Wish You All the Best - Chapter 59
Chapter 59
The memorial ritual was to last seven days. After the final day of completion, the newly inscribed spirit tablets would be placed within the temple to receive perpetual incense and offerings.
Pei Old Madam, her two daughters-in-law, and Pei Quan remained that night to continue guarding the rites for the Old Duke for a full three days. As for the grandchildren, once their duties were finished for the day, they could return home each evening and return the next morning.
Pei You’an and Jiafu were to return together, but he had some remaining matters to attend to inside, so Jiafu waited by the stele pavilion at the mountain gate, accompanied by maidservants, matrons, and a guest-welcoming monk. After waiting for a while, she saw Pei Xiuzhi and Zhou Jiao’e emerge first.
The atmosphere was drastically different from their argument at noon. Pei Xiuzhi now followed behind Zhou Jiao’e, devoid of any trace of anger.
The men of the Pei family were all exceptionally handsome. Pei Xiuzhi used to be a man of dashing spirits, riding fine horses in elegant furs, but at this moment, that vigor had been completely extinguished. He looked like a defeated rooster, exuding a listless, dejected air from the inside out. Zhou Jiao’e, however, was his exact opposite; it had only been an afternoon, yet her face was blooming with spring, and she walked with her head held high. Behind her followed a nanny, Quan Ge, and seven or eight maids. As the group swarmed out, the maids and matrons saw Jiafu standing by the pavilion and greeted her as "Eldest Young Mistress." Zhou Jiao’e paused, turned her head, and pulled at the corners of her lips at Jiafu in a half-smile, also calling out "Sister-in-law." She then glanced at the husband beside her, tapped her lower back, and said coquettishly, "Xiuzhi, I’m exhausted. We still have a long way down, and I can't take another half-step."
Ci’en Temple was situated on a mountain; although it wasn't very high, there was a flight of about several hundred stone steps from the mountain gate down to the base.
The maids and matrons nearby seemed to be suppressing their laughter.
Pei Xiuzhi’s face flushed red. Not daring to look at Jiafu, he swallowed his shame and ordered the servants to bring over a soft sedan chair to carry the Second Young Mistress down the mountain.
The chair arrived quickly. Zhou Jiao’e lifted her chin and arrived before it. When the servants lifted the curtain for her to enter, she did not move, nor did she acknowledge the hand her maid extended to support her; her eyes were fixed solely on Pei Xiuzhi.
Pei Xiuzhi followed up, offering his support with reluctance.
With a triumphant expression, Zhou Jiao’e glanced at Jiafu once more before leaning on her husband’s hand and bending to enter the chair. Quan Ge saw this and began shouting that he wanted to ride in the chair too, but there was no sound from inside. Pei Xiuzhi, helpless, was about to order the men to fetch another chair when Zhou Jiao’e lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "Children are growing; unlike a weak woman like me, he should walk more, as it is good for his legs and feet. If he really can't walk anymore, I will come down and let Quan Ge sit instead!" She made a motion as if to step out.
Pei Xiuzhi hurriedly stopped her, told the porters to carry her down, and turned to order the nanny to carry Quan Ge down. Quan Ge refused to obey, so the nanny forcibly picked him up, covered his mouth, and followed the sedan chair down the mountain steps. Pei Xiuzhi guarded the chair as they hurried away.
Jiafu watched them disappear, turned back, and seeing Pei You’an’s figure gradually emerging, she hurried to meet him.
Pei You’an saw her and quickened his pace. Once he reached her, he said, "Tired of waiting? I was arranging tomorrow’s affairs with my uncle, so I came out late."
Jiafu shook her head. "It’s only been a little while. I’m not tired of waiting."
Pei You’an thanked the guest-welcoming monk and then led Jiafu down the mountain steps toward the foot of the hill, with Nanny Liu, Tanxiang, and several other maids following behind. Partway down, they encountered a slightly steeper step. Pei You’an paused and reached out his hand toward her. Jiafu gently tugged at his sleeve with her slender fingers, and he turned his hand to grasp hers, guiding her steadily across the step.
"Watch your step."
He said softly, then gently let go.
Jiafu’s soft finger, however, remained hooked on his, as if reluctant to part. With their sleeves hanging down, their hooked fingers were hidden from view; from behind, one could only see that they were walking very close to one another.
Pei You’an tilted his head slightly, glanced at the maids and matrons not far behind, and turned back. Seeming to hesitate for a moment, he ultimately did not pull his hand away, allowing her to continue hooking onto him.
Jiafu quietly, bit by bit, tightened her grip on his finger, holding on firmly.
Pei You’an’s gaze looked ahead, his expression as usual, yet a faint, almost imperceptible smile slowly emerged in the depths of his eyes. He let her hold his hand this way until they finished the flight of stairs.
The coachman, seeing the Master and Mistress approaching, quickly maneuvered the carriage closer. Once it was steady, he set down the footstool. Jiafu stepped on it, Pei You’an helped her inside, and he followed, while the servants boarded another carriage following behind, heading toward the city.
The golden afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the fields. In the distance, the silhouettes of farmers driving oxen with plows over their shoulders could be seen returning home. A side curtain of the carriage was rolled up, and a streak of sunset light penetrated the window, illuminating Pei You’an.
He signaled for Jiafu to lean on his shoulder and rest, while he held a book, head slightly lowered, and began to read.
Jiafu complied, resting her body against his shoulder and arm, closing her eyes. Yet, her mind was entirely occupied by what she had heard during the day about his heritage.
Carrying such an origin for someone as noble as him was undoubtedly a humiliation and a profound pain. He must hold this knowledge in deep, guarded silence. Jiafu, naturally, would not impulsively tell him what she had overheard.
She wanted to comfort him and let him know her heart was with him, but she didn't know how to begin.
She quietly opened her eyes and stole a glance at him.
He was concentrating on the book. The sunset dyed his slightly lowered eyelashes, as if they were coated in fine gold powder, so captivating that she couldn't help but want to reach out and touch them.
"What’s wrong? Are you troubled?"
Those eyelashes suddenly fluttered, and Pei You’an turned his face.
Jiafu shook her head.
Pei You’an lightly tapped his own forehead with the corner of the book and said in a slightly apologetic tone, "Are you angry because I was only focused on reading and ignored you? I forgot. It’s my fault."
He set the book aside and reached out to her. Jiafu immediately climbed onto his lap. He held her and rolled the side curtain of the window higher to look out at the wilderness, saying, "You’ve been married to me for some time now. I’m busy every day, leaving you alone at home, and I’ve never taken you out to play. You must be very bored. In a few days, when the weather is cooler, I’ll take you for a walk to Yuquan Mountain in the southeast of the city. I remember climbing it when I was a child; the scenery is quite good, and I haven't been there in many years."
"Okay, okay!" Jiafu nodded vigorously.
Pei You’an looked at her, smiled, patted her head, and said softly, "If you’re tired, lean on me and doze for a while. I won't read anymore; I’ll just hold you."
Jiafu murmured a sound of assent, wrapped her arms around his waist, pressed her face against his chest, and slowly closed her eyes.
The carriage swayed gently. Jiafu, curled up in his arms, fell asleep before she knew it. She didn't know how long she had slept until she was gently woken by him. Opening her eyes, she realized they had arrived.
Pei You’an helped her off the carriage, and they went inside. The doorman hurried to meet them and said, "Master, the Taoist nun Chi Hanzhen from White Crane Temple sent someone to say that her younger brother’s condition has improved much after the medicine you prescribed last time. However, for some days, his appetite has inexplicably worsened. They invited Physician Hu to check on him two days ago, but it had no effect. They were hoping you could find a spare moment to apply your miraculous skills once more."
As he spoke, he presented a scroll wrapped in brocade with flower patterns.
"The nun also sent this scroll, saying it is a sutra of great merit she hand-copied for the Old Duke’s memorial birthday."
Pei You’an took it, opened the wrapping, glanced at it for a moment, and closed it. He brought Jiafu back to their room and changed into casual outdoor clothing.
Jiafu had been a bit groggy, but she was now fully awake. Knowing he was prepared to go out, she saw him looking at her. Suppressing the strange feelings surfacing in her heart, she took the initiative and said, "Healing the sick is urgent, please go quickly. Just don't tire yourself out, and remember to come back and rest early."
Pei You’an asked her, "Are you still tired?"
Jiafu was slightly dazed and shook her head.
Pei You’an said slowly, "If you aren't tired, why not accompany me? It would be nice to have company on the road."
Jiafu was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant. Her face immediately brightened like a flower, and she nodded. "Okay, then I will accompany my elder cousin..."
Pei You’an was already walking out, saying, "Go change your clothes and come out; I’ll go prepare some things."
...
By nightfall, the carriage stopped before the mountain gate of White Crane Temple. Pei You’an sent word to announce their arrival, and soon, a young nun who served Chi Hanzhen hurried out to lead them inside. When they reached the Taisu Hall, the young nun scurried inside. Not a moment later, she appeared with a lamp in hand, followed by Chi Hanzhen herself. She seemed about to call out to Pei You’an, but her gaze suddenly caught Jiafu beside him. She froze, stopping in her tracks.
Pei You’an led Jiafu forward and smiled, "I went to Ci’en Temple with my wife today and returned together. We happened to receive the Taoist priestess’s message, so we brought my wife along to drop by. I have also received the hand-copied sutra; I will present it to my grandmother another day. Thank you for your care."
Chi Hanzhen’s gaze finally pulled away from the smiling Jiafu. She steadied herself and said, "Sir Pei, why be so polite? You are my brother’s savior. I also happened to learn of the celebration for the Old Duke’s memorial birthday, and as one who has taken monastic vows, I had nothing else to offer, so I copied a volume of Taoist scripture. Sir and Madame, please come inside." As she spoke, she turned hurriedly to lead them in and ordered the young nun to serve tea. Pei You’an said he would go see the patient first.
Chi Hanzhen led him inside.
The boy’s complexion was much better than when Jiafu had last seen him. Pei You’an examined him carefully and asked for the physician’s prescription from last time. After a glance, he said it was not a major issue; it was likely an imbalance of the spleen and stomach caused by the previous prescription. He could adjust the dosage of the medicine, and with careful conditioning, he should recover in a few days. The physician’s prescription was consistent with his own thoughts, so he told Chi Hanzhen to just fill the prescription as the physician had written.
Chi Hanzhen looked slightly ashamed, thanked him in a low voice, and apologized for the abrupt disturbance.
Pei You’an said, "Why take it to heart? Although you have taken vows, I still view you as a younger sister. If you have any trouble in the future—any trouble at all—and feel you cannot handle it, come seek me. If I am not here, you may seek my wife. She will surely do her best to help."
Jiafu was slightly stunned. Seeing Pei You’an looking at her, she immediately reacted, standing beside him and smiling as she bowed, "What my husband says is also what I think. You are like a white crane in the clouds, with a noble and pure character. I have always respected you, so please do not be bound by worldly conventions."
Chi Hanzhen stared fixedly at Jiafu, momentarily speechless. Pei You’an packed up his things, took Jiafu, and bid farewell.
Chi Hanzhen watched the two depart. As their figures gradually vanished, she stared into the empty air, then turned and walked slowly back to her meditation room. She closed the door, and no longer able to hold it back, she covered her face with her hands, tears streaming down from between her fingers.
Her apricot-yellow Taoist sleeve slid back from her wrist, revealing several gruesome scars carved into her snow-white skin with a knife’s tip. Old wounds had not yet healed, and new ones were added.
Once an extraordinary flower of the world, now fallen into the mire.
He was as clear as the moon, his aspirations as fierce as autumn frost; there was no second person in the world who was as jade-like a gentleman as he. She had originally looked down on the woman he married, but tonight, standing before the woman who stood side-by-side with him, she realized for the first time the insignificance hidden within herself, to the point where she was so ashamed she had nowhere to hide.
He and she were a match made in heaven, an unparalleled pair. It was clear that she had long known he held no romantic feelings for her, yet why could not even the pain of a knife cutting into her flesh drive the inner demons from her heart?
...
It was already late at night when Jiafu and Pei You’an returned home. After bathing and changing, they went to bed.
Pei You’an tucked her in and kissed her. "You are such a sleepyhead. If you don't sleep enough, you’ll have dark circles, and people will think I’ve been mistreating you. We have to wake up early tomorrow. Just sleep." After saying this, he closed his eyes.
Jiafu stared at his face, yet she didn't want to sleep at all. One moment she was thinking of the day’s events, the next she was thinking of that scene earlier. Feeling she had countless words to say and unable to hold back any longer, she stretched out her soft arms, hugged his neck, pressed her lips against his ear, and murmured in a low whisper, "Eldest Cousin, in the future, if you have any sad or painful matters, don't keep them buried in your heart. Tell me. I will cherish and love you.”