Chapter 534: The Pei Family’s Status

After sending Yang Yuhuan home, Li Qingan returned to the prince’s mansion at dusk. He was still immersed in the aftertaste of that kiss. Though he hadn’t taken the final step, Yang Yuhuan’s heart had already been slightly opened for him. Li Qingan knew it was only a matter of time before he took that step.

The new mansion wouldn’t be officially moved in until the next day, so he stayed at the old one for the night. He got off the carriage and hurried inside. Just then, Pan Xiaoliang ran up to him. Upon seeing Li Qingan, he was startled and trembled. He wanted to kneel but felt it was inappropriate. After hesitating for a while, he awkwardly bowed and said, “I—no! Pan Xiaoliang pays his respects to the prince.”

Li Qingan gave him a curious glance but didn’t ask further. With a “Hmm!” he went straight into the inner chambers.

“The prince has returned!”

A maid had already rushed inside to report. Mingyue came out smiling and said, “Elder brother, you’re back?”

“Mm!” Li Qingan entered the main hall. Not seeing Ruhua, he asked, “Where is Ruhua? Has she gone to bed?”

“She hasn’t gone to bed yet!”

Mingyue helped him take off his outer clothes and said with a smile, “She went to my mother’s place to help Mingzhu pack. She made chilled plum juice all day. Please sit down and cool off while I bring it to you.”

Mingyue was in high spirits tonight. She bent down and kissed her husband’s face before going inside.

Li Qingan was still thinking about Yang Yuhuan. He decided not to tell Mingyue about it for now. Just then, Mingyue brought in a bowl of chilled plum juice and said with a smile, “Your fourth wife really likes this kind of chilled plum juice. Today, she spent the whole morning searching for an ice cellar in the new mansion. It almost drove her crazy. But when she found it, she was so happy she jumped around like a child.”

“She’s always been quite childlike.”

Li Qingan smiled as he took the plum juice and took a big gulp. The refreshing taste instantly relieved his heat. He praised, “Not bad! Really refreshing!”

After drinking the plum juice in one go, Li Qingan finally sighed in relief. He smiled at Mingyue and asked, “You just said Mingzhu is moving here?”

“She’s moving to our new house. I went there today. The mansion is huge, and since our family is small, having more people around will make it livelier.”

Mingyue glanced at Li Qingan and added with a smile, “If you don’t want Mingzhu to come, I can send someone to talk to her.”

“I didn’t say she can’t come. You decide these things; I don’t have time to worry about them.”

Li Qing’an was uneasy tonight. Seeing his wife’s delicate features and extraordinary beauty, his desire flared up. He got up, took Mingyue’s hand, and said with a smile, “My dear, it’s late. Let’s rest!”
Mingyue blushed and pushed him away. “Go! You’re up to no good again.”
But Li Qing’an was too strong and wouldn’t let go. Mingyue had no choice but to follow him to the inner chamber reluctantly.
…
After several moments of intimate pleasure, things finally calmed down. Li Qing’an lay down exhausted beside Mingyue. Although it was unbearably hot outside, ice blocks placed in the wall between their bedrooms kept the room cool, so they didn’t feel even a hint of stuffiness.
Mingyue lazily nestled in her husband’s arms, her cheeks still flushed from pleasure. His strength tonight had filled her with immense satisfaction. She whispered coquettishly, “Husband, what’s wrong with you today?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because the room is cool.”
“Mm!” Mingyue replied before adding softly, “Husband, I want to tell you something.”
“What is it? Go ahead.”
Mingyue sighed softly. “Husband, I’m under a lot of pressure.”
Li Qing’an smiled ambiguously. “Was it because I put too much pressure on you just now?”
“You’re so irresponsible!”
Mingyue pushed her husband away, got up, and started dressing. How could they be serious when they were lying naked together? After putting on her underwear, she lay back beside him and asked, “Are you listening to me?”
Li Qing’an was already drowsy and mumbled, “My dear, let’s talk about it tomorrow…”
Before he could finish, he fell into a deep sleep. Mingyue had no choice but to get out of bed and turn off the light. But once she lay down, she couldn’t fall asleep either.
That day, while arranging the new house, Pan Xiaoliang had casually mentioned something that deeply disturbed Mingyue—Li Qing’an’s concubines didn’t conform to the proper rituals.
Although Li Qing’an held the title of prince, his ceremonial standards were actually set according to those of the Eastern Palace, thanks to a special approval from the Empress Dowager and the Council of State.
According to the Eastern Palace’s rules for concubines, Li Qing’an should have two rank-1 concubines, six rank-2 concubines, ten rank-3 concubines, sixteen rank-4 concubines, and twenty-four rank-5 concubines, plus his main wife—making a total of fifty-nine concubines.
But in reality, he only had four, which was even less than what an ordinary official would have. After all, even the military governors in the border regions had hundreds of wives and concubines. Yet her husband, the most powerful man in the Tang Dynasty, had only four—something that would invite ridicule from everyone and tarnish her reputation as a jealous woman.

What added to Mingyue’s stress was the fact that Li Qing’an still only had one son and one daughter, which had already caused dissatisfaction among the soldiers of the Anxi Army. All the soldiers believed it was the queen’s responsibility, putting immense pressure and worry on Mingyue.
Things couldn’t go on like this. Her husband was the only descendant of Prince Jiancheng; if he had few heirs, it would ruin his legacy, and she would have no face to face his ancestors in the future.
…
Before dawn the next day, Li Qing’an left the city for the military camp, while Mingyue, preoccupied, simply put on some makeup and headed to the Pei family’s residence.
Mingyue had a good reason for visiting the Pei family. A few days earlier, Li Qing’an’s stepsister, Xiao Lian, gave birth to a boy for the Peis, so she went to visit her. With Li Qing’an busy with his duties, as Xiao Lian’s family member, it was only natural for her to be more attentive.
Of course, Mingyue had another purpose for visiting the Pei family today—related to Pei Wan’er. Pei Wan’er and Li Qing’an were engaged, but the marriage had been put on hold due to Pei Kuan’s death. Generally, when a direct elder passed away, younger generations had to observe a year of mourning, delaying marriages. However, Pei Wan’er’s grandfather was Pei Zunqing, not Pei Kuan, so she didn’t need to observe a year of mourning—only 81 days—before she could get married.
More importantly, Pei Zunqing had sent Pei Wan’er’s birth details the day before yesterday, the second time such details were sent, serving as a reminder to Li Qing’an that it was time to proceed with the marriage.
Today, Mingyue came to the Pei family’s residence partly to visit Xiao Lian and partly to discuss the details of the marriage.
As soon as Mingyue arrived, family members welcomed her into the inner courtyard. The residences of the Pei brothers were connected, with passages linking their inner courtyards. Pei Yu, the eldest grandson of Pei Kuan and also a deputy minister in the Honglu Temple, had his own separate residence within the Pei family compound.
It was the third day since Xiao Lian gave birth, and the chaos and busyness at home had subsided. Fewer relatives came to visit the baby, leaving the courtyard very quiet.
“Princess Zhao has arrived!” A maid announced loudly upon seeing her.
Several young women rushed out of the house—Pei Wan’er and Pei Yu among them. The other two surprised Mingyue: one was her sister Mingzhu, and the other was Ru Hua.
“How come you’re here too?” Mingyue asked in surprise.
Mingzhu pointed at Ru Hua and said with a smile, “She wanted to visit Xiao Lian, so I came with her.”
“Have you packed your things? We’re moving this afternoon.”
“I’ve already packed them. I packed them once before; I can leave anytime. Maybe I’ll even move in first!”

Mingyue poked her sister’s forehead lightly and laughed, “You! Wherever there’s excitement, you’re always there.”
“Sis, it’s hot outside! Come inside quickly,” Mingzhu said with a smile, pulling Mingyue inside. At that moment, Mingyue’s gaze fell on Pei Wan’er, who blushed and quickly bowed, saying, “I pay my respects to the queen.”
Mingyue stepped forward, took her hand, and said with a smile, “Don’t be so formal. We’re cousins. Calling you ‘queen’ makes things awkward, doesn’t it?”
Pei Wan’er softly called out, “Cousin!”
“That’s right. We’re moving to a new house this afternoon. You should come with us to take a look.”
Pei Wan’er nodded gently. Mingyue then said to Pei Yu, “Xiaoyu, you should come too!”
“I want to stay with my sister-in-law. I’ll go another time.”
At that moment, Xiao Lian’s voice came from inside, “Is it my sister-in-law? Please let her in quickly.”
Mingyue entered the room. It was dimly lit, with the doors and windows closed, making it very stuffy. Xiao Lian was lying on the bed, looking extremely pale and sweaty. A maid sat beside her, constantly wiping the sweat from her face with a wet towel.
Mingyue sighed inwardly. Giving birth in summer was truly painful, and the postpartum period was a real ordeal. She quickly sat down, took Xiao Lian’s hand, and asked gently, “How do you feel now?”
“Thank you, sister-in-law. I’m fine after giving birth, but the postpartum period is tough. It’s too hot.”
“There’s nothing to do. All women have to go through this. Once you get through it, it’ll be fine.”
Mingzhu muttered beside her, “I don’t want to have children in the future!”
Mingyue glared at her and said, “If you stay quiet, no one will think you’re mute.”
Mingzhu dared not speak anymore. Pei Wan’er said with a smile, “Although the postpartum period is difficult, thinking about my child being born safely makes me willing to endure any hardship.”
Mingyue nodded inwardly. This Pei Wan’er was very articulate. Her sister Mingzhu was a little fool, but Pei Wan’er was much smarter.
At that moment, a maid at the door reported, “Your Highness, Madam Qu would like you to visit her in a moment.”
Madam Qu was Pei Zunqing’s wife. Mingyue knew who she was and said with a smile, “I’ll go in a bit.”
Xiao Lian, knowing she had important matters to attend to, said with a smile, “Sister-in-law, go ahead first!”
“Alright! Rest well. I’ll come back to see you later.”
Mingyue glanced at Pei Wan’er, gave Ruhua a few instructions, and then left.

A few maids led Mingyue there. Pei Zunqing’s residence was next to Pei Kuan’s house. After passing through a long corridor and entering a small gate, one reached the inner part of Pei Zunqing’s estate. At present, Pei Zunqing still held the position of Vice Minister. He had been busy with rebuilding Si Kuai these days, so it was rare to see him at home. Yet he kept thinking about his granddaughter Waner and entrusted this matter to his wife, Lady Qu.

Pei Zunqing was over seventy years old. His first wife had passed away ten years earlier, and his current wife, Lady Qu, was his second wife, in her fifties, a very shrewd and capable woman. Upon hearing that Mingyue had arrived, Lady Qu went out to greet her personally. “I didn’t expect Princess Zhao to come today. I wasn’t prepared, which is a failure in giving a proper welcome!”

Before marrying Li Qingan, Mingyue often visited Pei’s house. She called Lady Qu “auntie” and had always been treated well by her. Mingyue quickly stepped forward, took her arm, and said with a smile, “Being so formal, I almost can’t recognize you anymore, auntie.”

“You are now a princess and can’t act as you used to. We must maintain proper etiquette.”

The two walked into the inner hall and sat down as host and guest. Lady Qu ordered tea to be served, then said with a smile, “I heard you’re moving today. How did you find time to come to Pei’s house?”

“Brother Xiaolian told me early in the morning to visit her and talk to her.”

“I see. Is Prince Zhao very busy these days?” Lady Qu asked tentatively.

“He must be very busy, leaving early and returning late every day. I heard he’s planning to recruit soldiers.”

Mingyue understood what Lady Qu meant and said with a smile, “Though he’s busy, he can’t delay Waner’s marriage. I’ll take care of this promptly. Please rest assured, auntie.”

This was exactly the promise Lady Qu wanted. In fact, when Tang men took concubines, the man’s attitude wasn’t that important; what mattered was the attitude of the legitimate wife. Although it was the man who decided whom to marry, it was the legitimate wife who decided whether to allow them into the household. The ceremony for taking a concubine was simple: the new concubine offered a cup of tea to the master wife. If the master wife accepted the tea, she could enter the household; if not, she would have no status and couldn’t enter, leaving the man no choice but to keep her outside.

But if a mid-Tang official did this, he risked losing his position. Emperor Li Longji had issued an edict banning officials from keeping extra wives, meaning they were not allowed to keep mistresses outside. Those who violated this order would be dismissed from office. This was to uphold Tang Dynasty rituals and protect the power of the legitimate wife. This was also why Li Qingan couldn’t marry Pei Waner back then. Since Mingyue was still in Anxi, if Mingyue didn’t agree, Pei Waner wouldn’t be able to enter Li Qingan’s home.

Of course, Mingyue’s agreement was just one aspect; Lady Qu was also concerned about Pei Wan’er’s future status. As the legitimate daughter of the Pei family, it was absolutely impossible for her to become a concubine. However, if she were granted the title of a palace consort, that would be another matter—it would also represent a political investment by the Pei family.

Lady Qu then asked tactfully, “My husband would like to know what status Wan’er will have once she enters the palace.”

Li Qing’an was currently appointing palace officials according to the standards of the crown prince. Aside from the queen, the highest statuses were those of “Liangdi” and “Liangyuan.” If Li Qing’an ascended to the throne, both would become concubines, though “Liangdi” would hold a slightly higher rank—such as Yuanfei or Guifei—while “Liangyuan” could only be titled Huifei, Shufei, Huafei, etc., at a lower rank.

Yet it was this slight difference in rank that the Pei family valued greatly, as it affected their future status. Currently, Li Qing’an already had one “Liangdi,” said to be the niece of Li Linfu and a member of the Jiang family. Thus, there was one vacancy for “Liangdi,” a position the Pei family was determined to secure.

Once Li Qing’an became emperor, Pei Wan’er would be the second-highest-ranking concubine in the palace. If anything happened to Mingyue and Pei Wan’er had a son, she could even ascend to the position of queen. This was the Pei family’s long-term plan.

Mingyue was aware of all this. She understood that Li Qing’an would need strong support from the Pei family once he ascended to the throne, so it was essential to win over the Pei family. As for Pei Wan’er’s status, she had already thought it through.

Mingyue smiled gently and said, “Wan’er’s future status will be that of a Liangdi. I wonder what your thoughts are, aunt?”