Wish You All the Best - Chapter 115

Chapter 115

After the third drum watch, the capital had not yet quieted down from the endless fireworks and firecrackers of the Lantern Festival. From the northeast corner of the Imperial Palace, the tolling of a bell suddenly rang out, sounding nine times. The temples in all four directions followed suit, their bells echoing through the night in the capital, lingering for a long time.

The citizens living in the capital were no strangers to such tolling.

The four city gates had long been under martial law. Every household extinguished their lights one after another.

Before dawn, the entire city was already draped in white, and the sounds of wailing rose from everywhere.

Ci’er was also awakened from his sleep by the tolling of the bells.

He climbed up, leaning into Jiafu’s embrace, rubbing his eyes. He was still half-asleep, muttering that it was dawn and he needed to go see Imperial Grandfather.

Jiafu knew that at this very moment, the officials had already arrived outside the palace, waiting to receive the Imperial Grandson so he could ascend the throne.

Cui Yinshui entered and stood to the side with his hands hanging down, waiting.

The bell tolling ceased. From outside, carried faintly by the wind, came the wails of palace maids and eunuchs. Although the sound was very distant and intermittent, it still reached them because of the silence of the night.

Ci’er heard it too. As if he suddenly understood something, he woke up instantly, opening his eyes wide and staring blankly at Jiafu.

Imperial Grandfather had been ill for a long time. One day he would leave him. When that time came, Imperial Grandfather did not want him to be sad; Imperial Grandfather wanted him to be a good Emperor of the Great Wei—Imperial Grandfather had told him this more than once before.

Tears slowly overflowed from Ci’er’s eyes.

Jiafu was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. She hugged her son’s tender body, wiped away his tears, and personally helped him put on his clothes piece by piece. She carried him off the bed, gave him one final, heavy hug, and finally loosened her grip, handing him over to Cui Yinshui, who was waiting to the side.

Cui Yinshui walked over, knelt before Jiafu, and kowtowed once before rising. He led Ci’er out, following close behind him.

Jiafu stood there, watching as Ci’er turned his head every few steps to look at her. She gazed at him and nodded slightly.

Since the birth of Ci’er seven years ago, she and Pei You’an had not had any more children.

In the early years, it was because Pei You’an still had lingering fears about her labor, and he never wanted to let her risk her life again. He was well-versed in medicine and, through some unknown experience gained from an imperial physician, he had somehow learned which days of the month were prone to conception and which were not. Later, she gradually caught on to his methods, but no matter how much she wanted another child—whether she tried to act coquettish, seductive, threatening, forceful, or feigned anger during the days he avoided sharing a bed with her—he would either remain as still as a mountain, or even if they did share a bed, he would never let her have her way. Her wish to have another child always came to nothing.

By these recent years, not only Pei You’an but even Jiafu had ceased to think of having another child.

The couple had never explicitly spoken of it, but whether it was Pei You’an or Jiafu, from the very first day Ci’er was named Imperial Grandson, they had reached a silent, mutual understanding.

Before Ci’er grew up, they would not have a second child.

They did not want to make Ci’er feel the loneliness of being abandoned, and they had no excess love to spare for another child besides Ci’er.

After tonight, her son would become the new Emperor of the Great Wei.

When Ci’er first came into this world, she had never imagined that Heaven had arranged such a path for her child.

Tonight, from the first step he took out of these palace doors, Jiafu knew that on his future path of growth, there would inevitably be hardships, twists and turns, and even various crises that she could not yet foresee.

But Jiafu believed that one day, her son would certainly press forward step by step and eventually become the capable ruler the late Emperor had hoped for.

Jiafu looked ahead until that small figure finally disappeared completely outside the hall.

……

In accordance with the late Emperor’s last decree, the seven-year-old Imperial Grandson ascended the throne as Emperor, and starting from the following year, the era name would be changed to Yongyi. Before the young Emperor assumed personal rule, Pei You’an was appointed as a Gu-Ming official (a guardian minister) to walk before the throne and was exempted from the ritual of kneeling and bowing.

Those who received the same treatment were Zhang Shiyong and Liu Jiushao, who had been summoned by the late Emperor on his deathbed. One was a civil official and the other a military official, and they assisted Pei You’an in co-governing the young Emperor.

Three days after the late Emperor passed away, news of another death came from the North Garden: the deposed Empress Zhou, who had been imprisoned for many years, had died. Following the late Emperor’s last testament, Lady Zhou was buried in the imperial mausoleum with the rites of an Empress. In the mausoleum, those deceased imperial concubines would also be buried with her in the future. However, the late Emperor was not buried in the same chamber as his consorts; he lay alone to the east of the mausoleum. On overcast and rainy days, the hillside built above the ground looked from a distance like a statue standing between heaven and earth, facing the direction of the Royal Ci’en Temple, shrouded in misty rain and silent.

Although the late Emperor left a last testament for his funeral to be simplified, he was, after all, the Son of Heaven. No matter how simplified, the funeral lasted for more than half a month. When the funeral was over, the twenty-seven days of mourning stipulated in the late Emperor’s decree also passed. The entire nation ceased mourning, and the common people were not much affected by the Emperor’s death—marriages and celebrations continued as usual. As for the imperial court, the late Emperor had already relinquished most of his administrative duties in the past two years, and now, under the leadership of the Cabinet headed by Pei You’an, the transition went smoothly. After a brief stagnation during the period of national mourning, state affairs returned to their original efficiency.

Past events, when they should pass, let them pass. People born into this world must always look forward.

Jiafu understood this principle. She knew Pei You’an certainly understood it even better than she did.

Before the Emperor breathed his last, Pei You’an had returned to his side and performed that kowtow ritual before him.

To the ministers watching at the time, Pei You’an’s gesture might have seemed to be merely out of gratitude for the Emperor’s favor.

But Jiafu knew that for Pei You’an, in his heart, from that moment on, he had truly let go.

Jiafu was not nearby at the time, and Pei You’an did not describe the scene to her in detail, but Jiafu believed the Emperor must have felt the same.

He must have understood the meaning of Pei You’an’s return and kowtow—a meaning that only the two of them, as ruler and subject, father and son, could know.

Sometimes, the greatest sound is silence; silence speaks louder than words.

At the moment the Emperor left, he must have found a shred of the consolation he had craved for so long, and it is likely he was able to depart in peace.

……

After the national mourning, with the young Emperor’s ascension, Pei You’an was busy all day long, leaving early and returning late. Sometimes, if urgent reports from the provinces arrived in the capital in the middle of the night, he even had to hurry into the palace.

During these days, Jiafu was not idle either. With the help of Tanxiang, she tidied up her belongings and traveled between the Duke’s mansion and a residence located near the southeast gate of the Imperial City. She chose an auspicious day to move, making it easier for Pei You’an to enter and exit the palace, and sparing him the exhaustion of the road during the winter.

Tanxiang had married Yang Yun several years ago and had a son. For these years, the couple had been assisting Pei You’an and Jiafu respectively, loyal and devoted.

As for the first and second branches of the Duke of Wei’s mansion, these past few years had presented a different picture for each.

Three years ago, Pei Xiuzhi had inexplicably disappeared for a period of time, and it was not until more than half a year later that Pei You’an personally and secretly sent him back. Madam Xin later learned that her son had actually been involved with the rebellious deposed Crown Prince’s faction. Although she tried hard to argue that he was coerced, if it hadn’t been for the Emperor’s consideration for her husband, the Duke of Wei, and Pei You’an, he would have likely been executed for treason. She was terrified. Since then, seeing that her son had lost his former self, was completely dispirited, and spent his days drowning his sorrows in drink—holding only the empty title of a Duke with no sign of a future—and with a household of fighting wives and concubines, she herself had no peace of mind.

In contrast, the second branch had been living smoothly these past few years. Although Pei Quan’s official career had no bright future, Pei Xiuluo passed the imperial examination the year before last. The Cao family, with whom they had previously arranged a marriage, now had a father-in-law who had been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. What made Madam Xin secretly resentful was that Pei You’an was now the Gu-Ming official assisting the young Emperor, his power at its zenith. People behind his back called him "Prime Minister Pei," someone above ten thousand and holding power over the whole court. Although she was his "biological mother," her relationship with him and his wife remained awkward, cold, and distant. In recent years, the second branch had been fawning over them; Pei Xiuluo was respectful to the couple, acting everywhere as the younger brother of Prime Minister Pei, mingling skillfully and socializing widely, and everyone greeted him with a smile. Not only that, gradually, the wives of the families who had regular social dealings seemed to know that she, the "biological mother," was estranged from her eldest son and his wife. Instead, Madam Meng of the second branch—who was the aunt of Pei You’an’s wife—had a good relationship with them. Those who wanted to seek favors went to seek relationships with Madam Meng. Madam Meng was in high spirits and all smiles, which made Madam Xin inwardly resentful and jealous. She was anxious, lost, and absent-minded, her temper becoming increasingly strange, unable to sleep at night, often flying into rages, and her health gradually failing.

Since the Duke’s title of the Pei family had been transferred from Pei You’an to Pei Xiuzhi years ago, and with Pei Xiuzhi there to support the facade, it was only natural for Pei You’an to move out of the Duke’s mansion for the sake of his convenience in assisting the government.

When the chosen day arrived, Jiafu had everything arranged and moved from the Duke of Wei’s mansion, where she had lived for many years, to the new residence.

She had always been quiet about the moving process, not wanting to disturb outsiders, but given her husband’s current status, her every move became the focus of attention for many noblewomen in the capital. No sooner had she moved in than the calling cards and visitors became endless. Some even used the name of congratulating them on the housewarming to send various valuable gifts. Jiafu turned them all away, not accepting a single penny. Occupied with these social engagements like a spinning top for more than half a month, things finally began to settle down.

In a flash, it was mid-April, the time for the great sacrificial ritual marking three months since the late Emperor’s passing. On this day, Pei You’an, on behalf of the young Emperor, led a group of officials to the imperial mausoleum hundreds of miles outside the capital to perform the ritual of announcement and sacrifice. This trip would take three or four days to complete.

Jiafu was home alone. By evening, Madam Meng of the second branch arrived uninvited, bringing Jiafu some dried bamboo shoots and other local specialties, saying that her in-laws had brought them from their hometown thousands of miles away. She thought of Jiafu and brought some over. She said, "Your aunt knows you never accept valuable items. Fortunately, these are not worth much, just a token of my heart. Having grown accustomed to dragon liver and phoenix marrow, you and You’an should try something fresh. If it suits your taste, I have more there; I’ll send more next time."

Jiafu thanked her and accepted them. Because it was mealtime, she asked her to stay for dinner. After the meal, the sky was already dark, but Madam Meng’s desire to talk remained undiminished, chatting with Jiafu about this and that. Finally, she spoke of Pei You’an being away for these few days and sighed: "You’an now holds a high and powerful position; inevitably, there are many things to do. It’s just that it pains even your aunt to see you so alone like this..."

She took Jiafu’s hand and said in a low voice: "A-Fu, since I am your aunt and also your maternal aunt, I treat you as my own daughter, which is why I’m telling you this. You and You’an have been married for many years. The child you had outside the pass years ago was unfortunately lost, and now so many years have passed, why is there still no movement in your belly? I am extremely anxious and have been keeping an eye out for you. A few days ago, I heard of a very efficacious temple. As long as a woman goes to pray with sincerity, those who return are all blessed with sons within a year or so. Why don’t I take you there, and you can try it? If it really works, wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?"

Jiafu smiled slightly and said: "Thank you, Aunt. Next time I have the opportunity, I will trouble you."

Madam Meng was single-mindedly trying to secure a future for her son through Pei You’an. Seeing that the couple had not had children for many years, she assumed they wanted them but couldn’t have them, so she inquired everywhere and finally found that temple. She originally wanted to curry favor with Jiafu, but seeing her indifferent attitude, she was unwilling to give up and was just about to urge her again when she saw one of her own servants rush in, their face full of panic. She was about to reprimand the servant for their lack of manners when she saw the servant fall to their knees with a thud, kowtowing and saying: "Mistress, it’s bad! There’s a fire at home, the Third Young Master is missing, the Second Master is not home, and the Third Young Mistress sent me to tell you to go back quickly!"

Pei Quan was also among those performing the sacrifice at the mausoleum, so he was not home these days.

Madam Meng was greatly shocked and stood up abruptly.

Although Jiafu did not like these people in the Pei family, the kindness of the old mistress and the Duke to Pei You’an was enough to outweigh their faults. Hearing that something had happened to the Pei family, how could she stand by? She hurriedly took several servants, sat in a carriage with Madam Meng, and rushed to the Duke’s mansion. Even when they were still a few streets away, they could see firelight from the direction of the Pei family’s residence. The street entrance was blocked by onlookers, and the carriage could not enter. People from the Metropolitan Commandery, knowing the Pei mansion was on fire, dared not be negligent and had already rushed over, using water dragons to fight the fire and dispersing the crowd, only then did the road become passable again.

When Jiafu arrived at the Pei house, the fire had already been contained, and the connected rooms that had burned were gradually extinguishing. But what she saw next shocked her.

The fire had started in a storage room in the back wing, which was usually used for storing fine soft silks. The third son, Pei Xiuluo, was said to have been locked inside. By the time the servants heard his cries for help and desperately rescued him, his face had been burned, and he had inhaled smoke and fallen into a coma. The Third Young Mistress was lying beside him, crying her heart out. When Madam Meng saw her son in such a state, she rolled her eyes and collapsed to the ground.

Jiafu hurriedly sent people in her own name to urgently summon an imperial physician skilled in treating burn wounds. The physician arrived, and after some treatment, applied full of burn medicine to the areas of his body that had been burned. Pei Xiuluo finally regained consciousness, lying there, gasping for his last breath.

Madam Meng gritted her teeth, demanding to know who had locked him in the storage room. Pei Xiuluo’s eyes were blank, and his throat had been scorched by the smoke and fire. One could see his lips moving, but he could not speak.

The Third Young Mistress cried, "I heard from the servants that in the evening, it seemed like a maid from the Second Sister-in-law’s side came to look for the Third Young Master. It must have something to do with that side! Eldest Sister-in-law, I beg you, you must seek justice for our Third Young Master!"

The Third Young Mistress sobbed and pleaded with Jiafu without stopping.

Seeing her originally handsome and dashing son burned into such a state—even if he survived, he would be like a cripple in the future, never able to serve as an official again—and seeing years of upbringing destroyed in an instant, and thinking of her son’s despair for the rest of his life, it was as if her heart had been ripped out. She was in tears and gritted her teeth: "Good, you black-hearted people! Your own son occupies the ancestor’s title and salary in vain, becoming a useless A-dou, and now you can’t bear to see my son doing well. A-Fu, you be a witness for your aunt. Even if I have to risk this life, I will seek justice for my son!"

Madam Meng wiped away her tears, told her daughter-in-law to look after her son, and took a group of servants and maids, marching angrily towards the first branch. Halfway there, she saw Pei Xiuzhi walking toward them, his face bright red, his steps stumbling, and smelling of alcohol. He stammered, "Second Aunt... how is the Third Brother..." Before he could finish, Madam Meng spat a mouthful of saliva directly onto his face and shoved him away.

Pei Xiuzhi stumbled, took several steps back, fell to the ground, and passed out from intoxication, motionless.