An urgent order left the Ministry of Personnel through Chongwen Gate. Two postal horses ran through the fresh spring mud. In the saddlebag was an imperial decree: Pei Shuye was to be transferred to Zhejiang as Vice Commissioner.
The decree went from Tongzhou into the Grand Canal, changed to a transport boat, and after half a month quietly entered the Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou water system. Along the river, the reflections were no longer of the young scholar who once left home in plain clothes.
For five full years, the famous Third Place Scholar of the Bingchen Exam, Pei Shuye, had almost been forgotten in the far corner of Leizhou. At last, in spring, he was called back to service.
When spring waters grow warm, ducks know first. Before the order even reached Pei Shuye, the news had already spread to the pleasure boats on Moon Lake in Ningbo. The powerful always move faster than the postal horses.
On the fifth day of the fourth month, the first guest knocked early at the red-lacquered gate of the Pei family in Zhenhai.
The Pei family was once a famous old family in Ningbo, but in recent years they only kept their noble title while their money slowly ran out. Usually, such families would be ruined by a useless heir and fade away. But the Pei family was lucky.
Five years ago, a genius young man appeared in the family. At only twenty, he became Third Place Scholar and brought new life to the declining house. He was Pei Shuye. From then on, the family’s fate was tied to him.
Pei Shuye’s life was also quite unusual. He was born in a side branch of the family and lost his parents young. When he was eight, he wrote a memorial text at a clan ceremony, and everyone was shocked by his talent. The head of the family adopted him and raised him as his own son.
After passing the exam, Pei Shuye entered the Hanlin Academy and also worked in the justice office. His future looked bright. But politics was dangerous. Although the Crying Sails Incident had happened years ago, its effects remained. After taking office, Pei Shuye was dragged into the old case and later sent to Leizhou. The old master of the Pei family was also forced to resign, fell ill on the way home, and died in another town. From then on, the Pei family declined badly.
Old friends who once crowded their doorstep now avoided them, afraid of trouble. Even during festivals, no greeting cards were sent. The Pei house had been quiet for a long time. Even the bronze bells on the roof had rusted.
But today’s visitor was Lu Zongliang, head of the Ningbo merchants—one of the most powerful men in the city. People usually rushed to please him, yet now he came in person. The Pei family hurried to receive him, completely confused, because they did not even know their young master had been promoted.
Miss Pei Hening, the Sixth Young Lady of the second branch, was pulled out of bed by her mother, Madam Kang.
Madam Kang said confidently, “I’ve thought about it. There is only one reason Elder Lu came today—he must be here about your marriage.”
There were unmarried young men in the family, but none were important enough for Elder Lu to visit in person. Only Pei Hening, the only unmarried young lady, might be worth such attention. Maybe he came to arrange a match for his family or to recommend another family, but either way, it must be good news.
Pei Hening became excited and let her mother dress her carefully, trying to make her look noble and gentle. But when she reached the corridor, she heard that Elder Lu was talking about Pei Shuye’s marriage. The Lu family wanted their eldest granddaughter to marry him.
Pei Hening had not heard news of her uncle for a long time. She was surprised rather than disappointed. Pei Shuye had been in Leizhou for years and never returned. Blood relatives and adopted sons were still treated differently, and over time, people slowly forgot him. The last time his marriage was discussed was five years ago.
Back then, when Pei Shuye rode through the streets in red robes, all the young ladies nearly broke their balcony rails trying to see him. People said he looked like a painting and always smiled politely but from a distance. The Pei family chose very carefully when picking his bride and even rejected the magistrate’s daughter. Only after he entered the Hanlin Academy did they finally agree on a match.
But after he was exiled, the engagement ended quickly. Even so, some women sent letters saying they would follow him to the unhealthy lands of Leizhou. Pei Shuye did not open a single one. Soon, rumors spread—some said he was beaten and could not marry, others said he had already died and the court hid the news. Later, even matchmakers avoided the Pei family. When people listed good men in Ningbo, they no longer mentioned him.
So what was happening today?
Before the family could react, more guests arrived, all bringing expensive gifts. The quiet hall became crowded. Everyone talked about Pei Shuye’s marriage, as if he had just passed the exam again.
Seeing many rivals, Elder Lu finally made a bold move.
Laughing loudly, he bowed to Old Madam Pei. “In my humble opinion, marriage depends on fate. Old people like us cannot decide it. We must let the Sixth Young Master choose for himself. Why not invite him back and let him choose a wife at the Ruyi Harbor banquet?”
Old Madam Pei was confused. Pei Shuye had been in Leizhou with little contact. How could he attend the banquet? Was Elder Lu mistaken?
But when she looked around, no one objected. Instead, everyone agreed, and the heated arguments calmed down.
Elder Lu continued, “No need to wait for another day. The Shark Pearl Banquet on April twentieth, which my family hosts, will now be held by the Pei family. All merchant ships will hang red silk. Let Sixth Young Master light the first incense at the Watchtower. After the young ladies present the pearls, he can choose.”
Old Madam Pei was shocked into silence.
The order of the Tide Banquets at Ruyi Harbor was always fixed a year ahead, and no banquet had ever been changed. The first two banquets and the final surfing banquet showed the power of the top families. The Lu family always hosted the first two, while the Pei family only hosted a small, late banquet because of their old title. The difference in status was obvious.
Elder Lu was not giving Pei Shuye freedom to choose. He was offering a huge gift to the Pei family and making his goal clear: Pei Shuye’s wife must be from the Lu family.
The hall burst into noisy discussion. Elder Lu smiled and bowed to everyone, saying he had overstepped, but he did not back down at all.
Old Madam Pei finally realized something big must have happened. Otherwise, such a powerful man would never act like this.
Just then, the old post officer from Yuyao arrived with news from the capital.
“Sixth Young Master Pei is being promoted and is coming back!”
At last, the Pei family understood everything.
Pei Shuye’s new post was very powerful. He would control sea defense in three prefectures. Whoever married into his family would gain a strong supporter in Zhejiang. Normally, men in this position were old, ugly, or already married. A young, talented, and unmarried man like Pei Shuye was extremely rare.
Everyone in Ningbo wanted this advantage for themselves. No wonder Elder Lu was willing to give up such an important banquet.
At first, Old Madam Pei felt shocked and honored. But once she knew the reason, she felt confident again. She knew the Pei family would rise again. Even if people were selfish, she accepted their praise happily, because it showed the family’s return to glory.
No one asked how Pei Shuye had lived in Leizhou all these years. They were already enjoying the honor his promotion brought. No one helped him in hard times; they only came when things were good.
Pei Hening could not hold back anymore. She was Pei Shuye’s niece, and both were “sixth” in the family ranking. Among all the relatives, she was closest to him. When her brothers were still children, this fairy-like uncle had already shaped her ideas and dreams. She forgot her own disappointment and began to feel angry for him.
“How can Grandma be like this? It’s like she wants to sell Uncle for a good price! She didn’t even ask if he wanted to marry. She just wants a rich bride!”
Madam Kang stopped her. “So what? This is what Pei Shuye owes the family. If not for him, the old master—”
Pei Hening jumped up. “Someone framed him back then! It wasn’t his fault!”
Madam Kang knew arguing was useless, so she changed her words. “You say you care about him most, but he’s been alone for years, with no one to care for him. Do you really want him to stay unmarried forever?”
Pei Hening fell silent.
Madam Kang added, “And think about yourself. If our family hosts the Shark Pearl Banquet, won’t your own marriage become easier too?”
Pei Hening had worried about marriage for a long time. The Pei family was not powerful enough for the top matches, but too proud for lower ones. Now that her uncle was returning, her value would rise too. Before, others chose her. Soon, she could choose others.
But she still felt torn—proud to benefit from her uncle, yet ashamed of it.
“Mother, you’re all so cold,” Pei Hening said sadly.
“Cold? Who is colder than your uncle?” Madam Kang replied.
He had not even returned to burn incense for the old master in all these years. She could barely remember his face, only his distant and proud eyes. She once told her husband that the Sixth Brother was someone you could never get close to. The old master had been his only tie to the family, and now that he was gone, no one knew how things would be when Pei Shuye returned. Yet the whole family depended on him to live well.
Madam Kang sighed. “If he brings good news when he returns, that’s fine too. It can wash away the bad luck of the past.”
Pei Hening felt that made some sense.
Even if those people were unpleasant, her uncle getting married was still a good thing. At least the family would stop talking about the past.
He had been alone for so many years. Now he will finally marry.
She just could not imagine what kind of woman could become his wife.