chapter 11

Pei Second Son’s words, “Just you wait,” frightened me for several days.

Though I didn’t understand exactly what he meant by “Just you wait,” I knew that day, with his gritted teeth, he was truly furious.

After that, neither of us spoke again.

Every day, I changed his medicine as usual. His wound healed day by day, but his face grew colder and colder.

Whenever I lowered my head to change his dressing, wrapping the bandage around his waist, I always felt he was watching me.

Whenever I looked up, sure enough, I met those sharp, deep eyes.

“Se-Second Uncle’s wound is almost healed,” I stammered.

“Mm, almost healed,” he replied, staring at me with a meaningful look.

Every time, I would flee his room in a panic.

Xiaotao saw me and looked confused: “Sister-in-law, is something wrong with my brother? Your face is so pale.”

“Pei Xiaotao!”

I lowered my voice, afraid the person inside would hear, and scolded, “If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute.”

“If I don’t speak, I really would be mute.”

“Don’t you have anything to do? Go to the Kitchen and light the stove. I’ll make Brine Soup later.”

“Wuwuwu, okay.”

…

By evening, when the Shop was empty, I prepared the marinade and busied myself in the backyard.

When I carried the pot to the stove, Xiaotao still hadn’t come, so I muttered, “Little liar, ran off again.”

Then I prepared to light the stove myself.

Just as I picked up the fire striker and tried a few times without success, I suddenly heard a low voice at the door-

“I’ll do it.”

My hand trembled. Looking up, sure enough, I saw Pei Second Son leaning against the door.

He was almost fully recovered, wearing a white shirt, tall and straight, arms folded, looking at me with a half-smile.

My hands trembled even more.

I put down the fire striker and stammered, “Th-then Second Uncle, you do it. I’ll go wash the clothes in the basin.”

After speaking, I hurried to get up, head down, not daring to look at him, flustered and wanting to leave the Kitchen.

Before I reached the door, suddenly the door was closed, and Pei Second Son blocked my way like a wall.

I bumped into him, almost lost my balance, and he caught my waist.

Second Son was tall; my head only reached his shoulder.

Held in his arms, the sharp masculine scent mixed with the fragrance of herbs lingered at the tip of my nose.

He looked down at me, leaned close to my ear, and chuckled softly, “Can you get out?”

“Second Son, let go.”

Embarrassed and angry, I glared at him, my face red to the ears.

His gaze flickered, but he didn’t let go. Instead, his grip on my waist tightened, and with one hand, he lifted me up and sat me on the stove.

One hand still held my waist tightly, the other came up to caress my cheek.

Unable to break free, I shouted angrily, “Pei Yi! Are you crazy? Put me down!”

His rough palm touched my face, his eyes deep as the sea, then softened, a mist gathering in his eyes as he whispered by my ear-

“Want to get married? I’m much better than that Scholar. Try me…”

His words shocked me to my core, my body trembling, “Second Son, I’m your Sister-in-law.”

“Mm, I know.”

“If a brother dies and the uncle marries the sister-in-law, it’s punishable by hanging.”

My face was pale, my voice shaking with fear. He suddenly laughed, rubbing my ear with one hand, “Is that what you’re worried about?”

According to the laws passed down through the dynasties, if a brother dies and the uncle marries the sister-in-law, it’s against the rites.

Though such things aren’t uncommon among common folk, and no one’s really been sentenced to hanging for it.

But that’s because they’re ordinary people.

Pei Second Son is different. He’s now a Capital Official, a Second-Rank Official, someone in front of the Emperor, every move under the spotlight.

You see him rise high, you see him fall.

He struggled through the battlefield, through blood and storms, to reach his position.

If he fell because of this, ruined and disgraced, I’d never forgive myself, even in death.

Panic spread, and tears burst from my eyes.

“No, we can’t, anyone else maybe, but not us.”

I shook my head repeatedly. His gaze softened, and he laughed quietly, his voice gentle, “I’m only asking if you want to marry me. If you do, you don’t need to worry about anything.”

His eyes were firm, carrying an irresistible force and truth. I bit my lip and murmured, “I don’t know, I already promised to marry the Scholar, mm…”

Before I finished, his hand tightened around my waist, and he kissed me, forceful and domineering.

Unable to resist, my heart nearly leapt out, and my body went limp, collapsing into his arms.

After a long while, he let go, breathing heavily. I couldn’t catch my breath, my strength gone, unable to move in his embrace.

“I didn’t hear you just now. Tell me again, who do you want to marry? Think carefully before you answer.”

His voice was hoarse, staring at my swollen lips, his gaze like a wolf with green eyes.

I cried, “You, I want to marry you, Second Son, please have mercy on me.”

Finally satisfied, he curled his lips and held me close, “You said it yourself, no taking it back.”

After such a commotion, my face was burning. I pushed him away, wanting to leave the Kitchen as quickly as possible.

But the door, which had been closed, wouldn’t open no matter what.

It seemed to be locked from the outside.

Stunned, I turned to look at Pei Second Son.

He raised his eyebrows, “Not my doing.”

…

When Xiaotao returned and rescued us from the Kitchen, I hurried upstairs with my head down.

I heard Xiaotao ask in confusion, “Eh, who locked you in?”

Behind me, Pei Second Son’s low laughter sounded at the same time: “Where’s Grandmother?”

“She’s sunning herself at the door.”

“I’ll go massage her shoulders.”

…

Half a year later, the Pei family’s tofu pudding Shop was handed over to Uncle Zhao and Xiang.

All the recipes for Three-Oil Blend and Brine Soup were taught to her as well.

Pei Second Son returned from the Capital and took us there.

Once everything was packed and we were about to leave, Elder Sister Pei Mei, having heard some rumors, hurried over with her daughter Juan, and knelt down with a thud.
“Second Son, sister begs you, please take Juan away, take her with you too, and never come back again.”

Juan was only nine years old, wiping her tears as she cried incessantly, with bruises showing on her exposed arms.

Pei Mei’s days in the Zhu Family were not easy, and of course, Pei Second Son was partly to blame.

It seemed the Zhu Family had long realized that Pei Second Son didn’t care about this elder sister at all, and they couldn’t get any benefit from her either.

Especially after Second Son reprimanded Young Master Zhu last time, causing him to lose face.

Pei Mei had only one daughter, Juan, while Young Master Zhu had two concubines, each having given birth to a son and a daughter.

She naturally had a stubborn temperament. She could endure all the scoldings from her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law’s ridicule, and her husband’s abuse herself.

But she couldn’t bear to let Juan live such a life as well.

However, Pei Second Son had always been a cold-hearted person.

His gaze swept over Juan, without the slightest warmth.

Juan was so frightened she took a step back.

I couldn’t make decisions for him anyway; after all, this was a matter between siblings.

As expected, Second Son said slowly, “I am busy with affairs and cannot look after the family.”

Grandmother, already in the Carriage, seemed to have seen Juan through the curtain, and suddenly called out in a trembling voice-

“Big Ya.”

Second Son’s expression froze for a moment. I tugged at his sleeve and said, “I’m not busy. I can take care of the family.”

He lowered his head to look at me, eyes full of laughter: “Alright.”

On the way back to the Capital, I kept thinking. Ever since Scholar went to the Capital for the exams, it was as if he had disappeared, with no news at all.

I asked Pei Second Son, but he just laughed lightly: “You’ll meet him eventually.”

It wasn’t until I saw the Scholar in the Capital, who had been seized as a son-in-law in front of the results list and was now the son-in-law of the Vice Minister of Rites, that I was stunned.

It was said that it was General Pei who arranged the match.

Scholar’s eyes were red as he looked at me, lips moving, but he said nothing.

Perhaps he thought I resented him.

Little did he know, it was Pei Second Son I resented.

That night, I pounded him again and again: “Why did you do such a thing?”

He pinched my chin, panting: “Focus. Don’t think of other men. Even if I arranged it, if he didn’t have the heart, who could force him into the bridal chamber?”

…

The Scholar was married. Widow Wu, who had been determined to go to the Capital, was also married and pregnant. Han Junior General busied himself serving her all day long.

About this, Xiaotao was a little disgruntled: “This isn’t what I wanted to see.”

I, too, had come to the Capital to be married.

With the Crown Prince as the guarantor, and the Empress arranging the marriage.

The present Empress insisted I looked just like her late younger sister. Upon meeting, she shed a few tears and took me as her adopted younger sister, even changing my surname to her maiden name, calling me Shao Yu.

From then on, the name Xue Yu existed only in faraway Yun’an County, Taozhou Prefecture.

A Second-Rank Official in the Capital, General of Martial Guard Pei Yi, would draw eyebrows for his wife after court, his serious eyes seemingly containing the entire Spring Scenery.

I didn’t know what came to my mind all of a sudden, and blurted out: “You did it on purpose.”

“Hmm?”

He lifted my chin, gazed at me, and curled his lips: “What does Madam mean?”

“You had your eye on me long ago.”

“Mm.”

“Since when did you start scheming for me?”

“Be good, I’ll tell you tonight.”

Outside the window, the Magnolia bloomed beautifully, white petals glowing, its fragrance filling the air.

I pounded him with all my might, but he seized my hand, chuckling: “You’re getting stronger-very good.”

12

[Extra: Pei Yi’s Story]

Pei Yi knew from a young age that he was never valued at home.

Grandmother doted on his elder sister, while the Eldest Brother had been weak since birth. Their parents’ love and concern always centered on him.

At thirteen, he arrived at the Jiangbei Military Camp, mixing among a bunch of much older rough soldiers, hearing their curses and watching their fights, with foul words on their lips.

He was always the one called upon and dismissed at will.

As a rookie, if he was disobedient, he would be ruthlessly kicked.

He’d always been strong, but in his second year at the Military Camp, he fell violently ill-maybe due to long-term acclimatization issues, or perhaps from the cold.

Lying groggy in bed, he dreamt of many things from his childhood.

Before the Shop was opened, life at home had actually been quite difficult.

His elder sister was a show-off, always wanting the best of everything.

His Eldest Brother attended Private School, which cost money.

He too wanted to study. Once he told his father, but Pei Changshun said: “What’s the use of studying? I’ll pass the Shop on to you. Just learn to make tofu pudding with me, and all these assets will be yours.”

How could studying be useless?

‘All trades are lowly, only reading is noble’-even his Eldest Brother told him this.

He remembered when he was a child and the family cooked taro roots.

They smelled and tasted delicious. After eating one, he wanted another, but his mother took the bowl away.

“Stop eating, leave it for your brother in case he gets hungry while studying.”

There was still more than half a bowl left.

And Grandmother would sneak one to his elder sister when Mother wasn’t looking.

Pei Yi did many reckless things in his youth.

He simply felt that no one at home cared about him, so no matter how wildly he played, no one could control him.

But in fact, he was wrong. Pei Changshun, who wanted to hand the Shop to him, seemed to care after all.

When did he realize this?

It was when he killed a man, came home and confessed, and Pei Changshun wept bitterly: “My son, you want your father dead with worry!”

After spending most of their fortune, he was sent to the Military Camp.

He wasn’t able to return even when his father died.

The first time he returned home later was when his mother wrote him a letter.

His Eldest Brother was getting married.

It was then that he first met Xue Yu, a fifteen-year-old girl in coarse homespun clothes, with jet-black hair and especially big eyes.

A girl with a quiet beauty.

She was especially diligent, even washing his undergarments and trousers.

She fenced the vegetable garden, raised chickens, and planted flowers by the courtyard gate.

The meals she cooked were delicious and fragrant.

When chopping up chicken feed, she’d hold Xiaotao around the neck while singing to coax her.

Pei Yi stood at the door, watching Xiaotao cling to her and listening to her sing.

He suddenly felt that the courtyard at home seemed to have come alive.

At the same time, he felt it unfair that his mother had worked so hard to find a wife for his Eldest Brother, but never thought of getting one for him.
Mingming, he was already seventeen.

He stood in for his Eldest Brother at the wedding ceremony and married Xue Yu.

Yet his Eldest Brother still passed away. That young woman, pale-faced, stood inside the room holding a bowl of medicine, looking so helpless that he suddenly felt sorry for her.

Just married, and already a widow.

But everyone has their own fate.

He returned to the Military Camp, throwing himself into the endless cycle of patrols and training, chilled to the bone and heart by the winds of the Borderland.

Every winter, the Hu Barbarians eyed their land greedily, hoping to plunder.

He had been here five years, seen battles, and seen death.

He still remembered when he first arrived at the Military Camp, those rough men who spoke only in curses and lewd jokes, who, upon seeing him charge forward with a spear, shoved him to the back with a scowl-

“Still wet behind the ears, what are you showing off for?”

Then, the man who had once kicked him died under the blade of the Hu People.

…

The reckless bravado of youth was, in truth, laughable.

The Military Advisor told him, those were not real skills; a good man’s shoulders must bear both family and country.

Half a year after his Eldest Brother’s death, his mother followed.

And it was not until July that he received the letter.

Suddenly, his heart turned cold.

At home, the aged Grandmother and the young Xiaotao-all depended on him now.

He took leave and returned home again. Standing at the entrance of the village, he saw only devastation.

It was no surprise that Xue Yu would leave.

When his Eldest Brother died, it had already been said-a Divorce Letter would be signed and given to her.

She had kept her widowhood for a year; she had done all that could be asked.

For the first time in his life, Pei Yi felt at a loss.

He had to return to the Military Camp, but how to arrange for Grandmother and Xiaotao was the most troubling matter.

His elder sister Pei Mei, after their mother’s death, hurried through the funeral and didn’t dare show her face, as if afraid she’d be tied down.

He knew better than anyone Pei Mei’s selfishness, coldness, and vanity.

Back when she was selling tofu pudding in the county town, she was determined to marry into wealth, acting coy and enchanting the Zhu Family’s young master until he insisted on marrying her.

A place like the Zhu Family-if Grandmother and Xiaotao were sent there, how could they possibly have a good life?

Pei Yi cooked for Grandmother and his little sister in the Kitchen, the stove burning hot, but he was far less calm than he appeared, feeling desolate inside.

Until Xue Yu returned, calling him Second Uncle.

The moment he saw her, he knew he was saved.

“Second Uncle, what do you think?”

“Good.”

When he spoke that word, his throat was already hoarse.

She wasn’t leaving. So young, she was going to spend her best years with the Pei family.

Later, Pei Yi returned to the Military Camp.

He sent his pay home, keeping only one string of coins each month, the rest all sent back.

Counting the years, this was already his seventh year in the army.

From a rebellious, reckless youth to Colonel Pei, who had grown used to death and killing.

Everyone praised him for becoming a Commandant at such a young age.

Only he knew-he was ruthless because he wanted to make something of himself.

In the Military Camp, though there was little need to spend money, it wasn’t as if there were no expenses at all.

Especially as a Commandant, he couldn’t avoid being dragged out for drinks by his subordinates.

But everyone knew he was short on cash.

Other men without family to send them winter clothes, finding the army’s gear too thin, would go to Pingcheng and spend silver to buy their own.

Only he had never bought any, nor did he have the money to.

He always thought, that young woman was spending her best years with the Pei family; he could suffer himself, but he couldn’t let the three women at home suffer.

The first time Xue Yu sent a letter, his heart was anxious again.

All these years, bad news always seemed to come from home.

But when he opened it, he smiled.

She said she wanted to start a business, and asked him for the tofu pudding recipe.

No one knew the family’s tofu pudding secret recipe better than Pei Yi; Pei Old Father had once planned to give him the Shop.

He didn’t hesitate at all, and wrote back to tell her.

He didn’t overlook the line she wrote at the end of her letter-

The Borderland is bitterly cold, Second Uncle must take care of his health, we await your safe return home.

Await your safe return home…

That home, for a long time, he had forgotten was still his.

Half a year later, Xue Yu wrote again. She said the Shop was already making a profit, and Second Uncle needn’t send money anymore; he should spend it on himself in the army, and not suffer.

He had never felt it was suffering before, until the Borderland campaign began, the Imperial Court mobilized troops, and the Military Camp was busy day and night. Suddenly, a Military Courier called him over, saying his family had sent winter clothing.

Pei Yi was stunned; his first reaction was that he must be dreaming.

Since he’d left home to join the army at thirteen, when had he ever received winter clothing from home?

Even just a pair of Knee Pads.

He had never worn Undergarment Fur before, and didn’t know how warm fur-lined underclothes could be, with dense fur sewn into the collar.

Even the Knee Pads were so light and warm.

The young Commandant suddenly felt his eyes burn. He had always lived like this, never feeling cold before.

Only after wearing Undergarment Fur did he realize he didn’t know how he’d endured in the past.

Beacon fires burned for three months, a letter from home was worth its weight in gold.

Every day people died, the wind of the Borderland made hearts cold and hard.

Every letter from Xue Yu, he kept close to his chest.

At night, he read them over and over. The words were simple, yet they softened his hardened heart again and again.

In the letters, Taozhou Prefecture, Yun’an County, there was their family’s tofu pudding Shop.

In the Shop, there was steaming tofu pudding, delicious Chicken Giblet Soup, noodles to add, and bread to soak.

The aged Grandmother and mischievous little sister waited for his safe return home.

Xue Yu, too, waited for his safe return home.

Xue Yu, Xue Yu…

Pei Yi repeated her name again and again, finding it especially pleasant to the ear. Without realizing it, a smile crept onto his lips.

Until Han Ying jumped up: “Pei Yi, you look just like Wang Dade from our camp. That kid got married half a year ago, and every time he gets a letter from his wife, he grins like a fool.”

Pei Yi’s smile froze on his lips.

Later, how did he come to want to marry Yu?

On the battlefield, used to death and killing.

When trapped on Lu Mountain, snow falling thick, the men around him died one after another.

All brothers who fought side by side, yet he was powerless.

He could only try his best to wake them, telling them not to sleep.

He told them about the tofu pudding Shop in Yun’an County, Taozhou Prefecture, about the family’s secret recipe, the unmatched flavor.
He even took out Xue Yu’s letter and read it aloud to them.

The weather was bitterly cold, snow raging and wind howling. Their families were still waiting for them to return home, to eat a steaming bowl of tofu pudding and drink a bowl of Chicken Giblet Soup.

Living was truly hard. There was a young soldier, only fifteen years old, who couldn’t hold on any longer. He said to Pei Yi, “Brother, I want to eat tofu pudding too.”

Then he died. Pei Yi cried, his tears freezing on his face, stinging painfully when the wind blew.

He suddenly missed home terribly, missed that bowl of tofu pudding, missed Grandmother, missed his younger sister, and missed Xue Yu.

In that moment, a thought flashed through his mind: if he could return alive, he would marry Xue Yu.

She was a Widowed Sister-in-law, delayed in the Pei family, and he felt responsible.

And he, it seemed, could not do without her.

After three and a half years, the fighting finally ended. By then, he had become the infamous Colonel Pei, known for his ruthless methods.

Pei Yi thought he was rather frightening.

How could one bear to kill thousands of women and children?

If he didn’t kill them, he couldn’t release them either. Keeping them would waste food and sow future trouble.

He remembered the children and women of the Hu Barbarians, the hatred in their eyes, wishing only to eat their flesh and drink their blood.

Those not of our tribe must be exterminated.

Pei Yi dreamed all night long, dreaming of those dead Hu People children clinging to him, and then he fled to a tofu pudding Shop.

He saw Xue Yu inside the Shop, looking up and smiling at him: “The meal is ready, Second Uncle, come and eat before it gets cold.”

Then everything around him suddenly grew quiet. He sat across from Xue Yu, finished a bowl of tofu pudding, and cried.

Because of the massacre of prisoners, when he entered the capital for his reward, the Emperor overlooked him.

Pei Yi felt neither resentment nor regret.

He actually thought it was just as well.

He would lay down his armor and return to farming, discuss matters at home, and marry Xue Yu. Together, they could run the family Shop.

But in the end, the Emperor came to his senses and summoned him to the palace.

Not only did he grant him the title of General, but also wanted to bestow an Imperial Mandate upon the Widowed Sister-in-law at home.

Pei Yi lowered his eyelids and calmly refused.

If Xue Yu received the Imperial Mandate, there would be no hope for them in this life.

Pei Yi returned home, bringing Han Ying and the others with him.

Xue Yu stood in the street, standing in the light.

He wanted to marry her, but for now, he could not say so.

Now that he was a General, marrying the Widowed Sister-in-law at home would surely be frowned upon by society.

More importantly, he was afraid of frightening Xue Yu.

He told himself to take it slow, to plan for the long term.

Xue Yu treated him so well. Though they were not very familiar, she acted like a gentle wife, following behind him, taking his armor, holding his military boots.

She chattered on, saying she would boil water for his bath that night, and that she had made new clothes for him.

This scene was so similar to the warmth in his dreams.

Ever since returning home, Pei Yi’s heart had grown softer and softer.

He thought, perhaps Xue Yu herself didn’t realize that she had feelings for him too.

Everything she did was like what a wife should do for her husband.

He knew he was living in Xue Yu’s room, and the Dudou left under the bedding-she had forgotten it.

He picked up that Dudou, blushing furiously as he looked at it, his heart racing.

After attending a banquet and drinking, Xue Yu brewed tea for him when he returned, and said she would make new clothes for him.

Pei Yi used the excuse of measuring his size to draw Xue Yu closer and closer to him.

The two sat side by side, and when he lowered his head, he smelled the scent of Osmanthus Oil in her hair, exactly like the fragrance in his room.

Since coming home, he always slept soundly in that room.

Half a month later, due to a case involving arms trafficking, he returned to Huajing.

Busy beyond measure, he received a letter from Xue Yu, asking when he would return to Yun’an County.

Pei Yi smiled, joy spreading through his heart-indeed, Xue Yu had feelings for him too.

He didn’t want to wait any longer.

He narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening.

When the Crown Prince went to Jiangzhou County, he volunteered to go.

This move was tantamount to directly offending Feng Jiru and Prince Kang.

He needed to choose a side, for himself and for Yu.

When the Crown Prince was pursued, he led the assassins away and escaped unharmed.

A joke-having joined the army at thirteen and survived the Borderland battlefield, how could a General not escape unscathed? That would be laughable.

He deliberately left the Crown Prince waiting in the Pavilion for two days.

Only after experiencing great ups and downs and inner turmoil does one truly appreciate the value of life.

Only then will one show more respect to those who come to save them.

Xue Yu was the one he had arranged to be the Crown Prince’s savior.

With this connection, if he showed his loyalty, the Crown Prince could act as matchmaker, and the Empress could arrange the marriage-everything would fall into place.

Pei Yi was ruthless with himself, even wounding himself.

But seeing Yu busy and worried, crying with heartache, he felt he could endure a couple more stabs.

Yu, you don’t know-all that I have done, every step I have paved, is for us to be together openly in the future…

Pei Yi held her hand.

But he never expected Xue Yu’s reaction to be so strong.

She said she wanted to marry the Scholar, and that they had discussed it together.

Pei Yi felt a wave of disappointment, his eyes reddening, as if plunged into an ice cellar.

She didn’t like him?

After all the moves he had made, risking his life, deceiving the Emperor and suffering wounds, she said she wanted to marry the Scholar.

His chest hurt, his shoulders hurt, even his waist hurt.

He swore fiercely-marry the Scholar? In the next life.

No, not even in the next life.

…

After recovering from his injuries, he forced Yu to admit her feelings. The first thing he did upon returning to the capital was to find someone to arrange a match for the Scholar.

The Scholar was unwilling?

Heh, he had plenty of ways to deal with that.

In the end, in the General’s Mansion, he was drawing his new bride’s eyebrows, with Magnolias blooming outside the window, tree shadows swaying.

Yu complained, “When did you start scheming against me?”

Pei Yi smiled. Where should he begin? She seemed never to have noticed that she had lost a Dudou.

That rogue who stole fragrance and jade planned to confess everything to her that night.

Yu, life is long, the world is cold and indifferent, and all I see is devastation-except when I see you, it is as if I encounter Spring Scenery.