Chapter 25: United Hands, Madame Shu Xueyu

  The original text is already in Chinese, I will translate it to English:

  "The Weeping Willow Courtyard was originally one of the main courtyards of the Pei Manor, facing the Tongze Courtyard from afar. The main hall had three bays, with five bays of side rooms on either side. In front of the hall, a spacious courtyard was planted with several clumps of green bamboo and adorned with several pots of lush flowers. The black tiles and white walls were reflected in the green bamboo and flowers, making it very elegant. However, after being sealed for ten years, few people visited, and despite the flourishing flowers and trees, there was always a desolate and melancholic atmosphere, cold and bleak."

  Green bamboo like jade, a slender figure is bending over to trim the potted plants, elegant posture, suddenly as if sensing something, turns around.

  Seeing the girl standing quietly at the door, Shu Xueyu was stunned. The similar face made her recognize the person immediately. The flower clip in her hand fell to the ground with a "bang", scaring the maid Bai Shuang inside to rush out and check. When she saw Pei Yuange at the door, she was also stunned.

  A flash of brightness flickered in the depths of her eyes, and Shu Xueyu's voice trembled as she said: "You are... Yuan Ge?" Ten years of imprisonment had finally taught her to conceal her emotions, and she quickly composed herself. "Since you've arrived at the door, come on in and sit down!" She ordered White Frost and the little maids to set up, but didn't enter the house herself. Instead, she placed a red wood black lacquer tea table in front of the bamboo forest, personally brewed tea, and handed it to Pei Yuange. Although her hands were still trembling slightly, her heart had barely calmed down, and her eyes, like black jade, stared at Pei Yuange: "Your father wouldn't have let you come here, so you must have come on your own, which means you must have something important to discuss, right?"

  Pei Yuangong put down his teacup and nodded: "Yes."

  "What's wrong?"

  "I believe you didn't kill my mother, you're innocent." Pei Yuange hesitated for a moment and said, "But I'm afraid it's useless, Father doesn't believe me. I want to find the real killer who murdered my mother, which can also help you clear your name. However, now the backyard of the Pei Mansion is managed by Zhang Niangniang, I think, no matter what the reason is, she won't be happy about this."

  Xue Yu's eyebrows jumped, and she asked with a frown: "You think it's Zhang Yun, right?"

  If it were Zhang Yun, she would never ask so directly. Pei Yuange hesitated for a moment and nodded.

  Xue Yu's appearance was delicate and gentle, but her actions were more straightforward. When facing this kind of person, sometimes even real interests couldn't move her, what was more important was being able to capture her attention, so Pei Yuange didn't hide it.

  Xue Yu's temperament was straightforward and fierce, but not foolish. In an instant, she understood Pei Yuan Ge's intention and asked directly: "What can I do for you?"

  "The quiet and elegant study was taken over by Zhang Niang, my father's concubine. I couldn't use my own people to deal with Zhang Yun, except for Zi Yuan, I had no one else to turn to. More importantly," Pei Yuange said frankly, "I'm not afraid of confronting Zhang Yun face-to-face, but she is my father's concubine, and if she were to secretly cry and complain about her grievances, or make excuses for herself, or even sow discord, I would be completely helpless. This was very disadvantageous to me, as long as I couldn't grasp the fatal handle that could shake her position from the root, but Zhang Yun was a cautious person who understood my father well, and wouldn't easily give others power. Moreover, in my father's heart, whether as his woman or as the one in charge of the Pei household, there was no one who could replace her, because fundamentally, there was no one competing with her."

  She thought for a long time before deciding to take this step and join forces with Shu Xueyu.

  The matter of the Zhen Guo Hou Fu breaking off the engagement, she knew was done by Zhang Yun and Wan Guan Xiao's hands, but due to her father's doting on her, she still accepted the broken engagement without arguing with the Zhen Guo Hou Fu; also, that time Chen Qi Ming's matter, Zhang Yun framed the Zhen Guo Hou Fu, she thought, her father would definitely confront the Zhen Guo Hou Fu, but afterwards it was silent. This shows, Zhang Yun understood her father extremely well, and was certain there would be no consequences, which is why she did this.

  This understanding of Pei Zhuo's city was also what she lacked.

  Xue Yu is Father's first wife, so she must have a deeper understanding of him.

  "So, you need someone who can rival Zhang Yun. Why choose me?"

  "First, because you are the original wife; second, because you have the deepest grudge against Zhang Yun; third, if it were you, I would have more leverage, because I am Ming Jin's daughter!" Pei Yuange said succinctly.

  Xue Yu nodded slowly: "I understand. But, Jing Ji Yard is sealed off, I simply can't go out."

  "It wasn't possible before, but now there's an opportunity. Pei Yuanyong made a big mistake, and Zhang Yun shifted the blame to the tutors in the mansion. Father was furious and expelled all the tutors from the mansion. If Madam can find good tutors, I believe it will be the beginning of Father's change of heart towards you. Plus, with my support, unsealing the Qianjing Courtyard is not entirely impossible." Pei Yuange's expression remained calm, "You are Madame Pei, although you've been confined for ten years, you should still have some connections with noblewomen. It shouldn't be too difficult to hear about good tutors from them? As for later... it's the same phrase: I am Mingjin's daughter!"

  Shu Xueyu was sealed in the temple due to Ming Jin's death, losing favor with Pei Zhucheng. To untie this knot, the most crucial factor is naturally Pei Yuange's attitude.

  Xu Xueyu looked at Pei Yuange with some surprise.

  The girl in front of her had a calm and serene expression, with an aura that was hard to put into words. Was she really only thirteen years old? Her precise analysis of friend and foe, weighing of interests, and identification of the most beneficial allies were all so well thought out. Even the reason for her discharge from the hospital was already prepared for her. Such meticulous thinking, was it something a thirteen-year-old girl should have?

  After a moment of contemplation, Shu Xueyu beckoned Bai Feng to bring over a lacquered box with gold trimmings. She then took up her brush and wrote down some names, handing them along with the jade pendant she wore on her person to Pei Yuange.

  "These are the people outside that I think can still be trusted, take this jade pendant to find them and they will listen to your orders. The box contains some loose silver, you don't have to decline, it's nothing to me. Although the Qianjin courtyard is sealed off, food, clothing, and daily expenses haven't decreased, my dowry and the accompanying shops are still there...". Paused for a moment, then said, "When using people, one must spend money, you may be a young lady, but in terms of silver, it's not convenient for you, take it and use it! As for what you said about the teacher, I will think of a way, when there is news, I will notify you."

  On the other hand, in the Fourth Virtue Courtyard, Wang's nanny brought back the news that Zhang Yun had been waiting for.

  "Gu Yan said that when Pei Yuange was seriously ill, one night she seemed to vaguely see someone entering and leaving Pei Yuange's bedroom, and the figure looked a bit like Zi Yun. Moreover, Zi Yun was Ming Jin's personal maid before her death and had served Pei Yuange for four years. It is likely that this maid was kept around in order to avoid revealing any flaws, so it would be necessary to have someone who knew about Pei Yuange's affairs by their side to provide hints." After learning all of this, Wang Yan also began to feel that the current Pei Yuange was fake.

  That's right.

  A bright light flashed in Zhang Yun's eyes, and she became even more determined: this Pei Yuange must be problematic!