“Yun Chunfeng!”
Jiang Xingyan sat bolt upright from her bed, grinding her teeth.
She wished she could rush over and give him a good couple of punches right now.
The ‘sheng’ she had meant was clearly the one for anger!
Forget it. Trying to explain would only make things worse.
She huffed and puffed as she got up and got ready.
“Mommy, Mommy.”
Qiu Yan walked out from the inner room, holding Little Ya.
With Huo Ci’s body, it wasn’t convenient to squeeze in with Chun Xia Qiu Dong anymore. Jiang Xingyan mostly slept on the camp cot in the outer room. Only when Little Ya was emotionally unstable and needed her company would she sleep in the inner room.
She took Little Ya, nuzzling her face with a heart full of tenderness.
Suddenly, she remembered Brother Yun’s nonsense from earlier, and her face flushed red all over again.
Little Ya reached out and touched her mother’s face. “Mommy is so hot.”
Jiang Xingyan felt a pang of guilt and quickly shifted her attention. “Does Little Ya want to go to court with Mommy today?”
Since her return from Qingzhou, Little Ya had grown accustomed to brief separations from her mother and no longer clung to her every moment. Indeed, during the last couple of court sessions, she hadn’t cried or insisted on following.
“No, Little Ya won’t. Mommy and Uncle go. Little Ya will wait for Mommy nicely.”
Jiang Xingyan was both surprised and delighted.
Ever since leaving the inner quarters of the General’s residence, her Little Ya was truly growing up well.
She reached out to stroke Little Ya’s head and planted a kiss on her rounder, chubbier cheek.
“Little Ya is so good.”
Little Ya hugged her mother, her little face serious. “Little Ya wants to catch the Strange Auntie.”
Jiang Xingyan hadn’t caught on yet, but Qiu Yan beside her burst out laughing.
“Miss, yesterday afternoon, that female knight-errant Yu Jiaojiao specially sent a message saying she absolutely wouldn’t rely on her senior brother’s influence to get into the Brocade Guard Battalion. She wants to use her own skills to earn everyone’s genuine respect. Little Ya, for some reason, said right to Yu Jiaojiao’s face that she wanted to catch the Strange Auntie. So now, the two living treasures, one big and one small, are locked in a rivalry.”
“Pfft!”
Seeing Little Ya clench her tiny fists, looking absolutely determined, Jiang Xingyan couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright! As long as you can catch the Strange Auntie, Mommy will reward Little Ya with the tastiest candied fruits from the shop.”
After bidding farewell to Little Ya and stepping out of the tent, Jiang Xingyan found Xin Zhui and Yun Chunfeng both waiting outside.
Sensing Yun Chunfeng’s lingering, infatuated gaze, she coughed uncomfortably, avoiding his eyes, and instructed Xin Zhui to strengthen patrols around the camp.
“In the coming days, many people from the martial world are sure to come seeking me out. While most will be righteous and passionate knights, we must guard against some petty villains mixing in with ill intentions. Make sure all soldiers remain vigilant. No matter how familiar they seem, check their identity tokens thoroughly. Only grant entry after confirming everything is in order.”
“As you command!”
Although Xin Zhui was still disappointed about failing to have that light-footwork contest with A’Xing last night, he understood that in matters of importance, personal feelings had to be set aside first.
Yun Chunfeng followed closely behind Jiang Xingyan, step by step, the smile on his lips more evident than ever before.
Jiang Xingyan walked ahead with her head down. Stuck with Huo Ci’s face, there was really nothing she could do to Brother Yun right now.
Just as they left the military camp, Wang Qi came up to meet them. “General, early this morning, around the hour of Mao, His Highness the Eldest Prince sent someone to fetch your cousin. It seemed… the parting was quite unpleasant.”
Jiang Xingyan paused. “Oh? Explain in detail.”
“As you command!”
——-
Following Jiang Xingyan’s instructions, Wang Qi had conscientiously dressed up Li Yishu.
A sea-sky pink* ruqun skirt woven with gold-thread mandarin ducks dancing amidst cloud brocade patterns, paired with a wisteria-purple, short ru jacket adorned with auspicious ruyi cloud brocade patterns, feet clad in crescent satin shoes embroidered with peonies in two-colored gold thread. Just a single fuguangjin shawl alone ensured no one would look down on her.
[Translator’s note: ‘海天霞’ (hǎi tiān xiá) is a historical Chinese color name, a pale pinkish-orange reminiscent of sunset clouds over sea and sky.]
Her hair was styled in a ‘Startled Swan’ chignon, with gilded hairpins adorned with ruby pendants on both sides, showcasing utmost extravagance. Floral ornaments and earrings were matched perfectly. A thumb-sized pearl was pasted on her forehead, and a beaded curtain with golden tassels was worn over her face, adding a touch of mystery to Li Yishu’s ethereal beauty.
Wang Qi silently marveled. No wonder she could captivate His Highness the Eldest Prince. You definitely need more than a little charm for that.
Finally, a peach blossom flower goddess jadeite beaded veil hat was gently placed over her head. A noble young lady eagerly awaiting marriage appeared vividly before him.
Only, she was rushing headlong to become a concubine.
Li Yishu had never worn such fine clothes before.
Cousin actually spared so much for her dowry… it seems he still has feelings for her after all. It must be that merchant’s daughter causing trouble in between. Otherwise, she and her cousin, a match made in heaven, would have long since become a loving couple, she the mistress of the General’s residence. Where would the need to become a concubine come from?
Her thoughts swirled a hundred times, holding not a shred of the pre-wedding anxiety or reluctance, only excitement and anticipation.
It’s fine, she would soon be among the elite! When that time came, she would make everyone who had ever wronged her kneel before her and kowtow. She could let her cousin off the hook, considering these luxurious clothes.
Wang Qi hailed a few sedan chair carriers and sent Li Yishu, seated inside, to the nearest ‘Welcome Inn,’ to the Heavenly Number One room.
He specifically changed the two maidservants, Taohong and Liulü, who followed Li Yishu, into new outfits as well, grooming and dressing them up.
“Ladies, from now on, I’ll have to trouble you both to take good care of our young cousin lady.”
He took out two silver ingots and slipped them to the still-dazed Taohong and Liulü.
They had thought their lives were over, never expecting such a turnaround, a glimpse of light after darkness. Overjoyed, they accepted the silver immediately, promising profusely.
After delivering all the necessary items to the inn, Wang Qi had just parked the carriage in front of the residence gates when the same servant who had brought Li Yishu back that day hurried up with a small sedan chair.
Unlike his overbearing manner that day, this servant now bowed and scraped repeatedly to Wang Qi, his words full of flattery.
“If it isn’t Steward Wang of the Great General’s residence! My humble apologies, my humble apologies. This lowly one is Zhang Yuan, paying my respects to you.”
Wang Qi inwardly scoffed but maintained a congenial and respectful expression. “I wouldn’t dare claim such a title. You are the favored one in front of His Highness. Are you here today to receive the honored concubine into the household?”
Thinking of His Highness’s ‘lioness’ of a wife, Zhang Yuan’s face stiffened for an instant. When she learned this concubine was a must-have, she nearly devoured even him, the one handling the affair.
Honored concubine? Looking at the days to come, she might not even be as good as a lowly concubine.
He piled on the smiles, evading. “His Highness is truly deeply in love with Sister Shu, urging us to come fetch her quickly. Steward Wang, please be accommodating and invite Sister Shu out promptly.”
Wang Qi feigned surprise. “Did the General not inform His Highness? Although the young cousin lady is the niece of the late Madame Huo, she is beyond the five degrees of mourning kinship and cannot truly be considered a member of the Great General’s residence. If His Highness wishes to receive her, he must go to the Welcome Inn, Heavenly Number One room, to do so. Shall this lowly one guide you there?”
Zhang Yuan was dumbfounded.
His Highness had explicitly instructed that she must be received from the Great General’s residence with great fanfare. Otherwise, taking this concubine would be for nothing, and they’d all be dead when they returned!
Wiping cold sweat from his brow, he forced a smile. “Now, look at what you’re saying. General Huo values loyalty and sentiment—how could he let his own cousin get married from an inn?”
Wang Qi looked shocked. “What! Could it be that His Highness and my General didn’t reach an agreement? Then perhaps Steward Zhang should return and report first. This lowly one will also rush to the military camp to report to the General overnight. It might still be possible to receive the young cousin lady after the General and His Highness have properly discussed the matter.”
Zhang Yuan felt his back go cold with sweat.
He never imagined that after all his arrogance and high-handedness, he would be thwarted by a mere carriage driver.
He swallowed hard, still wanting to struggle. “Head Steward Wang, please do us a favor. We’re all just doing our jobs—”
“Steward Zhang is right. Those doing their jobs should just do them well. Matters of our masters—how could they be for us to decide?”
Zhang Yuan saw that the Mao hour was almost over. His Highness had said to bring Sister Shu back before the morning court session.
Delays risk changes. Huo Ci drank last night; he might have been spouting nonsense. If he causes a scene in court, at least there’s a way to defuse it.
Zhang Yuan thought it over, gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and beckoned the sedan chair carriers towards the Welcome Inn.
He glared back fiercely at Wang Qi.
Kid, playing tai chi with me, eh? Just you wait!
Wang Qi smiled placidly: Got the guts to do something now?
Gnashing his teeth, Zhang Yuan turned and hurried off, soon disappearing into the night.
The Welcome Inn wasn’t far, less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Fuming, he kicked the door open and harshly urged the waiter, “Quickly! Go tell the person in the Heavenly Number One room to come down! If you dare delay even a moment, I’ll have your life!”
Taohong heard Zhang Yuan’s voice and was overjoyed. “Sister Shu, get ready quickly! Brother Zhang is here.”
Li Yishu was filled with delight, but what she got was the waiter telling her to come down herself.
“What! Zhang Yuan… he’s not coming to carry me down on his back?”
Taohong and Liulü exchanged a look, seeing utter disbelief in each other’s eyes.
Please, you’re the one rushing to become His Highness’s concubine. What pipe dream are you having!
They had to support her on either side and help her downstairs. Fortunately, there wasn’t much to carry, and they soon stood before Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan waved impatiently. “Stuff her in. It’s almost the end of Mao. Hurry back to the palace.”
Li Yishu felt the world spin, and she was tossed into the sedan chair.
This small sedan was narrow and cramped, only allowing one person to sit upright with formal posture. She barely managed to sit properly when half of her ‘Startled Swan’ chignon had already collapsed.
“Zhang Yuan, how dare you disrespect me? Just wait until I report to His Highness and have your head chopped off!”
Zhang Yuan sneered. “Fine. Let’s see who gets to see His Highness more often—you or me.”
Li Yishu was choked speechless.
She couldn’t believe a lowly servant dared speak to her like that. So how was this any different from her days in the General’s residence?
It must be the laziness of the underlings, treating her with such disrespect. When the Eldest Prince is intimate with her, she’ll definitely make him pay!
Holding her breath, she sat silently in the sedan, feeling like they traveled a great distance. Twisting and turning, she had no idea where they had gone. She only heard Zhang Yuan softly give a passphrase, after which the steps of the two carriers noticeably lightened.
She had heard palace rules were strict. Probably entering the palace now?
Li Yishu’s heart pounded wildly. She wanted to lift the curtain and look, but found her hands and feet had gone weak at some point.
Not long after, the sedan came to a steady stop.
Zhang Yuan’s respectful greeting sounded in front of the sedan. “The concubine, née Li, has been received. Paying respects to the Princess Consort!”
The sedan tilted. Before Li Yishu was ready, she was yanked out from inside. With the veil hat on, she couldn’t see anything clearly. Before her heart could settle back into place, the back of her knees were kicked hard.
She gasped in pain, both knees hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Excruciating pain instantly spread. Just as she wanted to cry out, someone covered her mouth through the veil fabric.
“Take it off. Let this Consort see what kind of vixen dares to sneak out from home at night to climb into a married man’s bed!”
Swoosh!
The veil hat was abruptly and roughly torn off, causing the hairpins and ornaments in her hair to clatter to the ground.
Li Yishu looked up and saw a dignified, noble woman seated in a grand armchair before her. Must be the Eldest Princess Consort. She wore gilded seven-treasure nail guards and was scrutinizing her with an amused expression. Her entire bearing was simply incomparable to that of a destitute girl like her. Even if she was as radiant as peach and plum blossoms, before her, she instantly seemed petty and unbearably vulgar.
For the first time, Li Yishu felt the terror of being a fish on the chopping block, at others’ mercy.
She was completely stunned when a matron beside her kicked her.
“How insolent! Hurry and pay your respects to the Eldest Princess Consort!”
Li Yishu fell heavily to the side, her heart sinking to the depths.
The Eldest Princess Consort waved a hand. “Spare me. I’d find it dirty anyway. Just some common, gaudy powder, yet His Highness pleaded with me so earnestly to take her in.” She rose gracefully, shook out her handkerchief, and lightly covered her nose and mouth. “Oh, right. I heard she’s also the daughter of a disgraced official. Matron Rong, teach her the palace rules. We mustn’t let people laugh at us anymore.”
The Eldest Princess Consort glided away. Two matrons dragged Li Yishu off.
“Vixen-spawned lowborn wretch!”
“Daring to covet His Highness, let’s see how I deal with you!”
“Daughter of a criminal who deserves execution of the entire clan—you think you’re worthy?”
In her extreme terror, Li Yishu suddenly felt these words sounded all too familiar.
Weren’t these… the exact insults and humiliations she and her aunt used to hurl at Jiang Xingyan?
How had they all come back to haunt her now?