Half a quarter of an hour later.
Ziyan, who was waiting in the pavilion with Jiang Yingwan, glanced several times in the direction outside Green Bamboo Court. Then she moved closer to her mistress, suppressing the excitement at the end of her voice.
“Miss, did Lord Pei have us come here because of the case files?”
Jiang Yingwan was entirely occupied with wondering whether the incident three years ago had truly been an accident or had been caused by someone. Her tightly clenched palm was slowly growing damp.
“It’s possible,” she replied distractedly.
Ziyan also noticed that something was wrong with her mistress.
She was just about to say a few words of comfort when she heard footsteps coming from behind them.
She instinctively turned to look.
The person in her line of sight was Pei Yanchen, dressed in dark brocade robes.
She hurriedly turned around and bowed.
Jiang Yingwan also looked over and gave a slight curtsy. “Lord Pei.”
“The case files from Dali Temple,” Pei Yanchen said, going straight to the point. “I’ve read them.”
Jiang Yingwan’s heart instantly leaped into her throat.
Even her voice tightened.
“Is there a problem?”
Pei Yanchen stepped into the pavilion. “According to the case files, there’s no problem at all.”
Jiang Yingwan’s brows suddenly furrowed.
Based on the records in the case files, Pei Yanchen briefly recounted the accident to her.
“Three years ago, an unusually severe flood occurred in the Nanjiang region. Unfortunately, your father happened to be going to Nanjiang at the time. The climate in Nanjiang had always been suitable, so when flooding of that magnitude suddenly struck, the local people were plunged into misery and bands of bandits rose up everywhere.”
“Your father, unfortunately, encountered danger on the way to Nanjiang. With bands of bandits committing murder, arson, robbery, and plunder roaming the area, he met with disaster.”
Jiang Yingwan’s jaw tightened.
What Pei Yanchen had said was exactly the same as the account others had given her three years ago of how her parents had met with an accident.
It was just that…
Her thoughts were in turmoil.
The pavilion fell silent for a moment.
Pei Yanchen’s gaze settled on her. After a brief pause, he asked:
“Why does Miss Jiang feel that what happened back then was not an accident?”
Jiang Yingwan’s lips were somewhat pale.
“I originally thought it was merely an accident as well. It wasn’t until several days ago, when someone from a collateral branch of the family accidentally let something slip, that I began to feel there might be more to what happened back then.”
Pei Yanchen asked again, “Which collateral branch?”
Jiang Yingwan lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. Her lips pressed together faintly before she said, “The third branch.”
Pei Yanchen nodded. “Since there are doubts, then investigate it again.”
Jiang Yingwan was somewhat surprised. “Lord Pei, you mean…”
He gave his assurance of his own accord. “I’ll have someone investigate what happened back then in detail again and give Lord Jiang and Madam Jiang justice.”
Jiang Yingwan truly had not expected him to take the initiative to help reinvestigate the case.
Despite her astonishment, she quickly collected herself and solemnly thanked him.
His voice was indifferent. “There’s no need to thank me. This is what the Pei family ought to do.”
“If there really was more to what happened back then, it may implicate many people, and it will also take some time.”
“Until we uncover the truth, Miss, please wait at ease. I’ll urge them to work faster.”
Jiang Yingwan thanked him again. Looking at her features, Pei Yanchen inexplicably asked:
“Miss, have you ever been to Yiyang?”
That place called Yiyang had appeared many times in that inexplicable dream.
If he remembered correctly, in the dream, the place where “he” and “she” first met seemed to have been Yiyang.
“Yiyang?” Jiang Yingwan shook her head. “I’ve basically never left Yecheng. I’ve never been to Yiyang.”
However, the place-name Yiyang was not unfamiliar to her.
That was because the magistrate whom those people from the Jiang family’s collateral branches had forced her to marry was in Lin County, Yiyang.
Although that place was far from Yecheng, the city where she had been born, the greedy and vicious faces of those people meant that she would probably never forget the name Yiyang for the rest of her life—a name that had nearly become the nightmare of her latter years.
To the south of Green Bamboo Court.
At the end of a flower corridor along the bluestone path stood a young man in splendid dark blue robes.
He gazed in the direction of the pavilion. His deep, somber eyes watched the slender young woman leave the pavilion by its long steps and walk away in another direction.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
When most of the woman’s figure had disappeared among the neatly trimmed branches, he shifted his gaze away. His expression unreadable, he glanced at Green Bamboo Court, which was suffused with an austere chill.
Then he asked the attendant beside him, “Who is that woman?”
The attendant followed his gaze and looked over. He soon replied, “In answer to Second Young Master, she is the young lady of the Jiang Residence, an Imperial Merchant household. I heard that the Jiang family once rendered the Pei family a great service, so Old Madam Pei specially brought this young lady here to stay for an extended period.”
A flicker of emotion crossed Pei Huaizhou’s face.
There was now something different in the way he looked at Jiang Yingwan.
“Grandmother specially had someone bring her back?”
The attendant, Zhou Jin, nodded. “Yes. I heard that Old Madam Pei is very fond of Miss Jiang. Over the past few days, she has repeatedly instructed Nanny Fang to ensure that everyone in the residence takes good care of Miss Jiang and that nothing goes wrong.”
Pei Huaizhou slowly curved his lips into a smile.
Jiang Yingwan’s figure had already vanished completely from his sight.
Zhou Jin raised his head and glanced once more in the direction Jiang Yingwan had left before asking his master, “Second Young Master, you haven’t returned to the residence in many days. Would you like to pay your respects to Old Madam Pei first?”
Pei Huaizhou withdrew his gaze and slowly gave a quiet “Mm.” Then he turned and walked in another direction.
…
Although Old Madam Pei did not manage the affairs of the inner residence, she had heard that Jiang Yingwan and Pei Yanchen had met repeatedly over the past two days.
She was wholeheartedly hoping to bring about this marriage. The more Pei Yanchen and Jiang Yingwan interacted, the more satisfied she became.
After listening to Nanny Fang’s report, Old Madam Pei set down her teacup and said with a smile, “I haven’t seen Wanwan for two days. Go to Jadewater Pavilion and bring Wanwan here to keep me company for a while.”
Nanny Fang immediately acknowledged the order.
Before long, Jiang Yingwan arrived at Wisteria Court, where Old Madam Pei lived.
As soon as she entered, Old Madam Pei beamed and beckoned to her. “There’s no need to be so formal. Come quickly and sit with Grandmother for a while.”
Jiang Yingwan obediently walked over and sat in the soft chair on the left.
As usual, Old Madam Pei first asked whether she had adapted well to living in the residence. She then told her that no matter what happened, she could come directly to her or to Pei Yanchen. Only after that did the conversation gradually turn to the Jiang and Pei families.
Two quarters of an hour later, a servant came to report that Pei Yanchen had arrived to pay his respects.
Jiang Yingwan rose at an appropriate moment so as not to disturb their conversation as grandmother and grandson, and said that she would take her leave first.
When she reached the courtyard gate, she happened to come face-to-face with Pei Yanchen, who was entering from outside.
She stopped walking.
She gave a slight curtsy. “Lord Pei.”
He responded with a faint “Mm,” glancing at her once without saying anything.
Jiang Yingwan left Wisteria Court and returned all the way to her own Jadewater Pavilion.
Walking beside her, Ziyan chattered about the little pastries she would make at noon. Jiang Yingwan curved her lips into a faint smile and occasionally responded to her with a few words.
Just as they passed Lotus Pond on the north side of the courtyard, a handsome, refined man in splendid robes patterned with green bamboo approached them from beside the small waterside pavilion with carved railings.
He held the handle of a folding fan in his hand, a gentle smile on his face. His robes fluttered, giving him the appearance of a modest and gracious gentleman.
His seemingly warm gaze fixed on her.
Jiang Yingwan’s brows drew together almost imperceptibly.
The look in Pei Huaizhou’s eyes made her inexplicably uncomfortable. It was as though a hunter were looking at prey he had chosen.
She raised her lashes, and her gaze rested on Pei Huaizhou for a moment.
After clearly taking in his clothing and the fact that he moved freely through the rear residence of the Pei family, she vaguely guessed his identity.
Although Jiang Yingwan had not often left Jadewater Pavilion during the several days she had been at the Pei Residence, she had heard bits and pieces about the situation in the Pei Residence from the maids there.
The Pei family’s second branch had established its own separate household many years ago. This enormous residence beneath the Son of Heaven, on Vermilion Bird Avenue, was occupied only by the main branch and Old Madam Pei.
Pei Yanchen was the legitimate eldest son of the Pei Residence. His status was exalted, and apart from Old Madam Pei, he possessed the greatest authority in the residence.
But besides this high-ranking, peerlessly elegant legitimate eldest son, there was also a son born to a concubine.
It seemed, however, that the birth of this illegitimate son had not been entirely honorable.
As the principal wife, Madam Chen had never favored this son born to a concubine, and Old Madam Pei valued this illegitimate grandson far less than her legitimate eldest grandson.
Over time, after growing up, this illegitimate son rarely lived in the residence for long. Instead, he often went to stay with the second branch.
Just as Jiang Yingwan had guessed the identity of the man opposite her, he smiled warmly and introduced himself first.
“My name is Pei Huaizhou. When Miss entered the residence, I had yet to return from outside, but I had heard long ago that the young lady of the Jiang family possessed an otherworldly beauty. Having met you today, I see that the rumors were indeed true. If you encounter any inconvenience in the future, Miss, simply have someone inform me.”
He turned sideways and pointed to a courtyard behind him. “My Peaceful Seclusion Court is not far from your Jadewater Pavilion. It would be very convenient.”
The corners of Jiang Yingwan’s lips lifted slightly, but her expression remained composed. “Thank you for your kindness, Second Young Master. Everything in the residence has been arranged properly, and I have encountered no inconvenience.”
Although Pei Huaizhou’s words were courteous and his tone gentle, Jiang Yingwan always sensed an indescribable strangeness from him.
She did not linger. As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately ended the conversation and left with Ziyan.
Pei Huaizhou’s expression remained unchanged as he watched her depart with refined grace.
Only after her back slowly disappeared beneath the hanging flower gate did the faint, superficial smile in his eyes fade.
What it revealed beneath was cold severity and brooding darkness.
Soon, Pei Huaizhou lowered his eyes, concealing the ambition and calculation within them, and went to Concubine Zhao’s courtyard.
As soon as he arrived, Concubine Zhao, whose exquisite makeup could not conceal her haggard complexion, hurried out of the room. After dismissing all the servants, she looked at her only son and asked first:
“Have you met that Miss Jiang from Yecheng?”
Pei Huaizhou nodded.
There was not the slightest trace of the warmth he had shown before Jiang Yingwan on his face.
Only a thoroughly cold and somber expression remained.
Concubine Zhao cautioned him, “Don’t keep going to the second branch during this period. Stay in the residence more.”
“This Miss Jiang is not only favored by Old Madam Pei, but also…”
She paused, and the calculation in her eyes deepened.
“I heard that the Jiang and Pei families had a marriage agreement arranged many years ago. Since Miss Jiang is staying with the main branch, that means Old Madam Pei intends for a grandson of the main branch to marry her.”
She looked at her son, the meaning in her words already unmistakable. “Huaizhou, although you are of secondary birth, you are still a member of the Pei family. You can certainly fight for this marriage.”
“Considering the Jiang family’s kindness toward the Pei family and Old Madam Pei’s fondness for that young lady, as long as you marry her, Old Madam Pei will certainly value you a little more.”
“Your standing in the residence will also rise somewhat.”