Chapter 35: Calling Him Husband

Chapter 35: Calling Him Husband

Ran Qinggu was carried back to the Sinking Fish Pavilion by Shang Rongyu.

He could have left, but considering his situation, he couldn't.

He was now a "royal noblewoman" suspected of impurity by his mother-in-law and criticized by others.

For a woman in seclusion to be doubted like this was a great disgrace, let alone being tested and treated by the princess consort as she had.

So he had to act very "wronged," very "upset."

In the following days, Ran Qinggu pretended to be ill for four or five days.

He had been sick for five or six years, barely escaping the clutches of death, leaving him with severe physical exhaustion. He usually looked pale, only appearing rosy thanks to women's cosmetics. Lying in bed now, he seemed even more fragile than Xizi clutching her heart.

The princess consort had wronged him, seeing him like this, she felt deeply guilty, showing concern and treating him better than ever.

She even went to the palace to request the female officials there to investigate the matter strictly.

When Ran Qinggu's illness slightly improved, Chun'er told him that the princess consort was furious, scaring the palace female officials into taking strict action. The talkative third Miss Yu, the daughter of the Undersecretary Ruan, and others were all confined to their quarters for a year. It was said that they were slapped in front of the female officials, their faces swollen, some beaten so severely they couldn't get out of bed for months.

As for the third Miss Yu's cousin who returned from the northern city, he was demoted, causing Yu the Undersecretary's sister to come to the Yu residence often to cause trouble. Yu the Undersecretary was so angry that he wanted to disown his third daughter, turning the Yu residence into a laughingstock among the capital's officials...

Ran Qinggu dismissed it with a smile.

What happened to those people had nothing to do with him.

An autumn wind swept through, yellow leaves falling desolately.

He couldn't help but wrap himself in his clothes and enter a bustling shop.

This shop was the best fabric shop in the capital, its owner's wife said to have once been a first-class embroiderer in the palace. Later, when she reached a certain age, she left the palace and married the shopkeeper.

The fabrics inside were of extremely high quality, with a wide variety of patterns, dense stitching, and diverse styles. Many high-ranking officials in the capital had their clothes made at this shop.

Seeing Ran Qinggu, the shopkeeper greeted him with a full smile, "Greetings, Consort Heir."

Ran Qinggu walked in, "No need for formalities."

The shopkeeper hurriedly bowed and led Ran Qinggu inside, instructing someone to serve tea.

Along with the tea, over a dozen exquisite wooden trays were brought.

On the wooden trays were fox fur garments and some small aluminum carved stoves.

"Consort Heir, these are the fox fur coats you ordered. I've provided you with the finest fur, light and warm, unlike the heavy and clumsy cotton jackets. On the coldest days of winter, one piece is enough."

The shopkeeper looked at the majority of men's clothing in the box and smiled, "These are for the Heir, right? Your relationship is truly good. Take them back, if any don't fit properly, bring them back anytime, I will do my utmost to alter them for you."

Ran Qinggu reached out to touch the fox fur, indeed it was of high quality.

He said to Chun'er, "Pay him."

Chun'er took out a silver ingot from the money bag and gave it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper repeatedly declined, "Consort Heir has patronized our shop quite a bit these days, consider these things as our tribute to the Consort Heir. If you have any requests in the future, just say so, I will do my best."

Ran Qinggu smiled, "The Wangfu sometimes takes goods from you because your goods are of good quality and reasonable price. Don't refuse, clear payment for goods is only right."

Thinking of something, he raised his chin and pointed to Chun'er, "Make her a set too."

Hearing this, Chun'er quickly waved her hands, "Consort Heir, no, these fur robes are for the masters, this servant dare not use them."

People were divided into different classes.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants all had different clothing.

For example, artisans and farmers could only wear short clothes, and in winter, they could only wear long pants and cotton jackets. While nobles could wear long robes, silk scarves, and brocade skirts.

Due to class differences, there were also certain restrictions on the choice of clothing materials.

If someone saw Chun'er wearing clothes of the same material as the Consort Heir, Chun'er would be seen as disrespectful, and as a servant being disrespectful, the masters could order her execution.

Ran Qinggu didn't have so many concerns in the northern city.

Bai Yu and Taozi wore each other's clothes.

There was no distinction between noble and humble.

Every time he prepared winter clothes, if there was something for Bai Yu, there would also be something for Taozi.

Living in the northern city for five or six years, he had temporarily forgotten about class distinctions.

He laughed, "Sorry, I forgot the rules, then go with the shopkeeper to choose some clothes you can wear, and take a look at the jewelry shop in the store. Whatever style you like, take it. You are my Sinking Fish Pavilion's chief maid, you mustn't let anyone look down on you."

Chun'er felt a warmth in her heart and hurriedly bowed, "Thank you, Consort Heir."

When she was transferred to the Sinking Fish Pavilion by the princess consort to serve the Consort Heir, she had also felt reluctant.

Those few days, the Heir was very annoyed with this marriage, the whole capital was discussing how the marriage wouldn't last long, and she had been with the princess consort since childhood, her future was bound to be limitless.

If she was transferred to the neglected Consort Heir whose family had fallen, once the Consort Heir was divorced, her latter half of life would also be sold out of the mansion.

Even if the princess consort pitied her and kept her in the mansion, as someone who had served the old master, she would definitely be disliked by the new Consort Heir. She would only end up as a lowly cleaning maid outside the mansion.

During those days, the maids in the mansion sympathized with her, some mocked her.

She had no choice but to serve the master wholeheartedly, helping the Consort Heir gain more favor.

Now, the Heir dotes on his Heiress so much that the maidservants can't fawn over her enough.

She is now the head maid at the Sinking Fish Pavilion, whose master oversees all matters of the Prince's Manor, making her a sort of half-manager of the estate. Even the manor's chief steward greets her politely, calling her "young lady."

Moreover, the Heiress has a very good temper.

She hardly needs to be served and has never lost her temper with anyone. During festivals, she even bestows many gifts upon her.

For instance, she has never seen any master care about whether their servants are dressed warmly enough; the Heiress is the first to show such concern.

Yet the Heiress is also the only master she can't read.

Take the Princess Consort and Lady Liu, for example, who often vie openly for the Prince's affection and power in the manor...

Or the Second and Third Ladies, who strive to bear children early, prevent their husbands from taking concubines, and secure their footing in the manor...

But not the Heiress.

She always remains aloof, neither competing nor grasping, often lost in thought, gazing at her own hands for hours on end.

It seems she wants nothing, as if... she has no plans for her future.

Like distant snow-capped mountains, she comes lightly and departs silently...

Ran Qinggu tidies up the items and then leaves the manor with the Prince's Manor's footmen and guards.

Lanterns hang high on both sides of the market street, and the cries of vendors rise and fall. Dusk is the busiest time in the entire capital.

As soon as he steps out, he sees Shang Rongyu riding through the dimly lit area.

The candlelight slants across him, the autumn wind lifting his dark yellow robes, making it seem as if the entire city is merely a backdrop.

Ran Qinggu cannot help but admit that if he were a woman, his dream lover would certainly be such an incomparably handsome young man.

He is full of spirit, free and unrestrained, arrogant and unbound, born into nobility...

And he is also gentle and considerate.

Ran Qinggu approaches and bows to Shang Rongyu: "Heir."

Shang Rongyu smiles and takes Ran Qinggu's hand. "Why didn't you just send a servant to buy things? Your health isn't fully recovered yet..."

He raises his eyebrows at the clothes on the wooden trays, and his smile suddenly freezes.

Most of the clothes on the trays are men's winter garments and some men's accessories like belts.

Most of the clothes are made of fox fur and velvet.

Although the capital's winters are cold, most days are still relatively mild, and there's no need to prepare so many fox fur and velvet outfits. For him, unless it's snowing, he would never wear such thick fox fur clothing, let alone use hand warmers or cotton-lined arm warmers...

In contrast, North City is located in the extreme north of Da Su, cold and barren. The winters are gloomy and frigid, and the snow that falls during the frost does not melt until the spring equinox.

So it's clear who these items from the Heiress are intended for.

It's just past the Chongyang Festival, and the weather is pleasant. Even if one were preparing winter clothes, it wouldn't be necessary this early.

The Heiress must be preparing these winter clothes early to send them to her cousin in North City. If sent now by express courier, they would arrive just before winter.

Isn't Cousin Ran Qinggu supposed to be traveling outside?

How did the Heiress know her cousin returned to North City?

All of the Heiress's family letters pass through him, and he hasn't received any letters from her...

Could she have secretly sent a message?

Indeed, love between a man and his concubine.

Shang Rongyu clenches his back teeth tightly and looks at the patterns and styles of the clothes, feeling bitter: Such ugly patterns and designs, only that ordinary-looking, troublesome cousin could wear them!

Indeed, ugly people should wear ugly clothes; otherwise, they'd be laughed at when they go out.

The shopkeeper, seeing Shang Rongyu arrive, quickly bows. "Greetings, Heir."

After standing up, he smiles and says, "Heiress, since the Heir is here, you can have him try them on inside. If the sizes aren't right, I can immediately send someone to make adjustments..."

Shang Rongyu raises his eyebrows in surprise. "For me?"

Ran Qinggu nods. "After autumn comes winter. The Heir will be attending morning court, and it should be quite cold in the mornings, so Yu'er prepared several more outfits for the Heir. The hand warmers and arm warmers can be used while handling official duties at the Ministry of Justice."

Shang Rongyu rarely uses such items from childhood to adulthood.

Since he was young, his body temperature has been naturally higher, so he is not afraid of the cold. In the capital, only the coldest days of the third month require hand warmers; other times, general winter clothing is sufficient.

Looking at those winter clothes, he grips Ran Qinggu's hand tighter. "Yu'er thinks of everything."

He respectfully says, "I'm glad the Heir likes them."

He has suffered severe injuries, and his leg bones were once damaged by the cold, making him extremely afraid of the cold.

Despite his efforts to nourish his body over the years, once the body is depleted, it cannot be reversed.

Every time it rains continuously or the weather becomes extremely cold, his joints ache faintly, and if he gets chilled, the pain keeps him awake all night.

Therefore, every winter, he faces it as if facing a great enemy, preparing winter clothes very early.

Even though he knows the climate in the capital is milder than in North City, he doesn't dare to relax. After all, here, if he takes a wrong step, it leads to death.

He was always cold and feared the chill, so he dressed warmly in winter. He assumed Shang Rongyu was the same.

After all, Shang Rongyu had to attend early court sessions and handle official duties at the Grand Court of Justice, spending most of his time outdoors in the freezing environment.

Thus, when he was preparing his own clothes, he instinctively prepared a set of winter garments for Shang Rongyu as well, even including spare clothes for changing.

When Ran Qinggu finished preparing the clothes, he suddenly realized something belatedly.

—Why did he prepare clothes for Shang Rongyu?

Shang Rongyu was the heir of the Wang Palace, basking in boundless affection, and it was unlikely that the renowned Wang Heir would ever feel the cold...

After much thought, he concluded that he must have been too deeply immersed in his role, overly cautious and careful.

After all, he was now Shang Rongyu's "wife," following his husband after marriage. It was only natural for a wife to prepare winter clothes for her husband, and this was also a means for him to maintain his hidden identity...

The shopkeeper bowed and coaxed, "Heir, don't you want to try them on inside?"

Shang Rongyu smiled. "No need, I trust my wife."

This statement sent shivers down everyone's spines around them.

Was this still the violent and unruly heir who had massacred tens of thousands and killed dozens of great generals?

Was this still the rogue who indulged in pleasures and defied norms?

Could these really be the same person?

What was with this sudden display of affection?

When the Heir Consort first arrived in the capital, everyone had bet large sums on how soon she would be expelled from the Wang Palace...

Now, it seemed that the two were planning to spend their lives together in harmony, hoping for a family full of descendants.

Everyone lowered their heads, looking at the goosebumps that covered the ground.

Ran Qinggu couldn't help but feel the same chill run through him.

What was wrong with Shang Rongyu? Acting in front of the princess was one thing, but why was he displaying such deep affection in public?

Shang Rongyu instructed his servants, "Take these things back to the Wang Palace, and tell Mother not to wait for us. The Heir Consort and I will be returning late."

The maids replied, "Yes."

Shang Rongyu turned and mounted his horse, extending his hand to Ran Qinggu. "Get on, this Heir will take you somewhere." "Where?" Ran Qinggu took Shang Rongyu's hand and climbed onto the horse, sitting in front of Shang Rongyu, who held the reins and wrapped his arm around his waist.

"You'll see when we get there." Shang Rongyu rode the horse through the streets.

The horse galloped too fast, like an arrow released from a bow, racing over the cobblestone path past the myriad lights of the city.

"That must have been the Heir and the Heir Consort just now... They look so beautiful together..."

"Yes, they truly are a sight for sore eyes, a perfect match."

"When the Heir Consort first came to the capital, who said she'd be kicked out of the Wang Palace soon? That slap in the face hurts..."

"It's impossible to kick her out now. Do you know how favored the Heir Consort is? The Heir dared to storm the Eastern Palace and draw his sword there for her sake..."

"Yes, yes, yes, I've also heard that the Heir can't bear to be apart from the Heir Consort for a moment. When walking on the road, if he doesn't kiss her, he feels restless. Look, he's even taking her along for a stroll... Could the Heir Consort be some reincarnated demon, bewitching people into a daze..."

"I don't know about demons, but looking at the Heir Consort's appearance, I suddenly understand the Heir."

"Careful, or your sister-in-law might whip you when you get home."

Li Feiluan happened to walk out of the cosmetics shop when she saw the stunning couple riding by. Her right hand, missing a finger, throbbed painfully.

All of this was thanks to Bai Yu.

It was Bai Yu who ruined her life. If not for Bai Yu, the one sitting in Shang Rongyu's embrace, receiving envious gazes from all around, should have been her.

Since she was twelve years old, marrying Shang Rongyu had been her lifelong goal.

Her first encounter with Shang Rongyu was still vivid in her mind.

It was her twelfth birthday, and after her elders threw her a birthday party, she insisted on going out to play.

As the only legitimate daughter of Minister Li, her parents and brothers had spoiled her since childhood, giving her whatever she wanted.

She loved to play and refused to let the servants follow her. The servants, afraid of her temper, could only trail behind from a distance...

Unexpectedly, in the market, she was suddenly jostled by the crowd, and then felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck before passing out.

When she woke up again, she found herself on a ship, imprisoned alongside many other little girls.

She struggled and fought back. "I am the daughter of Minister Li, release me quickly, or I'll have my father kill you."

The bandit leader laughed maniacally, his face contorted with glee. "Once we reach the south and sell you to a brothel, you'll be nothing more than a princess. You won't be able to return to your former life, and you'll have no choice but to serve men obediently."

Initially, Li Feiluan tried to escape, struggling against those who had kidnapped her, but she was beaten and kicked, denied food and water.

Later, she fell into despair and considered suicide.

She had grown up under the adoration of countless people, receiving education from a prestigious family. How could she end up in a brothel, becoming a plaything for men?

Those people wouldn't allow her to die until they sold her for a good price.

They kept a close watch on her, and once they disembarked from the ship, she was taken to a brothel along with the other girls...

She was tightly bound and thrown to the ground, where the madam scrutinized them like pieces of meat, evaluating their quality, making comments, and haggling over prices.

She thought her life was over, but unexpectedly, she met Shang Rongyu.

He kicked open the back door of the brothel, against the light of heaven, his dark yellow robe rustling, handsome as if he were a celestial being.

At merely thirteen or fourteen years old, he had single-handedly beaten up more than ten brawlers and knocked them to the ground.

She lay on the ground, barely alive, looking at him. She saw him approach and squat down: "Are you alright?"

That voice was crisp, the most pleasant sound she had ever heard.

She heard someone call him "Heir."

Later, she passed out.

When she woke up, she was already in the government office.

The magistrate asked where her home was and whether she had any family...

A servant rolled their eyes: "Sir, do you really need to ask each one and send them home individually?"

She heard the magistrate respectfully tell the subordinate: "This is a task ordered by Prince Wang's Heir. If we don't do it well, moving our homes would be a small matter, but involving our families would be a big deal. Who is Shang Rongyu? At only thirteen, he killed over thirty thousand people. Taking our lives would be as easy as nodding for him..."

Shang Rongyu!

She knew his name now.

From then on, that name was like a brand seared into her heart, impossible to forget.

After returning to the capital, she rejected all marriage proposals.

She began to inquire about Shang Rongyu's preferences, what kind of woman he liked...

She found out that Shang Rongyu favored wild, free-spirited women who could match him, graceful and poised, and despised those confined to their chambers, bound by tradition, and affected.

Therefore, she started learning archery, martial arts, and desperately reading books, practicing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

She learned everything she disliked, everything that could make her worthy of Shang Rongyu's gaze...

Even for this, she learned to please the princess and prince, becoming a laughingstock in the capital. Her close friends mocked her behind her back for being infatuated and shamelessly chasing after a man...

In the end, Shang Rongyu publicly rejected her advances. A few days later, he said he favored Cang Jiaojiao...

As a result, she became a laughingstock once again.

Later, the emperor granted a marriage decree.

Saying he disliked women who were confined to their chambers, weak, and bound by convention, in the end, he stormed the Eastern Palace for such a woman.

For Bai Yu, that timid woman who couldn't even ride a horse, he pampered her so much.

Li Feiluan looked at the figure disappearing on horseback in the candlelight with eyes like sharp blades.

She wasn't willing to give up.

She would never let it rest.

==

Shang Rongyu brought Ran Qinggu to the noodle shop at the head of the Fenshui Bridge.

The banks were brightly lit, the river shimmering like half a moon crushed and scattered in the lake.

Arriving at the stall, Shang Rongyu placed a gold ingot down: "Old man, today is my wife's birthday, you must make these longevity noodles well."

Ran Qinggu was surprised.

His birthday?

He suddenly realized that today was Bai Yu's birthday, not his. He had forgotten that he even had a birthday.

What surprised him even more was that the old man, with his white hair and face full of wrinkles, kneaded the dough vigorously, not inferior to a young person.

Shang Rongyu sat next to Ran Qinggu and smiled: "Today is your birthday. The Empress Consort wanted to hold a family banquet for you at the mansion, but I thought that given your personality, you wouldn't like a grand celebration, so I brought you here."

Ran Qinggu indeed didn't like grand celebrations, especially since it wasn't even his birthday.

"Thank you, Heir."

"Change your address," Shang Rongyu said decisively.

Ran Qinggu was puzzled: "What?"

Shang Rongyu: "Call me husband."

Ran Qinggu: "..."

Ran Qinggu had no choice but to lower his head: "Thank you, husband."

Shang Rongyu glanced at the old man and smiled: "That old man is the longest-living person in the Da Su Dynasty, now over 120 years old. Seeing how healthy he is, most people who come to this stall are celebrating their birthdays. There are also many high officials who invite him to their mansions to make longevity noodles for good luck, but the old man is rather stubborn, only setting up his stall here. He sells only twenty bowls of noodles a day and closes when they're sold out."

If everyone came for good luck, the old man's business should have been booming, and twenty bowls wouldn't have lasted until now.

Ran Qinggu asked with a smile: "How many has he sold today?"

Shang Rongyu: "One."

Ran Qinggu: "..."

Shang Rongyu: "I didn't want others to share your longevity. I wanted all the good luck from this old man for you alone, so I sent someone to guard here all day. Whenever someone came, they gave them some silver to send them away."

Sometimes, this man was too domineering.

Ran Qinggu felt melancholy inside, yet there were some strange thoughts in his heart.

If only today was his birthday.

Over the years, to hide his identity, he had never celebrated his birthday, not even eating a single longevity noodle...

Before long, the old man's longevity noodles were served, steaming hot with chopped green onions and minced meat on top, smelling very fragrant...

This scent seemed familiar.

Shang Rongyu handed Ran Qinggu a pair of chopsticks. "Taste it quickly."

Ran Qinggu took the chopsticks. "Thank you..."

Shang Rongyu deliberately made an inquisitive sound, and Ran Qinggu hastily swallowed back the words "Heir," changing them to "husband."

"Thank you, husband." He said.

He tasted the noodles, which were very chewy and flavorful.

This taste was something he had also experienced during his previous birthdays.

In his memory, a beautiful woman held a bowl and came to him with a smile. "Gu'er, today is your birthday. Your brother took special leave from above to wait in line for a long time just to get this bowl of noodles for you. He rushed back on horseback, afraid they would become mushy. Oh, they're a bit mushy now, but it doesn't matter. You must finish them so that you can live a long life..."

Ever since he could remember, he would eat this flavor on his birthday.

Sometimes fresh, sometimes mushy, sometimes like porridge...

His mother would also cook longevity noodles for him, but the good omen was still necessary. Even if he only ate one bite, in the eyes of his mother and his brother, it meant he would live a long life, after all, the person selling the longevity noodles was already living a long life.

It had been more than six years.

He tasted this flavor again.

Fresh, very chewy noodles.

But it wasn't his birthday.

The person who celebrated his birthday with him under the candlelight was no longer there.

Shang Rongyu watched as Ran Qinggu slowly chewed the noodles, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Is Yu'er homesick?"

After all, last year's birthday was spent with her cousin.

Ran Qinggu snapped back to reality and smiled. "No, I just feel that my... husband is very good to me."

Shang Rongyu was pleased with this "husband" and took out a jewelry box from his bosom.

He opened the jewelry box and pushed it in front of Ran Qinggu. "Your birthday gift. I didn't know what you liked, so I thought about giving you a blood jade ring since the Empress Dowager gave you a blood jade bracelet."

He picked up the blood jade ring and put it on Ran Qinggu's left thumb. His fingers were delicate and slender, and with the blood jade ring, they had a somewhat solemn and deadly air.

"It suits you better than the Empress Dowager's bracelet," Shang Rongyu remarked. "This ring has other uses."

Ran Qinggu: "Other uses?"

Shang Rongyu demonstrated. "See those patterns on the ring? They're actually mechanisms. Turn the thin lines, and a poisoned dart will shoot out."

Ran Qinggu looked closely, and indeed, it was so.

This blood jade ring looked similar to ordinary blood jade rings on the outside, but at the ring's opening, there were several thin patterns.

Those patterns appeared to be just patterns, but they could actually be rotated.

Shang Rongyu demonstrated for Ran Qinggu. "Inside are ten darts that cause instant death upon contact with blood. If you ever encounter danger in the future, you can shoot them out, capable of killing with one strike."

Ran Qinggu: "Why did the Heir give this to Yu'er? Yu'er is protected by guards in the Prince's Mansion; nothing should happen."

Could it be that he suspected his identity and was testing him?

Shang Rongyu held Ran Qinggu's hand affectionately and smiled. "My enemies are as numerous as my virtues, too many to count... They can't find me, so they can only look for you, and you don't know martial arts. As a precaution, I had to resort to this measure."

Ran Qinggu thanked him. "Thank you, Heir..."

Seeing Shang Rongyu feigning sternness, he hastily corrected himself. "Husband."

With this ring, his actions would indeed be much more convenient.

Shang Rongyu was delighted to be called "husband" several times in a row, urging him, "Eat quickly, the noodles are going to get cold."

The author has something to say: The reveal should be coming soon, right?

I'll try to update a little more! Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or watered the nutrient solution for me between 23:40:19 on August 15, 2020, and 00:04:08 on August 17, 2020.

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