Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Pei Guofei did not ride in the same carriage as Xing Shuwei.
When they were nearly at the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate, they each alighted from their own carriage.
“Weiwei, Miss Zheng and I first became acquainted at the Shen residence last time,” Pei Guofei said as they walked inside.
Xing Shuwei walked slowly. The thought of entering the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate filled her with dread. “There were so many people that day. How did you find an opportunity?”
“I approached her. My sister had made trouble for her, so I went to apologize on my sister’s behalf.
“She is kindhearted. Although she is pitiably dependent on another household, she still has an unyielding pride.
“She is neither servile nor overbearing, and she neither covets power nor fears it.”
Pei Guofei lowered his voice. “I have fallen for her.”
Xing Shuwei looked up at him. “But you have only met once. Isn’t this a little hasty?”
“And obeying one’s parents and a matchmaker is not hasty? In marriages between families, plenty of couples never even meet before the wedding.
“I am more worried that she will despise me for having no scholarly honors. I am not like my three elder brothers, who passed the examinations and entered officialdom.
“Apart from being a direct descendant of the Pei family, I truly have nothing worth mentioning.”
Pei Guofei’s voice dropped very low. “Not everyone wants a match of equal social standing. At least, I do not.”
“Weiwei, you helped her out of trouble that day. From what she said, she is deeply grateful to you.
“Come to think of it, you deserve to be called our matchmaker.”
Xing Shuwei was shaken by his words. He was right. The world was vast, and exceptions existed among people of every rank.
It only strengthened her resolve to take a gamble. Perhaps Shen Yanqi was one of those exceptions.
If Pei Guofei could fall in love with Zheng Yan at first sight, why couldn’t Shen Yanqi do the same?
As they spoke, the two arrived at the gates of the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate.
A young gatekeeper stopped them.
Xing Shuwei said, “Please announce us. I am Miss Xing from the Duke of Qi’s estate, here at Miss Zheng’s invitation.”
At once, the young gatekeeper smiled. “So you are honored guests of the Eldest Young Lady. She is admiring the flowers in the Peony Garden. This way, please.”
A maid took over and led them onward.
The Marquis’s estate was not as large as the Duke’s estate, but it was lavish at every turn.
Even the men who patrolled and guarded the residence were uniformed household guards, something not seen even in the Pei family.
“Because of Noble Consort Zhang, the Emperor has shown the Zhang clan particular favor.
“After thieves once broke into the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate, the Emperor assigned them one hundred men as household guards,” Pei Guofei said.
“I have heard that Noble Consort Zhang enjoys no less imperial favor than the Empress.
“It is only because Noble Consort Zhang has no son, while the Empress has only one daughter, Princess Jin’an, that they have not come into conflict.
“Otherwise, Miss Zheng and I might be destined never to be together.”
Noble Consort Zhang was the Marquis of Qingyuan’s full younger sister.
The palace was currently embroiled in a struggle over the imperial succession. The two most favored and powerful consorts in the harem lived in harmony because neither had a prince.
But were they truly in harmony?
Xing Shuwei lowered her eyes in thought, remembering how Zhang Mingan would stop at nothing and had even tried to kill his own full brother.
The Zhang clan did not seem the sort to shun all rivalry and ambition.
The peonies were in magnificent bloom. Red and white blossoms as large as bowls nearly stole the radiance from the young lady in the flower pavilion.
“Second Brother, can I truly marry a direct descendant of the Pei family as his principal wife?” Zheng Yan asked as she handed Zhang Mingan a cup of tea.
Zhang Mingan sat sideways across his chair. “Father and I both regard you as the Eldest Young Lady of the Marquis’s estate.
“You may not have changed your surname or been adopted by Father and entered into the clan register,
“but everyone in the capital knows that you are the Eldest Young Lady of the Zhang clan.
“Besides, with Aunt supporting you, who would dare slight you?
“Did Aunt not specifically send palace attendants out a few days ago to bring you clothes and jewelry?”
The aunt he spoke of was Noble Consort Zhang.
As he spoke, he accepted the teacup and smiled indulgently. “No matter how powerful the Pei family becomes,
“they have no one in the palace. Forget Pei Guofei-even if you wished to become a prince’s principal wife, you could.”
The anger and inferiority that Pei Xuanfei had stirred in Zheng Yan a few days earlier vanished completely.
As the siblings spoke, a maid called from a distance, “Noble heir, Eldest Young Lady, your honored guests have arrived.”
Zhang Mingan dropped the subject and looked up.
He saw Xing Shuwei approaching in pale green robes, following Pei Guofei with docile grace.
She resembled an immortal maiden, simply yet elegantly dressed and possessed of an indescribable air of nobility.
For no reason, Zhang Mingan again recalled her beautiful calligraphy. Her writing truly reflected its writer.
Xing Shuwei frowned. Zhang Mingan’s gaze made her uncomfortable.
She always had the illusion that when he looked at her, he was examining a stone submerged beneath the limpid, rippleless surface of water.
Once they came closer, Pei Guofei and Xing Shuwei bowed to Zhang Mingan together.
“There is no need for ceremony,” Zhang Mingan said courteously.
Zheng Yan came forward with a beaming smile and took Xing Shuwei’s hand. “Sister Shuwei, thank you so much for what you did last time.
“When I returned to the banquet afterward, you were gone. I have wanted to thank you ever since.”
Xing Shuwei gracefully raised a hand, a faint smile on her face. “Weiwei did not act entirely for Miss Zheng’s sake. It is hardly worth mentioning.
“To have made Miss Zheng remember it for so long leaves Weiwei feeling ashamed.”
“It was a great kindness. I specially prepared a thank-you gift.” Zheng Yan displayed nothing but delight.
She took a brocade box from her maid and opened it, revealing a folding fan made of bamboo.
“It is nothing valuable, so please do not disdain it.” Zheng Yan pressed the gift into her hands.
“How could I accept this?” Xing Shuwei was reluctant to take it.
Courtesy demanded reciprocity. She had brought no gift and ought not accept one from someone else.
“Does Sister Shuwei not wish to be friends with me?” Zheng Yan complained with a hint of coyness.
Xing Shuwei was about to deny it when Pei Guofei accepted on her behalf. “You have no close female friends, and Miss Zheng happens to like you.
“This is a bond ordained by Heaven. Take it.”
Pei Guofei pushed the folding fan into her hand, and Zheng Yan withdrew her own at just the right moment.
Pei Guofei’s gaze settled on Zheng Yan’s face and never moved away again.
Even Zheng Yan grew embarrassed beneath his stare.
She was, after all, an unmarried young lady. For a long while, she could not bring herself to say anything first.
“Yan’er, did you not say you wished to give her a peony?
“Why not take her into the garden and let her choose? Once she has, have the servants dig it up.” Zhang Mingan lounged casually in his chair, every inch of him radiating nobility.
Though he held no official post, his bearing was more imposing than that of any young nobleman in the capital.
The entire capital called him a wastrel, yet there was no place he could not enter, not even Princess Jin’an’s residence.
He was no simple man.
Yet such a formidable man kept pestering her. After weighing the matter, Xing Shuwei felt that what he wanted was not her.
Could he be trying to gain some advantage from Pei Xianjing?
If so, could Zhang Mingan know about her relationship with Pei Xianjing when not even the Pei family knew?
If that were true, he was far too frightening.
While her thoughts ran wild, Zheng Yan and Pei Guofei both rose, ready to go into the garden to choose a peony.
Xing Shuwei hurried to her feet, intending to follow them.
But Zhang Mingan rose from his chair and held out an arm to bar her way. “Weiwei, the feeling between them is mutual. Why go disturb them?”