【Chapter 9: They Had Not Consummated Their Marriage】
Jiang Mei felt as if she were being held over a fire, utterly uncomfortable and at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, Pei Jingchuan spoke up: "Such a grand gesture seems inappropriate for me to witness while sitting here. I shall visit you another day, sir."
"It's no trouble at all."
Su Huaixiu insisted that Pei Jingchuan stay, then said to Zhou Hongyuan, "It's enough that you and your wife are harmonious. There's no need for such formalities. I have an esteemed guest here, so you may leave for now."
After the four of them left, Su Huaixiu took out Zhou Hongyuan's essay for Pei Jingchuan to read. "That young man just now is my most accomplished student. Though he comes from a poor family, he is exceptionally diligent and ambitious. If he had waited to marry until after achieving scholarly honors, he could have taken a wife who would benefit his career. Yet he insisted on marrying the one he loves, which shows his pure and upright character—he is certainly not one to curry favor with the powerful."
Zhou Hongyuan appeared gentle and frail, but his essay was sharp and incisive, brimming with ambition between the lines.
Pei Jingchuan read it carefully without comment. After a moment of thought, Su Huaixiu added, "He only married this year. I was initially worried that he might become too absorbed in love and neglect his studies, but his determination is remarkably firm. He postponed the consummation of his marriage until after the Spring Imperial Examination."
Pei Jingchuan paused briefly before regaining his composure, replying nonchalantly, "How would you know about such private matters, sir? If he couldn't restrain himself from marrying, how could he possibly remain chaste until after the Spring Imperial Examination?"
His implication was that Zhou Hongyuan had lied.
Su Huaixiu immediately defended him: "Hongyuan would never deceive me. His father died early, and his mother single-handedly raised him and his younger sister, hoping he would achieve scholarly honors and rise above his station. With his mother overseeing him, she would never allow him to ruin his prospects over a woman. Moreover, since his marriage, his studies have not declined but have instead improved significantly, which proves his words are true."
Zhou Hongyuan was the most diligent student Su Huaixiu had ever seen. He could survive on just one steamed bun a day, saving every penny to buy books. Even in the bitter cold of winter, he was always the first to arrive at the academy and the last to leave.
Zhou Hongyuan's essays were indeed excellent, but the imperial examinations tested more than just talent. Having met Pei Jingchuan today, Su Huaixiu wanted to help his beloved student. With Pei Jingchuan's status, if someone could catch his eye, they might be recommended for an official post without even taking the Spring Imperial Examination.
Su Huaixiu's intention was clear. As an old friend of Pei Jingchuan's teacher, asking him to vouch for a student was no difficult matter. Yet Pei Jingchuan's attention remained entirely fixed on the fact that Zhou Hongyuan and Jiang Mei had not yet consummated their marriage.
If that were true, then from beginning to end, Jiang Mei should have had only him as her man.
Pei Jingchuan rubbed his fingertips thoughtfully before finally saying, "It is indeed an excellent essay. You may write him a letter of recommendation, sir. When he arrives in the capital, he may stay temporarily at the Pei residence."
"That would be too much trouble."
Su Huaixiu was overjoyed and even moved to pour tea for Pei Jingchuan himself. Pei Jingchuan took the teapot from him and said gently, "It's merely a small favor. Success in the Spring Imperial Examination still depends on his own abilities. I only hope he does not disappoint your affection for him as a teacher."
Outside the room, Zhou Hongyuan noticed that Jiang Mei looked very pale and her hands were cold and clammy. He immediately asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Jiang Mei was about to nod so she could go home early, but Zhao Xingzhi leaned in and said, "The third young master of the Pei family is not someone you can meet just any time. Even if you're not feeling well, sister-in-law, you should bear it for Brother Zhou's sake. I've heard the Pei sons are all devoted lovers. Since you and Brother Zhou are so affectionate, perhaps Third Young Master Pei might look out for Brother Zhou a little."
"Don't listen to Brother Zhao's nonsense, Meiniang," Zhou Hongyuan took Jiang Mei's hand and said gently, "If you're not feeling well, you don't have to force yourself. I'll take you home to rest right away."
He had been looking forward to bidding farewell to his friends for a long time, and not everyone had arrived yet. If he left now, wouldn't it be too regrettable?
Jiang Mei couldn't bear to do that to him, so she changed her words: "I'm fine, husband, don't worry."
Zhao Xingzhi was still hoping to speak with Pei Jingchuan, but after waiting for a while, Pei Jingchuan still hadn't appeared. Instead, several other classmates arrived one after another.
They were all outstanding students of Su Huaixiu, with genuine talent and learning. Although they wanted to catch a glimpse of the most renowned young master in Hanjing, they didn't have strong intentions to curry favor. After waiting a while without seeing Pei Jingchuan come out, their attention shifted to Zhou Hongyuan and Jiang Mei.
"Brother Zhou has finally agreed to bring sister-in-law out. When you got married, you didn't even let us have a cup of wedding wine. Were you afraid we'd eat and drink for free?"
"Our family was truly poor at the time, and my wife is shy. I was really afraid of neglecting all of you."
Zhou Hongyuan clasped his hands in apology, and someone immediately teased, "We're not the ones living with you, Brother Zhou. Why aren't you afraid of neglecting sister-in-law?"
Everyone laughed, but after the laughter, the atmosphere became somewhat delicate.
Not many people were present today—with family members included, there were only two tables. If Zhou Hongyuan had really wanted to invite them, it wouldn't have been impossible to prepare two tables of banquet food.
Zhou Hongyuan wrapped his arm around Jiang Mei's waist again and praised, "Meiniang isn't that kind of petty woman."
Jiang Mei's nerves were on edge, terrified that Pei Jingchuan might come out and see this, but not wanting Zhou Hongyuan to lose face in front of his friends, she smiled and played along: "Mother-in-law already had a hard time raising my husband and his sister. I didn't want her to worry about our wedding on top of that."
Everyone immediately praised Jiang Mei for being understanding and reasonable, saying it was Zhou Hongyuan's good fortune to marry her. Then they changed the subject and asked when they planned to have children.
Zhou Hongyuan, perhaps genuinely happy, actually took Jiang Mei's hand and said that after the Spring Imperial Examination, he wanted to have two children with her in three years.
Everyone immediately cheered and teased them. Amidst the commotion, Jiang Mei saw Pei Jingchuan.
He had come out at some point and was standing under the corridor not far away, listening quietly.
The light under the corridor was dim, and Pei Jingchuan's expression was unreadable. Jiang Mei felt her heart pounding, unable to hear what anyone else was saying.
Pei Jingchuan stood under the corridor for a while before leaving.
He didn't stay for the meal. Everyone was a little disappointed but quickly composed themselves.
After all, this was the renowned Pei Jingchuan. He had come to visit their teacher—why would he stoop to dine with a group of people who hadn't yet earned their official titles?
Jiang Mei's feelings were the complete opposite of everyone else's.
Not only did she hope Pei Jingchuan would leave, but she also hoped he would go far away.
The sooner he returned to Hanjing, the better.
Without Pei Jingchuan, everyone was uninhibited and spoke freely. Jiang Mei let her guard down and drank several cups of wine.
Zhou Hongyuan didn't drink at all and was the most sober of everyone. After the others had left, Zhou Hongyuan went to support Su Huaixiu.
Su Huaixiu was somewhat drunk, holding onto Zhou Hongyuan and not letting go: "You are the most accomplished disciple of my life. In the future, when you achieve fame and success, be careful not to be blinded by greed and forget the fundamental purpose of being an official."
"Rest assured, teacher. I will always remember my original intentions and take it as my duty to benefit the people and prosper the nation."
"Good!" Su Huaixiu laughed heartily, then lowered his voice and said, "Come with me to the study. I have something to discuss with you."
Zhou Hongyuan helped Su Huaixiu to the study. After a few steps, he turned back and said to Jiang Mei, "My teacher is drunk. I will take care of him here. Meiniang, you should go home first to avoid worrying your mother."
"Alright."
Jiang Mei wanted to hurry home to continue making tofu. Not far along the way, Bai Yi's carriage appeared from a side road.
Had Pei Jingchuan not left?