Chapter 13 Chapter 13 (Revised) Huaizhou, I was too tired last night,...
"Let's use the old name. I'm not used to you suddenly calling me Madam."
Nan Xu looked at the woman's bun gradually taking shape in the mirror and couldn't help sighing in his heart. Such a beautiful woman has become someone else's wife. He wondered how sad the unmarried men in the capital must be.
Behind them, Yu Ming and Yu Xiang looked at each other, unsure whether to listen to Nan Xu.
The beaded curtain outside rustled softly, and someone approached to persuade Nan Xu, "My second young lady, even if you're not used to it, you have to adapt now. It's okay in private, but if you let it slip in front of others, it will only invite criticism."
The person who spoke was Nanny Jiang, the dowry chosen by the Marquis's wife for Nan Xu. She was an elder in front of the Marquis's wife and was the most steady and well-behaved. As she spoke, she walked towards the bed curtain, opened the curtain, and personally picked up a snow-white handkerchief. Seeing the bright red bloodstains on it, the folds were stretched out a lot.
"Hurry up and help Madam put on her makeup. After dinner, we have to go to the palace to express our gratitude." He then left the inner room and arranged various matters.
"girl…"
Nan Xu waved her hand lazily, the corners of her mouth raised high, "Just listen to what Madam says."
Anyway, she and Duan Wenpei are not real husband and wife, so it doesn't matter what they call each other. If people really find out, it will be bad.
Nan Xu's eyes moved as she looked at the bright red lip balm on the dressing table. She couldn't help but think of the handkerchief that Nanny Jiang picked up from the bed. That must be the so-called fallen blood.
But she and Duan Wenpei didn't have sex last night, so where did the blood come from?
This doubt continued until breakfast. Watching Duan Wenpei pick up the side dishes on the plate elegantly, Nan Xu secretly annoyed herself that she shouldn't be afraid of him.
Didn’t he say last night that if you have anything to say, just tell him directly!
She took the bowl of rice from Duan Wenpei attentively and, as she handed it to him, she asked in a low voice, "Uncle, that blood on the veil is yours, right?"
This may sound insignificant at first, but upon closer inspection it is truly shocking.
Duan Wenpei didn't expect her to ask so directly and almost choked.
His face couldn't help but tremble twice, and he gently pushed Nan Xu away. "If you can guess it, why are you asking me?"
Nan Xu also felt a little embarrassed, but she was really too curious.
She poked at the half-empty bowl of rice and stared at Duan Wenpei. When had the blood been smeared on him? Where had he been cut? There was no visible wound on his palm!
The more I think about it, the less appetite I have.
When Duan Wenpei put down his bowl and chopsticks, Nan Xu was still biting his chopsticks, thinking hard.
Duan Wenpei took the teacup from the maid and rinsed his mouth. He stared at her and said, "I'll give you another half a quarter of an hour. I'll wait for you in the carriage."
After saying that, he stood up and strode away without even waiting for Nanxu. Nanxu cried out, stroking her hungry stomach, wondering whether she should still eat.
"Madam." Someone came in with something. Nan Xu recognized it as Liu Hui, Duan Wenpei's regular attendant. "These are two freshly made dishes from the kitchen: fresh bamboo shoots with sesame oil and tofu preserved in honey. I'd like you to try them."
The breakfast was mostly prepared to suit Duan Wenpei's taste, and Nan Xu could only eat a few bites before she started to daydream.
She thought she had concealed it well, but it turned out that he had seen through it.
Nan Xu picked up the food and took two bites. It was indeed the traditional taste of Kyoto City, which whetted her appetite.
"Madam, please don't blame me. I've always been frugal, so I only have two cooks who are used to cooking Sichuan cuisine. I didn't think so carefully at the time." Liu Hui smiled, remembering his master's casual instructions, and continued to explain with concern, "My temper may be a little cold, but my heart is warm, and I care about you, Madam."
In this still unfamiliar place, I satisfied my appetite and my mood couldn't help but improve.
Liu Hui said something, and Nan Xu just nodded.
In Liu Hui's eyes, his mistress was not only beautiful, but also kind-hearted, and had a very good temper.
In less than half a minute, Nan Xu left the Bo's Mansion surrounded by the crowd and boarded the carriage to the palace.
The regulations of the Earl's Mansion are lower than those of the Marquis' Mansion. The carriage is a bit small. Nan Xu wanted to stay away from Duan Wenpei, but she felt restrained.
Duan Wenpei saw through her little thoughts and moved towards the wall of the car without making a sound.
Today she was wearing a pomegranate red palace dress embroidered with hundreds of butterflies, with a rosy face and red lips, she was incredibly beautiful.
Duan Wenpei lowered his eyes to his own pomegranate red clothes, and a dark light in his eyes rose and fell.
I never thought that one day I would get married.
In those desperate and suffocating days, he secretly vowed that he would never fall in love with any woman in his life, nor would he give any woman hope.
The streets were bustling with people. A breeze occasionally blew up the car curtains, and a man could be vaguely seen sitting quietly by the window. His face was indifferent, and his eyes were closed, like a motionless god.
*
Eunuchs were already waiting at the palace gate. As soon as the carriage from the Bo Mansion appeared, several young eunuchs hurried to greet it.
Duan Wenpei stretched out his long legs and got off the carriage, but did not go straight to the palace as usual. Instead, he stood beside the carriage, waiting for the people inside to get off.
The young eunuchs watched closely, and without waiting for the maid to come forward, they brought a carriage stool, opened the curtain themselves, and called on the lady to watch her step.
When the Yong'an Marquisate was in its heyday, this was standard treatment in the palace. Nan Xu habitually took the young eunuch's arm and was about to get out of the carriage when a round-faced, thin-voiced eunuch smiled broadly and said respectfully to the back, "The princess and her husband have finally arrived. Your Majesty has been waiting anxiously."
This eunuch Nan Xu looked familiar. He was the filial son and grandson of the chief eunuch Guo Huai.
Who else but Jingyi could be welcomed by him personally and be the princess that the emperor is waiting for!
Sure enough, three tall horses pulled a magnificent golden carriage across the imperial road, passed the palace gate, and stopped in front of the Bo's carriage.
Princess Jingyi, dressed in a bright red palace dress, got off the carriage with the help of Li Zhan. The elegant young man and the noble princess with graceful manners were truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven.
It's glaring no matter how you look at it.
"Wei Yangbo, A Xu, what a coincidence." Princess Jingyi seemed to have just seen her and Duan Wenpei being surrounded by Li Zhan and coming towards them, with a happy smile on her face.
The person is still the same person, but everything has changed.
Nan Xu stood on the shaft of the carriage, looking down at the newlyweds. Thinking of the timid Princess Jingyi who had huddled in the palace of the Concubine Dowager in her early years, she felt that things had changed.
She knelt stiffly to greet him, but didn't know how to get down from the carriage which had only a few steps.
"Why don't you guys hold on to her, don't let the lady fall!" The palace maid beside the princess shouted at the eunuch who was kneeling on the ground to pay his respects, with a look of arrogance on her face.
But because the princess didn't let them get up, no one dared to step forward to help Nan Xu.
Jingyi glared at the palace maid beside her angrily, "Why bother with these pathetic, rootless people?" With a warm smile, she nudged Li Zhan, who looked like a clay sculpture beside her, and said, "I am worried about their clumsy behavior. It's better for the consort to go. Ah Xu is also your sister who grew up under your care. As her cousin-in-law, you should also do your best."
Nan Xu looked at her and smiled, feeling depressed. Who was she trying to disgust by asking Li Zhan to help her?
But she didn't want to walk down alone in front of these two people.
If this gets out, how can she save face?
Looking around, Nan Xu caught a glimpse of someone who seemed to be outside the situation. Feeling very uncomfortable, she crushed her voice and called out tenderly, "Husband."
No one paid any attention to her.
Cough, cough, she covered her lips and coughed softly, then after a moment of searching her brain, she called out softly, "Huaizhou."
Duan Wenpei's fingertips trembled slightly, and he finally turned to look at her, "Yuming, help your wife down."
Nanxu: ...
This guy actually remembered the name of her maid so quickly.
Yu Ming stepped forward and extended her hand, but Nan Xu didn't move.
Seeing Princess Jingyi leaning on Li Zhan's arms and laughing softly as if watching a fun event, Nan Xu decided to go all out, "Huaizhou, I was too tired last night, please support me a little."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and looked at Duan Wenpei, who looked indifferent, pleadingly.
Time seemed to stand still. Nan Xu looked at the person who seemed to be motionless, and her heart gradually sank to the bottom.
The breeze blew away the tassels on the palace dress, and also blew away Nan Xu's expectations. Well, this was indeed a bit too much to ask. Nan Xu comforted herself, why be so hard on herself, it was not difficult to move forward with confidence.
"Give me your hand."
A slender, strong hand with distinct joints came into view. The sleeve slipped down, revealing the blue veins under the skin. Nan Xu was stunned for a moment, then reacted and excitedly put her hand on it.
"A Xu is a little willful, please don't blame me, Princess."
Princess Jingyi twitched the corners of her mouth, her gaze glued to their clasped hands, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Everyone says Ah Xu and Uncle are not in love, and that they are only getting married by imperial decree. I don't think that's the case. Uncle and Ah Xu are doing very well."
She deliberately said the last sentence to Li Zhan beside her. Seeing that his eyes were dim, she twisted his arm with her hand hidden in her sleeve and taunted him in a voice only the two of them could hear: "You are already mine, why are you still pretending to be affectionate! Didn't you hear that little bitch Nan Xu say she was tired last night? Besides, when you were enjoying yourself under me, you screamed quite beautifully!"
She spoke without restraint, and Li Zhan lowered his head and begged in a low voice, "Princess, be careful with your words."
Princess Jingyi snorted, and dug her long nails into Li Zhan's arm, crushing it repeatedly until Li Zhan's face turned pale.
To outsiders, this looked like a newlywed couple, and the prince consort obeyed the princess's every word.
Duan Wenpei was not interested in the undercurrent between the two. He scratched Nan Xu's palm to signal her to let go, but the woman's soft five fingers held on like an octopus.
"Let's do the whole act. Uncle, please be kind and help me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Nan Xu simply pressed her whole body against him, and the rich fragrance of her daughter filled Duan Wenpei's arms.
He tilted his neck back, deliberately keeping some distance, suppressing the impatience in his eyes, and said, "Let's go."
The two couples walked through the long palace road one after the other and were welcomed into the Chongzheng Hall by Guo Huai. Emperor Xuanwu exchanged a few words of greeting and then let Princess Jingyi and Nanxu go to the harem to pay a visit to the Queen Mother, leaving Li Zhan and Duan Wenpei to discuss matters.
Nan Xu didn't want to travel with Princess Jingyi, but the emperor's order could not be disobeyed. The journey to Yongshou Palace felt like a year.
The princess walked and stopped, circling most of the imperial garden. Halfway through, she asked for a sedan chair, but left Nan Xu behind. She sat high in the sedan chair, propped up her head, and told Nan Xu to go to Yongshou Palace by herself. "The Concubine Dowager likes quietness, but I don't like it. It's dead and boring, and there's nothing to worry about. Go by yourself."
Watching the sedan chair go away, Yuming and Yuxiang felt sorry for Nanxu, "Since the princess isn't going, why did she take you on such a long journey? It's just torture."
Nan Xu knew it, but things were different now, so she could only accept it. "Forget it, we haven't walked in the Imperial Garden for a long time. The flowers here are blooming beautifully, so let's just enjoy the scenery."
When Nan Xu met the Concubine Dowager, it was already lunch time. After lunch, the Concubine Dowager took Nan Xu to the side hall to chat.
"Let me see if Ah Xu is suffering."
Nan Xu smiled and stood up, turning around twice. "Don't worry, Auntie. Ah Xu is fine."
Whether it is good or not does not depend on this.
The toffee had someone bring Nan Xu her favorite cold drink, almond cheese. After watching her eat it, she asked about her wedding last night.
"Duan Wenpei is a commoner with no family background. He has never been taught by a great family. How could he know how to care for others? Don't hurt you or make your mother worry."
Nan Xu pretended to be shy and said with a slightly blushing face, "Uncle treats me very well."
The concubine thought she was just being shameless and had someone bring out a few boxes of ointment and handed them to Nan Xu. "This is medicine to nourish your private parts. If anything happens, protect yourself first and don't indulge him too much."
Nan Xu had no choice but to let Yu Ming take it.
He also mentioned whether he had seen Li Zhan and Princess Jingyi.
Nan Xu didn't understand what he meant, so she could only nod slowly, "I met him at the palace gate on my way here."
The concubine nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Did Li Zhan mention anything about Shu?"
Shu land?
Nan Xu shook her head, "Aunt, why do you ask this?"
The concubine held Nanxu in her arms, her face filled with sorrow as she said, "I'm worried about your cousin, the Prince of Yi. The Emperor has arranged for Li Junji to go to Shu to investigate the Zhao family's case regarding the assassination of Wei Yangbo. I've been having dreams these past few days. I dreamt that your cousin was lying in a pool of blood, crying and shouting for me to save him. I'm afraid..."
Nan Xu understood and could only console her, "Aunt, you're worrying too much."
How could the concubine listen to it? "It's not that I'm worrying too much, the emperor's mind is hard to predict, what if..."
"Aunt!" The more she spoke, the less it seemed like the words. Nan Xu quickly interrupted and whispered, "Be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall."
She understood what the Toffee meant.
I'm afraid that investigating the assassin is fake, and the real purpose is to find a reason to deal with King Yi.
Nan Xu felt that the Concubine Dowager was a little paranoid. She poured a glass of water and held it in front of the Concubine Dowager, trying to calm her down. "Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch and would not ignore the relationship between brothers. Besides, if he really wants to take action, how could he just send Li Junji? Aunt, don't forget that the Fu Hu Army that the late Emperor entrusted to my cousin Prince Yi is small in number, but it is well-trained. If something really happens to the previous dynasty, it will definitely cause turmoil. Your Majesty will not take such a risk rashly."
What Nan Xu said was not without reason.
If you want to kill him, just kill him earlier. Why wait until King Yi enters Shu?
The Concubine Dowager was silent for a moment, as if persuaded by Nan Xu. "But, I personally heard His Majesty say that Li Junji is Jingyi's father-in-law, and is also considered a family member, so he will definitely act impartially. Isn't it still suspected that your cousin is the one?"
Nan Xu thought about the few words she heard in Tianxiang Tower that day. It was hard to say whether the Zhao family and King Yi would collude with each other.
She frowned and asked carefully, "Aunt, do you think my cousin will get involved?"
The concubine was stunned. The hall was brightly lit by the sunlight. The concubine's face turned pale. The corners of her mouth moved for a long time, but she didn't know what to say.
No one knows a son better than his mother. How could she not know the resentment in her son's heart?
Not only was King Yi unwilling, but she was also unwilling!
She was the late emperor's favorite concubine, and Prince Yi was his favorite prince. The late emperor had promised to make Prince Yi the crown prince, but for some reason he changed his mind on his deathbed.
The throne that was within their grasp was handed over to someone else, and they had to flee to the barren land of Shu. The anger of the mother and son would not be enough to vent even if a thousand miles of corpses were piled up.
The concubine let go of Nan Xu's hand and remained silent.
Nan Xu understood and stopped trying to persuade him.
After sitting for a while, before leaving the palace, the Concubine Dowager looked at Nan Xu reluctantly. After hesitating for a moment, she begged, "Ah Xu, if there is a chance, please ask Li Zhan for your aunt. If your cousin Prince Yi falls, there will be no point in me living. Even if it is the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, your father and mother will have no way to survive."
She held the palace gate, her eyes full of hope. Nan Xu looked at her and nodded with difficulty.
*
After leaving Yongshou Palace, Nan Xu walked along the palace road with a heavy heart and did not see the person coming towards him.
Until a dark shadow covered his head, he looked up and met a pair of gentle and tender eyes.
Nan Xu quickly looked away, took two steps back, and bowed reluctantly, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Li Zhan frowned and wanted to reach out to help her up, but Nan Xu dodged sideways.
"My Lord, respect yourself!"
"Ah Xu, I just want to ask if the wound on your neck is healed?"
Hearing him call her that, Nan Xu felt uncomfortable all over, "My Lord, please respectfully address me as Madam Bo!"
The author has something to say:
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Woohoo, it’s still a long way from entering V, but Nan Xu and Duan Wenpei happily spent their first wedding night!
Li Zhan: My Ah Xu...
Duan Wenpei frowned and made a lot of noise!
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