RPAGF Chapter 227 Stealing Someone Else's Beloved
Chapter 227 Stealing Someone Else's Beloved
"What are you looking at?"
Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of her. Wen Jiayue snapped back to reality and realized how ridiculous her guess had been.
Dragonfly Brother's family has already moved; they can't possibly move to the Duke's mansion, can they?
The Duke of Qi never mentioned having a long-lost son.
Looking up at the steps again, the figure of the Duke of Qi's heir was nowhere to be seen.
Wen Jiayue couldn't help but wonder if her misjudgment just now was also her imagination.
Having heard that this prince had lived in a temple for nine years, she thought he might have acquired some Buddhist qualities, which was why she felt a sense of familiarity and drew herself closer to someone she knew.
Wen Jiayue shook her head, banishing these absurd thoughts from her mind.
"Let's go."
Shen Funian didn't move, looking at her suspiciously.
"Were you looking at that heir of the Duke of Qi just now?"
Wen Jiayue subconsciously denied it: "Of course not."
Shen Funian had always suspected that she would have an affair. If she found out that she was indeed looking at the prince, that would be terrible.
"You answered so quickly, you must be hiding something," Shen Funian snorted. "I'm going to tell my older brother later."
Wen Jiayue said helplessly, "Don't talk nonsense."
Shen Fuhan is no good either; he even suspected her and Shen Fuyou.
These two are truly siblings; each one is more outrageous than the last.
Shen Funian pressed further, "You really didn't see it?"
"It's so dark, you can't see anything even if you look," Wen Jiayue scolded her, "Don't think nonsense."
Shen Funian suddenly regained her confidence.
"Forget it, it won't matter if you see it. Anyway, you're definitely not as handsome, dashing, charming, and elegant as my older brother."
Wen Jiayue: "..."
Back at the mansion, the two parted ways at a fork in the road.
Shen Funian gave Wen Jiayue the things she had bought for her.
"Here's my reward for accompanying me shopping. Keep it safe, I'm off!"
Before Wen Jiayue could refuse, she was already carrying large and small bags.
She paused for a moment, then shook her head and chuckled. Shen Funian was truly generous.
Wen Jiayue returned to the main courtyard, and the guards also returned to their studies.
One of the guards went to the main hall to report: "My lord, the lady has returned to the manor."
Shen Fuhan was having drinks with Pei Huaijin when he heard this, so he nodded slightly and didn't ask any further questions.
Pei Huaijin said gently, "Just now when I entered the manor, I happened to see two women, and I suppose one of them is my sister-in-law."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "However, I did not disturb you rashly and went straight into your residence. Now that I think about it, it seems a bit impolite. I hope Brother Shen will forgive me."
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuhan's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
"It's alright. My wife doesn't like seeing strangers anyway, so Your Highness doesn't need to worry about it."
Pei Huaijin raised his wine cup and clinked it with his: "In that case, I am relieved."
Shen Fuhan didn't want to bring this up again and asked about what happened last night.
"After the young master returned to the manor, did the Second Young Master Pei make things difficult for you?"
Pei Huaijin smiled wryly and said, "What's so difficult about it? We're family. Perhaps I've been away from home for too long and have grown distant from my second brother. I'm sure things will get better in a while."
Shen Fuhan did not respond.
Since Pei Huaijin still wanted to try harder, it wasn't appropriate for him, as an outsider, to say too much.
Pei Huaijin hesitated before speaking, "Brother Shen, do you think my second brother will still treat me sincerely?"
Shen Fuhan fell silent.
Over the years, Pei Huaiying not only claimed to be the heir apparent, but also spread rumors that Pei Huaijin had died long ago.
Perhaps because both were equally dear to him, and Pei Huaijin was far away, the Duke of Qi let Pei Huaiying's actions go unchecked. In any case, the Duke of Qi did not take any action.
But now that Pei Huaijin has returned, the two brothers are about to become bitter enemies, and the Duke of Qi will inevitably have to make a choice.
As for Pei Huaijin's problem...
After a moment's hesitation, Shen Fuhan replied truthfully, "No."
Pei Huaijin paused for a moment upon hearing this, but his gentle and refined face still maintained a calm smile.
"I've long heard that Brother Shen is straightforward, and I was wondering how far I could go. It's true that seeing is believing."
Shen Fuhan said calmly, "I'm just telling the truth."
“Actually, I know it in my heart,” Pei Huaijin said sadly. “My second brother has too much prejudice against me. If he insists on wanting the position of heir, I will give it to him.”
Shen Fuhan said, "Even if you give it to him, he won't feel brotherly affection for you."
“Brother Shen, every word you say is like a knife to my heart,” Pei Huaijin said with a wry smile. “My second brother was perfectly fine when I left, how could he have turned out like this…”
Shen Fuhan couldn't offer any words of comfort and silently drank his wine.
Pei Huaijin was also surprised to find that he had only been pouring out his grievances and hadn't talked about anything else.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "I've heard that Brother Shen's collection of calligraphy and paintings is exceptional. Would I have the honor of seeing them?"
Shen Fuhan agreed and led him to the tea room next to the study.
This place houses a collection of calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, almost covering all four walls.
Pei Huaijin couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Brother Shen has quite a collection! You even have a masterpiece by Su Shi."
Shen Fuhan generously said, "If you like it, I'll give you one."
"Is that really true?" Pei Huaijin asked in surprise. "I won't stand on ceremony with Brother Shen."
Shen Fuhan nodded and said, "Of course it is true."
Pei Huaijin admired each painting one by one and said regretfully, "It's a pity that Su Shi's most famous painting, 'Bright Moon and Green Bamboo,' is not included."
Shen Fuhan said, "In the study."
Pei Huaijin's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Brother Shen, may I go and take a look?"
Shen Fuhan said in advance, "I won't send this one."
Pei Huaijin couldn't help but chuckle: "Of course, I only want to feast my eyes, I don't want to take away what others love."
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuhan led him to the study.
The painting "Bright Moon and Green Bamboo" was hanging on the wall behind the desk. Shen Fuhan pointed it out to him, but when he glanced at the desk out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly paused.
I almost forgot, Wen Jiayue's painting is still displayed here.
Some time ago, he found it inconvenient to put the paintings on the bookshelf, so he placed Wen Jiayue's paintings on his desk and admired them every day.
Since his study was rarely visited, he didn't put the paintings away.
Pei Huaijin's arrival today was so sudden that I had forgotten about this matter.
Shen Fuhan quickly covered the painting with his hands.
Pei Huaijin, however, still saw the whole picture and raised his eyebrows slightly.
This painting looks very familiar.
If I remember correctly, there is also a note written by him in the lower right corner.
Seeing Pei Huaijin staring at the painting in his hand, Shen Fuhan offered an explanation.
"It was painted by my wife, not by a famous artist."
Pei Huaijin snapped out of his reverie and said gently, "However, for Brother Shen, this painting should be more precious than all other calligraphy and paintings."
Shen Fuhan nodded slightly.
Pei Huaijin's gaze swept across the golden nanmu wood frame of the painting.
"Brother Shen and his wife are truly a loving couple."
After saying that, he turned around and continued to admire the painting "Bright Moon and Green Bamboo".
The couple had a deep and loving relationship.
Shen Fuhan smiled slightly; no one had ever said that before.
He silently repeated the words twice, and found them to be especially pleasing to the eye.