Chapter 35 35 He married Yuezhi?
The long, lingering kisses flowed across her face like a gentle stream, from her brow to the bridge of her nose, from her lips to her chin, all the way down to her neck, warm and wet, making her chuckle.
When I opened my eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Ugh..." Yuezhi smiled as she woke from her satisfying dream and stretched lazily.
She had that dream again, even clearer than the previous ones. She could even recall the surging emotions she felt when her lips and tongue touched the man in her dream.
The fruit wine didn't have a strong aftereffect. When I was feeling dizzy, I drank some hangover soup and took a nap. When I woke up, I could still vaguely remember the conversation I had with Cui Xianglan while drinking. I even remembered the feeling of being held tightly by a man in my dream.
Yuezhi covered her face shyly. She must have been hugged by Young Master Liang after getting drunk that day, which was why she had such an embarrassing dream.
While savoring the sweetness in her heart, she counted down the days until her wedding.
As I regained consciousness and sat up in bed, the heat from my body dissipated in the cool autumn air, but my lips were still warm.
She bit her lip curiously, and was surprised to find that her lips seemed swollen. She reached down to touch them, and her lip peaks were round, while the area around her lips felt hot and burning. They were indeed swollen!
Yuezhi was startled, wondering if some insect had gotten into the room, climbed onto the bed, and bit her lip.
"Huachun? Huachun?" She reached under the bed but couldn't find the small bed Huachun slept on while keeping watch, nor could she find Huachun herself.
Soon, the people outside heard the noise and ran in.
Seeing her flustered expression, Huachun thought she knew something, so she quickly sat on the edge of the bed and held her hands that were reaching around erratically, and asked carefully, "This servant is here, Princess, don't panic."
Yuezhi looked aggrieved. "My lips are swollen and a little painful... Can you check if I was bitten by a bug somewhere? Will it look bad? If it's serious, how long will it take for the swelling to go down?"
Hearing her ask this question, and seeing the urgency in her eyes, Huachun paused for a moment, then her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
There were maids cleaning the room and the flowers and plants in the courtyard being tended to daily, so it was impossible for any insects to crawl into the room. It was just a coincidence that they bit the princess's mouth. The truth could only be that no one in the manor dared to mention.
Looking down, I didn't find any strange red marks on Yuezhi's neck, nor did I hear her say that she felt unwell. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the Emperor didn't go too far; otherwise, even if these servants tried to make up all sorts of stories, they wouldn't have been able to cover it up.
"This servant doesn't think it's an insect bite. It's probably due to the dry weather and the fact that Your Highness drank too much wine last night, making you feel hot and dry inside, which caused your lips to swell. Does Your Highness feel a dry throat, or is your heart beating very fast?"
Yuezhi nodded. "Now that you mention it, I really do feel dry and agitated, and my chest feels stuffy."
“That’s it. The princess is suffering from internal heat. She drank a whole jar of fruit wine with Miss Cui and didn’t eat properly. No wonder she’s getting internal heat,” Hua Chun said seriously.
"Then let Su Jingyun prescribe a remedy to reduce my internal heat. My lips are so swollen, how can I go out and face people?"
"The symptoms of getting a sore throat in autumn are very common. I will ask the kitchen to stew a pot of rock sugar pear for you. Also, prepare a light breakfast. You will feel better by evening."
Hua Chun helped her get dressed, and remembering the punishment she had received yesterday, she couldn't help but offer her a few words of earnest advice.
"Princess, don't rely too much on Physician Su. You can't take medicine every time something goes wrong. All medicines have some toxicity. Your body is weak and you've only just recovered. You can't afford to overwork yourself."
Yuezhi pursed her lips, thinking to herself that this nagging tone was exactly the same as Pei Heng's.
Although he was not there, the servants in the mansion took care of her just as carefully as he had, and even the way they talked about her was becoming more and more like his. Sometimes she wondered if he had trained all of them.
How could the busy new emperor worry about trivial matters within the inner quarters? Yuezhi forgot about those strange thoughts as soon as she thought about them.
After breakfast, a palace eunuch arrived with an imperial decree instructing her to wait at her residence for a maid from the Imperial Wardrobe to come and take her measurements for her wedding dress.
According to custom, the wedding dress and headdress for a princess's marriage were all provided by the palace. In addition, the new emperor valued her highly, and the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree brought more than a dozen eunuchs with him to help clean the courtyard, clear fallen leaves, and prepare the banquet menu at the princess's residence. There was also an old nanny who taught the grand wedding ceremony, and several palace maids who helped arrange red silk and cut up the double happiness characters...
The new emperor was very attentive and attached great importance to the marriage of the princess and her husband. People in the capital were quick to respond, and on the very day that they sent gifts to offer their congratulations in advance.
Yuezhi had to stay in the mansion to wait for her measurements, so she couldn't go out. She took out a bag of pearls that she had treasured for a long time from the bottom of the box and took out half of them.
“This pearl was a gift from the former emperor. It is extremely precious and I have always been reluctant to use it. Now it’s time to take it out.”
Holding the round, cool pearls in her palm, she recalled those bitter winters. No matter how difficult it was, counting these pearls told her that Pei Heng and she were not at the end of their rope and would always get through it.
Now that she is living a life of wealth and luxury, the gifts sent by court officials and imperial relatives are already quite valuable. These pearls, gold ingots, and the house deeds that she is reluctant to touch are no longer considered a lot of money. She still carefully hides them at the bottom of her clothes chest.
She had three clothes chests, and underneath the other two were a thick box of silver notes and several boxes of gold ingots.
In my spare time, I often take it out to touch it, count the number of silver notes, polish the gold ingots until they shine, and then put them back. The weight of the gold ingots at the bottom of the chest is substantial, which makes me feel especially at ease.
She solemnly handed the pearl to Huachun.
“Take these pearls to the Gold Shop and have them make two gold hairpins, a pair of earrings, a pearl hair crown, and two gold and jade belts inlaid with pearls.”
Seeing that she treated the pearl like a priceless treasure, Huachun advised, "If the princess wants any jewelry, just say the word to the Emperor, and the Imperial Jewelry Bureau will make the best for you and send it to you. Why use your own collection?"
“That’s different.” Yuezhi smiled. “This pearl has special meaning to me. Besides, I’m not a mistress living in the palace, nor am I his rightful sister. I’m already extremely grateful for the Emperor’s favor. How can I take it for granted that he should do this or that for me? That would be too shameless.”
Hua Chun was speechless, then gently reminded him, "The Emperor even sent people from the palace to prepare for your wedding. He values you so much. A few pieces of jewelry are nothing; the Emperor might even want to make several more sets for you."
It's not just about jewelry; as long as the princess agrees, Huachun has no doubt that the emperor will immediately take her into the harem.
But I dared not say it out loud.
Yuezhi shook her head: "He's so busy he can't even sleep well. I don't want to bother him over a few pieces of jewelry. You don't need to mention it again. Just do as I say."
"This servant understands."
After explaining this, Yuezhi said, "I remember there is a set of pure gold jewelry and a pair of jadeite double-eared vases in the storeroom. Take them, and also pick out ten bolts of the best fabric, two pairs of bracelets, and two necklaces, and go to the Cui residence for me."
Yuezhi was frugal; she saved any unused salary and occasionally gave extra food and clothing to the people in her household, still leaving a considerable amount of money.
She disliked frivolous spending, and the things piled up in the warehouse were almost all the congratulatory gifts she had received since arriving in Beijing. She neither saw them nor liked to wear them. A lot of them had been sent to the national treasury before, and in less than a month, the warehouse was almost full again.
Good things that you don't need should naturally be given away.
*
The Cui family's breakfast table was bustling with activity that morning.
Cui Xianglan listened to the sarcastic remarks, but only focused on eating her food, completely ignoring her parents' and sister's nagging.
"Since you have a relationship with the princess, why don't you plead for your sister? Now she has to stay at home for a whole six months and can't attend poetry gatherings and banquets. How is she going to find a good husband?"
"No wonder people say you're heartless. You only care about your own pleasure and don't even care about the Cui family's reputation. We're all family, so why can't you stand to see your sister doing well?"
After finishing breakfast, Mr. Cui went to work. The concubines each had their own children to take care of, and since they didn't have to contribute her dowry money, they naturally avoided bothering her.
Only her stepmother and younger sister remained relentlessly nagging her about the punishment.
"Isn't my sister well-liked by the princess? She went to the princess's residence, reeking of alcohol, and walked back from the street before she was even married. Doesn't she feel ashamed?"
"Who knows if she's really shameless? I didn't even see the princess prepare a sedan chair to send her back. She must be treating her like a plaything. How could such a noble person befriend a troublemaker like her?"
"Hmph, if my sister is making me unhappy, you won't be happy either. Anyway, I can't go out, so I'll come and keep my sister company every day."
“Your sister is getting married soon. How many days can she have a good life at home? I don’t believe that once she goes to Qingzhou, she can still use the princess’s name to swindle and deceive people.”
The mother and daughter followed each other from outside the courtyard to inside, talking through the window under the eaves, complaining that Cui Xianglan couldn't enjoy her needlework behind closed doors and that her embroidery was a mess.
"Madam, someone from the Princess's residence has come to deliver a message!" a maidservant reported from outside.
"What?" the mother and daughter exclaimed in surprise.
Cui Qingqing asked first, "Does the princess know that she has punished me too severely and wants to lift my confinement?"
The maid shook her head: "I didn't hear anyone mention that the Second Miss is under house arrest. They just specifically asked to see the Eldest Miss. She's already waiting in the hall. Please ask Madam and the Eldest Miss to go and see her."
The three of them hurried to the front hall.
Princess Ning'an was not usually seen to have any grand procession when she went out. The mother and her two daughters saw two rows of servants in the front hall, holding exquisite brocade boxes in their hands. The princess's personal maid, who had come to deliver a message, was standing in the hall, waiting for the person to arrive, observing proper etiquette.
The Cui family had fallen on hard times ten years ago, and Cui's father had not held a high-ranking official position. Cui's mother had never seen such a generous reward before, and her face was beaming with joy as she stepped onto the steps.
Hua Chun smiled and looked past Cui's mother, her gaze kindly falling on Cui Xianglan.
"Miss Cui, you've kept me waiting for so long."
Cui Xianglan was surprised, "What is this, young lady?"
Hua Chun immediately cleared her throat, glanced at Cui Qingqing who looked displeased and Cui's mother whose smile had frozen on her face, and said solemnly.
"We were not very hospitable last night and did not send you back by carriage. We apologize for the trouble. The princess sent me to inquire after you. She specifically instructed me to tell you that the silver hairpin she gave you was made by the Imperial Jewelry Bureau. Its craftsmanship is unparalleled in the world. If anyone is unaware of its value and does not recognize its treasure, please do not take it to heart, young lady."
"Knowing that the young lady will soon be married off to a distant place, the princess has specially selected a few gifts to add to your dowry. They are all auspicious pairs, so please accept them with a smile."
As soon as he finished speaking, the servant carrying the brocade box opened the lid, revealing pairs of exquisite headdress jewelry.
Upon seeing the brightly colored brocade, Cui Qingqing's eyes lit up. She tugged at her mother's sleeve, "Mother, that's shimmering brocade. You can't buy it anywhere else on the market."
Although the Cui family was small, the mother and daughter were skilled at socializing and frequently attended banquets of royalty and nobility.
To celebrate the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the Southwest Textile Commissioner presented thirty bolts of shimmering brocade. The new emperor rewarded those who had contributed, and even noble families might not be fortunate enough to receive a single bolt of shimmering brocade. Yet Princess Ning'an presented ten bolts!
It is clear that the rumors circulating outside that Princess Ning'an was all show and no substance were false, and that the Emperor truly doted on this princess.
Even though Cui Xianglan didn't recognize the shimmering brocade, she could tell its value from the envious and jealous expressions on the mother and daughter's faces.
"Such fine things are being given to me as part of my dowry? What virtue or honor do I possess to receive such a gift from the princess? Moreover, this brocade is a royal gift; how could I possibly accept it?"
She deliberately showed off and acted affectedly, trying to deflate the mother and daughter's arrogance.
Hua Chun smiled: "The shimmering brocade is rare, but in terms of preciousness, this pair of jade vases is the most valuable. The princess hopes that you will be safe and sound in the future and that all your wishes will come true."
With a gift from the princess kept at the bottom of her chest, she would never dare to mistreat her husband, no matter whether he was good or bad.
Cui Xianglan understood the princess's good intentions and, disregarding her anger towards the mother and daughter, quickly knelt down to express her gratitude.
Cui's mother and Cui Qingqing were left out in the cold, and could only watch helplessly as they delivered all the priceless treasures into Cui Xianglan's courtyard, not daring to be angry or speak out.
Within two days, the news spread throughout the inner quarters of the wealthy and powerful.
"Princess Ning'an is truly kind-hearted. Knowing that the eldest daughter of the Cui family, who is said to bring bad luck to her husbands, is about to get married, she sent her many treasures to bring her good fortune."
"I don't know where the rumor came from, but it said that the princess dressed simply, and that even the daughters of high-ranking officials and imperial relatives were more precious than her. Now it seems that she is truly virtuous and doesn't care about elaborate costumes to save face."
"The princess is getting married soon, and the emperor has personally sent people to handle the arrangements, giving her the utmost respect and honor. Who can compare to such favor?"
"It's a pity that my family can't produce such a good son to marry a princess. The Liang family is so lucky to have the princess's help. They will become a prestigious family in the future."
While the outside world was buzzing with discussion, the Liang residence remained as solemn as ever.
He Zhiyan heard what was being said outside and thought it best to ask her husband to find an opportunity to privately give Liang Zhang a few words of advice.
The study was simple and unadorned, with no one attending to the guests. The two brothers sat facing each other, both as graceful as bamboo and willow, elegant gentlemen.
Liang Xiu: "What your sister-in-law means is that the princess has never been in contact with men and is very simple-minded. As her future husband, you should treat her with more care and patience and not be too hasty."
Liang Zhang asked in bewilderment, "Brother, why do you say that? Do you suspect that I would bully the princess?"
Liang Xiu coughed. "You're not a child anymore. If I don't say it clearly, don't you know what it means?"
He lowered his voice, “You hugged the princess in public earlier, which made Father unhappy. Not to mention your previous secret meetings with the princess… Your sister-in-law only mentioned a few words to me. Although the princess did not blame you, you were still a bit rash. The princess is sick and weak. You shouldn’t have been in such a hurry.”
As a fellow man, Liang Zhang understood and blushed, saying, "Brother, I did not offend the princess. I think my sister-in-law's words were an exaggeration."
His secret rendezvous with the princess was a one-time affair; he didn't even get to see her before the emperor banished him.
Because it concerned the reputation of the Liang family and the royal family, he kept what happened that night to himself and never told anyone.
Liang Xiu didn't believe it and said earnestly, "You held the princess's hand and kissed her. Isn't that an offense? You don't need to hide it from me. I'm just passing on a message from your sister-in-law. I hope you cherish the princess and don't rush to have children after the marriage. It's more important to help the princess take care of her health first."
That sounds strange.
Liang Zhang's face flushed red and then turned pale. He was embarrassed because he hadn't thought about having children yet. Strangely, he had never held the princess's hand or kissed her.
After hesitating for a long time, unsure of how to answer, his silence was taken by his elder brother as a tacit agreement.
Liang Xiu got up and patted him on the shoulder, "Erlang, the Emperor has chosen you to be the princess's consort, which shows how much he values you and the Liang family. You must not let the Emperor down."
Liang Zhang nodded silently, his mind churning with thoughts.
Only after his elder brother left the study did he manage to clear his mind.
The princess had two secret rendezvous with someone, and her sister-in-law assumed it was him both times; Shen Xian, who relentlessly pursued him, kept saying that the princess had another lover; moreover, he had tried to see the princess that night but was reprimanded by the emperor…
The gentleman, as serene as a green bamboo, lowered his eyes slightly.
Princess Xu Zhen had a lover, and the emperor knew about it. He intended to cover it up for the princess and deliberately kept it from him.
Liang Zhang pictured her gentle and beautiful face, her clear eyes, and her compassionate expression. The disappointment he felt upon discovering the truth gradually dissipated.
His marriage to the princess was by imperial decree. If they were in love, it would be a blessing beyond measure. If she had someone else in her heart, or kept lovers outside the palace, it would be commonplace. Who says only men can have multiple wives and concubines?
Ultimately, she will only have him as her consort, and if she has any children, she will only recognize him as her father. That will be enough for her.
It is his honor as a subject to be able to take care of the princess on behalf of the emperor.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he found some stationery, wrote a love poem expressing his unwavering devotion, and sent it to the princess's residence to show his sincerity.
*
With only ten days left until the wedding, everyone in the princess's residence was busy preparing for the ceremony, with smiles on their faces.
Yuezhi was overjoyed. She no longer needed to drink sweet soup after taking her medicine every day, and she kept talking to Su Jingyun about it.
"It's getting colder and colder, and it might snow in a few days. I want to go see the snow with my husband then. In a few months, it will be spring again. If my eyesight is better by then, I'll go with my husband to see the mountains covered in flowers..."
"Once I recover, you won't have to stay in the princess's residence every day. You can go back to the palace to continue your medical studies. Without you by my side to administer medicine and listen to my ramblings, I will definitely miss you."
Hearing her earnest expectations and innocent humor made Su Jingyun feel somewhat ashamed.
The events of that night haunted his mind like a nightmare.
Yuezhi knew about his shameful past, and although they were now worlds apart, she still treated him as a friend. Knowing that he was studying, she prepared plenty of writing materials for him. In the cold late autumn, she used expensive silver wire charcoal to burn in his room.
She didn't need to waste so much manpower and resources on a mere medical officer, but she did it anyway, selflessly showing kindness without expecting anything in return, just for her own sake.
What a wonderful woman, like a flame in winter, standing fragile yet gentle in the cold wind, bringing warmth to everyone around her.
Being near her brings peace of mind and tranquility.
Such a good person was shrouded in a huge lie without even realizing it.
Whether the prince consort she was whispering about was the second young master of the Liang family or... the Emperor, Su Jingyun could no longer tell.
He just felt sorry for her, seeing her so happy now, but knowing that once her eyes healed and the lies were exposed, she would be devastated—he didn't want to see that ending.
Su Jingyun had a plan in mind, but also hesitated. He withdrew from the back hall early, glancing at the corridor out of the corner of his eye.
A maid handed Huachun something, which she immediately hid in her sleeve. When the two maids saw him come out, they pretended nothing had happened, nodded slightly to him, and then parted ways.
Even the servants in the mansion are the emperor's spies...
Without further hesitation, Su Jingyun retrieved the Imperial Medical Academy's plaque from his room and immediately went to the palace to plead his case to the Emperor.
On the training ground, the young emperor, dressed in a black and gold round-necked robe, held a bow in his hand, nocked an arrow, and shot it. Several whooshing sounds rang out as the arrows hit the bullseye.
The physician knelt behind him, while the emperor's attendants were driven far away outside the training ground, so that no one could hear their conversation.
"Are you saying that if I were to set foot in the princess's residence again, it would upset her and worsen her condition?"
Su Jingyun knelt down, listening to the sound of the arrow hitting the target, and answered tremblingly: "The lesion in the princess's eye is in her head. She cannot be stimulated or suffer great grief or pain, otherwise the blood stasis will compress her eyes and may lead to lifelong blindness."
“But I remember you didn’t say that when you reported the princess’s condition to me last time.”
Pei Heng stared at the last arrow hitting the bullseye, then drew his bow with a backhand motion, looking down at the kneeling physician with a chilling gaze in his eyes.
"You said that if I wanted the princess to be happy, she would be fine in less than half a year. Every time I went to visit her, she was very happy. How come in your mouth, it's become that I would cause the princess great sorrow and pain?"
He rubbed his thumb ring, saw the physician break out in a cold sweat, and couldn't help but let out a cold snort.
"You dare to say such things in front of me? You have quite the nerve, but you haven't taken my words to heart. You think you're doing this for her own good? How much do you really know about her? My ten-year relationship with the princess is less than what you, an old friend, know?"
Su Jingyun trembled: "Your Majesty, I only beg you not to deceive the princess any longer. Lies will eventually come out, and the princess will not be able to bear it."
Pei Heng gritted his teeth and beckoned the guards over.
Cheng Yuan knelt and bowed, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
“This man is reckless and disrespectful. Drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane. If he dares to spout nonsense again, pull out his tongue.”
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! Ugh!" The guards covered Su Jingyun's mouth and dragged him away to be tortured.
Pei Heng gripped the ring tightly, extremely angry.
He tossed the bow and arrows to Cheng Yuan and ordered, "Have Jinbao postpone the afternoon's court meeting to the evening, fetch the horses, and tell Xiao Duan to put down what he's doing and accompany me to inspect the military camp outside the city."
"Your humble servant obeys the decree."
Having finally calmed the restlessness in my heart with the tenderness of that night, and only enjoyed a few days of good mood, I was thrown into disarray by this gossipy servant.
Pei Heng took a deep breath, recalling the words the physician had boldly spoken. A fire rose in his chest. He looked down at his wrist, which was exposed at the cuff of his sleeve, and saw that the veins were inexplicably bulging, a sign that the poison was about to be released.
There is no antidote for this poison. One can only cultivate one's character and temperament. If it does not recur over time, it will resolve itself. The only fear is that strong emotions may trigger the poison, and if one cannot withstand it after a few times, one will go mad and die suddenly.
He took a deep breath, unsure which of the physician's words had triggered his anger.
She took out a handkerchief, pretending to wipe her sweat, and secretly sniffed the fragrance on the embroidered handkerchief. It was a familiar scent. She closed her eyes slightly, as if the person she missed was right in front of her.
As his emotions gradually calmed down, he donned his armor, rode his horse, and inspected the military camp, with Duan Yunting by his side.
"With so many affairs in the court and the princess's upcoming wedding, it's a time of great turmoil. How can Your Majesty possibly find the time to inspect the military camps?"
Pei Heng gave him a cold look. "You went to the music hall again?"
Caught off guard, Duan Yunting hurriedly checked his clothes, and after searching for a while, he managed to dab a little rouge from his earlobe. He gave an embarrassed smile and said, "I'm sorry for making a fool of myself, Your Majesty."
"If you love women so much, why don't you get married? Why do you always go to those brothels? Aren't you afraid of defiling yourself?"
"Your Majesty knows that I have no elders in my family, only two younger brothers and sisters. I am too busy taking care of them to find a wife. I can only go to the music hall to listen to music and have fun with beauties when I have free time. There are people who come to propose marriage, but those delicate girls should be cherished and pampered. How can I marry one and make her suffer with me?"
After Duan Yunting finished speaking, he chuckled, because as soon as he finished speaking, a person popped into his mind.
If it were her, it wouldn't be a loss for her to suffer with him; she deserves to endure hardship.
Pei Heng noticed he was lost in thought and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Duan Yunting snapped out of his reverie and changed the subject: "This humble general is younger than Your Majesty. Compared to this humble general, Your Majesty's marriage concerns the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty. You should be concerned about your own marriage."
Before he could even open his mouth, Duan Yunting knew he was about to use his usual excuse, so he offered him a suggestion.
"Since Your Majesty has no one you fancy and always thinks of the princess, why not marry her?"
Upon hearing these words, Pei Heng felt a chill run down his spine.
The deepest, most secret impulses in his heart, thoughts he himself dared not even see through, were easily spoken out by this uneducated boy.
He frowned: "How dare you speak such nonsense? I have already arranged a marriage for the princess. How can I ruin her marriage?"
Duan Yunting remained relaxed. “Your Majesty is the ruler of the world. The country is yours, and all the people of the Great Zhou are yours. If you want to marry a woman, who dares to object? The princess is gentle and beautiful. It is normal for you to be attracted to her. I am only thinking of Your Majesty and I am afraid that you will hesitate and miss the only opportunity.”
Others might not know, but he knew that the emperor and the princess were not related by blood. In the barren border region where he lived, it was common for brothers to share a wife and for siblings to exchange wives.
As the inspection team emerged from the military camp, the young emperor, mounted on his horse, grew increasingly red in silence.
He married Yuezhi?
How could he marry Yuezhi?
He treated her as a sister, a support, and a benefactor. If he were to marry her, wouldn't he be sharing a room with her, revealing his unspeakable desires to her, and bearing her children...?
The young man's face was flushed crimson, and his deep-set eyes shone with a rare, youthful light amidst the dappled shadows of the trees.
It's as if a nineteen-year-old soul has come back to life within the body of a ruthless and decisive emperor.
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