Chapter 17
Chapter 17
At those words, Princess Jin’an’s expression darkened further.
She was the legitimate princess of an entire realm, yet Dowager Lady Pei wanted her to decide whether a lowly merchant’s daughter lived, died, stayed, or left?
Only because the woman before her was Pei Xianjing’s grandmother did she suppress her boundless displeasure.
“Oh!” Pei Xuanfei suddenly exclaimed and pointed toward the covered walkway. “Speak of the devil. Your Highness, look. That is Miss Xing.”
Princess Jin’an followed her pointing finger. A slender, graceful figure entered her view.
As it happened, the young woman raised her head at that moment and looked toward Princess Jin’an.
Princess Jin’an expected Xing Shuwei to hide when she saw her. To her surprise, Xing Shuwei quickened her pace and walked over instead.
“This commoner greets Your Highness. May Your Highness live for a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years.”
Xing Shuwei came before Princess Jin’an and curtsied respectfully.
Pei Xuanfei stepped half a pace forward and said to Xing Shuwei, “Miss Xing, you did not come here looking for Eldest Brother, did you?”
Xing Shuwei looked astonished, her eyes misty as she replied in a clear, soft voice, “The Eldest Young Lady misunderstands. Weiwei happened to see the Princess and came to pay her respects.”
Pei Xuanfei swept a glance over Xing Shuwei, a sinister smile curving her lips.
Then she deliberately bowed apologetically to Princess Jin’an. “Please forgive her, Your Highness.
“The Duke’s estate must have treated this dependent guest too well, causing her to forget her lowly status as a merchant’s daughter and imagine herself part of the Duke’s household. She came running straight over to greet Your Highness.
“She never stopped to consider that her actions might offend Your Highness.”
“Weiwei is terrified. This commoner has long heard that Your Highness is benevolent and generous. Surely Your Highness would not blame Weiwei for such an act.” Xing Shuwei bowed even lower.
“The Princess is benevolent and generous, but that does not mean you can act so rashly simply because the Princess is kind to you, the Duke’s estate is kind to you, and Eldest Brother is kind to you, does it?
“To think Grandmother and I were just praising you before the Princess for your skill at pleasing others.”
Pei Xuanfei deliberately steered the conversation toward Xing Shuwei and Pei Xianjing.
At those words, Xing Shuwei’s expression involuntarily changed. “Eldest Young Lady, you cannot speak such nonsense!”
“What nonsense have I spoken? Has the Duke’s estate not treated you well? Has Eldest Brother not treated you well?”
Pei Xuanfei laid particular emphasis on the words “Eldest Brother” and deliberately glanced at Princess Jin’an as she spoke.
Princess Jin’an had already been given hints that Pei Xianjing and Xing Shuwei shared an unusual relationship. Hearing this, she naturally thought of romantic entanglement.
“The Eldest Young Master was being filial to Dowager Lady Pei. Because Weiwei shares a blood tie with her, he took Weiwei and her younger brother into the Duke’s estate.
“He has indeed always treated Weiwei well, but that too is thanks to Dowager Lady Pei.
“Even if Weiwei labored like an ox or horse, she could never repay the kindness of the Duke’s estate, Dowager Lady Pei, and the Eldest Young Master.”
At this point, Xing Shuwei slowly raised her head and looked at Pei Xuanfei with tears in her eyes. “Why would the Eldest Young Lady say something that could so easily cause the Princess to misunderstand?
“Does the Eldest Young Lady not wish the Eldest Young Master and the Princess well?”
Pei Xuanfei had not expected Xing Shuwei to turn the question back on her. Flustered, she snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting?
“If Eldest Brother marries the Princess, it will bring glory to the entire Pei family. Would I have to be mad not to wish Eldest Brother and the Princess well?”
She wanted nothing more than to mangle Xing Shuwei’s tongue.
How was this wretch so adept at redirecting disaster toward others?
Pei Xuanfei hurriedly looked toward Princess Jin’an, intending to explain.
But Xing Shuwei spoke again. “If so, then I ask the Eldest Young Lady to be cautious in word and deed.
“Weiwei has always been slow-witted, yet even Weiwei feels that the Eldest Young Lady’s words seem to conceal another intent.
“Your Highness is exceptionally perceptive. Weiwei would not dare make reckless conjectures and can only hope the Eldest Young Lady’s words have not caused Your Highness to misunderstand.
“Weiwei has neither father nor mother, and her life and livelihood depend entirely upon the Duke’s estate. Naturally, she hopes the Duke’s estate will prosper and that the Eldest Young Master and Your Highness will be happily wed.
“Weiwei would not dare harbor the slightest improper thought, much less the slightest intention of displeasing Your Highness.”
Her voice was quiet, and she appeared delicate and frail, yet somehow she conveyed a sense of neither servility nor arrogance.
Rendered speechless, Pei Xuanfei could only flush crimson, take Dowager Lady Pei’s arm, and ask her to uphold justice.
Xing Shuwei’s perfectly measured sincerity and humility greatly pleased Princess Jin’an.
She looked down upon Xing Shuwei. The other woman’s gaze did not evade hers, holding only greater sincerity and admiration.
Seeing the displeasure on Princess Jin’an’s face ease somewhat, Xing Shuwei secretly sighed in relief.
Pei Xuanfei’s intentions were truly vicious.
If Princess Jin’an had truly been incited by her and issued a single order, both Xing Shuwei and Yan’er would die.
She truly could not remain in this Duke’s estate for even one moment longer.
“There is one other small matter for which I came to beg Your Highness’s favor,” Xing Shuwei pressed on while the opportunity was ripe.
Princess Jin’an looked her up and down.
Beautiful though she was, everything about her spoke of shabby poverty.
Judging by her manner, now that she knew of the Princess’s interest in Pei Xianjing, she would surely never dare compete for him.
At this thought, the last of Princess Jin’an’s agitation dissipated.
“Tell me. What do you wish to ask of me?”
Surprise and delight filled Xing Shuwei’s eyes. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, her flattered astonishment perfectly judged. “At the banquet in Lord Shen’s residence, this commoner accidentally offended Miss Zheng of the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate.
“This commoner wished to apologize but never had the opportunity.
“This commoner has nothing valuable to offer Miss Zheng in apology, so she embroidered a sachet.
“This commoner boldly asks Your Highness to act as a peacemaker between Miss Zheng and herself.”
Princess Jin’an glanced at the sachet she produced. It was not made of fine material, though the embroidery was excellent.
She signaled to a maid beside her, who accepted it.
She said, “Since you came expressly for this matter, I will grant your request.”
At those words, Xing Shuwei dropped to her knees and said gratefully, “This commoner thanks Your Highness.
“With Your Highness acting on my behalf, this commoner need no longer fear having offended the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate.
“Your Highness is merciful, and this commoner is indebted to you. If an opportunity ever arises to repay this grace, this commoner would brave ten thousand deaths without hesitation.”
Princess Jin’an lifted a hand, signaling for Xing Shuwei to rise.
Unwilling to waste any more time there, she turned to leave.
Dowager Lady Pei and Pei Xuanfei hurried after her, eagerly offering to escort her from the estate.
Princess Jin’an’s senior maid stopped them. “There is no need. Please remain here, Dowager Lady Pei. The Duke’s estate is hardly a maze. Her Highness can find her way out.”
Pei Xuanfei refused to give up. She had yet to ask the Princess to have Xing Shuwei married into the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate as a concubine as soon as possible.
She tried to step forward again, but Dowager Lady Pei grabbed her.
Still furious, Pei Xuanfei turned to make trouble for Xing Shuwei, only to discover that she had already disappeared.
After returning to Qianchen Pavilion, Xing Shuwei ordered Qiutong to bolt the courtyard gate.
“Miss, what if the Princess opens the sachet and discovers the letter you hid inside?” Qiutong’s heart pounded. She could not shake the feeling that using Princess Jin’an to deliver a letter to Miss Zheng was unreliable.
Xing Shuwei sat down in a chair and took a sip of tea. “She despises my things and will not touch it herself.
“I cannot leave the estate right now, and I cannot ask Fourth Brother to arrange a meeting with Miss Zheng. Since she happened to come today, of course I had to seize the opportunity.”