Not long after returning to the manor, the people sent by Zhou Sinian relayed everything they had uncovered to Pei Yunting.
The old woman’s story had indeed been true.
The young lady she spoke of was Xu Wanyao, the only daughter of the magistrate of Huai County. She had been her father’s precious treasure, blessed with both beauty and talent.
Had fate been kinder, even if her life was never destined to be extraordinary, she would at least have lived peacefully, married the man she loved, and enjoyed a smooth, prosperous future.
Instead, she encountered Li Rao—the greatest calamity of her life.
Her family was destroyed, and she herself fell from the clouds into the mud.
Xu Wanyao’s maternal family had searched for her, but Li Rao had already arranged everything behind the scenes. As mere merchants with no influence in official circles, they found nothing. They believed the false information Li Rao spread and even erected a symbolic grave for her.
There were many girls like Xu Wanyao in Li Rao’s residence.
Some had been abducted by force.
Others had been tricked through various means.
Each was young and beautiful in her own way.
Some had only just celebrated their tenth birthday.
Those who earned Li Rao’s favor were elevated to the rank of concubine, spoiled with fine food and clothing, their every whim indulged.
Those who fell out of favor, like Xu Wanyao, were fortunate enough merely to have food and shelter.
Should they fall gravely ill, they were simply left to die.
In the end, their corpses would be wrapped in a straw mat and discarded in the mass graves, where another fragrant life quietly vanished.
Many of them had once been the cherished daughters of loving parents, raised in wealthy households.
Yet here, they had become nothing more than playthings in Li Rao’s bed.
Had that old woman not encountered them that night, Xu Wanyao’s fate would likely have been no different—buried beneath countless nameless bones in the mass grave until the world forgot she had ever existed.
After hearing everything, Pei Yunting remained silent for a long time.
She had been fortunate.
Born into a family of military generals, she had been cherished by her elders, brothers, and sisters since childhood.
Her childhood sweetheart was the Third Prince whom everyone respected and feared.
Her closest friend was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
She was surrounded by shadow guards, possessed exceptional martial arts herself, and even had a maid skilled in combat.
Because of this, such worries had never crossed her mind.
But those girls…
They were still so young.
Their lives stretched long before them.
Yet they had been imprisoned within those cramped courtyards, forced to flatter a man for favor or face death, living lives utterly different from the ones they had once known.
Pei Yunting tossed and turned in bed.
Unable to sleep through half the night, she simply got up and wrote a letter to Yan Huaijin.
For once, she did not bicker with him in her letter.
Instead, she briefly recounted everything Zhou Sinian had discovered and told him she no longer intended to stop Li Rao from accompanying Prince Yi on the military expedition.
After all, that man courted death wherever he went.
Better that he die on the road, his corpse left to rot in the wilderness, paying with his life for all the women he had ruined.
Once Li Rao departed, she and Zhou Sinian would find an opportunity to rescue all the women imprisoned in the courtyard and settle them somewhere safe.
Still…
He needed to be taught a lesson first.
Ten days later, Prince Yi and Li Rao had already traveled some distance with their entourage.
As night fell, they pitched camp in a forest beside the official road to rest.
After eating and drinking his fill, Li Rao stepped out of his tent to find a secluded place to relieve himself.
Just as he loosened his belt—
A burlap sack was suddenly pulled over his head.
Darkness swallowed his vision.
He flailed wildly, but his hands and feet were swiftly bound with ropes before he was tossed beneath the roots of a tree.
Alarmed and uncertain, he could only bluff loudly.
“Who are you?! How dare you kidnap an imperial official! Do you know who I am?! If you know what’s good for you, hurry and—Mmgh!!”
Finding him unbearably noisy, Pei Yunting kicked him without hesitation and threatened viciously,
“I don’t care who you are. Keep shouting, and I’ll cut your tongue out.”
Hearing this, Li Rao immediately stopped struggling, hoping to appear obedient.
Afraid she truly meant it, he hurriedly said,
“Heroine, please show mercy. I won’t curse anymore. Why have you tied me up? Is it for money? Or—”
Zhou Sinian gave him another kick.
“Who told you to keep talking?”
“I… I was only curious what you two wanted.”
The pair answered in perfect unison, utterly impatient.
“To uphold justice on Heaven’s behalf!”
Midwinter winds carried bitter snow.
Even beneath the brilliant sun, there was not the slightest warmth.
Pei Yunting had already changed into a padded winter jacket.
Its fluffy collar softened her usual noble bearing, making her appear unexpectedly adorable.
It had been over two months since Yan Huaijin left Yanjing.
In only a few more days, it would be Pei Yunting’s coming-of-age ceremony.
No matter how she inquired, there was still no news of his return.
Gradually, she stopped hoping.
At first, she had planned to give him the cold shoulder for several days once he returned, making him apologize for arriving late.
But as the ceremony drew near, preparations became so busy that she no longer had time to dwell on him.
When a girl reached fifteen years of age, she underwent her hairpin ceremony.
To women, the Ji Li was every bit as significant as a man’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Afterward, discussions of marriage officially became appropriate.
Everyone in the Marquis Manor—especially the main branch—treated the occasion with great importance.
Pei Yaosheng had already gone through it herself.
Every day without fail, she came to Pei Yunting’s room to teach her the etiquette she would need.
Pei Changfeng was more reserved.
His way of showing concern differed, but whenever he found spare time, he would bring Pei Zhonghan to visit her, either to play chess or spar together.
Pei Yunting understood their intentions.
The little sister they had raised with such care had now reached marriageable age.
Pei Yaosheng’s marriage had already been settled.
Soon enough…
It would be her turn.
Whenever the thought crossed their minds, none of them could bear it.
On the day of the ceremony, the Zhen’an Marquis Manor was packed with guests.
Every family on good terms with them had come.
Among them were Zhou Sinian’s family, the Yongchang Marquis Manor, and Jiang Xinyue, the youngest daughter of the Censor, who had become close friends with Pei Yunting during their time at the Hanlin Academy.
Although the Empress could not attend personally, she lavishly bestowed numerous gifts, all delivered by Yan Huaize himself.
The honored guest presiding over the ceremony was none other than Hanlin Academy Scholar Gao Zhiyi, whom Pei Yunting had personally invited through a handwritten letter.
Scholar Gao cherished talented students.
Pei Yunting’s Slender Gold calligraphy possessed both spirit and elegance, and her literary talent ranked among the finest in the entire Hanlin Academy.
So even though Pei Yunting and Yan Huaijin had practically turned the Hanlin Academy upside down in those years, Scholar Gao had never once scolded her.
Once the ceremony began, dressed in magnificent ceremonial robes, Pei Yunting slowly walked from the inner hall to the ceremonial platform before turning east and taking her seat.
Scholar Gao stepped before her and solemnly recited the blessing:
“On this auspicious day, we bestow upon you your first ceremonial crown. Cast aside the ambitions of childhood and cultivate virtuous character. May you enjoy longevity and blessings, and may great fortune ever accompany you.”
She then knelt upon the mat and carefully combed Pei Yunting’s hair before placing the ceremonial hairpin in it.
Pei Yunting completed every solemn step flawlessly, without the slightest mistake.
After the rite concluded, she turned, accepted a fresh set of garments from the ceremonial attendant, and returned to her chambers to change into the simple ruqun that matched her new hair ornaments.
Yan Huaize remained dressed in white.
His bearing was elegant beyond compare, naturally possessing the dignity of royalty.
With a gentle smile, he watched her without blinking.
He could not help sighing inwardly.
The little girl who had always clung to him in the palace, pestering him to play chess, had grown up so quickly.
At another table, Fu Boheng sat beside Zhou Sinian.
From the moment the ceremony began, his eyes had never left Pei Yunting.
His mouth hung open the entire time.
“Big Sister Pei is so beautiful! No wonder my mother praises her all the time.”
Zhou Sinian glanced sideways at him.
When your Big Sister Pei is scolding you, that’s not what you say.
Nearby, Pei Xuan heard the remark and felt rather sour.
Turning to Pei Hui, she muttered,
“She’s nothing that special. Someone used to boast everywhere about how close she was with the Third Prince, yet I don’t see His Highness anywhere today. Looks like those rumors were exaggerated.”
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, Fu Boheng possessed hearing as keen as Yan Huaijin’s.
His brows immediately knitted together.
“Who do you think you are?” he retorted. “How dare you say the legitimate daughter of the Zhen’an Marquis Manor’s coming-of-age ceremony is ‘nothing special’? Besides, who gave you the right to gossip about someone close to His Highness?”
“I… You! You’re just a brat. I’m not stooping to your level.”
Pei Hui had been tugged back by Pei Xuan, who reminded her that other guests—and Zhou Sinian—were present.
She quickly restrained herself.
Fu Boheng merely snorted before turning back around.
Zhou Sinian shot the pair a cold glance.
He said nothing, though his expression had noticeably darkened.
Fortunately, congratulations and ceremonial music filled the hall at that moment.
Everyone’s attention remained fixed upon Pei Yunting.
No one noticed the brief exchange.
Surrounded by guests during a short break in the ceremony, Pei Yunting quietly swept her gaze across the crowd, searching for the figure she had long awaited.
After a moment…
She lowered her eyes in disappointment.
The person she had been waiting for…
Never came.
At the third quarter of the Hour of Hai, a group of riders galloped toward Yanjing’s city gates.
Leading them was a young man with sword-like brows and brilliant eyes, dressed in a dark purple, close-sleeved robe.
Fatigue faintly lingered on his face.
The general on night watch recognized the jade pendant hanging from his waist.
Before the young man even reined in his horse, he had already ordered the gates opened.
There was not even the slightest attempt to inspect them.
The party rode straight through.
After they disappeared into the distance and the dust stirred by their galloping horses gradually settled, a young officer standing nearby quietly asked,
“General, who was that important person? You let him pass without even checking.”
The general’s gaze remained fixed upon the fresh hoofprints as he solemnly instructed,
“When we return, I’ll describe that jade pendant to you. Memorize it well.”
He paused before adding,
“That man is the one most likely to ascend that throne.”
“The Third Prince of the Great Yan…”
“Yan Huaijin.”
Then, as if remembering something, he smiled.
“Judging by how hurried he is…”
“I’d wager he can’t wait to reach the Zhen’an Marquis Manor.”