Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

The door was gently closed, isolating the room from everything inside.

Pei Zhihui leaned against the headboard, listening to the receding footsteps, and his tense body slowly relaxed.

He raised his hand and looked at his palm.

There, the delicate touch of her wrist seemed to linger, along with that lingering warmth.

An unprecedented restlessness surged within him.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

It was Pei Zhiyan.

"Second Brother, you're awake!" Pei Zhiyan came in carrying a bowl of medicine. Seeing him sit up, his face was full of surprise. "Sister-in-law said you were awake, but I didn't believe it!"

Pei Zhihui's gaze darkened. "Grandfather...when is the funeral?"

Pei Zhiyan's joy vanished, and he said seriously, "Yesterday, the geomancer again determined the auspicious time, which is three-quarters past Chen hour."

Pei Zhihui glanced out the window; it was already broad daylight.

"Bring me mourning clothes."

"Second Brother!" Pei Zhiyan exclaimed anxiously, "You're still not well. The doctor said you need to rest. I'll take care of the funeral arrangements..."

"Give it to me."

Pei Zhihui interrupted him, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable decisiveness.

He is the only pillar of the Pei family now, and he must personally see his grandfather off on his final journey.

This is his responsibility, and also his filial duty as a descendant.

Looking into his second brother's calm yet stubborn eyes, Pei Zhiyan knew that further persuasion would be useless, so he could only go and fetch the brand-new mourning clothes that Shen Qiongju had already prepared, his eyes red.

Despite his weakened state, Pei Zhihui, with the help of Pei Zhiyan, managed to get dressed.

The rough hemp clothing he wore made his pale face and desolate figure appear even more pronounced.

After drinking the bowl of medicine, he stepped out of the room. The cold morning wind blew on his face, bringing a wave of dizziness.

He steadied himself by holding onto a pillar, but his eyes unconsciously searched the courtyard.

The courtyard was empty; that slender figure was nowhere to be seen.

She...really went to rest?

Pei Zhihui withdrew his gaze, his eyes growing colder, and walked steadily toward the mourning hall step by step.

The funeral procession slowly walked out of Wuxian County in the morning mist.

Funeral music played softly, and white banners fluttered in the wind.

Pei Zhihui, dressed in mourning, walked at the front of the procession with Pei Zhiyan. He carried his grandfather's memorial tablet in his arms, his back ramrod straight, like an unyielding spear.

Only Pei Zhiyan knew that with every step his second brother took, his body trembled slightly, and his already bloodless face was now as white as a sheet of paper.

A body that has just recovered from a high fever simply cannot withstand such torment.

But he walked on in silence, bearing all his sorrow and pain beneath his thin back.

Shen Qiongju did not attend the funeral.

The Pei family had no intention of letting her go; it would only annoy people if she did.

After Pei Zhihui left, she went back to her room for a short nap. When she woke up, she felt a splitting headache and her whole body was sore.

She looked at her haggard, almost unrecognizable face in the bronze mirror and gave a bitter smile.

These past two days and two nights have really been tough.

She quickly washed up, changed into a clean set of plain clothes, and went to the kitchen.

The funeral arrangements for the Pei family must continue. When the relatives, neighbors, and old friends who came to pay their respects return, they will always have a hot meal to eat.

She took stock of the few remaining ingredients and found that the rice and vegetables were almost gone.

The Pei family is now penniless. The thirty-seven taels of silver she gave yesterday were used to pay for the funeral, purchase the coffin and burial clothes, and hire musicians and a theatrical troupe. There was hardly anything left.

She sighed and took out the last few pieces of silver from her small purse.

She took the silver and carried the vegetable basket, ready to go to the market to buy things.

Just as I reached the small door leading from the backyard to the alley, someone called out to me.

"Shen family...sister-in-law?"

A kind and honest voice rang out.

Shen Qiongju turned around and saw a burly, dark-skinned man standing there awkwardly, holding a small bag of rice in his hand.

It's Chunxing's man, Da Niu.

"Brother Da Niu?" Shen Qiongju was somewhat surprised. "What brings you here?"

"I...I heard from Chunxing that the old master of the Pei family has passed away, so...so I brought some rice over." Da Niu handed over the rice bag, a blush rising on his dark face. "It's not much, just a small token of our appreciation."

Shen Qiongju felt a warmth in her heart, but she did not take the bag of rice.

"I appreciate your kindness, but please take this rice back," she said softly. "Your lives aren't easy either."

"Sister-in-law, please accept it!" Da Niu said anxiously, "Chun Xing always talks about how good you are to her, saying that if it weren't for you, she would have already... We have nothing to repay you with."

Seeing that Shen Qiongju insisted on not accepting the money, he suddenly remembered something, and his eyes lit up.

"By the way, sister-in-law! I heard your family's winery is hiring again after the New Year. Chunxing said you told her before that she could also go, so she asked me to come and ask if it still counts?"

"She's quick and efficient, hardworking, and can do any kind of work!"

Shen Qiongju smiled upon hearing this and handed him an empty purse.

She looked at Da Niu's expectant face and nodded: "Okay, have Chun Xing take the purse and tell Uncle Huaide. He will arrange for Chun Xing to go in."

"Oh! That's wonderful!" Da Niu rubbed his hands excitedly. "Thank you, sister-in-law! Thank you, sister-in-law!"

He bowed deeply to Shen Qiongju.

Just as Shen Qiongju was about to step aside, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the alley entrance out of the corner of her eye.

The funeral procession has returned.

Pei Zhihui walked at the front, still with that aloof and lonely demeanor, but his eyes held an even deeper, more unfathomable chill than when he left.

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed precisely on her and the strange man in front of her.

In that instant, Shen Qiongju clearly felt that the surrounding air was somewhat stagnant.

Pei Zhihui did not stop walking.

He didn't even glance at them, and just walked right past them.

As they brushed past each other, a chilling aura made Shen Qiongju's back tense instantly.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Liu, who was following closely behind, and several of her aunts from collateral branches also witnessed this scene.

Their eyes instantly became meaningful, filled with scrutiny and disdain.

"Who is that man? In broad daylight, he's pulling and tugging at some random guy, handing him a purse."

"Tsk, really... the old man's body is barely cold..."

The hushed whispers pierced my ears like needles.

Shen Qiongju had not yet spoken.

Upon realizing something was amiss, Da Niu's expression changed, and he quickly bowed to Shen Qiongju in gratitude, saying loudly, "Thank you so much, Miss Shen, for giving my husband the opportunity to work at the winery. I am deeply grateful."

Shen Qiongju didn't greet the group of sisters-in-law, but instead helped Da Niu up and said gently, "You go back first, and remember to have Chunxing go to Manager Huai De."

After saying that, she picked up her empty vegetable basket, turned around and walked into the yard, ignoring the two aunts behind her whose faces alternated between pale and flushed.

As soon as you step into the inner courtyard, the oppressive atmosphere hits you.

Pei Zhihui was standing under the corridor, with his back to her.

He didn't turn around or speak; his solitary figure exuded a chill more biting than the coldest days of winter.

Shen Qiongju gripped the vegetable basket tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She suddenly felt very tired, not physically, but a deep, visceral weariness.

She thought that by saving him and being kind to the Pei family, the relationship between them could at least be eased a little.

But it seems that any slightest disturbance can deepen his prejudice against her.

Shen Qiongju took a deep breath, suppressing the chill in her lungs, then walked past him expressionlessly, heading straight for the kitchen.

If they continue to treat her good intentions with contempt, don't blame her for ignoring this mess.

Just as she passed him by.

His cold voice finally rang out behind her.

"So you're really like this, not caring about meat or vegetables when you're looking for a new partner?"