Chapter 6

At a quarter past the hour of Wei in the afternoon, the Princess Consort had just risen from her afternoon nap. With a new prescription in place over the past two days, her migraines had eased considerably, and her complexion looked much improved.

Before long, a matron came to announce: “Your Highness, the Third Young Master has returned.”

The Princess Consort’s face lit up with surprise and delight, her gaze instinctively turning toward the door. “Finally back!”

Pei Muheng’s tall figure emerged from behind a violet jade cloud-patterned screen. He wore a dark cloak, its fur trim dusted with frost and snow. As he walked in with easy steps, his brows carried a spirited elegance that even the wind and snow could not diminish.

A smile played at the corners of his lips as he stepped forward and bowed. “Your son pays his respects to Mother. I have been too busy of late to attend to you—please forgive me.”

Looking at such an outstanding son, the smile at the corners of the Princess Consort’s eyes nearly melted into water. “My son, your father tells me that the memorial you wrote on military garrison lands pleased your grandfather greatly, and the court is full of praise. Your mother is so proud.”

Since ancient times, mothers have doted on their youngest sons, and to the Princess Consort, Pei Muheng was irreplaceable.

Her eldest son, Pei Muxiang, was unremarkable among the many imperial grandsons—even his calligraphy was inferior to that of the concubine-born Pei Mujing. This had weighed on the Princess Consort for a long time. It was only when seven-year-old Pei Muheng shamed the envoy that she felt her standing restored. From then on, she held her head high before her husband and the imperial clan.

The Princess Consort loved Pei Muheng most, and in his heart, she was the one he held dearest.

Their mother-son bond was famous for its warmth and devotion.

The old matron stepped forward to remove Pei Muheng’s cloak, while a maidservant brought an armchair and placed it before the Princess Consort. Pei Muheng sat down.

The Princess Consort asked, “Why have you come back at this hour?”

Pei Muheng was usually out from dawn to dusk; returning in the afternoon was uncommon.

Pei Muheng looked deeply at his mother and replied, “His Majesty invited me to dine with the Empress at her palace. Her Majesty gave me some instructions, so I came back to the mansion.”

A flicker of unease crossed the Princess Consort’s face, her tone sharpening. “What did the Empress say?”

She had not felt well enough to present herself at the palace for some time. Pei Muheng’s words made her instinctively fear that the Empress was displeased.

Sensing his mother’s concern, Pei Muheng explained, “Her Majesty heard that you were unwell and was most concerned. She instructed me to return and check on you. The Empress is magnanimous and benevolent—how could there be any reproach?”

Seeing through her son’s intent, the Princess Consort looked embarrassed. She had skipped paying her respects, yet the Empress was concerned for her—truly shameful.

Pei Muheng asked again, “How is your migraine?”

At this, the Princess Consort’s expression softened. “Thanks to the famous physician you found for me, I’m much better.” Seeing him still bearing the cold, she tucked the hand warmer from her own lap into his palm. Pei Muheng took it with a smile. “That is the least I should do.”

Holding the hand warmer, he leaned back slightly against the chair and said unhurriedly, “I met Xu at the gate just now…”

The Princess Consort’s eyes widened, and her voice rose. “She went out? Again?”

She was about to launch into a litany of Xu Yunqi’s recent behavior when Pei Muheng interjected:

“The snow is growing heavier. If she’s going out at this hour, she must have urgent business.”

The Princess Consort scoffed. “What urgent business could she possibly have?”

Hearing his mother’s tone, Pei Muheng inwardly sighed. It was clear her prejudice against Xu Yunqi ran deep. “You are not her, Mother—how can you know she has no urgent business? She is a person too, with emotions and desires. She may have a mother she cares for, friends she holds dear…”

The Princess Consort slowly caught the protective note in his words. She eyed her son meaningfully, studied him for a moment, then let out a wry laugh:

“Oh my, has my Heng’er learned to defend his wife?”

Pei Muheng replied calmly, “She is my lawfully wedded wife. It is only right that I defend her.”

The Princess Consort snorted sourly. “As the saying goes, ‘a son forgets his mother once he has a wife.’ My son is no exception.”

Pei Muheng had expected this. He set down the hand warmer and, noticing a maidservant standing by with a cup of ginseng soup, beckoned her over. He took the soup and presented it to his mother. “Mother, she is young. If she errs, it is only natural for you, as her mother-in-law, to correct her—I would not say a word. However, I will not allow her to be made to bow and scrape before our eldest sister-in-law, to live at someone else’s mercy.”

Pei Muheng did not say “I would not like it.” He said “I will not allow it.”

In a perfectly steady tone, he made his stance unmistakably clear.

The Princess Consort forgot to take the soup and stared at him in disbelief. “I never meant…”

She had simply not wanted to see Xu Yunqi, so she had passed the matter off to Lady Xie. Now, with Pei Muheng’s reminder, she saw the impropriety.

But still—her son had spoken to her in that tone for the first time, all for a woman’s sake. It stung.

Pei Muheng gave her no chance to take offense. He said slowly, “If she comes to you with a matter, and you scold her, she has no choice but to bow her head and listen. But do not let others trample her dignity. And of course, if she does come before you, I am certain that with your magnanimous and benevolent nature, you would never make things difficult for her…”

The Princess Consort realized he had left her nothing to say. Recalling his earlier praise of the Empress’s “magnanimity and benevolence,” she would have to be a fool not to see his game. She pointed at him and chided, “When did you learn such smooth-talking tricks? Pretending to flatter me, but really you’re afraid I’ll bully your wife…”

Pei Muheng had first mentioned the Empress, then brought up Xu Yunqi’s situation—a reminder to his mother to put herself in others’ shoes.

The Princess Consort finally accepted the ginseng soup and sighed. “Fine, fine. Since you’ve put it that way, what can I do? From now on, she can tell Old Madam Hao wherever she goes, and that will be that.”

After the Princess Consort finished her soup, Pei Muheng spoke again, slowly: “I know, Mother, that you have worried yourself sick over my marriage, and for that I am grateful… You do not care for her, and I will not force you to. But I ask that, for my sake, you treat her with leniency. She is my wife—her dignity is my dignity. If the household is harmonious and at peace, then I have no worries beyond my duties.”

The Princess Consort understood that Pei Muheng had not wanted to marry Xu Yunqi. Yet here he was, pleading for a harmonious mother-daughter-in-law relationship. She felt all the more aggrieved on his behalf, but also deeply moved. He was already so weary outside—how could she, as his mother, add to his burdens? She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded earnestly:

“Yes, I understand.”

Mother and son knew each other well; their words needed no elaboration.

After sitting with the Princess Consort for some time, Pei Muheng took his leave. As he stepped over the threshold, he saw Prince Xi holding something, furtively eavesdropping from outside. Pei Muheng gave his father a speechless look, but Prince Xi approached with unabashed admiration:

“You certainly have a way with her. I’ve tried for so long, and your mother wouldn’t budge an inch. You say one word, and she relents.”

Pei Muheng had no interest in discussing this with him. He said only, “There are new developments in the Tongzhou case. Father, come to my study this evening when you have time.”

Prince Xi nodded. As Pei Muheng turned to leave, he grabbed his sleeve:

“Hey, you’re eloquent enough when it comes to persuading your mother. But what about yourself?”

Pei Muheng’s eyes stilled.

Prince Xi clapped him on the shoulder with a hint of mockery. “Treat her well—that’s worth more than anything.”

With that, Prince Xi held up the item he was carrying and strode grandly through the threshold, his hearty voice booming to the rafters:

“Princess, I’m back! Look what I brought you—it’s that lotus-leaf-wrapped chicken you loved as a girl… Remember when I used to climb over your family wall…?”

Pei Muheng shook his head and strode off.

—

At a quarter past the hour of Wei, Xu Yunqi hurried to the Chengyang Clinic. The carriage was driven by one of Pei Muheng’s personal guards, disciplined and tight-lipped. After delivering her, he waited by the carriage, asking no questions and casting no extra glances.

Rushing upstairs, Xu Yunqi found the pregnant woman on the bed, her body convulsing and breathing uneven—in a state of decline. She unfastened her cloak, stepped forward, washed her hands, and took the woman’s pulse. Yinxing efficiently laid out her medical kit. As Xu Yunqi inserted the needles, Yinxing handed them to her. The mistress and maid had worked together for years and moved with seamless coordination.

Two quarters of an hour later, they managed to stabilize the woman’s pulse. The bleeding had stopped. Xu Yunqi immediately prescribed a miscarriage-preventing decoction and instructed the apprentice to brew it and administer it to her.

Another quarter-hour passed, and the young woman slowly came to. She looked around and saw a calm, composed woman sitting beside the bed, smiling gently. Guessing that this was the famous female physician Madam Xu, tears welled in her eyes:

“Thank you, Madam Xu, for saving my life.”

Xu Yunqi soothed her: “Rest well. Do not let yourself become angry again.”

Her pulse had revealed an acute episode of fiery rage. At these words, the woman’s tears spilled over.

Yinxing, curious, poured tea for Xu Yunqi and glanced at the weeping mistress and maid. “How did things get so bad?”

The woman sobbed without speaking, but her maidservant replied tearfully: “If it pleases Madam, this morning our mistress’s mother-in-law learned that our master had lost money gambling and flew into a rage. My mistress, seeing her mother-in-law so upset, tried to calm her, pleading with her not to harm her health. But the old lady wouldn’t listen. She had no hold over her own son, so she took it out on my mistress and shoved her… Her words were vile. She said that ever since my mistress married into the family, she has no say in her son’s affairs, and accused my mistress of bewitching her son and turning him against her. My mistress has never done such a thing. She was furious, and it brought on the complications…”

Yinxing’s eyes widened in indignation. “She dared to lay hands on your mistress when she’s five months pregnant? And the master—doesn’t he defend his wife?”

At this, the young woman’s expression turned bitter. She spoke through her tears: “Defend me? He’s afraid to say a word before his mother. Ever since I married in, he’s been telling me to be filial to his mother. I’ve bowed and scraped, swallowed my pride, endured everything—but I’m only human. In private, I complained that his mother was a bit too harsh. And he said she’s just quick-tempered, she doesn’t mean any harm, and told me not to hold it against her…”

“But that mother with ‘no bad intentions’ takes every opportunity behind her son’s back to bully me, resenting me for taking her son away from her…”

Xu Yunqi had no taste for such domestic squabbles and drank her tea in silence. Yinxing, however, was moved to comment: “I’ve seen plenty of cases like yours. Let me ask you—is your husband an only son? Is your father-in-law deceased?”

The young woman looked surprised. “Yes, indeed! My father-in-law passed more than ten years ago. My mother-in-law raised her son and built a small business from scratch. Now we have a respectable place in the southern part of the city…”

“There you have it!” Yinxing said, with the air of one who had seen much of the world. “Your mother-in-law and son have been through thick and thin together. When you married in and she saw her son doting on his wife instead of her, naturally she couldn’t take it, and found fault with you every day…”

The young woman stared, speechless, clearly impressed that Yinxing had hit the mark.

Xu Yunqi performed another round of acupuncture. Once the woman’s condition was completely stable, she packed up to leave. Before departing, she advised:

“Anger harms the body. Nothing is more important than your health. If something happens to you, your husband will surely remarry and carry on as before, while you’ll be nothing but a lost soul—grieving your loved ones and pleasing your enemies. Whatever you need to do, wait until after the child is born, and plan slowly…”

Xu Yunqi’s words struck home like pearls dropping onto a jade plate. The young woman bit her lip, gradually showing a resolute expression:

“Madam Xu, I understand. Thank you.”

Xu Yunqi said no more and left with Yinxing.

Outside the clinic, the sky had turned ominously dark; the fine snow had become thick as goose feathers.

Wind and snow lashed the girl’s clear eyes as she looked up at the heavy gray sky.

Yinxing helped her into the carriage, a little downcast. “I wonder if the master will scold us…”

Xu Yunqi’s expression was calm. “We’ll face whatever comes.”

At the beginning of the hour of You, Xu Yunqi returned to the prince’s mansion.

The vast expanse of lamplight looked especially blurred in the snow-mist. Snowflakes fell delicately, each one visible beneath the goat-horn palace lanterns.

Xu Yunqi braved the wind and snow as she climbed the steps. The steward was already waiting respectfully to welcome her home. She returned his greeting with a light smile and nod, then crossed the main hall toward the sloping corridor. Pei Muheng’s carriage had no brazier, and the ride had left her thoroughly chilled. Conscious that Pei Muheng was at home, she quickened her steps, unconsciously passing through the moon gate and lifting her skirts as she stepped onto the veranda.

Old Madam Chen was waiting at the door to lift the curtain for her:

“The Third Young Mistress has returned… It’s getting late—you must be hungry. Shall I have the meal served?”

Warm air rushed out to meet her, melting the frost at her brows. Xu Yunqi stepped inside and smiled at her. “I am hungry. Bring the meal…”

Then she noticed someone sitting quietly in the brightly lit main hall.

He had changed into a moon-white robe embroidered with cloud patterns, lounging comfortably against the backrest, seemingly dozing. At the sound of footsteps, he lifted his gaze. His eyes were clear, his lashes thick—there was no trace of drowsiness.

“You’re back.” His voice was calm, even gentle.

Xu Yunqi looked at him in surprise, a little unused to seeing a man suddenly appear in the space she had occupied for a month. She reminded herself that he was, after all, the true master of this room. Silently rubbing her forehead, she unfastened her cloak and handed it to a maidservant, then stepped forward to greet Pei Muheng:

“Third Master is here too…”

It was a long rectangular huanghuali table. Pei Muheng sat facing south, and Xu Yunqi took the seat to his lower right. Two cups of tea sat on the table—one before Pei Muheng, and one closer to Xu Yunqi. She had dozed briefly in the carriage and awakened with a dry throat. Seeing the tea, she assumed it was meant for her, lifted the cup, and brought it to her lips.

Pei Muheng’s expression stiffened almost imperceptibly at her action.

Xu Yunqi drained the cup in one go, still holding it between her fingers. She noticed her husband’s odd expression and, behind him, Steward Chen staring aghast at her cup…

Her heart sank like a stone into a lake.

Oh no—this was probably tea that Pei Muheng had already drunk.

A wave of awkwardness washed over her.

The air seemed to freeze.

Steward Chen cast a reproachful glance at his wife, and Old Madam Chen was equally mortified.

Earlier, when Pei Muheng had sat down, Old Madam Chen had personally brewed a cup of his favorite Emei maojian tea. Pei Muheng, with his keen senses, detected that this was not this year’s new harvest and pushed the cup aside. Old Madam Chen had then replaced it with freshly acquired Emei maojian. When she heard footsteps, she had rushed to welcome Xu Yunqi and forgotten to clear the old cup.

In truth, Pei Muheng had not drunk from that cup—he had only smelled the tea, found it lacking, and set it aside. But they had still shared the vessel.

Pei Muheng’s gaze fell briefly on her lips, then moved away.

What was done was done. Xu Yunqi was not the type to fuss. She pretended not to notice and set the cup down, then asked Pei Muheng:

“Why did Third Master come home today?”

Pei Muheng, always composed, gave no sign of the awkwardness and answered smoothly: “I dined with His Majesty at the Empress’s palace today. Her Majesty asked me to bring you some pastries.”

He pushed a food box that had been set aside toward her.

Xu Yunqi noticed that Steward Chen looked somewhat resigned as Pei Muheng said this.

“Thank you for Her Majesty’s kindness, and for taking the trouble to bring them, Third Master.” Her smile was courteous.

Pei Muheng’s lips curved faintly at her words.

The truth was that the Empress, hearing he had spent half a month in the palace, had summoned him to Kunning Palace and scolded him for neglecting his new wife. She had also insisted he take these pastries—a tribute from the imperial kitchen—back home. The Empress had meant for him to present them as his own gesture of care, but Pei Muheng could not bring himself to deceive, so he told the truth.

Even if he hadn’t, Xu Yunqi wouldn’t have mistaken them for a token of his affection.

After a moment, Pei Muheng dismissed Steward Chen, clearly intending to dine here. Xu Yunqi instructed Old Madam Chen to serve the meal. While they waited, husband and wife sat in silence.

Presently, recalling the scene at Jinhua Hall, Pei Muheng said to her:

“I spoke with Mother just now. From now on, when you need to go out, you don’t need to ask anyone’s permission—just have your maid inform Old Madam Hao.”

The Princess Consort did not favor Xu Yunqi, and Pei Muheng would not force them to spend time together. This solution allowed Xu Yunqi her freedom while showing respect to his mother—convenient for both.

Xu Yunqi’s eyes lit up as she looked at him. “Really? That’s wonderful.”

Her smiling eyes curved brightly—a gentle, harmless smile that made her seem like a flower raised in a greenhouse, untouched by hardship.

It was the first time Pei Muheng had seen such animation on her face. “Mother’s handling of matters before was somewhat improper. I apologize to you on her behalf. Such things won’t happen again.”

Xu Yunqi was slightly taken aback. She had not expected Pei Muheng to stand up for her, and for a moment she did not know what to say. It seemed her husband was fair-minded and would not blindly favor his own mother—a hopeful sign for the days ahead.

She said cheerfully, “Third Master is too serious. Truly, I understand Mother’s feelings. I don’t blame her.”

Having her chosen daughter-in-law snatched away—anyone would be unhappy.

Xu Yunqi’s eyes were clean and bright, not timidly trying to please, but genuinely unbothered by it all.

She was sensible, gentle, easygoing, and took nothing too much to heart—such a wife would be easy to get along with.

Pei Muheng nodded. “Let’s eat.”

As he left, he looked back at the warm lamplight of Qinghui Garden. If he had drunk from someone else’s cup, he would have been displeased. Putting himself in her place, he felt that Xu Yunqi had been wronged today because of him.

He would have to find a way to make it up to her.