Upon reaching the main hall, Jiafu noticed that Pei You'an, who had been walking ahead of her, gradually slowed his steps at the foot of the stairs. She couldn’t tell if he was waiting for her or not.
Since he had slowed, she quickened her pace to catch up and entered the hall with him.
Inside, bright candles were still burning, and servants from various households stood in rows on both sides, yet the room was eerily silent. Old Madam Pei sat at the center, flanked by Pei Quan, Madam Xin, and Second Madam Meng. Pei Xiuluo was seated below them, but Pei Xiuzhi was nowhere to be seen.
The moment they entered, Jiafu felt countless eyes turn toward her. She lowered her gaze slightly and followed Pei You'an to stand before Old Madam Pei, where they first bowed in reverence.
Old Madam Pei usually wore plain, dark-colored home attire, but this morning she was dressed in a new outfit of deep brown with subtle golden "swastika" patterns, looking unusually spirited. After Pei You'an and Jiafu finished their bows, she bade them rise. Pei You'an stood, but Jiafu remained kneeling. She took two needlework items prepared in advance as a new bride’s tribute to her elders from Liu Momo, who stood nearby, and presented them respectfully with both hands. One was a black velvet forehead band, and the other a pair of soft-soled embroidered shoes with stone-blue cloth uppers. Though the embroidery was exquisite, the material was rustic, clearly local handicraft. As soon as they were presented, the nearby Pei family servants stared, then glanced at Jiafu with faint disdain in their eyes.
Yuzhu moved to receive them on the old madam’s behalf, but Old Madam Pei stopped her and took them herself.
Jiafu said softly, "Grandmother, the forehead band is for cold weather, and the shoes suit this season. I thought, given your wealth and honor, even celestial garments might not impress you. What matters is the sincerity of your granddaughter-in-law’s heart, so I chose cloth from my hometown to make these shoes—light and comfortable, especially in hot weather, as they won’t trap heat. The needlework is my own, though the stitches and embroidery may not be perfect. I hope you won’t mind."
Old Madam Pei felt the forehead band and traced the embroidery on the shoes, then nodded with a smile. "Those flashy, expensive things are just for show—every household has them. At my age, it’s rare to find someone so thoughtful. You’ve considered my comfort well. I’ll accept these and wear them when it’s hot. If they suit me, you can make me two more pairs later, and I’ll send them to a few old friends of mine."
Jiafu smiled and agreed, accepting the old madam’s reward with another bow of thanks. When she rose, the Pei family servants who had looked at her with disdain earlier now regarded her with different eyes.
Pei You'an remained expressionless. He glanced at Jiafu and led her to greet Madam Xin next.
Madam Xin sat in a chair, with an empty seat beside her reserved for the late Duke of Wei. She also wore a smile and sat ramrod straight. She sipped the tea Jiafu offered, accepted a needlework gift, and gave a token in return. Then it was Pei Quan and Second Madam Meng’s turn.Pei Quan had always maintained a stern demeanor, rarely smiling at home. But this time, knowing his promotion was due to his elder nephew’s influence, he was unusually amiable when Jiafu paid her respects. Second Madam Meng was even more affectionate, holding Jiafu’s hand and smiling at Pei You’an. “After the wedding festivities last night, all your aunts and uncles couldn’t stop praising A’fu—not just for her beauty, but even more for her kindness and thoughtfulness. Look, even Old Madam Pei adores her. I’ve always treated my niece like my own daughter, and now that she’s married to you, You’an, we’re truly family. You and A’fu are fated, a match made in heaven.” She then beckoned her son over.
Pei Xiuluo bowed respectfully and addressed Jiafu as “Eldest Sister-in-law.”
Pei Xiuluo was about the same age as Pei Xiuzhi, just half a year younger, but their fates were vastly different. Without hereditary privilege, he had to earn his own scholarly honors. Of course, prodigies like Pei You’an, who passed the imperial exams in his teens, were rare—perhaps one or two in a century. The exams were grueling, and though Pei Xiuluo studied diligently, he had only achieved the rank of xiucai (scholar). Fortunately, he had gained entry to the Imperial Academy as a tribute student, awaiting the special examination the new emperor would hold next year. His marriage was also arranged, to take place after the exams.
In theory, Jiafu and Pei Xiuluo, as cousins, should have been closer. In their childhood, they had been—Pei Xiuluo was always kind to her, greeting her with a smile. But once, when Jiafu visited the Pei household, she accidentally stumbled upon him cornering a maid several years older than him near the garden rockery, kissing and groping her. Shocked, she quietly slipped away.
Back then, Jiafu was still naive and innocent, but she vaguely understood such things shouldn’t be shared. She never told anyone, but from then on, she avoided being alone with him. As they grew older and she visited the Pei family less frequently, their relationship gradually faded.
Now, Pei Xiuluo was a refined and gentle young man. Jiafu reasoned that the incident from her childhood was likely just youthful curiosity, but a faint unease lingered. When he called her “Eldest Sister-in-law,” she responded with a polite smile.
Quan Ge was brought in by his wet nurse. He had grown taller since the last time Jiafu saw him over a year ago. Seemingly intimidated by Pei You’an, he stood stiffly and was prompted to call Jiafu “Eldest Aunt.” Jiafu had prepared a set of clothes for him, which the wet nurse accepted on his behalf. Then, timidly, he addressed Pei You’an as “Eldest Uncle.”
Jiafu noticed that Pei You’an seemed fond of children. When Quan Ge called out to him, not only did he smile, but he also reached out to pat the boy’s head.
Old Madam Pei glanced at the sky outside and said, “Xiuzhi intended to come this morning, but his illness hasn’t fully recovered. His health comes first, so I told him to rest. A’fu is practically family already—there’s no need for excessive formalities. You’an, you should take A’fu to the palace to express gratitude to His Majesty. Afterward, you can pay respects to the ancestors.”
Pei You’an assented. Jiafu followed his lead, bidding farewell to everyone before leaving the main hall. Tanxiang draped a soft satin cloak over her shoulders. Stepping out the main gate, Jiafu boarded the carriage with Pei You’an, heading toward the imperial palace.The sky had just brightened as the carriage rumbled along the road, with sparse pedestrians on either side. Pei You'an seemed to have a habit of never being without a book. After boarding, he retrieved one from a small chest in the corner and began flipping through it on his own.
Jiafu sat beside him, feeling utterly bored. Unable to resist, she leaned slightly closer and stretched her neck to peek. "Big..."
She paused, then corrected herself, "Husband, what book are you reading? I used to love reading at home too. Maybe I've read it before..."
Pei You'an didn’t even lift his head. He simply closed the book and showed her the cover page, replying indifferently, "Lun Heng."
Jiafu was no literary prodigy, but she had indeed loved reading since childhood. Her father was open-minded and never restricted her to books on feminine virtues alone. He often took her to bookshops, where she read not only the classics, histories, and philosophies that her brother Zhen Yaoting studied but also miscellaneous works like Buddhist scriptures, geographical records, and illustrated songbooks. Seeing the worn edges of the book in his hands, she could tell he frequently read it and likely enjoyed it. Hoping to strike up a conversation, she had tried to engage him. But upon hearing his response and glancing at the cover, she fell silent.
Pei You'an noticed her sudden quietness and glanced up at her.
Jiafu smiled awkwardly. "Husband is truly well-read."
Pei You'an made no reply, turning back to his book.
Feeling somewhat deflated, Jiafu lost herself in thought for a moment before inevitably recalling the previous night.
After their intimacy, though he had treated her gently, she could sense that he had merely forced himself to share the bed with her.
To be honest, Jiafu had initially been somewhat confident in her own allure. After all, in her past life, she had been with two men. Whether it was Pei Xiuzhi or Xiao Yintang, once they had tasted her, they became utterly infatuated without her needing to deliberately humble herself.
But last night had dealt her a blow.
She stole another glance at him, noticing his gaze remained fixed on the book. A wave of melancholy washed over her, and she leaned her head against the corner of the carriage, closing her eyes in feigned sleep, saying no more.
The Pei residence wasn’t far from the imperial palace. After a short while, the carriage gradually slowed and came to a halt.
They had arrived at the palace gates.
Jiafu opened her eyes to see Pei You'an already standing and stepping out of the carriage. The eunuch Cui Yinshui was waiting at the entrance, his face lighting up at the sight of Pei You'an as he hurried forward to greet him.
Jiafu was helped down by Granny Lin, who had been following in another carriage, and stood steady.
Cui Yinshui approached, addressing Pei You'an as "Lord Pei" before turning to Jiafu with a beaming smile, calling her "Madam." Jiafu nodded with a smile and entered the palace gates alongside Pei You'an, escorted by Cui Yinshui. They passed through the West Garden and finally arrived before Cheng Guang Hall.
There was still a quarter of an hour before the appointed time for their audience with the emperor to express gratitude, as arranged by the Ministry of Rites.
As Cui Yinshui went inside to announce their arrival, Jiafu suddenly felt nervous and instinctively looked at Pei You'an beside her. Standing tall and steady like a mountain, his gaze solemn, he exuded an unshakable presence. She tilted her head slightly, studying him for a moment, and inexplicably drew strength from his composure. Slowly exhaling, her heart settled once more.
Xiao Lie sat behind the imperial desk, his eyes slightly swollen as if he hadn’t slept well the night before. When the two knelt side by side to express their gratitude, he bade them rise and examined Jiafu closely, his face showing satisfaction. A eunuch presented the imperial gifts, and Jiafu knelt once more to thank the emperor for his generous rewards to her maternal family.Xiao Lie said kindly, "No need for formalities. Your Zhen family has already rendered meritorious service. Serve You'an well from now on, and that will be your family's loyalty to me."
Jiafu quickly glanced at Pei You'an beside her.
He was looking at the emperor on the throne, not at her.
Jiafu lowered her head in acknowledgment. After rising, protocol dictated she proceed to Jiefu Palace to pay respects to the empress.
Li Yuangui personally escorted Jiafu there. Upon entering Jiefu Palace, Jiafu saw Empress Zhou seated solemnly in the hall, with Zhang Fengtong sitting beside her. Below them sat a young female Daoist in a yellow robe, holding a horsetail whisk.
The Daoist nun was quite young, around twenty, with striking beauty—delicate brows, white teeth, and red lips. Seated there with her immortal grace and jade-like complexion, her Daoist robes accentuated her transcendent aura.
Jiafu didn't recognize this beautiful nun. After kowtowing to Empress Zhou and exchanging greetings with Zhang Fengtong, the latter introduced the nun, explaining she had taken vows at the White Crane Temple in the southern city, her secular surname being Chi, with the religious name Hanzhen. This jogged Jiafu's memory—this nun was actually quite famous.
Back when Prince Shun'an first ascended, he faced opposition from court officials loyal to the Tianxi Emperor. Among them was Hanlin Chi, then the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and a renowned master of calligraphy and painting, who vehemently opposed Prince Shun'an and secretly rallied ministers to demand an investigation into the Young Emperor's fatal riding accident. Prince Shun'an initially tolerated this but later framed Hanlin Chi for treason, executing all male members of his family and enslaving the women.
This nun was Hanlin Chi's granddaughter. At just fourteen, she had already been celebrated as the capital's top talented maiden. After being enslaved, she refused to submit to lecherous advances and attempted suicide by jumping from a building. By sheer luck, she landed on a passerby and survived. The incident quickly spread, stirring public outrage, with folk songs praising her integrity. Prince Shun'an eventually pardoned her, allowing her to become a nun. Later, when Xiao Lie took power, he rehabilitated those persecuted, including Hanlin Chi. Since then, this nun had frequently visited the palace, becoming close friends with Crown Princess Zhang Fengtong and gaining immense fame. Many men, including high-ranking officials, admired her, but she steadfastly refused to return to secular life, remaining a Daoist nun.
After introducing the nun, Zhang Fengtong said cheerfully to her, "This is Lord Pei's newlywed wife, Zhen of Quanzhou."
Chi Hanzhen's cool gaze turned to Jiafu, lingering briefly before she rose and offered a Daoist salute, her expression devoid of warmth, her demeanor aloof.
Realizing this ethereal beauty was Hanlin Chi's granddaughter, Jiafu admired her integrity and didn't mind her haughtiness, smiling and nodding in return.
Chi Hanzhen ignored Jiafu thereafter, turning to Empress Zhou. "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern, but I have no intention of returning to secular life. Upon my return, I shall ask my master to conduct blessings for Your Majesty. If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Empress Zhou smiled. "The Emperor has already cleared your grandfather's name. I merely thought it pitiable for one so young to devote herself to austerity, hence my summoning you yesterday. Since you wish to remain, I won't press you. Visit often—your reputation as a talented maiden precedes you. You may expound scriptures to me in the future."
Chi Hanzhen assented, bowed again to the empress and Zhang Fengtong, then departed with ethereal grace.Empress Zhou then turned to Jiafu, speaking amiably with some casual conversation. Jiafu responded appropriately before taking her leave. Zhang Fengtong insisted on seeing her out, despite Jiafu's polite refusals, and escorted her to the palace gates. There, Zhang Fengtong took Jiafu's hand and said, "Sister Zhen, I initially acted out of gratitude, unaware of your connection with Lord Pei. It led to a misunderstanding, and I’ve since been reprimanded by Her Majesty. I deeply regret it—please don’t hold it against me. Fortunately, the Crown Prince and Lord Pei are as close as brothers, so naturally, you and I should be like sisters. If you have time, do visit the palace often so we may grow closer."
Jiafu smiled and agreed, repeatedly urging Zhang Fengtong not to trouble herself further. Only then did Zhang Fengtong stop, smiling as she watched Jiafu depart.
Still accompanied by Li Yuangui, Jiafu made her way back to Cheng Guang Hall. Midway, her heart skipped a beat, and she halted in her tracks.
Pei You'an stood ahead on the palace path, speaking with a woman. The woman’s graceful silhouette, clad in a flowing yellow robe, belonged to none other than the departing Daoist nun, Chi Hanzhen. It seemed the two were acquainted. After exchanging a few words, Chi Hanzhen bowed deeply to Pei You'an, appearing deeply grateful, before continuing on her way.
Once the nun had left, Pei You'an turned and noticed Jiafu standing by the path. His brow lifted slightly as he approached. When he drew near, he said to Li Yuangui, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Li. His Majesty no longer requires my presence, so I shall take my wife home now."
OpenNovel