Chapter 7: The True Origins of the Ningxiang Pill Revealed

Aunt Pei looked at Pei Zisu for a moment, unsure how to begin. Even she, the closest person to him at the table, was taken aback—let alone the others.

“I disagree!” Jiang Huaishan immediately stood up and responded. When the group had been chatting earlier, he had admired this young General Pei’s capabilities. But that admiration was purely for his skill. Now, hearing that he intended to marry his daughter, the matter was entirely different.

The father and daughter had only just reunited after so long. Jiang Huaishan had hoped to keep his daughter close for two more years, to cherish her, preferably marrying her within Xijing City so they could look after each other.

Hanzhou was a thousand miles away.

Traveling by boat down the Huai River would take seven or eight days, and overland by carriage and horse would require at least half a month. Such a distance was unbearable to him—that was one concern.

Furthermore, although Hanzhou was stable, it was a region plagued by constant warfare. To put it bluntly, his daughter’s health was fragile. If she married a husband but could not be assured a long and peaceful life, then why marry her off at all?

He would rather keep her at home than see her heartbroken in her later years.

From any angle, Jiang Huaishan could not accept this marriage proposal. So he stood and made his position clear at once. Unfortunately, having served as an official for many years, he was accustomed to scheming among civil officials and poets. Suddenly facing a young general who dispatched enemies as easily as slicing through melons, Jiang Huaishan’s tactics were useless.

Pei Zisu did not reply. He merely cast a cold glance at Jiang Huaishan, a warning that was unmistakably clear. Yet, because Jiang Huaishan was the father of Jiang Shiyuan, Pei Zisu restrained himself. Had this been Hanzhou, anyone who spoke so boldly to him might already have lost their head.

Feeling the pressure of Pei Zisu’s dominance, Jiang Huaishan’s legs began to tremble involuntarily. Jiang Shiyuan, sitting beside him, was even more distressed, on the verge of tears, regretting having come to this family gathering. She decided next time such an event arose, she would politely decline.

Despite his fear, Jiang Huaishan felt compelled to speak plainly.

“Marriage is a matter for parents and matchmakers to decide. General Pei, don’t glare at me. I said no, and that’s final! Anian’s health is poor; she cannot endure the fatigue of travel. If she truly marries there, our chances of seeing her will be few and far between. Mother-in-law, surely you and I share the same thoughts.”

Unable to withstand Pei Zisu’s sharp gaze alone, Jiang Huaishan brought Madam Wang, the matriarch, into the fray. No matter what, with her in charge, this marriage must not proceed today.

Madam Wang was more cautious now. She adored her granddaughter, Jiang Shiyuan, but she also understood very well what kind of person Pei Zisu was and the stature of the Pei family. Setting aside the distance, he was indeed an ideal match.

Yet she could not agree to this marriage so hastily. Her expression grew sterner as she looked at Pei Zisu standing before her, then addressed the others.

“The meal is nearly finished. Zisu ought to sober up. Marriage is no simple matter to accept or reject in a single word. Let us all think it over and discuss it again another day.”

She stood and took Jiang Shiyuan by the hand to leave. Though Pei Zisu’s expression remained calm, the determination in his eyes was unmistakable. Everyone present sensed there was little room for compromise.

Though they were the Hou family and ranked higher than the Peis in official status, in terms of true power, they were far behind. Even among Xijing’s noble families, few could compare to the Peis.

No one dared offend Pei Zisu harshly. So the four sons of the Wang family stepped forward to escort a “drunken” Pei Zisu away.

The family gathering ended on a sour note.

Outside the flower hall, Madam Wang hurried back to the main residence with Jiang Shiyuan. Following them were Aunt Pei and cousin-in-law Xiang. Others, like Jiang Shiyuan’s brother Jiang Shufu, were too drained to entertain guests, so he trailed quietly beside his father.

The Marquis of Wenyuan approached and comforted his brother-in-law in a gentle tone, as he was always good-natured.

“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. With the old lady here, she would never let Anian suffer. Zisu was a bit rash today, but he strikes me as an upright man who truly cares for Anian. If this marriage succeeds, Anian can finally silence those rumors outside. Who would dare say she’s a fragile invalid who can’t marry?”

Jiang Huaishan felt a flicker of hope despite his anger.

If not for the second wife’s niece standing in for the marriage, none of this would have happened!

Though he resented his niece’s lack of propriety, he endured it for the sake of family harmony. Now, hearing his brother-in-law’s words, his bitterness was hard to express. Finally, he sighed helplessly.

“Ah, we’ll see. Anian has indeed suffered. I’ll take Shufu home now and come back tomorrow to discuss with mother-in-law.”

“Very well. Don’t worry, we’re here,” came the solemn nod from Jiang Huaishan.

He knew that refusing Pei Zisu’s proposal with the Jiang family’s strength was like striking an egg with a rock—there was no chance of success. It was better for the Marquis’s household to handle it. After all, the lady of the house was Pei Zisu’s aunt. No matter what, they wouldn’t allow the matter to erupt into a feud.

Sighing, Jiang Huaishan left with Jiang Shufu.

They had come with three in the carriage, the mood lively; now only father and son remained, silent as if both had swallowed a mute pill.

Near home, Jiang Huaishan finally looked up from his silence and instructed the obedient Jiang Shufu:

“Today’s events must stay buried in your heart. Do not breathe a word to anyone. Whether this marriage happens or not, it could ruin your eldest sister’s reputation. She just broke off an engagement, and if this matter spreads, who knows what idle talk will arise! Understand?”

“Father, rest assured. I won’t utter a word, not even to my stepmother.”

Her earnest words brought some comfort to Jiang Huaishan’s grave expression.

After they alighted, he returned to his study. What he did there was unknown to outsiders.

Jiang Shufu went back to her Yunshu Courtyard, full of thoughts. She expected her stepmother to inquire, but instead, the maid Hongyu came, saying the stepmother was tired and would prefer to speak with them tomorrow.

Jiang Shufu agreed, hiding the matters in her heart.

That day, everyone harbored secrets taking root and sprouting quietly.

At the Marquis of Wenyuan’s residence, Madam Wang’s Yuhua Court was now filled with people.

Besides the youngest Wang son, Wang An, who was still with cousin Pei Zisu, the others had gathered—some eager to push the marriage forward, others worried and at a loss how to speak to Jiang Shiyuan.

Breaking the deadlock was Aunt Pei.

Both sides were dear to her: her own niece, whom she had raised, and her highly esteemed nephew. If these two married, it would be a celebrated match. So she spoke first.

“We all know what kind of person Zisu is—both cultured and martial. At such a young age, he has attained a high rank through his own talents. His abilities speak for themselves. The entire Pei clan will eventually pass into his hands, so marrying into his family is truly a good thing. Though I’m far away, Zisu has never had a concubine. I once thought he was just young and inexperienced, but today, boldly proposing marriage before so many of us—that’s the true Pei family spirit.”

Nearby, third cousin Wang Hong, who had spent much time with Pei Zisu, immediately supported her words.

“Indeed. Cousin Zisu spends most of his time in the military camp in Hanzhou. Even when he returns home, he has just a few servants with him—no maid, no concubines. There really aren’t any of those!”

Madam Wang was quite pleased to hear this.

Married these many years to the late marquis, she had never tolerated concubines either. Decades ago, there had been one maid, but after the couple married, she was sent away with ample silver. Their children and grandchildren’s households followed the same pattern.

The Peis were different. General Pei had a favored concubine who bore him children. Madam Wang wondered if this might influence the family’s views on polygamy. If so, she was not pleased.

Before she could dwell further on this thought, the Marquis of Wenyuan interjected.

“Madam, all your praises won’t help. Look at brother-in-law’s firm stance—this match seems unlikely.”

Aunt Pei hurried to explain.

“Brother-in-law’s concerns are simply that Anian might not endure marrying far away. I would oppose that too. But if she marries to Hanzhou, I think it’s a very good thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Has the marquis forgotten? When Anian was seriously ill, if not for my sister bringing people from Hanzhou to provide the formula for the Ningxiang Pill, she wouldn’t be as well as she is now. If she married to Hanzhou, she could be cared for by that secret doctor every day. Maybe she could even fully recover, right?”

Aunt Pei’s words caused much of Madam Wang’s resolve to waver.

She had lived a comfortable life, but her greatest worry was Anian’s fragile health. Though now she appeared like any normal woman, she still relied on medicine.

And that secret doctor was notoriously eccentric.

They had sought her help many times; even the marquis’s son and daughter-in-law had visited her, but she refused to come out again. She was determined never to leave Hanzhou. If Jiang Shiyuan married there, perhaps she could receive further treatment.

Seeing the change on her mother-in-law’s face, Aunt Pei pressed on.

“Also, are you curious why Zisu asked me that question? Anian has been taking the Ningxiang Pill all these years, always sent from Hanzhou without interruption for ten years. Besides that foolish boy, I doubt anyone else cares so much.”

As Aunt Pei revealed this, the faces in the Marquis’s household alternated between surprise and calm—only Jiang Shiyuan felt a sudden enlightenment.

It was him!

The Ningxiang Pill she had taken for so many years had come from Hanzhou.

She recalled how in her previous life, after Pei Zisu’s unexpected death, her medicine was cut off. Though later resumed, its taste was different. At the time, she thought her illness was worsening and she had mistaken the taste. Now she realized the pill must have contained ingredients unknown to her.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have died within a year of Pei Zisu’s passing, overcome by palpitations.

Realizing it had been Pei Zisu who kept her alive all these years stirred a complex tide of emotions—gratitude, astonishment, perhaps more she could not name.

“Who would have thought this cousin of the Pei family was such a determined man?”

“Those who march to war must be resolute,” her eldest brother Wang Su commented, few words but clearly supportive of Pei Zisu.

At first, cousin-in-law Xiang opposed Jiang Shiyuan marrying far away, so she had spoken out at the gathering. Yet she had not known all this backstory.

Women’s lives are hard enough.

To have someone who silently sacrificed so much and never asked for anything in return to care for her so deeply—cousin-in-law Xiang was at a loss how to object.

Yet she harbored another worry. Seeing everyone hesitate, her husband Wang Su noticed and urged her.

“My lady, since we are all family today, speak plainly. This concerns Anian’s whole life; we cannot be careless.”

“Since you say so, I must speak,” she said, her eyes full of concern for Jiang Shiyuan.

“The Pei clan has prospered for generations and is not short of heirs. But cousin Zisu is the eldest son of the main branch. As the matriarch said, the clan will eventually pass to him. The woman by his side must be strong enough to support this. Anian is smart and capable, handling matters easily. But one question remains—can her body bear the burden of bearing children? The Peis must continue their bloodline. If it means Anian must risk her life to produce heirs, can we truly consent to this marriage?”

Her words silenced everyone.

Even Aunt Pei, who had been eager to promote the match, knew this was an unavoidable concern. When she looked at Jiang Shiyuan, certainty wavered in her eyes.

The Pei family had that secret doctor; keeping a pregnancy and raising children might not be a problem. The question was whether Jiang Shiyuan’s body could endure such hardship.

What if something went wrong? What then?