Chapter 4
Because she was injured during childbirth and it was the dead of winter, Pei Yun, still confined to her postpartum recovery, could not leave her Linglang Palace. She could only stay inside, playing with Chen’er daily and often summoning Li Jin for conversation.
Time dragged on, and at last, she endured through the confinement period.
The full-month celebration for Chen’er, unlike in her previous life, was not held. Due to severe snow disasters in the north causing widespread hardship, her imperial father-in-law, the emperor, had ordered the palace to economize and forbid extravagance. Thus, Pei Yun volunteered to forgo the customary ceremony.
Her reasoning matched that of her past life: first, her body was not yet fully healed, making it truly too taxing to host such an event. Moreover, under these circumstances, a grand celebration was out of the question. By proactively bringing this up, she gained favor from the emperor toward the Crown Prince’s residence.
Most importantly, she knew that although this month's event was skipped, the emperor had promised to make up for it when Chen’er reached the hundredth day.
In this way, Chen’er was not deprived.
Everything unfolded much as it had before.
Despite the absence of the formal celebration, gifts poured in from both inside and outside the palace.
Among them, naturally, were those from the Pei family.
In her previous life, Pei Yun had never looked at them, but this time, she carefully opened and examined them. The Pei family had sent two gifts: one was a longevity lock and a pair of small gold bracelets engraved with auspicious cloud patterns; the other was a complete set of infant clothing—tiger-head hat, tiger bib, tiger-patterned bellyband, all meticulously prepared.
She gently held the tiger-head hat, stroking the fine stitching, her throat tightening with emotion.
Book and Ink, noticing the reddening of her eyes, understood her feelings. The two exchanged a glance before Ink smiled and said, “Look how exquisitely this tiger-head hat is made. I wonder which embroidery artisan Madam invited—such outstanding craftsmanship. The tiger is embroidered to be so lively and adorable.”
Pei Yun knew she was asking knowingly.
Who else could it be but her own mother, Madam Zhou, with such fine needlework?
Others might not know, but Book and Ink did. The melancholy Pei Yun felt was not only due to complications during childbirth but also because, four months into her pregnancy, a visit home had led to disputes within her family. In her last life, she had sulked and not returned to the Pei family for over a year.
However, given a second chance, what she wanted most now was to go home and properly see her mother and sister.
Seeing Madam Pei Yun unperturbed, Book and Ink took hope and intended to mend the relationship between the two ladies. Before they could speak, Pei Yun suddenly asked, “Has the Noble Consort’s gift arrived as well?”
The two were momentarily taken aback, but Book was the first to reply, “Yes, the Noble Consort sent it early this morning through Eunuch Fang. Because you were still resting when he arrived, he didn’t enter to pay his respects. Would you like me to bring it for you to see?”
“No need,” Pei Yun said, rising. “Help me change clothes. Since the Noble Consort sent a generous gift, I must go thank her properly.”
“Certainly.” Book and Ink did not press further but responded respectfully.
Four years ago, after the death of the Late Empress Xiao Ren, the emperor had not appointed a new empress. Now the position of Empress was vacant, with the Noble Consort managing the harem’s affairs as a de facto second-in-command. Madam Pei Yun was always courteous and proper, and now that she was out of confinement, it was proper to pay respects.
After changing into a sparrow-blue jacket with floral embroidery and a moon-white pleated skirt with subtle patterns, draping a fox-fur cloak over her shoulders, Book tucked a hand warmer into her palm before escorting her into a small sedan chair bound for the Noble Consort’s Yong’an Palace.
Upon reaching the palace entrance, Book raised her hand to halt the sedan chair and informed the palace attendants at the gate. Only then did they help Pei Yun down. Led by two palace maids, she passed through the courtyard and along the corridor toward the main hall.
Before entering, laughter and chatter came from inside.
Her steps faltered slightly as she recognized some voices, pondering how lively Yong’an Palace was today.
The palace maids lifted the felt curtain. Pei Yun glanced inside and, just as she expected, saw the Noble Consort seated at the head, flanked on both sides by three familiar ladies.
Pei Yun stepped forward and greeted each one respectfully. The Noble Consort hastened to invite her to sit and inquired about her health.
“The Crown Princess, having just given birth to the little emperor, was visited by me once at the Eastern Palace. At that time, you suffered postpartum hemorrhage and had just recovered, looking pale and frightening. Are you feeling better now?”
Pei Yun smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Noble Consort. The imperial physicians at the Imperial Hospital are skilled in restoring health, and with the many fine medicinal herbs sent by the ladies, I am almost fully recovered.”
“I can see that. The Crown Princess looks rosy and radiant, hardly like someone who just suffered a severe illness,” remarked the Lady Shu, seated to the Noble Consort’s left.
The current emperor had few surviving children—five sons and two daughters who reached maturity, discounting those who died young.
Lady Shu was the mother of the emperor’s youngest son, the fifth prince, Li Chang Geng.
After speaking, she glanced at the woman beside her and asked, “What do you think, Mei’er?”
The woman called Mei’er, close in age to Pei Yun, possessed bright eyes, gleaming teeth, and a gentle, dignified manner. She smiled faintly and replied, “Lady Shu speaks truly. Looking at the Crown Princess after a month’s recovery, she seems even more beautiful than before childbirth.”
“It’s good news that you have recovered well. That puts my mind at ease,” the Noble Consort said. “When the Crown Prince returns from Qian County and sees the Crown Princess restored to health, he will surely be pleased.”
“Speaking of which, I heard that the Prince of Yu also accompanied the Crown Prince to Qian County?” the woman sitting next to Pei Yun interjected, looking toward Liu Mei’er.
Liu Mei’er was no stranger; she was the wife of the Prince of Yu, mother to the emperor’s second grandson, Li Qian.
“Yes. Father the Emperor wanted to give my Prince some experience, so he took advantage of the opportunity to let him travel south with His Highness the Crown Prince,” Mei’er replied, glancing at Pei Yun with a subtle, almost imperceptible smile. After a moment, as if recalling something, she covered her mouth and laughed softly. “Father’s decree was abrupt. When my Rong Jie’er heard her father was leaving for three months, she was reluctant to part and kept tugging at the Prince’s sleeve. The Prince coaxed her for some time and promised to bring back gifts, only then did Rong Jie’er reluctantly let go.”
Rong Jie’er was the eldest daughter of the Prince of Yu and Liu Mei’er, now four years old. The Prince doted on his precious daughter.
Upon hearing “gifts,” Pei Yun’s fingers holding the hand warmer paused, her lips curling into a faint, ambiguous smile.
She knew Liu Mei’er was not simply telling a family anecdote; she was subtly striking at her heart.
How did Pei Yun know about the Crown Prince casually sending gifts on her behalf? She owed that to the Princess of Yu.
In the second year after marrying into the Eastern Palace, the emperor had sent the Prince of Yu and Crown Prince out of the capital on official business. Upon their return, Chang Lu brought a brocade box to Linglang Palace, saying it was a special gift the Crown Prince had purchased for her.
At that time, Pei Yun still held some hope for the Crown Prince and was pleased that her husband thought of her while away. She wore the white jade bracelet from the box to a palace banquet the next day.
She meant no show of it, but Princess Haoyue seized her wrist and declared loudly before the crowd, “I was curious what kind of bracelet Second Brother intended for Second Sister-in-law. Turns out it’s just this ordinary one. Honestly, Second Sister-in-law’s current bracelet is better. Second Brother really should exchange it with Third Brother. Whatever Third Brother gives doesn’t matter; he always instructs Chang Lu to buy gifts, so he certainly wouldn’t refuse.”
Pei Yun was not naive. Though she caught only fragments of the conversation, she discerned the mocking and scornful glances around her and guessed the truth.
A few days later, she tested the Crown Prince by saying she liked the gold hairpin he had bought her. He responded with a faint smile and only said, “As long as you like it.”
Those five simple words confirmed her suspicions and dashed her heart completely.
Princess Haoyue was right: it didn’t matter what the Crown Prince gave her, just as it didn’t matter how he regarded his Crown Princess.
Yet, even if she was unfavored, it did not mean anyone could bully her.
Given a second chance, she would no longer endure silently.
Pei Yun looked at Liu Mei’er calmly, answering casually, “Yuzhou is vast and rich in resources. It is rare for the Prince of Yu to visit the capital. I imagine he will bring back many trinkets for Rong Jie’er.”
Liu Mei’er’s smile stiffened.
She had never expected that the usually accommodating Pei Yun had learned to wield words like a dagger.
Liu Mei’er’s greatest resentment was being married off to the Prince of Yu.
Unlike other princes, the Prince of Yu’s mother was born lowly—a county magistrate’s daughter who died in childbirth and was posthumously titled Zhaoyi. The Prince himself was mediocre and timid, unfit for great responsibilities, and rarely sent out of the capital on official duties.
Liu Mei’er’s family was one of the three great aristocratic households in the capital. Her grandfather was a Grand Secretary, and her father and uncles held important posts. Perhaps because of this, the once highly favored candidate for Crown Princess felt so affronted by Pei Yun that she sought to compete with her at every turn—to prove she was no lesser.
She quietly sized up Pei Yun seated across the room, brow slightly furrowed. Pei Yun wore her usual modest attire, the colors dignified and serene, her face without makeup, smiling gently. Yet somehow, she seemed more radiant and captivating than before.
It was as if nothing had changed, yet everything was different.
Today, Pei Yun not only glowed with health but even dared to mock her subtly.
But what good was beauty born and bred in a wild place like Wunan? She still could not stand on the stage.
Liu Mei’er scoffed inwardly. Though she smiled in response, moments later she turned to Consort Zhen and asked, “Where is Ru’er today? Has she gone out of the palace again?”
“You guessed right,” Consort Zhen replied with a helpless shake of her head. “That child is wild and cannot stay in the palace. She said she went to Shen—”
Consort Zhen suddenly stopped mid-sentence, quickly glanced at Pei Yun, gave a dry smile, and continued, “She said she went to visit a newly opened rouge shop in the western part of the city.”
Pei Yun was not deaf to the mention of “Shen.”
She almost smiled. Liu Mei’er truly could not bear her presence.
Everyone in the palace knew that thirteen-year-old Princess Haoyue, Li Shuirui, was close with the sixth Miss of the Shen family, who was the elder full sister of Shen Ningjia—the former prospective Crown Princess.
Liu Mei’er’s deliberate mention of the sixth Miss Shen was a thinly veiled reminder that Pei Yun was merely a placeholder. The Crown Prince’s heart belonged to his ill-fated cousin.
Pei Yun needed no reminder.
In her previous life, she vividly recalled the moment before her death when the garden bridge broke and the Crown Prince almost immediately swam to Miss Shen.
He loved Shen Ningjia deeply and even transferred his affections to Shen Ningchao, who resembled her.
From beginning to end, Pei Yun had been nothing but a joke.
The Crown Prince did not care for her, but neither did Pei Yun care who he favored.
In her past life, she had always sought recognition, striving for perfection in everything to be the rightful Crown Princess and Empress.
Now, she cared only for her family’s safety and happiness, hoping her two children would grow up joyful and well.
When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would quietly live in a corner, enjoying peaceful days, letting him and his beloved live happily together.
Though Pei Yun planned this in her heart, her silence was seen by Liu Mei’er as resentment and discontent.
Liu Mei’er smiled to herself, feeling victorious.
Because of Consort Zhen’s slip earlier, the hall had grown awkward.
In the ensuing silence, a palace attendant entered, announcing that the Princess Consort of Chengcheng had arrived.
No sooner had the words fallen than a delicate figure wrapped in cold air stepped in.
She wore a crimson cloak trimmed with snow-white rabbit fur around the collar, her fair, round face half hidden beneath it, with eyes sparkling like stars.
A newlywed was truly something different—carrying her own aura of joy, instantly dispelling the earlier awkwardness and brightening the entire Yong’an Palace.
She stepped forward, blushing as she bowed to each in turn, then addressed the Noble Consort with a respectful apology, “Mother Consort, I am late. Please forgive me.”
Her voice was soft and gentle, like water that could be squeezed from a cloth, stirring a protective instinct in listeners—how could anyone bear to punish her?
The Noble Consort beamed and rose to help her up personally.
Her only son, the fourth prince Li Changzhi, was now married to this young lady from a scholarly family with a pleasing appearance and temperament. How could the Noble Consort be anything but satisfied?
She patted Cheng Siyuan’s hand affectionately, speaking softly, “Better late than never. There are no such strict rules here to warrant punishment.”
The Noble Consort invited Cheng Siyuan to sit beside her on a small couch.
At that moment, Lady Shu chuckled softly and raised her brow, teasing, “Did the Princess Consort of Chengcheng oversleep this morning and thus miss the proper time to pay respects?”
Cheng Siyuan was startled and blushed deeply, her ruby lips parting as if to argue, but she only lowered her lashes shyly without replying.
Everyone understood, sharing meaningful smiles.
The marriage of Prince Cheng and his consort was only two months old, still in the honeymoon phase. Such closeness was natural.
All understood the situation, except Pei Yun in the corner, who observed Cheng Siyuan’s embarrassment and the ambiguous glances around her and could not relate.
Before marrying Li Changye, Pei Yun had been taught all the palace rules.
But what others did not know was that in thirteen years of her previous life, even though she had been pregnant with Li Changye three times, she had never once experienced the so-called conjugal pleasures or intimacy described by the palace maids.