33 Husband and wife
◎Don't you want him to sleep tonight?◎
The next day, Wei Ziyan asked Yan Qikuan to go with her to pay her respects to Madam Yan, and informed her that she and her second brother wanted to go to the Shangshu Mansion.
Madam Yan agreed with this very much. While Qi Zheng was away, the two of them went to visit the ailing Second Young Master Wu, which was also a sign of Qi Zheng's goodwill.
What Mrs. Yan didn't expect was that Qikuan was willing to be commanded by his sister-in-law, so she couldn't help but praise him for being "polite" and "sensible".
Yan Qikuan meekly accepted his mother's approval one moment, but the next moment he turned around and his face became tense.
"What your sister-in-law said yesterday about wanting to divorce your elder brother was all just nonsense, right?" Yan Qikuan asked with a straight face.
The more he thought about the teahouse incident, the more he felt something was wrong.
She had finally married Big Brother, so how could she bear to leave him over such a small matter? She had deliberately made up lies to scare him, just so she could send him around like today.
"What difference does it make whether it's true or not?" Wei Ziyan pursed her lips slightly. "Could it be that Second Brother is going to go back on his word?"
"Hmph!" Yan Qikuan angrily flicked his sleeves.
He is a man of his word. Once he has made a promise, he will not go back on his word even if he knows it is a deception.
Never mind! Just consider it as keeping an eye on my sister-in-law for my brother.
Wei Ziyan watched him hold his breath all the way until he entered the Shangshu Mansion, then she smiled slightly at Wu Guanshu. Someone who didn't know better might have thought he had ulterior motives towards the Second Young Lady.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wu Guanshu led them to her brother's chamber. Even before they entered, they could smell the scent of medicine in the air.
Wu Guanshu sent the maid away and walked to the bedside to tell her brother softly, "Second brother, Madam Yan and the others are here."
Wu Guanyi, lying in bed, looked sick and haggard, but the "they" his sister mentioned gave him hope.
At the moment when he thought his sweetheart would appear, he struggled to his feet, and the light in his eyes was like the afterglow of lovesickness.
But when hopes are dashed, all the light disappears in an instant, leaving only a gray and decadent shell.
If Wei Ziyan hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would have found it hard to imagine how someone who used to be so cheerful and carefree could become so haggard and thin, and so distracted, overnight.
"Don't let your spring love compete with flowers for growth, for every inch of lovesickness is an inch of ashes."
She didn't understand it before, but now seeing Wu Guanyi like this, she suddenly understood the sadness in the poem.
Wu Guanshu said that her brother fell ill the day he returned from the engagement ceremony at the Qi family. Being engaged to someone who turned out not to be the one you wanted to marry—this, wasn't, the heartbreak of unrequited love?
But she wanted to marry someone else at the beginning. Why wasn't she as heartbroken and desperate as Wu Guanyi when she received the betrothal gift from Yan Qizhen?
"She...knows?"
A weak breath brought Wei Ziyan back to her senses, and she said "hmm" softly.
"Sister Liu is not able to come visit..." After hesitating for a moment, Wei Ziyan finally made up a white lie. "But Sister asked me to give her regards. I hope you get better soon."
Wu Guanyi raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of bitterness.
"Are you getting better and want to get married?" He slowly turned his face and looked over with lonely eyes.
"Does she know that I'm getting married?"
Wei Ziyan nodded, and the face immediately turned back, facing inward, hiding his expression.
The matter was settled; there was no point in saying more. They looked at each other, then quietly retreated. When they reached the outside, Wu Guanshu couldn't help but wipe her eyes.
Wei Ziyan was about to offer some words of comfort when Yan Qikuan beat her to the punch with some reassuring words. Wu Guanshu stopped crying, sheepishly apologized, and thanked them again for coming to visit her.
She thought the trip was in vain, but unexpectedly, three days later Wei Ziyan received good news from Wu Guanshu: her brother's condition had improved and he would be fully recovered in a week at most.
The letter mentioned that on the evening of the day they left, Wu Guanyi suddenly changed his mind and was willing to take the medicine on time three times a day.
Therefore, Wu Guanshu wrote countless expressions of gratitude in the letter, saying that perhaps her brother had completely given up and let her go.
I hope so...
Wei Ziyan closed the letter, but she did not feel relieved like Miss Wu Er.
She thought of Liu Yuer's illness. Was it really just because of menstruation?
If she were in his shoes and was alone, and suddenly met a man who wanted to treat her well, would she really not be moved at all?
At one point, Wei Ziyan wrote two letters in a row.
One letter was to Miss Wu Er, and one was to Sister Liu. After finishing writing, he saw Ping'er and suddenly remembered looking for the embroiderer, so he wrote another letter to his mother.
Three letters were sent out simultaneously, and Sister Liu's reply reached her first. Liu Yu'er reassured her that she was fine and would be able to go to the mountains to escape the summer heat soon.
Later, Wei Ziyan also received a reply from her mother, saying that she had contacted the embroidery lady and was available at any time. So Wei Ziyan made an appointment one day, brought Ping'er, and went to the embroidery workshop with her mother.
It is said that the embroiderers here have excellent craftsmanship and have created countless embroidery works for dignitaries. The two pairs of bridal shoes she wore when she got married were made here.
While the embroiderer was repairing the fan, Wei Ziyan accompanied her mother to observe everywhere in the workshop.
Not to mention, the clothes, handkerchiefs, screens, embroidered shoes... even the men's boots and tassels displayed in the inner room are all exquisitely made and of high quality.
Wei Ziyan had never seen men's boots with embroidery before. They were exquisite yet not flashy, so she couldn't help but stop and take a few more glances.
"Do you want to make a pair for Qi Zheng?" Mrs. Wei asked in a low voice.
"ah?"
"Ah, what? Do you understand what surprise means?" Madam Wei tapped her forehead with her finger, wishing she could understand it.
"Qi Zheng has been away from home for quite some time. When he comes back and sees the gift you prepared, he'll know you've been thinking of him, and he'll be very happy."
I......
Wei Ziyan subconsciously wanted to deny it and said "I don't miss you", but when the words came to her lips, she swallowed them back guiltily.
There are times when I think of something out of nowhere...
But it’s not really about missing someone, right?
She was trying to clarify things on her own when Mrs. Wei turned around and asked someone to confirm the size and style.
"Size?" Wei Ziyan was asked about the custom size and shook her head blankly. "I don't know."
Madam Wei insisted, "Let's decide on the style first. Then send someone over a pair of old shoes so I can make them based on the size."
After that, he forced her to choose a style, place an order and pay a deposit.
Making shoes for Yan Qizheng was something only a wife would do. What if Yan Qizheng misunderstood her and seduced her, a woman who was not worthy of the title?
Wei Ziyan hesitated for a long time, and when she returned, she didn't ask anyone to deliver the shoes, just pretending that nothing had happened.
Fortunately, Ping'er's fan was repaired to her satisfaction, so her trip was not in vain in such hot weather.
At the end of June, the jujube trees in the yard began to bear fruit.
The wind blew, and the withered petals flew everywhere. Wei Ziyan stood under the tree, spreading her hands to catch two petals. Her mind suddenly flashed back to the time when the jujube flowers first bloomed and she had just married into the family.
It’s only been two months, and the flowers have faded and fallen, but it feels like an eternity has passed...
Qiu Luo, who was standing aside, muttered quietly: "My son-in-law has been gone for so long and hasn't sent a single letter home. He's not afraid that the young lady will miss him. At least he should let her know that he's safe and when he'll be back..."
Wei Ziyan's eyes flickered, and she seemed to have a thousand words in her mind, but when they came to her lips, only silent melancholy remained...
The seventh day of the seventh month arrived, the day of Wu Guanyi's wedding. The Shangshu Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and traffic was constantly flowing outside the gate, creating a festive and lively atmosphere.
After getting off the carriage, Wei Ziyan and Madam Yan were taken to the back hall and sat together with the ladies from various mansions.
Before the banquet began, the ladies gathered together to chat. Wei Ziyan, young as she was, couldn't join in the conversation, so she sat quietly, eating melon seeds to pass the time.
Some people at the table were also quietly discussing the newlyweds.
Wei Ziyan listened to them talk about the second daughter of the Qi family, and their words seemed to suggest that she was not worthy of the second young master Wu. She couldn't help but think, what a terrible thing it is to be too well-matched! After all, the master of the Qi family was still a fifth-rank official. If the bride was Sister Liu, how much would they look down on her?
As they chatted about the Second Miss Qi, the topic shifted to the eldest Miss Qi. Since she had already climbed up the social ladder and was now the Crown Prince Zhao Xun, she lowered her voice, fearing that too many people would hear.
Someone sighed, "The Qi family is incredibly lucky! They only have two daughters, and both married into wealthy families. Others are truly envious."
Someone else retorted with a hint of sourness, "Prince Zhaoxun isn't the Crown Princess, so how could she be so special? And I heard she wasn't favored by the Crown Prince either. With so many women following the Crown Prince, what's there to envy about marrying into his family and living alone?"
Wei Ziyan ate melon seeds while listening to the gossip. Not long after, Master Wei and his wife arrived. Master Wei went to the front hall to look for his in-law, Yan Sunwei, while his wife came to the back hall and sat down next to his wife Yan and their daughter.
Before they had even spoken a few words, several ladies keen on matchmaking were already asking each other about the young ladies waiting to be married.
Although the Hu Zhou dynasty was open-minded and did not restrict unmarried women from traveling, they were not allowed to attend wedding banquets. Therefore, the ladies loved to ask around during the banquets to find out which young men and women were planning to marry.
Madam Wei naturally thought of the fourteen-year-old Yan Qizhu from the Yan family, and she quietly asked Madam Yan why she had already passed the age for marriage but there was no movement.
"Her mother won't let her!" Madam Yan explained, "Aunt Hui once had a dream in which the Bodhisattva told her that her daughter would not meet her true love until she was fifteen."
As she spoke, Madam Yan shook her head, as if she also found it unbelievable.
"Aunt Hui also said that she had just gone to a temple to pray for marriage on the day she had the dream, so she believed it completely and insisted on not getting married before she turned fifteen."
After hearing these words, Madam Wei opened her mouth in surprise, unable to comment. At that moment, a lady came to ask Madam Yan about the second young master, and they started chatting back and forth.
Seeing that the lady was talking excitedly, Wei Ziyan glanced at her mother, who, like her, just pricked up her ears and listened without saying a word.
Some time later, the front hall suddenly became bustling with activity, as if something had happened. The noise spread to the back. The servant who had gone to inquire quickly returned, excitedly announcing, "It's the Crown Prince who's here to congratulate us!"
Oh my! Immediately, several people murmured: "As expected of the Shangshu Lord, even the Crown Prince attended the Second Young Master's wedding, giving the Wu family enough face."
Wei Ziyan snorted in her heart.
The second son of the Shangshu Lord is getting married to the Crown Prince. Who is he coming here to do favor for?
Just as the noise was going on, a maid quietly came to Wei Ziyan and whispered something. She greeted the two ladies, then left the hall with the maid and saw Wu Guanshu waiting for her.
The place was filled with ladies from various families. Wu Guanshu was afraid that she would be bored, so she took her to the inner courtyard to kill time. Wei Ziyan was more than happy to do so, so she walked with her to Wu Guanshu's courtyard.
There were tables and mats in the yard, and on the tables were offerings such as tea, wine, fruits, flowers, and five seeds (longan, red dates, hazelnuts, peanuts, and melon seeds).
Legend has it that the seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the day when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet. According to folk tradition, on this night the girls will worship the Weaver Girl under the moonlight and silently pray for their wishes.
"Do you want to say hello?" Wu Guanshu invited sincerely.
At this time last year, Wei Ziyan had also held a similar ceremony in her own Misty Rain Pavilion, praying for that person to return. However, a year later, her wish had not been fulfilled.
Often, the idea that "sincerity brings answers" is just a self-deception. Praying is simply a way to find hope. Now that she's married, whether that wish comes true or not is no longer important.
"No need," Wei Ziyan smiled faintly, "I don't have any wishes to make."
Wu Guanshu said sincerely: "You can wish your husband to return home safely soon!"
Husband...
Wei Ziyan couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Mrs. Yan went to the temple to pray for her son's safety, and she also went to worship the Bodhisattva. However, in front of the Buddha, she could only speak his name, and did not dare to pretend to be "husband" and deceive the Buddha...
When they returned, the banquet had already begun. Wei Ziyan ate for a while, then heard that the newlyweds had come out to pay their respects, so she followed the other ladies to watch the fun.
After recovering from his illness, Wu Guanyi was covered in red from head to toe, but the paleness of his face could not be concealed. However, he kept smiling at the guests, his eyes moving around, and when they fell on her, he froze for a moment.
Just with this one glance, Wei Ziyan seemed to see the sadness in his eyes.
Worship heaven and earth, and worship your parents.
The two red figures kneeling side by side on the ground reminded Wei Ziyan of her past self.
In the loud "husband and wife bow to each other", the two people bowed to each other, but they had no intention of becoming husband and wife.
True and false, as time went on, she, who was abandoned by her husband in the eyes of outsiders, seemed to be becoming a real "abandoned wife"...
Wei Ziyan was overwhelmed with emotion as she thought about the past. She returned to her seat and drank two more cups without noticing. Just as she was feeling dizzy and her temples were throbbing, Madam Yan's joyful voice rang out in her ears.
"Zi Yan, Qi Zheng is here! Qi Zheng is back!"
Just like the lonely and withered petals on the branches in the courtyard, Wei Ziyan couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat, as if she had finally found a place to stay after so many days of wandering and helplessness.
How did he...
Just came back now...
Yan Qi was exhausted from the journey. When he got home and heard about the happy event of the Wu and Qi families, he hurriedly changed his clothes and rushed to the Wu Mansion to offer congratulations.
The groom was entertaining guests when he suddenly saw his friend, who had arrived late. Yan Qizheng approached, and Wu Guanyi, already drunk, raised his glass and hooked it around his shoulder.
Although he couldn't make out his tongue-tied mumbled words, he knew he was in a very bad mood. It was inappropriate to say much in this situation. Yan Qizheng patted him on the back. Wu Guanyi smiled knowingly and turned to greet other guests.
The banquet was drawing to a close, and both his father and father-in-law were about to leave. Upon hearing that the young mistress had drunk too much in the back, Yan Qizheng asked his second brother to arrange a carriage back home, and he went straight to the back hall to pick her up.
The hall was packed with people. At a glance, he saw his mother and mother-in-law looking out—and the young lady with her chin in her hand and a dazed look in her eyes.
I didn't know where she was looking. When I got closer, I realized she was in a daze and wasn't looking anywhere.
Yan Qizheng stepped forward to greet the elders and inform them that a carriage was ready for the return trip. After the two ladies stood up, he leaned over to the one who was still sitting still and asked, "Can you still walk?"
She raised her head, blinked at his face which was so close to her, and suddenly curled up the corners of her mouth.
"Why...are you here now?"
After not seeing each other for so long, the first thing she said was a complaint like a young wife. It sounded like a spoiled child, like she was aggrieved, and Yan Qizheng's heart suddenly softened. He didn't care about the others' stares, he reached out and hugged her, holding her in his arms as they strode out.
The ladies present had already had a great time and were waiting to go home. They had caught a glimpse of the handsome and elegant Master Yan and watched the whole show from beginning to end, which was so wonderful that they couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Although this young lady from the Wei family is a bit foolish, she is ultimately blessed. Not only did she win over the long-suffering Young Master Qilin, but the couple also seem quite sweet."
The one who felt the deepest emotion was Miss Wei's mother.
Over the years, she had witnessed her daughter's foolish behavior and cried countless times. She also worried a lot about her son-in-law abandoning her daughter and leaving Liangjing.
But only after witnessing his eyes and actions towards her daughter did Mrs. Wei believe that her daughter now had someone who truly loved her.
Miss Wei herself was completely unaware of this, only knowing that she had finally found someone to confide in after days of suppressed emotions. She spoke incoherently, but she stubbornly hooked her arm around Yan Qizheng's neck, insisting on letting it all out.
"The ceremony is over..."
"He's married..."
"...With my sister, it's impossible..."
Yan Qizhen's slightly raised mouth corners almost couldn't hold back.
This side belatedly realized that the question of "Why did you come now" was not what he had thought, but rather a complaint that he had missed the Wuguanyi wedding ceremony and...
And Liu Yuer?
Wu Guanyi and Liu Yuer?
Outside the Shangshu Mansion, carriages stopped one after another to pick up people.
Mr. Wei and his wife left first in a carriage, and Mr. Yan and his wife also boarded the Yan Mansion's own carriage, which was more spacious and comfortable than other temporarily borrowed carriages.
Seeing that her son's daughter-in-law was drowsy, Mrs. Yan kindly gave up half of the carriage for her to lie down. However, she hugged her son's neck tightly and refused to separate from him no matter what.
Yan Sunwei couldn't bear to watch it any longer, so he said to his wife, "Let them do whatever they want," and ordered the coachman to drive away.
Yan Qikuan, who witnessed everything, got goosebumps all over his body and would rather walk back alone than ride in the same car with his brother and sister-in-law.
Yan Qizhen carried his wife into the carriage. The slight disappointment he felt just now due to his own self-indulgence was now filled up by her complete dependence.
It is said that "a day without seeing you feels like three years". During this long journey, he felt the pain of missing her and realized that he had been thinking "it's not impossible to like her" since some time ago.
He left without saying goodbye and was gone for two months. Would she not be angry? Is she still angry? Every time she thinks about it, she feels a faint sour sweetness in her heart.
Sometimes I hope she is angry, because only if you care will you be angry.
Sometimes he hoped she'd calmed down, otherwise he'd have to live in the study forever...
At this moment, the person he had been thinking about took the initiative to nestle in his arms, her rosy face glowing and fragrant, which aroused waves of emotions in Yan Qizhen's heart.
But he also knew that drunk people were not sober and their words and actions could not be taken seriously. If she was still angry, she might quarrel with him again when she sobered up.
Therefore, even though she had been lying obediently in his arms, seemingly letting him do whatever he wanted, until he finally brought her back to the room and put her on the bed, he suppressed his urge to kiss her...
Qiu Luo came forward to serve, and in a few seconds, she let her black hair fall down. Yan Qi was about to let go of her when she grabbed him with her backhand.
The soft little hands don’t have much strength, but... they cling tightly to me.
He said in a gentle voice: "Let Qiu Luo wipe your face."
"Don't you want me anymore?"
Wei Ziyan half opened her eyes and looked at him confusedly, just like Bai Er when he was clinging to people, but the words she said were far more deadly than meowing.
Yan Qizhen's throat couldn't help but slip.
"What did you say?"
Wei Ziyan opened her mouth slightly and whispered softly, "Are you... unwilling to be my wife?"
“…”
The rosy little mouth under the eyelids opened and closed, more real and attractive than in dreams.
Don't you want him to sleep tonight?
Yan Qizhen felt the blood surge in his body. If he hadn't been concerned about the maid beside him, he would have almost blocked her mouth immediately!
But if——
If I really take her tonight and "make love" to her while she is unconscious, what will I do when the end of the Ming Dynasty comes?
He is always calm and composed and would never make a big mistake on impulse.
Yan Qi was enduring a restless mood and coaxed her into taking a shower, and then coaxed her to let Qiu Luo wipe her face. Only then was he able to get away and let out a long breath.
"Go to the study and make the bed." Yan Qi gave the order in a rough voice and turned to go to the bathroom.
The maid who prepared water for him said, "It's good that the eldest master is back. The young lady doesn't have to suffer any more grievances."
Yan Qizheng immediately raised his brows: "What's wrong with the young lady?"
"During the time that the eldest son was away from home, the young lady has been subjected to a lot of gossip."
The one who spoke was Ping'er.
The young lady asked the embroiderer to mend her fan. She was grateful for the request. Seeing that the eldest son was going to sleep in the study again, she couldn't help but muster up the courage to help the young lady.
"They say the eldest son doesn't like the young lady, and to avoid her, he left her behind shortly after their wedding and went on a long journey. They also say the young lady is an abandoned woman, and will be kicked out by the eldest son sooner or later!"
Veins popped out from the back of Yan Qi's clenched fist, and his handsome face darkened.
How ridiculous! These people are just afraid that this young lady is not determined enough to leave!
It was already difficult to coax her, and there were actually people behind the scenes fanning the flames and making things difficult for him!
"Who is gossiping?"
Ping'er bit her lip, not daring to mention any names: "Young Master, you can ask the Madam tomorrow."
Tomorrow? Yan Qizheng couldn't wait even a moment, and without even taking a shower, he rushed out of the bathroom and headed straight for his mother's place.
So Mrs. Yan, who was about to go to bed, was pulled up from the couch by her son.
Seeing him acting so anxiously, which was rare, she thought there was something urgent going on. But when she heard that he was here to investigate the injustice done to his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Yan burst out laughing.
"Now my son finally feels sorry for his wife. Why were you still angry with her when you left? If you hadn't left without saying goodbye, no matter how much others gossip about you, would your wife still be upset?"
“…”
His mother's words left Yan Qizhen speechless.
Ultimately, he was the culprit. If he hadn't been so cold to her before leaving, and had explained the mission clearly, she wouldn't have believed the rumors.
Mrs. Yan did not want her son to feel too guilty, so she briefly told him about the incident that day and told him that with her as her mother-in-law, she had not let her daughter-in-law suffer any injustice.
"Qizhu was rude the other day, and I've already punished her. The servants in the mansion who were gossiping have also learned their lesson, and no one dares to speak nonsense again. Even people outside know that our Yan family values this young lady."
"Thank you for your concern, mother!" Yan Qizhen felt a little relieved and very grateful.
Fortunately, my mother has always liked Zi Yan and she stood up for her when she saw her being wronged.
"It's not enough for me to worry about it—" Madam Yan said earnestly, dragging her voice. "You have to change your temper too! Zi Yan doesn't know what made you upset, can't you talk to her properly? Even if you are angry, you shouldn't go to the study alone and ignore her."
Hearing this, Yan Qizheng became depressed again.
She didn't even know why she was angry, and he was too embarrassed to tell her, so she was left sulking alone!
What's even more ridiculous is that she actually wants him to sleep in the study, so how can she say she is neglecting him?
Seriously speaking, they are married but not in reality. He, the husband, is the one who is truly neglected!
Seeing her son's unhappy expression, Madam Yan thought he was still being stubborn and advised him, "You've been separated for two months. Now that you're finally reunited, don't dwell on trivial matters. Cultivate your relationship and don't let Zi Yan feel disappointed again. You didn't see how sad she was that day when she heard what Qi Zhu said... "
"She... cried?"
Yan Qizhen felt like something grabbed his heart.
"That's right. She covered her face and cried for a long time. It was really heartbreaking." Madam Yan said, "So you should comfort her well and stop sleeping in separate rooms. It hurts the relationship between husband and wife."
Given her personality, upon hearing these excessive words, she seemed more likely to refute them on the spot with confidence, saying things like "I don't want to be a young lady" and "I can't wait to leave."
Why not just announce it to the public, so that those who are trying to laugh at the joke will be disappointed and shut up, but instead seem to be really hurt by the rumors they spread?
Thinking about her sudden dependence on him tonight and her unprecedented clinging, a bold guess came to mind, but Yan Qizheng felt it was unrealistic...
Suddenly, as if a flash of inspiration came to him, he remembered that she had tried to seduce him the night before he left...
Perhaps, at that time she already felt that sleeping in a separate room meant being neglected, so she cried when she was called an "abandoned woman"?
So, maybe he guessed right, and wanting to "become a husband and wife" with him was not just drunken nonsense.
The young lady who had deliberately gotten herself drunk on their wedding night, told him that "a forced melon is not sweet," and repeatedly declared her intention to divorce him, might have, like him, inadvertently changed and begun to treat him...
Feeling anything?
It's late at night and everyone is asleep.
Yan Qi was tidying himself up in the bathroom, and when he returned to the bed, the person on the bed was already sleeping soundly.
Her long hair covered most of her face, and she looked almost as groggy as she did on her wedding night, with half of her head resting under the pillow.
Yan Qizheng smiled and gently lifted the back of her head and placed it back on the pillow. His palm touched the soft and silky hair, like a spring breeze blowing ripples in his heart.
Slowly withdrawing his hand, Yan Qizheng slowly leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on the smooth forehead...
【Author’s words】
Wake up, Brother Yan!
It's a big fat chapter, not a big fat piece of meat [evil smile]
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