Pan Haiyun's words were actually a euphemistic rejection. As soon as he said this, Liu Yingwei didn't dare to say anything more. Everyone in the room tacitly skipped over the matter of Liu Yang's marriage that the old Madam Pan had proposed.
Liu Yang didn't dare to talk about the interesting stories of the imperial examinations as he did before Pan Haiyun arrived. He just answered submissively whenever Pan Haiyun asked a question. Before long, a maid outside announced, "The eldest Miss and the son-in-law are here."
As soon as the words fell, the door curtain was lifted. Pan Yueqing looked towards the light and saw a dashing man and a beautiful woman entering. It was Pan Yingqian and Yao Zhen, the current Earl of Pingnan.
Pan Yingqian was dressed in brocade embroidered with blooming peonies. She was holding a large, snow-white cat in her arms. She gracefully curtsied to the old Madam Pan sitting in the main seat, saying, "Paying my respects to Grandmother, and to Father and Mother. Granddaughter and my husband have come to ask Grandmother for some tea early in the morning. Grandmother mustn't dislike us."
"Paying my respects to Grandmother and to Father-in-law," Yao Zhen, the Earl of Pingnan beside her, saluted in the direction of Pan Haiyun. He didn't bow his hands in the direction of Liu Yingwei but just nodded slightly. Then his eyes were completely fixed on Liu Ya, who was wearing a yellow jacket embroidered with peaches.
"Recently, the Ministry of Rites has submitted a lot of memorials impeaching you, son-in-law, for the affair at the Sandalwood Pavilion. Have you finally thought of a good excuse to come and see me?" Pan Haiyun picked up the tea cup and asked Yao Zhen, his tone anything but polite.
The affair at the Sandalwood Pavilion? Pan Yueqing lowered her eyebrows, and her heart stirred. In her previous life, the First Prince had fallen in love with a courtesan at the Sandalwood Pavilion. But the woman didn't have feelings for the First Prince. Instead, she favored Yao Zhen, the Earl of Pingnan. So the First Prince was consumed by jealousy and had his cronies impeach Yao Zhen for a long time. But later, for some unknown reason, that woman and another merchant were found dead in the outskirts, and the situation reversed, making it seem that the First Prince had killed for love.
This matter was originally insignificant. But later, when Qi Sicheng wanted to get rid of the people around the First Prince, at her suggestion, the old affairs were brought up again, completely eliminating the possibility of the First Prince ascending the throne.
It turned out that the very beginning of all this was right here.
Yao Zhen's face turned awkward, and he forced a couple of laughs. He bowed to Pan Haiyun and said, "Father-in-law, please spare me. There was a reason for this matter. I was made a scapegoat for a noble person." Seeing that Pan Haiyun's expression was neither smiling nor serious, he didn't dare to say more and silently tugged at Pan Yingqian's arm.
"Father, let's not talk about men's affairs outside the home here," Pan Yingqian rolled her eyes slightly and shifted the topic to Pan Yueqing, who was sitting beside Pan Haiyun. "I heard that Second Sister has returned to the capital. How is your health?"
"Thank you, Eldest Sister, for your concern. I'm in good health," Pan Yueqing replied with a smile. Inadvertently, she noticed that the pattern of the curtain behind Liu Yang was rather peculiar and couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Pan Yingqian leisurely took her seat and stroked the fur of the big cat. Then she turned her gaze to Liu Ya, but the smile on her face didn't reach her eyes. She just said, "Cousin, you've become even more charming after not seeing you for a while. It seems that Uncle won't be able to keep you at home for a few more years."
"What Cousin said... I'm still... still young," Liu Ya blushed shyly and hid in the old Madam Pan's arms, not daring to say more. She looked extremely cute and delicate.
"If I remember correctly, you're a bit older than Yue girl. If there's a chance, you should be properly matched," Pan Yingqian gently stirred the tea in her cup. She seemed casual, but in fact, her words were pointed. "In three days, there will be a tea party at our Earl's Mansion. I hope Second Sister and Cousin will do me the honor of coming to have fun."
Upon hearing this, Liu Ya's eyes lit up slightly. Perhaps realizing her gaffe, she turned her head aside, bit her handkerchief, and smiled charmingly. She said softly, "Grandmother, look at Second Cousin..."
The old Madam Pan raised her eyes and smiled meaningfully. "Haiyun dotes on his daughter and isn't willing to discuss her marriage too early. Maybe this is just a waste of effort."
"Second Miss, you shouldn't look at your cousin like that," Liu Yingwei followed the old Madam Pan's words and glanced at Pan Yueqing, who seemed to be staring blankly in the direction of Liu Yang. She covered her mouth halfway and smiled kindly.
Pan Yueqing then realized that everyone's eyes were focused on her. Pan Haiyun turned his head and his eyes were filled with blame and sternness. Just as she was about to open her mouth to ask what was going on, Liu Yang stood up first and said, "Second Cousin! I don't have that... kind of intention towards Second Cousin. Although I have someone in my heart, it's not my cousin."
"Mr. Liu, you've misunderstood. I was looking at the hidden patterns on the curtain behind you," Pan Yueqing lowered her eyebrows, picked up the tea cup, and took a sip.
"Yue'er doesn't need to dodge the topic. Your cousin passed the imperial examination and became a scholar this year. He's very promising..." Pan Yingqian looked at Pan Yueqing's expression and still hoped that the Liu family could successfully form an alliance with the Pan family. After all, the Liu family was her legitimate maternal family.
"What are you saying, Eldest Sister?" Pan Yueqing sat up straight, lowered her eyebrows, and looked at the tea cup in her hand. "My marriage will naturally be decided by Father. As an innocent young lady without a sweetheart, why should I dodge the topic? Besides, talking about cousins, my real cousins are the three young masters of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion."
"Mr. Liu passed the imperial examination this year and became a scholar. How could such a talented person not understand the propriety between men and women? What kind of nonsense are you talking about!" Pan Yueqing deliberately knocked the tea cup on the table and looked at the old Madam Pan sitting in the main seat. "I'm an outsider and shouldn't have said these words. But I'd like to ask Mr. Liu, at the beginning of your academic path, how can you already have someone you like?"
The word "outsider" immediately made Pan Haiyun's face turn a mix of green and purple. That's right, this whole family was from the Liu family. Only Pan Yueqing was the only daughter of the late mistress, Su Lan. In this Ci'an Pavilion filled with laughter and chatter, this word "outsider" was both appropriate and heart-breaking.
"I..." Liu Yang opened his mouth, about to reveal the name of the person he liked, but was interrupted by Pan Yingqian with a smile. "Forget it. If Yue'er says there's nothing, then there's nothing. We're all relatives, and it's okay to have a bit of a joke."
"Miss, even a maid from a humble background like me can't help but say a few words about this," Wan'er stepped forward. Although she said she was asking for forgiveness, she didn't wait for permission before speaking. "Relatives can be divided into close ones and distant ones. The close cousins of our Miss are from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, and even the more distant ones can be considered relatives to some extent with the imperial family. The relatives of Concubine Liu are just relatives in name to our Miss. Strictly speaking, the nephew of Concubine Liu can't even be considered a real relative of our Miss."
"Even if we assume the most extreme situation, for an ordinary boy and girl, their reputation is at stake, and they shouldn't be teased like this," Wan'er's eyes were sharp as she looked at Pan Yingqian. "I'm just a maid and don't know the reasons behind your words, Eldest Miss."
"When did Second Sister get such a sharp-tongued maid?" Pan Yingqian had a magnanimous smile on her face, but she secretly pinched the cat where others couldn't see. The cat was startled and let out a scream as it pounced towards Wan'er's face.
Pan Yueqing quickly grabbed Wan'er's arm and pulled her aside. With her other hand, she swiftly grabbed the cat's neck and smiled. "Eldest Sister, a beast is still a beast. It can't stand a few words. Next time, no matter how much you cherish it, don't bring it here again."