Old Madam Pei and the other two returned to Yongshou Hall first, but had no appetite whatsoever for the dishes on the table.
After waiting a while longer, they finally saw Pei Muzheng stride in.
His face was still flushed red, and because of the scalding, the blisters had been punctured and coated with ointment, leaving a greasy layer on his face.
At the sight of him, Liu Shi’s tears fell. “My son.”
Old Madam Pei’s eyes also reddened.
Her grandson, so intelligent and capable, was being tormented like this by women in the inner household.
Pei Muzheng was filled with anger. After sitting down, he spoke coldly.
“Mother, why must you always cause trouble? I already told you not to bring things up in front of the Langzhong, so why did you insist on confronting Jiang Yao? Do you have to ruin your son to be satisfied?”
If it weren’t for his mother and sister’s constant disturbances—and in the past, his mother feigning illness every day to make Jiang Yao serve her—Jiang Yao probably wouldn’t have accumulated so much resentment, leading to their current conflict and her refusal to use her dowry to support the Pei family.
He had chased after the Langzhong earlier, hoping to ask him not to take to heart what he had overheard.
But the old Langzhong said, “Lord Pei, there’s something I don’t know if I should say. The young mistress is kind-hearted, which is why she was willing to try and save that child despite so many people trying to stop her. Yet in the eyes of the Zhuangyuan Lang, that child’s life is not as important as a Commandery Princess’s reputation. Moreover, many maids in your Pei Manor must have overheard this. If it spreads, it has nothing to do with me.”
After saying this, the old Langzhong left with his medicine chest.
Liu Shi, chastised by her son, didn’t dare to speak.
Pei Xingyu was the first to lose her composure.
“Brother, how can you blame Mother? This is clearly Jiang Yao’s fault. If she hadn’t made such a scene and refused to give you any face in front of outsiders…”
“Enough,” Pei Muzheng cut Pei Xingyu off. “And you, if you hadn’t spoken recklessly that day, none of these subsequent issues would have arisen. She might not even be refusing to manage the household now.”
Pei Xingyu sneered coldly. “Why blame me? You should blame yourself! You can’t even support the family and have to rely on your wife’s dowry. Just because Sister-in-law saved a child and caused Shen Junzhu to lose face, you come back and blame her. Whose fault is that? Why only blame others and not yourself?”
Pei Muzheng’s face instantly turned extremely ugly, and he glared fiercely at Pei Xingyu.
Liu Shi grew anxious. “Both of you, stop arguing! It’s all that little bitch’s fault. Such misfortune for our family…”
“Enough!” Old Madam Pei slammed the table. “Pei Xingyu, Liu Shuhui, what exactly do you want? If you hadn’t deliberately mistreated your daughter-in-law, and if Xingyu hadn’t spoken recklessly and looked down on her sister-in-law, things wouldn’t have come to this. Neither of you shows any remorse, and Xingyu, you even blame your brother!”
Pei Xingyu fell silent, her face still full of resentment.
Liu Shi also mumbled, not daring to speak further.
“Grandmother, let’s eat first,” Pei Muzheng sighed.
The family then ate their dinner in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
After the meal, Liu Shi could no longer hold back.
“Mother, that little bitch has already attacked twice. Can’t we just divorce her?”
Old Madam Pei let out a cold laugh. “If you divorce her, will you move back to that shabby little house that leaks whenever it rains? If you divorce her, you won’t even have these meals to eat in the future, let alone wear silks and satins. If you’re willing to return to your former life, go ahead and divorce her!”
“But… but she laid hands on Mu Zheng,” Liu Shi ultimately couldn’t accept it and said hesitantly, “Can’t we at least make her leave her dowry behind?”
Striking one’s own husband makes her a shrew, violating one of the seven grounds for divorce.
How could a woman who violates the seven grounds for divorce still take her dowry when divorced!
This law is completely unreasonable!
Old Madam Pei said calmly, “If you’re not afraid of being arrested by the authorities and given board beatings, go ahead and seize her dowry.”
Of course, Liu Shi didn’t dare to openly seize it.
Old Madam Pei felt a rare moment of confusion in her heart.
She had already noticed that Jiang Yao didn’t seem to have the same deep feelings for her grandson as before.
She had even changed the name of the courtyard where they lived.
How infatuated Jiang Yao had been with her grandson before, she had seen it with her own eyes.
It would be almost impossible to deceive Jiang Yao into taking charge of the household again in the future.
This granddaughter-in-law was also quite shrewd. Although she was willing to subsidize the Pei family after marrying in,
She was completely unwilling to give them the deeds to those houses, shops, and manors.
Old Madam Pei’s heart stirred slightly. The Pei family was too short on money. If they truly couldn’t gain any benefits from Jiang Yao in the future, then don’t blame her for resorting to other means…
Sighing softly, Old Madam Pei silently recited ‘Amitabha Buddha’ a few times in her heart before saying,
“Enough, I still have some words to say with Mu Zheng. You may all return now.”
After Liu Shi and Pei Xingyu left Yongshou Hall,
Old Madam Pei asked her grandson, “Mu Zheng, do you like Shen Junzhu?”
Pei Muzheng hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t hide it from his grandmother.
“Yes, the one I’ve always liked is Shen Junzhu.”
“What a truly karmic misfortune,” Old Madam Pei shed tears.
But this was what her grandson desired.
“Never mind, never mind. Let’s see how things unfold in the future. Grandmother will definitely help you.”
“Thank you, Grandmother.” Pei Muzheng knew that in the Pei family, only his grandmother was intelligent and willing to stand by his side.
Early the next morning, Pei Muzheng went to the Grand Secretariat for duty.
He was only a sixth-rank official in the Grand Secretariat. Although he had to go to the Grand Secretariat daily, he couldn’t attend the morning court every day.
He only occasionally had the opportunity to see the Emperor.
When he arrived at the Grand Secretariat today,
The Chief Grand Secretary immediately noticed that this subordinate’s face was broken and oily, looking quite unsightly.
The Chief Grand Secretary frowned. “What happened to your face?”
Pei Muzheng replied, “Sir, I accidentally scalded myself at home.”
As someone who could become the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, holding a first-rank official position, he was resourceful and meticulous.
Just from the burn marks on his subordinate’s face, he could tell that this kind of burn looked more like it was caused by hot water being thrown directly at the face.
The Chief Grand Secretary also thought of the recent rumors about this subordinate regarding matters of the Dingguo Duke Manor.
He also knew that Pei Muzheng’s wife had saved Sun Ying’s son on the road yesterday.
The Chief Grand Secretary could vaguely guess some of the circumstances behind the burns on Pei Muzheng’s face.
The Chief Grand Secretary frowned and said, “Mu Zheng, I think highly of you. That essay you wrote during the Imperial Examination was full of talent, which is why I later recommended you for the Grand Secretariat. Don’t let romantic affairs hinder your official career. With your face in this condition, it’s not suitable for you to appear before the Emperor, lest you offend His Majesty’s eyes. You should take a few days off first and return after the wounds on your face have healed.”
Pei Muzheng said respectfully, “Your Excellency, rest assured, I understand. You are like my mentor, and I will certainly not disappoint your expectations.”
The Grand Secretary waved his hand, signaling Pei Muzheng to withdraw.
Only after Pei Muzheng had left did the Grand Secretary frown involuntarily.
Could the person who wrote such an essay truly be so foolish?
Could he really go back and blame his own wife for the sake of a Commandery Princess’s reputation?
He hoped his guess was wrong.
Jiang Yao, having splashed Pei Muzheng in the face yesterday, was in extremely high spirits today.
Early the next morning, after finishing her breakfast, she took Zhenzhu to inspect the prosperous shop she had lent to Old Madam Pei’s maternal family.
The shop’s location was also excellent, on South Street.
In the capital, the city was roughly divided into four directions: east, south, west, and north.
The eastern area, being close to the imperial city, was the most prestigious, inhabited by high-ranking officials and noble families.
The southern area also housed many officials.
Jiang Yao lived in this southern district.
The western area was mostly occupied by merchants and minor officials or humble households.
The northern area was primarily inhabited by commoners.
South Street was the most bustling Ji Shi in the southern district.