Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Jiang Heng froze. When had she ever made things difficult for Luo Ci, or harassed those three concubines?

Had he come in the middle of the night just to champion Luo Ci and secure a more comfortable room closer to him for one of the concubines?

He hadn't even the patience to wait three days. Perhaps in three days, if she failed to recite the travelogue, she would, as he wished, be unable to keep the cat, thus freeing up the room for the concubine.

But he couldn’t wait. He wanted her to vacate the room now.

“Go and pack up. Be gentle; don’t frighten the cat.” Jiang Heng sat back at her desk and continued reading, her expression calm, her voice even, betraying no emotion, as if Gu Yu’s stern warning had not affected her in the slightest.

Rui Zhu tried to persuade her again, “My lady, why not give up the cat or send it to Guanyin Temple? Since you often go there to worship, you could still see it frequently. That way, you wouldn’t anger the master.”

Jiang Heng finally lifted her serene eyes and fixed them on Rui Zhu. “That is my cat. I will keep it by my side.”

She usually spoke softly and gently, never harshly criticizing even when maids erred. But this time was different. Though her tone wasn't loud, it carried an undeniable authority that made one hesitate to defy her.

Rui Zhu quickly lowered her head and assented, not daring to press further.

...

Early the next morning, the west-wing room was emptied. It was said that Luo Ci had ordered it cleaned overnight. Jiang Heng personally settled the tabby cat in the west wing. To prevent the cat from being stressed or frightened in its new surroundings, she brought her books there, memorizing passages while keeping it company.

She had just settled in when Luo Ci arrived, carrying two peony plants.

“Sister-in-law, I’ve come to apologize,” Luo Ci said as soon as she entered.

“Cousin insisted that the concubine live closer, and I had no choice but to tell him the truth—that the room was occupied by a cat. I thought he might let it go out of consideration for your marital relationship, but who would have thought…” Luo Ci sighed, looking apologetically at Jiang Heng. “Sister-in-law, I mishandled this. If you blame me, I deserve it. I just don’t want you to be upset over this. These two peonies were given to me by Aunt a few days ago. Since you love peonies the most, I’d like to give them to you.”

Jiang Heng said nothing, her gaze falling on the flowers. They were two white peonies—one pink-white, translucent like rose quartz, the other moon-white, hazy like reflected moonlight. They were the rarest varieties among the purchased peonies and also the most expensive. She had thought some noble lady had acquired them, but it turned out they were in Luo Ci’s hands.

She had heard that when Gu Yu returned to the capital, her mother-in-law was so delighted that she rewarded many with peonies, even adorning several close servants with them. It was no surprise that Luo Ci had obtained such rare and valuable varieties.

“Thank you then, Cousin,” Jiang Heng said lightly, neither refusing nor saying more. She then lowered her eyes back to her book.

Luo Ci continued, “Sister-in-law, won’t you advise Cousin? Those three concubines came from the south. Who knows if they harbor ill intentions? We mustn’t let Cousin fall into their trap.”

Jiang Heng remained silent, unwilling to engage in gossip. After a long pause, she said lazily, “Duke Wei is perceptive and discerning. He knows what he’s doing.”

As she spoke, she turned another page, her eyes never leaving the book, clearly uninterested in further conversation.

Luo Ci could see Jiang Heng’s intention to dismiss her. Lowering her eyes, she said plaintively, “Sister-in-law, you must still blame me.”

Jiang Heng pursed her lips slightly, feeling a hint of impatience. Without showing it, she replied calmly and gently, “Cousin, if you act aggrieved here and your Cousin finds out, he will blame me for mistreating you. If this causes a rift between us, tell me, should I blame you? And are you truly the aggrieved one?”

Luo Ci, who had been covering her lips, ready to whimper a few pitiful words, was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

This sister-in-law had always been quiet and reserved, avoiding conflicts in the household. She never involved herself in disputes, not even among children. Who would have thought such a gentle person would say such things today?

If Luo Ci continued to act victimized, it would seem as though she were deliberately sowing discord between the couple.

Luo Ci covered her lips for a moment longer, pretending to compose herself, then said, “Sister-in-law, there’s another matter. Seventh sister is imprisoned in the Dali Prison. The prison is cold and harsh. Cousin instructed me to prepare some clothes and food for her to take when he visits.”

She paused, waiting for Jiang Heng’s reaction.

The “seventh sister” she referred to was Jiang Heng’s elder sister, the rumored Empress Jiang, for whom Gu Yu had once caused great turmoil. Though her sister had been in the south for years, everyone in Duke Wei’s residence spoke of her with respect. Servants addressed her as “Seventh Miss,” while peers like Luo Ci called her “seventh sister,” sounding even closer than Jiang Heng, her own sister.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Cousin,” Jiang Heng said indifferently, not even lifting her eyes from the book.

Luo Ci continued on her own, “Aunt often expresses regret when talking about seventh sister. She told me to cut some high-quality fabric and make several sets of clothes to ensure seventh sister remains dignified and doesn’t suffer in prison. She specifically instructed me to prepare plenty of quality pastries so she won’t go hungry.”

As she spoke, she watched Jiang Heng’s expression, but the young woman remained impassive, her eyes fixed on the book, as if she hadn’t heard or was pretending not to care.

“Sister-in-law, I’ve never interacted with seventh sister and don’t know her preferences. I’m afraid the clothes and pastries might not suit her taste. So, I was wondering if you could join me in selecting the fabric?”

Her request sounded reasonable. If Jiang Heng refused outright, it would seem unkind. But upon reflection, Gu Yu and her mother-in-law surely knew it would be more appropriate for Jiang Heng to handle this. Since they had entrusted it to Luo Ci, there must be other considerations. It was better for her not to get involved.

“My sister has been married far away in the south for many years. I no longer know her preferences. I’m afraid I won’t be of much help.”

Luo Ci fell silent for a moment, feigning disappointment with an “oh,” then offered kindly, “Then, sister-in-law, is there anything you’d like me to bring to seventh sister? I can handle it for you.”

Jiang Heng initially wanted to say “no” outright but feared Luo Ci would persist. Instead, she said, “No need. I’ll have my husband pass it along for me.”

Luo Ci was rendered speechless. After sitting awkwardly for a while longer, she took her leave.

After leaving Ninghe Courtyard far behind, Luo Ci’s maid complained, “The Third Madam makes it sound nice, but I don’t believe she holds no grudge against her sister. The master and the old madam clearly prefer her sister—doesn’t she see that?”

Luo Ci’s visit to the west wing wasn’t truly about apologizing. She had wanted to gauge Jiang Heng’s attitude toward the three concubines and her own sister. Unexpectedly, Jiang Heng remained composed, her words and expressions revealing nothing.

She had initially hoped to use Jiang Heng to deal with the three concubines, but now it seemed she would have to take matters into her own hands.

“Starting today, arrange for those three bitches to take birth control medicine. They must drink it daily,” Luo Ci sneered.

Qiuyi hesitated, “It might be difficult. The medicine has a strong odor; we can’t administer it secretly.”

Luo Ci scoffed disdainfully, “Fool! Who said to sneak it in? Give it to them openly. Tell them it’s a reward from the Duchess.”

It was common for the primary wife to give concubines medicine to prevent pregnancy. Even if Jiang Heng found out later and confronted her, Luo Ci had her excuses. She didn’t believe her Cousin or Aunt would punish her over three concubines. The priority now was to ensure none of them bore a child.

As for Jiang Heng, if she could have children, she would have done so long ago.

“Has anyone from Ninghe Courtyard come asking for the waterproof cotton cloth yet?” Luo Ci asked.

Qiuyi said no, adding, “Miss, if they’re not asking, it means they don’t need it. Why do you keep worrying about it?”

“What do you know?” Luo Ci chuckled triumphantly.

The waterproof cotton cloth wasn’t for ordinary use but for making menstrual pads. Each courtyard received a fixed allocation based on the number and ages of its occupants. Once, she had accidentally discovered that Ninghe Courtyard’s allocation was short. Strangely, Jiang Heng never sent anyone to ask for more. At first, Luo Ci thought Jiang Heng might be pregnant and didn’t need them, but later found out that wasn’t the case. Suspicious, she began secretly monitoring Ninghe Courtyard and often deliberately withheld one or two people’s share. Yet, Ninghe Courtyard never complained.

After years of subtle observation, she was almost certain of one thing: Jiang Heng had a medical condition.

So, the position of Duchess would eventually have to be vacated.

Whenever she thought of this, Luo Ci felt a surge of excitement and couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows.

In the evening, when Gu Yu returned, Luo Ci went to tell him that Jiang Heng had refused to help select the clothing and food.

Seeing Gu Yu frown, she quickly softened her tone and said anxiously, “Cousin, I’m not telling you this to make you blame sister-in-law. I just want to remind you—could it be that sister-in-law is unhappy?”

She stopped there, not elaborating further, and whispered, “In any case, Cousin, please don’t reprimand sister-in-law. Otherwise, she might think I’m deliberately telling tales on her.”

After saying this, Luo Ci left. Gu Yu stood for a moment, then headed to Ninghe Courtyard.

When he arrived, Jiang Heng was still in the small, cramped west-wing room, holding the tabby cat and reading. A maid came to report that Gu Yu had arrived at the main room and demanded she come immediately.

“He’s already here?” Chun Jin said with displeasure. “It’s only just after dinner, not even time to close the gates. Strictly speaking, there are still two hours left until the three-day period he set. Is the master so eager to quiz My lady?”

Jiang Heng said nothing. She put down the cat, closed the book, and handed it to Chun Jin. “Clean it properly. Don’t leave any scent or traces of the cat.”

This book is something Gu Yu values greatly; if it were to get dirty or wrinkled, it would undoubtedly lead to trouble.

Jiang Heng also bathed and groomed with care, changed into a fresh set of clothes, made sure there was no trace of cat scent on her, and then hurried back to Ninghe Yard.

Gu Yu was sitting under the lamp, reading.

He wore a dark blue robe with a turned-down collar, his back perfectly straight, holding the scroll in one hand while the other rested instinctively on the short knife fastened to his ornamental belt. Early summer had arrived, and the heat was gradually intensifying. The night was not cold, and the candlelight in the room shone brightly upon the man, like bright sunlight swallowed by a frigid pool, its glow taking on a cold sheen.

"Husband," Jiang Heng said as she entered, standing properly before him, lowering her gaze and giving a respectful bow.

Gu Yu turned to look at her. Jiang Heng had already presented the travelogue in front of him. "Shall I recite from the beginning, or would you prefer to quiz me on specific parts?"

The man seemed momentarily taken aback, as if surprised she would bring it up the moment she entered. After a beat of silence, he took the scroll, opened it, and said in a level tone, "Recite from the beginning."

The travelogue covered many chapters, and reciting the entire work would take quite some time. Jiang Heng sat down at another desk nearby, took a few sips of tea to wet her throat, and began reciting slowly.

She did not look at the man, instead gazing out at the night outside the window. Her voice was clear and melodious, each word distinct, with no hint of carelessness in her recitation.

The man did not look at the scroll either, but fixed his gaze intently on the young woman, his expression serious, as if carefully listening for any mistakes in her recitation.

After she had recited roughly two pages, the man suddenly raised his hand to signal her to pause. He then flipped a few pages to a section he had annotated and told her to start reciting from there.

Jiang Heng had made a point of focusing on memorizing all the parts Gu Yu had annotated, so she recited them smoothly and with ease.

Perhaps because this section was even more fluent than the beginning, Gu Yu, who had been looking down at the book, suddenly lifted his head to study her for a moment, then switched to another section.

He repeated this several times, switching to different passages. Though the woman’s recitation remained fairly smooth, given that the material was vast and complex, it was inevitable she made a few errors. However, whenever it came to the parts Gu Yu had annotated, her recitation was fluid and accurate, without the slightest mistake.

"Alright, that’s enough for now," Gu Yu said, closing the scroll and signaling for her to stop.

Jiang Heng let out a soft sigh of relief and took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. Seeing that the man showed no intention of leaving, nor did he comment on her recitation, she was about to ask for permission to keep the cat when she saw him rise and enter the inner chamber.

Jiang Heng was startled. Seeing how late it was, she realized it was nearly midnight.

Was he planning to stay here?

She had assumed he had come only to test her recitation—was he actually planning to spend the night here?

In the past, when he returned from campaigns, he would indeed stay in her room every day. But back then, she was his only wife in the courtyard, with no other concubines. Now, things were different...

"Come in," the man’s voice came from behind the bed curtains, with a hint of impatience.

Jiang Heng had no choice but to lift the curtain and step into the inner chamber. She saw that Gu Yu had already removed his ornamental belt—he truly intended to stay here.

"Husband, I... I’m having my monthly courses..." Jiang Heng softly declined.

Gu Yu’s gaze stilled. He looked at her but said nothing, still slightly held his arms out, expecting her to help him undress.

He still intended to stay.

Jiang Heng pressed her lips together slightly and decided to be direct: "Husband, perhaps... you should go to the Eastern Courtyard instead..."

The Eastern Courtyard was where his three newly acquired concubines resided.

No sooner had she spoken than she saw Gu Yu’s brow furrow slightly. He commanded sternly, "Undress me."

Knowing the man was one whose word was law, and with the matter of keeping the cat still unresolved—she needed a clear answer—Jiang Heng offered no further protest. She helped him remove his robe.

After changing into sleepwear and settling into bed, the man moved over her.

Fearing her lie would be exposed, Jiang Heng firmly held onto her nightdress and pleaded again, "Husband, I’m not... convenient..."

The man said nothing, his gaze fixed intently on her face. Suddenly, his large hand closed over her wrist, pulling her hand away.

Jiang Heng was stunned, her face instantly flushing red.

Over the years, with frequent campaigns and them spending little time together, Jiang Heng had never used this excuse to avoid him. This was the first time, and she never expected he would...

Even though he was guiding her movements, her wrist soon grew sore and unable to continue. But judging by his arousal...

Such a short time was clearly insufficient; it did little to douse the flames, and instead seemed to fan them.

Her hand was gripped tighter and tighter, the movements growing faster and more frantic, like a horse breaking free from its reins—unrestrained, charging wildly.

Jiang Heng felt as though her hand no longer belonged to her. She turned her head away, powerless to do anything but submit to his movements.

Perhaps too exhausted, she didn’t notice that her nightdress had already slipped down and gathered at her waist, and the man’s hand had pressed there as well.

Like a powerful, sharp long blade, it roamed dangerously.

By the time Jiang Heng realized and tried to pull her nightdress back down, the man had also noticed something was wrong.

Her hands were pinned firmly behind her back by one strong, large hand, and with a sharp tearing sound, her nightdress and undergarments were ripped apart.

The room fell into sudden silence.

Jiang Heng saw the man’s brow deeply furrowed. His originally cold phoenix eyes stared darkly at her—the intensity of his earlier desire now replaced by an equally intense surge of anger.

"Why did you lie to me?" he demanded, staring at her.