Chapter Forty-Eight: A Visit from "Grandfather"

Neighbor?

Li Chiying glanced doubtfully at Princess Taiping, then noticed Pei Min standing by her side, and exclaimed in surprise, “Is it you?”

“Greetings, Your Highness!” Pei Min offered his respects.

Princess Taiping looked at Li Chiying with a hint of amusement. “You know him, Chiying?”

Li Chiying’s eyes darted about as she replied, “Of course I know him. How could I not? He’s a doctor who can’t even treat patients. Am I wrong?”

Pei Min sensed the sharpness in her gaze, realizing she had already uncovered the lie he had told inadvertently that day. He could only brace himself and say, “The princess speaks truly.” Though he was touched by her defense of him, the young lady was still unaware that Princess Taiping had seen through everything.

Princess Taiping did not expose the matter, but said, “Don’t speak nonsense. Master Pei is the top scholar of this year’s imperial examination, a rare prodigy of our era.”

“So he’s Pei Min?” Li Chiying had evidently heard his name before, and looked at him with disbelief, as if pondering something.

Pei Min, facing Li Chiying, suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

Princess Taiping took Li Chiying’s hand and led her into the Xue Residence. Though it could not compare to the grandeur of her current manor, it was nonetheless a distinctive mansion. It was not the typical delicate dwelling of the southern regions, but rather displayed the bold and unadorned style of Yan and Zhao, with few flowers or plants and an emphasis on unusual rocks, artificial hills, and robust trees.

“What do you think?” Princess Taiping’s eyes were complex, tinged with melancholy.

Pei Min smiled. “I thank Your Highness for your generosity. The mansion has a strong Yan and Zhao character. Compared to the delicacy of Jiangnan, as a native of the north, I much prefer this hearty northern courtyard.”

Princess Taiping nodded. “That’s good. I’ll give orders shortly: the maids will withdraw in ten days, and you have ten days to prepare. During this time, you may command them as you wish. I am a bit weary and will rest at Jade Truth Temple. For now, this is your residence—do as you please.”

Princess Taiping walked out of the Xue Residence, glanced back at the plaque bearing its name, and said, “Carefully remove the plaque and place it on the carriage.” With that, she strode toward the nearby Jade Truth Temple.

Li Chiying gazed at the “Xue Residence” and said, “Aunt Taiping, I never knew this was your home as well.”

Princess Taiping smiled with a trace of sorrow. “You weren’t born yet back then.” She looked once more, then resolutely walked toward the temple.

Pei Min toured the mansion Princess Taiping had gifted him. Setting aside the political motives, he found the style and size very much to his liking, particularly the study and the practice grounds in the rear garden. The study was vast, containing over five thousand volumes—not only Confucian classics but also miscellaneous essays, notes, and military treatises from various renowned strategists, surpassing even the collection in Xue Ne’s Grand Marshal’s residence. The practice grounds were equally impressive: spacious as a football field, square-shaped, more than adequate for riding and archery.

Alone in the study, Pei Min pondered the current situation but found no answers and decided to put his worries aside. He left the mansion and returned to the He Residence.

He recounted the day’s events to He Zhizhang and Zhang Xu.

Zhang Xu, carefree as ever, took it lightly, but He Zhizhang was hesitant to speak.

Pei Min understood his concern and laughed, “Rest assured, Brother He. I have my own judgment and know how to choose wisely. Though I know little of the court’s intricacies, I have entered the game and can no longer drift with the tide. I must eventually take action.”

He Zhizhang sighed deeply. He had previously been an outsider to politics, but after an unexpected promotion to the role of Imperial Examiner, he had just begun to engage with the political scene and immediately attracted Princess Taiping’s attention. If not for Pei Min’s help during a crisis, he might already be on his way south. He admitted his own mind was not as sharp as his young friend’s and said no more.

Pei Min packed his belongings and spent that night drinking heartily with He Zhizhang and Zhang Xu. The next morning, he moved to the mansion Princess Taiping had given him—formerly the Xue Residence, now renamed Pei Residence, as arranged by the princess.

Unrestrained, Pei Min remodeled the mansion to his liking, especially the bedroom, which he completely reorganized. The dressing table and other feminine items were moved to storage, and the room was furnished to suit a single man. Conveniently, some maids left by Princess Taiping remained and helped with cleaning. He purchased necessities and settled in comfortably.

As the top scholar, favored by Princess Taiping, Pei Min’s future seemed boundless. He hadn’t noticed it while living in He Zhizhang’s residence, but now that he had his own home, invitations poured in—over eighty in a single day, along with numerous visitors of various backgrounds, including officials of fourth and fifth rank. Most were between thirty and forty years old, with a few aged twenty-five or over fifty, but all shared one thing in common: each had a daughter of marriageable age. Without exception, every visit was a marriage proposal.

Pei Min was overwhelmed and had to release word that his mother was far away in Youzhou and that marriage decisions required her consent. He promised to consider the matter after bringing her to Chang’an. He hung up a “No Visitors” sign to escape the predicament and finally found some peace to contemplate his future path.

Thinking of his current predicament gave him a headache. Normally decisive, he was now drawn into the political fray and marked as part of Princess Taiping’s faction. His next steps were critical—a single misstep could mean total defeat or even cost his life. No carelessness was permitted.

In these circumstances, Pei Min thought, “If only I had someone trustworthy to consult with.” It wasn’t that He Zhizhang and Zhang Xu were untrustworthy, but neither excelled in such matters; asking them would only add to their worries.

Just as he was fretting over this, Pei Min received a message that left him utterly dumbfounded.

“Master, your grandfather is requesting to see you outside…”

Grandfather?

Pei Min, bewildered, pointed at himself. He had no memory of his grandfather, only a vague knowledge that the man had died in an accident when Pei Min’s father was twenty. Had he lived, his grandfather would likely have become the next head of the Pei family, not the current scoundrel. Pei Min’s father would not have suffered cruel punishment for falling in love with his mother. To this day, the Pei family refused to acknowledge his mother’s status, even barring her from entering their home.

Where did this grandfather come from?

Already annoyed, Pei Min’s anger flared at the news, and he strode toward the gates.

When he reached the entrance, Pei Min saw the visitor and instantly turned from anger to joy, exclaiming, “Grand Marshal!”