Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 299

Chapter 299: The Villa

An Zhi didn’t think Pei Que was reckless, so she tried to ask, “Did you do this on purpose?”

“Yes.” Pei Que put down the tea lid. “The Emperor is getting older and more suspicious. If I continue to do my best, it will put him in a state of crisis. Sometimes, there’s no need to be as steady as a rock. It’s good to occasionally let the Emperor see some of my flaws. It’s a good opportunity to keep you company.”

An Zhi was relieved to hear that Pei Que had his own plans. “It’s good to stay home. I heard the Emperor is planning to build a new Taoist temple. This year’s drought has made life difficult for the people. Without you in the Ministry of Public Works, the staff there would be overwhelmed. The Ministry of Public Works can’t do without you.”

Pei Que’s actions not only dispelled the Emperor’s concerns, but also told him that the Ministry of Public Works couldn’t do without him and couldn’t be easily moved.

At this point, every step had to be carefully considered. The Pei family no longer needed any more power. If he continued to cling to the title of powerful minister, not only would the Emperor be wary, but even the other noble families would disapprove.

Pei Que smiled and praised his wife’s cleverness. “But I’m under house arrest now, and those outside who can’t see clearly will inevitably look down on me. I’m thinking, why don’t we go to Quiming Mountain Villa together? What do you think, Madam?”

Quiming Mountain was outside the capital, but not particularly far away. If there was something urgent in the capital, Pei Que could still return that same day.

“Can you leave the mansion?” An Zhi asked.

“As long as my wife agrees, I can,” Pei Que said with a smile.

The Fourth House wasn’t at all unhappy about being confined, but Pei Jing from the Second House was cursing.

“Father said Pei Que was a genius, but I think he’s just an ignorant, arrogant philanderer!” Pei Jing specifically called his third brother, Pei Xuan, over. Although they weren’t born to the same concubine, they were both illegitimate, so they’d been closer since childhood. “What’s he thinking? How could he directly slap those royal family members in the face during the morning court?”

Pei Xuan sat on a carved mahogany chair, teacup in hand, smiling calmly. “Second Brother, there’s no need to be so anxious. The Emperor wants to build a Taoist temple, and he can’t do without Fourth Brother. He won’t really leave Fourth Brother unused.”

“How could I not be anxious?” Pei Jing had been searching for a way to fill a lucrative position these days. Initially, those people, seeing the Pei family’s deep connections, were willing to talk to him, but after court dismissed today, two of the three people he approached were unavailable. He sighed, “Third Brother, you just need to wait patiently for the Emperor’s orders. But it’s different for me.”

After over a year of exile, he was exhausted by the constant travel and unfamiliar local climate. A mansion in a small town couldn’t compare to the Pei family’s mansion in the capital. Pei Jing didn’t want to live that life again. He wanted to seize power and rise through the ranks.

Pei Xuan raised an eyebrow and glanced in Pei Jing’s direction. His expression was rather gentle, suggesting a good temper, someone who rarely lost his temper. “Now that I’m back, my old position has been filled, so I need to be reassigned. We’re all members of the Pei family, after all. No matter how snobbish those people are, they won’t go too far. Second Brother, calm down for a moment.”

Pei Jing, seeing his brother still unhurried, waved his hand. “Oh, I can’t convince you. Alright, go back first; I’ll figure it out.”

Pei Xuan tactfully snorted and left. Returning to his own courtyard, he saw the lights still on in the main room. He pursed his lips and walked in. “Madam, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Madam Meng was embroidering and looked up at her husband. “If you’re not sleepy yet, do some work before bed. Did your second brother complain to you again today?”

“Yes.” Pei Xuan sat across from Meng. “Pei Que is under house arrest today, making it harder for my second brother to find connections, so he’s a little anxious.”

Madam Meng put down her work and poured tea as she spoke, “Pei Que is young, so it’s natural he’s a bit hot-tempered. If the Emperor wants to use our fourth brother, he won’t let him sit idle forever.”

Pei Xuan smiled with satisfaction. “Madam, you’re able to think further ahead. By the way, what do you think of An Zhi?”

Hearing this question, Madam Meng looked up at her husband and said slowly, “She’s a well-organized, self-respecting woman. Don’t underestimate her.”

Madam Meng had met An Zhi several times, and each time she could sense her intelligence and upbringing. Even if she was a little unfamiliar with certain things, she could adapt to them the second time.”

“It seems Madam has a good impression of An Zhi.” Pei Xuan finished his tea and stood up to rest. “Now that Pei Que is married, Father hasn’t mentioned the separation of the family. He wants Pei Que’s position to be more secure. I’m almost at the peak of my life; reaching the Second Rank is my limit. I hope you’ll spend more time with An Zhi in the future.”

Madam Meng nodded in agreement. After more than a decade as husband and wife, they had developed a tacit understanding. They walked into the inner room together and remained silent all night.

~

An Zhi and Pei Que had secretly left the city early in the morning with their servants. After passing through the city gates, An Zhi rolled up the carriage curtains to let in some air. Fanning herself with a handkerchief, she said, “It’s so hot, and thinking about the mountain climb later, I suddenly feel like going back.”

Pei Que sat across from An Zhi. He had originally wanted to sit with her, but An Zhi disliked the heat. Glancing outside the carriage, she saw the yellow, dry fields and frowned slightly.

“It’s indeed hot. If it doesn’t rain before the beginning of autumn, the people will have no harvest this year.” An Zhi thought of the soybeans she had planted on her estate. Although she’d prepared well, the drought hadn’t made it to the harvest.

“By the way, it hasn’t rained in ages. Is there still water in Quiming Mountain?” An Zhi asked.

“I’ve had people check. There are still two springs with water.” When Pei Que was thinking about asking the Emperor to punish him, he’d thought of bringing An Zhi to Quiming Mountain, so he’d sent someone to check.

“That’s good,” An Zhi inquired, then averted her gaze. The more she looked outside, the hotter she felt. She might as well have looked away.

They didn’t speak during the journey; it was too hot.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Pei Que approached An Zhi and offered to carry her on his back.

“Stop it; I’ll go up by myself.” Although it was much cooler at the foot of the mountain, An Zhi couldn’t stand the thought of two people climbing close together. She turned to Binglu and the others. “Just take the important luggage with you. You can leave the extra luggage behind.”

After climbing the mountain, An Zhi wasn’t tired at all, but Pei Que, with his long legs, kept stopping and looking back at her every few steps.

The group leisurely arrived at Quiming Mountain Villa. Once inside, they could feel a noticeable cool breeze, which was quite relaxing.

An Zhi first went to see the spring in the manor and found that there was really flowing water, which made her feel relieved.

After settling in, An Zhi took a bath. In the evening, after having dinner with Pei Que, they went back to the house.

“There are a lot of mosquitoes in the mountains, but I’ve already had someone fumigate the house. If you still feel mosquitoes, I’ll have someone light some incense,” Pei Que said attentively.

An Zhi shook her head and said no, “If you light more incense, the house will be too stinky. This is fine.”

The red candle flickered. Pei Que stared at his wife beside the table. His Adam’s apple bobbed. As he was about to walk over, he suddenly heard a “thump” sound coming from the back of the house, as if something heavy had fallen from the sky.