These days, Lady Xin was overwhelmed with work to the point of exhaustion.

For the past few years, the Old Lady had not celebrated her birthday, simply having some longevity noodles on the day. This year marked her sixtieth birthday, and she had finally agreed to celebrate at the request of her children and grandchildren. Preparing for the birthday celebration was naturally Lady Xin’s top priority. Besides this, she had been waiting for news from the Ministry of Personnel, and recently she finally received the announcement that Pei Xiuzhi had been granted the position of Fenwei Commander with Upper Sixth Rank.

Although it was merely an inherited position and not particularly prestigious, incomparable to when the Duke of Wei was alive, the current situation was different from before. Among the founding meritorious officials and eight Dukes and Marquises, now three or four generations later, few descendants could earn titles through their merit. The rest all relied on hereditary grace positions. The court had only so many official titles, all governed by established rules. With many monks and little gruel, given the current situation of the Duke of Wei’s mansion, it was already fortunate that Pei Xiuzhi could secure this vacancy.

This was supposed to be good news, adding prestige to the birthday celebration and worthy of congratulations. However, the second branch was somewhat displeased, ultimately due to financial concerns. The Pei family had not yet divided their household. Although the Song family had helped Pei Xiuzhi secure the position, the necessary expenses for connections could not be reduced. For this, a total of two thousand taels had been spent. According to the Pei family’s long-standing rule, all expenses related to the promotion or education of family members were to be paid from the common account. With two thousand taels gone, the second branch naturally felt the pain. Constrained by the Old Lady’s presence, they dared not show too much displeasure openly, but privately complained, and these words reached Lady Xin’s ears, causing her more irritation. Furthermore, the Zhen family had arrived in the capital, making the marriage negotiation imminent, requiring careful calculation at every step. Lady Xin had expended much effort, keeping busy without a moment to catch her breath, when her grandson, Young Master Quan, had encountered that unfortunate incident a few days ago.

This morning when she woke up, one side of Lady Xin’s jaw was inflamed and swollen. But considering that today was the most important event for the Duke’s mansion, and as the mistress of the main branch, with the second branch and clan members all watching, there could not be the slightest mishap. So she rallied her spirits and busied herself like a spinning top. After noon, hearing from servants that Madam Meng had arrived, she abandoned the arrogance she had shown at their first meeting and quickly went out to greet her, warmly welcoming her in.

Although Madam Meng had only been in the capital for three or four days on this trip, after a few visits, she could sense the discord between the two branches, worse than a few years ago. She had once been close with the Second Lady, sharing family matters, but since the awkwardness over their children, this trip to the capital felt quite different than before. Being an outsider, she pretended not to know and maintained her usual demeanor. Now that she had arrived, she focused on helping with various tasks, keeping herself busy. Jiafu was taken to the second branch, and learning that her aunt’s concubine, Rong Fang, was not at the front, she went to find her.

Rong Fang was originally a maid from the Meng family who had served Jiafu’s mother for several years before being transferred to her aunt. When her aunt married, she became part of the dowry. Loyal and capable, she was later allowed by her aunt to become Pei Quan’s concubine, and now that she was older, the servants called her Concubine Fang. Jiafu had known her since childhood visits to the Duke of Wei’s mansion, and because of Madam Meng, Rong Fang was especially kind to Jiafu. On an occasion like today, she would naturally be helping with the arrangements, but unfortunately, she had slipped and sprained her ankle a few days ago, making it difficult to walk. She could only rest in her room, working on needlework. Seeing Jiafu arrive, she was delighted and quickly had the little maid bring cloud cakes and sesame candies. She picked one, knocked off the sugar dust on top, and offered it to Jiafu’s mouth, smiling, “I remember you loved these as a child.”

Jiafu smiled, “Auntie, your leg isn’t well, don’t move around. I’m not a child anymore; you don’t need to feed me.”

Rong Fang also smiled, “Yes, the young lady is about to marry, naturally not a child anymore.”

Jiafu smiled without saying anything. Rong Fang, thinking she was shy, stopped teasing. The two worked on needlework while chatting and laughing, time passing quickly. Madam Meng’s maid came to call Jiafu to the front, saying familiar guests had arrived and wanted her to pay her respects. Rong Fang urged her to go. Jiafu put down her needlework and went with Tanxiang to her mother’s side. After greeting the guests, she returned, and passing through the hanging flower gate, she saw Pei Xiuzhi standing in the distance along the path she had taken earlier. He had no one beside him and kept looking in her direction. Suspecting he was deliberately waiting for her and not wanting to meet him alone, she immediately turned back.

With Pei Xiuzhi waiting on the return path, not knowing how long he would stand there, Jiafu turned and headed toward the back garden.

Because of today’s busy preparations at the front, there were few people in the garden. After walking for a while, she saw a stone bridge ahead, leading to a bamboo grove.

She was naturally familiar with the paths here and remembered a route past the bamboo grove which, though requiring a detour, would allow her to avoid Pei Xiuzhi on the way back. She turned and went down the bridge.

This area seemed rarely frequented. The bamboo stalks were mottled yellow and green, moss crept along the stone path, and fallen leaves covered the ground, presenting a desolate scene. Passing by a courtyard next to the bamboo grove, she saw two servant women sweeping the path with bamboo brooms, talking as they worked. Vaguely, she heard them mention her and stopped.

“…the Zhen family is to form a marriage alliance, marrying their daughter to the heir,” one servant woman clicked her tongue twice, “quite a leap upward indeed.”

“You’ve only been here a few years, what do you know?” the other servant woman continued. “When their daughter was still young, they would bring her here again and again. I knew then that sooner or later they would strengthen family ties by sending her here. I only thought they had the Third Master in mind; now they’ve reached for the heir, which is unexpected…”

A gust of wind blew through, rustling the bamboo branches and drowning out the servant’s voice.

Tanxiang was indignant and about to reveal themselves, but Jiafu shook her head, indicating they should take the fork through the bamboo grove. However, the voices of the two servant women carried over again.

“Look, this courtyard feels chilly even in broad daylight; at night, ghosts might even come out. If it weren’t for the many tasks at the front today, requiring so many people that legs would be worn out, I wouldn’t have taken on this job…”

“The Lady has it hard too, surely she’s been anxious. I’ve been here for several years, and every year on this day, the Lady has people clean, presumably preparing for the First Master to return and wish the Old Lady a happy birthday. Yet, has he ever appeared? Old Zhao, I’ve heard that the First Master was stripped of his heir position and driven out?”

Old Zhao let out a hush and lowered her voice, and her words, carried by the wind, reached them faintly and intermittently.

“…the national mourning for the Duke had not even passed… it was quite unseemly… usually you wouldn’t notice at all… that concubine refused to live, hanging herself at midnight from the branch you’re leaning on. When I came running to look, her face was purple, her tongue hanging down to her neck, scaring me so much I couldn’t sleep for several nights…”

“Oh my heavens, why didn’t you say so earlier? No wonder it feels so chilly!

The other servant woman jumped up, leaping three feet high, hurriedly moving far away before turning to bow to the tree, mumbling something under her breath.

Jiafu knew this courtyard had formerly been the residence of Pei You’an, the eldest son of the main branch, and had been vacant for years, its doors usually tightly shut. Passing by here, she had inadvertently overheard these two servants gossiping. If they had only talked about her, she would have been too lazy to care. Her grandmother indeed had such intentions, so she couldn’t blame people for discussing it behind her back.

But then these servant women continued to discuss the rights and wrongs concerning Pei You’an. This made Jiafu recall that past event. During those chaotic times of war, she was alone and imprisoned, in despair and fear, when she unexpectedly received help from someone she hadn’t hoped for. Even now, she still vividly remembered that feeling of a hand reaching out while she stood on the edge of a cliff, despite later being sent to Xiao Yintang. But that was a different story, a separate matter.

That man had left an excellent impression on her. Not just because he helped her when she was most helpless, but also because his manner and demeanor had deeply impressed her.

Later, while in the inner palace, Jiafu had heard some things about him.

In the game among the three royal brothers, the Prince of Yunzhong became the final victor. After ascending the throne and establishing a new era, Pei You’an, with the merits he had established during the Zhaotian Incident and the new emperor’s high regard for him, could have easily achieved wealth and honor, reaching the highest official positions. But not long after, first, his grandmother, Old Lady Pei, passed away, and shortly after the mourning period, coinciding with another Turkic invasion at the border, he requested to leave the capital, taking the position of military governor to guard the frontier.

Normally, although the Turkic disturbance was fierce, considering his physical condition, the climate beyond the frontier was not suitable for his long-term residence. He was not the only person available to the new emperor, and someone else could easily have been appointed. But in the end, he still left the splendor of the capital for the border city, serving his term as military governor, pacifying the border and earning widespread respect, his name resounding beyond the frontier, until he finally died of illness at his post.

To be honest, Jiafu found it hard to believe that such a man would have committed such a despicable act in his youth. Now hearing the gossip, she found it quite jarring.

She had already turned to leave but couldn’t help stopping again.

“…I heard he also angered the Old Lady and was beaten and driven out. Despite this, on the Old Lady’s sixtieth birthday today, even relatives eight generations removed have come, yet he is nowhere to be seen. All these years, not even a message has arrived, showing he still bears a grudge. It’s not our place to speak, but having done such a thing as a child, it’s understandable that he’s now ashamed to return and face people, but it also shows where his filial piety lies…”

As Old Zhao was rambling on, relying on her seniority, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She closed her mouth and turned, seeing Jiafu approaching with a maid. Startled, she hurriedly put down the broom and came forward with a smile, “Today is so busy at the front, how did the young lady come here?”

Jiafu smiled slightly and said, “Mother Zhao, it’s not my place to speak either. But since I’m passing by, even if you find it odd, I must say something. Today is the Old Lady’s birthday, and you’ve been assigned to clean the courtyard in preparation for the First Master’s return. Instead of doing your work properly, what are you chattering about? You’re counting on the Lady being too busy to mind you, not only slacking off but also gossiping about the master? What are you saying? It’s all rumors and hearsay. I can’t believe the Duke’s mansion has no rules, allowing you to be so disrespectful to the master!”

Old Zhao and the other servant woman’s expressions changed slightly.

In the past, they wouldn’t have needed to fear this Zhen family daughter, who was merely a relative of the second branch. But now it was different; everyone in the mansion knew that after the Old Lady’s birthday, it would immediately be time for the wedding. No matter what was said behind her back, this Zhen young lady would soon marry into the Pei family and become the legitimate wife of the Duke’s heir. Given the severity of her tone, they didn’t know how much she had overheard, and feeling guilty, they quickly lowered their heads and admitted their fault: “Yes, yes, the young lady is right. We were just being loose-tongued! We won’t dare again!”

Having already stood up for herself, she wasn’t afraid of offending anyone. Besides, after breaking off the engagement, she would no longer have any connection with this family. All the suppressed nature from her previous life seemed to be gradually emerging in this one.

Jiafu glanced at the half-open door and saw that although the courtyard had just been swept, it was only perfunctory, with fallen leaves not even properly cleared, let alone water sprinkled to settle the dust. She simply continued, “Today is the Old Lady’s sixtieth birthday, and the First Master will certainly return. Instead of having the time to gossip and slack off, why not thoroughly clean the room inside and out?”

Old Zhao, being senior, suddenly received such an unpleasant lesson from a young lady. Though inwardly complaining that this Zhen girl was eager to show her authority before even marrying in, she dared not show it on her face. She said, “Right away, right away—” and picked up the broom from the ground, turning away with a pouting face. The other servant woman, seeing this, quickly followed.

Jiafu, seeing the two servant women noisily sweeping again, knew that after she left, they would definitely speak ill of her, so she turned and continued forward.

“Just now, when we were leaving, looking at those two servant women’s faces, it was satisfying. But I’m afraid it might invite resentment. They’ll say you’re overstepping, young lady,” Tanxiang said beside her, feeling both vindicated and somewhat uneasy.

Jiafu said, “Let them resent if they will; I don’t care. I just couldn’t listen anymore. Whatever the case with the First Cousin, it’s not for people like them to gossip about.”

“Young lady, you said the First Master would return today. Is that true?” Tanxiang, recalling her earlier confident tone, was curious.

“I believe he will return.”

“How do you know, young lady?”

“I dreamt last night that First Cousin came back to celebrate the Old Lady’s birthday. Do you believe me?”

She said jokingly, turning the corner, but her steps came to an abrupt halt.

At the corner of the bamboo grove, just a few steps away, an elderly woman with graying hair, leaning on a cane and supported by a tall maid, stood motionless on the path, apparently having been there for some time.

This elderly woman was Old Lady Pei, today’s birthday celebrant. Jiafu was certainly familiar with her but didn’t know she had come here. Many guests had already arrived at the front, yet she was still wearing a semi-new everyday outfit, not looking like someone about to celebrate her birthday. Caught off guard, Jiafu was startled.

When Jiafu visited the Duke’s mansion as a child, Old Lady Pei had treated her like any other relative—not with disdain, but nothing special either. Each time she came, she would follow her mother to kowtow to her and bid farewell when leaving, nothing more. After marrying Pei Xiuzhi, the Old Lady rarely required Jiafu, as a granddaughter-in-law, to serve by her side, often staying alone in the Buddha Hall. Soon after, war broke out, and Jiafu left the Pei family, never seeing her again. Her impression of the Old Lady was faint and distant. Now, unexpectedly meeting like this, seeing the old woman standing there, looking at her silently with an expression neither happy nor angry, she hurriedly stepped back and, with Tanxiang, paid her respects.

The Old Lady remained silent.

Jiafu, recalling her tone earlier, felt somewhat regretful. She lowered her eyes, hearing only the rustling sound of wind through the bamboo grove. After a moment, she finally heard the Old Lady speak, asking, “Are you that girl from the Zhen family?”

Jiafu softly replied, “Yes. A few days ago, I came with my mother, but the Old Lady was in the Buddha Hall meditating, so we didn’t pay our respects.”

The old woman was silent for another moment, then slowly said, “This place has been uninhabited for many years and is somewhat desolate. You should return early.” After speaking, she turned, and with the support of the tall maid, slowly walked away.

Jiafu raised her head, watching the old woman’s slightly hunched figure gradually recede and finally disappear at the end of the bamboo grove. She slowly exhaled.