Chapter 38: Let’s Not Spoil the Harmony

The rumors sweeping through the city reached the ears of the Li family long before Lady Liang could even send someone to investigate.

The gossip was vicious. While to outsiders these might have seemed like baseless rumors, to the Li family, every word was the cold, hard truth.

There were whispers, for instance, that the third son of the Li family was no better than the sixth—having bedded his eldest sister-in-law's personal maid only three months into his marriage.

There were tales that the fifth son had conceived a child out of wedlock with a cousin from Shengjing, which was the true reason for their hurried engagement and frantic wedding.

But the most damning claim of all was that the eldest mistress, Lady Chai, had been running a usury business, her hands stained with the blood of countless Yangzhou citizens over these many years.

When word reached the Li household, Lady Chai flew into a rage, screaming Lady Liang’s name and cursing her at the top of her lungs, insisting that it was she who had spread these lies throughout the city. Her husband, Li Mingshan, tried to reason with her repeatedly, but to no avail. After being subjected to her vitriolic abuse, he simply gave up, abandoned the room, and left her to vent her fury in front of her daughters-in-law and daughters.

He had barely retreated to his study for half a quarter of an hour when a servant brought word that two young men, claiming to be of the Pei family, were at the gate demanding to see him.

Li Mingshan was no fool. Even if Lady Chai had lost her mind in her rage, he had not. Lady Liang had not been to Yangzhou in over a decade; how could she possibly know about the rot within their family? This was surely the work of some other party, intended to make Lady Chai pin the blame on Lady Liang, thereby stoking the flames of discord and causing the Li family to offend both the Duke of Xinguo’s estate and the Marquis of Changle’s estate in one fell swoop.

Pei Yanzhou and his brother were here to settle scores. Li Mingshan had no desire to meet them, but refusing would only add fuel to the fire. With a heavy sigh, he ordered them to be shown into the main hall.

Li Mingshan arrived alone. As Pei Yanzhou and Pei Jingxing watched him enter with slow, measured steps, they exchanged a look, realizing that of the six sons born to the Li family, not a single one was fit to be seen in public. They were not his peers, and etiquette dictated that a son of the Li house should have been present to host them. That Li Mingshan had come alone—knowing full well they were here to hold him accountable—could only mean he feared his sons would speak out of turn and make matters worse.

Pei Yanzhou rose briefly, offering a slight nod in greeting. Li Mingshan, nursing his internal bitterness, had no choice but to force a smile and invite them to sit.

Pei Yanzhou had no intention of engaging in hollow pleasantries. "I trust Magistrate Li understands the purpose of our visit?" He was smiling, but his tone lacked even a shred of warmth. Li Mingshan held only a nominal fifth-rank title through his family’s influence—hardly worthy of respect—and Pei Yanzhou’s use of the title "Magistrate" dripped with mockery.

Li Mingshan frowned, his voice dropping. "I do not know what my wife said at the General's residence, but did Lady Liang not have my wife driven from her home? Young Master, I do not mean to be presumptuous or biased, but this is hardly the way to treat a guest. If you and the Third Young Master have come to demand an explanation, I must ask: if Lady Liang treats guests in such a manner, who is to provide an explanation to my family?"

Pei Yanzhou took a long look at him before signaling to Pei Jingxing.

Pei Jingxing raised an eyebrow, his tone cold and uncompromising. "My cousin is of distinguished lineage. Perhaps your family’s status is beyond the reach of people like us, which is why Lady Chai felt emboldened to insult her and humiliate her in the presence of my mother. Now that my mother has been struck ill from the shock and rage, Magistrate Li, what do you have to say for yourself? Will you next claim that my brother and I are uninvited and breaking protocol, and that our house—the Duke of Xinguo’s estate—is lacking in manners and discipline?"

The implication was grave, and Li Mingshan felt his eyelids twitch.

"That is not what I meant," he said, masking a cough behind his hand. "The words of the Third Young Master… my wife’s conduct was improper, and I, on her behalf—"

"Surely Magistrate Li does not think a mere apology will suffice?" Pei Jingxing cut him off, denying him any chance to finish. "If word of this gets out, would my cousin not become a girl whom anyone can insult at will? What sort of behavior is that?"

Li Mingshan’s face turned ashen. "Then, in your opinion, what should be done?"

He truly did not want to offend the Duke of Xinguo’s estate. He knew his wife had been acting recklessly, relying on the influence of her own family, the Duke of Jun’s estate. He was well aware of what his father-in-law and brother-in-law were doing in Shengjing; a house built on such foundations could collapse in an instant, and it was only a matter of time before the Emperor’s patience ran out. They thought themselves untouchable because they had aligned with the Fourth Prince, forgetting that Imperial Consort Xu had been the Emperor’s childhood sweetheart for decades—how could the Fourth Prince compare to the Third? These people were courting death, and in their folly, they had allowed Lady Chai to ruin their children as well.

He was a useless man, unable to carry on his family’s glory or establish himself at court, forced to rely on his wife’s kin despite knowing they were a sinking ship. He couldn't cut ties, no matter how much he wanted to.

Li Mingshan sighed heavily. "I have my own difficulties and hardships. I know full well why you have come today, but..." He trailed off, his face tight with distress. "The rumors spreading through the city are not good for us either. My wife was driven from the General's residence and, having heard these things, is beside herself with rage. Young Master, let us talk this over reasonably. Would that be acceptable?"

Pei Yanzhou chuckled. "I heard a few things on the way here. I do not visit Yangzhou often, so I cannot say whether these are facts or mere rumors. But from what you say, Magistrate Li, it seems you are pinning this on us?"

Li Mingshan waved his hands frantically. "No, no, of course not. Lady Liang has not been back to Yangzhou in years, and you and your brother are men of impeccable character—you would never stoop to such things. I am well aware that my wife’s past conduct has been frivolous, and that there are many in Yangzhou who despise or hold grudges against our family and would use this opportunity to sow discord. I understand that."

Pei Yanzhou’s lips curled into a silent smile. "Then it is all just slanderous gossip. Most of these things are mere domestic trifles that people will soon forget. However, as for the matter of Lady Chai running a usury business, Magistrate Li, perhaps you should pay a visit to the local yamen. It would be best to have the authorities step in, root out the source of these rumors, and clear the names of Lady Chai and your family."

Li Mingshan was struck dumb.

What "rumors"? It was precisely because the talk outside was the truth that Lady Chai had been driven to such a state of madness. She had been hit where it hurt; she knew her reputation was destroyed. If she were truly innocent, a few words wouldn't be enough to kill, so why be so furious?

Pei Yanzhou’s words were nothing short of a warning. The fact that he hadn't done it himself didn't mean he was a fool who understood nothing.

Li Mingshan lowered his eyes. "We will report it to the authorities, we certainly will." He muttered the words, not daring to let Pei Yanzhou continue. "My wife’s behavior today was absurd, and her treatment of Lady Liang’s daughter... whatever the Young Master desires, please speak plainly. Whatever is within my power to grant, I shall agree to right now, so that we may avoid further damaging the peace between our two houses."