Chapter 150 Does he have a phobia of pregnancy? ...
With the bright spring sunshine, wealthy and powerful families in the capital held a variety of banquets, including flower-viewing parties, wine-drinking parties, and tea-tasting parties. These events were held for visiting relatives and friends, socializing, and arranging dates for eligible men and women, keeping everyone very busy.
The Cao family, the maternal family of Princess Yu, was no exception.
Her mother was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Chen. Although she failed to be selected as the Crown Princess, she was still a first-class noblewoman in the capital. Later, she married into the Cao family, whose official rank and social status were far inferior to hers, which puzzled many people.
Some people joked that the Cao family must have some kind of leverage over the Duke of Chen, otherwise how could they have married this golden phoenix?
On the day of their wedding, the groom, dressed in red and riding a white horse, paraded through the streets, attracting countless onlookers who marveled at the spectacle and continued to talk about it for days afterward.
Everyone suddenly realized—it was all about looks.
Madam Chen brought a huge dowry with her when she married. After the marriage, she and her husband moved out and lived separately in her dowry estate year-round. She didn't have to serve her parents-in-law or maintain any sister-in-law relationships. She was very arrogant.
Everyone knows that she loves peonies. After years of careful cultivation, her mansion has many rare varieties, which bloom like a sea of flowers every spring, vying for beauty and creating a breathtaking sight.
Madam Chen's family was powerful, and her second daughter, Cao Fanglu, was the Princess Consort of Prince Yu. Even though the Cao family was not considered a high-ranking family in the capital, an invitation to the Peony Banquet was still extremely valuable.
Fortunately, this was not a difficult problem for the Marquis of Changning's household.
Prince Yu had always intended to win over Pei Xian; otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately bought Pei Yuzhen's dowry estate. He wanted to find an opportunity to deepen his relationship with the Marquis of Changning's family.
A few days later, Pei Xian privately approached Prince Yu and subtly explained that his younger sister had been tricked into selling her land at a low price, and that he was willing to redeem it at market price.
Prince Yu bought the estate for 30% less than the market price. Now, Pei Xian is willing to pay the difference out of his own pocket, preferring to spend money to avoid trouble rather than get involved with Prince Yu and give him a pretext for criticism.
At first, Prince Yu was very displeased, feeling that Pei Xian was ungrateful. He was a prince, and Pei Xian should have been grateful and bowed down to him after he had humbled himself.
As if anyone cares about a few hundred taels of silver? He's not short of money!
In the end, it was his mother-in-law, Madam Chen, who persuaded him to stop.
"The Marquis of Changning's family has always been loyal to the emperor and has never interfered in the struggle for the throne. Even if you can't win over Pei Xian, other princes would have no chance either."
"Since that's the case, let's grant his wish and create a good relationship. It's better than pushing him to the side of the enemy."
So Prince Yu readily returned the land deed and did not accept the 30% difference promised by Pei Xian.
Later, when he sent invitations to Pei Xian to banquets and other gatherings, Pei Xian felt embarrassed to always refuse and would attend three or four out of ten times.
This year, the Cao family held another peony banquet, and the invitations were sent to the Marquis of Changning's residence immediately.
Originally, Meng Wanyin did not want to go. She was socially anxious, and Madam Chen came from a high-ranking family and was inevitably arrogant. She was inexplicably afraid of such a proud woman and just wanted to stay far away.
But this year, she couldn't resist her two daughters-in-law's persistent pleading and insisted on going to the Cao family to see the rare peonies cultivated by Madam Chen.
Shen Lingyue even used Yan Yi as a shield, saying, "Since my sister-in-law is pregnant, she should look at more flowers and plants to absorb the spirit of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon, so that the baby will be smart, beautiful, lively and cute in the future!"
Meng Wanyin: "...Isn't such a big garden enough for the two of you to explore?"
Yan Yi shook her head against her will and whispered, "I heard that the peonies from the Cao family are all top-quality specimens that can't be found anywhere else..."
Meng Wanyin gave in, "Alright, alright, I'll take you there."
Who can blame us when our eldest daughter-in-law is carrying a precious baby in her belly?
When Pei Xian came over that evening, she brought up the matter.
"My lord, I would like to take my two wives to the Cao family's Peony Banquet in a few days."
Pei Xian was somewhat surprised, and paused in his act of unbuckling his belt. "Isn't the Cao family the maternal family of Princess Yu? I remember you never wanted to go before, why did you suddenly change your mind this year? Did they say they wanted to go?"
That's strange. Aren't the two daughters-in-law very close to Princess Tong'an? Why are they now eyeing the Yu Prince's family?
Is he trying to hedge his bets? To have his cake and eat it too?
It would be better to just stay out of trouble from the start and not choose anyone...
Pei Xian thought about it more and more and felt that this wouldn't work. He unconsciously frowned and his face looked somewhat gloomy.
Seeing that he seemed displeased, Meng Wanyin worried that Pei Xian would take his anger out on Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, so she quickly took over the matter.
"Is it not allowed for me to go out for some fresh air?" She deliberately lowered her eyes and her tone became softer. "I know you are always impartial and indifferent to anyone who tries to win you over. But this is just a flower viewing banquet. Families of some standing in the capital can attend, so why can't our family? Does the Marquis think that my status is too low and that going out to socialize would embarrass you?"
Pei Xian: ...
It's a misunderstanding! She always refused to go out. When did he ever say anything like that?
"Please calm down, Madam. It was my oversight. From now on, you can go to whichever house you want. You don't need to ask me about everything."
Pei Xian hurriedly expressed his opinion, slowly sat down by the bedside, and stole glances at her expression.
Meng Wanyin coughed lightly and said in a feigned manner, "We still need to consult with the Marquis when necessary, after all, he is the head of the family."
Pei Xian smiled bitterly and remained silent. He had long been a figurehead as the head of the family, as his sons and daughters-in-law had all grown wings and were eager to fly away.
That's it. No matter how high or far they fly, he will always support this family and provide them with a place to stay.
Pei Xian glanced at her again, then slowly reached out to pull the bed curtain hooks.
"Madam, it's getting late, why don't we rest early?"
...
The Peony Banquet was held outside the city, where Madam Chen owned a manor that occupied half a hill in the eastern suburbs.
It is said that the manor was not so large at first. After the Wei family had an accident, the Duke of Chen gained more power in the military and was at the height of his influence in the court. Lady Chen also became the mother-in-law of Prince Yu. Only then did they gradually buy land and expand the manor, resulting in the magnificent sight of peonies covering the mountain today.
The three women, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, set off early in the morning in a horse-drawn carriage. Considering Yan Yi's health, Meng Wanyin specifically instructed the driver to slow down and keep the carriage steady.
Along the way, she and Shen Lingyue took turns looking after Yan Yi's condition. As long as she felt even slightly unwell, they would skip all the flower banquets and bird banquets.
Yan Yi was forced by her mother-in-law to sit in the most spacious and comfortable C seat of the carriage, and she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I'm not made of porcelain, why should I be so delicate?"
"No, if my older brother finds out that you're missing even a single hair, my mother and I will be doomed."
Shen Lingyue made a throat-slitting gesture in a very serious manner.
Yan Yi lightly patted her, "...You're talking nonsense again."
Strangely enough, she only felt particularly tired and sleepy during the first month after she was diagnosed with her pregnancy. She could even doze off while sitting. But once that period was over, she felt much better, had a good appetite, and was full of energy. Sometimes she even forgot that there was a little life growing inside her.
She told Pei Jingyi about this "discovery," and he stood there for a long time without reacting. He was so frightened that his face turned pale, fearing that the child had mysteriously disappeared. After that, he would check her pulse once every morning, noon and night before he could feel at ease.
Yan Yidu suspected that he might have "pregnancy phobia," as he was even more suspicious and paranoid than she was.
If she hadn't pretended to throw a tantrum before leaving to shake them off, she had no doubt that Pei Jingyi would have ridden after them on horseback and gone out of the city to admire the flowers together.
Yan Yi now understands the troubles Xiao Yue Liang had when she first got married—what to do when your husband is too clingy? Maybe you should send him to work.
Hearing her mutter complaints, Shen Lingyue and Meng Wanyin couldn't help but laugh.
Meng Wanyin was especially shocked. Was this really the Pei Jingyi she had watched grow up?
“Yun Zhao has always been special…” She racked her brains for an adjective, “Specially pale? Her face was always clean, her clothes were always neat, she walked unhurriedly, and every step was as precise as if it had been measured with a ruler.”
She's the perfect, ideal child that everyone admires.
Meng Wanyin didn't know what he liked to eat or what color clothes he liked to wear. In any case, no matter what she sent him, Pei Jingyi would accept it without any indication of his likes or dislikes.
In short, he is completely different from the mentally challenged son she gave birth to.
Before Emperor Qingxi bestowed a marriage upon Pei Jingyi, Meng Wanyin had also fantasized about what kind of wife he would marry in the future.
Given how much the old lady and the marquis value their eldest son, and considering that he has half royal blood, they must have racked their brains and exhausted all their efforts to find him a gentle and virtuous noblewoman, so that the two of them could treat each other with respect, live in harmony, and become a model couple.
...Speaking of which, she vaguely remembered that when Pei Jingyi was seven or eight years old, the Marquis seemed to have mentioned that when Princess Qinghe was still alive, she had intended to arrange a marriage for her son in advance, and the two families had even exchanged their birth dates and times.
However, no one expected that Princess Qinghe's condition would deteriorate so quickly, and she passed away not long after, leaving behind a lonely little Pei Jingyi.
The Marquis's mansion was thrown into chaos when it had to organize a funeral. Then, she remarried and was met with suspicion and difficulties from the Dowager Madam...
There are so many messy things going on, nobody cares about things like arranged marriages between children.
Pei Xian brought up the matter that time, seemingly because the woman's family had been out of contact for many years and had no further dealings with the Marquis's mansion, and it seemed that he had no intention of continuing to push forward with the marriage.
Pei Xian was young at the time and had a bit of a temper. He thought his eldest son was perfect and would surely become a great talent in the future. There were plenty of elegant ladies who would be devoted to him. Why bother with arranged marriages or child betrothals? You might end up ruining your life if you're not careful.
Gradually, no one mentioned it anymore.
At this moment, Meng Wanyin suddenly remembered this incomplete and fragmented passage. When she tried to recall which family's girl Princess Qinghe had taken a liking to, she couldn't remember at all.
That all happened before she entered the house. Did Pei Xian mention to her later what kind of family they were?
...Oh no, she's getting old and her memory isn't what it used to be; she has absolutely no recollection of it.
"Mother?"
Yan Yi's voice brought her back to her senses, "What are you thinking about?"
Shen Lingyue asked curiously, "Right, weren't you reminiscing about your older brother's childhood? Why did you suddenly get stuck?"
Meng Wanyin snapped out of her daze and quickly forced a smile, "It's nothing, I just felt..."
She took Yan Yi's hand and patted it gently, her eyes softening: "Yun Zhao is so lucky to have married you. I finally know what he looks like when he truly loves someone or something."
Yan Yi smiled shyly and lowered her head.
Shen Lingyue was even happier than the person in question, and snapped her fingers, "This is what they call one thing subduing another!"
Meng Wanyin smiled without saying a word, gently shaking her head to dismiss the thoughts that had been lingering in her mind.
Which family hasn't visited several families before their children get married? This is just a childhood betrothal that's not even close to happening yet.
Regardless of which family's daughter was originally engaged to Pei Jingyi, more than ten or twenty years have passed. Perhaps she has already married and had children. What connection does she have with the Pei family anymore?
This is just needless worry; I don't want to think about it anymore.
...
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, where servants from the Cao family had already sent people to wait and carry the guests, who had received their name cards, up the mountain in palanquins.
The strong woman in charge of carrying the palanquin was tall and powerful with thick arms, and she walked very steadily on the mountain road. Shen Lingyue sat on it, holding tightly to the wooden handrails on both sides, and happily admired the scenery along the way.
Madam Chen truly lived up to her obsession with peonies. The mountain path was lined with peonies covering the entire mountainside. Even though these were just common varieties, their sheer number and clusters of blooming flowers transformed the entire mountain into a flowing tapestry. Under the sunlight, they shimmered like flowing gold. The peonies, each the size of a bowl, had layers upon layers of petals, truly a scene of boundless spring beauty and boundless wealth.
Yan Yi's palanquin followed behind her. She quietly admired the peonies covering the mountain, and in her mind, she sketched a portrait of Madam Chen.
Peonies are known as the king of flowers, renowned for their beauty and fragrance. When placed in the strictly hierarchical palace, they symbolize the empress's status as the mother of the nation.
Madam Chen narrowly lost out in the selection of the Crown Princess and had no choice but to hastily marry into the little-known Cao family. Would she really be willing to accept this?
Because of Emperor Qingxi's one wrong decision, she and Empress Wei were now separated into ruler and subject, with one holding a high position and the other kneeling and bowing.
Even without the power struggle between the Wei and Chen families over military power, Madam Chen's hatred for Empress Wei would not have diminished in the slightest.
The large-scale expansion of this peony garden happened right after Empress Wei's death. Could this be seen as a provocation and demonstration by Lady Chen against Empress Wei?
She managed to obtain such a cunning and incurable poison as Heart-Eating, dared to openly poison Empress Wei at her birthday banquet, and emerged unscathed afterward. She was truly meticulous, careful, bold, and insane.
They wanted to reopen the old case and make a woman like Madam Chen, who was of noble birth and proud, willingly confess her crimes. Ordinary methods were bound to be useless against her. They had to find her psychological weakness and strike her sore spot to break her defenses.
This is also why Yan Yi and Shen Lingyue insisted on attending this peony banquet; knowing oneself and one's enemy is the key to finding the right solution.
The palanquin came to a steady stop at the entrance of the manor.
When Shen Lingyue came down, she was still a little reluctant to leave. She came over to help Yan Yi down from the carriage and was still gazing at the endless sea of peonies below. "This is definitely a perfect place for taking pictures."
A stewardess came up and said warmly, "Madam, please don't be in a hurry. Please follow me into the garden. There are many more rare peonies inside, which will make you linger even longer."
The three women, mother and daughter-in-law, followed her forward, passing through a vermilion and gold-painted corridor. Every hundred steps, a glass peony lantern hung, and maids and servants carried silver trays back and forth, the trays filled with chilled fruit syrup. The amber liquid swayed gently, shimmering with layers of shattered gold light.
Many peonies were planted on both sides of the covered walkway. Meng Wanyin recognized several varieties, which were more precious than those planted on the mountain outside.
Shen Lingyue clicked her tongue in amazement and whispered to Yan Yi, "Just how rich is the Duke of Chen's family? They can't have given it all as dowry to their daughter, can they?"
“Military generals all have their own ways of making money, not to mention that Duke Chen is a long-established noble family with a rich family background.” Yan Yi replied in a low voice, “Madam Chen is also the mother-in-law of Prince Yu, so there are countless people who want to curry favor with her.”
After walking a little further in, Shen Lingyue began to feel a bit hot. The fragrance of flowers mixed with the heat wafted towards her. She wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and muttered, "Why is it hotter up here than down here?"
Or was she walking too fast and sweating?
The head housekeeper, who was leading the way, turned around and smiled, "Young Madam, you may not know this, but the peonies in this garden are very delicate. It's also cooler up on the mountain than down here. In order to ensure that the peonies bloom on time, our mistress buried copper pipes to burn charcoal under the garden. Every night, we need to use hundreds of pounds of charcoal to warm the ground and prevent the flowers from withering."
She said this with a proud and self-satisfied expression, not feeling at all that there was anything wrong with using hundreds of kilograms of charcoal to roast the ground every day.
Meng Wanyin and the others' expressions changed slightly.
It takes hundreds of kilograms of charcoal to burn in one night. Over the course of a flowering season, it might take tens of thousands of kilograms.
They were all experienced housekeepers and knew how to manage a household. If all that charcoal were used to keep people warm, it could probably feed the poor people in several blocks in the north of the city and give them a warm winter.
However, in Madam Chen's peony garden, it was only to satisfy her vanity and show off.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison.
If Prince Yu were to actually sit on that throne, wouldn't Lady Chen, the emperor's mother-in-law, be overjoyed?
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Let me see] Let's first bring out Pei Da's "white moonlight" for a stroll.
While researching, I discovered that the most suitable region for peony growth is still the Central Plains. Luoyang has beautiful scenery! But since we're in a fictional world, this is just a brief mention, haha.
//As usual, there will be another update later, I'll try to be quick! [Sprinkling flowers]
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