The conversation about the little thief on the corridor came to an end. Pei Jing'an entered the hall first, with Suiying following behind. She quickly glanced toward the seat of honor.
Pei family's Sister-in-law, First Madam, appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six. She wore a Hu-style robe patterned with auspicious clouds, her hair laden with pearls and jade ornaments. Her bearing was dignified and imposing, and she held a fine string of pearls in her hands.
Before they could say anything, she rose and greeted them with delight, addressing them familiarly. “I hurried as much as I could yesterday, but I still couldn't make it into the city in time. Second Brother and Younger Sister-in-law, I hope you won't blame me for missing the wedding banquet last night.”
Pei Jing'an said nothing. He merely shifted to the side and glanced behind him.
Seeing this, Suiying bowed. “Sister-in-law.”
First Madam reached out affectionately and took Suiying's hand, leading her forward. Then she looked back at Pei Jing'an and said with a smile, “The person recommended by my maternal clan is indeed excellent. At a glance, I could tell she and Second Brother were a perfect match.”
She paused, then beckoned to a nanny. “Go and bring out the gift I prepared.”
As she was led to her seat, Suiying finally pieced together how this marriage had come about. It seemed that her father was not the only one who had contributed to it. There was also the Rouran Tribe.
No wonder Zhuying had said they were coming to present her with a gift.
First Madam looked at the two of them, her smile growing even broader. “You truly are newlyweds. Second Brother can't even tear his eyes away from Younger Sister-in-law, and his eyes are full of tenderness. Are the two of you trying to sweeten me to death?”
Listening to First Madam's teasing and feeling the hand holding hers, Suiying grew even more uncomfortable. For a moment, she did not know what to say, so she merely smiled.
She truly had no idea where to rest her eyes. She glanced to her left and saw that Pei Jing'an was indeed looking in their direction.
She thought to herself, His eyes are not full of tenderness at all. They're merely inquisitive.
Perhaps he had noticed that she had avoided everyone along the way and could now see her discomfort clearly. His gaze was only probing, nothing more.
His eyes were truly sharp. He could even observe such things.
Seeing her lower her eyes and bow her head, First Madam assumed she was shy. She smiled and said, “Second Brother, Younger Sister-in-law and I will talk about women's matters. We won't be able to keep you company, so make yourself at home. We're family.”
Pei Jing'an still did not speak. He simply rose and walked toward the side hall.
Once he had left, First Madam affectionately patted Suiying's hand and lowered her voice just enough to sound intimate without becoming secretive. “My tribe has long heard of the Luoyang Gu Clan's reputation. Your ancestors once served before the Emperor, and yours is a distinguished family. I wonder, have you taken over your ancestors' medical legacy?”
Suiying lowered her eyes to her skirt and took the opportunity to withdraw her hand. “I'm too dull. I can't understand those medical texts. I spend all day in the inner residence, hardly ever go out, and can't even recognize all the medicinal ingredients.”
First Madam laughed, not taking offense at Suiying's withdrawn hand, and continued making conversation. “The Northern Frontier sought you out this time for the sake of an alliance. Second Brother has remained single all these years, and his standards are higher than the sky. Not a single woman in the entire Northern Frontier has caught his eye. As his elder sister-in-law, there was only so much I could do, so whenever people from the various regions came to Hanhai to report on their duties, I had them look around for a suitable match.”
As she spoke, First Madam pushed a teacup toward Suiying, the smile on her face growing even wider. “As it happened, it was fate. My maternal clan's younger daughter-in-law is Han Chinese, and she happened to mention you to me. I discussed it with my husband and mother-in-law, then submitted the memorial to the capital. I didn't tell Second Brother—I acted first and reported afterward.”
Suiying silently grumbled, What sort of fate would single her out by name? She was an ill-omened person. Could it be that they truly knew nothing about that here?
Perhaps because Suiying did not speak, First Madam assumed that her male cousin had frightened her.
First Madam turned her head slightly to look toward the figure in the side hall and thought, With looks that surpass even a celestial maiden, and he still isn't satisfied?
She withdrew her gaze, took a sip of tea, then gestured with one hand as she continued the polite conversation. “What did you usually do to pass the time at home, Younger Sister-in-law? If you find the Northern Frontier difficult to adjust to, you can accompany Second Brother on his official business. You can ride horses, fish, or go hunting. As long as you and Second Brother treat each other with the respect and affection of a devoted married couple, you can do whatever you like.”
It was an ordinary enough question of concern, but Suiying had always been perceptive and immediately sensed what lay beneath it.
After taking a sip of tea, she replied, “I don't know how to ride a horse. I rarely went out at home either. I'm afraid that accompanying the Grand Protector would delay his official duties.”
That was what she said aloud, but inwardly she added: I don't know how to embroider or cook, either. I only know how to go into the mountains to gather herbs and compile medical texts.
Her answer was so direct and sincere that First Madam was momentarily stunned. “How would that delay anything? Second Brother can take you with him on his inspections. You can look around while you're there, and he can even teach you to ride and shoot. Xiamiao is very lively in the summer. When the time comes, I'll be waiting for Younger Sister-in-law to present me with the customary gift.”
Suiying had not expected her to bring up the gift. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she rose and bowed. “Sister-in-law, please don't hold it against me. The imperial decree from the capital came too quickly, and I had no time to prepare anything.”
First Madam waved her hand and pulled her back down into her seat. Her tone was warm and familiar, like that of an elder sister in the family. “It's nothing. You can give it to me when Xiamiao comes around.”
Suiying said, “I'm afraid Sister-in-law will be disappointed. Let alone riding a horse—I have never even drawn a bow.”
The smile on First Madam's face grew even wider, and her tone was full of pride. “Don't worry. Second Brother's horsemanship and archery are unmatched throughout the entire Northern Frontier. When the time comes, you can give me the gift through him. That will do just as well.”
Suiying had not expected that she would still be unable to decline. Fidgeting with her hands, she turned her head toward the figure in the side hall. Unexpectedly, he was looking in her direction at that very moment, and their eyes met.
Pei Jing'an had been watching her ever since she rose to bow in apology. Now she was facing him directly, her beauty radiant and striking. Yet the eyes fixed on him remained cool and distant, as if she was unwilling to open her mouth and ask him for help.
In truth, Suiying had already made up her mind. She was simply considering what First Madam's words meant.
An event as grand as Xiamiao would surely be attended in full by the three protectorates and the twenty-four states.
She had no idea whether this Sister-in-law genuinely wanted her to practice horsemanship and archery, or whether she wanted her to make a fool of herself in front of everyone.
Suiying parted her lips, about to refuse, but the man's deep voice spoke first. “Since Sister-in-law has put it that way, she must want you to practice horsemanship and archery properly and compete with you herself.”
First Madam immediately said, “Then this teacher of yours, Second Brother, will have to teach Younger Sister-in-law personally, hand over hand. Since you are newlyweds, it will be a good way to cultivate your affection.”
Suiying glanced at Madam Sun's face. Her sincerity was unmistakable, and her eyes were filled with earnestness. Suiying thought, It seems I was being too suspicious.
When Suiying fell silent again, Pei Jing'an rose from the side hall and walked out. He glanced at her.
Suiying gathered her wits and said softly, “Grand Protector, just don't find me too stupid.”
“Have you still not changed the way you address him since last night?” Madam Sun asked in surprise, looking between the newlywed couple.
Suiying wondered, Change it to what?
Husband?
Second Brother?
Both were too intimate. She could not bring herself to say either one.
Pei Jing'an suddenly added, the faintest, nearly imperceptible smile touching his lips, “Yingying is shy. Sister-in-law, you'd better stop. If you keep this up, Yingying will die of embarrassment. On the way back, she certainly won't be willing to speak to me again.”
Madam Sun smiled knowingly and waved a hand, saying no more.
Hearing the affectionate teasing between the sister-in-law and brother-in-law, along with those two intimate calls of “Yingying,” Suiying grew even more uncomfortable and instinctively shifted in her seat.
The visit did not end until nearly half an hour later. During that time, Madam Sun did most of the talking, while Suiying answered her.
As they were leaving, a maid from the residence came out carrying a box.
Madam Sun took it and personally placed it in Suiying's hands. “It's only a small token of my affection. Take it.”
Suiying glanced at Pei Jing'an. Only after seeing him nod did she accept the gift.
A smile lifted Madam Sun's face as she teased them again. “You really are a case of the husband leading and the wife following. All right, Second Brother's eyes are stuck to you, so I won't keep you here for a meal. Once your Elder Brother returns, we'll go to the Grand Protector's Residence together.”
Suiying inclined her head slightly. “Thank you, Sister-in-law. Then the Grand Protector and I will wait at the residence for Elder Brother and Sister-in-law.”
Pei Jing'an's gaze swept over her once before he went out ahead of her.
Holding the box, she hurried after him, faintly catching the delicate scent of medicinal herbs wafting from within.