Chapter 12
Chapter 12
After finishing her punishment of kneeling in the ancestral hall, Pei Xuanfei ran sobbing to Mingshou Court.
“Grandmother.” She threw herself across Dowager Lady Pei’s lap and wept. “Grandmother, you must avenge me!
“That wretch Xing Shuwei has made me suffer so terribly!”
As she spoke, she rose and pointed to her red, swollen face. Then she pulled up the hem of her skirt to show Dowager Lady Pei her swollen knees. “She is responsible for all of this! If not for her, why would Father have dealt me such a cruel punishment?”
Dowager Lady Pei had already heard roughly what had happened. Stroking her head, she comforted her. “Don’t worry. Grandmother will certainly avenge you!”
Pei Xuanfei hugged her knees and shook them. “Make her marry into the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate as soon as possible! I cannot wait to see how that scoundrel in the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate torments her!”
“Very well,” Dowager Lady Pei agreed. “I have always doted on you, so naturally, I will always stand on your side. How could that little wretch compare to you in the slightest? I will find a way to marry her off to that scoundrel in the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate as soon as possible.”
…
Xing Shuwei had suffered quite a fright during the day. Fortunately, Pei Xianjing did not send anyone to summon her that night, and she managed to get a decent night’s sleep.
Early the next morning, Qiutong helped her dress and arrange her hair.
“We still need a thick layer of powder to hide these marks. If anyone in the estate sees them, you will have no peaceful days ahead, Miss.” Qiutong carefully applied the powder for her.
“Miss, if the Eldest Young Master marries the Princess, do you think she will allow him to take concubines?”
“Why do you ask?” Xing Shuwei raised her eyes to look at herself in the mirror.
Although she had not slept very well, she remained bright-eyed and lovely, radiant with every glance.
“This maid was thinking, what if we cannot leave the Duke’s estate?
“If you have to live under the Princess’s authority… I fear life will be very difficult for you, Miss.
“This maid heard from the Fourth Young Master that Princess Jin’an was raised in the lap of luxury.
“She may look delicate and charming, but in truth, she is capricious, domineering, and difficult to provoke.”
Pei Guofei obtained all his information from the young scions of aristocratic families.
The chosen sons and daughters of aristocratic families entered the palace as study companions to the princes and princesses.
This information could not be wrong.
“Qiutong, don’t waste your thoughts on such useless things. We will leave the Duke’s estate.” Xing Shuwei’s voice was filled with certainty.
“I will first pay my respects at Mingshou Court and Panlin Court. After I return, we will find a way to go out.”
No matter how hateful Dowager Lady Pei was, she was still Xing Shuwei’s great-aunt. As long as Xing Shuwei lived in the Duke’s estate, she had to observe the proper courtesies.
And Pei Xianjing’s legal mother lived in Panlin Court. Of everyone in the Duke’s estate, Xing Shuwei depended upon Pei Xianjing most, so she naturally did not dare show the slightest neglect toward his mother.
Paying morning respects and taking her leave at night were the bare minimum. She also had to be ready to serve as a maid in the court at any time, attending to whatever needed doing.
When Xing Shuwei arrived at Panlin Court, breakfast had yet to be prepared.
“Lady Pei said she was craving the Qizhou dishes you make, Miss Xing. We will have to trouble you with all the food for our court today,” Matron Gao said to Xing Shuwei.
As usual, Xing Shuwei asked, “Did Lady Pei mention anything in particular she wished to eat?”
“You know her tastes better than anyone. Prepare whatever you think best.” As Matron Gao spoke, she ushered her into the small kitchen.
This had been Xing Shuwei’s normal life throughout her four years in the Duke’s estate.
Whenever Lady Pei craved the food she cooked, Xing Shuwei became a cook and personally prepared the meal.
“Miss.” Qiutong followed her inside and lowered her voice, complaining, “They truly bully you far too much.
“Back when you lived at home, you never had to lift a finger, and more than a dozen maids waited on you. Yet now, you have to let a group of servants order you about.”
Xing Shuwei shook her head, signaling for her to stop. “It is only a small matter, not worth quibbling over. I need something to pass the time. Otherwise, the days would be too difficult to endure.”
With that, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
The conversation in the courtyard drifted inside as well.
“She only has the chance to curry favor with Lady Pei because Lady Pei once accompanied Master Pei to Qizhou for half a year twenty years ago and developed a taste for Qizhou cuisine.
“Otherwise, how could a lowborn little wretch like her be worthy of serving Lady Pei?”
Matron Gao ate her iced curds as she dredged up the past.
“Why does Master Pei treat Lady Pei so well?
“Why, back in Qizhou, Lady Pei took a knife wound for Master Pei and nearly lost her life.
“Before Master Pei had even returned, he sold off the concubine he had previously taken into the estate.”
“Ah, Master Pei loves Qizhou cuisine too. He must be thinking of all Lady Pei did for him.”
Xing Shuwei pricked up her ears.
The concubine once kept by Pei Congxian, the First Master, was a taboo subject in the Duke’s estate. No one was ever allowed to mention her.
Had Matron Gao drunk too much today? How could she even blurt out such a thing?
Sure enough, the next moment, Lady Pei emerged from the room.
“Slap her! Does the Pei family support a vile maid like you so you can stand here wagging your tongue?”
At Lady Pei’s furious shout, Matron Gao’s pleas for forgiveness and the sounds of slaps soon rang out from outside.
Since Matron Gao had been punished with kneeling, Xing Shuwei took her place and waited upon Master Pei and Lady Pei as they ate breakfast.
Dressed in his official robes, Pei Congxian took small sips from a bowl of congee. “By the way.”
Without lifting his eyelids, he continued, “Pay closer attention to matters concerning the Princess. It is rare that she has taken a liking to Xianjing. This is a great event that will bring glory to our family.”
Lady Pei cast a cold glance at Xing Shuwei, who stood nearby.
Xing Shuwei promptly retreated obediently into a corner.
“Rest assured, Master. I naturally understand how important this matter is.
“Jing’er has never made us, his parents, worry since he was a child.
“But he is young after all and does not know how to interact with young ladies.
“It would be inappropriate for me, his mother, to put myself between him and the Princess every time. You must advise him more, Master.
“How exalted is the Princess? He should be doing everything he can to coax her. How could he treat her with such indifference?”
“Oh? He has been indifferent toward the Princess?” Pei Congxian was surprised. “He has always known what matters. What do you mean?”
Lady Pei recounted how coldly Pei Xianjing had treated the Princess at the Shen residence.
“Very well. I will speak with him.
“His marriage to the Princess will be settled soon. See that everything requiring preparation is prepared!”
Lady Pei agreed.
Pei Congxian continued, “There is another matter. Jing’er is already this old, yet he has no intimate companion at his side.
“Choose someone to his liking and send her to serve as his bedchamber maid.
“Some things require advance preparation. If he is clumsy when the time comes and startles the Princess, none of us will be able to bear the consequences.”
Xing Shuwei held her breath, suddenly feeling a dull pressure in her chest.
Perhaps her mind had been too burdened lately. In the past, she had rarely felt such a heavy blow against her heart, but recently, the sensation seemed to have struck her several times in succession.
Lady Pei gave a soft sigh. “It is not as though I have never sent anyone. Has he not driven every last one of them away?”
“Ah!” This time, it was Pei Congxian’s turn to sigh. “What is wrong with that boy? He looks hale and strong, and he is at an age when his blood runs hot. Could he be suffering from some hidden ailment? Perhaps we should summon an imperial physician to examine him.”