Momo Quan left the room, leaving Yuxi alone. After hesitating for a long while, Yuxi finally opened the picture album. By the time she...
Momo Quan left the room, leaving Yuxi alone.
After hesitating for a long while, Yuxi finally opened the picture album. By the time she reached the later pages, her face was as red as the fiery clouds at sunset. She skimmed through the rest of the album, then closed it and stuffed it under her pillow. However, after a moment's thought, she decided this wasn't very appropriate, so she pulled it out again and hid it in the cabinet instead.
Just as she stood up, Yuxi heard a set of firm, ringing footsteps outside.
Seeing Yuxi's flushed face, Yun Qing asked worriedly, "Why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?" After speaking, he touched Yuxi's forehead, found it somewhat hot, and prepared to call a physician to check on her.
Yuxi quickly said, "Don't call the physician, I'm fine." Then, recalling the images in the album, she hastily pushed Yun Qing's hand away as if he had suddenly turned into a flood or a fierce beast1.
Noticing that something was wrong about Yuxi, Yun Qing asked softly, "What's going on?"
Thinking her own behaviour was terribly embarrassing, Yuxi forced herself to appear calm and asked, "Are you hungry? Would you like something for a late-night snack?"
Although Yun Qing was a bit suspicious, he didn't press further. "I just ate with Yuan Ying and the others." Handling military and administrative affairs earlier had been truly exhausting. Now that Yuxi was in charge of the government administration, he finally had some free time.
Yuxi quickly responded, "Then go bathe and rest early." The couple had been extremely busy lately and had no energy for anything else, which was precisely why Momo Quan had become concerned.
Yun Qing didn't suspect anything and said, "It's so late. Don't read any more. Reading at night strains your eyes. Go lie down first."
It was an ordinary remark, but Yuxi misinterpreted it. "Just go take your bath!" she blurted out, utterly unable to face him properly.
Yun Qing bathed quickly, finishing in less than half a quarter. Instead of going straight back to the bedroom, he asked Gancao, "Did Madam run into something today?" He felt that Yuxi had been acting strangely.
Gancao shook her head. "No, there was nothing unusual with Madam when she came back. She even chatted with Momo for quite a while and soaked in a medicinal bath for half an hour."
This didn't put Yun Qing at ease. When he entered the bedroom, he habitually blew out the lamp and got into bed, only for Yuxi to immediately press close to him, making his heart tremble.
Suppressing the heat rising in his chest, Yun Qing asked, "Were they respectful to you today?" By 'they', he meant An Zike, Xiong Nanqi and the others.
Yuxi answered solemnly, "With you around, how would they dare treat me disrespectfully?" In truth, winning these people over couldn't depend solely on Yun Qing. If she lacked ability, they wouldn't submit to her even with his support. But these were things she couldn't say to him—she had to handle them herself.
That night, Yun Qing was very satisfied.
Full of energy, Yun Qing lifted Yuxi into his arms and carried her towards the cleansing room, telling her as he walked, "Wife, now it's my turn to take care of you." Although Yuxi's technique was still a bit inexperienced, which had made it difficult for him to restrain himself earlier, this was a promising start. No one understood her temperament better than he did: gentle on the surface, but proud to the bone. Her behaviour today left Yun Qing feeling indescribably excited.
By the time Yuxi returned to the bedchamber from the cleansing room, half a shichen2 had already passed. She was so exhausted that she didn't have an ounce of strength left, and she fell asleep the moment she touched the bed.
Yun Qing was also very tired. He kissed Yuxi on the forehead and lay down to sleep as well.
Only after Momo Quan heard no more movement in the main bedroom did she turn and go back to her own quarters. The rooms here were nearly twice the size of those in Yucheng, so Momo Quan and Mama Lan shared a room with Liu-er.
When Mama Lan saw Momo Quan come in, she asked, "Have Madam and the General gone to bed?" Mama Lan had a good temperament and got along quite well with Momo Quan.
Momo Quan smiled and replied, "Yes, they have." Judging by what had happened earlier that night, Yuxi had followed her advice, which put Momo Quan at ease.
Mama Lan said, "The Second Young Miss has finished her milk. We should sleep too." Now a little over six months old, Liu-er could finally drink milk directly and no longer needed processed milk.
Naturally, Momo Quan had no objections.
When Yuxi woke up and saw the bright sunshine outside, she asked, "What time is it now?" As soon as she sat up, she felt soreness in her waist and back.
Gancao replied, "It's just past the beginning of the sishi3…"
Hearing the movement, Momo Quan came in and told Yuxi, "The medicinal bath is ready. Madam can soak now."
When Yuxi got off the bed, she realised her legs were weak. Alas, you'd better take it easy from now on; otherwise, your body won't be able to handle it!
Momo Quan supported her as they went into the cleansing room.
Sitting in the wooden tub, Yuxi asked Momo Quan, "Does this medicinal bath have the effect of preventing conception?" If not, she would need to take contraceptive medicine. Although her complexion looked rosy and healthy to others, Yuxi knew her body was not as strong as it had been before her marriage, and that she should not yet have a child.
Momo Quan nodded. "It does." Seeing Yuxi silent, she asked, "Madam, how do you find that booklet?"
Yuxi's face was flushed—she wasn't sure whether it was from embarrassment or the steam. However, she quickly composed herself and asked, "Momo, who drew this?" In fact, Qiu Shi had also given her a similar booklet before her marriage, but it was crude and made little impression on her. Momo Quan's copy, however, was exquisitely drawn — so vivid that it seemed to come to life.
Momo Quan avoided the question. "I only have this one copy—no second. But with this one alone, it's more than enough for you to use for a lifetime." As for who drew it or where it came from, she had no intention of saying.
Yuxi pretended to cough. "Momo, let's drop this subject here!" She really didn't want to see Momo Quan's serious face while discussing such an unserious subject. The contrast felt far too strange.
At breakfast, Yuxi ate a lot, about fifty per cent more than usual.
After Yuxi finished breakfast, Momo Quan informed her, "The General is in the front hall discussing matters with An Zike and the others. Madam, you may rest today and don't need to go to the front courtyard." With Yun Qing handling affairs ahead, there was no need to worry about delays.
Yuxi was sitting before the dressing mirror, and looking at her reflection, she asked, "Do you think I can handle matters looking like this?" The woman in the mirror still had a face full of lingering spring charm. How would the officials ever take her seriously if she appeared before them in such a state?
Momo Quan fell silent.
Since she finally had some free time, Yuxi decided to spend it with Liu-er. As for Zaozao, she had already been carried off to the front courtyard to be with Huo Changqing.
Once the food had been laid out, Yun Qing came over.
When Yuxi noticed Yun Qing's intense gaze, she was reminded of last night and couldn't help but lower her head. She wondered what wrong medicine she had taken the previous day that had made her actually do something like that.
Yun Qing found Yuxi's shy demeanour especially charming. He picked up a piece of mushroom and placed it in her bowl, smiling as he said, "Eat more—you're too thin." In truth, what he really wanted to say was that her stamina was too poor. He hadn't even used full strength last night, and she had already fainted. Clearly, he needed to make her eat more so she could build up her strength.
Yuxi wasn't foolish; of course, she could hear the hidden meaning in Yun Qing's words. She immediately shot him a glare and reminded sternly, "One should not speak while eating, nor talk while in bed…"
Yuxi had the habit of taking a nap at noon, though Yun Qing didn't. Seeing him climb onto the bed as well, she sensed trouble. "There are so many matters waiting for you outside—go handle them!"
Yun Qing wrapped an arm around Yuxi's waist, lifting her up as he smiled and said, "Dajun can handle those things!" Since Yuxi was unusually receptive, he, of course, wanted to seize the opportunity.
Yuxi's face drained of colour. "What are you doing?" Hopefully, he wasn't thinking what she feared.
Yun Qing beamed and replied, "Do what I want to do." They had been married for over three years and had never done that during the daytime before—today might be the day to break that precedent.
Yuxi said coldly, "I'll sleep on the bed, and you take the soft couch; or I'll take the couch, and you sleep on the bed." She absolutely would not do such a thing in broad daylight—how would she face anyone afterwards?
Seeing her attitude, Yun Qing knew his hopes were dashed. He forced down the heat in his chest. "I'm not going to bother you. I just want to rest. I haven't had a moment's break since last night."
Yuxi replied solemnly, "I trust you—I hope you won't eat on your own word4."
Yun Qing couldn't help but laugh wryly, finding her seriousness rather amusing. "Don't worry—I keep my word." Besides, there was nothing he could do if Yuxi wasn't willing.
#Appendix: Side Story of Concubine Jia (Part I)
Concubine Jia was in the room soothing Lil Boy Hua when Shuiping tiptoed in and whispered in a mosquito-like voice, "Madam, Old Madam sent word saying she has no household money left." The 'Old Madam' that Shuiping was referring to was Concubine Jia's birth mother, Tang Shi.
Concubine Jia opened the money box, took out some broken silver pieces, placed them in a pouch, and handed it to Shuiping. "Take this to her." Although she had all the food, clothing and other necessities she needed at the Duke's residence, her personal allowance was limited. Since she occasionally needed to support her mother, her finances were often tight.
Shuiping felt it was too much. "Madam, isn't this a bit too generous? Madam, you should give less. When the Young Master grows up, he'll have expenses too."
Concubine Jia replied, "I have no worries about food or clothing here, so giving Mom a bit more will at least make their days much easier." After she married Han Jianming, people from her clan heard the news and suggested that Tang Shi adopt a child from within the clan. Tang Shi was afraid she would have no one to rely on in her old age, so she naturally agreed. However, it was Concubine Jia who chose the child. Rather than choosing a very young child who wouldn't understand anything, as her mother and some clan members had expected, she picked a twelve-year-old boy who already knew right from wrong and had lost his mother. Although this sparked a quarrel between the mother and daughter, Concubine Jia refused to give in even an inch.
Concubine Jia had her own reasons for choosing such a boy. Her mother was incapable of managing affairs; otherwise, she would not have been unable to protect her father's inheritance back then, and greedy clan members would not have almost embezzled her dowry. If they had chosen a three- or four-year-old child, who knew if he could even be raised safely? Even if he could, it would take more than ten years before he could support the household.
Shuiping felt sorry for Concubine Jia. "When you first married into the household, the Lord gave you two thousand taels of silver, and you turned it all into shops and farmland. Their income is enough to cover the Old Madam and the young master's daily expenses." Han Jianming had purchased those properties at Concubine Jia's request. The shops and land brought in at least a hundred taels a year, and with careful planning, this amount would be more than enough to cover the Old Madam and the young master's expenses. Yet the Old Madam still came to Concubine Jia for money every few days. Shuiping felt genuinely wronged on Concubine Jia's behalf.
Concubine Jia smiled bitterly. "Mom was probably frightened by how hard things used to be, so she wants to save as much silver as possible to have something to rely on." For two years, she and her daughter had survived by washing other people's clothes. Even that wasn't enough to keep them fed, and they only avoided starvation because her mother had pawned her last remaining piece of jewellery. By the time the savings were gone, Concubine Jia had reached marriageable age. However, her mother still insisted that, since Concubine Jia had once been an official's daughter, she would not allow her to marry an ordinary street vendor.
In those days, marriages were decided by 'a parents' order and a matchmaker's words', so no matter how capable she was, Concubine Jia could not determine her own marriage. Besides, she was only sixteen then—still young, with no need to rush. Who could have expected that the Lord would take a liking to her in the end? She did not want to marry into the Duke's household; even though she was the mistress of the second branch, she would still only be a concubine. But on this matter, her mother refused to budge, even saying that she would kill herself if Concubine Jia didn't marry him. With no other choice, she had to marry him in the end.
Author's note:
By June Haoxue
This chapter originally contained intimate scenes between the husband and wife. However, due to strict censorship requirements, June did not know how to revise them, so June deleted that section and added this extra scene instead. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Footnotes Full List
- "洪水猛兽 (hóng shuǐ měng shòu)" — literally 'floods and ferocious beasts'.→ A metaphor for something one wants to avoid at all costs.
- 时辰 shíchen: two hours
- 巳时 sìshí: 9–10 a.m.
- 食言 (shí yán) – literally "to eat one's words," meaning to break one's promise.
きつね's Musing
I feel bad for Concubine Jia.
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