Wish You All the Best - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Old Madame Hu changed into neat clothing, then leaned on her cane and led the maids and matrons toward the front hall. From afar, she saw her daughter-in-law waiting in front of the veranda.

Seeing her mother-in-law approaching, Madame Meng hurried forward to support her.

"We have had no previous dealings with him. Why has the eldest young master come to our house so suddenly and without reason?" the old lady asked in a low voice as they walked inside.

Madame Meng also looked perplexed. "I do not know, either. Just now, when Zhang Da reported that the eldest young master had arrived with gifts, I thought there had been some mistake. When I took Yaoting and Afu to the capital last year, he happened to be returning to the capital to celebrate the birthday of their old madame. We encountered him once or twice, and he was quite courteous, but that was limited to a polite greeting or two. I truly did not expect such a visit today."

The old lady asked about his reception. Madame Meng replied, "He was welcomed into the guest hall long ago; Zhang Da and Yaoting are currently keeping him company."

As they spoke, the two women stepped over the threshold and turned into the hall. The old lady lifted her eyes and saw a man wearing a dark-colored robe, his waist bound by a belt embedded with jade. His bearing was poised and refined, his expression gentle and elegant. He was not old, perhaps in his twenties, yet his gaze was incredibly steady. He sat upright, listening to Zhen Yaoting discuss the customs and figures of Quanzhou, occasionally interjecting with a question or two. Seeing them, he stood up, his face full of smiles, and said, "What kind of wind brought a distinguished guest like you to my home today? Your presence honors our humble abode. I have been negligent in my welcome, and I hope the eldest young master will forgive me."

Pei You'an saw Madame Meng enter, supporting an old woman dressed in a wealthy brocade jacket. The old woman had thick brows and a broad forehead, her gaze sharp and keen. At a glance, she had the air of a family head accustomed to issuing commands. Realizing she must be Jiafu’s grandmother, he stood up to greet her, offering the customary courtesy of a junior to an elder.

Although Old Madame Hu was a merchant’s wife, she had been the head of the household for most of her life and had naturally developed an eye for character. Having heard stories about Pei You'an—that he had been in poor health since childhood—she had expected to see a sickly invalid. She had not expected such distinguished deportment; he carried a natural, clean, and noble aura that seemed to radiate from his very bones without any intention of showiness. Thinking that even if he was no longer the honored heir and was perhaps even ostracized by his family, he could not be a mediocre person, she dared not be negligent. After exchanging a few polite words and seeing that this former confidant of the Son of Heaven was very respectful and observant of etiquette, with no airs of arrogance whatsoever, she was pleased. She offered him a seat again, glanced at her grandson standing to the side, and said modestly, "My grandson has little experience and is quite dull. If he has said anything wrong, I hope the eldest young master will not laugh at him."

Pei You'an looked at Zhen Yaoting and smiled slightly. "The young master is pure and sincere, possessing a character that is precious and rare—precisely what people of our generation lack. Why is the old madame being so humble?"

Hearing him praise her grandson so highly, Old Madame Hu was even more delighted. She offered a few more modest remarks, and though she was curious about the purpose of his visit, as the hostess, she knew it was not her place to ask before the guest spoke. They exchanged a few more trivial pleasantries before Pei You'an said, "It was truly presumptuous of me to visit today, yet I have been received with such generous hospitality; I am very grateful. To be honest, there is a matter I privately hope you two respected elders will grant me. I wonder if I might be permitted to speak?"

Old Madame Hu and Madame Meng exchanged a look, then smiled. "Why is the eldest young master being so formal? Please, speak your mind. As long as it is within our power, we will certainly not refuse."

Pei You'an glanced to his left and right. Madame Meng understood immediately and dismissed the servants, even asking Zhen Yaoting to leave. Once only she and the old lady remained in the hall, she heard him say, "Old Madame, Madame, to tell you the truth, that Commander Yang Yun who escorted your cousin home previously was acting under my orders. The cousin was rescued by me. Although she was startled at the time, fortunately, she overcame the danger, and I believe she has since returned home safely."

Old Madame Hu and Madame Meng were stunned.

When Jiafu was sent back, Madame Meng had learned that Yang Yun was acting on his master's orders and had asked about the benefactor's identity, but Yang Yun had not disclosed it. Madame Meng had let it be. She never imagined that the benefactor who saved her daughter would turn out to be Pei You'an!

Madame Meng was overwhelmed with gratitude. Recalling the torment she had suffered during the time her daughter was missing, she could not help but condemn the unscrupulous kidnappers again and again, thanking Pei You'an profusely.

Old Madame Hu, however, was much sharper. She caught a whiff of something different, sensing that the eldest young master's words were merely the beginning. She smiled and thanked him as well, then asked, "Regarding what the eldest young master just mentioned, may I ask what the matter is?"

Pei You'an stood up and, facing the old madame and Madame Meng, bowed solemnly to each of them once more.

The old madame and Madame Meng were confused and hurriedly declined the courtesy.

Pei You'an said, "I have not come today for any other reason but for your cousin."

He paused for a moment: "I have long admired her." Every word was exceptionally clear.

With these eight short words, not to mention Madame Meng, even Old Madame Hu was stunned, looking at Pei You'an in silence.

Pei You'an’s expression remained unchanged, and his tone was even more sincere. "I have known the cousin since I was young. Last year, on your birthday, Old Madame, I was fortunate to meet her again. And this last time, through such circumstances, we were able to reunite once more. She is precious in her virtue, speech, appearance, and conduct, which has captivated me deeply. I have decided that I shall marry no one but her. Therefore, although I know this act is improper, I have presumptuously come to visit today to confess my heart to you, Old Madame and Madame. If I can be granted your approval, it would be the greatest fortune of my life, and I would be immensely grateful!"

Madame Meng was extremely astonished. Watching Pei You'an, she did not know how to respond for a moment.

That Pei You'an had fallen for her daughter at first sight and vowed to marry her did not strike Madame Meng as strange at all. Although her daughter inherited her beauty, she far surpassed her; it would be no exaggeration to say she could "sink fish and make geese alight" with her looks. Over the years, she had blocked countless unwanted suitors for her, and now that this eldest young master of the Duke’s manor had also fallen for her at first sight and visited specifically for her, his dedication was clear.

But therein lay the problem.

Not to mention anything else, when had anyone ever visited in person to propose for themselves?

Madame Meng looked at the old madame, and seeing she did not speak, she said, "The eldest young master is as magnificent as a dragon and as graceful as a phoenix. It is a blessing that you do not find my daughter crude and wish to take her as your wife, but... how can I put this?"

She hesitated.

Pei You'an smiled slightly, but after the smile, his expression grew even more solemn. "I know that marriage requires the three mediators and six betrothal gifts to be in accordance with etiquette and to show sincerity. I am immensely sincere in my desire to marry her, and the three mediators and six gifts are indispensable. However, the reason I came alone today to see you elders is, first, to lay bare my heart and show my sincerity, and second..."

He paused, looking at the old madame and Madame Meng.

"The two elders must have heard the news regarding the Emperor and the Prince of Yunzhong. I fear I will have no time to attend to wedding matters in the near future. Therefore, this visit is also to beg you two elders to grant me some time. When the timing is right, I will certainly ask my grandmother to handle the arrangements for the match. Please rest assured, however: if you agree to betroth your cousin to me, I will do everything in my power to protect her for the rest of her life."

Madame Meng finally understood the purpose of Pei You'an’s visit today.

He wanted the Zhen family to keep Jiafu for him, to promise not to marry her off to anyone else before he could return to formally propose.

Quanzhou was a hub of commerce with countless travelers arriving and departing every day, so news traveled fast. A few days ago, the streets were already abuzz with rumors that the Emperor and the Prince of Yunzhong were going to war. Because it was so far away, the common people viewed it as royal drama—some said the Emperor had more soldiers and generals and was sure to win, while others said the Prince of Yunzhong had the young Emperor under his protection and might bring about an unexpected turn of events. There was no lack of theories.

Madame Meng had a very good impression of Pei You'an; furthermore, he had saved her daughter. After listening to his words, she had already decided seven or eight parts in her heart that he would be her future son-in-law. The remaining doubt stemmed from concerns about Pei You'an’s past and a fear that her daughter might not agree. Hesitantly, she looked at the old madame again, noting that she had remained silent throughout, which seemed somewhat unusual.

"Mother? What do you think..."

"Go check on Afu. Tell her that her benefactor, the Elder Cousin, has come to our house."

The old lady said suddenly.

Madame Meng realized that the old lady must have something to say to Pei You'an in private and was dismissing her. She was anxious to see her daughter, so she smiled and nodded to Pei You'an, then left and hurried to her daughter’s room.

Since that day she was sent back to Quanzhou in such a manner, it would be no exaggeration to say her heart had felt like cold ash and she had been utterly hopeless. Jiafu had never imagined that Pei You'an would suddenly and unexpectedly appear at her house at such a time.

What did he come for?

Jiafu was filled with anxiety and shame. She was sitting restlessly and at a total loss when her mother entered. Fearing she would reveal something, she forced herself to calm down, but when Madame Meng revealed that Pei You'an had come for the sake of marriage, she was stunned. Her heart began to pound, and for a long time, she could not settle down.

"...The eldest young master said that he is very captivated by you and wants to take you as his wife..."

Madame Meng whispered to her daughter, chattering on.

"Mother feels that the eldest young master seems very reliable. If you marry him, he should not treat you poorly in the future. But when I think of his past, I feel a bit worried..."

Jiafu’s face flushed red. She grabbed Madame Meng’s hand and shook her head desperately. "Mother! How could he possibly be that kind of person? There must have been some misunderstanding about those past events! You must not believe those things!"

Seeing her daughter so anxious, Madame Meng paused, then smiled and reached out a finger to gently poke her forehead. "Look at you, getting so worked up! I haven't even said anything yet. Could it be that you are willing to marry him?"

Jiafu slowly lowered her head, saying nothing.

Madame Meng looked at her daughter and thought back to her kidnapping. Although she was eventually rescued, her purity had likely been lost, which she assumed was why she had been so depressed after returning home. A wave of relief, followed by a wave of sadness, washed over her. She pulled her daughter into her arms and sighed, "I was worried you wouldn't be willing to marry him. This is for the best. Since he is your savior, this union can be considered heaven-sent. When he comes formally to propose, Mother will marry you off in splendor.”