Spring flowers

Chapter 13 Landing
After a long silence, Pei Xiaorou finally asked, "So what should I do? How do I begin with the first step?"

"After you get home, don't look for your mother," Wei Yishang calmly instructed.

"Go directly to your father, appeal to his emotions and reason with him. Don't mention how pitiful your sister-in-law is, that won't work. You must tell him that what happened at the Peony Pavilion today has made your brother a laughingstock among his colleagues. You must also tell him that because of your mother-in-law's reputation, your marriage will be even more difficult. A family's reputation is more important than anything else. Then present this plan of using alcohol to heal your heart as the solution you've painstakingly devised to him. The Minister is a smart man; he will understand the implications."

Pei Xiaorou nodded vigorously, making sure she remembered every word Wei Yishang said.

She stood up and solemnly performed a deep curtsy to Wei Yishang.

"Miss Wei, I will remember your words today. Regardless of the outcome, I, Pei Xiaorou, am determined to be your friend!"

Wei Yishang accepted the bow without hesitation, and a great weight was finally lifted from her heart.

She knew that from this moment on, the hidden danger of Pei Xiaorou was resolved, and things were stable.

Ye Mingzhen, standing by the window, slowly closed the jade fan in his hand.

He listened to Wei Yishang's entire plan without missing a single word.

He had met many intelligent women; Feng Yueqiao's intelligence lay in music, poetry, and painting, while the Princess of Anping's domineering nature lay in her political maneuvering and scheming.

But their wisdom never transcended the confines of the boudoir.

But Wei Yishang was different.

What she proposed was no longer a simple scheme for power struggles within the household.

She wasn't teaching Pei Xiaorou how to "fight," but rather how to "manage."

Managing an individual's value, managing a family's reputation.

This mindset far exceeds the perspective that a concubine's daughter from a fourth-rank official's family should have.

He had initially hesitated about whether to win her over, but now he had no hesitation whatsoever.

She is a shield, and also an incredibly sharp sword, yet hidden in its sheath.

What she can cut off is far more than just those annoying peach blossoms.

Her way of thinking can turn the mundane into the extraordinary; if applied to his old case shrouded in mystery, it would be a great help to him.

Perhaps, what he needs is more than just an ally.

Inside the private room, Wei Yishang, having seen Pei Xiaorou off, finally breathed a sigh of relief and slumped into her chair, like a boneless salted fish.

"Yi Chang, you scared me to death!" Feng Qiaoyue had arrived long ago and was sitting to the side listening to their conversation, already covered in a cold sweat.

"How dare you! That's the daughter of the Minister's family!"

Wei Yishang then lazily waved her hand, picked up the now-cold tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

"How can you wake someone who's pretending to be asleep without a strong dose of medicine?" she muttered to herself.

In his mind, the system's notification sound rang out instantly.

[Ding! The temporary mission "A Slap in the Face" has been completed. Reward: One bottle of "Regenerating Jade Dew Cream", Host Reputation Points +100.]

Wei Yishang pouted. What's the use of reputation points? They can't be eaten.

This Skin-Regenerating Jade Dew Cream sounds like a good product; I can take it to the pawnshop and exchange it for some pocket money later.

Right now, all she cares about is making money and then lying down.

As for Pei Xiaorou, she had already delivered the bait, hooks, and lines to the other party. Whether she could catch any fish or not depended on her own luck.

Wei Yishang was about 70-80% confident about this.

After all, no one in this world can resist the allure of fame and fortune.

As it turned out, Wei Yishang's judgment was frighteningly accurate. In just half a month, a strange story spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

The daughter-in-law of Minister Pei's family, who had been insane for a long time, has actually recovered!

The reason for this was that Minister Pei's wife loved her daughter-in-law dearly. She sought out famous doctors and finally obtained a unique prescription from a wandering master. This prescription allowed her daughter-in-law to resume her old profession and brew wine every day. She used the aroma of the wine to soothe her soul and focus her mind.

This idea was novel enough to become a topic of conversation among wealthy women.

What's even more talked about is the wine that's brewed.

This wine is called "Peach Blossom Drunk". It has a clear color, a smooth taste, and a sweet aftertaste with the fragrance of a hundred flowers, as if you have drunk the whole spring into your stomach.

Initially, this wine only appeared occasionally at the Pei family banquets.

Whenever Madam Pei mentioned it, she spoke with a mixture of pride and pity: "Alas, this wine was brewed by my poor daughter-in-law herself. A wise man said that it is both her medicine and her life. She can only brew a small jar each day; any more would be too much for her. It's not even enough for our own consumption, so it's really not presentable enough to entertain you all."

The more she said that, the more curious others became.

The more something is unattainable, the more people yearn for it.

Soon, being able to drink a small cup of peach blossom wine at Minister Pei's banquet became a symbol of status.

Later, Pei Xiaorou began to give the beautifully packaged peach blossom wine as gifts to her sisters in several close families, including those of dukes and marquises.

This stirred up a hornet's nest.

Those who didn't receive a gift, or those who received one but couldn't bear to drink it, all spoke of this peach blossom wine as something miraculous.

"Have you heard? The Princess's residence is holding a flower-viewing banquet, and even the Empress asked about the peach blossom wine!"

"Not only that! I heard that the Crown Prince of Annam wanted to ask Minister Pei for a jar of jars to celebrate the birthday of his late Queen Consort, but Minister Pei looked hesitant and only gave him half a jar!"

"These days in the capital, giving gold and silver jewelry is considered commonplace. If you could give a bottle of Peach Blossom Wine from the Minister's Mansion, that would be the most prestigious thing to do!"

In no time, the threshold of the Minister's residence was almost worn down by those who subtly asked for wine.

Minister Pei felt that he could stand up straighter in the court.

Madam Pei became the most sought-after figure in the social circle of noblewomen, receiving flattery wherever she went.

She no longer felt that her daughter-in-law was a stain on the family; on the contrary, she would praise her to everyone she met: "My daughter-in-law is so lucky! Not only did she recover from her illness, but she also brought such glory to our Pei family!"

The eldest daughter-in-law of the Minister's mansion, who was once considered a "madwoman," is now a treasure in the household.

On this day, a magnificent carriage stopped at the back gate of the Wei residence.

Pei Xiaorou personally handed a heavy brocade box to Wei Yishang.

Her face no longer held the arrogance and wariness of their first meeting, only sincerity and gratitude remained.

"Yi Chang," she now calls him by his given name.

"This is a newly brewed batch of peach blossom wine. I didn't give it to anyone else, and I sent it to you first."

Wei Yishang opened the brocade box, and a refreshing aroma of wine wafted out.

She smiled and said, "It seems the play was performed quite well."

"It's more than just good!" Pei Xiaorou excitedly grasped her hand.

"It's simply... turning lead into gold! Yi Chang, I really don't know how to thank you. You not only saved my sister-in-law, but also me, and our entire Pei family!"

Wei Yishang felt that what she did was worthwhile.

(End of this chapter)