Chapter 14: The Two Families Meet in the Palace

The next day, with the crisp autumn breeze—

Shen Luchu followed his mother, Princess Wenhe, as they traveled by carriage to the palace gates. Along the way, Shen Luchu said nothing, his expression weary and listless.

He hadn’t slept at all last night.

He was angry.

Every time he thought about how Jiang Shiyuan had audaciously rejected his invitation, Shen Luchu couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

He regretted it deeply, regretting that he had momentarily softened and sent her the invitation card.

This was clearly a perfect opportunity to teach her a lesson.

This time, he must break down her stubbornness and grind it all away, making her obedient and stay by his side.

While lost in thought, a gust of autumn wind suddenly blew by, carrying with it a familiar voice.

Shen Luchu paused, as if he had heard Jiang Shiyuan’s voice?

Jiang Shiyuan was also entering the palace today??

“What’s wrong?” Princess Wenhe, noticing that Shen Luchu suddenly stopped walking, asked with concern.

Shen Luchu snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. “Nothing.”

Had he lost his mind?

How could he hear Jiang Shiyuan’s voice in the palace?

Jiang Shiyuan was likely still at home, sulking and figuring out how to salvage the situation.

Thinking this, Shen Luchu’s mood inexplicably lifted, and his steps became lighter.

The mother and son made their way through the palace paths with ease. Just as they disappeared at the end of the path, at the other end, Jiang Shiyuan and Qin Mamma were slowly approaching.

Jiang Shiyuan, hearing the stone bricks underfoot shifting, couldn’t help but chuckle.

Had it really been so long, and this palace path still hadn’t been repaired?

Jiang Shiyuan used to come to the palace often when she was younger and had even served as a princess’s companion in the past.

She dared to say that there wasn’t a place in the six courts of the palace she hadn’t been, and this long and winding palace path was the best place for her to play hide and seek.

But that was a long time ago, back when her father and mother were leading the army and receiving victory after victory, and everyone in the palace would call her “Miss Jiang.” But after her parents’ deaths, that title had never been heard again.

That was when Jiang Shiyuan first learned what it meant for the world to be “cold.”

After her parents passed, the northwest army was placed under the command of Lady Lan’s brother, Lu Feng, who quickly won a victory.

Soon, rumors spread in the capital, claiming that her father had only an empty reputation, and that her mother, being a woman, was unlucky. After so many deaths and so much waste of supplies, they still couldn’t defeat the Xiongnu after a year, while General Lu had taken them down in just one month!

Just a month ago, people were crying and praising her father as a loyal hero and her mother as a woman who held her own in battle.

Just a month ago, they were pitying her, urging her to move on, but now, they looked at her as if she were some kind of dirt, filled with disdain.

The loyalty of her parents turned into disgrace in just one month.

Because of the difference in status, Jiang Shiyuan was no longer allowed to play in the palace, and the few chances she had to meet her aunt became rare.

But even then, she didn’t appreciate those few opportunities.

Her aunt opposed her being with Shen Luchu.

And her aunt wanted to marry her off…

As Jiang Shiyuan was lost in thought, she raised her eyes and saw the familiar Zhuangxia Palace ahead. Before she could step into the hall, she heard a familiar voice from inside.

Autumn Mamma excitedly pulled Jiang Shiyuan into the hall. Inside, the imperial concubine Jiang Guifei heard Jiang Shiyuan’s voice and looked up, about to stand, but suddenly remembering something, she sat back down with a smile fading from her lips.

Jiang Shiyuan entered the hall and saw the familiar figure of her aunt. She called out, feeling guilty, “Aunt.”

Jiang Guifei’s face hardened, and she turned her head away from Jiang Shiyuan.

Jiang Shiyuan quickly took out something she had prepared, walked up to her aunt, and smiled, “Aunt, I’ve made the lily fragrance you like the most.”

“Don’t bother, Miss Jiang. I’ve stopped using this scent,” Jiang Guifei replied coldly.

Jiang Guifei was still upset.

How could this girl be so stubborn?

She had thrown a tantrum for three years over a man!

A heartless little thing! After all the years she had cared for her so deeply!

On the side, Autumn Mamma couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Such a sharp-tongued person with a soft heart. Who had heard that Jiang Shiyuan had agreed to the marriage proposal and stayed up all night, delighted? And who had heard that she was going to the palace, so happy she wiped away tears?

Although she didn’t enter the palace, Jiang Shiyuan never forgot to send a lot of incense to the empress every month. The good stuff from the Chenxiang workshop, which the palace concubines loved, helped her to smooth over matters with the palace staff, saving the empress a lot of trouble.

The bond between this aunt and niece remained tight.

Jiang Guifei didn’t accept it, but Autumn Mamma stepped forward and took the gift. “The incense made by the young lady is the best. Nothing in the palace compares. Just yesterday, the empress was still talking about it.”

“Did I say that? Autumn Mamma, stop making false accusations,” Jiang Guifei retorted angrily.

Qin Mamma stepped forward and directly shoved Jiang Shiyuan into Jiang Guifei’s arms. “Shiyuan, quickly hug your aunt. She loves you the most.”

A stubborn pair, neither willing to make the first move.

The older and younger generation, having been upset for three years, it was truly a rare sight.

Jiang Shiyuan, hearing this, immediately wrapped her arms around Jiang Guifei’s neck, rolling in her arms just like when she was young and had gotten into trouble.

“Aunt, hug me.”

Jiang Guifei still ignored her. Just then, a voice from outside announced, “The Pei family has entered the palace.”

Jiang Guifei finally looked at Jiang Shiyuan directly. “We’ll talk later.”

Jiang Shiyuan, feeling like she had heard heavenly music, eagerly nodded. “I’ve brought my own wooden stick; you may discipline me as you wish.”

Jiang Guifei exhaled in frustration. “Do you think I wouldn’t dare?”

“Aunt, you can, but I’m afraid that before you finish spanking me, you’ll start crying yourself,” Jiang Shiyuan said, looking up.

“Then I’ll cry and spank you!” Jiang Guifei huffed.

“Then I’ll cry and wipe your tears while being beaten,” Jiang Shiyuan said with a grin.

Seeing Jiang Shiyuan’s mischievous smile, Jiang Guifei felt the anger inside her leak out, as if a hole had been poked, and it all deflated in an instant. How could she really be angry with the precious child she had raised with such care?

Everyone laughed, and Jiang Guifei, holding back her smile, sternly said, “Stand up straight.”

Jiang Shiyuan obediently stood beside her aunt, but her gaze fell on the edge of Jiang Guifei’s robe.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that palace gown was the one her aunt had made three years ago during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Jiang Shiyuan’s gaze dimmed, but before she could think further, a palace servant’s voice rang out—

“Old Madam Pei, Madam Pei have come to pay their respects.”

Two people entered from outside—the Old Madam Pei, wearing an official robe, her hair half-white but full of energy, and Madam Pei, dressed in similar attire. She was the biological mother of Pei Ziye, and the head matriarch of the Pei family now.

Both women entered and greeted Jiang Guifei, who immediately granted them seats.

The Pei family was influential, and even the emperor would show respect when meeting the Pei matriarch.

Jiang Guifei and Old Madam Pei exchanged pleasantries, while Madam Pei couldn’t help but glance curiously at the young girl standing next to Jiang Guifei.

So, this was her yet-to-be-met sister-in-law?

At first glance, Madam Pei was stunned.

She was fresh and delicate, just like a flower.

Madam Pei, a woman herself, couldn’t take her eyes off this girl.

No wonder—

No wonder when her younger brother had announced his marriage a few days ago, one of the uncles had muttered that the Jiang family was not a good match, but was immediately silenced by her younger brother’s words, “She’s worthy of the heavens and the earth, and perfectly enough for me, an ordinary man.”

Her younger brother was usually warm and polite, but that was only due to his own upbringing; deep down, he was indifferent.

After he started working, he moved out of the Pei family’s old house, setting up his own residence. He only visited the old lady a few times each month and didn’t return often. Even with his brothers, he wasn’t particularly close, and his nephews and nieces could only exchange a few words with him when they sought refuge at the Taifu residence.

Her younger brother was extremely efficient in the court, and indifferent to family matters; this was the first time she had seen him show emotion publicly.

Madam Pei couldn’t help but look at Jiang Shiyuan again.

Jiang Shiyuan noticed Madam Pei’s gaze and looked up as well.

Their eyes met, and Madam Pei smiled warmly at her future sister-in-law.

Her future mother-in-law was kind and approachable, which added one more advantage to marrying into the Pei family.

As Madam Pei smiled at her, Jiang Shiyuan didn’t dare to act too familiar, respectfully bowing her head, puzzled: Why was only Madam Pei here? Where was Pei Ziye?

Wasn’t today the official meeting between the two families? Wasn’t the “groom” going to show up?

Just as Jiang Shiyuan was about to ask, she suddenly smelled a faint scent of ambergris.

At that moment, a palace servant’s announcement rang out, “Master Pei Taifu, has arrived.”