Wish You All the Best - Chapter 66
Chapter 66
"As the Emperor has spoken, I, the old woman, thank Your Majesty on behalf of my eldest grandson."
Old Madam Pei sat up, and as Xiao Lie reached out to assist her, she gently blocked his hand.
She steadied herself against the edge of the bed and slowly climbed down. Finally, she prostrated herself fully, kneeling on the ground before the Emperor. She remained there in a gesture of profound respect, long remaining motionless.
Xiao Lie stood frozen, staring fixedly at the gray-haired head bowed to the floor.
He opened his mouth as if to ask something else, but ultimately remained silent. After a long moment, he slowly turned around, his footsteps heavy and labored as he walked away, step by step, until his figure vanished behind the door.
Old Madam Pei remained prostrate on the floor. Within the inner chamber, only the flickering candlelight remained, and the silence was absolute.
Behind the bead curtain, Jiafu’s palms and back were drenched in cold sweat. She watched Old Madam Pei’s back, terrified that the Emperor might return, and dared not come out.
After a long time, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, Pei Quan, Madam Xin, and the others rushed in. Seeing the Old Madam kneeling on the ground, they hurried forward to lift her up and lay her back on the bed. Seeing her face ashen, some fed her water while others rubbed her back.
The Old Madam opened her eyes and said: "I only spoke with His Majesty about some old memories from his childhood. He has instructed me to rest and recover; there is nothing else. I am a bit tired, and you have all worked hard these past few days. Eldest Daughter-in-law, you stay; I have a few words for you. Everyone else, disperse and go get some rest."
Madam Xin was startled, then immediately complied.
The Second Madam cast a glance at her, a hint of confusion on her face—looking curious and perhaps unwilling—but she dared not ask. Finally, she followed Pei Quan, and the others departed one by one.
Only Madam Xin remained in the room, standing before the bed. Seeing the Old Madam silent for a long time, she felt a slight unease. Hesitating, she stepped forward: "You kept me here, Mother—do you have instructions for me?"
Old Madam Pei reached under her pillow, pulled out a key, and handed it over: "Go open that cabinet and take out the small box inside."
Filled with doubt, Madam Xin took the key and opened a gold-painted cabinet against the wall that was secured with a copper lock. Inside, she found a sandalwood box that looked quite aged. She lifted it; it was heavy and solid. She brought it to the bedside.
The Old Madam ordered her to open it.
Madam Xin opened the box to find a golden chest inside. Not daring to move, she looked to Old Madam Pei.
"Open it."
Madam Xin cautiously opened the gold chest. Recognizing what was inside, she was shocked and looked up at the Old Madam: "Mother, this is..."
"This is the Iron Certificate of Merit granted by the founding Emperor to his meritorious officials. It was cut in two, placed in a gold chest—half given to the official, half hidden in the ancestral temple. It can exempt one from a death sentence, or be used to request titles and wealth. Back then, only four were issued; the Pei family received one. Now that I am leaving, I have nothing else to give; this is for the second branch. Take it. If you truly cannot bear the loss of your noble rank, you may present it when the opportunity arises; it is not impossible to have the title restored."
Madam Xin was stunned. She wanted to take it but dared not, her hands hovering in mid-air in an awkward manner.
The Old Madam closed her eyes and spoke no more.
Madam Xin slowly stretched her hand toward the box. The moment she touched it, she saw the Old Madam suddenly open her eyes. Her hand trembled, and she subconsciously retracted it.
Old Madam Pei stared at her: "I know you have held resentment and grievances all these years. Now that I am leaving, I will give you one final piece of advice—the last insight I have gained in this life: Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. I hope everything ends here. If you remain obsessed and blind, even if the ancestors had left you ten Iron Certificates, I fear you would not have the fortune to enjoy them."
Madam Xin’s face flushed a deep red. She stood for a long while, bowed to the old woman on the bed, clutched the box tightly to her chest, and hurried away.
The candlelight swayed, and the wick popped with a faint "snap."
"Come out."
Old Madam Pei’s voice drifted across the room.
Jiafu finally emerged from behind the bead curtain. She walked slowly to the bedside and saw the Old Madam leaning there, looking at her with a faint smile in her eyes. Her heart was a tempest of emotions. She threw herself onto the edge of the bed, gripped one of the Old Madam’s hands tightly, and whispered, "Grandmother." Her eyes turned red.
The Old Madam’s fingers were icy, but her palms were burning hot: "All these years, the thing I was most unable to let go of was Youan. Fortunately, now that I have you, I can finally put my heart at ease."
Jiafu clung to the Old Madam’s hand: "Grandmother will live a long and healthy life. Afu and my husband still need your guidance..."
She could no longer hold back her tears, which cascaded down her face, her voice choked with sobs.
Old Madam Pei smiled faintly: "Silly child, everyone must leave eventually. I have lived to this age and have enjoyed all the blessings of this world. As long as you are all well in the future, what regrets could I have?"
Jiafu shook her head incessantly, weeping uncontrollably.
The Old Madam reached out with her other hand and tightly grasped Jiafu’s: "Regarding Youan’s origin—if he ever learns the truth, given his temperament, I fear he will never find peace. If it were possible, I would prefer he never know. I should not have let you bear such a heavy burden, but as husband and wife, you are one. Now, I can only entrust him to you. If one day he suffers a calamity because of this, you must look after him well in my stead. Do not leave him, never forsake him, do you understand?"
The old woman’s expression became extraordinarily grave.
Jiafu wiped her tears, knelt before the bed, and said solemnly: "Do not worry, Grandmother. Afu will do everything in her power to stay by my husband's side for the rest of my life, never leaving or forsaking him."
The old woman gazed at her, and a hint of a smile gradually appeared on her lips: "Then I can rest easy..."
She seemed exhausted. After saying this, she slowly closed her eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
……
Late that night in the heart of winter, snow was falling heavily, and the accumulation on the ground was already ankle-deep.
The guards at the West Gate of the capital burned charcoal on the city wall to stay warm, complaining about the weather. Suddenly, one of the lookouts shouted: "Someone is coming!"
The others walked over and peered into the distance in the direction he pointed. Sure enough, through the vast, falling snow, a group of people was galloping on horseback along the pitch-black post road leading to the western outskirts. Their horses’ hooves splashed through the snow, and in the blink of an eye, they reached the city gate, someone shouting loudly to open it.
"Is it Minister Pei who has returned?"
The city captain had received orders from above that Pei Youan might return to the capital in these few days, and to be on the lookout. Seeing the group, he immediately leaned over the wall and shouted a question.
"Indeed!"
An attendant raised his arm and tossed up an official tally. The captain caught it, verified it, and immediately descended the tower to open the gates.
The group rode through the gate and headed toward the Pei manor at full speed.
……
Several days had passed since the Emperor’s visit.
During these days, Jiafu had not left the Old Madam’s side for even a step. Day and night, she served her constantly. When she was extremely tired, she would close her eyes for a moment on the bed behind the bead curtain, truly staying by her side without changing her clothes or resting properly.
Earlier, after learning from the imperial physician that the Old Madam would not survive past the end of this winter, she had sent a letter to Pei Youan to inform him.
Although the Old Madam had previously stopped her from writing to him to avoid distracting him, the situation was different now.
In Jiafu’s view, allowing him to return to see his grandmother one last time before she passed was just as important as his official duties.
The Old Madam had been unable to eat or drink for several days, spending most of her time in a semi-conscious state, kept alive only by ginseng soup.
Jiafu knew clearly that she was likely waiting for Pei Youan.
On such a night of driving snow, where were the footsteps of that returning traveler?
Jiafu stood by the window, watching the swirling snow in the night sky, her forehead pressed against the cold window lattice. Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard the frantic sound of boots crunching through the snow in the courtyard. Then, a servant woman’s voice, filled with surprise and joy, drifted to her ears: "The Master has returned!"
Jiafu’s heart skipped a beat, and her blood surged. She turned abruptly and hurried out. She reached the outer room, and before she could even reach the threshold, she saw the door curtain lifted. A man, slightly hunched, walked in with quick strides.
It was truly Pei Youan who had returned!
Snow covered his shoulders and clung to his brows and hair. His eyes were red, filled with bloodshot veins, and his body radiated such intense cold that he seemed to have just emerged from a frozen abyss.
"Big Cousin—"
Before Jiafu could finish her call, her voice choked. She stopped before him, her eyes brimming with tears.
Pei Youan did not pause for a single instant. He reached her in a few strides, opened his arms, and pulled her into his embrace. He lowered his head and quickly pressed his lips—still cold from the snow—to her forehead, then whispered: "Do not be afraid. I am back."
As if to comfort her, he tightened his arms, held her firmly for a moment, and then let go.
"Where is Grandmother?"
"Inside!"
Jiafu suppressed the storm of emotions rolling in her heart and immediately turned toward the inner room. Pei Youan followed her, and they hurried inside together.