The male guests and servants retreated first, and the carriages stopped one by one in front of the Pei family gate, inviting the ladies to board first.

According to the original arrangement, Old Lady Pei would share a carriage with her two granddaughters-in-law. Jia Fu and Yu Zhu helped the old lady up, with Madam Xin and Second Madam Meng supporting from behind. After everyone was settled, Zhou Jiao’e was still nowhere to be seen.

The second madam joked: “Sister-in-law, could your new daughter-in-law and your second son still be reluctant to leave their chamber? I haven’t seen either the new bride or your second son. Only newlyweds would be like this.”

Madam Xin also seemed somewhat embarrassed and instructed a maid beside her to go check. Just as she finished giving instructions, she turned to see Zhou Jiao’e and Pei Xiuzhi approaching from the second gate. Zhou Jiao’e was dressed enchantingly, clinging coquettishly to Pei Xiuzhi, whose expression was extremely forced. Raising his head to see everyone looking their way, he was about to step away from Zhou Jiao’e when she seemed to call him back. Reluctantly, he finally accompanied her to the carriage and apologized for being late.

The second madam smiled even more warmly, praising the young couple’s affection, saying it made others envious. Pei Xiuzhi’s expression was extremely stiff, his smile more painful than tears, while Zhou Jiao’e seemed to wear a faint look of satisfaction. Only when the old lady in the carriage said “Come up,” was she helped aboard, sitting opposite Jia Fu on the other side of the old lady.

Once in the carriage, Zhou Jiao’e apologized to the old lady who had been waiting for her, implying that she was late because Pei Xiuzhi had been keeping her occupied all morning.

The old lady merely smiled without saying anything.

The morning light was dim. Under the admiring gazes of early risers, the Pei family procession, stretching several arrow flights in length, moved along the street, exuding indescribable wealth and elegance, winding out of the northern city gate toward Ci’en Temple.

Jia Fu was no stranger to Ci’en Temple; this was her third visit there.

The Pei family had booked the entire temple for the memorial service, and no other worshippers were present. Upon arrival, they were respectfully welcomed by monks waiting at the mountain gate. After the ladies changed clothes and settled in, the ceremony began, presided over by the eldest grandson, Pei You’an, who led the Pei family in offering memorial tablets and paying respects. After the prostrations were completed, forty-nine monks in the main hall chanted sutras in unison, while in the side hall, vegetarian banquet tables were arranged to accommodate guests who arrived later, creating a lively atmosphere.

Jia Fu stayed with the old lady in the main hall listening to the sutras until noon, when the ceremony was temporarily paused. After the vegetarian meal, since other female guests had gradually arrived, Madam Xin and Second Madam Meng were busy receiving visitors. Amid the bustle, Jia Fu personally escorted the old lady to a quiet rear chamber that had been prepared, helping her to rest. The old lady told her to go rest as well, saying she didn’t need to remain by her side. Jia Fu agreed, and as she was leaving, she heard a servant report that the Duchess of Qin had arrived and was asking for the First Young Mistress. Recalling how well they had conversed while sitting together at the Zhang family that night, and since the Duchess had specifically asked for her, it would be improper not to meet her. So Jia Fu took Tanxiang with her and headed toward the front.

It was now midday, and the weather was very hot, with the sun blazing overhead. Jia Fu chose to walk along a colonnaded side hall. The temple monks had all gone to eat and rest, and there was not a soul in sight. Just as she turned a corner, she suddenly saw Pei Xiuzhi and Zhou Jiao’e emerging from a side hall ahead. The two seemed to have just argued inside. Pei Xiuzhi’s face was gloomy as he walked rapidly, while Zhou Jiao’e pursued him from behind, clutching a handkerchief, seemingly unwilling to let the matter drop, continuing to catch up with him and argue.

Jia Fu, afraid of encountering an awkward situation, quickly retreated. Since they were headed in different directions, she decided to wait for the couple to leave before continuing forward. But the pair stopped after walking just a few steps, and their argument grew louder. Pei Xiuzhi said that if he hadn’t discovered her deception, he would have been fooled, to which Zhou Jiao’e began to sob, accusing him of slander and having no conscience.

Jia Fu, listening to the two quarrels and seeing that they might continue for some time, was about to turn away when she heard Madam Xin’s voice. Unable to resist her curiosity, she gestured to Tanxiang to be silent and carefully peeked around the corner again. Sure enough, she saw Madam Xin hurrying over, sending away the maids and servants who were following her, then lowering her voice to scold her son and comfort Zhou Jiao’e.

Zhou Jiao’e was crying profusely, wiping tears while choking with sobs: “Mother, you’ve seen it yourself—since marrying into the family, I’ve wanted to live a good life, but he keeps finding fault with me, picking bones in eggs, making trouble for me every day. If he despises me, I won’t stay in your family either. I’ll go report to the Empress right away and let her decide. At worst, we’ll go our separate ways, which would spare me from being bullied every day.”

Madam Xin quickly embraced her, calling her “my darling” repeatedly, comforting her in every way, and ordering her son to apologize. Pei Xiuzhi looked extremely unwilling, but unable to resist his mother, he finally reluctantly apologized to Zhou Jiao’e, who gradually stopped crying. Madam Xin then instructed her son to escort her to rest first, but Pei Xiuzhi stood motionless, saying he needed to go entertain guests. Madam Xin looked very angry but forcibly suppressed it, changing her tone to say that the sun was fierce here and Zhou Jiao’e should return first, while she would properly discipline her son and make him sincerely apologize to her that evening when they returned.

Pei Xiuzhi’s face was ashen, but Zhou Jiao’e looked satisfied, glancing at her husband before gracefully departing.

“Mother! She has no virtue as a wife. That night she tried to deceive me with her tricks, but I saw through her. Why do you still protect her? I want to divorce her!” As soon as Zhou Jiao’e left, Pei Xiuzhi shouted at his mother.

Madam Xin covered his mouth, looking around.

Jia Fu quickly pulled her head back.

Madam Xin dragged Pei Xiuzhi to a secluded corner, pinched him hard, and then lowered her voice to reprimand him: “How can you be so brainless? You’ve already married her, and making such a scene will only disgrace yourself!”

Pei Xiuzhi said: “How can a true man endure such humiliation? I want to divorce her!”

Madam Xin was silent for a moment, then said: “Xiuzhi, you hate her, but how could I not? But now, we mother and son have no support, while she can speak directly with the Empress. In the future, we may need her family’s assistance. You should endure it.”

Pei Xiuzhi’s voice was surprised: “Mother, what do you mean? Don’t we still have my elder brother?”

Madam Xin’s face gradually darkened, her eyes showing frustration. She gritted her teeth, finally made up her mind, and leaned to her son’s ear, whispering something.

Jia Fu heard Pei Xiuzhi suddenly raise his voice, filled with shock: “What? Elder Brother is not your biological son?”

Madam Xin quickly covered her son’s mouth, making a shushing sound.

Frankly, Jia Fu had originally just been indulging her curiosity, listening for gossip, and certainly wouldn’t spread it elsewhere. But hearing this unexpected revelation from Pei Xiuzhi’s mouth, she immediately pricked up her ears.

Madam Xin looked around once more, pulled her son into the side hall, and closed the door behind them.

Jia Fu, hearing the voices disappear and the sound of the door closing, realized the two had entered the side hall. Her heart was pounding, and she couldn’t resist her curiosity. She gestured for Tanxiang to wait there while she tiptoed around the corner to a latticed window, where she leaned close, holding her breath, carefully listening to the voices inside.

Madam Xin led her son to a corner of the side hall before saying: “Xiuzhi, this is something I’ve never dared tell anyone. If the old lady found out, it would be a major scandal. But since she’s been unkind and disregarded our lives by speaking out first, I’ll be disloyal too. Now that you know, keep it to yourself and be wary. Pei You’an is now powerful—not someone we mother and son can afford to offend.”

Pei Xiuzhi was completely confused: “Mother, what exactly are you saying?”

Madam Xin fell silent, sinking into memories of the past.

Twenty-four years ago, she had married the Duke of Wei, a handsome, heroic, ideal husband. A few months later, she had become pregnant as desired. But unexpectedly, half a year later, the Duke of Wei told her that he had a son outside, born just a few days earlier, whose mother had already passed away. He wanted the child to live with dignity and planned to bring him home, asking her to claim the child as her own and raise him as if he were her son.

The Duke of Wei said he would first raise the child outside, then bring him home on the day she gave birth. Regardless of whether she had a boy or girl, they would tell everyone she had given birth to twins.

The Duke of Wei also said he knew this was unfair to her, but that child was born weak and likely to die young. He promised that if she would accept this, in return, he would never take a concubine.

Madam Xin was undoubtedly in pain at the time. Her husband had a child with another woman outside and now wanted her to claim that child as her own. But after a struggle, she finally agreed.

Since her husband had made such a request, refusing would have shown her narrow-mindedness. If the child truly died young, the impact on her child would be minimal. Moreover, the Duke of Wei’s promise was one of the reasons that moved her.

She agreed. On the day of delivery, she gave birth to a daughter. Sure enough, that night, the child was secretly brought home.

The moment Madam Xin saw him, she knew the Duke of Wei had not lied to her. The child was extremely good-looking, already a few months old, but as weak as a kitten, not looking easy to raise.

At that moment, her feelings toward the child were very complex. Besides aversion, there was also some pity. She had even considered, according to her husband’s wishes, raising him well until the day he died from illness.

Her daughter died shortly thereafter. And this child brought in from outside, originally thought unable to survive, had a life force as tenacious as wild grass. Though stumbling, he gradually grew up.

The following year, Madam Xin gave birth to her son. As her son grew, days passed, and Madam Xin’s feelings toward that child finally began to change.

The Duke of Wei indeed fulfilled the promise he had made to her. Until his death on the battlefield sixteen years later, he never touched another woman. The concubine who entered the household two years before his death was a military reward from the Emperor, and after arrival, she remained alone.

But this was far from enough to give Madam Xin psychological balance. The Duke of Wei had ultimately deceived her. That wild child not only didn’t die but began to display his extraordinary talent by the age of four or five. He not only took everything that should have belonged to her son, but in comparison, her healthy son appeared so ordinary.

Heaven seemed to have bestowed all blessings and glory on that child of the most lowly birth.

Madam Xin regretted her initial consent. Her psychology finally completely lost its balance.

She couldn’t control herself and began to hate this child, hate that he didn’t die young as the Duke of Wei had said, hate that he took everything from her son. This hatred continued to haunt her; she couldn’t shake it off, even to this day.

Now, besides hatred, she also felt panic.

That night, the words this son had spoken before her made her suddenly realize.

So Pei You’an knew he wasn’t her biological son!

He knew everything!

Recalling Pei You’an’s gaze upon her that night, she couldn’t help shuddering, gritting her teeth as she said: “This elder brother of yours was originally a lowly illegitimate child your father brought back from outside and placed under my name to raise! In the past, it was fine when he didn’t know his background, but now he must have learned it from your grandmother. Now that he knows, no matter how pleasant his words or how good his actions may appear, he must hate me to the bone. After your grandmother is gone, how could he possibly treat us well? If you don’t properly ingratiate yourself with your wife and rely on the Empress, who knows how we mother and son will die!”

…

The voices, through the latticed window, reached her ears indistinctly.

Jia Fu’s heart was pounding so hard it nearly jumped out of her throat. Hearing footsteps inside, afraid of being discovered, she held her breath, turned, and quickly returned to her original position. She gave a signal to the bewildered Tanxiang and hurriedly led her away.

For the entire afternoon, though she sat in the main hall accompanying the old lady listening to Buddhist teachings, her mind was immersed in those few sentences she had heard at noon, her spirit unsettled.

She finally understood why, despite the eldest son being so outstanding, he had never won his mother’s favor.

She thought of Pei You’an’s fate in his previous life, of his past when at sixteen he fell from the heights of Cloud Peak into the valley of mud, bearing everything alone as he left the capital. Her heart twisted with hundreds of emotions, filled with sourness and compassion.

From Madam Xin’s tone, Pei You’an himself knew this secret. Yet this man, as deep as mountains and waters, as light as clouds and breeze, had never shown the slightest hint in front of her.

Jia Fu felt extremely sad in her heart.

As long as Pei You’an could be happy, she was willing to do anything for him.

Jia Fu looked up at the Buddha sitting high on the lotus throne, gazing down at all beings, thinking this in her heart.