By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

Chapter 113 Puppet Show

After having a great time, the two didn't rush back to the city.

Since this place was close to the Plum Garden, the two of them went there to bathe and change their clothes. Lunch was already prepared, so they had lunch there.

After lunch, Pei Rujing looked at Wen Zongji with great anticipation and asked, "Where are we going next?"

Wen Zongji pulled her to the bedside: "Take a nap first, we'll talk after you wake up."

Pei Rujing let Wen Zongji hold her as she lay down, turned to face him, and found a comfortable spot to lean against him: "It's okay to sleep for a while."

Upon seeing this, the servants outside quietly withdrew so as not to disturb their masters' rest.

Tingzhu, lively and curious, asked softly, "Granny, do you know what birthday gift the young master prepared for the county princess?"

These women were all Pei Rujing's confidantes, serving her closely every day, and they all knew very well what today meant for Wen Zongji and Pei Rujing.

It's not just about turning seventeen.

Granny Feng shook her head: "The young master usually only takes Anfeng and Changdong with him when he goes out. How could I know what the young master is planning?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's gazes immediately fell on An Feng and Chang Dong, who were standing to the side.

An Feng turned away, pretending not to hear.

Changdong was good at socializing and had a lot of contact with the maids in the main house on a regular basis, so it was impossible for him to pretend not to hear like Anfeng did.

He shrank back and chuckled sheepishly, "Granny, sisters, please forgive me. The young master wouldn't allow it, so how could I dare to speak up?"

Cai Ling said disappointedly, "I really want to know."

Granny Feng said, "Don't be so curious. Go and tell the kitchen to prepare water so that the county princess and her husband can wake up and you can help them wash up."

"Yes, Granny."

Granny Feng still held considerable authority; once she spoke, no one dared to question anything further.

……

After a good night's sleep, Wen Zongji and Pei Rujing got up, washed up, and left Plum Garden.

This time, the two did not linger outside the city and went directly back to the capital by carriage.

Wen Zongji had the guards take the horse back to the Marquis's residence, and then he took Pei Rujing to another place.

The carriage traveled through streets and alleys before finally stopping in front of a courtyard. There was an osmanthus tree in front of the courtyard, but it was not the season for osmanthus to bloom.

Wen Zongji helped Pei Rujing down from the carriage.

Pei Rujing looked around at this unfamiliar place, completely bewildered: "Where is this? Why are we here?"

The guards behind him, now in an unfamiliar place, instinctively became wary of their surroundings.

It wasn't until Wen Zongji spoke up: "This is the courtyard that I had Mao Zheng buy."

Upon hearing this, the tense atmosphere immediately eased considerably.

Pei Rujing was stunned: "You bought it? What are you buying the yard for?"

Pei Rujing has no shortage of houses, as the eldest princess, the Duke of Pei, and the Emperor of Shun'an have all given her many.

Wen Zongji pulled Pei Rujing along and pushed open the door to go inside: "Naturally, we need a place to celebrate the county princess's birthday."

Hearing this, Pei Rujing felt a warm current well up in her heart and said sweetly, "You bought a courtyard just to celebrate my birthday?"

Wen Zongji looked at her with a smile: "Isn't that reason enough?"

Pei Rujing was delighted, but said arrogantly, "If that's all you've got, you can ask me for them. I have many houses."

Wen Zongji said, "This is to celebrate the county princess's birthday. If we were to borrow her courtyard, how could that express my gratitude?"

Pei Rujing feigned a complaint: "I think you're just too embarrassed to ask me for help."

Wen Zongji grasped her hand and looked closely at her: "Does the county princess like it?"

The two looked into each other's eyes, and Pei Rujing smiled broadly, saying sweetly, "I like it."

"That's enough. Let's go see the gift I prepared for you."

Wen Zongji led Pei Rujing by the hand, admiring the scenery on both sides of the path as they walked into the backyard and then straight into the main courtyard.

As soon as she entered, Pei Rujing saw a small stage set up in the middle, with various puppets dressed in different clothes and costumes.

This is clearly a stage for puppet shows.

Pei Rujing was stunned: "This is the birthday gift you prepared?"

Wen Zongji corrected: "That's just one of them. I wrote a play called 'A Twist of Fate,' which tells our story. This person is very famous in the capital for performing puppet shows, so I invited him to perform this play for us."

Pei Rujing's eyes lit up, and she immediately became interested: "Our story?"

Wen Zongji nodded: "However, I added some creative elements to it, and it's not entirely based on our story."

Pei Rujing pouted: "Why not write it exactly according to our story?"

Wen Zongji said helplessly, "Drama has an ending, but our story has only just begun."

Pei Rujing suddenly realized, "That's true."

The two sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard, and Qinghe and the others served them fruits and tea.

Wen Zongji waved his hand: "Let's begin."

As Wen Zongji spoke, the puppet show began.

The first scene is the day after their wedding, when the two go to the main room to serve tea.

Upon seeing this, Pei Rujing leaned close to Wen Zongji's ear and whispered, "Why start with the tea ceremony?"

Wen Zongji replied, "Does the county princess perhaps want people to know that you gave the groom a wedding scale on your wedding night?"

Pei Rujing shut her mouth.

She had almost forgotten about it.

Wen Zongji had carefully considered where to begin this play.

His first meeting with Pei Rujing was not pleasant, which was exactly the kind of conflict needed for a play. However, he wrote the play mainly for Pei Rujing, hoping it would move her.

In this way, there's no need to marry into the family if there was an unpleasant experience at the beginning, and the same goes for the wedding night.

That's why Wen Zongji placed the tea ceremony in the first act.

As the drama unfolds, they seem to be watching scenes from the past, including arguments, cold wars, and sweet moments.

Seeing "himself" on the stage, he flew into a rage, smashing things indiscriminately, and the puppeteers kept imitating the sound of breaking porcelain.

Pei Rujing asked, "Did I break so many things?"

Wen Zongji didn't say anything, but just glanced at her, giving her a look that she could interpret herself.

Pei Rujing was a little embarrassed and said stiffly, "That was before. I haven't lost my temper in a long time, and my mother even praised me for having a better temper."

Wen Zongji nodded: "That's true."

Gradually, the development of the drama outpaced their real-life progress, and later, they had children.

It's a daughter!

Pei Rujing looked at him: "You want a daughter?"

Wen Zongji said, "With a face like the county princess's, it would be such a pity if she didn't have a daughter."

Hearing him praise her appearance so highly, Pei Rujing smiled and said, "That's true. But daughters can be born later, it's better to have a son first, so that she can be like me, with an older brother who loves me."

Wen Zongji took her hand and smiled gently, "Whatever happens, happens."