chapter 8

Pei Second Son had originally planned to stay at home for over a month.

But after only half a month, an Imperial Decree suddenly arrived from the Imperial Court, ordering all officials, high and low, of the Huajing Chang’an Camp to return to the Capital immediately, without delay.

Han Junior General and the others arrived early at Lion Lane, intending to return to the Capital with him.

I found it a bit strange. While helping him pack, I asked, “Being called back so suddenly, did something happen in the Capital?”

“It’s said that a case of Arms Smuggling was uncovered in the Chang’an Military Camp. The amount involved is enormous and the implications are far-reaching. Everyone must return to be investigated.”

“Oh dear, that’s a serious matter. Second Uncle, you must be careful.”

“No need to worry. I haven’t taken up my post yet, so I won’t be implicated.”

“Though the Capital is prosperous, I’ve heard that Officialdom there is treacherous. Even under the Son of Heaven’s feet, it’s not easy to get by. It’s best to stay safe-otherwise, being a Local Official is more carefree.”

“How can that compare? In Huajing, any official sent to the provinces makes the Local Officials tremble. It’s all the same, really-there’s no such thing as carefree. It’s better to strive for higher positions; standing firm in the center, one is more stable.”

“Mm, Second Uncle, you make a good point. I was being short-sighted.”

I nodded in agreement. He curled his lips slightly and handed me a box.

“What’s this?”

I took it and opened it, only to find a thick stack of Silver Notes. I looked at him in astonishment.

“How much?”

“Ten thousand taels.”

“Where did Second Uncle get so much money?” It was my first time seeing so much. I couldn’t help my hands from trembling, and my voice shook as well.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t steal or rob. It’s a Reward from the Emperor, which I exchanged for Silver Notes,” he said with a low chuckle.

Only then was I reassured. I closed the box and handed it back to him. “Second Uncle, you should keep it safe.”

“You keep it.”

“How could I?”

“Why not?”

He raised his brows at me, lifting his eyelids slightly. I thought for a moment, then took it seriously in my hands. “Alright, I’ll keep it for you, Second Uncle. When you and Miss Feng get married, I’ll hand it over to-”

“Xue Yu, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Before I could finish, he suddenly interrupted, his expression darkening and his voice sinking, “What Miss Feng? Who is spreading such rumors to you?”

“…Isn’t it the young lady of the Feng Family of Zhenbei General’s Mansion? Second Uncle, don’t you like her?” I asked timidly.

His reaction startled me. I instinctively thought he didn’t like Miss Feng.

He really did snort coldly through his nose. “I don’t like her.”

“Oh, then never mind. It’s best to find someone you truly like for a life partner. If you don’t like her, no matter how high the Feng Family’s status, we won’t try to climb up. There are plenty of noble ladies in the Capital, so there’s no rush. Take your time.”

“What do the noble ladies of the Capital have to do with me? Don’t speak nonsense again.”

He suddenly frowned and lost his temper, his tone gloomy. After being scolded several times in a row, I grew nervous and uneasy, not knowing what I had said wrong. I felt a bit stifled and uncomfortable.

But since he was about to leave, I didn’t want to argue. I changed the subject and asked softly, “Can I take out a hundred taels from these Silver Notes?”

“Of course. Spend it however you like.”

“Oh, I only want a hundred taels.”

I instantly became happy again. “When I used to help at the Cloth Shop, I saw a bolt of fabric that cost dozens of taels-called Floating Light Brocade or Embroidered Satin. I’ve wanted it for three years now. I really want to make a dress out of that material. Now that Second Uncle has money, let’s make one for me, one for Xiaotao, and one for Grandmother…”

When people are happy, they tend to talk more. Pei Second Son looked at me with deep eyes and suddenly interjected, “You can make several. Make as many as you want. From now on, it will always be like this.”

I was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding what he meant.

A glimmer flashed in his dark eyes as he asked me, “Is there anything else you haven’t given me yet?”

“What do you mean?” I was puzzled.

“The climate in the Capital is different from the Borderland. Most of those things probably won’t be needed, but since you’ve already made them, give them to me. Who knows, they might come in handy someday.”

“What is Second Uncle talking about?”

“Knee Pads.”

My mind blanked for a moment, and then my mouth fell open.

Last time, when I was taking his measurements, there was indeed a set of Knee Pads in my Sewing Basket, along with a Cushion made of Black Lamb Fur.

But those were made for Chen Scholar.

Last time, after the Provincial Examination, the Scholar caught a chill, and with the next exam coming up in three years, I had made him Knee Pads and a Cushion months in advance, both using thick Black Lamb Fur.

Now, with Pei Second Son asking me to fetch them, I wanted to explain, but I just couldn’t bring myself to say they were for someone else.
So I had no choice but to return to my room and fetch the Knee Pads for him.

“Where’s the Cushion?”

“Second Uncle Pei doesn’t need that. Let’s leave it at home for now.”

“He does need it. Go get it.” He was not to be refused.

…

When Second Son Pei left, he put on that set of Black Armor again.

He went to bid farewell to Grandmother.

Grandmother, who had grown increasingly senile over the past year, angrily struck him with her cane: “Why are you leaving again? If you go, what will happen to Xiaoyu? When will you two finally have a child? You’re not young anymore, Turtle Grandson, are you even capable? You need to work harder…”

The young general in Black Armor squatted before her, calm and composed, but his ears were red as fire.

My scalp tingled, and I dared not look at him. I could only step forward and pull Grandmother away, anxiously saying, “He’s Second Son, he’s Second Son, Grandmother, you’ve mistaken him for someone else.”

“Trying to fool me? You think I’m stupid? I saw you marry him with my own eyes. Did he kick you out again? He doesn’t want you anymore? Don’t be afraid, I’ll beat him for you…”

…

In the blink of an eye, another New Year arrived.

Second Uncle Pei had been back in the capital for three months.

Since he left, life went on as usual, yet some things had changed.

Xiang fell ill and hadn’t come to the Shop for a long time.

Widow Wu from Damiao Village came, asking me about Han Junior General.

Only then did I learn that when Han Junior General and his men stayed in Damiao Village, they often ate meals sent by Widow Wu.

Then Han Junior General, relying on his decent looks, slept with Widow Wu.

He even promised to marry her.

But when he left with Second Uncle Pei for the capital, he sneaked away without even saying goodbye.

I couldn’t help but say to Wu Cuiliu, “How could you trust him? He’s not a good man.”

“Bah, how many men are good anyway? I don’t care. He promised to marry me. Even if he hides with the emperor, I’ll find him.”

“And what if you find him and he still refuses to marry you?”

“Then I’ll castrate him.”

“…”

And then she really packed up and went to the capital.

Pei Xiaotao gave her a thumbs up from behind: “Widows are awesome, daring to go to the capital to castrate a man. No wonder she’s eaten two chicken tails from our house.

“A role model for our generation! Incredible!”

I looked at her coolly: “Didn’t go to Private School today?”

“Scholar is preparing for exams, and the new Teacher hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Then go wash the bowls in the backyard.”

“…Wuwuwu, okay.”

Xiang had been sick for some days, and I was really too busy, so we hired a Waiter for the Shop.

The Waiter was very capable, so I was much more relaxed. At noon, I had time to visit Xiang, and on the way back, I stopped by Jingyun Cloth Shop to buy two bolts of cloth.

It was the Floating Light Brocade I’d been longing for, shimmering and dazzling to the eye.

I happily brought it home and spent the afternoon in my room cutting fabric for clothes.

Half a month later, Uncle Zhao came to the Shop looking for me. The burly Yamen Runner’s eyes were red as he knelt down, begging me to save his daughter Xiang.

I frowned and asked him to sit and speak slowly.

Uncle Zhao said Xiang had gotten much worse lately. Today, they called another Doctor, who diagnosed her with Heart Mass.

That’s a deadly illness.

My heart tightened. When I visited Xiang a few days ago, she was indeed much thinner, her complexion terrible, lips pale.

Uncle Zhao wasn’t there at the time. She told me she’d seen a Doctor, who said it was Qi and Blood Deficiency and that she’d recover with some rest.

I even spent over ten taels of silver at the medical hall to buy her some fine Ginseng.

Uncle Zhao said Xiang’s illness was of the heart. If Second Son didn’t return, she might never recover.

I was stunned.

Xiang liked Second Uncle Pei.

When did it start?

Uncle Zhao and Pei Old Father were old acquaintances. Back when the Pei family’s tofu pudding Shop was open, Uncle Zhao often brought young Xiang to eat tofu pudding.

She was a lively girl then, her leg not yet lame.

Pei Family Eldest Son loved to study and attended Private School.

Second Son was mischievous from a young age, never willing to help out obediently in the Shop.

Instead, Pei Old Father often had to put aside his business and search all over the county for him.

Because when he wasn’t helping in the Shop, he was usually not at home either, often mixing with Ruffians from the surrounding villages at the West Outer Gate of the county.

Pei Old Father feared he’d cause trouble. Every time he caught him and dragged him back to the Shop, he’d scold him furiously for his mischief.

And Xiang, eating her bowl of tofu pudding, would watch him get scolded.

The youth’s brows and eyes were rebellious, sometimes with bruises on his face, looking defiant, rolling his eyes at his father behind his back.

Xiang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Then Second Son raised his brows and looked at her, his pitch-black eyes revealing youthful defiance, and said fiercely-

“What the hell are you laughing at!”

Xiang was a little scared, snuggling closer to Uncle Zhao, and then saw Pei Old Father holding a long spoon, ready to knock Second Son on the head: “You brat, don’t bully Xiang.”

Pei Old Father had spent half his life in business, and in truth, he most wanted to pass his craft to Second Son.

Unfortunately, Second Son was truly hard to discipline, so Pei Old Father thought he’d find him a formidable father-in-law in the future.

That father-in-law was Uncle Zhao.

The Uncle Zhao I met later was a very ordinary Yamen Runner.

But once, he was a mighty Constable, patrolling the streets and handling cases, never showing mercy to those local thugs and ruffians.

Yet the world is full of truly vicious people.

Until one time, when he returned home and didn’t see his eleven-year-old daughter Xiang, he panicked.

A few scoundrels, holding a grudge against Zhao Ji, kidnapped his daughter.

In the wild fields near the West Outer Gate, in a ruined temple, the little girl’s left leg was broken, and she suffered unspeakable abuse.

Fortunately, she was found by Pei Second Son, who was passing by on his way home.

Second Son naturally knew those men. They glared at him and warned, “Pei Yi, mind your own business and get lost.”

The youth’s face was cold; he glanced at them and walked away.

Xiang’s face was streaked with tears, trembling and so desperate she couldn’t even cry out.

Then she watched as those men grinned wickedly and tore at her clothes, and watched as Pei Second Son returned, holding a brick, his brows fierce, smashing it viciously onto one man’s head.

His movements were ruthless and swift, striking several heavy blows in succession, the sound dull, blood splattering across his face.

By the time the others reacted, the man was already dead, his head a bloody mess, white brain matter oozing out.

A life was lost, and the ruined temple in the wild quickly returned to silence.

As night fell, Pei Second Son carried Xiang to her doorstep, set her down, and left.

Then he went home and asked his father what to do after killing someone.

Later, Second Son went to the Military Camp, and Uncle Zhao told others that Xiang’s leg was crippled from a fall at the doorstep.

But Xiang still remembered the youth’s not broad but strong shoulders.

She remembered in the tofu pudding Shop, when he raised his thick brows and fiercely scolded her: “What the hell are you laughing at!”

He looked wild, his brows and eyes unruly, but truly handsome.

Oh, and Uncle Pei once joked with her father, saying she should marry Second Son in the future.

But after Second Son left, he never came back.

Even when Uncle Pei was buried, he didn’t return. It was said he’d been dispatched to the Border Frontier, and as the youngest soldier in the camp, he wasn’t welcomed and had no right to take leave to visit home.

A few years later, when Eldest Son got married, he finally came back.

But Xiang had no chance to see him; she was a cripple who rarely went out, and he stayed at home only a few days before leaving again.

Uncle Pei was already dead, and no one suggested she marry Second Son anymore.

Her father didn’t mention it either. After that incident, it was as if a watershed had forever separated her from Second Son.

She was a cripple, no longer worthy of Second Son.

If a person gets used to staying at the bottom, never hoping or trying to climb up, perhaps there won’t be so many extravagant wishes.

Xiang staked everything, using her dowry money to open a Shop, not just for herself, but also for Second Son.

Running the business with the Widowed Sister-in-law was her only chance to get close to Second Son.

And indeed, after three and a half years of running the Shop, she finally saw Second Son.

No one knew her hands were trembling uncontrollably, pressed against her crippled left leg, numb from pain, using all her strength just to stay calm and force a smile.

Second Son had become a General, no longer the unruly, fierce youth he once was.

He was steady, sharp, his eyes deep.

He had once killed for her, but now he seemed to have forgotten who she was. When the Widowed Sister-in-law introduced her as Xiang from Uncle Zhao’s family, he glanced over indifferently, his eyes utterly calm.

After that, from beginning to end, he never looked at her again.

The dream of youth was over; it was time to wake up.

The thread that had been taut in her heart for so many years snapped.

When the thread broke, she suddenly deflated, unable to stand tall anymore.

After Second Son left, she fell ill.

Uncle Zhao’s eyes were red from crying, “She’s so stubborn. I told her long ago, not to mention Second Son is now a General-even if he weren’t, even if he were just an ordinary soldier, we’re not good enough for him. Someone like Second Son, how could he marry a cripple?

“She thought she could hide her feelings, but I figured I’d just let her be. All these years, if she didn’t see Second Son once, she wouldn’t give up. But I never expected that after seeing him, not only did her heart die, but she herself couldn’t hold on anymore.”