After returning to his study, Pei Jingnian remained unusually distracted.
His attendants, Moyu and Zhusheng, exchanged puzzled glances. Neither could understand why the heir, who had gone out for a walk to clear his mind, had returned looking even more troubled.
Even Pei Jingnian himself couldn’t explain it.
The only thing that kept surfacing in his mind was Shen Yunshuang’s tear-filled eyes.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt he had wronged her. He had rashly assumed his cousin would shamelessly ask for the orchid, and he couldn’t help directing some resentment toward Su Wanrou as well. It was clearly the flower she had given that had caused the problem, yet she had led him to believe Shen Yunshuang had coveted the precious orchid out of greed.
The more he thought, the more unsettled he became.
Even the calligraphy beneath his brush turned into an unreadable mess.
With an irritated sigh, he tossed the brush aside.
The sharp sound made Moyu’s heart skip a beat.
After cautiously studying his master’s expression, he asked softly,
“Young Master?”
“Open my private treasury. Take the Zhongshan Purple-Hair Brush to Ningxiang Pavilion and tell Miss Shen it’s my apology.”
Moyu was stunned.
The Zhongshan Purple-Hair Brush was one of the heir’s most treasured possessions. He rarely even used it himself, yet now he intended to give it away—to his cousin?
Since when had the heir become so close to Miss Shen?
Though bewildered, Moyu knew better than to question his master’s orders. He hurried to the private treasury, where Steward Wei retrieved the treasured brush and placed it inside an elegant willow-leaf-shaped sandalwood case before sending it to Ningxiang Pavilion.
Curiously, when Shen Yunshuang received Pei Jingnian’s gift, she showed no surprise at all.
She simply thanked him gently, rewarded the servant who delivered it, and said nothing further.
As for the heir…
She never mentioned him.
Her response was perfectly measured—neither distant nor overly familiar.
Yet when Pei Jingnian heard that she had offered no particular reaction, he found himself oddly disappointed.
In the end, however, it was only a minor incident.
Like a breeze passing over water, it left barely a ripple.
After the orchid had been successfully revived, Shen Yunshuang intended to return it to Fuxi Hall, but Madam Wang declined to take it back.
Instead, she praised her niece’s clever hands and invited her over to help select a gift.
Pei Jingyan, Fourth Young Master of the Second Branch of the Pei family, had recently welcomed a son. The gift was for the baby’s Third-Day Celebration.
“Jingyan is two years younger than Jingnian,” Madam Wang sighed as she sorted through the presents. “And now he already has his second child.”
The more she looked, the worse she felt.
Among Pei Jingnian’s generation there were five brothers.
Every one of them except Pei Jingnian already had children.
How could she not worry?
Although the main branch still held the hereditary title, and Pei Jingnian himself was outstanding enough that no one dared gossip openly, the fact that he remained childless was a constant source of frustration.
Shen Yunshuang knew her aunt was merely venting her worries, so she quietly comforted her from the side.
After a while, Madam Wang suddenly smiled at her.
“There will be many noble families attending tomorrow’s celebration. Dress yourself well. It’s time your aunt started looking for a good husband for you.”
The moment those words fell, Shen Yunshuang’s cheeks flushed crimson.
Lowering her head shyly, she murmured,
“I only wish to stay by your side forever, Aunt.”
Holding her hand, Madam Wang laughed affectionately.
“Of course I’d love to keep you with me. But a woman’s best years are only a few. Marriage is something that simply cannot be delayed. Otherwise, how could I ever face your late mother?”
Mentioning her younger sister, who had died so young, brought tears to Madam Wang’s eyes once again.
Shen Yunshuang quietly dabbed at the corners of her own eyes with a handkerchief.
Yet deep down, she held no hope for tomorrow’s banquet.
Although she possessed breathtaking beauty, her family background was humble, and she had always been frail and sickly.
She was far from the ideal daughter-in-law sought by the noble ladies of the capital.
Her aunt truly cared for her…
But an aunt was still not the same as a mother.
Besides, Shen Yunshuang had no desire to spend much thought on marriage anyway.
After chatting for a while, Shen Yunshuang excused herself.
As she stepped outside, she happened to run into Su Wanrou.
Su Wanrou naturally knew that Pei Jingnian had sent Shen Yunshuang the calligraphy brush.
But all she could do was vent her anger behind closed doors.
Her relationship with Pei Jingnian had only just begun to recover. She couldn’t afford another conflict.
Still, the hatred she felt toward Shen Yunshuang was impossible to conceal.
She had never expected the girl to be so calculating—making her believe Shen Yunshuang had asked Madam Wang for the orchid, leaving her to make such a fool of herself.
What a shameless bitch.
Su Wanrou slowly looked Shen Yunshuang up and down.
The girl’s cheeks were lightly flushed, making her look impossibly soft and alluring.
What a little seductress.
Even in broad daylight she looks lovestruck, with those watery eyes.
With faint mockery in her voice, she asked,
“What were you talking about with Mother? Your face is so red.”
As though she hadn’t heard the sarcasm, Shen Yunshuang merely covered her lips with a smile.
“I’ve always been thin-skinned, Sister-in-law. Please don’t laugh at me.”
Her answer was flawless.
Su Wanrou couldn’t find a single fault with it.
Unable to openly make trouble for her, she could only swallow her anger.
Without another word, she entered Fuxi Hall.
She had come today because of tomorrow’s Third-Day Celebration.
Seeing yet another family welcome a new child only deepened the ache in her heart.
But the more miserable she felt, the less she could show it.
Tomorrow she still had to ensure every detail of the banquet was handled perfectly.
Only then could she keep others from laughing at her.
Madam Wang had once admired Su Wanrou for being so capable and meticulous.
Now, however, she felt it was all superficial.
So what if she managed everything flawlessly?
She still couldn’t bear children.
Wasn’t that exactly what made people mock their family?
Still, there was nothing to be done.
In front of outsiders, they could only swallow their humiliation.
The following day, Madam Wang brought the entire household to the residence of the Second Branch.
Unlike the First Branch, which had only one son and one daughter and no concubine-born children, the Second Branch was overflowing with descendants.
Second Master Pei Yuanshao had fathered three sons and four daughters.
His eldest son Pei Jingyue, fourth son Pei Jingyan, and third daughter Pei Wushuang were all born of his principal wife, while the others were born to concubines.
Although Pei Yuanshao held no hereditary title, he had once saved the Emperor’s life and remained greatly favored at court.
As a result, his grandson’s Third-Day Celebration was held on an exceptionally grand scale.
Just as Madam Wang had said, nearly every prestigious noble family in Shengjing attended.
Shen Yunshuang had dressed with great care today.
Although she had technically “lived” through this life before, in her previous life she had never attended such a magnificent gathering.
She was determined not to make any mistakes.
Unfortunately…
Her face alone made it impossible for anyone to overlook her.
As soon as she appeared, Madam Su of the Second Branch exclaimed,
“Sister-in-law, your niece is truly stunning. I’d say she’s even surpassed how beautiful you were in your youth!”
She covered her mouth with a laugh.
Today was her grandson’s Third-Day Celebration, and she was naturally glowing with happiness.
After receiving the compliment, Shen Yunshuang politely stepped forward to pay her respects.
Yet she had noticed something.
Madam Wang didn’t seem particularly fond of Madam Su.
Even while smiling, her expression remained rather reserved.
“You flatter me, Madam. My appearance is as ordinary as a willow by the roadside. I can’t compare to even one-tenth of my aunt’s beauty.”
Madam Su smiled and gently pointed a finger at her.
“What a sweet-talking girl.”
Madam Wang, however, wasn’t pleased.
She and Madam Su had disliked each other since they were young ladies.
Their rivalry had begun long before they married into the Pei family.
Back then, Madam Wang had been renowned as the unrivaled beauty of the capital.
Though Madam Su couldn’t match her appearance, she had been celebrated as the capital’s most talented young woman.
The two had always looked down on each other.
Fate had then made them sisters-in-law.
Madam Su had married into the family later than Madam Wang, yet she had given birth to the first legitimate grandson before Madam Wang produced an heir, completely overshadowing her.
Now Madam Su already had several grandsons and granddaughters.
That, too, constantly irritated Madam Wang.
Watching Madam Wang maintain her proud composure, Madam Su’s feelings were equally complicated.
She felt both satisfied…
and resentful.
She had never accepted what happened back then.
Her own son had clearly been the family’s eldest grandson.
Yet the old matriarch had shown little enthusiasm.
But when Pei Jingnian was born, the old madam had immediately taken him into her own quarters to raise personally, doting on him as if he were the apple of her eye.
Wasn’t that favoritism taken far too far?
Now that the children had all grown up, Pei Jingnian continued to outshine her own son in every way.
The only place she could still find a sense of superiority…
Was through her grandchildren.