Chapter 89: Impressed

Bao Ning was stunned.

Ji Xiangzhen asked her again, “Bao Ning, why on earth did you think Qingluo Pavilion was a clothing shop? Who told you that? It is one of the most famous brothels in the capital, filled with countless ‘Yangzhou Slender Horses’ (trained courtesans). Everyone who enters or leaves is a high-ranking official or a wealthy nobleman. That Xue Fu whom your Eldest Brother-in-law is obsessed with is the current top courtesan of Qingluo Pavilion! I truly hate that such places exist in this world—tempting men for amusement and tearing apart so many loving families…”

Bao Ning found it difficult to look Ji Xiangzhen in the eye; she felt a wave of crushing guilt.

Qingluo Pavilion was owned by Pei Yuan. In the act of “tearing apart families,” Pei Yuan had played a part. As Ji Xiangzhen reached her breaking point, covering her face with a handkerchief and weeping, Bao Ning didn’t even know how to begin comforting her.

Furthermore—Pei Yuan had actually lied to her! He had used the kind of lie that even a child would disdain!

Bao Ning thought to herself: If Pei Yuan had just been honest, I’m not an unreasonable person, I would have let it go. But why hide it? There must be something fishy!

A woman’s suspicions are easily ignited. Now, when Bao Ning thought of Pei Yuan, it was with a scrutinizing attitude. Why does he have so many “tricks” in bed? Why did he get all those erotic picture books? Where did he learn all that from? And look at his best friend Wei Meng, who is always with him—he doesn’t look like a family man at all. What good things could Pei Yuan learn by hanging around him? “He who touches pitch shall be defiled…”

Bao Ning then wondered: If Pei Yuan could lie to me about this, what else has he lied about?

Ji Xiangzhen and Bao Ning sat opposite each other, both silent and lost in their own thoughts.

Taking a sip of tea, Bao Ning suppressed the suspicions in her heart. She had serious business to attend to. Once she saw her Eldest Sister off, she would settle the score with Pei Yuan!

Bao Ning used her handkerchief to dab away her tears, moved a bit closer to Ji Xiangzhen, and began to persuade her diligently: “Eldest Sister, what do you plan to do now? Are you really going to welcome that Xue Fu into the house? It might sound cruel, but that child absolutely cannot be kept. If the Heir’s first child is born of a prostitute, not only will it be a laughingstock, but your future days will not be easy. Besides, the Heir has been married for so many years, and none of his concubines have had children—so why does this Xue Fu suddenly have one? Living in a place like that, she meets all sorts of people every day; who knows if the child actually belongs to the Heir…”

Bao Ning said this partly to drive a wedge between the couple and partly out of genuine concern.

She truly felt that Jia Ling was not worth it for Ji Xiangzhen. Given her family background and beauty, Jia Ling was far from her best option.

“Bao Ning, I won’t hide it from you—I’ve thought about all of this,” Ji Xiangzhen sighed. “But what choice do I have? I can’t exactly divorce him. I’ve been married to him for so many years; my youth is gone. Even if I steeled my heart to remarry, there’s no guarantee the next man would be better than the Heir, and I would have to endure people’s gossip. At that point, where would I go?”

Bao Ning took her hand and said with concern, “Sister, you are wrong. ‘A second marriage can be higher than the first!’ Look at Empress Wu of Liu Bei during the Shu Han era, Empress Zhen of Cao Pi, or Empress Wang of Emperor Jing of Han—all of them were remarried! Since you already foresee a fiery pit ahead, if you don’t hurry to jump out, are you planning to figure out which way to be roasted so it hurts less?”

Ji Xiangzhen was shocked by the strange logic of “a second marriage can be higher than the first.”

She clutched her handkerchief, speechless. Bao Ning held her wrist, her eyes bright and focused. After a moment of thought, Bao Ning continued: “Sister, don’t blame me for speaking out of turn, but I feel that the Heir’s position might be in jeopardy!”

Ji Xiangzhen’s heart skipped a beat. She asked softly, “Why do you say that?”

“The Heir… he cannot father children!” Bao Ning ignored the embarrassment of such a topic and leaned in close to analyze it for her. “Sister, you have been married to him for four or five years. He has so many concubines and maids, and he is in his prime, indulging every night—yet there isn’t a single child. Could it be that all of those women have problems?”

Ji Xiangzhen froze. “But… but…” She didn’t know how to argue. What Bao Ning said was true; in fact, everyone whispered it. She had thought about it privately, but having it laid out so bluntly by Bao Ning was still hard to swallow.

Bao Ning said, “Look, Sister. The Heir likely has a hidden ailment, but he won’t seek treatment, so it’s hard for him to have children. No—he does have a child now. That Xue Fu is pregnant, but no one knows who the father is. Yet she is to enter your home, and her child will carry the title of the eldest child of the Heir of the Marquis of Chongyuan, raised by you. You would be raising a child that isn’t yours while having to put up with a woman from the underworld of pleasure. If that child and that woman gain power in the future, what good end will there be for you!”

Ji Xiangzhen was even more speechless. How had her previously quiet and silent younger sister become so eloquent? Every word pierced her heart.

Bao Ning continued, “If something happens to that child, it will be even worse. If the Heir has no children for his entire life, can he still inherit the title? The Marquis surely won’t agree! Before long, his position as Heir might be stripped away, and then you will have truly nothing. If the Heir loved you and you lived a simple life of ‘coarse tea and plain rice’ in harmony, that would be happy enough. But he has such a philandering nature! Sister, I truly feel it’s not worth it for you!”

Bao Ning watched Ji Xiangzhen’s expression intently. She saw it shift from sorrow to shock, back to sorrow, and finally, slowly turn into a gaze of determination.

Bao Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

This was her first time doing such deceptive work. She appeared passionate and skilled, but her palms were soaked with nervous sweat.

Ji Xiangzhen said, “Bao Ning, I know. I cannot continue in this dead-end marriage. The longer I drag it out, the more my final advantages will be eroded by time. Once my beauty fades, I will truly be beyond redemption! But… I have no way to explain this to Father and Mother! Mother already blames me, saying I failed to give the Heir a child. If I return to the Duke’s manor, I won’t have a good life there either… and besides, who would be willing to marry me again?”

Bao Ning’s heart leaped. The opportunity is here!

Bao Ning paused, her face becoming hesitant as if she had something difficult to say: “Sister, I heard the Heir recently received an appointment as the Commandant of the Imperial Carriages?”

Ji Xiangzhen nodded. “Just a minor official post with a small salary.”

“But that position is extremely important! I also heard…” Bao Ning stopped halfway, shaking her head and sighing. “Forget it, I shouldn’t say it and trouble you further.”

Ji Xiangzhen grew anxious. “Bao Ning, by stopping halfway, aren’t you scratching at my heart with a cat’s claw? Just say it!”

“I heard the Heir is very close to the Crown Prince…” Bao Ning lowered her voice and recounted the story Pei Yuan had told her—the tale of Zhang Liang attempting to assassinate the King of Qin.

Seeing her sister’s increasingly surprised and uneasy expression, Bao Ning said, “Sister, I didn’t want to meddle in these things, but we are sisters. Your safety is my safety, and your honor is my honor. If the Heir truly slips and makes a catastrophic mistake, you won’t be facing a question of whether your marriage is happy or not—it will be a matter of life and death!”

Ji Xiangzhen recalled Jia Ling’s recent behaviors. The more she thought, the more alarmed she became.

In truth, Ji Xiangzhen had a faint feeling that everything Bao Ning said today was pointed, trying to lead her in a certain direction. But she simply couldn’t resist; she felt Bao Ning was right on every count.

In her panic, Bao Ning became her only pillar of support. Ji Xiangzhen looked at her urgently and asked, “Then… if this is true, what should I do?”

Bao Ning shook her head. “I am just a woman of the inner chambers. I have no way to handle such great affairs of the state.” Bao Ning didn’t dare throw out any more bait. Ji Xiangzhen was a clever person; she was only momentarily flustered. Bao Ning knew that if she pushed any harder, her sister would catch on immediately, and everything would be for naught.

Ji Xiangzhen’s gaze fell upon her teacup, seemingly lost in thought.

Bao Ning said, “Sister, don’t worry. These are just unreliable guesses. I believe the Heir wouldn’t be so foolish. But if by some chance it is true, it is better for you to leave him early. This isn’t betrayal—it is loyalty to the Emperor. It is the right thing to do.”

Having said that, Bao Ning suddenly gave a small laugh.

Ji Xiangzhen asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Bao Ning said, “I just thought of something extraordinary. If this really is true, and you contribute your strength during the ‘cleansing of the Emperor’s circle,’ how could His Majesty treat you poorly? I even think this is like a blessing falling from the heavens. At that time, the Emperor will give you a title and rewards. Why would you even need a husband? You could live as you please, with no one daring to provoke you. What a wonderful life.”

Ji Xiangzhen also smiled slightly. “Put that way, it does seem right.”

Bao Ning stopped discussing the topic. They ate some snacks, and looking at the sky outside, it was already past noon. Ji Xiangzhen rose to bid her farewell, and Bao Ning saw her out.

At the moment of parting, Bao Ning held her hand, reluctant to see her go. “Sister, you have been good to me since we were young. Even after I married, I missed you. I know you don’t have many confidants around you. If you have something to say, tell me. If something happens, come find me. The Fourth Prince treats me well; you are my sister, and if there is any trouble, he will certainly lend a hand.”

Ji Xiangzhen was moved. ” I will remember that.”

She boarded her carriage, waved to Bao Ning, and set off westward toward home.

Bao Ning felt as though all the strength had left her body. She realized that Pei Yuan’s life was truly not easy. It was hard to conquer a city in war, but it was even harder to conquer a heart in conversation. It was exhausting every day.

Recalling Ji Xiangzhen’s expression, it was exactly as she had anticipated. So, today should be considered a success, right?

…

Nanny Liu supported her arm as they walked upstairs. Turning the corner of the staircase, they were met with Pei Yuan’s eyes, which were full of smiles.

Pei Yuan had overheard the latter half of the conversation in the room. He hadn’t originally pinned much hope on Bao Ning. When Bao Ning had opened her heart to him previously, he was just happy she was willing to accept his actions; he had never fantasized about her being a help to his career. But today, he was truly impressed!

“Our Ningning has truly done us proud!” Pei Yuan took Bao Ning’s hand into the room and closed the door behind him.

He pulled candy from his sleeve—an almond candy. He peeled the wrapper and fed it into Bao Ning’s mouth.

Pei Yuan was full of joy and didn’t notice the change in Bao Ning’s gaze. He sat on a chair with his legs apart and pulled Bao Ning onto his lap, sitting face-to-face.

Bao Ning remembered the matter of Qingluo Pavilion again. She was angry, but she wasn’t so heartless as to not give him a chance.

“What do you want to eat tonight?” Pei Yuan pinched her cheek and kissed her mouth, which pouted from the pinch. “Should I take you to a restaurant? we haven’t been out to eat yet.”

Bao Ning said, “I want to buy some clothes.”

“Hmm? Why the sudden interest in that?” Pei Yuan paused. He didn’t think much of it and said, “Sure.”

Pei Yuan was teasing her. He thought Bao Ning looked adorable in her current serious state. He stuck his finger into her mouth, playing with the tip of her tongue and the round candy on top.

“What’s the matter, Bao’er?” Pei Yuan used his finger pad to feel her small, sharp teeth.

He was playing with her like one would a cat, enjoying himself immensely and completely unaware of the approaching danger. He asked her teasingly, “Why do you look unhappy?”

Bao Ning said, “Let’s go to Qingluo Pavilion to buy clothes.”

Pei Yuan froze. A flash of awkwardness crossed his eyes, which he immediately masked with indifference. “The clothes there aren’t very good. Let’s not go there. We’ll go somewhere else, anywhere you choose.”

Bao Ning asked, “Is Qingluo Pavilion really a clothing shop?”

“Of course,” Pei Yuan said firmly.

He asked, “Why do you still remember that shop? Its business is poor; I’m planning to let it go bankrupt. Don’t mention it again in the future.”

Hearing his answer, the fire of rage blazed in Bao Ning’s eyes, and she slammed her teeth shut.

Pei Yuan’s finger was still in her mouth. He let out a cry of pain from the bite. “Are you a dog? Why are you biting me?”

Bao Ning shook her head to throw off his hand. Immediately after, she spat the candy from her mouth right into his face. With her hands on her hips, she shouted, “Fine, Pei Yuan! You really were lying to me!”

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