Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Both had bathed with the same soap bark, their scents intertwining, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Pei Mushan lay next to her for a while, feeling a warmth that soon made him shift away slightly.

Xu Yunqi could clearly hear her husband's deepened breathing, yet he didn't make any further advances. She was puzzled; it seemed that her suggestion of a divorce had left a mark on his heart.

Pei Mushan wasn't sulking at Xu Yunqi. He had spent a passionate night with her in this very bed, only for her to leave him so decisively the next morning. It would be foolish not to see that Xu Yunqi didn't have feelings for him. If that was the case, he wouldn't force himself upon her in such matters.

He hadn't reached the point of lowering his pride for her sake.

The following morning, Qinghui Garden welcomed a lively group of guests.

Madam Yan, accompanied by her daughter and daughter-in-law, came to express their gratitude. Protocol dictated that they should first pay their respects to the Duchess, but the Duchess of Xi had suffered a severe headache the previous night, preventing her from sleeping. Knowing she wasn't visiting solely for the Duchess, Madam Yan went straight to Qinghui Garden.

Yan Youhe, the eldest daughter of the Yan family, Pei Mushan's cousin Shao Fu, and Pei Mushan herself, were all eagerly gathered in Xu Yunqi's small apothecary, causing a commotion. Silver Apricot was using a strainer to filter the medicinal liquid, while the three young ladies watched intently.

Xu Yunqi conversed with Madam Yan and the Yan Family's eldest lady.

"How is Young Master Yan faring now?"

Lady Yan smiled and replied, "He's much better. He woke up around noon yesterday, and Doctor He administered some herbal soup. In the afternoon, he managed to have some congee. His complexion has improved, and this morning, he was even able to speak. The medicinal liquid the Princess Consort sent yesterday was incredibly effective. With the wound healing well, it's hard to tell he was so severely injured."

Xu Yunqi nodded. "In another ten days or so, he should be able to get out of bed. Keep his diet light and avoid extreme emotions."

Upon hearing the last part, Lady Yan gestured at Pei Mushan by the door of the small pharmacy. "His heart is with her; his happiness and sorrow depend on her."

Xu Yunqi chuckled. "Truly a passionate young man."

Hearing her old-fashioned tone, Lady Yan chided, "You're younger than Shaoling, aren't you? Yet your disposition is much more composed than his." As she spoke, she examined Xu Yunqi again. She couldn't help but notice how healthy and radiant she looked, with her rosy cheeks and delicate skin. Her gentle smile made her appear even younger than the other ladies inside.

Curious, Lady Yan asked, "If I may be so bold, how old is the Princess Consort this year?"

Xu Yunqi answered, "Nineteen."

Lady Yan's face was filled with envy. "You don't look a day over sixteen. Your composure must have been with you since birth, unlike my Hede, who's always been impulsive and reckless. Even at fifteen, she hasn't changed."

Xu Yunqi held her teacup, smiling but not responding.

The young lady who had squeezed out from the crowd, an apricot tree named Silver Apricot, replied from the entrance of the apothecary, "Next month, Miss Xu will be turning nineteen."

Madam Yan's interest was immediately piqued upon hearing this. "Oh my, there'll be a birthday banquet at the palace, right? We'll all come to celebrate then."

Xu Yunqi shot a glance at the maid. "It's not a milestone birthday, so there's no need for a celebration. Besides, I don't fancy such things."

Inside the apothecary, Yan Youhe gazed at the array of medicine jars with great fascination. "If my sister-in-law were here, I'd surely sneak into this room every day to learn from her." She sighed with regret. "Ah, why didn't those brothers put in more effort yesterday?"

Pei Mushan had also heard about the incident and burst into laughter. "Your Yan family is truly remarkable, making my sister-in-law proud. Without a doubt, my brother must be furious."

Shao Fu playfully tapped her on the head, "You silly goose, if they were to snatch him away, who would be your sister-in-law?"

Pei Mushan covered her forehead, realization dawning upon her. "Oh my, how careless of me!"

Yan Youhe defended her, "She only has room in her heart for Sister-in-law, not Brother."

The room was filled with joyous laughter and pleasant conversation.

Back at the Prince Qin's palace, the young princess had been secretly punished by the Xihua Palace's people. Instead of feeling outraged, Princess Qin found some relief and had no intention of making a fuss about it. Despite the young princess's repeated pleas from her sickbed for the Prince to appeal their case in the imperial study, this time the Prince did not indulge his youngest daughter. He merely offered her some gold, silver, and jewels as a soothing gesture, thus putting the matter to rest.

Due to this incident, the Yan family clearly grew distant from the Prince Qin's palace. It was impossible for the Prince Qin to add fuel to the fire; instead, he had to seek reconciliation.

Seeing the scandal of selling official ranks escalate, Prince Qin felt deeply uneasy. He personally carried gifts and visited the Yan residence under the pretense of paying a visit to Yan Shaoling. After sitting in Yan Shaoling's courtyard for a while, he casually made his way to Yan Ping's study.

"Uncle, this fire has unexpectedly burned its way to my head. I need your help to mediate," Yan Ping said with his eyelids drooping.

"What about Chen Mingshan? Does he have anything to do with you?" Yan Ping asked.

Prince Qin smiled bitterly. "What connection could there be? I merely sold a few official positions in my earlier years, and he happened to be one of them. He purchased the position of a Metropolitan Procuratorate Investigative Censor back then. Later, he bribed me with some silver, and seeing his generosity, I transferred him to the Ministry of Works as a Secretary. I never expected the boy to be competent, overseeing the grand construction of the Silver Pheasant Pavilion, which earned praise from Father Emperor. As a result, he was sent on an assignment outside the capital and climbed the ranks to become the Governor of Tongzhou Prefecture."

Prince Qin's face darkened. "Uncle, corruption within the various departments of the court is rampant. Why single out Chen Mingshan? There must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes, targeting both you and me."

Yan Ping sat in a round armchair, his hands resting on the table, clutching a small leaf purple sandalwood rosary in his palm. He asked nonchalantly, "Does Your Highness know who might be behind this plot against us?"

Prince Qin harrumphed. "Third Brother has always been at odds with me. Back then, he teamed up with the Crown Prince to undermine me. Now, he's fanning the flames everywhere. He's a likely suspect."

"Furthermore, Twelfth Brother seems like an idle prince on the surface, but not many recommended him for the position of Crown Prince less than me in the recent Ceremonial Department list. Yesterday, during the marriage discussion, the Empress unexpectedly took a liking to Xun Yunhe's daughter. This is a direct move towards the throne. The Empress usually doesn't interfere in political affairs, often claiming illness for half a month. Yet, at crucial moments, she doesn't hesitate. Twelfth Brother might be secretly hindering us."

"Don't forget, when the Tongzhou granary caught fire, it was Twelfth Brother who was sent to investigate under the Emperor's order. He must have uncovered something about Chen Mingshan's past connection with me. Once the Crown Prince leaves, he'll pounce on me with all his might, hoping that his son, the legitimate son of the central palace, will ascend to the throne."

With Prince Qin's words hanging in the air, Yan Ping's expression remained surprisingly unperturbed.

"The current situation is indeed disadvantageous to Your Highness. The practice of selling official ranks has long been a major flaw in our dynasty. No matter what, I'm inevitably implicated in this case. Therefore, the only choice we have is to sacrifice the pawns to protect the king."

Prince Qin's face froze. "What do you mean?"

Yan Ping looked at him with a furrowed brow, his tone casual yet profound. "As the head of the Ministry of Personnel, I will be held accountable regardless of my involvement. It would be better for me to take the fall to ensure Your Highness's safety."

Prince Qin's throat tightened. "How... How can that be?"

More than guilt, he felt fear. Yan Ping had occupied the position of Chief State Councillor for nearly two decades, relying on his influential uncle to secure his footing in the court and contend with the crown prince. Although he had succeeded in ousting the prince, he had not yet ascended to the position of heir apparent. Yan Ping's resignation at this critical juncture would be detrimental to him.

"Is there truly no other solution? Or could we find another scapegoat?"

But Yan Ping ignored this suggestion. Instead, he instructed the prince, "After I leave the court, Your Highness must be cautious and composed. As long as you retain the emperor's favor, you remain the eldest son. With your prestige in the court, the throne will eventually be yours."

These words reassured Prince Qin.

As he left, a sorrowful look filled Prince Qin's eyes, revealing his reluctance. Once inside the carriage, all emotions vanished from his face. His attendant asked, "Your Highness, will Elder Yan's sacrifice truly protect you?"

Prince Qin scoffed, "He's not sacrificing pawns to save his king; he's executing a cunning escape plan. He's truly a sly old fox. Let's return first. We have to find our own solutions."

Yan Ping escorted Prince Qin out and then returned to the study. The head of the Yan family personally stepped forward to pour a cup of plum blossom wine for the elder.

Yan Ping was an esteemed scholar, renowned for his elegance, but with age, people had forgotten his youthful brilliance. Unlike others, he didn't enjoy strong liquor, preferring instead the refined taste of plum blossom wine.

With a light sip, the flavors lingered.

As the elder's intoxication faded, the Yan family patriarch asked with concern, "The case is progressing fiercely. Aren't you worried at all?"

Yan Ping opened his eyes coldly and replied, "Of course I'm worried. There are hundreds of lives in the Yan family relying on me. Have you seen the example of the Yangs? Although Yang Kang can retire to his hometown, the Yang family's power was completely stripped by the Emperor, leaving only an empty title to appease the soldiers at the border."

"Our Yan family must not make the same mistake."

Hearing this, the Yan family patriarch grew so anxious that tears nearly welled up, "Then what should we do?"

Yan Ping slowly set down the small glass, sighing, "Prince Qin can only be relied upon in times of hardship, not prosperity. It's time to distance ourselves from him."

"Throughout thousands of years of history, how many powerful ministers have met a good end? It's about knowing when to withdraw gracefully. As a father, it's time for me to step away from the court and let the younger generation take the lead."

Hearing these words, the head of the Yan family was deeply moved and nodded thoughtfully. "I have learned, Father. Now, what is your plan?"

Yan Ping instructed, "Find two Censors to impeach me for dereliction of duty and failure to discipline my subordinates."

"I understand, Father. I'll attend to it immediately."

Exiting his study, Yan Ping turned east towards the ornate gate leading to the inner courtyard. But as he approached, he heard several clear voices echoing in the vicinity of the hall, one of them carrying an authoritative tone, lacking the softness and gentleness typical of young maidens, yet imbued with a touch of competence and decisiveness. Yan Ping recognized it as Pei Mushan's voice and halted in his tracks.

"Furou, if you continue to speak nonsense, I shall tear your tongue out!"

"Go ahead, tear away. Who was it just now defending the Yan family in the palace? You're even willing to betray your own brother. I can see that you already consider yourself part of the Yan family before even marrying into it," Shao Fu giggled maliciously from behind a flowering crabapple tree, taunting Pei Mushan.

Yan Shaoling's marriage prospects had finally taken a turn for the better, and Yan Youhe feared that Pei Mushan would be driven away by Shao Fu's provocations. Frustrated, she glared at Shao Fu, "If Your Highness were to marry into our Yan family, it would be a blessing for all of us. If you continue to meddle, I won't hesitate to scratch you."

Shao Fu understood Yan Youhe's concerns. Seeing Pei Mushan, standing on the steps with an intense gaze, ready to chase after her, she hastily retreated deeper into the flower bed.

"She is like that – unless pushed, she wouldn't show any emotions," said Shao Fu.

On the steps, the young maiden with bright, insightful eyes blushed as she darted after Shao Fu. Poor Yan Youhe struggled to stop her but ultimately failed. Shao Fu was then pinned down by her own cousin, who tickled her relentlessly, "I won't dare anymore, big sister, please spare me, please spare me..."

Yan Ping stood at the ornate doorway, gazing at the elegant young maiden with a playful grin.

While others assumed he was stepping away from the limelight, little did they know that he was merely starting anew.

After playfully teasing her two younger sisters, Pei Mushan went to visit Yan Shaoling's quarters to inquire about his health. Yan Youhe, perceptive as always, tactfully took Shao Fu away, leaving Pei Mushan to enter Yan Shaoling's reception hall alone.

A heavy rain had poured the previous day, but today was clear, and the heat soon followed. Yan Shaoling's quarters were cooled by numerous ice blocks, and when Pei Mushan entered, the chill hit her so abruptly that she sneezed twice.

Yan Shaoling's ears were finely attuned to her voice, and he eagerly asked, "Is that you, Sister Shan Shan?"

"Who else would come to visit you?"

With her hands clasped behind her back, Pei Mushan strode in grandly. She first positioned herself behind the screen and peered through, only to find a young apprentice mixing ointments in the room – no one else. Her gaze then shifted to the bed, where she saw the usually lawless tyrant with his face covered.

Pei Mushan hurriedly walked over, sat on a low stool beside him, and asked, "What are you doing? Are you unwell?"

In an uncommonly shy manner, Yan Shaoling hid his face beneath a thin blanket, clearing his throat before saying, "Shan Shan, please go back. I don't look presentable in this state..."

His words were interrupted by labored breathing, revealing his extreme weakness.

Pei Mushan was momentarily stunned before she gradually realized the situation, finding it both amusing and frustrating. "I've seen all sorts of awkward sides to you. Perhaps I prefer this frail demeanor?"

Yan Shaoling recalled the two refined youths who followed behind Pei Mushan at the polo field the other day. He threw aside his blanket, revealing a handsome face contorted with anger. "If you keep provoking me, my injury won't heal."

Pei Mushan actually covered her mouth, stifling her laughter.

His endearing display almost made Yan Shaoling lose himself. He averted his gaze and pointed towards a small table to the east.

"On that day when I went into the woods with the Twelfth Prince, he hunted a deer, while I caught a little rabbit for you..." Yan Shaoling paused to catch his breath before continuing, "It was supposed to be your gift on the day of the polo match, but it's been kept until today. Take a look, do you like it?"

Pei Mushan's eyes followed his gesture. Under the setting sun, a pure white rabbit huddled in its cage, nibbling on grass. Its clumsy yet adorable appearance was highly appealing. Sensing her gaze, the rabbit lifted its pair of bright red eyes, looking at her innocently. A tender expression appeared in Pei Mushan's eyes as she involuntarily recalled that day, her eyes reddening again.

"Alright, I'll take it back to play with." She wasn't one to dwell on emotions, quickly pretending that nothing had happened. Rising to her feet, she took the cage in hand, fiddling with it in front of Yan Shaoling for a moment before leaving.

Along the way, she found the little rabbit incredibly adorable and couldn't bear to part with it. The only issue was its distinct odor. Upon returning to the palace, Pei Mushan went straight to find Xu Yunqi, planning to consult her sister-in-law for a solution to remove the smell.

As she stepped onto the long corridor of Qinghui Garden, she saw Pei Mushan Heng standing under the eaves, engaged in conversation with Xu Yunqi.

Upon seeing Pei Mushan, the couple fell silent, halting their conversation.

Pei Mushan descended the steps from the long corridor, gracefully making her way along the stone path of the courtyard with a cage in her arms. Her gaze unwittingly fell upon her brother, Pei Muheng, who still wore his imperial attire. The scarlet robes of a county prince intermingled with the hues of the setting sun, casting a radiant glow upon his countenance, which shone like jade, exuding an allure that was hard to resist. In the past, she could never tire of gazing at her brother's face, yet today, inexplicably, she found no pleasure in doing so.

Lifting her gaze, she swept it across the scene to find her brother and sister-in-law standing side by side beneath the eaves of the veranda. Indeed, in terms of appearance and demeanor, they were an exceedingly pleasing pair, a sight to behold. Yet, as she continued to observe them, Pei Mushan couldn't help feeling that something was amiss, that some essential element was lacking.

Recalling how shamelessly Yan Shaoling had approached her, whereas her brother kept a respectful distance from his wife, the gap between them could have fit two of her.

Pei Mushan observed a distinct change in her brother's gaze.

She approached leisurely with the cage, and before she reached the steps, Pei Mushan could already smell the pungent odor of the rabbit, causing him to wrinkle his nose in disdain.

"Stay away from me."

Pei Mushan paused in her steps and gave her brother a cool glance. Then, her gaze shifted to Xu Yunqi, and she asked with a bright smile, "Sister-in-law, this is a rabbit that Yan Shaoling caught for me. Isn't it pretty?"

Xu Yunqi examined the cage in her hand attentively and said sincerely, "It's very beautiful and adorable." She used to love catching rabbits too when she was young. Not only did she catch white ones, but also gray and blue ones, which she would group together to raise, finding it highly entertaining.

Pei Mushan chuckled and handed her the cage. "Sister, help me think of a way to get rid of this smell on it."

Xu Yunqi was about to take it but glanced at her husband and gestured for Xingyan to take over. "I've raised rabbits before. I'll come up with something later."

Pei Mushan caught a glimpse of her older brother out of the corner of her eye and crossed her arms, smiling. "Sister, I suddenly realize that judging people by their appearance was wrong."

Xu Yunqi thought that Pei Mushan had finally seen reason and developed feelings for Yan Shaoling. The earnestness of such a fine young man was truly touching. She continued, "Indeed, it's good that you understand that now."

Pei Mushan nodded seriously. "Mm, in terms of looks, Shaoling isn't the most outstanding in the whole capital. But when it comes to sincerity, he's hard to find even with a lantern."

"Some people may have good-looking faces, but they're not worth anything in reality!"

Pei Mushan: "..."