In the end, Heir Pei couldn’t take Qu Fulan away.
Because Madam Pei intercepted them before they could leave.
Could a son really compete with a mother whose leg injury hasn’t healed yet for someone?
Naturally, he couldn’t.
Heir Pei didn’t have the chance to properly explain anything to his mother, so he pulled her aside and subtly threatened, "If you dare acknowledge any goddaughter or godson outside, I’ll become a monk tomorrow."
Madam Pei was shocked, "Is it that serious? Even if I recognized a goddaughter or godson, it wouldn’t affect your position in my heart."
Heir Pei laughed without humor, "You can try, mother."
Of course, Madam Pei dared not try. She only had one son; she couldn’t just watch him become a monk.
So in the end, Qu Fulan attended the banquet as a guest of honor.
Since Qu Fulan wasn’t going, Heir Pei also decided not to go to Prince An’s estate outside the city, finding it uninteresting.
Upon hearing that Heir Pei didn’t want to go to the estate outside the city, Prince An directly changed the venue to a restaurant in the city, planning for the brothers to indulge, drink, and enjoy themselves, except for the eldest.
As for the others, they were standard playboys, and not playing would be a disservice to their reputation.
Especially Prince An, after a trip to the border, he fully realized he was useless, so he simply gave up trying... which, of course, was a joke.
He’s just living as he always had, what he was before, he will be in the future. As for those grand dreams, just keep dreaming. In this life, he neither has the ability nor the expectation to fulfill them. Some things can’t be achieved by mere effort; he hopes to be reincarnated into something more powerful in the next life.
"Why isn’t Miss Qu coming out?" Prince An asked.
Pei Ji’an sat far away at the head position, swaying the wine glass in his hand, speaking unhurriedly, "My mother took her to a banquet."
"Haha, it seems Miss Qu is quite popular indeed."
Pei Ji’an just smiled faintly, sipped his wine, and said nothing.
At this moment, the restaurant owner came over. With such big figures in the restaurant, he had to come over and show his face, making a good impression, followed by some performers.
"A few new songs have come out recently. Shall we perform for you gentlemen?"
Prince An waved his hand grandly, "Begin."
After a song, the performers didn’t leave but stayed to pour wine and accompany the guests.
One of the performers had his eyes fixed on Heir Pei at the head position from the moment he entered.
If only he could be taken home and become a concubine, it’s much better than singing in such a place.
Just as he was about to sit over, Pei Ji’an hadn’t yet said anything when Prince An already opened his mouth, "Do you understand the rules? Is that a place you can go? Get lost and cool off."
The four of them are just that; but how many noble sons in the Capital City don’t mix? Yet, some can gain fame at a young age, which makes them different from the rest. Can they be lumped together?
Moreover, successful people aren’t only successful in one aspect, maybe in many areas, just like Pei Ji’an.
Before he went to the border, he started to manage industries, achieving financial freedom early on without relying on his family, not being constrained.
Prince An and the others were different; even until today, they still lived off their families. Though Wei Xu and Ge Yang had positions and could draw salaries, the salaries weren’t even enough to fill a tooth gap, so they still had to rely on their families. Sometimes, when they exceed spending limits, it’s hard to explain to their families, otherwise, they’d be scolded at best or beaten at worst, quite a common occurrence, very embarrassing.
But what noble descendant isn’t like that?
Not everyone can become Heir Pei.
On Qu Fulan’s side, she was taken to a tea party by Madam Pei.
With her leg injury not fully healed, Madam Pei went out in a wheelchair, showing her character.
Being a person like Madam Pei, she naturally made acquaintances within a certain circle.
Sure enough, upon arrival, all the attendees were from the same circle.
Princesses, royal consorts, Marchioness, Ladies, and so forth, all of significant status.
Especially the Grand Princess, the emperor’s sister, who carried quite an unusual status.
Qu Fulan had never seen the Grand Princess before but had heard of her reputation, categorized by outsiders as wild.
It’s because, despite having a Prince Consort, the Grand Princess openly keeps face companions, reportedly over a dozen, akin to the emperor summoning concubines needed a roster.
Such behavior was intolerable to the public.
Yet, Qu Fulan found it very fair; why in this world can men have multiple wives and concubines while women can’t have multiple husbands and lovers?
She felt the Grand Princess did well.
Though only someone like the Grand Princess could have the confidence and qualification to keep face companions, others still needed to adhere to rules honestly.
The tea party was at the Grand Princess’s mansion, and upon arrival, Madam Pei told Qu Fulan, "We’re all our own people, no need to stand on ceremony."
After speaking, she explained that Qu Fulan was her family, asking everyone not to bully her.
Qu Fulan was about to kneel before Madam Pei; such direct words left her a bit defenseless.
Though the Grand Princess heard it, she said nothing, showing their good rapport allowed such informality.
Yet, despite their casualness, how could Qu Fulan truly relax? She didn’t have such connections, merely relying on Madam Pei.
Clearly, the Grand Princess saw Qu Fulan’s restraint and couldn’t help but comfort her, "No need to be reserved, treat this as your own home."
This was even more exaggerated than Madam Pei.
Qu Fulan roughly understood the personalities of these people. There’s a saying, birds of a feather flock together, and these people were similar in temperament to Madam Pei but more worldly.
In front of such people, being overly restrained and unable to relax would be bad, so Qu Fulan tried to integrate herself and then said with a sweet smile and a slightly mischievous tone, "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."
Sure enough, the Grand Princess laughed, "No wonder you like her, she knows manners, unlike those pretentious ones who irritate people and can’t be presented. You can come to my residence more often if you want. How old are you? If you’re not yet betrothed, I’d find some matches for you."
The Grand Princess had a conferred palace, usually referring to herself as "this palace," but today probably because they were their own people, she lazily assumed airs, referring to herself as "I" like everyone else.
Just as Qu Fulan mentioned her age, Madam Pei interrupted, "That can’t do, Fulan’s with me. How does it work if she’s at your place all the time? No need to worry about her marriage. I want to keep her with me for a few more years."
Madam Pei feared that if the Grand Princess discovered Qu Fulan’s exquisite culinary skills, she would compete for her later. Her defense didn’t carry more layered meanings.
This carefree sister forced the conscientious Grand Princess to consider thoroughly, "She has already reached the marriageable age; you can’t keep her for too long, don’t delay her."
Madam Pei wasn’t fazed, "Being a relative of Pei Mansion, who’d worry about not getting married?"
This made sense, so the Grand Princess said no more.
Married women gathering not only discussed family trivialities but also things concerning what they wore, carried, and used.
Such as where they acquired new rouge, which had a good effect upon use, or the fabric they wore was newly tributed, with only one piece. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⦿fire.net
Of course, it also included some private issues.
Listening, Qu Fulan knew her business market was large.
On the way back, Qu Fulan pondered the feasibility of new business opportunities, only to see Heir Pei and Prince Xiao standing opposite each other, tension rising, as soon as she arrived at the house.