Only the servants and Pei Huai’an knew about Pei Huaijin’s poisoning.
The old madam of the Pei family, however, believed it was the Chu family’s folk remedy that upset the eldest grandson’s stomach.
She summoned Lady Zhu to Chunxuan Hall to scold her, warning her not to recklessly give him such a messy concoction in a desperate bid to cure him.
“I consulted a fortune teller; Jinge’er’s fate to have heirs is not weak. We should be patient and wait…” The old madam herself wished to hold her eldest grandson’s child as soon as possible, but fate also played a role in having heirs.
Since the young couple had now officially begun trying for a child, it was best to wait patiently.
There was another happy event to attend to now, one that the old madam wanted to personally oversee.
The youngest grandson had just come of age at the end of last year, and in March of this year, he had successfully passed the Imperial Surveillance Examination. Originally, the old madam intended to hold a congratulatory banquet at the manor, but then she reconsidered.
It was mid-spring, the flowers were blooming profusely—a perfect time for an outing to appreciate the blossoms. Why not hold a flower-viewing feast in the garden outside the capital instead? Drinking tea and admiring the flowers would bring even more joy.
The old madam’s decision to personally organize this flower-viewing feast also carried another intention.
Last year, during a tea party held at the manor, everyone in the capital tacitly brought their daughters of marriageable age to attend. At that banquet, the old madam had instantly taken a liking to Shen Yunshu.
Unfortunately, this one-in-a-hundred beauty was mistakenly married to the young Seventh Prince, now the Crown Prince. She followed the Crown Prince into the palace, and it was only recently that news came of her passing the female official examination. The old madam then learned that she had long been separated from the Crown Prince.
This year, with another batch of marriageable girls in the capital, the old madam decided to select another suitable young lady for the current Seventh Prince—her own grandson. Thus, the congratulatory banquet was changed into a flower-viewing feast.
Shen Youran’s recent eye ailment made it difficult for her to look at account books, so all household affairs were handed over to her second aunt. Lady Xiao had also taken leave.
Knowing that her elder sister had just come out of the palace’s female official examination, Shen Youran went to her maternal home—not to complain, but simply burdened by worries, seeking some comfort from her sister.
Seeing her younger sister’s glum and tearful eyes, Shen Yunshu knew something troubling had happened.
After pressing her, she learned about Pei Huaijin’s poisoning.
“Is there really no cure for this poison?”
“I’ve asked every medical hall in the capital; all say this poison is incurable. Father-in-law even asked the imperial physicians in the palace, but they’re helpless as well.”
Shen Yunshu’s heart sank. “How could something like this happen? Why was he poisoned?”
“It was in the Southern Imperial Garden. We encountered an assassin—he was shot with a poisoned arrow. The imperial physician at the time failed to diagnose it properly, missing the best time to cure the poison,” Shen Youran explained, then cautioned her sister, “That arrow was probably aimed at the Crown Prince, so my husband doesn’t want the Crown Prince to know. He fears the Prince will blame himself. Sister, you must not tell the Crown Prince…”
“All right.” Shen Yunshu looked at her sister’s weary face and asked, “What are your plans now?”
Shen Youran linked arms with her sister and sighed, “He wants a divorce and told me to find another good match. He even said Liang Liulang isn’t bad—if I miss him, I won’t find a better man in the future…”
He was always so clear-headed and rational. She had never seen a husband who arranged a new match for his own wife.
Shen Yunshu gently stroked her sister’s black hair. “I’ll go back to the palace and try to ask the imperial physicians again. Maybe there’s still hope.”
Shen Yunshu now lived in the palace. During the day, she studied with other female officials. Only after completing their training would they receive official ranks and positions.
Xie Heng often came to see her. In the palace, there was no need to hide; they met openly and honestly.
After many meetings, their relationship was no longer a secret. The aunt responsible for teaching them couldn’t bear it and reported it to Consort Chen.
Unexpectedly, Consort Chen did not reprimand her. Instead, she praised Shen Yunshu’s talent and told the aunt to teach her well.
Shen Yunshu knew Consort Chen’s attitude toward her reflected the emperor’s own. Since Consort Chen did not mind Shen Yunshu’s closeness with Xie Heng, it meant the emperor’s attitude toward her was also softening.
That day at her maternal home, she asked about her father’s situation and learned he was again employed by the emperor. This further confirmed to her that with her passing the female official exam, the emperor’s suspicion of the Shen family had eased.
However, since the emperor had decreed that palace maids must not interfere in politics, whether she could be with Xie Heng remained uncertain.
Still, even if they couldn’t be together, it didn’t matter. She liked Xie Heng, but that was not her only pursuit in life. Outside the palace, her horizons were far broader.
The next day, she entered the palace as usual to study. During a break, she claimed to feel unwell and went to the imperial hospital to see the physicians, requesting a brief two-quarter leave from the aunt.
Perhaps suspecting she was going to meet Xie Heng again, the aunt was displeased but, mindful of Consort Chen’s instructions, let her go.
Though it was her first time at the imperial hospital, she had previously seen a physician named Chen for menstrual pain caused by contraceptives. So she went directly to Physician Chen and asked for his help.
Fortunately, Physician Chen did not refuse and patiently listened before offering advice: “This poison truly has no cure. Fortunately, it does not yet endanger his life. With proper medication and care, he might last three to five years. The difficult part is that within those years, one slip could be…”
Shen Yunshu bowed deeply. “Physician Chen, please help us however you can.”
Physician Chen said, “The imperial hospital has many medical books. I’ll look through them to see if I can find an antidote.”
Shen Yunshu could only give him a gold ingot as a token of thanks.
Spring breeze warmed, flowers bloomed, and the banquet was ready. The invited families arrived with their invitations.
Among white walls and blue tiles, under locust branches and bamboo leaves, rich silks dazzled the eye, shimmering with jade-green hues. The young ladies were even more beautiful than the flowers.
Shen Youran knew the old madam’s intentions. She had also learned from her mother-in-law that Pei Huai’an liked lively and charming girls. Conveniently, she knew such a girl.
The Ninth Miss of the Zhenhu General’s mansion, Liang Qingluo, had just come of age this year. Her personality was cheerful and lively—perfectly matching Pei Huai’an’s tastes.
Although Lady Zhu disliked Liang Xu, the old madam did not know that Liang Xu had feelings for Shen Youran. This time, the Liang family had also received an invitation to the flower-viewing feast. So when Shen Youran saw Liang Qingluo at the banquet, she naturally took special care of her.
“Come, I’ll introduce you to Seventh Brother…” After her sister left the Pei mansion, Shen Youran felt lonely. If Liang Qingluo could become her brother-in-law’s wife, she would have another confidante.
It was the flower-viewing feast today. Although men and women were seated separately, by the middle of the banquet, few remained at their seats. Most were in the garden admiring the flowers and chatting, so there was no need for pretense or restraint.
Shen Youran took Liang Qingluo to find Pei Huai’an. But her eyesight was still poor, and she squinted, searching for a long while without finding him. Suddenly, Liang Qingluo stopped and pointed not far away. “Sister Youran, I see Qingjian.”
Among the locust trees and bamboo groves, Qingjian stood leaning casually against a tree trunk, arms crossed, looking relaxed.
He was Pei Huaijin’s attendant. Since he was there, Pei Huaijin was naturally not far off.
Shen Youran’s gaze lingered nearby and soon saw Pei Huaijin with Xiao Ci beside him.
However, she wasn’t looking for them now and did not go over. Instead, she continued walking, still searching for Pei Huai’an’s figure. She did not notice Liang Qingluo had stopped following and instead headed toward Qingjian.
After much effort, she finally found Pei Huai’an. She was about to wave him over when a maid spoke to him, and he followed her away.
Without hesitation, Shen Youran followed.
Passing through a moon gate, walking along a corridor, she suddenly came upon a clear, calm lake.
Spring was still breezy, not yet ideal for boating. Few people were around. Under the pavilion in the middle of the lake, a young lady dressed in fragrant orchid-colored robes sat quietly. From a distance, Shen Youran couldn’t tell who she was.
She thought Pei Huai’an had come to see this girl, but he kept walking along the corridor and did not approach the pavilion.
His pace was swift, and Shen Youran struggled to keep up. Just as she was about to call out for him to stop, a sudden splash sounded…
The figure under the pavilion had vanished.
Someone had fallen into the water.
“Seventh Brother, hurry and save her!” Shen Youran shouted, running toward the center of the lake.
The railing of the pavilion was broken. The girl must have fallen accidentally.
Shen Youran could not swim. Halfway there, she spotted a small boat by the lake’s edge and changed course toward it.
She brushed past Pei Huai’an as he rushed to save the girl. “I’ll row the boat!”
“All right, I’ll jump in first.”
Meanwhile, the maid who had guided Pei Huai’an ran off to summon help.
Pei Huai’an reached the pavilion, took off his outer robe, and jumped into the lake. He lifted the drowning girl.
To his surprise, she was someone he knew.
“Miss Meng, are you all right?”
She choked on water and grasped him in panic. “Seventh Lord, save me!”
“Don’t be afraid. It’s all right now.”
Pei Huai’an held her with one hand and steadied himself on the wooden post standing in the lake. When Shen Youran rowed the boat over, he helped her aboard.
“Miss Meng, get on first.”
But perhaps from panic, the moment she released her grip on him, she slipped back into the water.
Pei Huai’an had to lift her again…
By then, others had gathered around, alerted by the maid’s calls.
Though he was eager to save her, if others saw them soaked and clinging to each other, it would damage her reputation.
“Sister-in-law, pull her up quickly,” Pei Huai’an urged, holding her back as he tried again to get her onto the boat.
Shen Youran assisted, grabbing Miss Meng’s hand to help her up. But for some reason, she slipped again and sank.
As she struggled underwater, the small boat rocked dangerously. Shen Youran instinctively bent down to catch her, and the boat suddenly capsized…
Shen Youran plunged headfirst into the lake.