Chapter 33 (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
Chapter 33
When Lin Rong arrived in Luzhou with Pei Zan, it was already April.
In the past few months, Pei Zan has mobilized troops to fight in the south and north, and has already occupied six prefectures in the south.
Although Pei Zan established this vast territory as a fiefdom and governed it along the river, he did not bestow a royal title upon himself, but instead had his generals address him as Governor-General.
Pei Zan's killing of officials, seizure of cities, and usurpation of power are undeniable facts. Even if he had not declared himself king, he would have long since become a traitor and rebel.
They only need to wait for the Chen family emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty to recover, then gather his troops and lead them south to reclaim the six lost prefectures that Pei Zan had seized.
Therefore, everyone knows that Pei Zan and the Wei royal family will inevitably have a battle in the future, and it is still unknown who will emerge victorious.
Before that, Pei Zan's task was to govern the six prefectures, settle the war refugees, rebuild the destroyed cities and houses, and prevent epidemics.
They levied additional taxes on grain transport and land tax, and supervised the salt customs and land taxes, using the funds to support the army and the people's livelihood.
Once the situation stabilizes, we can train the troops, select commanders, and prepare for future expeditions.
-
While Pei Zan was busy with military affairs, Lin Rong was taken by Uncle Feng to a grand mansion specially prepared for Pei Zan.
The large mansion, with its six courtyards, was filled with magnificent buildings and intricate carvings. Lin Rong knew very little about these feng shui layouts, and even with Uncle Feng explaining them, she listened blankly for a long time before finally stammering out, "What... what is meant by 'gathering wind and accumulating energy'?"
Uncle Feng choked up, thinking that Lin Rong had only memorized a few hundred characters from the Thousand Character Classic, and it was really a bit difficult to expect her to understand these metaphysical and feng shui principles all at once.
After thinking it over, Uncle Feng smiled and said, "Never mind, Miss Lin, don't worry about these things. In short, the young master cares about you a lot. The courtyard he gave you is located in the Xuanwu position, with the western mountains behind it, which means that you will have noble people to rely on and support you in the future!"
Lin Rong had no idea about all the intricacies. She knew Uncle Feng's temperament; he was just saying good things about Pei Zan in front of her, hoping that she would serve the head of the family wholeheartedly.
Lin Rong smiled and applauded. Looking at the high courtyard wall, the spacious courtyard, and the empty space where no flowers or trees had been transplanted, she thought to herself, "The young master is indeed from a wealthy family."
Seeing that Lin Rong liked it, Uncle Feng hurriedly asked her if she wanted to plant some plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums.
Lin Rong waved her hand, thinking to herself: If she were to arrange it, she would definitely prefer to plant some fruits and vegetables rather than rare herbs... That way, she could easily pick some greens when she had hot pot.
There's also an empty corner. Instead of placing a goldfish tank for decoration, why not put a few jars of pickled vegetables and sour melons in it? Cover them with a raincoat, let them pickle for ten or fifteen days, and the whole yard will be filled with fragrance.
Lin Rong felt a glimmer of hope, but quickly dismissed the idea.
She realized that this was Pei Zan's residence, not her home.
Lin Rong cannot settle down here; she may leave at any time, and she cannot leave behind so much.
Vegetables need to sprout after they're planted, and fruits and vegetables need to be harvested... She can't wait that long; she can't let everything fall into place here.
In addition, Lin Rong also knew that pickled vegetables, pickled melons, and rotten fish were rustic foods favored by poor farmers, which would disgust Pei Zan.
Lin Rong vaguely remembered Pei Zan's angry expression.
Although he was handsome and charming, and usually had a gentle smile, Lin Rong knew that Pei Zan was ruthless and cold-blooded. If he wanted to punish Lin Rong, he would not be merciful... or he would do it from behind, going in and out.
Or they would probe inside.
Even though Lin Rong said she was too full and couldn't take it anymore, Pei Zan still tried to comfort her while ignoring her, his handsome face cold as he forced in a few more fingers.
Lin Rong's face turned pale. She dared not recall those intimate matters and quickly dismissed the idea of pickling vegetables, not wanting to offend the eyes of the powerful and wealthy.
Pei Zan was busy with official duties day and night, and had not returned to his residence for nearly a month. Uncle Feng said that the master was really busy, not only sending trusted officials to inspect the local areas, but also managing the affairs of the six southern prefectures that had piled up on Pei Zan's desk.
These days, Pei Zan has been staying in the official residence most of the time, and he hasn't even been able to drink a bowl of nourishing ginseng soup. This is by no means an intention to neglect his young mistress.
Uncle Feng intentionally instructed Lin Rong to quickly tell the kitchen maid to prepare soup and send it to Pei Zan to nourish his body, as a way of showing his concern.
Unfortunately, Lin Rong was completely clueless when it came to currying favor. She didn't react much to what she heard, but instead asked the old woman who was preparing the meal, "Sister Zheng is coming to the mansion for hot pot tonight. Could you prepare some pork kidneys, tongues, and pig ears?"
Like Lin Rong, Zheng Huiyin loves to eat meat and doesn't eat much vegetarian food.
When it's cold, hot pot with sliced meat is absolutely delicious.
Lin Rong used to have little money and couldn't afford meat dishes; at most, she could only eat the leftovers and rewards from her master.
Having her own hot pot to cook food was an extreme luxury, and for several days in a row, Lin Rong ate with great trepidation and gratitude.
On the table was a pot of three-yellow chicken. Zheng Huiyin used serving chopsticks to add some braised pork belly and a bowl of chicken and rice porridge that Lin Rong had personally cooked. She ate with gusto, her mouth greasy and her eyes almost squinting with delight.
Zheng Huiyin sighed, "Governor Pei has a bad temper, but he has never skimped on your food, clothing and daily necessities. Just look at this royal blue velvet silk dress you're wearing; it costs forty taels a bolt outside."
Lin Rong glanced down at the beautiful silk dress and nodded in agreement: "When I worked at the Pei residence before, I think I only ever saw the First Madam wear this kind of silk. It must be very expensive."
Lin Rong was genuinely taken aback when she first received these gorgeous clothes.
These dresses were all meticulously tailored to her measurements. Unlike when she was a maid, when clothes had to be measured first and then folded and sewn several times. This way, the stitches could be removed the following spring when she grew taller. One dress was enough for Lin Rong to wear for two or three years, saving money and being convenient.
It turns out that even a lowly concubine could live such a luxurious and wealthy life.
Lin Rong didn't know what to say. Even though she was living a comfortable life, she still wanted to leave the mansion and live a more independent life.
But whenever Lin Rong opens her mouth, others will give her a sidelong glance, wishing they could scold her for being ungrateful, clueless, and lacking manners.
Even Zheng Huiyin gently advised, "If Governor Pei continues to favor you, why not stay with him and stop running off to other places? After all, his household is clean, and he'll probably only add one more wife in the next two or three years. Take my advice: if you can be more ambitious and give birth to a son, you'll have something to look forward to in the future!"
After finishing a plate of beef tripe, Zheng Huiyin finally remembered the important matter.
She took a handkerchief and wiped the yellow mutton fat from the corner of her mouth, then glanced at Lin Rong's face, feeling a little uneasy.
Zheng Huiyin overheard Uncle Feng and Lin Rong's conversation and realized that Uncle Feng was a man who mixed up the truth with lies and was just fooling around.
Pei Zancheng was indeed busy with official duties all day, but he also took time to handle other matters.
For example, they agreed to the Wu family's six-rite wedding ceremony and sent them the birth chart for compatibility analysis. Now that the betrothal ceremony has been completed, the marriage is almost finalized, and all that's left is to hold a banquet for guests and set a wedding date.
Zheng Huiyin couldn't bear to keep Lin Rong in the dark, so she whispered about it: "Their horoscopes match, it's said to be a match made in heaven... It's just that Governor Pei is really busy and doesn't have time to meet Miss Wu. I was thinking that he might take you to a banquet in a few days, after all, it's said that you are his most beloved concubine. Alas, although I don't understand Governor Pei's thinking, on the one hand he wants to marry a wife, and on the other hand he promotes his concubine, putting you in the limelight, isn't he deliberately forcing that Miss Wu to target you in the future?"
Upon closer reflection, Zheng Huiyin felt a chill run down her spine: "Could it be that he did this on purpose, so that you can only rely on his favor because you're struggling to make ends meet at home? If that's the case, then Governor Pei is truly wicked, forcing you to curry favor and try your best to please him..."
Lin Rong remained silent for a long time. Zheng Huiyin thought she was sad, so she quickly shut up.
Lin Rong had no romantic feelings for Pei Zan, and she wouldn't feel sad about his marriage.
Lin Rong turned and went into the house, bringing back a sewing basket.
Several sachets were neatly arranged in the bamboo basket, each one exquisitely embroidered and exceptionally well-made. Zheng Huiyin stared at them, touching a dew-collecting sachet with osmanthus embroidery, and said, "Rong'er, did you embroider all of these? They are so beautiful."
Lin Rong smiled, took out a floral-patterned sachet, and handed it to Zheng Huiyin: "This is for Sister Zheng. You said you weren't sleeping well and had a headache the other day, so I specially put chrysanthemums inside. The smell can calm the nerves and soothe the mind. There are other sachets as well. I wanted to ask you for a favor..."
Zheng Huiyin was delighted with the sachet, playing with it and said with a smile, "What is it? Just tell me, and I will definitely help if I can."
Thinking of the embroidered gowns and gold hairpins bearing the names of famous women, Lin Rong said rather embarrassedly, "Could you help me take these embroidered sachets to an embroidery shop to consign them for sale? The young master doesn't give me a monthly allowance, and I'm penniless. I don't even have money to tip the servants. I'm really..."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Huiyin said in surprise, "Pei Zan really doesn't give you any money? He's so stingy! He doesn't even give you any reward money. How can he help you establish your authority in the mansion?"
At this point, Zheng Huiyin awkwardly shut her mouth again.
She guessed that Pei Zan might truly only regard Lin Rong as an insignificant plaything. If she's just a plaything, why should she maintain the dignity of a mistress of the household? If he doesn't care about her, how could he possibly help Lin Rong gain a foothold?
The servants below were opportunistic; if Lin Rong wanted an easier life, she would truly have to rely on Pei Zan's favor and affection.
Zheng Huiyin felt sorry for Lin Rong's situation. She sighed and said, "No problem! Leave it to me! Rong'er, if you really need money, I have some here..."
Lin Rong quickly pressed Zheng Huiyin's hand and said repeatedly, "I know you love me, but I feel uneasy taking your money for nothing. Please help me sell some embroidery."
Zheng Huiyin knew Lin Rong's honest nature. Lin Rong didn't like to owe favors, and even when Zheng Huiyin gave her gifts, Lin Rong would repay them with steamed cakes.
Zheng Huiyin had no choice but to agree.
At night, Lin Rong ate a bowl of red date sweet soup, then took out the piece of brocade she had secretly hidden away and cut out the shapes of several sachets with scissors.
Such designs include bats, gold ingots, gourds, and other auspicious and prosperous motifs.
Lin Rong knew that the boys who studied were more interested in refined pursuits and would buy more sachets and jade pendants, while the women and their families were mostly responsible for managing the household finances and would be reluctant to spend money, splitting every penny in half.
Thinking of this, Lin Rong bit off the thin thread again and tattooed several male-style floral patterns of plum blossoms, moon, and bamboo, then carefully sewed them up.
Lin Rong was meticulous in her work. The room was lit with white candles that were easy on the eyes, and before she knew it, two hours had passed.
Before she could straighten her back and stretch her muscles, a cold, ghostly voice suddenly came from behind her.
What are you sewing?
Lin Rong was so frightened that her hair stood on end. She hurriedly raised her hand to cover the sewing basket and stammered, "It's nothing..."
Lin Rong turned around and saw the tall, elegant man standing by the door.
It was Pei Zan!
Pei Zan seemed to have just finished his shift. His long, cold eyes were filled with fatigue, and his thin lips were slightly pursed, making him look much more solemn than usual.
He was still wearing his brocade round-necked official robe, the belt cinching his strong, narrow waist. The black fox fur cloak he had taken off to block the wind was loosely draped over his rolled-up sleeves, revealing his muscular arm bones and a beautiful blue vein running across the back of his hand.
Lin Rong hadn't seen Pei Zan for a long time, and her impression of him had faded somewhat. But tonight, seeing the evil spirit at her door, that fearful dread resurfaced, and she involuntarily tightened her waist.
Pei Zan was busy with official duties, and all matters after the war required him to draft the procedures. He did not return to his residence for a month.
Today I finally had some free time and came back for a rare visit, but I saw that Lin Rong's face showed no joy at all. Instead, she looked like she had seen a ghost. I couldn't help but reveal my sinister eyes and said coldly, "What are your men holding back? Take it out and let me see."
Lin Rong was shocked. Of course she knew Pei Zan was extremely intelligent, so how could she let him guess that she was selling embroidery for money?
Lin Rong was sweating profusely. In a moment of quick thinking, she lowered her head and said, "Young Master, I was embroidering a sachet for you. But the pattern is a bit ugly, and I couldn't finish it. Perhaps you shouldn't look at it anymore..."
Pei Zan was skilled in archery and horsemanship, and naturally had excellent eyesight. He glanced at the silk and bamboo patterns in the bamboo basket and knew that this was a style for men to wear, and his eyes softened considerably.
"It's alright, you can continue embroidering."
Pei Zan was exhausted and wanted to take a bath, but before he could call Lin Rong to serve him, a soft voice suddenly came from outside: "Master, are you asleep? General Wu has come to see you and asked this old servant to come and inform you... Would you like to prepare some tea to entertain him?"
Pei Zan frowned, his expression displeased: "It's already 9 PM."
"General Wu knows that you are busy with military affairs and usually dare not bother you. But today is important, and he would like to discuss the date of the meeting banquet. Please choose an auspicious day. What do you think, should we meet or not?"
Pei Zan understood the importance of the matter; since it was a marriage, the sooner it was settled, the less trouble there would be.
He raised his finger and gently pressed it against his forehead, saying to Lin Rong, "Go to sleep. You don't need to serve me tonight."
Lin Rong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, "The marriage is important, young master, please go ahead. I'm feeling tired from my period, so I'll go to bed early."
Lin Rong guessed that Pei Zan came to her door to relieve his worries, not to visit her. She was very considerate and even hinted to Pei Zan that it would be useless to share a bed with him tonight, because she was menstruating and could not serve him in bed!
Knowing that Lin Rong is unable to perform her duties, Pei Zan will likely not be coming again in the next few days.
As expected, it was quiet tonight, and Pei Zan did not come to the courtyard again.
Lin Rong slept soundly until dawn, undisturbed.
-
A few days later, it will be the fifteenth of May.
Tonight, the Wu family is hosting a grand banquet, inviting the sons and daughters of prominent families in Luzhou to visit, enjoy the scenery, and admire the pomegranates.
This banquet was publicly presented as a small gathering at someone's residence, where people could eat wine and roast meat together, and hang mugwort and incense to ward off evil spirits and plagues.
But anyone with eyes to see knows that the Wu family's special invitation to Pei Zan, who wields absolute power in the south, is clearly a calculated move to allow the engaged couple to get to know each other before marriage.
The prominent families of Luzhou all knew that Wu Nianzhen, the third daughter of the Wu family, was going to marry Pei Zan, and they were filled with envy and jealousy.
They flocked to the Wu residence for the banquet, sending their beautifully dressed daughters, hoping that during the banquet, their daughters would have extraordinary fortune, catch Pei Zan's eye, and be taken into his household.
Suddenly, Wu Nianzhen had several close friends, which made her sneer and feel unhappy.
Pei Zan did not forget the meeting arrangements for tonight. He put aside the documents in his hand, put down his ink brush, washed his hands and changed his clothes.
Pei Zan was determined to make Lin Rong look good at this banquet. He specially brought Lin Rong to the banquet and asked Uncle Feng a few days ago to prepare fashionable clothes and jewelry from Luzhou and send them to her home, so that Lin Rong, who came from a humble background, would not be ridiculed at the banquet because of her poor clothes.
Pei Zan bathed and changed his clothes, tied his hair with a jade hairpin, and put on a reed-green round-necked robe. The man's shoulders and back were straight, like a pine or cypress, exuding a noble and refined demeanor.
Pei Zan spent many years on military campaigns, always ready to fight, and never liked having servants close to him. Even his dressing and grooming were done by himself.
Today, he glanced at the desk in the side room of the government office and took a jade pendant to hang at his waist.
In the gap between the tassels, Pei Zan's fingers paused, and he suddenly remembered that sachet.
That night, Lin Rong opened her mouth, extended a bit of her fragrant tongue, and bit off a thread. She bent over her desk, sewing intently, making a sachet for him.
Pei Zan's phoenix eyes softened slightly as she thought to herself: Although Lin Rong is clumsy with words and quite petty, she is genuinely devoted to serving her husband.
It's almost time. Since Pei Zan is taking Lin Rong to the Wu family, he should hurry back to his residence to pick her up.
Pei Zan grabbed the reins, mounted his horse, and rode out of the yamen.
Tonight is the Double Fifth Festival, and the streets and alleys are bustling with people visiting relatives.
Pei Zan was in a bad mood and unwilling to hurt anyone while riding his horse, so he could only hold the reins with one hand and slow down his pace toward the mansion.
Just as Pei Zan turned his horse to avoid the people, he suddenly saw an ordinary-looking man running towards him from a distance.
The man, panting heavily, bowed and apologized hastily to the woman on the bridge.
The riverbank was brightly lit, the moonlight was radiant, and stars seemed to fall on the surface of the pond.
As the man's robes swayed, a delicately embroidered plum blossom and moon-shaped sachet hung from his waist.
Plum blossom and moon pattern, bamboo from the Xiaoxiang region, twill satin...
This person's accessory is exactly the same as the sachet sewn by Lin Rong.
Pei Zan stared intently, his phoenix eyes suddenly turning cold. His aura instantly became heavy, as cold as a snow-capped peak, startling passersby who hurriedly retreated to avoid him.
Pei Zan sneered.
That sachet that was supposed to be given to her husband... is now being worn on someone else's waist!
Author's note: This is Wednesday's update; Thursday's update will likely be a little later.
If it gets blocked, just refresh it the next day, mwah!
Pei Zan was busy for over a month before returning home to see his wife... only to discover that she had given away the token of their love she had given him...
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