"If not for our young lady’s kindness, how could a mountain sparrow like you have flown so quickly onto the high branches of the Marquis Manor!"
Pei You pursed her lips, quietly clenching her skirt. She was already exhausted and drowsy from the long, bumpy journey, and she had been forced to listen to this woman’s nagging the entire way.
Pei You was nothing more than a little wild girl from a mountain village. It was this woman who, along with three or four burly men, had barged into her home, claiming she was the legitimate daughter of the Wangyuan Marquis Manor in the Capital and insisting on taking her away.
In truth, Pei You did not harbor any great longing for wealth or prestige; she had agreed to follow the old woman primarily because she hoped to see her parents.
Pei You raised her eyes to look at the vermilion gates before her. A massive, gleaming black plaque hung above, inscribed with the characters for "Wangyuan Marquis Manor." It looked like a giant monster, its mouth wide open, waiting for her to walk inside and be swallowed whole.
"Ahem, since you didn't learn any manners in that village, I, this old servant, will first teach you how to know gratitude and repay kindness." The woman led Pei You across the high threshold of the manor.
"Miss Pei You, while it is true you have endured a few bitter days, you are only back here because of the grace of Miss Chen Yunxin. You must not return evil for good by trying to drive Miss Yunxin away."
Pei You let the words go in one ear and out the other. Looking at the strange environment and the unfamiliar people around her, she suddenly just wanted to go home. The young girl’s eyes reddened, but she stubbornly turned her head away, blinking hard to hold back her tears.
In the main hall of the manor, the Marquis of Wangyuan, Chen Boyuan, and his wife were already seated and waiting. Lady Chen patted Chen Yunxin’s back gently. "Xiner, do not worry. Even if she has returned, you will always be Mother’s most beloved child."
"That’s right. Besides, I only acknowledge you as my younger sister," Chen Yunzhou muttered under his breath. "I heard from those who went to fetch her that the village was tiny and dilapidated, and that wild girl’s home was the poorest one there. Why even bother bringing her back? It’s not like it’s anything but a disgrace."
Chen Yunxin’s delicate, pretty face flushed slightly. "Alright, Third Brother, I know you all dote on me, but if you speak of my sister like that, she will be heartbroken if she hears you."
"It was she who insisted on crawling back—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Mother Du from the manor hurried into the doorway. "Marquis, Madam, the person has been brought here."
Chen Yunzhou instinctively stopped mid-sentence. The Marquis also sat up slightly to look over.
Pei You stepped across the threshold, dressed in a pink garment. She wore not a single piece of jewelry, and her small, palm-sized face was completely devoid of makeup, yet it was stunning enough to take one's breath away.
Her clear, dewy eyes, framed by curled lashes, made her look like a little fairy from the mountain forest, untouched by the dust of the world.
The smile on Chen Yunxin’s face stiffened, and she secretly clenched her handkerchief with both hands. Who would have thought that a wild girl from the countryside could grow such a vixen’s face?
It was true she wanted to find someone to take her place in the marriage, but she certainly didn’t want to see someone in the manor who was so much more striking than herself!
Chen Yunzhou had been momentarily stunned, but upon noticing his sister’s pale, rigid expression, he gave a cold snort. "People from the countryside truly lack manners. Why don't you greet us when you see us?"
Pei You had been lost in thought while looking at the Marquis and his wife, and she was startled by this sudden outburst.
Seeing her recoil like a frightened bird, the Lady of the manor sighed. Although Pei You’s features were more refined than Xiner’s, her timid and cowardly demeanor was nowhere near as good as the Xiner she had raised herself.
Pei You simply felt that her biological parents did not look as good as she had imagined. She compared the lady sitting up high to Auntie Wang back in the village, and felt that Auntie Wang was actually much better-looking.
"Greetings, Marquis. Greetings, Madam."
There were no such elaborate formalities in the village. At this moment, Pei You could only recall how Jiang Sinian, who often teased her and then tried to make amends, would perform a bow. She mimicked the gesture, performing a decent-looking man’s cupped-hand salute.
"Hah, no breeding indeed," Chen Yunzhou scoffed. Even her father and mother lost their patience.
Aside from a decent face, Pei You likely had nothing else to offer. She didn't even have a single piece of decent jewelry, and her pink dress didn't even look new, appearing quite thin in the cool spring air—she reeked of poverty.
"Rise. From now on, stay quietly in your courtyard and learn some proper manners before you see anyone else." The Marquis brushed off his sleeves and stood up to leave, showing no pity for the daughter who had just been found.
However, seeing that the girl’s appearance was so outstanding, having her marry the Ninth Prince in Xiner’s stead might at least help mitigate the wrath of the Imperial family.
With Chen Boyuan, the head of the household, gone, it was clear he did not like this daughter. Chang Wan, the Lady of the manor, had little patience either. "Your eldest and second brothers are both busy and could not return. This is your third brother, Yunzhou, and... Yunxin."
She stumbled slightly when mentioning Chen Yunxin; after losing her own child years ago, she had adopted Yunxin, and she could never remember who was older.
Chen Yunxin, however, did not seem to mind at all. She stepped forward and took hold of one of Pei You’s hands; Pei You’s wrists were so thin they felt bony. "Little sister, I have waited a long time for your return."
She then added, looking somewhat embarrassed, "You look so frail and don't know the rules yet; it might be better if I take the lead as the older sister so I can look after you."
Pei You was not used to being so intimate with strangers, so she pulled her hand away. "Ah, thank you." Her eyes were filled with such sincerity that it seemed she had just given Chen Yunxin the highest of compliments.
Chen Yunxin’s movements stiffened slightly. What was this supposed to mean? She surely didn't think she was being kind to her, did she? Yet, it felt like hitting a cotton ball—completely ineffective.
Thus, Chen Yunxin took a small box from her personal maid, Lichun, and pressed it into Pei You’s hand without further ado. "I noticed you don't have many valuable things, sister. These are all things I hold dear; take them for now."
Pei You felt the heavy weight in her hand and blinked slowly. People in the Marquis Manor were so nice! They were just giving her this whole pile of jewelry? This sister was so rich!
Her bored eyes lit up for the second time since entering the manor. "You really are a good person!"
The corner of Chen Yunxin’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. Everything in that box was something she had worn before; any sharp-eyed young lady from the noble families would immediately recognize that Pei You was wearing her hand-me-downs.
Moreover, by giving away her own "cherished items," everyone in the manor would know how kind and generous she was, and how solicitous she was toward this country girl. Once the servants spread the word outside, she would have a good reputation once more.
Although Pei You’s reaction didn't really matter, the reply still made her feel somewhat stifled. Was there something wrong with this girl’s head?
*Still,* she thought, *it’s better to have a fool than someone smart who’s hard to control.* Chen Yunxin comforted herself silently.
Chen Yunzhou, however, was dissatisfied. "Xiner, those are all pieces you like. Even if you give them to her, she won't be able to carry them off."
Chen Yunxin waved her hands at Pei You in a flustered manner. "Don't be angry, sister. Third Brother has just been looking after me since we were young and has grown a bit possessive. He doesn't mean to look down on you."
Pei You thought of Jiang Sinian, who had "looked after" her by teasing her since she was little. She felt that although he was always playing tricks, he spoke much more kindly than this Third Brother, and he was very generous, too.
Still, she said very earnestly to Chen Yunxin, "It’s alright. Even though Third Brother is stingier than you, sister, I won't be angry."
Chen Yunzhou was so angry he nearly choked. Just as he was about to get up and argue, the Lady of the manor stopped him. "Enough. That will be all for today. You can meet your eldest and second brothers when there is an opportunity."
With that, she had Mother Du take Pei You back to her courtyard.
Pei You walked with a light step, and she even found the chatterbox Mother Du to be somewhat pleasant. When the woman nagged her again to stay in her place and not try to vie for the Marquis and Madam's favor against Chen Yunxin, the young girl frowned seriously and earnestly, retorting in a soft, gentle voice:
"Sister is such a generous person that she would never be so petty. You shouldn't try to smear her reputation."
Mother Du: Is this little miss a normal person?
She was momentarily speechless. "Miss Yunxin is, of course, generous..."
The location of Feihua Courtyard was not particularly good; it was near a quiet little bamboo grove, and just beyond the grove was the manor wall. The young girl, however, walked with a light heart, feeling so cheerful she almost hummed a tune.
Mother Du pushed open the door to the cold, lonely courtyard. "Go on in."
She then strictly followed the Madam’s orders: she delivered the girl to the courtyard and turned to leave without lingering for even a moment.
This courtyard was not intended for the masters, and the few maids assigned to cleaning it, who held no official rank, had long since hidden themselves away. Pei You pushed open the door to the room herself, staring in wonder at the tidy, clean space.
Such a nice house was for her to live in? Was it really free?
Pei You unpacked her small cloth bundle, took out the paper and ink her grandfather had prepared for her, and began writing a letter to the village.
Because the windows were open, the wind blew the paper about, so the young girl took out the gold ingot Auntie Wang had tucked into her pocket to use as a paperweight.
[To Grandfather, Auntie Wang, Uncle Zhang...:
I have arrived at the Marquis Manor. The Madam gave me a courtyard, and my sister gave me a box of jewelry... The Third Brother is very stingy, but I hope my eldest and second brothers, whom I haven't met yet, will be more generous.
—Yours, Little Youzi.]
After finishing, she rolled up the small note and called out the bird used for communication in the village, tucking the paper into the small tube tied to its leg.
She thought for a moment, then dug out a small, round bead from the jewelry box that looked very expensive, stuffed it in with the letter, and finally set the pigeon free.