Chapter 19

Once a person starts to suspect they are suffering from some kind of ailment, they begin to apply their own situation to the symptoms, and the more they think about it, the more convinced they become that it must be true.

During the day, with outsiders present, Jiang Xinyue dared not let her mind wander. She pretended that nothing had happened, even taking time to inventory the jewelry in her storeroom with Qingcui to confirm that the hairpin she had retrieved from He Hai was not among her own.

"Does this hairpin look familiar to you?" she asked Qingcui.

Qingcui took the hairpin, examined it carefully, and then shook her head. "It looks familiar, but the styles of such hairpins are all much the same. It is truly hard to say where I might have seen it."

This was precisely why Jiang Xinyue had been at a loss. In a household like theirs, jewelry was never in short supply. Unless it was a favorite piece or something particularly unique, one might not even recognize an item if it were placed right in front of them. However, since she had found a lead, she did not want to simply give up; she was already thinking of how she might use this hairpin to her advantage.

Once she had finished her tasks and bathed, she would lie in her soft bed, only to be overcome by a wave of nausea. This was not something she could dwell on; the more she thought about it, the more severe the sickness became. But how could she be pregnant? They had been together for more than just a day or two; if she were pregnant, it should have shown long ago.

No matter how she pondered it, it felt wrong. Suddenly, she recalled a period when she had been busy concocting a sedative. Feeling guilty and apprehensive, she had been terrified of even the slightest movement from Pei San, and in an attempt to appease him, she had taken the initiative to embrace and kiss him. One thing led to another, and that period could only be described as reckless. Most importantly, Pei San had left everything inside her...

Jiang Xinyue felt as though she could not even cry; she tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. When she finally drifted off, she dreamt that she had returned to that small mountain village in Qingshui Town.

In the narrow room, Pei San looked repulsive and ferocious. He grabbed her by the waist and threw her onto the bed. She kicked her feet, struggling to break free, refusing to submit. Angered by her resistance, Pei San gripped her waist tightly with one large hand and used the other, broad as a palm-leaf fan, to swat her bottom several times.

The room was dim, with light streaming in only through the latticed window, most of it blocked by Pei San’s broad frame. The man gritted his teeth and growled, "Run, then. Let’s see where you can go. Once I’ve caught you, you’ll stay and bear my children—ten or eight of them."

Ten or eight? She would be no better than a sow!

In her dream, she screamed as she was surrounded by a swarm of children. She sat on the ground in the small courtyard, disheveled and dressed in a peasant woman’s coarse cloth, unable to even weep.

Jiang Xinyue jolted awake, a fine layer of sweat dampening her forehead. Seeing the familiar jade-green bed curtains and the quilt embroidered with auspicious clouds, she realized it had only been a dream. She let out a long, heavy breath, her resolve that this child could not be kept growing only stronger. After visiting the Old Madam today, she would find an excuse to go out and seek a reliable doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Because of this nightmare, she was badly shaken and looked listless. Even when her favorite milk and rose congee was served in the morning, she only tasted two spoonfuls before setting it aside, heading toward Fushou Hall with a heavy, muddled head.

When she arrived, she thought for a moment and decided to wear the hairpin she had taken from He Hai. To her surprise, when she entered the main hall, she found only the Old Madam, her eldest aunt, Madam Yang, and her own mother, Madam Xu, present. Everyone else was absent.

This was already highly unusual, but even more bizarre was that the Old Madam, who had not given her a single kind look since her return, was smiling at her—a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Jiang Xinyue nearly thought her eyes were deceiving her; she widened them, blinked, and widened them again, only to confirm that the kindly smiling Old Madam before her really was her grandmother.

The movement was not particularly graceful, but Jiang Xinyue possessed an exceptionally beautiful face—clouds of hair, skin so fair it appeared translucent in the sun, and delicate, vivid features that never looked vulgar. Her eyes, in particular, were stunning, as if filled with a layer of mist, shimmering with a myriad of charms.

Truth be told, any girl from a wealthy family, cushioned by luxury, would have a decent appearance; they could hold their own anywhere. The other young ladies of the Jiang family were also quite pretty. But Jiang Xinyue’s beauty was too striking, unrestrained and bold, like a red plum blooming defiantly at the tip of a branch amidst a snowy landscape, capable of capturing everyone’s attention in an instant. Even this ungainly gesture only made her seem more spirited.

Even though Old Madam Jiang had always disliked this granddaughter, she could not help but sigh inwardly at her beauty. It was a pity the girl had no self-respect, having lost her innocence and nearly dragging the reputations of all the young ladies in the house down with her. Suppressing her inner resentment, she forced a smile and said, "Xinyue, come here quickly and keep your grandmother company."

Jiang Xinyue resisted the urge to turn and run, forcing herself to walk forward. "Grandmother, is there something you need?"

"It is a piece of good news," Madam Xu interjected, her face filled with joy.

The Old Madam glanced at her with displeasure but said nothing, instead continuing to look at Jiang Xinyue with a beaming smile. "Indeed, it is a happy occasion. The Old Madam of the Duke of Zhen’s estate is holding a birthday celebration and has invited many families. She says she enjoys a lively atmosphere and has asked the invited families to bring their younger generation. It seems she intends to find a match for the eldest young master of the Pei family."

At this, the Old Madam sighed with a touch of emotion. "The Duke of Zhen’s family lost three men—a father and two sons—to the wars on the border. The title fell to a mere child, and everyone thought the Duke’s estate would decline. Who would have thought that after a decade of silence, the sole surviving heir of the Pei family would rise up, win glorious military honors, and return safely? Now that the Emperor relies heavily on the Pei family, I imagine every family of note in the capital will be attending. Your second sister and two younger sisters are also of an age for marriage; if they can attend this banquet and show their faces, it will be easier to arrange their marriages later."

Only after circling around the subject did the Old Madam reveal her true intent. Jiang Xinyue could not bear to hear the name "Pei" right now. Enduring her impatience, she listened until the Old Madam finished and asked in confusion, "But doesn't our family have no connection with the Duke of Zhen’s estate?"

Although the Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion held a title, it had achieved little in recent years, and by her generation, the title would be reclaimed. This was precisely why the Jiang family had demanded the Xu family help her cousin navigate the path to an official career, using her disappearance as leverage. But the Duke of Zhen’s estate was different; the very word "Zhen" (Suppressing the State) proved the weight the Pei family held in the Emperor’s heart. Moreover, with a father and two sons having died on the battlefield, the family had the strongest possible backing. Jiang Xinyue wanted to say that the Pei family was simply understated, unlike the Jiang family, which had neither mountains nor waters to rely on.

The Old Madam was choked by these blunt words. She pursed her lips, and the wrinkles on her face deepened. Against the backdrop of her deep purple silk robe, she looked somewhat fierce. Madam Xu stood to the side, not daring to speak.

"We had no previous connection, but the Duke of Zhen fought valiantly, and this victory has secured the peace of our borders. We should send a gift to the Pei family to celebrate the birthday," Madam Yang, the Marchioness, said with a smile, taking over the conversation. "However, yesterday, the Duke of Zhen’s estate suddenly sent over an invitation, saying they wished for us to come and share in the joy."

Madam Yang’s words were very polished, instantly positioning the Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion on the same level as the Duke of Zhen’s estate, turning a gesture of flattery into "sharing in the joy." This greatly satisfied the Old Madam’s vanity, and her expression softened as she nodded in approval.

"I have already decided. I will have new clothes made for each of you girls so you can dress up properly. You are all at the prime of your youth; it is time to have more contact with your peers."

"That is true. But the girls’ jewelry hasn't been updated either. Since it is the end of the year, why don't we have the manager of the Xichun Pavilion bring some pieces over tomorrow so the girls can choose a few? They will be useful for visiting other families at the beginning of the year."

"That would do well," the Old Madam agreed, and she began to discuss the details with Madam Yang.

Madam Xu’s face shifted through various colors, looking like a wronged young wife who dared not speak up, completely devoid of the self-assuredness she showed when alone with her daughter.

Jiang Xinyue listened quietly for a while, still not understanding why she had been summoned, and she certainly did not want to attend any banquet at the Pei estate. If nothing else, she was carrying a child—if it existed at all—in her womb. It would be best to remain quiet and inconspicuous at the banquet; if she were to accidentally attract any romantic interest, her pregnancy might not remain hidden, leading to unnecessary trouble.

Taking advantage of a pause in their conversation, she spoke up directly: "I’m afraid I cannot go. You can leave me out of the clothes and jewelry orders."

With that, she turned to leave; finding a suitable doctor was her most urgent priority. To her surprise, as soon as she spoke, the Old Madam and Madam Yang, who had been chatting so happily, both stopped and stared at her.

"What is the matter? Wouldn't it be nice to go out with us and enjoy a change of pace?" Madam Yang asked with a gentle smile, though there was no warmth in her eyes. "Besides, you are a daughter of the Jiang family; it would look bad if others asked why you were left behind."

Jiang Xinyue felt her aunt’s words were strange. Since her aunt wanted to arrange a marriage between her and her own nephew, it stood to reason that she wouldn't want her attending such a banquet. Suspicion flickered in her heart, but she responded politely, "But I really have some matters to attend to. My aunt is ill, and I would like to visit her."

This was a reasonable excuse. Madam Yang’s smile vanished, and a flash of irritation crossed her eyes. Madam Xu, who had been holding her tongue, spoke up in a low voice: "But the invitation from the Duke of Zhen’s estate specifically named you. If you don't go, it won't be easy for the others to go either."

"It named only me?" Jiang Xinyue was even more astonished than they were. She had no connection whatsoever with the Pei family!