Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Pei Guofei’s expression darkened. “I am Father’s only son, and my choice to engage in trade has already humiliated him enough.
“He hopes I will make a good marriage that can benefit him.
“But Miss Zheng is merely a relative living as a dependent in the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate…
“The path to asking for her hand will be long and difficult.
“I hope you will do everything you can to help us.”
Do everything she could to help them?
Would arranging a room for them truly count as doing everything she could?
Xing Shuwei looked at Pei Guofei and remained silent for a long while.
Pei Xianjing had taken her and Yan’er in four years ago, so he naturally believed he could do whatever he wished to her.
Pei Guofei had helped support her for four years, so now he naturally believed he could demand that she join him in his reckless behavior.
Yet the entire Duke’s estate had been spending her family’s money for four years. Had she ever presumed to demand that the Pei family do anything for her?
Ultimately, none of them owed one another anything.
But now, everyone believed they had once bestowed charity upon the siblings and expected her to repay every small favor a hundredfold.
Emotions churned violently inside Xing Shuwei, yet her face remained utterly calm.
One day, she would leave the Duke’s estate.
“Very well.” After a long silence, Xing Shuwei agreed.
Pei Guofei was surprised. She had just refused him, so why had she suddenly agreed so readily?
“Weiwei, I will take you at your word,” Pei Guofei said, looking into Xing Shuwei’s eyes.
Xing Shuwei raised her eyes to his. “I mean it.”
Pei Guofei knew she kept her promises and would certainly do what she said. Delighted, he rose and left.
Qiutong closed the courtyard gate, then turned and asked Xing Shuwei, “Miss, do you truly intend to join the Fourth Young Master in this foolishness?”
Xing Shuwei nodded without speaking.
It was not that she knowingly insisted on doing what she should not. She simply could not refuse.
Living beneath another’s roof and watching their expressions had been her constant reality for four years.
Pei Guofei had merely refrained from losing his temper with her, but his words had still permitted no refusal.
If she persisted in refusing, she would offend him completely.
Besides, Xing Shuwei had a private motive. She wanted to use the opportunity to say a few words to Zhang Mingan and ask where the folding fan came from. With two other people present, Zhang Mingan ought to restrain himself.
No matter how much of a scoundrel he was, surely he would not behave like a beast before the young woman he treated as his sister.
Meanwhile, Pei Xuanfei had pestered Matron Gao in the storeroom for nearly an hour. Only after stuffing both wide sleeves full did she hurry back to Biyu Court.
She was currently the only master in Biyu Court, so she had no need to hide what she was doing.
She ordered her personal maid, Ruijie, to store the objects in a camphorwood chest. “Who would have thought that an impoverished, bitterly cold borderland like Qizhou could possess treasures like these?
“No wonder Grandmother handed over only a small portion, yet that old wretch Lady Gao accepted it so happily! So the goods were this rare and valuable!”
Following her instructions, Ruijie carefully placed each item into the camphorwood chest. “The jewelry is all of the highest quality, but I fear Miss will have no opportunity to wear it outside.”
“Store it for now. When I marry into the Shen family, this will be the additional dowry I have prepared for myself.
“Our family may not lack silver, but Father is not a high-ranking official, and people look down on Mother for engaging in trade…”
As Pei Xuanfei spoke, resentment toward Lady Qian began to rise in her heart.
She was plainly the exalted Eldest Young Lady of the direct line. It was only because her mother and younger brother engaged in degrading commerce that the other young ladies of the capital mocked her.
She had to curry favor with Princess Jin’an and become an honored guest at the Princess’s residence.
Then she would see who still dared ridicule her!
And she had endured more than enough of that wretched Xing Shuwei.
Pei Xuanfei dressed herself with great care, took a golden peacock crown, and headed straight to Princess Jin’an’s residence.
But the Empress happened to have left the palace to visit Princess Jin’an, forcing Pei Xuanfei to stand in the courtyard and wait for more than two hours.
She had hoped to distinguish herself before the Empress, only to be treated as though she did not exist.
A maid led her before Princess Jin’an.
After completing her salute, she presented the gift.
Princess Jin’an looked over and saw that the golden peacock crown was even more exquisite than her own phoenix crown.
“Ha.” Princess Jin’an’s expression instantly darkened. “The Duke of Qi’s estate has quite a talent for producing objects as capable as its people.”
The gift overstepped its rank, and so did Pei Xianjing.
The Empress had come today to demand why Princess Jin’an could not hold Pei Xianjing’s heart and why the Pei family had still not delivered the formal betrothal gifts.
Pei Xuanfei could not recognize sarcasm and assumed Princess Jin’an liked it.
“Xuanxuan chose it especially for Your Highness.”
She stole a glance at Princess Jin’an. Only when she saw the Princess’s expression ease slightly did she dare continue.
“Xuanxuan longs every day for the wedding date of Your Highness and Eldest Brother.
“Otherwise, neither Xuanxuan nor Mother can live in peace.
“I do not know what methods Xing Shuwei used, but she made Eldest Brother defend her and punish Mother and me.
“Her residence is beside Eldest Brother’s… Who knows whether she has tried to seduce him…”
Princess Jin’an narrowed her eyes at Pei Xuanfei, her nails nearly digging into her palm. Was this why Pei Xianjing had not come to deliver the betrothal gifts?
Was a lowly merchant’s daughter truly worth his attention?
…
The promotion banquet held by the Duke’s estate was naturally grander than the Shen family’s gathering.
Pei Xianjing was currently at the height of his prominence, while Pei Congxian was also thriving in the Grand Secretariat.
Countless people came to flatter and ingratiate themselves.
The Duke’s estate was extraordinarily lively, crowded like a bustling market street.
Lady Pei deliberately remained out of sight and had Xing Shuwei receive the guests first.
Xing Shuwei did not wear the respectable clothes Lady Pei had given her. She remained dressed in somewhat shabby garments.
Her ink-black hair was held by a single peachwood hairpin. She moved among the guests, pouring tea and serving water.
She was cautious at every turn and smiled at everyone she met.
Before any guest could ask, she would refill their tea and say with overflowing gratitude, “The Duke’s estate showed me the great kindness of taking me in. Weiwei is like drifting duckweed and has no way to repay this gift of a second life.
“Lady Pei and Dowager Lady Pei have never treated me as an outsider, but if I did nothing, my conscience would not rest.
“For someone as lowly as me to presume to receive honored guests is only my attempt to repay the kindness of shelter. Madams and young ladies, please regard it as an act of charity and take pity on Weiwei.”
Her posture was humble enough, and her dress suited her station.
In others’ eyes, she knew her place and was obedient and docile.
Even if such a person were taken as a bedchamber maid or concubine, she would give the principal wife peace of mind.
“I have long heard that the Pei family has a beautiful Miss Xing and that the young masters of the estate have delayed marriage because of you. It does not look that way to me.”
“She is beautiful, but so obedient and delicate. How could she be the sort of shameless woman the rumors claim? It seems rumors truly cannot be trusted.”
“If Eldest Young Master Pei truly takes you into his household as a concubine, it would not be a bad outcome.
“It would certainly be better than taking several high-ranking concubines and throwing the household into chaos.”
The married ladies, whatever their age, all found Xing Shuwei pleasing.
Xing Shuwei attended them devotedly and appeared overwhelmed by their favor. “The Eldest Young Master and the Princess are kindhearted and regard Weiwei as a younger sister.
“But Weiwei knows her own lowly station. I would never dare become arrogant because of their favor, much less commit some outrageous act that would stain the Eldest Young Master’s good name and spotless reputation.
“These rumors truly leave Weiwei terrified.”