Chapter 7 Conduct: Have You Seen Your Lady?

Chapter 7: Conduct - Have You Met Your Mistress?

"Alright, since you are so determined to break away from the household, I will follow your wishes. I know the hardships you face outside. If you run into trouble in the future, don't forget that this home is still here. Though I am a man of little use, I at least hold a nominal title thanks to our ancestors' merits. You are also a descendant of the Qi family, and I will never stand idly by..." Before Qi Hao could finish, he began coughing again, relentless as ever.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan moved to gently rub his back, but Qi Hao raised a hand to stop him. Qi Yuan understood his brother's temperament well—frail as he was, he didn't want to show weakness to others—so he let it go.

After Qi Hao's coughing fit subsided and he caught his breath, he continued, "I won't stop you if you want to leave. But since you no longer wish to return to the household, stay a few more days this time, for the sake of our brotherly bond."

Looking at the faint flush on Qi Hao's pale face from the intense coughing, Qi Yuan's heart went out to him. It wasn't an unreasonable request—just to stay a few more days—so he nodded immediately.

The brothers talked a while longer. Xing An brought in Qi Hao's usual herbal medicine. After drinking it, Qi Hao would take a short nap. Qi Yuan waited until he finished the medicine before taking his leave.

Qi Hao accompanied him all the way to the main gate of Xingyun Court, where Qi Yuan insisted he stop. Qi Hao said, "Brother, there's one more thing I've been meaning to ask you... something I haven't properly asked you about yet."

Without waiting for Qi Yuan to speak, he continued, "If one day I am no longer in this household, will you take care of it and look after your sister-in-law?"

Qi Yuan's heart gave a jolt at the first half of the sentence, but at the end, the image of the silhouette he had glimpsed earlier flashed in his mind—a silhouette in broad daylight, yet hazy as if shrouded in dim lamplight.

Forcing down those improper thoughts, he frowned and said, "Brother, since you are so concerned about the household and sister-in-law, you should take better care of yourself. Don't speak such gloomy words. Even if not for the old madam, think of your wife."

"Alright," Qi Hao smiled. "I understand your meaning."

He then asked Xing An to escort Qi Yuan back to Feixue Court, while he turned and went back inside alone.

Qi Yuan lingered for a moment, watching until Qi Hao returned to the study. Xing An urged him to leave, and only then did he turn away.

But something felt off. Qi Hao had been speaking with double meanings several times that day. Qi Yuan sensed it but couldn't grasp the full implication. It was both worrying and frustrating, yet he couldn't press further. He could only follow his brother's wish and stay a few more days.

***

Jiang Yueyi hurried back to the main house to hide. Only when Qing Lan reported that Qi Yuan had left did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Even though he had only seen her back, she felt as guilty as a thief, terrified that he might recognize her. Her heart raced with fear.

Qing Lan closed the door and whispered, "They say the Second Master came to take his leave from the Elder Master, but the Elder Master insisted he stay a few more days."

Jiang Yueyi was flipping through a book she had borrowed from Qi Hao but hadn't absorbed a single word. After a long pause, she said, "Let him go. I'll have peace then."

Qing Lan shook her head and said nothing more.

In truth, Jiang Yueyi remained tense until she saw Qi Yuan again that night.

What if he had already recognized her but kept it to himself, only to expose her face-to-face at night? What would she do then?

Being in this position felt like being a thief.

Fortunately, none of her fears materialized. When Qi Yuan saw her, he acted as usual, and Jiang Yueyi felt an immense relief, as if she had survived a disaster.

With her mind at ease, she performed her duties with more dedication and pleasure.

When the sudden downpour stopped and clouds scattered and mist swirled, Jiang Yueyi was exhausted. She lay on her side, facing outward, to rest.

She had grown lax over the past few days. Earlier, she used to cover her face from the light, but now she had grown weary of it. Besides, the room was arranged by Nanny Xu in such a way that her face could not be seen clearly. Even if some part of her face were visible, it wouldn't matter—Qi Yuan had no chance to see her outside anyway, and even if he did, he likely wouldn't make the connection.

But due to the day's incident, she was more cautious again, turning her back to Qi Yuan.

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, a warm, large hand rested on her waist. Feeling the touch, Jiang Yueyi twisted and whispered, "Wait a moment."

The hand stopped, neither moving nor pulling away.

After a long silence, Qi Yuan's voice came from behind: "Have you met your mistress?"

Jiang Yueyi nearly jumped in fright. She managed to control herself and not show any reaction, but her face turned pale—fortunately, she had her back to him.

In his eyes, she was just a maid sent by Feng Shi. Although she was under Feng Shi's command, it would be odd if she hadn't met the elder madam of the household. So she gave a short answer: "Yes, I have."

Thinking of the words he had accidentally overheard his sister-in-law say to a maid, Qi Yuan couldn't help asking the person beside him, "What do you think of her...?"

The question was strange. Qi Yuan regretted it as soon as it left his lips. That was his brother's wife, someone completely unrelated to him. They had never even met. Asking a maid about his sister-in-law's character was highly improper—it felt indecent.

But the words were already spoken, like water under the bridge.

Jiang Yueyi dug her nails into the bedding beneath her, biting her lower lip hard.

What did he mean? Had he discovered her identity? Or if not, why would he ask a maid about the mistress?

She was both annoyed and angry. In the intimacy of the bedchamber, she felt like acting petulant. But staying silent would be suspicious, so she suppressed her voice and said, "I'm not entirely sure, but the mistress must be a good person."

"A good person..." Qi Yuan echoed softly, then chuckled. "You said you're not sure, so how do you know she's good?"

"I just know," Jiang Yueyi said with a pout.

Though he didn't understand why she seemed angry, Qi Yuan didn't press further. The question was improper in the first place—he shouldn't have asked a maid to evaluate the madam. It put her in a difficult position.

But the tone of Jiang Yueyi's last words suddenly reminded Qi Yuan of the voice of the woman at Xingyun Court. Something about it seemed similar, merging in his mind into a single sound.

He found it absurd. Yaoyao had been with him for several days now; though she spoke little, he had heard her voice before. How could he confuse her voice with another's? And that other woman was his sister-in-law! Such a thought was utterly disrespectful.

Forcing the improper idea out of his mind, Qi Yuan's hand tightened again. The slender waist beneath his palm gradually softened like water.

But just as he was about to lean over, Jiang Yueyi suddenly braced her shoulder against him, resisting.

Earlier, she had shown no reluctance.

"I don't want to," she said quietly.

Qi Yuan stopped. He had already savored the pleasures of the flesh, but if she didn't want to continue, he wouldn't force her. Besides, they had already been together once that night.

Hearing the rustling sound of him settling down behind her, Jiang Yueyi let out a soft hum.