Chapter 31

Chapter 31

The carriage moved slowly towards the palace, splashing through puddles as the rain finally ceased. A gap opened in the western sky, allowing a streak of sunlight to break through the clouds.

After helping Xu Yunqi down from the carriage, Pei Muheng didn't let go of her hand. Yunqi felt a warm dampness on the back of her hand, and she could sense sweat forming if she held on any longer. Thus, she tried to pull away, but Pei Muheng's grip tightened, his expression questioning.

Xu Yunqi whispered, "I'd like some tea."

It was an excuse he couldn't refuse.

Pei Muheng's gaze lingered on her cheeks for a moment, then he used his free right hand to slide the small table closer. He personally poured her a cup of tea and placed it before her, looking at her with clear eyes, "Drink."

His every action seemed to emphasize that he could still serve tea with one hand.

Xu Yunqi was somewhat speechless, but she picked up the teacup and drank it all in one go.

Pei Muheng also noticed the warmth in his palm and adjusted his position, gently holding her wrist with a leisurely pace.

Her entire hand was soft and tender, fitting perfectly in the palm of his hand.

Xu Yunqi had no choice but to let him be.

Just then, a young voice came from ahead of the carriage:

"Ah, ah, ah, is this Madam Xu's carriage?"

Yan Jin was riding his horse, panicked and without direction, when he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure sitting in the carriage ahead. It was that very maid who had kicked away Manager Liu yesterday, clearing the way for Madam Xu. The Yan family had a deep impression of Xingyin, especially since Manager Liu's side still hurt significantly, and he kept saying how well she had kicked.

Yan Jin had been playing at an inn when his personal attendant hurriedly found him, informing him of the Yan family's intention to marry Xu Yunqi:

"Fifth Young Master, the other young masters have already gone to the Xu residence. You shouldn't just stand there."

Recalling Xu Yunqi's captivating face, Yan Jin immediately leaped up from behind the table, "What are my elder brothers meddling with? This marriage can only be with me." He threw away the card in his hand and rushed out of the inn with his attendant.

After returning home the previous day, the Yan family's young masters had praised Madam Xu, while others expressed admiration and gratitude. Only Yan Jin had developed a hint of admiration. Little did he know that fate would bring the opportunity right to his doorstep.

Not knowing exactly where the Xu residence was, he rushed forward blindly. Yet, fortune seemed to favor him as she was delivered right before him.

Yan Jin approached joyfully on his horse, his gaze landing on Xingyin. Pointing at the carriage, he asked, "May I ask if Madam Xu is inside?"

Ginkgo didn't know Yan Jin and was full of confusion. The hidden guard driving the carriage, however, gave Yan Jin a cold stare.

"What brings Young Master Yan here?" he asked sternly.

Yan Jin was notorious in the capital as a naive fool, usually following his younger uncle, Yan Shaoling, and causing mischief. Upon hearing the question, he immediately grinned, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "My grandmother sent me to marry your Miss Xu."

Upon hearing this, the hidden guard's face darkened.

Staring at him with wide eyes, Ginkgo was genuinely astonished by the young man's audacity. She couldn't help but take a closer look at him, noticing his thick eyebrows, large eyes, fair skin, and innocent expression. Then, she suppressed her laughter and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? My lady is already married."

The hidden guard feared provoking Pei Muheng inside and quickly stopped the carriage. He turned to Yan Jin and warned, "Watch your words, Young Master Yan. Our young madam is in a good relationship with Third Master. This isn't the place for you to cause trouble. Please leave."

Despite being the son of the prime minister, Yan Jin's abilities might be secondary, but his aura was formidable. Seated on his horse, he glared back and said, "Didn't they divorce? So, if your Third Master doesn't want her, she's not allowed to remarry...?"

Before he could finish his sentence, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing an icy, flawless face.

Pei Muheng's expression was almost impossible to read, and his tone was indiscernible in terms of anger or pleasure.

"Has the 'Crimson Crow' from the Imperial Hunting Grounds been found?"

Ginkgo secretly stole a glance at her husband behind her, unable to believe that Pei Muheng could still maintain his composure and engage in casual conversation at such a time.

When Yan Jin noticed Pei Muheng also inside the carriage, he was immediately taken aback. Didn't they just divorce? Why was Pei Muheng here? He couldn't resist peering in, catching a glimpse of a fluttering white hem beside Pei Muheng – he realized it must be Xu Yunqi, and his face flushed red with embarrassment.

To ask for someone's wife in front of her husband – he actually had the audacity to do such a thing.

Yan Jin slapped his forehead repeatedly. When the meaning of Pei Muheng's words finally sank in, cold sweat trickled down his spine.

Oh no, he had accidentally lost one of the most renowned horses in the Upper Garden, the "Crimson Crow." The fact that Pei Muheng knew about this meant a severe punishment of thirty strokes would surely follow if word got out.

Yan Jin was on the verge of tears.

The palace carriage passed by Yan Jin's side without mercy. Ginkgo looked at the bewildered goose on the horse and burst into laughter.

A shadow guard coughed softly, hinting for Ginkgo to restrain herself.

Ginkgo shot him a glare. She was not the same as before – after all, it was Third Young Master who had gone through great lengths to beg them to return this time.

The ginkgo tree stood tall and straight.

As the carriage curtains fell, Pei Mushan's expression turned grim.

First came Jiang Yuhe, and now Yan Jin – perhaps there were still others lurking in the shadows.

Suppressing the rage burning in his chest, Pei Mushan closed his eyes briefly.

Xu Yunqi listened calmly throughout and could roughly piece together the story.

"Third Master is wise and should understand that this is Elder Madam Yan's act of kindness, with no ulterior motive," she said.

Pei Mushan remained silent, not responding to her words.

As twilight approached, the carriage arrived at the palace.

Overjoyed by the news, Pei Mushan wept tears of happiness. The moment Xu Yunqi stepped out of the carriage, Pei Mushan rushed over and embraced her tightly. The force of the collision made Xu Yunqi stumble slightly. Pei Mushan reached out to support her back, shooting a reproachful glance at his sister.

Instead of arguing back, Pei Mushan, in high spirits, gave him a look that said, "That's my brother."

Pei Mushan accompanied her sister-in-law to Qinghui Garden, while Pei Musheng lagged behind, stopping at the veranda and signaling for Steward Chen to approach.

"Go to Jinhe Hall personally and inform the princess that I have brought Madam back."

Having gone this far, his mother should understand his determination.

Steward Chen promptly headed for Jinhe Hall and conveyed Pei Musheng's message.

At that moment, Duke Xi was accompanying Princess Xi during their evening meal. Upon hearing the news, he was momentarily stunned. For the royal family and the palace, allowing a woman to practice medicine was a significant challenge. It took courage for his son to make such a decision, but as a father, he supported him.

Pei Musheng had always been reserved since childhood, displaying an unusual maturity beyond his years. As his father, he felt both gratified and concerned. Grateful for his precociousness yet worried that his excessive caution might rob him of some warmth and vitality. This was the first time his emotions had preceded his reason in making a choice. Duke Xi sensed that his son was beginning to connect with the mortal world.

He turned to look at Princess Xi beside him.

Princess Xi had been sitting in a daze for the entire afternoon. Since noon, news had been filtering back to her, including the grandiose marriage proposals from the Jiang and Yan families. She was pleased that Xu Yunqi found another suitor, but it was clear that Elder Lady Yan was trying to embarrass her.

What truly astonished her was her son's unwavering determination to bring Xu Yunqi back despite societal norms.

Even though Pei Musheng was responsible, he was still human, with emotions and desires. Relying solely on duty, he wouldn't have gone this far. He must harbor at least some affection for Xu Yunqi.

But Xu Yunqi had made it clear: she didn't have affection for their son. Thinking about this inescapable conflict, Concubine Xihuang's temples throbbed with frustration.

Seeing his wife's displeased expression, Prince Xihuang spoke up,

"You saw it for yourself today. The chance for a divorce is within reach, and the Emperor even hinted at allowing Xu to go to the Imperial Medical Institute. Yet our Heng-ge insisted on bringing her back. What does that mean? It means from now on, their marriage isn't a royal command, but a choice made by your son. The injustice of the arranged marriage is in the past. Your son's message through Manager Chen was clear: you should no longer interfere in their married life."

Concubine Xihuang slowly simmered down, stirring her soup bowl in silence.

Prince Xihuang knew that his wife had accepted her fate, however reluctantly.

At Qinghui Garden, Pei Mushan had escorted Xu Yunqi back and could finally return to get some rest. She hadn't slept all night and had spent the whole day bustling around. Xu Yunqi had asked her to join them for dinner, but Pei Mushan glanced at her brother's disdainful look and pursed her lips,

"Never mind, I won't disturb your dinner as a couple today."

Xu Yunqi rubbed her forehead.

It was late, and Nanny Chen had already instructed the servants to set out the evening meal.

The couple sat facing each other at an Eight Immortals table, which was adorned with more than ten delectable dishes. Xu Yunqi, not picky, tasted a bit of everything. Starved, Pei Mushan focused on a few dishes in front of her. Neither of them were accustomed to having food served to them.

Xu Yunqi took a few bites of the bamboo shoot and glanced at Pei Muheng. His expression wasn't pleasant; he seemed to be holding back anger. Sensing his wife's gaze, Pei Muheng looked over. Their eyes met, but Xu Yunqi pretended nothing was wrong and looked away. However, Pei Muheng continued staring at her. Seeing that her bowl was almost empty, he scooped up a bowl of mushroom soup from nearby and placed it in front of her.

Xu Yunqi's peripheral vision fell on his slender fingers as she quietly accepted the soup without a word.

Throughout the meal, the couple communicated without exchanging a single word, yet they ate in perfect harmony.

After finishing their tea, Pei Muheng stood up. "I'll go back to the main courtyard first..."

Worried that Xu Yunqi might misunderstand and think he wouldn't return like the previous day, he turned his head to look at her by the door. "I'll come back later."

Standing by the low table to wash her hands, Xu Yunqi met his dark gaze and nodded slowly.

As soon as he left, Xu Yunqi went to the eastern side room. Yingxin entered with great joy, "Miss..." Her voice was clearly much brighter.

When Pei Muheng came to fetch Xu Yunqi, Yingxin had been close to tears with happiness.

Xu Yunqi put the box from her bundle back into the dressing table and gave the young servant girl a casual glance.

Yingxin placed the embroidered stool beside her and leaned in, asking, "Miss, when the Master comes back later, should you also set some rules for him? This time is different; he personally came to fetch you. We hold the initiative now."

Xu Yunqi looked into the copper mirror and removed her pearl earrings. "What rules are you talking about?"

Ginkgo responded, "Of course, it's about allowing you to practice medicine!"

Xu Yunqi paused in her expression and turned to face her, watching quietly. "Firstly, I don't need anyone's permission to practice medicine.

"Secondly, there's no need for me to make agreements with him. I made it clear at the clinic just now that I won't compromise for him. Yet he insisted on bringing me back, which means he has already agreed. Some things are better left understood without being explicitly discussed; asking too much ruins the meaning."

Ginkgo's eyes lit up. "Oh, so it turns out that Master is a man of few words."

Xu Yunqi continued to unfasten her jewelry, shaking her head and smiling wryly.

Pei Muheng wasn't really a man of few words; he just didn't verbalize his disagreement because he didn't fully endorse it. He was merely bound by his commitment as a gentleman to make concessions.

Of course, if one were to scrutinize closely, he could be considered quite responsible.

Certainly more responsible than Lord Xun, the neighboring venerated scholar.

Ginkgo thought of Consort Xi from Jinhe Hall and worry creased her brow again. "What about the Empress Dowager?"

Xu Yunqi's expression became even more composed as she combed her hair, replying,

"This is something Third Master needs to handle himself. I won't overstep my bounds."

In the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, it was crucial not to cross the line. A wife should never confront her mother-in-law assertively, bypassing her husband, nor should a mother-in-law meddle too much. Both sides neglecting the man who should bear the responsibility in the middle was utterly wrong.

Since Pei Muheng had taken her back, he would undoubtedly take care of the aftermath.

*

Xun Yunhe had no intention of returning home that day, but the scandal had become so sensational that he couldn't rest easy. He needed to clarify if his wife and daughter were involved, thus he braved the rain and returned to the estate, heading straight for the backyard.

Upon reaching the entrance hall, a young maid was guarding the door. Upon catching sight of him pacing towards her, she hurried to turn away, but Xun Yunhe's stern glance stopped her in her tracks. The timid girl could only slowly retract her legs and tremblingly kneel down.

If a mere maid reacted like this, how would the lady of the inner chambers fare?

Xun Yunhe's face darkened. With a subtle gesture, the two attendants by his side swiftly entered the room, subduing the maids and matrons on duty along the corridor. The sound of raindrops pounding against the roof was loud enough to conceal any disturbances outside.

Xun Yunhe approached the window of the main chamber, unseen by Lady Xun and her daughter, Xun Yunling.

Lady Xun had been restless lately, her complexion worsening with each passing day. Languidly lying on the heated bed, she listened as her daughter narrated the events in great detail.

"How could the Princess remain calm upon hearing that news? She immediately pressured His Highness to seek an imperial edict. Third Young Master is a celestial being; how could he possibly accept his wife as a female physician, exposing herself in public? It would be a laughing matter. Mother, just wait patiently, and soon we'll receive good news."

"It's already the hour of the Monkey. Has Third Young Master returned home with the imperial edict for divorce? I must send someone to inquire..."

Xun Yunling had just lifted the curtain when she collided with a towering figure standing outside. Meeting her father's icy stare, her entire body trembled, and her soul seemed to vanish on the spot.

"Father..." Xun Yunling's knees buckled, and she knelt down.

Hearing this, Lady Xun shuddered and quickly turned around. Seeing her husband standing at the door with his hands behind his back, she slid off the kang bed in fright.

"My Lord..."

When did he return?

Thankfully, none of them had mentioned Xu Yunqi's name just now; otherwise, their world would have crumbled.

Lady Xun clenched her teeth, unable to endure this fearful existence any longer.

Xun Yunhe entered coldly, lifting the curtain and sitting in the round chair opposite them. He calmly gazed at the mother and daughter, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"So it was indeed you two?"

Madam Xun's heart turned cold. She studied her husband's expression carefully. He seemed unaware of Xu Yunqi and her mother's situation, and would surely blame them for lusting after Pei Musheng. Her husband had always practiced self-restraint and cultivated his virtue, adhering to Confucian principles. He disliked women engaging in secret, underhanded actions the most.

Her daughter's words must have been overheard. Any further defense would be meaningless now; it would be better to use this incident to cover up their true intentions.

Madam Xun promptly rose and scolded her daughter, pulling her up by the arm. "You've truly lost your wits. Pei Musheng is already married, and His Majesty disapproves of an alliance between our family and the palace. Even if he were to divorce, it would have nothing to do with us. Why must you keep harboring these thoughts?"

Though panicked, Xun Yunling didn't lose her composure. She threw herself to the ground once more, tugging at Xun Yunhe's sleeve as she wept. "Father, if you scold me, I have no retort. But I truly love him, so much that I can't sleep at night. Besides, I haven't done anything wrong. That Xu woman isn't really a member of the Xu family. The neighbors around their home know this—it will come out sooner or later..."

"It may come out eventually, but it's not right for you to expose it," Xun Yunhe said, looking disappointedly at her. "You clearly didn't take Father's previous words to heart. If that's the case, Father won't hold back. If you're infatuated with someone else, marrying would only harm that person. Fetch her belongings! Send Second Miss to Qingshan Nunnery for contemplation!"

Xun Yunling's eyes widened in horror. She clung to his legs, refusing to let go. "No, Father. I'm also your daughter. You can't treat me like this..."

"What have I done wrong? I only fell in love with a man..." Xun Yunling choked back tears, staring at her father with a mournful gaze. "Father, haven't you ever loved someone before?"

Xun Yunhe's heart trembled,

an elegant face flashing through his mind.

It was too long ago, so distant that he almost forgot such a scene.

It was a sunny spring afternoon when he found himself alone by a small stream at the foot of the rear mountain, engrossed in a book. Suddenly, a garment drifted by in the rushing water, and he heard the melodious voice of a young maiden upstream,

"Oh no, my clothing..."

As the garment was about to be swept downstream, Xun Yunhe, as if possessed by an unseen force, leaned forward and picked it up. The damp water droplets from the fabric soaked through his cloth shoes. In no time, a graceful figure dashed out from the lush reeds. The maiden, with her slender figure and a floral dress, blushed as she pointed at his hand.

"Sir, please return that item to me..."

The young girl then hid her flushed cheeks, too timid to look him in the eye.

He found it peculiar. It was just a piece of clothing, yet she was so embarrassed. Lowering his gaze, he realized it was a delicate undergarment, intricately embroidered with lilies in vibrant hues. In that instant, he felt extremely awkward.

Xun Yunhe had spent his life studying the classics, aspiring to be a gentleman as pure as jade, with impeccable morals. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. Believing he had offended the maiden, he promptly sought out the neighboring village, approaching Elder Zhang to request for her hand in marriage.

At first, Elder Zhang was pleased to hear that Xu Yunqi had lost both parents and was alone. However, he changed his mind when Xu Yunqi insisted on going to the capital for the imperial examination but refused to work for him.

Unfortunately, he had already confided in Qingniang. To force Elder Zhang to agree, Qingniang packed her bags, ready to leave with Xu Yunqi. This infuriated Elder Zhang, who stormed out and never returned home.

When Xun Yunhe regained his senses, Lady Xun had already ordered someone to take Xun Yunling away. She threw herself at his feet and wept, "My Lord, I know you still hold a grudge over what happened years ago. But the child is innocent, you can't always favor her..."

Xun Yunhe was initially stunned. Hearing this, his face turned cold with fury.

Lady Xun buried her face in his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "I never expected the daughter of that county magistrate to drug you like that. Otherwise, I would never have gone to the study... Blame me if you must, but please don't punish the child."

This was one of the moments Xun Yunhe least wanted to recall. Veins throbbed on his forehead, his eyes blazing with anger and coldness. His eyes reddened as he squeezed them shut, suppressing all emotions. He slowly exhaled and then spoke to Lady Xun, "I'm not being biased against her. I'm doing this for her own good. Everyone should respect themselves. As an unmarried young lady, she must be even more cautious in her words and actions."

With these words, Xun Yunhe rose and left.

Lady Xun slumped to the ground, feeling as if Xun Yunhe's words were a slap across her face. Her heart burned with pain. After a while, an old nanny rushed in, telling her that Pei Musheng had personally brought Xu Yunqi back. At this, a bitter taste of blood rose in Lady Xun's throat.

A loss on all fronts.

This cannot continue.

*

Pei Muheng left Qinghui Garden and, as expected, went to Jinhe Hall for a heartfelt conversation with his mother. When he emerged, the Xihuang Fei had been weeping for quite some time. Her prejudice wouldn't change anytime soon, and her animosity had dissipated.

Back in his study, the covert agent Wang Fan informed him,

"The news was spread by Miss Xun, with the intention of sullying Madam's reputation and forcing you and Madam to separate."

Pei Muheng was taken aback for a moment. In his memory, Xun Yunling was a gentle and refined lady, knowledgeable and dignified. His mother had taken a liking to her and arranged their marriage. Pei Muheng believed that the palace had wronged the Xun family. When Xun Yunling provoked Xu Yunqi recently, he had thought it was merely out of jealousy. Today, he finally saw the true face of that lady.

He had assumed that after their previous confrontation, she would know her place, but she remained unrepentant.

As Pei Muheng pondered how to deal with Xun Yunling, Wang Fan added,

"Subordinate just heard that Elder Minister Xun personally returned home to handle Miss Xun. Despite the rain still falling, he sent her to a nunnery next to Qingshan Temple."

Pei Muheng's brows relaxed at this. "Teacher is a man of honor. I need not intervene then." After a moment of silence, he continued, "Cut off the communication with her informants."

However, Pei Muling couldn't maintain his composure any longer.

The covert guards had informed him about the Yan, Jiang, and Xu families' situations. They told him that the Xu family's residence was bustling with people vying to marry Xu Yunqi – it was like a marketplace. Pei Muling had never been so speechless and enraged in his life.

When Xu Yunqi finished bathing and dressing, ready to go to bed, she saw Pei Muling enter the room with a sullen expression.

Silently, the man stood behind the table, drinking cup after cup of tea.

Xu Yunqi had also heard some rumors and could guess the reason for Pei Muling's anger. Seeing that he had already downed three cups of tea without calming down, she decided to try to console him and walked over.

Pei Muling noticed her approach but said calmly, "Go to sleep first. Don't worry about me."

He wasn't in a good mood and didn't want to involve Xu Yunqi.

Xu Yunqi paused in her steps. She never forced others to do anything against their will, so she followed Pei Muling's suggestion.

After the lights in the inner chamber were extinguished, Pei Muling went to the bathroom and returned to the bed, only to find Xu Yunqi sound asleep, motionless.

Her fair face rested softly on the cushion, her thick eyelashes dark as crow's feathers. Only now did she realize that her sleeping expression held a hint of innocence.

Unburdened by worries, she slept soundly.

Pei Muheng gazed at her with a mix of emotions before rubbing his temples and lying down.

After a day spent performing cesarean sections on patients, Xu Yunqi had used all thirteen needles in the full acupuncture set, draining her energy. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, oblivious to the time. When her lower abdomen began to ache, she slowly regained consciousness. A hazy glow seeped into the room from outside. Gazing at her husband sleeping beside her, she gently shifted to get out of bed.

Before she could touch him, that tall figure suddenly sat up, his deep eyes fixed on her. "Where are you going?"

His tone was tense and grave, as if she were planning to escape in the middle of the night.

Xu Yunqi froze, and Pei Muheng's expression softened slightly. He had blurted out that question without much thought, but now he sensed it might not have been appropriate.

They stared at each other silently for a moment. Xu Yunqi then explained softly, "I need to use the privy."

Pei Muheng nodded and slowly bent his knees, clearing a path for her.

Xu Yunqi took her time and when she returned, Pei Muheng remained in the same position, his eyes closed, clearly exhausted. He seemed to have been waiting for her.

Recalling herself, Xu Yunqi remembered a time when her mother had visited her in the countryside. She used to remain half-awake, fearful that her mother would leave in the middle of the night.

A faint sense of unease stirred within her. Xu Yunqi lifted her skirt and climbed onto the bed, speaking softly to him, "I'm ready." Lowering her gaze, she smoothed her dress before lying down as usual.

Pei Muheng had been roused by her. His eyes were fixed on her.

The previous night, Pei Muheng hadn't come to sleep with her. Xu Yunqi had put away an extra quilt, leaving only a thin mattress on the bed.

It had poured heavily that day, and the night was unexpectedly chilly. Xu Yunqi draped the thin mattress over her abdomen, lifting her gaze to see that Pei Muheng was still awake, clearly watching her. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "It's cold at night. Should I get you another mattress?"

Pei Muheng gazed at his wife, who was an arm's length away. "Come closer to me."

Xu Yunqi propped herself up halfway, scanning their surroundings. Clearly, Pei Muheng had already moved to the edge of the bed, yet there was still ample space on her side. Without thinking twice, she asked, "Why should I move over?"

Pei Muheng interpreted this as Xu Yunqi wanting him to take the initiative. He readily shifted closer to her side, and the couple lay side by side, their arms touching. Warmth quickly transferred between them. Xu Yunqi slowly adjusted the covers, also draping some over him.

Just as she closed her eyes, she heard her husband's soft voice resonate beside her,

"Since marrying you, I've never thought of being apart. Even if there have been moments of neglect, I never intended to abandon you for my own selfish gains. Yunqi, I don't want to hear the words 'divorce' again in the future."

Unbeknownst to me, the term of address shifted from "Madam" to "Yunqi."