Chapter 20
Chapter 20
For the next several days, Pei Xianjing was away from the estate. According to Gao Li, he was busy working on the case at the Ministry of War.
In the blink of an eye, the day of Princess Jin’an’s invitation arrived.
Xing Shuwei had Qiutong bring her an ordinary outfit to change into.
Looking at her somewhat shabby clothes, Qiutong could not help asking, “Miss, the Eldest Young Master sent you jewelry and clothes. Why are you still wearing your old things?”
“This is better.” Xing Shuwei did not explain further.
Her purpose in going out today was Zheng Yan.
If her luck proved even better, perhaps she might encounter Shen Yanqi as well.
Leaving the estate was not easy, so naturally, she had to make every possible preparation.
Once dressed, she applied a faint touch of lip rouge.
Her cherry-red lips appeared all the more ripe and luscious.
Her smooth, ink-black hair was secured with a plain silver hairpin. Beyond that, she wore no other adornment.
Dowager Lady Pei was waiting at the estate gates early and shared a carriage with Pei Xuanfei.
Pei Xuanfei was dressed in noble splendor. When Xing Shuwei emerged, she smiled and picked a fight. “Lowly, shameless creature. Today, you are benefiting from our reflected glory.
“Once we reach Princess Jin’an’s residence, follow Grandmother closely.
“Do not wander about. In a place like the Princess’s residence, any random maid or pageboy could take your life.”
The senior maids and stewards in Princess Jin’an’s residence all possessed official rank.
They might count for little before titled court ladies such as Dowager Lady Pei and Lady Pei, but before Xing Shuwei, they were officials.
At those words, Xing Shuwei nodded without changing expression. “Thank you for the reminder, Eldest Young Lady. Weiwei will bear it in mind.”
“Hmph!” Infuriated by her manner, Pei Xuanfei dropped the carriage curtain.
Xing Shuwei and Qiutong boarded a smaller carriage behind them.
Qiutong said enviously, “It must be wonderful to be a princess. Even a first-rank ducal household like the Duke of Qi’s estate
“must have the entire family scrambling to curry favor, unlike us, whom anyone can trample underfoot.”
Xing Shuwei said, “Everyone has their own fate.
“By behaving this way, they are instead lowering Pei Xianjing’s standing in the marriage.
“I fear his days will not be easy in the future. He will go from having everyone serve him with care to cautiously serving someone else.”
Xing Shuwei recalled his promise not to let her suffer any grievance-
If he could not even ensure that he himself would be spared grievance after marriage, how could he possibly protect her?
Qiutong sounded regretful. “This maid heard that Dowager Lady Pei and Lady Pei are visiting Princess Jin’an’s residence today to settle the Eldest Young Master’s marriage.
“They say the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is already examining auspicious dates for the wedding.
“Once they marry, the Eldest Young Master will have to move into Princess Jin’an’s residence, won’t he?
“Whether you are taken to the Princess’s residence or remain in the Duke’s estate, your life will be miserable, Miss.”
Xing Shuwei’s throat tightened. It felt as though a thorn were lodged there, making even speech difficult.
Thus, her departure could not be delayed.
The carriage passed through the bustling streets and headed toward Shenwu Avenue.
Princess Jin’an’s residence was magnificent, beyond the comparison of even ten ducal estates.
The palace maids and eunuchs welcoming guests at the entrance had all been trained within the imperial palace.
Besides the members of the Duke of Qi’s estate, Princess Jin’an had invited many powerful and noble figures from the capital to this banquet.
The entrance to the residence was extraordinarily lively.
Princess Jin’an accorded the Pei family ample honor by personally coming out to welcome them.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” Everyone present saluted her.
Princess Jin’an smiled brightly. “Please rise.”
She personally helped Dowager Lady Pei and Lady Pei to their feet.
Beside her, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau said courteously to Lady Pei, “I have selected several auspicious dates in the near future. I must ask Lady Pei to look them over.”
The Director’s involvement meant the Emperor and Empress had undoubtedly approved the marriage.
When everyone looked at the Pei family again, their faces now carried ingratiating smiles.
“Weiwei,” Princess Jin’an suddenly called.
Xing Shuwei hurriedly raised her head, stepped forward with small, polite steps, and answered respectfully, “This commoner is here.”
Princess Jin’an smiled. “You should help examine the dates later as well.”
Xing Shuwei cautiously agreed. “Thank you for Your Highness’s favor.”
She could not understand the Princess’s purpose.
Her status was so low that she originally did not even qualify to enter Princess Jin’an’s residence, much less share in the honor of helping the Princess select a wedding date!
Yet if she refused now, she would be denying Princess Jin’an face and failing to appreciate her favor.
Princess Jin’an’s gesture drew the attention of every prince, marquis, and noble scion present toward Xing Shuwei.
“Which family’s young lady is that? How has she won such favor from the Princess?”
“Judging by her clothes and adornments, she does not look like a daughter of a great household. Could she be a new concubine taken by Eldest Young Master Pei?”
“Why would the Pei family bring a concubine to meet his future principal wife? And that principal wife is no ordinary daughter of a noble house but Princess Jin’an! Impossible! Impossible!”
“Exactly. Judging by the Princess’s attitude toward her, she cannot possibly be a concubine.”
Xing Shuwei entered the residence behind the Pei family, following Princess Jin’an.
After winding this way and that, they reached a garden, where a palace maid stopped Dowager Lady Pei, Pei Xuanfei, and the others.
“What? Why are even we being stopped?” Pei Xuanfei asked unhappily, holding Dowager Lady Pei’s arm.
The palace maid replied, “Selecting the date is an important matter. Since Dowager Lady Pei is a second wife, it would be best for her to avoid it.”
Dowager Lady Pei was speechless.
The Princess had not even married into the family, yet she had already begun to disdain her?
Pei Xuanfei was startled at first. Then she pointed at Xing Shuwei behind her and said to the palace maid, “My grandmother cannot enter, yet this lowly woman lodging in the Duke’s estate can?”
“The Princess gave no instructions about that. We are merely carrying out orders,” the palace maid replied truthfully.
Xing Shuwei curtsied to the palace maid. “Shuwei’s status is indeed lowly. For such an important matter as selecting the date, it would be more appropriate for Shuwei not to appear.”
The palace maid nodded and did not try to keep her.
At the sight, Dowager Lady Pei’s expression darkened. Taking Pei Xuanfei by the hand, she walked aside. “Your Eldest Aunt must have spoken ill of me before the Princess. She has never respected me as her mother-in-law.
“In the entire Duke’s estate, only you, Xuanxuan, treat me sincerely.
“Do not worry. Today, I will make certain your wish is fulfilled.”
At these words, Pei Xuanfei’s bad mood vanished.
…
Seeing Pei Xuanfei and the others head toward the gathering crowd, Xing Shuwei slowly followed-
Perhaps Miss Zheng was among them.
Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones had been prepared in the garden’s pavilions.
Many cultured young masters and ladies were freely displaying their calligraphy.
“The Duke of Qi’s estate is a distinguished family of generations of officials. I have long heard that even a random maid or pageboy from the estate would possess dazzling literary talent.
“Why doesn’t Miss Pei show us a little of her skill and let us broaden our horizons?” An ink-dipped brush was offered to Pei Xuanfei.
Pei Xuanfei accepted it. Her eyes shifted, and she handed the brush directly to Xing Shuwei.
She lowered her voice and warned coldly, “You know I am poor at both scholarship and calligraphy.
“You would not deliberately embarrass Eldest Brother, would you?
“Disgracing the Duke’s estate would be the same as disgracing Eldest Brother.”
Holding the brush, Xing Shuwei drew a deep breath.