Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 745 - 698: Fright (2)

Mrs. Pei sat in her main room, waiting for Pei Shenyan and his wife to come and greet her, but no matter how long she waited, they did not arrive.

It was almost lunchtime when the housekeeper who delivered the ginseng hurriedly walked in. After a quick greeting, she said, "Madam, I... I wish to take back the two ginseng roots that were just delivered."

Mrs. Pei raised an eyebrow, "Take them back?"

A few of the Mrs. Pei looked at each other, wondering what was going on.

"What do you mean?" Pei Jingxiu raised an eyebrow and questioned.

The housekeeper looked embarrassed, "I misunderstood. They were meant for Aunt Xiang, not for you, madam."

As soon as these words fell, several young mistresses widened their eyes in surprise.

The Eldest Young Madam Pei glanced at Mrs. Pei, whose expression had changed, and questioned the housekeeper, "Are you sure it was for Aunt Xiang and not for the madam?"

The housekeeper looked pained, "I’m sure. The Old Madam even called Aunt Xiang over to ask if she was satisfied with the ginseng, to which Aunt Xiang replied that she hadn’t seen it. Then I realized it was delivered to the wrong person."

Mrs. Pei’s face became extremely unpleasant, "Someone, bring the ginseng here."

The maid who had received the ginseng earlier glanced at Mrs. Pei, then at the housekeeper, and hurried into the bedroom to retrieve the ginseng.

After a short while, she came out holding the box.

The housekeeper took the box, said "I take my leave," and was about to turn and leave when Mrs. Pei said, "Is Wulang’s wife still with the Old Madam?"

"Yes, Madam, she is still there." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Tell her to go to the ancestral hall immediately to pay respects to the ancestors. Oh, and have Wulang go as well," Mrs. Pei added.

The housekeeper awkwardly agreed and left.

As soon as she left, Pei Jingxiu sneered, "As expected, she’s an uneducated country girl, giving gifts to an aunt instead of the madam? Does she not understand the difference between legitimate and concubine?"

"Aunt Xiang and the Fifth Brother’s concubine were both singers, after all. They sang together years ago and have a bond," the Second Young Madam Pei shook her head. "How can we compare with them?"

The Eldest Young Madam Pei smiled, "Wulang’s wife came from the countryside. She must be tight on money. She can only afford gifts for one or two people; any more and she’d be ruined, wouldn’t she? That’d be the end of her."

This made the others cover their mouths and chuckle.

"Enough! Is this worth discussing so much?" Mrs. Pei said sternly, her expression somber. She glanced at her eldest and second daughters-in-law, "Go and invite Wulang and his wife to the ancestral hall. Wulang has probably never been and might not know the way."

The two young mistresses of the Pei family exchanged knowing smiles, "Yes, mother."

They, along with their maids, went to the Old Madam Pei’s room.

As they walked up the steps, they heard a young woman conversing happily with the old madam inside.

The young woman’s voice was familiar, but they couldn’t quite place where they had heard it before.

"Who is this? The voice sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Who could it be?" the Second Young Madam Pei asked the Eldest Young Madam Pei.

Does the Old Madam have another guest? Isn’t that country woman afraid of being laughed at?" the Eldest Young Madam Pei chuckled softly. "Let’s go in and see."

The two of them walked into the room. A servant announced, "Old Madam, the Eldest and Second Young Madams are here."

Strung curtains hung between the main hall and side hall.

Through the gaps in the curtains, the two Pei family young mistresses saw a young woman sitting beside the Old Madam Pei.

The woman was slender and wore a crimson gown. Though simply dressed, she carried herself with a graceful simplicity, her hair styled in a modest bun adorned with simple jewelry.

Pei Shenyan sat beside the young woman.

The two exchanged glances — was this the country girl?

Didn’t Pei Jingxiu say she was a dark-skinned woman?

How was she so fair-skinned, a young lady with skin as white as snow?

Curious, they lifted the curtain and walked into the side hall.

With nothing to obstruct their view, the Pei family’s two young mistresses could clearly see the young woman in the crimson gown’s face.

This was...

How could it be?

The young woman also looked at them, "Are you my sisters-in-law? I am pleased to meet you."

She stood up and slightly nodded towards them as a greeting.

The gesture was perfectly proper, yet not one of reverence for elder family members.

It was more like the decorum of someone from a higher status greeting subordinates.

The Eldest Young Madam Pei clenched her sleeve; her palms began to sweat.

The Second Young Madam Pei was even more breathless.

The Old Madam Pei smiled at them, "Come, let me introduce you. This is Wulang’s wife, a member of the Li Family."

"I’m Li Yuwen, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law," Li Yuwen said with a smile.

The Eldest Young Madam Pei and the Second Young Madam Pei couldn’t even muster a smile.

Wasn’t it said that Pei Shenyan had married a country woman?

How had he married a formidable woman instead?

Li Yuwen was someone even the Empress had to yield to in the past, someone nobody dared to provoke.

"Is there something wrong?" the Old Madam Pei, still amiable, asked her two granddaughters-in-law.

"Ah, yes." The Eldest Young Madam Pei sighed inwardly, trying to remain calm, "Mother sent us to invite Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law to the ancestral hall for the rites."

"Today is not the right day. Let’s set another date, and then invite everyone from the clan to observe the rites. Let the madam know — it’s my decision," the Old Madam Pei said, looking at them.

The two of them agreed and withdrew.

They weren’t even sure how they managed to walk out, their legs feeling weak under them.

The Second Young Madam Pei had her secrets in Li Yuwen’s hands from years ago and had wished for nothing more than for Li Yuwen to be dead somewhere far away. Yet, Li Yuwen had become her sister-in-law! Even after stepping outside, her spine felt cold, constantly breaking into a cold sweat.

To hide her panic, she deliberately asked the Eldest Young Madam Pei, "Big sister, why are you rushing? Could she possibly eat us?"

The Eldest Young Madam Pei had reasons to be scared.

She was involved in an affair concerning the Li Family.

Li Yuwen was deeply resentful, having vowed to break the legs of those responsible if she found them.

During the Li Family’s exile, she had prayed daily, hoping the Bodhisattva would trap Li Yuwen in Zhen An Prefecture forever. Yet, here was Li Yuwen, in the Pei household!

Had she not offered enough incense?

Had the Bodhisattva punished her?

Oh heavens, she was doomed!

"Why are you running?" the Eldest Young Madam Pei glared at the Second Young Madam Pei, annoyed, "You’re running just as fast as I am."

"I... I saw you running, so I ran too, afraid you might fall. I wanted to support you."

Yeah, right. As if scared, she claimed to care for her instead? The Eldest Young Madam Pei was anxious herself, too tired to bicker with the Second Young Madam Pei. She lifted her skirt and continued walking.

Their maids trailed behind them, exchanging confused looks, unaware of what had transpired.

The two returned to Mrs. Pei’s main room,

Mrs. Pei saw them come back with pale faces and said discontentedly, "Why do you look like that? What happened?"

The two took a deep breath and stepped forward, "Madam, we delivered the message, but the Old Madam said today wasn’t the day to open the ancestral hall. She would arrange another day and even said she’d invite the entire clan to witness."

Mrs. Pei was surprised — was the Old Madam really giving Pei Shenyan and his wife that much respect?

A mere country woman, why involve the clan elders?