Chapter 64: Encounter

Chapter 64: Encounter

Pei Yuanxi stirred awake to the sound of roosters crowing. In that instant, she felt a momentary disorientation. The unfamiliar room and surroundings, together with the faint light seeping through the window cracks, all contributed to her confusion.

She couldn't quite recall how she had fallen asleep the previous night. The air no longer held the scent of durian cakes, nor did she sense any trace of someone having been there before.

In her anger, she remembered undressing without caring whether he was still around or not. Apparently, he must have left after she fell asleep, meaning that she had dared to change both in his presence and out of it.

It was Ah He who entered to attend to her morning grooming. With a bright smile, she carried a basin of water inside. Upon discovering that Pei Yuanxi was already awake, her smile grew even more sincere.

"Miss, you're finally up. The roosters have crowed twice."

Roused by the cock's crow and resting at sunset marked the rhythm of a day's labor for mountain dwellers.

Breakfast consisted of rice porridge, several side dishes, and a plate of pancakes. Ah He's delight stemmed from realizing that Pei Yuanxi wasn't at all high-maintenance. She woke up on her own without needing assistance, and didn't exhibit the airs and fussiness of the young ladies from noble families. Recalling that this Second Miss Pei had been treated as a concubine's daughter for fifteen years, a hint of sympathy appeared in Ah He's eyes.

Pei Yuanxi ate at a moderate pace, yet consumed a substantial amount.

In her current situation, preserving her strength was crucial. After finishing her meal, she strolled around the courtyard, observing from afar as many people continued tilling and clearing land in the scattered fields.

In the courtyard, two women doing chores sneakily glanced at her as they sorted through a cloth bag of beans. She observed them and slowly approached.

Silently, she fetched a small stool and sat beside them, joining in on the task. The women were initially surprised, then felt uneasy by her presence. Upon seeing her delicate, jade-like fingers handling the beans, they seemed to acquire a newfound value.

"Miss, this is rough work; it's not suitable for you," one of the women advised.

"I have nothing else to do anyway, might as well keep myself occupied."

Hearing her words, the women allowed her to continue.

She emulated their actions, sorting the dry and shriveled beans to one side, the spoiled ones to another, and the good ones into another cloth bag. Her exquisite fingers, like polished jade, made the act of selecting beans an aesthetic delight.

The women's gazes turned to amazement, as they realized she actually knew how to work. This young lady was extraordinary – a legitimate daughter from a prominent family, beautiful as a celestial maiden yet unpretentious. Clearly, she knew how to manage daily life. No wonder the young master had his heart set on her, going to great lengths to bring her from the Eastern Capital City.

"The daughters of noble families are truly different, even their work seems graceful," the other woman exclaimed, mesmerized. She gazed at the girl's complexion, as tender as tofu, and her eyes, nose, and lips, all exuding charm.

The first woman replied, "If a girl is born beautiful, let alone working, even standing in a privy would make her appear like a goddess."

"Whatever you're saying..." the second woman chided, perhaps feeling that her companion's words were too crude, causing her own face to flush with embarrassment.

"Forgive my tongue, it's not accustomed to refined speech," the woman in front spat twice. "Miss, please don't take offense at our lack of polish and experience. We're just thrilled to be sitting alongside someone of your high station for the first time."

"That's right, that's right," the other woman chimed in, trying to ingratiate herself with a smile.

Pei Yuanxi smiled warmly, appearing easy to talk to.

The two women were even more astonished. Not only was this noble lady beautiful, she didn't disdain them and was amiable and approachable. Gradually, they relaxed and started chatting more freely, discussing matters of their village and neighboring hamlets. It seemed either due to discretion or ignorance that they didn't mention Cheng Yu at all.

When Aunt He emerged and saw them, her eyes flickered with interest.

Sitting on a small stool, Pei Yuanxi tucked her skirt up so it wouldn't trail on the ground. Her posture was casual, her gaze calm and composed. Amidst the low walls and earth, she resembled a precious pearl lost in a desolate land.

Unflappable in adversity, adaptable to any situation - such a lady was worthy of their young master.

"Miss, this isn't work suited for you," said Pei Yuanxi after finishing sorting the beans in her hand. "I can't do much anyway, and boredom has driven me to seek some activity. It's not proper to sleep in the house during daylight hours, so I troubled Aunt He to find me a dress that the local girls wear while working."

Aunt He became even more pleased and quickly fetched a clean set of clothes for her.

A deep blue cotton robe with white floral patterns, paired with dark blue trousers and a blue embroidered headscarf – even the most ordinary attire couldn't conceal her appearance and demeanor. Yet, this change of clothing seemed to immediately bridge the gap between her and others; the two women's gazes towards her became significantly more amiable.

Initially, she had indeed intended to gather information. Seeing that Aunt He trusted her enough to stay with them, she realized that she wouldn't learn anything substantial from their conversations. However, with idle time on her hands, listening to local anecdotes was a decent way to pass the time.

The sun in the mountains seemed to radiate an extra warmth. After sorting the beans with the women, they proceeded to dry the vegetables together, and the ladies became even more talkative than before.

The people tilling the land and clearing the wilderness kept changing, likely indicating a rotation of workers. Cheng Yu's motive for keeping those men tirelessly occupied began to dawn on her.

Idle hands breed laziness, and laziness saps one's fighting spirit. Not only would it dampen their morale, but in the event of any real challenge, their physical stamina might not be up to par.

In the span of a day, she noticed a significant increase in the number of people around the manor. They came and went, significantly more unfamiliar faces than the previous day. Their mannerisms didn't resemble those of ordinary farmers; there was an air of distinction about them.

The following day, even more individuals arrived, all looking weary from their travels, seemingly having come from afar. They moved about the estate, some settling in while others hurriedly departed.

Cheng Yu hadn't made an appearance during these two days, leaving her unsure if he was still within the manor or had already left.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon a tall, dark-skinned man, who, coincidentally, was also looking in her direction. Their eyes met in mid-air, a silent spark passing between them before they both swiftly averted their gazes.

A dark-skinned, tall man, interesting.

Indeed, ruthless.

Gongye Chu had just seen through her peasant girl disguise in that instant. The slightly bulky coat she wore didn't look rustic; instead, it was like a flower blooming abruptly amidst desolation.

If she had changed her coat, was there any need to cinch her waist so tightly?

...Goodness gracious, where did this fairy come from?... The bearded man standing beside him, with a similarly dark complexion, exclaimed in awe.

Gongye Chu's face darkened upon hearing this, though the bearded man couldn't tell. Stretching his neck, he kept staring into the courtyard with his small eyes, nearly bumping into the person in front of him.

"Brother Hu, that woman is truly stunning. The boss said that if we succeed, we'll all be considered great contributors. When the time comes, rewards and promotions won't be in short supply. I want that woman... Do you think the young master would agree?"

"Forget it, she's not someone you should be thinking about." Gongye Chu's voice was rough and carried a strong northern accent.

The bearded man's face fell, "You do have a point. A true big shot wouldn't hesitate to reward his women to subordinates. As long as we accomplish a great feat, we'll surely earn the desired rewards. Brother Hu, you're skilled, don't you want a chance at it?"

Gongye Chu's face darkened even more.

The bearded man chuckled. "Brother Hu, I'm sure you feel the same. There's an old saying that it's better to die under a blossom than to never have lived at all. If I could spend just one night with that lady, even death would be worth it."

As soon as he finished his words, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were truly about to die. Terrified, he quickly retracted his statement. "Heavens above, I was only joking, just joking!"

Of course, Pei Yuanxi couldn't hear their conversation. She sensed that someone from the group had been staring at her, and the gaze made her uncomfortable. By the time she looked up again, they had already passed through the courtyard.

As the women continued their chores, they also glanced outside.

"One of these young men is here again. I bet Miss Ya'er won't be too keen on going out now," remarked one of the women.

This was the first time Pei Yuanxi had heard this name. Before she could ask, the women started talking about Miss Ya'er. It turned out that Ya'er was Aunt He's daughter, raised like a lady from birth.

Miss Ya'er was said to be the most beautiful girl in the village, with many young men vying for her affection. She found the attention unbearable and usually stayed within Cheng Yu's courtyard, venturing out only occasionally.

When Pei Yuanxi overheard them mention Ya'er's high standards, her heart stirred.

A girl with high standards could either genuinely look down on those around her or have her heart set on someone else. It remained to be seen which category Miss Ya'er fell into.

In the distance, a new group of farmers had taken over plowing the fields. Pei Yuanxi glanced over and spotted the familiar dark-faced man. He wielded a hoe with the skill of someone who labored year-round.

Gazing at the nearby mountain, she suddenly broke into a soft laugh.

The dark-faced man and the village maiden truly made a good pair.

A gentleman in a moon-white long robe strode gracefully into the courtyard, adding a touch of brilliance to the humble abode. Cheng Yu cast a thoughtful glance towards the corner of the yard.

As she hung up dried vegetables, listening to the women's chatter, a gentle smile lingered on her lips, as warm and comforting as the winter sun.

Observing her for two days, Aunt He grew increasingly content with her down-to-earth demeanor. As someone indispensable to Cheng Yu, Aunt He meticulously reported every detail of her behavior to her master.

Listening to Aunt He's praises - how she was not pretentious, practical for daily life, and how her calmness complemented him perfectly - Cheng Yu couldn't help but think that this woman was cunning, possibly plotting some scheme.

Despite knowing her intentions behind befriending the villagers, he was still struck by her appearance at that moment. Dressed in the attire of an ordinary folk girl, with her black hair braided into a large plait hanging to one side, and a square scarf wrapped around her head, her simplicity only accentuated her beauty.

When she laughed just now, the sunlight happened to grace her jade-like face, casting a glow upon it. In that initial instant, her warm smile seemed to pierce through the darkness of his heart.

Upon seeing him, the women fell silent, too intimidated to speak.

He didn't enter but stood there for a moment before leaving without a word.

"One scare for my life. I thought Lord would be angry," a woman said.

The other one was still visibly shaken. "Lord seems approachable, yet we all fear him for some reason. He must have come to see Miss. She's truly blessed."

Pei Yuanxi smiled and watched Cheng Yu enter the second courtyard on her right.

Unlike the Eastern Capital City, the people in this manor ate only two meals a day. During the mid-afternoon meal, Pei Yuanxi met the young lady Ya'er.

She was indeed attractive, with an above-average appearance.

Dressed in gold and silver, adorned with bright clothing, she didn't resemble a villager or a servant of the manor. However, she couldn't be compared to the daughters of wealthy families either; she was more like a girl from a typical affluent household.

Jealousy flickered in her almond-shaped eyes when they landed on Pei Yuanxi's face. Upon taking a closer look at Pei Yuanxi's attire, that jealousy quickly transformed into disdain, revealing a subtle sense of superiority over Pei Yuanxi.

Assuming that Cheng Yu had arranged Pei Yuanxi's attire, she thought to herself, A daughter of an Eastern Capital City noble family? Lord doesn't seem to care much about her.

"Have your meal," she said, placing the food on the table while staring at Pei Yuanxi.

Pei Yuanxi paid no attention to her and continued eating with an air of indifference.

No one would feel at ease while eating under the gaze of another. Her stare was so blatant that it seemed she was even counting the number of times Pei Yuanxi chewed her food.

She couldn't help but admit to herself that the way he ate was genuinely pleasing to the eye, and her gaze inadvertently betrayed a hint of envy. As she continued watching, a subtle disdain gradually crept onto her face. What kind of noble lady was she, to eat even more than the women on the estate?

Having finished her meal, Pei Yuanxi finally lifted her gaze to meet hers.

"were this not in the manor, but any residence within the Eastern Capital City, you would no longer have use for these eyes of yours."

"Don't try to intimidate me," Ya'er huffed. "This isn't the Eastern Capital City, so drop that airs of a noble lady. A fallen phoenix is no better than a chicken. You don't really think you're still the legitimate daughter of a marquis, do you?"

"Why would I pretend to be the legitimate daughter of a marquis when I truly am one?" Pei Yuanxi spoke leisurely, her gaze landing on the golden hairpin on Ya'er's head.

The hairpin was new but not particularly exquisite in design.

She proudly adjusted it, saying, "So what if I'm the legitimate daughter of a marquis? This is a manor, not a marquis residence."

"You're right. This place can't compare to our marquis household. The other day, I rewarded one of the cleaning women with a golden hairpin, and it was much larger than the one you have on your head."

Ya'er's expression shifted. The golden hairpin she was wearing today was freshly crafted by her mother; few young ladies in the entire Shi Fo Town possessed one like it. This nobleman's daughter actually looked down on it and even mentioned that the trinkets she gave to servants were larger than this one. Didn't she realize her current situation? How could someone who resembled a village girl have the right to mock her?

Ya'er had known since she was young that her beauty was exceptional. Whoever saw her would praise her as if she were a well-bred lady from a wealthy family. None of the young men or attendants on the estate could catch her eye, for her heart belonged solely to the young master.

"Useless talk, indeed," Pei Yuanxi glanced at her indifferently, inspecting her from head to toe as if she were an object. "Judging by your attire, you're hardly an obedient servant. I suppose you have feelings for your young master, don't you?"

Ya'er was startled. Though she had an arrogant demeanor on the estate, she was not particularly cunning. Caught off guard with her secret exposed, her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

"..."

"I was brought here by your lord from the Eastern Capital City. Your mother should have told you the reason why your lord took me in,"

Ya'er's blushing face paled; Mother had indeed mentioned it. Mother said that the young master had taken a fancy to this noble lady and might take her as his wife. She also mentioned that this lady, in terms of both status and appearance, was a perfect match for the young master.

"A runner-up becomes a concubine, what is there for you to be smug about?"

Pei Yuanxi smiled. "What kind of person is your young master?"

Ya'er was taken aback, unable to respond.

Pei Yuanxi remarked, "He is the descendant of a convicted traitor, a man who should have perished three years ago. If he wishes to reemerge into the world with honor, he must accomplish something earth-shattering. How can one apply ordinary logic to someone who would incite such upheaval? Never mind that he sent for me; even if I had voluntarily sought him out, our story would eventually be regarded as a romantic legend. Given his current circumstances, do you truly believe he would take me as a concubine?"

"...How shameless!"

"Is this where modesty escapes you? I have far less restraint, it seems. Consider me, the rightful daughter of a prestigious marquis's household, destined for a most advantageous marriage, only to be brought by your young master to this godforsaken place. Even if I am to wed him, my heart remains filled with resentment. In marrying beneath my station, I naturally expect him to have no other women. So, keep your schemes in check, for I will never consent to him taking concubines."

Ya'er's face had turned deathly pale. What kind of legitimate daughter of a Marquis's household was this, to be so shameless and envious? She could barely hide her distress as she rushed out, intent on finding her own mother to complain about the injustice.

Aunt He, in her unwavering loyalty to Cheng Yu, naturally relayed to him, without any omission, Pei Yuanxi's strict prohibition against him taking concubines.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu appeared lost in thought, a subtle hint of malevolence lurking between his brows.

Pei Yuanxi didn't show any surprise upon seeing him enter the room. She remained seated at the table, showing no intention of rising. Unperturbed, he took a seat directly across from her.

"Would Miss Pei, the second daughter, truly consent to marry me if I do not take a concubine?"

"Certainly not. I was merely jesting with Miss Ya'er. Why would she assume I'm vying for the affections of the man she loves? And she even had the audacity to mock me for aspiring to be a concubine."

Her words were spoken with such candor that Cheng Yu's face darkened with intensity.

"If I truly wished to marry you, no one could stop me at this moment."

"If Mister Cheng genuinely wants to wed me, I would naturally comply. But with our current statuses, you are the one aspiring to marry up. There would be no benefit for me in marrying you - how can I possibly be content?"

Upon hearing her response, some of the malevolence on Cheng Yu's face dissipated. "Second Miss Pei, your aspirations seem to reach towards boundless power. To win your consent, you must be offered a position of prominence and luxury, correct?"

Pei Yuanxi showed no trace of embarrassment; instead, she appeared justified. "Of course. Mister Cheng has spent time in the Eastern Capital City and is aware of how highly my father values me. Your own father once said that with my intelligence, if I were a son, I would be a pillar of society. I do not believe in a man's fleeting love - throughout history, instances of affection waning with beauty are countless. Only power is forever sought after."

"So, if I were to achieve great success, would Second Miss Pei then willingly be by my side?"

"Indeed, I only respect those who hold high positions."

Cheng Yu believed her words were sincere. This woman, with her captivating beauty and serene demeanor, was in fact the most ambitious of all.

He wasn't afraid of ambition; he feared disloyalty.

"What if I can promise you a position of prominence? How would you respond?"

"Promises and actions are two distinct matters. Anyone can speak empty words; it all depends on what young Master Cheng will do and how far he is willing to go. I am one who recognizes the realities of the situation and values those who benefit me."

No wonder she had been so cooperative and obedient throughout the journey, not causing any trouble when they arrived at the estate. She truly was an exceptionally astute woman who knew how to read the times.

Her attitude reassured Cheng Yu even more, solidifying his belief that she was indeed the one fated to be the Phoenix.

On the rooftop, a figure stood motionless, silent as the night.

Gongye Chu's face was as dark as the shadows, reflecting the emperor's claim that they were deeply in love. In his dream, he had loved her with a passion that pierced through bone and blood. She claimed to be the most pragmatic, holding power and influence in the highest esteem.

Despite suspecting that she might be lying, he couldn't help but wonder: Did she marry him because of who he was as a person, or because of the power and authority that came with his elevated status?