Chapter 7 - The First Time Serving Him
The wind was cold in the dead of night. The lanterns in the corridor had already been extinguished, and it was pitch-black before her eyes, nothing could be seen.
Pei Yue got used to the cool fragrance on her body for a little while and gradually closed his eyes. Just as sleepiness was about to take hold, there was another movement from her side. Pei Yue opened his eyes. A vague silhouette was shifting in the blur. A rush of air rolled into the bedding without a trace. It seemed she was cold and had burrowed in again.
Immediately after, a warm heat rubbed against his arm. As if she had found a heat source, she took a deep breath and then fell into a sound sleep.
Pei Yue, of course, knew she was unconscious of her actions. Her back was pressed tightly against the bed, and her forehead was facing his side.
Pei Yue watched her quietly for a while. This time, he made no extra movements and just let her lean against him.
As usual, he woke up at mao shi chu (around 5 AM). The moment Pei Yue moved, Mingyi lost her support, and her forehead slid downwards. She suddenly opened her eyes.
Pei Yue had just propped himself halfway up, his legs just moved to the side of the bed. Mingyi stared straight at him, her expression holding the grogginess of just having woken.
Their eyes met.
They had never been this close.
The warmth and clean coolness of his body lingered on the tip of her forehead.
Mingyi visually measured the distance between her body and the edge of the bed and confirmed that she had pushed Pei Yue into a corner last night. He probably had nowhere left to retreat and could only let her lean against him.
Both of them felt a little awkward.
After a brief moment of silence, Pei Yue moved his gaze away from her.
“The hour is still early. You can sleep a little longer.”
His voice was as calm as ever.
Probably because they knew he usually woke at this hour, there was already movement outside. Gradually, lamps were moved in, and the room brightened.
Pei Yue had already gotten up and was standing before the canopied bed, putting on his outer robe. Mingyi's gaze rested on his tall figure for a moment, and she also offered a polite word of concern.
“There isn't a trace of light in the sky. Does the Master of the house usually rise this early?”
With his back to her, Pei Yue straightened his collar and replied: “Today the envoys enter the capital. There are many busy affairs, so I must go early.”
Hearing this, a chord struck in Mingyi's heart.
Pei Yue was at the center of power; his every word was a reflection of the court's movements. If she could get a little closer to him and have a chance to enter his study, wouldn't that mean she could know the affairs of the world just by sitting in the Mountain Rock Courtyard?
As soon as this thought arose, Mingyi deftly rolled over and sat up. She roughly straightened her clothes, found the sash at the foot of the bed and tied it, then lifted the curtain and got out of bed. Pei Yue was being attended to by Fu Momo, washing his face and rinsing his mouth. Mingyi glanced over; his formal court hat, official robe, leather belt, and tassel pendant had already been placed on the desk.
After Fu Momo finished helping Pei Yue wash up, she saw Mingyi staring intently at the leather belt, and knew she intended to help, so she immediately withdrew without a sound.
Pei Yue, of course, also noticed Mingyi's actions.
They had slept together a few times now, but this was the first time she had gotten up to serve her husband as he prepared for court.
Last night, she gave him a birthday gift, and the two of them had slept leaning against each other. This morning, she was serving him as he rose.
This was a very important signal.
He thought to himself that he could not just accept his wife's gift for nothing; he would have to give her a gift in return.
In this interval, Mingyi first shook out the red silk gauze official robe with its green border and first-rank crane badge. Pei Yue slipped it on, then put on the formal court hat. Lastly, she helped him tie the leather belt. First-rank civil officials used a jade belt, from which hung a four-colored floral brocade tassel of yellow, green, red, and purple woven into cloud and phoenix patterns, with a green silk net and a jade tassel ring attached at the bottom. It was a very complicated style and not easy to manage.
Pei Yue could see her fumbling, somewhat at a loss for how to proceed, and he smiled silently.
Mingyi raised her eyes to peep at him. The room was lit, and the lamplight was bright. His eyes were extremely handsome, the corners carrying a hint of a sharp edge, yet his expression was gentle. It was a dazzling appearance that, at any time, one could not look away from.
When he was not looking at anyone, his entire person was cool and detached, warning strangers away. But when he fixed his gaze on someone, there was a bewitching power to it, as if he could see through a person's heart.
It wasn't that Mingyi didn't know how to fasten it. On the contrary, she had fastened it for others before. But right now, she could not expose herself. She simply let go of her hands and looked at him frankly.
“I don't know how.”
Pei Yue was not at all surprised that she didn't know how.
As he took over, he said, “I troubled Madam last night. I like that dragonfly very much. It seems Madam is extremely skilled at carving?”
His mother had instructed him to get to know Mingyi better, which was why he asked the extra question.
Mingyi, however, thought Pei Yue was probing into her background. She gave a slight sneer.
“That's right. In my youth, I spent years roaming the mountain forests. Carving a small object is really just a common occurrence.”
“I also know how to carve seals.”
Most of the scions of the capital's nobility were proficient in seal carving and often carried a private seal on their person. By saying this, she was catering to his tastes, hoping to get a little closer to him.
Mingyi needed to obtain the right to enter and leave his study as soon as possible.
These words surprised Pei Yue even more. He finished fastening the leather belt and looked at her fixedly. His father was a great master of seal carving. Having been influenced since childhood, Pei Yue was not at all unfamiliar with the art of seal carving.
“Did Madam have a teacher, or did you become an expert through self-study?”
Mingyi said, “I have studied it, but mostly I figured it out on my own. For the past few years, as I traveled the martial world, I made a living by carving seals.”
Hearing this, Pei Yue's expression faltered, and he immediately frowned.
“Since the two of us were engaged, the Pei residence has sent people to Tanzhou every year to deliver an annual allowance. You still needed to make a living by carving seals?”
Mingyi's heart instantly sank. Damn it, I forgot about that.
She immediately and impassively tried to cover for herself.
“My grandfather was easily influenced and loved to be flattered. If others said a few nice words, they could egg him on to go to the gambling dens. Furthermore, he was gravely ill in his later years, and his medicine and medical treatment also cost a lot of silver. Besides that, my grandfather was charitable and often gave aid to the neighbors.”
Pei Yue sighed slightly, remaining noncommittal. “Then perhaps in the near future, Madam could also carve a small seal for me.”
Now that the hook had been set, there would be a chance to go to the study.
Mingyi beamed with joy.
Seeing her happy, Pei Yue also felt at ease in his heart.
This was the most amicable day of conversation the two had shared since getting married.
After he was properly dressed, Pei Yue scooped up the dragonfly into his palm, looked back at her, and said in a gentle voice:
“The hour is still early. Madam should rest a while longer.” After speaking, he lifted the curtain and went out.
Mingyi did not stand on ceremony with him either. She saw him to the bead curtain, then turned and went back to the canopied bed, flopping down to continue sleeping.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky before getting up.
Hearing movement, Fu Momo entered the room to hitch up the bed curtains for her.
“Young Madam, the Master of the house just sent someone to deliver a treasure to your desk. He said it is for you to appreciate, and that next year when the new bamboo grows, you can make a fan surface to paint on.”
Puzzled, Mingyi draped a robe over her shoulders and walked around the screen. On the long desk under the east window, a fan painting was spread open.
The scroll was not large. The painting depicted a cluster of slender green bamboo by the side of a pond. It was done in an ink wash style, with some delicate colors added. To look at it was like feeling a spring breeze brush one's face.
A fine painting!
One of the bamboo stalks, with just a few sparse strokes, was outlined in a posture of flexible extension, showing the artist's skill.
“Was this made by the Master of the house?”
Fu Momo gathered her long, hanging hair for her: “Of course. Do you think we should put it away?”
Pei Yue's calligraphy and paintings were extremely hard to come by on the outside. In his early years, right after he became the top scholar, some of his paintings were still circulated. But later, after the incident with the Seventh Princess, he stopped giving them to anyone. Even when the Second Eldest Aunt wanted to ask her younger brother for a piece of calligraphy for her young son to copy, she was refused. For him to be in a good mood today and paint a piece for the Young Madam was simply like the sun rising in the west.
This was a return gift that Pei Yue had spontaneously painted in the carriage on his way to the imperial palace just now and had someone deliver it to Mingyi.
Ever since being pestered by the Seventh Princess, he had never gifted his calligraphy or paintings to anyone. Today, he had made an exception and painted one for Mingyi.
Unfortunately, Mingyi was unaware of all this.
“No need. Just leave it displayed here. Isn't there still bamboo in the courtyard? When I have time this afternoon, I'll make a fan and mount this onto it.”
After speaking, Mingyi went to wash up.
After breakfast, the hour was still early. Mingyi was in the courtyard practicing boxing and regulating her breath. Fu Momo had gone to the main house. The courtyard was extremely quiet, so quiet that when the Sixth Young Lady, Pei Yiyu, stepped through the courtyard gate, she thought no one was there. It was Mingyi who discovered her first.
Mingyi walked over from the corner of the courtyard wall. Seeing the Sixth Young Lady peeking around in the passageway, she clasped her hands behind her back and said with a smile,
“What brings Sixth Sister here today?”
Pei Yiyu discovered Mingyi and bounced in happily, handing her a gift box she had prepared.
“Here, Third Sister-in-law, this is for you.”
Pei Yue was ranked third among his generation in the Pei family. The younger sisters below him liked to call him Third Brother, so naturally, they called Mingyi Third Sister-in-law.
Mingyi looked at the brocade box stuffed into her hands and said in surprise, “For me?”
Pei Yiyu smiled. “The day before yesterday, Sister-in-law helped my mother vent her anger. I came specially today to deliver a thank-you gift.”
The mother of the Sixth Young Lady, Pei Yiyu, was none other than the Third Madam, Zhou-shi. Zhou-shi had been suppressed by Concubine Huo for many years. The day before, Mingyi had dealt with Concubine Huo's people. That night, Concubine Huo was scolded by the Third Master, and Zhou-shi's several children all felt a sense of vindication.
Mingyi had no intention of interfering in the internal strife of the Third Branch, but Zhou-shi was also clever. She sent her daughter to deliver a thank-you gift to confirm that Mingyi was on their side, so as to make Concubine Huo wary.
Mingyi laughed but did not say much more. She welcomed her inside. “Come in for some tea.”
Entering the east side-room, the two of them went to sit on the heated brick bed. The moment Pei Yiyu sat down, her eyes landed on the fan painting spread out on the long desk. Mingyi, on her side, was instructing a young maid to serve tea and did not notice her. When she turned back, Pei Yiyu was already standing behind the desk, unable to move her feet.
“Sister-in-law, was this painted by Third Brother?”
Mingyi had just finished a set of the Five-Animal Frolics. Her palms were sweaty, and she was cleaning her hands with a wet towel. She smiled and said, “Yes, it is.”
Pei Yiyu gazed longingly at the scroll, treasuring it so much that her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest.
From a young age, Pei Yue was known for being unparalleled in both calligraphy and painting. His talent was extremely high; three supervising teachers from the Hanlin Academy took the initiative to accept him as their disciple, helping him cultivate a vast and uniquely elegant skill in painting. With such a background and such talent and looks, it was inevitable that he would attract admirers. In the year he turned sixteen, he was taken a fancy to by the reigning dynasty's only legitimate princess, the Seventh Princess.
The Empress could not withstand her daughter's imploring and took the initiative to summon the Pei family to the palace to discuss the marriage. However, the Pei family had an ancestral rule that the head of the family could not marry a princess. Furthermore, Pei Yue already had a marriage contract, so he tactfully refused the Seventh Princess.
The Seventh Princess was not convinced. From then on, she began to corner Pei Yue everywhere, coveting everything related to him. From things as large as his poems and paintings to things as small as a letter written in his own hand, she would acquire them all at high prices. One time, she caused such a scene that she smashed up a shop on the street just to snatch the characters Pei Yue had unintentionally written for the shopkeeper that year, throwing everything into utter chaos. After that, not a single character or half a sheet of paper from Pei Yue was ever circulated again.
Even as a paternal cousin of the same clan, Pei Yiyu did not have a painting from her Third Brother. She had heard that every time her Third Brother painted something, he would burn it the same day, never keeping a copy. For all these years, she hadn't even had the chance to witness his calligraphy or painting. Today, she had actually seen an authentic work at her Third Sister-in-law's place. Looking at the delicate and beautiful style of the painting and the perfectly placed touches of color, his skill had improved a great deal.
Pei Yiyu was clearly envious to the bottom of her heart. She blurted out:
“Sister-in-law, can you gift this painting to me?”
Mingyi, having just washed her face, looked at her blankly. “What, you don't have any of your brother's paintings?”
Pei Yiyu immediately came around the long desk and hugged her arm, wheedling:
“Good Sister-in-law, my brother is busy. Normally, we wouldn't dare to bother him with such a small matter. Only you, Sister-in-law, have the influence now to make my brother create something. Why don't you part with it for my sake, Sister-in-law? From now on, I'll be your loyal pawn....”
Seeing her act more and more pitifully, Mingyi said, “It's just a painting. Is it that serious!”
It truly was that serious.
One look and it was clear Mingyi didn't know the real situation.
Can't worry about that now, I have to get this painting into my hands first. In any case, my brother himself belongs to Sister-in-law, so what's one painting? If I just wheedle a bit, I can definitely get as many as I want.
Pei Yiyu convinced herself and then pleaded a few more times with a clear conscience.
Mingyi was the type of person who couldn't stand seeing young girls wheedle.
“Alright, alright, you can take it.”
Pei Yue had told her to appreciate it, which probably didn't mean she wasn't allowed to gift it to others. They were his own sisters, after all. Mingyi didn't take it to heart.
Pei Yiyu, as if she had obtained a priceless treasure, deftly turned and carefully rolled up the painting. She clutched it to her chest like a treasure, afraid that Mingyi would change her mind. Without a look back, she slipped away.
“Sister-in-law, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll visit again another day.”
Mingyi was already holding her tea in her hands. Seeing her disappear outside the curtain in a flash, she was unable to stop her in time.
“Hey, Sixth Sister, have some tea before you go...”
How could Pei Yiyu be bothered with tea? Cradling the painting, she left in a hurry, wishing she could immediately go back and hide it away.
Unfortunately, heaven does not grant one's wishes. As she was passing a garden of the Second Branch, she was happened upon by the Seventh Young Lady, Pei Yixing.
“What are you doing, acting so furtively?”
The Seventh Young Lady was the legitimate daughter of the Second Madam, Miao-shi. The two girls were of a similar age and usually liked to compete with each other.
Pei Yiyu was startled and immediately stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned sideways, not daring to look her in the eye.
“It's nothing. I was planning to go find Second Sister to play, but Second Sister wasn't up yet, so I came back first.”
Pei Yixing had grown up with her and was too familiar with her personality. Pei Yiyu was usually carefree and couldn't hide what was on her mind. To be so secretive like this, there must be something fishy going on. Her gaze swept over what she was holding in her arms.
“What are you holding?”
Pei Yiyu instantly grew wary and took two steps back: “Nothing!”
Pei Yixing's eyes curved into a smile: “If you don't tell me, then I'll just snatch it.”
With that said, she reached out to grab at what Pei Yiyu was holding.
So angered that she was on the verge of tears, Pei Yiyu dodged and cried out:
“Stop messing around! Be careful not to ruin the painting! I had a hard time tricking this out of Third Sister-in-law.”
Forced into a corner, she roughly told Pei Yixing what had happened.
The moment Pei Yixing heard, she was stunned.
“You little wench, you're really lucky. With Third Brother's painting as part of your dowry, you'll be able to hold your head high in the future. I don't care, I want one too.”
She rushed headlong towards the First Branch. After dashing about ten steps, she suddenly realized that it was extremely rude to visit for the first time without a gift. She turned back to her own chambers, took out a set of gemstone hair ornaments from the bottom of her chest, and headed for Changchun Hall in a grand procession with her maids.
On Mingyi's side, she had already changed her clothes and was planning to go to the Eldest Madam's main house to pay her respects.
With Pei Xuan staying at the residence with her child, it was only proper for her, as the sister-in-law, to go and make an appearance.
Who would have known that before she could even leave, she would run into the Seventh Young Lady, Pei Yixing, entering the gate with three brocade boxes, large and small.
Pei Yixing had an even more impatient personality than Pei Yiyu. She got straight to the point.
“Sister-in-law, I heard you gifted the Third Brother's painting to Sixth Sister. You can't favor one over the other. You have to give me one too.”
Mingyi was dumbfounded.
What kind of situation was this?
She first welcomed her in the door. Seeing the younger sisters coming one after another for one of Pei Yue's paintings, she felt rather helpless.
“What, are you all so afraid of your brother that you don't even dare to ask for a painting?”
Pei Yixing was afraid that if she told the truth, Mingyi would get jealous and throw a tantrum at her brother, so she said:
“Yes, it is. Our brother has strict rules, and we are usually a bit afraid of him.”
Mingyi believed her, but it was indeed a bit tricky.
“I don't have any more of your brother's paintings here. I'll look for a chance to try later.”
Using this opportunity to ask Pei Yue for a painting, wouldn't that be a good reason to go to the study?
Setting that matter aside for now, Mingyi and the several young ladies gathered in Xun-shi's Chunjin Hall. Everyone gathered around the stove, eating snacks and watching Zhao'ger run all over the room.
Pei Xuan played leaf cards with the younger sisters. Mingyi didn't know how, so she sat to one side and watched, but in her heart, she was pondering. Today, with the envoys entering the capital, was the last chance for a surprise attack. She had sent Qinghe, hoping she would bring back some good news.
By wu shi (11AM - 1PM), they had finished their meal. By her calculations, at this hour, the envoys would have already entered the State Guesthouse. She didn't know if Qinghe had succeeded. It was time for Mingyi to go back. Just as she was about to get up, a female servant came walking swiftly from outside. The servant's expression held a hint of anxiety. She lifted the curtain, entered the room, and reported to Xun-shi in the head seat,
“Madam, this is bad! The Second Young Miss of Marquis Yuanshan's Xiao family has come to our door!”
The expressions of the young ladies in the room all changed at once. They frequently cast worried glances towards Mingyi.
Mingyi was bewildered.
Xun-shi's expression, however, was normal.
“What has she come for?”
The momo said, “She says she has come personally to issue a challenge to our Young Madam, inviting her to the polo grounds tomorrow to play polo....”
The Marquis Yuanshan's Xiao family was a famous noble family in the capital. Marquis Xiao held great military power and enjoyed immense imperial favor. His eldest legitimate daughter was also married to the current Second Prince as his principal consort. The Xiao family was exceedingly influential at court. Relying on her illustrious family background, this Second Young Miss was used to walking roughshod over everyone in the capital. But that was not the important part.
The important part was that the Second Young Miss had admired Pei Yue in her early years. The Xiao family had once come to their door intending to force the Pei family to break off the engagement with Li Mingyi, but the Pei family had stopped them. It was heard that the Xiao family had even sent people to Tanzhou to try and kill Li Mingyi, and it was Pei Yue who had acted, secretly eliminating a batch of their elite forces, which finally forced the Xiao family to behave.
Now that Pei Yue had married and brought a country girl into his home, the noble ladies of the capital, led by the Second Miss Xiao, were not convinced. They had organized a gathering to invite Mingyi to play polo, which, to put it plainly, was to give her a show of force and vent their anger.
Mingyi was truly suffering an undeserved slight.
Hearing this, Xun-shi sighed.
“A visitor is a guest. First, invite her in.” With that said, she looked at Mingyi. “Do you want to avoid her?”
Mingyi said in a faint voice, “No need.”
Seeing that she did not show the slightest hint of fear, Xun-shi was very satisfied.
A short while later, an old female servant welcomed the person in from the flower hall.
The newcomer's sashes fluttered as she entered with a light and quick gait. Her pair of phoenix eyes were radiant and spirited, and she had the air of someone from a general's family. Upon entering, she first properly bowed to Xun-shi and also greeted Pei Xuan. Only then did her beautiful eyes sweep across the room, finally landing on the unfamiliar face of Mingyi.
“So, this is the young madam from the countryside?”
Mingyi stood up and gave her a slight nod: “Indeed. And you are....”
Xiao Xia did not even glance at her, speaking only to Xun-shi.
“Eldest Madam, a few of us girls, with good intentions, would like to invite the Young Madam for a game of polo. I wonder if Madam will permit it?”
Xun-shi smiled gracefully.
“It would normally be fine, but as it happens, Mingyi has not been acclimatized these past few days. She is not used to the severe cold of the capital and is feeling slightly unwell. I'm afraid she will have to wait until spring.”
Waiting until spring would be several months from now.
Xiao Xia knew that Xun-shi was providing cover for Mingyi and argued: “Madam, this is not just your niece's idea. The Seventh Princess has let it be known that she will also come to watch the match. Besides...”
She swept a sharp gaze towards Mingyi,
“Since you have married Pei-lang*, you should also have the bearing of the Pei family's madam-in-charge. To be so timid and cowering, are you not shaming Pei-lang?”
[TL/N: Lang (郎) is a historically intimate and affectionate form of address that carries significant social weight. The term lang (郎) from Pei-lang (裴郎) means "young man" or "gentleman." When a woman uses it after a man's surname, it becomes a loving term of endearment, similar to calling someone "my dear" or "my love." It implies a romantic or marital relationship.]
Hearing her say “Pei-lang” this and “Pei-lang” that, Pei Xuan felt a fire burning in her heart. She snapped:
“Xiao Xia, Dongting's official rank is still above your father's. Even your father must bow when he sees him. I hope you will conduct yourself with dignity.”
Xiao Xia clearly wasn't buying it. She glared coldly at Mingyi.
“What, are you sure you want to shrink from the challenge?”
Mingyi understood clearly. If she did not accept, she would become the laughingstock of the entire capital. Of course, she herself did not care, but she could not implicate Pei Yue.
“Are you sure you want to play polo?”
Xiao Xia said arrogantly: “Of course.”
Mingyi's expression was serious: “I advise you to pick something else.”
“Why?”
“I'm afraid you'll cry.”
“......”
The central room of Chunjin Hall suddenly became dead silent. Over a dozen pairs of eyes stared at Mingyi in unison, as if they could not believe she could say such shameless, boastful words.
Xiao Xia heard the implication in Mingyi's words, and her nose was practically crooked with anger.
“What big talk! You, an orphan girl from the countryside, have you even seen what polo is? Pick something else? I'm afraid you'll be the one begging for mercy!”
Arrogant enough.
Mingyi said, resigned: “Alright then.”