Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 044

Chapter 44: Whore

Li Sihui snorted and said disdainfully, “Because she’s about to become the prince’s consort.”

Li Wan was the eldest daughter of Marquis Weiyuan and had a prominent family background. She was fourteen years old this year and would be coming of age next year. The Yun family had already been helping her find a husband.

The first four princes were all married, leaving the remaining four princes of marriageable age: the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth. Each of these four princes had a different status due to their mothers. The eighth prince, Prince Mu, was the most favored and a favorite in the battle for the throne. The fifth prince, Li Da, was the least favored.

Even though they were all princes, their destinies would be completely different if they married different princes.

“Really? Which prince are you talking about?” An Zhi was curious. No wonder she saw Li Wan was quite proud today. It turned out that this was the reason.

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“I’m talking about the Fifth Prince.” Although Li Sihui had been warned by Madam An not to spread rumors, after all, the news had not been confirmed, but she kept no secrets in front of An Zhi. “I heard from my mother that a while ago, the Empress and the Prime Minister were both looking for a concubine for the Fifth Prince. Maybe because the two sides have been deadlocked, the Fifth Prince didn’t want to offend anyone, so he set his sights on Li Wan.”

“Given Li Wan’s status, she is indeed suitable to be the match for the Fifth Prince,” said An Zhi.

Although Marquis Weiyuan had a title now, he was only in charge of ordinary guard duties. He relied on the capital left by his ancestors and had little real power. It was most suitable for a prince like the Fifth Prince who was good at protecting himself.

“This matter is basically settled. My eldest brother has no objection.” Li Sihui sighed after she finished speaking. She thought about hers and An Zhi’s marriages and said, “Cousin, why do we girls have to get married?”

Hearing this, An Zhi was a little surprised, “Then what do you think women can do if they don’t get married?”

“There are many things. Women can also engage in business. Wasn’t Hu Yu from the previous dynasty a famous businesswoman? And why can’t women hold official positions?” Li Sihui propped up her head with both hands, a worried look on her face. “When I was in elementary school, I was much smarter than my brother. Even the teacher praised me for my talent for studying. But ever since that day, my mother never let me go to school again, saying that women don’t need so much knowledge.”

An Zhi was stunned when she heard this. She originally thought that her ideas were unorthodox enough, but she didn’t expect that Li Sihui’s ideas were even more unconventional than hers. But when she thought about it carefully, she agreed with Li Sihui’s words.

“Oh, forget it, this is the way the world is.” Li Sihui curled her lips. “By the way, cousin, how is your father’s new wife? Is she easy to get along with?”

“She’s so-so. She’s a bit short-sighted, but she can handle my father.” After An Zhi answered, she saw a little maid hurried in from outside. When she learned that Pei Yu had a fight with someone in the stable, she hurriedly said goodbye and left with Binglu.

The stable was where the servants rested, and it was full of outsiders. It was difficult for An Zhi to enter, so she asked the servant of the Li family to bring Pei Yu and the coachman out.

After about a quarter of an hour, An Zhi saw that the mask Pei Yu was wearing was broken in half, revealing half of his pretty face. She glared at him and said unhappily, “Go home first.”

She had a cold face towards Pei Yu, but after getting on the carriage, An Zhi immediately put on a smiling face.

Beat him, beat him, it was not her who was in pain anyway, as long as Pei Yu’s mask was still there, she didn’t care. But after returning home, the punishment should still be given.

After arriving at the An family’s residence, An Zhi scolded Pei Yu directly in the courtyard, “Does fighting in someone else’s house seem impressive?”

Pei Yu pursed his lips and said nothing. There was a large bruise at the corner of his lip, and there were many scars on his body.

“Tell me, why were you fighting?” An Zhi asked, and seeing Pei Yu still not saying anything, she took out the stick really intending to hit him. Did she buy a servant, or did she get herself into trouble?

At this time, Binglu came back and answered for Pei Yu why they were fighting. “Because those coachmen and servants… said you were a whore, Pei… Yu got into a fight with them.”

At first, Pei Yu was criticized for not living up to his expectations and was laughed at by the servants. Binglu didn’t say anything more this time, but only explained the reason for the fight.

Hearing the word “whore,” An Zhi’s expression froze. She waved her hand at Pei Yu and said, “Alright, you have nothing to do here. You can go.” After Pei Yu took a few steps, she added, “Go to the pharmacy. Don’t get yourself injured. It would be embarrassing if you lose next time.”

This time, An Zhi heard Pei Yu hum.

“Miss, don’t be too angry. Those people are just rude and foul-mouthed.” When Binglu heard the coachman’s reply, she wanted to rush back to the Li family and scold all the coachmen.

To say she wasn’t angry would be a lie. An Zhi really wanted to argue with those people, but what was the point? She couldn’t shut up everyone in the capital, so she could only live well and let them envy her.

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“Binglu, I’m not that petty.” An Zhi smiled at Binglu. “It’s hot today. I want to eat mung bean soup. Do you have any?”

“Yes.” Binglu knew everything was fine when she heard that her young lady wanted to eat. “The kitchen is always equipped with ice. I will go get it right away.”

Looking at Binglu’s back as she trotted away, An Zhi let out a long sigh and thought of what Li Sihui said today.

Once again, she felt the injustice of the world.

So she had to rely on herself and make herself stronger in this era when everyone looked down on women.

At the same time, Pei Que also received the news that Pei Yu had a fight with someone today.

He and Li Da were playing chess.

Li Da held a white chess piece between his fingers and looked at Pei Que inquiringly. “Do you know that everyone in the capital is talking about what your Pei family thinks?”

Pei Yu’s voluntary signing of an indenture contract to work as a servant in the An family was no longer a secret after the day Lin Shuyao came to visit.

Pei Que glanced at the chess piece in Li Da’s hand and did not answer, “Make your move quickly.”

“Hey, you didn’t understand me, did you?” Li Da put the white chess piece into the chess bowl and simply stopped playing. “I’m asking you a question. Don’t you, the Pei family, feel ashamed?”

Pei Yu leaned back lazily. “Pei Yu is no longer a member of our Pei family. He lost his own family. What does it have to do with us?”

“Are you really so cruel as to disown him?” Li Da didn’t quite believe it.

“Hmm.” Pei Que stood up and glanced at the rockery outside the window. Thinking that the orchid he had given to An Zhi had been given away by her, he felt uncomfortable. He did not want to make Li Da feel too comfortable. “Your Highness, please think about whether you should change your fiancée.”

“What do you mean?” Li Da stood next to Pei Que. “Did you find out something?”

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“I found out that Li Wan’s mother, Madam Yun, seems to be in contact with Prince Mu. I didn’t find out what their specific plan was, but it is definitely not a good thing for Your Highness.” Pei Que patted Li Da’s shoulder.

Prince Mu was also currently searching for a wife. If Li Wan could marry the favored Prince Mu, the Li family would undoubtedly see him as a better choice than marrying the lesser-favored Li Da. Furthermore, if Prince Mu succeeded in his bid for the throne, Li Wan’s future would be filled with endless possibilities.

When Li Da heard this, his face changed instantly. He had finally found a suitable candidate for the primary wife in the cracks, and the Li family also hinted that they were willing to marry him, but in the end they used him as a backup.

Moreover, he heard this news from someone else.

The more Li Da thought about it, the angrier he became. After a while, he suddenly sneered, “Since her family looks down on me so much, I’ll help them build a bridge with my eighth brother.”