Wish You All the Best - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Jiafu never knew she could run so fast. Fearing that Pei You’an might change his mind if she were late, she not only raced back to the circular building but sprinted up three flights of stairs without stopping for breath. She hurriedly changed into the short-jacket outfit she had asked Yinhuan to fetch the day before—the kind worn by the household servants. She coiled her long hair atop her head in a masculine style, topped it with a square cap, and wrapped her legs in gaiters. Once dressed, she glanced quickly in the mirror, seeing a handsome young servant staring back. Grabbing her bundle, she rushed back to the entrance. By the time she stopped, she was gasping for air, her chest heaving rhythmically.

Her chest was far from voluptuous, but it was not exactly flat. There had been no time for binding; in her frantic rush, she had just put it on to save time. Standing now before Pei You’an, she felt him look her over from head to toe, his gaze pausing briefly on her chest. Subconsciously looking down, she realized that in this attire, her silhouette was unexpectedly prominent. She hurriedly clutched her bundle to cover herself, but Pei You’an had already looked away coolly, gesturing to the small horse carriage pulled up at the entrance: "Get on."

Jiafu’s face burned. She whispered a quick thanks, hurried over, placed her bundle on the carriage bench, and without waiting for anyone to help, scrambled up with her hands and feet. Under the stare of dozens of onlookers, she hugged her bundle, dove into the carriage, and finally exhaled a long breath once seated.

Pei You’an glanced at his attendants and guards, who were alternating their gaze between the carriage and himself, and said expressionlessly, "Let’s go."

...

Having stayed awake all night, she was exhausted. Now that her worries had been put to rest, once she lay down in the carriage, not even the bumping of the road could stop her from falling asleep.

Throughout the day, she drifted in and out of slumber. When awake, she would peek through the carriage window at Pei You’an’s back as he rode on horseback. No matter how long she looked, it was never enough; she even felt a long-lost joy bubbling up from within. That evening, the party stayed at a relay station, and her room was right next to his. Knowing he was just on the other side of the wall—so close she could hear his footsteps—she slept peacefully through the night.

On the evening of the third day, the party arrived at Mengmu.

The Tusi of Mengmu was named An Jigui; he was the thirty-fifth generation leader of the Mengmu Prefecture. Because Pei You’an had once saved his only son, he held him in special esteem. Knowing he would arrive today, he traveled dozens of miles to meet them personally and led the party into the Tusi’s estate.

Jiafu stayed in the same courtyard as Pei You’an, their rooms adjacent. For several days in a row, smaller local tribal leaders kept arriving. Pei You’an was extremely busy, coming and going with An Jigui and attending banquets every night. Jiafu had nothing to do during the day. Only at night, when she could occasionally wait for him to return to serve him tea and exchange a few words, did she find the moment she looked forward to most.

A few days later, she noticed something peculiar.

The Tusi had a daughter named An Longna, about Jiafu’s age—fifteen or sixteen. Yesterday evening, as Jiafu stood at the courtyard gate eagerly waiting for Pei You’an to return, her heart surged with joy. Just as she was about to run out to greet him, she saw An Longna beat her to it, running up and blocking his path.

They were a bit too far away for Jiafu to hear what An Longna said, but she could tell at a glance what was happening: it was the classic "maiden in the throes of spring."

The expression on her face as she gazed at him was all too familiar to Jiafu—was it not a mirror image of her own?

Jiafu’s heart skipped a beat. She hid behind the gate and peeked through a crack, feeling quite anxious. Fortunately, Pei You’an remained as he had been when she first met him—polite yet distant. In moments, he dismissed An Longna and entered the courtyard.

Jiafu breathed a slight sigh of relief, naturally choosing not to mention it to him. The night passed, and the next evening, while Jiafu was waiting for him as before, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her accompanied by the tinkling of jade ornaments. Then, a crisp, female voice rang out: "Hey! Who are you to Master Pei?" The tone was very rude.

It was An Longna. This was the first time Jiafu had seen the Tusi’s daughter up close: her long hair was braided and adorned with ornaments, she wore a water-blue gown with an embroidered belt, and small leather boots on her feet. She was gorgeously dressed and beautiful, but the two gazes she directed at Jiafu were filled with hostility.

Being inside the Tusi’s estate, and knowing she was viewed as a mere personal servant to Pei You’an, Jiafu naturally did not want to invite trouble. She addressed her as "Wuzhe"—a local honorific for the daughter of a Tusi—and prepared to leave. However, An Longna caught up in a few steps and blocked her way. Looking Jiafu up and down, she sneered, "Look at your neither-male-nor-female appearance! I heard that among the Han people, there are boys called 'catamites,' the most lowly and filthy creatures, used specifically for the master’s lewd pleasures. Could it be that you are one?"

Jiafu understood now.

She must have been rejected by Pei You’an and, seeing Jiafu living in the same courtyard, had come to pick a fight to vent her anger. Jiafu suppressed her irritation and said, "Wuzhe is well-informed to know of such things, but you have mistaken me for someone else. Master Pei will be back momentarily, and I have business to attend to. I shall take my leave."

She turned to go, but An Longna grabbed her back collar. With a "rip," her collar was torn, and a sharp, stinging pain flared at the back of her neck—her skin had likely been scratched by the girl's nails. Before she could even react, she saw An Longna lunging at her again, her ten sharp fingernails aiming directly for her face.

In her previous life, the young Jiafu had possessed a lively nature, and before the father who doted on her, she was a bit of a pampered crybaby. But after her father passed away when she was thirteen, all that innocence and joy had vanished. Later, under her grandmother’s arrangements, she was married to Pei Xiuzhi, then transferred to Xiao Yintang’s side. Until the day she died, she had been a gentle, quiet woman—but that was not her true nature; it was just a facade of submissiveness and the numbness of habit. But at this moment, because of this unreasonable little girl who had come to provoke her, all the grievances and suppressed rage Jiafu had accumulated over two lifetimes seemed to find an opening. Seeing the girl still relentless after having gotten the first blow, as if she wouldn't stop until she had clawed Jiafu’s face, a fire ignited in her heart. In that instant, she forgot she had lived two lifetimes; she forgot she was in the Tusi’s estate. She couldn't control her emotions, raised her hands, grabbed the girl's hair, and pulled with all her might. An Longna let out a shriek, and the two fell into a chaotic brawl. At first, it was hard to tell who had the upper hand, but An Longna was, after all, stronger, and she managed to pin Jiafu down, pounding her with her fists. Jiafu couldn't struggle free, so she unleashed her trump card: she grabbed An Longna’s hair and refused to let go. Both girls were in a wretched state. Just as An Longna’s fist was about to strike again, a low shout rang out, and Jiafu was pulled away by a pair of arms. Only then did she see it was Pei You’an. Nearby, An Longna was being restrained by a young man in a brocade robe. An Longna wailed loudly, pointing at Jiafu and crying, "Brother! He bullied me! He grabbed my hair and wouldn't let go—I’m going to be pulled bald! It hurts so much!"

Jiafu’s fingers were indeed still clutching a lock of hair pulled from An Longna’s head. Seeing Pei You’an looking at her, she hurriedly hid her hands behind her back and quietly unclenched her fingers. Just as she was about to speak, An Longna’s wails turned into a shriek: "He’s a girl? He’s actually a girl?"

She opened her eyes wide, staring fixedly at Jiafu, whose hair had come undone, and then looked at Pei You’an, who was still holding Jiafu in his arms. With a "waaah," she burst into tears again, stomped her foot, turned, and ran off.

"Does it hurt?"

Pei You’an’s gaze swept over the back of Jiafu’s neck, and he set her down gently, asking with a frown.

Jiafu’s breathing gradually steadied. She smoothed back the long hair that had fallen during the fight, feeling intensely ashamed. Enduring the pain, she shook her head: "I’m fine. Cousin, I am truly sorry, I..."

Pei You’an had already turned toward the young man in the brocade robe, who was staring fixedly at Jiafu. "Cangzhu, she is my cousin. She dressed as a man for the convenience of travel. If she offended your sister, I apologize on her behalf."

An Cangzhu finally collected his wits and hurriedly shook his head. "It’s nothing. I know my sister; she must have started it. Please, Cousin, forgive her."

Pei You’an smiled slightly. "It is easily said. I have arrived; there is no need for you to see us off further, please stop here."

He nodded at An Cangzhu, then led Jiafu inside. Once inside, he said, "How did you end up in a brawl?"

His tone gave no hint of anger or joy. Jiafu was still ashamed and feared that her impression in his eyes had worsened. She dared not look him in the eye, mumbling, "She thought I was a man. As soon as she came over, she blocked my path and insulted me with terrible words, saying I was your... and she moved first, tearing my clothes..."

She couldn't bring herself to say those two words, skipping over them, her face turning crimson.

Pei You’an seemed to understand. He frowned, washed his hands, and then took out a box of ointment, telling Jiafu to turn around.

Jiafu knew he wanted to apply medicine, so she obeyed, turning around to silently tie up her scattered hair and lowering her head to reveal the back of her neck.

On the delicate, snowy skin were several scratch marks of varying depths. The deepest one in the middle had already begun to bead with blood, a shocking sight.

Pei You’an used a clean cloth to gently wipe away the blood, his movements incredibly soft, then dipped his fingers in the ointment and gently applied it to the wounds.

Jiafu felt a stinging pain and couldn't help but hiss.

"Bear with it, it won't hurt in a moment."

He consoled her in a soft voice.

"You are not as strong as others; blind fighting will only lead to you suffering. In the future, if such things happen and I am not around, or there is no one else nearby, call out loudly or run to where there are more people. Do you remember?"

His tone sounded surprisingly earnest and frustrated, as if he expected more from her.

Jiafu finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling sweet inside. She whispered, "Thank you, Cousin."

Pei You’an asked, "Are there any other injuries?"

Jiafu shook her head and turned to look at him, suddenly finding a spark of boldness.

"Cousin, the Tusi’s daughter... does she like you? I saw her... intercept you before..."

Pei You’an seemed stunned. He glanced at her, put away the medicine, and turned to leave.

Jiafu followed closely, shamelessly persistent: "Is it true, Cousin?"

Pei You’an seemed somewhat exasperated. "The girl is just young and ignorant. Don't talk nonsense."

"Cousin, then why have you never married?"

As if by some strange fate, this question, which had been troubling her for so long, simply spilled out.

Jiafu knew that even in her past life, when he finally died in the city of Suyab outside the frontier, he had remained alone until the end.

Before that, during the years Xiao Lie was Emperor, Pei You’an had reached the pinnacle of wealth and power, holding the highest of positions. If he had no wife, the only reason must have been his own choice.

His gaze sank slightly.

The moment Jiafu asked, she regretted it, but she held her ground, not dodging his gaze but instead opening her eyes wide to look at him.

They stared at each other for a moment. Pei You’an finally seemed to surrender to her bright, soft, yet unyielding gaze. He raised a hand to rub his temple and smiled. "I have been weak since birth. Though I have treated it, my blood and energy have always been lacking, and I once suffered a severe injury. I am not destined for a long life. Why marry and waste a woman’s youth?"

After speaking, he left her behind and went straight to wash his hands.

Jiafu gazed at his back. For a moment, her chest felt as if it were constricted by something, causing her immense pain. Slowly, however, her blood began to boil, and she blurted out, "Cousin, if you don't mind me, I am willing to serve you and care for you. You will definitely get better and live for a hundred years!"

Pei You’an, who was slightly hunched over washing his hands by a water vat outside the door, paused. Then, he continued, finishing his task unhurriedly. He stood up, turned around, and smiled. Using a consoling tone, he said, "I know you have many fears in your heart. Since I promised to protect you, I will not break my word. When you eventually marry into another household, if your husband’s family cannot protect you, I will still watch over you. If I should meet an unfortunate end, I will ensure everything is arranged properly for you before I go. Does that put your mind at ease?"

Jiafu was stunned, then she understood.

He thought she was just playing tricks to rely on him again.

Something seemed to be churning in her chest, and her face grew hot. "Cousin, I..."

"That is all. Do not think of such pointless things in the future; I cannot agree to what you ask."

His expression turned serious. Ignoring her, he walked past her.

Jiafu felt like a punctured ball. Watching his back, she instantly deflated.