Chapter 55
Chapter 55
When Xing Shuwei returned to Qianchen Pavilion, Qiutong hurried forward to meet her.
“Miss, how did it go? Did Lady Pei agree to protect our young master?” Qiutong asked anxiously.
Xing Shuwei shook her head, looking utterly lost.
Qiutong’s expression changed drastically. “What does Lady Pei mean by this? As the wife of a duke, how can she be so faithless?”
Xing Shuwei lowered herself into a chair with one hand braced on its arm. “She wants to keep Yan’er’s life in her grasp so she can use me indefinitely.
“The imperial decree Lord Zhang obtained has put her on guard.
“She is planning ahead and securing future support for the Fifth Young Master.”
“We’re insignificant people with no influence. Why would she seek support from us?” Qiutong had not yet realized how much Zhang Mingan valued her mistress.
“The person capable of contending with Pei Xianjing now is neither Shen Yanqi nor the officials of the Grand Secretariat. It is Zhang Mingan.
“She does not expect to use me. She expects to use Zhang Mingan through me in the future.
“She schemes against even Pei Xianjing. What kind of birth mother does that?” Xing Shuwei’s voice carried a chill.
Only then did Qiutong understand. She said angrily, “How could she possibly be the Eldest Young Master’s birth mother? She acts more like his vicious stepmother.”
Qiutong’s offhand remark sent Xing Shuwei’s thoughts reeling.
From the way Lady Pei indulged the Fifth Young Master, it was clear she was a mother who doted on her son.
Yet her treatment of Pei Xianjing was worse than her treatment of the children of the second and third branches.
She knew perfectly well that Zhang Mingan was bent on competing with Pei Xianjing for control of Qizhou. Even so, rather than stand with Pei Xianjing, she preferred to devise ways for Zhang Mingan to become a future source of support for the Fifth Young Master.
None of it was normal!
Xing Shuwei remembered Pei Congxian’s concubine, who had died young.
Twenty-three years ago, Pei Congxian had served in Qizhou for a time, and Lady Pei had accompanied him there.
While in Qizhou, Lady Pei took a knife wound for Pei Congxian. From then on, the couple had been deeply devoted to one another.
Before Pei Congxian even returned to the capital, he disposed of the concubine in his household.
Six months after he returned, Lady Pei gave birth to Pei Xianjing.
According to Matron Gao, Lady Pei had barely survived after saving Pei Congxian and had only narrowly clung to life.
If she had been carrying Pei Xianjing then, the wound would most likely have caused her to miscarry. Could it be…
A daring suspicion immediately formed in Xing Shuwei’s mind, but she would need an opportunity to verify it.
* * *
As the sun slanted westward, Pei Guofei came to Qianchen Pavilion.
He brought Xing Shuwei pastries from a restaurant outside the estate.
“Weiwei, this is all my fault. I dragged you into it.
“I only left the ancestral hall today, and I immediately heard about you and Lord Zhang.”
Pei Guofei looked at her guiltily as he spoke.
“This is my own tribulation. It has nothing to do with you.” Xing Shuwei comforted him instead.
“Weiwei, you are such a good person…” Pei Guofei suddenly seemed to choke on his words, his voice cutting off halfway through.
Xing Shuwei had other matters on her mind. Although she found his behavior unusual today, she paid it little heed.
She had no attention to spare for anyone else right now.
After considering every possibility, she feared the only way to prevent Yan’er from being sent to Princess Jin’an was to work on Pei Xianjing.
But since what happened last time, Pei Xianjing had rarely returned to the estate, much less summoned her to Qiansheng Pavilion again.
“Weiwei, I fear Miss Zheng and I are not destined to be together.
“I never expected so much to change in just a few days.
“Only after this did I realize how useless I am.
“Without an official degree, I cannot even decide my own marriage.
“Because I am such a disappointment, my parents must suffer humiliation as well,” Pei Guofei said mournfully.
Although Pei Congxian valued his bonds with his brothers, the minor affairs of the inner household were managed by Lady Pei.
She constantly made trouble for the second and third branches over petty matters, but the Second and Third Masters would not report every trifling domestic dispute to Pei Congxian.
The Second and Third Madams inevitably suffered their share of grievances in the inner household.
The Second Madam had it somewhat better. Both her sons were accomplished and assisted Pei Congxian at court, so Lady Pei naturally treated her with greater leniency.
But the third branch was different. Only the Third Master held office and supported the household.
The Third Madam earned a fortune through business, yet she refused to contribute much silver to the common household fund, so Lady Pei made life even more difficult for her.
It was therefore hardly surprising that Lady Pei had now interfered in Pei Guofei’s marriage to thwart their wishes.
Everyone had hardships of their own to endure. Xing Shuwei could not help with this matter and could only offer a few words of comfort.
“Fourth Brother, you are of the Duke of Qi’s legitimate line, and everyone outside knows how deeply the Duke values his bonds with his brothers.
“Your marriage represents the position of the Duke’s estate. You and Miss Zheng may love each other, but in the eyes of others, your union would be a marriage alliance between two families.
“The Eldest Young Lady also has feelings for Seventh Young Master Shen, so it is inevitable that people will read more into it.”
Pei Guofei said nothing and merely pushed the pastries toward her.
Finding the atmosphere awkward as well, Xing Shuwei picked one up and took a small bite.
“If Eldest Brother had not become Imperial Tutor to the Eleventh Prince, there would still be room to turn everything around, wouldn’t there?” Pei Guofei suddenly asked after a moment of silence.
Xing Shuwei swallowed the pastry, unsure how to answer.
“Why can Eldest Brother do whatever he pleases while the rest of us cannot? Every exception in the Pei family is made for him.
“Everyone knows Princess Jin’an cannot be offended, yet he can treat her with a cold face.
“Eldest Uncle told him to deliver the betrothal gifts to Princess Jin’an’s residence, but he keeps putting it off.
“Weiwei, people need to be a little selfish, don’t they?”
Xing Shuwei set the pastry in her hand back on the plate. “Who does not rack their brains and expend every last ounce of strength for their own sake?
“Fourth Brother, you will meet the right person for you.
“A setback may yet prove a blessing.”
Pei Guofei stared directly at her. “Come with me to distribute porridge outside the city in two days.”
“There is nothing I can do to help. Going would serve no purpose,” Xing Shuwei refused.
“Miss Zheng will be there too. This may be the last time I ever see her. Won’t you help me?” A trace of pleading entered Pei Guofei’s voice.
“Fourth Brother, I have already helped you,” Xing Shuwei said calmly.
“The female relatives of the court officials will all be there that day. Even the senior palace maid who oversees the Empress Dowager’s household will attend.
“No matter how much of a bastard I am, I would never choose that day to make trouble. I only want to say a few more words to Miss Zheng,” Pei Guofei persisted.
Hearing that someone from the Empress Dowager’s side would also be present, Xing Shuwei relented. “Very well, but this is the last time.”
As dusk fell, Pei Guofei rose and left.
* * *
More and more refugees were gathering outside the city. With the weather growing warmer, there were also fears of an epidemic.
Many were said to have died, and even the mass grave in the outskirts was nearly full.
Even the Emperor was paying attention to the effort to distribute porridge and aid the refugees.
In his capacity as Imperial Tutor to the Eleventh Prince, Pei Xianjing established the largest porridge station outside the city.
As Chengde drove the carriage toward the city gate, he said to Pei Xianjing inside, “Eldest Young Master, I hear Miss Xing has gone to help distribute porridge as well.
“Come to think of it, she ought to show her face. After all, Dowager Lady Pei used money belonging to her family to build the porridge station.”
The man inside the carriage opened his eyes, the exhaustion covering him vanishing at once.
“She never takes my words to heart,” Pei Xianjing said coldly.
Chengde turned his head slightly and tried to persuade him. “In this subordinate’s view, Miss Xing shows her true temperament with you, Eldest Young Master.
“When she lowers herself and acts meek before others without showing any temper, that is when she is pretending to be obedient.
“When she acts petulantly before you, it means she truly regards you as someone close to her.”
Chengde prayed inwardly: Please, make peace and put the past behind you soon. Then my life will be easier too.
The Eldest Young Master had grown increasingly temperamental of late. No matter how carefully Chengde served him, he was still frequently reprimanded.
After so many years at the Eldest Young Master’s side, Chengde naturally knew that Miss Xing was the root of it all.
That was why he had braced himself to say these words.