Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Qiutong’s expression eased at those words. “It seems the Eldest Young Master does care for you after all, Miss. That’s good. That’s good.”
“What is good about it? Why would I willingly spend my life as a concubine, helplessly waiting to be butchered in this man-eating Duke’s household?” Xing Shuwei suppressed her irritation.
“But, Miss…”
Xing Shuwei knew what Qiutong wanted to say.
She had already given herself to Pei Xianjing, and Pei Xianjing had declared that he would take her as his concubine. Given his status and power, she could hardly hope to prevail against him.
She cut Qiutong off. “There is always a way if one is willing to find it.”
Whatever debt of gratitude she owed from four years ago had long been repaid by four years of bowing her head, making herself small, obeying his every word, and treading on eggshells.
She had also shown filial respect to Madam on his behalf.
She owed Pei Xianjing nothing now.
She could not remain trapped in this tiny corner of the world while the Duke’s household exhausted her family’s fortune and forced her to become a concubine.
Qiutong was about to say more when a servant from Mingshou Court arrived to summon her.
“Miss Xing, Dowager Lady Pei asks you to come over.”
Xing Shuwei replied, “Understood. I will go now.”
She had Qiutong apply a thick layer of powder to her neck, then changed into a dress with a higher collar before setting off for Mingshou Court.
The ancestors of the Duke of Qi’s estate had enjoyed great prestige. The sprawling residence consisted of four adjoining compounds, each with five successive courtyards.
Dowager Lady Pei’s Mingshou Court stood in the second eastern courtyard. It took Xing Shuwei almost a quarter of an hour to reach it.
She had walked quickly, and Pei Xianjing had only just put her through an ordeal. By the time she entered the courtyard, she was utterly exhausted.
“Weiwei greets Dowager Lady Pei.” Xing Shuwei dipped into an impeccable curtsy.
Dowager Lady Pei, Xing Huiyi, beckoned her closer with a smile. “Are you pleased with the heir to the Marquis of Qingyuan whom Great-Aunt chose for you?”
She took Xing Shuwei’s hand, looking every bit like a loving great-aunt doting on her grandniece.
But Xing Shuwei knew that honey coated the old woman’s lips while a viper lived in her heart.
Dowager Lady Pei had been the late Duke’s second wife after his first wife’s death. She had only one biological son, a foolish, lecherous wastrel who spent his days in the pleasure quarters and had never married.
The three sons born to the late Duke’s principal wife were all outstanding, and even their sons were already rising into important court officials. The sight filled her with anxiety. She feared that she would lose all influence in the Duke’s household.
She had recently learned that the Marquis of Qingyuan had a full sister who had divorced by mutual consent and brought a daughter with her.
The Marquis of Qingyuan also had another full sister who was a Noble Consort in the palace.
After calculating the benefits again and again, she decided to seek the divorced sister’s hand for her foolish son, treat the woman’s sixteen-year-old daughter as his own, and later arrange a marriage for the girl with a good family.
That way, her branch of the family would not die out, and she would also gain a powerful supporter within the palace.
Her plan to marry Xing Shuwei to the heir to the Marquis of Qingyuan was meant to curry favor with the Marquis.
The heir to the Marquis of Qingyuan was a man of notorious reputation. If she sent the beautiful, accomplished Xing Shuwei over as his concubine, the Marquis of Qingyuan would naturally be grateful.
She could swallow the Xing family’s property and resolve her son’s marriage at the same time.
Two birds with one stone!
How could Xing Shuwei possibly fail to see through Dowager Lady Pei’s schemes?
Without betraying any emotion, she withdrew her hand. “Weiwei is only a merchant’s daughter. How could I dare aspire to marry into a marquis’s household? There is no need to trouble Dowager Lady Pei over me.”
Dowager Lady Pei smiled without warmth. “I have always regarded you as my own granddaughter. With your parents gone, it is only right that I concern myself with your marriage.
“Though you are a merchant’s daughter and your birth is hardly respectable, with eminent relatives such as the Duke’s household arranging matters for you, you are just barely qualified to enter their household as a concubine.”
Hah! Becoming the concubine of a noble heir with a vile reputation, and she was only barely qualified!
The old woman certainly knew how to flatter herself!
Xing Shuwei laughed softly. “Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Dowager Lady Pei. Weiwei wishes to see her younger brother grow up first and has no plans to marry for the time being.”
Dowager Lady Pei cast her a sidelong glance and flicked her handkerchief. “You have both stayed in the Duke’s household long enough. You are already eighteen. It would hardly be proper for you to remain any longer, would it?
“Make your preparations over the next few days. Once the Marquis’s household settles on a date, I will have you sent over.”
Xing Shuwei’s lowered brows drew together slightly-
The old woman could hardly wait to send her to her doom!
“Weiwei has indeed imposed upon the Duke’s household for too long. Now that Weiwei has turned eighteen, I ask Dowager Lady Pei to return all the Xing family’s property to me. Once I establish an independent female-headed household registration, I will move out of the Duke’s estate.”
She wore a smile, but ice threaded her voice.
Sure enough, Dowager Lady Pei’s face instantly darkened.
“After all the effort I spent planning for you, how dare you be so ungrateful! Establishing an independent female-headed household registration is not so easy!”
Xing Shuwei met her gaze and replied calmly, “Even if it isn’t easy, I still have to try, don’t I? What in Weiwei’s life has ever been easy?
“Besides, if the Eldest Young Master is willing to help, it will not be difficult at all.”
“Hah! You thankless wretch! Using Xianjing to frighten me again! I’d like to see whether Xianjing helps you every single time!” Dowager Lady Pei’s face flushed crimson with rage.
In truth, Xing Shuwei was not certain that Pei Xianjing would always help her.
But matters had come to this. The most important thing was to avoid being married into the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate.
What else did she have to rely on?
It was enough that this venomous old woman did not know whether Pei Xianjing would help her every time either!
She was gambling on that very uncertainty!
Seeing Dowager Lady Pei beside herself with rage, Xing Shuwei smiled, stepped back twice, and dipped into an elegant curtsy. “If Dowager Lady Pei has nothing else to discuss, Weiwei will take her leave.”
With that, she turned and departed.
Clutching her chest, Dowager Lady Pei cursed, “You little bastard! If not for me, you would have been sold into a brothel long ago!”
“You thankless wretch!”
“Mother.” Dowager Lady Pei’s foolish son, Pei Congjian, approached from the side. “It would be a shame to send such a beauty to that scoundrel Zhang.”
“If I don’t send her over, why would Marquis Zhang let you marry his full sister?
“Without a powerful wife’s family to support you, you will not even be able to beg a bite of leftovers from those three brothers in the future.”
Dowager Lady Pei spoke through clenched teeth.
She had made up her mind-
No matter what it took, she would find a way to send Xing Shuwei to the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate!
…
Xing Shuwei hurried along the path. She did not have much time left.
If she did not leave soon, the Pei family would devour her until nothing remained.
By the time she returned to Qianchen Pavilion, sweat covered Xing Shuwei’s brow.
“Miss, you’re finally back. The Fourth Young Master from the third branch waited for you for three quarters of an hour. He only just left.” Qiutong took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Xing Shuwei’s forehead.
“Why did he come?” Xing Shuwei sat in a chair, poured herself a cup of tea, and raised it to her lips.
“The Shen family is holding a promotion banquet for Young Master Shen. They have invited every ducal and marquis household in the capital, and all the young masters and young ladies from those families will attend.
“The Fourth Young Master said he wants to take you along so you can broaden your horizons.”
As Qiutong spoke, she pointed to a bundle on the table. “The Fourth Young Master truly treats you well, Miss. He even came especially to bring you clothes for the banquet.”
Xing Shuwei stared blankly at the bundle without responding to Qiutong.
Generations of the Shen family had served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
They were likely holding this banquet to find a bride from a suitable family who caught Young Master Shen’s eye.
It was an opportunity worth taking.