Chapter Eighteen: The Two Young Cousins

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Two young women, both in the bloom of maidenhood, entered from outside the hall arm in arm, chatting and laughing.

“Grandmother, Pear arrived late. I hope you will forgive me.”

The girl in a goose-yellow skirt hurried straight to Madam Pei’s side. Though her words were apologetic, her face wore a coquettish expression.

The old madam affectionately patted the girl’s hand, without a trace of reproach.

“Pear must have had a reason for being late. Were you perhaps preparing a gift for your cousin now that he has returned home? If so, bring it out quickly and let Grandmother have a look.”

Fang Li lowered her head shyly, then took an ancient book from her bosom and offered it to the cold-faced man.

“I heard that Cousin will soon be going to the Hanlin Academy to continue his studies, so I went to great lengths to find this rare historical treatise for you. I hope you will not find it lacking.”

“Thank you, Cousin.”

Pei Zhi’s brows drew together slightly, but he still maintained the courtesy expected of an elder brother.

There was indeed a sweet, cloying fragrance about Fang Li, but it was different from Shen Zhining’s. This scent was even more saccharine, and it made him feel sick.

Nanny Gui, who had served beside Madam Pei for many years, could tell what the young master meant from the slightest change in his expression.

Without making a fuss, she stepped forward, took the book from Miss Fang’s hands on the young master’s behalf, and blocked the girl from coming any closer.

Fang Li’s expression changed for an instant, then quickly returned to normal.

At that moment, the girl in red beside them pouted unhappily and tugged at the old madam’s hand.

“Grandmother truly favors Cousin Pear more. You have not even spared any attention for your own granddaughter sitting right here.”

Her complaint amused the old madam so much that she burst into laughter.

“You are both the apple of Grandmother’s eye. Just look at you, Nian’an. Now that you have grown up, your tongue has become sharper and sharper.”

The hall blazed with lamplight, and the whole family was gathered together.

Everyone joined in with words of blessing and cheerful agreement, except Shen Zhining, who sat to one side with an unpleasant feeling in her heart.

She thoroughly detested the faces of Pei Nian’an and Fang Li.

In her previous life, before she entered the imperial palace and became empress, these two sisters had set countless obstacles in her path behind her back.

Fang Li in particular looked like a pure little white flower on the surface, yet her heart was darker than anyone’s. Pei Nian’an was merely a weapon she wielded.

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Perhaps Shen Zhining’s gaze had been too intense, for the two young women gathered beside Madam Pei turned and looked over.

“Grandmother, who is she?”

“She is the daughter of Magistrate Shen of Yun County, whom your cousin brought back with him. Her name is Shen Zhining. In terms of age, she is about the same age as the two of you.”

Fang Li’s eyes filled with doubt and unease. All she had heard was that this was a woman her cousin had brought home.

Pei Nian’an felt threatened as well, simply because the woman was extraordinarily beautiful. With a face like that, would she not bewitch every young gentleman in the capital?

She walked up to Shen Zhining and asked bluntly, “Miss Shen, what important business brings you to the Pei residence?”

Before Shen Zhining could answer, Pei Shuchen, who had been sitting to one side, spoke first.

“Nian’an, do not be rude. Miss Shen has come to the capital on important business and will merely be staying at the residence temporarily. You are older than she is, so you should look after her.”

Pei Nian’an stared at her own brother in disbelief.

He actually wanted her to look after this mysterious cousin from nowhere? Had studying ruined his mind?

Shen Zhining was somewhat surprised as well. In her previous life, she had shared little acquaintance with Pei Shuchen, having seen him only a few times at the residence. Even in this life, today was her first meeting with the second young master of the Pei family.

Why had he suddenly spoken up for her?

But now that trouble had come looking for her, avoiding it was clearly impossible.

Shen Zhining rose and looked calmly at the two sisters opposite her.

“I have only just arrived, so I will have to rely on Cousin and Cousin Fang to look after me.”

“Bah! Who wants to be your cousin? You should first take a good look at what kind of person you are.”

As the legitimate daughter of the second branch, Pei Nian’an had been spoiled by her mother, Liu Qingqing, from childhood. Apart from Pei Zhi and Pei Shuchen, she held the greatest authority among the younger members of the family. That was why she had grown so arrogant and lawless.

Fang Li’s temperament was entirely different. Her greatest support in the household was Madam Pei, but the old madam’s health had been steadily declining, while real control of the residence remained in the hands of Pei Nian’an’s mother, Liu Qingqing. Thus, Fang Li could only follow her cousin’s lead.

Quick-witted as she was, Fang Li immediately realized that Pei Nian’an disliked the newcomer. She therefore echoed her cousin’s words.

“Miss Shen is mistaken. We are not related by blood, so how could we address each other as cousins?”

Fang Li’s voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for everyone else in the hall to hear.

Only moments earlier, Madam Pei had been lavishing care upon Shen Zhining. Now she pretended not to hear, allowing her two granddaughters to make things difficult for the girl.

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Madam Pei had always looked down on Shen Zhining’s origins. However, since the girl had been brought back by her beloved grandson, she could not openly slight Pei Zhi. She might as well let Nian’an give the girl a lesson. Perhaps, unable to endure the humiliation, she would leave on her own.

But Shen Zhining, who had endured the intrigue and treachery of the imperial palace in her previous life, could not possibly fail to see through their petty schemes.

They wanted to challenge her? They were still far too inexperienced.

She lowered her head and bowed slightly, pretending to ponder the matter.

“But Grandmother just said that once I came to the Pei residence, I would be family to everyone here. And when we were in Yun County, I always addressed Young Master Pei as Cousin. Since you are his sisters, would that not make you my sisters as well?”

Then she looked toward the cool and aloof man beside Madam Pei, who seemed almost like an immortal descended from the heavens, and asked in feigned confusion,

“What do you think, Cousin?”

Pei Zhi wanted to remain uninvolved, so she deliberately dragged him into the matter.

Caught off guard by Shen Zhining calling on him so suddenly, the man paused.

He looked at the smiling girl in pale pink seated below, furrowed his brows, and set down his teacup.

“Nian’an, where have you put everything I have taught you?”

Pei Nian’an’s heart jolted. Aside from her mother, the cousin she feared most in the Pei residence was Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi was famous for being strict with his younger brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, their grandmother favored him above all others, so everyone listened to what he said.

She could not help recalling the words he most often repeated: brothers and sisters ought to treat one another with tolerance and affection, and stand united as one.

Once, after he discovered that she had secretly punished Fang Li, he had made her copy the Rules for Women for nearly half a month.

At the memory, Pei Nian’an’s wrist began to ache faintly.

Lowering her eyes, she inclined her head toward the man.

“I remember. As the eldest sister, I should show care and affection toward my younger siblings.”

“Then what are you doing now?”

His voice was not loud, yet it carried the imposing authority of one accustomed to command.

Pei Nian’an, dressed in red, glared viciously at Shen Zhining as though she wanted to tear her apart and swallow her whole.

After a long moment, she finally gritted her teeth and said, “Cousin Zhining, I am sorry. Your elder cousin misspoke just now. I hope you will not take it to heart.”