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The only person she knew with the surname Pei was Pei San. But Pei San was merely a hunter from the wilderness—someone skilled in martial arts, with modest savings, yet he still wore the plainest cotton clothes and bore no valuable ornaments. The most valuable horse he had was probably the one she had sold. There was no connection whatsoever to the immensely wealthy Duke of Zenguogu’s household.

Jiang Xinyue’s instinctive reaction was unmistakably genuine.

Madam Jiang and Lady Yang, wife of the Marquis, were both stunned, their expressions shifting repeatedly.

“You really don’t recognize him? Then why was your name written alone?” Madam Jiang’s eyes fixed tightly on the young woman before her, trying to read something from her expression.

“I don’t know why either. Maybe it was a mistake?” Jiang Xinyue replied without hesitation. Then, recalling a past incident, she said with a wry smile, “Our family has also sent invitations to the wrong people before.”

She was referring to the birthday celebration two years ago for the elderly matriarch. At that time, several daughters-in-law’s families had sent people to attend the banquet, but the Xu family had not received an invitation. Lady Xu stood all alone among other daughters-in-law and their families, so humiliated that she could barely lift her head.

Lady Xu endured silently in the Jiang household, but once back at the Xu residence, she showed some backbone, asking if the Xu family despised her as an outsider. The elderly Madam Xu was furious. Only then did they find out that the Xu family had never received the invitation.

After being exposed for such shameful underhanded tactics, the Jiang family felt no guilt at all and lightly shrugged it off as a “mistaken invitation.”

But how could an invitation be sent by mistake? Invitations were carefully checked one by one when written, and even when delivered, a servant would go in person to explain the purpose.

Hearing this, Madam Jiang’s throat tightened, her anger nearly choking her.

Yet the birthday banquet of the Duke of Zenguogu’s household was of utmost importance, and she had no choice but to endure.

“Whether it was sent by mistake or for some other reason, since the Duke’s household sent it, it means they value the Marquis of Huaiyuan’s family. If you don’t attend, rumors will spread again, offending the Pei family.”

“You must understand, given your current situation, attending such a banquet is already a stroke of luck.”

Madam Jiang’s gaze swept coldly across Jiang Xinyue’s face as she spoke slowly, “The Xu family lady is ill, so visiting her is only proper. You could go a few days earlier or later. Can’t you spare even a single day?”

“Even if you accompany me, would this old grandmother refuse to go?” Madam Jiang, formidable in her youth, still held sway in the household affairs. She deliberately emphasized “this old grandmother” to pressure with filial piety.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy in an instant; even the incense smoke rising lazily from the censer seemed sluggish and suffocating.

Lady Yang said nothing, watching with a composed expression. She picked up the tea calmly and sipped it. Since Madam Jiang was willing to play the villain, why should she add to the trouble?

Lady Xu was startled and quickly signaled her daughter with a glance, “Xinyue certainly doesn’t mean that. She’s the most filial child and naturally willing to accompany you.”

Sitting at the lowest seat, Jiang Xinyue could clearly see the expressions of the three above her. For a moment, she found it quite amusing.

So all this time, they had been treating her like a fool, vaguely mistaking the invitation from the Duke of Zenguogu’s household as an invitation for the entire Jiang family. After being exposed, they grew angry and ashamed, declaring she was unworthy in the first place. If they looked down on her and wanted to suppress her, why bother using her name?

After living in Qingshui Town for a while, Jiang Xinyue had come to see many things with clarity. With a newfound boldness, she repeated firmly, “But I don’t want to go.”

She was not afraid of the words spreading—that she was unfilial—because such talk would never get out. There were still several unmarried young ladies in the household, and Madam Jiang and Lady Yang would never allow the Jiang family’s reputation to suffer. Even the news of her nearly year-long disappearance was tightly concealed.

Madam Jiang no longer wished to pretend; her face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Even Lady Yang stopped drinking tea and glanced meaningfully in their direction.

Jiang Xinyue saw that continuing here would be pointless. Ignoring their thoughts, she stood up directly. “Grandmother, Aunt, Mother, I am just overseeing the inventory in the courtyard. I need to go check on it, so I will take my leave now.”

Before Madam Jiang could fully lose her temper, Jiang Xinyue turned sharply and left.

As she departed, she heard the shattering of a teacup and Lady Yang’s startled exclamation.

This time Madam Jiang was truly furious. No younger member had ever dared to defy her like this—not even the current Marquis of Huaiyuan!

And what was Jiang Xinyue to her? Usually, she could talk back using the Xu family’s backing, but now she openly disobeyed.

“Not even able to bear a son, and look at the good-for-nothing daughter you’ve raised!” Madam Jiang was livid, grabbing Lady Xu’s arm and pounding it twice fiercely.

The blows were not gentle; Lady Xu winced and tried to pull away.

With a choking voice, Madam Jiang said, “My son has refused to take a concubine to continue the family line because of you, and now he has only this daughter. When trouble came, everyone in the household cared for her and covered for her, yet she shows no gratitude. Now, even the small bit she can contribute to the family, she refuses!”

Lady Xu, who had tried to escape, stood her ground after hearing this and endured several more blows.

She and Jiang Zhongwang had been a devoted young couple since youth. Even knowing she was infertile, Jiang Zhongwang had never entertained the thought of taking a concubine, nor even a secondary wife.

Among all unfilial acts, having no heir is the gravest.

She had already caused Jiang Zhongwang to go against filial piety for her sake, leaving her unable to stand up to the matriarch. Though the blows made her want to cry, she bit her lip and endured, trembling as she said, “I... I will try to persuade her later.”

Lady Yang finally intervened, pulling Madam Jiang aside and coaxing gently, “Second sister-in-law, don’t blame the old lady’s anger. She only wants what’s best for Xinyue. She disappeared for half a year with no trace, delaying marriage. This is an opportunity to see if she can find the right match.”

Madam Jiang’s expression softened. Lady Yang smoothed the wrinkles in Lady Xu’s clothes and earnestly advised, “The Xu family may speak well, but look at how long Xinyue has been back. Lady Xu hasn’t arranged anything for her. Since childhood, Xinyue has listened to the Xu family’s words and remained distant from us. This time, if she goes back, she will likely complain to the Xu family again. Isn’t that just a misunderstanding?”

Jiang Xinyue had indeed been known to sneak off and complain to the Xu family since childhood.

Her mother-in-law had never been fond of her, feeling the Xu family’s strength overshadowed the Jiang family. But no matter how strong the Xu family was, Lady Xu still had to humble herself before Madam Jiang, which pleased the matriarch’s hidden desires for a time.

But once Jiang Xinyue was born, this ungrateful child was impossible to tame; she constantly complained to the Xu family, who used this as an excuse to meddle endlessly in the Jiang household.

Madam Jiang’s anger flared again as she slammed the table.

Lady Xu was frightened and hurriedly said, “I will talk to her properly. For now, she should stay in the courtyard, sewing clothes and dressing well. She’s not allowed to go anywhere.”

“That girl is too headstrong; she probably won’t listen,” Lady Yang said.

“Then I will stay with her and watch over her myself,” Lady Xu promised.

“All right, all right. Go talk to her,” Madam Jiang said impatiently, lowering her eyelids and waving Lady Xu away.

Lady Xu hurried out.

Once alone, Lady Yang sat at the seat below Madam Jiang and whispered, “Do you think that girl will obey?”

“She will. Though she talks back to her mother, she cares deeply and has always protected her. If Lady Xu is firm, she won’t disobey,” Madam Jiang was astute in this.

Lady Yang smiled faintly, massaging her arm and nodding repeatedly. “But since returning, Xinyue’s temper has grown worse. Marriage will be difficult. When she came of age, Lady Xu even said she would leave all her dowry to her. But if she gets that money, she’ll only become more reckless outside and sooner or later bring trouble to the Jiang family.”

Madam Jiang turned her face slowly toward her, her gaze deep and her tone ambiguous as she uttered, “Oh.”

“The nephew from my family,” Lady Yang continued, “though he seems unmotivated in recent years, we’ve watched him grow up and understand him well. The household hopes he will marry and settle down soon. The betrothal gifts are already being prepared, hoping someone can restrain him and keep him focused.”

This was the second time Lady Yang mentioned this to Madam Jiang; the first time, Madam Jiang had only told her to discuss it with Lady Xu.

This time, Madam Jiang gave a clear answer: “Let that boy come visit the household during the New Year.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Lady Yang quickly nodded and resumed her attentive care.

—The Duke of Zenguogu’s Residence—

Pei Yannian, who had been sent by Gu Junheng to trace the origin of a hairpin, returned only as night fell. As usual, he went to pay respects at his mother’s Tangchun Courtyard.

Before reaching the courtyard gate, a young man’s furious voice rang out: “I don’t want to marry! I want to go to the border to ride horses and fight in the war. What is this engagement about? Isn’t it just ruining the girl’s life!”

Then a servant tried to calm him, followed by a softer female voice, indistinct but likely admonishing.

The young man’s voice grew even more intense: “Why can’t I go? My third uncle was leading troops at my age!”

Sharp-eyed servants spotted Pei Yannian’s arrival and immediately bowed, “Lord Duke.”

Upon hearing this title, the courtyard fell silent.

Pei Yannian nodded and entered. Along the way, servants lowered their heads respectfully and only dared to rise after he had left.

This was not because Pei Yannian was harsh; in fact, he had spent a long time at the border and was impatient with such formalities.

But his presence was overwhelmingly imposing, and his stern demeanor inspired both reverence and fear.

Pulling aside the curtain, he entered.

The Duke of Zenguogu’s residence was simply furnished—tables, chairs, stools—with no ostentatious decorations. Consequently, the entrance area was spacious.

At that moment, the open space was crowded. Servants had surrounded a young man in a circle, who struggled to push them away.

Seeing Pei Yannian enter, everyone froze, looking as still as carved figures.

The young man who had just been clamoring to go fight at the border, Pei Cezhou, fell silent as if a quail’s throat had been grasped.

He straightened awkwardly and whispered, “Third uncle.”

The servants promptly released him and stepped back in a line.

Pei Yannian glanced over without a word. After greeting his mother Wen and his elder sister-in-law Shao, he took the seat below and looked at his nephew.

Though called a nephew, Pei Cezhou was only slightly younger than Pei Yannian, yet the two were like night and day.

Pei Yannian had inherited the best features of the old duke and Wen—handsome to the point of not resembling a Pei family member. His weather-beaten face was hardened and steady, strong and composed.

Pei Cezhou looked more like his mother Wen’s side, having grown up in luxury, rosy-lipped and fair-toothed—a wealthy young lord.

Now standing at the door, throwing a tantrum, he looked like a child denied sweets, showing none of the responsibility his age demanded.

Pei Yannian couldn’t help but take another look and then asked his sister-in-law, “What happened?”

Shao, who had been devoutly praying in recent years, spoke softly, “We planned to use this birthday celebration to see if there was a suitable match and arrange a marriage to keep him from wandering. But when he heard, he packed and tried to run away. He was caught by the household guards.”

Pei Cezhou stepped forward but then shrank back under Pei Yannian’s gaze, weakly protesting, “I wasn’t caught; I didn’t resist.”

Pei Yannian frowned but didn’t expose him. Instead, he asked sharply, “Where were you planning to leave from? Which city on the border? How would you cover expenses? Where would you enlist?”

“I... I hadn’t thought it through yet, but I brought plenty of silver. I could ask along the way,” Pei Cezhou’s voice grew faint.

Pei Yannian’s face darkened. “You want to go east to the border without knowing anything? With so many retired generals here, didn’t you think to ask?”

Pei Cezhou was startled, stammering, “I... I...” but couldn’t form a reply.

Shao’s expression also soured as she clutched her prayer beads.

Wen interjected, “He’s still a child. It’s normal for him to be impulsive. Once married with a family, he’ll calm down.”

She waved a hand. “Shao, you and Cezhou should go back. The banquet is in a few days. Check the invitations and see who’s coming.”

Shao nodded, standing to leave with a frightened Pei Cezhou.

The servants followed them out.

Once alone, Wen couldn’t help but object, “Cezhou is a good boy but inexperienced. If you want to discipline him, you shouldn’t do it in front of so many people.”

Pei Yannian reminded, “He’s already eighteen, not eight.”

“Mother, you spoil him too much.”

Under the bright glow of several octagonal palace lanterns hanging from the beams, the room fell into an odd silence after Pei Yannian’s last words.

Pei Yannian did not find it strange. He understood his mother and sister-in-law’s fondness for Pei Cezhou—few remained alive in the Pei family.

But Pei Cezhou was truly unreasonable.

He proposed, “After your birthday, I will take him to the Eastern Camp for a few months to toughen him up.”

“That’s good,” Wen agreed reluctantly, glancing his way.

Pei Yannian sat straight, his face deep and firm, shadows and light playing across his defined features. His posture was proud and steady, no less impressive than his father or elder brother—a visible superiority.

Yet his own mother was almost a stranger to this man.

Trying to bridge the gap, she asked, “You said your wife is in the capital? Where is she now? Since you are married, you should bring her here to visit.”

Pei Yannian recalled the invitation sent to the Marquis of Huaiyuan’s residence and sighed, “She has some matters to attend to. Later, I’ll bring her back.”

Wen responded with a soft “Oh,” unsure how to continue.

Pei Yannian glanced at the time and stood to leave. “Please rest well. I will handle Cezhou’s matters. No need to worry.”

Wen placed a hand on the table, leaned forward, then sat back while looking at Pei Yannian’s resolute face, saying only, “Good.”