Chapter 39 – I Plan to Soothe the Grand Mentor [Slight Revisions]

Pei Che didn’t glance sideways as he ascended the stairs and disappeared from view.

Jiang Shiyuan withdrew her gaze, pressed her lips together, and lowered her eyes in silence.

Pei Zanxue, however, was quite surprised. “Why didn’t Uncle react? I specially…”

She caught herself mid-sentence, glanced at Jiang Shiyuan, and decided not to hide it. “Grandmother told me to bring you out today, Little Aunt, to help you relax a bit.”

“Don’t take it to heart, Little Aunt. Uncle is just like that—once he gets busy, he ignores everything else.” Pei Zanxue apologized sincerely. “I heard Uncle postponed the betrothal date for political affairs. Grandmother was furious, afraid you’d overthink it, so she asked me to accompany you out today.”

Jiang Shiyuan interrupted her awkwardly. “The delay wasn’t the Grand Mentor’s fault—it was because of me.”

She confessed everything that had happened that day when she failed to meet Shen Luchu as planned.

“I made him angry.”

“Ohhh~” Pei Zanxue suddenly understood. “No wonder Uncle looked so sullen just now. So that’s what happened.”

She clearly enjoyed the drama and teased, “So what are you going to do, Little Aunt?”

Jiang Shiyuan looked up and voiced the idea she’d mulled over for a long time. “Mm, I plan to soothe the Grand Mentor.”

She just wasn’t sure if he’d be easy to soothe.

Jiang Shiyuan had no confidence at all.

——

Upstairs, in a private room.

“During this morning’s court session, General Lu brought up the matter of establishing a crown prince again. His Majesty, contrary to his previous stance, didn’t suppress the topic but instead asked us to submit our nominations—it really looks like he’s serious about naming an heir.”

“Among the princes, the Fifth Prince has General Lu’s backing—his maternal uncle—and Consort Lan pulling strings everywhere, so he has the strongest momentum. But in terms of talent and accomplishments, the Third Prince, who’s been leading campaigns outside, is clearly superior. The question is: which one does His Majesty favor?”

As the man spoke, he couldn’t help but glance toward the head of the table—where Grand Mentor Pei sat.

Though the men present were all high-ranking officials, none could compare to Grand Mentor Pei in terms of imperial favor. Everyone in court knew that Pei Che—the young Grand Mentor—and the powerful Pei clan behind him were the emperor’s chosen support for the next heir.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say: He who wins the Pei clan, wins the empire.

Choosing the crown prince was a matter of utmost importance. Even a slight edge in insight could safeguard their future. So, when the emperor mentioned the crown prince today, everyone had immediately invited Grand Mentor Pei to Wàngxiān Tower to test the waters.

Yet from the moment he arrived, the Grand Mentor had remained silent—and even looked displeased.

Had their private political discussions offended him?

As everyone grew more uneasy, the door to the private room was knocked upon. After an announcement, a servant entered, bowed deeply before Pei Che, and held out a palm-sized brocade box.

“Lord Pei, someone asked me to deliver this to you.”

Pei Che glanced at it. “Who?”

“She claimed… claimed to be your not-yet-wedded wife,” the servant stammered truthfully.

The room fell silent. Pei Che let out a quiet snort and opened the box.

Inside was a familiar sachet embroidered with red cornel flowers.

“She also left a message. She said that even if you don’t like a gift, proper etiquette calls for returning it face-to-face. Passing it off through someone else is hardly respectful,” the servant relayed the words while sweating profusely.

If it weren’t for the hefty reward, he would never have dared to repeat something so audacious in front of Lord Pei.

Not only the servant but the other men at the table were also holding their breath.

They had heard Pei Che was engaged but had never met the woman. Judging by this message, she was… rather bold.

To speak so irreverently to the Grand Mentor?

He was surely angry.

Everyone silently cursed her recklessness while sneaking glances at Pei Che.

“Tell her that if she gives it in person, I’ll return it in person. If it comes through someone else, it’s insincere,” Pei Che said coldly.

So, he was angry.

The servant felt like his back was full of needles. Just as he was about to take the box and retreat—

A hand reached out, silently took the sachet, and slipped it into the inner pocket of Pei Che’s robe.

The servant stared at the now-empty brocade box and fell into stunned silence: …

——

“Hahahahaha!”

“Little Aunt, that’s what you call soothing him? Are you sure you weren’t just scolding him?”

Leaving the restaurant after the meal, Pei Zanxue couldn’t stop laughing.

“Well, he had to see me first, didn’t he?” Jiang Shiyuan said with confidence.

Once she saw him, she would do this… and then that… and maybe that too…

But facing the empty returned box, Jiang Shiyuan only held her pride for a few seconds before admitting defeat.

“Fine, I admit it—I didn’t come up with anything useful.”

“Zanxue, what does the Grand Mentor mean by this?” Jiang Shiyuan held up the box in confusion.

Was it forgiveness? Or not?

Pei Zanxue was just as puzzled. “He accepted the gift, so it seems like he forgave you. But what he said sounded like he didn’t.”

They had always thought women were hard to read—but the Grand Mentor was just as inscrutable.

So hard to soothe.

Jiang Shiyuan frowned in frustration. Pei Zanxue patted her on the shoulder and said:

“I think you need a few strategists, Little Aunt! Come on, I’ll find you some backup!”

She dragged Jiang Shiyuan into a carriage and brought her to a place called Qianshan Bookhouse.

Pei Zanxue walked in like she owned the place, and Jiang Shiyuan was surprised to find that from the owner to the assistants—even the customers—everyone inside was a woman.

It wasn’t just a bookstore. There were tea sets, guqins, embroidery supplies… More like a quiet gathering place for women than a commercial shop.

Pei Zanxue clearly knew everyone there. The moment she stepped in, she shouted, “Ladies! This girl here pissed off her fiancé and urgently needs advice on how to make peace!”

The room went silent. Heads turned toward them. Upon seeing their attire, people blinked, then quickly caught on.

“You’ve come to the right place, girl,” said a round-faced woman, clearly a regular. “We don’t have the Four Books and Five Classics here, but everything a woman needs—household management, embroidery, you name it—we’ve got it.”

Another woman eagerly joined in. “Tell us what happened, dear. Let us older sisters help you.”

Everyone gathered around with warm smiles and caring eyes, like big sisters from home.

Jiang Shiyuan was stunned. She hadn’t known such a place existed in the capital.

“I went to meet another man on the day my fiancé came to propose. And he caught me.” She laid it out simply.

Gasps of horror followed.

“Oh my! You look so sweet, but you’re bold—a true heroine! You dared touch a man’s biggest taboo. So what, he’s breaking off the engagement?”

Jiang Shiyuan shook her head. “No. He said he had urgent matters and postponed the date instead.”

“He didn’t cancel the engagement. And even covered for you?” The round-faced woman clapped her hands. “Then he must really like you.”

Others nodded in agreement. “If a man can let that slide, it’s love. Deep love. No doubt about it.”

Pei Zanxue added fuel to the fire. “I agree.”

Jiang Shiyuan panicked. “He doesn’t like me! Our families are marrying for… other reasons, that’s all.”

How could Pei Che like her?

Besides a six-month acquaintance ten years ago, they’d had no further interaction. Where would any affection come from?

He was likely just fulfilling the duties of an arranged marriage, preserving her dignity out of politeness.

He was always a refined and courteous man.

“How huge must those benefits be to make a man swallow such humiliation? Is he ugly? A toad hoping to eat a swan?” one asked.

Jiang Shiyuan shook her head, Pei Che’s image flashing in her mind. “He’s handsome beyond compare.”

“Then is he poor?”

She shook her head again. “When we met, he gave me thirty-six eastern pearls. The betrothal gifts are worth millions.”

“What?!”

“Eastern pearls?”

“Millions?!”

The bookstore echoed with shocked gasps. The once-harmonious atmosphere turned sharp.

The women no longer looked at Jiang Shiyuan with warm kindness—but with exasperation and frustration.

“Silly girl!”

“How could you do something so foolish on the day of your engagement!”

“And you still say he doesn’t like you? Every word out of your mouth screams that he’s madly in love with you!”

The round-faced woman stuck to her first impression.

“Men like that are easy to soothe. Just crook your finger at him—he’ll be wrapped around it again. Try it and see.”