Chapter 42 The Ceremony of the First Wife
Madam Xiao was standing next to the old woman, her dowry maid, with whom she had shared many years of close friendship. Without warning, she was beheaded by Fu Heng right beside her.
Warm blood splattered on her cheeks. Madam Xiao's eyes widened in terror, a scream caught in her throat. The deep wrinkles on her face were stretched smooth by horrifying shock, only the loose skin around her eyes trembled slightly. In an instant, Madam Xiao's eyes rolled back, her body swayed twice, and she collapsed to the ground like a noodle, unconscious.
Fu Heng didn't even lift his eyelids before handing the blood-stained longsword to Mo Jian. His gaze swept over another old woman who had fallen to the ground and was supporting Xiao Shi, sobbing softly; his cold eyes were as if he were looking at a dead object.
His voice was extremely low, yet every word was piercing: "Send Xiao back. This old woman, drag her to the ancestral hall." His tone was flat, but his command was chilling, "Gather all the servants and maids of the mansion to witness the execution, beat them to death. Make sure they remember this day forever."
Mo Jian bowed and accepted the order, then turned and summoned his guards. The expressionless guards swiftly lifted Xiao Shi up, and the old woman who was about to shout was quickly gagged. She and Xiao Shi were dragged out of the courtyard, quickly and quietly.
Although Fu Heng was extremely anxious about Meng Qingci's condition, he stopped before entering the room. He carefully wiped the blood off his shoes and hands before stepping over the threshold, completely shutting out the bloodshed and cruelty outside.
Mo Jian felt a chill run down his spine: How long has it been since his master killed someone with his own hands? Miss Meng is someone he absolutely cannot touch. This time, Xiao Shi has truly gone too far.
He whispered orders to the servants around him, who were already terrified: "What are you all standing there for? Clean this place up immediately, don't leave a single trace."
As soon as Fu Heng entered, he heard Zhang He grumbling without looking up as he wrote furiously:
"I warned you long ago that worry and anxiety can damage the spleen and that you need to rest quietly. You should avoid noise and disturbance. I don't know what's wrong with your master. He lets all sorts of people in, and the noise is making my head spin."
Zhang He was engrossed in his medical records, completely unaware of the tense atmosphere that had just ensued outside. His pen suddenly paused, and he looked up in surprise: "Huh? Why is it suddenly so quiet?"
As she looked up, she met Fu Heng's unfathomable gaze.
Zhang He was a simple-minded person, and had never understood social etiquette. At this moment, he couldn't see the gloom churning in Fu Heng's eyes. He only frowned and scolded, "You've come at the right time, sir! The young lady was already weak and bloodless before, and this pregnancy has been difficult. She needs to calm her mind and spirit. If you send people to make trouble for her today and tomorrow, the mother's body will be damaged, and there is a risk of miscarriage."
He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, his tone hardening as he slammed down his pen: "If this continues like this, even a celestial being couldn't reverse the situation!"
Fu Heng knew Zhang He's temperament well and didn't take his bluntness to heart. He simply asked in a deep voice, "What's the situation now?"
Zhang He sighed heavily: "Today we managed to stabilize the pregnancy, but the situation is still dangerous. As the months go by, we need to be extremely careful, as we cannot afford any more setbacks."
Fu Heng remained silent for a moment, then spoke again: "Besides rest, what other kind of conditioning is needed?"
Zhang He shook his head: "Miss, you have many worries and inner turmoil. In addition to medicine, you need to calm your mind. Only with peace of mind can you ensure a safe pregnancy."
Fu Heng nodded silently, noting down Zhang He's instructions one by one. He then turned and walked past the gilded peony screen into the inner room.
Seeing the murderous aura between Fu Heng's brows, Xia Guang's heart skipped a beat. She held her breath, too afraid to imagine what horrifying things had happened outside. She whispered, "Miss is still unconscious. I'll go and prepare the medicine right away." With that, she hurriedly withdrew, a thin layer of sweat beading on her back. What would she do if her master found out that the young lady was only pretending to be unconscious?
Inside, the gilded incense burner emitted the fragrance of agarwood, its wisps filling the room, while the bed curtains embroidered with twin lotus blossoms gleamed with a dark golden luster.
Fu Heng gently lifted the bed curtains and saw Meng Qingci lying quietly with her eyes closed, her brows slightly furrowed like the dark eyebrows of a spring mountain, seemingly extremely uneasy. Her wrist rested on the quilt, almost translucent white. He sat down on the edge of the bed, his palm covering the back of her hand, his fingertips caressing the thin, cicada-wing-like skin of her wrist, his palm trembling with an almost reverent tremor.
His Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and he felt a mix of emotions, including self-reproach and, more than anything, panic.
He originally longed for a child so much in order to keep her. If the child wouldn't treat her well, he would rather she not have a child at all. But then he thought, in a lowly and dark way: without this child, how much of her heart would she have for him?
She said she was willing to live a good life with him, but the doctor said she was deeply troubled. What was she troubled about? Was it that she still couldn't forgive him for forcibly taking her from her at the Marquis's mansion that day?
Fu Heng's eyes were as deep as the night, and his thin lips were pressed into a cold, straight line. He knew all too well that his methods were dishonest, but if he didn't, why would she stay by his side?
Thinking of this, a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips. She looked down on Fu Yan'an because she was unwilling to be a concubine and despised Fu Yan'an's coercion and deception. Song Wenjing, who came from humble background, naturally did not catch her eye. But even Gu Huaixu, who was as pure and gentle as a breeze and had a reputation as a gentleman, did not win her any favor.
It was clear that she was still oblivious to love, so how could she possibly be interested in someone so much older than her? If she knew how worthless he was, wouldn't she despise him even more? Fu Heng dared not gamble.
Meng Qingci was only pretending to faint, but the old woman kept nagging on and on, which annoyed her. She couldn't help but think to herself that Xia Guang was too soft-hearted. If it were her, she would have had the old woman gagged and dragged out to be beaten.
She didn't care much about those words, but the old woman's hoarse and piercing voice, like a night owl, made her temples throb and her head ache.
Even Zhang He, who was taking her pulse, was clearly disturbed. He repeatedly examined her pulse with his fingers, and only stopped after taking the pulse three or four times.
For some reason, the old woman's cursing stopped abruptly, and suddenly there was no sound. The room and surroundings became eerily quiet, save for Zhang He's nagging and the rustling of his pen. This silence, so sudden and unexpected, carried an eerie and unsettling quality.
Unexpectedly, Fu Heng arrived quickly and somehow managed to get rid of Madam Xiao. However, Meng Qingci frowned inwardly, still pretending to be unconscious with her eyes closed, too lazy to deal with Fu Heng.
To her surprise, he sat down on the edge of the bed, grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. His gaze was fixed on her face, burning intensely, making it almost impossible for her to maintain her composure. Meng Qingci was secretly annoyed, but she could only suppress her anger and continue to pretend to be oblivious.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through the room, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smell of blood. Meng Qingci's stomach churned violently, and she could no longer maintain her unconscious state. Uncontrollably, she rolled over and began to dry heave by the bedside.
Fortunately, her stomach was empty, and although her stomach was churning violently, she only dry-heaved a few times while lying by the bed.
Fu Heng was so startled by her that his face changed color. He quickly bent down and gently patted her back, then urgently called out, "Someone! Summon Zhang He again at once!"
"No need..." Meng Qingci grabbed his arm, stopping him from speaking. Her eyes were red from vomiting, and her gaze was misty as she weakly looked up and asked, "What's that smell outside... is it the smell of blood?"
Fu Heng's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes. He didn't want her to think he was inherently violent; after all, in front of her, he had always restrained the violence in his bones, and she had never truly known his true nature.
He immediately composed himself, gently pulled her into his arms, and whispered reassuringly, "You must have smelled something wrong, nothing like that."
Meng Qingci didn't want to dwell on this, treating it as just a pregnancy reaction. She had come up with a brilliant plan and was pondering how to bring it up with Fu Heng.
Unexpectedly, Fu Heng spoke first: "It was my oversight that led me to think this way. I was determined to wait until I found your family before marrying you in a grand ceremony, so as not to wrong you. But today's events have shown me that I was completely wrong."
He reached out and grasped Meng Qingci's fingertips, his palm warm but firm. Deep emotions surged in her slender eyes, a mixture of infatuation and pity that seemed to draw one in.
“You are my woman, Fu Heng’s woman, and you should rightfully be the mistress of my household. Now that you are carrying our child, it would be a real injustice for you to continue to follow me without any status or identity.”
He gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips, his tone suddenly becoming firm: "Qingci, I will marry you immediately. From now on, you will be the most honored woman in Fujian and Guangdong, and no one will dare to be arrogant or presumptuous in front of you, or let you suffer the slightest grievance."
Meng Qingci barely suppressed the urge to push him away, her gentle smile almost faltering. Her heart was a tempest of emotions: Who wants to marry you? Who wants to be your wife? Absurd! Utterly absurd!
But in the end, she simply softened her body and leaned into his arms, letting out a soft sigh that sounded both helpless and coquettish: "How could I not want to be your husband properly? It's just that the wedding ceremony is too complicated, and I'm afraid my body isn't up to the task right now."
At that sensitive moment, Fu Heng took in every subtle struggle and stiffness of Meng Qingci. He closed his eyes, willingly swallowing this obvious lie. Even the slightest hint of feigned affection leaking from her fingertips stirred his heart.
He stroked her slender back with his palm, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure, his voice deep and resolute: "Don't be afraid, I've got everything covered. You don't need to worry about anything, just rest well and wait to become my rightful wife, Fu Heng's wife."
Once Fu Heng has made up his mind about something, he will not tolerate the slightest dissent from others. He was certain that she would never willingly submit, so he coldly watched as he was schemed against until she was driven to desperation and had no choice but to beg him. Later, on the ship, knowing that he could not possibly like her, he planted incense for himself, hoping to make her unable to leave him, body and soul.
Now that he says he wants to marry her, how could she accept or refuse? Meng Qingci was clear-headed and too lazy to waste words, so she simply replied obediently, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
She tilted her head up in his arms, her eyes sparkling with tiny lights, like scattered stars scattered across the sky, and a touch of perfect admiration radiated from them: "I've long heard that you've always advocated the philosophy of mind, emphasizing benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and the unity of knowledge and action. You have many students in Fujian and Guangdong, and are revered as a role model by them."
In the past, she had always treated him with either disdain or perfunctoriness. When had she ever looked at him with such eyes—admiration, adoration, her clear, bright eyes reflecting only him? Fu Heng felt a surge of emotion in his heart, a bittersweet feeling mingling with his own, half his body going limp. A blush crept onto the tips of his ears, and his fingertips curled nervously. He was somewhat flustered by her praise. He forced himself to remain calm and replied indifferently, "It's just an empty reputation."
Meng Qingci stretched out her arms and softly wrapped them around his waist, rubbing her face against his chest, her voice as sweet as honey: "Lately, I haven't been sleeping well, and I often have nightmares. I've heard that the lectures at Qingyun Temple outside the city are very calming. I'd like to go and listen to a few lectures, which will not only soothe my soul but also nourish my fetus."
Fu Heng knew she was just trying to coax him, but he couldn't bear to spoil her mood. He was captivated by her admiring gaze and wanted it to linger a little longer.
Fu Heng stroked her cloud-like hair and finally agreed in a low voice, "Alright. If you want to go, then have Mo Song make the arrangements." He paused slightly and added gently, "Just one thing, you can't stay out overnight."
Meng Qingci chuckled softly and gently hooked her slender finger across his heart: "How do you still remember? It shows how petty you are."
Fu Heng blushed slightly, but his expression remained calm: "It's not that I'm stingy." He lowered his voice, as if explaining or talking to himself, "You are pregnant now, so it's not convenient for you to be out in public."
Since he had agreed, Meng Qingci had no choice but to comply. A barely perceptible hint of relief flashed across her eyes, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.
As the two were talking, Xia Guang came in carrying the medicine: "Miss, please drink the medicine first."
Fu Heng took the medicine bowl, tested the temperature, and was about to feed her himself when Meng Qingci turned her head slightly away and said softly, "I'll do it myself. It'll only make it more bitter if I feed her spoonful by spoonful."
She took the bowl of medicine, frowned, held her breath, and drank it all in one gulp. Then she handed the empty bowl back to Xia Guang. Only then did she notice that Xia Guang was trembling slightly and looking tense. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? You look so pale."
Xia Guang forced a smile, subconsciously tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and whispered, "N-nothing... It's probably just the heat; I've caught a bit of heatstroke."
Meng Qingci then said gently, "In that case, you should go and rest. While you're at it, ask Doctor Zhang to prescribe two doses of medicine to relieve the heat so you can recover properly."
Xia Guang dared not respond. Fu Heng was staring at her with cold, deep eyes, his gaze filled with silent intimidation. She was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on her back, and she froze on the spot, unable to move.
Meng Qingci chuckled softly, her gaze shifting between the two of them: "Why are you looking at him? Is it because he doesn't want you to go?"
Xia Guang's throat tightened, and her voice was dry: "No...nothing like that."
Fu Heng then spoke calmly, "Go down."
Xia Guang, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly responded and fled almost as if escaping. Her heart trembled all the way, thinking to herself: If the young lady knew that her master had just beheaded that old woman outside the door, with blood splattered on the steps, she would certainly not stay in this house anymore.
Xia Guang used to often try to persuade Meng Qingci, but now, having witnessed the Third Master's ruthless and cruel methods firsthand, she felt a chill run down her spine. Recalling the world's praise of the Third Master as "as pure as jade, self-disciplined and respectful," she suddenly found it all absurd.
Xiao was carried back to the courtyard by Fu Heng's guards. Fu Yixian was shocked to see his wife's pale face and unconscious state. What chilled him even more was that one of the two trusted old women who had gone with Xiao was carried back with her head severed from her body, and the other was dragged directly to the ancestral hall and beaten to death without even going through him.
Fu Heng's guards escorted the person there and then turned and left without saying a word to Fu Yixian.
Chaos erupted in the courtyard, a cacophony of hurried footsteps fetching a doctor and screams from maids upon discovering the corpse. Fu Yixian, barely suppressing his shock and anger, grabbed a young maid who had returned with him and demanded an explanation.
The young maid was already terrified, crying incoherently as she recounted the events in broken sentences. Fu Yixian grew increasingly alarmed as he listened, and when she finished, he almost collapsed, slumping heavily into his chair.
His mind was buzzing, and only one thought remained: It's over.
Fu Yixian's gaze swept over Xiao Shi, who lay on the bed with her eyes closed. He gritted his teeth, hating his wife for her foolishness in ignoring his repeated warnings and acting recklessly. He was even more furious at Fu Heng's ruthless methods, which showed no regard for his dignity.
After this incident, not only is his position as acting clan leader now meaningless, but he will also likely find it difficult to command respect and lose all authority within the entire Fu clan in the future.
I shouldn't have let that brat surnamed Shen sway me with just a few words.
Everyone says that Fu Heng is most like his grandfather, upright and honest, self-disciplined and respectful, a model of a noble family. Fu Yixian, however, thinks that apart from their shared obsession with women of maid-like birth, Fu Heng is far more ruthless than his grandfather in terms of decisiveness and cruelty.
This grand-nephew of his, however, was always as still as a deep pool, his thoughts unfathomable, and he never showed his emotions. Yet now, over a few ordinary words from a woman in the inner quarters, he had caused her to bleed on the spot. Thinking of this, a clear chill suddenly ran down Fu Yixian's spine.
Fu Yixian thought of how much power Fu Heng had accumulated in recent years. Not only did the younger generation of the Fu clan follow his lead, but the powerful families of Fujian and Guangdong were all under his control. How could they possibly take him, a mere acting clan leader from a collateral branch, seriously? For a moment, Fu Yixian even abandoned the idea of going to confront him.
A flurry of people rushed through the courtyard as the doctor they had summoned administered acupuncture to Madam Xiao. It wasn't until dusk deepened and the light faded that Madam Xiao finally awoke. She laboriously turned her eyes and glimpsed her husband sitting in a chair not far away, his face hidden in the dim shadows, his expression unreadable.
She opened her mouth, trying her best to say something, but only managed to utter muffled "ah ah" sounds. Her tongue was so stiff and numb that it wouldn't obey her commands, and a trickle of saliva uncontrollably slid down from the corner of her lips.
Fu Yixian did not step forward. He just stared coldly at his wife of decades with a gloomy face, his gaze as cold as ice, unmoving.
Fu Yixian had just interrogated the servants in Xiao's room in detail, and learned a lot of things from them. Now, looking coldly at his wife's disheveled appearance, he curled up a sinister smile: "I underestimated you. I've wronged you by having followed me for decades. I'm sorry for you."
Xiao's eyes widened, a flash of panic crossing them before turning into urgency. She tried to speak, as if to explain something, but struggled to move her body and found that she had lost all feeling in her hands and feet. Her heart was filled with even more fear, and she could only let out more urgent but indistinct "ah ah" cries.
Fu Yixian merely snorted indifferently: "No need to waste your energy. Your stroke is incurable."
Xiao stared at him intently, her eyes filled with disbelief. He actually had no intention of seeking medical treatment for her anymore!
Fu Yixian raised his hand and slowly stroked his face, then suddenly gave a sinister smile, his voice low and icy: "You married me, yet you can see my cousin every day. These past decades, are you satisfied?"
Seeing the cold indifference in Fu Yixian's eyes, Xiao knew he knew everything. Gradually, she stopped struggling and slumped onto the bed. Saliva still dripped uncontrollably from the corners of her mouth, but her eyes remained wide open, their turbid light burning with a last glimmer of unwillingness.
Fu Yixian chuckled softly, his aged voice hoarse like the wind from the underworld, carrying a chilling aura: "Don't worry, we've been husband and wife after all, I won't let you die."
After speaking, he didn't look at the person on the bed again, turned around with a flick of his sleeve, and stepped straight into the deep twilight outside the door.
From that day on, Fu Heng began preparing for his wedding with Meng Qingci. As the governor of Fujian and Guangdong, he naturally had to host a banquet for all the wealthy and powerful families in Fujian and Guangdong. Although the wedding date was set for a month later, which was a bit rushed, he did not want to wrong Meng Qingci.
Although setting the wedding date a month later seemed a bit rushed, he was unwilling to simplify things or compromise her in the slightest.
Mo Song was ordered to organize the wedding banquet. While preparing the dowry, he also arranged the betrothal gifts. The various formalities and rituals were numerous and complicated, keeping him so busy he was practically running around like a spinning top, wishing he could be three people at once.
Meng Qingci, however, seemed to be detached from the matter, never inquiring about the details of the wedding ceremony. Instead, she would visit Qingyun Temple every few days, claiming that the Taoist practices there were extraordinary and suitable for a peaceful pregnancy.
Fu Heng understood everything perfectly, but he never pointed it out, only instructing her to return to the manor before dark every day. He ignored everything else, tacitly approving her every word.
Soon the news spread like wildfire throughout Minzhou. Meng Qingci, the woman who was deeply favored by Governor Fu Heng, was not a concubine without a title or status, but rather the woman he was about to welcome into his household as his principal wife.
This incident caused a great stir, astonishing all the prominent families in Minzhou. They had initially thought she was of humble origin and only temporarily favored because of her beauty, but who would have thought that Fu Heng would actually welcome her into the family as a principal wife?
Everyone couldn't help but speculate about what kind of magic this girl possessed that could make Governor Fu, who had been aloof and celibate for many years, so infatuated with her.
Beyond the astonishment, there was even more regret. Many powerful families had secretly planned for years to send their eldest daughters to the governor's mansion, but they had always been intimidated by Fu Heng's cold, taciturn, and woman-averse demeanor, and dared not act rashly.
Only now, witnessing him greet a woman of humble origins with the respect due to a principal wife, did she realize: she had been overly cautious and misjudged his character. What man in this world is truly unmoved by beauty?
After their initial lamentations, each family quickly turned to a more pragmatic approach. Since the situation was already set in stone, they figured they might as well start planning early. If they could gain the favor of the future governor's wife, it would certainly be of great benefit to their family's future.
So they all secretly inquired about Meng Qingci's temperament and preferences, and learned that she had been going to Qingyun Temple recently and was obsessed with Taoist magic and alchemy, so they all had designs on her.
Families either prepared Taoist classics and elixirs as gifts, introduced Taoist priests skilled in alchemy, or, imitating the eldest daughter of the Zhu family, meticulously arranged "chance encounters" at the Qingyun Temple. All they hoped to do was be the first to curry favor with the governor's new bride.
On this day, the Cheng family, who had been reprimanded by Fu Heng, specially sent Madam Cheng with a Taoist priest who claimed to be skilled in alchemy to Qingyun Temple to "encounter" Meng Qingci.
Grandma Cheng immediately praised the Taoist priest highly upon meeting him, saying that he was the best in the world: "Miss, you don't know this, but Taoist Priest Chen has a scroll of alchemy secrets that can not only make people look young forever, but also has the miraculous effect of bringing the dead back to life."
Meng Qingci seemed very interested, listening with a smile. Upon hearing this, she also obligingly replied, "Oh? There are such profound Taoist methods in the world? If it's convenient, you might as well tell me in detail. If it is really as you say, such elixirs and medicines should naturally be offered to my master first."
She sneered inwardly: This Taoist priest had a pointed face and shifty eyes; he didn't look like a proper practitioner at all. She wanted to see what kind of elaborate lies this man could come up with.
The Taoist priest, Chen, was about forty years old, with a slightly sallow complexion and a thin build. His gray-blue Taoist robe accentuated his otherworldly air. He half-closed his eyes, holding a whisk in one hand and slowly stroking his goatee with the other, looking every bit the sage of the world. Yet, he humbly said, "I am a man beyond the mundane world. Fame is like fleeting clouds to me; it is all just a misunderstanding spread by the world."
Meng Qingci calmly picked up her teacup, took a light sip with an elegant demeanor, and maintained her composure, not buying into Chen Daoshi's act.
Outsiders all say she's devoted to Taoist practices and obsessed with alchemy, but they don't know that deep down she doesn't believe in these mystical things at all. Her seeking out a Taoist priest for alchemy has another purpose, which has little to do with the alchemy itself. If this Taoist priest wants to put on airs with her, he's really mistaken.
Grandma Cheng, who was standing to the side, couldn't contain herself and hurriedly urged, "Daoist, why be so modest? If your elixir can win the favor of the governor, it will be a great deed that benefits the people of Fujian and Guangdong!"
Upon hearing this, Taoist Chen seemed tempted. He slightly raised his whisk and said slowly, "Since we are destined to meet, I will not refuse. This elixir formula was discovered by my grandmaster in a cave in Zhongnan Mountain. It has always been a secret passed down in our sect and is never easily shown to others."
His tone grew serious, and his face became solemn: "To refine this pill, not only do we need to gather rare spiritual herbs and immortal plants, but we also need two special medicinal guides. The way of alchemy is profound. A slight difference can lead to a huge error. Neither of them can be missing."
In recent days, Meng Qingci had met many Taoist priests who claimed to be able to refine elixirs, most of whom used the same set of words to create an air of mystery. She half-covered her delicate face with a round fan, revealing only her beautiful eyes slightly curved, with a half-smile: "I wonder what spiritual herbs and immortal plants are needed for refining elixirs? Taoist priest, you may explain in detail."
The Taoist priest had prepared his explanation, expecting the woman to ask about the two medicinal ingredients as an ordinary person would. However, the young woman did not follow the usual procedure and instead asked about the details of the medicinal ingredients.
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Author's Note: Meng Qingci: If you wanted to marry me, why didn't you do it sooner?
Fu Heng: You can lie to me, I'll enjoy it too.
Author's Note: I'll no longer split the content into two chapters; everything will be posted in one chapter. I can only write a maximum of 1,000 words per hour. Thanks for urging me to write more. I'll try my best to make up for it one day each week when I'm completely exhausted. [Heart][Cat Paw]
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