Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Pei Mucheng returned to his study. The covert guard who had driven the carriage reported at the door,

"I've taken Lady Liu to the Chengyang Medical Clinic."

Pei Mucheng acknowledged with a soft hum, assuming that Xu Yunqi had a close friend or family member in need of medical attention. He didn't dwell on it further or inquire, as his mind was occupied with more pressing matters.

"Send for Father," he instructed.

As the day neared evening, large snowflakes began to fall, quickly covering the courtyard outside the study with a thin layer of snow.

Pei Mucheng's low voice resonated through the lustrous windowpanes, "We've discovered that Chen Mingshan, the Governor of Tongzhou, has been secretly replacing new grain shipments with moldy grain from the granaries and selling them on the market."

Prince Xi sat cross-legged on the southern window bench, frowning as he held a small seal in his hand. "Where did those moldy grains come from?"

Pei Mucheng, tall and slender, stood before the desk, his dark eyes filled with intensity. "From local grain merchants in Tongzhou. Over ten merchants are involved, making the trail too scattered. Liu Yue, tasked with the investigation by the Emperor, is under close scrutiny, making it difficult for him to act freely. I've already dispatched people to assist him discreetly."

With a slight lift of his lips, a hint of mockery appeared. "Chen Mingshan bought the moldy grain at a rock-bottom price and then resold the official grain at exorbitant rates to these local merchants. He made huge profits from the price difference. On one hand, the merchants gained favor with the local officials, and on the other, they mitigated some of their losses. Both parties benefited, hence the tight-lipped secrecy."

Prince Xi, a military veteran, had once been the commanding general on the battlefield. He was well aware of the suffering caused by shortages of food and silver. The mere thought of officials engaging in deceitful activities made his face darken. "Where there's human involvement, there will always be traces left behind. Heng'er, you must thoroughly investigate this case and give an account to our soldiers on the frontlines."

Pei Muheng looked at him with a complicated expression, studying him for a moment before asking helplessly, "Does Your Majesty truly believe Chen Mingshan has the audacity to commit such treachery in the heart of the capital?"

Prince Xi pondered for a moment and suddenly saw through the situation. His brows knitted tightly as he slammed his hand down on the small table.

"These scoundrels!"

"The Da Wu Iron Cavalry is flexing its might at our gates, while the people in the fourteen border states are suffering. Yet they're preoccupied with their internal strife!"

Pei Muheng seemed uninterested in these complaints and merely said, "The Emperor is already advanced in age, and it's likely that his time is limited to only a couple more years. It's natural for those beneath him to make moves."

Prince Xi asked, "Who do you think it could be?"

A sliver of light illuminated the chiseled profile of Pei Muheng, casting a faint shadow. His deep eyes were inscrutable. "Who I suspect is irrelevant. What matters is presenting concrete evidence. As the New Year approaches, the six ministries will be swamped with work, and the Tongzhou incident may fade from public memory..."

Before he could finish, Prince Xi interrupted urgently, "That won't do. This case must be made known to the world as a warning to others. We cannot allow our border soldiers to lose hope."

Pei Muheng's slender fingers gently rested on the tabletop, his tone calm and composed. "In that case, I'll throw a stone to test the waters."

"What is your plan?"

A chill seeped through the cracks in the window, piercing Pei Muheng's eyes, yet his tone remained calm and composed. "Impersonating one of the granaries, he accused Chen Mingshan of oppressing merchants for personal gain. By coming to the capital to beat the Drum of Petition, once it sounds, the whole kingdom will know. No one can bury this case now..."

Prince Xi took a deep breath, looking at his son with concern. Pei Muhang's refined face remained expressionless, even exuding an indiscernible hint of leisurely nonchalance.

"Heng-er, the Xi Palace lacks influential allies within the court. You must handle this matter with the utmost discretion, ensuring that no trace leads back to us. You understand that your imperial grandfather does not favor me; the slightest suspicion would doom me irreparably."

Pei Muheng's emotions were stirred by these words. He replied with a hint of sarcasm, "There are more than a dozen princes in the court, each more powerful and influential than our Xi Palace. The one in the Eastern Palace would never suspect you or me!"

With those words, he fixed his intense gaze on Prince Xi, "What exactly happened back then that made your Imperial Grandfather despise you? Are you still unwilling to speak of it?"

Pei Muheng had known from birth that among the emperor's dozen sons, Prince Xi was the least favored. Despite his bravery and military prowess, which had earned great merits for the Great Jin Empire, the emperor remained indifferent towards him. As a result, the court officials took sides, but none chose to support the neglected Prince Xi.

It wasn't until Pei Muheng emerged as a prominent figure, catching the emperor's eye, that the situation at the Prince Xi's palace slightly improved. However, the improvement was minimal. Undeterred, Pei Muheng secretly investigated the roots of this enmity, only to discover that Prince Xi had offended the emperor when he was merely ten years old. The reason behind it remains unknown to this day.

Thirty years ago, what could a ten-year-old boy have done to incur such lasting resentment from an emperor?

Watching his usually valiant father's face slowly turn dejected yet remaining silent, Pei Muheng sighed in disappointment.

The candles flickered softly, and the study was engulfed in silence for a long while. Eventually, Prince Xi lifted his gaze and looked at his son with a wry smile. "Heng'er, it's because of me that you've been implicated."

If not for him, the emperor wouldn't have casually arranged an unremarkable marriage for Pei Muheng to guard against the Prince Xi's mansion.

The emperor appreciated Pei Muheng but wanted him to be an upright and loyal minister.

Worried that his son might harbor delusions, Prince Xi advised, "You're exceptionally talented and hold the emperor's favor. Both the crown prince and Prince Qin want to win you over. In the future, you'll surely become a capable and devoted official..."

Pei Muheng remained expressionless upon hearing this. "It's late. Father, you should go back and rest."

He personally walked his father out of the courtyard before returning to the study. Standing under the eaves, he stood there for a long time without entering the room.

A chilly wind blew through the trees, producing a mournful whistle as if it were a lone cry beneath the dark sky.

Huang Wei held a glass lantern and stood respectfully by his side, urging, "Master, the wind is strong. Please go inside..."

Pei Muheng stood motionless beside the pillar, pulling up his wide sleeves to reveal his clean and strong arm. Reaching out, he caught the large snowflakes. The snow melted upon contact, and the cold slowly seeped into the palm of his hand. He stood steadfastly still.

Huang Wei watched his master's arm gradually turn pale from the cold and exclaimed anxiously, "The snow is falling heavily from the sky. How can you simply raise your arm to stop a carriage?"

Pei Mucheng stood with one hand behind his back, lifting the other even higher, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through the gloomy sky above.

He was determined to defy fate and turn things around.

*

Heavy snowfall persisted for three consecutive days, finally subsiding on the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

It was customary to pay respects at the Jinhé Hall on the first and fifteenth of every month, and Xu Yunqi was no exception. Since Pei Mucheng had advocated for her last time, she needed to show her gratitude. Regardless of whether Princess Xī would see her or not, she had to visit the Jinhé Hall today as a sign of respect.

To Xu Yunqi's surprise, Lady Hao, the lady-in-waiting by the princess's side, greeted her with a warm smile and invited her in. Upon entering the eastern secondary room, she found her elder sister-in-law, Xie Shi, and second sister-in-law, Li Shi, already present. Arriving late, Xu Yunqi took her place at the end of the line to pay her respects to Princess Xī.

Princess Xī's face revealed no particular emotion, merely acknowledging her with a light "Mm-hmm." Observing that Xu Yunqi remained standing, she added, "Sit down."

Xu Yunqi sat below Li Shi.

Xie Shi held a ledger, seeking the princess's approval, while Li Shi turned to whisper to Xu Yunqi,

"I truly envy you, Third Sister-in-law. It's all over the palace that Third Brother spoke up for you in front of the princess. Look, it's not easy for us to leave the palace, but you come and go as you please. In the end, it still comes down to having a capable man."

Xu Yunqi could sense the underlying sourness in Li Shi's words. She had no intention of making enemies with anyone nor engaging in meaningless verbal sparring with them. She replied with a gentle tone,

"Indeed, my mother hasn't been feeling well recently, and I was quite worried, so I made a few trips out. Of course, if Second Sister-in-law has any items you need to be delivered, feel free to tell me. I can bring them back for you when I'm passing by."

A glimmer of joy replaced the previous hint of jealousy in Lady Li's eyes. "Really?"

Princess Xi had always kept her two elder sons in tight control, leaving their wives with no chance to gain favor.

Xu Yunqi nodded with a smile.

Lady Li sized Xu Yunqi up once more. Yunqi always wore a warm smile on her face, giving the impression that she was easy to push around.

She really was a fool; she didn't even realize when Lady Li was being sarcastic.

Feeling as if her barbs had landed on a soft cushion, Lady Li lost interest and affectionately linked arms with Xu Yunqi. "Alright then, let me know next time you plan to go out."

Their relationship seemed to have unconsciously grown closer.

In Lady Li's mind, Madam Xie held herself aloof, looking down on her as a concubine's daughter-in-law and avoiding contact with her. Thus, she decided to befriend Xu Yunqi. With this thought in mind, she genuinely smiled at Yunqi.

In truth, Xu Yunqi was not accustomed to such intimacy. "Second Sister-in-law, you're squeezing me a bit too tightly."

Lady Li, seeing Xu Yunqi's gentle demeanor, believed her without suspicion and quickly released her grip. "I was just too overjoyed."

Madam Xie handed the monthly expenditure budget to Princess Xi, casting a casual glance at Lady Li and Xu Yunqi without uttering a word.

Just then, a clear and bright voice echoed from beyond the beaded curtain, followed by a graceful figure swiftly entering the room.

"Mother, Mother, there's a grand spectacle outside!"

All eyes were drawn to her.

Xu Yunqi recognized the newcomer. Dressed in a pink dress with a touch of Begonia red and wearing a short fur coat embroidered with golden phoenixes on a madder red background, she looked as lovely as a jade doll, exuding innocence and vivacity. It was none other than Pei Mushan, the identical sister of Pei Musheng. Skipping in, Pei Mushan rushed to the upper alcove bed and hugged Princess Xi's arm. "Mother, I want to go out and watch the excitement."

Princess Xi looked at her daughter with a headache. "What kind of excitement?"

Pei Mushan's face lit up. "Someone has struck the Drum of Petition! Under Grandfather Emperor's just rule, this drum hasn't been sounded for years. Today, however, it's creating quite a commotion. Even Sister Han next door went to see what's happening. Can you let me go too?"

Striking the Drum of Petition was a significant matter, indicating that another storm was brewing in the court.

Although Princess Xi was detached from worldly affairs, she knew how to prioritize. Scolding her daughter, she said,

"You're not allowed to go. Stay at home and behave yourself."

Pei Mushan pleaded a few more times, but Princess Xi remained unmoved, continuing her account review with Madam Xie. With a sullen expression, Pei Mushan had no choice but to step back. Suddenly, she lifted her gaze and saw Xu Yunqi, her face lighting up instantly.

"Third Sister-in-law!"

Xu Yunqi watched as the whirlwind of a young girl rushed over, dazedly standing up.

Her arm was once again embraced tightly, and the girl by her side leaned on her shoulder, her face filled with innocence and curiosity.

"I fell in love with Third Sister-in-law the moment I saw you during the tea ceremony. That day, I wanted to talk to you, but Mother didn't allow it and sent me to my grandparents' house. Look, I'm finally back!"

Still in a state of bewilderment, Pei Mushan straightened up and examined Xu Yunqi closely.

"How can someone be so beautiful? I used to think that Sister Xun was pretty enough, but I never expected the new sister-in-law to be even more stunning. Mmm, your complexion is fantastic, smooth and delicate, with an excellent glow. You seem so innocent and focused, without any distractions. Oh, you're also tall, almost half a head taller than me. No wonder Grandfather the Emperor chose you to be my brother's wife...such a charming person indeed."

Princess Xi, unable to bear listening any longer, gave a heavy cough.

Pei Mushan was utterly captivated by Xu Yunqi's allure and paid no heed to others.

Seeing Xu Yunqi's confusion, Li explained discreetly into her ear, "When Fifth Sister sees someone good-looking, she just can't move on..."

Xu Yunqi understood now.

Pei Mushan judged people solely by their appearance.

Pei Musheng, known for his stern demeanor, did not expect his sister to be so boisterous.

So, Xu Yunqi responded gracefully, "If Fifth Sister doesn't mind, feel free to come find me anytime for some fun."

This made Pei Mushan even happier. She inserted herself right between Xu Yunqi and Lady Li, pushing Lady Li aside.

With Pei Mushan's persistent company, Xu Yunqi had lunch at the Jinhua Hall. It wasn't until the afternoon when Empress Xiaowei kept her daughter occupied that Xu Yunqi could finally break away and return to Qinghui Garden. There, Yingxue eagerly recounted to her,

"I just learned from around the estate that our Fifth Miss is quite renowned. Apparently, there was an incident in the Western Market where she saw a Westerner with green hair and blue eyes. She was so taken that she insisted on inviting him back to the mansion as a guest. Unfortunately, the man didn't understand the Central Plains language and thought Fifth Miss was trying to rob him. He started yelling and running away in fear. Eventually, it was Third Master who heard about the situation and came to restore order, escorting Fifth Sister back home."

Rumors had it that the most handsome man in the entire capital was born in the Xihua Palace. Thanks to her dashing brother, Fifth Miss usually had her fill of beauty, thus she wouldn't cast her eye on anyone else; otherwise, it might be difficult for her to settle down...

Xu Yunqi took these anecdotes as mere amusement and promptly forgot about them.

She wandered to the eastern side chamber and lounged on a canopied daybed for a brief nap. In her half-awake state, someone shook her awake.

"Miss, miss, look at this! What do you think it is?"

Xu Yunqi blinked her eyes open, and under the bright daylight, a dazzling array of colors seemed to ripple before her like water. She was momentarily stunned.

"What's this?"

Yinxing exclaimed with delight, "This is the fur that Third Master just sent over. I asked repeatedly, and they confirmed it's for you!"

Xu Yunqi froze. Sitting up on the daybed, she examined the piece of fur intently.

It was a magnificent peacock feather, shimmering with iridescent hues. The weaving was meticulous, and the quill moved as if alive, making it appear incredibly lifelike. It was evident that it was of great value.

Nanny Chen had entered the room with Yinxing and chuckled as she explained,

"Madam, this is something Third Master personally searched for on the market, just for you. He instructed this old servant to give it to you, mentioning that during the cold winter, you can make a thick fur coat to keep you warm when going out," said Chen Nanny.

In truth, Pei Muheng had only asked his subordinates to buy the finest fur for Xu Yunqi. The rest of the story was invented by Chen Nanny to foster a better relationship between the two masters.

Xu Yunqi was puzzled and found it hard to believe that Pei Muheng would do such a thing. Seeing her skepticism, Chen Nanny even showed her the ledger from the storeroom as proof, "It's been accounted for in Third Master's personal ledger, with his seal right here."

Silver Apricot glanced at it and was astonished to see the amount—three thousand taels.

Such an extravagant gesture made Xu Yunqi even more uncertain about Pei Muheng's intentions.

After much contemplation, she still couldn't understand why he would do this. Eventually, she concluded that perhaps he had received some advice from elders.

As the lanterns dimmed, Xu Yunqi snuggled early into her cotton quilt. Seeing her mistress sleeping alone on the large canopy bed, Silver Apricot sighed and gently nudged her, who was pretending to be asleep with her cheek resting on her hand.

"My lady, it's not polite to accept without giving in return. Your husband spent a fortune on fur for you, shouldn't you have some sort of response?"

In fact, Xu Yunqi had been pondering over this matter. She had remained indifferent earlier because on their wedding night, Pei Muheng had set down rules, which made her assume he had someone else in his heart. Now that he was willing to lower his guard, she saw no reason to maintain her own. A married couple couldn't remain distant forever.

"But what can I possibly offer in return?"

With neither wealth to squander nor sewing skills at her disposal, her only expertise... Well, she couldn't exactly wish for Pei Muheng to fall ill, could she?

Her ginkgo-biloba-shaped eyes sparkled as an idea quickly came to mind. "Five years ago, when our family patriarch celebrated his birthday, didn't you make a 'Nine-Nine Rising Sun' medicinal cake? That cake is known to strengthen the constitution and prolong life. It would be perfect as a gift for your husband."

Upon hearing the words "Nine-Nine Rising Sun," Xu Yunqi's face flushed with awkwardness.

This particular medicinal cake was most suitable for men to consume. It could help the elderly maintain their health and extend their lifespan, but for younger men, it had the implication of enhancing virility.

Xu Yunqi wasn't comfortable presenting such a recipe to Pei Muheng without alterations. So, she modified the formula and personally prepared a digestive and nourishing cake the following day. She entrusted it to Manager Chen, who promptly instructed his covert agents to deliver it nonstop to the imperial palace.