Chapter 4 – A Heartfelt Gift

Thanks to the Pei Family’s efficiency, Pei Xuan learned about the owner of the small courtyard two days later. Her slender eyebrows furrowed as she said, “Blind from birth?”

“Yes, she was born blind. Not only does the Xining Count dislike this daughter, but the Countess detests their eldest daughter even more, seeing her as a curse and a disaster. She hasn’t received the proper treatment of a miss; it’s a miracle she’s survived all these years.”

The old servant sighed, summarizing in one sentence, “This girl has had a hard life.”

Pei Xuan felt a pang in her heart and murmured to herself, “She can’t see… no wonder, no wonder she…”

The girl sitting on the stone steps wore a water-red dress, her face adorned with a gentle smile, as if she could calmly accept all the storms and injustices of the world. She was serene and kind, spoke little, but her voice was pleasant.

Her old clothes, petite frame, and pale face contrasted starkly with the humble tiled house behind her.

In their first meeting, all her embarrassments were apparent, but Pei Xuan, overwhelmed by her emotions, had overlooked the heartbreaking details.

“How could the Xining Count and Countess be so ignorant, treating such a wonderful girl as a curse and a disaster? It’s utterly absurd!”

Seeing Pei Xuan’s agitation, the old servant added, “Gentleman, the day you met her was her eighteenth birthday, which is also the Third Miss’s birthday in the Xining Count’s residence.”

“What?”

Pei Xuan lightly touched her forehead, incredulous. “I can’t believe there are parents like this in the world. The eldest daughter lives in a dilapidated house, while the younger daughter’s birthday celebration is grand and splendid.”

She made a few sharp remarks, and the old servant glanced at her. “Gentleman, the palace examination is imminent. You should focus.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

She walked back to the desk a few steps away, picked up a book, and began to study.

Seeing her immerse herself in her studies again, the old servant dared not disturb her and quietly closed the door behind him.

The study was silent.

Half an hour later, Pei Xuan put down her book and stared into space, muttering to herself, “It was her eighteenth birthday, and I didn’t even offer her congratulations.”

She flexed her wrist, her long fingers playing with the wolf-hair brush beside her, and after a while, she made up her mind.

“I need to find a way to thank her.”

“Thank who?” asked Madam Pei, studying her ‘son.’

Pei Xuan stood by the window, smiling faintly as she turned her head. “The eldest daughter of the Xining Count’s residence. She saved me. If she hadn’t laid out that straw mat, I’d have been seriously injured in the fall.”

“Why would she lay a straw mat by the wall for no reason?”

“Who knows? Maybe it was on a whim. Anyway, I owe her a favor, and I need to repay it.”

Madam Pei took a sip of her tea and asked, “How do you plan to repay her?”

“Repaying her too conspicuously wouldn’t be appropriate; it could damage her reputation.”

Officially, Pei Xuan was still the legitimate son of the Pei Family. Thanks to her father’s connections, she had avoided the ‘physical examination’ phase of the Imperial Examination. Having chosen to enter the bureaucracy, she would have to live her life as a man.

In Dazhao, strict segregation between men and women started at the age of seven. Engaging secretly with someone of the opposite sex without parental consent could result in accusations of improper behavior.

Madam Pei understood her concerns and, to ensure Pei Xuan could focus on the upcoming palace examination, she agreed wholeheartedly.

To show her sincerity, Madam Pei prepared a gift and personally visited the Xining Count’s residence.

Pei Xuan’s biological father was the chancellor, a high-ranking official with real power in the court. In terms of status and influence, he was leagues above the Xining Count.

The Xining Count’s title was hereditary, but the Cui Family had no current officials in the court. Their title was now mostly ceremonial, placing them at the lower end of Xi Jing’s nobility. In recent years, they had even been subtly ostracized by other noble families, barely maintaining their status.

The chancellor’s wife visiting was like throwing a torch onto a pile of dry wood, instantly igniting the entire residence.

The household was bustling, preparing to receive the esteemed guest. The Xining Count and Countess were flattered and seated themselves respectfully.

After exchanging pleasantries, the Countess cautiously asked, “May I know the purpose of Madam’s visit?”

Madam Pei smiled gently. “My child is mischievous. A few days ago, after the Metropolitan Examination, she went to fly a kite. The kite landed on your estate’s wall, and in her pursuit, she climbed the wall. Our servants were so alarmed that she fell into your courtyard.”

The Xining Count was filled with dread. “The gentleman must be blessed with good fortune to be safe and sound!”

“Indeed, she is unharmed,” Madam Pei replied sincerely. “As it happens, someone had laid a thick, large mat by the wall, which saved her from injury.”

“Who was it?” The Countess’s eyes lit up with excitement, eagerly anticipating hearing the name of her favorite daughter.

The legitimate son of the Pei Family was about to turn eighteen, and once she excelled in the examinations, marriage discussions would undoubtedly begin. The Countess pondered this and seemed to understand why Madam Pei had visited the Cui Family.

Could it be that she had taken a liking to her daughter and intended to propose a match with her legitimate son?

Madam Pei had heard from the old servant about how the Xining Count and Countess mistreated their eldest daughter. She held little regard for the couple’s actions, which is why she hadn’t mentioned the girl living in the broken-tiled house in the south courtyard.

“It was your daughter.”

On the day Pei Xuan fell from the wall, the estate was in the midst of a grand celebration for Cui Dai’s birthday. Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn’t think that Cui Dai was the one who saved her.

“I’d like to meet that young miss and thank her personally on behalf of my Xuan’er.”

“Please wait a moment,” the Countess said as she hurriedly turned and instructed a servant to fetch the Third Miss.

Cui Dai was lazily feeding fish by the pond when her mother’s confidant approached her, whispering that the chancellor’s wife had chosen her to be the future daughter-in-law of the Pei Family. Overjoyed, she rushed back to her room to dress up carefully. By the time she finally emerged, her face was flushed with excitement.

“Hurry up, we mustn’t keep the distinguished guest waiting,” the confidant urged.

In the main hall, Madam Pei leisurely sipped tea, waiting until her second cup when Third Miss Cui finally made her entrance.

At fourteen or fifteen years old, she was dressed in the finest gown, her earlobes adorned with rubies, radiating an almost blinding brilliance.

Madam Pei wasn’t fond of overly adorned young ladies. She smiled politely from her seat. “So, it was you who used a straw mat to save my Xuan’er?”

Cui Dai was bewildered, glancing at her mother and then at her father, who was even more excited than she was. She found herself unable to nod or shake her head.

She had no idea what the madam was talking about.

Straw mat? She didn’t even own such a thing!

“Dai’er, speak up. The madam is asking you a question,” the Countess urged, anxious enough to answer on her daughter’s behalf. This was a golden opportunity to climb the social ladder!

“I, I…”

Madam Pei raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Could it be I was mistaken? Is it not her?”

“How could it not be?” The Countess implored, “Please, do ask her again.” She turned to her daughter, “Dai’er, think carefully. On your birthday, did you not save the chancellor’s legitimate son with a straw mat—wait, a straw mat?”

Seeing the realization dawn on her parents’ faces, Cui Dai stammered, still at a loss.

The rest of the words got stuck in their throats. The expressions of the three members of the Xining Count’s family were identical: stunned and furious.

If it wasn’t Cui Dai, could it be Cui Ti?

That blind harbinger of bad luck?!

“Miss, Miss, someone from the front courtyard is calling for you!”

“Calling for me?”

Cui Ti, who had been napping lightly at the table, was groggily awakened. She lifted her head, revealing a red mark on the left side of her cheek from sleeping.

Bai Ge quickly brought a basin of water. “Miss, hurry and wash up. I heard an esteemed guest is here. They called for someone from the North Courtyard earlier; you mustn’t be outdone by them!”

“An esteemed guest?”

Her foggy mind quickly cleared.

The people outside were urging her, and given their usual tendency to treat people according to their status, she hurriedly washed her face and barely managed to tidy her hair before being pushed and shoved towards the front courtyard by the numerous servants.

Bai Ge was annoyed at their lack of manners but dared not speak out.

If a noble took a liking to her miss, any commotion would only bring shame to her.

Her miss was eighteen, the perfect age for marriage proposals.

“Madam, she is here.”

Today, Cui Ti had changed out of her favorite water-red dress into a simple outfit. With her hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin and a white gauze covering her eyes, she crossed the threshold with the help of her maid.

Her elegant and composed demeanor immediately invoked a sense of pity.

Madam Pei’s gaze softened. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the frayed stitching on the girl’s sleeve.

If she had noticed, naturally, the Countess had too. She silently cursed the careless servants for not dressing the girl properly before bringing her here in a hurry.

The other ladies present, those with sight, all had different thoughts. Only Count Xining was completely oblivious to his eldest daughter’s shabby attire. He seemed accustomed to Cui Ti’s humble appearance and was unaccustomed to seeing her in the daylight, where more people could know that the Xining Count had a blind eldest daughter.

“Quickly, greet our guest. This is the chancellor’s wife.”

Cui Ti was momentarily lost.

The chancellor’s wife… She was Pei Xuan’s mother, her mother-in-law from a previous lifetime?

“Greetings, Madam.”

She bowed softly.

“Please, stand up.”

Madam Pei helped her up, discreetly studying the young woman before her. Her demeanor was noticeably warmer than it had been towards Cui Dai.

She asked, “Was it you who saved my Xuan’er? Oh, my Xuan’er is the silly gentleman who fell from the wall.”

Two steps away, Bai Ge’s ears perked up, shocked and at a loss—was that silly goose actually the chancellor’s son?!

Caught between dreams and reality, hearing Madam Pei’s gentle and humorous remark about her son again, Cui Ti’s eyebrows curved slightly. “It was a matter of chance; I dare not claim credit.”

“Credit is credit.”

Madam Pei held Cui Ti’s hand and chatted idly.

The Xining Count’s family of three was left aside, with Cui Dai seething silently, hating that the blind girl had stolen her chance to climb the social ladder.

In her previous lifetime, Madam Pei had filled the void in Cui Ti’s heart for a mother figure. She treated her with kindness, never minding her blindness, and would even take her to the garden to listen to operas when she was feeling down. Whenever Cui Ti had a disagreement with Pei Xuan, Madam Pei always took her side.

Human relationships depend on a natural affinity. Cui Ti’s genuine and unpretentious nature resonated with Madam Pei. Before leaving, Madam Pei praised her in front of Count Xining: “With such a good daughter in the Cui Family, how could there be any worries about marriage?”

Count Xining didn’t quite grasp her meaning, but his wife eagerly chimed in, “You are right, Ti’er and Dai’er are both good girls.”

Madam Pei was annoyed by the Countess’s blatant favoritism and her attempt to leverage her influence to promote her younger daughter. She didn’t bother to hide her displeasure and instructed her servants to deliver the thank-you gifts to the broken-tiled house in the south courtyard. Only then did she feel she had accomplished her mission and took her leave.

The Chancellor’s wife made it clear that the gifts were for Cui Ti, and no one else was to touch them.

Cui Dai threw a fit, insisting on taking the gifts back to the North Courtyard, but the Countess sternly reprimanded her.

In the South Courtyard, amidst the dilapidated surroundings, Bai Ge was bustling about, moving boxes into the room. There were boxes and boxes of thank-you gifts, filled with food, clothes, and daily necessities—everything one could need.

“Miss, I never imagined that silly goose had such a prestigious background. I even made fun of him that day. Do you think he will hold a grudge?”

“He won’t.”

Bai Ge was still worried. “Considering he is the legitimate son of the Chancellor, maybe I shouldn’t make fun of him next time. Should I flatter him instead?”

Cui Ti was lost in thought again.

“Miss, are you listening to me?”

“Hmm?” Cui Ti snapped back to reality. “You don’t need to flatter him. There are plenty of people who will do that. He is different from other noble sons; he isn’t arrogant. Have you ever seen a spring breeze break a reed?”

The spring breeze doesn’t break reeds, and Pei Xuan never bullied those weaker than herself. She was upright, reserved, and approachable.

“Strange,” Bai Ge said, growing more and more confused. “Miss, it sounds like you’ve known him for a long time. Didn’t you just meet?”

Cui Ti hummed in response, her fingers brushing over the soft, new bedding.

This was a gift from Madam Pei.

Someone of Madam Pei’s status wouldn’t casually give someone a bed. Therefore, this must have been sent by Pei Xuan.

It was to replace the straw mat she had soiled.

Ever since he had fallen down so peacefully, many things had started to change.

In her previous lifetime, Madam Pei hadn’t come with gifts, and Pei Xuan hadn’t indirectly repaid her for the straw mat. Holding the soft and warm bedding, all Cui Ti could think about was-

Hoping he would succeed in the imperial exams, hoping he would succeed.

So that there would be no more regrets.