Wish You All the Best - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Zhen Yaoting had arrived at Ci’en Temple long ago. He could faintly hear the sound of cymbals and wooden fish coming from the Grand Hall on the other side of the wall, and knew that the maid, Yuzhu, was inside. Yet, unable to enter, he felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. He wandered back and forth along the perimeter wall for a long time until he found a remote corner. A locust tree grew in the corner, its branches extending over to the other side of the wall. He climbed the tree using his hands and feet, slowly ascended to the top of the wall, and leaped down. Finally, he had managed to sneak in. Taking cover behind trees, he crept toward the main hall. As he drew closer, he saw Pei family servants coming and going from the hall entrance, occasionally mixed with young palace eunuchs. Not daring to approach recklessly, he hid behind a massive stone tablet by the roadside, peeking and craning his neck. He waited for a long time without seeing a soul. Just as he was growing impatient, he suddenly saw Yuzhu and another maid walk out of the Dharma Hall, carrying incense baskets in their hands, seemingly heading toward the main gate. Overjoyed, he fixed his eyes on her. As she passed by nearby, he took careful aim and tossed a small pebble at her back.

Feeling as though she had been lightly tapped on the back, Yuzhu turned her head subconsciously. She was shocked to see a head poking out from behind the large stone tablet, and recognized it as the Zhen family’s son, who was vigorously waving at her. Confused and hesitant, she turned to say a few words to the other maid, telling her to head to the incense hall first. Once the maid was gone, she turned back, stopped on the side of the road, and asked: "Young Master Zhen, is something the matter?"

Seeing her stop before him, her eyes fixed on him, Zhen Yaoting felt his heart skip a beat. He hurriedly stepped out from behind the stone tablet and whispered: "We are leaving today. This morning, just before we boarded the boat, I suddenly remembered something. It was thanks to your help last time that I was able to speak before the Old Madam and help wash away the injustice against my sister. I realized I hadn't thanked you yet. If I left just like this, I wouldn't be able to rest easy, so I came here early this morning just to offer my thanks."

Yuzhu’s first impression of Zhen Yaoting had been quite poor; she felt he was flighty and reckless. However, after the last incident, seeing him barge in before the Old Madam to stand up for his sister—while his actions were reckless, she was moved by his devotion to his sibling. Recalling the turmoil in her own family during her childhood, she thought that if she had a brother like him, perhaps her circumstances might have been different. Thus, her impression of him had improved since that day. Seeing him travel such a long distance just to thank her, she was not only surprised but inevitably felt a bit touched.

Today, outsiders were not allowed inside the Grand Hall. Thinking of how he had been hiding behind the stone tablet, she guessed without asking that he must have taken a back way in. Fearing someone might see him, she glanced left and right, then lowered her voice: "It was a small matter, why would you need to come all the way here to thank me? You should go back quickly. I have things to do, so I’ll be off."

Having said that, she turned to leave.

Zhen Yaoting had traveled such a long way, and now that he had finally waited for her, he couldn't bear for her to leave after only a few words. Anxious, he tugged at her sleeve and pulled her behind the stone tablet where he had been hiding. Seeing her face flush a deep crimson, as if she were angry, he hurriedly let go and whispered apologetically: "Don't be mad, don't be mad! I thought that just offering thanks wouldn't be enough, so I brought a little something." He then pulled out a wrapped handkerchief, opened it, and revealed a pair of jade bracelets, clear and full of luster, holding them out toward Yuzhu: "Take a look, do you like them?"

Yuzhu was astonished: "We are neither related nor close; how could I accept such a precious gift from you? Put it away at once!"

Zhen Yaoting was surprisingly forthright. Hearing her refuse, he immediately put them away, but then, as if performing a magic trick, he produced a small, intricately carved box: "I heard that you once asked someone to buy Suhe incense at the fragrance shop. That stuff is no good. This box contains a few pieces of musk-ambergris; it’s not worth much, but take it, sister, and use it to scent your clothes and handkerchiefs."

Yuzhu didn't know when he had even found out about such things. She was both amused and annoyed, frowning as she said: "Young Master Zhen, I appreciate your kindness. But I cannot accept this. Our Mistress uses this very incense; I am but a servant, how am I fit to use it? You must go, it’s not good if you are seen. I have things to do, I’m leaving!"

With that, she turned and stepped out from behind the stone tablet, hurrying toward the incense hall near the main gate.

Seeing her walk away just like that without accepting anything he brought, Zhen Yaoting became anxious. No longer caring about other things, he hurriedly moved out from behind the stone tablet and chased after her for two steps, saying: "It really isn't worth much! No one else will know, why are you like this! If you dare not use the ambergris, I have frozen dragon brain! My sister never liked scented incense, but before we came to the capital this time, she specifically asked me to take a box of this from the warehouse for her to use—she doesn't even want the ambergris. My sister is an elegant person, and since she likes it, I'm sure you will too. Otherwise, I will go back right now and get some frozen dragon brain for you..."

Yuzhu had encountered such a person for the first time in her life. She feared that if she shouted for someone, she would cause Madam Meng and Jiafu to lose face; yet if she didn't, he would keep pestering her. She was both annoyed and embarrassed. Hearing his voice getting louder and louder—and this path being the only way from the main gate to the Grand Hall—she feared running into someone. She hurriedly stopped and was about to scold him with a darkened face when, looking up, she unexpectedly saw the Eldest Master coming from the opposite direction, followed by Jiafu and her maid. She was shocked and hurriedly walked over, greeted the Eldest Master, then turned back to look at Zhen Yaoting, and tried to smooth things over: "Just now I went to the incense hall to collect incense and happened to run into Young Master Zhen, and we chatted a bit about spices. He was just about to leave..."

Jiafu had already seen her brother. From the look on Yuzhu’s face, she knew he must have offended her with his reckless tongue just now.

But at this moment, that was no longer important.

She had heard exactly what her brother had just said. Her heart pounded violently.

She steadied herself and quietly raised her eyes to look at Pei You’an, who had stopped in front of her.

If only he hadn't noticed what her brother had just said.

But very quickly, Jiafu understood. That was merely her wishful thinking.

Pei You’an didn't say anything, but he had stopped in his tracks. He turned his head and looked at her, his gaze resting on her face with an extremely strange expression.

Jiafu’s face flushed rapidly, turning so red that it seemed it could bleed.

He watched her like this for a moment, and then, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Jiafu’s heart beat even faster. She subconsciously took a small step toward him and opened her mouth, but his expression had already returned to indifference.

He no longer looked at her, but turned his head, nodded slightly to Yuzhu, and then proceeded forward.

She gazed at that receding back, frozen in place.

He knew—he knew she had lied to him that day.

She stood there blankly; the red tide on her face faded quickly, and her complexion turned pale again. She felt a heavy blockage in her heart, a painful one.

"Little sister? Why are you here?"

Zhen Yaoting’s voice sounded in her ear.

Jiafu was finally brought back to reality. Suppressing the intense frustration surging in her heart, she turned to Yuzhu and said: "My brother didn't tell my mother and just ran over here like this. If he offended you just now, I hope you will forgive him, Sister Yuzhu."

Seeing her poor complexion, Yuzhu no longer held it against her and asked with concern: "What is wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Let me help you inside to sit for a moment and have some water."

Jiafu steadied herself, shook her head, and forced a smile: "I am fine. We are leaving the capital today. We were all packed to go, but I couldn't find my brother, so I came over to find him and bring him back. If there is nothing else, I will take my brother and leave first; my mother is still waiting. If anyone before the Old Madam mentions this, I trouble you to put in a good word for us. It is truly because my brother is too reckless and has caused you so much inconvenience."

Hearing this, Yuzhu did not try to keep them, saying: "It is nothing. Then I will see you out."

Jiafu looked at Zhen Yaoting, and seeing he was still reluctant to leave, she suppressed her anger and said: "Brother, are you still not leaving? Mother was extremely anxious just now. Do you truly want to worry her to the point of sickness?"

Only then did Zhen Yaoting reluctantly follow Jiafu outside. Once they exited the Grand Hall, he saw his sister marching out the temple gate without a word, her footsteps fast, seemingly angry. He chased after her, muttering: "Didn't I leave a message? I have my own discretion. I would have gone back on my own after I was done; why did you have to come chasing after me like this..."

Jiafu suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned, and said: "Brother! I am younger than you; it is not my place to lecture you. But when will you ever grow up? Do you know why Grandmother insisted on marrying me into the Pei family? It is because our family lacks a man who can stand up and support the household! Father is gone; Mother relies on you to make something of yourself so she has something to lean on in the future. You are not a child anymore, yet you have no sense of order! I begged Grandmother to let me learn how to handle affairs, but she refused! You could clearly be doing things for Mother and for our Zhen family, yet you insist on hanging about like a hoodlum without any purpose! I truly hate that I was not born a man..."

A wave of sorrow surged in Jiafu’s heart, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing that his sister looked like she was about to cry, Zhen Yaoting panicked, circling her while offering apologies and calling himself a scoundrel. Jiafu turned her head away, wiped her tears, and boarded the carriage. Zhen Yaoting breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly climbed onto his horse, following her all the way back. When Madam Meng saw that her son had been retrieved and learned that he had indeed snuck off to Ci’en Temple to pester Yuzhu—and that, fortunately, Yuzhu was kind-hearted and had not held it against him, helping to cover it up so they didn't suffer a huge loss of face before the Old Madam and the Pei family—she was truly furious. She grabbed a feather duster and gave him a harsh lashing. Amidst the pleas and interjections of Nanny Liu and the others, and the general chaos, the Zhen family’s great boat finally departed from the pier and embarked on their journey back south.

The waterways of the capital gradually fell behind them.

Jiafu remembered clearly that not long ago, this same large boat beneath her feet had carried her slowly into the Imperial City along this very same busy waterway. At that time, her heart was filled with a mixture of determination, apprehension, and a sense of confusion regarding the unknown tomorrow.

At that time, she thought, if Heaven was merciful and her luck was good enough to allow her to successfully escape this marriage, how happy she would be.

But now, she couldn't find it in her to be happy. For the first few days, her spirits were very low; she simply didn't want her mother to notice, so she forced a smile before her.

Later, as the days passed, by the time the boat was halfway through its journey, Jiafu finally came to terms with it.

Never mind. With the marriage ending this way, there would likely be no more interaction with the Pei family in the future. As for Pei You’an, it was even less likely they would meet again. She had achieved her goal, and that was the greatest stroke of fortune. As for what he really thought of her, or whether his impression of her was good or bad, what did it matter?

In her previous life, he and she were merely passers-by who met by chance; after their paths crossed, they each lived their own different lives.

In this life, she imagined it would be the same.

They would be arriving in Quanzhou soon. She still had many things to do. Living her own life well from here on out was the most important thing.

Jiafu’s mood finally began to recover slowly from the initial depression and gloom.

On this day, the boat passed Fuming Island, which they had traveled by on their way there. Coincidentally, it was the final Buddhist service of the year at Guanyin Temple. Madam Meng decided to take her daughter to the island once more to donate some oil money to the temple. She ordered the boat to dock and took her two children and the accompanying servants onto the island, heading toward Guanyin Temple.

There were many pilgrims on the island, and there should have been a lively service. Unexpectedly, just as they were nearing Guanyin Temple, they saw a swarm of pilgrims rushing out from the temple gate, each of them wearing a look of terror. Madam Meng hurriedly told Zhang Da to go and ask what had happened. Zhang Da soon returned and said: "Mistress, we cannot worship the Buddha today! Let us leave quickly! Many government soldiers have arrived to arrest the monks in the temple, saying that a high-profile criminal is hiding among them!"

Madam Meng was startled, recited a Buddhist prayer, and prepared to turn back. They had only walked a few paces when she heard a series of shouts from behind them. Pilgrims were scurrying to clear a path. Jiafu turned her head and saw many soldiers emerging from the temple gate, mixed with grim-faced Embroidered Uniform Guards (Jinyiwei), escorting seven or eight monks shackled in iron chains. They were all young novices, no more than thirteen or fourteen years old. The soldiers were all fierce and brutal; some of the little novices were crying, shouting that they were innocent, while others were so terrified they had collapsed to the ground and were being forcibly dragged forward. The pilgrims along the roadside were all ashen-faced, bowing their heads, not daring to even take a deep breath. It wasn't until this group of soldiers had escorted the little novices away that people began to discuss it, with all sorts of rumors being spread.

What kind of high-profile criminal could it be that even the Jinyiwei were mobilized for some thirteen or fourteen-year-old novices? Madam Meng’s face turned pale; she had no heart to linger. Once the soldiers' boat had departed, she took Jiafu and her children and hurried onto their own boat. Zhang Da ordered the crew to release the cables. Just as the boat was preparing to leave the shore, they suddenly saw several people rushing to the edge of the water. One of them shouted to Zhang Da: "Hey! Is this boat going to Quanzhou? Our Young Master also needs to go to Quanzhou for some business. We were passing through Fuming Island today and thought we would stop by to pray for our Old Madam, but we didn't expect to run into government soldiers making arrests and even commandeering our boat. Is it convenient to take us along? You will be well paid!"

Jiafu had not yet entered the cabin; hearing the voice, she turned her head and took a casual glance.

Xiao Yintang!

She had actually seen Xiao Yintang!

He was standing right next to the person who had just called out. He was squinting slightly, looking at those distant government boats that were gradually drifting away. Although he was dressed as an ordinary person, she recognized him at a single glance.

Even if he were burned to ash, she would not misidentify him!

As if a bolt of lightning had struck from the clear sky, Jiafu froze in place. Her eyes widened, and her heart pounded so wildly that it felt as if it were about to leap out of her throat.