“Alas, ever since Sister Shuyue was injured, her temper has become terrible. She curses people every night, and none of us can get a proper night’s sleep.”
Lixing smiled as she spoke.
“But luckily, she got a travel permit from Nanny Zhai today to visit some relatives. She probably won’t be making a racket tonight.”
“Isn’t she an orphan?” Xie Zhi asked in confusion. “Who is she visiting?”
“I heard it’s some friend of hers. Shuyue has never told us anything about it.” Lixing pouted as she carefully put away the ointment.
“This all started because of me, yet all of you are the ones suffering for it.”
Filled with guilt, Xie Zhi got out of bed and walked to her dressing table. She took out an embroidered brocade box, undid the clasp, and handed it to Lixing.
Inside were more than a dozen neatly arranged boxes of Pan Ji scented lip balm, each adorned with a different decorative silk knot.
Lixing stared at them in amazement, reading the labels one by one.
“Pomegranate Beauty, Tender Wu Fragrance, Sacred Sandal Heart, Imperial Circle, Heavenly Palace Grace, Luo’er Crimson, Little Vermilion Dragon… Heavens! Pan Ji lip balm is so expensive. These must have cost a fortune!”
Xie Zhi smiled faintly.
“I simply had a little extra money some time ago. Take them back and share them with the other girls. Consider them my apology.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
Beaming, Lixing hugged the brocade box and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, right, Sister Lichun. The Fourth Young Madam is returning the day after tomorrow. Since the Heir Apparent is tied up with official business, Changming asked if you could deliver his gift on his behalf.”
“All right. I understand.”
That night, when Shuyue returned, she found more than a dozen jars of colorful lip balm spread across the table. The girls were happily trying them on.
“Sister Shuyue, you’re back!” Lixing greeted her enthusiastically. “Lichun gave us so many lip balms. Want to try one?”
“Hmph. Who wants her fake kindness?”
Shuyue snorted, grabbed her nightclothes, and headed off to bathe.
Let’s see how much longer Lichun can stay so pleased with herself.
With that thought, she quietly returned to the room, tucked the item she had brought back beneath her pillow, and only then went off to wash.
September 28
The autumn sky was crisp and refreshing. Hibiscus blossoms reflected upon the water, chrysanthemums bloomed golden, and egrets hid beneath the withered lotus leaves.
Along Chang’an’s bustling Imperial Avenue, a dark blue carriage with yellow-wood trim slowly entered the official road.
Inside, a young boy with his hair tied into little tufts gazed excitedly out the window at the rows of wild geese flying south.
“Mother, Chang’an is so beautiful!”
The beautiful woman seated in the middle gently stroked his head.
“Is Jiangnan not beautiful?”
“It is… but it’s beautiful in a different way.”
She smiled warmly.
“Good. Then remember this, Yu’er. From now on, Chang’an will be your home.”
Beside her, an elderly servant rocked the babbling baby girl in her arms and said with relief,
“Miss, once we’re back at the Pei residence, the Old Madam will surely summon the finest imperial physician to treat Miss Qi. Her asthma will definitely get better.”
“I hope so.”
Another hour later, the carriage finally arrived at Yongxing Ward. Not much farther ahead stood the imposing gates of the Marquis of Changping’s residence.
The carriage stopped before the manor, and as soon as they stepped down, the waiting servants hurried forward.
“Fourth Young Madam, you’ve finally returned!”
Several older maids smilingly took the luggage from the carriage.
“The Old Madam has been waiting for you day and night. At last, you’ve come home!”
Pei Xianyao thanked them politely, entrusted her two children to the household wet nurses, and followed everyone toward Chunhui Garden.
When she finally met her mother and her elder brothers and sisters-in-law, tears flowed freely all around. It was quite some time before everyone was finally able to sit down and talk.
Once word spread that the Fourth Young Madam had returned, gifts from every branch of the family poured into Chunhui Garden like an endless stream.
Those coming to present gifts were all respected members of the household, each requiring an announcement before entering. With people filing in one after another, the process took quite some time.
Holding the gift Pei Du had prepared, Xie Zhi waited outside in line for what felt like forever. Only at sunset was she finally admitted.
Dinner preparations were already underway inside. Led in by Nanny Zhou, Xie Zhi heard the Old Madam speaking.
“If I had known Qian Ziping would change so completely, I would never have allowed you to marry him—not even if you had knelt until your forehead bled! Seeing you reduced to this… I feel I have failed your father.”
Another voice, calm yet tinged with sorrow, replied,
“Mother, who could have foreseen fate? I ask for nothing more now than to stay by your side for the rest of my life and watch my two children grow up.”
The moment Xie Zhi entered and heard that gentle yet grief-filled voice, she found it hard to reconcile it with the bright, cheerful young woman the Old Madam so often spoke of.
She had heard the story before.
When Pei Xianyao was young, she had fallen in love with an impoverished scholar. She insisted on marrying him, even boldly boarding a boat alone to travel south just to see him.
Unable to dissuade her youngest daughter, the Old Madam had provided an enormous dowry and even spent money to purchase an official post for Qian Ziping, sending him to serve in his hometown of Suzhou.
Xianyao believed she had fought for her own happiness.
She never realized it was the beginning of her tragedy.
Within only a few years, Qian Ziping changed completely. He frequented brothels, pursued other women, intercepted all of Pei Xianyao’s letters home, and even restricted her freedom, relying on the fact that Suzhou was far from the imperial capital.
The ordeal left Pei Xianyao gravely ill. It was said that at her worst, she nearly lost her life. Fortunately, she survived and eventually managed to send a letter back to the capital informing the Old Madam of her situation.
Not long afterward, Qian Ziping died of illness.
After settling everything, Pei Xianyao wasted no time returning to Chang’an to reunite with her family.
Xie Zhi stepped forward respectfully, performed a proper bow, and presented the brocade box in her hands.
“The Heir Apparent has gone to Tangshan on official business and likely won’t return until the day after tomorrow. Knowing that Madam Aunt has not been in good health, he specially prepared these premium tonics and medicinal herbs and instructed this servant to deliver them.”
She handed the gift to one of the matrons.
“Third Nephew is thoughtful indeed. I hear he’s become remarkably accomplished these days. Elder Brother, you have no idea how envious I am.”
Pei Hui, who was holding two-year-old Qi’er in his arms, snorted.
“Don’t mention him. The fewer times I hear his name, the more peace I have. More importantly, tomorrow I’ll send a memorial requesting an imperial physician. If this child’s asthma isn’t treated properly, it’ll leave lifelong complications.”
The Old Madam immediately nodded.
“Exactly! That’s what matters most. She’s still so little—we must have her thoroughly examined. Shuyu, supervise everything tomorrow. If anything is needed, simply open the family treasury.”
The Second Madam rose and replied,
“Please rest assured, Old Madam. Your daughter-in-law understands. Everything will be arranged properly.”
Seeing her sister-in-law handling matters with ease, the Third Madam smiled and added,
“Fourth Sister, your hardships are finally behind you. Little Qi will surely overcome this illness safely.”
Pei Xianyao gently caressed her daughter’s face and smiled.
“Sister-in-law, I don’t actually think my life has been that bitter. After all… I still have these two children.”
Just then, Yu’er, who was sitting on the carpet while a wet nurse watched over him, suddenly spoke.
“That’s not true. Grandmother doesn’t know… Every time Father was unhappy, he’d beat Mother and me. It hurt so much.”
The room instantly fell into stunned silence.
Tears welled up in the Old Madam’s eyes.
“Yao’er… is that really true?”
As the room filled with grief and sorrow, Xie Zhi quietly withdrew.