Pei Yunshu returned to the mansion and glanced at Pei Qingwan. “I won’t escort you further. Let the maidservant take you back.”
Pei Qingwan nodded. “Thank you, elder sister, for today.”
Pei Yunshu acknowledged with a sound and turned to leave in hurried steps. Pei Qingwan had always maintained a distant relationship with this elder sister; comparatively, Pei Yunshu was closer to Jiang Liuyan.
But today, as Pei Qingwan had the maidservant support her back to her courtyard, she secretly clutched her handkerchief—perhaps this was an opportunity.
When Pei Qingwan returned to her courtyard, she had been perfectly fine when she left in the morning, so why was she being helped back now? Concubine Jin, upon seeing this, panicked entirely. “What happened? How did you end up like this?”
Pei Qingwan waved her hand to indicate she was fine. “Don’t worry, Auntie. I just sprained my ankle. It’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”
“Then I’ll go fetch a female physician to examine you.”
Pei Qingwan shook her head. “Auntie, don’t seek one yourself. You should go to Madam and have her send a female physician to see me.”
“Why disturb Madam over this matter?” Concubine Jin was no longer anxious at this point. Seeing her daughter like this, she knew there was more to the story.
Pei Qingwan dismissed all the maidservants around her, then took Concubine Jin’s hand and recounted the events of the day.
“That Jiang Liuyan was brought back by the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. I noticed elder sister was also quite surprised. Auntie, shouldn’t this matter be brought to Madam’s attention?”
Concubine Jin was the daughter of a merchant family. Though her family was immensely wealthy, her status was lowly. Her ability to enter the Guogong Mansion as a concubine was not only due to her beauty but also her intelligence.
“Yes, Wan’er is right. It’s a pity for my child—she’s merely a cousin, yet she surpasses you. My child is a proper young lady of the Guogong Mansion.”
Concubine Jin disliked Jiang Liuyan. The Guogong Mansion had only four young ladies in total: apart from the toddler still learning to walk, there was the eldest young lady, Pei Yunshu, born to Madam, and then Jiang Liuyan and Pei Qingwan.
But that Jiang Liuyan was exceptionally capable and, being from Madam’s maternal family, she and her daughter could only keep their distance.
Today, however, was different.
“No matter how much Madam values that cousin, she cannot surpass her own flesh and blood. Go lie down. I’ll head to Madam’s quarters right away.”
Madam Jiang of the Guogong Mansion—though the Pei family’s Guogong Mansion was a top-ranking minister’s residence, when Jiang married Pei Yuanzheng, it was considered a marriage of lower status for her.
Jiang’s grandfather was a renowned great scholar of Dachen, who authored books and had disciples everywhere.
Though Pei Yuanzheng was a military general, somewhat rough around the edges, he was an upright man. Their eldest son was granted the title of heir at the age of ten, and Pei Yuanzheng had always respected his wife. There were also few people in the inner courtyard.
Jiang had always enjoyed smooth sailing and was naturally benevolent. What troubled her most now was her own daughter’s marriage arrangement.
As a young lady of the Guogong Mansion, many wished to marry her, yet none dared. Jiang had not been anxious initially, but now, the Crown Prince wanted to marry her daughter.
Whether marrying up or down, it was always better than entering the Eastern Palace. Jiang did not believe the Crown Prince sought her daughter’s hand merely out of affection.
With The Duke not yet returned, she could still delay, but how should she refuse later?
Today, Niannian went to the Princess’s residence, and she heard the Crown Prince was there too. If Niannian took a liking to him, as parents, they would truly be caught in a dilemma.
Jiang wore a worried expression today as the matron by her side entered.
“Madam, Concubine Jin is here.”
“Let her in. Have someone go check if the young lady and the cousin have returned yet.”
Madam Jiang had her come in, setting aside the troublesome matter for the moment.
When Concubine Jin entered, she wore a deeply troubled expression.
“What’s the matter?” Madam Jiang asked, observing Concubine Jin’s demeanor.
“Madam, Wan’er went out today and came back injured. I wanted to find a female physician to examine her.”
“Injured? How did that happen?” Madam Jiang had a favorable impression of Pei Qingwan. Both mother and daughter were honest and dutiful, and as the principal wife, she naturally wouldn’t make things difficult for them.
“That girl was careless, and her maidservants were incompetent. They said she fell and hurt her leg. I’m worried the child might have broken it.”
“That serious? I’ll have the mansion physician go examine her right away.” Madam Jiang promptly instructed the matron beside her to summon someone.
“This humble one thanks Madam. Madam and the young lady’s great kindness, this humble one and Wan’er will never forget.”
“Why is this related to Yunshu?”
Concubine Jin, knowing the mansion physician had been sent, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before replying to Madam Jiang.
“Today, Wan’er was outside and fortunately received the eldest young lady’s assistance. Otherwise, who knows how she would have returned home.”
“They are sisters in the family. Since they encountered each other, it’s only natural to lend a hand.” Madam Jiang nodded with satisfaction. In her view, her daughter was naturally kind-hearted, perfect in every way.
“This humble one must also apologize to the cousin. Because of Wan’er’s incident today, the eldest young lady borrowed the cousin’s carriage and even troubled the Crown Prince to escort the cousin back.”
Concubine Jin noticed Madam Jiang’s expression shift slightly, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, and knew she had said what needed to be said.
“That girl’s own carelessness ended up causing the eldest young lady trouble.”
“Wan’er is her younger sister. It’s normal for Yunshu to look after her when they’re outside. Speaking of which, after the child’s coming-of-age ceremony, we should arrange a meeting for her marriage.”
“This humble one lacks insight. Wan’er’s marriage naturally relies entirely on Madam’s arrangements.”
Madam Jiang exchanged a few pleasantries before sending Concubine Jin away.
After Concubine Jin left, Madam Jiang frowned and turned to ask the matron beside her.
“Has the young lady returned?”
“She has. I heard she went straight to her courtyard upon returning and shut herself in her room. It seems she’s not very happy.”
“Let’s go see her.”
At this moment, Pei Yunshu was sitting in her room, gazing at the scenery. She had grown tired of this courtyard before, but now she found a bit of novelty in it again.
She remembered that at this time, in the eyes of others, she and Xie Changyan were already in love. If she suddenly married Xie Yanchuan, in the eyes of scholars across the land, she would likely be labeled a femme fatale, a seductive consort bringing chaos.
Therefore, it had to be Xie Changyan who wronged her.
“Young lady.” Yuehua knocked and entered.
“Madam is here.”
“Why did Mother come suddenly?”
“I don’t know, but I heard from the matron that Concubine Jin went to Madam’s courtyard earlier.”
Pei Yunshu didn’t know what fate befell this mother and daughter in her previous life, but now they seemed like clever people.
“Let Mother in.” Pei Yunshu appeared somewhat listless.
Madam Jiang walked in and saw Pei Yunshu’s languid appearance. “What’s wrong? Who has upset our Niannian again?”
“I’m not upset.”
Madam Jiang sat down. “I heard Qingwan was injured today, and you helped her?”
“Hmm, I happened to see it when I returned from Princess Chang’s Mansion.”
“Didn’t Yan’er come back with you?” Madam Jiang probed.
“No.” Pei Yunshu turned her head away, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter.
“Did you ask the Crown Prince to send her back?” Madam Jiang asked directly.
“Mother is overthinking it. How could I, your daughter, have such great face to ask the Crown Prince to act as a carriage driver?” Pei Yunshu’s tone was dripping with sarcasm.
“Yan’er usually comes and goes with you, so she must have caught the Crown Prince’s attention. He likely just lent a hand casually. Don’t be so upset.”
Pei Yunshu’s expression softened slightly. “I understand.”
Madam Jiang coaxed her a few more words, and only when she saw Pei Yunshu’s face brighten with a smile did she rise to leave.
Upon returning to her own courtyard, Madam Jiang had just sat down and accepted the tea handed to her by a maid when an elderly servant came to report that after returning, the young lady had quietly cried in her room.
Hearing this, Madam Jiang merely nodded slightly.
“When one suffers grievances, it’s only by crying that others become aware. Take some pastries and fruits to comfort her a little.”