Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 54

Seeing Madam Pei in such a state, Zhen Tingyun had to struggle so hard to suppress her laughter that tears nearly came to her eyes.

Still, she knew she absolutely couldn’t laugh out loud.

Before Father Zhen or Madam Pei noticed her, she secretly pinched herself several times.

The pain made her eyes redden, and after that she was too busy hurting to laugh anymore.

Sure enough, after helping Madam Pei out of the carriage, Father Zhen immediately noticed Zhen Tingyun standing to one side.

The moment his gaze fell upon her, Zhen Tingyun understood his meaning. She promptly stepped forward and bowed respectfully to greet her parents.

Father Zhen looked at her. His brows furrowed slightly before relaxing again as he smiled. “Just got back?”

“Yes.” Zhen Tingyun answered obediently and deliberately avoided looking at Madam Pei again.

Her face is still swollen. If I keep looking, she might get so embarrassed that she loses her temper.

Father Zhen nodded slightly but said nothing further.

What surprised Zhen Tingyun, however, was that Madam Pei also remained completely silent. That was truly unusual.

Unable to help herself, she glanced at Madam Pei again, confusion evident in her eyes.

Madam Pei’s face was still red and swollen, making it impossible to read her expression.

But the moment she noticed Zhen Tingyun looking at her, she instinctively pressed her lips together.

She really did want to say something.

The words had barely reached her lips when the slight movement tugged at the muscles in her cheeks, sending a sharp stab of pain through her face.

As that pain struck, it was as though she had returned once more to the Pei residence.

Her ears rang with emptiness.

All she could hear was the crisp sound of Grand Secretary Pei’s palm striking her face.

Grand Secretary Pei was by no means a frail scholar. Ordinarily he was kind and approachable. But once his temper truly flared and he resorted to physical punishment, his blows were capable of leaving flesh torn and bloodied.

As Madam Pei knelt alone upon the floor and received two resounding slaps across the face from her father, she felt both humiliated and furious.

She wished she could simply faint on the spot.

Yet ringing in her ears was Grand Secretary Pei’s voice, cold to the very extreme.

“Does it hurt? Good. If you know pain, then all the better. As a mother, you claimed to be acting for your daughter’s own good when you sold her examination voucher. As a father, I’m acting for my daughter’s own good by giving you a few slaps. I’ve done nothing wrong either, have I?”

Even though Madam Pei refused to accept it inwardly, she did not dare argue with her father. All she could do was burst into tears and collapse forward onto the ground. Darkness washed repeatedly over her vision as though she were about to lose consciousness.

Grand Secretary Pei, however, remained standing. His expression was perfectly calm, as composed as he was when conducting affairs in court.

Every word he spoke was as sharp as a blade.

“Your mother bore two sons and one daughter. You were her youngest child, so naturally she doted on you more than the others. Especially after I was dismissed from office and had no choice but to take the family away from the capital to escape political disaster. Your two elder brothers were already grown but you were still just a little girl, forced to travel with the family through hardship after hardship. Because of that, I have always felt guilty toward you. So long as you didn’t go too far, I indulged you in almost everything. Even when you made mistakes, I always told myself you were merely young and ignorant, and I couldn’t bear to criticize you too harshly.”

“But now I realize, if a child is not properly taught, the fault lies with the father. The person you’ve become today is my own failure. I should have given you these two slaps long ago, so that you would have learned your lesson much earlier. But I couldn’t bear to do it. I kept enduring and indulging you until now. And because of that, you’ve become more and more outrageous.”

“Back then, it was you who chose Zhen Dongping for yourself and insisted on marrying him. What did I tell you at the time? I told you long ago that his household consisted only of himself and his widowed mother. Although his mother was rough and uncultured by nature, she had single-handedly raised her only son through years of hardship and sacrifice. She was worthy of respect. If you insisted on marrying into that family, then you should honor your husband by serving your mother-in-law with filial devotion. But what about you? After marrying into the Zhen family, you’ve caused one incident after another. Even now, just thinking about everything you’ve done is enough to give me a headache.”

“Later, when you took Yi Jie’er to the capital, I saw how things were and felt sorry for you. Inevitably, I favored you a little. That was why I personally stepped in to reconcile things between you and Dongping, and went to considerable effort to have him transferred to another post outside the capital. What did I tell you back then? I made it very clear that this was only a temporary measure. Once you and Dongping had a legitimate son, you could send for your mother-in-law and Ting Jie’er to come to the capital. By then, your mother-in-law’s anger would have cooled. For the sake of her grandson, she would no longer hold such resentment toward you. Your whole family could finally be reunited and enjoy domestic happiness together.”

“But what did you do? You only cared about your own comfort and freedom. You completely ignored your mother-in-law and your young daughter back in your hometown. It wasn’t until Dongping was transferred back to the capital, when you could no longer put it off, that you reluctantly sent someone to bring the grandmother and granddaughter here.”

“These years, as a daughter-in-law, you never served your mother-in-law. Instead, you harbored resentment toward her and repeatedly treated her poorly. That is unfilial. As a mother, you abandoned your newborn daughter, never asking after her, neglecting her with cold indifference. That is lacking in maternal compassion. As a… wife, you knew perfectly well that what your husband wanted was a reunited family, a peaceful and harmonious home. Yet you ignored his wishes completely, acting only according to your own desires until the entire household was thrown into turmoil. That is not the conduct of a virtuous wife.”

“When I arranged your marriage, I thought I was giving my beloved disciple a fine daughter as his wife, creating a marriage people would praise. But look at you now. Go look in a mirror. See what you’ve become. See what you’ve made of your life. To have a daughter so unfilial, so lacking in motherly love, so devoid of virtue… I’m ashamed to even face Dongping.”

Madam Pei had already been slapped several times. Her face burned with pain, and hearing Old Master Pei’s harsh condemnation only made her cry even harder, as though she meant to shed every tear she had left.

Yet the father who had always doted on her merely sneered at the sight of her tears. “Good! Cry if you can! If you know what pain feels like, if you know shame, then that’s good! From now on, whenever you speak or act, remember this pain and this shame. If there’s ever a next time, I won’t have the face to let a daughter like you remain in the Zhen family to continue ruining Dongping’s life.”

His words were like lashes from a whip, striking Madam Pei again and again. The pain made her curl in on herself, trembling so violently that she hardly even dared to cry anymore.

…

It was precisely because of this that Madam Pei quickly regained her composure through the pain. Looking again at Zhen Tingyun, she no longer even had the strength to be angry.

In a low voice she said, “Your father has already told me about your wanting to board at the Womens’ Academy.”

Hearing this, Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help glancing at her once more.

Madam Pei’s face was so swollen it resembled a braised pig’s head, making it impossible to read any expression. She merely moved her lips and said slowly, “Actually, the girls who board at the academy are mostly those whose families live far away or whose households are poor. Given our family’s circumstances, it wouldn’t really be appropriate for you to stay there. Otherwise, people are bound to gossip…”

Zhen Tingyun instinctively clenched her hands and bit her lip, just about to explain herself, when Madam Pei continued, “However, the Capital Womens’ Academy is indeed rather far from our home. Making you leave before dawn and return after dark every day would pain us as your parents. So we have no choice but to let you board at the academy.”

Her tone remained calm, her dark eyes utterly devoid of emotion, as though she were simply stating a fact.

Zhen Tingyun quietly let out a sigh of relief.

That was true. Madam Pei had originally wanted her to enter Yuhua Womens’ Academy precisely because it was closer to home, and because her elder sister, Zhen Yiyun, was already studying there. The sisters could travel together every day. Now that she would instead attend the Capital Womens’ Academy, the distance made daily commuting impractical.

Of course, Zhen Tingyun was no fool. She understood perfectly that Madam Pei was giving her an explanation she could repeat to others. Since she would be moving out to board at school, people would naturally ask why. Madam Pei had just provided the ideal answer: her parents simply couldn’t bear to have their daughter endure such exhausting daily travel and wanted her to devote herself wholeheartedly to her studies. No outsider could find fault with such reasoning.

Which meant that Madam Pei and Father Zhen had agreed.

The tension left Zhen Tingyun’s clenched hands. A smile spread across her face as she answered brightly, “Yes, Mother. I understand.”

Madam Pei lowered her eyes, glanced at Zhen Tingyun once more, and sighed inwardly.

She really is a clever girl. She understands with only the slightest hint.

Thinking this, Madam Pei couldn’t help looking toward Father Zhen.

As for Father Zhen, his feelings for his wife were so deep that he could probably look at her swollen, pig-headed face and still see the most beautiful woman in the world. Even now, he nodded gently, his gaze full of tenderness.

Madam Pei was not one to drag things out. Since she had already made up her mind, she decided to finish everything at once. “And there’s also the matter of the shops. Those were what your aunt intended to exchange for the recommendation certificate. Although Mingzhu failed to gain admission, your aunt felt guilty, so she still asked me to pass them on to you. Later I’ll have someone deliver the property deeds and the account books to your room, along with the gifts your eldest aunt sent to congratulate you on passing the entrance examination. Just accept them all. The estate and the shops all belong to you now. From now on, you’ll manage them yourself. If there’s anything you don’t understand…”

She paused almost imperceptibly before continuing, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you may come and ask me.”

Zhen Tingyun almost suspected someone had swapped Madam Pei for another person. Surely even getting beaten couldn’t work like some miraculous elixir that suddenly enlightened someone completely?

But Madam Pei had no desire to say anything further. She merely waved a hand. “It’s getting late. Go back now. Your father and I should get some rest as well.”

Although she no longer displaced her anger onto or despised her daughter, that didn’t mean she had suddenly become deeply affectionate toward her. Maternal love wasn’t something that could simply spring into existence overnight. Her feelings toward Zhen Tingyun remained complicated, so all she could do was try to treat her as calmly and fairly as possible.

Even so, Father Zhen felt immensely relieved.

Truth be told, Madam Pei’s face hadn’t been swollen entirely from Old Master Pei’s slaps. Though the old man was still remarkably vigorous for his age, his daughter was already a married woman, and it wasn’t appropriate for him to beat her excessively. In total, he had only slapped her twice.

It was simply that Old Master Pei’s slaps packed far more force than Father Zhen’s ever had. Coupled with Madam Pei’s delicate skin, two strikes had been enough to leave her cheeks red and badly swollen.

Father Zhen hadn’t been present at the time. When he returned and saw the state of his wife, his heart ached terribly. Husband and wife faced each other, looking as though they were on the verge of embracing and weeping together.

After dining at the Pei residence and taking their leave, they rode home in the carriage. Only then did Madam Pei recover a little of her strength. Covering her swollen face with one hand, she began talking quietly with Father Zhen. As she spoke, her composure finally broke, and she leaned into his embrace and burst into tears.

Because her face was already swollen and red to begin with, and she’d cried over and over again, the swelling had naturally become even worse. She looked even more like a braised pig’s head.

Father Zhen had already been heartbroken over Madam Pei’s suffering. Now, softened by her hot tears and seeing that his wife had finally come to her senses, he naturally had no attention left for their daughter. After saying only a few words to Zhen Tingyun, he gently and solicitously helped Madam Pei back to their quarters.

Zhen Tingyun could only stand there speechless.

Sigh… All she could think was that life was truly full of surprises. Until the very end, you never knew what might happen, or just how astonishingly a person might change.

After thinking it over, Zhen Tingyun decided not to dwell on it. Carrying the bird’s nest that Fu Changxi had given her, she planned to stew it for Grandmother Zhen the next day.

That evening, however, when Grandmother Zhen heard that Madam Pei had been beaten until her face resembled a braised pig’s head, she was happier than if she’d eaten the bird’s nest herself. Clasping Zhen Tingyun’s hand, she exclaimed, “That’s why they call the husband the head of the household! If a family is going to be run properly, the man has to be clear-headed and willing to be tough when it counts. Your maternal grandfather may look gentle enough, but he’s sharp as a tack, and he certainly isn’t afraid to use his hand when necessary.”

She and Madam Pei had been at odds as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for so many years, each unable to stand the other. Out of respect for Old Master Pei, Grandmother Zhen had restrained herself from ever laying a finger on Madam Pei, bottling up years’ worth of resentment.

Now that Old Master Pei had personally given his daughter a beating, Grandmother Zhen felt utterly refreshed, as though decades of pent-up anger had finally been released.

Zhen Tingyun sighed inwardly before taking the opportunity to persuade her. “Yes, Grandfather’s actions were certainly effective. I imagine he did it for the future peace of our family as well. Since he personally disciplined Mother, you, as the elder, should also show some generosity. It wouldn’t do to keep holding a grudge against her. Otherwise, wouldn’t Grandfather’s painstaking efforts all be for nothing? Besides, Mother’s face is still injured. As her mother-in-law, you should show your goodwill. Later, you should have someone send her some medicine. It really isn’t something we should joke about anymore.”

“I know, I know,” Grandmother Zhen replied casually. “I’m only saying this to you. In front of others, I’ll certainly treat her properly.”

As she spoke, she began to sound somewhat aggrieved herself. “Ever since we came to the capital, I’ve stayed cooped up in my own courtyard all day and hardly ever gone out. When have I ever picked a fight with your mother? She’s the one who’s always clinging to old grudges and stirring up trouble for no reason.”

Zhen Tingyun smiled and said, “Just think of it as an elder not stooping to the level of a younger person. Close your eyes and let it pass. If nothing else, do it for Father’s sake, and for Heng Ge’er’s.”

Grandmother Zhen continued muttering under her breath, still displeased.

Left with no choice, Zhen Tingyun took hold of her grandmother’s arm and pleaded softly, “Grandmother, I’m about to leave for the Womens’ Academy. If things stay like this, I won’t be able to go without worrying.”

Grandmother Zhen had already begun to soften when her granddaughter mentioned her son and grandson. Seeing Zhen Tingyun looking so pitiful now, she finally couldn’t resist the girl’s gentle pleading. “All right, all right. For your father’s sake, and Heng Ge’er’s, I won’t argue with her anymore.”

Heaven truly must have taken pity on them.

Madam Pei, nursing the injuries on her face and freshly chastened by Old Master Pei, gradually calmed herself and quietly recuperated.

Meanwhile, after Zhen Tingyun’s persuasion, Grandmother Zhen reluctantly assumed the role of a considerate mother-in-law, sending medicine and nourishing soups without taking the opportunity to make things difficult for Madam Pei.

Thus, the usually quarrelsome Zhen household unexpectedly entered a brief period of peace. For a time, everything was calm and harmonious, and everyone got along.

As the greatest beneficiary of this newfound harmony, Father Zhen was positively radiant. His spirits were so high that he practically floated as he walked.

***

Since Madam Pei and Father Zhen had agreed so readily, Zhen Tingyun spent the following days busily packing her belongings in preparation for moving into the Womens’ Academy.

Grandmother Zhen naturally helped with the packing. When she learned that the academy didn’t allow students to bring personal maids, she couldn’t help trying to persuade her granddaughter. “It’s really not that far. Why not just stay at home? You’ll be all alone over there, and we won’t be able to stop worrying…”

After a pause, she muttered quietly, “Besides, your mother really does seem to have changed these past few days. There’s no need to rush into moving out.”

Zhen Tingyun had become quite skilled at persuading her grandmother. “Our family only has two carriages altogether. One is for Father to use when he goes to court, and the other takes Elder Sister to Yuhua Womens’ Academy. If I stay at home too, wouldn’t we have to buy another carriage? And once we have another carriage, we’d also need to hire another coachman. Altogether, that would cost quite a bit…”

Grandmother Zhen mentally calculated the expenses and reluctantly admitted that boarding at the academy might actually be the more economical option.

Soon after, her attention turned to the matter of Zhen Tingyun’s formal apprenticeship.

Madam Chu had previously told Zhen Tingyun that the apprenticeship ceremony was best held before school began, lest people start gossiping afterward.

Of course, Madam Chu wasn’t one for ostentation. She had no intention of holding a grand ceremony. A simple gathering to formally establish the teacher-disciple relationship would be enough.

She had explained it this way: “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t care much about the timing. Sooner or later makes little difference. But once school begins, there will be the joint examination between the two academies. I expect your results won’t be especially impressive then. If we wait until afterward to hold the apprenticeship ceremony, plenty of people will surely say I’ve gone blind choosing you. It’s better to do it now. After all, your entrance examination results, five As and one B, look quite respectable.”

Hearing this, Zhen Tingyun also felt a little concerned. She nodded, then finally asked the question that had been bothering her for quite some time. “Teacher… my five As and one B, which five subjects received As?”

What she really wanted to ask was which subject had earned the B.

Madam Chu naturally understood her true meaning and answered honestly.

“Only your calligraphy received a B. As for music, that instructor hesitated for quite a while before finally giving you an A. So you’ll need to put extra effort into both of those subjects from now on.”

Zhen Tingyun committed that to memory, rose to her feet, and respectfully acknowledged the advice.

After discussing it, both sides settled on the twenty-eighth day of the sixth lunar month for the apprenticeship ceremony. School would officially begin two days later, on the thirtieth.

Although Zhen Tingyun had already mentioned her upcoming apprenticeship to Yuanhui once before, she still couldn’t quite put her mind at ease.

Moreover, she was about to enter the academy. Although she’d be able to return home every few days, and would come home during festivals and holidays, leaving and entering the academy would inevitably be far less convenient than it was now. She doubted she’d be able to visit her other teacher, Yuanhui, as often as before.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became. After much deliberation, she decided she should visit Yuanhui once more before the apprenticeship ceremony, let him know about everything, and treat it as a final meeting before entering the academy.

Having made up her mind, Zhen Tingyun first informed Father Zhen and Madam Pei. She then specifically instructed Liushun to take her jade pendant to the villa outside the city and relay a message to Yuanhui’s guards. The two sides soon agreed on a date to meet.

In truth, Fu Changxi had worried for some time about Zhen Tingyun’s future marriage. He had thought it over repeatedly but simply couldn’t come up with any suitable match, so he had temporarily put the matter aside. Now that he heard she would be visiting again, the old concern resurfaced, and he found himself once more pondering the question he had tried to set aside.

He thought about it for so long that, during court that day, his mind wandered more than once while state affairs were being discussed.

Even Grand Secretary Pei found it unusual and asked with concern, “The court has been peaceful these past few days. May I ask what matter is troubling Your Highness?”

Fu Changxi certainly couldn’t answer, I’m trying to find a husband for your granddaughter, so he merely brushed the question aside with a few vague remarks.

After court, he returned to his residence. Tang He, as one of his closest attendants, couldn’t help asking as well. “Wangye has seemed distracted these past few days. Is there some difficult matter weighing on your mind?”

It was, after all, a minister’s duty to help shoulder his lord’s burdens. Seeing Fu Changxi so troubled, Tang He naturally felt compelled to ask.

Tang He had served at Fu Changxi’s side for many years. When the prince had first been granted his fief as a youth and sent to the harsh Beijiang, a posting most people would have avoided at all costs, Tang He had willingly accompanied him. Through all these years, his loyalty had never wavered.

Moreover, after so many years together, the two had developed a close personal rapport. There were even matters difficult to share with others that Fu Changxi could mention to him.

After a brief silence, Fu Changxi decided not to dismiss him as he had Grand Secretary Pei. Instead, he asked, “I’ve heard that among ordinary families, girls are usually married by fourteen or fifteen. In better-off households, marrying at sixteen or seventeen is already considered rather late…”

Tang He had no idea why his prince had suddenly become concerned with such matters, but he answered honestly. “That is indeed the case.”

Fu Changxi pressed his lips together and fell silent again.

Tang He remained standing respectfully to one side, patiently waiting for him to continue.

Sure enough, after a while, Fu Changxi spoke again. “You know Tingyun will come of age next year. She’s my only student, and I’ve taught her personally every step of the way. As her teacher, it’s only right that I find her a good marriage. I can’t let her entire future be ruined.”

At last Tang He understood what had occupied his prince’s thoughts these past several days. And precisely because he understood, he found himself utterly speechless.

Your Highness… this isn’t how a teacher treats a student.

What teacher celebrated a student’s birthday by sending riders eight hundred li back to his Beijiang residence to retrieve the priceless Admonitions Scroll to the Court Ladies? Setting aside the painting’s immense value, he hadn’t even been willing to openly reveal his intentions, insisting instead on hiding the ancient masterpiece inside a chest filled with jewels before sending it along. The awkwardness of those feelings was almost impossible to describe.

What teacher secretly stationed people to protect his student, afraid she might suffer even the slightest grievance, and even went so far as to warn senior court officials over the smallest perceived slight?

What teacher agonized over his student’s marriage to this extent?

…

And after all that…

His Wangye still hadn’t realized it himself?

Tang He genuinely didn’t know what to say, much less whether he ought to point it out. In the end, he could only answer vaguely, “Such matters should ultimately depend on Miss Zhen’s own wishes.”

From what he could see, Miss Zhen did not seem entirely without feelings for his Wangye either. It was simply that neither of them appeared to have awakened to their own hearts. That two such oblivious people should meet one another, it really was an extraordinary coincidence.

How could Fu Changxi fail to hear the perfunctory nature of Tang He’s reply? He was somewhat displeased.

Then another thought occurred to him.

Tang He has several wives and concubines. He’s clearly no expert in this sort of thing.

So he decided not to discuss the matter further. Waving a hand, he said, “Very well. You may leave. Go bring in today’s memorials.”

Then, remembering that he would be meeting Zhen Tingyun at the Western Hills Villa the next day, he found himself wondering once again what he ought to wear.

He had been lost in thought for some time when Tang He returned through the doorway carrying an enormous stack of official documents.

Meeting Fu Changxi’s gaze, Tang He explained proactively, “Your Highness is going to the Western Hills Villa tomorrow, so I’ve brought in both today’s and tomorrow’s memorials together.”

Fu Changxi: “…”

One look at the towering stack was enough for him to know that he would probably get no more than two or three hours of sleep that night.

Unfortunately, none of the documents could be delayed.

Silently cursing under his breath, Fu Changxi swiftly picked up the first memorial and began reading it carefully.

He continued working until the third night watch before finally rubbing his temples. After servants helped him wash and change clothes, he lay down in the inner chamber for a brief rest.

When he woke, it would already be time to leave for the Western Hills Villa.

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