From Duan Miaomiao's intermittent crying, Pei Xuan gradually pieced together the true situation.
It turns out that Duan Miaomiao's father, Duan Zhengqing, the head of the Duan family, is one of the staunch supporters of Crown Prince Xiao Yufeng.
In order to win credit in front of Xiao Yufeng, he planned to bring Pei into the prince's camp, and the breakthrough point he chose was Pei Xuan.
The task of contacting Pei Xuan naturally fell on his daughter Duan Miaomiao, because she and Pei Xuan were studying in the same Imperial College, so she had the convenience of being close to each other.
Duan Zhengqing didn't care about his daughter's feelings at all, and forced the thirteen-year-old Duan Miaomiao to use her beauty to seduce Pei Xuan, hoping to lure Pei Xuan to come to his house for a detailed discussion.
"Be good, don't cry, don't cry." With Pei Xuan's patient comfort, Duan Miaomiao's crying gradually subsided a lot, but her face was still full of worry, so Pei Xuan simply agreed, "Don't worry, I will visit your home tomorrow."
"Really?" Duan Miaomiao burst into laughter. "You won't lie to me, will you?"
"Of course not." Pei Xuan assured her with a smile.
Since Duan Miaomiao was the bait that came to his doorstep, Pei Xuan became bolder.
Although you don't have to swallow it in one gulp, you should at least taste it.
He first tentatively placed a light kiss on Duan Miaomiao's smooth forehead, then moved down to kiss her cheek.
Duan Miaomiao did not struggle or dodge, but her head drooped and her cheeks were as red as a steamed lobster.
Pei Xuan thought about it and felt that it was not time to act rashly, so he took a step back and let her go.
Duan Miaomiao was obviously relieved, and quietly found an excuse to leave.
Pei Xuan watched her back with a lingering feeling, then turned around and saw Pei Taotao staring at him motionlessly.
"What's wrong?" Pei Xuan felt strangely guilty. Could it be that Pei Taotao despised him for attacking a real little girl? If that were the case, he would have an excuse to punish this little she-cat.
"The little female cat has finished eating." Pei Taotao nodded towards the empty plate on the dining table.
Pei Xuan was speechless. This little female cat really had no interest in anything other than food.
He picked up his phone and ordered another meal for Pei Taotao.
The next morning, Pei Xuan went to Duan Miaomiao's home as promised.
Like the Pei family, the Duan family's main residence is located near the palace and is surrounded by a manor.
After being welcomed into the living room by the butler, a father and son were sitting upright waiting for him.
As a junior, Pei Xuan was the first to salute them. Then, through the introduction of the housekeeper, Pei Xuan knew that the middle-aged man in front of him was Duan Zhengqing, the head of the Duan family, and the young man was his second son Duan Shuming. His eldest son Duan Shuyuan was away on business.
Duan Zhengqing was tall and strong, with a fierce look on his face. Even Pei Xuan couldn't help but feel afraid when he saw him.
Before coming here, Pei Xuan had already learned that Duan Zhengqing was an important figure in the imperial military and held military power.
He was violent by nature and would often beat and scold his subordinates and even his wife and daughter. Only his two sons were rarely beaten because they were of the same kind as him.
Growing up in such a family environment, it is easy to explain Duan Miaomiao's timid, weak and vulnerable character.
"Pei family kid, you should know why I asked you to come here, right?" Duan Zhengqing's voice was as thick as his waist. "If you're not an idiot, you should understand. But if you really are an idiot, then get out of here as soon as possible."
"My father is quite blunt, Master Pei, please forgive me." Duan Shuming, who was as tall as Duan Zhengqing but looked less fierce, tried to smooth things over. "But he's not wrong, Master Pei. You know what we mean, right?"
Pei Xuan nodded: "I can guess a little."
"Okay, since you're not stupid, I'll tell you straight away."
Duan Zhengqing spoke non-stop, "The Emperor has been ill, and that woman from the Wei family has been ruling the country behind the scenes for ten years. Although she doesn't have the title of Empress, she's actually the Empress. Her eldest daughter, Xiao Yulan, took advantage of the situation and wanted to ascend the throne as the legitimate Empress. How can this be possible? It's a pity that the heads of the eight great families are not united. The head of the Changsun family is a womanizer, so it's okay for her to side with Xiao Yulan, but that pretty boy from the Yu family, who's henpecked, has also gone off to join the Princess Party. As for the rest, the Wei family, the Yuchi family, the Du family, and even your Pei family are all fence-sitters, swaying to both sides. No one is willing to stand up to defend the Crown Prince's status. Tell me, is this shameful or not?"
Pei Xuan was stunned for a moment when he was suddenly asked this question. He answered cautiously, "I dare not make any comments about my father's behavior."
"Okay, you don't say bad things about your father. You're a filial son. I like that." Duan Zhengqing nodded. "Then tell me about the other three families."
Pei Xuan carefully considered his words: "As far as I know, there has been no petition requesting the dethronement of the Crown Prince yet."
"Alas, isn't it just a matter of time? If it really comes to that, it will be too late!" Duan Zhengqing pointed, "I can see that you are just as cunning as your father. But let me tell you, you have an older sister just like the prince, and your sister was born to the legitimate wife, so it's legitimate, while you are a bastard. If you want to inherit the Pei family, will that girl Xiao Yulan allow it? Apart from supporting the prince, you have no other choice."
If Pei Xuan didn't have a system, then this would indeed be the only move he could make.
But Pei Xuan has the system, so he can make more moves.
However, in front of Duan Zhengqing, Pei Xuan pretended to be convinced: "You are right, but my father is the one who calls the shots in the Pei family now. I am just an illegitimate child with little influence. What can I do?"
"Convince your father to side with the Crown Prince. That's what you can do," Duan Zhengqing said. "I heard your father is trying every possible way to legitimize you and remove your illegitimate status. It shows how much he values you. He's willing to listen to what you say."
Pei Wanjun is an extremely selfish person who will not listen to anyone except himself.
Pei Xuan secretly complained, but still agreed: "I will do my best to persuade him."
Seeing Pei Xuan nodded, the Duan family father and son looked at each other and smiled with satisfaction.
Duan Zhengqing leaned back, half lying on the sofa, while Duan Shuming stepped forward and said to Pei Xuan with a smile, "Mr. Pei, what do you think of my sister?"
Pei Xuan spoke the truth: "Your sister is very beautiful and well-behaved."
Duan Shuming continued to ask: "Then are you willing to marry her?"
It was the first time that Pei Xuan saw someone so eager to send his daughter and sister off, and his expression almost froze.
He thought for a moment and said, "I would naturally be willing to marry a beauty like your sister, but the empire has a law that prohibits direct descendants of the eight great families from marrying each other..."
"It doesn't matter." Duan Shuming smiled confidently, "You are an illegitimate child, which falls into a gray area. After the crown prince ascends the throne, he can grant you a marriage with a special decree. As for now, you two can get engaged first."