Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As was her custom, Jiang Heng followed him into the inner chamber to assist with his change of clothes. She had just helped him shed his daywear and was reaching for his nightclothes when he caught her wrist, halting her movement. The next moment, he swept her into his arms and pressed her onto the bed.

His gaze settled on her face, scrutinizing her intently, as if thoroughly pleased with her makeup that day. His hands, unhurried yet firm and swift, deftly removed the obstructing garments.

He was always impatient in such matters, cutting straight to the chase without preamble.

Jiang Heng winced slightly, not wanting him to notice her discomfort, and turned her head away. But he cupped her jaw, forcibly turning her back, holding her firmly beneath his heavy, clouded gaze.

Perhaps it was the wine from the palace banquet—he carried a faint scent of it, not strong, but at such intimate proximity, Jiang Heng could distinctly perceive it.

Whether due to the alcohol or not, she felt Gu Yu seemed different tonight. His desire appeared fiercer than ever before, each thrust like a surging torrent, making it difficult for her to suppress the sounds she had always managed to contain.

She couldn’t help but let out a soft moan. Though extremely gentle, the advancing flood suddenly paused, as if momentarily forgetting to recede.

In that brief lull, Jiang Heng sensed Gu Yu watching her, his gaze even more intense than before.

Jiang Heng knew it was likely because of that sound—she had never made such a noise. This was the first time, and he seemed surprised.

Jiang Heng tilted her head slightly, biting her lip to prevent any more such sounds from escaping.

But he gripped her chin again, turning her back, forcing her to meet his gaze, and to witness herself rising and falling uncontrollably in the torrent, her face more radiant and alluring than the peony pinned in her hair.

He showed no trace of weariness from his long journey; his strength remained as it always was, fierce and vigorous like an unquenchable flame.

Indeed, Jiang Heng vaguely felt that his mood tonight was exceptionally high.

Perhaps it was her makeup—he must have noticed she had styled herself identically to her elder sister. And it seemed he was very pleased with her appearance tonight, so much so that he wouldn’t allow her to turn away from his sight.

After what felt like an eternity of relentless friction, the woman’s hair was completely undone. The peony pinned in her hair lay in layers atop her head, glistening with a clear moisture—whether it was dew from the flower or the prolonged intensity, the flower’s essence seemed to have been pressed out.

Finally, the man was sated. After lying still for a moment to regain his breath, he rose from the bed.

Jiang Heng had something to say. She reached out to stop him, but whether from exhaustion—her bones feeling as if they had been ground to dust, leaving only soft, limp muscles—or because the man moved too swiftly and decisively, she couldn’t hold him back.

“Husband.” Though she mustered all her remaining strength, her voice came out barely audible, like the soft brushing of her tabby cat against her.

Gu Yu had already dressed. As he tightened his belt, his hands paused briefly before he continued adjusting his attire. “Rest. I have matters to attend to.”

Though they had just been intimate, the man who had been like an inextinguishable fire on the bed now seemed as cold and detached as carved jade, showing no trace of lingering affection, as if nothing had happened between them.

He left the inner chamber but did not depart immediately. Instead, he stood by the bookshelf in the outer room, picked up a book, and began reading.

Jiang Heng struggled to rise from the bed, tidied her appearance slightly, and draped her nightrobe over herself before hurrying out. She found Gu Yu holding a book, reading intently, his focus entirely on the text, as if unaware of her presence.

He was reading *Records of Lingnan Peonies*, a book her elder sister had written during her travels to Lingnan the previous year. Her brother had specially gifted it to her, saying it vividly described the local customs, geography, and scenery, making one feel as if they were there. Jiang Heng had read a few pages but set it aside to copy Buddhist sutras. Gu Yu, however, often read it in his spare time, even adding annotations in some sections.

So, the matter he had to attend to was reading her sister’s book.

Gu Yu preferred quiet, especially when reading, and disliked being disturbed. Jiang Heng sat beside a small table, gently touching a peony, occasionally glancing at the man, waiting for an opportunity to speak.

“What is that flower called?” the man asked abruptly.

When Jiang Heng looked over, his gaze had already returned to the book. His striking features, even under the soft candlelight, held no warmth.

He was not one to make small talk with her—why would he ask such a thing out of the blue?

Perhaps it was because the peonies usually displayed in their room were rare and exotic varieties. This year’s peony, though also a thousand-petaled type, was quite ordinary, which might have prompted his question.

“There were some peonies that Sister-in-law liked, so I gave them to her,” Jiang Heng explained. “Only a few were left, and I picked this one to bring here.”

Gu Yu acknowledged with a faint sound, as if still waiting for her to answer the question about the peony’s name.

“This flower is called *Niu Hong*.”

The flower farmers had presented many varieties of peonies. For simplicity, Jiang Heng often named them after the families who presented them. The yellow peony presented by the Yao family was called “Yao Huang,” the purple one from the Wei family was “Wei Zi,” and *Niu Hong* naturally referred to the red peony presented by the Niu family.

As soon she finished speaking, Gu Yu looked up, his usually impassive expression seeming to furrow slightly.

He stared at Jiang Heng for a moment, then glanced at the peony before returning his gaze to the book. His expression seemed even colder and more severe than before.

After reading a few more pages, he closed the book and stood up, as if preparing to leave.

Jiang Heng quickly rose as well. “Husband, I have something to tell you.”

Gu Yu stopped and stood waiting for her to speak.

“My elder sister…”

“I will help her,” Gu Yu said directly.

Clearly, he thought she was asking for his help regarding her sister. Her mother had indeed repeatedly urged her to convey messages to Gu Yu, asking him to look after her sister. But she hadn’t—she knew full well that given Gu Yu’s temperament and his past relationship with her sister, he would naturally ensure her safety without any prompting.

That wasn’t what she had intended to discuss.

“The painting my sister gave you was scratched by my cat,” Jiang Heng said, lowering her head and voice softly. “It was my fault for not watching it properly. It sneaked into the study… Please forgive it this once.”

Gu Yu frowned, his expression darkening noticeably. He stared at the woman for a moment, then suddenly set the book he was holding onto the table. “Within three days, commit this volume to memory. If you succeed, you may keep the animal.”

With that, he strode away.

As soon as the man left, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. Rui Zhu hurried over to examine the book and lamented, “This is a travelogue! It’s full of text, not poetry. Three days? Who could memorize it in that time? The Master is clearly making it impossible for you to keep the cat.”

Jiang Heng said nothing. She took the book and returned to the inner chamber.

…

Jiang Heng spent the entire night reading. It was nearly noon the next day when she finally drifted into a light sleep briefly. Suddenly, she remembered something and snapped awake. Checking the time, she immediately said, “Prepare the carriage.”

“Madam, are you going to see the posted rankings?”

Over the past three years, whenever the imperial examination results were posted, Jiang Heng would personally go to see the list. Rui Zhu was used to it. But this time was different. Not only was Jiang Heng’s elder sister imprisoned, with many matters requiring attention, but Gu Yu’s task of memorizing the book was also urgent. Moreover, no one from the Jiang family had taken the exam, so checking the results seemed unnecessary.

“Madam, three days is too short to memorize that travelogue,” Rui Zhu reminded her, hinting at the priorities.

Jiang Heng still insisted calmly, “Prepare the carriage.”

“Madam, Seventh Miss is still in prison,” Rui Zhu added.

Jiang Heng acknowledged with an “mm,” but repeated, “Prepare the carriage.”

Although her sister had returned to the capital, she was temporarily held in the Dali Prison. The procedures for visitation would take four or five days to arrange. They could do nothing for the time being.

…

The list of successful candidates in the imperial examination was posted on the eastern wall of the southern courtyard of the Ministry of Rites. By the time Jiang Heng arrived, the area below the list was already packed with onlookers. Among those viewing the results were not only the scholars who had taken the exam but also many elderly, women, and children—some were family members of the candidates, while others had come looking to find a son-in-law from among the successful scholars.

Opposite the eastern wall was a covered walkway, originally a passage connecting the government offices. Due to the large crowd of onlookers, during the posting period, tea tables were temporarily set up here for a fee to accommodate people.

This area offered a clear view and also provided copies of the list. Jiang Heng came here every time, and the minor official in charge had reserved a seat for her early on.

"Thank you for your trouble." Jiang Heng nodded slightly in gratitude and, as before, instructed Rui Zhu to hand him a small silver ingot. After deducting the cost of the tea seat, the remainder was given to the minor official.

"Are there any successful candidates from Canghe or Wucheng?" Jiang Heng asked casually, as if making small talk.

The Jiang family originated from Canghe, so the minor official assumed she was inquiring about people from her hometown and didn't think much of it. He replied that there were none and mentioned a few candidates from Wucheng who had failed.

Jiang Heng had already learned about these individuals from the Chancellor of the Imperial College. Her question to the minor official was merely to see if there was any new information.

But this time, there was still no trace of the person she was looking for.

Jiang Heng fell silent and gazed at the crowd below the corridor, patiently scanning the faces.

Suddenly, she spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Her gaze locked onto it, and she unconsciously stood up.

"Sister-in-law, what are you looking at that made you stand up?"

At that moment, Gu Qingyue, Gu's younger sister, arrived. Accompanying her were two princes, a princess, and Gu Yu.

Jiang Heng hadn't expected to encounter Gu Yu here. In the past three years, he had never come to view the list.

"I thought I saw something just now, but when I looked closer, you were already here," Jiang Heng said softly, her expression neutral.

"Looking at me? Or someone else?"

Gu Qingyue teased, with a meaningful glance at her elder brother. Seeing Gu Yu's stern and unsmiling expression, she quickly fell silent and asked Jiang Heng, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"

If she were an unmarried young woman, it would be perfectly normal for her to come here and join in the excitement. But she was already a married woman, and with no brothers taking the exam, her presence here was somewhat unusual—even a bit improper.

Jiang Heng remained calm, showing no sign of guilt, and replied placidly, "A few fellow townsmen took the exam. I came to see if there was any good news."

"You're quite broad-minded, coming to wait for others' good news," Princess Huyang remarked casually.

Jiang Heng understood what she meant but did not argue. Instead, she said, "You must all be busy. I'll take my leave."

Just as she finished speaking and before she could leave, a commotion broke out below the corridor. The minor official immediately shouted, "Who is causing trouble?"

Following the sound, they saw a young man of about fifteen or sixteen being pinned by two guards, his hands locked behind his back. He was about to be taken away but continued to protest vehemently, claiming that the top candidate was a fraud who had gained fame undeservedly and that the court's selection was unjust.

The top candidate this year was a scholar from Luojing who had long been renowned for his talent. His success was expected, and no one in the capital questioned it.

"Where did this wild brat come from, daring to cause trouble in the imperial city? Throw him in prison for three to five years!" Princess Huyang slammed her hand on the railing and angrily ordered the minor official standing nearby, "I mean it. Get moving!"

Ordinary disturbance offenses did not warrant such severe punishment—usually, it would only result in ten days to a fortnight of imprisonment. But once someone was thrown in prison, the charges would no longer be minor and would require a crime severe enough to match the punishment.

Judging by the expressions of the two princes, they had no intention of stopping the princess's order.

Jiang Heng glanced at Gu Yu. He stood with his arms crossed inside his sleeves, his eyes slightly lowered as he watched the scene below, seemingly lost in thought. Clearly, he had no intention of intervening either.

"Your Highness, please calm yourself and reconsider," Jiang Heng directly advised the princess.

The covered corridor was not crowded, but now all eyes were on Jiang Heng—even Gu Yu looked up, his gaze deep and unreadable.

"That young man is still young, arrogant, and reckless. He deserves punishment, but according to the law, it does not seem to warrant three to five years in prison. I hope Your Highness will consider this carefully," Jiang Heng said softly, dipping her head slightly.

Princess Huyang was still fuming and snapped at Jiang Heng, "Do you think you know the law better than I do?"

"How is it not deserving of three to five years? He angered me, which is tantamount to rebellion—three to five years is too light!"

"What are you waiting for? Arrest that wild brat!" Princess Huyang shouted again.

"Your Highness," Jiang Heng's voice remained calm, without stubborn urgency, merely firm and respectful.

"Enough, Huyang. Stop causing trouble," Prince Qin glanced at Jiang Heng and finally spoke up to intervene.

Princess Huyang, cowed by her elder brother's authority, did not dare to argue further. She could only shoot Jiang Heng a resentful glare.

...

"Sister-in-law, why did you have to meddle?"

After bidding farewell to the princess and her companions, Gu Qingyue muttered, discontented. She glanced tentatively at her brother's expression and, seeing that he had no intention of defending Jiang Heng, continued, "My brother has been working tirelessly to protect your sister, and yet you go and offend the princess at a time like this."

Jiang Heng remained silent, pretending not to hear her sister-in-law's complaints, and calmly boarded the carriage.

"Brother, look at her!" Gu Qingyue was infuriated by Jiang Heng's unruffled attitude.

"Enough, let's go back," Gu Yu said lightly. Then, he also got into the carriage.

"Brother, aren't you riding your horse?" Gu Qingyue muttered, confused and surprised.

A low "Hmm" from inside the carriage signaled that she should stop bothering him. Gu Qingyue promptly fell silent and went to ride her horse alone.

Inside the carriage, although surprised that Gu Yu would share the ride, Jiang Heng calmly scooted over to make room for him.

The Gu family's carriage was relatively spacious. When Jiang Heng rode alone, she could even lie down to rest. But now, with Gu Yu inside, the space felt cramped and oppressive.

This was the first time the two had shared a carriage since their marriage three years ago. The sudden sense of being crowded made Jiang Heng somewhat uncomfortable. She instinctively edged slightly away from Gu Yu.

"You shouldn't have interfered earlier."

Gu Yu sat upright, his voice as clear and deep as a river half-frozen, half-glittering in the sunlight—bright but not warm.

Jiang Heng said nothing.

Gu Yu's expression grew more solemn, and his voice deepened as he admonished, "You spend most of your time in the inner chambers. There are many things you don't understand. Do not interfere casually."

After speaking, his gaze fixed on her, calm yet icy.

"Mm," Jiang Heng murmured softly, lowering her eyes obediently.

"That man—do you know him?" Gu Yu suddenly asked again.