Chapter Nineteen: Living Next Door to the Young Master

Shen Zhiqing desired precisely this effect.

She smiled faintly, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

“Where did Cousin say such things? We’re family now, and family doesn’t speak as if from two different households. Isn’t that right, Cousin Li’er?”

Fang Li was the one in the hall who most wished for Shen Zhiqing to leave. But now that her cousin had spoken, and Pei Nian’an had fled at the last moment, what grounds did she have left to argue?

So she smiled and stepped forward to take Shen Zhiqing’s hand. “Since you’ve come to the Pei residence, Cousin, don’t hesitate to speak up if you face any difficulties. Li’er and I will certainly help.”

Ha... did Fang Li really still harbor goodwill toward her? Not a soul would believe that!

Even so, Shen Zhiqing stood quietly to one side, obedient and well-behaved.

“Then, I thank Cousin in advance,” she said softly.

After the song finished, Shen Zhiqing gracefully returned to her seat, no longer paying attention to those on stage, focusing instead on her meal.

The family feast at the Pei residence was extremely refined; even the humblest chicken soup was simmered with a thousand-year-old ginseng. As for delicacies like bear’s paw and abalone—having spent most of her life in the palace—Shen Zhiqing couldn’t help but admire the meticulous choice of ingredients.

Throughout the meal, everyone remained silent, only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks breaking the quiet.

After about fifteen minutes, the matriarch, Lady Pei, seemed unwell and was helped away to rest by Lady Gui.

As the elders gradually left, only the younger generation—Pei Zhi and Pei Shuchen—remained at the table.

Pei Nian’an sat beside her elder brother, her dark eyes darting about, clearly up to no good.

In the silence, she finally spoke, “Cousin, since you’ve just arrived, it seems you haven’t chosen a residence yet. The only vacant place left in the mansion is Pear Blossom Courtyard...”

She discreetly cast a glance at Fang Li.

Fang Li, sitting nearby, quickly understood her meaning.

Feigning regret, she chimed in, “I also think Pear Blossom Courtyard is the most fitting for Cousin, but that garden has long been neglected and remains unrenovated. If Cousin doesn’t mind, you could stay with me for a while.”

Shen Zhiqing lowered her eyes, silent.

If she truly moved into Fang Li’s courtyard, it would be no different from walking into the tiger’s den.

Recalling the previous life, the sisters had used just such a poor excuse. After she moved into Fang Li’s Falling Cherry Courtyard, Pei Nian’an constantly humiliated and abused her. Worse, that winter, Pei Nian’an even withheld the coal distributed by the household, causing Shen Zhiqing’s hands to develop severe frostbite.

At the time, she had contemplated appealing to Pei Zhi for justice, but whenever she approached his Bamboo Pavilion, she was stopped at the gate by falling snow.

She suspected Pei Zhi must have known about these household matters—after all, he was willing to seek justice for Fang Li, who was secretly punished by Pei Nian’an, yet he turned a blind eye to her frostbite.

This thought sent a chill through Shen Zhiqing’s body.

She would rather live in the weed-choked Pear Blossom Courtyard than endure anyone’s cold stares again.

Before she could speak, the man at the head of the table said coldly, “The Pei residence has not sunk so low as to lack even one courtyard. Luoxue, arrange for Miss Shen to stay in the Listening Bamboo Courtyard.”

Before Shen Zhiqing could voice her opinion, Pei Zhi had already left the main hall.

Listening Bamboo Courtyard was the closest residence to Pei Zhi’s Bamboo Pavilion.

Shen Zhiqing felt a headache coming on. It seemed the eldest young master intended to keep her under constant watch...

She dared not imagine that if she lived next door to Pei Zhi, with her limited cunning, how could she possibly escape the man’s control?

Pei Zhi’s casual words fell like a bombshell in everyone’s heart.

Pei Shuchen said, “If Cousin moves in next to the eldest brother, how will he continue to show his attentions?”

Pei Nian’an sneered, “Brother is so pure and upright. What if Shen Zhiqing, this fox spirit, uses tricks to seduce him? I would never allow such a person to become my sister-in-law...”

The most miserable was Fang Li. After all these years in the mansion, she had tried countless schemes to get close to Pei Zhi but failed. Now this Shen Zhiqing had just arrived and effortlessly moved next door to her cousin.

Shen Zhiqing only possessed a somewhat attractive face. With a little grooming, she herself was no less beautiful!

But... why did that wretched girl capture Pei Zhi’s heart?

Fang Li was so furious she felt as if her lungs might explode.

Though the three harbored their own schemes, Pei Zhi’s word was like an imperial edict in the mansion—who dared to oppose it?

With the decision to move into Listening Bamboo Courtyard now certain and Pei Zhi having left, Shen Zhiqing knew there was no need to linger any longer.

She rose slowly and bowed to everyone. “Then I shall go prepare my luggage.”

The man who had been sitting next to Pei Nian’an also stood. “Miss Shen, please wait. My residence, the Brocade Jade Pavilion, is on the way to Listening Bamboo Courtyard. We can go together.”

Shen Zhiqing extended her hand, about to say, “No need.”

Before the words left her lips, Pei Shuchen spoke again, “Since you’ve just arrived at the mansion, you may not be familiar with the layout. It would be troublesome if you got lost...”

Having lived in the Pei residence before, Shen Zhiqing knew the mansion’s paths as well as anyone. She was fully aware of every secret passage.

In her previous life, when she and those noble youths returned late at night, fearing Pei Zhi’s punishment, she always varied her return route—sometimes climbing down from the great locust tree in the side yard, sometimes slipping through the dog hole dug by the little yellow dog in the east wing.

She had intended to refuse Pei Shuchen again, but then thought: this was her first day here; if others found out she knew the mansion so well, Pei Zhi’s intense suspicion might worsen.

So she stood by the moon gate, lips slightly parted. “Thank you, second cousin, for guiding me. I will follow you then.”

Pei Shuchen looked over. Against the backlight, a young girl clad in a pale pink ruqun stood quietly, smiling at him.

The girl was naturally beautiful, and her smile made her delicate features even more radiant.

Even the surrounding begonia blossoms seemed to pale in comparison.

At first, he was merely curious about Shen Zhiqing—any woman brought back from Yun’an County by the eldest brother must be remarkable.

Now, seeing her, he felt he began to understand his elder brother.

Following behind Shen Zhiqing, Pei Shuchen watched her glance left and right, noticing how vivid and bright she was—entirely unlike the other noble ladies in the capital.

As he pondered, the girl stopped and looked back at him.

“Second cousin, that must be Listening Bamboo Courtyard up ahead.”

Looking around, he saw to the right a square courtyard with several steps of green bricks leading up to the entrance. The edges were sharp and well-defined. A few large trees grew along the courtyard wall, their branches stretching along the corners. Above the door was a plaque inscribed in clerical script with the words “Listening Bamboo Courtyard.”

Shen Zhiqing breathed a long sigh of relief—finally, she had arrived. The next task was to get rid of this clingy second cousin who was like a piece of stubborn adhesive.

They had already passed Brocade Jade Pavilion, but he insisted on escorting her right to Listening Bamboo Courtyard’s gate.

A considerable amount of effort wasted, and she had to put on a show of curiosity about the Pei residence.

Shen Zhiqing couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

“Why must her fate be so bitter?”