Chapter 20: The Commander of the Border Army’s Presence

Chapter 20: The Commander of the Border Army's Presence

At the command of the marshal, the dust on the horse field rose, and soon the sounds of riding were drowned in the thick dust.

The final match determined the ownership of the Red Hare horse, and the spectators in the grandstand eagerly craned their necks to watch.

On the field were Kong Zhen, granddaughter of the Minister of Rites, Zheng Ying, youngest daughter of Minister of Revenue Zheng Shanghe, Shi Feiyan, eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, Yao Yuzhuang from the Marquis Yao's residence, and Chen Yitong from the Marquis Chen's residence.

The Empress praised each of them, but a concubine beside her pointed to the charming girl in light yellow riding attire and said, "Your Majesty, I still think Tongtong is the most composed; look how she quietly takes the ball."

Chen Yitong was the Empress's niece. The Empress had no sons, and the Emperor only had Prince Ning. Naturally, she wanted to secure her niece's marriage to Prince Ning to continue the Chen family's glory.

But the Emperor thought differently. The Empress Dowager had deep roots in the court, and many old ministers from the previous reign still supported the Crown Prince. The Chen family was already aligned with him, so why waste such a precious marriage opportunity? The Emperor truly favored Cheng Yiqiao, but Cheng Mingyu had no such plans. Thus, the Emperor turned his attention to Zheng Ying, daughter of Minister Zheng.

Minister Zheng was Cheng Mingyu's brother-in-law and Cheng Yiyan's uncle. He was amiable and well-connected in the court, known as a peacemaker. His only flaw was that, like the Cheng family, he did not engage in factional struggles. Since the Emperor couldn't sway Cheng Mingyu, he turned to the Zheng family. First, Lu Xusheng married Cheng Mingyu's youngest daughter, and then Prince Ning would marry Zheng Ying, effectively bringing the Cheng family, the most prominent clan in the empire, under his influence. Then, without lifting a finger, officials across the land would see and naturally help him replace the Crown Prince with Prince Ning.

Without a doubt, the Emperor favored Zheng Ying.

The polo match itself wasn't the main concern, but the Emperor wanted the prize. Once Zheng Ying won, her fate with Prince Ning would be sealed, and no one else would dare to marry her. Minister Zheng would surely go along with the royal marriage.

As long as the Zheng family agreed, the Empress Dowager couldn't stop it.

Would the Empress Dowager allow the Emperor to succeed?

Of course not.

Kong Yunjie, the Minister of Rites and a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince, deeply favored by the late Emperor, believed the Crown Prince was the rightful heir and was determined to see him on the throne. Thus, his granddaughter Kong Zhen was the Empress Dowager's chosen obstacle, tasked solely with blocking Zheng Ying.

Shi Feiyan admired Prince Ning and was determined to win the match. Yao Yuzhuang assisted her, and Chen Yitong also strived to impress her cousin Prince Ning. The group played fiercely.

On the field, only Lu Xusheng and Cheng Yian were at ease.

Seeing Lu Xusheng on the field, the young masters privately strategized, letting the ladies play first while they formed a unified defense to deal with Lu Xusheng.

But despite their efforts, Lu Xusheng didn't attack. Where were the couple?

Everyone couldn't help but look up.

They saw Lu Xusheng leading his wife to the goal, carefully teaching her how to shoot.

Goodness, she hadn't even mastered dribbling, and now she was attempting to shoot? And from such a close distance?

Just ten steps away, anyone could score with their eyes closed. Was it worth the effort to teach?

Moreover, would they let Cheng Yian stand at the goal and shoot?

Were the other ten players just dead?

Lu Xusheng clearly didn't regard them seriously.

The young masters silently lamented.

Lu Xusheng had already reduced the distance from twenty steps to ten and taught Cheng Yian the essentials of shooting. Sitting on his horse, he said wearily,

"Try again."

Cheng Yian aimed meticulously at the goal, but after ten attempts, she hadn't managed to score once. She looked back at Lu Xusheng apologetically, her dark lashes fluttering, full of remorse.

Lu Xusheng gritted his teeth, "This Fan Yulin isn't much after all."

Seeing Cheng Yian's face darken, he quickly backtracked, "Alright, alright, let's reduce the distance from ten steps to five. If that still doesn't work, you can just stand right in front of the goal..."

Cheng Yian obediently urged her horse forward a few more steps, the goal now within reach. It would be embarrassing not to score from this close.

The first attempt was slightly off, but the second grazed the goal. Cheng Yian was getting the hang of it and was about to make her third attempt when she heard Lu Xusheng's voice from behind,

"Get ready, the ball's coming..."

At that moment, the ball Cheng Yian was practicing with didn't count. Hearing this, she quickly tossed the ball out of bounds and got ready for the next one.

Lu Xusheng slightly turned his horse, holding the mallet in his left hand, facing the direction of the crowd.

The girls ahead were driving the ball towards the goal.

Seeing Lu Xusheng's intent, the five young masters immediately spurred their horses forward, charging at Lu Xusheng in unison.

Five of them?

What are five to him?

In the Northern Qi formation, he had once faced a hundred enemies alone, dodging enemy arrows. The muscles honed on the battlefield had a natural alertness. With a glance at the enemy's formation, his mallet swept forward like a whirlwind, accurately predicting the direction of the horses' advance. With a few quick strikes, the mallet skimmed the ground in front of the formation, making the horses stumble and scatter. One tried a feint, attempting to bypass him to open a path for the girls.

No big deal. With a quick squeeze of his legs, he leaped forward, his mallet aimed at the opponent's horse's belly, forcing the young master to retreat three steps. Lu Xusheng had even predicted the direction of his retreat.

This retreat accidentally disrupted the girls who were trying to score.

The ball fell to the east, and with another flick of his mallet, Lu Xusheng intercepted it mid-air, then swiftly rode towards Cheng Yian.

This series of movements was as smooth as silk, incredibly smooth.

Cheng Yian had a hard time handling the fast ball and, being inexperienced, missed the shot in her panic.

"No worries, try again!"

Lu Xusheng didn't expect her to succeed on the first try. After all, how could Fan Yulin's mediocre skills produce a good student?

The young masters, seeing how Lu Xusheng had repelled them without even moving his legs or tilting his body, were totally annoyed.

"Lu Xusheng, you're bullying us."

Lu Xusheng had no choice. Cheng Yiyan was watching intently from the side. If Cheng Yian didn't score today, it would be tough to end the game. But he couldn't ruin the fun for the others either. So he simply closed his eyes,

"I'll even give up my eyes, alright?"

With only his left hand, if they still couldn't win, it was just a matter of skill. The young masters were both amused and exasperated.

The second ball began.

As usual, the girls started by driving the ball, while the young masters surrounded Lu Xusheng, daring him to break through their wall to seize the ball.

Lu Xusheng was speechless. These fools were practically handing themselves to him.

With his eyes occasionally distracted, closing them and relying on the wind to locate the ball made his mallet even more sensitive.

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, he swiftly dealt with the five around him. Listening to the direction of the ball, Lu Xusheng spurred his horse forward.

Yao Yuzhuang was the one driving the ball. Seeing the tall man suddenly appear in front of her, she was startled, and the polo slipped from her hand.

Lu Xusheng effortlessly passed the ball to Cheng Yian.

Did she miss again?

Before Lu Xusheng could say anything, Cheng Yiyan, standing outside the field, encouraged his sister, "You touched the goal; next time you'll score for sure."

Cheng Yian's frustration melted away instantly. She gritted her teeth and prepared for the next round.

For the third ball, the young masters had learned their lesson. They spread out in a five-point formation, forming a long snake-like barrier in front of Lu Xusheng. This way, he couldn't take them all out at once, right? By the time he defeated them one by one, the girls would have already scored.

The plan was perfect.

But was Lu Xusheng someone who followed others' commands?

The pinnacle of command is to outmaneuver the enemy.

He turned his horse around, easily snatched the ball from the opposing team, and then zigzagged in all directions, leading everyone further and further away from the goal. When he reached the position he had calculated, he tossed the ball backward, and it landed steadily at Cheng Yian's feet.

Really, not a fraction off, the ball seemed guided, perfectly aligning with Cheng Yian's mallet, as if drawn by a magnet.

If there had been occasional interference from the girls before, now everyone was a full arrow's distance away from her. Surely, she would score this time?

Cheng Yian lived up to expectations, struggling to drive the ball into the goal.

Thunderous cheers burst forth from the pavilion.

Of course, except for Cheng Yiqiao and Princess Minglan, the applause was for Lu Xusheng.

Although this was just an inconspicuous polo match, it allowed them to witness the prowess of the commander of the border army. With a flick of his fingers, he had everyone on the field running in circles. The Thirty-Six Stratagems—he played them to perfection.

The very backbone of the Great Jin Dynasty, living up to his reputation.

Yet he himself seemed indifferent, his gaze fixed on his wife, as if her scoring a goal was more important than any prize or succession.

Although Cheng Yian's stumbling attempt to score was hard to watch, Lu Xusheng couldn't discourage her. He gave her a thumbs-up in encouragement, "Not bad, let's keep it up."

Cheng Yian finally scored, and her mood lifted. Standing under the blazing noon sun, she grinned at him, her bright eyes softening the chilly wind.

Lu Xusheng watched from afar and suddenly thought, spoiling a woman wasn't so bad.

Cheng Yian played better and better, scoring three goals in a row.

At halftime, the young masters gathered to devise a plan to break the deadlock.

They couldn't let Lu Xusheng continue to dominate. Shi Feiyue, after all, was the son of a military family, and he formulated a series of strategies. But when they returned to the field, they couldn't find Lu Xusheng.

Where had Lu Xusheng gone?

He was giving a coaching session.

Was Fan Yulin's meager skills worthy of teaching Cheng Yian?

Now that his wife had had her fill of scoring goals, it was time to impart real polo skills. The best way to train a new recruit is to throw her into the thick of battle.

So Cheng Yian started playing polo in earnest with the girls.

Lu Xusheng, meanwhile, had tossed aside his mallet, crossed his arms, and sat upright on his horse next to Cheng Yian, teaching her how to dribble, hook, and steal the ball.

"Use your arm to drive your elbow, and your elbow to drive your wrist. Yes, that's it, push the ball out!"

Cheng Yian wasn’t slow on the uptake; with practice, she quickly got the hang of it.

The girls were nearly in tears, realizing they were just there for practice.

Lu Xusheng, of course, wasn’t just there to humor his wife. He occasionally directed Cheng Yian to disrupt Kong Zhen, saw through Shi Feiyan’s strategies instantly, and successfully secured Zheng Ying’s victory.

How could he not understand the emperor’s intentions?

A good minister must learn to read the emperor’s mind.

The emperor watched the result with a smile, his expression unreadable.

"Good, very good. This match was quite the spectacle."

Afterwards, Zheng Ying led the fiery red horse to Cheng Yian, smiling somewhat shyly,

"Thank you. If it weren’t for you and your husband stepping aside, I wouldn’t have won this red horse today."

Who would’ve guessed that the Minister of Revenue’s daughter was a horse fanatic, obsessed with collecting rare breeds? Her stables were already complete with all kinds of colts, only missing a red horse.

Cheng Yian waved her hand magnanimously, "You played brilliantly, even pulling off a reverse hook. If it weren’t for my husband meddling, you’d have won today."

In her previous life, Shi Feiyan used underhanded tactics, having someone injure Zheng Ying and force her off the field. In this life, with Lu Xusheng’s involvement, Shi Feiyan’s efforts were all focused on dealing with the couple, leaving no room to bully the other girls.

Zheng Ying smiled, "Let’s plan another match. I’ll show you my stables, and we can play together again."

Cheng Yian agreed.

The Empress Dowager wasn’t one to be trifled with either. As she left, she cast a casual glance at the field,

"In my opinion, if it weren’t for Lu Xusheng’s appearance, the best player today would have been that girl from the Chen family. Emperor, I think this polo match doesn’t count. Why not set up a banquet another day, summon the girls to the palace to perform, and choose a more suitable candidate for Prince Ning."

She successfully planted a thorn in the Empress’s heart, driving a wedge between the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor was seething inside but replied calmly,

"Mother is right, these children are all very good, and I truly like them all. But as parents, we can’t always make decisions alone; we must also consider the children’s wishes. If the child likes it and there is a connection, I can only support it."

Prince Ning was not foolish; for the sake of the grand plan, Zheng Ying was undoubtedly the best choice.

The Empress Dowager gave the Empress a deep look, then turned and left.

Cheng Yian was exhausted today and leaned against the carriage wall to rest as soon as she got into the carriage.

This time, Lu Xusheng was smarter, slowly pulling her over and holding her in his arms to let her sleep more comfortably.

When she woke up, it was already late afternoon. She forced herself to get up, bathed, changed clothes, and then asked Ru Lan,

"Where is Second Master?"

Ru Lan, remembering how Cheng Yian had been carried in by Lu Xusheng while half-asleep in the afternoon, couldn’t help but smile, pursing her lips,

"Second Master sent you back and then went to the palace."

Cheng Yian glanced at the maid's flushed face and, putting two and two together, immediately understood how she had returned, feeling somewhat embarrassed. She softly asked,

"No one saw me, right?"

Ru Lan suppressed a laugh, "Of course not, all the servants kept their heads down along the way."

So, they all saw me being carried back.

Cheng Yian's face fell.

Oh well, she wasn’t in charge anyway, so there was no need to assert authority. Let them laugh if they want.

"But..." Ru Lan hesitated, "Second Mistress didn’t look too pleased when she returned."

This was expected by Cheng Yian.

Wang Yunxiang was publicly humiliated by Princess Minglan's entourage, not only preventing her from playing polo but also embarrassing the Wang family.

Sure enough, a nanny soon arrived with orders from Second Mistress,

"Let Second Mistress rest well and then come to Mingxi Hall."

Cheng Yian had no choice but to get ready, changing into a pale yellow home robe and a silver cloak, and went to Mingxi Hall with her maid.

Upon entering Mingxi Hall, she found Third Mistress Bai Shi and Fifth Miss Lu Shuzhi already there.

Lu Shuzhi, recalling Cheng Yian’s amusing antics during the polo game, found it entertaining and playfully winked at her.

Cheng Yian glanced at Second Mistress’s expression and, not wanting to respond, stepped forward to pay her respects. Lu Shuzhi and Bai Shi also stood up to greet her. Second Mistress gestured for Cheng Yian to sit beside her and immediately asked,

"What happened today? Did you urge Princess Minglan to teach Yunxiang a lesson? Yunxiang is still lying in bed, unable to move."

Cheng Yian’s expression remained neutral as she listened. Princess Minglan stood up for her, so Princess Minglan's actions were no different from her own,

"Today, Miss Wang was beaten, but she was rude first."

"What did she say?"

Cheng Yian spoke bluntly, "She said I shouldn't have married Second Master, that only her cousin, Miss Wang, is worthy of Second Master."

Second Mistress was momentarily speechless.

Such words spoken in front of Cheng Yian were indeed inappropriate.

Cheng Yian said, "It's not that I insist on staying with the Lu family. If the mistress can persuade Second Master to give me a divorce letter, I can leave immediately."

Second Mistress was again at a loss for words, feeling as if she had summoned Cheng Yian to scold her but ended up being checkmated.

However, Cheng Yian indeed had the confidence to say such things now.

Then Cheng Yian added,

"Moreover, my dowry hasn't even been unpacked and stored yet, so leaving would be quite straightforward."

Second Mistress's face burned with embarrassment. So, even before her true identity was revealed on the wedding night, she had already considered divorce?

"Enough, let's not talk about these trivial matters. This is a marriage decreed by the Emperor, and it's not up to us to decide."

The second mistress still wanted to save face for the Wang family and, as a mother-in-law, instructed her,

"Yun'er has been wronged by you after all. Send over some gifts of apology to save everyone's face."

Cheng Yian rose with a composed demeanor, "Your Grace, forgive me, but I cannot do that..."

As the situation reached a deadlock and the mother-in-law's expression grew increasingly unpleasant, Bai Shi immediately stepped in to mediate,

"Perhaps Mother has misunderstood. Today's incident truly had nothing to do with Second Sister-in-law. It was Princess Minglan who openly took over the Lu family's pavilion and unexpectedly struck Xiang'er. Not only me, but even Second Sister-in-law was caught off guard."

The second mistress remained silent, her face dark. She was in a foul mood today after being summoned and harshly reprimanded by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager implied that she was incompetent in managing her children, failing to control Lu Xusheng and Cheng Yian, allowing Lu Xusheng to openly side with the Emperor and oppose the Crown Prince's faction at every turn.

The second mistress was also having a hard time. On one side, her maternal family, the Wangs, was firmly supporting the Empress Dowager, while on the other, her own son remained loyal to the Emperor. She was caught in the middle, torn between two loyalties.

Having been scolded in the palace, she returned home to vent her anger on Cheng Yian.

Unfortunately, Cheng Yian was no longer the same as before. She was the youngest daughter of the Cheng family's head. On her way to Shanglin Garden today, she even encountered Lu Shi, the wife of Cheng Yiyan, who told her, "Our young lady has been raised a bit delicately. I hope Your Grace will be more understanding."

What did that mean?

She was not to bully Cheng Yian.

Lu Shi had always been the spokesperson for the northern mansion's matriarch, so these words were equivalent to the Matriarch of the northern mansion warning her.

Enough, she couldn't assert her authority. She still had to give a few instructions.

The second mistress said to Cheng Yian,

"As Xusheng's wife, it's said you should guide your husband from the pillow. Xusheng's actions outside, you should keep an eye on them. The Cheng family has always steered clear of factional struggles. You should advise Xusheng not to get involved. If he does nothing, with his merits, no matter who becomes emperor, our Lu family's prosperity will not be diminished. Why meddle in such affairs?"

Cheng Yian smiled and replied, "Mother, they say at home one follows the father, and after marriage, one follows the husband. I have just married into the family, how could I possibly dictate to the Second Master? You are his mother, and even you cannot control him, let alone me?"

The second mistress knew this all too well. Wasn't she just desperate, driven to seek any solution under the Empress Dowager's pressure?

Cheng Yian then advised her,

"Your daughter-in-law believes that Your Grace need not concern yourself with this matter. Outside affairs are men's business. Whether the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind over the east wind, it doesn't affect you. Instead of fretting over uncontrollable matters, focus on managing the household effectively. You are, after all, Your Grace, and this household should be under your control."

Cheng Yian had a purpose in saying this.

Who said a daughter-in-law could only follow her mother-in-law's orders? She also needed to learn to guide upwards, such as guiding her husband and even her mother-in-law. She and the second mistress were to coexist for a long time; they couldn't always be at odds. Sometimes, one had to learn to divert trouble.

Indeed, these words struck a chord with the second mistress.

Wasn't this what she had been thinking?

If the Empress Dowager won, as a daughter of the Wang family, her prosperity would be secure.

If the Emperor won, with Lu Xusheng as her son, she would still be the top-ranked noblewoman of the court.

Why should she get involved?

Cheng Yian actually had such insight?

This somewhat surprised the second mistress.

"You are right. So, do you have any ideas on how to regain control of the household?"

At this point, Cheng Yian feigned ignorance, adopting a naive expression, "Your daughter-in-law is young and inexperienced. I am still unfamiliar with the household affairs and don't know where to start. Besides..." she blushed, "Besides, the Second Master has repeatedly instructed me not to meddle in outside affairs, but to focus solely on bearing him a child, and he would be satisfied."

Lu Xusheng truly meant it this way.

Second Mistress had nothing to say.

Then go back quickly and have a child.

Second Mistress allowed Cheng Yian to return to her chambers.

Cheng Yian inquired with her maids and learned that Lu Xusheng was too occupied to come home for supper, so she ate in her own courtyard. It seemed she was still sleep-deprived, and after digesting her meal, she went to bed early. In the dead of night, he roused her from sleep.

He patiently toyed with her, much like a seasoned hunter enticing his quarry. When Cheng Yian fully woke up, she saw the man towering over her, as immovable as a mountain. She pushed him angrily,

"Why are you touching me? Weren't you giving me the cold shoulder?"

Lu Xusheng laughed, catching her flailing arms and pinning them beside her face, "And you? You keep bringing up Fan Yulin. Is he truly that unforgettable?"

When he first returned to life, he occasionally asked about her time in Yizhou, and every day he would hear the name Fan Yulin. At that time, it didn't bother him, but gradually, those three words became unbearable. Unconsciously, his possessiveness over her intensified. He had long forgotten about his cousin, but even in her dreams, she called out Fan Yulin's name.

How could that not anger him?

Cheng Yian finally understood—he was jealous. No wonder he had been acting so cold recently.

She scoffed, "I merely mentioned him once today, and it was you who broached the subject. Who’s to blame? When have I ever constantly brought him up?"

"You have," Lu Xusheng complained, "A few days ago when you fell ill, I tended to you with tea and water, and what did you do? You called out his name in your sleep, unable to let go."

Cheng Yian was taken aback, and in her moment of distraction, he seized the opportunity, making her blush and hit him.

Lu Xusheng, having gotten his way, let her hit him.

Cheng Yian tried to recall that day, her voice faltering, "I dreamed that he was locked in a dungeon, and I went to find him to get a divorce letter. He grabbed my clothes and wouldn't let go, so I scolded him... But it's true that I can't forget him. I won't be satisfied until he's dead!"

After she finished, there was a long silence from Lu Xusheng. She reached up and grabbed his solid arm, only then realizing how firm and unyielding his muscles were, like iron, impervious to harm, giving her a sense of security.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

Her voice was unusually soft in the night, like the moonlight streaming in, like the curling smoke lingering under the eaves.

His hot breath burned against her chest as he mumbled, "Do I have time to talk?"

Cheng Yian quickly understood what he meant and shyly fell silent.

It seemed like he wanted to exhaust her to death. Her trembling arms encircled his neck, his arms, his back, her fingertips brushing over scars scattered across his skin. Her mind couldn't help but recall his confident demeanor on the horse during the day. He didn't smile often, but the weariness at the corners of his eyes carried a unique charm, as if he were a spectator in this world, never truly part of its splendor.

Cheng Yian suddenly pondered, in two lifetimes as husband and wife, had she ever truly grasped the depths of this man’s heart? Had he ever frowned? Had he ever grieved? What had he experienced back then at Silver Mountain? He had never spoken of it, not even to her, his wife.

Afterwards, Cheng Yian gently touched his chest, confirming—it was hard.

A moment of indulgence.

Cheng Yian rested for five full days before recovering. It wasn't that she was delicate—yesterday, after not riding a horse for a long time, the inside of her thighs were rubbed raw, and her elbows were sore and swollen. At night, Lu Xusheng had kept her up for over an hour, leaving her limbs feeling like they weren't her own.

On the sixth day, the fifteenth day of the tenth month, the Empress Dowager summoned the officials' wives to the palace to attend her. This day was also known as the "Lower Yuan Festival," when people would hold fasting ceremonies and offer sacrifices to the deceased. Every year, the Empress Dowager would pray for the late Emperor at the Ancestral Hall on this day and instruct the women to make pastries and tie flower knots to offer at the Taiye Pond, praying for good fortune and a prosperous year ahead.

On this day, not only the palace but also every household would prepare to hang lanterns, fast, and worship the gods.

The women in charge of household affairs stayed at home to manage the household, while the young ladies or unmarried women of the household who had nothing to do were sent to the palace to attend the ceremony.

The most leisurely person in Lu Duke's mansion was Cheng Yian.

Early in the morning, she washed up, dressed in a simple and elegant outfit, briefly checked in at the kitchen, and then carried a food box to the palace.

The maid couldn’t follow, so Lu Xusheng personally accompanied her to Donghua Gate.

As they parted, he was still very concerned, "I have to go outside the city today and won’t be back for a while. If anything happens, send someone to inform your father."

Cheng Yian shot him a reproachful look, "What could possibly happen to me? Do you think someone’s going to eat me?"

Taking the food box from his hands, she walked confidently towards the corridor.

From a distance, she saw a palace eunuch waiting inside the gate, who eagerly took the food box from her. Lu Xusheng wondered if he had arranged for a eunuch to look after Cheng Yian—or was this her father’s doing?

Her father’s care was indeed understated.

Lu Xusheng left reassured.

Around 9 a.m., the ladies were waiting in the skirt rooms outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony. After the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince, and the officials from the Ministry of Rites came out from the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they paid their respects and then followed the Crown Princess to Taiye Pond for blessings.

The ladies entering the palace today were all of noble birth, and Cheng Yian spotted several familiar faces among them.

Leading the group were naturally the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Shi Feiyan, and her cousin Yao Yuzhuang.

Clearly, both sides had developed animosity due to a polo match, and they frequently shot daggers with their eyes at Cheng Yian, who ignored them.

Seeing this, Zheng Ying immediately came to Cheng Yian’s side, pulling her to the back of the crowd as they headed to Taiye Pond.

"This morning when I entered the palace, I met my cousin Yiyan," Zheng Ying said. Her father was Cheng Yiyan’s uncle, making her and Cheng Yiyan first cousins. "Cousin Yiyan instructed me to take care of you."

Cheng Yian was immediately embarrassed, "Second brother is really treating me like a child."

She was already a married woman, while Zheng Ying was still unmarried. Shouldn’t she be the one looking after Zheng Ying?

But Zheng Ying was also a few months older than Cheng Yian, and she smiled, "A newly recognized sister, naturally, one would dote on her more."

Not long after, about twenty ladies arrived at Lingyun Terrace of Taiye Pond with the Crown Princess. Palace servants had already set up long tables there, and the girls placed their pastries on them, following the Crown Princess in bowing and kneeling.

The sky darkened, and the cold wind by the lake made the girls shiver. The Crown Princess dared not delay, fearing to freeze these precious ladies. As soon as the ceremony ended, she ordered the palace servants to lead the girls to Guanghan Hall on Qionghua Island to rest.

Guanghan Hall, despite its name suggesting coldness, was actually very warm. The large hall was heated by underfloor heating, with twelve eight-sided horn lanterns hanging above, colorful tassels swaying gently beneath the lights, casting a radiant glow throughout the hall.

According to custom, they had to partake in the imperial banquet before they could return. The Crown Princess was still busy with post-ceremony affairs at Lingyun Terrace, so the ladies waited here first.

Pastries and fruits were laid out on a table, and Cheng Yian and Zheng Ying sat at the easternmost side, drinking warm goat milk to soothe their stomachs.

Zheng Ying talked to Cheng Yian about their cousin Cheng Yixin. Cheng Yiyan and Cheng Yixin were born to Cheng Mingyu’s first wife, Lady Zheng. Cheng Yixin had married into the household of the Minister of Justice, Marquis He. Last year, the Marquis’s wife passed away, and the whole family returned to their hometown to observe mourning, not to return to the capital until next spring.

"Cousin Yixin is fortunate, married to her childhood sweetheart, the couple is deeply in love, and they have a lovely daughter. Now they just need a son to complete the family, but unfortunately, the Marquis’s wife’s passing has delayed this by another year..."

In Cheng Yian’s memory, this elder sister was generous and capable, often praised by people as having the demeanor of the Matriarch in her youth. Before her marriage, Cheng Yian was still young and didn’t meet her often, and after her marriage, there were even fewer opportunities. It had been several years since she last saw Cheng Yixin.

As they were chatting, suddenly someone passed by Cheng Yian’s side and, without warning, fell to the ground. The person lay prostrate, twisting her body and tearfully accusing Cheng Yian,

"Cheng Yian, why did you trip me for no reason?"

Her loud voice, filled with sobs, quickly attracted everyone’s attention.

Cheng Yian was first utterly confused, but upon seeing Yao Yuzhuang’s tearful eyes with a hint of hidden glee, she suddenly understood.

"I didn't stick out my foot, don't go looking for trouble."

Yao Yuzhuang covered her tears and said, "How could I not? Did I trip over my own feet? I think you're holding a grudge because I accidentally slighted you the other day."

"Cheng Yian, you come from a good family, how can you be so petty? Last time you won, and you're still not satisfied, today you had to add a kick. Are you using your powerful husband to do whatever you want in the palace?"

This accusation was serious.

Zheng Ying stood up angrily,

"You're talking nonsense, Yian and I were sitting here without moving, we didn't even see you, how could we have tripped you up? Don't go blaming An An."

Yao Yuzhuang quickly retorted, "Even the high-and-mighty Miss Zheng can lie through her teeth, you're together, of course you'd back her up."

Zheng Ying was furious.

Cheng Yian also stood up, looking at her with disdain,

"Do you have any proof it was me?"

"Then how can you say it wasn't you? Anyway, I fell, that's a fact, everyone saw it happen." She spread her hands and looked around.

Cheng Yian followed her gaze and scanned the room, except for Shi Feiyan and Kong Zhen, most people didn't want to get involved and turned their faces away.

Shi Feiyan indeed crossed her arms, leaning against the pillar and said,

"I really think it looked like An An stuck out a leg."

Zheng Ying angrily said, "Aren't you also in on it? Of course you'd back her up!"

No one was willing to back down, and they were at a stalemate.

Cheng Yian ignored her and continued to sit and drink tea.

Seeing that she couldn't pin it on Cheng Yian, Yao Yuzhuang deliberately threw a tantrum and lunged at her,

"You dare to lay hands on me, I'll fight you!"

She raised her hands to grab Cheng Yian's hair, but luckily, Cheng Yian was quick and dodged to the side. Shi Feiyan and Kong Zhen, while saying not to fight, took the opportunity to push and shove.

Zheng Ying also joined the fray.

Cheng Yian was forced to the corner of the table, grabbed a handful of melon seeds, and threw them at the three faces. Taking advantage of Yao Yuzhuang's dodge, she grabbed her hair and pushed her back, causing the three to fall like dominoes.

Kong Zhen was at the bottom, her chest hit hard by Shi Feiyan, who in turn hit her elbow on the table corner and cried out in pain. Yao Yuzhuang's hair was disheveled, a complete mess, and she cursed angrily,

"I see you married a butcher, and you've picked up some rough moves yourself, you actually managed to take on the three of us."

Cheng Yian didn't expect to have such strength today, did she really win?

Not bad.

She could tolerate others falsely accusing her, but she couldn't tolerate others insulting Lu Xusheng. Her eyes narrowed slightly, "Who are you calling a butcher?"

"Your Lu Xusheng, who else?" Yao Yuzhuang, disregarding her disheveled appearance, thought she had hit Cheng Yian's sore spot and looked extremely arrogant,

"He's a bloodthirsty maniac, he thrives on human blood, he crawled out of a pile of corpses, aren't you scared living with such a man..."

Before she could finish, a loud slap landed on her cheek.

Since things had already escalated to physical confrontation, Cheng Yian decided to vent her anger thoroughly.

Cheng Yian had never been so furious before, her forehead still flushed with anger. She glared at Yao Yuzhuang and spoke each word deliberately,

"Yao Yuzhuang, today is the fifteenth of October, the Lower Yuan Festival, a day to honor the deceased. Do you know which spirits the Empress Dowager is honoring? I'll tell you, she's honoring those soldiers who died following the late emperor, thirty thousand lives. They were fathers to their children, sons to their mothers, husbands to their wives, and brothers to their sisters."

"You can insult me all you want, but I won’t stand for you insulting Lu Xusheng. It was he and his brothers-in-arms who used their flesh and blood to seal the breaches at the border, giving you the chance to prattle on here, to dress in fine silks and indulge in pleasures!"

Zheng Ying was moved by her words, her eyes welling up with tears. It was hard to believe that the usually delicate lady could command such a powerful presence. She also straightened her back in support.

When the Crown Princess entered, she heard these stirring words and looked at Cheng Yian with a complex expression.

The Crown Princess, born into the Duke of Qin's household, with her grandfather, father, and brothers all being warriors who had fought bloody battles on the battlefield, understood the weight of these words better than anyone. Out of thirty-four male members of the Duke of Qin's household, half had perished in battle, and those who survived were missing limbs, living out their lives in disability.

But ultimately, having a physical altercation in the palace violated palace rules. After hearing the details, the Crown Princess was deeply troubled. Since it involved the daughters of important ministers, she did not dare to make a decision on her own. She first had them settled in a room and decided to report the matter to the emperor herself.

As soon as the Crown Princess left, Shi Feiyan discreetly handed some silver to a palace servant, instructing them to secretly inform her father and have him stand up for her.

Seeing them busy seeking their own solutions, Zheng Ying grew anxious for Cheng Yian,

"An An, we need to think of a way, we can't let them accuse us first."

Cheng Yian remained silent. She was hungry; even if the world were ending, she would eat first.

The palace servants had already brought lunch. Cheng Yian ate alone in silence, aware that she had likely caused trouble today and it might be hard to resolve.

She did not regret it.

If she had to face the emperor, she had her own arguments.

People cannot empathize with each other. Thinking of the hardships Lu Xusheng had endured, which had now become tools for others to attack him, Cheng Yian felt a wave of sadness.

She ached for her man.

Enough, she thought, she would face whatever consequences came her way.

At noon, the self-striking clock chimed. Cheng Mingyu had just finished his last document, put down his brush, and looked up at the sky. The wind had picked up today, and the Taiye Pond was damp and cold. He wondered if Ping Ping was cold.

As this thought crossed his mind, the door to his office was suddenly pushed open from the outside. A slender figure entered, seemingly having run here, speaking breathlessly,

"Chief, you must hurry to the palace. Your daughter has caused trouble in the palace!"

Cheng Mingyu was visibly taken aback. He quickly stood up, removed his official hat, and as he walked out, he asked,

"Tell me everything that happened."

The subordinate official relayed what he had heard, ending with concern,

"I came from the Hall of Supreme Harmony and saw the Grand Commander Shi and Marquis Yao heading there, looking furious. They must be going to complain to the emperor."

Cheng Mingyu was not concerned about that. He turned his head and asked,

"What did the palace official say? Was my daughter hurt? Did her hand hurt from hitting?"

The subordinate official was indeed taken aback, thinking that the minister's concern was a bit off, "It seems it wasn't mentioned."

Cheng Mingyu was slightly relieved. He then adjusted his official hat and stepped onto the red steps in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.