The next day, as the sky began to pale, Suiying had already risen and dressed. She sat behind the desk, organizing the unfinished manuscript she had begun at the temple.
She had no trouble adjusting to the side courtyard of the Grand Protector’s Residence. She was not particular about where she slept, and had slept very well.
Even so, she still disliked having people wait on her. She had not even summoned A-Tao, the maid who had accompanied her, to attend to her.
Suiying had only organized half the manuscript when a maid’s inquiring voice came from outside the door. “Madam, are you awake?”
“Come in.”
The maid in charge of the rear court of the Grand Protector’s Residence entered alongside A-Tao and bowed deferentially. “Please forgive me, Madam. You had been traveling for so long, so I thought you would sleep in. I never expected you to have risen so early.”
Suiying finished putting the manuscript away before turning and stepping out. “It’s nothing. From now on, unless there is some necessary social engagement, you needn’t come to attend me.”
The maid in charge bowed respectfully, puzzled. What did Madam mean by that?
Unable to fathom this new Madam, the maid changed the subject. “My name is Zhuying. I oversee the household affairs of the inner residence. Songtao manages the front residence and attends to the Grand Protector’s daily needs.”
At the mention of that man, Suiying instinctively glanced toward the door.
Her quarters were far from the main residence and very quiet. She had no idea how late the banquet at the residence had lasted the previous night, or when that man had returned to the main residence.
Zhuying kept her head lowered and continued, “Yesterday, the Grand Protector and Madam completed the wedding rites. By rights, you should return to the ancestral residence to pay your respects. We also need to select some gifts of thanks to take there. Let A-Tao and me dress your hair for you.”
Suiying nodded and turned to sit before the dressing table by the window.
She had originally wanted to ask who the elders of the family were, but then felt it would be inappropriate, so she simply let the matter go.
As the new bride, she ought to pay her respects—but what did Zhuying mean by gifts of thanks? What was she supposed to be thanking them for?
After dressing again in the room, Suiying gave an instruction before leaving. “There’s no need to tidy my room.”
Zhuying secretly stole a glance at the Madam’s distant expression, then lowered her head and acknowledged the order.
As they stepped onto the covered corridor, Zhuying asked in a formal, methodical manner, “Once Madam has rested, I can accompany you into town to purchase fabric and furnishings. You can also look over the courtyards in the residence and decide how you would like them arranged.”
Suiying’s gaze slowly swept over the grounds and fell on the empty flower bed. The soil would be quite suitable for growing some small medicinal herbs.
But she immediately dismissed the thought. She did not know how long she would be staying here. It would not be appropriate for her to say anything about arranging the place.
Lifting her skirts as she walked on, she said indifferently, “We’ll talk about it later.”
Zhuying assumed that Madam had simply not adjusted to the residence yet. Once they returned from paying their respects, she would bring over the household ledgers, and Madam would gradually become familiar with everything.
They did not linger. When they reached the corridor connecting to the main residence, they found the doors to the main residence shut tight.
Suiying thought that he had probably gone to the ancestral residence alone.
That worked out well. On the way back, she could take a look at the shops along the streets and see what sort of businesses they were running. That would help her lay out a path for the future.
It was better to prepare for trouble in advance than to be caught off guard—and better than ending up wandering the streets later.
Suiying walked all the way to the entrance of the residence, where she saw a tall figure outside and abruptly stopped.
Pei Jing’an was dressed in close-fitting Hu clothing and was reading an official document. Catching sight of the figure at the gate from the corner of his eye, he looked over twice, then closed the document and handed it out, giving a few instructions. “Loosen the bait for a few days. Otherwise, the fish won’t bite.”
Behind him stood a burly man: Songtao, the steward of the front residence. He took the document and immediately went to lead out the horses.
Before long, two rows of guards brought a carriage forward and waited outside the gate.
Suiying lifted her skirts and stepped through the gate, secretly glancing at that figure. After a moment’s thought, she took the initiative to greet him. “Grand Protector.”
Pei Jing’an raised a hand, inviting her to board the carriage, then suddenly asked, “Have you adjusted?”
Her expression remained cool and distant, but her eyes no longer seemed as hollow as they had been when they first met.
Today, her dark hair was coiled into a rounded bun piled with pearls and jade ornaments. She wore a light-blue brocade jacket and skirt patterned with peacocks, with a long shawl draped over her arms. The attire made her appear even more dignified and gentle.
Suiying had not expected him to ask that. Her steps paused, and she turned back to look at him. “Thank you for your concern, Grand Protector. I have no trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places.”
That must be what he was asking, right?
She thought her ability to adapt was quite good. The Grand Protector’s Residence was superior to the temple in every respect. For a moment, she had even felt as though she had returned to the Gu family of her youth.
Pei Jing’an nodded, the corners of his lips lifting faintly.
She happened to tilt her head slightly and caught that barely perceptible smile at the corner of his mouth. Somewhat puzzled, she wondered whether he had been waiting for her to ask him the same question.
So she had guessed wrong. He had not been asking whether she was accustomed to her new surroundings.
He had been asking whether she was accustomed to her new identity.
With that thought, Suiying asked him in return, “And you, Grand Protector? Have you adjusted?”
Pei Jing’an smiled and replied, “I adapt quickly too. I also have no trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places.”
With that, he gathered up the hem of his robe and mounted his horse.
“???”
Suiying frowned slightly as she looked at him. What did he mean by that? Was he deliberately throwing her words back at her?
He was already twenty-three, yet he was this childish?
Seeing her expression change, Pei Jing’an stopped while he was ahead. He was afraid that saying more would make her even more distant.
Suiying also pulled herself together, lifted her skirts, and stepped onto the mounting block to board the carriage.
Once the carriage set off and passed through the main street, the clamor of voices drifted inside, only to be left behind soon afterward.
After traveling quietly for about half an hour, the carriage rocked and came to a stop. Outside, people began greeting Pei Jing’an.
A short while later, someone knocked on the carriage window from outside. The curtain was lifted, and the man’s resolute face appeared before her.
Pei Jing’an extended a hand toward her, the same smile from outside the residence appearing once more at the corners of his mouth. “Come out.”
Suiying looked at the hand in front of her, momentarily unsure how to refuse. Keeping her expression composed, she lightly placed her hand on his bracer.
As she leaned forward to step out of the carriage, she suddenly heard him deliberately lower his voice. “Madam should believe me now. I really do adapt very quickly.”
Suiying glanced at him, almost amused. How could this man be like this? So he had been waiting for this moment.
He had made himself perfectly clear, yet she still could not bring herself to call him “husband.”
The moment she stepped down and steadied herself, someone came over from the entrance of the residence. Suiying quickly withdrew her hand and folded it in front of her.
The old steward first bowed to Pei Jing’an. “Second Master, the Old Madam is bedridden. Eldest Master has not yet returned from his spring inspection, so Eldest Madam will receive Madam.”
Pei Jing’an nodded, then raised a hand to invite Suiying inside. Together, they entered the Pei Family Ancestral Residence.
Once they were inside, he explained as they walked, “This is the first branch. Eldest Aunt is Hu, and the principal wife of the residence—Sister-in-law—is Hu as well. They are from the Rouran Tribe, and the Central Plains bestowed the surname Sun upon them.”
Suiying walked two steps behind him. Hearing him deliberately lower his voice to explain, she gave a quiet acknowledgment. “Mm.”
Pei Jing’an glanced back at her twice. She did not ask any questions and looked utterly unconcerned, as though none of it had anything to do with her.
Thinking of the way she had arranged matters the previous night, he seemed to understand.
She was plainly dissatisfied with him. Why would she take the trouble to learn about these things?
As they continued along the corridor, Pei Jing’an said quietly, “Elder Brother is the Anbei Deputy Grand Protector, an official of the fourth rank. He has gone on his spring inspection and may not make it back in time, but you’ll meet him eventually.”
Suiying asked, “Spring inspection?”
She did not know whether it was like the ones described in the ancient books she had read: spring inspections, autumn inspections, winter inspections, with troops taking turns patrolling the various passes in succession.
She had heard that to the east of Hanhai lay vast mountain ranges and dense forests, where many precious medicinal herbs grew.
She had read about that in her ancestors’ medical texts when she was young. Back then, she had dreamed of tasting every herb under heaven and becoming a physician who could save the world.
Who could have imagined that fate would arrange things this way, binding her in a prison of prejudice with the chains of worldly convention?
Leaving her unable to walk freely, unable to cry out.
Pei Jing’an turned his head. Seeing her lowered lashes, curved like fans, he was afraid that saying it plainly would frighten her. Remembering the scene at the guesthouse, he explained as they walked, “It just means catching a few petty thieves.”
Suiying instinctively looked up at him. His dark eyes shifted slightly.
He had been deliberately teasing her. Petty thieves hardly needed a fourth-rank official to catch them.