Chapter 454: The Pei Family’s Birthday Celebration (Part 1)

“Brother-in-law, why don’t you like riding horses? I think riding is so free—you can see the blue sky and white clouds, meet familiar friends. That chance encounter feels wonderful. But sitting in this carriage-like thing is stuffy and dark. How can you stand it?”
Li Qing’an didn’t wait until the next day to go to the Pei family’s residence. After resigning as the Right Prime Minister, he suddenly had plenty of free time. With nothing to do in the afternoon, he took Mingzhu to the Pei family’s house. Along the way, she kept complaining about how uncomfortable riding in a carriage was.
Li Qing’an smiled gently. “Why wouldn’t I want to ride a horse? But if I did, I might turn into a hedgehog. Have you seen a hedgehog? Its body is covered in spines. Well, mine would be covered in arrows—a new species: arrow hedgehog.”
“That’s true. Riding a horse, you’re always worried about getting shot with cold arrows. It must be unpleasant. Brother-in-law, then how much am I worth? I mean, how much money could be made by turning you into a hedgehog?”
“Probably about one million guan! Why do you ask?”
Mingzhu propped her chin and smiled brightly. “I was wondering why no one has come after me. I’d be satisfied with just 10%—one hundred thousand guan.”
“You can’t kill me. By the way, Mingzhu, is there anyone in the Pei family who wants to marry you?”
Mingzhu frowned. “We were just talking about something interesting, and you come to ruin it. Yes! There’s a line all the way around Zhuque Street. Are you satisfied now?”
“I was just asking casually. Can’t a brother-in-law care about his sister-in-law?”
“You’d better focus on the bigger matters of the world! A girl like me isn’t worthy of your concern.”
Angrily, Mingzhu turned away, grabbed a pillow, and stuffed it over her ears, ignoring Li Qing’an anymore.
Li Qing’an shook his head with a smile. He had been through much and understood Mingzhu’s feelings well. In fact, he also liked this beautiful and lovely girl very much. Before, she was like his sister, chirping around him like a little sparrow. But as she grew up, she became a mature and beautiful young woman with a unique, lively temperament.
Yet Mingzhu was still his sister-in-law, and given the complicated family relationships, he couldn’t think about her in that way for now.
Li Qing’an was also filled with emotions. She was already twenty years old, but he couldn’t forget how she looked at thirteen. He remembered the first time he saw her—a little girl hiding behind a screen, thinking she was grown up, with her face messily painted, claiming it was “blood blush makeup.”
“Hey! What are you thinking about? Why are you smiling so strangely?” Mingzhu couldn’t help but lift the pillow again and ask him.

“I’m thinking about what you looked like when we first met.”
“What did I look like?”
Mingzhu suddenly sat up and smiled, “Tell me, what did I look like when you first saw me?”
“You! You were dressed up like a fox spirit, thinking you were beautiful. Why aren’t you wearing makeup now?”
Mingzhu felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I was young back then. Everyone wore makeup like that, and I thought it made me beautiful. Looking back, it was really stupid of me.”
“Actually, it’s not stupid. I think it’s quite unique. At least I like it.”
“Even if you like me, I won’t wear makeup like that anymore. It’s bad for my skin.”
Mingzhu took out a mirror again and asked, “Brother-in-law, people say I look much prettier than before. What do you think?”
“Hehe! You do look much prettier than before. But one thing hasn’t changed—years ago you were willful, and it seems you’re still the same,” Li Qing’an teased her.
Mingzhu didn’t pick up the teasing tone in Li Qing’an’s words. She felt disappointed. The girls who used to play with her had all gotten married or given birth. They only thought about their husbands and children. The last time one of her closest friends came to borrow money from her, after just two or three years apart, she seemed ten years older, talking only about money and complaining about life’s hardships. She had indeed become more mature, but Mingzhu didn’t want that kind of maturity. She didn’t want to become so materialistic or old-fashioned. She wanted to keep a little bit of her own happiness.
But many people didn’t like her personality, even Li Qing’an in front of her. She felt that Li Qing’an wanted her to become more mature.
She glanced at herself in the mirror again and sighed, “My mother always says the same thing—that I’ll never grow up. I once tried to become more mature, even pretending to do so. But that pretense almost exhausted me. Sigh! I really don’t know how to grow up.”
She sneaked another look at Li Qing’an and asked carefully, “Brother-in-law, do you think not growing up has something to do with fate? That it’s because the right fate hasn’t arrived yet?”
“Maybe there’s a little bit to it.”
Li Qing’an smiled and said, “Actually, it’s not bad to be simple. In youth, people long for maturity, and once mature, they miss youth. I think there’s no need to pretend. It’s like an apple tree—the side facing the sun is big and red, while the shaded side seems smaller and greener. But it’s actually mature too. It’s crisp, with a hint of sourness and sweetness, and retains the true flavor of an apple.”
“Do you like unripe fruits then?”

“Me? I like them all, Mingzhu. Didn’t I tell you? You need to believe in fate. When the time is right, things will take their course.”
Mingzhu didn’t dare look at Li Qing’an. Shy, she lowered her head and fiddled with the ribbon of her dress, while thinking of the fruits on the tree. Li Qing’an chose for a long time before finally picking one that was still a bit unripe.
…
At that moment, the carriage entered Jingshan Fang, and its speed gradually slowed down.
Pei Kuan’s residence was located in Jingshan Fang—a vast mansion covering nearly sixty acres. It was one of the several major estates of the Pei family in Chang’an. The Pei family was a prominent clan from Wenxi County in Hedong, with a long history spanning nearly a thousand years. Its members excelled in both literature and military affairs, producing many talented individuals over the centuries. Among the prominent families of the Tang Dynasty, they ranked third after the Li and Cui families. During the Middle Tang period, the Pei family produced many famous ministers, such as Pei Kuan, Pei Zunqing, and Pei Yaoqing—all of whom were highly capable. Among them, Pei Kuan was the most famous, skilled in both civil and military affairs. He had served as the governor of Fanyang and twice became prime minister, though he was also demoted twice. His life was full of hardships.
Over the years, Pei Kuan had rarely gone out. After the incident involving the deposal of Crown Prince Li Heng, Pei Kuan, who was then Minister of Rites, was implicated and forced to retire. After that, he lived in seclusion. In recent years, he had devoted himself to Buddhism, spending his days chanting scriptures at home. But as he grew older, he gradually weakened. This year, in particular, he suffered three serious illnesses. Although the imperial physicians managed to save him each time, his health was now extremely poor. The physicians had hinted to the Pei family that Pei Kuan might not make it through the year. Given this situation, the Pei family decided to hold a grand celebration for his 75th birthday—to bring good fortune and also to allow the family members to see their elderly patriarch one last time, so that he could pass away without regrets.

Although Pei Kuan became a Buddhist in his later years and was naturally frugal, his family went all out for this birthday celebration, spending tens of thousands of guan to honor the patriarch of the Pei family. For this occasion, Pei Kuan’s eldest son, Pei Yi, the governor of Henan, specially came from Luoyang to oversee his father’s birthday. A total of seven people were chosen by the Pei family to plan the birthday gifts, all of whom were influential figures within the family—such as Pei Zunqing, a minister in his seventies, Pei Min, the right chancellor and head of the Ministry of Rites, Pei Yi, the governor of Henan, Pei Xiang, the head of the Judicial Department, and even Du Gu Hao Ran, a son-in-law of the Pei family. However, since Du Gu Hao Ran claimed to be ill, he handed over the task to his own son-in-law, Li Qing An. Although Li Qing An’s marital ties to the Pei family were somewhat distant, with the strong support of Pei Zunqing and Pei Min, the Pei family was willing to have him participate. Pei Zunqing even stated clearly at a family meeting that if Li Qing An became part of the Pei family, it would greatly enhance the family’s status in the Tang Dynasty.

The rivalry between the Pei and Cui families was well-known throughout the Tang Dynasty. Cui Yuan and Cui Qiao had defected to Li Longji in Shu and become his key ministers, while Cui Huan served as the prime minister in Chang’an. The Pei family only had Pei Min as a chancellor. Although his position was somewhat higher, the Pei family still had fewer officials of rank three or above compared to the Cui family, especially when it came to local officials—where the Cui family’s descendants held far more positions than those of the Pei family.

Therefore, if Li Qing An could join the Pei family, it would undoubtedly add significant weight to the balance of power between the Cui and Pei families.

Li Qing An’s carriage slowly came to a stop in front of Pei Kuan’s residence in Jingshan Fang. It happened to be a day when court sessions were suspended, and all the key members of the Pei family had gathered at Pei Kuan’s house to discuss the birthday celebration. Upon hearing that Li Qing An had arrived, Pei Zunqing, Pei Min, and other major family members rushed to the gate to welcome him. Mingzhu lifted the curtain slightly and peeked through the gap. She saw a sea of old men with white or black beards standing at the steps—all of them elders from the Pei family. She was so frightened that she stuck out her tongue. Her mother had sent her to introduce the Pei family’s younger members to Li Qing An, but the ones she knew were either young people or women from the inner courtyard. How could she possibly know the elders? Feeling uneasy, Mingzhu said to Li Qing An with a sad face, “Brother-in-law, I’m not feeling well. I can’t go down. You go alone! After all, since uncle is here, I’m not needed.”

Li Qing’an understood her thoughts, smiled at her gently, and didn’t press her. He got out of the car directly. Pei Zunqing and Pei Min stood at the steps. Although Pei Min was the Right Chancellor and acting head of the family, Pei Zunqing was the elder, so Pei Min didn’t dare to rush ahead. Pei Zunqing stepped forward to greet Li Qing’an. Pei Zunqing was a late bloomer; he didn’t take on a position in the Ministry of Personnel until his fifties. He was demoted to governor of Fenzhou for offending Yang Guozhong. After Li Yu ascended the throne, he was promoted to vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and soon after to vice minister of the Secretariat, holding a high position and great power, second only to Pei Min in the Pei family. Pei Zunqing was now over seventy, with a one-foot-long beard that had turned gray, but he was still energetic, his movements as quick as those of a young man. He stepped forward quickly, bowed to Li Qing’an with a smile, and said, “I hear from Yu’er that you’re always referred to as ‘Great General.’ So I’ll follow the younger generation and also call you ‘Great General.’ It’s somewhat impolite—please forgive me.”

The Yu’er Pei Zunqing referred to was Pei Yu, the great-grandson of Pei Kuan. He had returned to the capital from Suiye last year and was currently the director of the Military Affairs Department. He stood behind Pei Zunqing, his eyes filled with excitement at reuniting with Li Qing’an after so long. But he didn’t dare to be presumptuous and only bowed slightly to Li Qing’an. Li Qing’an smiled at him as well and replied with a chuckle, “I’m here today to attend the family gathering. We’re all family, so let’s be casual.”

“Great! Great!” Pei Zunqing laughed loudly. “The Great General is absolutely right. We’re all family, so let’s be casual.”

Pei Zunqing then turned to introduce each member of the Pei family to Li Qing’an. “This is Pei Yi, the father of Pei Yu, who holds the position of governor of Henan.”

Pei Yi was in his forties, with sharp eyes and a lean, handsome appearance. Li Qing’an had met him once when he was the governor of Henan Province. He smiled slightly and said, “Governor Pei, it’s been many years since we last met in Luoyang.”

Pei Yi quickly bowed to Li Qing’an and said earnestly, “I treated you poorly in Luoyang back then, but you treated Yu’er so well in Anxi. Such uneven treatment makes me feel extremely ashamed.”

“Governor Pei, please don’t mention it. Anxi values talent above all. It’s your son’s own efforts, not my doing. Your son is the only official in Anxi and even throughout the Tang Dynasty who knows the Byzantine language. Pei Yu, do you still remember the Byzantine language?”

Pei Yu quickly stepped forward and bowed. “Reporting to the Great General, I even chatted with two Byzantine merchants yesterday—I haven’t forgotten it.”

“Very good. You are proficient in Turkic, Arabic, and Byzantine languages—such talents are extremely rare even in the imperial court. Since you can’t play a role in the Ministry of War, I’ve decided to promote you to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Court. Get ready! A transfer order will arrive in a couple of days.”
Pei Yi was overjoyed. His son was currently a fifth-rank official, while a Deputy Minister of the Imperial Sacrificial Court held a fourth-rank position—a promotion of two ranks. And this was just the beginning. His son was a key figure in the Anxi region, with a bright future ahead. Only then did Pei Yi understand why his father had insisted on sending Pei Yu to Anxi. His father truly had a long-term vision. He expressed his deep gratitude, “The great general has taken care of my son; I will always remember this kindness.”
Li Qing’an smiled. “Didn’t I say? Today, we’re not discussing official matters. I’m just taking care of my brother-in-law—this isn’t official business.”
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Pei family, except for Pei Yi and his son, was shocked. They only knew that Pei Yu’s wife, Li Xiaolian, had married in Anxi, but none of them knew that Li Xiaolian was actually Li Qing’an’s sister.
The Pei family’s sons all looked at Pei Yu with envy. To marry Li Qing’an’s sister—how could one not have a bright future? Seeing everyone so surprised, Li Qing’an was somewhat taken aback. Had Pei Yu not told his family?
In fact, Li Qing’an didn’t know that Xiaolian was very low-key. She had forbidden her husband from revealing her true identity to the family. So, aside from Pei Yu and his father Pei Yi, no one else knew. Pei Yi smiled wryly and said, “Xiaolian is extremely virtuous and filial. She’s a wonderful daughter-in-law.”
At that, he pointed inside the door. Only then did Li Qing’an see three young women standing there. The one in front was Xiaolian. Though already a married woman, she looked even more beautiful, with bright eyes and a hint of maturity in her demeanor. Wearing a loose dress that covered her figure, Li Qing’an guessed that she might be pregnant.
Xiaolian was indeed four months pregnant. Hearing that her elder brother had arrived, she had secretly come out of the inner quarters, only to be seen by Li Qing’an. She had no choice but to step forward, her bright eyes revealing her joy at reuniting. She bowed gracefully to Li Qing’an, “Xiaolian greets her elder brother.”
“I’ve been very busy lately and haven’t had time to visit you.”
Li Qing’an apologized, “But seeing that you look good puts my mind at ease.”
“Please rest assured, elder brother. Xiaolian is living well here.”

At this moment, Li Qing’an saw that there was not just Xiao Lian among the young girls, but two more. The one dressed in a red dress was Pei Yu, the daughter of Pei Min. She was thin and delicate in build, someone Li Qing’an had seen before. The other girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a long green silk dress that made her look graceful; her figure was slender and tall, and her appearance was exceptionally beautiful. When she spoke to Pei Yu, she wore a serene smile, with a hint of shyness. She lowered her head, then raised her beautiful eyes to look at him, half seriously and half playfully. Li Qing’an’s eyes lit up as he silently admired her. Did the Pei family have such beautiful girls?

Xiao Lian smiled again and said, “Just now, my aunt sent someone to say that Mingzhu has also arrived. Why can’t we see her?”

“She’s in the carriage! With so many elders from the Pei family here, she dares not come out. You go and take her to the inner courtyard first!”

Inside the carriage, Mingzhu saw Xiao Lian and, as if she had found a savior, quickly jumped out and took Xiao Lian’s hand, whispering in complaint, “Why did you take so long to come out?”

During the Tang Dynasty, social norms were more open; there was no strict separation between men and women, so it was quite normal for an uncle and his niece to ride in the same carriage. Most of the Pei family members knew Mingzhu and didn’t find it strange, often just smiling it off. However, when Pei Zunqing saw Mingzhu in the carriage, a strange look flashed in his eyes. Upon seeing the other two girls, Mingzhu jumped for joy. “Wan’er, Yu’er, you’re here too! That’s great!”

Xiao Lian then smiled at Li Qing’an and said, “Brother, I’ll take Mingzhu to the back courtyard first. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Go ahead.”

Li Qing’an also said to Mingzhu, “Don’t forget what your mother asked you to do—pay your respects to the old grandmother.”

“I won’t forget!”

Mingzhu took the hands of the two girls and ran into the mansion like a butterfly, with Xiao Lian following slowly behind. Li Qing’an watched them go with a smile, his gaze then falling again on the girl in the green silk dress. Who was this girl?

At that moment, Pei Zunqing cleared his throat gently and said with a slight smile, “One of those two girls is the daughter of Prime Minister Pei, Pei Yu. The other is my granddaughter, Pei Wan’er. Her father is my second son, Pei Yang, the governor of Ningzhou. I believe the general has met him before.”

“Oh! So she’s the daughter of Governor Pei. Governor Pei is an honest and capable official with a high reputation among the people—he’s truly an outstanding official.”

“Thank you, General, for your kind words about my son. Come! Let’s go inside the mansion. We’ve been talking on the steps for too long; it’s somewhat rude.”

“Good. I also want to meet the former Prime Minister Pei. He was kind to me in the past, and it would be my lifelong wish to contribute something to his birthday celebration.”

Pei Zunqing waved his hand solemnly and said to Li Qingan, “Please, General!”
“Please!”
They all entered Pei’s mansion together. It was only then that Pei Min had the chance to approach Li Qingan and said with a smile, “Preparing for a birthday celebration is quite busy. Do you really have time?”
Li Qingan also smiled and replied, “It should be me who asks you that. As the ruler of the Right Country, you’re busy with countless matters every day. Do you have time?”
“I’m indeed too busy. I can only discuss major matters; the specific tasks are handled by my descendants.”
“I’m here wholeheartedly to celebrate Pei the Elder Statesman’s birthday!”
At that moment, Pei Yu rushed over, bowed to Li Qingan, and said, “General, my grandfather would like you to come and talk.”