chapter 9

I wrote a letter to Second Uncle Pei.

I asked if he had been well lately, and if he still had time to return to Yun’an County.

I knew he was very busy. The arms smuggling case at the Chang’an Military Camp was far-reaching, even Prince Kang was implicated.

There was a major purge in the Officialdom of the capital.

As a newly appointed military officer with a clean record, Pei Second Son had undoubtedly caught a good opportunity and was directly promoted to Second-Rank Official.

He wouldn’t be able to come back for a while.

Another half month passed like this. Xiang’s health grew worse and worse, and I finally became anxious.

Carrying the new clothes I had just made, a pot of chicken soup I had stewed for a long time, and bringing Xiaotao with me, I went to Uncle Zhao’s house.

Xiaotao didn’t know exactly what had happened. As soon as she entered the house, she shouted, “Sister Xiang, it’s just a man! You should learn from Widow Wu in our village-if you can’t have him, just castrate him.”

Me: …

Xiang looked truly unwell, but couldn’t help but press her lips into a smile, though her face was haggard and gaunt.

I took out the new Floating Light Brocade dress and handed it to her. “Isn’t it pretty? I specially chose the Bixia Color. When you wear it, it’s like draping clouds over yourself. Try it on, and after you’re dressed, have a bowl of chicken soup. Let’s go for a walk on Zhou Bridge-there’s a lantern festival tonight.”

“I won’t go. I have no strength at all, I really can’t get up.”

“Xiang…”

“Yu, this dress is really beautiful. It’s a pity I can’t go out. Can you wear it and let me see?”

Xiang’s voice was soft, her eyes empty. I couldn’t help but scold her, “If you can’t go out, save it for later. There’ll be plenty of chances. Drink the chicken soup first.”

“I can’t drink it. My heart is in such a panic, really. I want to drink it, and I know my father is upset, but I really can’t make it, Yu. I don’t want to die, but I can’t hold on…”

When I left Xiang’s house, I couldn’t stop crying.

At her request, I wore the Floating Light Brocade skirt in Bixia Color. She said my hair looked best loose, so as a widow for many years, I used a hairpin to loosely tie my hair, letting most of it fall to my waist.

Xiang said, “Yu, you’re really beautiful. Your eyes are beautiful, your mouth is beautiful, it’s like you’re draped in clouds. Tonight, go and see the lantern festival on Zhou Bridge for me, will you…?”

It seemed she wouldn’t make it through the night.

I walked and cried, passing through the crowd on the street, tears streaming down.

Xiaotao, who had been noisy at first, became nervous. “Sister-in-law, why are you crying? Is Sister Xiang going to die? Was everything she said just now her last words?”

Then the two of us walked and cried together, crying as we walked.

People on the street kept turning to look, whispering among themselves.

Xiaotao and I turned from the main street of the county into Lion Lane.

From Lion Lane, we headed toward Zhou Bridge.

As dusk fell, the lanterns on the street began to light up.

Through tear-blurred eyes, I reached the tofu pudding Shop and, in a moment of hallucination, saw Second Uncle Pei standing at the shop entrance, wearing a dark outfit with silver-trimmed flowing cloud patterns, his waist trim, his figure like a jade tree.

Then he looked up at us, stunned.

“Isn’t that my second brother? Why is he back?” Xiaotao asked me, crying.

“I-I don’t know, why is he back?” I replied, crying.

Then I realized, and burst into loud sobs, running toward him.

I rushed so hard that I crashed right into his arms, so excited I could barely speak. “Second Uncle, Second Uncle, you’re finally here! Why did you only come now, wuwuwu.”

Pei Second Son steadied me, first gripping my shoulders, frowning as he looked me over, then wiped my tearful eyes with his thumb, his voice tinged with concern. “What’s wrong? Don’t cry, your eyes are all swollen.”

When I sobbingly explained the situation and pulled him to Uncle Zhao’s house, Xiaotao’s crying grew even louder behind us-

“Wuwuwu, so the person Sister Xiang couldn’t have was my brother…”

…

When I left Uncle Zhao’s house, I was much calmer.

I didn’t know what Pei Second Son had said to Xiang inside, but when he came out, his expression wasn’t very good.

On the way back to the Shop, I asked him, “Second Uncle, what’s wrong? Is Xiang alright?”

He pressed his lips together, as if suppressing his emotions. “She’s fine.”

“That’s good. It’s a sickness of the heart, blocked up inside. The Doctor said she needs medicine for the heart…”

“You wrote to ask when I’d be back just for this?” Pei Second Son suddenly interrupted me.

“Yes, I was so anxious I could die.”

“Really?”

He suddenly stopped, his eyes dark as he looked at me, letting out a cold laugh. “I’m different. I’m about to die of stupidity.”

I was stunned, not knowing what he meant, and found it strange. How could a General say something so odd?

“You-how could you be stupid? You’re a Second-Rank Official of the Imperial Court. If you were stupid, His Majesty wouldn’t want you.”

“Hiss…”

Pei Second Son let out a soft hiss, as if holding something back, meeting my confused and anxious gaze.

“Second Uncle, did I say something wrong again?” I was at a loss.

He suddenly smiled-

“No, is this the new dress you made?”

“Mm-hmm, I spent a hundred taels of silver and only bought three bolts of cloth. It’s so expensive.”

After all, I bought it with his silver, so I felt rather embarrassed.
He didn’t mind at all, his voice low and tinged with laughter: “Not expensive, worth every coin, and very beautiful.”

“Isn’t it? I think it’s beautiful too, but my heart still aches for the money. In the end, I bargained with the shopkeeper and got an extra bolt of fine plain silk from him, though he wasn’t pleased…”

I was quite happy, wanting to tell him in detail about how I got the better deal. When I looked up, I saw his dark eyes, flecked with tiny lights, and suddenly felt a little flustered.

What did he just say? Very beautiful.

“Se-Second Uncle, it’s getting late. Let’s hurry back to the Shop and check on Grandmother.”

“No rush, I just saw her. She’s in great spirits, and her grip is strong.”

“…Did she hit you with her cane again?”

“Mm.”

“….”

Oh no, I think I’m even more flustered than before.

We walked all the way back to the Shop, from Lion Lane to Zhou Bridge, the bluestone road stretching ahead, lanterns hanging high on both sides, everything bright and lively.

Near Zhou Bridge, it was even more bustling.

Lanterns glittered, music and drums resounded, and the courtesans from Qin Tower played the pipa on painted boats drifting along the river.

Pei Second Son’s return was just in time-today was the Lantern Festival.

When we reached the Shop’s entrance, he didn’t go inside. He said he hadn’t strolled a lantern festival in years and asked me to take him for a walk on the west side of the bridge.

I said I should go back to look after Grandmother, but he replied that Xiaotao was there, so I needn’t worry.

Then he just looked at me quietly, his straight nose and sharp brows like a precipitous peak.

He was always impossible to refuse, so I gave a sheepish laugh and walked ahead to lead the way.

I bought a Rabbit Lantern from a street vendor.

The crowd was dense and lively; I walked in front, he followed behind.

The Rabbit Lantern in my hand glowed brightly.

Perhaps it was because I wore such a dazzling dress, many people looked at me along the way, and those prickling gazes on my back made me nervous. Then, carelessly, I twisted my ankle.

Pei Second Son reached out just in time to steady me. Amid the crowd, we squeezed to the side of the bridge, and his concerned voice came from above-

“Does it hurt? I’ll carry you.”

“Huh? No need, Second Uncle, just help me walk.”

We didn’t finish the Lantern Festival; his strong hand supported me all the way, limping back to the tofu pudding Shop.

By coincidence, we saw the Scholar waiting at the door.

Chen Scholar saw me limping from afar, hurried over nervously, and said, “Yu, what happened to you?”

“It’s nothing, just twisted my ankle.”

He reached out, as if wanting to take me from Pei Second Son’s hands.

This was a bit presumptuous, and sure enough, Pei Second Son’s expression darkened as he looked at the Scholar, his gaze cold.

My heart tightened, and I quickly said, “Scholar, this is my Second Uncle, just returned from the Capital today.”

The Scholar naturally knew of him, though they hadn’t formally met. He was a gentle and courteous man, so he bowed to Pei Second Son-

“General Pei.”

Pei Second Son said nothing, just looked at him quietly, not giving him any face at all.

I felt a bit awkward and added, “Second Uncle, Scholar was originally Xiaotao’s Teacher. Now that he’s passed the Provincial Examination, he’ll go to the Capital for the Metropolitan Examination in March.”

He finally reacted, his expression still indifferent. “The Metropolitan Examination should be in February. Why go to the Capital in March?”

The Scholar hurriedly replied, “It was supposed to be in February, but there’s been much trouble at court this year. The Emperor recently decreed that the Palace Examination be postponed to May.”

Much trouble at court-probably because of the Arms Case.

Pei Second Son nodded and said no more. I continued, “You should start preparing for the Metropolitan Examination in March. Have you packed everything?”

“I have. I’ve brought everything I need. It was cold during the Provincial Examination, but now it’s warmer, so I won’t bring the Knee Pads. The Black Lamb Fur Cushion Yu made is excellent; I’ll take it and use it on the bench during the exam…”

“Well, Scholar, you should head home now. I’m tired from standing, let’s not chat more today.”

“Oh, alright. Remember to apply something to your foot, or you won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”

The Scholar left reluctantly, bowing to us, turning back every few steps.

I don’t know why, but my heart felt weak, and I didn’t dare look at Pei Second Son again. I hung my head and let him help me back to the room on the second floor.

Once inside, not having to face Pei Second Son, I breathed a sigh of relief.

What the Scholar did just now wasn’t really presumptuous. After he became a Provincial Graduate, he had already discussed with me that before heading to the Capital for the exam, he wanted to settle things between us.

By “settle,” he meant informing the Pei family.

And by “Pei family,” he naturally meant Pei Second Son.

He had already signed the Divorce Letter for me long ago. If I wanted to marry the Scholar, there was nothing improper about it.

But in name, I was still his Widowed Sister-in-law, and after so many years together, I should discuss it with him.

He returned to Yun’an County today-this was the perfect opportunity.

Yet for some reason, my heart felt uneasy, as if I’d done something shameful.

Thinking about it, it wasn’t so bad. I hadn’t stolen or robbed anyone-what was shameful about it? If it rains, let it rain; if a widow wants to remarry, there’s nothing disgraceful about it.

Besides, Pei Second Son seemed odd this time, making me feel uncertain.

I made up my mind: tomorrow, when I see him, I’ll tell him about this matter.