The next morning, Pei Zhiyu rose from the bed reluctantly. After carefully tucking the blanket around Jiang Sui, who was still fast asleep, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek before leaving in high spirits.
By the time Jiang Sui woke, it was already half an hour after Pei Zhiyu had departed.
When Shiyue came in to help her wash up, she casually remarked, “The mistress slept very soundly last night.”
Jiang Sui, who was rinsing her mouth, paused. Her mind instinctively went to that bottle of calming medicine.
Her fair cheeks puffed out as she rinsed, and she lowered her gaze in thought for a moment before spitting out the tea.
She was probably overthinking things.
Her husband… didn’t even know the medicine existed. How could he have drugged her?
“What about breakfast? How is it coming along?”
“Don’t worry, mistress. I’ve been keeping an eye on it. It will be sent over shortly.”
Jiang Sui nodded and stopped dwelling on the matter, her thoughts drifting back to last night instead.
How strange. Her husband had been just the same as always, yet when she woke this morning, she felt more fatigued than usual. But…
There was also an inexplicable sense of contentment.
It was just like the day before, when she had drugged him and slept in his arms all night.
Could it be that after that night of indulgence, her condition had eased somewhat?
It wasn’t impossible…
A hint of amusement flickered in Jiang Sui’s eyes, the corners of her gaze curving gently upward.
That calming medicine really had been worth asking for.
“Jiang Sui…”
Zhao Yuling flipped through the materials her subordinates had compiled overnight, her brows furrowing slightly.
So she was Grand Tutor Jiang’s daughter.
Although Grand Tutor Jiang held little real power, he had once taught at the Imperial Academy and had many disciples at court. His son now served in the Ministry of Personnel and enjoyed considerable prestige.
It seemed she couldn’t make a move directly.
Fortunately, based on the information gathered so far, aside from the fact that Pei Zhiyu had once been taught by Grand Tutor Jiang and might know Jiang Sui from that connection, the two had no other contact.
A childhood acquaintance counted for nothing.
After their marriage, though… they seemed quite harmonious.
Somewhat interesting.
Zhao Yuling studied the pages for a moment longer, then said softly to the maid beside her:
“Go and tell Mother Consort that the Chrysanthemum Banquet… shall be set for five days from now.”
“And remember, the invitation must be delivered to the Young Madam.”
She would go and see for herself.
“Your Highness, Eunuch Liang has arrived. He says His Majesty requests your presence.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yuling’s eyes lit up. She rose quickly and said:
“I’ll go at once.”
Inside Funing Hall, Pei Zhiyu stood with lowered eyes at the lower end of the hall. When the eunuch raised his voice to announce him, he immediately performed the ritual prostration.
“Huaishu, rise.”
The emperor’s aged voice came from above, addressing him directly by his courtesy name—an unmistakable gesture of treating him as a trusted inner minister.
Pei Zhiyu gave thanks and rose, keeping his eyes lowered and his hands clasped in salute. “Your Majesty has summoned your servant today. May I ask what instructions you have?”
The emperor above chuckled twice and called out, “Yuling, come here.”
Zhao Yuling walked out with a smile to the emperor’s side. When she saw the tall, graceful figure below, her lashes fluttered repeatedly and a faint blush rose to her cheeks as she said:
“Pei Shizi, we meet again.”
Pei Zhiyu’s gaze did not change. He only took a half-step back imperceptibly and performed a full, proper salute. “This humble one pays respects to Your Highness.”
Yesterday, Suisui had been displeased because of a lingering scent. Today, he absolutely could not let even a trace of this woman’s fragrance touch him.
The old emperor said kindly, “Huaishu, you saved Yuling yesterday. Whatever reward you desire, speak freely to me.”
Pei Zhiyu replied in a warm voice, “Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace. But what I did yesterday was merely my duty. There is no cause for reward.”
Zhao Yuling bit her lip lightly, watching him with growing satisfaction.
Not greedy for fame or profit, gentle and thorough, and incomparably handsome—he was truly a rare and excellent match.
She was lost in thought when the emperor beside her spoke:
“I knew you would say that. Very well then—I won’t reward you. I’ll reward your wife instead. Does that work?”
Pei Zhiyu’s posture stilled slightly, and that impeccably composed, gentle face finally showed a trace of genuine smile:
“Then your servant will humbly accept. I would ask for several bolts of the new tribute Song brocade for my wife.”
The old emperor chuckled. “Good, good. I’ll add a set of head ornaments for your wife as well, and a suit of black armor for you. How about that?”
Pei Zhiyu bowed solemnly. “Your servant kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“You may go.”
Pei Zhiyu accepted the order and withdrew. Zhao Yuling’s gaze followed him until he was out of sight before she finally looked away.
She pressed her lips together in frustration, now understanding why the emperor had summoned her here today.
That mention of Pei Zhiyu’s wife… was clearly a warning for her to abandon any delusions.
“Yuling, you saw that, didn’t you?”
The old emperor had turned his face to look at her at some point. Though his eyes were clouded with age, they remained deep enough to see through a person’s heart.
Zhao Yuling’s lashes fluttered a few times before she lowered her gaze obediently. “Your daughter understands.”
The old emperor said no more, having made his point. He reached out to lean on Liang Fu and rose, slowly walking toward the bedchamber.
Zhao Yuling performed a curtsey to see him off from behind. Once the emperor was completely out of sight, her obedient demeanor faded entirely.
Did he think that would make her give up? How could it be that easy?
In the quiet afternoon, Jiang Sui curled up on the daybed, flipping through the invitation sent from the palace.
Though the Chrysanthemum Banquet was hosted under Consort Shu’s name, it was obvious that the true center of attention would be the Seventh Princess, who had just returned to the capital.
Jiang Sui gently traced the edge of the invitation, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
For some reason, she felt an inexplicable dislike toward this Seventh Princess.
Perhaps… perhaps it was because she had caught that woman’s fragrance on her husband yesterday?
Jiang Sui felt a subtle disgust even as she grew ashamed of herself, thinking it was truly unkind to make such baseless assumptions about others.
She tossed the invitation aside in frustration, deciding not to dwell on it, and rose to attend to the household affairs that still awaited her.
Because the late Marchioness Anping had passed away early, and there were no other women or children in the marquis’s household, Jiang Sui had taken firm control of the inner quarters not long after marrying in.
The Marquis Anping never concerned himself with the young couple’s matters, content to live as an idle nobleman. Jiang Sui’s life in the residence could be described as utterly comfortable.
Yet a question had always lingered in Jiang Sui’s heart.
Given the state of the Marquis Anping’s household… one would think it indicated that the marquis and his first wife had shared a deep love.
But she had never once heard Pei Zhiyu mention this marchioness, nor had she ever seen the marchioness’s memorial tablet anywhere in the residence.
It was as if she were a taboo in the household—everyone remained tight-lipped, no one daring to speak of her.
If they had been an unhappy couple… why would the Marquis Anping have kept his household empty all these years? But if they had been devoted to each other, why would no one dare mention her?
Moreover, her husband, Pei Zhiyu, seemed to have a rather strained relationship with his father.
Yet her father-in-law appeared quite kind and amiable… and her husband was such a gentle and refined gentleman—the two of them didn’t seem like they would have any conflict. But on ordinary days, one rarely saw father and son spending time alone together.
It was as if they were strangers living under the same roof.
Truly strange.
Jiang Sui flipped through the account books while quietly pondering this matter, but her dark, lustrous eyes held no fear—instead, a hint of delighted anticipation sparkled within them.
Hmm… she felt that both her husband and her father-in-law had secrets.
She really wanted to know what they were.
After all, the days in this household were so peaceful that it was getting rather dull.
Now that there was a way to ease her husband’s illness, she could… she could begin exploring their secrets.
Jiang Sui’s eyes curved into crescents, and a soft smile unconsciously formed at the corners of her lips.