The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 21: Hoist with One’s Own Petard

Even though I had known for a long time that in Xie Yunzhen’s heart, Du Peilan held a special place.

However, hearing Gold’s words still left Ji Mingzhu feeling somewhat conflicted.

Xie Yunzhen was indifferent to everything, his greatest preference was reading in the study and handling official affairs.

Even on leisure days, it was the same.

As soon as Du Peilan arrived at the Duke Mansion, he set aside his work and, amidst his busy schedule, took time to accompany her to Xiao Xiang Courtyard.

This rare effort made her past self seem particularly ridiculous, particularly pitiable.

She was Xie Yunzhen’s wife, carrying their child in her womb, and yet to see him, she had to devise numerous excuses.

Sending food.

Sending embroidered items like pouches, clothing, and shoes.

She even spent a fortune to find rare books to please him.

Without exception, Xie Yunzhen accepted none of it.

He even turned around and gifted them to others.

Seeing that gifts would not work, later she used the child as an excuse, saying the child wanted to see their father...

At first, Xie Yunzhen agreed to see her, allowing her to serve tea in the study.

Later, perhaps due to her poor acting skills, Xie Yunzhen realized it was Ji Mingzhu who wanted to see him, not the child.

Once again, he turned cold.

Saying she was unfit to be a mother for using the child.

Thinking about it now, besides feeling bitter, Ji Mingzhu also found it laughable.

She was simply asking for pain.

He paid her no mind, yet she shamelessly stuck around.

Wasn’t this just offering her face to be slapped?

In her past life, she was just foolish.

Either divorce or focus entirely on securing her position as the Princely Heir’s wife to enjoy wealth and power.

Which path wouldn’t be better than yearning for a man’s affection?

"Miss?"

Ji Mingzhu gathered her thoughts, "Even the Young Master should not trouble the sick."

Gold hesitated, "Shall I let them come another time?"

Who could say when that would be?

Ji Mingzhu was worried about someone pretending to be ignorant and bothering her again in a few days.

"Let’s wait until I can go out."

By then, she would be heading to Yangzhou.

Xie Yunzhen and Du Peilan would have no time to play their tricks with her.

To avoid complications, it was best for her to stay at Xiao Xiang Courtyard and not go anywhere before the new year.

Gold looked at her own Miss several times, seeing no sign of her changing her mind.

So she forced herself to send the visitors away.

Madam Zheng’s wishes could be ignored, since she was the one who initiated the situation, and if Miss didn’t see her, it might just result in others gossiping.

But the Young Master was different; he was the heir to the Duke Mansion.

Everything in the house would be his eventually.

Not just the Miss, even the Second Madam must give him face.

Now he was stopped outside Xiao Xiang Courtyard, not allowed to enter, who knew what the Young Master would think?

If he bore a grudge against the Miss, what could be done?

Seeing Gold’s troubled expression, Xie Yunzhen understood.

Ji Mingzhu felt wronged over the previous day’s events.

Meeting Du Peilan at the gate, he had thought of sending someone to apologize, thinking it would clear her mind.

But she still did not accept the gesture.

Xie Yunzhen was puzzled as he hadn’t known many women, but he never met someone like Ji Mingzhu who clung to small matters.

Her heart was smaller than the eye of a needle, wouldn’t it exhaust her?

Sensing the chill from the Young Master, Gold was trembling all over.

"Madam Zheng, apologies for making you come for nothing. My Miss is still unwell, she can’t get out of bed. She has received your kind intentions, and once she recovers, if you’re free, she would like to have tea with you."

Du Peilan hadn’t expected Ji Mingzhu to refuse to see her.

Regardless of personal grievances, her title as Madam Zheng still stood.

The Zheng family too belonged to nobility, Ji Mingzhu’s treatment clearly disregarded them.

Such lack of decorum, no wonder she couldn’t win Ah Zhen’s affections even while carrying his child.

She tugged at Xie Yunzhen’s sleeve.

"I came at a bad time, causing you to accompany me for nothing. Since Miss Ji is unavailable, perhaps we should leave now."

Gold lowered her head, taking note of Du Peilan’s actions.

Who would pull at a grown man’s sleeve if not someone close?

A burning curiosity ignited within her, could the rumors she heard be true?

The Young Master and Madam Zheng...

It was understandable when both were unattached, but now one was a rising star in court, the other a widow, it seemed too scandalous!

Gold was shocked, feeling she had stumbled upon something significant.

The more you know, the faster you meet your end.

Gold bowed her head further, daring not to glance around.

Not forgetting to explain, "It’s not that she’s unavailable, it’s just that my Miss’s injuries are severe. She feels dizzy upon standing and cannot even sit up, truly unable to host guests. I ask Madam Zheng for understanding."

Du Peilan lightly touched her forehead where it was still bandaged.

"I misunderstood, thinking Miss Ji was as robust as I. Young girls are indeed delicate and need more care."

Xie Yunzhen frowned, "She truly can’t get up?"

Gold dared not look up, "Miss recently recovered from a serious illness, her body is weak, so her recovery is slow."

Xie Yunzhen gazed sharply into the courtyard.

With a snort, "She had the energy to move back to Xiao Xiang Courtyard but not to entertain guests, I think she’s doing it deliberately."

Du Peilan, not fully understanding, noted Xie Yunzhen’s dissatisfaction.

Unable to contain her glee, her smile grew more pronounced.

It seemed Ji Mingzhu indeed lacked capability.

She had never met her, but heard others comment on Ji Mingzhu.

She was a parasitic plant, beautiful as an angel.

Her figure was superb, her looks impeccable, but her talents and embroidery skills were not exceptional.

Whenever she was mentioned, the only praiseworthy aspect was her appearance.

Just from today’s occurrence, it proved Ji Mingzhu to be a mere pretty face.

There were too many beautiful shells; with Ah Zhen’s status, he had likely seen countless beauties since childhood.

And he never touched one.

He wasn’t someone drawn solely by superficial beauty.

Du Peilan secretly thought: was it possible Ji Mingzhu employed a strategy of feigned retreat?

Let her continue playing her games, for Ah Zhen despised manipulative women!

"Ah Zhen, don’t make things difficult for Miss Ji."

With her sleeve tugged again, Xie Yunzhen’s brows furrowed.

Du Peilan’s amusement was even more apparent.

"We should just leave. I would feel uneasy if we delay Miss Ji’s recovery."

Xie Yunzhen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, he withdrew his gaze.

"You’ve already apologized, there’s no need to see her again."

Du Peilan hesitated, "Wouldn’t that be too impolite, as it was my fault that Miss Ji got hurt, I should apologize in person no matter what."

"She has the energy to sulk, which means she’s not seriously harmed, and the accident happened suddenly, it wasn’t your fault."

Saying this, Xie Yunzhen deliberately raised his voice.

Even if Ji Mingzhu couldn’t hear it, someone would convey the message to her.

Xie Yunzhen knew this act was childish and silly, but without doing so, he would be suffocated with frustration.

Ji Mingzhu resented him and Du Peilan, so he might as well fulfill her wish and treat Du Peilan better.

To let her understand what digging her own grave felt like.