Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The word "Madam" echoed, pulling Xu Yunqi back from her muddled thoughts.

Was this addressed to her?

The lamp's glow was hazy, and as the wind blew, a gentle flurry of frost fell from the tiles.

Recalling the scene just now, Xu Yunqi met the man's calm, dark gaze and asked composedly, "Third Master mentioned following precedent. May I ask what the previous custom entails?"

Xu Yunqi typically wore a three-pointed smile and spoke softly and slowly. To others, her voice was nothing but gentle, complemented by her peerless beauty, like a moon in water or a flower in a mirror, leaving them hesitant to speak loudly, for fear of disturbing her.

Pei Muheng explained patiently.

After listening, Xu Yunqi pondered. Since they were now living together, Pei Muheng's personal assets were essentially part of the third household's property. It would be inappropriate to hand them over to the queen. Therefore, she said, "Let's send it to the backyard first. After I've sorted and inventoried everything, I'll choose some fine items to present to my mother."

Indeed, most appropriate.

Pei Muqing instructed Manager Chen to follow Xu Yunqi and attend to the matter. He then returned to his study.

As soon as he stepped inside, he saw a shadow guard already waiting in the room, holding a document with both hands.

"Third Master, there's news about the Tongzhou case."

Pei Muqing immediately took the letter and unfolded it behind the desk, scanning its contents rapidly. His gaze darkened slightly, and he leaned back into the armchair, his slender back relaxing.

Recently, he had received an extremely peculiar plea for help. The letter stated that someone had replaced the grain in Tongzhou's granary with inferior quality produce. It was stained with river mud, leading Pei Muqing to suspect that a river worker might have written it. He promptly dispatched a trusted aide to Tongzhou overnight. However, something even stranger occurred. When his man arrived at the granary, it was engulfed in flames, and the substandard, moldy grain had been burned to ashes.

While fires in granaries were not uncommon, Pei Muqing still found it suspicious. Every winter, when Da Wu faced food shortages, they would raid the south. Whenever this happened, the court would allocate grain to the northern borders to fend off the enemy. Serving by the emperor's side, Pei Muqing seized the opportunity to send a requisition document to Tongzhou. Just as he did, news of the Tongzhou fire reached him, destroying hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain. The emperor was outraged and dispatched an investigation team.

The one sent was none other than Pei Muqing's trusted aide, Liu Yue, a seventh-rank imperial censor.

Liu Yue's confidential letter reported that the cause of the fire had been determined. The soldiers guarding the granary had been indulging in merrymaking at night and accidentally knocked over an oil lamp. Coincidentally, the stored grain had fermented, fueling the fire and making it uncontrollable.

Was it truly due to such circumstances?

The Tongzhou granary was the largest in the vicinity of the capital, serving not only as a reserve for the central government and the palace but also for military provisions. However, due to its strategic importance, it was rarely opened except for emergencies, which made it an irresistible playground for all sorts of cunning and dishonest individuals.

If not for that letter seeking help, Pei Muheng would have accepted this explanation without question. But since the real grain transport had been swapped, there must be a hidden motive behind it. Tongzhou was close to the capital; who could pull off such a deception in such a critical location? Surely, it couldn't be someone of low rank.

The young man, clutching the letter, slowly approached a silver candlestick at the corner of the table. As the yellowed parchment met the flame, it crackled loudly. His gaze, filled with intent, focused on one point,

"Have Liu Yue investigate secretly the Governor of Tongzhou, Chen Mingshan."

The bait was set, and now he awaited the catch – no, perhaps two catches.

Pei Muheng brushed away the accumulated dust from his palm leisurely, a cold smirk flickering in his eyes.

*

Upon her hasty return to Qinghui Garden's backyard, Xu Yunqi found that Manager Chen had already dispatched someone to deliver the gift list. In no time, more than ten boxes were placed under the gallery of Qinghui Garden. Throughout the night, Xu Yunqi, along with Silver Apricot and two elder maids, busied themselves with sorting the annual gifts and cross-checking the list, ensuring that the estate manager did not underreport or misreport anything.

News of the annual tribute from the Tongzhou imperial estate could not escape the knowledge of Empress Dowager Xi.

In the past, all matters concerning Pei Muheng's household had been handled by his mother. Now, she observed with resentment, the new daughter-in-law had taken charge after just one day as his wife. The Empress Dowager's frustration was palpable.

Second Lady Li served a calming soup to Empress Dowager Xi, tactfully initiating a conversation,

"Third Sister-in-law is young and naive, Mother, don't let her upset you to the point of harming your health. Perhaps she'll choose someone suitable tomorrow to show her filial piety."

Princess Xi shot her a withering look. "Do I need her to?"

What pained her was that in the past, the annual income from the family's estates had always been under her control, and no one dared question her decisions. Now, however, she was being excluded. It seemed true that "sons forget their mothers when they marry."

Li had received no satisfaction from her attempt at mollifying her.

On the side, the eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Xie, remembered an important matter.

"Mother, now that Third Sister-in-law has joined our family, she must be lacking in attendants. Shouldn't we assign some matrons and maidservants to Qinghui Garden?"

Madam Xie managed the household affairs, overseeing everything big or small within the estate.

Logically, Princess Xi should have arranged for servants to attend to Xu Yunqi. However, when Pei Muheng was twelve, a maid had tried to seduce him with her disheveled attire. Enraged, he ordered her to be severely beaten and sold, forbidding anyone else from approaching him since then. Thus, Princess Xi held reservations.

She couldn't afford to inconvenience her son for the sake of her daughter-in-law. "Heng'er doesn't enjoy a bustling environment, so let's drop the matter of additional servants."

"Besides, didn't that Xu girl bring along some personal attendants? Surely, she isn't short of people to serve her?"

Madam Xie wore a complicated expression. "Mother, her dowry list is still there, and she only has an inexperienced young maid by her side."

Princess Xi's expression turned even more disdainful. After enduring for a while, she commented, "She truly comes from a small and insignificant family; she's not fit for grand occasions."

Recalling the well-educated Xun Yunling, Princess Xi's heart shattered once again. "Forget it, forget it. Let her be."

The next day, when Xu Yunqi returned to her natal home, she went to the Jinhe Hall early in the morning to pay respects and also brought some fine leather as a tribute to her mother-in-law.

However, as the servant girl and she reached the passage, the gatekeeper told her cryptically, "Third Lady, the princess is suffering from a headache. She's excused from the morning and evening greetings."

Xu Yunqi was slightly taken aback. Just as she was wondering if she should ask the servant girl to take over, she saw Eldest Lady Xie, holding hands with her maid, stepping out of the courtyard unhurriedly.

As Madam Xie's gaze fell upon the vivid leather goods, she immediately understood.

Xu Yunqi realized that Princess Xi was not really ill but did not wish to see her.

In that case, there was no need to force the matter.

Xu Yunqi nodded slightly in the direction of Madam Xie before turning and leaving Jinhe Hall.

Although Princess Xi did not have a favorable opinion of Xu Yunqi, she was someone who cared deeply about her reputation. Thus, she instructed Madam Xie to prepare an ample gift for Yunqi's return visit to her parents' home, with a full carriage awaiting them at the side gate.

However, after sitting in the carriage for nearly half an hour, Xu Yunqi and her servant, Yinxing, still had not been joined by Pei Muhang.

Frustrated by the treatment they received from Princess Xi, Yinxing couldn't help but grumble,

"How could Princess Xi be so unreasonable? Your marriage was arranged by the Emperor, not something you begged for. Why does she have to treat you like this?"

Lost in thought, Xu Yunqi glanced at her lightly and asked, "Where has she been difficult towards me?"

Yinxing pouted, "Didn't she refuse to let you in?"

Xu Yunqi replied philosophically, "She simply doesn't favor me, that's all. It doesn't count as being difficult. Look, isn't the return visit gift very generous? If others don't like us, we should just stay away from them. Why bother worrying unnecessarily? Don't forget the purpose of our trip to the capital. We mustn't let trivial matters distract us."

If Princess Xi didn't like her, well, there were advantages to that. She wouldn't have to tiptoe around her mother-in-law. Yinxing had intended to argue, but upon hearing Xu Yunqi's latter remarks, her eyelids drooped, and she fell silent.

Semi-an-hour later, Pei Muheng arrived, accompanied by the palace's chief historian.

The return visit to the bride's family is the final ceremony in a grand wedding, a significant event that is meticulously managed by the Chief Historian of the palace.

Compared to the previous day when they had shared a carriage in awkward silence, today Pei Muheng was spared the discomfort, opting instead to ride in a separate carriage alone. He offered no explanation for this choice, and Xu Yunqi did not take issue with it. Thus, the entourage proceeded southward at a leisurely pace.

The Xi Palace was situated in the Ching Tan district, close to the imperial city, whereas the Xu residence was situated far away in the Chongbei district of the southern part of the city. Though the Xu family was somewhat renowned in Jingzhou, their status paled in comparison to the numerous influential figures that dotted the capital. Merely having a family member hold an official position in the capital was already a source of great pride for them, let alone their recent connection to the royal family.

Thus, early in the morning, Manager Xu instructed his wife to prepare a feast in the inner courtyard, while he led the entire family to wait at the entrance, ensuring they did not offend any customs. Accompanying Father Xu in receiving the guests were the eldest son, second son, and the second miss of the household.

Second Miss Xu Ru was the youngest and most wilful of the sisters. After waiting for half a day without any sign of the carriage, she began to grumble angrily,

"Eldest Sister's marriage to Mister Jiang wasn't good enough; she had to chase after that elusive moon in the water and fairy in the sky. How could we, mere mortals, dare to dream of the renowned Third Young Master whose fame has swept across the land? Look at Sister Mei next door – when she got married, her couple returned home early. Yet here we are, waiting until the sun is almost setting, and still no sign of them. Why endure such humiliation?"

Manager Xu was usually mild-mannered and doted on her children. But today, she sternly reprimanded, "What nonsense are you spouting? Your Eldest Sister was pushed onto that jade bridge by others – how does it involve her?"

Xu Ru remained unconvinced. These days, every neighbor and acquaintance had been filling her ears with gossip, mocking Yunqi for having ambitions higher than the heavens and seeking to climb the social ladder. Xu Ru, having heard too much, believed that Yunqi had tarnished the reputation of the Xu family's women, making it difficult for her own future marriage prospects.

Looking at her innocent and naive youngest daughter, Manager Xu could only shake her head in dismay.

Ever since Xu Yunqi was bestowed a marriage by the Emperor, his status in the court had soared. Used to bowing and scraping all his life, he was now basking in the glow of flattery. The joy in Manager Xu's heart was indescribable.

With this marriage alliance, the Xu family might not have immediately joined the ranks of the capital's elite, but they had certainly become a reputable household.

"You're still young, you don't understand these intricacies yet," he said, worried that her lack of tact might cause trouble. He found an excuse to send her away.

In a moment, a servant's voice echoed from down the alleyway,

"Master, they've arrived, they've arrived."

Xu Yunqi, the chief clerk, could hardly contain his joy. He adjusted his attire and looked expectantly.

In no time, two magnificent carriages pulled up before the steps. Pei Muheng and Xu Yunqi emerged from them, one after the other.

As Xu Yunqi gazed at the towering and elegant figure of Pei Muheng, he instinctively prepared to bow. The palace's chief historian approached with a warm smile, intercepting him,

"Lord Xu, it should be our Third Young Master and Third Lady who pay their respects to you."

Xu Yunqi nervously wiped his sweat.

The autumn sun blazed bright, its clear light filtering through the branches and casting fragmented shadows on the shoulders of Xu Yunqi and Pei Muheng. Xu Yunqi met her father's distant yet cautious gaze and walked to stand beside Pei Muheng, bowing together with him.

"Father."

"Sire Father-in-Law."

Xu Yunqi, not wanting her family to worry, deliberately drew closer to Pei Muheng. He glanced at her but didn't say anything.

With the presence of the palace's chief historian, there was no need for Pei Muheng to entertain guests. He lounged lazily in his seat, sipping tea leisurely while Xu's department head cautiously observed his expression and cautiously engaged the chief historian in conversation.

Meanwhile, Xu Yunqi led Xingye to the back courtyard. She had not been in the Xu residence for long, so the servants were not familiar with her. Xu Yunqi disliked strangers following her, so she instructed the servant to take care of the gifts brought for the return visit and made her way alone to the main courtyard where her mother was.

In the capital, paper was expensive, and although the Xu family's ancestors had been merchants, they had spent much of their wealth in official circles over the years. They could only afford a three-compartment courtyard, which felt cramped compared to the grand and magnificent Xi Palace.

As she walked along the corridor of the ornate gate, she caught sight of figures through the latticed window. Two or three servants hid in the corner, munching on melon seeds and chatting idly.

"Did you see? The gifts the palace sent for the return visit were extravagant, almost equal to the dowry of a first daughter."

"How can you say that? Didn't we see the dowry carried out like a flowing stream during the wedding?"

The woman with the mole at the corner of her mouth snorted coldly, "What do you know? Those are just for the palace to show off. With our Lord's status, how could he possibly afford the grandeur of the palace?"

The other person disagreed, "I don't think that's necessarily true. The eldest son of the household has yet to marry, and both the second son and daughter are still young. There will be many expenses in the future. After all, the eldest miss isn't Lord's biological daughter. How could he bear to part with his wealth?"

Hearing the latter part of her remark, the woman with the mole paled in fear and hastily covered the other's mouth. "Heavens, you mustn't say that anymore. If the palace were to find out, it could cause a huge scandal."

Following Xu Yunqi slowly, Silver Apricot watched her tall and elegant figure, tears welling up in her eyes.

The smile on Xu Yunqi's lips faded, disappearing entirely under the autumn wind.

Madam Zhang was waiting in the main courtyard's veranda. As her daughter approached, a smile gradually appeared on her face. Xu Yunqi bowed deeply to her, and Madam Zhang led her into an inner chamber, dismissing everyone else so they could have a private conversation.

Madam Zhang settled them both on a canopied bed, first observing her daughter's expression but failing to read anything. She then asked, "Have these past two days in the palace been alright?"

Xu Yunqi held her mother's soft and warm hand, smiling brightly. "I'm doing well wherever I am."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang's eyes welled with tears.

Back then, to avoid being looked down upon by her husband's family, she had left such a young Yunqi in the countryside. At first, Yunqi would cry, but every time she visited, her daughter would greet her with a smile, never shedding tears again.

Don't ask, for the answer will always be that she's doing well.

With her eyes lowered and voice choked with sobs, Madam Zhang said, "Mother has wronged you." A tear from her shimmering eyes landed on Xu Yunqi's wrist, causing Yunqi's expression to turn more serious.

"Mother, you haven't wronged me at all. After being abandoned by an unfaithful man, you should seek your own happiness. Shouldn't you be free from the burden of your daughter's life? As long as you're well, only then can I be at ease."

Madam Zhang couldn't hold back her tears any longer upon hearing Yunqi's comforting words. Each time she spoke like this, it seemed as if she was the one who didn't need care.

Madam Zhang was rendered speechless.

"Look at you now, you've given birth to a brother and sister, secured your position in the Xu family, and your daughter is set to marry into a prestigious household. Now you can hold your head high and live with dignity in this family. No one will dare look down on you or bully you anymore," Xu Yunqi pointed out gently.

Madam Zhang drew her daughter close into her embrace.

"I haven't done anything for you, yet you're always thinking of me."

"If I had a choice, I'd rather you not marry into the Xi Palace. All I wish for is for someone in this world to cherish you..." Madam Zhang's shoulders trembled as she wept uncontrollably.

As for Pei Muheng, Lady Zhang had met him once – an otherworldly figure, detached from mortal concerns. How could he possibly know how to cherish someone?

Xu Yunqi's eyes sparkled. "Why rely on others to cherish me when I can cherish myself?"

Just then, the door was shoved open with great force, revealing a young face filled with both innocence and aggression. Behind her stood a governess with a troubled expression.

Xu Ruo entered the room with a bold and aggressive demeanor, pulling Xu Yunqi out of Lady Zhang's arms and staring fiercely at her as she demanded,

"Elder Sister, people outside are calling you shameless, saying you deliberately seduced Third Young Master. Is that true?"

Hearing this, Lady Zhang forgot to wipe away her tears as she scolded angrily, "Ruo'er, how dare you speak such disrespectful words and slander your elder sister?"

Xu Yunqi looked at her sister with a headache but smiled indifferently,

"Third Young Master is renowned throughout the capital. If any woman could easily seduce him, he would have long been married. Would it still be my turn?"

Xu Ruo pondered and found the logic in her sister's words.

Xu Yunqi gently patted her sister's head and advised, "Others are envious of our Xu family, so they speak ill of us. You're a clever girl; surely you won't fall for their schemes to sow discord among us?"

Just as Xu Yunqi thought she had convinced her sister, Yunqi's delicate brows knitted together, and she shot a skeptical gaze at her,

"But that very night, I saw with my own eyes how you lifted your skirt and ran towards Third Young Master all on your own."

Xu Yunqi was immediately taken aback.

The room fell eerily silent.

All eyes were on her.

Soft shadows danced across her brow through the latticed window, artfully obscuring the intricate emotions in her eyes.

That evening, amidst the bustling crowd, she found herself trapped beneath a bridge. Through the clamor, a familiar yet distant voice, smooth as aged wine, seemed to part the surging masses, emerging from the depths of dust to resonate in her ears.

She couldn't resist following the direction of that voice, but in that fleeting moment, fireworks burst, and splendor faded. The voice vanished without a trace, like a dream in the fleeting nature of life.

Yes, he was long gone, having died when she was merely four. How could he possibly reappear in the imperial palace?

Rather than stirring up her mother's sorrow, Xu Yunqi cared little about being misunderstood. With a resigned tone, she explained,

"Yes, I've heard that Third Young Master is as handsome as Pan An, hence my desire to catch a closer glimpse."

Outside the window, the daylight was bright. Mister Xu led Pei Muheng to pay respects to Mother-in-law Zhang. The group silently traversed the courtyard. The man at the forefront, with his striking and profound good looks, cast an indifferent glance towards the window lattice before stepping up the stairs as if he hadn't noticed anything.