In the late autumn air, the rich fragrance of melons and fruits wafted through the sky. Pei Jingqi sat in the carriage heading to Dharma Purity Temple outside the capital city, her mind restless.
The day before, palace servants had come to the Pei residence with a message. His Majesty had summoned her into the palace to chant sutras and pray for blessings for Empress Dowager Pei.
She and her younger sister were the two girls closest in blood to Empress Dowager Pei, so it made perfect sense for His Majesty to assign her this task.
However, the palace servants His Majesty had sent made a special point of instructing her not to publicize the matter or let outsiders know.
The Pei family naturally promised not to breathe a word of it.
Her mother was overjoyed, seeing it as a hint from the emperor. But Pei Jingqi knew a bit more than that; she understood it was exactly as the emperor had said—simply to pray for her aunt.
Even so, she couldn’t refuse her mother’s insistence, so that day she headed to Dharma Purity Temple, renowned for its accurate marriage divinations, to pray for blessings. Fortunately, her mother was occupied with other matters and allowed her to go alone. Pei Jingqi’s thoughts wandered as she was warmly ushered into the main hall by the welcoming monk. There, she knelt and drew a divination slip.
The abbot of Dharma Purity Temple hadn’t personally interpreted slips for anyone in a long time, but Duchess Miguo had asked him in advance to meet with Pei Jingqi.
The abbot, over seventy years old, carefully examined the supremely auspicious slip Pei Jingqi had drawn and her facial features. “Noble Lady, you were born into wealth and nobility. In the coming days, you will meet an ideal husband who suits you perfectly.”
At those words, the maidservants accompanying Pei Jingqi lit up with joy.
Pei Jingqi hadn’t expected the abbot to be so direct. She decided to ask bluntly, “Is the ideal husband the abbot speaks of the one this disciple desires in her heart, or the one others envision for her?”
The abbot smiled gently. “Noble Lady, how do you know that what you seek in your heart isn’t precisely the ideal match in others’ eyes?”
Pei Jingqi fell into thoughtful silence and said no more. After thanking him, she took her leave.
By the time she boarded the carriage again, evening had fallen. Amid the bustling streets tinged with twilight, her maid asked in confusion, “Miss, what did you and the abbot mean? What does ‘what others envision’ even mean?”
The ideal husband in others’ eyes would likely be one who elevated her status even further. As for what she truly wanted—who wouldn’t dream of a husband devoted to her alone, faithful unto death?
Pei Jingqi smiled without replying.
Exhausted, she closed her eyes to rest. Moments later, the steadily rolling carriage suddenly lurched out of control, charging madly forward. She and her maid tumbled about inside the compartment. With great effort, she pushed open the window for a look—the coachman had vanished, and the horses were foaming at the mouth, galloping wildly ahead as if possessed.
Just ahead lay a treacherous mountain path!
The maid clung tightly to her. Pei Jingqi wondered in bewilderment why the horses had gone mad all of a sudden. Was someone trying to kill her? Her heart pounded in her throat. With a sharp, speeding turn, the maid screamed and slammed into the carriage wall.
Pei Jingqi herself was dizzy from the spin. The carriage door flew open, and she was on the verge of being flung out to splatter on the ground when a pair of iron-strong arms caught her.
Lifting her eyes, Pei Jingqi saw it was Cheng Ye, whom she had seen at the emperor’s side before.
The young man quickly set her down.
Stunned from the fright, Pei Jingqi stared at him blankly for a long moment before murmuring, “You saved me.”
Cheng Ye nodded, his expression cold.
“Why are you here?”
Cheng Ye replied, “His Majesty sent me outside the city on business. Why were there no guards with you, Miss Pei?”
Sure enough, Pei Jingqi spotted several imperial guards with swords at their waists standing not far off. She recounted everything that had happened. She had set out with three carriages this time, but the servants from the other two had disappeared.
Cheng Ye declared firmly, “Someone wants you dead.”
Pei Jingqi lowered her gaze, her eyes reddening.
“I’ll escort you back. My men will stay here to wait for your family’s servants—and to watch for whoever comes to check the scene.”
Pei Jingqi was momentarily stunned, then realized that if someone had tampered with her carriage, they might slink back to investigate. Having Cheng Ye’s subordinates lie in wait could uncover clues.
She agreed readily. Cheng Ye gestured for her to board the carriage. Seeing she had no one to help her up, he offered a hand.
Cheng Ye personally drove the carriage back into the city. Pei Jingqi sat near the door and asked, “Little General Cheng, have you finished your business?”
He grunted in affirmation.
Pei Jingqi used a handkerchief to wipe the blood from her maid’s head and bandaged it as best she could.
“Would you be willing to marry me?” Pei Jingqi suddenly asked from inside the carriage. Though no one could see her, her neck flushed crimson with embarrassment.
Silence fell.
“Miss Pei, given your status, a mere encounter won’t force you into marriage. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Don’t worry,” he added, his tone as cold as ever.
A moment later, Pei Jingqi whispered, “I understand.”
After the emperor returned to the capital city, he had visited Duke Miguo’s mansion once. The whole family had gathered at the gate to greet him. As an unmarried daughter, she couldn’t stand brazenly at the front, but from behind the door, she had caught sight of this deep-featured youth at the emperor’s side.
He had a pair of amber eyes.
The carriage rumbled on until, in the gathering dusk, they arrived back at the Pei residence.
Servants sent ahead had already reported that the eldest miss had met with trouble. Duchess Miguo was beside herself, pacing frantically in the mansion after dropping everything, yet she dared not make a fuss. She kept dispatching people to inquire along the nearby streets.
At last, her daughter returned. Duchess Miguo pulled her disheveled daughter into her arms and wept. Holding back her own tears, Pei Jingqi told her that her personal maid was injured and needed a doctor at once, then recounted how Cheng Ye had saved her.
Only then did Duchess Miguo notice who had brought her daughter home. She warmly invited him to sit and take tea, thanking him profusely.
Cheng Ye declined to sit. Instead, he said, “My subordinates are still investigating outside the city. If they find any leads, someone will inform your household.”
Duchess Miguo snapped out of her daze and gratefully agreed. She then instructed the estate’s chief steward to see off this rising star in the emperor’s favor with utmost care.
In the days that followed, Duke Miguo’s mansion buzzed with activity. They had to arrange for their second daughter to meet General Fan, while also investigating who had tried to murder their eldest. Pei Jingqi, badly shaken, rested for five days before preparing to enter the palace the next day.
The night before her departure, Duke Miguo and his wife finally pieced together all the clues.
Sitting close together in private conversation, Duchess Miguo said, “I never imagined it was the Grand Princess of Linchuan behind this. She must have learned somehow that Jingqi was entering the palace and thought it blocked her daughter’s path! Shameless!”
Such matters were handled privately by custom, never reported to officials. Duke Miguo snorted coldly. “If we don’t drive the Liu family out of the capital city, our daughter will have suffered this ordeal for nothing.”
Cheng Ye’s appearance had been too convenient. Duchess Miguo hesitated. “Could His Majesty have anticipated this? Is he hoping we’ll…”
Duke Miguo pondered for a moment. “If that’s His Majesty’s intent, then we must act all the more decisively. The Grand Princess of Linchuan has been active everywhere these past few years, with a pile of dirty secrets. Dig into her, and a whole chain of filth will come to light.”
His wife sighed. “It’s all because Linchuan’s consort is so useless. He was stupid enough to get tangled in that private armory scandal when he was young, and now at his age, he still relies on his wife to manage the household and socialize. If Linchuan had divorced him early on, she wouldn’t need all this scheming. And her daughter is utterly mediocre, yet she dreams big…”
After a few more laments, Duchess Miguo asked, “Are we really going to take the lead on this?”
“Of course. Regardless of His Majesty’s involvement, the fact that outsiders could spy on our household’s news and bribe servants to harm the mistress means we need to set our house in order.” Duke Miguo sighed and patted his wife’s shoulder.
Duchess Miguo shivered. Yes—even if this was something the emperor was happy to see, the Grand Princess of Linchuan’s actions were real and vicious. She might have had her eye on the Pei family for a while.
After discussing the matter further, Madam Pei asked, “What do you think Jingqi’s chances are of becoming empress this time?”
Duke Miguo replied calmly, “Not a single one in a hundred.”
Madam Pei was shocked and thumped her husband. “What do you mean? Where does my daughter fall short?”
“If His Majesty truly intended that, he would have the Ministry of Rites formally decree and betroth her properly. The fact that he specified no publicity shows it’s not what you hope for.”
“Besides,” Duke Miguo continued, “Jingwan’s marriage to General Fan is just one formal meeting away from being sealed—unless there’s some catastrophic flaw, it’s done. Who is he? His Majesty’s vice general from the Vast Sea campaigns, now commanding the Forbidden Army. We’ve already secured this excellent match. Another daughter as empress? You do love to dream.”
Madam Pei sighed deeply and, after a long pause, murmured her assent.
Duke Miguo comforted her. “Jingqi’s temperament is too soft, and Jingwan is utterly guileless. Entering the palace might not be a blessing for either. Find her a match from a slightly lesser family.”
Madam Pei muttered, “Aside from the Zheng family branches, who dares claim to be better than us?”
Duke Miguo burst out laughing.
–
Yirong had rested for five days. Once recovered, palace servants escorted her from Purple Chen Hall to Pepperwind Hall, neither too close nor too far from the emperor’s sleeping quarters.
The servants informed her that this had once been the residence of the emperor’s mother, Empress Dowager Pei. Here, she would copy sutras to pray for Empress Dowager Pei.
No sooner had they spoken than more servants led in a breathtakingly beautiful young woman.
It was Pei Jingqi.
Yirong blinked in astonishment. After exchanging courtesies, the palace servants smiled and said, “Please rest for a bit, ladies.”
Once they had withdrawn, Yirong asked, “Miss Pei, are you here to pray for Empress Dowager Pei as well?”
“Yes,” Jingqi nodded. “Madam Lu, don’t overthink it. Our Pei family has never been a large one. Empress Dowager Pei had only my father as her brother. That makes my little sister and me the closest to her by blood. But my little sister has been busy with matchmaking lately, so only I entered the palace.”
Yirong stammered, “What could I possibly be overthinking…”
Pei Jingqi couldn’t help but laugh. She was always so refined, rarely showing such a teasing, playful expression.
Yirong changed the subject. “Who is Second Miss Pei matchmaking with?”
“It’s Fan Ying, General Fan. Even His Majesty acted as matchmaker.” Jingqi smiled. “We thought the marriage was all but settled, but the eunuchs said they still needed to meet once. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it.”
Yirong hadn’t seen the Emperor in days and had no idea about any of this. Pei Jingqi explained the matchmaking details with a cheerful smile. After resting for a short while, a nun supported by the palace temple arrived to teach the two women how to copy scriptures.
Of course, it wasn’t taxing work for them.
They lived in adjacent side chambers of Pepperwind Hall. Every morning and noon, they copied scriptures and chanted sutras. In the afternoons, they rested, with no one to supervise them.
Pei Jingqi had never met her aunt, only hearing from her parents that she was a reasonable, kind, and gentle soul. After hearing this, Yirong was more than willing to pray for her and wish her good fortune in the next life.
A few days passed like this, with no sign of the Emperor. Yirong’s mood gradually improved.
Her girlhood had been spent observing mourning and living as a guest under another’s roof at her uncle’s home. She had once envied Cui Cheng’s younger sisters and their carefree days in the inner chambers. These past few days, she and Pei Jingqi had spent their afternoons strolling near Pepperwind Hall or painting and writing together in their rooms. It reminded her of her even younger days at the Lu Family, getting along just like this with her cousins.
That night, Jingqi asked her for advice on painting portraits. The two of them stayed at the desk until late into the night. Yirong set down her brush and suddenly asked, “Jingqi… have you ever thought about becoming the Empress?”
The night air was cool as water.
Pei Jingqi fell silent for a moment before smiling. “If I said the thought never crossed my mind, I’d be lying. Back when others were praising me, I did wonder—if His Majesty wanted me for the role, I’d do my best. If not, it wasn’t worth grieving over. But after meeting His Majesty, that thought vanished.”
Yirong’s lips parted in surprise. “You don’t think His Majesty is handsome?”
“His Majesty is naturally a heroic figure of unparalleled stature,” Jingqi replied slowly. “But I have no such delusions anymore. And I know His Majesty has no such intentions toward me.”
She wanted to reassure Yirong not to worry, but felt she had no right to—after all, she didn’t understand the Emperor’s mind either.
Yirong fell quiet for a moment, her lips moving as if to speak, but no words came.
“Alright, time to sleep,” Jingqi said gently. “Tomorrow we’ll have to rise at dawn as usual.”
Yirong walked her to the door. Back in her room, she couldn’t sleep.
She truly enjoyed spending time with this girl two years her junior. She had thought it might be nice to keep things this way.
But how could she deny it so confidently?
Had the Emperor said something to her? Or done something to make her realize?
There didn’t seem to be any other women around the Emperor, nor did he pay attention to beautiful palace maids… Yirong let out a soft sigh. For the moment, she wasn’t sure if she hoped these peaceful days would last forever or end soon—so she could finally learn what the Emperor intended.
She was willing to pray for the late Empress Dowager Pei, who had died young. But she felt the Emperor must have other plans.
Yirong slept fitfully in the depths of the palace. The next day, the nun in charge noticed her poor complexion and insisted she rest. She obeyed and returned to her room for a nap.
Outside the palace, eunuchs had long been waiting at the city gate to receive Yirong’s uncle Lu Zong and his wife, Madam Deng. They courteously led them, along with their servant women and attendants, into the prepared residence.