Chapter 88: Selfishness

The opening ceremony of Ruyi Pavilion was held three days later on Qiushui Street, the most affluent street in Lihu Town, situated toward the east side.

Lihu was a small town blessed with beautiful scenery. Beyond the generations of locals, many wealthy families from the capital resided there. Once the rich had spare money, they enjoyed establishing estates; Lihu, with its unique landscapes and proximity to the capital, became their first choice.

It was currently the beginning of the “Three Volt” period (the hottest days of summer). Though the weather hadn’t reached a point of sweltering heat yet, many people had already arrived in Lihu to escape the summer sun. The small town had become lively.

Bao Ning wore a festive pomegranate-red dress. She sat in a teahouse on the west side of the street, eating snacks while watching the unveiling of the shop’s plaque.

Su Mingyou and Yuanzi had both come, and Wei Meng was there as well. Having seen too many people in the past, Su Mingyou was afraid of being recognized; she wore a white veil over her face and sat across from Bao Ning. The two spoke occasionally, but there wasn’t much to say. Most of the time, they stared down at the street, watching the bustling crowds.

Bao Ning had displayed all the little toys she had been tinkering with lately on a stall in front of the entrance. She had hired several silver-tongued managers to demonstrate and shout out advertisements. There were colorful bamboo dragonflies, little wooden horses that could move on their own, and a life-sized roly-poly toy. A row of rocking horses was also placed by the door for children to sit on; the horses swayed like small swings. It cost ten copper coins for fifteen minutes, and many children were lining up for a ride.

Business was much better than she had imagined.

Su Mingyou gazed downstairs. After a long silence, she said with a hint of bitterness, “Bao Ning, Eldest Sister-in-law truly envies you.”

Bao Ning smiled and asked, “What do you envy about me?”

“I envy your good fortune—that everything you wish for comes true,” Su Mingyou sighed. “Unlike me; my husband has vanished without a trace, leaving me with an unborn child. My maiden family refuses to take me in, and I am penniless. I was originally of high status, but now I must live a bitter life under someone else’s roof.”

Her expression was sorrowful. For a moment, Bao Ning didn’t know how to respond.

She felt that Su Mingyou had become increasingly strange lately. When she first arrived, she smiled often; having found a stable home after wandering for so long, she should have been happy. But as time went on, her smiles grew fewer.

Bao Ning could roughly understand Su Mingyou’s state of mind. By now, a stable life was no longer a rare treasure to her; she had grown used to it and wanted more. Recalling her past days of wealth and freedom made her feel that her current life was impoverished.

This was human nature, but for Bao Ning, it left an unspeakable taste in her mouth—like raising a wolf whose belly could never be filled.

Bao Ning comforted her: “At least Sister-in-law has a child. Once born, they will be your support. Whether it is a boy or a girl, I will discuss it with A-Yuan and give you a property so that mother and child can live peacefully. If Eldest Brother returns in the future, that would be best—your family will be reunited. If by any chance… Sister-in-law need not worry, we will take care of you.”

Su Mingyou smiled. Through the veil, Bao Ning couldn’t tell how much sincerity was in that smile. She said, “Then I thank my younger sister-in-law.”

Bao Ning didn’t speak further. She had other things on her mind and didn’t have much energy to spare on Su Mingyou.

Bao Ning glanced across the street. Seeing that the “Woman of Full Fortune” (a woman blessed with a living husband and children) on the second floor of Ruyi Pavilion had gracefully walked upstairs, preparing to throw the embroidered ball, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

She didn’t know if her Eldest Sister would show up.

The reason she wanted her sister there was to persuade her—ideally, to convince her to spy on the secret reports held by Jia Ling. As the Commandant of the Imperial Carriages, Jia Ling was in charge of all travel arrangements for the Emperor’s summer retreat to the palace. He had joined forces with Pei Xiao; if Pei Xiao intended to assassinate the Emperor, Jia Ling would undoubtedly provide the best assistance.

Counting the days, there was about half a month left before the Emperor’s departure. Jia Ling’s deployments should be complete. Since he hadn’t met with Pei Xiao recently, the secret reports in his hands likely hadn’t been delivered to Pei Xiao yet.

If they could change or swap the reports to give Pei Xiao the wrong directions, it would be of great help to Pei Yuan’s next move.

Bao Ning roughly understood what it would mean if Pei Yuan succeeded in protecting the Emperor this time. He could regain imperial favor and clear his current crimes. If he could take this opportunity to eliminate Pei Xiao, there was even a possibility of him entering the Eastern Palace (becoming Crown Prince). Pei Yuan’s situation was much better now than at the beginning, but he was still a “guilty official.” In the eyes of most people, he couldn’t hold his head high.

The Emperor’s current attitude toward him was one of indifference, but what if the Emperor changed his mind later and wanted to pursue charges again?

Both Pei Yuan and she would fall into danger. Even if they fled to the ends of the earth, they would live in constant fear, unable to find peace.

Bao Ning knew that even if she couldn’t persuade her sister to open a path through Jia Ling, Pei Yuan would find other ways. However, she hoped to contribute her own strength to him. On a large scale, she was planning for their future. On a small scale—from a selfish perspective—Bao Ning had always felt that a man’s heart could change.

If she wanted to firmly grasp Pei Yuan’s mind and maintain their current loving days, she had to do something. Beyond caring for his food and clothing, she wanted Pei Yuan to see her brilliance—to make him feel that she was irreplaceable.

This was Bao Ning’s tiny bit of selfishness. She didn’t want temporary stability; she wanted longevity. No matter what position Pei Yuan held in the future, she wanted the confidence to stand by his side and manage the life she loved.

Therefore, whether she could help Pei Yuan regarding the matter of Ji Xiangzhen was crucial.

…

Pei Yuan and Wei Meng were drinking tea at the adjacent table, separated by a curtain. Because Su Mingyou was present, it was inconvenient for them to eat at the same table, so they had drawn a divider.

Yuanzi sat by the window, crunching on hard candies.

That night, Yuanzi had insisted that candy would fall from the trees. Pei Yuan and Bao Ning had sat foolishly for the whole night. When the morning sun rose the next day and the sky was bright, they hadn’t seen the woman Yuanzi spoke of. Yuanzi didn’t believe them and cried loudly, taking a long time to be coaxed.

Pei Yuan said to Wei Meng, “The matter of the candy is a bit eerie. Whether it’s true or false, you should keep an eye on it.”

Wei Meng whispered, “It couldn’t really be that concubine crawling out of her grave, changing her face to sneak into the Prince’s manor, and going to get close to her son at the end of the month, could it? That’s too far-fetched.”

“Not even a single clue can be overlooked,” Pei Yuan said slowly, peeling melon seeds onto a handkerchief. “Keep a close watch. At the end of next month, let’s see if that’s a person or a ghost.”

Wei Meng readily agreed.

Suddenly, a burst of cheering erupted from below. The two looked out and saw that the Woman of Full Fortune had thrown the embroidered ball, which had landed in the hands of a young wife. The young woman was delighted and jumped up, led into the shop by an attendant who flattered her: “Catching this ball is a lucky omen. You will surely be a person of full fortune, with parents living, both sons and daughters, a loving husband, and harmonious siblings…”

With the prize claimed, the crowd began to disperse.

Bao Ning’s eyes searched the street anxiously. After a while, she finally spotted a luxurious carriage at the street entrance. Covered in silk curtains, the faint shadow of a woman could be seen inside; she looked extremely familiar. A servant woman went to buy tea snacks, and when she lifted the curtain to pass them inside, Bao Ning saw the woman’s face—it was her Eldest Sister! She really came!

Bao Ning stood up abruptly, ran outside, and ordered Nanny Liu, who was on guard, to pursue the carriage.

Pei Yuan had never met Ji Xiangzhen, but seeing Bao Ning’s reaction, he understood what was happening. He went to the door, pressed the handkerchief filled with melon seeds into Bao Ning’s hand, and urged her: “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If it works, it works; if not, just treat it as a meeting between sisters to catch up.”

“I know,” Bao Ning nodded in response. She straightened her skirt and asked Pei Yuan, “Do I look good?”

Pei Yuan smiled: “Exquisite.”

Bao Ning took a deep breath. To Pei Yuan, she looked like a warrior prepared for a final stand. Bao Ning said, “Then I’m going!”

She ate all the melon seeds in the handkerchief, brushed the crumbs off her hands, and turned to leave.

The meeting between Bao Ning and Ji Xiangzhen was set in a private room on the second floor of Ruyi Pavilion, right across from the teahouse they were currently in.

Pei Yuan stood by the window, watching her hold a white paper umbrella as she gracefully crossed the street, lifting her skirt. She looked very dignified and poised, quite different from the shy girl he had first met. In private, facing him, she was still tender and bashful; but facing others, she was slowly gaining the air of a grand matriarch—graceful and charming.

Pei Yuan felt happy and proud, but a sense of irritability also grew in his heart.

As Bao Ning became better, he became more afraid. What if she was lured away by some thieving man? There would surely be blind, thieving men in the future, or perhaps younger lads? What if those shameless men tried to seduce her?

Wei Meng didn’t know what Pei Yuan was thinking. Watching Bao Ning’s receding figure, he marveled: “The Little Madam has grown up. Now she can share your burdens, and in the future, she will surely be able to settle a household. When you stand at the heights, she can stand side-by-side with you. My original worries were likely unnecessary.”

Pei Yuan glared at him resentfully. He couldn’t stand anyone praising Bao Ning right now. Looking at Wei Meng’s weathered old face, he actually felt that the man harbored ill intentions, even a bit of lewdness.

Pei Yuan slowly spat out three words: “How… shame… less.”

“Huh?” Wei Meng was stunned by the insult and looked at him in confusion.

…

Chang Xi and Pei Xiao sat in a certain teahouse, watching Bao Ning carry her umbrella slowly across the street. Her hair was styled in a married woman’s bun, revealing a section of her fair, slender neck.

Nowadays, whenever Chang Xi saw Bao Ning, he thought of Pei Yuan and that box of Golden-Scaled Carp. He felt his teeth chatter, his mouth filled with a phantom fishy smell.

“Your Highness, shall we go pick up the Little Imperial Grandson now?” Chang Xi composed himself and asked respectfully.

Pei Xiao shifted his gaze. He knew Pei Yuan was watching from across the street, so it wasn’t a good time to go over. He hoped for a moment to be alone with Bao Ning, so he said, “Wait a moment.”

Pei Xiao didn’t consider himself a passionate person, nor did he deign to waste time on romantic affairs. But this feeling of secretly following a beautiful woman—which even felt a bit like an affair—was unexpectedly captivating. Pei Xiao’s fingers stroked the rim of his cup. He told himself he was there to pick up Yuanzi—it was official business—and there was no need to feel guilty.

As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard Chang Xi let out a small “Aie-yo.”

Pei Xiao asked, “What did you see?”

Chang Xi pointed a trembling finger in Su Mingyou’s direction and asked, “Your Highness, look… is that…?”

…

Ji Xiangzhen was invited up by Nanny Liu through the back door; no one saw her.

Bao Ning had been waiting for a long time. Hearing the sound of footsteps on the wooden stairs, she hurriedly rose to greet her, calling out affectionately, “Eldest Sister!”

Ji Xiangzhen had been skeptical when Nanny Liu said Bao Ning was waiting. Now seeing the real person, she became excited, grasping Bao Ning’s hands with both of hers: “Bao Ning, it really is you! How did you end up here?”

Bao Ning invited her to sit: “I am currently living in Lihu. I opened a shop, which is Ruyi Pavilion. I didn’t expect to see you, Sister.”

Ji Xiangzhen didn’t suspect a thing, only saying repeatedly, “What a coincidence, what a coincidence.”

Bao Ning poured tea for her and observed her expression. Ji Xiangzhen had a plain and gentle appearance with a long face and a constant, shallow smile. Now her face looked haggard, and her former beauty had faded. Bao Ning felt a pang of heartache for her.

Ji Xiangzhen took a sip of tea, remembered something, and asked, “Bao Ning, the Fourth Prince actually allows you to open a shop and show your face like this?”

Bao Ning nodded: “He is willing. He even helped me organize things.”

“That’s wonderful.” Ji Xiangzhen showed a hint of envy. She originally didn’t want to show her distress to outsiders, but everyone in the Marquis of Chongyuan’s manor was an outsider; there was no one she could complain to. Now, seeing her own sister, the emotions she had suppressed for so long found an outlet, and her eyes gradually reddened.

Bao Ning was thinking of how to steer the conversation toward Jia Ling, but before she could speak, Ji Xiangzhen said, “Bao Ning, Eldest Sister really envies your harmonious marriage. You don’t know, the Heir and I…”

Bao Ning asked expectantly, “What happened to the Heir?”

Ji Xiangzhen said, “Your Eldest Brother-in-law is actually having an affair behind my back with a woman from Qingluo Pavilion. She’s even fallen pregnant, and he actually wants me to provide the money to bring her into the household as a concubine!”

Bao Ning knew of Qingluo Pavilion—it was a business under Pei Yuan’s control, a clothing shop.

But what was this matter Ji Xiangzhen was talking about? Bao Ning didn’t react for a moment. She asked, “How did Eldest Brother-in-law end up at Qingluo Pavilion? Does he have to go personally to have clothes made for the manor? He actually had an affair with a seamstress?”

Ji Xiangzhen looked at her strangely: “What seamstress? She’s a prostitute!”

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