Chapter 23

Chapter 23

As soon as they returned to the mansion, Ye Shuang went straight to the rear courtyard. Xiao Lin had told her in the carriage to stay at home for the next few days, adding that he would explain to Her Ladyship himself. Ye Shuang did not respond.

Upon returning, Ye Shuang shut herself in her room and instructed everyone not to disturb her.

The maids were alarmed to see her return in such a state.

She lay down as soon as she entered the room, and the tears she’d been holding back throughout the journey finally flowed silently.

For the next few days, Ye Shuang remained like this—unwilling to eat or move. Occasionally, she would get up to have a little food, worrying Nanny Liu and the others terribly.

Wen Xiang, who had never seen Ye Shuang like this before, was so anxious she didn’t know what to do. She tried to persuade her several times, but Ye Shuang only said she didn’t want to eat and refused to explain why. The servants in the front courtyard also refused to talk, and neither Xiao Yin nor Xiao Han would reveal anything. The Marquis had not appeared either.

Ye Shuang lay in bed for three days. On the fourth morning, she suddenly got up, saying she wanted to bathe and change clothes, and began to eat again.

Wen Xiang and the others were overjoyed and hurriedly prepared everything, adding petals to the bathwater. Ye Shuang soaked comfortably for a while, washing away the melancholy of the past few days. After grooming herself and having some millet porridge, she tidied herself and headed to the front courtyard.

The Marquis had moved back to his study during these days and was currently at the imperial court, so he was not in the mansion. Taking advantage of his absence, she tried to go out but was stopped at the gate by Xiao Han.

"Prepare a sedan chair for me. I’m going out."

Xiao Han replied, "The Marquis has instructed that you rest at home for the next few days."

Wen Xiang was surprised, but Ye Shuang was not. She simply said, "I need to go to the palace."

Xiao Yin, who was also there, stopped her: "The Marquis has already visited Her Ladyship on your behalf."

"What does that mean?"

Xiao Han pleaded, "Please don’t make things difficult for us, madam. The Marquis has given a military order this time—you are not to leave the mansion."

Ye Shuang shot a furious glance in the direction of the main gate before turning and walking away.

She then tried to scale the wall in the backyard but was intercepted by Xiao Yin, who had been waiting there.

"Xiao Lin is dead set on keeping me here," she said bitterly.

Xiao Yin replied, "The Marquis has his difficulties. I hope you can understand, madam."

Ye Shuang turned and left, taking Wen Xiang back with her.

In truth, she should have expected this, but she never thought the Marquis would actually confine her.

Wen Xiang was at a loss: "Madam, what should we do? The Marquis has never been like this before."

What exactly happened that day at Prince Jing’s residence? She didn’t dare ask, afraid of upsetting Ye Shuang further.

"Find a way to send a message to the General’s estate. Ask Miss Song to come to the Marquis’s mansion when she has time. Tell her I have matters to discuss."

Wen Xiang replied, "Yes."

"But I doubt you’ll be able to leave either," Ye Shuang said, sinking into deep thought.

Chun Tao, being young and inexperienced, panicked: "What should we do?"

Wen Xiang asked, "Does the Marquis plan to keep you confined indefinitely? What about the palace banquet? Surely he won’t forbid you from attending that!"

Ye Shuang dismissed the idea: "The Palace Banquet is still far off. Waiting until then would take too long."

Wen Xiang asked, "Do you have a plan, madam?"

"The Winter Solstice is in a few days. He won’t be able to avoid me forever."

The Marquis had likely already handled matters with the Empress, but Ye Shuang still needed to request an audience with Her Highness alone.

Biding her time, she stayed in the backyard for a few more days. As expected, Wen Xiang was unable to send any messages. The plan to contact Song Yun had failed. As days passed, on the third day before the Winter Solstice, the Marquis finally returned to the west courtyard.

It had been half a month since they last saw each other.

The Marquis entered the room with the light behind him and sat down directly, announcing that he would have dinner in the west courtyard. The servants hurriedly prepared the meal.

Left alone in the room, the atmosphere grew tense. Ye Shuang avoided looking at the Marquis, already knowing what he would say.

The Marquis began by asking about her well-being, expressing concern. He mentioned that there had been no further developments regarding the incident at Prince Jing’s residence or the Liu residence, suggesting the matter was likely over. He also told her that he had excused her from her duties with the Empress, citing illness, and Her Highness had not questioned it further, indicating no suspicion. However, Ye Shuang felt the Empress likely knew what had happened.

"From now on, you don’t need to confine yourself to the mansion. You can go out if you wish," the Marquis said offhandedly during the meal, as if nothing had happened.

Ye Shuang raised her jade chopsticks and sneered, "Oh? So you’re allowing me to leave now? Aren’t you afraid I’ll cause trouble again? Perhaps it’s better to keep me confined."

The Marquis grew angry and put down his chopsticks. "What do you mean by that? I was only maintaining appearances for others. After what happened, I had to take some action. It wasn’t about actually confining you."

"You issued a military order! And you call that a show? Do you take me for a fool?" Ye Shuang retorted, refusing to back down.

"It was just to scare you. Xiao Yin and Xiao Han would never lay a hand on you. Haven’t you been living as usual these past few days? If I truly wanted to punish you, would I have allowed that?"

"Then I suppose I should thank you for your leniency?"

Perhaps remembering his purpose for visiting, the Marquis softened his tone and stopped arguing. "I know you’re upset. I spoke too harshly that day, and I offer my apologies. From now on, I’ll need you to oversee the household management as usual."

Ye Shuang had anticipated this and deliberately ignored him.

The Marquis glanced at her and continued, "The Winter Solstice is approaching. You’ll need to arrange the ancestral rites. After all, you are still the Marchioness of Yongding."

"So that’s why you’re here!" Ye Shuang said coldly.

The Marquis replied, "Not entirely. I’ve been busy sorting archived documents lately and neglected you. Now that the task is complete, and with the Winter Solstice break, His Majesty has granted me five days off. I can spend some time with you."

Ye Shuang knew the Marquis was saying this to smooth things over between them, but she couldn’t help feeling a flicker of hope that he would make time for her.

Softening, she conceded, "I’ll handle the ancestral rites, but on one condition: I want a half-day of freedom to go out. No one is to follow me, and you are not to ask where I’m going."

The Marquis hesitated.

Ye Shuang immediately added, "If not, find someone else to oversee the rites."

"How can that be done?"

Ancestral rites were a grave matter, reserved for the principal wife of the family’s eldest son. The Xiao family had only the Marquis’s branch, and though small in number, the rites were especially significant. Having someone else oversee them would invite ridicule.

The only regret was that she couldn’t return to her maternal home on the day of the rites to pay respects to her mother.

"Fine. As long as the rites go smoothly, you can have half a day—or even go out every day afterward."

Ye Shuang setting her thoughts aside and mustered a faint smile. "In that case, thank you, Marquis."

With the matter settled, the Marquis felt a weight off his mind and was about to enjoy his meal when Ye Shuang announced she was full and wished to retire for the night. She asked if the Marquis had finished eating. Seeing her already wiping her mouth with a handkerchief, the Marquis could hardly continue, so he put down his chopsticks and said he was full as well.

That night, the Marquis once again spent the night in the west courtyard.