Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Pei Yun took her time shelling pine nuts, mulling over the fact that if the Princess Consort of Rong did send her an invitation, she could go or not, whichever suited her. If she wanted some peace and quiet, she could just make up an excuse and say she couldn't make it. But if she did go, leaving the West Manor aside, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would probably stir up trouble again.

Though she never figured those two could cause any real trouble, it was still annoying to deal with.

But now that the bitter cold of winter had passed and spring was in full bloom, Pei Yun did feel a little itch to get out and about.

After thinking it over for a bit, she made up her mind. Princess Consort of Ying saw the corners of her daughter's mouth curl up, her willow brows ease, and her round, bright eyes blink—she knew Pei Yun had made up her mind.

But Princess Consort of Ying didn't ask. One day she'd be gone before her daughter. Now that Yun'er was married and running a marquis's household, she couldn't watch over her forever—Yun'er would have to grow up and figure things out herself.

Luckily, Yun'er had been sharp since she was little. She was just young and green for now; in a few years, she'd have it all down pat.

Pei Yun ate a small handful of pine nuts, mulled over the messy affairs of the Duke Su's mansion, and then started gossiping about her brother.

"Mother, you're taking brother to the Polo Club, right?" Pei Yun leaned in closer, winking mischievously. "Are you scouting out a sister-in-law for me?"

Princess Consort of Ying took the rest of the pine nuts from her hand, not letting her eat too many for fear she'd get a stomachache.

"By tradition, the elder goes first—your brother should've married before you." Speaking plainly in front of her daughter, Princess Consort of Ying said, "Now your brother's fallen behind you, so we've got to pick up the pace."

"Men your brother's age already have kids running around. Your father and I have to get out more and help him find a good match."

In truth, both Pei Yun's and Pei Yuanzhao's marriages had been put off because of the house arrest. After Emperor Qing'an took the throne, he only arranged a marriage for Pei Yun and didn't bother with his nephew's, which is why it got delayed.

Besides, Princess Consort of Ying, picking a daughter-in-law—and for her only son, no less—naturally had to be extremely picky. Even though they weren't totally cut off from the world in Qiulan Palace and knew a bit about the families in the capital, they hadn't actually socialized in over a decade. Word of mouth can't be trusted; she needed to see for herself.

Since her son was already behind, what was another year or two? Better to take her time and pick a truly fitting daughter-in-law.

Pei Yun wholeheartedly agreed with her mother's "better none than a bad match" philosophy: "There are plenty of suitable young ladies in the capital now; surely one will fit brother. But—brother's marriage still needs His Majesty's say-so, doesn't it?"

Pei Yun pursed her lips and asked tentatively.

She had a nagging feeling Emperor Qing'an wouldn't let her brother marry someone from too high a family.

Besides, even though their family had been let out and looked like they were basking in glory as prince and princess, she figured plenty of noble families still looked down on marrying into their Prince Ying's household.

The smile on Princess Consort of Ying's face dimmed a bit, and she turned to grumble about her husband.

"If I'd known twenty years ago what your father's temper was like, I'd never have married him... Enough, enough. We'll talk about it once we've picked someone."

Pei Yun snickered to herself, then remembered what the Grand Empress Dowager had told her yesterday.

"Oh, Mother, when I went to the palace yesterday, Imperial Grandmother was asking about brother's marriage too. You should find time to go to the palace. If you've found a good match, it'd be handy to have Imperial Grandmother bless the marriage."

Princess Consort of Ying's expression eased, and she nodded. "I know. Your imperial grandmother really dotes on you two. When I went to pay my respects last time, she kept asking about you two. Make time to go see her when you're free—she's getting old and likes a bit of bustle."

Pei Yun nodded, then offhandedly mentioned to Princess Consort of Ying how Emperor Qing'an found Noble Consort Sun a pain and had dumped Prince Zhao's marriage arrangements on the Grand Empress Dowager.

"I happened to walk in on it. I could tell Imperial Grandmother wasn't too thrilled about handling it." Pei Yun said. "When you go to the palace, you can give her some advice."

What Pei Yun admired most about her mother was how she handled the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic like a pro—a timeless challenge, especially in the imperial family as the Crown Princess. Plus, her mother had been the sole favorite in her youth; her father hadn't even taken a concubine, and later her mother couldn't have more kids due to health problems. By all logic, the Grand Empress Dowager should've cursed her mother out as a femme fatale and been mad enough to blow steam out of her ears. Yet somehow, the two of them were incredibly close.

When her father was still the Crown Prince, the Grand Empress Dowager had no problem at all with him having just one son and one daughter, not taking concubines, and just wanting to live his life with his wife and kids. Instead, she'd even gone against the grain and told her son several times that the Crown Princess had a tough lot, that rumors were flying around outside, and that he should treat her right.

The craziest part was that the Grand Empress Dowager wasn't actually a kind-hearted mother-in-law by nature. Toward her younger son's wife—the current Empress—she was perpetually sour, making life miserable for her.

She only favored her eldest daughter-in-law, Pei Yun's mother, doting on her like she was her own daughter.

Pei Yun was totally in awe of this and had even wondered if her mother had some kind of cheat system—it was just too unbelievable.

So when Princess Consort of Ying heard the Emperor had tasked the Grand Empress Dowager with picking a Princess Consort of Zhao, she raised an eyebrow too. "Is that right? Then I really do need to make a trip to the palace."

Pei Yun nodded. She didn't know many details—she had just happened to witness it yesterday and thought she'd mention it to her mother.

"Alright, stop hanging around here. Go out and see your husband and kids. In a bit, head to Shuiyunting—we'll have lunch there."

Princess Consort of Ying began shooing her out. For the first return visit, Marquis Qin and the two children were also guests, so Pei Yun had better keep them company.

Pei Yun nodded, then looked at her mother with pleading eyes. "Mother, aren't you coming out?"

"I'll go directly to Shuiyunting in a bit. You go on ahead." Princess Consort of Ying said with a slight smile.

Her mother always had her reasons for everything, so Pei Yun didn't press further. She nodded and rose to leave.

As she passed the arhat couch, she glanced at the maidservant who was carefully mixing incense with her head bowed. The maid had slender, snow-white fingers, gracefully and expertly using a small silver spoon to place the finely ground incense powder from the mortar into a carved sandalwood incense box. Two younger maids beside her were sifting and blending more incense.

Pei Yun stopped and said with a bright smile, "Sister Luoye, your craftsmanship is still impeccable. I love the scent of this incense—pack some up for me when I leave."

"This is made from the first five-colored camellias to bloom this year—perfectly in season. The Princess has excellent taste." Luoye said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort of Ying laughingly scolded Pei Yun for always eyeing her things and told her to hurry outside.

Pei Yun kept smiling and only reminded Luoye to save some for her before finally heading out.

In the corridor outside, Nanny Xu was speaking privately with Nanny Zheng. Nanny Xu had originally been one of Princess Consort of Ying's close attendants, having served for many years. Because Pei Yun had married into the Duke Su's mansion and Princess Consort of Ying couldn't rest easy, she had given Nanny Xu to her daughter. Thus, Nanny Xu and Nanny Zheng were old sisters of many years, and having not seen each other for months, they had much to catch up on.

Bixiao and Hongliu were waiting by the door for her.

Both nannies hurried forward when they saw Pei Yun emerge. Pei Yun stopped, looked at Nanny Xu, and said with a clear, beautiful smile, "Nanny, you don't need to follow me. Catch up with Nanny Zheng."

"How could that be acceptable?" Nanny Xu said hastily. "The Princess instructed me to always stay by your side."

"That's when we're outside. What's there to worry about at home?" Pei Yun said. "I'll take Bixiao and Hongliu with me. You old sisters haven't seen each other in a while—have a good chat."

Then she added with a grin, "Nanny Zheng, Mother said we're eating at Shuiyunting for lunch. Make sure the kitchen makes that braised shark fin with yellow sauce—extra chili."

Nanny Zheng's eyes crinkled with laughter as she agreed readily. "Rest assured, Princess. The Princess has already given instructions—all your favorite dishes have been arranged."

Pei Yun glanced outside. Beyond the screen wall, she could no longer hear her father or the children's voices—they must have headed to the back garden. She left Nanny Xu behind to chat with Nanny Zheng a while longer and went out with Bixiao and Hongliu.

After Pei Yun had left, Nanny Zheng said to Nanny Xu with a smile, "The Princess has inherited her mother's cleverness and her father's benevolence. Being by her side, you can enjoy your later years in comfort."

"Yes, the Princess is kind-hearted and treats people well. It's just that this Duke Su's mansion... you wouldn't believe it, it's a mess. Sometimes I look at her and my heart aches." Nanny Xu sighed.

Nanny Zheng said helplessly, "There's nothing to be done. You'll just have to help the Princess keep watch and be thorough."

"Of course."

Just as Nanny Xu finished speaking, a young maid came out from the main room and said with a smile, "Nanny Xu, the Princess summons you inside."

Nanny Xu tensed, quickly straightened her clothes, and followed the maid inside.

Pei Yun led Bixiao and Hongliu out of the main quarters, passed through the front garden, and was just about to follow the corridor toward the back garden when she suddenly spotted two tall figures standing in the Huiyin Pavilion beside the rockery.

The two stood facing each other, though one of them—dressed in dark purple formal robes—was rather sloppily leaning half against the pavilion pillar, arms crossed over his chest, casually dangling a red lacquered box in his hand.

It was her own flesh-and-blood brother, Pei Yuanzhao.

"When did the young master get here? The princess was just talking about you a minute ago," Bixiao said with a smile.

Just then, whether by some sixth sense or just pure coincidence, Pei Yuanzhao turned his head slightly and spotted Pei Yun standing not far away.

He raised an eyebrow, his peach-blossom eyes—just like the Princess Consort of Ying's—curving into a smile as he lifted his free hand to wave at her. "Pei Yun!"

"..."

Funny thing was, before she saw him, she'd actually missed her brother a little. But now that she saw him, all she wanted to do was punch him.

Qin Chu looked over as well, his expression calm, his eyes as calm as the surface of a deep lake. Whenever Qin Chu wasn't in military attire, his temperament was always gentle—standing tall and graceful like a jade tree in the breeze, upright and refined, clearly a refined young man from a family of scholars. Pei Yuanzhao, by contrast, was the dashing, carefree son of nobility, with delicate features and a lazy, easy smile.

But there was no denying that the two of them standing together made for a pretty nice sight.

One was her husband, the other her brother. Pei Yun mused that from a looks standpoint, she'd really hit the jackpot.

Pei Yuanzhao kept grinning and waving her over. Pei Yun sighed and hurried over.

"Hmm—you've put on a little weight."

Pei Yuanzhao propped his chin on his hand, looking over his sister, whom he hadn't seen in months, starting off with something Pei Yun didn't want to hear.

Pei Yun gritted her teeth and kicked him in the leg. If you can't say something nice, just shut up!

Pei Yuanzhao dodged behind Qin Chu, grinning. "Brother-in-law, you really ought to keep her in check. What kind of behavior is this, always resorting to kicks and punches?"

Qin Chu glanced at the fuming Pei Yun, then subtly shifted aside. Caught off guard, Pei Yuanzhao took a stomp from Pei Yun.

"Ow—" Pei Yuanzhao yelped in pain, then complained, "I see it now—you two are in cahoots—birds of a feather."

Pei Yun stuck out her tongue, feeling satisfied after getting that out, and walked over to Qin Chu's side, affectionately linking her arm through his. Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Who was it who said I was 'spilled water' when I got married? Looks like it splashed right back on you, huh?"

Qin Chu glanced at her sideways, then looked away, smiling faintly. "The princess and the young master are clearly very close."

Pei Yuanzhao set the red wooden box he'd been carrying aside, then sat down at the stone table and smoothed his robes. At that, he laughed. "What can I do? I'm the elder brother—it's my fate to be bullied by my little sister."

Pei Yun let go of Qin Chu's arm and sat down beside Pei Yuanzhao. Qin Chu followed suit and sat down as well. Bixiao and Hongliu had gone to get tea a moment ago and came back just in time to serve it.

The spring breeze was gentle, carrying the scent of flowers, and occasionally a few swallows swooped by, flying low and high, circling outside the pavilion.

"I heard from Mom that you're heading to Shunyang Manor later?" Pei Yun said casually, taking a sip of tea.

Pei Yuanzhao nodded. "I'm heading out soon. I heard you and Marquis Qin were coming, so I hurried over to see you."

Then, as if worried Qin Chu might not catch their sibling banter, Pei Yuanzhao added by way of explanation, "The Shunyang Princess Consort is three months along, and the Shunyang Prince invited me over for a drink to celebrate. So unfortunately, I won't be able to have a meal with you and Yun'er today."

"I'll make it up to you two and treat you to a proper dinner another day."

Qin Chu held the celadon teacup in his hand and looked up. "I've heard a bit about it. It's indeed a happy occasion—you should go and offer your congratulations."

"Oh?" Pei Yuanzhao raised an eyebrow. "Where did Marquis Qin hear that?"

"Right, now that Marquis Qin heads the Military Affairs Bureau, of course you're well-informed and have your ear to the ground."

Qin Chu said lightly, "You flatter me, young lord. I just happened to run into Prince Zhao at the palace yesterday and heard it from him."

Pei Yun listened nearby and gathered that Prince Zhao was likely also attending the gathering at Shunyang Manor today.

"Brother, is Pingle going too?" Pei Yun suddenly remembered that person.

Princess Pingle, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Empress, got along especially badly with Pei Yun.

But she was very fond of Pei Yun's brother. Back in the palace, she'd always clung to Pei Yuanzhao. Pei Yun had once suspected Pingle was jealous that she was her brother's own sister, which was why she always gave her dirty looks.

Pei Yuanzhao shrugged and spread his hands. "How should I know?"

Pei Yun gave an "oh" and didn't ask further, not all that interested in the matter. Her eyes were fixed on the box Pei Yuanzhao had brought, itching to open it and peek inside—only to get caught red-handed by him.

"This is a gift for my little nephew and niece. As their mother, why are you being so sneaky?" Pei Yuanzhao said with a raised brow.

Bringing up Yu Ge and Yue Jie'er, Pei Yun asked Qin Chu where the kids had gone off to play.

"The prince took them to the back garden," Qin Chu said, sounding a bit helpless. "They're still young—everything catches their attention."

Pei Yuanzhao laughed and chimed in, "Our Ying Manor's back garden is personally tended by my father—it's absolutely gorgeous. Since Marquis Qin is here, let's go take a look together."

Pei Yun was of the same mind, though mainly she wanted to check on the two children.

Leaving Qin Yu and Qin Yue alone with her father made her a little uneasy.

So the three of them headed to the back garden. As soon as they passed through the bluestone archway, they heard Qin Yue's laughter from behind a stretch of blooming crabapple trees.

"Grandfather, Yue'er wants to touch too!"

Prince Ying laughed, doting and indulgent. "Alright, Grandfather will take it out for you. Yu Ge, come here—careful, it might peck your hand."

Then Qin Yu's young but somewhat steady voice came through: "Grandfather, it's fine. I'll be careful."

The group made their way through the lush flower grove and saw that at the end of the bluestone path ahead lay a wide expanse of grass, fenced off with wooden rails. Inside were sika deer, sheep, and a few lynxes. Prince Ying was holding Qin Yue outside the fence, watching two adorable white tiger cubs tumbling about, while Qin Yu stood curiously nearby, reaching out to touch a few peacocks kept loose on one side.

Because Prince Ying loved flowers, birds, and beasts, the Ying Manor had practically turned into a zoo.

You could find all sorts of rare creatures here.

The two white tiger cubs were Prince Ying's new favorites, just brought over from the northwestern forests. He doted on them endlessly, practically raising them like sons.

Seeing Prince Ying having such a grand time with the two children, Pei Yun smiled and walked over.

"Father."

Prince Ying was just gesturing for a servant to bring out the tiger cub so Yue Jie'er could pet it. Hearing the voice, he turned and his smile deepened.

"Oh, you're all here."

Qin Chu clasped his hands in greeting and addressed him as "Your Highness," while Pei Yuanzhao, clearly more interested in the two children, went straight over to play and chat with them.

Prince Ying nodded with a hearty chuckle, telling Qin Chu to make himself at home, then turned to Pei Yun. "Have you spoken with your mother?"

"Yes, I have. Mother said we should have lunch at Shuiyun Ting, and she'll head straight to the table shortly."

Prince Ying glanced at Pei Yuanzhao, who had Yu Ge and Yue Jie'er laughing with delight, and said, "These two children are truly endearing—clever and well-behaved, just like you and your brother when you were young."

Pei Yun smiled, then watched as Pei Yuanzhao opened the red wooden box he'd brought. Inside lay two identical gold locks set with rubies, shimmering all over, adorned with round rubies, sapphires, and turquoise in a pattern of dragon and phoenix—exquisitely crafted and clearly worth a fortune.

"These are gifts from your uncle. Do you like them?"

Pei Yuanzhao stroked Qin Yue's hair and asked with a smile.

Children always have little resistance to shiny, glittering things like this. Seeing it, their little heads bobbed eagerly, and they said with sweet smiles, "Thank you, Uncle."

Qin Yu also gave a slight nod and thanked him.

Pei Yuanzhao smiled, took out the gold locks, and put them directly on Qin Yu and Qin Yue. Then he nodded with great satisfaction and said, "See? I've got good taste—they fit perfectly."

Prince Ying looked over as well, fairly pleased with the gift his son had prepared for his nephew and niece. He beckoned Pei Yuanzhao forward and said, "Aren't you going to the Shunyang Commandery Prince's mansion? Don't be late."

"I'll drop off the gifts and head over." Pei Yuanzhao smiled and clasped his hands in salute. "Then I'll be off, Father."

Prince Ying nodded and added one last instruction, "It's crowded out there today, so come back early."

Pei Yuanzhao acknowledged the words, turned to bid farewell to Qin Yu and his sister. Qin Yue seemed to really like this uncle and waved goodbye reluctantly, saying, "Goodbye, Uncle."

Pei Yuanzhao smiled and waved back, catching Qin Chu's eye. He gave a slight nod and said, "I'm heading out—catch you later."

Qin Chu replied, "Of course."

After Pei Yuanzhao left, Prince Ying continued playing with Qin Yu and his sister for a while, until someone came to escort them to Shuiyunting. When they arrived, they saw that the Princess Consort of Ying was already there, directing the servants in arranging the banquet.

In contrast to Prince Ying's amiable and kind demeanor, the Princess Consort came off as much more stern and reserved. Qin Yu and Qin Yue unconsciously suppressed their smiles and greeted her politely and properly.

Prince Ying chuckled as he stepped forward, taking his seat with the Princess Consort at the head of the table, then beckoned Qin Yu and Qin Yue to sit close to them, while Qin Chu and Pei Yun sat across from them.

It was a family dinner, so they kept things casual and skipped the formalities.

The Princess Consort didn't seem all that interested in these two grandsons. She gave them a few glances, asked a couple of quick questions, and didn't say much else. But Yue Jie'er, who adored her beautiful grandmother, worked up the nerve to act cute a few times. The Princess Consort's smile visibly softened, and she even ended up holding Yue Jie'er and feeding her for a bit.

Pei Yun gave her daughter a silent mental high-five—she'd even managed to win over her own mother.

During the meal, no one brought up what happened with Princess Qinghe the day before. Prince Ying asked Qin Chu about his campaign against bandits in the northwest, sighing repeatedly about how bandits had been terrorizing the people in recent years, praising the Emperor for his wise decision to send troops to pacify the region and show he cared about the people. He then moved on to reminiscing about his own time in the southwest overseeing the reform of the native chieftain system, though he steered clear of politics and just talked about local customs and culture.

Prince Ying was a talkative man with a quick wit. As Pei Yun ate, she snuck glances at Qin Chu's expression, watching his calm demeanor and how easily he chatted with her father, without a hint of impatience. She pursed her lips, unsure just how much Qin Chu really knew about what happened back then.

If he knew everything... then this guy was a master at putting on an act.

Just as Pei Yun was lost in thought, Prince Ying, clearly enjoying his chat with Qin Chu, suddenly served him some food.

"This braised shark fin in yellow sauce has been Yun'er's favorite since she was a little girl. The chef who makes this dish followed her from the Eastern Palace to Qiulan Palace, and now to the Prince Ying mansion—all because she loves it." Prince Ying said with a hearty laugh, not shy at all about mentioning their time locked up in Qiulan Palace. "Try it—the chef's really skilled."

At first, Pei Yun didn't notice anything off, until Qin Chu took a bite and nodded, saying, "Indeed, it's excellent. What other dishes does the Commandery Princess usually like? I'll make a note of them so the kitchen can make them."

"Oh, she's super picky about her food." Prince Ying said without hesitation, smiling. "It's not just the food—she's picky about the chefs too. When you two got married, her mother even sent a few chefs over just to take care of her."

Pei Yun's head snapped up, and she heard Qin Chu say in a low, measured voice, "So that's how it is. The Commandery Princess is high-born—being pampered and spoiled is only to be expected."

Pei Yun sensed trouble and was about to cut her father off when she heard him already laughing and saying, "Well said. I've only got one precious daughter, Yun'er. Even when we were locked up in Qiulan Palace, she never went without—everything she had was top-notch. Now that she's married to you, you'd better not let her suffer either, understand?"

"..."

Pei Yun's heart sank, and she didn't dare look at Qin Chu.

This was a disaster—the lie she'd told just yesterday was already blown today.

She only heard Qin Chu respond calmly, "Rest assured, Your Highness. I'll take good care of the Commandery Princess."

"With that, I've got nothing to worry about. Let's eat." Prince Ying said cheerfully, totally oblivious to his daughter's look of despair.

The Princess Consort, though, noticed and quietly asked her what was wrong.

Pei Yun waved a hand weakly and said it was nothing.

It was just a little lie, harmless enough, but having it exposed the very next day was still pretty awkward.

Her father's mouth was way too loose!

Prince Ying, seeing his daughter's resentful look, was completely baffled. Had he done something wrong by telling Qin Chu to take good care of her?

Luckily, nothing else went wrong at the table. After the meal, tea and refreshments were served, and the Prince and Princess Consort kept them for a while longer. By the hour of Shen (around 3-5 PM), it was time for Qin Chu and Pei Yun to return home.

The Prince and Princess Consort each held one of their grandchildren, preparing to see them off personally. Pei Yun's eyes darted around, and she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"I have a few more words to say to Father. Husband, please take Yu Ge and Yue Jie'er into the carriage first—I'll come shortly." Pei Yun said with a bright smile, looking at Qin Chu.

Qin Chu said nothing more, merely gave a slight nod, took his leave of the Prince and Princess Consort, and led Qin Yu and his sister into the carriage first.

"What is it? What do you need to tell me?" Prince Ying asked with a raised brow and a smile.

The Princess Consort glanced at the father and daughter, then said, "You two have your private talk—I'll head back first."

With that, she gracefully took a maid's hand and returned to the mansion.

Once her mother was gone, Pei Yun pulled her father aside and asked directly, "Father, about the Fan family matter I mentioned last time—have you remembered anything?"

Prince Ying still wore his genial smile, hands clasped behind his back, and said, "Child, didn't I already tell you? That matter happened too long ago, and it wasn't something I was in charge of. How could I possibly remember?"

Pei Yun pressed again, unwilling to give up, "Really can't remember?"

Prince Ying nodded.

That shouldn't be.

Pei Yun frowned. "Father, you're not fooling me, are you? The Fan family may have fallen now, but they were quite prominent back then. Fan Changying was Minister of Personnel—how could you have no memory of his case at all?"

The Minister of Personnel, a full second-rank official, was a true heavyweight in the court. Not to mention that the Ministry of Personnel oversaw the appointments and transfers of all court officials—it could well be called the foremost of the six ministries. Moreover, Fan Changying's crimes were forming cliques for personal gain, accepting bribes, and manipulating the court's official appointments. Such charges would drag down many others—not just the Fan family but numerous officials as well. And with the later exoneration, such a major case—how could her father not remember it?

Prince Ying's expression didn't seem like he was deceiving her. He only said, "Why would I fool you? The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review aren't under my jurisdiction. The case was sensational at the time, but your grandfather entrusted it to Prime Minister Lin for review. In the end, all I did was sign off on the autumn execution list."

"But speaking of that case, I always felt there was something suspicious about it back then. Fan Changying was an upright and loyal man, utterly impartial—he didn't seem at all like someone who would form cliques for personal gain." Prince Ying sighed and continued, "I even suggested to your grandfather that it be re-examined more carefully, but he wouldn't listen, and so the case was settled as it was."

"Though what's done is done and can't be undone, at least it's been exonerated now, and his descendants are no longer implicated. Fan Changying, if he knows in the underworld, can find some comfort."

Pei Yun felt that her father's words sounded like the truth, but in the story she had seen, this case was indeed inextricably linked to her father.

Prince Ying patted his daughter's shoulder and said gently, "Yun'er, I know you're bringing up the Fan case for the sake of those two children. But the case has already been cleared—what's the point of digging deeper?"

"Don't overthink it. Go on back."

Seeing that she couldn't get anything more from her father, Pei Yun could only nod and say, "If you remember anything, do let me know."

Prince Ying nodded with a smile and urged her to get into the carriage.

Watching Pei Yun board the carriage and slowly drive away from the street before the Prince Ying mansion, Prince Ying finally withdrew his gaze and turned leisurely back into the mansion.

The Princess Consort had said she was going to her room, but in truth, she was sitting and waiting in the wisteria corridor in the front courtyard. When she saw Prince Ying return, she waved her palace fan teasingly and said, "What private words did you have with your daughter?"

Prince Ying waved his hand, dismissing the servants, then sat down beside his wife, skillfully taking the round fan to fan her, and said with a smile, "Nothing much—just some old matters from years past."

"Yun'er is truly devoted to those two children. Indeed, she's finally acting like a proper mother."

Princess Consort of Ying shot him a glare. "Since when is this something to be happy about? I don't get what you're so pleased with."

"Your daughter is bending over backward to play nursemaid for other people, and you're thrilled about it. Are you even her dad?"

Prince Ying smiled and played dumb, trying to smooth things over. "Honey, what are you talking about? The Duke Su's manor sure doesn't lack for servants. How could Yun'er possibly be a nursemaid?"

"Don't give me that!"

Her daughter had been pampered since childhood, never having suffered the slightest hardship. Now, right after getting married, she'd become a stepmother to two kids—it's hard to know where to draw the line. Today, when Princess Consort of Ying saw Pei Yun attentively caring for Qin Yu and his sister, she felt a jumble of emotions.

Even if Yun'er were her own flesh and blood, she couldn't stand to see her work this hard.

Let alone when they're adopted.

At that moment, she wished Yun'er could stay a child forever, forever under her wing.

Princess Consort of Ying snatched the fan and whacked him a few times. Prince Ying just smiled and took it, coaxing, "Alright, see—isn't Yun'er happy? And those two kids are just adorable. Don't you like 'em?"

"...They're all right, I guess." Princess Consort of Ying snorted coldly.

Prince Ying put an arm around her, comforting, "Alright, kids have to grow up. Yun'er's married now; she has to live her own life. If we worry too much, it'll just stress her out."

"I think you worried too little, and that's why Old Fifth stole the throne right out from under you." Princess Consort of Ying suddenly stood up, with her hands on her hips. "If you were on the throne now, do you think the Duke Su's manor would dare pull all this crap?"

"Don't say stuff like that." Prince Ying quickly pulled her down. "Enough, enough—haven't I told you before? Everyone's got their own fate; you can't force these things."

"Good fortune hides in bad, and bad hides in good."

Princess Consort of Ying shot him another look and got up to head to the main courtyard. "I think you might as well take those tiger cubs of yours up the mountain and become a monk. Just leave the three of us alone. Tomorrow I'll take Zhao'er and Yun'er and remarry—see if I don't!"

Prince Ying didn't get mad. He watched with a smile as she walked away, then waved over a servant.

"Prepare the carriage."

The servant acknowledged and asked, "Your Highness, are you going out?"

"To Prince Rong's place." Prince Ying rose and said leisurely, "I'll go have tea with my great-uncle."

...

Bixiao and Hongliu helped Pei Yun up into the carriage. As soon as she entered, she saw Yue Jie'er held in Qin Chu's arms, her eyes sparkling with laughter, chattering in her sweet little voice about everything Grandpa had done with her and her brother today.

Qin Yu sat up straight to the side, his little face flushed—whether from the day's fun or because her dad had snuck him a sip of plum wine, she couldn't tell.

"Mother." Qin Yu greeted her politely.

Pei Yun glanced at Qin Chu beside her, saw him leaning down, talking to Yue Jie'er, and sat down nearby, pulling Qin Yu over to sit next to her, wrapping an arm around him.

Outside, the coachman called out respectfully, "Marquis, Princess, we're off."

Qin Chu gave a soft "mm," and after a slight jolt, the carriage started rolling at a leisurely pace toward the Duke Su's manor.

"Yu Ge, were you happy today?" Pei Yun asked with a smile, looking down at Qin Yu. "Your grandpa knows how to eat and play better than anyone. Do you like him?"

Qin Yu pressed his lips together and nodded slightly.

His grandpa was kind and treated him and his sister like his own grandkids. After spending the whole day playing with them, of course he liked him.

Seeing him nod, Pei Yun thought to herself that bringing Qin Yu and his sister along had been the right call. Her dad had always loved kids, and now that he was older, even more so—always grinning like a big happy Buddha.

Though the Fan family business was still a tangled mess, it was good to have a plan B. If her dad really had done something wrong in the Fan case, she hoped Qin Yu would cut their family some slack out of this childhood bond.

Qin Yue sat in Qin Chu's arms, clapping her hands and giggling. "Mother, I like Grandpa! I want to come again!"

"Grandpa said that when those two tiger cubs grow up and have babies, he'll give one to me and one to brother!"

Pei Yun raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Then you remember—ask your grandpa for it later. Don't let him get stingy and back out."

Qin Yue giggled, and Qin Yu leaned a little closer to Pei Yun. She stroked his soft, fuzzy hair, thinking that Qin Mu and Madam Fan really knew how to make kids. She always felt that she and Qin Chu could never produce children this adorable and well-behaved.

Qin Chu quietly watched Pei Yun joking with the two kids. He reached into the carved wooden compartment beside him, took out a white silk handkerchief, and carefully wiped a trace of drool from the corner of Yue Jie'er's mouth, left there from her earlier excitement.

"Alright, didn't you just say you were sleepy? Sleep for a while—we'll be home soon." He said, "Daddy will hold you. Do you want to sleep a bit?"

Qin Yue nodded obediently, tugging at Qin Chu's sleeve and looking at Pei Yun. "Mother, you have to wake me when we get home, okay? Yue'er still needs to go have dinner with Great-Grandma."

Yesterday, Old Madam Ming had said the family would have a reunion dinner tonight. Pei Yun had casually mentioned it to Qin Yu and his sister, and she hadn't expected Yue Jie'er to remember.

"Alright, sleep now." Pei Yun nodded, speaking softly.

Qin Yue had played all day, and now the carriage jostled slightly along the stone road. Held in Qin Chu's arms, she soon closed her eyes.

The carriage was of marquis rank, quite spacious inside, with a soft couch about three feet wide, covered with plush cushions and pillows. Qin Chu sat there holding Yue Jie'er. Pei Yun saw that Yue Jie'er had fallen into a deep sleep, then looked at Qin Yu beside her, who was clearly drowsy as well, and said quietly, "Sleep a while with your sister. When we arrive, Mother will wake you."

Though sleepy, Qin Yu still sat upright, forcing himself to stay alert as he shook his head, saying he didn't need to sleep.

"Why be so formal with your dad and me? You'll be dining with the elders tonight, which will be tiring. Go get some rest." Pei Yun smiled and ruffled his hair, then looked at Qin Chu. "Marquis, put Yue Jie'er down and let Yu Ge rest with his sister for a while."

Qin Chu nodded, gently laying Qin Yue on the couch and pulling a blanket over her. Qin Yue, fast asleep, smacked her lips and turned over. Qin Chu beckoned to Qin Yu. Though Qin Yu had a stubborn streak, he was quite obedient to Qin Chu. Pei Yun watched as Qin Chu whispered something to him, and Qin Yu nodded, obediently removed his shoes and socks, and lay down beside Qin Yue. The siblings nestled close together and soon fell asleep.

With the couch occupied by the two kids, Qin Chu had no choice but to rise and move to the side, sitting down right next to Pei Yun.

Their arms pressed together, and even through their clothes, Pei Yun could feel his slightly burning body heat. She breathed in the elegant fragrance of incense from Qin Chu, stealing glances at him—he sat with his eyes fixed on the window, his expression impassive. After hesitating for a moment, she gently tugged at his sleeve.

Qin Chu said nothing, only looked down at her, his tone flat. "What is it?"

"..."

"I didn't mean to deceive you—I just—" Pei Yun racked her brains but couldn't come up with a good explanation, so she resigned herself to confessing bluntly. "This is just how my temper has always been. I can't change it. But I genuinely want to make a good life with you, so I thought of finding a way to ease things between us."

Pei Yun had always spoken her mind. Keeping things bottled up and brooding over them would have driven her mad, so as soon as she got on the carriage, she laid her cards on the table with Qin Chu.

What Qin Chu thought of her didn't matter much—she just didn't want to keep worrying about it.

"Ours was a forced match from the start. You have no feelings for me, and neither do I. But this marriage was decreed by His Majesty, and taking a concubine so soon after the wedding would be inappropriate." Pei Yun said sincerely. "Give it about a year. Whatever kind of woman you like, bring her into the household. Don't worry—I won't make things difficult for them."

Pei Yun felt her mother's advice today made sense. If they truly couldn't get along, there was no need to force it. They could simply treat each other with respect. She would raise Qin Yu and his sister, manage the household, have no shortage of money, and enjoy the Empress Dowager's backing—she could live her life comfortably.

As for Qin Chu... he could do whatever he pleased.

Pei Yun felt her words were quite sensible and that she had also apologized to him. A grown man like him shouldn't hold a grudge anymore. But as soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Qin Chu's expression seemed to darken further. His brow pressed down, and his dark eyes held a cold gleam.

"Is that all you wanted to say to me?"

"...If you have other thoughts, you can say them too. We can discuss it." Pei Yun said honestly.

Qin Chu looked at her—head tilted up, expression nervous yet candid, blinking as she looked at him. Such a beautiful face, and yet it could utter such infuriating words.

He looked away and said flatly, "Whatever you want."

Pei Yun's round, apricot-like eyes suddenly lit up, and she thought gleefully that he must have agreed, and was no longer angry, right?

Indeed, sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

However, on the way back to the mansion, Qin Chu did not speak to her again. Pei Yun enjoyed the peace and quiet, leaning against the carriage wall with her eyes closed to rest, and soon dozed off.

As Pei Yun fell asleep, she unconsciously relaxed her body. Just as the carriage turned a corner, she listed to one side. Qin Chu watched coldly as she wobbled and was about to pitch headfirst, imagining how she would clutch her forehead and look at him with tears in her eyes after bumping her head.

Just as Qin Chu expected, Pei Yun slid down little by little. Just as she was about to hit the cold, hard carved window frame, her body suddenly stopped.

Then she tipped to the other side, landing on Qin Chu's shoulder.

Qin Chu wrapped his arm around her waist, looking at the woman sleeping soundly, completely oblivious, and pursed his lips in displeasure. She didn't even wake up—he should've just let her fall.

It wasn't until the carriage slowly came to a stop that Gao Yi outside said softly, "Marquis, Princess, we've arrived."

Pei Yun was still a bit dizzy from her nap. Hearing the sound, she opened her eyes and saw Qin Chu looking down at her. His expression was calm, even cold, and she could detect a hint of anger in it.

But as soon as she woke up, he quickly averted his gaze, looking instead at Qin Yu and his sister, who were still asleep.

Pei Yun found it a bit odd but didn't dwell on it. She merely glanced at the two sleeping children, figured they could sleep a while longer, and said softly, "Have someone carry them inside. Let them sleep a bit more in their rooms."

Qin Chu hummed in acknowledgment, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped out. He had Gao Yi call over a few servants, who carefully carried Qin Yu and his sister back inside.

Fortunately, the children were sound asleep and didn't wake up until they reached Jinxiu Court.

"They must have really worn themselves out playing," Pei Yun said with a smile, watching the siblings sleep curled up together. She turned to Qin Chu beside her and said, "Let's go out."

Qin Chu nodded. The two left Moxiang Studio and just ran into Gao Yi, who said that several urgent letters from the northwest had just arrived. Qin Chu headed to the study, while Pei Yun, feeling a bit stiff from her nap in the carriage, also planned to return to her room for more rest. Just as she returned to the main courtyard, she received an invitation from the Princess Consort of Rong.

"Princess, not long after you left, someone from the Rong Prince's residence delivered the invitation, along with many gifts for the eldest young master and the eighth miss."

The maid handed over the familiar invitation with its red and gold embossed design. Pei Yun took it and opened it—it was pretty much the same as her mother's, except there was an extra line at the end, specifically asking her to bring Qin Yu and his sister along.

The gifts from the Princess Consort of Rong were still laid out on the large square table. Pei Yun gave them a cursory look—there were tonic herbs, brocade fabrics, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as some small gold, silver, and jade trinkets for the children. All in all, it seemed like a thoughtful selection.

It appeared that although the Princess Consort of Rong was from a much older generation than Qin Yu and his sister, she still cared for them.

"Princess, this was specially sent for you by the Princess Consort of Rong."

The maid presented a slender, dark green brocade box with silver trim. Pei Yun raised an eyebrow and took it, opening it to reveal a gold hairpin adorned with a ruby pomegranate design, its seeds crafted from shiny round rubies—quite extravagant.

Pei Yun held it up for a look, then smiled and said, "The Princess Consort of Rong is pretty generous."

Nanny Xu, standing beside her, frowned and said, "The pomegranate hairpin symbolizes fertility and blessings, but for her to send it at this time—who knows what she's thinking."

Pei Yun casually placed the hairpin back in the box, waved a hand dismissively, and said, "Whatever she's thinking, just accept it all."

Such a nice hairpin—if someone gave it to her, she might as well keep it.

Pei Yun walked into the inner chamber, where Bixiao and Hongliu helped her remove her hairpins and outer robe, helping her change into a dark blue embroidered gauze dress. She gathered her long hair into a simple bun. After washing up, Pei Yun reclined on the couch by the window and motioned for the young maid Suoxiu to come over.

"The people from the Rong Prince's residence delivered the gifts—did they come through the main gate?"

Suoxiu nodded and said, "Today it was the Crown Princess of Rong who came. She originally intended to visit you and the Marquis, but unfortunately you both had gone to the Prince Ying's residence. The Grand Lady then invited the Crown Princess for tea, and the Third Madam of our household and the First Madam of the West Manor both came to keep her company."

Pei Yun made an "oh" sound and glanced at the invitation on the table. Making such a public show of it—she was afraid her mother-in-law and Old Madam Ming wouldn't find out.

"Has this invitation been sent to the Grand Lady?" Pei Yun asked again.

Suoxiu shook her head, saying she hadn't heard of it.

Nanny Xu brought over a cup of tea and dismissed Suoxiu.

"Nanny, don't you think the Princess Consort of Rong is losing her wits?" Pei Yun couldn't help complaining to Nanny Xu. "If she truly cares about Yu Ge and Yue Jie'er, why make things difficult for me?"

Either she should invite the entire Duke Su's household and swallow her pride, or she should discreetly send the invitation over, or have her mother pass it along—anything would have given Pei Yun a proper excuse. But instead, she had to make a grand spectacle of it, putting her mother-in-law and the West Manor in an awkward position.

And making things awkward for her too.

"The Princess Consort of Rong is helping you," Nanny Xu said with a smile. "Pushing you along, so you have less to do with the Grand Lady."

Pei Yun scoffed. Before this, she'd only known that the Princess Consort of Rong grew more eccentric with age and had a strange temper. Now it seemed her heart wasn't all that kind either.

Good thing her mother had warned her in advance.

Pei Yun rested for a while until the hour of You, when someone came from Ronghe Hall, saying that in about two quarters of an hour, Pei Yun and Qin Chu were to bring Qin Yu and his sister over for dinner.

Pei Yun then got up to change and freshen up, sending someone to inform Qin Chu in the study, and also waking Qin Yu and Qin Yue. After they washed up, the time was about right, and the family headed to Ronghe Hall.

By the time they arrived, most everyone was already there, though Old Madam Ming was said to be drinking her medicine in the inner room and hadn't come out yet.

Because of Old Madam Ming, the Duke Su's household had not yet been divided, so four generations living under one roof made for quite a lively scene.

In the same generation as Qin Chu and Pei Yun, besides the eldest young master Qin Ding and the third young master Qin Sheng, there was also the youngest son of the eldest branch, Qin Rui, born to Old Concubine Meng, ranked twelfth and only eleven this year. In the West Manor, there was the sixth young master Qin Du, born of a concubine, who had married just two years ago. His lawful wife, née Du, was now four months pregnant. The couple was quite reserved, and since Qin Du had little scholarly achievement and only held a purchased sixth-rank minor post, they had always kept a low profile in the household.

Then there were a few who weren't yet married: Qin Pan, the youngest legitimate daughter of the eldest branch by Madam Tang; Qin Shun, the youngest daughter of the West Manor by Mrs. Sun; and also a concubine-born son of the West Manor, Qin Mao, ranked seventh, who had just reached twenty and was not yet betrothed.

Not to mention the even younger generation of little boys and girls—Ronghe Hall was absolutely bustling.

Even Pei Yun, who loved a lively scene, found it a bit overwhelming to look at.

This whole big family—when would they ever split up and live separately?

Author's note:

None.