Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 25

Truthfully, even Father Zhen, as a son, was not particularly convinced by Old Lady Zhen’s ability to raise children. He certainly did not believe that a grandmother who favored boys over girls could have raised her granddaughter especially well. Furthermore, just as Madam Pei had said, Zhen Tingyun was already thirteen years old. In another couple of years she would come of age and be married. Even if they started teaching and correcting her from scratch now, it was probably too late.

Such a daughter would indeed be unsuitable for marriage into a family of equal standing. But marrying her beneath her station would bring problems as well…

After discussing it this way, even the normally easygoing Father Zhen found himself unable to sleep.

For a time, husband and wife simply looked at one another, both at a loss for words.

It was deep in the night. The room was deathly quiet, with only the sound of the candle burning its wick. The flame crackled and sputtered, bursting forth in little tongues of fire, as though even the air itself had been baked and scorched by the heat, dry and stifling.

After a while, Father Zhen finally spoke from the bed. “Everyone has their own fortune. Take Yiyun for example. She has been intelligent since childhood, became Master He’s student at a young age, and now studies at Yuhua Women’s Academy. Once she graduates, given her talent and beauty, she is bound to have an excellent marriage. As for Tingyun, she truly has suffered grievances all these years. Yet if word gets out, it can be said that she fulfilled filial duty to Mother on our behalf. Outside, she can still earn a reputation for virtue and filial piety. Though she will most likely not pass the entrance examinations for the women’s academy, if you teach her carefully, then with a good reputation and a face that is not unattractive, we can find her a family that values a girl’s character and prepare a dowry for her. She may not compare to Yiyun, but it would still represent the best intentions of us as her parents.”

Hearing these words, Madam Pei fell silent as well.

Suddenly, she reached out and picked up a green jade hairpin, casually pinned up her hair into a loose bun, then rose and headed toward the door. As she walked, she said: “You rest first. I’m still worried about the girls. I should go take a look.”

Father Zhen sat up as well and hurriedly said: “What is there to worry about? You concern yourself too much…”

Before he could ask which daughter she was worried about, Madam Pei had already hastily thrown on an outer robe, gathered several maids and older servants, and left.

Left alone, Father Zhen could only lie in bed hugging the blanket. He tossed and turned repeatedly. Sleeping alone like this, he simply could not fall asleep.

***

Madam Pei first went to Zhen Yiyun’s room.

Although Zhen Tingyun had now joined the household, Yiyun’s room had not been altered. Every furnishing and decoration remained exactly as before. Everywhere one looked, it reflected the refined elegance and delicate sophistication of a noble young lady’s chamber.

Zhen Yiyun was reclining on a beauty couch beside the window, reading a book.

On the table by the window stood a pair of sky-blue porcelain vases. Several branches of late-blooming plum blossoms had been arranged inside them. Faint traces of melted snow could still be seen on the tabletop.

Yet the plum blossoms remained brilliantly red in the vases, their subtle fragrance drifting through the room.

That touch of crimson and that hint of fragrance made the beauty reclining upon the couch appear even more dazzling, almost breathtaking.

Seeing this, Madam Pei felt deeply gratified. This was her daughter. The daughter she had raised with her own hands. Intelligent, radiant, and lovely, a daughter as brilliant and eye-catching as a precious pearl.

When she saw her mother arrive, Zhen Yiyun immediately rose from the couch and came forward to support her. The two sat together on the beauty couch. At the same time, Yiyun repeatedly instructed the servants to bring hot tea. “It’s so cold today, and we’ve already been busy for half the night. Why has Mother come over? If you had something to say, you could simply have sent someone to call me. Why tire yourself out?”

As mother and daughter, their conversation naturally carried a special intimacy. Yiyun even complained playfully: “If you don’t cherish yourself, I do!”

Faced with such a daughter and such considerate words, how could Madam Pei not treasure her? Looking at her daughter with a smile, she gently said: “Now that your grandmother and your second sister have arrived, I felt there were some things I should say to you. These matters are better discussed sooner rather than later, so I came tonight.”

At the mention of this, a trace of discomfort flashed through Zhen Yiyun’s eyes. Nevertheless, she assumed an attentive and obedient expression. “If Mother has something to say, please go ahead. Your daughter is listening.”

Madam Pei did not speak immediately. Only after dismissing everyone else from the room did she take Zhen Yiyun’s hand and solemnly ask: “Yiyun, do you dislike your second sister?”

Zhen Yiyun’s expression changed slightly. Lowering her eyes, she softly replied: “Why does Mother ask that?”

Madam Pei gently squeezed her palm. “You… I watched you grow up. I’ve never seen you speak out of turn the way you did today. How could I fail to see what’s in your heart?”

Zhen Yiyun’s face flushed red, then turned pale, then red again. After a long moment, she bit her lip and spoke in a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s hum. “I… I’m just not used to it…”

Madam Pei looked at her patiently, waiting for her to continue.

Suddenly, Zhen Yiyun’s eyes reddened, and tears began falling in streams. “Our family has always had only one daughter, me. Now Second Sister has come home, and she’s suffered so much. I’m afraid Mother and Father will turn around and dote on her instead, and won’t love me anymore…”

Seeing her daughter cry like this, Madam Pei’s heart ached. Yet she still hardened herself and reprimanded her gently: “These years, your second sister has fulfilled filial duty to your grandmother on behalf of your father and me. She’s suffered so much. It’s only natural that your father and I should care for her more. And as her elder sister, you should care for her more as well. How can you resent her instead?”

Zhen Yiyun cried so hard her voice became choked. “Your daughter… your daughter knows she was wrong…”

In the end, Madam Pei could not bear to be harsh. Hearing her daughter admit her mistake, she stopped lecturing and instead comforted her. “Besides, your second sister has already been delayed. No matter how much your father and I cherish her, she can never surpass you in the future. Yiyun, with your talent and beauty, you may very well marry into the household of a duke, marquis, or high-ranking noble one day. As for your second sister, no matter what happens, she cannot compare with you. So why concern yourself with such things?”

Zhen Yiyun lowered her head and wiped away her tears. Yet a strange gleam flashed through her eyes.

She had been anxious the entire time, terrified that Madam Pei, her biological mother, might be dazzled by Zhen Tingyun’s protagonist aura.

Only now, after hearing these words, did she finally relax.

“Besides,” Madam Pei continued, “you’ve reached an age where many families have already begun inquiring about marriage. I’ve only declined them by saying that discussions should wait until after you’ve graduated from the women’s academy.”

At this point, Madam Pei smiled. “’One daughter sought by a hundred families’, isn’t that saying meant precisely for my daughter?”

Zhen Yiyun lowered her head. A rosy blush spread across her cheeks, and she did not dare meet her mother’s eyes.

Madam Pei continued: “Now you possess both talent and beauty, and you’ve already earned some reputation. If you have a younger sister by your side, she’ll help highlight your strengths and also earn you a reputation for loving and caring for your younger siblings. Yiyun, you should understand this: among great aristocratic families, talent and beauty matter, but character matters too.”

Zhen Yiyun fell into thought. Her fingertips tightened slightly, sinking deep into the soft blanket spread across the couch.

After a while, she finally raised her eyes. She possessed a pair of beautiful eyes framed by long lashes, with dark black pupils. Whenever she glanced about, her gaze naturally seemed to ripple like autumn waters. Her face was as lovely as a lotus blossom, delicate and enchanting. In a soft voice, she said: “I understand what Mother means. From now on, I will treat Second Sister well.”

“It’s good that you understand.” Seeing that her daughter had come around and now understood what was important, Madam Pei smiled. “In a few days it will be your Third Cousin’s birthday. You can take Tingyun along and let the cousins meet each other. It will be a good chance to lay some groundwork first.”

Zhen Yiyun smiled and nodded. “Second Sister has only just arrived. I’m afraid she doesn’t have any clothes suitable for going out. Mother should have someone prepare some clothing and jewelry for her tomorrow.”

“You’re very thoughtful.” Even if Zhen Yiyun had not mentioned it, Madam Pei had already intended to prepare such things. But seeing her daughter voluntarily speak up for her younger sister, Madam Pei felt nothing but happiness. She increasingly felt that her daughter was someone who could be taught easily, one hint was enough for her to understand.

Madam Pei’s heart eased considerably. Naturally, she stayed and chatted with Zhen Yiyun for quite some time.

Originally, after leaving, she had intended to stop by the room next door and say a few words to her younger daughter as well. However, when she came out of Zhen Yiyun’s room, the room next door was already dark. Apparently, Zhen Tingyun had gone to sleep long ago.

Madam Pei frowned slightly. For some reason, an indescribable feeling rose in her heart.

After standing outside the door for a moment, she finally said: “Forget it. Let’s go back first.”

She had not expected Zhen Tingyun to be so carefree. Having only just arrived in a new place, she had actually gone to sleep so early.

Still, there was no rush regarding Zhen Tingyun.

After all, since the girl had just arrived, many things would need to be purchased for her. Even the welcoming gifts Zhen Tingyun had requested earlier needed to be prepared.

Tomorrow, she could have them delivered. At that time, she could naturally explain various matters and speak to her daughter properly.

With that thought, Madam Pei did not linger and simply left. 

In truth, it was not that Zhen Tingyun was particularly carefree.

When Madam Pei had arrived, she had brought several maids and older servants with her. She had not tried to conceal her visit at all. Since Zhen Tingyun and Zhen Yiyun lived in the same courtyard, there was naturally no way she would not know.

Although Zhen Tingyun already knew she should not place any expectations on Madam Pei, she was still just a young girl.

When she saw Madam Pei come over late at night, she could not help feeling a little happy.

Perhaps, she thought, Madam Pei was worried that she would have trouble adjusting after arriving in an unfamiliar place, and had specifically come to talk with her…

Instead, Madam Pei went straight into Zhen Yiyun’s room.

Feeling embarrassed by her own wishful thinking, Zhen Tingyun was somewhat annoyed with herself.

I already told myself not to expect anything, and yet I almost…

After getting angry at herself for a while, she simply had Liushun and the others make up the bed early. She washed with hot water and then climbed into bed.

Even so, after the lights were extinguished and she lay beneath the covers, she still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Nestled within the soft, warm bedding, hugging the quilt, she could faintly smell the subtle fragrance infused into the brocade covers. Her fingertips quietly brushed across the satin surface of the quilt. It was smooth and glossy. She could even feel the delicate embroidered patterns stitched into it.

Holding the quilt, Zhen Tingyun bit her lip and mockingly thought to herself:

No wonder people say that noble young ladies are raised amid silk and brocade.

Isn’t this exactly what they mean?

For some reason, she thought of Yuanhui again. Someone as particular and fastidious as Yuanhui, before his family declined, his household had probably been even wealthier than either the Zhen family or the Pei family.

The more she thought about it, the more she found herself hugging the quilt and worrying about him.

I wonder what Yuanhui is doing right now? Is he still in that Western Hills Estate that’s as remote and desolate as a haunted house?

In fact, Fu Changxi was indeed at the Western Hills Estate at that moment.

He had already changed out of the old clothes that Zhen Tingyun had prepared for him. He now wore a relatively understated yet elegant dark-purple robe. Black trim edged the collar and sleeves, while silver-thread embroidery formed intertwining lotus patterns across the fabric, the stitching exquisitely fine. Around his waist was a black belt. Hanging from it was a purple jade pendant, similar in style to the one he had gifted Zhen Tingyun, though this one did not bear the character Xi.

He nodded to the two men seated before him. “Sit.”