mid-celebration banquet was utterly taboo!

“This matter hasn’t even begun. Green Wax, don’t say a word in front of my parents!”