When Grandmother Pei heard this and saw her son turn away, she realized matters were not progressing smoothly. She pressed further: “Weren’t you supposed to look into the youngest son of the Yongshun House earlier?”
It was common for noble families to arrange marriages among themselves.
“My mother, last month, it was decided he would be betrothed to the daughter of the Zhenjiang Prefect’s household,” Pei Bingyuan said, shaking his head. His tone carried both helplessness and worry. “You also know our current situation—what the Yongshun Marquisate is like, and what our own household is like…”
He could not bring himself to speak further.
The Pei family was no longer one of those houses that every family’s daughters vied to marry into.
Little Pei Shaohuai understood the situation. Though his grandfather Pei Pu had inherited the title of Marquis from Jingchuan Bo, he held no official post. His father, Pei Bingyuan, had passed the imperial examination at sixteen as a Maocai, once considered the hope of the Pei family—but subsequent attempts to advance had failed, and even now, he had not progressed further.
Moreover, the family’s wealth was modest, barely enough to maintain the dignity of a marquisate.
Given such circumstances, finding a suitable husband for Pei Ruolian within noble families was no easy task.
Some noble families had indeed approached with marriage proposals, but their intentions were far from pure. How could anyone in the Pei household willingly let Ruolian jump into such a “fire pit”?
Pei Bingyuan added, “Mother, arranging a marriage for Lotus’er among the capital’s noble families is likely impossible now.”
A silence fell over the room.
Finally, Grandmother Pei accepted reality. With a long, gentle sigh, she said: “Lotus girl lost her mother early. As the eldest, she has always been sensible, never complaining to me even when burdened with hardship. In terms of her marriage, we must not let her suffer. The family she marries into should be either a noble household or a virtuous scholarly family, where she can progress steadily.”
This was lowering her standards.
“Don’t worry, Mother,” Pei Bingyuan replied. “I’ll continue inquiries. If there is a suitable match, we can prepare in advance.”
Pei Shaohuai remembered then: in the original record, when it said “Pei Ruolian married very well,” it didn’t mean she married into a wealthy noble family. It meant she married the right family—starting modestly, yet living in harmony, with a respectful and loving husband, and a father-in-law whose career prospered. Like a bamboo shoot, step by step, she would grow tall.
For such good fortune, Pei Shaohuai thought, there was no need to intervene. Let it unfold naturally.
…
After Pei Bingyuan left, it was Pei Shaohuai’s usual nap time.
“My good grandson, Grandmother will hold you in the room for your nap.”
Normally, Pei Shaohuai, tired from the morning, would obediently sleep. But today, he had other plans.
He had realized Grandmother intended to take him from Lin Shi’s side, to raise him personally. On one hand, she doted on him, seeing him as the hope of restoring the Pei marquisate’s former glory. On the other, she looked down on Lin Shi, believing she could not raise him properly.
In the original story, this was the beginning of unrest in the Pei household—simply because Grandmother took Pei Shaohuai from Lin Shi.
In the books, Lin Shi spent her days scheming to retrieve her son. Over time, her gentle nature twisted into obsession, and with servants whispering incitements, her character grew harsher and more cunning.
The child became the thread pulling her into a dead-end.
Meanwhile, Grandmother’s love turned into indulgence. She granted every whim, making Pei Shaohuai believe the family fortune was limitless. Comparing himself to other noble children, he became spoiled and reckless.
The so-called “generation gap affection” existed only to bind the grandson to her side.
…
Pei Shaohuai could not allow this. He only wanted to study quietly and take the imperial exams.
He carefully assessed the situation:
A mother who would grow bitter if deprived of her son.
A grandmother, energetic and determined to maintain control of the marquisate.
A father absorbed in studies, indifferent to household matters.
The pressure all fell on him.
…
Once he had organized his thoughts, he formulated a plan.
As usual, Grandmother laid him on the bed, covered him with a quilt, and stroked him to sleep.
Unexpectedly, “Cough—wah!” the baby suddenly screamed, tears streaming like little beads, tossing himself about, refusing to settle.
“Oh, my Huai Ge’er, what’s the matter?”
Grandmother hurriedly picked him up. The cries softened slightly but did not stop. Zhou Mama came to check and found everything in order.
No matter how they tried to soothe him, he continued to cry pitifully.
“Madam, perhaps Young Master Huai is frightened?” Zhou Mama whispered.
Grandmother stiffened at first but quickly composed herself. “Nonsense! In broad daylight, in a family as proper as ours, how could he be scared?”
The baby’s cries grew hoarse. Seeing this, Grandmother reluctantly said, “Let’s return him to Chaolu Courtyard and see if he settles there.”
She carried him back.
…
Lin Shi heard his cries and ran out: “Mother, what’s wrong with Huai Ge’er?”
“He’s been crying since finishing his meal,” Grandmother explained, returning him to Lin Shi.
Curiously, once back in Lin Shi’s arms, he calmed immediately, little fists raised, eyes drooping with sleep, tears still clinging to his cheeks. Such a pitifully obedient sight tugged at her heart.
Lin Shi placed him in the cradle. He stretched, rolled over, and fell fast asleep.
Only Pei Shaohuai knew the truth—it was deliberate. If it were an open battle, Lin Shi could never win against Grandmother. But if Pei Shaohuai “chose” Lin Shi himself, Grandmother, out of love, had no choice but to yield.
This avoided family strife over the baby.
“Mother needn’t worry. Huai Ge’er may just be having a momentary tantrum. Thank you for your effort,” Lin Shi reassured her.
Grandmother, checking the peacefully sleeping baby again, finally relaxed, instructing, “Watch over him carefully. Don’t leave him alone for a moment.”
“You needn’t worry, Mother-in-law,” Lin Shi said.
…
Pei Shaohuai carefully modulated his crying. Too much would hurt Grandmother’s feelings; too little would fail to convey his intentions.
In the following days, Grandmother still brought him over. Pei Shaohuai repeated his act: obedient during meals, even giggling in her arms, but crying endlessly when she tried to make him sleep for hours. Only in his own cradle at Chaolu Courtyard would he rest peacefully.
Grandmother suspected something amiss, calling the palace physician. The doctor comforted her: “Nothing serious. Young Master Huai is growing, developing a temperament. He recognizes his room and bed. No need to worry.”
“Is there a solution?” she asked.
The doctor smiled. “No real solution is needed.”
…
The problem resolved itself. Lin Shi was relieved but still felt for her baby, who had cried so bitterly for days.
Since his birth, he had never screamed so violently. Each wail cut her heart like a knife.
Shen Mama remarked happily, “Being your own son, he naturally sides with you. When he grows, you’ll truly enjoy his company.”
Yet she also scolded Lin Shi: “You must be cautious with words. Misunderstandings could arise, thinking you deliberately taught him to cry. That benefits neither you nor Huai Ge’er.”
Blushing, Shen Mama admitted her mistake.
Lin Shi eased the matter. “It’s a slip of the tongue, Shen Mama. We still have much to endure together. Don’t let it create distance.”
…
As long as Grandmother had no intention of forcibly taking Huai Ge’er, Lin Shi was reasonable.
A grandmother doting on her grandson was natural.
After careful thought, she made a decision.
That morning, she brought Ying Jie’er and Huai Ge’er to pay respects. The two women chatted at length.
Pretending difficulty, Lin Shi said, “Mother, if you have time, I have a small favor to ask.”
“Speak plainly,” Grandmother said.
Lin Shi positioned Ying Jie’er in front of her and smiled: “At this age, she’s wild, like a little monkey, never sitting properly during meals. I can’t manage her well while caring for Huai Ge’er. Would you help me supervise her at the table?”
Grandmother was pleased. “Helping to watch the grandchildren is what my old bones are for. Send Huai Ge’er every day. I’ll feed him well, then return him.”
Thus, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law resolved their conflict, growing closer.
The facilitator—little Pei—watched with delight, no longer needing to feign cries and tantrums.