DUKE PEI WAS SILENT for a long moment. After what seemed like ages, he finally spoke, his tone steady but thoughtful. "It's just the Medicine Sect. Why are you afraid?"
Lily let out a weary sigh, rubbing her temple. "It's not fear—it's just too much trouble."
"They won't touch us. Not now, especially since you're no longer engaged to the crown prince. As the fifth prince said, the elder is only here to support Young Miss Carna in becoming the future empress. We're not in their way anymore. Why would they bother with us?" Duke Pei's tone was rational, almost dismissive. "But it's not a bad thing to stay cautious. Just observe from the sidelines."
Lily nodded slowly, considering her grandfather's words. "You're right… that makes sense."
Duke Pei exhaled heavily. "The affairs of mortals are too entangled, too messy. It's best we steer clear of their drama whenever possible."
Lily clicked her tongue in annoyance. "As if I want to get involved." She cast her grandfather a sideways glance, filled with a mixture of disdain and helpless affection. "You're the sentimental one who insisted on staying here. Great-grandfather said we had no obligation to remain, but you—stubborn as always—refused to leave. Tell me, grandfather, why are you so attached to this place?"
Duke Pei opened his mouth, preparing to give her a retort, but before he could say anything, Lily cut him off.
"Mortals live such short lives. Why build relationships that are bound to end? The moment they die, aren't you the one left behind—again and again?" she said coolly, sipping her tea with quiet irritation.
Duke Pei's lips parted, but no words came. He couldn't deny her logic. Her brutal clarity, though unwelcome, was undeniably sound. When Lily left his study, her words lingered in his thoughts, circling endlessly.
He sat alone, staring at the closed door, his mind drifting. His granddaughter… she was old enough now to stand on her own. Though she was lazy, arrogant, and temperamental, she wasn't foolish. She had always been clever, always observant, and—when she chose to be—remarkably mature. She would survive. She would endure.
Duke Pei leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, letting the weight of age settle over him. Perhaps… it was time. He had already lived over eighty years in this realm. Maybe now, finally, was the right time.
---
The emperor's birthday banquet arrived with all the expected grandeur. Envoys from allied kingdoms flooded into the capital to pay their respects, each bringing elaborate gifts and flowery blessings. The palace buzzed with activity from dawn until dusk.
Noble households, too, had been swept up in the frenzy. Ministers, generals, and esteemed scholars dressed in their finest robes, each determined to impress and flatter. Lavish gifts were prepared with care. After all, appearances mattered more than sincerity in court politics.
The Pei family, on the other hand, remained unusually tranquil.
Apart from five maidservants—Ji Mei and Ji Lei included—and twenty loyal guards, the Duke's estate was sparsely staffed. But numbers were never the concern. Every person in the estate had been raised under Duke Pei's watchful eye, shaped by his code, and bound by unwavering loyalty.
The previous emperors had offered him more manpower, but he declined every time. Outsiders were unnecessary, and he had no desire to let strangers cross his threshold.
"Are you really not going to attend the emperor's oh-so-glorious banquet?" Lily asked, raising a brow at her grandfather.
Duke Pei's mouth twitched. "No. I'm too old for such festivities. My bones are brittle, and my health frail. I would surely collapse before dessert is served."
Lily gave him a meaningful, almost mocking look but didn't push further. She simply nodded. Then she turned and called for Ji Mei and Ji Lei, and the three women rode on horseback to the palace, cutting through the crisp morning air.
As they approached the grand palace gates, they spotted Fifth Imperial Uncle Hugo, who had just arrived.
Hugo paused mid-step, catching sight of Lily. He smiled warmly. "Young Miss Pei. Shall we enter together?"
Lily gave a polite nod, and the two of them walked side by side, bypassing the long line of nobles and officials waiting for entry. One was an imperial prince, the other a unique force within the empire—no one dared block their path.
"How is Duke Pei these days?" Hugo asked with genuine concern. "I heard the emperor sent him invitations several times, but he refused due to his health. Is he alright?"
His tone, though casual, held traces of tension. He was worried—not only about the old duke but also about Lily. In two days, he would have to leave for the Earth Realm, and the idea of leaving Lily behind while a powerful sect loomed unsettled him deeply.
Should he take her with him?
"He's just too lazy to bother," Lily replied bluntly, without a trace of shame. In truth, she saw no need to lie about it. The Pei family had long since stopped pretending to care about appearances, especially in front of the emperor.
Hugo let out a relieved sigh, the tension in his chest easing. "Good to hear."
Inside the grand hall, the crowd had already begun to gather. Officials mingled and whispered, each eyeing the other, forming invisible lines of alliance and rivalry. The princes and princesses of the royal family were present as well, each carrying their own ambitions.
When Lily and Hugo entered, several of them turned and greeted them with courteous smiles.
"Fifth Imperial Uncle. Young Miss Pei."
None of them were surprised to see the two arrive together. Everyone knew that the fifth prince had a good relationship with the Duke's estate. However, there were whispers—unspoken thoughts behind the smiles.
Fifth Imperial Uncle Hugo had never married. He had no concubines. He didn't even consort with courtesans. His reputation for chastity was unmatched.
Now, with his closeness to the famously upright Pei family, more than a few wondered if there was a deeper relationship between him and Lily. Though there was a fifteen-year age gap, such things had never stopped marriages before—especially when power was involved.
If the Fifth Prince truly married Lily, the alliance would be unmatched. He already held more power than the emperor in many ways. If his influence merged with the Pei family's, no one could rival them.
Lily and Hugo took their seats quietly. Though they exchanged no words, neither felt awkward. There was a comfortable silence between them.
Moments later, a sharp-voiced eunuch announced the arrival of the emperor, empress, and crown prince.
The crowd immediately dropped to their knees. Well… almost everyone.
Two individuals remained seated as if they hadn't heard a thing: Hugo and Lily.
Emperor Jun's eyes twitched in anger. He glared at the two offending parties seated openly in his court, unmoved by his presence.
Yet, as always, he swallowed his pride. He had no power over them—at least, not enough to challenge them outright. One was of royal blood and immensely powerful, the other a Pei. Provoking either was foolish; provoking both was suicidal.
"Rise!" the eunuch barked after the emperor was seated. The rest of the room stood and the banquet officially began.
One by one, guests stepped forward to present their gifts. Lily calmly approached with a modest box of brocades. They weren't particularly eye-catching, but they were still considered rare treasures.
To Lily, however, the brocades were an eyesore. They didn't suit her taste, so she gave them away without hesitation. The emperor, unaware of her opinion, received them with pleasure.
"Today is this emperor's joyous occasion," Emperor Jun said, his voice carrying through the hall. "Seeing you all gathered here warms my heart."
"His Majesty is benevolent and noble! Celebrating your birthday is our greatest honour!" Prime Minister Carna declared with feigned reverence. His voice rang out with calculated passion.
Then, without waiting for a response, he continued, "To honour this grand occasion, this subject has invited a special guest—an expert."
The room fell into intrigued silence.
"An expert?" the emperor asked, raising a brow.
Everyone turned to look at the prime minister, curiosity sparking in their eyes. What trick did this snake have up his sleeve now?
Prime Minister Carna clasped his hands together and spoke proudly. "The expert this subject refers to is none other than an elder of the Medicine Sect."
A collective gasp swept through the court. Even Emperor Jun was startled.
"The Medicine Sect?" someone whispered.
Prime Minister Carna nodded gravely. "Yes. By a stroke of fortune, my son encountered the elder on his way to his maternal home. The elder saw potential in my son and took him in as a disciple."
"Such fortune," the emperor murmured in wonder.
"My apologies, Your Majesty," Carna said with a contrite look. "The elder wished to remain hidden. Though I wished to share this good news with you earlier, I was bound by the expert's wishes."
The emperor nodded, clearly placated. "Then where is he?" he asked eagerly.
His excitement grew. An elder of the Medicine Sect? Perhaps this was the chance he had been waiting for. If he could form an alliance with the sect, he wouldn't need to tread lightly around the Pei family anymore.
His gaze flicked to Lily, who sat sipping her tea, unmoved. Disdain curled her lip.
He wanted to laugh. The Peis, always so proud. What if they were finally outmatched? If the Medicine Sect established a foothold here, he wouldn't need to curry their favor ever again.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation. He needed to meet this expert immediately.
Meanwhile, Lily scoffed inwardly at the emperor's eager expression. She didn't stop him from dreaming—she would let him be happy for now.
Then crush that happiness completely.
Suddenly, she didn't mind the elder arriving ahead of time. This might actually be… fun.