Before leaving, Xu Miaoxue said that Pei Shuye had traveled light and simply. All the gifts prepared for the Pei family were brought by her, and she asked Second Madam Pei to be sure to accept them.
The Second Madam Pei declined politely a few times, then accepted them.
She did not send the gifts to the Pei residence. Instead, she had them delivered directly to Ruyi Harbor. She had a bit of a show-off motive.
This year, the Pei family hosted the Pearl Banquet because of a sudden change. Time was very tight, and in truth, the Pei family was struggling. Their shops had been losing money year after year. The household refused to lower themselves to learn from merchants. The family treasury was tight, but they could not show weakness.
The only thing they could truly show off at this year’s banquet was the welcome lanterns stretching from the end of the stone causeway to Sea-View Tower.
These were huge sandalwood lantern wheels, each over thirty feet tall. Craftsmen were specially invited from Shaoxing, and work began three months in advance. Each lantern had twelve hollow-carved layers, showing scenes of South Sea merfolk fighting sea dragons. Every scale was set with South Sea crystals, backed by copper mirrors for reflection.
The dragon eyes were Siamese rubies, with fish-oil lamps inside. Once lit, the light refracted through the gems, and even bricks thirty feet away could show glowing patterns. It perfectly matched the name “Pearl Banquet.”
This display could shock picky nobles at first sight. But once seated, the banquet itself was no different from previous years—if anything, a bit careless.
Xu Miaoxue’s gifts were truly a lifesaver.
After all, the Pei family’s greatest asset was still Pei Shuye himself. Any gifts he sent, no matter how big or small, had to be shown off again and again.
But even showing off required skill. If it was too obvious, it would reveal poverty instead. The Second Madam Pei planned to move the gifts inside quietly. Then, when guests casually asked, “Who sent these?” she would reply lightly, “Oh, my Sixth brother brought them from far away. I told him not to bother, but he insisted—said it was filial duty.”
However, when she saw the gift convoy, Second Madam Pei felt uneasy.
…There was no way to keep this low-key.
The first gift unloaded was a white porcelain Guanyin statue. It was as wide as a person and half a person tall, a top-quality piece from Dehua kiln. The glaze was smooth and pure, milky white with a faint blue tint, fine like cream, warm and glossy, completely natural.
The Guanyin figure was carved with dignity and grace, almost holy. The folds of her robes looked alive, as if floating in the wind. Under the light, the statue looked clear and translucent, as if spiritual energy flowed within it.
Who would dare walk in front of Guanyin?
By now, guests were arriving one after another. They had no choice but to walk slowly behind the statue, and soon the stone causeway became crowded.
Xu Miaoxue’s gifts were all huge and heavy. After the Guanyin statue came bronze cauldrons shaped like lucky beasts, Hetian jade screens, giant coral trees… Each item required several people to carry it inside.
Now all the banquet guests saw this grand scene of gift receiving.
Naturally, everyone was envious, wishing their own family had produced a top scholar favored by the emperor.
Madam Wu arrived at this moment. Gifts were still being carried into Ruyi Harbor. Her face looked cold. Even when Second Madam Pei warmly greeted her, Madam Wu brushed her hand aside.
The Wu family was also a famous family in Ningbo. For generations, their men only ever passed the lowest level of the imperial exams and had poor official careers. But in this generation, a Wu daughter became a Consort and gained the emperor’s favor. The once-ordinary family instantly rose to royal status.
Consort Wu was very filial and took care of her natal family everywhere. The Wu family could act arrogantly throughout the city.
Madam Wu, Consort Wu’s mother, naturally became the leader among city women. Normally, her relationship with Second Madam Pei was decent. No one knew why she was acting this way today.
“Since a noble young man from Hangzhou has already sent betrothal gifts to Sixth Miss Pei, why is Second Madam Pei still trying to match my son?”
As soon as she said this, Second Madam Pei panicked.
“What betrothal gifts? Madam Wu, where did you hear such rumors?”
“Aren’t these betrothal gifts?” Madam Wu sneered. “I heard people discussing it on the street and didn’t believe it. Now I see it with my own eyes. How impressive!”
Her words carried jealousy.
Pei Hening was currently being considered for marriage with Madam Wu’s son, but Madam Wu had not fixed her choice. She had planned to consider several options. If not for Pei Shuye’s sudden promotion, she would not even have looked at Pei Hening.
But now that the Pei family’s value had risen, Pei Hening had become her top choice.
Unexpectedly, Pei Hening seemed to have found an even better match first. The scale of these “betrothal gifts” was something the Wu family truly could not match.
“Madam Wu, you misunderstand! Street rumors can’t be trusted. These are gifts our Sixth son gave to honor the family!”
“Stop fooling me,” Madam Wu snapped. “Everyone knows Scholar Pei returned today with just one horse and one attendant. Where would these gifts come from?”
Her question made the surrounding ladies suspicious as well. These gifts didn’t look like banquet supplies. Their size and value made sense as betrothal gifts.
At this point, nothing Second Madam Pei said could convince anyone. Once people had an answer in mind, they fit all clues to it.
But how could she not be anxious? Pei Hening was her daughter and was preparing to discuss marriage with Wu Huaijin. If this rumor became accepted, how could Pei Hening marry?
Yet if she explained the true source of the gifts… the Sixth daughter-in-law she refused to acknowledge would be known throughout Ningbo. Then, even if she didn’t want to accept her, she would have no choice.
The Second Madam Pei was stuck, desperately thinking of a way to explain things. Seeing everyone whispering, Pei Hening finally lost patience.
She truly liked Wu Huaijin. Among her options, his family background was the best. Seeing her mother silent and Madam Wu pressing hard, she blurted it out.
“It’s the Sixth Aunt who has returned! These are the gifts she brought!”
It was too late.
The Second Madam Pei could only glare weakly at Pei Hening.
One stone stirred a thousand waves. The crowd exploded in discussion.
Everyone said Pei Shuye had been unmarried for five years. Which family hadn’t tried desperately today to push their daughter toward him? Otherwise, why would Old Master Lu host this banquet?
Just as the banquet was about to begin, it turned out Pei Shuye already had a wife. This was bigger news than Pei Hening receiving betrothal gifts.
Lu Mingyu, Old Master Lu’s eldest granddaughter, had dressed up carefully today to meet Pei Shuye. She had starved herself for three days just to fit into a seven-layer gold-woven jacket and peacock-feather vest.
When she heard this shocking news, her vision went black. The tight collar around her neck felt like a noose. She stumbled and grabbed a pillar, but her pearl-studded hairpiece tilted sharply. Gold hairpins clattered onto the stone floor.
Amid maidservants’ screams, Lu Mingyu collapsed softly. The women shouted in chaos. A doctor finally squeezed through the noise and took her to the back hall for treatment.
After the farce ended, those still present gradually calmed down.
Madam Wu had no daughter involved, so she enjoyed stirring trouble.
“Since Sixth Madam Pei has returned, why don’t we see her?”
“She traveled a long way and looks tired. She feared making a fool of herself in front of the ladies and went home to rest,” Second Madam Pei tried to brush it off.
“It’s still early. Let’s wait. I’m also curious what kind of woman Uncle Shuye married.”
A gentle voice came from the crowd. Everyone turned. It was Wang Luotang.
The Second Madam Pei wanted to refuse again, but she had no words.
Wang Luotang had once been engaged to Pei Shuye. Even after the engagement was broken, she waited heartbreakingly for him for two years before marrying someone else. If she wanted to see the woman who “won,” not even heaven could stop her.
Dusk fell. The music at Ruyi Harbor faded as the carriage neared the inner city. Ali lifted the curtain and called to the driver.
“Slow down.”
The driver sighed. “Miss, if we go any slower, we’ll block the road.”
Xu Miaoxue said firmly, “Then take another round.”
After only half a round, Pei household guards stopped the carriage and respectfully invited Sixth Madam Pei back to Ruyi Harbor.
“We won! Madam, you’re amazing!” Ali exclaimed once the curtain fell.
“Tsk—what did I tell you?” Xu Miaoxue said.
Ali stuck out her tongue. “Madam.”
Though this was expected, Xu Miaoxue still felt proud. She played with a small beaded abacus, calculating. Then her smile faded.
“I spent so much money just to step into Ruyi Harbor,” hatred briefly flashed in her eyes under the makeup, then vanished. “Good thing the wool comes from the sheep.”
The carriage turned a corner, and her body swayed with it. All the gold and silver on her head nearly bent her neck.
Ali quickly helped steady her and adjusted her hair nervously. “Madam, maybe wear fewer hairpins? They’re heavy. I’m afraid you’ll get tired.”
“That won’t do!” Xu Miaoxue refused immediately. She proudly touched her sharp, crowded hairstyle. Her sleeve slipped down, revealing bracelets covering her wrist. “This is my style.”
She, Xu Miaoxue, had arrived— ready to crush everyone in her path.