Chapter 2 - Sharing a Bed
Mingyi was already asleep. Who would have thought that the faint sound of footsteps would be exceptionally clear in the night? Her eyes suddenly flew open. In the darkness, a tall figure entered. Perhaps still unaccustomed to the pitch-blackness of the west side-room, his steps were exceptionally slow.
It was undoubtedly Pei Yue.
Mingyi was taken aback for a moment, but quickly understood.
The two of them must have had the same idea.
Seeing Pei Yue's figure drawing closer and closer, Mingyi gave a timely reminder,
“Lord Pei.”
Her voice was clear and cold, as if creating a barrier of distance.
In the darkness, the figure clearly paused. As for his expression, hidden in the shadows, it could not be seen clearly, but one could imagine it must have been quite subtle.
Pei Yue's mood was indeed quite subtle. He had not at all expected Mingyi to have already occupied the spot. This tacit understanding gave rise to a strange sense of awkwardness in him. He was stunned for a good while before finally finding the round-backed armchair next to the couch and sitting down.
Both parties fell into silence.
Mingyi bent her knees and sat up, looking towards Pei Yue seated to the side. Even as just a silhouette, he was as solemn and dignified as a mountain of jade.
She was the first to break the deadlock.
“I slept for several shichen* this afternoon and am not sleepy tonight. I feared I would disturb the Master of the house's rest, so I chose the side-room to sleep.”
[N; 1 Shichen = 2 hours]
What the real reason was, both of them knew perfectly well in their hearts.
A cloth to cover the shame, after all, was something one ought to have.
Pei Yue glanced sideways slightly, picking up on her words to reply,
“The west side-room is not as warm as the nuptial chamber. You are a young woman with a delicate constitution; you cannot withstand the cold. You should sleep over there.”
“No, no, no, I have slept in all sorts of places. This heated couch is already excellent for me. The Master of the house must not worry. The hour is late, you should go and rest quickly.” Mingyi urged him to leave.
It was impossible for Pei Yue to leave her here. His tone allowed no room for doubt. “You go.”
“You go.”
They reached a deadlock once again.
Of course, there was an even better solution, which was for them to go back together.
Unfortunately, neither of them spoke up.
Pei Yue had been pampered since childhood and was used to others guessing his thoughts. He was accustomed to acting only after careful planning. In the years since he took over as the Master of the house, he had accumulated great authority. No one had ever been able to disregard his wishes. Yet he had never imagined that this wife from the countryside would be his equal in her way of doing things.
Having reached this point, if they continued the stalemate, it would seem as if they were overly disgusted with each other. In that case, there would be no need for this marriage to exist; it would have been better not to have married at all.
Since Pei Yue had decided to keep his promise, sooner or later he would have to accept her.
Mingyi, in truth, was indifferent, but she was unwilling to be the one to yield first.
The snow outside the window had stopped. A thin layer of light from the snow scattered across the top of the courtyard, shining onto the window lattice.
After another long stretch of silence, Pei Yue finally made up his mind.
“It is cold here. It's better to go sleep in the nuptial chamber.”
With that said, he rose to his feet first.
Mingyi found it difficult to refuse. She subsequently gathered her bedding and entered the east room. Pei Yue stood with his back to her by the screen, untying his waist sash. Mingyi went straight to the bed. Inside the canopied bed, there was only one thick, festive mandarin duck quilt. Mingyi tossed her own bedding inside and reminded Pei Yue,
“I will sleep on the inner side.” Then she briskly slipped inside the bed curtains.
Pei Yue had to attend the morning court session at dawn and would definitely wake up earlier than her. It was more suitable for him to sleep on the outer side of the bed.
Pei Yue tacitly agreed. After confirming there was no more movement from the bed, he finally removed his outer robe, extinguished the lamp, and lifted the curtains to get into bed.
Each person had their own bedding, a clear line drawn between them.
Both lay flat on their backs, unmoving.
Mingyi was used to sleeping this way, never showing her back to others.
Pei Yue was not used to the unfamiliar bed.
In the past, he had slept in the study. This was also his first time coming to Changchun Hall.
On their first night sharing a bed, the two of them did not even exchange a single word.
When it came to the hour that Pei Yue usually went to sleep, he closed his eyes and tried his best to enter the land of dreams.
Unfortunately, heaven does not always grant one's wishes. He was exceptionally sensitive to smells. Even though the momo had scented the bedding with incense according to his preferences, that peculiar, cool fragrance from Mingyi's body still drifted over, faint and elusive.
Pei Yue endured it on his own, only falling asleep in the latter half of the night.
Mingyi was different. Having spent her whole life weathering the storms, she had slept everywhere, from tree branches to haystacks. She did not have the flaw of being picky about beds and had a good night's sleep.
When she awoke, the space beside her was already empty.
She shook the small bell outside the canopied bed, and the female servants and maids waiting in the corridor entered in single file.
Normally, Mingyi did not call for people to serve her, but today was the tea ceremony, so she had to wear something festive and needed to be properly dressed and groomed.
After she had washed her face and rinsed her mouth, Fu Momo first helped her style her hair into a bun. Afterwards, she picked up an eyebrow pencil, intending to draw her eyebrows, but upon looking at that face, she suddenly paused.
These past few days, she had not looked closely, only feeling that this Young Madam from the mountains walked like the wind and had an air of the martial world about her, so she hadn't dared to stare. Now, upon proper inspection, she realized that it was an extremely beautiful face. Not delicate or gaudy, with a gracefully tall figure, her features possessed a uniquely blessed and refined elegance that made one forget the mundane upon seeing her.
Fu Momo was somewhat at a loss for how to begin.
“Young Madam, what kind of makeup did you like to wear in the past?”
Mingyi shook her head. “I never wear makeup.”
Fu Momo laughed. “In that case, this servant won't ruin perfection by adding to it.”
Once she was ready, she ate a little breakfast to fill her stomach and then went out the door.
Pei Yue was in front of the courtyard gate discussing matters with the steward. It seemed he had been waiting for her for a little while. Seeing her come out, he gave her a brief glance, confirmed her attire was appropriate, then pointed forward, signaling for her to follow.
Regarding the tea ceremony, Fu Momo had already prepared everything. When Mingyi came to the capital, her grandfather had already passed away. Her family had no surplus wealth, and she came with empty sleeves, without a single cent of dowry. On the day of the wedding procession, the Pei family's betrothal gifts were simply repackaged and carried into the house to serve as her dowry. The Pei family was perfectly clear about the Li family's situation, and thus held no expectations for Mingyi. For example, for today's tea ceremony, Pei Yue's mother, Xun-shi, had already privately told the momo to prepare everything on Mingyi's behalf. All she would have to do later was follow along and perform the rites, and that would be the end of it.
Mingyi was not used to worrying about such minor details. Whatever Fu Momo said, she agreed to it all.
For the tea ceremony, Qinghe did not accompany her. That girl was now like a bird let out of its cage, who knows where she had darted off to.
Yesterday, with the wind and snow raging, Mingyi had no time to observe the Pei residence. Today, the sky had cleared. Fresh snow piled in clusters on the branches, presenting a unique kind of scenery.
The entire residence occupied a full half of the Xuanming Ward. Situated by a mountain and near a river, its pavilions were tall and stately, and its vegetation was lush. A wide lane passed through the middle, with over ten branches of the clan living on either side. It was bustling with people, the most prosperous family in the Great Jin.
The main branch of the Pei family was located north of the wide lane, and compared to the other branches, its scenery was even more elegant. On the way from Changchun Hall to Xuanming Hall, one could look up and see everywhere pavilions built against the mountain and terraces overlooking the water. A mountain spring splashed down along Taihu rocks, an exceptionally spectacular sight.
Bypassing the lake and following the nine-bend winding corridor, they arrived at Xuanming Hall, which was near the Pei family's ancestral hall. From a distance, they could hear a clamor of chatter and laughter. At first listen, it seemed truly lively, but upon careful distinction, most of it was complaints about the Old Master.
Why complain about the Old Master? That was, of course, because they were dissatisfied with Mingyi, this new wife.
Pei Yue stopped at a corner. His dark phoenix eyes, reflecting the bright green of the corridor, already held a hint of coldness.
Seeing this, the several stewards from the main accounting office all lowered their heads and retreated to the corner of the corridor, waiting silently.
Pei Yue glanced sideways at Mingyi beside him. Mingyi stood there gracefully, wearing an indifferent smile. This smile was very quiet, as quiet as the deep sea, giving Pei Yue the vague illusion that he had seen her somewhere before.
That the new wife could handle it with such composure was for the best.
Without further hesitation, he stepped inside.
Seeing his figure, everyone in the hall instantly fell silent.
Today, the wife of the Master of the house was to serve tea. For the Pei family, this was a major clan event. Aside from the three branches of the direct line, both old and young, the elders and the master-and-wife pairs in charge of the other dozen or so branches were also present. The vast Xuanming Hall was densely packed with people.
When Mingyi stepped inside, she felt as if a magnificent and splendid long scroll painting had unfurled before her eyes. There were meticulously carved red sandalwood screens and all sorts of exquisite furniture. The men were dressed in luxurious clothes, and the women's makeup and adornments were opulent. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were cast upon her, each with a different expression, just like clusters of flowers blooming in spring, crowded and complex, dazzling the eye.
Pei Yue stood in the middle of the hall with his hands behind his back. He did not rush forward to pay respects, but instead slowly swept his gaze across the room.
The entire hall lowered their eyes under his glance; no one dared to make a sound.
In the past, he did not have this kind of prestige. After all, he was young, and there were two levels of elders above him.
Now, it was different.
After the Old Master had arranged this marriage, he was attacked by the clan elders and forced to step down as the head of the house and flee. The position of Pei clan leader fell to Pei Yue's father. Unfortunately, that prodigious talent was worn out by years of official paperwork, and his illness became terminal. Pei Yue took over as the Master of the house at the tender age of nineteen.
Originally, no one expected this young man to accomplish much. But as it happened, he was farsighted and had a unique vision. During his years traveling through Jiangnan, while helping to increase the national treasury's revenue, he also cast his eyes towards overseas. Now, the Pei family had several ports in places like Songjiang, Yuhang, and Fujian, specializing in maritime trade. Their shops were everywhere, and their banks were numerous; they were making a fortune.
Two years later, Pei Yue's father passed away. During the three-year mourning period, he began to put the internal affairs in order, establishing a plan for year-end dividends with clear rewards and punishments. Under his whip, talented people emerged from the clan, and their unity was stronger than ever before. In just five years with the Pei family in his hands, it could be said to be at the height of its power.
Following such a leader, everyone lived well. Who would not submit to him?
Thus, with just that one glance moments ago, everyone became as silent as a cicada in winter.
Aside from the several elders and his mother, Xun-shi, who remained steadily seated in the center, everyone else rose to their feet and bowed in unison towards the pair.
“Greetings to the Master of the house, greetings to the Young Madam.”
Only then did Pei Yue lead Mingyi forward to pay respects to Xun-shi and the several elders.
The tea ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner. The Pei family's direct line had three branches. Aside from the deceased Eldest Master, the other several masters and their wives were all present, and there were even more members of the younger generation. A few tactful young ladies pulled Mingyi along, calling her 'sister-in-law' this and 'sister-in-law' that. Led by them, Mingyi also got a general idea of who everyone was.
Xun-shi quietly observed the new wife. Seeing that she was not the least bit intimidated by the occasion, a bit of satisfaction was added to her heart.
After things quieted down, Pei Yue was the first to issue a warning.
“Li-shi* has married into the Pei family. From now on, she is the matriarch of the Pei clan. Seeing her is the same as seeing me. Do all of you understand?”
[TL/N: Shi (氏): This is a formal suffix added to a married woman's maiden surname. It identifies her as "the woman from the [Surname] family." Unlike in many Western cultures, women in ancient China did not take their husband's surname.]
Everyone answered in unison that they did.
The midday meal was served in Xuanming Hall, and everyone ate at the lively banquet.
After the meal, the servants served tea. Mingyi was pulled into conversation by two lively young ladies who vied with each other to ask her for interesting stories about the countryside.
Most of the other womenfolk looked on with cold detachment and did not join in the excitement.
Finding a moment in between, Xun-shi called Fu Momo into an inner room and asked in a low voice,
“Did they consummate the marriage last night?”
Fu Momo slowly shook her head.
Although they had slept in the same room, they had not called for water. With the Master of the house's love for cleanliness, after doing that sort of thing, how could he not bathe and change his clothes?
Therefore, Fu Momo concluded that they had not consummated the marriage.
Xun-shi was not too surprised.
Her son was putting up a front for the new wife in public, but in his heart, who knew how much he disliked her.
It was not strange that they did not consummate the marriage.
“You shouldn't concern yourself with it either. Just serve her and do your duty. Let them handle the rest. A life is something one makes for oneself. If the new wife wants to gain a firm foothold in the Pei family, she must rely on her own abilities.”
Every matriarch of the Pei clan has gone through this.
Relying on others for support lasts for a day, and only for a day. Only when she carves out a broad path for herself will the people of the Pei clan not dare to control her.
Before long, an old steward came over to invite Xun-shi.
“Eldest Madam, the Master of the house and the elders request your presence.”
Xun-shi instructed Fu Momo to go and serve Mingyi. “You should at least keep an eye on her; you can't let people bully her.”
None of these inner-courtyard women of the Pei family were easy to get along with. Although she was not fond of her daughter-in-law, she couldn't just let others trample all over her.
Fu Momo thought to herself, One moment you tell me not to get involved, the next you're instructing me to follow her. Aren't you afraid of contradicting yourself? But on the surface, she smiled and agreed.
“This servant will go at once.”
Xun-shi left her and entered the meeting room next door. This room connected to the ancestral hall on the left and Xuanming Hall on the right. When the elders encountered matters that were difficult to decide, they would discuss them here.
Today's topic of discussion was related to Mingyi.
One of the elders said,
“Dongting*, ah, my meaning is that we shouldn't be in a hurry to add her to the clan register. Although she has our brother's keepsake, we have never seen this person. What if she encountered villains on the road? The possibility of an imposter taking her place is not nonexistent.”
[TL/N: Dongting is a courtesy name of Pei Yue. A courtesy name, also known as a style name, is an additional name given to a person, typically at adulthood, in addition to their given name. It's a tradition particularly prevalent in East Asian cultures, such as China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In ancient China, it was considered disrespectful for those of the same generation to address someone by their given name; the courtesy name was used instead.]
The man in the main seat slowly lifted the lid of his teacup, his tone indifferent.
“Third Elder, the person was personally sent to the capital by my grandfather. It cannot be a fake.”
The Old Master was afraid of being scolded, so after delivering the person to a separate villa, he made a quick getaway.
The Old Master would not, after all, screw over his own eldest grandson of the direct line.
“Besides, for all these years, when the Pei family has gone to deliver her annual allowance, the steward has seen her. There can be no mistake.”
The elders did not actually doubt this point either. The marriage of the Pei family's Master of the house was a major event. The Pei family had countless secret guards; she must have been verified.
In the end, they were still just unwilling to accept such a person as the clan matriarch.
Another person said, “Master of the house, it is not that we wish to make things difficult for the new wife, it is truly that her birth is not good. Why not wait until she gives birth to a legitimate son before adding her to the clan register? This way, it will be more convincing to everyone.”
Pei Yue set his teacup down on the side table, making a crisp sound.
“Her poor birth is a thing of the past. From the moment she entered our gates, she is a Pei family wife. On this matter, my mind is made up. There is no need for any of you to discuss it further.”
Helpless, the elders all cast pleading looks towards Xun-shi.
Xun-shi naturally had to support her son. She smiled and said, “If she is not added to the clan register, she will feel even more insecure and find it harder to gain a foothold. The marriage certificate is already written in black ink on red paper. What is done is done. All of you should just accept it.”
Yet another person said,
“If the Master of the house insists on adding her to the clan register, we have nothing more to say. However, as far as I know, the new wife has no dowry. In that case, the dowry list does not need to be submitted, right?”
The Pei clan had a family rule: whenever a new wife married into the family, a copy of her dowry list was to be stored in the Disciplinary Hall. This was to prevent the husband's family from misappropriating the wife's dowry. It was one of the manifestations of the Pei family's noble and upright character.
That dowry list of Li Mingyi's was originally given by Pei Yue. Now it was being used to guard against Pei Yue himself. The elders felt indignant on Pei Yue's behalf.
Pei Yue said, his head aching, “Am I short on that little bit of silver?”
They discussed several varied items, and the elders returned in defeat.
Finally, the elders looked at Xun-shi with long faces.
“Then there is no rush to hand over the management of the household, is there?”
To let an ignorant country girl boss people around in the Pei family, they feared it would ruin the family's noble reputation.
This time, even Pei Yue fell silent.
Face had to be given, but as for the authority to manage the household, that had to be handled with caution.
The Pei clan's affairs were complex and numerous; its inner workings were no less complex than the Six Ministries of the imperial court. An ordinary person could not handle it.
He glanced sideways at Xun-shi.
“On this matter, I must ask Mother to deliberate on it slowly.”
The implication was to slowly evaluate Mingyi and then cultivate her abilities.
Xun-shi nodded. “I know what to do.”
Mingyi had no idea that her future had been so thoroughly “arranged” by others.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, she was invited to the ancestral hall.
The Pei family's ancestral hall was very deep. Several large, carved pillars stood within. There were no drapes, nor was there any extravagant incense smoke. The space was wide and imposing. Along the north-facing wall, the ancestral tablets of the Pei family's forefathers were displayed. The candlelight had now been extinguished, and the smoke of aloeswood curled upwards.
One elder first recited a prayer, then guided Pei Yue and Mingyi to offer incense. Another held a thick register and read aloud the Pei family rules and the responsibilities of the clan matriarch.
Pei Yue stood in the hall, his posture as straight as a green pine, listening attentively with a calm heart. Mingyi stood by his side with her hands lowered, getting a headache from listening.
Of course, she did not take any of it in, only knowing that this position of Pei clan matriarch was not something an ordinary person could hold.
After a long recitation, the elder spread the clan register open on the incense table. Pei Yue personally stepped forward, took up the brush, and signed Mingyi's maiden name under his own. He first pressed his private seal, then handed it to Mingyi for her to press her seal as well.
With one hand behind her back, Mingyi quietly stroked the four characters 'Li-shi, Mingyi' with the pad of her finger, a deep look in her eyes.
The real Li Mingyi was a free bird in the forest. How could she be willing to be trapped by this deep-courtyard marquis's house?
So... she had been replaced.