Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

Shen Qiongju sensed something was wrong and, using a tearful voice, tried to smooth things over: "So you still think I'm one of the enemies who plotted to kill your brother?"

Pei Zhihui's hands, which were behind his back, clenched slightly.

Although he was in the prefectural city, he knew about his brother's imprisonment.

He had been working tirelessly in the city and had received definite news that his brother could be released without charge the next day, provided there was no evidence.

But when he returned to the Pei family the next day, they told him that his elder brother had committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment.

It was later discovered that Wen Xiujie had obtained the weapon blueprints from the Pei family and used them as a suspect to detain his elder brother.

He and his grandfather went home to investigate and found that the blueprints were indeed missing. They assumed that Wen Xiujie had broken into the house to steal them, but they never expected that there was an inside job.

If my sister-in-law hadn't gone to all that trouble, my brother would have come back.

"You shouldn't have handed over the family heirloom to an outsider," he said, suppressing his emotions. "I will kill Wen Xiujie to avenge my brother."

He raised his eyes, his dark pupils locking onto her: "As for your mistakes, you'll have to think about how to explain them to my brother later."

Shen Qiongju looked at him quietly. The cold wind blew in through the window paper, making the candlelight flicker on his face.

She saw the bloodshot in his eyes, his tightly pursed lips, and the regret and hatred surging beneath that deep pool.

This meant they still intended for her to atone for her sins with her death, and she began to regret her earlier probing.

Pei Zhihui harbored deep resentment towards her, but fortunately it happened later.

"I will make your brother forgive me," she suddenly said, "but this is between your brother and me. Until then, I will stay in the Pei family on his behalf and continue to take care of his family."

Pei Zhihui was taken aback.

She didn't pack her bags; she actually plans to stay with the Pei family and not leave?

"But I know it's obscure," Shen Qiongju took a half step back, creating some distance, her voice still gentle, yet revealing an unmistakable indifference.

"Some words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. Just as a knife that carves too much on stone will eventually break it."

She turned around and continued folding the unfinished garment, her movements unhurried: "I'm going back to the Shen family tomorrow. My father is old, and the distillery will reopen after the New Year, so there are many things to take care of. I'll be back in three to five days, or seven or eight days at most."

The bundle was tied tightly, with a neat knot.

Pei Zhihui stood behind her, looking at her slender back and the glimpse of her snow-white nape as she lowered her head. The pent-up emotion in his chest surged up again.

"...Okay." He heard himself say in a hoarse voice, "Come back soon."

Shen Qiongju turned around and smiled at him. The smile was as gentle as ever, but her eyes were calm and still.

"It's late, you should go back and rest," she said softly. "Your cold hasn't healed, and it might get worse."

The snow stopped the following morning.

Shen Qiongju packed a small blue cloth bundle and did not leave immediately, but went to the main room first.

Pei Junlan got up very early, wearing a headband, and was sitting on the daybed under the window, with several account books spread out on the small table in front of her.

"Aunt," Shen Qiongju said softly as she stopped at the doorway.

Pei Junlan looked up from the account book, her gaze falling on her, finally settling on the small bundle at her feet.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes, I will return to the Shen family to visit my father." Shen Qiongju lowered her eyes, her posture respectful.

Pei Junlan didn't speak, but just quietly looked at her for a while, her gaze clearly scrutinizing her.

"Thank you for your hard work these past two days." After a long pause, Pei Junlan finally spoke.

"It's my duty."

"It's our duty?" Pei Junlan chuckled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "My Pei family doesn't have any 'duty' of blessings for you to enjoy these days."

"You used your own money to pay for the old man's funeral, served Zhihui tirelessly, and even paid out of your own pocket to book a banquet at Yuexianlou to save face... These things cannot be explained by simply saying 'it's your duty'."

Shen Qiongju's heart skipped a beat; she hadn't expected that her aunt knew all about these things.

She was about to say something.

Pei Junlan waved her hand, gesturing for her to sit down, "Sit down and let's talk."

Shen Qiongju sat down on one side of the embroidered stool below, keeping her back straight.

"Qiongju," Pei Junlan changed her address and softened her tone, "you are a smart child, and also a capable child."

"From the journey to exile to this funeral, I've witnessed it all. You're composed, capable, methodical, resourceful, and, most importantly, possess a rare... composure."

She spoke the last two words rather slowly.

Shen Qiongju tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes, but still remained silent.

Pei Junlan's gaze returned to the account book, her fingers gently tracing the yellowed pages.

"I made mistakes when I was young too."

Her voice was very soft, as if she were telling someone else's story.

"In order to preserve the Pei family's vitality, I begged people, knelt before people, and even... took things I shouldn't have taken in exchange for a sliver of hope."

Shen Qiongju suddenly raised her head.

Pei Junlan didn't look at her; her gaze was distant, as if she could see through the window and witness the snowstorm in the capital many years ago.

"Therefore, I can understand what choices people make when they are driven to the brink of despair."

"Right and wrong are sometimes not that important. What matters is what kind of person you choose to be and what path you choose to take afterward."

She finally turned around and looked intently at Shen Qiongju.

"Zhi Chao's death is a pain for the Pei family, and it is also yours. But the Pei family cannot live only in pain."

"Zhihui... is stubborn and has a burning anger inside. This anger will burn others and also burn himself. He wants to take the proper path of the imperial examination, the narrow bridge to clear the name of the Pei family. His mind cannot be distracted by these trivial matters of the inner quarters."

As Pei Junlan spoke, she took out two thin sheets of contract paper from under the account book and pushed them in front of Shen Qiongju.

"These are the twenty acres of fertile land that the Pei family acquired in Shenjia Village, as well as a shop in the south of the city, which I bought in my late husband's name back then, and luckily survived."

"I'm getting old. From now on, you will be in charge of managing the Pei family's affairs, with Liu assisting you."

Shen Qiongju was completely stunned. Looking at the two land deeds that determined the fate of the Pei family, she didn't know how to react for a moment.

"Aunt, this is unacceptable." She instinctively refused, then said self-deprecatingly, "I...I am a sinner of the Pei family."

"Crime?" Pei Junlan frowned. "If we're talking about guilt, who in the Pei family dares to claim complete innocence?"

"I'm putting you in charge of the household not as a reward, but as a responsibility."

"I can't hold on for many more years. Liu is kind-hearted, but indecisive. Zhiyan and Zhichun are still young. This family needs a woman who can manage things."

"If you still consider yourself a member of the Pei family, then accept it."

Pei Junlan's words struck Shen Qiongju's heart with every single one.

Looking at the woman before her, whose temples were streaked with gray but whose back was straight, she suddenly understood the weight of her words.

This is not a test, but a trust.

Just as Shen Qiongju was about to reach out to take the land deed, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the doorway.

"Grandma! You absolutely mustn't!"