Upon hearing the address "Father," Pei Qing gave a faint "Mm" in response.
The young girl dared not even breathe loudly. Like a little quail, she made her way to Li Wan's side and obediently sat close to her. Her features were inherited from her mother—a face of exquisite delicacy, fair with a rosy flush, and a pair of eyes like crystal-clear glass, shimmering with vitality.
"What are you afraid of? Your father doesn't eat people." Seeing her cowering beside her like a startled kitten, Li Wan found it amusing and gently patted her head.
Though she sometimes harbored grievances against the man, she couldn't deny that he was a good father—attentive and considerate toward his children, and extremely devoted to their education. Had it not been for him, Yan'er and Zhaozhao would never have gained admission to the Imperial Academy.
His only flaw, perhaps, was that he couldn't bear to see his children grow close to her. Whenever Yan'er and Zhaozhao showed him even a hint of affection, his face would instantly darken, and then at night he would interrogate her again and again, demanding to know who it was she truly loved. He had no sense of restraint in the bedchamber, and his physique was severely "mismatched" with Li Wan's. In the early days of their marriage, he had hurt her on several occasions. From that time on, Li Wan could sense that he disliked her being too intimate with their children. Fortunately, his displeasure was directed at her, not at Yan'er and Zhaozhao.
Hearing her mother's gentle, tender words, Pei Zhao's mouth tasted bitter. Her father didn't eat people, true—but he was far more terrifying than that. On the surface, he seemed warm and mild toward her and her brother, but the look in his eyes when he regarded them was utterly cold—devoid of any affection whatsoever.
Pei Zhao sometimes felt that if not for her mother's love of children, she and her brother would never have been born. Only her mother could believe her father was perfect in every way.
Just as Pei Zhao was silently complaining in her heart, her mother's soft, gentle voice drifted into her ears. "Zhaozhao, have you had your morning meal yet?"
Pei Zhao had been so lost in thought that when her mother asked, she answered without thinking. "Not yet. I was planning to come and eat with Mother."
The moment the words left her mouth, Pei Zhao felt a chill run down her back, because her father's gaze had already swept over to her—cold and piercing.
Somewhat bewildered, she looked at her father.
"Why are you looking at me? You children are showing filial piety by coming to dine with your mother—naturally, she's delighted." Pei Qing, however, wore a perfectly genial expression, his handsome features striking as he smiled. "It's just that your mother and I have already eaten. Zhaozhao can come again tomorrow to dine with your mother."
Pei Zhao blinked. Had her father changed his ways? Why was he being so agreeable today?
So shocked was she that Pei Zhao momentarily forgot to respond. Seeing this, Li Wan found it a little odd. Her beautiful eyes held a hint of playful reproach as she deliberately said, "Could it be that Zhaozhao doesn't want to dine with her mother?"
Pei Zhao suddenly understood—her father was putting on a show of parental affection in front of her mother.
Resting her little head on her mother's soft, slender shoulder, Pei Zhao smiled brightly. "How could that be? Zhaozhao would love to dine with Mother. It's just that tomorrow I've arranged to meet some young ladies to view the flowers at the Capital's Orchid Garden. I hope Mother won't mind."
Li Wan naturally wouldn't take offense. She nodded gently. "I see. Then come and dine with Mother whenever you're free."
At that moment, the sharp, piercing gaze fixed on Pei Zhao finally shifted away. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "Mother, I think it's getting rather late. Shall we head out now?"
Pei Qing had already risen to his feet. Tall and elegant, dressed in a simple white brocade robe that softened the lines of his brow, he gazed at his wife with tender eyes. "I'll see you both to the door."
"Zhaozhao hasn't eaten yet." Li Wan shot him a reproachful glance, then turned to instruct the wet nurse to prepare a few pastries and a bowl of honey water. She said to her daughter, "It's still early. Finish your morning meal first, and then we'll go."
Pei Qing's lashes fluttered slightly. His phoenix eyes were like an unfathomable deep pool. Without a word, he sat back down.
Pei Zhao wanted very much to say there was no need, but she couldn't bear to disappoint her mother's kind intentions. So she could only finish her breakfast under the watchful gazes of both parents. Because she ate in a hurry, she choked on the honey water, coughing uncontrollably, her little face turning red.
"No need to rush—no one's going to steal it from you." Li Wan gently patted her back. Perhaps sensing that the young girl would feel ill at ease with someone present, Li Wan smiled faintly at Pei Qing. "Husband, why don't you go to the study and attend to your official matters? I'll take Zhaozhao out shortly."
"There's nothing pressing today." Pei Qing's handsome brows and starry eyes held a deep, inscrutable look. "There's still plenty of time. Zhaozhao, take your time."
"Mother, I'm finished." Pei Zhao forced down one more piece of osmanthus cake, then shook her head.
Seeing this, Li Wan didn't insist.
"Marquis, Madam, please take care."
Two stone lions stood guard at the main gate of the marquis's residence. Pei Qing smoothed his wife's cloud-like hair and said, "Come back early. I've had the kitchen prepare your favorites—Exquisite Peony Sliced Raw Fish and Crab-Stuffed Orange. I'll wait for you to return for the midday meal."
Li Wan nodded lightly.
A smile curved on Pei Qing's jade-like face, pleased by his wife's rare obedience.
As the carriage curtains fell, Li Wan extended her slender wrist to pour tea for herself and her daughter. She thought of something that had been troubling her lately and quietly probed her daughter, "Zhaozhao, has your brother ever told you what kind of girl he likes?"
"Mother, you know that brother is just like Father—stiff and serious. Everything he says is about the nation's greater good, or rules and propriety. Every time brother talks to me, he either asks about my studies or whether I've gone to the main hall to pay respects to Mother. That's all—nothing else." Pei Zhao's face twisted in frustration as she complained to Li Wan.
Li Wan fell silent for a moment. She remembered that when her son was little, he had been just like Zhaozhao—clever and adorable. How had he grown so solemn with age?
Her eldest son had become more and more like his father as he grew up, except his temperament wasn't as gentle as his father's. Whether any girl would be willing to marry him in the future was an open question. Li Wan worried about this endlessly.
A beauty was a beauty—even with her brows furrowed, she looked utterly captivating. At least that was what Pei Zhao thought, which was why she could somewhat understand her father. Faced with such a beautiful and kind-natured mother, who wouldn't want to keep her hidden away?
Pei Zhao's round eyes stared unblinkingly at her mother, but Li Wan's next words were: "Then what about you, Zhaozhao? You've met so many talented young men at the Imperial Academy—is there a young gentleman you fancy?"
That was how mother and daughter interacted—speaking openly without restraint.
When her eldest son was young, he too had shared everything with Li Wan. But as he grew older day by day, his personality could be summed up in three words: "a closed gourd." Li Wan had to weigh every word carefully when speaking with him, and of course, he never told her anything either.
"Oh, Mother, why are you asking me that?" Hearing this, Pei Zhao immediately hid her face behind her round silk fan with a coy exclamation.
"Could it be that Zhaozhao has someone she likes?" Li Wan found it amusing.
"No." Pei Zhao shook her head frantically, her grape-like eyes glistening with moisture, her cheeks flushed pink as if she were shy. "Anyway, Mother, you're not allowed to ask anymore."
"Alright, Mother won't ask." Li Wan smiled indulgently, her voice soft and gentle.
Just as they were talking, the carriage suddenly stopped, and the wet nurse's loving voice came from outside, "Madam, young miss, we've arrived."
The servants brought over a mounting stool, and as soon as Li Wan and Pei Zhao stepped down, the embroideress of the Splendid Embroidery Shop immediately came forward to greet them, her smile blooming like spring breeze. "Oh my, Madam Pei and Miss Pei have arrived! Quick, bring tea!"
The Splendid Embroidery Shop catered to the wives and daughters of the capital's noble families, but there was a certain hierarchy to their service. They would assess whether the lady's married family was prominent, whether her husband was highly favored at court, whether she was the legitimate wife and beloved, and whether the young miss was born of the principal wife. Depending on these factors, their enthusiasm would vary accordingly.
For Li Wan, they were the most enthusiastic of all. A marquis's wife, whose husband served as Prime Minister and was deeply trusted by the emperor—and crucially, he had taken no concubines in twenty years of marriage, cherishing her like a precious jewel. If they dared to show her any disrespect, they could forget about doing business at the Splendid Embroidery Shop altogether.
The embroideress was all smiles, her eyes squeezed into slits. "These are the most fashionable silks and satins in the capital right now. We only have one bolt each of the Floating Light Brocade, Moonlight Brocade, and Fragrant Cloud Gauze—we've kept them specially for Madam Pei and Miss Pei."
Li Wan asked Pei Zhao for her preference, and Pei Zhao said she liked the Floating Light Brocade and the Fragrant Cloud Gauze. Li Wan smiled and nodded. "Then those two bolts it is."
The embroideress's eyes lit up. "Then please follow me, Miss Pei, and I'll take your measurements."
After taking the measurements, the embroideress said they would make the garments as quickly as possible and have them delivered to the marquis's residence.
Li Wan nodded and was about to leave when the embroideress brought out a soft smoke-gauze skirt in light purple with orchid patterns, saying it had been made specially to Li Wan's measurements as a token of gratitude for her patronage. If the fit wasn't right, they could adjust it.
"Mother, go try it on!" Pei Zhao tugged at Li Wan's arm, coaxing her.
When Li Wan came out, everyone couldn't take their eyes off her. Her skin was so fair that the purple made it look even more luminous and translucent. The embroideress praised, "Though Madam Pei and Miss Pei are mother and daughter, if you look closely, you truly resemble a pair of sisters."
Hearing this, Pei Zhao looked quite pleased. She affectionately wrapped her arms around Li Wan's, resting her head on her shoulder. "Mother and I must look alike."
After leaving the Splendid Embroidery Shop, Li Wan accompanied Pei Zhao to buy two sticks of candied hawthorn and some piping-hot sugar-roasted chestnuts. Just as they were about to board the carriage back to the residence, someone called out from behind them, "Wanwan."
Mother and daughter turned around together. The person calling them was a middle-aged man with a refined countenance and an ethereal bearing, his hands hidden within his wide sleeves. He gazed at the mother-daughter pair with a warm smile. Li Wan looked somewhat surprised. "Sworn brother."
"Uncle!" Pei Zhao's eyes sparkled, and she dashed toward Li Qingchen.
"Zhaozhao has grown taller again." Li Qingchen looked at her, his eyes and tone filled with undisguised affection. "And more beautiful too."
"Why is Brother here?" Li Wan walked over gracefully, her slender waist swaying.
"I just finished discussing matters with a few ministers and came out. When I saw a figure at the entrance of Jinxiu Workshop that looked like Wanwan, I came over." Li Qingchen lived up to his name—his voice was as gentle as a breeze. "It's been a while since I've seen Zhaozhao. How about Uncle treats Zhaozhao to a big meal today?"
Li Wan remembered that before leaving home, the man had told her to come back for lunch at noon. She was about to decline when Pei Zhao excitedly agreed, "Then after we eat, Uncle, you can tell me more about military strategy."
Li Qingchen agreed with a smile and looked at Li Wan.
Seeing her daughter's eager little face, Li Wan didn't refuse after all.