Chapter 6

Page (1/3)

Pei Manor, Chengzhong Hall.

On the luohan bed in the main chamber, the Old Madam of the Pei family sat with a gloomy expression, leaning against a bolster. A woman beside her kneaded her shoulders, while a young girl crouched at her feet, dutifully pounding her legs.

The woman frequently observed the Old Madam’s face and suddenly smiled, saying, "Mother, please do not be angry. It has been a long time since Yun'er last saw you; perhaps the two of them were simply reminiscing and momentarily forgot the time. Once Nanny Li delivers the message, she will surely be here soon."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a cold snort echoed. "When could they not reminisce? How could she forget her manners? I fear in her eyes, she has long since forgotten that I am her grandmother!"

The woman chuckled twice. "How could that be? She is just a little slow. Please forgive her, Mother. After all, Yun'er has just given birth to another little imperial grandson; her body may not have fully recovered yet... One must say, Yun'er is truly blessed. Of the three imperial grandsons, two were born to her. She is now a great contributor to the imperial family..."

Before she could finish, the felt curtain was suddenly lifted, and the voice of Lady Wang came to an abrupt halt.

Old Madam Pei lifted her eyes lazily to see a slender figure standing before her, bowing slightly. "Granddaughter pays her respects to Grandmother."

Seeing the arrival, the Old Madam naturally offered no pleasant expression. "So you still remember that I am your grandmother. If I hadn't sent someone to summon you today, I fear you wouldn't have bothered to come. Indeed, you are now the noble and precious Crown Princess; how could you still think highly of an old wretch like me? What is it? Should I kneel down and kowtow to you as well?"

Pei Yun straightened her posture and swept a glance toward Lady Wang, who stood to the side. Feeling the coldness of that gaze, Lady Wang guiltily looked away.

This Lady Wang was the wife of the second son, the first wife of her father’s younger brother—her second uncle. The Pei family was not a prestigious clan; her father, Pei Sizheng, had risen from humble beginnings. In his youth, he left home to join the army, and over twenty years of life-and-death struggle on the battlefield, he earned great merit and rose through the ranks, eventually being appointed as the Regional Commander, stationed in Wunan.

Pei Yun was born and raised in Wunan. It was not until she was twelve that the Cheng tribe launched a surprise attack. Her father led his troops to resist for three days and three nights. Though they inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, he eventually succumbed to his wounds five days later.

The Emperor, moved by her father’s loyalty and sacrifice for the country, posthumously conferred upon him the title of Duke of Zhenguo, a hereditary title. The current Duke of Zhenguo was her elder brother, Pei Xu'an, who had inherited their father's mantle and remained in Wunan to guard the frontier. After her father was ennobled, the Emperor granted the Pei family a mansion in the capital. The estate had been vacant until she moved to the capital to await her marriage, at which point the Pei family followed her from their ancestral home in Cangzhou. Her second uncle’s family also settled in the Duke’s mansion under the guise of fulfilling their filial duty to the grandmother.

As it happened, before entering, Pei Yun had overheard Lady Wang’s words—seemingly helpful, but in reality, stirring up trouble. She had always known this second aunt was no simple character; for many years, much of the hardship her mother suffered at the hands of the Old Madam was likely due to her influence.

She lowered her eyes. When she looked up at the Old Madam sitting in the seat of honor, she wore a gentle and submissive smile. "Grandmother, how can you say that? I have always been thinking of you, but the road here was so cold that my hands and feet were frozen stiff. I stopped in the flower hall to warm up for a moment, and just as I was about to come pay my respects, Nanny Li arrived."

As she spoke, she gestured to Shumo, who stepped forward and presented the item in her hands to the Old Madam. "This is something I prepared especially for you, Grandmother. It was a gift from the Empress Dowager, a tribute item, perfect for you to have new clothes made for the New Year."

Hearing the words "tribute item," the Old Madam’s expression eased slightly. She glanced with feigned indifference at the rolls of exquisite floating-cloud silk before finally looking Pei Yun in the eye.

The Old Madam had always been dissatisfied with this granddaughter. Perhaps because they hadn't lived together since childhood, she felt no affection for her, and they often clashed. When she was in Cangzhou observing mourning for her father, she had repeatedly stood up to the Old Madam in defense of her mother, which the Old Madam found rebellious. She was far less pleasing than the children of her younger son.

"At least you still have some filial piety," the Old Madam said, staring directly at Pei Yun. "I trust that during this time, you have thought it through. I do everything for your own good; would I ever harm you? Since you have understood, tell me, when do you intend to bring Qian'er into the palace?"

At these words, the expressions of Shuyan and Shumo behind her changed. They remembered well that it was precisely because of this issue that their mistress had refused to return to her maternal home for so long.

On her last visit home, the Old Madam had used the excuse that the Crown Princess was pregnant and it was inconvenient to serve the Crown Prince, hoping to shove the second daughter into the Eastern Palace. Her mistress had refused and argued with the Old Madam. Now that the little imperial grandson was born, the Old Madam still had not given up on this idea.

Seeing Pei Yun silent, the Old Madam frowned, her voice darkening. "What? Still unwilling?"

Lady Wang pursed her lips and added in a long-suffering, elder-like tone, "Yun'er, your second aunt knows what you are worried about, but I know Qian'er’s temperament. I promise you, once she enters the Eastern Palace, she will never compete with you for favor. You can be assured of that."

"Your second aunt is right," the Old Madam agreed. "If it weren't for you, why would I be willing to send such a good girl as Qian'er into the palace? But the Crown Prince will eventually take new people in. Instead of letting someone else seize that advantage, wouldn't it be better to use one of your own? Qian'er can not only help secure your favor, but even if she bears a child in the future, she will never threaten your position."

Pei Yun watched as the Old Madam pulled over the girl who had been massaging her legs and patted her hand with affection. This girl was none other than the second daughter of the Pei family, her cousin, Pei Qian. Pei Qian remained low-browed and silent throughout, maintaining an appearance of gentleness and obedience.

Pei Yun smiled, a smile of dignity and magnanimity, showing no displeasure. "Grandmother and Second Aunt are quite right. I came today precisely to discuss this matter with you, which is why I did not even ask my mother to accompany me."

If Pei Yun hadn't reminded her, the Old Madam would not have noticed the absence of Lady Zhou. She had been annoyed by Pei Yun's late arrival and had overlooked it. She should have been furious, feeling that Lady Zhou did not respect her as a mother-in-law, but upon hearing that Pei Yun wanted to consult her, she set that aside and asked displeasedly, "What is there to discuss? It's just bringing someone into the palace; is there anything to debate? Don't tell me you are unwilling and want to play games with me!"

Pei Yun smiled calmly. "How would I dare to deceive you, Grandmother? Bringing the second sister directly into the palace is easy, but if it is too blatant, it will ultimately be unfavorable and might cause the Crown Prince to resent it. We must take it step by step."

She scanned the surroundings. "I would like to speak with you alone, Grandmother."

The Old Madam understood and, knowing it was not for outsiders to hear, dismissed everyone, leaving only the two of them. Lady Wang wanted to stay but was driven out by a single look from the Old Madam. She was curious but dared not eavesdrop, as servants were still standing outside.

After waiting for nearly the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the door opened. Seeing Pei Yun walk out slowly, Lady Wang hurried to greet her. Just as she was about to probe, Pei Yun spoke first: "I have already discussed it with Grandmother. On the day of the hundred-day banquet, Second Aunt and Qian'er should come as well."

Lady Wang was overjoyed, knowing there was hope for her daughter to enter the Eastern Palace. She kept nodding her thanks and nudged Pei Qian, reminding her, "Qian'er, thank your older sister."

Pei Qian bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Elder Sister."

Pei Yun glanced at this cousin who had just turned fifteen and with whom she was not close, emitting a faint "Hmm" from her throat.

***

Page (2/3)

On the way back from Chengzhong Hall to Lady Zhou’s courtyard, Shuyan and Shumo exchanged glances, filled with doubts. They did not understand why their mistress had agreed to this, but they dared not ask.

Inside Biluo Garden, Lady Zhou was waiting anxiously in the main room. Seeing Pei Yun from afar, she hurried to meet her. "How did it go? Did Grandmother blame you?"

"No, Grandmother was in high spirits today." Pei Yun knew Lady Zhou had much to ask, but considering her health, she simply held her hand. "Mother, let us go inside first. I am hungry."

Hearing this, Lady Zhou had to suppress her anxiety and ordered the maids to serve the meal. Seated on the warm bed in the inner chamber, Pei Yun said, "Mother, I agreed to Grandmother regarding that matter."

How could Lady Zhou not know what that matter was? She exclaimed, "How could you..."

"Mother, do not panic. Even if Grandmother wants it, it still depends on the Crown Prince's wishes. Whether it will happen is not certain..." Pei Yun comforted her. "Only by letting her try will she give up."

Furthermore, she had no intention of truly agreeing; she had other plans from the start. Even if she helped, she was certain the Crown Prince would not accept Pei Qian. Without the Crown Prince's consent, no matter how much her grandmother wanted it, Pei Qian could not enter the Eastern Palace.

However, the main reason Pei Yun feigned agreement was for her mother. During her last visit, she had argued with her grandmother over this, and her mother, Lady Zhou, had been full of concerns and ended up scolding her for her rudeness, forcing her to apologize. Pei Yun had been angry at her mother, feeling her mother didn't care for her, and refused to return home.

What she didn't know was that after she left, her mother had dared to ask the grandmother to drop the idea, which only angered the grandmother, who then tormented her mother. Her mother had caught a cold recently precisely because the grandmother forced her to perform morning and evening greetings in the freezing weather. Fortunately, in this life, her mother’s rheumatism had not yet begun, so she would not suffer the pain of the previous life.

By agreeing for now, she hoped the grandmother would be in a good mood and stop making things difficult for her mother before the banquet.

Lady Zhou sighed, hoping the second branch would not get their way. She knew the second branch’s intentions—they wanted to use Pei Qian to climb above her own daughter. They had been poisoning the grandmother’s mind against her daughter. If not for her late husband’s dying wish, she would never have been so submissive.

The mother and daughter shared their thoughts, neither fully revealing their hearts. During lunch, they spoke of the children. Afterward, they enjoyed some rare, intimate conversation. By the time of the Monkey hour (3–5 PM), Pei Yun rose to leave. Before leaving, she gave a pair of earrings to Lady Zhou to pass to her younger sister, Pei Wei, adding that since Pei Wei disliked such occasions, she needn't come to the banquet.

Lady Zhou nodded, feeling a sense of relief. In truth, Pei Yun knew Pei Wei hadn't gone to the villa to relax, but had been sent there for punishment for standing up for her mother against the grandmother. The girl’s temper was as fierce as her own had been.

Lady Zhou walked Pei Yun out of the mansion. As Pei Yun climbed into the carriage, she couldn't help but lift the curtain. "Mother, do not be sad. In less than two months, we shall meet again."

Lady Zhou’s throat tightened. She felt as though this day were a dream; her daughter, who had grown distant over the years, seemed to have returned to the intimate version of her past. Fearing that everything would return to its previous state by the next meeting, she whispered, "Ru-ru."

It was her childhood nickname. Only those closest to her called her that. She hadn't heard it in a very long time. In her previous life, she had come to dislike it and asked everyone to stop using it. Hearing it now, she truly felt that the mother who loved her was still alive. Tears welled up in her eyes as she squeezed her mother’s hand.

***

Page (3/3)

A mother knows her daughter best. Seeing Pei Yun cry, Lady Zhou’s eyes turned red, but she asked nothing. She only knew that her daughter had truly returned.

"Take care of yourself, do not overwork," Lady Zhou choked out.

Pei Yun wiped her tears and nodded silently. "I will remember, Mother."

On the way back to the palace, Pei Yun leaned against the carriage wall, the warmth of her mother's care flowing through her heart. But after a moment, she recalled something and stopped the carriage.

Half an hour later, at the Gengzhuo Pavilion in the Imperial Palace.

Li Jin stepped out, the cold wind making him shrink into his rabbit-fur scarf. His attendant, Xiao Shunzi, took the bag of books and looked at the sky, which had turned gloomy. It was likely about to snow.

Seeing his master heading in a direction other than the Eastern Palace, Xiao Shunzi was about to advise him otherwise when he spotted someone and cried out, "Your Highness, look over there!"

Li Jin turned and was stunned for a moment before hurrying over. "Mother."

Seeing the woman standing at the end of the long palace corridor, smiling gently, Li Jin was confused. He bowed respectfully and said, "The tutor rewarded me with an early dismissal for my performance today. I was heading to the library."

Pei Yun knew he was afraid she would think he was skipping class. She looked at his red nose and said softly, "No need for the library. I went to your grandmother’s house today and bought some菱粉糕 (water chestnut cakes) on the way back. Come back to Linlang Palace with me to taste them."

Li Jin was taken aback, then nodded blankly. "Yes."

Mother and son walked side by side toward the Eastern Palace. The snow began to fall silently, mirroring the quiet walk of the two.

Pei Yun broke the silence. "Jin'er."

Li Jin looked at her, his eyes meeting hers. Her voice was soft. "I have had high expectations of you and have been too strict. Do not blame your mother..."

Li Jin shook his head. "I understand, Mother. You do everything for my own good."

Pei Yun smiled bitterly. "I have thought about it. My methods were too eager for success. I will change in the future, is that alright?"

Li Jin, unaccustomed to his mother speaking so humbly, felt awkward. Pei Yun patted his shoulder. "I remember you loved these cakes when you were young. Eat more. In two years, when your younger brother grows up, he might fight you for them."

Li Jin was stunned. It was such a domestic, casual joke, yet it made the biting wind feel softer. He realized she had bought the cakes for him, remembered his preferences, and had been waiting for him. He beamed. "Alright, Jin'er will eat plenty."

Seeing his youthful joy, Pei Yun smiled in relief. Just as she craved her own mother’s love, her child craved her gentleness. She had just realized it too late.

At Linlang Palace, Li Jin was no longer restrained. He ate the cakes and watched his mother play with his younger brother, trying to think of things to talk about other than his studies.

Finally, he asked, "Mother, will Father be back before the little brother’s hundred-day banquet?"

Pei Yun’s hand, holding the rattle, paused. She remembered the chaos of the banquet in her previous life and the provocations she had faced. She wondered how things would unfold this time, given the addition of Pei Qian.

Pei Yun smiled to herself. She was actually looking forward to it.