Chapter Seventeen: A Warning
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Although the Pei family possessed vast estates and immense wealth, only the three branches of the family currently resided within the manor.
The eldest branch belonged to the Old Madam’s own son—Pei Zhi’s father, Grand Tutor Pei. Sadly, Pei Zhi’s mother had passed away when he was still a child. Grand Tutor Pei devoted himself wholeheartedly to politics and, afterward, neither remarried nor took a concubine.
The second branch descended from a former concubine of the late Lord Pei, and its heir was also a son. In his younger years, he had used the Pei family’s connections to secure a respectable government post at court, and he lived a fairly carefree life.
The Second Madam, however, had given birth to both a son and a daughter. The son was the Second Young Master Pei, whose formal name was Pei Shuchen. Her daughter was about the same age as Shen Zhining, yet she had long enjoyed an illustrious reputation among the capital’s noble young ladies. Her name was Pei Nian’an.
Besides them, another young lady presently lived in the Pei residence. Her mother had been the Old Madam’s daughter, but several years earlier, misfortune had befallen her family and both her parents had died. Deeply attached to her daughter, the Old Madam had taken the girl in and raised her at her own side. Her name was Fang Li.
Shen Zhining stood at the rear of the imposing procession. She had intended to ask the maid beside her a few more questions about Miss Fang, but after they passed through the moon gate, the maid no longer answered her.
She sighed inwardly.
As befitted the Pei residence! Even the rules governing the servants were so strict and meticulous.
She followed the others around the covered corridor and proceeded along the bluestone path before the eastern side courtyards. After walking roughly fifty paces, they came upon an exceptionally broad and brightly lit hall. All sixteen of its brilliant vermilion doors stood open. Above them hung a plaque bearing the words “Mingrui Hall” in three large characters, written with vigorous, weighty strokes that revealed the force of engraved stone.
As a scholarly family, the Peis had not furnished their residence with vulgar extravagance. Instead, everything possessed an air of refined elegance. The overall design was pure and understated, yet exquisite and ingenious. Though it appeared simple at first glance, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that such simplicity had been built upon mountains of gold and silver.
The Pei family rules were strict: the servants who attended the outer courtyards were forbidden from entering the inner hall. Thus, by the time they stepped inside, only Pei Shuchen, Pei Chu, and Shen Zhining remained.
Shen Zhining entered last. The moment she crossed the threshold, she heard the Old Madam’s slightly aged voice.
“My good grandson, you finally decided to come back from that desolate wilderness.”
Pei Zhi stepped forward and stood beside the Old Madam, displaying a docility rarely seen in him.
Grand Tutor Pei and the two elders of the second branch sat on either side of the room.
Watching the Pei family gathered together in such warm harmony, Shen Zhining felt a faint bitterness in her heart.
The place the Old Madam called a desolate wilderness was the homeland where Shen Zhining had been born and raised...
She had spent no little time in the Pei residence during her previous life. She had even come here on the day of her grand investiture as empress, only to be turned away by the Old Madam on the pretext of illness. She had not even been allowed to set foot inside the gates.
Shen Zhining lifted her eyes to the face of the Old Madam. Though her hair had turned white and crow’s-feet crowded the corners of her eyes, her features remained dignified and beautiful, with faint traces of the woman she must once have been.
She was advanced in years and not in the best of health, yet she appeared exceedingly well-fed and prosperous. Perhaps it was because she had enjoyed a life of happiness, suffered little hardship, and taken excellent care of herself.
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As Shen Zhining observed the people in the hall, the old woman seated in the principal chair also noticed the graceful figure behind her eldest grandson.
A trace of bewilderment entered her eyes.
“Grandson, who is the young lady behind you?”
“Grandmother, this is Shen Zhining, the daughter of Magistrate Shen of Yun’an County. She has come to the capital on important business. While I was in Yun’an County, Magistrate Shen showed me considerable kindness. Seeing that she was alone in the capital without anyone to rely on, I invited her to stay at the residence for a while.”
Shen Zhining raised a brow. Pei Zhi’s answer had been faultless.
The Old Madam understood at once. She beckoned to Shen Zhining.
“Your father was once a classmate of my son. Since you are the child of an old friend, you should call me Grandmother as well. Come closer and let me have a look at you.”
Only after the Old Madam spoke did the others in the hall notice the petite figure behind Pei Zhi.
Every gaze turned toward her in unison.
Shen Zhining straightened her sleeves and stepped out from behind Pei Zhi with the utmost grace.
In an instant, everyone was struck speechless, unable to look away.
The young girl wore a begonia-pink dress. Her dark hair was gathered at the back with nothing more than a single jade hairpin, leaving her charming, spirited face fully exposed.
Her shoulders were fragrant and her bones delicate; her features were alluring, her radiance impossible to rival.
A flicker of astonishment passed through the Old Madam’s eyes. She took the girl’s hand and turned her around once, then could not help sighing inwardly.
How could such a flawless woman exist in this world?
Even in her many decades of life, this was the first time she had ever seen beauty so capable of overturning a kingdom.
Despite her surprise, she did not lose the imposing presence expected of the head of the Pei family. She instructed the matron beside her to give Shen Zhining a seat, then asked, “How old are you now, Ning’er? Have you been promised in marriage?”
Shen Zhining smiled gently.
“I have only just passed my fifteenth year. My father has already arranged a marriage for me.”
The Old Madam’s suspended heart immediately settled. Without revealing anything, she glanced toward her two grandsons.
For a beauty like Shen Zhining, it was fortunate that she had already been promised. If she were to remain in the Pei residence unmarried, that face of hers might well invite trouble in the future.
The Pei family could never take a girl of such humble birth as a daughter-in-law.
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Men like the brothers Pei Zhi and Pei Shuchen would, at the very least, have to marry daughters of great aristocratic houses. Only then could the match be considered suitable in status.
“Oh? And which young gentleman has your father chosen? Now that you are staying with the Pei family, you may consider yourself one of us. Your grandmother can help you think it over.”
Shen Zhining lowered her head. The Old Madam appeared to be expressing concern for her, but her calculations were practically spilling onto Shen Zhining’s face.
“His father is the Governor of Yunzhong Commandery.”
The Old Madam nodded.
“That will do. You have only just reached marriageable age and are still young. You may spend some time getting to know each other first. In marriage, it is important not only to find someone who pleases your heart, but even more important that the two families be well matched in status.”
After saying this, she swept a contemplative gaze around the seated guests before once more turning her eyes to Shen Zhining.
Shen Zhining answered obediently. How could she fail to understand that those words had been meant for her?
The Old Madam was warning her that, now that she had entered the Pei residence, she should conduct herself properly and refrain from entertaining improper thoughts about anyone else.
But whether Pei Zhi or Pei Shuchen, she had never cared about either of them. If she had not taken them to heart in her previous life, she certainly would not do so now.
The Old Madam then introduced Shen Zhining to everyone present. After Shen Zhining greeted them one by one, the maids brought in tea and refreshments.
Shen Zhining lifted the white jade porcelain cup before her. She had not yet brought it to her lips when the rich fragrance of tea already reached her.
It was pre-Qingming Longjing tea.
It suited the bearing of an aristocratic family perfectly—unassuming, yet unmistakably luxurious.
She raised her eyes and stole a glance at Pei Zhi, seated beside the Old Madam. The man sat with perfect composure, his five pale, jade-like fingers wrapped around a white porcelain cup. His fingers seemed even more lustrous than the porcelain itself.
Those long fingers resembled frozen white jade, glowing beneath the sunlight refracted through the glazed floral windows behind him, too dazzling to look at directly.
The moment he returned to the Pei residence, he became once more the respected heir admired by countless people.
Shen Zhining lowered her gaze. In a daze, she heard a young woman’s coquettish laughter outside the door. A moment later, the hall filled with the heavy scent of cosmetics.
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