Chapter 124: Appointment and Reconciliation

It was warm inside the mandarin duck tent, and the rolling bedding looked like red waves.

After half an hour, Song Yunhe, who had finished venting his anger, picked up a piece of clothing and put it on. He walked straight to the table and sat down. Without even looking at Dong Ning on the bed, he simply said, "Put on your clothes and get out."

Dong Ning sat on the bed, staring at Song Yunhe's cold back in disbelief. She had thought that after tonight, she would at least be able to get the title of a concubine... but she hadn't expected him to actually give her nothing.

"Aren't you leaving yet?" Song Yunhe didn't even turn his head, his voice cold. "Didn't you always say you didn't want a formal relationship?"

Dong Ning shuddered and hurriedly grabbed her scattered clothes and put them on. Her fingers were shaking, and she couldn't tie the belt properly several times.

"Remember," Song Yunhe said coldly as he scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth, "If even a word of what happened tonight gets out..."

"I understand! I understand!" Dong Ning knelt down with her forehead on the ground, "I will never tell anyone..."

Song Yunhe waved his hand, and Dong Ning stumbled out. The moment the door closed, the porcelain spoon in his hand slammed into the bowl with a clang.

The porridge was at just the right temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. However, Song Yunhe did not enjoy the meal. After calming down from his indulgence, he realized he had been too impulsive. The Ministry of Personnel was about to appoint him an official, so now was not the time to quarrel with Xi Qingtong.

At least... at least until his official position is settled and his career is on the right track.

But thinking that he would still be constrained for a while, Song Yunhe chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Heh..." He lowered his head and continued to stir the sticky porridge, swallowing mouthful after mouthful. The expression on his face grew increasingly uglier, until it became even a bit ferocious.

Fortunately, the Song family didn't have many servants, so Dong Ning, taking advantage of the cover of night, trotted back to the row house in the back garden. After entering the house, she immediately closed the door behind her, not even bothering to turn on the light. She hurriedly took off her clothes and wiped herself with the cold water in the copper basin.

As she was wiping, she heard a creaking sound and the door was pushed open. Dong Ning's heart jumped and she almost knocked over the basin.

"Sister Dong Ning? Why don't you light the lamp?" It was Cui'er, the little maid who lived in the same room, and there was confusion in her voice.

Dong Ning hurriedly pulled her clothes over her body, her heart beating like a drum: "I... I wanted to save some lamp oil."

"We still have most of this month's lamp oil allotment left, so why save so much?" Cui'er said as she fumbled for the tinder on the table. "Let me light it. It's so dark, what if it gets bumped..."

"I told you not to!" Dong Ning suddenly shouted, with a hint of anxiety in her tone.

Cui'er was so frightened by her sudden scolding that she shuddered and almost dropped the fire starter in her hand.

Realizing that her attitude was inappropriate, Dong Ning suppressed her panic and softened her tone: "If you need anything, just get it in the dark. Why bother with a lamp? I'll wipe it right away."

Seeing that Dong Ning was determined not to light the lamp, Cui Er had no choice but to grope in the dark to get the clothes she had left on the bed. The room was small, and Cui Er inevitably passed behind Dong Ning. Suddenly, her nose moved, and she smelled an indescribable smell -

I seem to have smelled it somewhere, but I can't remember where.

In the end, Cui'er put the matter behind her and went out with her clothes.

A few days later, the Ministry of Personnel announced the positions of this year's Jinshi scholars, and the list immediately attracted considerable attention. The top scorer, Xu Huaiyu, was appointed a Writer in the Secretariat, an eighth-rank official, responsible for compiling national history. He also entered the Hanlin Academy as a Zhizhigao (Edicts), responsible for drafting imperial edicts.

It was normal for the runner-up to be sent out to serve as a Tongpan. Hanlin was certainly noble, but if one started out as an outer official, future promotions would be much faster.

But what about the third place winner Song Yunhe?

He was appointed as the Proofreader of the Secretariat, an eighth-rank official, in charge of classics. If that were all, it would be normal, but how did he also enter the Hanlin Academy as the Director of Imperial Edicts, in charge of drafting imperial edicts?

When the imperial edict was issued, the capital was in uproar, but soon Song Yunhe's background was revealed by someone with ulterior motives.

As the son-in-law of the governor of Jingzhou, with the support of the Xi family, it is no wonder that he was able to get this position.

But the wise saw a deeper meaning: Who didn't know that Xi Jianan had a daughter who was the deposed Crown Prince's concubine? And now His Majesty was allowing Song Yunhe to enjoy the same treatment as the top scholar. Was it because Xi Jianan still held His Majesty's favor, or was it to depose the Crown Prince?

Suddenly, undercurrents surged in the court again.

On the way back home, Song Yunhe made a special trip to the Treasure Pavilion and bought the most fashionable gold hairpin to take back.

He and Qingtong had been at odds for a few days, but his appointment as Imperial Imperial Decree Writer today was a blessing from the Xi family. Seeing that his father-in-law still enjoyed the emperor's favor, he naturally sought a way to smooth things over.

The brocade box in Song Yunhe's hand felt heavy as he entered the mansion. He took a deep breath and walked towards the main courtyard.

"Where is the lady?" he asked softly to the maid in the corridor.

"My dear, the lady is in the room."

Seeing the tightly closed door, Song Yunhe didn't dare to enter rashly, so he asked Jinzhu to go in and ask on his behalf. The movement outside had already been known to the people inside.

Xi Qingtong immediately stood up and walked outside to start dancing—this was specially prepared for Song Yunhe. They had been at odds for a few days, and today was the day of the official appointment. If she took the initiative to show some goodwill, would Song Yunhe still give her the cold shoulder?

Song Yunhe pushed the door open and walked in. The scene before him made him pause—

Xi Qingtong, dressed in a light gauze dance gown, was dancing gracefully in the hall. The door he pushed open cast a ray of light on her, making her the brightest presence in the dim room.

The girl danced gracefully, her skirt fluttering as she spun, the silver bells at her waist tinkling with each step. Amidst the clear sounds, she floated before him, her lotus-like steps cascading down her back, her wide sleeves flowing like flowing clouds, and her face, as rosy as a spring morning, left Song Yunhe frozen in place.

This dance reminded him again why Xi Qingtong was a famous girl in the capital: she was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she was also very beautiful, making her the dream goddess of countless men.

The goddess now stopped before him, panting slightly as she looked at him: "I have practiced this dance for a long time... I have been waiting to perform it for you today, to make you smile."

The beauty, the scenery, and the happy occasion instantly melted away most of the previous estrangement. Song Yunhe's heart warmed, and he quickly stepped forward to hug Xi Qingtong, and apologized, "I was confused, and I hope you will forgive me."

He handed over the brocade box and said, "This is a new gold hairpin from the Treasure Pavilion. I hope Madam likes it."

Xi Qingtong opened the brocade box, her eyes flashing with surprise. It was an exquisite golden hairpin, inlaid with huge pearls, very beautiful.

"I'll put it on for you." Song Yunhe said softly. Xi Qingtong nodded shyly, but a hint of contempt flashed in her eyes when she lowered her head.

After the golden hairpin was put into her bun, Xi Qingtong asked what official position Song Yunhe had been appointed. Although she had expected this, she was instantly overwhelmed with smiles when she learned that he was treated the same as the top scholar. The smug look in her eyes reappeared, and she could not help but say angrily, "Humph, my cousin treated me like that before..."

Isn't it all her credit?

She thought that the scolding was harmless, but a dark light flashed in Song Yunhe's eyes. However, he did not show it. He just lowered his head and apologized softly.

Xi Qingtong was very pleased with this attitude. As soon as she was in a good mood, she offered him her red lips. The two of them soon went into the house and made love together. The estrangement between them seemed to disappear at this moment.

But after it was over, the girl on the bed tapped the man's chest and muttered a few words in dissatisfaction.

The man's face froze when he heard the words, then he smiled and explained, "It's because I had a conflict with you two days ago and couldn't sleep all night, so it's inevitable that I'm not in good spirits..."

But as the words came to light, another beautiful face appeared.