Chapter 52: Chapter 52 (Two Chapters Combined)

Chapter 52: A Combined Chapter

After a satisfying evening, Li Ju, unable to resist, requested her company several more times, exhausting the maids fetching water until their legs trembled before he finally relented. She Niang, however, gently chided him, "You are still young and have responsibilities during the day. You mustn't carry on like this."

"Alright, then let's rest properly tomorrow, shall we?" Li Ju agreed obediently.

She Niang smiled. "If you continue at this pace, you'll end up with dark circles under your eyes and a perpetually sore back. It's better to take care of yourself now, for the days to come."

After some playful banter, Li Ju was reminded of events from his past life, feeling as though an eternity had passed. Drowsiness soon overcame him, and She Niang drifted off to sleep as well.

The next morning, as she gazed at her reflection, She Niang saw a face as fresh as a peach blossom, eyes sparkling like spring water, her complexion radiant. She was due to pay her respects to the Princess of Qing first thing, but the atmosphere in the room felt unusually cool today. She dared not speak, simply standing and waiting for her mother-in-law to finish dressing.

The Princess of Qing took an exceptionally long time to prepare today, and She Niang stood for nearly half an hour before she was finally ready.

"Take a seat."

Only after this invitation did She Niang settle down. "Mother, you look particularly well today."

"You certainly know how to speak pleasingly," the Princess of Qing replied with a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

She Niang observed this clearly and dared not relax her guard.

Sure enough, after a moment, the Princess of Qing spoke. "I heard you personally cooked for the Heir yesterday. That is excellent. Seeing such devotion between husband and wife is what our family desires most."

"To answer Mother, the Heir often complains of a poor appetite, so I thought of preparing something to stimulate it. If he enjoys it, I plan to send some to you, Father, and the Dowager Consort later. Fortunately, the Heir did me the honor of finishing everything. I also intend to ask you and the Dowager Consort in a few days if you would like me to prepare some for you as well," She Niang replied.

The Princess of Qing raised a hand to decline. "Taking good care of the Heir is the greatest filial piety you can show us."

"Yes," She Niang acknowledged.

The Princess of Qing continued, "Everything in moderation. For instance, you may find cold noodles delicious, but eating too much can lead to stomach upset, which would be undesirable."

"You are absolutely right," She Niang said.

She had already guessed what the Princess of Qing was implying. It was likely that someone had informed her about Li Ju and her intimacy the previous night, and now the Princess was subtly reprimanding her.

Seeing She Niang so deferential, the Princess of Qing felt slightly mollified and added, "You are both still young and should take good care of your health. I, too, was once young."

Addressed so directly, She Niang lowered her head and said, "Mother is right."

Not wishing to be overly harsh, the Princess of Qing then said, "Very well, you may go now. I will be heading to the palace shortly."

After leaving the Princess of Qing’s quarters, She Niang feigned a look of grievance. Upon returning to her room, unlike the day before, she did not go to the study but instead kept her head down, diligently working on her needlework. When Li Ju returned and saw her like this, he couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

"Come in, I have something to tell you," She Niang beckoned him.

Li Ju was utterly bewildered. Once inside, he asked her, "What is it? Is it something important you need to tell me?"

She Niang then said, "Did you tell Mother about what happened between us last night?"

"Am I insane? How could I possibly say such a thing? What happened? Did Mother say something to you?" Li Ju asked, sounding somewhat annoyed.

She Niang recounted the day’s events in detail. "Although it wasn't stated explicitly, it felt like a warning. It's all your doing, yet I'm the one bearing the blame. In the future, I…"

At this point, she began to cry and tried to push him out.

Li Ju pulled her into a tight embrace. "It's all my fault, alright?"

She Niang shook her head. "I'm not truly blaming you. I'm just worried that every time we are intimate, the entire household will know. Since you say it wasn't you, do you think it was those maids fetching water? But those low-ranking servants barely even see me, let alone have access to the Princess."

"Are you suggesting someone leaked the information? That can't be," Li Ju said, still trusting those around him.

She Niang didn't immediately point fingers but said, "Let's not dwell on this for now. If anyone dares to gossip about our private matters again, we must not let it slide. If it's someone from my side, I'll dismiss them immediately."

Li Ju naturally agreed.

She Niang knew perfectly well that it was likely someone from Li Ju's side who had informed on them. Using this incident to remove a spy would be ideal.

Having cleared the air, She Niang softened again. "How about I play the qin, and you play the xiao later?"

There was no way she would truly distance herself from her husband just because of a few words from the Princess of Qing. In this world, once you succeed, people will naturally speak up for you. In the inner quarters, success meant first capturing her husband's heart and second, bearing children.

Seeing She Niang’s gentle nature, Li Ju agreed. Both were skilled in music, making them a harmonious pair.

However, Li Ju had matters to attend to outside and had to leave first. She Niang took the opportunity to work on his sleepwear to pass the time. Unexpectedly, the Princess (his sister) arrived. She Niang quickly had tea and snacks served. "Little Sister, you've come at the perfect time. Let's chat."

Previously, the Princess had heeded her nursemaid’s advice not to disturb the newlyweds, but today she was bored and decided to visit She Niang.

"Sister-in-law, what are you making? Why use this kind of fabric?" the Princess asked.

She Niang smiled. "It's for your brother. It's very breathable and comfortable against the skin, perfect for wearing at home. Although there's a sewing room, I have free time, so I thought I'd make it myself."

The Princess murmured an "Oh." She was only mediocre in her studies and saw no need to excel in needlework, which required great effort and strained the eyes. Her attendants usually handled such tasks.

But she had her own worries. "Mother went to the palace today. I'm afraid the Empress Dowager might remember me and summon me to the palace."

She didn't mind going to the palace, but the strict rules there made her uneasy.

She Niang reassured her, "Don't overthink it. If they wanted you to go, they would have taken you today." Seeing the Princess still looking downcast, She Niang noticed the weather had cooled and suggested going to the bamboo grove for sketching to get some fresh air.

The Princess, being active, agreed immediately.

Since the bamboo grove was right outside their door, they walked over. A gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo, making it very pleasant. She Niang first observed a cluster of bamboo with peculiar rocks at its base. She sketched a draft, outlined it with a fine brush, and then applied the mixed pigments.

In truth, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums were standard subjects in painting practice, so she was quite familiar with them. She made the bamboo stalks on the left darker and carefully shaded the leaves. Having copied *Bamboo and Sparrows* ten times, she had mastered the technique.

When she finished, she noticed the Princess had grown impatient and was snacking on fruits nearby. She Niang quickly apologized. "My apologies for taking so long. Let's go; I'll accompany you for a meal."

To her surprise, the Princess said, "Sister-in-law, I really like this bamboo painting. Could you give it to me?"

Previously, She Niang had gifted paintings to help her excel, but she knew her own shortcomings and needed to improve. She suspected the Princess wanted to use her painting to seek praise, which she couldn’t allow. So, she smiled and said, "This painting isn't good enough yet. I need to refine it. I'll give you a better one later."

The Princess reluctantly agreed.

She Niang invited her sister-in-law to stay for dinner. Li Ju, having heard about it, ate in the front courtyard. After the meal, She Niang saw the Princess off at the door. When Li Ju returned, he asked, "What did you two do this afternoon?"

"We went sketching in the bamboo grove, but my painting wasn't very good. The Princess asked me to give it to her, and I felt embarrassed," She Niang said, curious to hear Li Ju's opinion.

If he were a principled man, he would criticize such behavior. If he were lenient, she would know how to handle similar situations in the future.

Upon hearing this, Li Ju immediately said, "You don't have to give it to her. Last time you gave her a painting, she used it to fulfill an obligation."

"What?" She Niang covered her mouth in surprise.

Li Ju waved his hand. "I've been a Study Companion before. While it's good to share burdens with one's master, what's yours is yours, and what isn't shouldn't be claimed."

His words struck a chord with She Niang, evoking genuine emotion. "I heard she was worried about her studies, and thought of helping by giving her a painting. But you're right; I shouldn't encourage such behavior."

"Hmm, that's very good. By the way, show me your bamboo painting." Li Ju teased, wanting to see it.

She Niang had no choice but to present it, feeling quite embarrassed. However, Li Ju praised it endlessly and even wrote a poem directly on it. She Niang couldn't help saying, "I was thinking we could both carve matching seals, so we can use them together."

Li Ju hugged her and said, "My wife really can do anything."

She Niang laughed playfully, "Well, obviously."

Although She Niang agreed readily, she would never truly distance herself from her husband. Though they paused for a day, the next day they resumed as usual. Of course, this time the Princess of Qing didn't say anything, so She Niang removed the person on night duty for that day.

After about a month, she had gradually adapted to life in the princely household. After her morning greetings, she could return, and occasionally she would accompany the Princess of Qing to keep company and chat with the Dowager Consort. Once the morning greetings were done, the rest of the day was her leisure time.

By the ninth lunar month, Shun Niang was getting married, and all the married-out daughters of the Pei family were expected to return for the wedding banquet.

She Niang had already discussed it with the Princess of Qing, who, in such matters, did not make things difficult. She had already arranged for the carriage of the princely heir's consort to go out, adding, "Don’t rush back. It’s rare for you to return home, so spend more time with your sisters."

"Thank you for your consideration, Mother," She Niang said.

Today, Li Ju was also accompanying She Niang back to her family home. They each had their own retinues, and only upon arriving at the Pei residence did they separate. Among the granddaughters-in-law, only Huang Shi was present, and she was pregnant. Yu Shi, being very considerate of her daughter-in-law, took charge of hosting the guests herself—after all, she held a noble rank.

When She Niang arrived, Yu Shi hurriedly had everyone go to the inner gate to welcome her. Although Li Niang was unwilling in her heart, she reluctantly followed Yu Shi out.

Seeing her younger sister again was completely different from before. Previously, she only had beauty and talent, but now, with her elevated status, surrounded by attendants, she appeared dignified and respectable.

"We’re all family, let’s go inside to talk," She Niang said, holding arms with her mother as they entered.

Yu Shi clearly enjoyed her daughter’s affection and added, "I heard you were coming back today, so I specially instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite snacks."

"I was just thinking about it. The taro puffs at home are truly delicious; I can’t find that taste anywhere else," She Niang said with a smile.

Yu Shi replied, "Of course, I made them myself."

Li Niang loved stir-fried sweet beans, while She Niang preferred the crispy outside and delicate inside of taro puffs. Yu Shi had made both.

In the reception hall, She Niang was offered the place of honor. Even the former Marquise of Dingbei had to sit below her to chat. But at first, She Niang refused the place of honor, behaving very humbly.

The Marquise of Dingbei, seeing her so steady, couldn’t help but think to herself, "These two sisters are truly as different as night and day. Li Niang is frivolous; praise her a little, and she becomes arrogant, thinking too highly of herself. Her sister, despite her status, doesn’t act superior—it’s rare."

But as an elder, the Marquise of Dingbei could only be polite; she wouldn’t go so far as to flatter or curry favor.

Li Niang had never imagined that the disparity in status would be so great that even sisters might not exchange a word on such an occasion.

But She Niang had no mood to pay attention to what Li Niang was thinking. She had returned today mainly to socialize a bit and relax. Taking advantage of a break to change clothes, Yu Shi brought her daughters back to their room: "We’ll go over when the banquet is served. If you’re tired, you can rest a bit."

"Mother, you’re truly a mind reader. I am indeed a bit tired," She Niang said with a laugh.

It was only then that Li Niang managed to say, "She Niang, are you doing well in the princely household?"

She Niang replied, "It’s just as expected. There are two levels of mothers-in-law above me, plus a sister-in-law. Everyone needs attention."

She was telling the truth, but Li Niang took it seriously: "Indeed, I find one mother-in-law enough of a headache. You have several layers of them. The rules in the princely household must be very strict, right? Every word and action must be watched. I think even our marquis household has many rules, let alone your princely household."

"It’s manageable. One must adapt," She Niang thought to herself that some poorer families had even stricter rules—if there were no rules, they’d make some up.

The Qing Princely Household was actually quite good.

Li Niang looked at her and said, "Do you know? I went to the Marquis of Xinan’s residence some time ago. It turns out our sixth brother-in-law has brought an outside woman into the household. Although she hasn’t been elevated to concubine yet, it’s only a matter of time. Shun Niang will have a hard time after marrying over. I didn’t dare say anything."

"It’s good you didn’t say anything. Stay out of such matters. Since she’s married into that household, she’ll have to handle these things herself. If you say something now and it causes trouble, what then?" Even She Niang had heard about him keeping a mistress outside—she knew in both her previous life and this one. Would someone as well-informed as Old Madam Pei not know?

Hearing She Niang say this, Li Niang felt that this was truly her sister. "I know, that’s why I didn’t say anything. Really, why is Grandmother so obsessed with status?"

She Niang smiled, "Who isn’t? It’s like the imperial exams: those who pass become officials, enjoy glory and wealth, and their lives change completely. Isn’t it the same? If you want the position of marchioness, you have to endure these things."

"That makes sense. That old lady has really made things hard for me," Li Niang slapped the table.

She Niang said, "You should behave yourself. Weren’t you quite satisfied back then? If you’re not planning to divorce, don’t always be discontented. Focus on living your life well. And don’t come causing trouble later, using my name to fight your battles. Let me be clear: I won’t cover for you arbitrarily. If I hear about any 'fox borrowing the tiger’s authority' nonsense, I’ll take it out on you first."

Already annoyed, and now scolded by She Niang, Li Niang grew even more unhappy. But she had learned to control her temper better than before.

When you surpass others by a little, they may envy you; when you surpass them by a great margin, leaving them unable to catch up, they will admire you, and even start to flatter you.

That’s what Li Niang thought.

As the sisters argued, Yu Shi pretended not to hear. Only when both fell silent did she say, "We needn’t concern ourselves with Shun Niang’s affairs. But your grandmother is coming to the capital soon, and we’ll all have to meet her."

"Mother, if the Dowager Consort meets Grandmother, will she need to pay respects?" She Niang wondered.

In her previous life, Pei Yiqing had always served as an official serving outside the capital, often depressed and too busy to seek out Dowager Consort Hua. He even had to repay debts and handle numerous matters. Moreover, Dowager Consort Hua was now widowed, and Old Madam Pei seldom went out, so the two had little opportunity to interact.

But now that they were going, the truth would inevitably come out.

Old Madam Pei probably never dreamed that the woman she had almost sold to a brothel was now a dowager consort.

As for how Shun Niang’s life turned out after marriage, that’s a story for another time.

One day, She Niang and the Princess of Qing went to visit the Dowager Consort to chat when a steward came in urgently with news: "It’s terrible! The Prince of Zhao has died in battle against the Tatars. The Zhao Princely Household has sent word of the mourning."

The Prince of Zhao? Wasn’t that Guo Xianzhu’s father-in-law? She Niang had been thinking of visiting sometime when she had free time.

Naturally, the Prince of Zhao himself had not come to the capital. He had stayed in Liaobei due to the war, and now someone would likely have to retrieve his body.

As the wife of the Imperial Clan Superintendent, the Princess of Qing would have to go help immediately. She now felt that having a daughter-in-law was indeed beneficial, and this daughter-in-law of hers was truly capable.

So she said to She Niang, "Go prepare. I’ll have someone ready the condolence gifts, and we’ll head over."

"Yes."

"Preparing" meant changing into somber clothing and removing gold and overly bright jewelry. Once ready, she and the Princess of Qing each took a sedan chair and hurried over.

The Princess of Zhao was the younger sister of the current Dowager Empress, which was why the Zhao princely house held great prestige. The principal wife of the Zhao heir was from a prominent family, yet the Princess of Zhao still managed to bring a beautiful concubine for her son.

This showed she was very assertive. A normal mother-in-law would at least find an excuse, like lack of heirs, to make things difficult for her son, but she directly elevated the concubine.

Lost in these thoughts, they soon arrived at the Zhao Princely Household. It was said to be the former residence of a senior minister, now converted to princely specifications. The Princess of Qing turned to She Niang and said, "Today, I’ll bring you along to see if they need help here. If they’re overwhelmed, you can come assist."

The Princess of Qing believed that young women needed to experience weddings and funerals to develop their management skills. Even if they didn’t know how to handle things, observing a few times would teach them.

She Niang agreed.

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law entered, they saw the Princess of Zhao with a white cloth tied around her head, looking as if she had cried herself to exhaustion, needing four or five people to support her. The Princess of Qing’s tears immediately sprang to her eyes, and she stepped forward, "Dear sister-in-law, how did you become like this? Where is your daughter-in-law?"

The Zhao household hurriedly sent for the Zhao heir’s wife, Guan Shi, who was around twenty years old with arched eyebrows, a straight nose, and sharp eyes.

"Mother, you were fine just a moment ago. How did you faint so quickly?" Guan Shi said with a worried expression, subtly pointing out that the Princess of Zhao hadn't been truly grieving earlier.

The Princess of Qing immediately disliked Guan Shi. As women of her generation, they preferred meek and obedient daughters-in-law, not those who looked strong-willed. Initially, they hadn’t much liked She Niang either.

Upon hearing Guan Shi's inquiry, the Princess of Zhao replied, "I was just overwhelmed for a moment. Don’t worry about me; go attend to your duties."

At this, the Princess of Qing interjected, "Sister-in-law, since the body hasn’t been brought back yet, you should focus on preparing the mourning garments and funeral arrangements. If you’re short on hands, just let me know."

She Niang quickly added, "Yes, Auntie, please feel free to assign me any tasks."

The Princess of Zhao glanced at She Niang, and someone nearby introduced, "This is the Princess Consort of Qing." She then took She Niang’s hand and praised her profusely. She Niang felt an uncomfortable dampness in the hand being held, making her uneasy.

As the Prince of Zhao’s body had not yet been returned, the mother and daughter-in-law temporarily went back. She Niang heard Li Ju mention, "The court has already appointed Father to take over the Prince of Zhao’s position, with the Prince of Jin as his deputy, to continue fighting against the Tatars."

Unlike other dynasties, this court often appoints imperial clansmen as military commanders to prevent power from falling into the wrong hands.

Normally, the Prince of Jin would be closer to the Prince of Zhao, but since the Prince of Jin is the current emperor’s own brother, bringing in the Prince of Qing might also be a move to keep the Prince of Jin in check.

She Niang couldn’t help but ask, "What about you?"

"At my age, it’s not my turn yet. The emperor has entrusted me with overseeing the Prince of Zhao’s funeral rites in the capital, in coordination with the Ministry of Rites. However, the third and fourth uncles’ families are each sending one person to the front," Li Ju replied.

She Niang smiled and said, "That’s actually a good thing. A trip to the front lines could be like gilding one’s reputation."

Seeing that She Niang understood so clearly, Li Ju laughed along and said, "You see things so well. Some people, however, still think it’s a plot against them."

Although he didn’t specify who "some people" were, She Niang had a good idea it referred to the Duke of Fuguo’s family. Having lost his earldom, the third uncle was eager to reclaim his title. Unfortunately, he had been worn down by indulgence and hoped his son could earn merits, perhaps persuading the emperor to restore the title out of consideration.

"Only when you raise children do you understand parental love. If they really don’t want to go, just let Father not take them, to avoid blame later," She Niang said.

Li Ju agreed. The fourth aunt doted on her son and only wanted him to gain credit, not actually risk going to the front lines.

In other words, they wanted the benefits without taking any risks.

Sure enough, the Duchess of Fuguo was nagging her husband: "You must tell the Prince that our Qiong’er is only fit for clerical work and must never be sent to the front…"

Nearby, Yang Mo was also anxious. When Li Qiong first married, he showed her some tolerance, but after she saw through his incompetence, their relationship cooled significantly. Still, as long as Li Qiong was around, she had her status.

The Duke of Fuguo, who always obeyed his wife, pleaded earnestly with the Prince of Qing. The Prince, known for his sharp tongue, looked at Li Qiong and sarcastically said, "Good nephew, you don’t have to go. The Prince of Chongning’s family has been complaining that I’m unfair, wanting their fourth son to go. Perfect—you can stay home and be your mother’s good boy."

Li Qiong flushed red and said, "Nephew wouldn’t dare."

The Prince of Qing sneered, "Before even setting out, you’re already thinking about reaping benefits. Even I wouldn’t dare expect such things. So, for now, I’ll take third uncle’s Jue’er. If he doesn’t work out, we’ll consider you later."

The entire Duke of Fuguo household was stunned.

Yang Mo had been hoping her husband would return with military honors, boosting her own standing. Instead, her husband was outright rejected. The Duchess of Fuguo then turned to her and said, "You should visit the Princess of Qing and the Dowager Consort more often lately. That might help Qiong’er."

Yang Mo’s face flushed with embarrassment. They had brought shame upon themselves, yet she was the one who had to curry favor, practically trampling her own dignity, and even put up with Pei Sheniang’s attitude…