Chapter 2

When he lowered his head to drink the new Longjing tea, a pair of shining, tear-filled eyes seemed to stare back from its surface.

She must have felt badly wronged when he exposed her in front of everyone that day.

For a whole month, she had sent him nothing.

Of course he did not miss those little trinkets.

He merely felt that, as a distant relative who could just about be considered an elder brother, he ought to teach her a few things.

How to live honestly, in accordance with Heaven.

How to remain true to oneself.

On his next day off, Pei Yan told his servant to decline his friends’ invitation.

Surprised, the young man blurted out, “You’re in such good spirits today, master. Isn’t it because you’re going to meet them?”

The smile at the corner of Pei Yan’s mouth faded.

A quicker-witted servant nudged the first.

“The master is always busy with official duties. He’s finally found time to visit his sisters. Naturally, he’s pleased!”

Carrying boxes of cakes, they had not yet reached the schoolroom when they heard the girls’ clear laughter.

“They say there’s been a great victory on the northern frontier. His Majesty has just appointed a General Ji. He’s young, gifted, and extremely handsome!”

“Ying, why are you only interested in his looks? Has the spring breeze stirred your heart?”

The eldest Pei daughter gave an affectionate little scolding, then replied frankly.

“I’m old enough. Why shouldn’t I ask? Given the choice, of course I’d rather have a handsome husband than an ugly one!”

“Shenbi, don’t you agree? The army returns in triumph next month. Come and have a look with me.”

I was delighted to hear of the victory in the north.

But General Ji had nothing to do with the man I was worried about.

For every general who won glory, countless soldiers left their bones behind.

I only wanted my brother to return safely. I cared nothing for fame or fortune.

My joy gave way to anxiety. To the others, though, it looked as if I too were interested, merely too shy to agree.

When Pei Yan entered, he looked even colder and sterner than usual.

The girls had been carefree in private, but the sight of their strict eldest brother brought them instantly to order.

He examined our work one by one.

The eldest daughter’s was judged excellent. She received five Lizhi Haolangjun cakes.

Even the fourth daughter, whose work was merely average, received four.

By the time he reached mine, the cakes were all gone.

Pei Yan flipped through a few pages. His lips curved in a mocking smile.

“Since you’re last, there’s no need for you to have any. Saves me sending a servant out to buy more.”

I bowed my head and accepted the reprimand without protest.

“Yes.”

To Pei Yan, I was hardly a relative to be proud of.

A shameless social climber who pestered him repeatedly and lied whenever she opened her mouth.

Perhaps even commenting on my work seemed a waste of breath.

Yet today, he had a few more words to spare.

“No talent, no virtue, and loose morals. No family with any respectable traditions would look twice at a woman like you.”

Those words were truly cruel.

After he left, the eldest daughter, Pei Ying, made a point of comforting me.

“My brother… really did go too far.”

“Shenbi, I don’t know what caused the misunderstanding between you, but to me, you are certainly not the person those rumors describe.”

Rumors cut like knives. A thousand wounds could draw only a little more blood.

Yet one gentle sentence from Pei Ying brought my tears spilling over.

After laughing and crying for a while, I remembered her question, which I had never answered.

“Ying, finding a handsome husband is important, of course.”

“But haven’t you forgotten something? Next month is this year’s examination for female officials.”

Pei Ying’s face changed in horror.

I broke into a bright smile.

No one noticed the servant who had distributed the cakes return for the fan case Pei Yan had left behind.

At dinner, someone from the main courtyard brought two boxes of pastries.

They weren’t Baolan House’s Lizhi Haolangjun cakes, but Mati Song pastries, which were just as difficult to obtain.

“The master says that, at noon, he meant only to encourage you to concentrate on your studies and not be distracted.”

“If you do that, he will reward you with any cakes you like.”

Pei Yan could not possibly have said those things.

I looked at the servant. He was the same one who had once delivered Pei Yan’s supposed request for a fan case.

Thinking back, he too had probably been instructed by the matriarch and Lady Pei to deceive me along with Chunxin.

Perhaps he still didn’t know they had abandoned me, and was simply carrying on with his part.

I politely declined.

“She really refused them?”

In the main courtyard, Pei Yan stared at the untouched boxes. His austere brows drew together.

The servant trembled as he repeated what he had heard: