Chapter Thirty-Three

  The phoenix wings on the golden hairpin with five phoenixes inlaid with precious stones quivered slightly, like a young girl's lively eyes. The bright red silk cheongsam with gold trim set off the image of the ninth princess in front of her, like a burning flame, radiant and resplendent. She smiled as she looked around the room decorated with authority: "Fourth sister's house is decorated differently from others!"

  "Where."

  The Ninth Princess said as she sat down with her back against the wall: "Fourth Sister doesn't go out for a walk either, nor does she come to talk to me!"

  Gu Pei gazed at Ninth Princess with a clear and bright gaze: "You've come to me, you must have heard something."

  The ninth princess was taken aback and subconsciously bit her lower lip: "What are you talking about, Fourth Aunt?"

  She gently stroked the pink ceramic tea bowl in her hand: "It's still about the pastry, I'm sure someone must have said something to you."

  The ninth princess was puzzled: "Why is fourth sister so certain."

  "There aren't many people in this palace who see the good in others, let alone us being close relatives. If we really don't get along, I'm afraid it will be Mother who gets a headache. And when Mother gets a headache, I wonder how many people will be delighted. You think others would give up such a great opportunity to stir up trouble?"

  The Ninth Princess narrowed her eyes: "Weren't those pastries made by Fourth Aunt first?"

  "It was I who did it first, but this is not my fault."

  "It's not my fault either!"

  The gentle smile between Wei Pei's eyebrows seemed to hold a tolerant and forgiving intention: "Yes, it wasn't anyone's fault, but some people just want to use others' mistakes to punish us, how is that possible?"

  The ninth princess suddenly became indignant: "Others want to stir up trouble in our relationship, we can't let them have their way!"

  Quan Pei smiled and called Xiao Rong in, facing the Ninth Princess: "This little girl can make many kinds of pastries. If she weren't a maid given to you as dowry, I would have kept her for myself. From now on, if you want any pastry to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, just come and ask me, and I'll tell her to make it. I won't use her to make pastries anymore."

  Quan Pei's magnanimity suddenly made Jiugongzhu feel a little guilty, and she grasped Quan Pei's arm: "How can this be good..."

  "What's wrong with that? As long as the empress dowager is happy, you won't have to marry into Mongolia and suffer in the future, that's the most important thing!"

  No one had ever spoken to the Ninth Princess like that, not even Empress De. But only the Ninth Princess herself knew that everything she did was just to avoid being married off to Mongolia. Quan Pei saw it and understood it too, with the same intention of helping her achieve this goal. This unprecedented care made her feel a surge of emotions in her chest, and her eyes felt slightly sour. The Ninth Princess lowered her head to hide her emotions: "It's me who doesn't understand things, I don't appreciate Fourth Sister's kindness. Originally, I even wanted to come over and question Fourth Sister, but fortunately, Fourth Sister didn't hold it against me."

  Quan Pei lightly pulled on Jiu Gongzhu's hand: "Silly child, in my eyes you are no different from my own sister."

  Once the heart is open, it seems that another world and scenery can be seen. The Ninth Princess was talking to Quan Pei, feeling that everything she said was pleasant and comfortable, and Quan Pei was extremely good in every way.

  It wasn't until almost noon that Ninth Princess finally stood up: "I have to go back and attend to Imperial Grandmother's meal, I'll come see Sister again tomorrow!"

  Wu Ruoxi, dressed in a crimson cheongsam, walked from outside towards the inner quarters, almost colliding with Ninth Princess. The princess took one glance and thought that the person before her had both beauty and poise, knowing she must be her brother's concubine. She also felt that such a person would make Quan Pei uncomfortable, so she raised her hand and slapped Wu Ruoxi: "You blind thing!"

  Wei Pei's eyebrow slightly raised, Wu Ruo Xi was stunned for a moment before kneeling down: "This servant has offended the princess, please punish this servant!"

  Jiugongzhu was about to speak when Quan Pei grasped Jiugongzhu's hand: "Let's go, I'll see you off."

  The ninth princess hesitated: "But..." As she spoke, she followed Quan Pei out of the house. Quan Pei tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: "After all, you're an unmarried girl, it's not good for you to get involved in these things."

  The ninth princess who had bared her claws was softened by a single sentence from Quan Pei: "Mmm, I understand what you're saying, sister-in-law."

  Wu Ruoxi was still kneeling on the ground in the room, Quan Pei glanced at the red mark on her cheek: "The Ninth Princess is a childlike person, don't take it to heart."

  The Ninth Princess had no grudge against her, so why was she being so stubborn with her? If it were said that there was no connection between them and Guan Pei, Wu Ruoxue couldn't convince herself. She bowed her head obediently and said: "It's this slave's fault from the start."

  Scallion-like fingernails lightly touched the surface of the Huang Huali wood table, Quan Pei's eyebrows and eyes were calm and leisurely, with a different kind of comfort: "If there's nothing else, go down first."

  Behind her, Yulan was holding a small package, lotus-patterned socks, auspicious and elegant clothes, all of which were made with great care. Wu Ruoxi rarely went out of the house, presumably because she was making these things. Quan Pei took a look: "You're thoughtful."

  Wu Ruoxi respectfully exited the house.

  The recent commotion, almost everyone in the yard knew about it. Li Shi was about to give birth and didn't have time for these things, Song Shi didn't have the heart to care about them either. Nalan Mingyue, wearing a pink cheongsam, looked as delicate as a peach blossom, standing under the corridor with a bright smile, gazing at Wu Ruoxi. When she saw her approaching, she welcomed her and carefully examined Wu Ruoxi's face, then clicked her tongue: "What happened? You got slapped! Look, your face is all red!"

  Wu Ruoxi walked along the corridor to the back of the building, Nalan Mingyue still followed her, but refused to go further: "Sister, think about it, don't offend Fugui and Ninth Princess again!"

  This was exactly what Wu Ruoxi was most worried about, she tightened her grip on the handkerchief and turned to look at Nalan Mingyue: "Don't worry about these things, sister should take care of herself first."

  Nalan Mingyue was not necessarily more favored by Fu Heng than she was.

  Nalan Mingyue rarely didn't get angry, still with a smile on her face, and took another look at Wu Ruoxue's half-beaten face. With a pleasant smile, she turned around and disappeared from view. Wu Ruoxue stood in place for half a moment before slowly returning to her own room.

  The fifteenth prince was over a hundred days old, and the celebration was held in Empress De's Yonghe Palace. Many ladies from the imperial family came to attend. The weather was fine, so the three consorts followed Guan Pei and the fifth consort out for a stroll. They went to take a look at the plump and white fifteenth prince, hoping to gain some good fortune, before returning to their courtyard. The ninth princess saw Guan Pei and came over to lean on her arm and chat. From a distance, Consort Yi looked over several times, feeling an involuntary twitch in the corner of her eye.

  The banquet began, and Quan Pei sat together with the Ninth Princess and Wu Fu Jin. On the table next to them, there was always a subtle gaze on Quan Pei. When Wu Fu Jin saw Quan Pei turn her head, she also looked over and saw a haggard appearance. Lowering her voice, she said: "This is the wife of General Su Erlie, Madame Guo, whose mother is Guo Shi Long."

  No wonder, Guo Shilong's case was handled by Yongzheng, and Madame Guo saw Quan Pei only to feel uncomfortable, or perhaps had some other thoughts.

  She lowered her eyelids and picked up a pair of chopsticks to pour the mandarin ducks, the silver-plated chopstick heads shining brightly.

  Kang Qinwang's son Fu Jin Zhao Jia's eyes slightly turned and whispered a few words to Guo Shi, whose eyes lit up again.

  Quan Pei put down her chopsticks and stood up, Wu Fu Jin asked: "What's wrong?"

  "Go to the bathroom."

  Just a few steps away, Guo's wife suddenly rushed to Quan Pei and said: "Fourth Lady, please have mercy on me, spare my mother-in-law and sisters, they didn't do anything wrong!"

  This should be a kind girl who, for the sake of her mother and sisters at home, abandoned her own wealth and glory to take risks.

  Everyone looked at Quan Pei, as if waiting to see whether Quan Pei would be a ruthless and venomous person or a kind and righteous one. Either way, Quan Pei probably wouldn't get any benefits.

  Jiugong spoke up, and Wu Fu Jin slightly shook her head. It wasn't that she was unwilling to help, but rather she believed more in Quan Pei's abilities.

  "This emerald hairpin on Madame's head is probably several years old already."

  Kuo's face, which had been pleading, showed a few points of doubt, and he hesitated: "Yes, yes, it was something that came with the dowry at the time..."

  "The hairpin of the lady is worth ten thousand taels, if it weren't for Lord Guo, how would the lady enjoy such wealth and honor? The sisters in the lady's family are also noble women, enjoying the finest silks and satins. All these are thanks to Lord Guo's efforts, without him, none of this would be possible. This is just the way of the world."

  Her gentle face wasn't without sympathy, but more was indifference. Guo Shi stretched out her hand to help up Madame Guo: "There is a reason for everything, that's what Buddhism teaches. If you've enjoyed things that didn't belong to you in the first place, then sooner or later you'll have to return them."

  Guo stared blankly at Quan Pei, unable to think of anything to say for half a moment.

  Quan Pei nodded slightly towards Guo's family and slowly walked away.

  The Consort De coughed softly, and the palace maidens hurried forward to support Guo Shi back to her own seat. There were people who knew how to liven up the atmosphere, and the banquet seemed to have returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

  The Ninth Princess gave a stern look at Consort Fu, the daughter of Kangxi Emperor and wife of Prince Yu, and said in a low voice: "Don't bother with her, she's someone who loves to stir up trouble and watch the commotion, besides, she doesn't get along well with Madame Guo."

  "Did Guo's family also listen to her?"

  Wu Fu Jin sighed: "When a disease is critical, one will seek any doctor; I'm probably too worried about the family members at home."

  The Ninth Princess didn't care about these things and became happy again: "Fourth Sister is still the most formidable, what else can others say with such reasoning?"

  "Isn't it? So tell Princess to keep quiet for now."

  The sun was shining, and Li was walking slowly outside, enjoying the warmth. Guan Pei led a group of maids into the courtyard, where several gege (young noblewomen) were waiting to greet them. As Li slowed down her pace, she accidentally bumped into Nalan Mingyue, who had just emerged from behind. It was only a slight collision, but Nalan Mingyue hastily stepped aside, lost her balance, and stumbled back into Li, causing the heavily pregnant Li to stumble sideways.

  Fortunately, the girls on the side supported Li Shi, but in the end, she twisted her waist and her face didn't look good. Nalan Mingyue was so scared that she waved her hand: "I really wasn't doing it on purpose!"

  Everyone was so busy that they didn't notice this matter anymore, because a puddle of water had flowed under Li's feet, and someone whispered: "Li Gege is going to give birth!"

  It was as if the sun had come out, and large beads of sweat rolled down Nalan Mingyue's forehead...