The daily life of a cold and aloof general raising his wife

Li Shu nodded, "Yes, my eldest brother is of marriageable age."

Emperor Mingde's children are not as good as the late emperor's. He only has three sons, and they are currently living in peace. The late emperor's children were full of schemes and tricks, and Emperor Mingde suffered a lot when he was young.

As the two were talking, the sound of firecrackers rang out outside.

The bride and groom have arrived.

After the ceremony, the bride stayed in the bridal chamber while the groom was surrounded by people and went off to drink.

Jiang Shuwan and Li Shu spoke with Song Wenyin for a while before going outside to eat.

On the table

Li Shu exclaimed "Eh!"

"what happened?"

Li Shu whispered, "Sister Wan, look at that person, he looks just like Youwei."

Jiang Shuwan followed her gaze and looked over.

The woman, dressed in a light blue dress, appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old. She had a beautiful face and a pair of bright, watery eyes, and she was just like a blooming magnolia flower, pure and elegant.

Indeed, rather than saying she looks like Xie Youwei, it would be more accurate to say that this woman bears a five-tenths resemblance to Pei Shi.

Jiang Shuwan said, "This girl looks a bit unfamiliar."

"Yes."

Li Shu had never met her before.

Li Shu should have sat in the main seat, but she didn't want to eat at the same table as Li Ning. She wanted to sit next to Jiang Shuwan, so she sat down next to Jiang Shuwan.

Madam Yan, who was at the same table with them, followed their gaze and said, "That's a girl from the Pei family."

"The Pei family?"

Seeing that Jiang Shuwan was unaware, Madam Yan said cheerfully, "Didn't you know that Lord Pei, a member of the Pei family of Hedong, recently brought his entire family to the capital?"

Jiang Shuwan had no idea that she had been busy with her grandmother's affairs and organizing the banquet recently.

Li Shu said, "I have heard about that."

Then Madam Yan began to talk with Li Shu.

Jiang Shuwan had doubts in her heart. They looked so alike and even shared the surname Pei. Was it a coincidence or...?

**

Mingxiangyuan

Jiang Shuwan finished washing up and lay on the bed. Xie Huai'an, wearing his nightgown, walked into the inner room.

Jiang Shuwan thought of the girl she had met today and said, "I wonder if Mother has received our letter."

Xie Huai'an thought about Pei's current location; the messenger probably hadn't delivered the letter yet.

"The letter carrier is probably still on his way."

"I saw a young lady at the Prince An's residence today."

Xie Huai'an asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Shuwan said truthfully, "That girl looks about four or five parts like my mother."

Xie Huai'an thought for a moment and said, "Also surnamed Pei?"

Jiang Shuwan nodded.

Xie Huai'an has a good memory, so he remembers many things from his childhood.

Do you remember when I told you about the misfortunes my family suffered when I was young and how my mother had to flee?

Jiang Shuwan nodded, "I remember."

“My father was a military officer. Although he wasn’t a high-ranking official, he owned a house in the capital. Our family lived happily together until one day, my father suddenly came back. He looked flustered and told my mother and me to leave the capital. He didn’t say anything but told us to leave quickly.”

More than 20 years ago

"What happened to Brother Xuan?"

Madam Pei knew something serious must have happened, otherwise Xie Xuan wouldn't be so panicked.

Xie Xuan said in a panic, "I can't explain it in a few words. Lingyi, take Huai'an and leave quickly, go as far away as possible, and don't go back to the capital."

Pei pulled him along and said, "If we're going to leave, we'll leave together."

Xie Xuan looked at Pei Shi with tears in her eyes, filled with guilt, and said, "I'm sorry, Lingyi. I'm entrusting Huai'an to you. It's my fault, Xie Xuan, that I'm sorry."

“Brother Xuan…” Madam Pei cried.

Little Xie Huai'an, who was standing to the side, had no idea what was going to happen next. He didn't understand why his parents had suddenly started crying.

"It's too late, go!"

Xie Xuan pushed them to the side door.

Pei gritted her teeth, picked up little Xie Huai'an, and ran out.

Soon a group of soldiers broke down the door and entered.

Pei didn't go far. She hid to the side and watched Xie Xuan being taken away, covering her mouth with her hand and trying her best not to make a sound.

Xie Huai'an wanted to speak, but Pei Shi covered his mouth with her hand.

After the two of them stayed in the corner for a quarter of an hour, Madam Pei took Xie Huai'an to her parents' home.

Pei Mansion

When Pei's father heard what his eldest daughter said, he felt a chill of fear. He was afraid that Xie Xuan would bring trouble upon him.

"Father, please save Xie Xuan!" Madam Pei knelt on the ground.

Xie Huai'an also knelt on the ground and wept.

"I can't help you with this. To prevent Xie Xuan from implicating our family, you should leave." Pei's father's voice was cold.

Madam Pei looked incredulous; she hadn't expected her father to be so heartless.

"Father, I am your own daughter!"

“From this moment on, you are no longer my daughter,” Pei’s father said resolutely.

Actually, he was initially unwilling to marry his eldest daughter to Xie Xuan, a poor boy with no connections. But he didn't expect Xie Xuan to catch General Xue's eye, so he reluctantly agreed to the marriage. However, his eldest daughter has been married to him for many years, and he hasn't done a single thing for him. What use is this son-in-law to him?

When Pei's mother found out, she rushed over and heard her husband's words as soon as she arrived.

"Master..." Madam Pei wanted to plead for mercy.

"Shut up! If you dare speak up for her, I'll divorce you right now!"

Pei's mother dared not utter a sound.

Pei looked at them, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and stood up from the ground. Xie Huai'an followed suit.

"Father, Mother, this is the last time I will call you. From now on, we will never see each other again in this life!" After saying this, Madam Pei straightened her spine and left with Xie Huai'an.

Pei's mother couldn't help but cry, but she also knew all too well the fickleness of the man beside her.

After leaving the Pei residence, Madam Pei inquired everywhere and finally learned that Xie Xuan was communicating with an enemy country and was a spy. After learning this, Madam Pei dared not have any more contact with her friends in the capital. She pawned her jewelry and changed her and Xie Huai'an's clothes.

She wanted to save Xie Xuan, but before she could figure out how, she heard that he had already committed suicide by poisoning himself in prison.

When Pei found out, she was completely devastated, and Xie Huai'an realized that he no longer had a father.

Overnight, both mother and son grew up.

In fact, Xie Huai'an did not know that Pei had already bought poison, intending to go with Xie Xuan. However, she could not bear to do it when she saw the young Xie Huai'an. In the end, Pei decided to raise her son herself, as he was her and Xie Xuan's only child.

Xie Huai'an and Pei Shi embarked on a journey to escape famine.

After recalling

Jiang Shuwan looked at Xie Huai'an with eyes full of heartache after hearing what he said.

She never imagined that Xie Huai'an had such a hard childhood, and that Pei Shi had also had a difficult life.

They were widows and orphans, and even if Xie Huai'an hadn't said anything, Jiang Shuwan could guess how difficult their lives had been. It was truly remarkable that they had managed to survive until now.

Xie Huai'an said these things not to gain Jiang Shuwan's sympathy, but simply because he didn't want to keep anything from her.

"Perhaps the girl you saw is related to your mother by blood, which is why they look somewhat alike."

"Maybe."

Jiang Shuwan now understood why Madam Pei disliked staying in the capital and always wanted to return to Qingshan Town.

Seeing that Jiang Shuwan was unhappy, Xie Huai'an said, "It's all in the past now. I'm not telling you this to make you worry."