Chapter Twelve

“Brother?”

If Qi Yunmiao’s memory served her right, this was the first time she’d heard such a positive affirmation from Pei Ze’s lips.

Her cheeks flushed with warmth as she watched the frost of moonlight clearly illuminate the figure’s back before her.

Winter in the capital city was bleak, the wind howling mournfully, the moon’s dew crystallizing into frost. Yet someone was treading through the moonlight, their garment swaying gently with each step, as if carrying an unyielding spine that defied all storms, frost, rain, and poison.

“Hm.”

Pei Ze responded indifferently to Qi Yunmiao’s greeting.

Clearly, although he gave some tacit approval to Qi Yunmiao’s thoughts, as for Qi Yunmiao herself, he had yet to form any definitive attitude or willingness for closer contact.

He walked over to the table, casting a glance at the dishes laid out.

Pei Ze had returned home that night without informing anyone beforehand.

Shen Ruozhu hurriedly instructed the servants to prepare another set of dishes and utensils for him.

Pei Xun also inquired, “Jingxuan, why the sudden decision to come home tonight? Not even a word to the family beforehand.”

“Wasn’t Father the one who called me back?” Pei Ze countered.

“Me?” Pei Xun suddenly realized. “But I told you to come back tomorrow, didn’t I?”

“Tomorrow I’ll be at the teacher’s house for a small gathering; I won’t have time to come home,” Pei Ze replied.

Pei Xun fell silent.

Zhou Yong, the former director of the Imperial Academy, had students spread across the court and the entire realm. Even though he was now retired, his prestige was not to be underestimated.

As Zhou Yong’s last disciple, Pei Ze was expected to maintain regular contact with him. Pei Xun did not oppose this, but what made him unhappy was that Pei Ze often used the Zhou family’s backing as an excuse to treat his own family with cold indifference.

He said nothing, and Pei Ze did not fully sit down at the table.

His gaze followed the dishes on the table but finally settled on Shen Ruozhu.

He said, “Madam, there’s no need to prepare another set of dishes—I’ve already eaten at the Imperial Academy. If Father hasn’t finished dinner, I’ll see you later in the study.”

“Wait!” As his pale blue sleeve swirled and he turned to leave, Pei Xun said, “Since you’re here, have some chicken soup. Why rush? The matter I wanted to discuss tomorrow also concerns Yunmiao. Now’s a good time. After you finish, the four of us can talk things over properly.”

Four of us?

Pei Ze found the phrase particularly grating.

He frowned slightly, looking at Pei Xun.

But Pei Xun saw nothing wrong with what he said.

He met Pei Ze’s gaze squarely.

The silent hall suddenly filled with a dangerous contest between father and son.

Shen Ruozhu calmly observed the pair.

In truth, she had understood the relationship between Pei Xun and Pei Ze from the start.

But she had no intention to interfere too much.

Every family had its own burdens; she was no saint and neither liked nor wanted to waste time currying favor with a boy who harbored hostility toward her, just to earn a reputation for virtue in the eyes of outsiders.

Having married Pei Xun, all she needed to do was fulfill her duty as the mistress of the household.

Still, Shen Ruozhu recalled that when Qi Yunmiao had been bullied by Song Xiao, it was Pei Ze who had escorted her to the Song family early that morning. And what he just said now indeed carried some meaning.

Father and son kept their faces cold, neither willing to yield first. At last, Shen Ruozhu rose and took the serving tray from a servant.

“Jingxuan rarely comes home. No matter what matters we have to discuss, it’s important for the family to sit together and eat something. This is chicken soup stewed with red dates and Ophiopogon japonicus. It also contains longan, goji berries, and cordyceps flower—clean, nourishing, and restorative. Yunmiao is still a child and shouldn’t drink too much, but if you don’t drink it, it’ll be wasted... By the way, this Ophiopogon is from Xiangyang—Xiangyang’s Ophiopogon is prized; an ounce is worth a thousand gold coins.”

She smiled warmly, speaking slowly and gently.

Pei Ze had been staring fixedly at his father, but upon hearing “Xiangyang,” he finally shifted his gaze and looked at Shen Ruozhu again.

Xiangyang—that was where the Liu family was now exiled;

And the Liu family was his late mother’s natal family.

After a moment, Pei Ze finally sat down at the table.

The chicken soup was placed before him. Lifting the lid, he inhaled its rich aroma.

—

After leisurely finishing dinner, the family sat in the flower hall’s chairs.

The nights in the capital after winter set in were bone-chilling. Dew pearls covered the rare blooming flowers and grasses, quietly awaiting the freeze at midnight.

Qi Yunmiao sat beside her mother, gently rubbing her round belly.

Pei Ze sat next to Pei Xun, the two facing each other across the hall.

By candlelight indoors, Qi Yunmiao glanced at Pei Ze, then at her mother.

Since Pei Ze had entered, her eyes darted about ceaselessly throughout the meal.

No wonder—each of the four in that room harbored different thoughts.

She didn’t know what the prime minister planned to say that involved her, but she thought if the relationship between Pei Ze and Pei Xun could not be eased, there would surely be many tasks for her and her mother in the days ahead.

The maids prepared tea after the meal.

After a sip, Pei Xun asked Pei Ze, “Is the Imperial Academy’s schedule the same as usual this year? A holiday after mid-winter month?”

Pei Ze answered, “Not sure. The masters haven’t announced it yet.”

Pei Xun nodded, stroked the short beard on his chin, and finally got to the point.

“Jingxuan, Yunmiao, your mother—I mean, Ruozhu—and I will soon depart for Jiangnan.”

“Although autumn has passed, late autumn in Jiangnan and Qinhuai sees frequent rain and flooding. The year’s end approaches, and though the court has allocated funds, the actual situation is unclear. The Emperor wants me to go personally to inspect the people’s conditions and soothe their hearts. And since Madam is originally from Qiantang, and this is our first marriage trip, I’ve never been to her family home. So I plan to go with her; when we pass through Qiantang, we can visit home.”

The hall fell into silence.

After a while, Qi Yunmiao suddenly jumped up in shock.

“Mother is leaving the capital?”

Why had she never mentioned it before?

Shen Ruozhu looked at Qi Yunmiao with guilt.

“Xiaomiao, the prime minister only learned of this today. He is going south. Madam originally wanted to take you, but the south has been rainy and damp, and you still have your lessons and martial training with the Song family. So it’s really not convenient to bring you along.”

Qi Yunmiao still found it hard to accept.

Since her father’s passing, she and her mother had relied on each other and never been apart.

This news was simply too sudden!

And with both her mother and the prime minister leaving, and Pei Ze usually living at the Imperial Academy, wouldn’t the manor soon be left with just her?

“Yunmiao is still young; leaving her alone at home is definitely not an option,” Pei Xun said before she could think further. “So, Jingxuan, in half a month it will be winter month. Father wants to discuss with you that for the next month, your mother and I won’t be home. Can you…”

“No.”

Before Pei Xun could finish, Pei Ze interrupted flatly.

Pei Xun paused.

Though he was asking a favor of his son, he did not put on the cold expression he had worn during dinner.

Pei Ze’s demeanor was even colder than before, like the biting wind of a winter night.

He understood now—this whole family discussion was a trap, an invitation for him to move back home temporarily to take care of that little girl, Qi Yunmiao.

“I don’t know how to take care of anyone,” he said bluntly.

“Jingxuan!” Pei Xun tried to reason patiently. “I’m not trying to trouble you, just want you to look after your little sister a bit. After all, Yunmiao is only ten…”

“Isn’t ten old enough?” Pei Ze asked emotionlessly. “When my maternal family was still in Jinling, I went there alone to visit, and I was only ten then.”

“You…”

Pei Xun was speechless.

His glare was clear: him and Qi Yunmiao were incomparable.

He had been independent and strong-willed since childhood, the most mature and outstanding among his peers. Even at ten, he was trustworthy; but Yunmiao was still a genuine little girl, new to the capital, unfamiliar with the prominent families connected to the Pei family. How could he and Shen Ruozhu feel at ease leaving her alone?

But Pei Ze didn’t care about any of that. He only knew that he had gone alone to Jinling at ten, so now Yunmiao, also ten, should learn to stay at home by herself.

Moreover, he was never truly her brother—why should he care for this little girl on their behalf?

Before Qi Yunmiao could clear her thoughts, the father and son were locked in stalemate again. She hurriedly suppressed her feelings and spoke.

“Prime Minister, Mother, there’s no need to trouble Brother. As long as Madam Fang and others are in the manor, I can take care of myself.”

She was so sensible it broke one’s heart.

Shen Ruozhu drew her into her arms.

Pei Xun looked at the child with pity and pointed at Qi Yunmiao.

“Look how sensible your sister is. How can it be so hard for you to look after her?”

Pei Ze sneered, “Yes, she’s sensible, but if she’s so sensible, why does she still need someone to look after her?”

With those words, he glanced at Qi Yunmiao and, without giving Pei Xun another chance to speak, set down his warm tea cup and left the hall.

“Jingxuan!”

“Jingxuan!!”

Pei Xun called after him several times but could not stop him.

He could only watch as Pei Ze’s figure receded, then sank back into the carved sandalwood chair, weary and angry.

How their father-son relationship had come to this, Pei Xun did not know.

In his official career, Pei Xun might not claim complete success, but as prime minister, he was undeniably one of the court’s finest.

Yet in his relationship with Pei Ze, if anyone dared to call him a complete failure, he would have no defense.

He truly was a failure.

Shen Ruozhu, however, had anticipated this outcome.

When Pei Xun first suggested that Pei Ze help look after Qi Yunmiao, she hadn’t taken it seriously.

She never expected Pei Ze to agree.

With no expectations, there could be no disappointment.

“Prime Minister,” she said softly, holding Qi Yunmiao in one arm and gently placing her soft, boneless palm over Pei Xun’s hand, “It’s alright. Jingxuan is busy with his studies at the Imperial Academy. Asking him to come home every day and return before dawn would be too much. Yunmiao is already ten; as she says, so long as Madam Fang and the others are here, she’ll be fine.”

Pei Xun sighed deeply and met Shen Ruozhu’s clear, almond-shaped eyes.

His trip south was officially to inspect public sentiment and care for the people, but in truth, since the latter half of the year, rumors had surfaced in Jiangnan about privately forged silver and iron weapons, matching military specifications and craftsmanship. He was going to investigate this matter.

He did not know how long he would be away or what dangers awaited.

If Qi Yunmiao and Pei Ze could never get along, he did not want to see any trouble at home.

“Perhaps Madam should stay…” Pei Xun began.

The matter of the weapons was critical, and he had not informed Shen Ruozhu.

In fact, he hadn’t intended for her to accompany him.

But since his wife’s family was in Qiantang, and Shen Ruozhu had heard of this, she asked to go along.

Sure enough, she insisted, “Didn’t we agree to go together? If the Prime Minister visits Qiantang without me, and the news spreads, my parents will surely be the subject of gossip.”

“Enough, enough,” Pei Xun shook his head, then squeezed Shen Ruozhu’s hand. “Then we shall go as husband and wife.”