As they arrived at the door, Qu Fulan couldn’t simply turn them away, but letting Miss Yu in was also out of the question.
Mrs. Pei had already stated that the Yu Family was not to be allowed inside the Pei Mansion. If Qu Fulan allowed them in, wouldn’t it be disrespectful to Mrs. Pei?
Setting aside Mrs. Pei’s dislike of the Yu Family, Qu Fulan had no relationship with Miss Yu. Though the Prince Qing and Heir Pei got along well and the two households had good relations, her interactions with Princess Qing did not an she was close to others.
Speaking of which, had she ever exchanged a single word with Miss Yu?
So how did Miss Yu have the audacity to co seeking an audience now? Moreover, bringing Princess Qing and others, clearly intending to pressure her. If she were to refuse them entry, her reputation would be ruined.
Truly a plea for help, yet creating a trap.
"Just say you’re not at ho." Pei Ji’an said, irritated. He finally had so free ti and wanted to be alone with her, but now it was disrupted.
Qu Fulan shook her head, "Avoidance isn’t a solution. If I refuse today, what about tomorrow? Will I always run away? It wasn’t my mistake, just leave it to , I have my own plans."
Then Qu Fulan changed clothes and left the house without inviting anyone inside. Instead, she clearly explained the reason in front of everyone, then openly invited them to a restaurant to discuss matters.
Qu Fulan’s explanation was simple, stating that the family patriarch’s morial day was approaching, Mrs. Pei’s health was not well recently, and it was inconvenient to host guests at ho. They could visit the Pei Mansion once Mrs. Pei recovered.
Mrs. Pei was elderly, and her health being poor occasionally was normal.
With this, who would dare say otherwise?
ntioning the Pei Family patriarch, they all thought of the cause of his death, was there more to say?
Except for Princess Qing, Miss Zhou and Tao Wan both showed uneasy expressions, as if they were being aggressive.
Indeed aggressive, they just didn’t want to admit it.
Why the exception for Princess Qing? Because she originally wasn’t there to help; she was there to stop Miss Yu, though ultimately unable to prevent her from causing a scene outside the Pei Mansion.
Initially, Miss Yu approached Princess Qing, hoping she would intervene. Although Prince Qing was just a prince with a nominal title, he still held so influence. If he were to speak on behalf of the Yu Family, they might overco their crisis.
But Prince Qing was known for avoiding factional disputes and not interfering in court politics. A re Yu Family wouldn’t make him break his own rules and provoke the Emperor’s suspicion—impossible.
Not to ntion the Yu Family, even if Princess Qing’s family faced a major crisis, Prince Qing wouldn’t be able to intervene.
Prince Qing had survived a harsh fight for the throne because he sided with the current Emperor. Now, his peace was predicated on remaining a detached prince, occasionally overseeing polo matches, dragon boat races, and other entertainnts; otherwise, his status would make the Emperor wary.
Such a sensitive identity to erge publicly? Princess Qing knew it was impossible, so she refused outright.
Nonetheless, Miss Yu was persistent, seeking help from their circle, including Miss Yuan and Miss Zou.
Unfortunately, how could these young won have faced any real crisis before? Moreover, tightly controlled by their families, they weren’t even allowed to be seen.
Even though Miss Zhou and Tao Wan usually had a good relationship with Miss Yu and wanted to help, their abilities fell short, leaving only Young Lady Pei.
If she was willing to intervene, Heir Pei certainly wouldn’t ignore it. He was handling the case himself, with him diating, everything might turn around.
Yet, they all overlooked the feud between the Pei and Yu Families, or perhaps intentionally ignored it, hoping that Young Lady Pei wouldn’t mind.
After all, since the issue wasn’t directly affecting them, they could be generous.
Princess Qing found them naive, continuously trying to stop Miss Yu, but she persisted as though possessed, barging into the Pei Family.
This was her last hope; doing nothing would an the Yu Family’s end.
"Please save my father, I know you resent the previous marriage between the Yu and Pei Families, so you don’t like . But I’m engaged now and won’t have any ties to the Pei Family. Please be rciful and help this ti!"
Miss Yu’s words were truly a reversal; initially, she was unwilling to break off the engagent with the Pei Family, later envying and rejecting Qu Fulan, yet now speaking otherwise.
Though Qu Fulan was indeed uneasy upon knowing the previous engagent between the Yu and Pei Families, Jian had assured her he wouldn’t have married Miss Yu even without those events, yet she couldn’t help but wonder, what if?
So, until Miss Yu was engaged, they were like invisible rivals, and their poor relationship was normal. Now, seeking help was truly extraordinary.
Even without the feud between Pei and Yu Families, she wouldn’t help, would it benefit her?
"Heir Pei is only responsible for investigating the case, the final judgnt cos from the Ministry of Justice; the files were sent to the Emperor, and the case is known to be decided. Seeking Young Lady Pei won’t help now." Princess Qing had repeatedly explained this, but Miss Yu wouldn’t listen.
Who could change the imperial decree?
Qu Fulan listened to Princess Qing’s words and saw her efforts to dissuade all along, full of disapproval, realizing her earlier misunderstanding—Princess Qing wasn’t siding with them, affirming Qu Fulan’s judgnt was right.
Qu Fulan felt relieved not to have chosen wrongly as a friend.
"I cannot help you." Her sentint was quite resolute.
Upon hearing this, Miss Yu knelt down, pleading, "If you can help, I’ll do anything for you, I beg you!"
Miss Zhou and Tao Wan, witnessing this, felt deeply sympathetic, imdiately speaking on her behalf, even with a hint of reproach in their tone, "Saving a life outweighs building a pagoda, why is Young Lady Pei being so unkind?"
Qu Fulan turned sideways, refusing Miss Yu’s kowtow.
"The feud between the Pei and Yu Families stands there; for you to beg is forcing others. The patriarch of the Pei Family died because of the broken engagent with the Yu Family. If I spoke for you today and Mrs. Pei was angered to death, who could bear that responsibility?"
"Enough, I said not to trouble Young Lady Pei, but you didn’t listen. What if the Pei Family blad her later, what then?" Princess Qing stated.
Having been married, she understood that being a daughter-in-law wasn’t easy. If protected by one’s husband, it was better; if not, marriage could beco a pit of tornt.
"That matter happened ages ago, it’s long past, surely the Pei Family, being magnanimous, wouldn’t mind now." Tao Wan argued.
Miss Zhou also added, "Lives are at stake; even if there’s bla, so what?"
Qu Fulan sneered, "Fine, since you’re so enthusiastic, let’s jointly report. You return and have your fathers draft guarantee letters and sign their nas, oh, including the Ruan Family, strength in numbers, right? Then I’ll persuade Heir Pei to bring it before the Emperor and plead for leniency, sharing fortune and fate, how about it?"
This ssage was clear, wasn’t she kind-hearted? Then gamble on this proposal, if Emperor agrees, all remains peaceful; if angered, sacrificing family futures for a single Yu Family, anyone dare risk?
Miss Zhou and Tao Wan suddenly fell silent.
Qu Fulan continued, "It turns out that when unrelated to oneself, everyone can act generously; but when involving personal interests, suddenly everyone becos mute. Earlier, weren’t you all sisterly and righteous? Why so silent now? I dare to gamble, do you?"
They did not dare.
Setting aside the magnitude of the case and the Emperor’s rage, attempting to convince their families to write guarantee letters was beyond their capability, as a young woman involving herself in court matters? Might risk severe punishnt from their families.
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