Wish You All the Best - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

That night, Jiafu slept with Madam Meng. Held by her mother and curled up in those warm arms, it felt as though she had returned to the days of her childhood.

The events of these past few days had been full of sudden twists and turns. Just this morning, when that old woman from the Pei family had come to urge her mother to return and resume marriage negotiations, Jiafu had thought that everything had returned to the starting point and her heart had sunk rapidly. She had not expected that the very next moment, her mother would speak up and reject Madam Xin’s overture.

Jiafu understood her mother. She was literate, virtuous, gentle, and well-versed in the Lessons for Women. When her father was alive, he was her world; after he passed, she was obedient and unquestioning before her powerful mother-in-law. Since Jiafu could remember, her mother had raised her with the same expectations.

She hugged her mother tightly: "Mother, you rejected them today. If Grandmother blames you when we return, I will stand with you!"

"Silly girl, what does that have to do with you? If your grandmother wants to blame someone, let her blame me. Your mother is not afraid. I have seen it clearly now; a family like that, no matter how prestigious, is not a good match for you. To let you marry into such a house, your mother cannot rest easy."

Jiafu’s nose felt slightly sore. She pressed her face into her mother’s embrace, closed her eyes, and mumbled: "Mother, you are so good to me."

Madam Meng smiled and stroked the soft, dark hair her daughter had pressed against the pillow. She almost seemed to catch a faint whiff of that milky scent that had radiated from her daughter when she was a baby in her arms.

"Your mother has nothing else in this life; I only hope that you and your brother will be well. As long as you are both safe and sound, your mother is content."

Her mother’s gentle yet powerful words accompanied Jiafu into a restful sleep that night.

Since returning from Xishan Temple, this was the most peaceful sleep she had enjoyed in a long time. When she finally awoke the next day, the sun was already high in the sky, and her mother was nowhere to be seen. Tanxiang told her that the Mistress had been up since dawn, busily calling people to pack their luggage, preparing to set off for Quanzhou in the next few days.

After washing up, Jiafu went to help her mother with the tasks.

They had originally planned to stay in the capital for at least several months, planning to spend the New Year here as well. When they first arrived, they had brought enough supplies for every eventuality; the trunks for their clothes alone numbered over a dozen. Only two days ago, everything had finally been arranged properly, and now, they had to be packed away again. The steward, Zhang Da, and Nanny Liu led the servants in handling the internal and external affairs. They were so busy that three days passed in the blink of an eye, and there was no further news from Madam Xin’s side.

In Madam Xin’s view, her own initiative to re-propose the marriage was already a sign of great condescension, yet she had been rejected by Madam Meng. Having suffered such a loss of face, she was inevitably filled with shame and resentment, and she had hardly shown her face in the past few days. Only Pei Xiuzhi had come by once, seemingly still wishing to make an effort to salvage the situation.

Perhaps due to being physically and mentally exhausted from the recent busyness, Madam Meng had accidentally caught a cold yesterday. When she heard Pei Xiuzhi had arrived, she still received him personally, maintaining that their family status was too low and they could not climb so high. Once the pleasantries were over, she had politely seen Pei Xiuzhi out.

Afterward, Nanny Liu grumbled to Jiafu that when the Heir of Pei left, he looked lost and soul-less—honestly quite pitiful. It was a pity; if not for that meddling Song family mother-in-law in the middle, the man himself was a genuine talent.

Hearing this, Jiafu gave a faint smile.

Yes, if not for her own personal experience, how could she ever believe that a husband who usually loved her so deeply could, on two separate occasions, gift her to another man?

Under the weight of power, Pei Xiuzhi was nothing more than a spineless coward who would kneel at the slightest pressure.

After that visit, Pei Xiuzhi did not appear again. According to Madam Meng of the Pei family’s second branch, his private visit to the Zhen family had been discovered by Madam Xin, leading to a reprimand and an order that he was never to come again.

Madam Meng had been coming quite diligently these past two days. Not only did she bring all sorts of inside information to the recuperating Madam Meng and help with the administrative tasks, but she also provided tips on which local specialties in the capital were worth buying to take home as gifts. She was also warm and affectionate toward Jiafu, showing no sign of past grudges.

Madam Meng had always been kind-hearted. Although her heart had been chilled this time, they were sisters after all. Now that the Second Mistress had adopted a new attitude, Madam Meng naturally would not push her away, and on the surface, their sisterly relationship seemed to have returned to its former harmony.

The next day, the Zhen family was to depart from the capital. Toward evening, the Second Mistress arrived again by carriage, smiling radiantly. This time, she came under the order of the Old Madam of the Pei family, bearing gifts for Jiafu. She said that Jiafu had come to the capital to offer birthday greetings but had suffered a scare for no reason; now that she was leaving, the Old Madam wanted to help her "calm her spirit" so that her journey would be smooth and she could return home early.

Madam Meng felt genuine gratitude toward the Old Madam. Today, feeling a bit more refreshed, she thought she should personally take her two children to go over and kowtow in farewell. However, because of what had happened a few days prior, she was afraid it would be awkward to just show up. She had been pondering this in her heart, preparing to send a message first to sound things out, when she didn't expect the Old Madam to send her sister first. Feeling both grateful and ashamed, she said: "When you return to your sister, please ask on my behalf: may I take my children to go over and kowtow to her?"

The Second Mistress smiled and said: "The Old Madam knew you would ask. She specifically told me to tell you that she appreciates your kindness, and there is no need for you to go through the trouble of kowtowing. With the departure tomorrow, you will certainly have a lot to attend to tonight, so it is more important to finish packing and get some rest to restore your energy. Besides, the Old Madam has her own affairs to attend to."

When Madam Meng asked what those were, the Second Mistress replied: "Tomorrow is the death anniversary of the late Empress Duanhui. Every year on this day, the Old Madam performs a Buddhist service for her at Ci’en Temple. Didn't she go there personally a few days ago? She went to instruct the monks to make full preparations, so there would be no oversights. That Eldest Master of the main branch who just returned—I hear he has been in the Southwest for years; he was supposed to leave two days ago, but he is staying to finish the service for his aunt before he goes..."

She leaned toward Madam Meng’s ear and lowered her voice: "If you want to talk about the Old Madam being partial, her greatest affection is for that late Aunt. So many years have passed, and she has never missed a year. It is only fitting; the family had a daughter who became Empress. If it weren't for her short life and lack of fortune, leaving without even a prince, who would be in charge today is anyone’s guess!"

Her tone was filled with pity and regret.

The implication of the Second Mistress's words was that if the late Empress had given birth to a prince, given her position as the Empress and the Emperor’s favor, her son would surely have been named Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince had succeeded to the throne, everything would have gone smoothly, and there would have been no need for the current Emperor or Prince Shunan to take the throne, and the Pei family would not have fallen to such a state.

As this involved the imperial court, Madam Meng responded vaguely. The Second Mistress stopped speaking, chatted about other things, then rose to leave. She mentioned that if she had time the next morning, she would bring her son to see them off. Madam Meng tried to decline, but in the end, she had her children accompany her to see the Second Mistress out and instructed her to convey her gratitude to the Old Madam.

The night passed without incident. The next day, after leaving two trusted old servants to guard the residence, the rest of the Zhen family was busy preparing to leave the capital. Although they had risen early and many items had been moved ahead of time since the previous day, it was already quite late by the time all their belongings were on the boat. It was only a quarter of an hour before the Si hour (9:00 AM) when they were ready to depart, and only then did they discover that Zhen Yaoting was not on board. His servant was there, and when questioned by Madam Meng, he said: "The Young Master left early this morning. He instructed me that if the boat was about to depart and he hadn't returned, I should inform you, Madam, and he would join us when he gets back. As for where the Young Master went, he didn't tell me."

Madam Meng did not want to stay a moment longer, especially since she wanted to return to Quanzhou before the end of the year. That was why, even though she hadn't fully recovered, she was planning to leave today. Unexpectedly, her son was nowhere to be found. Helpless, she delayed the departure and sent people off the boat to search nearby. They searched everywhere he might have gone, but they could not find him. Her initial irritation gradually turned into anxiety. Knowing how close the siblings usually were, she asked Jiafu if she knew where her brother might have gone so early.

Jiafu had been thinking about this the whole time. She finally recalled something.

Two days ago, her brother had sought her out, stealthily pulling her into an empty corner. After stammering for a long time, he finally revealed that he wanted her to find a way to get Yuzhu, who served the Old Madam, to come out, saying that since they were about to leave, he had words he wanted to speak to her.

Jiafu had realized that her brother had developed feelings for Yuzhu. But this brother of hers, now eighteen, still had a very playful heart. He often hung out with a group of young dandies in Quanzhou, accustomed to the life of "riding horses leaning against slanted bridges, and flowers blooming in red sleeves on every floor." Reading was, of course, out of the question—that had been a lost cause long ago. He also had little interest in business; truth be told, he was intent on joining a fleet and heading out to sea. As the only male heir of the Zhen family, how could his grandmother and mother ever agree to let him on a ship? They had previously arranged a marriage for him, hoping to settle him down through starting a family. They were supposed to be married earlier this year, but the girl passed away young, delaying the marriage. He, however, was thoughtless and heartless, continuing to wander around all day, either horse-racing through the streets or sneaking off to the docks. His sudden interest in Yuzhu was likely just a passing whim, and he would probably lose interest in a few days. Even if Jiafu had been dense, she wouldn't have helped her brother do such a thing. She had rejected him on the spot, lectured him, and remembered him leaving dejectedly. Now, she recalled what the Second Mistress had mentioned yesterday: the Old Madam would be going to Ci’en Temple again today.

Could it be that her brother had quietly gone to Ci’en Temple this morning, hoping to find Yuzhu?

The more Jiafu thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, so she spoke her mind. Madam Meng was startled and said angrily: "What is he thinking? Is he trying to be the death of me? No, I must go there!" She stood up, ready to leave, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and closed her eyes.

Jiafu hurriedly helped her sit back down, saying: "Mother, don't worry yet. It is only my guess; perhaps I am wrong. You have not fully recovered, so wait here. Perhaps my brother will return on his own from wherever he is. Let me make a trip over there. I know the way, and I will have Uncle Zhang take me. If my brother is really there, I will certainly bring him back. In the unlikely event that he has offended Yuzhu, I will apologize to her on his behalf."

Madam Meng steadied herself and said: "I will have Nanny Liu accompany you. Go quickly and return quickly, and be careful on the road."

Jiafu agreed, asked Zhang Da to prepare the carriage, and with Nanny Liu and Tanxiang, she boarded the carriage and rushed to Ci’en Temple. Upon arrival, they learned that the service was being held in the Grand Hall, so they hurried over. When they reached the exterior, however, they were blocked by guards, who stated that the service for the late Empress Duanhui was in progress, and that eunuchs from the palace were in attendance; no outsiders were permitted to enter.

Jiafu had a feeling that her brother, Zhen Yaoting, was definitely in there, she just didn't know where he was at this moment. Fearing he might be acting recklessly again and causing trouble, she was deeply anxious. She looked around, and suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure walking toward them. Her heart skipped a beat, and after a moment of hesitation, she took a hurried step forward to greet him. She stopped in front of the man, bowed, and said: "Eldest Cousin, I have a matter for which I need to find Miss Yuzhu. If it is inconvenient for me to enter, could I trouble you to ask Miss Yuzhu to come out?"

Pei You’an stopped his footsteps, took a look at her, and said: "Follow me."

Jiafu thanked him in a low voice, though she did not know if he had heard her. A faint breeze from his robes brushed past her face as he walked past her.

Jiafu hurriedly turned, and with Tanxiang in tow, followed him inside.