TTTQF Chapter 53

Everything is Auspicious

The officials from the Imperial Observatory are very efficient. After receiving the birth dates, they calculate a few auspicious days in less than five days. Emperor Liangping looks at the results presented by Li Dian, remains silent for a while, and then suddenly laughs.

Seeing this, Xu Hai also laughs. 

Emperor Liangping raises his eyes and looks at him, “Xu Hai, why are you laughing?”

Xu Hai replies, “Your Majesty, when I see you happy, my heart feels happy too, and I can’t help but laugh. Please forgive me.”

“You! Always flattering!” Emperor Liangping scolds with a smile, then says, “However, I originally thought Li Dian was always serious and wouldn’t flatter. But today, I see that this is not the case.”

Xu Hai pretends to be threatened, “What did Lord Li say to make Your Majesty so happy? I dare to ask, so that I can learn from it.”

Emperor Liangping hands him the results. Xu Hai, who has been by his side for many years, can recognize words. Xu Hai carefully takes it, and on the topmost paper, besides the few auspicious days, there is the result of the compatibility of their birth dates. The words “Perfect Match Made in Heaven” are particularly eye-catching.

“These… two men can also be predicted to be a match made in heaven?” Xu Hai hesitates.

“Yes, but Li Dian’s intention must be because he heard the rumors circulating recently. Someone said that I arbitrarily matched the Duke’s heir with a commoner, obviously to deliberately mistreat the noble family,” Emperor Liangping says with displeasure.

Xu Hai is even more agitated and immediately shouts, “How bold! Who dares to tarnish Your Majesty’s reputation? I clearly heard that it was the Duke’s heir who personally requested it. Your Majesty, you only issued the imperial decree to grant marriage to fulfill the wishes of a loving couple!” He deliberately omits the other option was to let Pei Che give up his title and marry a princess.

The emperor also chose to forget that he did it for amusement, and says, “Exactly, that’s why the Bureau of Astronomy divined a match made in heaven, to tell those ignorant people that their marriage is destined by heaven and has nothing to do with me!”

Xu Hai praises, “Great! In this way, let’s see what those people have to say! Lord Li is indeed loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Today, I am truly impressed.”

“Send word, reward Li Dian with one hundred taels of gold,” Emperor Liangping is very pleased with his actions.

When Li Dian receives the reward, he is completely confused. He has no idea what kind of scenario Emperor Liangping and Xu Hai have imagined. He has merely followed the usual procedure and presented the calculated results.

…

“Grandmother, someone from the palace came and delivered the results from the Imperial Observatory a few days ago. The Emperor wants us to choose an auspicious day in the coming days to make preparations,” Pei Che comes to his grandmother’s courtyard and hands her the red paper with the proposed dates.

For the past few days, Grandmother Pei has secluded herself in the small Buddhist hall to worship Buddha. She glances at the dates and, mustering her strength, says, “You and your partner should choose the dates yourselves. After all, it is you two who will live your lives together. Whether good or bad, you will bear it. I’m old and shouldn’t meddle.”

Pei Che knows that his grandmother says this because she is dissatisfied with his chosen marriage partner. If he were marrying a well-born lady, his grandmother would likely be more enthusiastic.

However, this matter indeed needs to be discussed with Jiang Miao. His initial plan is for both of them to choose a date. If they pick the same one, it will be perfect; if different, they can choose one each. Now that his grandmother has conceded, he only needs Jiang Miao’s opinion.

Seeing Pei Che walk out of the door without hesitation after bidding farewell, Grandmother Pei feels a twinge of bitterness, “People always say that a man forgets his mother after marrying a wife. He hasn’t even married yet, and already I, his grandmother, am no longer important!”

Grandma Gao just listens quietly to her complaints. Clearly, it is her mistress who doesn’t want to choose, but if the heir doesn’t let her choose, she will be angry.

Pei Che has no idea what his grandmother is thinking. Holding the paper, he is about to head straight to Yifeng Street when, passing by Pei Mu’s courtyard, he is almost run into by Xing’er who suddenly dashes out.

He is a little unhappy, but considering that she has been taking care of Mu’er, he says gently: “Xing’er, what do you want to see me for? Don’t be so reckless next time.”

Xing’er looks at Pei Che with red eyes, her voice a little tearful, and she looks very pitiful: “Your Lordship, if there’s something Xing’er has done wrong, please tell Xing’er. Xing’er will change it.”

Pei Che recalls what he has just said and feels that it was not harsh and doesn’t understand why she is reacting this way. So he asks, “Why do you say that?”

“For the past few days, Your Lordship has taken the young master out at dawn and only returned at night. Xing’er is supposed to take care of the young master, but Xing’er doesn’t even know where he’s been. People in the house say Xing’er is not fulfilling her duties. Xing’er begs Your Lordship to let Xing’er stay by the young master’s side to care for him. If not, then return Xing’er to the old madam or send Xing’er away,” she finishes, lowering her head and softly sobbing.

At this moment, Pei Che feels that the word Jiang Miao occasionally uses is particularly apt—speechless. If that’s the case, then Chan Yi and Wen Jing also haven’t fulfilled their duties, as he himself is out every day. Why aren’t they insisting on following him?

“Are you saying that if I don’t let you follow Mu’er, you will leave the Duke’s manor?”

Xing’er looks up sorrowfully. “Although Xing’er’s parents are gone, Xing’er is not a freeloader. Xing’er has been taking care of the young master. Now Your Lordship don’t let Xing’er work, Xing’er has no face to stay here.” She deliberately mentions her parents who died in the same accident as Pei Che’s parents to remind him of her family’s contributions.

“During this period, I took leave from the Imperial Academy. Since I had time, I thought of spending more time with Mu’er, but I forgot that you had nothing to do in the manor.”

Xing’er listens to him and thinks he is going to let her follow him, immediately looking at him nervously and expectantly. However, Pei Che’s next words completely dash her hopes.

“In that case, I’ll instruct Chan Yi to find you some work in the manor. When Mu’er doesn’t go out often, you can come back to take care of him.” After saying this, Pei Che turns and leaves.

In the carriage, Pei Mu has been waiting for a while, his expression already showing signs of impatience. Just as they are about to leave, someone from the palace arrives. Pei Che wanted to take him out of the carriage, but he was unwilling, so Pei Che had to let him stay inside.

“Mu’er, have you waited long? We’ll be leaving now.” For the past few days, Pei Che has consistently taken Pei Mu to Jiang Miao’s place, and Pei Mu has gotten used to it.

Meanwhile, Jiang Miao is carrying a bucket of stuffing to Daniu’s house. The dividends for the past few days have come out, and Jiang Miao finds that the earnings are actually not much different from before. The reason is that Daniu’s family, since they contributed money and received dividends, also joined in the work. With more people working, they naturally sold more. Sometimes, when Jiang Miao can’t chop the filling fast enough, they take the ingredients back, chop them up, and then bring them back for him to season.

When he arrives at Daniu’s yard, Daniu is standing there talking to his grandmother with a distressed look on his face.

“Aunt Zhang, Brother Daniu, what are you two talking about? Why do you look so unhappy?” Jiang Miao asks, placing the bucket of stuffing on the chopping board, preparing to wash his hands and help with the wrapping.

“Little Jiang, you come just in time. I was about to send Daniu to find you!” Auntie Zhang says.

“What’s the matter?” Jiang Miao asks, puzzled.

Daniu, looking as if he’s seen a savior, begins to speak aggrievedly, “Brother Jiang, it’s like this. Yesterday, when I was setting up my stall, a person came to buy buns and recognized me. He is a waiter from Yingke Lai and used to work with me. After buying the buns, I don’t know what he told the Manager of Yingke Lai, but just a moment ago, the Manager came here and said that I must sell him the recipe for making pan-fried buns. Otherwise, he will go to the authorities and accuse me of stealing the recipe from Yingke Lai!”

“What? You’ve been away from Yingke Lai for more than four months, and he still has the nerve to accuse you of this?” Jiang Miao is very angry. It seems that the manager wants to continue bullying an honest person. Not only did he unjustly fire him, but now he also wants to extort him. It is truly despicable!

“Exactly! Not to mention, he was just a waiter. Even if he stole the recipe, he wouldn’t know how to use it. He can’t even read, so how would he know what a recipe is?” Aunt Zhang says with resentment, hating the owner even more.

“I haven’t done anything sneaky, so I’m not afraid of going to the authorities. But if I go, it might delay our business for a few days,” Daniu was worried about this.

“Brother Daniu, don’t worry about the business, and we don’t need to go to the authorities. Next time he comes, just tell him that the secret to the filling lies in a secret recipe that I have. Without it, the buns will lose their flavor, and customers won’t buy them,” Jiang Miao says. If Daniu really goes to court, he might not get a fair trial.

“No way!” Daniu rejects firmly, “This is my problem, I can’t trouble you with it! That manager is not a good person. What if Brother Jiang suffers because of this?”

“Don’t worry, just tell him. I will naturally have a way to deal with him,” Jiang Miao says confidently, as if he has already thought of a way to reject the manager.

“But…”

“Don’t say but, don’t worry, I will never suffer any loss!” Jiang Miao says firmly. Daniu can’t argue with him, so he has no choice but to follow Jiang Miao’s instructions the next time the owner comes.

On his way back, Jiang Miao passes by Manager Wang’s grain and oil shop and Manager Wu’s southern goods store. After some thought, he goes in to chat with the two Managers, then returns home with a mischievous smile while humming a little tune.

When he arrives home, the door is open. Jiang Miao is initially startled, but then relaxes, remembering that he gave a spare key to Pei Che two days ago, allowing him to come and go freely.

“Why are you so happy?” Pei Che is sitting on a chair in the main hall, while Pei Mu sits on a small stool, bending over to pet Little White Spot. The kitten is eagerly munching on the small dried fish Pei Mu brought, unconcerned whether its fur is being rubbed bald.

“Hehe, I won’t tell you. What did you come here for today?” Jiang Miao teases, holding back information. He is afraid that if he tells Pei Che, Pei Che will get involved in the matter. Although he does need his help, it’s not now.

Seeing Jiang Miao’s mischievous look, Pei Che doesn’t press further. Jiang Miao can’t keep a secret for long; he might spill it himself soon.

“The Imperial Observatory has picked auspicious days. I showed them to my grandmother, and she said we should pick two dates ourselves.” Pei Che takes out several red papers and hands them to Jiang Miao.

Jiang Miao takes them and sighs, “Why are all these days so soon? Oh well, I’ll close my eyes and pick. Whatever I draw will be it.” Jiang Miao irresponsibly pushes the decision onto fate.

He asks Pei Che to shuffle the papers, then closes his eyes and draws two.

One paper shows the 5th day of the 3rd month, and the other the 20th day of the 6th month. Under both dates are written “Everything is Auspicious”.

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