Chapter Fifteen: “What exactly is our relationship?”
At the mention of Xie Daojian, Ling Zhenli’s eyes brightened noticeably. Pei Xuanlin saw her curiosity about Xie Daojian’s complicated background and, realizing she was interested, asked her:
“You’re curious why General Chen’s adopted son doesn’t take the Chen surname, aren’t you?”
“I am,” Ling Zhenli replied.
She wanted to know what had happened to Xie Daojian during the years they had been apart. And since she wanted to hear it, Pei Xuanlin was willing to tell her.
“Empress Hui was born into a butcher’s family. Back when His Majesty was still a prince, he encountered her during an incognito journey and later brought her into the palace. Because of this, her family was also brought to the capital. General Chen was forced to part with Madam Xie, the woman he loved back in his hometown. After they separated, General Chen earned great merit on the battlefield, while Madam Xie married and bore a child. Yet General Chen never forgot her and never took a wife. After Madam Xie divorced, he brought her and her son, Xie Daojian, back to the capital. General Chen dotes on Madam Xie immensely, obeying her every word, and naturally extends that affection to her son, indulging Xie Daojian and allowing him to continue using his mother’s surname.”
Ling Zhenli knew only of Madam Xie’s story, not General Chen’s.
Hearing Pei Xuanlin recount it, she realized that Xie Daojian had lived quite well in the capital.
If Princess Wuyang had not caused Ling Zhenli’s family to be destroyed, perhaps one day, after Xie Daojian achieved success, he would have returned to marry her, and they might have formed such a fine match.
Unfortunately…
Seeing that Ling Zhenli seemed lost in thought, Pei Xuanlin picked up some food for her, pulling her back from her reverie.
“Your Highness, I was distracted just now…”
“Thinking about how deeply General Chen and Madam Xie love each other?” he asked.
“Yes,” Ling Zhenli replied, forcing a smile.
Never mind. Since Pei Xuanlin treated her so well now, it was better to cherish the present and continue playing the role of a harmonious couple with him.
Pei Xuanlin did not know what she was thinking. He only focused on drawing closer to her.
“You and I should be the same, A-Li. From now on, don’t keep calling me ‘Your Highness.’ In private, call me Sanlang. We are husband and wife—besides mutual respect and affection, we should be even closer.”
“Sanlang?” Ling Zhenli tried calling him softly.
“That’s good,” Pei Xuanlin said with satisfaction, then hesitated slightly before adding, “The Princess Jin’an you met that day will also attend the banquet. Keep your distance from her to avoid any disputes.”
“The young man by Princess Jin’an’s side—who is he? I noticed they were very close, not like ordinary acquaintances.”
Ling Zhenli asked out of curiosity. That day, she had seen that both Princess Jin’an and Pei Xuanlin listened to him, which made his identity all the more intriguing.
Pei Xuanlin’s expression changed instantly, and he replied coldly, “Him? The former Crown Grandson, Yang Chengxiu. Originally, he was the one you were meant to marry.”
Hearing this, instead of reacting with panic and begging forgiveness, Ling Zhenli chose a different approach. She turned her head away petulantly, looking upset and refusing to pay Pei Xuanlin any attention.
Just as she expected, Pei Xuanlin fell for it. He immediately softened his tone.
“A-Li, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have joked about that. Wasn’t it because I wanted to marry you that I took his place? Don’t be angry with me.”
“You just said I was your wife, that we should respect and love each other. And the next moment you use me as the butt of a joke. Your Highness, you really do what you say,” Ling Zhenli said, her large eyes brimming with tears, as though she had suffered a great injustice.
Seeing this, Pei Xuanlin’s heart ached. He hurriedly pulled her into his arms. “I’m at fault, I’m at fault. My wife can punish me however she likes.”
Only then was Ling Zhenli satisfied. She smiled proudly.
“You said it yourself.”
Grand Princess’s Residence
As dusk fell, Xiao Chongheng arrived late with Pei Chanlian. Pei Chanlian had thought that upon returning to the Grand Princess’s residence, Xiao Chongheng would at least put on an act of marital affection. Instead, the moment he stepped out of the carriage, he turned and walked away without waiting for her.
Furious, Pei Chanlian stayed seated in the carriage and refused to get down.
“Your Grace, the County Princess is still in the carriage. Should we go back and fetch her?” his close attendant, Banhe, advised.
Xiao Chongheng ignored him and continued forward, saying coldly, “She insisted on coming. Now that she’s here but won’t get down, let her stay in the carriage if she likes.”
“That’s not quite right, Your Grace. When you see the Grand Princess later, she’ll surely ask where the County Princess went.”
“My mother can ask all she wants. Pei Chanlian is her niece, not mine. Besides, this marriage was a mess she created herself. If she keeps pressing me, I’ll just tell her to have her niece remarry my elder brother.”
As soon as the words fell, Pei Shen’ai stepped out of the house, her expression grave as she looked at Xiao Chongheng.
Mother and son locked eyes, the air instantly freezing.
After a long standoff, Pei Shen’ai raised her hand and cast a sideways glance at her personal maid, signaling her to invite Princess Roujia into the residence. Then she told Xiao Chongheng to follow her to the study for a talk.
Though impatient, Xiao Chongheng followed his mother into the study.
Upon entering, he bowed properly. “Mother.”
Pei Shen’ai ignored him and sat down on her own.
“What nonsense were you spouting outside just now? Aren’t you afraid someone might hear you? Is your brother’s business something you can casually discuss?”
“Mother knows I don’t like Roujia.”
“She is your wife.”
“My elder brother’s father was once your husband as well,” Xiao Chongheng said coldly, looking at Pei Shen’ai.
She froze, then sneered. “What do you mean by that?”
“Back then, to pledge loyalty to Emperor Wen, you married my elder brother’s father—Emperor Wen’s cousin. You despised him, and you despised the son you bore him. To ruin my brother’s career, you didn’t hesitate to cripple his legs. And now—clearly my brother loved Roujia, yet you insisted on pushing her onto me. And now you say Roujia is my wife? You want me to cherish her, but you forget—you never respected your own husband either.”
“Impudent!”
Pei Shen’ai was struck at the heart of the matter and flew into a rage. “Do you expect me to stand by and watch you bring home the courtesan you’re keeping from a brothel and marry her as your proper wife? Let the entire world laugh at me for giving birth to a son so blinded by lust!”
Xiao Chongheng was not the least bit afraid and shot back immediately, “Didn’t your affair with Monk Zuhui cause a huge scandal back then? And now you dare criticize your own son.”
As if that were not enough, he added, “Seeing how I act now, shouldn’t you think I’m the child most like you?”
Pei Shen’ai was driven nearly mad with fury, regretting ever having given birth to such a rebellious son who opposed her at every turn.
“How did I end up with such a monstrous child! Everything I’ve done has been for your own good!”
“For my good?!” Xiao Chongheng snapped. “What do I look like in my brother’s eyes now? If Roujia had become pregnant back then, would that child call me father—or call my brother father?”
In the midst of their argument, hurried knocking suddenly sounded at the door. A servant outside reported that Princess Roujia and the eldest young master had gotten into a dispute.
After hearing this, Pei Shen’ai shot Xiao Chongheng a fierce glare. Xiao Chongheng, on the other hand, wore a mocking smile, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
“Mother, we’d better go see your precious niece quickly, lest she come to blows with my dear elder brother… and perhaps rekindle old feelings.”
“You wretch, shut your mouth! I’ll deal with you later,” Pei Shen’ai snapped, rising and heading outside at once.
Not wanting to miss the show, Xiao Chongheng followed after her. She glared at him again, and he restrained himself slightly.
Yang Chongzheng’s leg injury had been sustained during military service. Though serious, it had not left him truly crippled.
Pei Xuanlin’s parents had died at Emperor Wen’s hands, a blood feud he would never forget. He would spare no one with the surname Yang. Although many knew that Yang Chongzheng was not truly of the Yang family, as long as he bore the Yang name, he was very likely to be eliminated by the Crown Prince’s faction.
Thus, Pei Shen’ai had ordered him to pretend to be disabled. On the surface, it seemed she despised him and ruined his career; in truth, it was to prevent the Crown Prince’s faction from conveniently eliminating him when purging the Yang remnants.
However, a few months earlier, at Xiao Yuzhen’s coming-of-age banquet, Pei Chanlian became drunk and mistook Yang Chongzheng—who was changing clothes in her room—for Xiao Chongheng. Yang Chongzheng had long harbored feelings for her. In their confusion and passion, matters went too far, and the deed was done. Yet…
The person who came to invite Pei Chanlian out of the carriage was Pei Shen’ai’s personal maid. Pei Chanlian no longer dared to act willful and had no choice but to take the offered way out.
As she reached the front courtyard, she ran into Yang Chongzheng, who was about to leave. Remembering that Pei Chanlian had said she did not want any contact with him in public, Yang Chongzheng pretended not to see her and had his attendants wheel him around a longer route.
He was stopped by Pei Chanlian.
“Yang Chongzheng!”
The maids stayed where they were as Pei Chanlian stepped forward alone. She seemed to be questioning why he had not greeted her. At first her tone was mild, but it soon grew louder, until they began to quarrel.
Pei Chanlian said viciously, “Was it not enough that you humiliated me last time at the Duke’s residence?!”
Yang Chongzheng sneered. “Wasn’t it you who told me to stay and attend you? And now you turn around and accuse me of humiliating you? Very well—then I’ll stay even farther away from you. Tomorrow I’ll leave the capital and return to my fief.”
With that, Yang Chongzheng was about to leave when Pei Chanlian called out again.
“What—am I not allowed to say a few words to you? You’re leaving after just that?”
“What are we to each other?” Yang Chongzheng replied coolly. “I don’t need to stand here and be scolded by you.”
“If you leave, will you really never come back?”
“No.”
“Would you be willing to leave me behind?”
Yang Chongzheng turned back, his voice cold. “What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Xiao Chongheng doesn’t love me. I only have you now.” Pei Chanlian feigned sorrow, exploiting Yang Chongzheng’s feelings for her.
As she spoke, she threw herself into his arms, and Yang Chongzheng held her tightly. Their inseparable embrace was seen clearly by the hurriedly arriving Pei Shen’ai and Xiao Chongheng.
“Mother, true lovers cannot be torn apart,” Xiao Chongheng said with a meaningful smile, watching coldly as his nominal wife embraced his elder brother, seizing the chance to push for a divorce so that Pei Chanlian could remarry.
“If you had treated Roujia properly, how could she still be involved with your elder brother?” Pei Shen’ai snapped.
Xiao Chongheng only smiled again. “Then let’s wait and see, Mother. Just don’t secretly transfer my brother away from the capital. If you do, Roujia will probably chase after him.”
Faced with her son’s constant sarcasm, Pei Shen’ai finally exploded. “Say another word and I’ll have your tongue cut out. At the polo gathering in a few days, you’d better stay by Roujia’s side. If you dare play tricks again, I’ll tear down the tower you built outside the city. Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve hidden inside.”
With that, Pei Shen’ai swept away in anger.
Her threat was extremely effective. The smile vanished from Xiao Chongheng’s face at once.
The tower his mother referred to was the one he had spent a fortune building at Huaiming Temple on the outskirts of the capital, where he enshrined the memorial tablet of the unborn daughter he had shared with Ling Zhenli.