Chapter Sixteen (Part 1)
Yan Jing invited his oldest daughter and son-in-law to stay at the Yan Manor for an evening meal.

Pei Jin felt that Yan Shi Ning didn’t want to stay in the Yan Manor longer than necessary and he politely declined Yan Jing’s invitation.

Yan Jing and Yan Shi Ting escorted Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning to the front door.

‘Where’s your mother?’ Yan Jing asked Yan Shi Ting.

Yan Jing didn’t see Princess Kang Hua since the banquet ended.

‘Mother is unwell,’ Yan Shi Ting said. ‘She’s resting in her chamber.’

Yan Shi Ting was suspicious why her mother was suddenly unwell after seeing widow Li.

Yan Jing frowned and shook his head. He thought Princess Kang Hua was uncourteous by the day.

Yan Shi Ning saw the clear guilt on her father’s face. She didn’t want to waste energy being in his presence and politely bid him farewell. ‘Father, husband and I will leave first. Little sister, mother is unwell, you should take good care of her.’

Yan Jing felt guiltier, his oldest daughter was indeed filial.

Pei Jin and Yan Shi Ning sat in the humid horse carriage. She parted the window curtains and waved her fan.

Outside the sky was still bright and imperial city streets were crowded with people.

‘Are we going home?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin drank too many cups of wine at the banquet. He used the horse carriage ride as an opportunity to become sober. His eyes were closed but he heard the playfulness in Yan Shi Ning’s tone.

‘You’re right,’ Pei Jin said. ‘The day is still early.’

Pei Jin pulled Yan Shi Ning’s arm closer to him as a subtle signal for her to cool his face with the fan.

‘What do you mean?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Yan Shi Ning was in a good mood. She obliged and waved the fan in front of Pei Jin’s face.

‘Nothing amusing has happened since marriage life,’ Pei Jin said cryptically. ‘Then we should go find a little amusement. Your husband has planned our carefree future. We’ll play in the imperial city for a while then we’ll play everywhere outside the imperial city.’ He leaned his face close to Yan Shi Ning’s face. ‘Wife, what do you think?’

Yan Shi Ning’s eyes shone excitedly. ‘Truly?’

The heavens knew she hated living in the imperial city to death.

Pei Jin smiled and nodded his head. ‘Would I lie to you?’

‘Big brother, have you ever not lied to me?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin hugged Yan Shi Ning. ‘Wife, remember to be gentle.’

‘Big brother, aren’t you a prince?’ Yan Shi Ning asked. ‘How can you play outside the imperial city?’

Pei Jin laughed. ‘Don’t forget, I’m a carefree prince.’

Yan Shi Ning fell into deep thought.

Pei Jin was known as ninth gentle prince and also carefree prince. His duties and position in the imperial court were insignificant. During peaceful periods he was privileged to live the life of a carefree prince. But during catastrophic periods his services were summoned. Like the flooding in Xuan Qing six years ago and the rebellion in South Jiang two years ago.

During those times seventh prince and crown prince didn’t want to risk their lives. But an imperial figure was needed to restore peace and Pei Jin became the best candidate. Pei Jin understood the situation and volunteered his services. Afterward civilians referred to Pei Jin as gentle ninth prince.

After Pei Jin dealt with threats to the kingdom he would return to his carefree life. He only wanted to perform his duties as a prince and didn’t want any power in the imperial court. He was seen as terracotta mixture, transported to places where needed then stored aside to be used in the future. In a less flattering light, he was used as a shield to protect his favored brothers.

Yan Shi Ning wondered if Pei Jin truly didn’t want to be acknowledged for his abilities. She remembered a night long ago she brought food to him, he was diligently writing strategies to reduce the damages of flooding under candlelight. But someone else took credit for his strategies.

Yan Shi Ning thought perhaps Pei Jin purposely wanted to appear as a useless and unloved prince to survive life in the cruel palace. Otherwise why else would he let go of control over an army after subduing the rebels in Southern Jiang, return to the imperial city and continued being a carefree prince?

Yan Shi Ning peered at Pei Jin. His head was resting on her thighs and she thought he was a complex person. She didn’t want to admit he was a brilliant strategist, his talents were invaluable but he hid his true potential under a gentle and kind mask to deceive the world. It was a pity someone like him didn’t want to be emperor… that thought startled her.

Yan Shi Ning sat still for a long time. Pei Jin opened his eyes and saw her startled face.

‘Wife, what are you thinking?’ Pei Jin asked.

Yan Shi Ning looked closely at Pei Jin’s eyes and she smiled. ‘I’m thinking about if you have a weakness.’

Yan Shi Ning thought Pei Jin was a strong person and it was hard for her to see what his weakness was. If she discovered his weakness then in the future he couldn’t bully her anymore.

Pei Jin laughed. He held Yan Shi Ning’s neck, pulled her head down and kissed her until she forgot to breathe.

‘You,’ Pei Jin said.

Yan Shi Ning was curious what Pei Jin meant. But she pushed his chest away, he kissed her while she was distracted.

Yan Shi Ning looked out the window. The atmosphere in the streets were lively. She saw a stall that sold steamed buns. A woman bought the steamed buns and walked away from the stall. She frowned, the woman’s back looked familiar.

‘What are you looking at?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘Perhaps I saw someone familiar,’ Yan Shi Ning said.

‘Who?’ Pei Jin asked.

‘Big brother, do you remember widow Li in Xuan Qing?’ Yan Shi Ning asked.

Pei Jin vaguely remembered a gentle old woman who was a maid in aunty Dung and Yan Shi Ning’s home. ‘Um. I remember the cong you bings (Chinese scallion pancakes) she made were delicious. Why? Did you see her before?’

Yan Shi Ning shook her head. ‘I’m not certain. I only saw the woman’s back. I don’t think it’s her. I wanted to bring her with me to the imperial city. But she said she wants to go south to unite with relatives and couldn’t follow me north. She doesn’t have any relatives or acquaintances in the imperial city… perhaps she’s looking for me.’

Yan Shi Ning looked out the window again, but the woman disappeared.

‘If she’s looking for you then she can easily find you,’ Pei Jin said. ‘She can ask anyone in the imperial city directions to the Yan Manor and our home to find you.’

Yan Shi Ning nodded in agreement.

The horse carriage halted. Yan Shi Ning was happy to return to Pei Jin’s manor.

Pei Jin parted the door curtains and saw a familiar messenger. He turned around and smiled apologetically at Yan Shi Ning who was about to stand up. ‘It appears we need to stay in the horse carriage for a little longer.’

‘Ninth prince, mistress, court official Huang Guo is hosting a banquet and requested both of you to attend,’ the messenger said.

‘Wife, it appears tonight we need to perform,’ Pei Jin said.

***

End of Chapter Sixteen (Part 1)

Chapter Sixteen (Part 2 of 2)
Huang Guo was a healthy seventy-year-old man.

Huang Guo’s white hair was brushed smoothly. His white hair combined with his dark blue clothes made him look intimidating.

Yan Shi Ning thought the rumor about Huang Guo’s strong aura was true.

Pei Jin felt Yan Shi Ning’s back tensed and he discreetly stroked her hand.

Huang Guo’s guests were seated around two banquet tables. Huang Guo’s sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren were all gathered in the imperial city.

Huang Guo had three sons and one daughter who were scholars and a beautiful phoenix. His daughter was Consort Chen, his three sons were magistrates and married women from prominent families. It was a pity Consort Chen died while pregnant and ruined Huang Guo’s chance of having a grandson become emperor.

After Huang Guo resigned from the imperial court there was an assassination attempt on his life. Two off his guards were killed by poisoned arrows. Afterward for a period, his manor was isolated and he was recovering from an illness.

After the banquet Yan Shi Ning was forced to listen to a group of women gossip. In the past she met them at banquets in the palace, but never talked to them and didn’t expect to be related to them through marriage. It was hard for her to tolerate their endless gossip. But she answered their questions in a friendly manner and smiled politely.

Yan Shi Ning praised third aunt’s white soft skin and for raising young intelligent children who would grow up to be successful adults. Then she turned to the ordinary second aunt and struggled for a while to think of a praise. ‘I heard second aunt is also from a Yan household. Five hundred years ago we would have been in the same tribe.’

While Yan Shi Ning was being a courteous guest she glanced often at the locked door of a nearby chamber.

Pei Jin was detained in the locked chamber for a long time. Incense sticks were burning inside the quiet chamber. He sat opposite Huang Guo who looked at him with complex eyes. He lowered his head, blew on a cup of tea but didn’t sip the tea. Neither of them wanted to open their mouths first.

Pei Jin wasn’t impatient. He believed little lion was coping against the group of women. After a long silence, Huang Guo conceded.

‘Don’t you want to change your position?’ Huang Guo asked.

Pei Jin smiled and knocked on the wooden chair he sat on. ‘This is a good position.’

‘Did you wanted to deal with Su Yue long ago?’ Huang Guo asked.

‘Su Yue is uncle Fan’s niece,’ Pei Jin said. ‘Uncle Fan is good to me. I thought in the future she would become my second wife, but she…’ He feigned anger and regret. ‘But she is still uncle Fan’s niece. In the past uncle Fan once saved me… besides, nothing bad happened so I forgave the offence.’

Huang Guo’s face darkened. Last night Su Yue was chased back to his manor and she explained what happened in Pei Jin’s manor. He understood that Pei Jin saw through his careful scheme and realised he underestimated the unfavored prince. But he knew Pei Jin wouldn’t retaliate because Gentleman Fan had once saved Pei Jin’s life.

‘It was indeed a good scheme,’ Huang Guo praised grudgingly.

Pei Jin didn’t deny Huang Guo’s words and he quietly drank tea. Some things were better kept inside the heart. If they were voiced, it’d lose its beauty.

‘Except, don’t you want to avenge your mother Consort Chen?’ Huang Guo asked triumphantly.

Pei Jin felt like his heart jumped out of his chest. He didn’t know why Huang Guo suddenly asked about Consort Chen. He didn’t expose Huang Guo’s scheme to conceal his own scheme and the blame was poured over a maid with a cruel conscience.

Huang Guo pulled out a note from his sleeve and passed it to Pei Jin. ‘This afternoon, I discovered this in front of the calligraphy room.’

Pei Jin opened the folded note and his body trembled with anger, ‘the empress killed Consort Chen.’

Pei Jin immediately thought of the impatient MF Bei Dou.

Pei Jin suppressed his anger and feigned shock. ‘This… this…’

‘Long ago I thought Xiao Chen’s death was suspicious,’ Huang Guo said. ‘I couldn’t find evidence to confirm my suspicions, but I didn’t expect this! Your mother was good to you, you need to avenge her!’

Pei Jin fisted his hands. He thought one failed scheme birth a new scheme, and Huang Guo found a way to force him to deal with the empress.

‘I’ll investigate this thoroughly,’ Pei Jin said.

Huang Guo assessed Pei Jin’s expression as though he wanted to see through Pei Jin’s bones. ’Don’t become an ungrateful and unfilial person!’

Pei Jin felt like he swallowed fleas, stood and left the chamber.

After Pei Jin left, Huang Guo’s third son Fan Min Xian stepped out from behind a screen.

‘Father, can we use Pei Jin?’ Fan Min Xian asked.

Huang Guo shook his head.

‘Do we need to…’ Fan Min Xian said in a dangerous tone.

‘No, he knows our scheme but didn’t expose us to warn us not to do anything reckless,’ Huang Guo said. ‘Also, that there’s no hope for us to use him. He truly doesn’t want to become emperor.’

‘What should we do now?’ Fan Min Xian asked,

‘We can only silently follow his activities,’ Huang Guo said.

***

End of Chapter Sixteen (Part 2 of 2)