Having been granted several consecutive days off for the autumn harvest, Shen Mingyu spent her time leisurely at home. In the morning, she went to the fields to help A’qiu and several farmwomen harvest rice; in the afternoon, she returned home, carried a small wooden stool to sit beneath the eaves, and brought out the books taught by her tutor to review the old and learn the new.
The gentle sunlight shone on a corner of the square eaves, casting its light upon the young woman’s soft side profile and focused round eyes.
After reading for a short hour, Shen Mingyu gazed blankly into the distance.
It had already been a month since she entered the private school.
She thought that initially, Master Pei probably just wanted her to learn a few characters so she wouldn’t act like an ignorant novice and get tricked by others during the day.
By now, she recognized almost all of those characters and could write them out too, though her grip on the brush was not yet fluid, nor was her handwriting as beautiful as Master Pei’s.
Next month, she would need to leave the school and return home to help Master Pei with chores—after all, during the time she went to school, Master Pei couldn’t even get a warm meal when he came home, and needlework was neglected too. Master Pei wanted to open a shop and was tight on cash, so she needed to do more needlework to help him save money.
Shen Mingyu carefully put away her book, her gaze falling upon the stool beneath her buttocks.
This was a small wooden stool Master Pei had crafted with his own hands; not only was it sturdy, but even the carved serpent patterns were vivid and lifelike.
His craftsmanship was so good.
If Master Pei didn’t do business, Shen Mingyu thought, he might also have made a very impressive carpenter.
In the blink of an eye, sunset arrived. She stopped reading and squeezed beneath the hearth to light the fire and cook dinner.
The sky gradually darkened, yet there was still no sign of Pei Shumin at the courtyard gate.
Shen Mingyu assumed he was merely returning late as usual, so she pressed the key under the fifth stone by the doorway—as they had agreed upon before—and went to sleep with peace of mind.
However, that night, Pei Shumin did not return at all.
Pei Shumin disappeared for two whole days, and Shen Mingyu had no idea where he had gone.
She first went to find Uncle Zhao, but Uncle Zhao merely said that A’min had only hitched a ride on his ox cart to Pingyang County, after which there was no more news.
Shen Mingyu wanted Uncle Zhao to take her to the county town to search for him as well, but Uncle Zhao sighed: “Aiya, I fear we can’t go right now. Girl, you don’t know, but the city gates have been sealed for the past few days, and no one can get in.”
Seeing her anxiety, A’qiu couldn’t help but suggest: “How about going to the Zhou family? Doesn’t the Zhou family have some connections in the county town? Perhaps they know why the city is sealed, or maybe they have news of your husband!”
At this moment, within the high walls of green tiles:
Zhou Guan was accompanying her mother and second aunt in a game of leaf cards, chatting about her grand-uncle who served as an official in the yamen, when a subordinate arrived to report: “There is someone named Shen Mingyu outside who wishes to seek an audience with Madam.”
“Shen Mingyu? Who is she?”
Seeing that her mother didn’t recall, Zhou Guan spoke up to remind her: “She’s the one A’min married, the one from the outer village, surname Shen.”
“Oh, her.” Without the reminder, she wouldn’t have known, but once her daughter mentioned it, she remembered. In her impression, that was a village woman who didn’t know a single character, with only a bright smile on her face, a quick tongue, and a fast mind, which made her very well-liked by the neighbors. Yet Madam Zhou felt this person was far too cunning, clearly having rushed to the door for money and property, while that silly and foolish Pei Shumin actually believed her and married her. Thus, Madam Zhou made no sound, merely smiling again as she called her daughter and sister-in-law to continue drawing cards.
“Madam, then…” The subordinate truly didn’t know what to do.
Zhou Guan, however, glanced sideways from her hand of cards: “Did she say what the matter was?”
“Yes, it seems her husband went to Pingyang County the day before yesterday and hasn’t returned since. The city gates are sealed, so she can’t enter to look for him, and she wanted to ask if Miss could inquire about news regarding her husband.”
Zhou Guan burst into a laugh and casually pulled a card to lay on the table: “The city gates are sealed; how could it be so easy to inquire? She thinks we possess magic powers.”
Like wind passing by her ears, or like a trivial matter undeserving of concern, the three of them went back to playing cards on their own, leaving only the tenant servant standing there in place, unsure how to relay the message.
Zhou Guan glanced at him, not wanting to make things too difficult for the servant. “Silly, just go out and say my mother isn’t in and we don’t know where she went either. When we see her, we’ll pass the message along.”
The tenant servant nodded like a chicken pecking rice and left with the answer.
Zhou Guan drew a card and smiled as she picked up the conversation with her mother and second aunt again: “We weren’t finished talking yet—when I went to my grand-uncle’s manor a while ago, I saw my grand-aunt’s younger brother, the one who married into a family of officials from the Capital. Didn’t that father-in-law from the Capital work under Marquis Wu’an? From what I overheard, he truly followed the right benefactor—the Marquis actually submitted a memorial proposing to promote him to Vice Envoy! That’s a sixth-rank official post… Our relative is truly about to strike it rich!”
Madam Zhou’s eyes gleamed with astonishment: “I never expected such good fortune. Your grand-aunt’s brother truly married the right person. In the future, who knows, your grand-uncle’s family might also rise in rank alongside them.”
“Aiya, it just so happens I got a new set of headwear that I couldn’t bear to wear and put away. That set is wonderful; your grand-aunt should be able to appreciate it too. Guan’er, in two days, you come with me to visit their household.”
Shen Mingyu waited anxiously for the young servant to come out, only to receive the news that Madam Zhou was not in.
The young woman could only lower her head and leave. Unable to bear seeing her sad, He Qiuxiang whispered words of comfort: “It’s alright, Mingyu, the message will be passed along eventually. Let’s not rush.”
Shen Mingyu looked at A’qiu and nodded.
In truth, she knew it all—it was just an excuse, and Madam Zhou didn’t want to help. Coupled with the city lockdown, this news was like an airtight wall, extremely difficult to inquire about.
For the past few days, Shen Mingyu lived listlessly.
Intuition told her that Master Pei wouldn’t suffer any major misfortune; a person as clever as he was would plan well for himself. Yet the city lockdown was like a layer of unknown mist lingering over her heart, unclear and making it very easy to worry.
However, on the sixth day, Pei Shumin actually returned, arriving just before Shen Mingyu’s autumn harvest break ended.
He was still wearing the same blue cloth robe as when he left, but it had been washed and ironed, carrying a faint scent of soap pod.
Pei Shumin carefully pulled out an oiled paper package and untied the thin hemp string, revealing neatly stacked shortbread pastries sprinkled with a thin layer of sesame seeds.
Smelling the fragrance, Shen Mingyu’s stomach rumbled. Pei Shumin smiled and gestured for her to eat quickly.
“Master Pei, where have you been these past few days?”
“Officials from above arrived, so our Pingyang County was put under lockdown. I couldn’t get out for a time, so I stayed at an inn.”
Pei Shumin looked at her with a gentle gaze, though concealing a portion of what he left unsaid.
Shen Mingyu let out an “oh” without suspicion, burying her head happily to munch on the shortbread.
At that time, the autumn light was still lovely, and the scholar tree in the courtyard had begun to drop yellow leaves.
Pei Shumin walked to the well to draw water. When washing his face, his gaze stopped on the slightly rippling surface of the basin. Looking at his reflection, he thought of the various turns of events over the past few days—it felt like a natural chasm slicing open a rift in his quiet life.
Shen Mingyu held the last piece of shortbread and finished it, whereupon Pei Shumin walked over carrying a basin of water. He took her fingertips covered in oily crumbs, wiped them with a wrung cloth, and looked at her with gentle, smiling eyes: “Are you full?”
“Mhm!”
Pei Shumin smoothly held her hand, his gaze falling upon her flat lower belly: “Mingyu, what do you think about us having a child?”
Shen Mingyu’s ear tips flushed red at his words.
Having a child was naturally good. Just like how A’qiu and Tiesheng had Brother Hui, she also liked cute babies very much.
Thus, she nodded obediently and seriously.
“But why haven’t you gotten pregnant with my child yet?” Pei Shumin felt somewhat perplexed, seeming to fall into deep thought.
He had always wanted to have a child with Yuniang, and their intimate encounters were quite frequent. Had Yang Shen not brought it up casually, he would have almost forgotten that they had been married for over half a year without results. He liked her so much that he barely dared imagine how cute it would be if there were a child just like her. Thus, Pei Shumin was undoubtedly disappointed.
The large hand resting on the back of her hand felt heavy and burning hot. Sensing his faint melancholy, Shen Mingyu immediately pressed his shoulder: “Master Pei, this is nothing! Perhaps the fate hasn’t arrived yet! Like several households next door to my maiden family, some only had children after being married for a year or two.”
“Is that so?” Pei Shumin looked up at her.
Shen Mingyu nodded.
He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, no longer so fearful.
Faint ripples moved in Pei Shumin’s eyes as he pulled her into his embrace, kissing her cheek. Then he cupped her face again to kiss those soft lips. Shen Mingyu wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissed until she gasped repeatedly, softly calling out “Master Pei.” Her Master Pei said in a low voice, Mingyu, let’s go ask for another fate.
Then, without a word, he carried her on his shoulder and strode toward the room.
This was the first time they made love in such a manner. Not knowing what was on his mind, this time Shen Mingyu was unable to handle it continuously, her knees turning weak to no avail. She gripped the pillow core tightly, unable to stop trembling, burying her head and groaning softly for him to slow down. Perhaps the creaking and swaying of the wooden frame drowned out her voice from afar, for Pei Shumin heard nothing, merely gripping her waist to grind forcefully, his gaze falling upon a pink butterfly on those snow-white buttocks.
That was a birthmark she was born with.
The corners of Pei Shumin’s eyes flushed with moisture. Unable to resist, he reached out to touch that pink butterfly.
Fortunately, he was not completely reckless of her. When Shen Mingyu couldn’t take it anymore and called out that she was tired for the fourth time, Pei Shumin released her.
He held her soft body, comfortably wiping the sweat from her temples. Looking at her rosy cheeks, Pei Shumin said softly and tenderly: “Mingyu, you are so good.”
“Where am I good?” Shen Mingyu was already exhausted, unable to open her eyes.
“You cook for me, help me mend old clothes, and will bear my children…” His gaze was earnest, speaking with focused certainty, “You are also the person in this world who is best to me.”
However, she had already fallen completely sound asleep.
Pei Shumin placed her back on the inner side of the bed, tucked in the quilt, and stared at her soft strands of hair, recalling the events that had occurred over those five days.
Before that, he had never thought that his life would undergo another major upheaval.
First, someone had found him and asked if the aunt he depended on for survival was surnamed Xu.
He was cautious and did not answer, but the other party beat around the bush and brought him directly to the magistrate’s manor.
It was the first time Pei Shumin had set foot in such a place—high gates and embroidered doors, far grander than the Zhou family’s. The place featured carved beams and painted rafters, planted with tall, verdant rare trees and exotic flowers. Every blade of grass and leaf emphasized how out of place he was in his coarse gray cloth clothes. Yet this impoverished youth was extraordinarily composed, showing not the slightest timidity, nor was he blinded by this wealth and glory.
Here, he met an official clad in a purple robe, possessing a dignified and imposing aura. Even the usually high-and-mighty magistrate bowed low in front of this man, respectfully calling him “Lord Helan.”
Yet this Lord Helan actually showed him a pleasant countenance, cupping his hands in repeated salutes, and hurriedly called for tea to be served.
“Young Master, do not take offense. My coming to Pingyang County this time is precisely to seek you out. Young Master may not know, but you are the son of my friend who went missing sixteen years ago. He is a high official in the Capital, and the Lady Xu who raised you from childhood was originally a maidservant in the manor.”
Over the next few days, Pei Shumin was kept in the magistrate’s manor.
It was impossible to determine what they intended to do. But he knew that although this grand figure appeared gentle, his eyes were sharp, observing his every move and action. The man even used the time over meals to chat casually, attempting to draw information from his mouth.
Pei Shumin did not care who they were. More precisely, he didn’t quite trust them.
On the fifth day, Pei Shumin broke free from the enclosure, packed his bundle, turned, and bade farewell. He said to that grand figure: “Thank you, Marquis Wu’an and Lord Magistrate, for the hospitality. It’s just that I am ultimately an ordinary peasant; perhaps my Lord has found the wrong person, so I shall delay you no further and take my leave first.”
“Please hold on. How did you know I am Marquis Wu’an? Did you hear it leaked from my subordinates?”
Pei Shumin shook his head: “The guards under my Lord’s command are all strict and disciplined; outsiders could certainly hear no wind of it. But my Lord overlooked one point.”
Pei Shumin looked at the embroidered patterns on his purple robe and the fish pouch hanging from his waist: “In court, officials of the second rank and above wear purple, among whom inner attendants and military generals do not wear fish pouches. In my Lord’s conversation with me, you also mentioned gaining fame in your youth. Additionally, having been in the Capital for many years, although my Lord’s Mandarin is very authentic, occasional words carry a Beiyue accent. Eliminating options like this, I roughly guessed my Lord’s title. Naturally, whether it is correct or not is merely my guess, without concrete proof.”
The middle-aged man was stunned by his explanation. “According to my investigation, you have been in Pingyang County all these years—how can you recognize a Beiyue accent?”
“Although I have lived in this place all along, thanks to His Majesty broadly encouraging open speech and the open court atmosphere, even this small county town has many traveling merchants coming and going between north and south. Having dealt with them often, I naturally recognized it.”
At this point, Helan Chang couldn’t help but reveal admiration in his eyes.
“Not bad, I am indeed Marquis Wu’an. But on one point, I did not deceive you. My friend is busy with official duties and finds it inconvenient to travel, so I indeed came to seek you on his behalf. Having spent day and night with you these past few days, I have already come to understand your situation. Thus, please go back and gather your belongings, Young Master, and in a few days, return to the Capital with me.”
Helan Chang lifted the tea lid, sipping slowly, thinking that his task was about to be completed, and the heavy stone in his heart was lifted. Yet Pei Shumin stood without answering, remaining silent.
He felt it strange—with wealth and honor placed before him, he had never seen anyone hesitate. Thus he looked at the youth once more: “Do you still have doubts?”
“May I ask if my Lord can inform me: who is that friend you spoke of?”
This time, it was Helan Chang who fell into silence.
Only after a long while did he say: “It is indeed inconvenient to disclose this matter, but you may rest assured—returning to the Capital with me will bring you only great benefit, and no harm.”
Helan Chang realized once more that this person was cautious and did not easily trust others. Bearing the imperial decree to bring the person back to the Capital, Helan Chang had no choice but to take out a piece of jade pendant.
That jade pendant was carved with a tortoise-shell pattern, its outer rim inscribed with continuous cloud-and-thunder motifs. With just one glance, Pei Shumin recognized it as the totem his aunt used to draw in the past.
Back then, he was only five years old, standing under the dim, yellow oil lamp carrying medicine for his aunt.
At that time, Lady Xu was already terminally ill, yet she was in no hurry to drink, only insisting that he commit it to memory—if he saw it in the future, he must grasp it tightly, for it was a totem capable of changing his destiny.
She instructed him: You must study, you must work hard to pass the exams and leave this place. It would be best if you could enter officialdom… Aunt only hopes for you to succeed, so that… so that I won’t have let down your parents.
Pei Shumin was stunned. Looking at Marquis Wu’an again, there was a bit more hesitation in his eyes.
“Thank you for resolving my doubts. I can return to the Capital with my Lord, but please grant me some time to settle my affairs.”
Speaking up to this point, he thought of Shen Mingyu: “I also have a wife; I wonder if I may bring her along?”
Pei Shumin thought it was merely bringing one extra person along. Since the other party was born into wealth, they surely wouldn’t lack a single mouth to feed.
In truth, Helan Chang indeed didn’t care.
Helan Chang looked at the person again and again, seeing the youth slightly gripping his sleeves, his handsome brows revealing expectation, which made him recall another matter—having drifted among the countryside for so many years, the wife he married was likely an illiterate village woman. How could such a village woman ever become the future mother of the nation?
Since he had come under orders, he had to handle matters well for His Majesty, lest storm and turmoil be raised in the future over the identity of the Crown Princess.
Helan Chang pondered while fiddling with the tea lid, thinking for a moment: “You may bring her along. But on one point, I must state clearly: she can only be a concubine in the future.”