Chapter 16: Delicate Flower Chapter 56

Chapter 56 – Impact

In Lin’an, harboring refugees was not a trivial matter. Among the wealthy families in Lin’an, some too have taken in a few refugees without registering them. As long as they didn’t starve them to death, they could use them however they wanted, and they were more useful than regular servants. The Li family’s case was akin to a stone thrown into a pond and stirring up a thousand waves. Some people became afraid that the Tang governor would take this opportunity to achieve some political merits and would not let this matter slide; others were afraid that after those refugees knew that the magistrate could add them to the official register, they would rebel, rob their family’s assets and ruin their reputation. Within Lin’an city a few wealthy families came together and after some discussion, they approached the Pei family.

“Third master,” one of them said with a sniffling nose and tears welling in his eyes, speaking so sorrowfully, as though he weren’t the one who first deceived those refugees into signing private life pledges without the magistrate’s permission. “We saw how pitiful those people were, and thus only took in those who were old and sickly, but who knew the Li family would be so bold as to accept thirty or forty strong men? The people from the magistrate went to check, and some people even died! They clearly disregarded the safety and security of those living in Lin’an City and the Pei family! This matter, you absolutely have to speak to the governor Tang and severely punish those refugees, otherwise we, the people of Lin’an can’t sleep well at night!”

Pei Yan sat on the tai shi chair and leisurely lifted the lid of the tea cup. He gently blew on the tea and looked at the Biluochun tea leaves floating in the cup. Not once did he spare a glance at the group of people in front of him, the youngest of whom should be well over forty years old.

Of course he knew about this way in advance.

He was also aware of the Li family’s restlessness and greed.

However, the reason for their Pei family’s relocation, was that in their former domicile, they had incurred the ire of the masses, acted arrogantly, opposed the interests of many and suffered the discontent of the imperial court. They thus lost the power to protect themselves, and had to flee with their remaining assets to Lin’an City, and try to rebuild their family once again and settle their roots. Since then, the entire Pei family began to strictly adopt a conservative stance, limiting their growth and power just within Lin’an city and no longer extended out to the other provinces. Therefore, their Pei family’s way has always been to treat their neighbors with magnanimity and leave some space for others to survive. They even openly and deliberately set up a family that can rival them, so that the Pei family was not the only prominent one and thus stir up unwanted jealousy, causing trouble.

The Li family was the rival they have selected this time.

Therefore, Pei Yan could not let their family fall.

He drank a few mouthfuls of tea as he waited for them to finish venting their discontent. Thereafter, he said unhurriedly. “The things that you’ve mentioned were things that I have heard as well. On governor Tang’s side, I have already arranged with him that this matter will end with the Li Family. There will not be any further investigation. As for the refugees, as per what everyone had mentioned, I will discuss with governor Tang again, and dispatch some people to send them away from Lin’an City. Although the imperial court is lenient towards refugees, but that’s also dependent on the circumstances. Seeing that we are harboring so many young and strong men, in case something happens, we, as the representatives of Lin’an City, also bear an inexorable responsibility, and the Pei family can not afford to incur the wrath of the emperor.”

Although Pei Yan’s expression was cold, but his words were exactly what they wanted to hear, thus several of them couldn’t help but feel overjoyed and happily acquiesced, “With these words from Third Master, we are relieved.”

There were also a few flatterers chiming in “Whatever matters Lin’an City has, it’s still Third Master Pei to call the shots” or “With Third Master as the patriarch of Pei family, they will certainly flourish, and soar to greater heights”, some even exaggerated saying “Without the Pei family the current Lin’an City wouldn’t exist”.

Listening to such flattery was like swallowing a piece of fat – Pei Yan was greatly nauseated. He quickly excused himself on the pretext of having to entertain his guest Zhou ZiJin, and sent the group of them away.

The pale and plump Third Head Steward Hu Xin with a round belly came in with a broad smile and said “Scholar Yu of Qingzhu Lane sent a name card, saying he wanted to meet you. I saw that you were intolerant of outsiders coming to visit these days, so I took the liberty to ask Scholar Yu the purpose of his visit. He said that ever since his wife took the medicine prescribed by imperial physician Yang, she has been doing much better, so when he heard that imperial physician Yang was coming to see Grand Madam, he wanted to see if it’s possible to have imperial physician Yang see his wife as well and check if there is a need to change the prescription.”

There was a big difference between winter and summer for prescriptions of medicine.

And the weather was getting colder and colder these days.

Pei Yan frowned as he listened and did not reply.

Hu Xin still maintained a cordial smile, but he had cold sweat on his back.

Their family’s third master was rebellious ever since he was little. Even when grand elder was alive, he too couldn’t discipline him much. After Grand elder had passed away, the second master shut himself in and refused to meet visitors and busily copied scriptures for Grand elder everyday. He even got his wife, daughter and son to copy scriptures along with him. Eldest Miss was okay as she was already twelve years old and pretty matured for her age, but third young master was only six years old, and couldn’t even hold the brush properly…… even the Eldest Master’s wife and the two young masters were obediently staying in their rooms, without a single peep.

If someone were to say that third master didn’t have a hand in it at all, he certainly wouldn’t believe it.

Moreover, his current position was only kept as a result of “Gods fighting”, so attending to such a master, how would he even dare to employ any tricks?

The third master’s frown – did it mean that he was displeased with his presumptuous action?

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Hu Xin carefully examined his actions these few days and found that apart from this incident he really did not do anything wrong, so he preemptively said: “Third master, this matter is my fault, next time ……”

Who knew Pei Yan would wave his hand, interrupt his words, saying blandly. “Wait for Pei Man to come and we’ll discuss further.”

Pei Man went to see off the guests, so they waited a while before he returned.

Pei Yan asked, “That incident with the Li family, are you sure it was Scholar Yu who started it?”

Pei Man said respectfully, “I went to confirm it myself, and it was indeed scholar Yu who went to speak with Governor Tang.”

Pei Yan nodded his head, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he remarked, “I didn’t expect Scholar Yu to have this kind of boldness. Isn’t he afraid of Li family?”

Pei Man replied, “The Yu family had a very unpleasant dispute with the Li family over their daughter’s marriage, so even if Scholar Yu did not report to governor Tang about this, the Li family likely would not let the Yu family off.”

Yu Tang’s face suddenly surfaced in Pei Yan’s mind.

The moment Yu Tang learned that she had been saved, her eyes that were so bright like the stars……but after knowing that her rescuer was him, the light in her eyes that gradually dimmed…… thanking him with a cunning twinkle in her eyes … … He had never seen anyone whose eyes were like the young lady of the Yu family, as if they could speak, always looking at something with a bit of curiosity, like a child. …… When she saw him in the pawnshop, she examined him unflinchingly, full of curiosity; at night on Changxing Street, when she found it was him, she secretly glanced at him, also with curiosity; at Tian Xi harbor, perking up her ears listening to his movements but pretending to be calm, as if nothing happened; at North Gate night market, wanting to eat pig’s trotters without using chopsticks, and shot him a furtive glance, upon realizing he wasn’t paying attention, her eyes immediately lit up in happiness, and quietly grabbed the pig’s trotter with her hands, happily munching away……

He could not help but ask. “What is the issue between both the Yu family and Li family regarding marriage?”

Pei Man replied, saying “I have not inquired about this in detail. What I’ve heard were all rumors and hearsay, so I am uncertain on the actual facts.”

This Pei Man was brought back here by the third master from the capital, so what he used to do, his origin, how he came to be in service to the Pei family, and also the surname “Pei”, they do not have a clue, but through examining the things he managed these days, it can be seen that he’s a capable person.

So upon hearing such an answer, Hu Xin got a shock.

Even if it’s just hearsay, if the masters want to know, you can say a little to make them happy!

With Third Master who likes to find fault with anything, wouldn’t he be reprimanded?

However, Pei Yan not only didn’t reprimand him, but said good naturedly, “Just now Hu Xin told me that the Yu family wants to invite Imperial Physician Yang to see Mrs. Yu’s illness.”

Pei Man was obviously taken aback and reconfirmed, “So every time he comes to see Grand Madam in the future, you will also let him go to the Yu family?”

Yang Douxing was the physician appointed by Grand Madam to check her condition, and the Pei family also extended to him the same courtesy, not only would they give a generous consultation fee every time, but also the first head steward would personally fetch him here. The Pei family and the Yu family, one lived in the east and one in the west, so it is impossible to say it’s only ‘on the way’!

Pei Yan also didn’t seem to be aware of this. After listening to Pei Man, he came to a realization. He pondered for a moment and then said, “In the countryside, it’s good to be kind with our neighbors. Speak to imperial physician Yang and let him make a special trip.”

All expenses for Yang Douxing’s trip to Lin’an were borne by the Pei family, so this trip to the Yu family, the carriage was naturally also arranged by the Pei family.

 

Pei Man nodded in affirmation.

At this moment, Zhou Zi Jin shuffled in, frowning as he said displeasedly. “What more is there to say about such mundane matters? Stop avoiding me, I came to talk to you about your last discourse1 regarding the – why did you choose and not ? Your Second Senior Brother has always promoted the and firmly rejected . I saw your second senior brother sitting down there, his expression wasn’t good. You can be sitting in the front seats before the emperor, but it was him who helped you fight for that seat. You returned to the countryside to be your family’s patriarch, but your second senior brother did not even ask me to send a greeting to you. Both you and your second senior brother also did not correspond as often as before. Tell me the truth, are you and your second brother at odds with one another? Do you still want your second senior brother to help you in the future? Among your senior brothers, your second senior brother is the one with the best influence, don’t do anything foolish!”

As Pei Yan listened, his mood worsened. He stood up with a gloomy face. “Didn’t you say you wanted to visit to Qingshan Lake? Do you still want to go?”

“This blasted temper of yours!” Zhou Zi Jin said hotly, “I’m having a serious conversation with you, don’t you prevaricate! If you don’t give me a clear answer by today, I’m not going anywhere.”

“It’s good that you aren’t going.” Pei Yan replied unconcernedly, “I am tired of running around with you these days, so you don’t want to go, I’ll just rest for a few days.” After saying that, he got up and left.

Zhou Zijin was stunned, and only after a long time did he come back to his senses and ran out after him, shouting behind, “What do you mean? If it wasn’t for your second brother inviting me, I wouldn’t have came over either.”

Without turning his head to look back, Pei Yan responded, “You can go find my second brother then. Everyday he is in his residence acting out his pretenses, so you can join him as his companion.”

经筵 (Jing Yan) is like a seminar or a conference specially organized by the emperor for officials to give lectures on classics and history. It has its roots starting since the Han Dynasty, but it was termed as ‘Jingyan’ in the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, this conference lasted from February to May/June and from August to Winter Solstice. and are two of three main commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals centralizing on Confucianism. It’s pretty interesting if you wanna check out the differences. I’m not gonna go in detail about both cos I’m not an expert on this lol.

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