This journey north, though planned with ample time before departure, was tightly scheduled to ensure arrival before the sixtieth birthday celebration of Old Madam Pei next month. Setting sail from Quanzhou Harbor, they followed the coastal route past Fuzhou, then turned inland upon reaching Jiangnan, navigating the canals straight to the capital.
Months earlier, Madam Song of the Song Family had sent two trusted matrons to the Zhen family in Quanzhou, who now accompanied them on this trip.
Though the Song Family was related by marriage to the Pei Family, their involvement in escorting the Zhen family’s daughter required some explanation.
The Song Family’s daughter had previously married Pei Xiuzhi, the second son of the Pei Family’s eldest branch, but passed away years ago, leaving behind a son nicknamed Quan Ge’er. Madam Song, having only this one beloved daughter, was heartbroken by her death and doted on Quan Ge’er as if he were her own life.
Fortunes shift. After the Young Emperor’s death and Prince Shun’an’s ascension, the Song Family’s support earned them imperial favor, their status soaring while Duke Wei’s Mansion declined sharply in contrast.
Old Madam Pei of Duke Wei’s Mansion had long withdrawn from public affairs. With the eldest son, the Duke of Wei, deceased years ago and the second son holding only a nominal post, the Song Family grew increasingly arrogant, neglecting formalities. Madam Song frequently visited Duke Wei’s Mansion to see Quan Ge’er, arriving with such pomp she might as well have summoned servants on the spot. Though Madam Xin resented this, her son still relied on his former in-laws for advancement, forcing her to swallow her pride and feign courtesy.
After her son was widowed, Madam Xin sought a new wife for him. But the Pei Family’s standing had waned, and the new emperor’s disdain for them was no secret. Which influential family in the capital would marry their daughter into such a situation, let alone as a second wife?
After much deliberation, Madam Xin settled on the Zhen family.
Due to their early ties through Meng Shi of the second branch, the Zhen family had maintained contact. Though lacking in pedigree, they were otherwise ideal. Her son also approved of the Zhen daughter. While this match wouldn’t aid his career, the Zhen family’s wealth was precisely what the financially strained Duke Wei’s Mansion needed—its grandeur barely upheld by yearly deficits. Moreover, given their circumstances, marrying beneath them was preferable to a bride who might look down on them. After all, even in decline, the Pei Family’s ducal status remained, ensuring the wealthy Zhen family would still defer to them.
Madam Xin’s matchmaking plans inevitably reached the Song Family. Though displeased by her former son-in-law’s remarriage, Madam Song had no grounds to interfere. Upon learning the Zhen daughter posed no threat to her grandson, she acquiesced. Persuaded by others, she even proposed adopting Jiafu as a goddaughter to elevate her status—a gesture to both appease the Zhen family and curry favor with the Pei Family.
For Madam Song to condescend to adopt Jiafu was an honor the Zhen family could only receive with gratitude, hence the two matrons’ southern journey. Both were Madam Song’s confidantes, one being her wet nurse, Granny Ye. Since arriving in Quanzhou two months prior, they had flaunted their authority, “instructing” Jiafu in women’s precepts and disciplines.Madam Meng herself came from an official's family—her father had once held a high-ranking local position—so how could she not understand these matters? In her eyes, in terms of appearance and character, where did her daughter fall short compared to those noble maidens in the capital? She knew Madam Song was merely seizing the opportunity to assert her authority, making it clear to her daughter that even after marriage, she should never dream of overshadowing the first wife. Though displeased, Madam Meng dared not show it on her face. Instead, she treated these two old women like revered deities, serving them the finest food and drink every day.
For this journey north, besides the birthday gifts prepared for Old Madam Pei, they had also brought lavish presents for Madam Song—rhinoceros horn, ivory, jade, pearls, along with silks and spices, all of the highest quality. As for these two old women, they were accommodated in the finest cabins as soon as they boarded the ship, with maids assigned to attend to them, ensuring not the slightest neglect.
A few days into the journey, the ship reached Fujian, where the waves grew slightly rough. Granny Ye, who had never been a good sailor, had already suffered on the way here. Now, on the return trip, she was seasick again. Upon hearing this, Jiafu personally went to visit her. Entering the cabin, she saw Granny Ye lying there with a medicinal plaster stuck to her forehead, her lips pale and her eyes dazed. Immediately, Jiafu’s face filled with concern. She sat close, took Granny Ye’s hand, and said tearfully, “It’s all because of me that you’re suffering like this. I feel truly guilty—I’d rather bear this hardship myself.”
Granny Ye had just vomited up all the fish she had eaten earlier, even bringing up bile. Weakly, she said, “As long as you know how hard it’s been for me, young lady. Truly, it was all for your sake that I traveled all the way to the south. The misery I endured—I’ve never suffered so much in my entire life.”
Jiafu kept blaming herself, offering many comforting words. Before leaving, she stood and said, “Granny, you rest well. I won’t disturb you further. Whatever you wish to eat or drink, just tell the maids—the ship has everything. I’m ignorant and inexperienced, so once you’re better, I hope you’ll teach me more.”
Granny Ye, seeing her humble attitude and how she deferred to her in every way, felt satisfied. She gave a faint hum through her nostrils in acknowledgment.
Jiafu didn’t mind. She instructed the maid she had assigned to take good care of Granny Ye, then stood to leave. Accidentally, her pouch fell to the floor. The opening, already loosely tied, came undone, and a yellow talisman slipped out.
Carrying a lucky charm from a temple was perfectly ordinary, yet Jiafu seemed flustered. Seeing the talisman fall, she quickly bent to pick it up, then turned her back to swiftly tuck it back into the pouch, clutching it tightly in her palm. Only then did she turn around, casually offering an apology before leaving the cabin.
Granny Ye’s eyes were sharp. Though she was too seasick to move, Jiafu’s dropped talisman and her odd behavior didn’t escape her notice.Her arduous journey south served not only to assert authority but also to carry out a crucial task for Madam Song—to secretly observe the Zhen family's daughter and discern whether she harbored hidden motives. Initially, Jiafu had appeared meek and indecisive, with her vulnerable family background as a weakness. Such a woman, even if married into the Pei family and becoming Quan Ge's stepmother, seemed unlikely to stir up trouble in the future. Granny Ye had already been put at ease, but now suspicions arose again. She watched Jiafu's retreating figure leave the cabin, then dismissed the Zhen family maid and summoned her own maid, Suxin, whispering a few instructions. Suxin nodded and followed Jiafu out.
Madam Meng happened to be coming to visit Granny Ye and encountered Jiafu in the corridor. Jiafu said, "Granny just fell asleep. There's no need to disturb her now, Mother."
Knowing her daughter had just visited, Madam Meng nodded. "Very well, I'll come back later to see her."
Jiafu glanced subtly out of the corner of her eye and noticed Suxin lurking behind, peeking furtively. Pretending not to see, she linked arms with Madam Meng and led her to a porthole, where mother and daughter leaned against the window to talk.
Madam Meng sensed something unusual about her daughter and smiled. "What is it? Do you have something to say?"
Jiafu dropped her smile and slightly raised her voice. "Mother, we'll soon reach Fuming Island tomorrow. I heard there's a Guanyin Temple there, and I'd like to pay a visit."
The Guanyin Temple was renowned for its compassionate goddess. Though it required half a day's journey by boat, devotees—both men and women—visited daily to make or fulfill vows. During the annual incense festival, countless women crossed the sea to worship at the temple, often praying for children, as it was said to be extraordinarily efficacious. Madam Meng had heard of this. Startled by her daughter's request, she quickly understood.
While she was satisfied with her future son-in-law, Pei Xiuzhi, the thought of her daughter entering a household with an existing stepson—a reportedly mischievous one at that—and under the watchful eye of the formidable Madam Song, weighed heavily on her. Privately, she hoped her daughter would soon bear a son of her own to secure her position. Since they were passing by and her daughter had expressed the wish, how could she refuse? "Very well, I'll inform the crew. Tomorrow, we'll dock at Fuming Island, and I'll accompany you. But..." She glanced behind her, dismissed the maids, and lowered her voice. "Best not let that Song family nanny know, to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Jiafu nodded. "I'll listen to you, Mother."
Madam Meng escorted her daughter back to the cabin and then went to speak with the steward about docking at Fuming Island the next day. Suxin, who had been eavesdropping nearby, overheard the entire conversation and quietly returned to report to Granny Ye. After a brief contemplation, Granny Ye sneered, "What a scheming girl! She didn't let on a single hint in front of me, yet now she's plotting to bear a son! Shameless—she's not even married yet and already calculating this! Since she's persuaded her mother to go ashore, naturally they won't inform us tomorrow. We'll see."
The next day, the Zhen family's ship indeed docked at Fuming Island under the pretext of replenishing supplies. Granny Ye instructed a clever young servant to secretly follow Madam Meng and her daughter, observing their movements and reporting back every detail. The servant obeyed, trailing the Zhen family women as they discreetly disembarked.Madam Meng was genuinely devout in her worship. She brought her daughter to the Guanyin Hall, made a sincere wish, and donated a large sum of incense money in exchange for a consecrated charm. She solemnly placed it in her daughter’s pouch, instructing her to carry it at all times, before leaving the hall and returning to the boat to continue their journey.
The servant boy also returned to the boat and reported everything he had seen to Granny Ye: "I saw them enter the Guanyin Hall, where they obtained a Charm for conceiving a child, and then came back."
Granny Ye’s mind was now as clear as day. She rewarded the boy with a few copper coins and sent him away, then said to another accompanying matron, "Look, the Zhen family’s fox tail is finally showing. It’s a good thing I had foresight, or I might have been fooled by that girl!"
The other matron showered her with flattery. Granny Ye, swelling with pride, no longer felt seasick and was unusually energetic. "We must inform Madam Song as soon as possible. This Zhen girl may appear virtuous, but she’s actually a cunning fox, full of schemes. If Quan Ge'er falls into her hands, how could it end well?"
The next day, when Madam Meng brought Jiafu to visit Granny Ye again, the latter showed no outward signs of suspicion but secretly scrutinized the Zhen girl even more closely. The more she observed, the more she became convinced that every word and action was calculated. Yet she did not expose her, instead behaving more amiably than before, all the while wishing they could reach the capital sooner.
Madam Meng remained completely unaware of the undercurrents, only noticing Granny Ye’s improved attitude toward her daughter. She assumed it was due to Jiafu’s attentive visits and felt quite relieved.
Jiafu remained composed, only growing sweeter-tongued toward Granny Ye. Thus, the journey continued peacefully until they finally arrived, ready to disembark the next day.
That night, Madam Meng took her daughter to visit Granny Ye privately. After dismissing the servants and exchanging a few pleasantries, she handed over a pouch with a smile. "We’ve truly troubled you these past days. This is just a small token of our gratitude—please accept it. The larger note inside is for you, and the smaller ones are for the other servants. Everyone has worked hard."
Standing behind her mother, Jiafu blushed, lowered her head, and said shyly, "When we reach the capital, I hope you’ll put in a good word for me with my godmother."
Granny Ye took the pouch, felt its contents, and knew it contained banknotes. She agreed effusively and warmly saw the Zhen mother and daughter out. Once the door was closed, she opened the pouch and found two notes—one for twenty taels and another for ten. Disappointed, she sneered and curled her lip. "I thought they’d be more generous. Twenty taels to buy my silence? How embarrassing. Petty households have no vision."
Little did Madam Meng know that the two banknotes she had prepared had been secretly swapped by her daughter. Believing the matron had accepted five hundred taels, she assumed Granny Ye would at least refrain from speaking ill of Jiafu to Madam Song. Satisfied, she escorted Jiafu back to their cabin and left with peace of mind.
The next day, the Zhen family’s boat gradually approached the shore.
In the late autumn of the third year of Yongxi, the Zhen family arrived in the capital.
For Jiafu, it was her first return to the capital in three years.
The docks were bustling with activity. Not only had the Zhen family’s steward, sent ahead to manage affairs, arrived with a retinue to welcome the mistress and young masters and misses, but representatives from Duke Wei's Mansion had also come.Madam Meng was delighted to learn that Pei Xiuzhi had personally come to the dock early in the morning to wait for their arrival. Holding her daughter's hand as they prepared to disembark, she noticed the girl's palm was slightly cold. Giving the small hand a gentle squeeze, she whispered, "Don't be nervous. I've arranged everything properly. It will go smoothly, and you just need to wait peacefully for your wedding."
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