Wish You All the Best - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

On the road, Pei You’an did not say a single word, and Jiafu remained just as silent.

By the time the lamps were lit, the carriage had returned to the Ducal Mansion. Nanny Liu and Tanxiang had been sitting on either side of the coachman; as soon as the carriage stopped, they jumped down immediately.

Pei You’an stepped out first. When Jiafu moved to disembark, Nanny Liu and Tanxiang hurried forward to assist her, but Pei You’an reached out, grabbed her arm, and practically dragged and carried her down. He released her, turned around, and walked inside without a word.

Jiafu cast a glance at his retreating back and hurried after him.

They went to see Old Madam Pei first. Madam Xin and Second Madam were also there, busy serving the Old Madam her meal.

Pei You’an wore a smile as he said, "I intended to return earlier, but after noon, a matter arose, so I asked Afu to stay behind a while longer to accompany her mother. That is the only reason I am late."

The Old Madam laughed, "It is merely returning a bit later; what is the big deal? It is good for a mother and daughter to have a few more words. Have you eaten?"

"I have already eaten at my mother-in-law's."

The Old Madam nodded, "That is good. You two may return to your quarters."

Pei You’an respectfully agreed and brought Jiafu out. As they walked, his pace grew faster and faster until, by the end, Jiafu was almost trotting to keep up with him as they returned to their courtyard.

Once inside, he ordered Tanxiang and the other maids to leave and shut the door. "You actually dared to run off to the Daoist temple? What exactly do you think you are doing?"

He stood with his back to her, removing his outer robe to hang it up.

His tone was restrained, but Jiafu clearly felt his anger and the interrogative nature of his words.

On the way back, Jiafu knew he was displeased and that her actions had been inappropriate. She had been anxious, but now, hearing his immediate questioning, she bit her lip hard and stared at his back. The initial anxiety was instantly replaced by grievance and annoyance. Without a word, she walked over to the dressing table, sat down, and began to pull out her hairpins.

Pei You’an heard no response. He turned around to see her sitting there removing her makeup, completely ignoring him. He frowned, "Why aren't you speaking? I saw your mother was reluctant to let you leave, and thinking I had matters to attend to, I asked you to stay and accompany her, intending to fetch you later. Yet you ran off to the temple! And now you feel justified?"

"I don't feel justified! Do you?"

Jiafu could no longer hold it in. Staring at herself in the mirror, she rapidly unraveled her hair while firing back, "I went to the temple, but what was your business? When Grandmother asked me, I didn't even have the face to bring it up. Once might have been fine, but two, three times! You used my mother as an excuse to leave me behind, and today you abandoned me—where did you go? I will say it again: I was the one who forced you to marry me, that is true, but later I knew I was wrong, and I stopped pestering you! If you look down on me so much, why did you go off to see another woman just three days into our marriage? Why go through the trouble of marrying me at all?"

That morning, for the return visit to her parents' home, Tanxiang had styled her hair in a complex, beautiful bun adorned with many ornaments. Jiafu took them off one by one, tossing them onto the table with a clatter. Finally, there remained a brass hair-comb used to secure the bun. The teeth were thin and sharp; they had snagged a lock of hair, and no matter how she tugged, it wouldn't come loose.

Pei You’an watched her back, his expression slightly stunned. A moment later, he frowned and said, "I truly do not know what goes through your head all day..."

Jiafu ignored him, continuing to struggle with the brass comb.

Pei You’an’s expression softened gradually. He hesitated, but eventually walked over and stopped behind her, reaching out toward the brass comb. His tone, upon closer inspection, even carried a hint of mockery: "Aren't you usually one to cry at the drop of a hat? Why aren't you crying now that I'm scolding you?"

"You want me to cry, but I refuse to!"

Jiafu scoffed. She tilted her head, dodging his reaching hand, and in a fit of rage, she yanked the comb down with force, taking ten or so strands of hair with it. She hadn't expected him to be leaning in so closely. Her arm swung out, and she heard him give a soft "hiss" of pain. Coincidentally, the tip of the comb had grazed his forehead, immediately leaving a thin, half-finger-long laceration oozing fine beads of blood.

A drop of blood seeped from the cut.

The air froze. They both seemed to be under a spell, remaining motionless in their original positions.

Jiafu realized she had caused trouble and was terrified. Holding the comb in her hand, she stared blankly at the man leaning behind her in the mirror.

Pei You’an also looked at her in the mirror and slowly straightened up.

Clatter. The weapon dropped from her hand. Jiafu scrambled to her feet, turned around, and in a panic, grabbed a handkerchief to wipe away the blood.

Pei You’an tilted his head away to avoid her hand. He wiped the wound with his finger, looked at the blood on his fingertip, and then glanced at her.

All of Jiafu's temper evaporated. She gripped the handkerchief tightly until her knuckles turned white, her eyes wide as she looked at him.

"...Eldest Cousin... I didn't mean to... does it hurt..."

Pei You’an scoffed, "If you had meant to, would that have been the end of it?"

Jiafu bit her lip.

Pei You’an looked down at her. "You knew where I went, so you ran off to the temple to waylay me? Hmm?"

"If not the temple, then where else?"

Jiafu stared at his collar, offering a weak rebuttal.

Pei You’an paused, seemingly choked with frustration.

"I told you the day before yesterday that I went to the temple. Yesterday, and today, I went to the Imperial Academy of Medicine!"

Jiafu abruptly looked up.

"The priestess has a younger brother. Five years ago, when the Chi household was wiped out, he was only three. An old friend of Scholar Chi’s saved him at the risk of his own life, but he was left with a chronic illness. To this day, his life is hanging by a thread, and he is lying in the temple. I happened to meet the priestess in the palace, and she begged me to treat her brother. Her grandfather was the chief examiner during my imperial exams and gave me much guidance. I respect him as a teacher; how could I stand by while his grandson is in such danger? The day I went to examine him, there were complications, so I have spent these past two days looking up medical texts at the Imperial Academy of Medicine and debating the diagnosis with the imperial physicians."

"What exactly are you thinking about in that head of yours?"

Jiafu was dumbstruck, looking up at him with parted lips.

"Today I thought of a treatment, but I was unsure if the Imperial Academy kept a certain medicinal ingredient in stock. The medicine is imported and difficult to preserve; I acquired it from a Persian physician in my youth. Seeing your mother’s reluctance to let you go, I asked you to stay behind while I went to the Academy to inquire. At the end of the Hour of the Sheep (around 3:00 PM), I went to your mother's house to fetch you. Your mother said you had already left, so I came back. When I arrived, the gatekeeper said you had returned, stood at the gate for a moment, and then left in a carriage again without saying where. I first thought you had returned home. I was afraid that if I went to your mother's and you weren't there, I would only worry her for nothing, so I feigned that you had left an item behind and had someone go in to check. They came out saying there was nothing, and only then did I know you hadn't gone home either! Do you have any idea that I called upon several guards from the Five Armies Governor's Office to secretly search various locations, and it was only at the end that I guessed and searched the temple?"

His voice was not loud, but his tone grew increasingly stern.

Jiafu was overcome with shame and guilt. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she slowly hung her head, remaining motionless.

The room fell into a brief silence. Pei You’an seemed to be exerting every ounce of effort to restrain his irritation. He paced back and forth in front of her with his hands behind his back, finally stopping to let out a long, slow breath. When he spoke again, his tone was calm. "Enough. As long as you are safe, that is all that matters. Never do such an incredibly stupid thing again. I am going to the study." Having said this, he turned and headed out.

Nanny Liu, Tanxiang, and the others were waiting in the corridor. When they saw the door open and a figure emerge, they hurriedly greeted him, "Master!"

Pei You’an raised a hand to shield his forehead, turned, and headed toward the study, his footsteps gradually fading away.

Jiafu watched his back as he exited the door, standing frozen in place, unable to move. A moment later, hearing the footsteps of Nanny Liu and Tanxiang entering, she hurriedly turned around, suppressing the tears that were about to fall, and sat back at the dressing table, pretending to tidy the hair she had messed up earlier.

Nanny Liu and Tanxiang had been in the corridor earlier and heard the rising and falling voice of their Master. Naturally, they didn't hear exactly what he said, but combining it with the events of the afternoon, while still confused, they guessed there had been a disagreement. When the Master left for the study, they entered to see Jiafu sitting at the dressing table with her back to them, lifting her hands to organize her hair. Tanxiang hurried over to help, but Jiafu said, "You are not needed here. Go out."

The two looked at each other.

"Go out. I will call if I need anything." She raised her voice without turning her head.

Nanny Liu and Tanxiang had no choice but to withdraw.

Jiafu supported her forehead with one hand and picked up the ornaments she had scattered on the table with the other. She placed them back into the box one by one, took a comb, and slowly smoothed out her long, tangled hair. She sat in silence for a while before finally rising, calling Tanxiang in to wash her face, styling her hair into a simple bun, and changing into comfortable clothes.

Nanny Liu turned, "You haven't had dinner yet. I will go to the small kitchen and bring some simple dishes."

Jiafu said, "I will go myself."

...

Light filtered from the study door. Jiafu carried a food box to the entrance, knocked on the ajar door, and pushed it open gently.

Pei You’an sat behind the desk, writing. He looked up, his gaze landing on her. The wound on his forehead had stopped bleeding.

Jiafu walked in slowly and stopped before his desk.

"What is it?"

Jiafu said softly, "You haven't had dinner yet, have you? You must have been too angry to be hungry. I went to the small kitchen just now and picked out a few dishes and rice; they have all been warmed. Seeing that there was some prepared snow-ear mushroom, I made a snow-ear and taro milk congee. I remember you saying before that you like an extra spoonful of honey, so I added two..."

Pei You’an put down his brush.

Jiafu lowered her lashes.

"I was wrong... I misjudged you, and I misjudged the priestess. You were right to scold me, but please don't let your anger keep you from eating. I have set the food box down; if you are hungry, please have a little..."

Jiafu placed the food box on the corner of the desk, turned, and bowed her head as she left.

"Have you eaten?"

Just as Jiafu reached the door, she heard his voice from behind. She stopped and turned slowly to see him looking at her. She bit her lip and shook her head.

"Let's eat together. There is so much I cannot finish it myself," he said.

Jiafu was startled, and then her eyes brightened. She nodded, "Okay." She turned, hurried back, opened the lid, and set out the braised goose with bamboo shoots, Jiangnan wild herbs, sea cabbage, a bowl of chicken broth, and a large bowl of rice. She then dashed to the door to ask Tanxiang for another set of bowl and chopsticks.

They were delivered quickly.

Pei You’an was indeed quite hungry; he stopped speaking and began to eat with Jiafu. Seeing he had finished quickly, she said, "I am full. If you are not, I will have someone send more."

Pei You’an said, "Is there not snow-ear and taro milk congee? Eating that will be enough."

Jiafu beamed. She busied herself with the congee bowl, opening the lid. The steam was rising, and it was at the perfect temperature to eat.

She pushed the bowl toward him.

Pei You’an said, "I cannot finish all of this. You have some first, and I will have the rest."

His tone was natural, and Jiafu felt a flush of warmth spread across her face. She whispered, "Perhaps I should go get a small bowl and divide it..."

"No need. You eat first, it is fine."

Jiafu’s heart grew steadily sweeter. She gave a soft hum, took a spoon, and began to eat it mouthful by mouthful.

A beauty under the lamp, her face washed clean of powder, looked even more moving than she had during the day.

Pei You’an didn't mean to, but his gaze couldn't help but settle on her lips as she opened them to eat the congee.

Her cherry lips were moist and glossy, like a half-opened flower bud brimming with nectar, tempting one to taste its flavor. After she took a spoonful of congee, a layer of glistening milk-white residue clung to her lips. A tiny, pink tongue tip darted from her mouth, licked her lip, and withdrew before he could see it clearly.

Pei You’an suddenly felt his mouth go dry, and a subtle reaction stirred beneath him. He immediately looked away.

Jiafu was completely unaware. After a few mouthfuls, she pushed the rest toward him, "Eldest Cousin, I am full. You finish the rest."

Pei You’an did not look at her, only lifted the bowl and finished it in a few mouthfuls. He set it down and said, "I am full as well. I have some matters to attend to; I will be back later. You go to sleep first, don't wait for me."

Seeing him turn back to his desk after speaking, Jiafu dared not insist, fearing it would annoy him. She gave a soft "oh," tidied up the dishes, put them back into the food box, and carried them out.

"Eldest Cousin, don't be too late. Come back and sleep early."

As she reached the door, she looked back and said it again.

Pei You’an lifted his eyes to look at her and gave a slight, nodding smile.