Three days after the palace coup.
Weiyuan Marquis Manor.
Hall of Blessed Tranquility.
The charcoal fire in the hall burned briskly, filling the room with warmth.
Everyone had arrived and taken their places, but no one spoke. Word had reached the manor the day before—an imperial edict would be delivered today, bestowing rewards, and the manor was to prepare to receive it.
After the coup.
The manor’s guards had rendered meritorious service.
Rewarding merit was only fitting, but no one knew exactly what the rewards would be. No one dared to inquire. All they could do was wait.
“They’re coming! They’re coming!”
A young maidservant hurried in from outside, panting as she curtsied. “Elder Madam, Marquis, the eunuch from the palace has reached the second gate!”
The prayer beads in Elder Madam’s hand paused briefly, then resumed their steady turning as she nodded gently.
Pei Fucheng rose, straightened his robes and cap, and said in a deep voice, “Let’s go. We’ll greet them.”
The others rose and filed out after him.
The manor’s main gates stood wide open.
A middle-aged eunuch in a deep blue round-collared robe stood just inside the entrance, flanked by two young eunuchs, each holding a yellow silk-wrapped box.
The eunuch was about fifty years old.
His face was fair and clean.
His brows and eyes carried the particular blend of deference and reserve unique to the palace, with a smile that hovered just at the corners of his lips.
Pei Fucheng stepped forward quickly and bowed: “Your servant, Pei Fucheng, Marquis of Weiyuan, respectfully welcomes the imperial envoy.”
Elder Madam also inclined her body in a curtsy.
Behind them, Pei Cijing and Ninghuan of the Shen clan, along with the others, bowed in unison.
The eunuch immediately raised his hands in a gesture of restraint, smiling warmly: “There’s no need for such ceremony, Marquis. No need, Elder Madam. Please, all of you, rise. I am here today on His Majesty’s orders to deliver an imperial edict. Please stand ready and listen as I proclaim it.”
With that, he took a roll of bright yellow silk from the young eunuch behind him, held it in both hands, and straightened his expression.
Everyone bowed.
Steeling themselves.
The eunuch unrolled the edict, and his high-pitched voice rang through the air:
“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Amid the upheaval at the palace banquet, when rebels rose in chaos, Pei Fucheng, Marquis of Weiyuan, faced danger without fear and bravely guarded the imperial presence, slaying many rebels with valor and loyalty worthy of praise. Therefore, his fief income is increased by two hundred households, to manifest his merit. Respect this.”
Pei Fucheng kowtowed: “Your servant accepts the edict and gives thanks. Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor.”
He took the edict with both hands and rose, his face betraying little emotion—save for the faint whitening of his fingers as they gripped the silk, revealing something of his inner feelings.
An increase of two hundred households in fief income.
Together with what he already had, his total fief income now reached one thousand households.
Though it was merely a nominal grant, with no actual land attached, the title “Marquis of a Thousand Households” carried a different weight. In the circle of nobility, this was a threshold—cross it, and you entered a whole new realm.
Pei Fucheng breathed a quiet sigh of relief in his heart.
Over the years, he had inherited the title.
But his fief income had been only five hundred households. Because he had once garrisoned the border and distinguished himself in battle, it had been increased by three hundred more. Yet he had always been just shy of the top tier of nobility.
Now, with a thousand households of income.
Even if only nominal.
It was enough to let him stand tall among all the nobles.
After the eunuch watched him receive the edict, he took the second scroll from a young eunuch and unrolled it:
“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Madam Liu of Weiyuan Marquis Manor, the venerable matriarch, of high virtue and great righteousness, remained unflinching during the night of the coup and guarded the empress’s palanquin with merit. Therefore, she is elevated to First-Rank Lady of the Realm, granted one hundred taels of gold, and one hundred bolts of brocade. Respect this.”
Elder Madam, supported by Ninghuan, slowly knelt. Her wrinkled face remained expressionless, but her eyes—cloudy yet still sharp—narrowed just slightly.
“This old woman accepts the edict and gives thanks.”
Her voice was low but carried steadily into the ears of everyone present.
Being named a First-Rank Lady of the Realm.
Elder Madam felt some stir of emotion in her heart. After all, on the path of noble women’s titles, this was the highest she could reach. At this point in life, she could truly be content.
The eunuch smiled and offered a few words of congratulations.
Then he picked up the third scroll.
The eunuch unrolled the edict, and his high-pitched voice rang out once more:
“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: Ninghuan of the Shen clan, wife of the second grandson of Weiyuan Marquis Manor, intelligent and sharp-witted, gave timely warning in the crisis and protected the empress’s palanquin with merit. Therefore, she is granted the title of Sixth-Rank Lady, awarded fifty taels of gold, and fifty bolts of brocade. Respect this.”
As the words fell.
The hall fell still for a moment.
In that instant of silence, it was like a stone dropped into a deep pool—the surface first paused, then slowly rippled outward.
Ninghuan had given a warning of merit!
Granted as a Sixth-Rank Lady!
That Ninghuan received rewards for her merit was only right—those above never overlooked those who had done their duty. But the rank of this noble title…
Madam Li, the marquis’s wife, changed color slightly.
She instinctively clenched the handkerchief in her hand until her knuckles went white. She herself was only a Sixth-Rank Lady. And now, this new bride who had barely been in the household for a few months—the wife of the second branch’s son—had been elevated to equality with her?
Madam Li’s lips moved.
As if to say something.
But her gaze caught Elder Madam’s serene expression, and Pei Fucheng’s unreadable face. The words that had reached her lips were swallowed back down.
Pei Fugui and Madam Zhou exchanged glances, both seeing the incredible joy in each other’s eyes.
A Sixth-Rank Lady!
This was something they, of the second branch, had never dared even to dream of!
Madam Zhou’s eyes rimmed red. She looked secretly toward Ninghuan, her gaze filled with excitement, relief, and a tremendous, overflowing… pride!
This child.
Truly, she was a lucky star for their branch!
Pei Cijing, on the other hand, wore a calm expression, a faint smile even curling at the corners of his mouth.
A Sixth-Rank Lady.
That was wonderful!
His wife had earned it through her own ability.
But in his heart, he silently calculated—his wife was now a Sixth-Rank Lady, on equal footing with the eldest aunt. From now on, when it came to household matters, wouldn’t she have even less reason to bow to the eldest aunt’s whims?
Mm.
That should be the case.
Ninghuan lowered her head slightly, stepped forward, and accepted the edict.
“Your subject accepts the edict and gives thanks. Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor.”
Her voice was clear and calm, neither servile nor arrogant, her demeanor composed—as if she were receiving not an imperial decree but an ordinary gift.
She took the edict.
Turned and returned to Pei Cijing’s side.
Their eyes met in the air, and Pei Cijing gave her a quick wink. His eyes seemed to spell out a few words: “My wife is truly amazing!”
A small smile touched the corner of Ninghuan’s lips before she quickly suppressed it.
Having finished delivering the edicts, the eunuch beamed and clasped his hands in congratulations: “Congratulations, Marquis. Congratulations, Elder Madam. Congratulations, Second Young Madam of the Pei family. I offer my felicitations to you all on behalf of everyone.”
Pei Fucheng hurriedly returned the gesture.
He was about to say something more.
When a round figure squeezed forward from behind.
Pei Fugui had somehow made his way to the front, his round face wreathed in smiles, his eyes squeezed into slits. Discreetly, he pulled a large, gleaming gold ingot from his sleeve and pressed it into the eunuch’s hand: “Your Excellency has worked hard. This is a small token of appreciation—please, have some tea on us.”
The eunuch froze, then looked down.
Good heavens!
What a massive ingot of gold!
From his many years of experience running errands in the palace, he could tell the gold weighed at least twenty taels. Twenty taels of gold! He had seen many tips over the years while serving as an envoy, but a bounty this generous was rare indeed.
This manor.
Truly, they were open-handed!
The eunuch’s eyes glimmered slightly, his grin deepening as he feigned reluctance. “Oh, Master Pei Er, this is really too much…”
Pei Fugui chuckled and pressed his hand firmly. “Eunuch, don’t stand on ceremony. You’ve come all this way—it’s been a long journey. This is but a small token of my regard, please accept it for some tea.”
Only then did the eunuch “reluctantly” accept. His smile now held more sincerity, and he exchanged a few auspicious words before taking his leave with the two junior eunuchs.
Pei Fugui saw them out.
When he returned, the grin on his round face was utterly irrepressible.
He walked back to Madam Zhou and lowered his voice. “Hahaha! My dear, our second branch of the family now has a titled lady, too!”
Madam Zhou shot him a glare but said nothing, merely turning to go inside.
After the edict was received, the crowd gradually dispersed.
The old lady was helped back to her inner chambers by the maids. Pei Fucheng and Madam Li also rose to leave. Madam Li walked a little hurriedly, her back stiff as if she was suppressing something.
Pei Fucheng followed behind her, frowning slightly.
But he said nothing.
Pei Fugui and Madam Zhou, beaming with delight, lingered a while longer talking to Ninghuan of the Shen clan before reluctantly letting her go.
Pei Cijing and Ninghuan of the Shen clan walked shoulder to shoulder toward the Anle Residence.
The winter sunlight fell warmly upon them, chasing away some of the chill. The wind chimes under the eaves swayed gently in the breeze, emitting crisp, tinkling sounds.
Pei Cijing walked unhurriedly, his gaze repeatedly darting toward the bright yellow imperial edict in Ninghuan’s hands.
“Sixth-rank titled lady,” he clicked his tongue, a hint of teasing in his tone. “My dear, your promotion rate is far swifter than mine. I haven’t even passed the imperial exams yet, and you’re already a noblewoman of the court.”
Ninghuan was amused by his deliberately sour pretence. The corners of her lips lifted, and she leaned in slightly, whispering, “If my husband desired such rewards, why didn’t he go save His Majesty that night of the coup?”
Pei Cijing likewise leaned close to her ear and replied, “What’s there to save about that old man? High office, wealth, gold, silver, treasures—none of it compares to your safety, my wife.”
The warm breath against her ear made the roots of Ninghuan’s ears flush.
Her husband was incorrigible!
The two walked side by side toward the Anle Residence.
Passing a corridor, Ninghuan’s steps faltered slightly. She turned her head, her gaze crossing several withered plum trees to rest on a distant figure.
It was Shen Ningyue.
She stood on the path outside the heir’s courtyard, watching from afar.
The distance blurred her expression; only her slender silhouette could be seen, standing quietly like a plum tree forgotten in a corner.
Ninghuan withdrew her gaze.
She did not look again.
Her steps did not pause as she continued forward.
Behind her, the figure remained still, unmoving.
…
Shen Ningyue stood on the path, watching Ninghuan’s silhouette vanish at the end of the corridor. In her hand, she clutched a handkerchief, now crumpled and wrinkled like her heart.
She had already heard about the edict.
The marquis received an additional two hundred households of income, the old lady was granted first-rank titled nobility, and Ninghuan of the Shen clan was named a sixth-rank titled lady.
Each and every one received honours.
Each and every one was radiant with glory.
And what about her?
She was a concubine.
A concubine hidden away in the shadows.
On such formal, official occasions, she had to withdraw, to remain in her own small courtyard, to pretend she knew nothing, and only emerge afterward to gather news.
She had watched the imperial decree procession enter the mansion from a distance, watched everyone kneel to receive the edict, watched the smiles bloom on their faces, and watched Ninghuan emerge holding that roll of bright yellow silk.
Everything was so familiar.
And yet everything was so different.
She remembered that in her past life, the palace banquet had also gone awry—villains caused chaos, and the Weiyuan Marquis Manor had been rewarded for its services.
The marquis was rewarded for protecting the palace, his households increased by two hundred. The old lady was granted first-rank titled nobility for her merits. Ninghuan was awarded sixth-rank titled lady for reporting the danger.
These things had not changed.
But other things had changed. In the past life, Pei Ciling had attended the palace banquet.
He was honoured for his protection, promoted from vice-commander to commander of the Three Thousand Battalion—the most crucial step in his career and the achievement he was most proud of.
In this life, Pei Ciling was not among those at the banquet.
Pei Cijing was the one who went.
And Pei Cijing received nothing.
Shen Ningyue’s brow furrowed slightly.
She had seen for herself at the Qingyun Temple that day—Pei Cijing had leaped to the top of the towering ginkgo tree with Ninghuan in his arms. His lightness skills and techniques showed he was clearly a master.
That night of the palace coup, he had clearly had the chance to achieve merit, to rise in rank just like the Pei Ciling of her past life.
So why had he gained nothing?
Was it because he lacked the opportunity?
Or…
Could it be that he simply hadn’t wanted it?
Shen Ningyue’s gaze fell upon the gradually disappearing silhouette in the distance, and a strange feeling surged within her heart.
She thought she understood Pei Cijing.
Ten years as husband and wife in her past life—she had believed he was nothing more than a mediocre, incompetent wastrel who survived on his family’s patronage.
But in this life, she had come to realise she had never truly known him.
He knew martial arts.
He was willing to pursue the civil examinations.
He was ready to reveal his sharp edges for Ninghuan of the Shen clan.
But why… when faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like the palace coup, did he choose to hide? What was he really thinking?
Shen Ningyue stood there.
She thought for a long time.
But never found an answer.
The wind blew, carrying the chill of winter, rustling the handkerchief in her sleeve. The orchid embroidered on it was exquisite—Concubine Fang had stitched it for her with her own hands, saying, “An orchid heart, a refined spirit—that is what a woman should be.” Yet now, Shen Ningyue possessed neither that heart nor that spirit.
All she had was a tangled mess of emotions in her heart and the increasingly blurry “memories of the past life” she held so dear.
Past life!
Those two words had once been her greatest reliance, her sole confidence.
She had believed that having lived an extra lifetime, she knew fate’s course better than others, chose the right paths more wisely. That was why she had tried to walk the road Ninghuan had taken in her previous life.
But now?
The marriage she had stolen was already beginning to burn her hands.
Everything she had schemed was veering off its tracks.
And the “memories of the past life” she had relied on so heavily were growing hazy, as if shrouded in a layer of mist that she could not see through no matter how hard she tried.
The path she had wanted to walk—she had barely taken one step, and already she had no idea how to continue.
Shen Ningyue closed her eyes, remembering the divination slip from Qingyun Temple: “Mirror flowers and moon shadows are never true; do not mistake the illusion for solid form.”
So it was all illusory after all?
She took a deep breath, turned around, and walked back toward her small courtyard.
Her steps were a little unsteady.
Her back was forlorn.
She walked very slowly, each step as though measuring something, as though bidding farewell to something.
Behind her, the sunlight was just right.
From the direction of Yifu Hall came faint sounds of laughter—those of the second branch celebrating. The heir’s courtyard remained quiet, meaning Pei Ciling was back in his study.
And she lingered between these two worlds.
Belonging neither to the bustle of the one side, nor the peace of the other…
