“Selling herself to bury her father.”
A delicate-looking young woman knelt before a worn straw mat, which wrapped the body of an elderly man. Her lips were parched, and even when she could bear it no longer, she could only moisten them with saliva.
Many people passed by her. In the morning, most were commoners struggling to make a living. Some might have pitied her, but none stopped for her.
Such scenes of selling oneself to bury a parent were not uncommon in the capital. From time to time, a few would appear—whether fair-faced young women or somewhat talented scholars.
Most of them sought to attach themselves to a noble patron.
By the time the sun hung directly overhead, the girl kneeling there in coarse, plain clothes, perhaps due to her frail constitution, already appeared on the verge of collapse.
An elderly woman from a nearby tea stall, unable to bear it any longer, finally handed her a bowl of tea.
“Child, at least have some water.”
The girl took the bowl. “Thank you, Granny,” she said, hastily drinking the water. She drank urgently, gulping it down in large mouthfuls.
As the old woman took back the bowl, she glanced at the girl. She was indeed pretty, fair and clean, clearly not someone who came from their village.
This was one of the busiest spots in the capital, with carriages and sedan chairs of the nobility coming and going. Hopefully, this girl would get her wish.
In the capital, the carriages of noble families often bore markings to display their status, also serving to make their identity known so others could yield the way in advance.
A carriage pulled by two fine horses, their hooves fitted with iron shoes, clip-clopped rhythmically on the capital’s bluestone-paved roads.
On the carriage was a circle, within which was engraved the pattern of a long saber and a long sword crossed—the family emblem of the Pei Guogong Fu.
Pei Yuanzheng, the Duke of Pei, was the most trusted military commander of the late emperor. The Pei family’s ancestors had also followed Emperor Taizu in founding the empire. The Pei family were loyal generals and ministers, unwavering in their devotion to the emperor.
The Pei family never involved themselves in the struggle for succession, obeying only the emperor. Thus, no matter who ascended the throne, they would treat the Pei family well. Who would refuse such a useful and handy blade?
The carriage from the Guogong Mansion arrived and stopped before the girl selling herself to bury her father.
“Young Mistress, it’s a girl selling herself,” said a woman who emerged from the carriage. Judging by her attire, she was dressed better than young ladies from modest households.
Yuehua glanced at the kneeling figure, then turned back to speak to someone inside the carriage. Her tone held no surprise, nor much pity.
There were many pitiable souls in this world, but this girl before them clearly had ulterior motives. The Madam had instructed that no one of unclear background was to be allowed near the Young Mistress.
A hand opened the carriage window. The kneeling girl raised her face to look at the person inside. The sunlight was blinding; she could only see that hand, smooth and delicate as tender shoots, with a small section of jade-like arm gleaming dazzlingly white under the sun.
“Selling herself to bury her father, huh.”
Pei Yunshu looked at the kneeling girl and gently lifted one corner of her mouth. She had been reborn for three months now, spending over a month in a muddle-headed state, unaware of the passage of time.
Fortunately, those who had died because of her in her past life, and those who had harmed her, were all still alive and well now. And she—she was still the Young Mistress of the Guogong Mansion, whom no one dared to bully.
If these past days, she had avoided Jiang Liuyan like the plague because she was living in fear and uncertainty, wondering if this was merely a beautiful dream she was having at the moment of her death.
Then today, upon seeing the person before her, Pei Yunshu finally descended from the clouds and planted her feet firmly on the ground.
She was certain—she had truly returned.
Because the woman selling herself to bury her father before her eyes was the first person Pei Yunshu had ever killed with her own hands.
Yuehua watched as Pei Yunshu stared blankly at that person.
“Does the young mistress find this person pitiable?”
“Pitiable?” Pei Yunshu repeated the word, then finally let out a cold laugh. “Indeed pitiable. Yuehua, give her a few taels of silver and have someone bring her back to the mansion.”
With that, Pei Yunshu closed the carriage window.
“Yes.” Yuehua responded and instructed someone else to handle it. As the chief maid by the young mistress’s side, such tasks naturally would not fall to her.
“Does the young mistress intend to have this person serve in the courtyard?” Yuehua did not say “serve by her side,” only “serve in the courtyard.”
In her previous life, Pei Yunshu had agreed, allowing this person to serve in the courtyard. But that maid knew how to please, coaxing her all the way until she rose to the position of chief maid by her side.
“How are maids usually handled when the mansion purchases them?”
“They are sent to the steward to do rough work. Those with good looks are taught to serve and sent to various courtyards.”
“Then send her to the steward.”
“Yes.” Yuehua breathed a faint sigh of relief, fearing that the young lady might have taken pity and brought the woman into her own courtyard.
“You don’t like this person?”
Yuehua nodded. Seeing that Pei Yunshu showed no displeasure and seemed to be asking casually, she answered truthfully.
“Young mistress may not know, but five or six years ago, there was a woman of decent appearance who did the same. Unexpectedly, she caught the eye of a fourth-rank official, who married her as a concubine. Wasn’t that like a sparrow flying onto a branch and becoming a phoenix?”
Pei Yunshu’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly. She had not known about this before.
“So, that’s why people imitate it?”
“Exactly, young mistress. Look at that girl’s appearance—how could she have been raised in a poor family with no money for a burial?”
Yuehua explained carefully, shaking her head at the end. “She must have come here with the intention of climbing the social ladder.”
No wonder Yue Mei had resented her so bitterly in her previous life—was it because she had blocked her path to a good marriage?
If that was the case, then let her see clearly this time.
Without Pei Yunshu serving as their stepping stone, let’s see if they could still achieve their desires.
“Young mistress, we have arrived at Princess Chang’s Mansion.”
Pei Yunshu stepped down from the carriage using the footstool. Today, she had dressed meticulously for the occasion.
Pei Yunshu had a striking appearance. As the eldest daughter of the Guogong Mansion, clad in fiery red, she had once galloped through Zhuque Street in the capital, captivating countless hearts and souls.
Today, Pei Yunshu wore a crimson trailing gauze phoenix-tail skirt. The skirt was wide and flowing, but as it was already midsummer, it was made of fine, lightweight gauze. When the summer breeze brushed past, it rippled like layers of red waves.
Pei Yunshu entered Princess Chang’s Mansion and touched the hairpin in her bun.
Princess Chang’s Mansion was hosting a banquet today. Crown Prince Xie Changyan had also come at his aunt’s invitation. Since Xie Changyan would be there, Pei Yunshu naturally came as well.
Two years ago, when Pei Yunshu, the eldest daughter of the Guogong Mansion, came of age, the Crown Prince personally attended the ceremony and presented gifts. Although the Guogong Mansion did not comment, many in the capital speculated.
The Crown Prince likely intended for Pei Yunshu to become the Crown Princess.
Moreover, over the past two years, Pei Yunshu and the Crown Prince had indeed often appeared together, and their behavior was quite intimate.
This kind of talk grew even more rampant. Pei Yunshu had been of marriageable age for two years, yet no one had come forward to propose.
The garden where Princess Chang’s Mansion held its banquet was located in the outer area. Beyond that garden, there was an inner garden, which outsiders were not permitted to notice.
But now, outside the inner courtyard stood dozens of Golden Blade Guards, specially tasked with protecting His Majesty.
There was also a eunuch who, upon seeing Pei Yunshu, hurried over to greet her.
“Young lady has arrived. His Majesty is waiting.”
Before stepping inside, Pei Yunshu took a deep breath. The closer she got, the more nervous she felt, but just catching a glimpse of that familiar figure, tears nearly welled up in her eyes.
“Teacher.”