Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Xing Shuwei picked up her brush again, privately considering how to meet Zhang Mingan and ask where the fan had come from.
Qiutong drew her back from her thoughts, and she replied, “Lady Pei wants me to distinguish myself before Princess Jin’an so the Princess will regard me as a thorn in her side.
“In a great household, only when there is no presiding mistress or capable female relative does the task fall to an insignificant concubine.”
“But Miss is only a guest living here,” Qiutong blurted as she came back to Xing Shuwei’s side.
Then realization struck her. “Miss means that Lady Pei wants the Princess to misunderstand your relationship with the Eldest Young Master?”
Although perhaps… it would not entirely be a misunderstanding.
“But if this affects the marriage between the Eldest Young Master and the Princess, won’t the Eldest Young Master and the Duke’s estate still be the ones to suffer? Why would she do this?” Qiutong was even more confused.
Xing Shuwei shook her head. “I do not know either.”
“Perhaps, as a mother, she favors her younger son.
“In the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate, did the second legitimate son not inherit the noble title as well?”
Behind the gates of great families, bloody struggles abounded.
How could the Pei family be an exception?
Meanwhile, at Panlin Court,
Lady Pei instructed Matron Gao, “Release Pei Xuanfei from her lessons. It is time she began visiting Princess Jin’an’s residence again.”
“Yes.” Matron Gao acknowledged the order and went to fetch Pei Xuanfei.
Pei Xuanfei’s knees ached from kneeling, and she had lost considerable weight over the past few days.
She hated Xing Shuwei to death.
Eldest Brother had summoned her father solely to defend Xing Shuwei and make him punish Pei Xuanfei and her mother.
Eldest Brother treated Xing Shuwei better than he treated his own legitimate cousin.
Pei Xuanfei curtsied to Lady Pei. “Eldest Aunt.”
Lady Pei came directly to the point. “The estate will hold a banquet in a few days. Your Eldest Brother has been promoted, but we have yet to hold a promotion feast for him.
“I will leave the invitations and guests to you.”
Although Pei Xuanfei was surprised and delighted, she did not dare lose her composure before Lady Pei.
She knew that Lady Pei had never liked her or her mother.
Her mother had recently offended Lady Pei grievously. Lady Pei should have hated them, yet now she had suddenly given Pei Xuanfei a duty that represented the household’s presiding mistress. There had to be some hidden reason.
After a moment, she said, “But Eldest Aunt, if I come forward, people may think our estate does not take this banquet seriously enough. I worry they will look down on Eldest Brother because of it.”
Lady Pei had expected her refusal and told her bluntly, “I am merely giving you a perfectly legitimate opportunity to befriend the Princess.
“You are the only young female relative of your generation in the Duke’s estate. The Pei family has raised you as its Eldest Young Lady.
“Will you only be satisfied once an outsider climbs over your head?”
Pei Xuanfei’s fists immediately clenched.
She was not especially clever, but she understood Lady Pei’s meaning perfectly.
She and Xing Shuwei were now bitter enemies. Naturally, she would never allow that wretch to climb above her.
Seeing the changes in her expression, Lady Pei signaled to Matron Gao.
Matron Gao took out two gold ingots and presented them to Pei Xuanfei. “Madam is helping the Eldest Young Lady maintain appearances. You must prove yourself worthy.”
Pei Xuanfei accepted them. Before she could voice her thanks, Lady Pei said,
“Go. Dress respectably, then choose a gift for the Princess from the common storeroom.”
She was urging Pei Xuanfei to hurry before Princess Jin’an and fan the flames!
Pei Xuanfei was delighted. “Xuanxuan thanks Eldest Aunt. Rest assured, Eldest Aunt. I will certainly make the Princess happy.”
“Go,” Lady Pei said indifferently.
Pei Xuanfei followed Matron Gao toward the storeroom.
The Xing family had been wealthy merchants in Qizhou and had collected many treasures.
When Grandmother went to bring Xing Shuwei and her brother back, she had brought the Xing family’s property into the Duke’s estate as well.
Looking at all those precious objects, Pei Xuanfei had already decided to choose several extra pieces and hide them for herself.
“Matron Gao.” Pei Xuanfei smilingly linked her arm through Matron Gao’s. “You have excellent taste. You must help me judge the pieces carefully in a moment.
“If I choose something the Princess dislikes, I fear I will embarrass Eldest Brother.”
“Naturally,” Matron Gao agreed.
The Princess was exalted. When visiting her residence, a senior female relative of the family ought to go.
Yet for something as important as inviting her to a banquet, Lady Pei had sent the youngest-ranking young lady. No matter how fine the gift, the Princess would see it as a slight.
Matron Gao sighed inwardly. Lady Pei felt injustice on behalf of her younger son and had transferred all her resentment toward His Lordship onto the Eldest Young Master.
Lady Pei believed that His Lordship’s distance from her was entirely the fault of that long-dead concubine.
But the woman was dead, leaving Lady Pei nowhere to vent even the greatest resentment.
Every bit of kindness she showed the Eldest Young Master would be like plunging a knife into herself.
Thus, for all these years, Lady Pei had treated the Eldest Young Master neither well nor badly.
Unfortunately, the Eldest Young Master had distinguished himself.
Perhaps the blood of his maternal clan was simply too strong.
Meanwhile, the younger son did nothing but eat, drink, and amuse himself all day. He attended neither Zhenxi Hall nor the clan school.
The entire capital said he was a second “Wastrel Zhang.”
Matron Gao shook her head. Why did she feel that all Lady Pei’s calculations would ultimately come to nothing?
Pah, pah, pah. She must not speak ill fortune into being.
As Pei Xuanfei coaxed Matron Gao into choosing the gifts carefully, she secretly stuffed treasures into her own sleeves.
If anything was missing, she could simply claim it had been given to the Princess. She refused to believe Lady Pei would ask the Princess to verify it.
After so many days of lessons, she had knelt until her knees were scraped raw. Was she not entitled to make that venomous Lady Gao pay?
If the common storeroom held so many treasures, the pieces Grandmother had hidden privately must be even finer.
Pei Xuanfei cursed Dowager Lady Pei inwardly as well. Did the old woman imagine she could take those hidden treasures into her coffin?
…
At Qianchen Pavilion,
Pei Guofei learned that Pei Xianjing was not in the estate and came to see Xing Shuwei.
He had prepared two fine sets of headdresses and jewelry, which he set on the courtyard table. “I knew you preferred to remain inconspicuous, so I never gave you anything valuable before.
“But things are different now. Eldest Aunt truly regards you as part of the family.
“In the future, you will not need to be so excessively cautious about your food, clothing, and expenses.
“These are my apology to you. You must not refuse them.”
“These are far too valuable. Fourth Brother, I cannot accept them,” Xing Shuwei refused.
“If you do not accept them, how can I bring myself to ask you for help?” Pei Guofei said urgently.
Xing Shuwei had known that his visit at a time like this could mean nothing good.
She had not yet recovered from the terror of the last incident, and she still did not understand the trouble it had caused.
Pei Xianjing had tormented her throughout the night in one way after another. The memory alone chilled her spine and weakened her legs.
Pei Xianjing had said that if she made the same mistake again, he would leave her unable to get out of bed for a month.
“There is nothing I can do to help you, Fourth Brother.” Xing Shuwei refused decisively.
“Good sister,” Pei Guofei pleaded. “I will not ask you to risk yourself for me.
“I only ask you to arrange a room for Miss Zheng and me on the day of the banquet. I have something I wish to say to her.”
“Fourth Brother.” Xing Shuwei frowned, making it difficult to tell whether she was troubled or angry.
“After what happened last time, you should have learned your lesson. Since your feelings are mutual, send a formal invitation and meet openly.”