Chapter - 58
By Tea Time Translations
---
If there are any mistakes in translation, please feel free to comment! Please support us @TeaTime.
---
The male guests and the attendants all stepped aside, and the carriages stopped one by one in front of the Pei residence's main gate, inviting the ladies to board first.
According to the original arrangement, Madam Pei would ride in one carriage with her two grand daughters-in-laws. Jiafu and Yuzhu helped Madam Pei into the carriage, while Madam Xin and Madam Meng supported her from behind. As everyone settled in, there was still no sign of Zhou Jiao'e.
Madam Meng joked, "Sister-in-law, could it be that your new daughter-in-law and the second young master are still reluctant to come out of their room? Just now, I didn't see the new daughter-in-law or the second young master either. It seems they're enjoying their newlywed bliss."
Madam Xin seemed to feel a bit embarrassed and awkward. She instructed a maid by her side to go and check, but before the maid could move, she saw Zhou Jiao'e and Pei Xiuzhi coming from the direction of the second gate. Zhou Jiao'e was dressed beautifully, leaning against Pei Xiuzhi with a charming demeanor, while Pei Xiuzhi's face was strained. He looked up and saw that everyone was looking at him. He raised his feet and was about to leave Zhou Jiao'e, but he seemed to be called by her. Reluctantly, he finally reached the carriage with her before he apologized for being late.
Madam Meng smiled warmly, praising the young couple's affection, which envied others. Pei Xiuzhi's expression was extremely stiff, smiling awkwardly, almost looking worse than crying, while Zhou Jiao'e seemed to have a subtle blush on her face. It wasn't until Madam Pei said, "Come up," that she was assisted onto the carriage and sat opposite Jiafu, on the other side of Madam Pei.
Once on the carriage, Zhou Jiao'e apologized to Madam Pei for their tardiness, subtly hinting that it was because Pei Xiuzhi had been pestering her early in the morning, causing them to be late.
The old lady just smiled and said nothing.
In the dim light of dawn, under the envious gaze of passersby, the procession from the Pei family, stretching for several li, moved along the streets and headed towards the Ci'en Temple. The air was filled with an indescribable richness and elegance as they left the city to reach their destination.
Jiafu was not unfamiliar with the Ci'en Temple; this was her third visit here.
Today, the entire temple was reserved for the Pei family, with no other worshippers present. Upon arrival, they were warmly greeted by the monks waiting outside the mountain gate. After the female members of the family changed and settled in, the rituals began. Led by their eldest grandson, Pei You'an, the Pei family members offered prayers and bowed to the ancestral tablets. In the main hall, forty-nine monks chanted sutras, while in the side halls, vegetarian feasts were set up to entertain the guests who arrived one after another, making the scene lively and bustling.
Jiafu accompanied the old lady in the main hall listening to the scriptures until noon, when the rituals paused for a meal. As other female members from various families had arrived earlier, Madam Xin and Madam Meng were busy attending to them, so Jiafu took the initiative to escort the old lady to a quiet rear chamber that had been prepared for resting. The old lady suggested she take a rest as well, relieving her of the duty to stay by her side. Jiafu agreed and, upon leaving, was informed by a servant that the Duchess of Qin had also arrived and inquired about the old lady. Remembering the pleasant conversation they had shared during their previous encounter at the Zhang family's residence, Jiafu felt obligated to pay her respects. She grabbed some incense and proceeded towards the front.
It was now noon, and the weather was scorching hot, with the sun beating down mercilessly. Jiafu chose a side hall with a shaded veranda to walk through. Most of the monks had retired to eat and rest, leaving the surroundings deserted. As she turned a corner, she suddenly encountered Pei Xiuzhi and Zhou Jiao'e emerging from one of the side halls. They seemed to have just had an argument inside, with Pei Xiuzhi wearing a gloomy expression and walking briskly, while Zhou Jiao'e trailed behind, clutching a handkerchief, unwilling to let the matter go and continuing to argue with him.
Jiafu, fearing an awkward encounter, quickly retreated and decided to wait for the two of them to leave before continuing on her way. However, just as they had taken a few steps, they stopped again, and their argument grew louder. Pei Xiuzhi accused Zhou Jiao'e of trying to deceive him, claiming that if he hadn't seen through her schemes, she would have deceived him. Zhou Jiao'e burst into tears, accusing him of speaking maliciously and lacking a conscience.
Listening to their argument, Jiafu wondered how long it would go on. Just as she was considering leaving, she heard Madam Xin's voice approaching. Unable to resist her curiosity, Jiafu motioned for the Tanxiang to stay quiet and quietly peeked out again. Indeed, Madam Xin hurried over, dismissing the accompanying maidservants from afar before lowering her voice to scold her son and comfort Zhou Jiao'e.
Zhou Jiao'e, tears streaming down her face, wiped her eyes and choked out, "Mother, you saw it too. Since I married into the family, I just wanted to live a peaceful life. But he always finds fault with me, nitpicking at every little thing. If he doesn't like me, I won't blame your family. I'll go to the Queen Mother and let her decide. If it doesn't work out, we'll just end it. I don't want to be bullied like this every day."
Madam Xin hurriedly embraced Zhou Jiao'e, comforting her with endearing words and making her son apologize to her. Pei Xiuzhi looked extremely unwilling, but he couldn't resist Madam Xin's insistence, so he reluctantly apologized to Zhou Jiao'e, who gradually stopped crying. Madam Xin then ordered her son to escort Zhou Jiao'e back to rest, but Pei Xiuzhi remained motionless, insisting that he had to go and attend to the guests. Madam Xin, visibly annoyed, suppressed her anger and changed her approach, expressing concern about the scorching sun and instructing Zhou Jiao'e to return first, promising to discipline her son properly and have him apologize to her later that evening.
Pei Xiuzhi's face turned pale with anger, while Zhou Jiao'e displayed a hint of satisfaction. She glanced at her husband and then turned away, leaving slowly.
"Mother! She clearly lacks proper conduct for a woman. She tried to deceive me that night, but I saw through her schemes. Why are you still protecting her? I want to divorce her!" Pei Xiuzhi exclaimed angrily.
When Zhou Jiao'e left, Pei Xiuzhi began to rant at his mother.
Madam Xin covered his mouth and glanced around.
Jiafu quickly withdrew her head.
Madam Xin dragged Pei Xiuzhi to a corner, pinching him hard before lowering her voice to scold him, "How could you be so foolish? You've already married her, causing such a scene will only bring shame upon yourself!"
Pei Xiuzhi said, "How can a real man endure such humiliation? I want to divorce her!"
Madam Xin fell silent for a moment before saying, "Xiuzhi, you may hate her, but so do I. However, we are now without any support, while she still has connections with the Queen Mother. We may have to rely on her family's support in the future. You'd better endure it for now."
Pei Xiuzhi sounded surprised, "Mother, what do you mean? Don't we still have an elder brother?"
Madam Xin's face gradually darkened, showing signs of regret in her gaze. With determination, she leaned in close to her son's ear and whispered something in a low voice.
Jiafu heard Pei Xiuzhi suddenly raise his voice, sounding astonished, "What? Eldest brother isn't your biological son, Mother?"
Madam Xin quickly covered her son's mouth and hushed him.
To be honest, Jiafu was initially just curious and listening for gossip, thinking it wouldn't go beyond her ears. She wasn't prepared for Pei Xiuzhi's sudden revelation. She immediately perked up her ears.
Madam Xin glanced around again, then pulled her son into the nearby side hall, closing the door behind them.
Jiafu heard the voices fade and the sound of the door closing, indicating that the two had entered the side hall. Her heart pounded with anticipation, unable to resist her curiosity. She signaled Tanxiang to wait there and quietly approached a lattice window, pressing close and holding her breath to carefully listen to the conversation inside.
Madam Xin led her son to a corner of the side hall before speaking, "Xiuzhi, I originally dared not tell anyone about this matter. If your grandmother were to find out, it would be a major issue. But since she has shown no mercy towards us, disregarding our well-being, I see no reason to keep it to myself. After you hear this, be cautious, and whatever you do, don't let anyone else know. Pei You'an is currently in power, and it's not something we can afford to provoke."
Pei Xiuzhi was puzzled, "Mother, what are you talking about?"
Madam Xin fell silent, lost in memories of the past.
Twenty-four years ago, she married the Duke of Wei, a handsome and heroic husband of her dreams. A few months later, she became pregnant as she had hoped. However, six months later, one day, the Duke of Wei told her that he had a son born outside of their marriage. The child's mother had recently passed away, and he wished for the child to live a respectable life. He planned to bring the child home and asked her to accept him as her own, to raise him as her own son.
The Duke of Wei explained that he would keep the child outside for the time being and bring him home on the day she gave birth. At that time, regardless of whether she gave birth to a boy or a girl, they would announce to the world that she had given birth to twins.
He also acknowledged that this was unfair to her but emphasized that the child was born with weak health and was at risk of dying prematurely. He promised her that, in return for her acceptance, he would never take any concubines during their marriage.
Mrs. Xin undoubtedly experienced immense pain at the time. Her husband had fathered a child with another woman and now wanted her to acknowledge that child as her own. Despite her inner struggles, she eventually agreed.
Since her husband had made such a request, refusing would have made her seem petty. If the child did indeed die prematurely, it would not have much impact on her own children. Moreover, her husband's promise was also one of the reasons that swayed her.
She agreed. On the day of delivery, she gave birth to a daughter. Sure enough, that night, the child was quietly brought back home.
Mrs. Xin knew at first sight that the Duke of Wei had not deceived her. The child was perfectly healthy, although he appeared frail and no more than a few months old, he looked no stronger than a small kitten, making him seem challenging to raise.
At that moment, her feelings towards the child were extremely complex. Besides disgust, there was also a mix of pity deep down. She even considered following her husband's wishes and raising him well until the day he passed away from illness.
Her own daughter died shortly thereafter. But the child brought from outside, initially thought to have little chance of survival, proved to have a remarkably strong vitality, slowly growing up despite stumbling along the way, much like a wild plant in the field.
The following year, Mrs. Xin gave birth to her own son. As her son grew older and the days went by, Mrs. Xin's feelings towards the child gradually began to change.
The Duke of Wei indeed fulfilled his promise to her. He never touched another woman again until he died on the battlefield sixteen years later. The concubine who entered two years before his death was a reward from the emperor for his military achievements. After she arrived, she remained alone in an empty room.
But this was far from enough to restore Mrs. Xin's psychological balance. The Duke of Wei had ultimately deceived her. That wild child not only didn't die, but at the age of four or five, began to show extraordinary talents. He not only took everything that should have belonged to her own son, but in comparison, her healthy son appeared so mediocre.
It seemed as if heaven had bestowed all its blessings and glory upon that child with the most humble origins.
Mrs. Xin regretted her initial agreement. Her psyche, too, had finally lost its equilibrium.
She couldn't control it, beginning to hate the child, resenting why he hadn't died as the Duke of Wei had said, resenting how he took everything from her son. This hatred lingered within her, unshakeable until now.
Now, along with hatred, she also felt panic.
On that night, the words spoken by her son made her suddenly realize.
So, Pei You'an knew he wasn't her biological son!
He already knew everything!
Thinking of the look in Pei You'an's eyes that night, she couldn't help but shudder, gritting her teeth: "Your elder brother, he was brought back by your father from outside and placed under my name as a lowly illegitimate child! It would have been one thing if he hadn't known his origins, but now, he must have learned the truth from your grandmother. Now that he knows, no matter how well he speaks or how well he acts, he must hate me to the core. When your grandmother is gone, how could he possibly treat us kindly in the future? If you don't butter up your wife and cozy up to the Empress, we'll never know how we'll end up!"
.....
The sound of conversation faintly reached her ears through the latticed window.
With her heart pounding in her throat, Jiafu feared being discovered. Holding her breath, she quickly turned around and hurried back to where she had come from, giving a signal to the bewildered Tanxiang, leading her away hastily.
Throughout the entire afternoon, she remained in the main hall, quietly listening to the teachings of Buddhism by the side of the old lady, but her mind was immersed in the words she had heard at noon, feeling restless.
Finally, she understood why the eldest son, who was clearly so outstanding, never gained his mother's favor.
She thought about Pei You'an's past life, about the year when he was sixteen and fell from the Cloud Peak to the bottom of the muddy valley, bearing everything alone as he left the capital. Her heart was filled with bitterness and pity.
From the tone of Mrs. Xin, Pei You'an himself knew this secret. However, this man was like a deep mountain and flowing water, calm and composed, never showing a hint of it in front of her.
Jiafu felt deeply saddened.
As long as Pei You'an could be happy, she was willing to do anything for him.
Jiafu looked up at the Buddha sitting high on the lotus platform, overseeing all sentient beings, and thought to herself.
Chapter - 58
By Tea Time Translations
---
If there are any mistakes in translation, please feel free to comment! Please support us @TeaTime.
---
The male guests and the attendants all stepped aside, and the carriages stopped one by one in front of the Pei residence's main gate, inviting the ladies to board first.
According to the original arrangement, Madam Pei would ride in one carriage with her two grand daughters-in-laws. Jiafu and Yuzhu helped Madam Pei into the carriage, while Madam Xin and Madam Meng supported her from behind. As everyone settled in, there was still no sign of Zhou Jiao'e.
Madam Meng joked, "Sister-in-law, could it be that your new daughter-in-law and the second young master are still reluctant to come out of their room? Just now, I didn't see the new daughter-in-law or the second young master either. It seems they're enjoying their newlywed bliss."
Madam Xin seemed to feel a bit embarrassed and awkward. She instructed a maid by her side to go and check, but before the maid could move, she saw Zhou Jiao'e and Pei Xiuzhi coming from the direction of the second gate. Zhou Jiao'e was dressed beautifully, leaning against Pei Xiuzhi with a charming demeanor, while Pei Xiuzhi's face was strained. He looked up and saw that everyone was looking at him. He raised his feet and was about to leave Zhou Jiao'e, but he seemed to be called by her. Reluctantly, he finally reached the carriage with her before he apologized for being late.
Madam Meng smiled warmly, praising the young couple's affection, which envied others. Pei Xiuzhi's expression was extremely stiff, smiling awkwardly, almost looking worse than crying, while Zhou Jiao'e seemed to have a subtle blush on her face. It wasn't until Madam Pei said, "Come up," that she was assisted onto the carriage and sat opposite Jiafu, on the other side of Madam Pei.
Once on the carriage, Zhou Jiao'e apologized to Madam Pei for their tardiness, subtly hinting that it was because Pei Xiuzhi had been pestering her early in the morning, causing them to be late.
The old lady just smiled and said nothing.
In the dim light of dawn, under the envious gaze of passersby, the procession from the Pei family, stretching for several li, moved along the streets and headed towards the Ci'en Temple. The air was filled with an indescribable richness and elegance as they left the city to reach their destination.
Jiafu was not unfamiliar with the Ci'en Temple; this was her third visit here.
Today, the entire temple was reserved for the Pei family, with no other worshippers present. Upon arrival, they were warmly greeted by the monks waiting outside the mountain gate. After the female members of the family changed and settled in, the rituals began. Led by their eldest grandson, Pei You'an, the Pei family members offered prayers and bowed to the ancestral tablets. In the main hall, forty-nine monks chanted sutras, while in the side halls, vegetarian feasts were set up to entertain the guests who arrived one after another, making the scene lively and bustling.
Jiafu accompanied the old lady in the main hall listening to the scriptures until noon, when the rituals paused for a meal. As other female members from various families had arrived earlier, Madam Xin and Madam Meng were busy attending to them, so Jiafu took the initiative to escort the old lady to a quiet rear chamber that had been prepared for resting. The old lady suggested she take a rest as well, relieving her of the duty to stay by her side. Jiafu agreed and, upon leaving, was informed by a servant that the Duchess of Qin had also arrived and inquired about the old lady. Remembering the pleasant conversation they had shared during their previous encounter at the Zhang family's residence, Jiafu felt obligated to pay her respects. She grabbed some incense and proceeded towards the front.
It was now noon, and the weather was scorching hot, with the sun beating down mercilessly. Jiafu chose a side hall with a shaded veranda to walk through. Most of the monks had retired to eat and rest, leaving the surroundings deserted. As she turned a corner, she suddenly encountered Pei Xiuzhi and Zhou Jiao'e emerging from one of the side halls. They seemed to have just had an argument inside, with Pei Xiuzhi wearing a gloomy expression and walking briskly, while Zhou Jiao'e trailed behind, clutching a handkerchief, unwilling to let the matter go and continuing to argue with him.
Jiafu, fearing an awkward encounter, quickly retreated and decided to wait for the two of them to leave before continuing on her way. However, just as they had taken a few steps, they stopped again, and their argument grew louder. Pei Xiuzhi accused Zhou Jiao'e of trying to deceive him, claiming that if he hadn't seen through her schemes, she would have deceived him. Zhou Jiao'e burst into tears, accusing him of speaking maliciously and lacking a conscience.
Listening to their argument, Jiafu wondered how long it would go on. Just as she was considering leaving, she heard Madam Xin's voice approaching. Unable to resist her curiosity, Jiafu motioned for the Tanxiang to stay quiet and quietly peeked out again. Indeed, Madam Xin hurried over, dismissing the accompanying maidservants from afar before lowering her voice to scold her son and comfort Zhou Jiao'e.
Zhou Jiao'e, tears streaming down her face, wiped her eyes and choked out, "Mother, you saw it too. Since I married into the family, I just wanted to live a peaceful life. But he always finds fault with me, nitpicking at every little thing. If he doesn't like me, I won't blame your family. I'll go to the Queen Mother and let her decide. If it doesn't work out, we'll just end it. I don't want to be bullied like this every day."
Madam Xin hurriedly embraced Zhou Jiao'e, comforting her with endearing words and making her son apologize to her. Pei Xiuzhi looked extremely unwilling, but he couldn't resist Madam Xin's insistence, so he reluctantly apologized to Zhou Jiao'e, who gradually stopped crying. Madam Xin then ordered her son to escort Zhou Jiao'e back to rest, but Pei Xiuzhi remained motionless, insisting that he had to go and attend to the guests. Madam Xin, visibly annoyed, suppressed her anger and changed her approach, expressing concern about the scorching sun and instructing Zhou Jiao'e to return first, promising to discipline her son properly and have him apologize to her later that evening.
Pei Xiuzhi's face turned pale with anger, while Zhou Jiao'e displayed a hint of satisfaction. She glanced at her husband and then turned away, leaving slowly.
"Mother! She clearly lacks proper conduct for a woman. She tried to deceive me that night, but I saw through her schemes. Why are you still protecting her? I want to divorce her!" Pei Xiuzhi exclaimed angrily.
When Zhou Jiao'e left, Pei Xiuzhi began to rant at his mother.
Madam Xin covered his mouth and glanced around.
Jiafu quickly withdrew her head.
Madam Xin dragged Pei Xiuzhi to a corner, pinching him hard before lowering her voice to scold him, "How could you be so foolish? You've already married her, causing such a scene will only bring shame upon yourself!"
Pei Xiuzhi said, "How can a real man endure such humiliation? I want to divorce her!"
Madam Xin fell silent for a moment before saying, "Xiuzhi, you may hate her, but so do I. However, we are now without any support, while she still has connections with the Queen Mother. We may have to rely on her family's support in the future. You'd better endure it for now."
Pei Xiuzhi sounded surprised, "Mother, what do you mean? Don't we still have an elder brother?"
Madam Xin's face gradually darkened, showing signs of regret in her gaze. With determination, she leaned in close to her son's ear and whispered something in a low voice.
Jiafu heard Pei Xiuzhi suddenly raise his voice, sounding astonished, "What? Eldest brother isn't your biological son, Mother?"
Madam Xin quickly covered her son's mouth and hushed him.
To be honest, Jiafu was initially just curious and listening for gossip, thinking it wouldn't go beyond her ears. She wasn't prepared for Pei Xiuzhi's sudden revelation. She immediately perked up her ears.
Madam Xin glanced around again, then pulled her son into the nearby side hall, closing the door behind them.
Jiafu heard the voices fade and the sound of the door closing, indicating that the two had entered the side hall. Her heart pounded with anticipation, unable to resist her curiosity. She signaled Tanxiang to wait there and quietly approached a lattice window, pressing close and holding her breath to carefully listen to the conversation inside.
Madam Xin led her son to a corner of the side hall before speaking, "Xiuzhi, I originally dared not tell anyone about this matter. If your grandmother were to find out, it would be a major issue. But since she has shown no mercy towards us, disregarding our well-being, I see no reason to keep it to myself. After you hear this, be cautious, and whatever you do, don't let anyone else know. Pei You'an is currently in power, and it's not something we can afford to provoke."
Pei Xiuzhi was puzzled, "Mother, what are you talking about?"
Madam Xin fell silent, lost in memories of the past.
Twenty-four years ago, she married the Duke of Wei, a handsome and heroic husband of her dreams. A few months later, she became pregnant as she had hoped. However, six months later, one day, the Duke of Wei told her that he had a son born outside of their marriage. The child's mother had recently passed away, and he wished for the child to live a respectable life. He planned to bring the child home and asked her to accept him as her own, to raise him as her own son.
The Duke of Wei explained that he would keep the child outside for the time being and bring him home on the day she gave birth. At that time, regardless of whether she gave birth to a boy or a girl, they would announce to the world that she had given birth to twins.
He also acknowledged that this was unfair to her but emphasized that the child was born with weak health and was at risk of dying prematurely. He promised her that, in return for her acceptance, he would never take any concubines during their marriage.
Mrs. Xin undoubtedly experienced immense pain at the time. Her husband had fathered a child with another woman and now wanted her to acknowledge that child as her own. Despite her inner struggles, she eventually agreed.
Since her husband had made such a request, refusing would have made her seem petty. If the child did indeed die prematurely, it would not have much impact on her own children. Moreover, her husband's promise was also one of the reasons that swayed her.
She agreed. On the day of delivery, she gave birth to a daughter. Sure enough, that night, the child was quietly brought back home.
Mrs. Xin knew at first sight that the Duke of Wei had not deceived her. The child was perfectly healthy, although he appeared frail and no more than a few months old, he looked no stronger than a small kitten, making him seem challenging to raise.
At that moment, her feelings towards the child were extremely complex. Besides disgust, there was also a mix of pity deep down. She even considered following her husband's wishes and raising him well until the day he passed away from illness.
Her own daughter died shortly thereafter. But the child brought from outside, initially thought to have little chance of survival, proved to have a remarkably strong vitality, slowly growing up despite stumbling along the way, much like a wild plant in the field.
The following year, Mrs. Xin gave birth to her own son. As her son grew older and the days went by, Mrs. Xin's feelings towards the child gradually began to change.
The Duke of Wei indeed fulfilled his promise to her. He never touched another woman again until he died on the battlefield sixteen years later. The concubine who entered two years before his death was a reward from the emperor for his military achievements. After she arrived, she remained alone in an empty room.
But this was far from enough to restore Mrs. Xin's psychological balance. The Duke of Wei had ultimately deceived her. That wild child not only didn't die, but at the age of four or five, began to show extraordinary talents. He not only took everything that should have belonged to her own son, but in comparison, her healthy son appeared so mediocre.
It seemed as if heaven had bestowed all its blessings and glory upon that child with the most humble origins.
Mrs. Xin regretted her initial agreement. Her psyche, too, had finally lost its equilibrium.
She couldn't control it, beginning to hate the child, resenting why he hadn't died as the Duke of Wei had said, resenting how he took everything from her son. This hatred lingered within her, unshakeable until now.
Now, along with hatred, she also felt panic.
On that night, the words spoken by her son made her suddenly realize.
So, Pei You'an knew he wasn't her biological son!
He already knew everything!
Thinking of the look in Pei You'an's eyes that night, she couldn't help but shudder, gritting her teeth: "Your elder brother, he was brought back by your father from outside and placed under my name as a lowly illegitimate child! It would have been one thing if he hadn't known his origins, but now, he must have learned the truth from your grandmother. Now that he knows, no matter how well he speaks or how well he acts, he must hate me to the core. When your grandmother is gone, how could he possibly treat us kindly in the future? If you don't butter up your wife and cozy up to the Empress, we'll never know how we'll end up!"
.....
The sound of conversation faintly reached her ears through the latticed window.
With her heart pounding in her throat, Jiafu feared being discovered. Holding her breath, she quickly turned around and hurried back to where she had come from, giving a signal to the bewildered Tanxiang, leading her away hastily.
Throughout the entire afternoon, she remained in the main hall, quietly listening to the teachings of Buddhism by the side of the old lady, but her mind was immersed in the words she had heard at noon, feeling restless.
Finally, she understood why the eldest son, who was clearly so outstanding, never gained his mother's favor.
She thought about Pei You'an's past life, about the year when he was sixteen and fell from the Cloud Peak to the bottom of the muddy valley, bearing everything alone as he left the capital. Her heart was filled with bitterness and pity.
From the tone of Mrs. Xin, Pei You'an himself knew this secret. However, this man was like a deep mountain and flowing water, calm and composed, never showing a hint of it in front of her.
Jiafu felt deeply saddened.
As long as Pei You'an could be happy, she was willing to do anything for him.
Jiafu looked up at the Buddha sitting high on the lotus platform, overseeing all sentient beings, and thought to herself.
