Yueying was the personal female guard prepared for Pei Yunshu by the Guogong Mansion. She usually remained hidden in the shadows, and Pei Yunshu rarely had occasion to use her.
Now that she thought about it, she ought to make full use of her.
“Yuehua, where is my original pot of flowers? Why can’t I see it?” Pei Yunshu fiddled with a potted flowering tree placed on the wooden table by her canopy bed.
“The jasmine that the young miss sent? A few days ago, you said you didn’t like the look of it and asked me to send it away.”
“Where was it sent?” In the past few days, Pei Yunshu had still been somewhat dazed, only knowing that she had to throw out all the things that would harm her in the future.
“It was sent to the flower room, to be cared for by the gardener first.” Yuehua certainly wouldn’t throw things away. The eldest young lady was impulsive, and as Pei Yunshu’s chief maid, she naturally had to act with thoroughness.
“Bring it back. The flower my cousin sent was requested from a Buddhist temple and carefully tended for so long. How could we just throw it to the flower room?”
Yuehua had a young maid bring back the pot of white orchid. She had originally thought to return it to its original place, but Pei Yunshu only glanced at it from afar.
“No, I like this flower now, that pot of white magnolia.”
Pei Yunshu stared at it for a while.
“Find a place to put it for now. Just have the maids take care of it daily. Just don’t put it in front of me.”
One important reason Yuehua could become Pei Yunshu’s chief maid was that she never contradicted her mistress and rarely raised doubts.
“Yes.”
Yuehua didn’t let the maid carrying the flower enter but directly had her take it away. Watching the young maid walk off into the distance, Yuehua had seen clearly these past few days that the eldest young lady seemed to have developed some estrangement from her cousin.
“Yuehua, has a female physician gone to the second young lady’s courtyard?”
“She has. It was only said that she sprained her ankle, nothing serious, but she needs to rest for a few days.”
“Go to my storeroom and pick out a few things. See what Wan’er likes. I’ll go visit her.”
It was now midsummer, and the light inside the rooms was dim. Concubine Jin had set up a soft couch in the courtyard with a small table beside it. Pei Qingwan reclined on the couch, holding a book in her hands, while Concubine Jin sat nearby doing needlework.
When Pei Yunshu arrived, she didn’t have anyone announce her but went straight to the courtyard.
“The eldest young lady is here.” Concubine Jin was startled. Pei Yunshu rarely came to their side. Why had she come today without sending word in advance?
“Concubine Jin.” Pei Yunshu gave a slight nod. Such was the hierarchy in the mansion—it wasn’t just a matter of distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children; more importantly, it depended on the status of the wives’ and concubines’ maternal families.
Concubine Jin’s maternal family were merchants, of lowly status. Although Pei Qingwan was her daughter, she was still a young lady of the Guogong Mansion. In public, she had to address her own mother as “concubine.”
Concubine Jin was somewhat ingratiating toward Pei Yunshu, which Pei Qingwan saw clearly, but she felt that Pei Yunshu wouldn’t mind.
“Concubine, please go prepare some tea and snacks for elder sister.”
Concubine Jin responded, “Alright, I’ll go right away. You two chat, you two chat.”
Concubine Jin did indeed intend to curry favor with Pei Yunshu. In the capital, whether it was banquet invitations or outings among the young masters and ladies, the invitations were all sent to Pei Yunshu.
Nowadays, although invitations are still extended to Jiang Liuyan, it was initially Pei Yunshu who brought Jiang Liuyan into the public eye, which eventually led to her reputation for talent spreading far and wide.
Concubine Jin believed that her daughter was no less capable than that cousin, but being confined within the deep courtyards of the mansion, no matter how remarkable she was, outsiders would never know.
Now, if Pei Yunshu could take her daughter out more often, she might earn a reputation for virtue before her engagement, increasing her chances of marrying into a better family.
“All of you, step outside. I wish to speak with my sister alone.” Pei Qingwan dismissed the servants attending her.
Pei Yunshu sat there, observing the small courtyard. “This courtyard is quite well-maintained.”
“My mother and I seldom go out, so we’ve put more effort into tending the courtyard.”
“Not going out won’t do. You’ve come of age this year. How will you find a good husband if you don’t step outside?” Pei Yunshu sat by the small table nearby, resting her chin on her hand as she smiled warmly at Pei Qingwan.
“Right?”
“My marriage is a matter for the Madam to worry about.”
“Mother’s concern is her affair, but you should also take some initiative. A good reputation can make people notice you more. Look at Cousin—isn’t she now renowned for her talent?”
Pei Qingwan fell silent for a moment, recalling what she had witnessed yesterday and the faint ache in her ankle. At this moment, she had never been more clear-headed.
Though she didn’t know what discord had arisen between Pei Yunshu and Jiang Liuyan, Pei Qingwan recognized this as an excellent opportunity.
Whatever Pei Yunshu had given Jiang Liuyan in the past would now be given to her.
For every bit Jiang Liuyan lost, she would gain.
“Is your foot alright?” Pei Yunshu asked with a hint of apology, as this incident had been an unwarranted misfortune for Pei Qingwan.
“It was entirely my own carelessness. Thanks to you yesterday, there’s no need to worry.”
Pei Qingwan was convinced that her injury was merely an accident, and anyone would see it the same way.
Pei Yunshu was not the type to be excessively kind-hearted. Since Pei Qingwan was sensible, it conveniently saved her the trouble.
“It seems I was blind before. You’ve always been quiet, yet you’re quite clever.”
“You flatter me, sister. It’s just a bit of petty cleverness, nothing worth mentioning.”
A maid brought in tea and snacks. Pei Yunshu picked up a teacup and took a sip. “I have two boxes of fine jasmine tea. I’ll have a maid bring one over for you later.”
“Alright.” Pei Qingwan accepted straightforwardly. Pei Yunshu felt pleased. Good—when she gave something, the recipient should acknowledge her gesture and accept it graciously.
But in the past, she had given Jiang Liuyan many things—fine tea, fabrics, jewelry, and stationery. Jiang Liuyan would always refuse, forcing Pei Yunshu to offer repeatedly before reluctantly accepting.
Pei Yunshu had grown accustomed to this, as her mother had said that Cousin, having lost both parents, was sensitive and needed extra consideration. Over time, Pei Yunshu had come to accept it as normal.
It was almost laughable. In her previous life, when she was bedridden with illness, Xie Changyan had spoken of these matters, and only then did she realize that accepting those gifts had felt like charity and humiliation to Jiang Liuyan.
“Many people dislike clever individuals, but in this world, it’s often the clever ones who thrive. Those who aren’t clever are destined to be stepping stones.”
Pei Yunshu stood up and looked at Pei Qingwan.
“But truly wise people are clever in a way only they themselves know, right?”
Pei Qingwan looked thoughtfully at Pei Yunshu. It seemed she had never truly understood this elder sister of hers either.
“Sister is right.”
Only after Pei Yunshu had left did Concubine Jin approach. “Wan’er, how did it go? What did the eldest young lady want with you?”
Pei Qingwan looked at her mother. “Mother need not worry. It’s a good thing.”
“A good thing?” Concubine Jin was puzzled. Pei Qingwan smiled and lowered her head to read her book. This was an opportunity—her only opportunity. Pei Yunshu had handed it to her, and it was also a chance for her and her mother to rise to a higher level.
Concubine Jin watched from the side. She did not know her daughter’s plans, but she had never seen Wan’er wear such a relaxed and cheerful expression before.
Pei Yunshu actually did not know what fate had befallen Pei Qingwan in her previous life. After she married into the Eastern Palace in her past life, she was almost completely cut off from the outside world.
Even when meeting her family, she was given medicine that left her mind unclear.
Though she did not know which deity had taken pity on her, allowing her to be reborn, what did she have to fear now? She would gamble boldly—this time, she absolutely would not lose.
Her greatest variable… Pei Yunshu casually plucked a flower as she passed by. It was the current emperor of Dachen, her Tutor. Did he see her as a junior, or did he truly harbor romantic feelings for her?
What she had failed to see clearly in her previous life remained unknown to her now. Pei Yunshu tugged at the petals in her hand. Had Teacher harbored feelings for her in her past life?
Yuehua walked up to Pei Yunshu. “Eldest Young Lady.”
“Teacher Yan has sent a letter.”