Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The newcomer was Lady Shen.
The steward beside her bowed. “Guards are stationed throughout the residence today. Young Master Shen could not have escaped. He should still be somewhere on the grounds.”
Lady Shen paused. “Then is he cavorting with that scoundrel from the Marquis of Qingyuan’s family inside his own home?”
“Go find him! What are you still standing there for?”
The steward acknowledged the order and hurriedly arranged for servants to search for Young Master Shen.
Xing Shuwei’s gaze settled on Lady Shen.
Everyone else avoided the heir to the Marquis of Qingyuan like the plague, but Lady Shen made no attempt to conceal her son’s close friendship with Lord Zhang.
Clearly, Lady Shen was not one to fuss over trifles.
From this glimpse of her character alone, Xing Shuwei guessed that she likely came from a military family.
The Shen family held real power without belonging to the titled nobility. Together with Lady Shen’s temperament… it might be worth trying to befriend Young Master Shen.
With that thought, Xing Shuwei began considering how to approach Young Master Shen.
Pei Xuanfei made her way around to Lady Shen, her face full of smiles as she soothed, “Please don’t be anxious or angry, my lady.
“Young Master Shen is upright by nature. He would never mix with Lord Zhang.
“Besides, the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate would surely never let someone like Lord Zhang out to disgrace himself.”
As she spoke, she reached to link arms with Lady Shen.
Lady Shen stepped away, displeasure written across her face. “Gossiping behind another’s back is no behavior for a well-bred young lady.
“What the Zhang clan does is none of your concern. Why are you passing judgment on them?”
Pei Xuanfei stood frozen in place.
Had she not spoken only to defend Young Master Shen’s reputation? Why had this old hag scolded her without even asking what happened?
Lady Shen hurried away to search for her son, leaving Pei Xuanfei alone with a bellyful of anger.
“Pei Xuanfei, disparaging the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate to curry favor with Lady Shen on an occasion like this is going too far!”
Zheng Yan stepped out, visibly displeased.
She was the cousin of the heir to the Marquis of Qingyuan and could not pretend she had not seen Pei Xuanfei’s behavior.
Pei Xuanfei’s expression shifted several times. “What did I say that was wrong?
“Everyone in the capital knows what kind of reputation the heir to the Marquis of Qingyuan has.
“Besides, you are merely a dependent cousin living in the Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate with your mother, yet you keep calling it ‘our Marquis of Qingyuan’s estate.’ Have you no shame?”
Zheng Yan choked, then sneered. “What is wrong with being cousins? Cousins are still family!
“You threw yourself at Young Master Shen, Lady Shen humiliated you in front of everyone, and now you’re taking your anger out on me?”
Pei Xuanfei’s face turned livid with rage.
The noble young ladies watching from nearby wore a variety of expressions.
Pei Xuanfei swept a warning glare around them before finally fixing her eyes on Xing Shuwei.
Seeing this, Xing Shuwei unobtrusively picked up a cup of tea and concealed it in her sleeve.
Pei Xuanfei walked up to her and hurled insults meant for another. “A lowly wretch living under someone else’s roof, an embarrassment unfit for respectable company-what are you standing here for?”
As she spoke, she reached out to shove Xing Shuwei.
Before her hand could touch Xing Shuwei, however, Xing Shuwei cried, “Ah!” The tea splashed with perfect accuracy over Zheng Yan’s dress as the latter approached from behind.
Zheng Yan believed Pei Xuanfei had used Xing Shuwei to retaliate against and humiliate her.
“Pei Xuanfei, you were born to a duke’s household. How can you be so vicious and despicable?
“You are a guest in another’s home, yet you still behave with such arrogance. Is this how the Duke of Qi’s estate raises its children?”
Xing Shuwei climbed to her feet and addressed Zheng Yan. “Miss Zheng, I’m sorry…”
Before she could finish, Pei Xuanfei cut her off. “You dare drag the Duke’s household into this? If the Marquis of Qingyuan never taught you how to behave, then I will teach you in his place.”
With that, Pei Xuanfei raised a hand to slap Zheng Yan.
“Eldest Young Lady, you mustn’t.” Xing Shuwei darted forward and placed herself in front of Zheng Yan.
She swung up an arm and deflected Pei Xuanfei’s descending slap.
Pei Xuanfei stared at her in shock. “What do you think you are? You dare tell me what to do?”
Xing Shuwei met her gaze with neither servility nor arrogance. “This is the Shen residence’s banquet, after all. If the Eldest Young Lady makes too ugly a scene, the Eldest Young Master will have to apologize to Lord Shen on your behalf when he arrives.
“Today is a joyful occasion celebrating Young Master Shen’s promotion. Even if your conflict began with a private grievance, once word reaches others, it will become a dispute between the Duke of Qi’s estate and the Shen residence.”
Only astonishment remained on Pei Xuanfei’s face.
If anyone mistakenly believed today’s incident arose because her eldest brother resented Young Master Shen’s promotion, it would damage relations between the Pei and Shen families. Then arranging a marriage with Young Master Shen would only become more difficult.
Young Master Shen’s promotion had been personally decreed by the Emperor. If this made the Emperor displeased with her Eldest Uncle, her Eldest Uncle would never forgive her either.
Zheng Yan, standing behind Xing Shuwei, also deflated. Her maternal uncle already found it difficult to hold his head up because of her cousin’s poor reputation.
She had spoken rudely only because she resented Pei Xuanfei for belittling her cousin. If others consequently believed that her maternal uncle and cousin were jealous of Young Master Shen’s promotion, her sin would be truly unforgivable.
At the thought, Zheng Yan stamped her foot and glared fiercely at Pei Xuanfei before leaving with her maid to change her clothes.
Pei Xuanfei gave a cold snort and went to sit off to one side.
After a while, she summoned Xing Shuwei to her again.
Xing Shuwei crouched beside her and listened to her cutting mockery.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. You merely want to use me to befriend and flatter Zheng Yan.
“Then her mother will reject the marriage with Fourth Uncle, and you will escape being married to Zhang Mingan and abused.
“I suggest you abandon such improper thoughts as soon as possible.
“You are an orphaned girl. How could an alliance between two families possibly be yours to influence?”
“Ordinarily, you never even leave Qianchen Pavilion, yet this time you came rushing to attend the banquet.”
Pei Xuanfei lifted her chin toward the other side of the screen. “What? Do you still fantasize that some scion of a great clan might take a liking to you and marry you as his principal wife?
“Once in several hundred years, the Xing family was blessed with extraordinary good fortune, and even then, it only produced Grandmother, who defied heaven and changed her fate.
“Surely the Xing family could not be blessed with such fortune every single time?
“Xing Shuwei, you were born to a lowly fate. Even allowing you to become a concubine would be elevating you.”
Although Pei Xuanfei was not Dowager Lady Pei’s biological granddaughter, Dowager Lady Pei had always treated her well, and the two were very close.
She had also come today with instructions from Dowager Lady Pei.
Xing Shuwei spoke at the appropriate moment. “Fourth Brother only pitied me and brought me out to broaden my horizons.
“I know I am a merchant’s daughter. How could I dare indulge in such a daydream?”
As she spoke, she glanced again toward the screen separating the male guests-
Man proposes, Heaven disposes.
What if she succeeded?
Before long, a commotion arose on the other side of the screen.
She vaguely heard a man say, “Zhang Mingan actually came?”
Pei Xuanfei lowered her gaze to Xing Shuwei’s humble, submissive posture and waved a hand. “Enough. Go stand at the back. The sight of you brings nothing but bad luck.”
Xing Shuwei rose and retreated to the very back of the crowd.
Then Pei Xuanfei’s personal maid, Jiangzhu, approached and whispered in her ear, “Miss, I saw him with my own eyes. Lord Zhang really did come.”
Pei Xuanfei set down the teacup in her hand. “Have you found out where he is?”
“Lady Shen locked him in the west wing,” Jiangzhu replied.
A vicious gleam flashed through Pei Xuanfei’s eyes. “Grandmother’s information is always accurate.
“Today, I will make Xing Shuwei understand that this banquet was never meant to let her marry above her station. It was meant to send her to hell.”