Wish You All the Best - Chapter 58
Chapter 58
The male guests and the various stewards and servants avoided the area first, allowing the carriages to pull up in sequence before the Pei manor gate so the female relatives could board.
According to the original plan, the Old Madam of the Pei family was to travel in the same carriage as her two granddaughters-in-law. Jiafu and Yuzhu helped the Old Madam up, while Madam Xin and Madam Meng (the second daughter-in-law) offered light support from behind. Once everyone was settled, Zhou Jiao’e was still nowhere to be seen.
Madam Meng joked, "Sister-in-law, could it be that your new daughter-in-law and the Second Young Master are still reluctant to leave their room? Just now, I haven't seen the Second Young Master either. Only newlyweds would be like this."
Madam Xin, likely feeling a bit embarrassed, looked slightly chagrined. She ordered a maid to go check, but before the girl could finish, she turned her head and saw Zhou Jiao’e and Pei Xiuzhi approaching from the direction of the secondary gate. Zhou Jiao’e was dressed in a bewitching and alluring manner, leaning seductively against Pei Xiuzhi. Pei Xiuzhi, however, looked incredibly strained. Seeing everyone’s gaze fixed upon them, he started to lift his foot as if to shake her off, but it was as if she called out to him, and he hesitated. Finally, he arrived at the carriage with her and offered an excuse for their tardiness.
Madam Meng’s smile grew even more intimate as she praised the young couple for their affection, envied by all. Pei Xiuzhi’s expression remained rigid, his smile more painful than a grimace, while Zhou Jiao’e seemed to display a faint air of triumph. It was only after a voice came from the Old Madam’s carriage saying, "Come up," that she was helped inside, sitting across from Jiafu on the other side of the Old Madam.
Once inside, Zhou Jiao’e apologized to the Old Madam, implying through her words that she had been delayed that morning because Pei Xiuzhi had been clinging to her.
The Old Madam merely smiled and said nothing.
The morning light was faint. Under the envious gazes of early-rising passersby, the Pei family’s traveling procession, stretching for several lengths of an arrow, moved along the streets. Trailing clouds of wealth and incense, they wound their way out of the north of the city toward Ci’en Temple.
Jiafu was no stranger to Ci’en Temple; if she counted correctly, this was her third time visiting.
Because the Pei manor was holding a memorial ceremony, the entire temple had been chartered for the day, and there were no other pilgrims. Upon arrival, they were respectfully welcomed in by monks waiting outside the mountain gate. The female relatives changed their clothes and settled in slightly before the rituals began. The eldest grandson, Pei You’an, presided over the proceedings, leading the Pei family in honoring the spirit tablets. After the kowtowing was finished, forty-nine monks in the main hall chanted scriptures in unison. Meanwhile, in the side halls, vegetarian banquet tables were set to treat the guests who arrived in succession; the scene was exceptionally lively.
Jiafu listened to the chanting in the main hall with the Old Madam until noon, when the rites were paused. After a vegetarian meal, since female relatives from other households had arrived in succession throughout the morning, Madam Xin and Madam Meng were busy hosting, leaving them occupied. Jiafu took the Old Madam to a quiet rear chamber that had been prepared for her to rest. The Old Madam told Jiafu to go rest as well and that she didn't need to stay by her side. Jiafu agreed. On her way out, she heard a servant report that the wife of the Duke of Jing’an had also arrived and was inquiring about the Eldest Young Mistress. Recalling how well they had hit it off when they sat together at the Zhang residence, she felt she could not avoid paying her respects, so she took Tanxiang and headed toward the front.
It was now midday and the weather was sweltering, with the sun hanging hotly overhead. Jiafu chose a side hall with an overhanging corridor to walk through. The monks in the temple were also eating or resting, and there was not a soul to be seen in the surrounding area. Just as she turned a corner, she suddenly saw Pei Xiuzhi and Zhou Jiao’e walking out of the side hall ahead. The two seemed to have just had an argument inside. Pei Xiuzhi’s face was dark, and he was walking very fast. Zhou Jiao’e was chasing after him, clutching a handkerchief in her hand; seemingly unwilling to give up, she continued to pursue him, still arguing.
Afraid of an awkward encounter, Jiafu quickly retreated. Since their paths were different, she planned to let the two leave first before continuing. Unexpectedly, they only walked a few steps before stopping, their argument growing louder. Pei Xiuzhi said that if he hadn't seen through her, he would have been deceived by her up to this point. Zhou Jiao’e began to sob, cursing him for slandering her and having no conscience.
Hearing the two of them arguing, Jiafu didn't know how long it would last. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she heard Madam Xin’s voice. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she turned back and signaled for Tanxiang to remain silent. She carefully poked her head out a little further. Sure enough, she saw Madam Xin hurrying over. Madam Xin sent the accompanying maids and matrons far away before lowering her voice to scold her son and comfort Zhou Jiao’e.
Zhou Jiao’e was crying like a rain-drenched flower. While wiping her tears, she choked out, "Mother, you saw it too. Since I married here, I’ve wanted to live a good life, but he finds me unpleasant in every way, picking bones out of an egg and finding fault with me every day. If he doesn't want me, I won’t pester your family. I will go and report this to the Empress herself and let her decide. At worst, we can just part ways; at least it will save me from being bullied like this every day."
Madam Xin hurriedly hugged her, offering endless comfort while calling her 'my heart,' and ordered her son to apologize. Pei Xiuzhi looked extremely unwilling, but he could not defy his mother. Finally, he begrudgingly apologized, and Zhou Jiao’e gradually stopped crying. Madam Xin then told her son to escort her to rest for the noon hour. Pei Xiuzhi, however, stood there motionless, saying he had to go to the front to accompany the guests. Madam Xin looked very annoyed but forcefully suppressed it, changing her tone to say that the sun was too harsh here, telling Zhou Jiao’e to return first while she taught her son a lesson and made him apologize properly to her tonight.
Pei Xiuzhi’s face turned leaden, but Zhou Jiao’e showed a look of triumph. She glanced at her husband, then turned and walked away gracefully.
"Mother! She is clearly unchaste. That night, she tried to use trickery to muddle through, but I saw through it! Why are you still protecting her? I want to divorce her!"
Once Zhou Jiao’e was gone, Pei Xiuzhi shouted at his mother.
Madam Xin covered his mouth and looked left and right.
Jiafu quickly pulled her head back.
Madam Xin dragged Pei Xiuzhi into a corner and pinched him hard before lowering her voice to hiss, "How can you be so brainless? You’re already married! If you make such a scene and everyone finds out, it’s you who will lose face!"
Pei Xiuzhi retorted, "How can a man endure such humiliation? I want to divorce her!"
Madam Xin remained silent for a moment before saying, "Xiuzhi, you hate her, but do you think I don't? It’s just that right now, we two have no one to rely on. She, on the other hand, can speak to the Empress. We may need her family's help in the future, so you must endure it."
Pei Xiuzhi’s voice was filled with surprise. "Mother, what do you mean by that? Don't we still have my elder brother?"
Madam Xin’s expression grew dark, her eyes filled with vexation. Gritting her teeth, she finally reached a decision, leaned over to her son’s ear, and whispered a single sentence.
Jiafu heard Pei Xiuzhi raise his voice abruptly, filled with horror. "What? Elder Brother is not Mother’s son?"
Madam Xin grabbed her son’s mouth and shushed him.
To be honest, Jiafu had originally just been experiencing a burst of gossip, listening for the thrill of it, thinking that it would never go beyond these walls. She did not anticipate hearing those words suddenly come out of Pei Xiuzhi’s mouth, and she immediately pricked up her ears.
Madam Xin checked their surroundings again and dragged her son into the side hall, closing the door behind them.
Hearing the voices disappear and the door closing, Jiafu knew they had entered the hall. Her heart pounded; she truly could not help herself. She turned and signaled for Tanxiang to wait there, then tiptoed out from behind the corner and came to a lattice window. She leaned against it, holding her breath, and listened carefully to the voices inside.
Madam Xin led her son to a corner of the side hall before saying, "Xiuzhi, I never dared to tell anyone about this. If the Old Madam found out, it would be a catastrophe. But since she [Zhou Jiao’e] is heartless and doesn't care whether we live or die, I don't have to be righteous either. Just listen, keep it in your heart, and be on your guard, but absolutely do not let anyone else know. Pei You’an is powerful now; he is not someone we can afford to provoke."
Pei Xiuzhi was completely bewildered. "Mother, what are you talking about?"
Madam Xin fell silent, lost in memories of the past.
Twenty-four years ago, she had married the Duke of Wei, a handsome and heroic man she admired. A few months later, she became pregnant as she had wished. But she didn't expect that six months later, the Duke of Wei told her he had a son outside who was only a few days old, and the mother had already passed away. He hoped to let that child live with dignity and intended to bring him home, asking her to acknowledge him as her own and raise him as her true son.
The Duke of Wei said he would keep the child outside until she gave birth, then bring him home. Regardless of whether she gave birth to a boy or a girl, they would tell the world she had delivered twins.
The Duke of Wei also said he knew this was unfair to her, but that child was born congenitally weak and would most likely die young. He promised her that if she was willing to accept this, in return, he would never take a concubine in his life.
Madam Xin had been in agony at the time; her husband had a child with another woman, and now she had to acknowledge it as her own. But after much struggling, she ultimately agreed.
Since her husband had asked, if she refused, she would appear narrow-minded. If the child really died young, it shouldn't impact her own child much. Furthermore, the Duke of Wei’s promise was one of the reasons that tempted her.
She agreed. On the day she gave birth, she bore a daughter. Sure enough, that night, the child was quietly brought back.
The first time Madam Xin saw him, she knew the Duke of Wei hadn't lied. The child was beautiful, already several months old, but he was as weak as a kitten and didn't seem easy to raise.
At that moment, her feelings toward the child were very complex. Deep down, besides disgust, there was also pity. She even thought of fulfilling her husband’s wish and raising him well until he passed away from his illness.
The daughter she gave birth to died shortly after. But this child brought from the outside, who was expected to perish, was like grass in the wilderness—his vitality was unexpectedly tenacious. Though he stumbled, he slowly grew up.
The following year, Madam Xin gave birth to her own son. As her own son grew, time passed, and Madam Xin’s feelings toward that child began to change.
The Duke of Wei had indeed kept his promise; until he died on the battlefield sixteen years later, he had never touched another woman. The concubine who had entered two years before his death was an imperial reward for military merit, and she had lived in solitude ever since.
But this was far from enough to provide Madam Xin with psychological balance. The Duke of Wei had deceived her after all. That wild child had not died. By the age of four or five, he had begun to reveal his extraordinary talent. He not only occupied everything that should have belonged to her own son, but compared to him, her healthy son appeared so mediocre.
It was as if Heaven had bestowed all graces and glory upon that child of the most lowly birth.
Madam Xin regretted her initial consent. Her psyche had finally lost its balance completely.
She couldn't help but hate the child. She hated why he hadn't died young as the Duke of Wei had said, and she hated him for taking away everything from her son. This hatred had haunted her, and she could not shake it off until this very day.
Now, besides hatred, she also felt panic.
That night, the words that son had spoken to her made her realize the truth.
So, Pei You’an knew he was not her biological son!
He knew everything!
Recalling the gaze Pei You’an had fixed upon her that night, she couldn't help but shudder. She gritted her teeth and said, "That 'elder brother' of yours is nothing but a base, privately-born bastard your father brought back from the outside to raise under my name! It was one thing when he didn't know his origins, but now he must have learned it from your grandmother. Since he knows, no matter how kind his words are or how honorable his actions appear, he must hate me to the bone in his heart! Once your grandmother is gone, how could he ever treat you and me well in the future? If you don't cling to your wife and lean on the Empress, we won't even know how we died!"
...
The words drifted through the lattice window and into her ears.
Jiafu’s heart felt as though it was about to jump out of her throat. Hearing footsteps inside, she was afraid of being discovered. Holding her breath, she turned and quickly hurried back to where she had been. She shot a look at the bewildered Tanxiang and led her away in a hurry.
Throughout the entire afternoon, she sat in the main hall beside the Old Madam, listening to the Buddhist teachings, but her heart was immersed in the words she had heard at noon, and her soul was restless.
She finally understood why the eldest son was so outstanding, yet could never win his mother’s affection.
She thought of Pei You’an’s fate in her previous life, and she thought of how he had fallen from the clouds of the Yunfeng peak at sixteen, tumbling into the mud of the abyss, and leaving the capital alone to shoulder everything. Her heart twisted with tenderness and sorrow.
Judging by Madam Xin’s tone, Pei You’an himself knew this secret. Yet this man remained as deep as a mountain and as calm as the wind, never revealing even half a word of it in front of her.
Jiafu’s heart ached terribly.
As long as Pei You’an could be happy, she was willing to do anything for him.
Jiafu looked up at the Buddha sitting high on the lotus throne, overlooking all living beings, and thought to herself.