One day, Pei You'an was on his way to the capital when he narrowly survived a deadly assassination attempt. Meanwhile, far away in Quanzhou, the Zhen family was also destined to experience an extraordinary day.
Over the past year, many regions between Yunnan and the capital had been ravaged by war, leaving vast farmlands abandoned and forcing countless civilians to flee. Although Quanzhou remained largely unchanged, it was not entirely unaffected. Wars required funds, and the imperial court naturally turned its gaze to prosperous places like Quanzhou. The local authorities had forcibly increased taxes three times within a year, and with each layer of bureaucracy taking their cut, the burden ultimately fell on every household—wealthy families bore heavier shares, while poorer ones could not escape either. Public discontent grew, and even the tax collectors complained incessantly. Initially, the people had watched the conflict between the Emperor and the Third Prince with idle curiosity, debating who would emerge victorious. But as time passed, their only wish was for the war to end quickly—regardless of the winner—so they could return to their peaceful lives. That was all that truly mattered.
In the afternoon, Zhang Da heard the gatekeeper shouting as he rushed in to report that officials had arrived. Assuming it was yet another demand for levies—something that had happened countless times over the past year—Zhang Da cursed under his breath and snapped, "They’re here, so what? Stop making such a racket—you’ll disturb Old Madam!" But the gatekeeper added, "It’s Governor Gao himself! He says he’s come with an imperial decree!"
Zhang Da froze. "What did you say? Governor Gao? An imperial decree?"
The gatekeeper nodded rapidly. "He said it’s by the Emperor’s order and demands everyone come out to receive it!"
The governor oversaw an entire province and was usually an aloof, unreachable figure. Though Zhang Da frequently dealt with local officials, his interactions had never extended beyond the Quanzhou prefecture. The idea that such a high-ranking official had personally come to their doorstep left him stunned.
Rumors had been circulating in Quanzhou that the Third Prince was close to capturing the capital. Zhang Da was about to ask which Emperor the gatekeeper meant but quickly caught himself. Instead, he grabbed the gatekeeper’s arm. "Did they say what it’s about?"
The gatekeeper shook his head. Zhang Da immediately ordered someone to inform Old Madam and the others while straightening his clothes and rushing out to greet the visitors. At the entrance, he saw a row of over a dozen official sedan chairs, with a grand, square-shaped one in the center, flanked by prefectural officials. A retinue of attendants carried ceremonial insignias, their imposing display drawing curious onlookers. Uncertain whether this boded well or ill, Zhang Da suppressed his unease, hurried forward, and knelt at the foot of the steps. "This lowly one was unaware of Governor Gao and your honorable entourage’s arrival and failed to welcome you properly. I deserve ten thousand deaths!"
The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, revealing the smiling face of Fujian’s Governor, Gao Huaiyuan. "Rise. I am here by imperial decree. Your family is about to receive joyous news!"
…
Old Mrs. Hu and Zhen Yaoting soon emerged and respectfully escorted Governor Gao and his party into the main hall.
Gao Huaiyuan announced, "Prince Shun'an has rebelled against the natural order and has now been executed. Our new Emperor has ascended the throne, ushering in a new era. A proclamation has been issued to reassure the people, and I have ordered it posted at all city gates across my jurisdiction. But here, I bear another imperial decree. Members of the Zhen family, hear the decree!"Old Madam hurriedly led the entire household to kneel as Gao Huaiyuan read the imperial edict with measured cadence. The gist was that the Zhen family, a prominent local clan for generations, had built roads and bridges, provided disaster relief, and established granaries over the years. Their virtuous deeds had reached the emperor's ears. To reward good and punish evil, the court specially bestowed upon the Zhen family an honorary plaque, a sum of official silver, and summoned their daughter to the capital for an audience with the emperor immediately. Other rewards would follow in due course.
After Gao Huaiyuan finished reading, the Zhen family was stunned, then overjoyed. Old Mrs. Hu, having regained her composure, kowtowed in gratitude, though her heart was a mix of joy and worry, uncertain of what this meant.
Since Pei You'an's departure over a year ago, Old Madam had been keeping an eye on outside news. Recently, she finally heard that the King of the Clouds was about to capture the capital and breathed a sigh of relief. She began counting the days, waiting for the eldest son of the Pei family to come and propose marriage. Yet she also worried that if he gained power and wealth, he might renege on his promise. Before any proposal from the Pei family arrived, today's imperial edict came instead.
Despite a lifetime of shrewdness, Old Mrs. Hu couldn't fathom the meaning behind this edict from the new emperor. She vaguely sensed that some noble in the new regime must have taken a liking to her granddaughter. But who exactly, and how they knew of her granddaughter, remained a complete mystery.
Suppressing her doubts, Old Madam thanked Gao Huaiyuan and feigned confusion, inquiring why the edict specifically summoned her granddaughter to the capital.
As a high-ranking local official during this transition between dynasties, Gao Huaiyuan was particularly sensitive. He sensed the underlying implications of the edict, which was why he had personally traveled to the Zhen family in Quanzhou to deliver it. Hearing Old Madam's question, he dropped his official tone and smiled. "Madam, there's no need for such courtesy. In my presence, formalities are unnecessary henceforth. In my view, this is a new era with new energy. The emperor must have heard of your family's virtuous reputation and thus granted this exceptional honor. Your household may soon produce a noble figure. I hope you might extend your favor to me in the future."
Old Madam murmured her assent. Gao Huaiyuan continued, "The edict is clear: your daughter must depart for the capital immediately. There must be no delay. I am heading to the capital to pay homage to the emperor. Once your household is ready, I can escort her personally and ensure her comfort along the way. You need not worry."
Old Madam expressed profuse thanks and saw him off. She then summoned Meng Shi and Jiafu to relay the news.
Meng Shi was utterly bewildered and chatted with Old Madam, hoping Pei You'an had sought this favor from the emperor. Jiafu remained silent, but a faint intuition stirred within her.
It couldn't possibly be Pei You'an.
Even if he wanted to marry her, given his character, he would never make such a grand spectacle.
It must be related to Xiao Yintang.
As she knew, the King of the Clouds had finally become emperor, and Xiao Yintang now stood second only to the throne, commanding immense power. Clearly, even after over a year, he still refused to let her go.
This was proof.
In the past, the mere thought of Xiao Yintang would fill Jiafu with fear and disgust. But now, perhaps due to numbness or indifference, even faced with what should have been a thunderbolt of bad news, she didn't feel particularly afraid. She quietly listened as her grandmother and mother discussed the matter. Naturally, the decision was for her to accompany the governor to the capital and await further news.What else could be done?
The one who issued this decree was the newly ascended emperor.
The next day, under the repeated admonitions of Old Madam, Jiafu, accompanied by her mother Meng Shi and Zhang Da, set off for the capital with Governor Gao Huaiyuan.
As she left Quanzhou behind once more, Jiafu knew that the stolen tranquility of the past year would likely fade away from her life, never to return.
And on this day, it had already been one year and twenty-three days since Pei You'an last departed.
...
Gao Huaiyuan, eager to reach the capital before the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, rushed as if his backside were on fire. They finally arrived at dusk that day, with three days remaining before the ceremony. Without even catching his breath or waiting for the next day, he immediately changed into his official robes and hurried to the Ministry of Rites to report on the Zhen family's affairs. Meanwhile, Jiafu and her mother returned to their residence.
Before leaving the capital after the failed marriage negotiations, the Zhen family had left an elderly couple to look after their house. Over the past year, the couple had maintained the property well. During the chaos when the King of the Clouds stormed the capital, they had tightly shut the doors and suffered no losses. Even after the turmoil subsided, they remained cautious and kept the doors closed. Only recently, upon hearing rumors everywhere about the change of emperor and seeing the capital bustling as usual during the day—aside from the nighttime curfew—did they finally relax. Unexpectedly, their masters arrived today. Overjoyed, they welcomed them inside and settled them in before night fell.
The next morning, envoys from the palace arrived, led by a young-faced eunuch. Jiafu recognized him—this eunuch was named Cui Yinshui, the adopted son of the chief eunuch Li Yuangui. He was highly capable, skilled at discerning the emperor's intentions, and somewhat opportunistic, but he was utterly loyal to Li Yuangui and Xiao Lie. In her past life, during Xiao Lie's reign, Cui Yinshui had once been immensely influential in the palace. However, after Xiao Lie died suddenly before the age of fifty and Li Yuangui followed his master in death, Xiao Yintang, now emperor, seemed to harbor deep hatred for this eunuch. Before long, he found an excuse to have Cui Yinshui beaten to death.
The present Cui Yinshui, having just entered the palace under his adoptive father's wing, had a bright future ahead. How could he know his eventual fate? Beaming with smiles, he ordered the accompanying junior eunuchs to present the imperial gifts. Then, addressing the kneeling Meng Shi and Jiafu, he read an edict praising the Zhen family's daughter for her virtues, comparing her to the exemplary women of ancient times like Ban Jieyu and Xie Daoyun. It declared that once the Heir Apparent was named Crown Prince, she would be appointed as his secondary consort. After further words of encouragement, the edict instructed her to remain in the capital temporarily, awaiting the formal investiture.
In Meng Shi's heart, she had long regarded Pei You'an as her future son-in-law and wished only for her daughter to marry him. Though she had been anxious throughout the journey, she had clung to a sliver of hope that the emperor might betroth Jiafu to Pei You'an. To hear such news first thing in the morning left her frozen in place, unable to move.
Cui Yinshui assumed she was overwhelmed with joy and said with a smile, "Meng Shi, why don’t you lead your daughter in accepting the decree and thanking the emperor’s grace? Your household is soon to produce nobility—what a joyous occasion!"
Meng Shi was speechless and looked at her daughter. To her surprise, Jiafu spoke up: "Thank you, Eunuch Cui. Might I trouble you to convey my words? This humble girl knows her own unworthiness and dares not tarnish the imperial family. I humbly beg His Majesty to rescind this decree."
Cui Yinshui was stunned, hardly believing his ears. "This is an immense honor. And yet you refuse?"Jiafu said, "Eunuch Cui, it's not that I'm unwilling, but I dare not accept such a great favor without merit. Moreover, this is an immense imperial grace. I boldly ask, what virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such generous favor from His Majesty?"
Cui Yinshui glanced at her.
Why the new emperor, amidst his busy schedule, would issue such an edict—Cui Yinshui naturally had an idea. It was likely that the Heir Apparent had taken a fancy to this daughter of the Zhen family and had gone through channels to request the emperor's approval. Before coming, he had been somewhat curious about what kind of beauty she might be. Upon seeing her just now, with her dark brows and lustrous hair, her exquisite features like a painting, impossible to fully capture, he became even more certain of his deduction. But this was not something to be spoken aloud. Hearing the tone of this Zhen family daughter, she actually seemed unwilling—whether she truly had no desire or was merely feigning refusal, he couldn't tell for sure. His expression darkened: "Miss Zhen, do you realize what you're saying? If you refuse to accept it, it would be defying an imperial decree. Have you thought this through?"
Meng Shi's heart raced, and she was about to stop Jiafu when she saw her kowtow and say, "How would I dare defy an imperial decree? As I said earlier, it's only because I know my own coarseness and unworthiness of such royal favor that I humbly beg His Majesty to rescind his command."
Cui Yinshui was taken aback. After a moment's thought, he said, "Fine. This is the first time I've encountered such a thing. Since you insist, I'll go back and relay your words. As for you..."
He had been about to say, "As for you, it's up to your own fortune," but swallowed the words. Without even drinking tea, he turned and led his entourage out the door.
As soon as the eunuchs left, Meng Shi immediately took Jiafu inside and closed the door. "A'fu, don't be afraid! Last time when the Eldest Young Master came, he gave your grandmother a jade pendant, saying it was left to him by his father on his deathbed, and he left it with your grandmother as a token. Before this trip, your grandmother gave the pendant to me, saying that if it wasn't needed, I should find an opportunity to return it to the Eldest Young Master. Though we don't know where he is now, with this token, I'll go see Old Madam Pei and ask her to intervene. Perhaps she can stop this matter."
Flustered, Meng Shi turned to leave but was stopped by Jiafu, who shook her head. "Mother, back then the Eldest Young Master only made a verbal promise. It's been so long—who knows if he's changed his mind? Let's not involve the Pei family and drag them into this. I'm not afraid. What's said is said; we'll see. I just don't want to marry his son. Surely he won't take my head for that?"
Meng Shi stared at her daughter, taken aback by her calm demeanor. That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The next day, another envoy arrived from the palace. This time, besides Cui Yinshui from the day before, there was also a middle-aged eunuch with a kindly face. Meng Shi heard he was a senior eunuch serving the emperor, surnamed Li, and hurriedly greeted him with respect. Seeing his rather gentle demeanor, as if he wasn't there to cause trouble, she felt slightly reassured.
Li Yuangui asked Meng Shi to summon Jiafu and dismissed everyone else, leaving only her. After studying her for a moment, he said, "My godson told me all about your matter. I feared you might not understand the gravity of it, so I didn't report it immediately and came to ask you myself. What's going on with you? Such audacity! Such good fortune—something countless people beg for in vain! How dare you defy it?" His tone was neither light nor heavy, making it hard to discern his mood.Jiafu knew that this chief eunuch serving by Xiao Lie's side was a man of integrity, not one given to flattery or wickedness. Steadying herself, she said, "Thank you for your kindness, Eunuch Li. I am deeply grateful. The imperial edict did not mention a single word about why such an immense favor was bestowed upon me. After much reflection, I recalled one incident. Once, when the Brocade-Clad Guards came to Quanzhou, they sealed off the entire city and arrested people everywhere. A noble person broke into my home, and in the end, I was taken onto his carriage to help him escape the city. The situation was extremely perilous, and even now, the memory remains vivid in my mind. I dare to guess that the noble person from that day might be the current Heir Apparent."
Li Yuangui remained silent.
Jiafu knelt before him. "Eunuch Li, when His Majesty was eliminating traitors, I heard in Quanzhou that his army passed through without harming the common people, treating them as his own children. The whole world praises him, and I admire him greatly. Yesterday, I also told Eunuch Cui that I am aware of my own unworthiness and would never dare to disgrace the imperial family. If His Majesty bestowed such great favor upon my Zhen family because of that incident from years ago, I beg you, Eunuch Li, to convey my words and plead for His Majesty to grant a different favor instead."
After speaking, Jiafu pressed her forehead to the ground and remained kneeling without rising.
Li Yuangui gazed at her, a trace of surprise gradually appearing in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Very well. I originally thought you were speaking out of turn, which is why I came to see for myself. Now I see you understand the situation. Since that's the case, I will relay your words when I return. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on His Majesty's will."
...
When Li Yuangui returned to the palace, Xiao Lie was still occupied with state affairs. It was only in the evening, during a brief respite, that he finally remembered and asked, "Did you go to see that girl from the Zhen family for me? Although the Zhen family once aided Yintang, since she is to be appointed as a secondary consort, her appearance and demeanor must at least be passable."
Li Yuangui replied, "Your Majesty, the Zhen girl's appearance and demeanor are unobjectionable. However, there is one matter—I am unsure whether I should mention it."
Xiao Lie flipped through the memorial in his hand. "Speak."
Li Yuangui said, "When this servant went to see the girl, she said something to me. I shall repeat it verbatim for Your Majesty." He then recounted Jiafu's words exactly as she had spoken them.
At first, Xiao Lie continued flipping through the memorial, but gradually, he stopped. A faint displeasure crossed his face, and he snorted. "So, she is dissatisfied with my arrangement?"
Li Yuangui said, "This servant does not know. That is why I brought her words before Your Majesty. Your Majesty is wise and may decide as you see fit. After all, what kind of insight could a merchant's daughter possibly have?"
Xiao Lie pondered for a moment before saying indifferently, "Very well. If she is unwilling, it would be forcing the issue to make her accept. I shall not compel her. Tomorrow, go again and bestow some other gifts before sending her back."
Li Yuangui smiled. "Your Majesty is wise. This servant understands."
"Your Majesty!"
A woman's voice suddenly rang out at the entrance of the hall. Li Yuangui looked up and saw Princess Zhou dressed in resplendent palace attire, gracefully approaching. Behind her, a palace maid carried a tray of food. He quickly stepped forward with a smile and greeted her, "Your Highness."
Princess Zhou stopped beside Xiao Lie and glanced at Li Yuangui, who hastily withdrew. The palace maid set down the bowl and plate before also retreating with lowered head.When everyone had withdrawn, Princess Zhou spoke softly, "Your Majesty, you didn't return to the palace last night. I heard from Yintang that you were reviewing memorials until dawn. I was worried, so I came to check on you. Please rest and have something to eat, won't you?" As she spoke, she moved behind him and began gently massaging his shoulders.
Xiao Lie smiled, "Thank you for your concern. With the new dynasty just established, there are inevitably many matters to attend to. Once this busy period passes, I'll have more free time. You may return to the palace first. Later, after I finish today's memorials, I'll come back."
Princess Zhou slowly exhaled, withdrew her hands, and said with a smile, "Then I shall take my leave first. But Your Majesty must not overexert yourself."
Xiao Lie nodded with a smile, watching as her figure gradually receded. Just as he lowered his head, Princess Zhou suddenly stopped and turned back, "Your Majesty, it's not that I was deliberately eavesdropping, but when I arrived at the hall earlier, I happened to overhear a few words. That Zhen family girl is truly ungrateful! Just because she once escorted Yintang out of the city, she dares to disregard Your Majesty like this! Why do you still indulge her?"
Xiao Lie looked up, glanced at her, and replied indifferently, "And what do you suggest should be done?"
Princess Zhou said, "She's defying an imperial decree! There's no need to make her my son's concubine. If she doesn't want it, plenty of others do. Send her to the laundry bureau, and in a few days, let's see if she still dares to be so audacious and insolent."
Xiao Lie frowned slightly, "Enough. She's just a common girl who doesn't understand the rules. There's no need to make an issue of it. Let the matter rest. You may leave now."
"Your Majesty!"
Princess Zhou was about to speak further when Li Yuangui hurried in, bowing, "Your Majesty, Old Madam Pei from Duke Wei's Mansion has arrived and requests an audience."
Xiao Lie was taken aback, "Where is the old madam now?"
"She's still waiting at the gate of Huayang Palace."
Xiao Lie immediately set down his brush and stood up, "Quickly, invite her in at once!"
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