Chapter 19

Nanny Zhou followed behind and hurriedly asked, "Where are you going, Miss?"

"Qiuyun Hall. Nurse, there's no need for you to accompany me, I'll be right back."

Chapter 9

Qiuyun Hall is situated on the western flank of the Marquisate, its location somewhat secluded yet advantageous for being distanced from Qingheng Courtyard, thereby sparing its inhabitants encounters with those of the main residence.

Rong Wei left Yunchun Pavilion with a stomach full of frustration and, upon returning to Qiuyun Hall, poured out the events of the banquet to Pei Yun as if emptying a jar of beans.

"Yet he's merely a lowly sixth-rank official, and he dares to act so arrogantly! When I marry into the Jiang family, I'll surely make him pay for this—"

"Wo'er!" Pei Yun interrupted her, scolding, "What did your mother teach you?"

"Mother, I'm not being reckless. You weren't at the Cloud Parting Pavilion just now and had no idea how harshly Gu Changjin spoke to me!" Rong Wo's chest heaved with anger. "Father too, he insists on giving that man face, actually allowing that old woman to return. When have we ever suffered such humiliation?!"

Pei Yun slowly lowered her gaze, her expression indifferent. "He was speaking the truth. As a concubine, Mother, without the lady of the house's permission, shouldn't have sat at the same table as her."

"But Father loves you, and both of you share mutual affection. If it hadn't been for that person from Qingheng Courtyard forcefully marrying into the marquis's household, you would have been the current Lady Marquis. Besides, Mother used to be the legitimate daughter of the Minister's residence. How can she compare to you? What right does she have to forbid you from attending the banquet?"

Rong Wu's sharp words left Pei Yun frowning deeply. Just as she was about to reprimand her, a servant girl hurriedly entered with a message.

"Madam, Miss Rong Shu is at Qiuyun Hall, saying she has something important to discuss with you."

Pei Yun's furrowed brow suddenly relaxed.

Rong Shu?

Upon hearing the servant girl's words, Rong Wu's expression turned stern. "Why would she come here? Does she plan to mock you like her husband? Absolutely not! I'll go find Father! Does she really think Qiuyun Hall is a place where she can act recklessly?"

As she tried to stand up, Pei Yun firmly held her back and whispered sharply, "Return to your own room! If you dare to go to Father and complain, from now on, forget that you have me as your mother!"

Rarely did Pei Yun speak in such a stern tone, leaving Rong Wu momentarily stunned. Before she could react, Pei Yun continued,

"Over the next few months, work on your temper. Self-awareness is crucial. If you believe marrying into the Jiang family gives you license to do as you please, then I will personally reject this marriage proposal for you at the Jiang residence!"

Pei Yun was known for following through with her words, so Rong Wu didn't dare to argue. Defeated, she reluctantly left the room.

Outside, she encountered Rong Shu, who had been trailing behind the servant girl. Rong Wu stopped and stared at Rong Shu with a cold gaze.

In her previous life as a maiden, Rong Shu's relationship with Rong Wuo wasn't exactly amiable, but they at least maintained a cordial facade, rarely showing such coldness to each other.

Rong Shu knew that the frostiness was due to the incident at Yunyu Building. She didn't bother arguing and merely nodded with a composed expression.

Though Rong Wuo was angry, she heeded Pei Yun's advice and refrained from causing a scene in the Qingheng Courtyard. With a disdainful glance at Rong Shu, she left Qiuyun Hall with a chilly demeanor.

The servant leading the way chuckled and explained, "With the wedding drawing near, Second Miss is just feeling nervous."

Rong Shu gave the servant a faint smile, not deeming it necessary to respond.

Everyone in the household took pride in Rong Wuo's engagement to the Jiang family, including the servants of Qiuyun Hall. Ever since Rong Wuo's marriage was arranged, these subordinates had been showing off their superiority over the Qingheng Courtyard in every aspect.

However, Rong Wuo's union with Jiang Shenglin was far from a blessed match.

Seeing Rong Shu's silence, the servant assumed she was upset and, with a smile, drew back the curtains, saying, "Miss, this way please. Your stepmother is waiting inside."

It was Rong Shu's first visit to Qiuyun Hall.

Despite its secluded location, the scenery here was delightfully elegant.

A winding path led through a grove of parasol trees and plum blossoms, with an arbor covered in intertwined peony vines alongside the corridor.

Upon entering the chamber, the interior arrangements appeared even more refined than the courtyard outside. An antique zither with a charred tail, a rosewood cabinet filled with brushes, ink, paper, and seals, and two paintings hanging on the wall all exuded elegance.

Rong Shu's gaze fell upon Pei Yun.

She hadn't actually seen this concubine much since the day she had entered the residence; Madam Shen had spared her the daily morning and evening greetings.

The Qingheng Courtyard and Qiuyun Hall were situated far apart, so Madam Shen and Concubine Pei only encountered each other during family banquets. Otherwise, they kept to their own domains like water in separate wells.

Concubine Pei was a graceful beauty, with jet-black hair like silk and softly brushed, delicate eyebrows resembling distant mountain peaks. If Rong Shu recalled correctly, she should be thirty-seven years old, yet she appeared no older than twenty-six or twenty-seven.

Indeed, with her father advocating for her in all matters, her grandmother's favor, giving birth to the third family's sole male heir, and her daughter soon to marry into a noble lineage, how could her life not be comfortable?

By virtue of being a concubine, Pei Yun was only half a mistress and should have bowed to Rong Shu upon meeting her. However, since she had never bowed to Madam Shen, it would be unlikely for her to bow to a younger generation like Rong Shu.

Thus, she nodded slightly, addressing Rong Shu with neither inferiority nor arrogance: "May I ask what brings the young lady to seek me?"

A subtle smile tugged at the corners of Rong Shu's lips.

"Grandmother insisted that Mother give up our manor in the eastern outskirts as a dowry for Second Sister. Did Madam know about this?"

Pei Yun replied, "This concubine was unaware."

Rong Shu nodded. "I understand that such matters would be beneath Madam's dignity to involve yourself in."

If she knew it wasn't Madam who did it, then why had she deigned to visit Qiuyun Hall?

Pei Yun furrowed her brows, awaiting the continuation of the story with composed anticipation.

Yet, after Rong Shu finished speaking, she fell silent, preoccupied with walking a few steps aside and gazing at the painting on the wall.

These are paintings by Pei Yun - one depicts a crimson plum blossom in the snow, and the other portrays a cluster of bamboo after the rain. Both are masterfully executed with meticulous strokes and profound sentiment, evoking a sense of serene tranquility and distant refinement.

"Marvelous painting, Lady, truly remarkable skill." Rong Shu praised sincerely, "Such exquisite artistry deserves the finest paper and the best ink."

As he spoke, he gently caressed the edge of the painting with his fingertip, smiling as he said, "This is indeed the esteemed 'Chengxin Tang' paper, worth ten taels of gold per sheet, as smooth as spring ice and as densely textured as silk. And the ink that Madam favors must be the 'Cuisong Tang' eyebrow ink, I presume? This ink possesses a clear fragrance, a light consistency, a deep hue, and an enduring aroma—no wonder a single ink stick is worth its weight in gold." (1)