Jiang Shishu returned to her Yunshu Courtyard with a mind full of her own thoughts. She had expected her concubine mother to come over and pry for news, but to her surprise, the maid Hongyu came by to say that her mother was feeling tired and would invite her over to talk the following day instead.
The maid’s gaze was somewhat evasive, but Jiang Shishu was so preoccupied with her own secrets and the fear that her mother might notice something that she didn’t suspect a thing and simply nodded in agreement.
On this day, secrets took root and began to sprout in everyone’s hearts…
The Yuhua Courtyard, where Old Madame Wang resided, was currently packed with people.
Except for the youngest Wang son, Wang An, who was still keeping his cousin Pei Zisu company, everyone else was present. Some were excited and eager to facilitate this marriage, while others looked at Jiang Shiyuan with deep worry, unsure of how to speak their minds.
In the end, it was Aunt Pei who broke the deadlock.
Both sides were people she cherished—one was the niece she had raised herself, and the other was the nephew she was immensely proud of. If the two of them were to wed, it would be a beautiful story. Thus, she spoke first.
“We all know what kind of person Zisu is. He is skilled in both the civil and military arts, and he earned such a high position through his own merit at a young age; his ability goes without saying. Furthermore, the entire Pei clan will eventually be passed into his hands, so marrying him is indeed a good prospect. Though I live far away, I can tell you that there has never been any talk of bedchamber maids or concubines around him. I used to think he was just too young to be interested, but today he certainly showed some boldness, daring to ask for Shiyuan’s hand in front of so many people. That temperament is exactly the spirit of my Pei family.”
Third Cousin Wang Hong, who spent a lot of time by Pei Zisu’s side, immediately offered supporting evidence upon hearing his mother’s words.
“It’s true. Cousin Zisu spends most of his time in the military camps in Hanzhou. Even when he returns to the Pei residence, he only has a few male attendants serving him. You can’t even find a maidservant, let alone any concubines. There truly have never been any!”
This point pleased Old Madame Wang.
She had been married to the late Marquis for many years, and he likewise had no concubines. Decades ago, he had a bedchamber maid, but after their marriage, she was given a generous sum of money and sent away. Even the rooms of her sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters-in-law were free of such complications.
However, the Pei family was different. General Pei had a highly favored concubine who had even borne him children. Thus, Old Madame Wang was concerned that the men of the Pei family might be influenced by this, believing that the “blessing of a harem” was something to be enjoyed. If that were the case, she would not be in favor of the match.
Just as the thought arose, Marquis Wenyuan chimed in.
“My lady, there is no use in painting such a flowery picture. Look at how firm my brother-in-law’s attitude is; I fear this matter will be difficult to achieve!”
Seeing this, Aunt Pei hurriedly explained.
“The concerns my brother-in-law raised were nothing more than a fear that Shiyuan’s body wouldn’t be able to handle it. If she were marrying far away to some other place, I would certainly oppose it as well. But if she is marrying into Hanzhou, I believe it is for the best!”
“What do you mean?”
“Has the Marquis forgotten? When Shiyuan was gravely ill, if my sister-in-law hadn’t brought someone from Hanzhou to prescribe those Ningxiang Pills, she might not have grown up as well as she has today. If she truly marries into Hanzhou, she can receive meticulous care from that reclusive doctor every day. There might even be a chance for a complete recovery, don’t you think?”
These words caused Old Madame Wang’s resolve to waver significantly.
She had lived a comfortable life, and her greatest regret and worry now was that her granddaughter’s health would fail. Although Shiyuan appeared no different from a normal girl now, she was, in the end, still living on medicine.
Furthermore, the temperament of that reclusive doctor was incredibly eccentric.
They had sent many letters of invitation, and her son and daughter-in-law had even gone in person to request her services, but she refused to leave her seclusion to help again. Her message was clear: she would never leave Hanzhou. If Jiang Shiyuan moved there, perhaps she really would have a chance to be treated by that doctor again!
Aunt Pei, seeing the change in her mother-in-law’s expression, pressed her advantage.
“And one more thing. Weren’t you all curious why Zisu asked me those questions? In truth, the Ningxiang Pills that Shiyuan has been taking all these years have always been sent from Hanzhou. In ten years, the supply has never once been interrupted. I suspect no one besides that stubborn boy would be so attentive.”
When Aunt Pei revealed this, the expressions of those in the manor ranged from shock to calm realization. Only Jiang Shiyuan felt a profound sense of clarity.
It was him!
The Ningxiang Pills she had taken for so many years had been sent from Hanzhou by his hand.
She suddenly remembered her previous life: after Pei Zisu’s accidental death, her medicine had been cut off. Although a replacement was eventually found, the taste was slightly different from before. At the time, she thought she was simply terminally ill and her sense of taste was failing, but now she saw it clearly—there must have been something in the Ningxiang Pills that wasn’t listed on the prescription!
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have died of heart failure only two years after Pei Zisu’s passing.
Realizing that her ability to survive all these years was thanks to Pei Zisu’s efforts, a surge of complex emotions flooded her heart.
Was it gratitude? Was it shock? Or was it something else? Even she couldn’t quite tell.
“I didn’t realize this cousin from the Pei family was such a persistent person!”
“A man who leads troops in battle can’t afford not to be persistent,” the eldest brother Wang Su remarked. He spoke little, but his words made it clear he held much respect for Pei Zisu.
The sister-in-law, Madame Xiang, had initially been in the camp of those who didn’t want Shiyuan to marry far away, which was why she had tried to block the topic at the table. She hadn’t expected there to be so much history behind it.
Life was not easy for women.
To be so deeply cherished by someone who had given silently for so many years without ever asking for anything in return—to be honest, Madame Xiang didn’t know how to oppose it anymore. However, she had another layer of concern. Seeing her hesitation, her husband Wang Su knew she had something to say.
“My lady, we are all family here today. If you have something on your mind, speak plainly. This concerns Shiyuan’s life; we cannot be careless.”
“Since my husband has said so, I must speak.”
Madame Xiang’s eyes were filled with concern for Shiyuan as she spoke directly.
“The Pei clan has flourished for generations, and they naturally do not lack heirs. But Cousin Zisu is the legitimate eldest son of the primary branch. Mother also said that the entire Pei clan will be handed to him in the future. As such, the person standing beside him must be a primary wife capable of upholding the household. Shiyuan is intelligent and quick-witted; I’m sure she could handle those affairs without issue. But there is one thing: is her body fit for bearing children? The Pei family will surely expect Zisu to leave behind a bloodline. But if Shiyuan has to risk her life just to bear a single child, can we truly agree to such a marriage?”
As soon as she spoke, everyone in the room fell silent.
This included Aunt Pei, who had been actively promoting the match just a moment ago. She knew this was unavoidable; the issue of heirs could not be ignored in a clan like theirs. When she looked at Jiang Shiyuan, the certainty in her eyes began to waver.
With that reclusive doctor in the Pei family, protecting a pregnancy or raising a child might not be a problem. The real question was whether Jiang Shiyuan’s body could withstand the hardship and strain.
If an accident happened, what would they do?