Chapter 15: She Was Truly Radiant and Captivating
From the perspective of ordinary people, Pei Shiqin was hardly a good man.
More than two years ago, at the Spring Banquet of the fourteenth year of the Yongxi reign, Empress Ning ordered the entire Mount Fuji to be cleaned. She then invited young scions of noble families and distinguished ladies from the capital to enjoy the spring outing. At that time, Pei Shiqin was merely a humble commoner, unworthy of attending.
However, he petitioned the palace eunuch supervisor Cao Yuanchun, who arranged for him to accompany the event disguised as a stable boy.
No one paid attention to such a lowly role, buried in the dirt. Pei Shiqin intended to use this chance to get close to Fu Jun, the legitimate son of the Fu family. But instead, he overheard a secret plot in the stables.
He did not see Fu Jun, but he did encounter Fu Yao, the youngest daughter of the Fu family, said to be the most favored.
The girl, around fourteen or fifteen, at the bloom of youth, bore a scornful face filled with malice. She arrogantly ordered her maid to tamper with the mare belonging to Xie Yun, the legitimate daughter of the Xie family, intending to disgrace her publicly, ideally causing her to fall and break into pieces.
Pei Shiqin listened coldly from the sidelines, thinking perhaps heaven was aiding him.
He wanted to undermine the Fu family—it didn’t have to be Fu Jun specifically. If Fu Yao caused a fatal incident at the Empress’s Spring Banquet, the Fu family’s reputation would suffer greatly.
At that point, the Xie family would be at odds with the Fu family completely. Pei Shiqin had ways to urge Cao Yuanchun to fan the flames and bring about the Fu family’s downfall.
Therefore, he felt indifferent about the fate of Xie Yun, the central figure in this plot, even secretly wishing the matter would escalate.
Later…
Zhao Yuanliang once said rightly that Pei Shiqin was never a man to cherish or pity women.
Yet, seeing Xie Yun’s fragile and delicate frame, struggling pitifully atop the horse, biting her teeth refusing to admit defeat, he recalled his own escape from death in a great fire at the age of seven.
He survived through sheer will to live and to avenge, even if barely clinging to life. Thus, he could not bear to see someone so pitiful, fighting fate with all her strength but still losing, especially an innocent girl.
He went against his initial plan, saved Xie Yun, and even sent her back to the Prime Minister’s residence.
By fortune, when he found her, she had merely fainted without life-threatening injury.
If that made any difference, then what Xiao Yan said was not entirely wrong.
Pei Shiqin’s silent demeanor confirmed the suspicions in the eyes of Xiao Ling and Xiao Yan.
They exchanged a glance. Xiao Yan looked at the man’s deep brows under the candlelight, curled her palm beside her slightly, then broke the silence, saying, “Sir, could it be that you are only taken by her beauty? If that is so, there are many beautiful ladies in the Thousand Gold Pavilion. You have important affairs; you must not…”
She did not finish her sentence, for Pei Shiqin shot her a sharp look, silencing her instantly.
Beauty? Indeed, Xie Yun was strikingly beautiful.
But not enough to make him lose his heart.
The two had only interacted twice, so he lightly said, “Xiao Yan, you overthink, and you have overstepped.”
Xiao Yan knelt, her face tinged with guilt. “I have overstepped, please punish me, sir.”
Seeing this, Xiao Ling was about to speak up for his elder sister when someone hurriedly came to inform that Pei Shiqin was requested to enter the palace at once.
His indifferent phoenix-like eyes gradually sharpened. Rising, he said while heading out, “Xiao Ling, accompany me to the palace.”
Xiao Ling nodded in response. Xiao Yan bit her lip, saying nothing more.
…
The palace under the night sky was even more magnificent and solemn. The yellow glazed tiles were dusted with a thin layer of frost, exuding an aura of dignity and severity.
Pei Shiqin strode directly into the study behind the Imperial Hall. Emperor Yongxi sat at his desk, holding his imperial brush while reviewing memorials. Seeing him, the emperor put down his brush and smiled, “Minister, you arrived sooner than I expected.”
The palace’s ram’s horn-shaped glass lanterns cast a faint glow. Pei Shiqin noticed Cao Yuanchun standing silently by the emperor’s side. He quickly composed himself, lifted his robe slightly, and bowed.
The young emperor, only twenty-seven years old, had refined features and gentle peach blossom eyes, beloved by the people.
Yet, this was the sixteenth year of the Yongxi reign, meaning he ascended the throne at just eleven years old—barely out of childhood.
The court was full of intrigue and suspicion, but the young emperor governed diligently, often burning the midnight oil in the study, promoting noble family members, gradually stabilizing his rule.
Still, capable men were few in his court; Pei Shiqin was one of the few he could rely on.