Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Snow fell softly, muffling all sounds.

The few servants in Qinghui Garden moved about methodically.

Xu Yunqi instructed Xueying to prepare a calming soup, also known as the Forgetfulness Soup. On one hand, she feared Pei Muheng might not cooperate. On the other hand, she needed to give him three doses of medicine within twelve hours, during which time he mustn't awaken.

Preparing a numbing powder or Forgetfulness Soup was Xueying's specialty. After sending everyone away, she went to the small apothecary at the back courtyard to compound the medicine.

Xu Yunqi then asked two maidservants to bring a screen to shield the bed and lit four additional palace lanterns, illuminating the western annex brightly. Once all unrelated personnel had retreated, Xu Yunqi rolled up her sleeves, ready to tend to the wound.

Years of practicing medicine had made healing the injured and saving lives second nature to her, let alone that the person before her was her husband. Xu Yunqi took over without hesitation.

Pei Muheng lay sprawled on the soft couch, his tall figure occupying most of the bed. Half of his pale face was visible, devoid of any color. Beads of fine sweat dotted his forehead, and his thick eyelashes were knitted together tightly, indicating he was enduring excruciating pain. Xu Yunqi deftly and gently cut away his outer robe.

When she was left with only his plain undergarment, Xueying carefully brought over the calming soup. The mistress and servant struggled for a while to feed it to Pei Muheng. Sensing an unusual scent, he instinctively became guarded, fearing it might aggravate his wounds. Xu Yunqi had no choice but to avoid touching him. Fortunately, after a brief wait, he lost consciousness entirely, collapsing heavily onto the couch.

As Xu Yunqi wiped his sweat, she instructed Xueying, "Fetch the Jade Skin Balm."

This was Xu Yunqi's exclusive recipe, capable of soothing injured skin to the greatest extent and aiding in rapid wound healing.

Xiaoying soon returned with three tiny brown bottles. She glanced at the various ointments Huang Wei had sent over on the side table and snorted in disdain before scooping them all up into her arms.

Xu Yunqi prepared the medicine bottles. With one hand holding a knife and the other gently gripping Pei Muheng's bloodied inner shirt, she began to clean his wounds.

Xiaoying retreated outside, crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame of the western annex. She stared down anyone who dared to cast curious glances inside.

For such injuries, the most challenging part wasn't applying medicine but cleaning the wound. The ability to restore the skin to its original state depended entirely on how perfectly the injury was treated. In the past, Xu Yunqi had accompanied her grandfather during his consultations and had seen it all. From snakebites to scalds and countless cuts and bruises, she could handle any situation with ease.

Looking at Pei Muheng's mangled wound, Xu Yunqi remained composed, her slender hands working diligently and meticulously.

It took her well over an hour to carefully remove the infected flesh from her husband's body. She then sprinkled a layer of cool, odorless Jym Water, which quickly seeped into the skin. The once shocking redness of the wound seemed to calm, gradually losing its intensity.

Once the liquid medicine had dried, she applied a colorless, creamy ointment using a homemade cotton swab. By the time she finished, it was already late at night.

To prevent Pei Muheng from running a high fever in the middle of the night, Xu Yunqi slept on the Rattan Bed in the western annex. Fortunately, the night passed peacefully. The next day, at around mid-morning, Xu Yunqi checked his wound again. It had begun to heal rapidly, no longer showing any obvious signs of redness. She instructed Xiaoying to fetch water and personally helped Pei Muheng bathe, changing him into a fresh robe. Finally, she applied a layer of Tissue Regeneration Cream and covered him with a thin mattress, leaving him be.

In the late afternoon, at the beginning of the Hour of Monkey, the restless Duke Xi couple rushed to Qinghui Garden.

Xu Yunqi courteously ushered the guests into the bright hall, instructing Aunt Chen to serve tea. The Consort of Prince Xi had no inclination for tea, however, and hastened towards the inner chamber. Passing through a six-panel screen adorned with vibrant flowers and birds, she beheld her son lying serenely on a soft couch, his flawless countenance devoid of its usual sharpness, soundlessly slumbering in deep repose. Never before had her son endured such hardship, and tears welled up in the Consort's eyes, spilling over as she stifled a sob and retreated quietly.

Although she was displeased with Xu Yunqi's arbitrary decision from the previous day, the Duchess of Xi, facing her daughter-in-law who had taken care of her son all night, unusually offered a kind expression. She wiped away her tears with a embroidered handkerchief, her voice hoarse as she said,

"Last night was a hard one on you, my dear."

"Certainly," Xu Yunqi replied with a consistent smile on his face.

Princess Xixuan cast a glance at her daughter-in-law, whose demeanor was as serene and unassuming as ever. Back then, she had ignored her, and now she remained the same, unperturbed by either honor or disgrace. Princess Xixuan couldn't help but hold her in higher esteem for her composure.

Prince Xi slips into the room stealthily while the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are engaged in conversation.

Outside, Nurse Hao supported Princess Xi, who sat down gracefully. Dabbing away the tears from the corner of her eyes, she casually inquired,

"Did you use the ointment I brought last night? That is a remedy from the Chief Imperial Physician Fan, a formula priceless in all of Beijing."

Xu Yunqi replied with a smile, "Yes, it's quite good indeed."

Princess Xi clearly did not trust her; any explanation would only invite unnecessary trouble.

Ginkgo stood by with her eyes wide open.

Princess Xi indeed felt relieved. She had been tossing and turning all night long, and now that she saw her son improving, she pressed her forehead and closed her eyes to rest.

Inside, Prince Xi sat on a brocaded footstool in front of Pei Muheng's bed.

After a moment, Pei Muheng opened his eyes in the dim light, too groggy to discern his surroundings. He immediately met his father's furious expression.

Prince Xi scolded him,

"You've gone too far, daring to comment on the replacement of the crown prince!"

Pei Muheng, having slept in a prostrated position for too long, felt a soreness in his neck. He rubbed it, his handsome face illuminated by the warm lamplight like a piece of jade. With half-lidded eyes, his voice slightly hoarse, he said,

"Your Highness, Father, Uncle Twelve's petition has been pending for two days. The emperor is as clear-minded as a mirror. If he truly intended to depose the crown prince, that petition would have been delivered to the Three Offices long ago. The reason His Majesty holds onto it is that he's waiting for an opportunity to save face. I was merely following the emperor's will and easing his concerns."

Prince Xi harrumphed softly. "Even so, you didn't have to endure this beating just to please the emperor!"

"I have my own motives," Pei Muheng replied, lifting his gaze to meet his father's. The sharpness in his eyes was apparent. "Think about it. If I advise the emperor to suppress the discussion on deposing the crown prince, how will Prince Qin react? He'll surely be filled with resentment. My goal is to provoke Prince Qin. Seeing that the crown prince is almost out of the picture, Prince Qin will do anything to fabricate evidence against the crown prince, leading to his downfall. Then, I'll have achieved killing two birds with one stone."

The Emperor, a sagacious ruler with absolute power, tolerated Prince Qin's influence over the Crown Prince but would never condone any attempt by Prince Qin to unseat him. The day he toppled the Crown Prince from his position, Prince Qin's downfall would surely be imminent.

Prince Xi gazed deeply at his strategically-minded son and sighed profoundly,

"You, my son, still refuse to heed advice."

Pei Muheng's expression remained aloof as he replied,

"Father, you have repeatedly fought in battles across the southern and northern lands, securing half the kingdom for our Imperial Grandfather. Is that all you aspire for?"

It was true that the Emperor did not favor Prince Xi, but among all the imperial princes, he was the only one skilled in leading troops. For decades, the toughest assignments had been handled by him.

Prince Xi tasted the words in his mouth but didn't respond directly. Instead, he said, "You're not aiming for two birds with one stone, I think you're aiming for three. Although His Majesty punished you yesterday, he might secretly be concerned about you. Once you've recovered, there might be an imperial edict awaiting you."

Thinking of how his young son had to navigate the treacherous world of politics, Prince Xi's heart ached. "Being in the company of the Emperor is like treading on thin ice; it must have been difficult for you." Then, with a gentle tone, he asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Pei Muheng only then recalled his injury, but now the affected area felt icy cold, and he couldn't sense any pain. So, he shook his head. "Son doesn't feel any pain."

Prince Xi smiled meaningfully and stood up. "Alright, then continue your recovery."

Prince Xi, accompanied by his princess consort, bid farewell and departed.

Xu Yunqi saw them off to the entrance of the courtyard.

Taking advantage of this brief interval, Huang Wei sneaked into Qinghui Garden with a few books that Pei Muheng usually read. He bypassed a screen and entered the western chamber, where he found his master staring blankly around the room.

"I'm here... how?" Pei Muheng propped himself up on one elbow, his handsome brows knitted in confusion as he asked Huang Wei.

It was evident that they were in the western chamber of Qinghui Garden.

Unsurprised by his master's reaction, Huang Wei hurried forward to adjust the sliding quilt and explained,

"This was Young Lady Xu's decision."

Pei Muheng stood there, dumbfounded.

Huang Wei quickly tried to absolve himself, "Yesterday, Young Lady didn't even spare Prince Xi's face; she insisted on having you brought here."

Pei Muheng's gaze remained fixed on him, his complexion fluctuating between pale and ashen. Eventually, he seemed to reach his limit and asked in a deep, stern voice,

"Was it Madam who applied the medicine?"

Huang Wei, upon seeing the dark shadows in his master's eyes, trembled with fear and prostrated on the ground, explaining cautiously, "Please don't blame this old servant, Young Madam is the master, if she insists on serving you with the medicine, no one can stop her..."

Pei Musheng closed his eyes momentarily, his hand supporting his forehead, his handsome face hidden in the shadows without a word.

Unable to read his thoughts, Huang Wei remained kneeling, but after a while, he didn't receive the expected fury.

Initially, Pei Musheng was somewhat annoyed. He disliked women touching him, but then he considered that the person was his wife. Xu Yunqi had always been well-behaved and cautious, and now, at a crucial moment, she had stepped up as a caring wife to tend to her injured husband. Could he blame her for that?

Despite some initial awkwardness and embarrassment, Pei Musheng quickly dismissed it as unimportant.

He told himself that it was a spouse's duty, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Seeing his master's expression turn calm, Huang Wei admired his composure.

It seemed his worries were unnecessary.

Pei Musheng found the screen blocking the light annoying, so he instructed Huang Wei to move it aside. As Huang Wei followed the order, he heard a tinkling laughter outside the veranda, indicating that Fifth Miss Pei Mushan had come to visit Pei Musheng. Huang Wei had no choice but to wait outside.

Moments later, Pei Mushan entered arm in arm with Xu Yunqi.

Taking advantage of the lull, Pei Musheng had already draped himself with a dark green robe. He lay sideways on a soft couch, facing outward, with a book in his hand. His expression seemed no different from usual.

Seeing that her brother didn't appear to have been beaten, Pei Mushan approached in surprise.

"Hey, Brother, didn't you get whipped? Did Grandfather Emperor not have the heart to do it and just put on a show for outsiders?"

Pei Musheng glanced at his sister impatiently. His feelings were complicated, but he noticed the approaching figure out of the corner of his eye. He replied coolly, "I'm much better now."

Xu Yunqi was neither too close nor too far away. She discreetly observed him and, seeing no sign of anger on his face, she smiled and asked, "Third Master, would you like some tea?"

Pei Musheng cast a casual glance in her direction and nodded without a fuss. "Thank you."

Xu Yunqi turned to signal at the maid Yingxin, then sat down beside him.

Pei Mushan looked at her silent brother and glanced at her gentle and composed sister-in-law. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, she blinked and suddenly asked, "Brother, who took care of you last night?"

Pei Musheng paused in flipping through his book.

Xu Yunqi, having anticipated Pei Mushan's reluctance to engage in conversation, promptly replied, "It was me."

Unaware of the couple's unfulfilled marital duties, Pei Mushan found nothing out of the ordinary and commented, "Brother looks well-rested, I assume Sister-in-law took great care of him last night."

Xu Yunqi's voice rang clear, "As it should be."

Pei Mushan, upon hearing her composed tone, slowly turned his gaze towards her. His wife sat gracefully beside a high table, dressed in a bright haimang red jacket with a front opening. Despite her tall stature, the garment accentuated her slender waist, enhancing her elegance.

"I truly appreciate your efforts, Madam," he said sincerely.

Xu Yunqi smiled, not taking offense.

Pei Mushan's gaze shifted between the two, clearly sensing their polite but distant interaction. Looking at her gentle, harmless face, Pei Mushan attributed the cause to her brother and decided to intervene impolitely, "Is that all there is to it? Just a simple 'thank you for your hard work'?"

Pei Mushan narrowed his eyes, giving his sister a casual glance.

His cold stare sent chills down the spine, and even though Pei Mushan usually held her brother in high regard, she couldn't help but stick out her tongue.

Xu Yunqi, fearing an argument between the siblings, suggested taking Pei Mushan to the eastern secondary room for some amusement. Pei Mushan stood up, "Tonight is New Year's Eve, and Mother is in a foul mood. She has asked me to assist Eldest Sister-in-law in the kitchen. Therefore, I won't stay long. By the way, will Sister-in-law be attending the New Year's Eve family banquet later?"

Princess Xi intended for Xu Yunqi to stay and look after Pei Mushan, but Pei Mushan thought it would be better not to rely on such an aloof and indifferent brother.

Every New Year's Eve was the loneliest day for Xu Yunqi. Unaccustomed to the hustle and bustle, she said,

"I'll pass on that."

She had to stay and take care of Pei Mushan as well.

Pei Mushan glanced up at her in that moment.

Their eyes met briefly.

Feeling slightly disappointed, Pei Mushan said, "Then I'll bring some nice treats for Sister-in-law later." Before leaving, she made a silly face at Pei Mushan, who ignored her.

Xu Yunqi accompanied her sister-in-law out. Standing outside the beaded curtain, Pei Mushan turned back to look at her weary brother. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Her brother was entirely devoted to state affairs; it was uncertain if he had ever experienced affection. It was pitiful that her beautiful and charming sister-in-law was trapped with such an unfeeling man.

Whispering to Xu Yunqi, she said, "Sister-in-law, if Brother bullies you, tell me."

Recalling how Pei Mushan had effortlessly controlled his sister with a glance, Xu Yunqi smiled softly. "Promise."

She thought to herself that no one in the Prince Xi's Palace could control Pei Muhang.

After bidding Pei Mushan farewell, Xu Yunqi retraced his steps alone to the western antechamber.

Beneath the glow of the luminous jade lamp, the man was engrossed in perusing the imperial bulletins tucked within the pages of his book.

Pei Muhang had undergone punishment yesterday, and his body was still very weak. It would not be advisable for him to exert himself mentally at this time.

Xu Yunqi urged, "Third Master, you don't look well. Perhaps you should rest for a while."

Pei Muheng was deeply engrossed in his official duties and paid no heed to Xu Yunqi's words.

Towards this disobedient patient... Xu Yunqi picked up a brocaded stool and moved closer to Pei Muheng, smiling as she joined him in his task.

A familiar herbal scent wafted towards him. Pei Muheng had never been so close to a woman before; he lifted his gaze to look at her.

Their eyes met.

Xu Yunqi gave him a fearless smile. "I'm here to keep Third Master company."

Pei Muheng naturally picked up on his wife's hidden meaning and, with a touch of resignation, closed the book.

At that moment, Xingye brought a bowl of medicine over. Xu Yunqi personally tested its temperature before passing it to Pei Muheng,

"Third Master, please have your medicine."

Pei Muheng was unaware that Xu Yunqi had arranged for the imperial physicians to visit him. He took the bowl and drank it all in one go. Only after did he realize the bitter taste, furrowing his brow. Turning to his wife, he proposed, "My lady, I need to wash my face and rinse my mouth."

As his wife, Xu Yunqi was more than willing to tend to him. She playfully asked, "Shall I assist you?"

Pei Muheng didn't mind her help, but lying here like this wasn't exactly dignified, and he didn't wish for Xu Yunqi to witness it.

"Call Huang Wei in," he requested.

Xu Yunqi didn't insist.

Soon, night fell, and the sky darkened like an inverted pot, suggesting another heavy snowfall was imminent.

This year, unforeseen incidents shook the imperial court, with the crown prince being confined in the Eastern Palace, causing anxiety and unrest among the courtiers and the people. Even the joyous atmosphere of New Year's Eve was diminished.

The emperor, in a foul mood, canceled the grand New Year's Eve banquet.

The Xihua Palace became even more desolate. The third young master of the household had been subjected to corporal punishment in the court, and no one dared to make a fuss. As a result, the children of Madam Xie and Madam Li were also confined within the courtyard, forbidden from setting off fireworks.

It was only when Prince Xihua intervened that permission was granted for the children to celebrate New Year's Eve, gradually bringing life and noise back to the palace.

Qinghui Garden seemed like a forgotten paradise on earth, serene and devoid of human presence.

Xu Yunqi distributed New Year's money to the servants and maids, allowing them to reunite with their families, leaving only Yinxing and Huang Wei to hang lanterns in Qinghui Garden. Occasional disputes echoed from outside the corridors, highlighting the tranquility of the spacious courtyard.

Inside the room, Xu Yunqi faced away from Pei Muheng, folding clothes on a canopied daybed. Pei Muheng held a book, his gaze fixed on his wife's diligent profile.

Silence hung between them. Previously, Pei Muheng was unaccustomed to having a woman moving around in front of him, but now he found no discomfort in Xu Yunqi's quiet presence.

Pei Muheng had endured a beating in the snow the previous day and had caught a chill, causing him to cough softly from time to time. Upon finishing her task, Xu Yunqi promptly prepared a cup of herbal tea to alleviate the cold. Pei Muheng expressed gratitude as he accepted it, and Xu Yunqi sat beside him, keeping him company.

Right at that moment, a magnificent fireworks display burst into bloom in the sky, drawing the couple's synchronized gaze.

Lost in a fleeting memory of that night on the jade bridge, both their expressions held a hint of bewilderment.

Xu Yunqi intended to live a peaceful life with him, so she naturally didn't want her husband to misunderstand her.

"I didn't mean anything by it that night," she said.

After a long silence, his low, magnetic voice echoed from beside her, "I understand."

From then on, the conflict regarding the imperial marriage was completely resolved.

With her grandfather's disappearance weighing heavily on her mind, Xu Yunqi had no heart for celebrating New Year's Eve. Pei Muheng also had no such custom. Before they slept, the Hui Wang couple sent over red envelopes for the New Year, but Pei Muheng hadn't prepared one for his wife. He simply gave her his own.

The next day, on New Year's Day, while the sky was still dark, firecrackers erupted throughout the city, rousing Xu Yunqi from her sleep. She put on her robe and was about to head to the bathroom when she heard movement from the west chamber. Hurriedly wrapping herself in her outer garment, she went over to find Pei Muheng propping himself up on a low table, attempting to rise. She quickly asked,

"What are you doing?"

Pei Muheng had a good understanding of his own condition. Although the punishment from the Imperial Guards seemed severe, they had actually held back and hadn't caused any serious injuries. It was just some superficial wounds. "I'm much better now. I've been lying down for two days, and I thought I'd try to walk a bit," Pei Muheng explained.

Xu Yunqi approached to advise,

"You shouldn't move around too much; it could reopen your wounds and cause more bleeding."

Pei Muheng was no longer feeling significant pain, so he replied calmly, "It's not a big deal..."

Pei Muheng truly didn't mind, but his young wife's expression turned serious as she said,

"But that would leave a scar, and scars are very unattractive..."

Subconsciously, Pei Muheng thought that a scar was nothing – he was a martial artist and had plenty of them on his body. But upon pondering his wife's words, his refined face displayed a rare mix of uncontrollable embarrassment and awkwardness.

What did she mean by that?

Was she really bothered by him having a scar?

Thinking about the location of the wound... Pei Muheng's ears tinged slightly red, and his composure from yesterday was no longer present.

If Pei Muheng wanted to prevent any long-term consequences from his injury, he needed to lie still for at least three days, Xu Yunqi mused. As expected, the noble First Son was indeed unwilling to bear a scar, so Pei Muheng obediently stayed in place without making a sound.

Xu Yunqi's lips curved gently.

"I'll pour you some tea."

Pei Muleng was no ordinary man; he could discern the playful undertone in her voice. Only then did he realize that he had lost this round of their verbal sparring.

Leaning lazily against the low table, he gazed at his wife's busy figure and asked leisurely, "What do you usually do when I'm not at home?"

Xu Yunqi approached with the tea in hand. As she handed it to him, she replied gracefully, "Nothing much, just some mundane chores."

Pei Muleng accepted the tea but sounded slightly displeased. "Sounds like a rather idle life."

Xu Yunqi was taken aback. Was he complaining that she wasn't virtuous enough or too idle?

After a moment of contemplation, she quickly found an excuse.

"On regular days, I also assist Third Master in organizing the storeroom, handling social obligations, and..." Xu Yunqi racked her brains for more examples. "Hmm, I've even made a few new outfits for you, Third Master..."

In the sewing room, she instructed Chen Mommy to fetch a few of his old garments from the western annex for tailoring.

Pei Muheng looked at his bewildered young wife and faintly curved his lips. Suddenly, he found himself entertained. "Is there nothing else?"

Xu Yunqi's small face displayed a hint of distress.

"Third Master, if you have something to say, please speak directly. This concubine's mind is not sharp enough to guess your intentions."

She had no time to decipher a man's thoughts.

Pei Muheng smiled leisurely before finally speaking openly.

"The pastries you made last time were quite good."