In another carriage bearing the Pei family emblem, Pei Huaian held four freshly baked meat pies in his hands. Seeing that it was hopeless to catch up with the carriage ahead, he swallowed his saliva and said, “Elder Brother’s carriage is simply too fast. These pies won’t taste good once they turn cold, so I might as well eat them myself.”
As he spoke, he handed two to Shen Yunshu. “Would you like some?”
Shen Yunshu had already eaten breakfast, so she naturally declined. Pei Huaian feigned a sigh. “Then I’ll just eat them all myself.”
“But you’ve already had breakfast,” Shen Yunshu looked at him in surprise. “Can you really finish four pies?”
“Of course! At my age, I have a big appetite and get hungry quickly…”
So Shen Yunshu watched as he devoured the four meat pies, alternating between large and small bites, like a whirlwind sweeping through.
“Do you really like eating meat?” she suddenly asked.
Pei Huaian replied without hesitation, “Meat is so fragrant—of course I love it.”
Since he loved meat so much, it seemed Third Sister’s claim yesterday that he was planning to “become a monk” was indeed a misunderstanding.
“May I ask you something?” Noticing the oily sheen around his mouth, Shen Yunshu took out a handkerchief and handed it to him.
“What is it?” Pei Huaian accepted it and casually wiped his mouth before attempting to tuck the handkerchief into his sleeve. “I’ll have someone wash it and return it to you later.”
Shen Yunshu didn’t mind about one handkerchief—after all, she had plenty. But seeing that he hadn’t wiped his mouth thoroughly, she pressed down on his hand as he tried to stash the handkerchief away. “There’s still some left here. Wipe it again.”
Pei Huaian pulled the handkerchief out once more and haphazardly wiped his mouth again.
“How about now? Is it clean?”
Shen Yunshu raised her hand and pointed to the corner of his mouth. “Here…”
The softness and faint fragrance from her fingertip brushed past his lips and vanished in an instant.
Pei Huaian froze for a moment, then, as if bewitched, leaned his face closer to hers. “I can’t see. Could you wipe it for me…?”
His suddenly enlarged handsome face made Shen Yunshu instinctively lean back an inch.
The sixteen-year-old youth had rosy lips and pearly white teeth, with clear, innocent eyes. Leaning forward so bluntly like this didn’t come across as annoying; instead, he resembled a fluffy, large dog, making one’s heart soften involuntarily.
Shen Yunshu smiled gently, took the handkerchief, lowered her gaze slightly to look at the corner of his mouth, and softly wiped it.
The small stain of oil quickly disappeared into the fabric.
“All done.” Since the handkerchief was already in her hand, there was no reason to give it back to him for washing. “I’ll have Tinglan wash it.”
Pei Huaian stared at the handkerchief she had taken back, feeling an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
After putting away the handkerchief, Shen Yunshu returned to their earlier topic. “Why have you been going to the temple so often these past couple of days?”
“Did Youran tell you?” He really couldn’t bring himself to call her “sister-in-law,” and since they were about the same age, he simply addressed her by her name.
Shen Yunshu naturally didn’t want to betray her sister, so she pretended not to know. “Hmm? Does Youran know about this too?”
Pei Huaian thought to himself that if Shen Youran could guess, it wasn’t surprising that the more astute Shen Yunshu could figure it out too.
“You don’t think I want to become a monk, do you?” Pei Huaian’s gaze shifted uneasily. “I have no intention of becoming a monk.”
“Then why are you going to the temple?”
“To listen to scriptures and calm my mind.”
“Is it because of the marriage swap?”
Pei Huaian answered vaguely, “Sort of.”
Shen Yunshu kept her eyes fixed on his face, observing the subtle shifts in his expression. Seeing his evasive words and evasive demeanor, she felt that aside from the arranged marriage, there must be something else troubling him.
What could possibly make a carefree and unrestrained young man choose to sit idly in a temple listening to sutras to calm his mind?
Was it for love? After the arranged marriage, unable to let go of his feelings for Third Sister, did he seek solace in the temple, turning to the Buddha to sever his emotional ties?
Who would have thought that despite his seemingly frivolous appearance, he was actually a deeply sentimental person.
Since he had no intention of renouncing the world, Shen Yunshu didn’t press further. If this method truly worked, she hoped he could let go of his attachment to Third Sister sooner rather than later.
The carriage passed through bustling streets, turned into an alley, and stopped not far from the Shen residence.
A quarter of an hour later, Pei Huaian’s carriage caught up.
Soon after, both carriages arrived at the Shen residence.
Shen Youran leaned out of the carriage, holding onto the outer edge. Pei Huaijin, who had alighted earlier, stood gracefully beside the carriage and reached out to help her down.
On the other side, Pei Huaian had just stepped down from his carriage when he hurried over to Shen Youran and asked, “I already bought you meat pies. Why didn’t you wait for me?”
Shen Youran shot a sharp glance at Pei Huaijin, signaling with her eyes: It’s all his fault…
Pei Huaian understood—his elder brother had meddled again. “Brother, you’re really bold. On the day of returning to the Shen family, you still dared to let a Shen girl come back hungry?”
Pei Huaijin replied calmly, “Who said she came back hungry?”
Shen Youran chimed in, “I ate two pies on the way…” though half of one had been eaten by Pei Huaijin.
“You ate?” Pei Huaian naturally assumed she had bought them on the road. “Didn’t we agree I’d buy them for you? Why did you buy them yourself?”
“I didn’t buy them. Your elder brother conjured them up?” Shen Youran said as she walked toward the mansion.
At the entrance, led by Li Mama, maids stood on both sides to welcome them.
“How did Brother conjure them up?” Pei Huaian followed closely behind her.
“Just like this—with a wave of his hand, ‘whoosh,’ they appeared.” She knew the pies were likely carried by Qing Jian all along, but she deliberately teased Pei Huaian. “And then I had pies to eat.”
Pei Huaian wasn’t foolish either and quickly figured it out. “I get it. Brother must have had Qing Jian carry the pies and then put on a show, trying to impress you…”
“You’re so clever!” Shen Youran caught a faint scent of meat pies on him and asked, “So, where are the pies you bought for me?”
“I couldn’t catch up with your carriage, so I ended up eating them myself.”
“How many did you eat?”
“Four.”
“That many? Did you skip breakfast too…”
“I… had breakfast.”
“You ate four pies even after having breakfast? Your appetite is really something.” Shen Youran looked at him in astonishment, then broke into a smile. “Well, you’re in luck today. The cook at my house makes delicious food…”
“Then I’ll eat more later…”
The two chatted back and forth as they walked inside. Just as they were about to reach the front hall, Pei Huaijin and Shen Yunshu, who were following behind, exchanged a glance. Pei Huaijin called out to them, “Stop.”
The two in front halted in unison and turned to look at him.
Pei Huaijin looked at his seventh brother: “Which of us is her husband?”
Pei Huaian froze for a moment, then flushed and exchanged positions with his elder brother.
The two newlywed couples entered the hall one after the other, bowing to the elders seated at the head of the room.
“Huaijin pays respects to father-in-law, mother-in-law…”
“Your son-in-law pays respects to father-in-law, mother-in-law…”
The sisters Shen Yunshu and Shen Youran also gracefully bowed to their father and stepmother.
Wei Shi smiled and raised her hand to have them rise and take their seats. Beside her, Shen Tingyu’s gaze swept over the four children, lingering particularly on his third daughter. Seeing her rosy cheeks, vibrant spirit, and no trace of grievance between her brows, he finally felt somewhat relieved.
The Shen family had learned about the spouse exchange on the second day.
At that time, Pei family’s eldest master Pei Yuanji and third master Pei Yuanzhou personally came to inform them. When Shen Tingyu learned both daughters had agreed, he no longer opposed the spouse exchange, but demanded they promise not to let either daughter suffer mistreatment in the Pei family – which they confidently guaranteed.
Shen Tingyu wasn’t worried about his eldest daughter – someone as sensible and intelligent as her could thrive no matter whom she married. His sole concern was his third daughter. Having lost her biological mother at four, she’d grown up without proper guidance, and he knew exactly what kind of temperament he’d allowed her to develop. He worried both that she might be mistreated in the Pei family’s main branch, and that she might cause trouble…
Sure enough, news came that afternoon that third daughter Youran had angered the main branch’s madam into fainting and had been confined to her quarters for two days as punishment.
These past two days, Shen Tingyu had been too anxious to eat or sleep properly, his face showing clear signs of distress. Today, seeing both daughters looking composed and the four getting along harmoniously, the gloom that had plagued him finally lifted slightly.
Afterward, no one mentioned the spouse exchange again. They drank tea and chatted in the hall, maintaining a reasonably pleasant atmosphere.
When the banquet was ready, the two sons-in-law sat on either side of their father-in-law, prepared to drink heartily with him.
After several rounds of drinks, Shen Tingyu looked at dignified, mature Pei Huaijin and his tender-faced third daughter beside him, and couldn’t help sighing.
Ill-matched. Truly ill-matched.
Uneasy. He simply couldn’t feel at ease.
“Son-in-law Huaijin, Youran has been spoiled since childhood. Now that she’s the main branch’s daughter-in-law, she’ll inevitably struggle. You must guide her patiently in the future. If she makes mistakes, you may restrict her movements, but don’t beat or scold her. If you find her beyond teaching, send her back to me – I’ll instruct her personally. If you’re still unsatisfied, just return her to me, I…”
Wei Shi, noticing his drunken impropriety, quickly interjected: “Husband, on such a joyous occasion, why speak of returning?” Wasn’t this tantamount to cursing the young couple to separate?
Pei Huaijin understood his father-in-law’s paternal anxiety and the implied reproach in his words, so he assured him: “Father-in-law, rest assured. I will instruct her patiently and never be unduly harsh.”
Shen Yunshu added: “Father, don’t worry. I’ll also help mediate.”
Now thoroughly drunk, Shen Tingyu nearly demanded his third daughter stay behind and not return to the Pei household. He knew his own daughter’s nature better than anyone – willful she might be, but she was no unreasonable troublemaker. As for that incident of angering her mother-in-law into fainting, who could say who had provoked whom first?
However, filial piety comes first in all matters. As a daughter-in-law, she was one generation lower in status, and no matter what, she could not override the principle of “filial piety.” It was pitiful that she was confined by her husband’s family just two days after her wedding. Though her father didn’t say it aloud, he truly felt heartache for her.
Wei Shi, noticing his unsettled mood and fearing he might say something inappropriate, quickly claimed he was drunk and had someone assist him back to his room to rest.
After the banquet concluded, Wei Shi knew they still had to visit the Lu family, so she didn’t urge them to stay longer.
Though this had been her home for sixteen years, now that she was married, she couldn’t linger. Shen Youran gazed wistfully out the carriage window as the plaque of the Shen residence grew smaller and smaller. Thinking of the heartfelt words her father had spoken at the banquet, she couldn’t help but pout: “Father is really something—saying he’d take me back if he’s ever dissatisfied with me in the future. That’s not domineering at all. Why can’t he just call me back now?”
The matter of the two sisters switching marriages had been communicated to the Lu family in advance.
Compared to Shen Father, who worried more about his third daughter, Ning Shi, as their mother, felt greater concern for her eldest daughter.
Facing the two sons-in-law from the Pei family, the Lu residence had also meticulously prepared a table full of food and drink. Lu Zhun was Shen Yunshu’s stepfather, making him somewhat of a father-in-law to Pei Seventh Son. Moreover, having recently arrived in the capital, he was eager to build connections in official circles. Since Pei Eldest Son had just been transferred back from Lingzhou and was rumored to soon enter the Bureau of Military Affairs, Lu Zhun regarded him with particular esteem.
Ning Shi watched Pei Eldest Son, who was engaging her husband in cheerful conversation with effortless charm, then glanced at Pei Seventh Son, who appeared frivolous and could only bury himself in eating and drinking without joining the discussion. The thought of her meticulously raised eldest daughter marrying such a ne’er-do-well made her so upset she lost her appetite.
Masking her emotions, she endured until the banquet was halfway through before feigning dizziness from drink and asking her two daughters to escort her back to rest.
Shen Youran had already finished eating and was glad to accompany her mother and sister to the rear courtyard for a private chat. She set down her chopsticks and left the banquet with her sister and mother.
Before coming to the Lu residence, Shen Youran had worried about an awkward encounter with Lu Yi. To her surprise, he hadn’t appeared at all today. During the banquet, only a few older children from the Lu family and her mother’s son, Lu Nian, were present.
Lu Nian, being young, grew restless after a short while and was taken away by maids to play elsewhere.
“Mother, I didn’t want to ask too much at the banquet, but why wasn’t Elder Brother present today?”
Just as Shen Youran was about to ask her mother why Lu Yi hadn’t shown up, her sister posed the question first. It made sense—Lu Yi was her sister’s stepbrother, so their relationship was naturally closer.
“Him? He suffered a caning punishment because of that incident and is still recuperating in his room.”
“Was the injury severe?”
“Yes, it affected his muscles and bones. The doctor said he needs at least three months of rest. Otherwise, he could have seen you off on your wedding day a few days ago. Your elder brother knows some martial arts—if he had been there that day, perhaps the mix-up with the brides wouldn’t have happened…” Ning Shi lamented.
Shen Yunshu sneered inwardly: Injured muscles and bones? Recuperating?
She didn’t believe a word of it, suspecting he was using his injury as a cover to secretly organize people to sabotage her marriage.
If not for him, she and her third sister wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
Meanwhile, Shen Youran, hearing this, grew puzzled: “Elder Brother Lu suffered a caning? When did that happen?”
This was a family scandal, and the Lu family naturally did their utmost to cover it up, so it never spread. Shen Yunshu had never mentioned this matter to her either.
“A month before your wedding, he got drunk at a tavern and caused some trouble…” Matters like harassing a young woman were unsavory to spread, so Lady Ning glossed over it vaguely.
“I see…” If Lu Yi was recuperating at home due to the cane punishment, then perhaps the bride-snatching incident had nothing to do with him?
Or perhaps his injuries weren’t that severe, and he had long been able to get out of bed and move about, acting in secret.
Whether he was the one behind the bride-snatching incident—Shen Youran was desperate to know the answer.
After all, it was precisely this incident that Pei Huaijin had used to make her believe she was the source of the misfortune, forcing her to agree to the marriage swap.
If Lu Yi hadn’t been the one behind it, then she wasn’t the cause of the trouble, and she wouldn’t have to feel guilty about it anymore.
To find the answer, Shen Youran intended to visit Lu Yi and see for herself how severe his injuries were. So, after sitting in her mother’s room for only a short while, she found an excuse to leave.
As for Lady Ning, she was quite satisfied with the eldest son of the Pei family. Though her third daughter had ended up marrying him by a twist of fate, it was ultimately a favorable match. Lady Ning had little to advise her, only worrying that the eldest Pei son, now twenty-one, might be anxious for an heir. She urged her third daughter to discuss with him whether they could delay having children for a couple of years.
As for her eldest daughter, Lady Ning had much more to say.
“You’re clearly still untouched, so why must you lower yourself to marry the seventh son of the Pei family? I’ve heard he lacks knowledge and ambition, and seeing him today, he truly is a callow youth—neither sensible nor disciplined. Tell me, what do you see in him?”
“Mother, compared to the eldest Pei son, he may indeed be less mature and steady, but he is pure-hearted and kind, without any bad habits. He’s just a bit too fond of fun. He’s still young; if he applies himself to his studies in the future, he won’t be any worse than the eldest Pei son…”
But Lady Ning remained unconvinced: “His father is a wealthy merchant, showering him with gold and silver. How could he possibly have any drive to improve?”
“Mother, you’re biased against him, so you can’t see his merits. Before I married into the Pei family, I spent a month with him at the mountain villa. I know what kind of person he is. He may seem frivolous and unrestrained, but he’s actually principled and self-disciplined. He may appear immature, but he understands shame and propriety and is well-mannered. It’s just that he’s young and not yet worldly or polished…”
“No matter how highly you praise him, he isn’t suited for you. You’re well-educated, graceful, and intelligent—you shouldn’t have married someone like him…”
“Mother, by marrying him, I don’t have to serve parents-in-law or manage household affairs. My life will naturally be comfortable. On the other hand, Third Sister, as the wife of the eldest son, is bound by constraints everywhere. Who knows how much hardship she’ll have to endure in the future? It pains me to see it, and I worry for her…”
The mother and daughter chatted a bit more about Shen Youran’s situation. Seeing that her eldest daughter’s mind was made up and no amount of persuasion could change it, Lady Ning had no choice but to let her have her way.
Shen Yunshu noticed that it was getting late and figured the banquet in the front courtyard was likely ending soon, so she bid her mother farewell.
Not long after leaving her mother’s courtyard, a maid came looking for her.
“Miss, the young master has had too much to drink and is now resting in the guest room. He keeps calling for you…”
“Which guest room is he in?”
“This servant will take you there.”
Shen Yunshu didn’t think too much and followed her as she left.
Meanwhile, Shen Youran walked out of Lu Yi’s courtyard in disappointment and happened to catch a glimpse of her sister’s figure.
She called out to her sister, but the distance was too great. Her sister likely didn’t hear, as her figure flashed and disappeared behind a courtyard wall.
Huh? Why would sister go that way instead of heading to the front courtyard?
Shen Youran followed.
She wanted to bring her sister along to visit Lu Yi in his courtyard.
Earlier, she had tried to see Lu Yi alone, but the maids guarding his room insisted he was resting and couldn’t receive visitors. Though she persisted, the attendants stubbornly barred the door without even announcing her, making it impossible to force her way in. She had no choice but to temporarily give up.
If her sister accompanied her, those people would probably let them in.
As Shen Youran headed toward where her sister had gone, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure lingering not far away.
“Pei Huaian?”
She called his name and waited where she stood. He quickly approached.
As soon as he drew near, Shen Youran caught a strong whiff of alcohol.
“How much have you drunk?”
Pei Huaian was only slightly tipsy and chuckled, “I didn’t drink much. It’s Big Brother who had more. That Lord Lu really knows how to push drinks.”
“Then what are you doing in the rear courtyard?”
“Needed to relieve myself. Can’t find my way back now.”
“You say you didn’t drink much, but you’re so drunk you can’t even find your way…”
“The Lu residence has so few servants. I’ve been wandering here for a while but couldn’t find anyone to ask for directions.”
“Lucky you ran into me. I’ll take you back.”
“Mm.” Pei Huaian staggered after her when he suddenly remembered, “Where’s your sister? Why are you out here alone?”
She pointed, “I just saw her heading that way…”
“The banquet in the front courtyard should be ending soon. Why don’t we fetch your sister and all head back together?”
“Well… alright.” Originally, Shen Youran planned to return to find her sister and visit Lu Yi after escorting Pei Huaian to the front courtyard. But now with Pei Huaian along, the three of them visiting Lu Yi’s courtyard together would make it even harder for those attendants to refuse them.
So she changed direction, leading Pei Huaian back toward where her sister had disappeared.
Although she had visited the Lu residence many times, she’d mostly stayed in her mother’s courtyard and wasn’t very familiar with the layout. Reaching where her sister had vanished, she found the courtyard empty except for a half-opened door to a side room, so she headed that way.
Upon entering the room, she was met with an overwhelmingly sweet fragrance that had permeated the entire space, though she couldn’t tell how long it had been burning.
But she had no time to identify the scent, for she discovered someone entirely unexpected in the room.
Lu Yi, who was supposed to be resting in his quarters—what was he doing here?
Surprised, she moved toward him when a sharp pain shot through her foot. Looking down, she saw the floor littered with porcelain shards—she had stepped on one, and the sharp fragment had pierced through her shoe sole.
Beside her, Pei Huaian also accidentally stepped on a shard. He cried out in pain, hopping on one foot before collapsing onto a stool to examine his foot.
Why were there broken porcelain pieces?
Judging by the patterns, they appeared to be from a white-glazed plum blossom vase before it shattered.
And there sat Lu Yi amid the fragments, clutching the back of his head, breathing heavily as if in great distress.
Shen Youran carefully avoided the other shards and tiptoed toward him.
She had previously only suspected that this elder brother of the Lu family was the mastermind behind the bride kidnapping that day. But now that he appeared here, it proved he could move about freely. Could it be that the bride kidnapping… was truly his doing?
“Was it you, wasn’t it?” Shen Youran confronted him.
Yet the other party feigned innocence, looking up at her: “What are you talking about, Third Sister? I don’t understand.”
Unfortunately, Pei Huaian was also present, so Shen Youran couldn’t speak plainly. But she couldn’t swallow her anger either, so she gritted her teeth and said, “I know it was you! It was definitely you!”
“Oh? Do you have proof?”
She had no proof, but she had plenty of strength.
She wasn’t one to remain calm. Raising her hand, she slapped that mocking face.
Lu Yi, who had just been hit on the head with a vase by Shen Yunshu, was still throbbing with pain. Now, receiving a slap from Shen Youran, he couldn’t help but fly into a rage from shame.
Shen Yunshu had run too fast for him to catch, but now Shen Youran had delivered herself to his doorstep, giving him an idea for revenge against Shen Yunshu.
As Shen Youran’s hand was about to strike again, a cold glint flashed in Lu Yi’s eyes. He raised his hand to grip her wrist, pulling her down until she bent over.
In front of Pei Huaian, Lu Yi pretended to be deeply affectionate, putting on a pained expression: “Though I don’t know what you’re talking about, if you say I did it, then I did it. Who made me like you so much?”
“You—what nonsense are you spouting? Let me go…” Shen Youran hadn’t yet removed the porcelain shards embedded in her foot and was standing on tiptoe. Now, pulled by him, she became even more unsteady. Just as she was about to be dragged into his embrace, she gritted her teeth and firmly planted that injured foot on the ground. A sharp pain made her gasp, but it also steadied her, allowing her to break free from his grip.
“You’re injured?” He acted as if he had just noticed, struggling to stand up. “Stay here and don’t move. I’ll go find some medicine for you…”
“I don’t want your filthy medicine,” Shen Youran said, though furious, she hadn’t forgotten her purpose for coming. “Where’s my sister? Have you seen her?”
Lu Yi walked to the door and gave a meaningful smile: “Don’t worry. If I see her, I’ll tell her to come find you here…”
With that, he closed the door.
Author’s note: Next chapter, the sister-dog meal is coming!
See you at noon!