In the middle of the banquet, a maid received Pei Jing'an's signal and came to invite Suiying to bathe and freshen up.
She glanced at the man beside her from the corner of her eye, then looked toward the wives and female relatives seated below who had not yet left. Raising her hand slightly, she said with a faint smile, “There’s no rush. I’m not tired yet. I’m enjoying hearing the madams speak about the local customs and scenery.”
Pei Jing'an looked over but said nothing, his expression showing that he understood.
Someone among those seated below noticed and was about to rise, but the Grand Protector at the head of the room gestured for them to remain seated.
The banquet continued. About fifteen minutes later, a civil official rose and cupped his hands in reminder. “Grand Protector, since all the wedding rites have been kept simple, the nuptial cup ceremony of the Central Plains cannot be omitted. Please enter the bridal chamber with Madam to perform the nuptial cup ceremony before returning to the banquet.”
Suiying no longer had any excuse to refuse and could only rise and follow the maid to the main courtyard.
As she walked along the corridor, she surveyed her surroundings. Just like the front courtyard, nothing had been decorated.
Even the bridal chamber was simply furnished: a pair of wedding candles, and on the table, two halves of a gourd tied together with a red cord, each filled with wine.
On the new bed lay two brocade quilts. Gauze curtains hung from their hooks, and beside the window stood an empty dressing case.
The maid in charge of the rear courtyard brought over the gourd halves and bowed. “Please perform the nuptial cup ceremony, Grand Protector and Madam.”
Pei Jing'an stood before the table and reached out to take one half of the gourd, indicating that she should do the same.
When Suiying saw him move, she also took up one half. Their hands met, and she tipped her head back to drink with her eyes closed, not looking at him.
He glanced at her while drinking. She was far too calm, as though she were certain of something deep within.
The two of them finished the wine, signifying that the ceremony was complete.
The maids of the residence wound the two gourd halves together with red thread and placed them carefully in a box. Then they bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Only A-Tao, who had accompanied Suiying, and the maid in charge of the residence's rear courtyard remained in the room. The latter bowed and asked, “Madam’s dowry has been moved in. I noticed that Madam has quite a few bamboo slips. Should I have them arranged in the main courtyard?”
Before the man could answer, Suiying spoke first. “As the Grand Protector said, once the nuptial cup ceremony is complete, the wedding rites are considered finished. That means I am now the Mistress of the Grand Protector's Residence?”
As she spoke, she intentionally glanced at his expression twice, then calmly looked away.
Pei Jing'an tucked his robe aside and sat down on his own. He looked up at her, unable to tell what she meant, and simply nodded. “Naturally. What Madam says goes.”
At his nod, the heart that had been hanging tensely inside Suiying finally settled. “The Grand Protector is busy with military and political affairs, and even has to chase petty thieves. You must be tired after traveling all the way back. I’ll choose another room to rest in. How does that sound?”
Pei Jing'an nearly laughed when he heard her. She really was skilled at finding excuses to avoid sharing the bridal chamber.
Besides, every word she said was a pointed return for the things he had said to her at the inn.
“An excellent arrangement.” He looked at her, the smile at the corner of his mouth unreadable.
She understood the moment he finished speaking. He was dissatisfied with this marriage as well. Although he was a military warlord in his own domain, there were still many things he could not decide for himself.
For example, this marriage arranged by the emperor.
On the surface, he simply did not dare refuse. Therefore, her attempt to avoid sharing the bridal chamber suited him perfectly.
And it suited her just as well.
There was something she had yet to make clear to him. If something truly happened between them tonight, and she became burdened with a child afterward, then he discovered that she was an ill-fated woman, he might think she had been so eager to use a child to secure her position as Mistress of the Grand Protector's Residence.
With that thought, Suiying raised her eyes to meet his gaze. “We have been traveling for so long. I would like to rest properly for a while. Allow me to take my leave.”
After a pause, before he could say anything, she continued, “You must be tired after pursuing that petty thief for so long as well, Grand Protector. Drink less and go to bed early.”
Pei Jing'an looked at her. Her eyes remained distant. He smiled faintly. “Madam is the Mistress of the Grand Protector's Residence. Whatever Madam arranges is what shall be done. Everything will be as Madam wishes.”
Hearing him indulge her with the same words again, Suiying turned her face away and refused to look at him.
She adjusted her shawl and gestured for the maid to lead the way, then turned and walked outside.
Pei Jing'an watched as she passed beside him. Her blue-green shawl stirred the air and brushed across his riding boot before she left his room.
He adjusted his posture and watched her step onto the corridor, her pace unhurried and graceful.
She truly was a noble lady from one of the two capitals of the Central Plains. Even though her clan had fallen into decline and no longer possessed its former splendor, her bearing remained, her back proud and straight.
On the journey back, Zhao Wende had reported her circumstances to him. He already knew what the situation was like in the third branch of the Gu family.
It seemed she really had been forced into coming here. Otherwise, she would not have fled to live in a temple.
Suddenly, Pei Huan's voice came from the corridor. “Second Brother, come out quickly! You still haven’t given me my red envelope.”
Pei Jing'an rose and left the main courtyard as well. At the mention of the red envelope, he remembered what his new wife had said to Pei Huan at the wedding banquet.
All that talk about not having prepared a gift had merely been an excuse. She had not brought one at all.
After thinking for a moment, he said to his approaching younger brother and several attendants, “Keep an eye on Madam’s safety when she leaves the residence.”
Zhao Wende glanced at him and lowered his voice. “Rest assured, Grand Protector. I’ll have someone watch her without leaving her side.”
Pei Jing'an stopped in his tracks and unconsciously glanced toward the rear courtyard.
Speaking of watching someone, it was indeed best to remain vigilant—but not because of Suiying. There was someone else.
He withdrew his gaze and curled his lips slightly. “What do you mean, ‘watch her’?”
Zhao Wende immediately lowered his head. “I mean to keep watch over Madam’s safety. This subordinate misspoke.”
Pei Huan laughed beside them. “You did misspeak. The customs here in the Northern Frontier are heavily influenced by the Hu, yet Older Brother went out of his way to perform the Han rites of the Central Plains. That means he’s very satisfied with Second Sister-in-Law. Hand over the red envelope.”
Following behind them, Zhao Wende still sounded sullen. “Only Pei Huan has the leisure to demand a red envelope. I really wonder what the First Household was thinking, choosing a Madam like this.”
Pei Jing'an said nothing. He walked calmly toward the front courtyard, remembering the marriage document that had been sent to him.
When he saw the name written on it, he had thought that the Gu family must have been training her as their successor.
Suiying—
Someone who could both soothe people's hearts and shoulder great responsibilities.
He had carried the meaning of her name with him as he waited for a long time. Then, on that day at the inn, he had lifted the gauze veil of her hat with his saber. Her expression had remained utterly calm; even with Mount Taishan collapsing before her, she had not changed color.
She truly was like her name.
With that thought, he could not help remembering what had just happened in the main courtyard.
Judging by her reaction, it seemed she was silently competing with him.
She really would not tolerate suffering even the slightest loss, and returned every one of his barbs.
The steward of the front courtyard hurried over along the corridor and bowed. “Grand Protector, shall I arrange the ancestral rites for tomorrow?”
Pei Jing'an paused on the corridor. “No need.”
She was already deeply unwilling. Making her pay respects to her parents and ancestors would only make her feel even more uncomfortable.
Since she did not wish to go, he was not the sort of person to force the matter.
Two steps behind him, Zhao Wende immediately asked, “Then shall we arrange for the three Military Governors under your jurisdiction to come and pay their respects to Madam?”
They were not even going to perform the ancestral rites. It seemed the Grand Protector intended to maintain appearances only.
Pei Jing'an silently calculated the date and continued forward. “We’ll discuss it when we travel in the fifth month.”
Pei Huan watched his elder brother, whose expression remained as usual. Not knowing what he was thinking, and wishing to help his brother and Second Sister-in-Law deepen their feelings quickly, he smiled and said, “Then Second Sister-in-Law will be going to the First Household tomorrow to meet Sister-in-Law, and Older Brother will accompany her. I’ll go on the spring inspection alone.”
Pei Jing'an nodded and casually replied, “I should accompany her.”
They had only just married. If he did not accompany her there, she would lose face and be unable to establish herself among the women of the Northern Frontier.
As the First Madam of the Northern Frontier, how could she be made to suffer such grievances?