Chapter 15

Page 1/3

Pei Yun blinked. She clearly recognized the person before her, yet for some reason, lately he seemed somewhat unfamiliar to her. In her previous life, he had accompanied her to the Duke’s residence only a handful of times—she could recall no more than three occasions. Once was on the third day after her wedding, once when her elder brother returned victorious, and later when her mother passed away. But this time, with no particular reason given, Pei Yun was puzzled as to why the Crown Prince would be willing to accompany her back.

Lowering her eyes, she was silent for a moment before looking at the Crown Prince again. Suddenly, she found there was nothing disagreeable about him and composed herself to offer a formal bow. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Li Changye gave a slight nod, helping Pei Yun into the carriage before taking his seat himself. She wondered why the Crown Prince wasn’t riding his horse today. Watching him settle inside and soon close his eyes to rest, she guessed he hadn’t slept well the night before.

Her confusion deepened. Why, despite his weariness, would the Crown Prince insist on accompanying her home? She pondered the entire journey but could think of no explanation—until the carriage stopped and Changlu announced, “Your Highness, Your Highness, the Duke’s residence has arrived.”

The Crown Prince opened his eyes, stepped out first, and reached out to help her down. Pei Yun rested her hand in his and glanced ahead. Compared to her last visit, this time was much livelier.

Besides her mother, Madam Zhou, and her younger sister Pei Wei, her second aunt Madam Wang and cousin Pei Qian were also there to greet her. Madam Wang hoped to have her daughter enter the Eastern Palace and was flattering her; her presence was not unexpected. But she seemed taken aback by the Crown Prince’s arrival, her eyes sparkling with joy beneath her surprise.

The sudden appearance of the Crown Prince unsettled several members of the Pei family. After the initial shock, Madam Zhou hurried everyone forward to bow to the Crown Prince.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and to the Crown Princess.”

“Please rise.”

The Crown Prince approached Madam Zhou with a respectful greeting. “I am usually occupied with many affairs of state, and have not accompanied the Crown Princess on her visits here. Today, having some leisure, I decided to return with her. It was a sudden decision and I did not inform my mother-in-law in advance. Please forgive me.”

Li Changye’s respectful demeanor made Madam Zhou nervous. While he was indeed her son-in-law, he was also the heir to the realm—she could hardly bear the weight of his words.

“Your Highness is jesting. It is an honor for the Duke’s residence to welcome you. We have prepared tea and refreshments inside; it is cold outside. Please, Your Highness and Crown Princess, be seated in the main hall.”

The Crown Prince nodded and followed Madam Zhou into the residence, Pei Yun close behind.

No sooner had they taken their seats in the main hall than the elderly Madam Pei arrived. Usually complaining of ill health, she now came briskly, supported by two maids. She was about to perform the customary bow but was half-supported by the Crown Prince.

“Please, no formalities, Madam. I have heard of your health troubles and there is no need for such empty rituals.”

He gestured for Madam Pei to sit on one side. She accepted without hesitation, but the moment her seat was taken, her sharp gaze turned reproachfully to Pei Yun.

“Yun, how could you be so negligent? Knowing the Crown Prince would come, why not send someone to inform us in advance? If we had slighted His Highness, what would we do?”

Seeing her grandmother assert her authority as the family elder, Pei Yun suppressed a smile inwardly. When had she ever seen her grandmother act like a proper elder?

Her lips parted slightly as if to reply, but a deep voice softly interrupted, “Madam, you have misunderstood. This was my sudden decision early today. I forgot to inform the Crown Princess; it was not her fault.”

Pei Yun looked deeply at the Crown Prince. Though his expression was calm, she could not tell if it was her imagination, but his voice seemed laced with a faint chill.

Madam Pei was momentarily speechless. With the Crown Prince’s words, how could she respond? She had intended to assert the dignity of the Crown Princess’s grandmother but was publicly outmaneuvered.

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Madam Zhou noticed her mother-in-law’s embarrassment and, fearing she might cause a scene, quickly changed the subject with a smile. “Mother has been speaking of the Crown Princess lately, saying how filial she is. At the recent hundred-day celebration for the third royal grandson, the Crown Princess gifted you fine deer antler velvet. That medicine is effective; Mother feels much healthier after taking it.”

“Yes,” Madam Pei agreed, seizing this opportunity. “The Crown Princess has quite a filial heart.”

After praising her briefly, her gaze drifted elsewhere. “Not only the Crown Princess, but there is also a young lady in my household who is equally obedient and respectful to me as her grandmother...”

She beckoned Pei Qian, who stood nearby, took her hand, and smiled brightly at the Crown Prince. “This is my second son’s daughter, also the Crown Princess’s second younger sister. From a young age, she has been attentive—serving tea and water without fail. When I was ill, she never left my side, a truly rare and good child.”

Pei Yun watched expressionlessly as her grandmother lavished praise on Pei Qian before the Crown Prince, finding it both amusing and dull as she rubbed her fingers lightly.

If the Crown Prince intended to take a new consort, the Eastern Palace would already be full of ladies-in-waiting and noble beauties.

The Crown Prince’s heart belonged to someone else. Marrying Pei Yun had been a necessity; otherwise, in thirteen years, he would not have lacked a concubine. And even if he desired another, it would never be Pei Qian.

Madam Pei went on at length. Madam Wang was ecstatic but this only made Madam Zhou’s face darken further. After a moment’s restraint, she could no longer hold back; just as she was about to speak, a clear voice cut in first.

“Second Sister is good, but grandmother praising her so much only makes it seem that her own granddaughter is especially unfilial...”

Everyone turned toward the voice. Standing beside Madam Zhou was a young girl in a sky-blue robe with a crossed collar, about thirteen or fourteen years old. Her features resembled Pei Yun’s somewhat, but unlike Pei Yun’s calm elegance, this girl’s almond-shaped eyes were lively and bright, her whole being fresh and charming like the arrival of spring.

Pei Yun studied her younger sister Pei Wei carefully, her heart churning like turbulent waves, though she dared not show it on her face.

Her little sister remained the same—straightforward in nature and unable to bear anyone bullying her elder sister.

“Grandmother is biased, clearly forgetting that your granddaughter also cared for you when you were ill. Why remember only the second sister’s kindness?”

Caught off guard, Madam Pei’s smile stiffened. Though inwardly annoyed, she could not rebuke Pei Wei because the girl’s tone was like a child’s plaintive complaint.

No one could fault a child.

Madam Wang glared at the troublemaking Pei Wei, her anger barely concealed.

At that moment, the Crown Prince, who had been quietly listening, spoke.

“Madam, your guidance has been excellent, for you have three granddaughters, each outstanding and sensible.”

His light remark effectively silenced Madam Pei, who could only force a smile. “Your Highness is too kind.”

Seeing her grandmother finally calm down, Pei Yun glanced at the scholar’s inkstone; the attendant understood and presented the items in hand to Madam Pei.

“Have you finished the deer antler velvet that was given before?”

“Yes,” Madam Pei said with a bright smile. “Your second aunt has been diligent in caring for me, often urging me to use it, even personally preparing and administering it. It’s very effective.”

Pei Yun looked at Madam Wang. “Thank you, second aunt. My mother’s health is poor and she finds it difficult to attend to grandmother. In future, we must rely more on you and Pei Qian.”

Madam Wang immediately stood in alarm. “We are family; madam, you flatter me.”

Pei Yun continued, “Today, returning home, I also brought some medicinal herbs for grandmother. These deer antler velvets are of even finer quality than those I brought before, all gifts from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Madam Pei hurried to bow to the Crown Prince, but he stopped her.

Pei Yun then distributed the remaining gifts among the Pei family in the hall.

After the Crown Prince entered the Duke’s residence, Madam Zhou sent someone to find Pei Suyuan, the second lord of the Pei family, currently at the official residence, and Pei Chian, the second son of the second branch, who was wandering somewhere unknown.

With the Duke absent, it was inconvenient for the family to properly receive the Crown Prince. Just before lunch, Pei Suyuan and Pei Chian arrived one after the other.

Pei Chian’s disheveled attire and careless appearance caused Madam Wang to scowl deeply. She shot him a sharp look and ordered him to go back and dress properly before receiving the honored guest.

After lunch, Pei Suyuan and Pei Chian accompanied the Crown Prince on a leisurely tour of the estate, while Pei Yun, her mother, and sister accompanied Madam Pei back to her quarters.

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Pei Qian, meanwhile, was suddenly splashed with tea by a serving maid near the end of lunch and was escorted by Madam Wang to change her clothes.

Madam Zhou supported Madam Pei as they walked ahead, with Pei Yun and Pei Wei trailing behind.

After a short distance, Pei Yun could no longer hold back and turned to call softly, “Come closer.”

Those behind silently quickened their pace but still kept a couple of steps behind.

Pei Yun pulled a reluctant smile. “Why hang your head like that? What, are you afraid I’ll scold you?”

She took Pei Wei’s hand and saw her younger sister look up in surprise, her large, moist almond eyes gazing at her like a startled fawn.

Looking at that face, memories flashed through Pei Yun’s mind—her little sister’s death in her arms in the previous life. At that time, Pei Wei was frail and thin, eyes full of sorrow and exhaustion, leaning weakly against her.

“Big sister, I miss Father, Mother, and elder brother so much...” she had said.

Pei Yun’s heart ached sharply.

She had long wanted to ask her little sister if she resented her—for it was her own actions as an elder sister that had led to such a fate.

“Big sister,” Pei Wei called cautiously, “aren’t you going to scold me? After all, I was careless and spoke without thinking just now...”

Pei Yun smiled gently. “You helped me; why would I scold you?”

In the previous life, by now, Pei Wei had grown distant from her, finding her elder sister stern and harsh, always forbidding her to ride horses outside or play polo, even sending palace nurses to teach her proper conduct so she would behave like the refined ladies of the capital.

That was why she was so worried, afraid of being reprimanded.

Pei Wei had already heard from their mother that her elder sister had changed. Now, seeing her gentle expression, she forgot all the past scoldings and straightened her back, smiling brightly.

“Who told grandmother those things? She’s always biased toward the second uncle’s family and never treated us as one family. It’s absurd that a grandmother would push one granddaughter to become a concubine of another granddaughter’s husband...”

Pei Yun listened as her sister vented her frustrations, murmuring on and on. She gently covered her mouth and glanced ahead. “Speak softer, be careful grandmother hears you.”

“I’m not afraid!” Pei Wei straightened her neck stubbornly. “When grandmother bullied Mother earlier, I couldn’t hold back. Mother always obeys grandmother, but grandmother is unreasonable and makes second aunt stir up trouble, tormenting Mother...”

Her voice grew softer, tinged with a choked emotion.

Pei Yun ceased smiling and reached out to stroke Pei Wei’s head. “Big sister knows your and Mother’s grievances. Don’t worry, I will soon make things right for you all...”

“Make things right?” Pei Wei blinked in confusion.

Pei Yun smiled but did not explain, simply saying, “Let’s go.”

Looking into her sister’s unusually resolute eyes, Pei Wei’s doubts remained, but she said no more.

When they arrived at Madam Pei’s quarters and had just sat down, a maid rushed in, breathless.

It was the woman Pei Yun had brought from the palace.

“Madam, there’s been an incident!”

Pei Yun set down her tea cup, frowning slightly. “What has happened to cause such alarm?”

The maid knelt before her and reported, “Sister Shuyan, following your instructions, went to buy cakes for the eldest royal grandson. At the back gate, she happened upon a servant sneaking out with a bundle. Curious, Sister Shuyan stopped him and searched thoroughly. To our surprise... the bundle contained the medicinal herbs you just gave to Madam!”

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End of pages 1-3.