23
“Prepare water.”
The man’s hoarse, deep voice suddenly rang out from within the bridal chamber, carrying restraint and forbearance, clearly indicating that he had not been satisfied from what had just transpired.
Just now, a sudden night wind had risen outside the bridal chamber. Those breezes wafted into the inner room, extinguishing several of the candles and dispersing some of the musky, sweet fragrance of intimacy that lingered in the air.
After hearing Huo Pingxiao’s command, four maidservants filed in and began dividing the tasks.
Fuling took a flint and relit the candles. As Baiwei carried a bronze basin across the threshold of the carved lattice screen, she glanced at the compressed incense that the Marquis had instructed them to place in the censer before the wedding cup ceremony.
This costly hundred-mark compressed incense, made with a base of aloeswood and ambergris mixed with osmanthus and cypress leaves, was different from ordinary stick incense or candle incense. To burn it completely took at least most of an hour.
Seeing this, Baiwei’s arm holding the bronze basin trembled slightly.
That most of an hour had been truly agonizing for them, the maidservants waiting outside, hearing those soft, pitiful sobs coming from the chamber.
The maids also feared that on this first night, this delicate, soft-bodied young lady might not be able to withstand it. After all, the Marquis was no ordinary man — on the battlefield, with a casual swing of his sword, he could cut an enemy general and his mount cleanly in half.
“What I told you to bring was drinking water.”
Huo Pingxiao lifted his eyes and glanced at Baiwei, his voice cold. He added, “The madam is thirsty.”
“Yes…”
Though Baiwei responded affirmatively, her expression showed a momentary daze.
The Marquis wasn’t in a hurry for cleansing water. Did that mean… later, he intended to go again?
Could the young madam endure it?
Baiwei stole a glance with her peripheral vision.
Huo Pingxiao had draped a plain white inner robe over himself and sat sprawled at the edge of the bed. The man’s figure was tall and straight, his expression cold and stern. His large hand with distinctly defined knuckles still firmly gripped the delicate, soft waist of the young lady in his arms.
With one hand, he could almost completely encircle her slender waist. If he applied even a little more force, he could likely snap it with a “crack.”
The contrast in their physiques was too stark. The young madam appeared collapsed, shrinking into his embrace. Her boneless, slender white wrist hung limply over the man’s knee.
Baiwei could not see Ruan An’s expression, because her small face was nearly buried in the man’s chest. It seemed that the beauty with snow-white skin and dark hair no longer had the strength to speak.
The line of her neck visible on the outside was slender and graceful, but the fair skin there bore mottled, faint red marks from the man’s bites and kisses.
“Drink slowly.”
Huo Pingxiao spoke in a low voice as he took the bowl of water from Baiwei and personally fed the young wife in his arms.
He watched as the young woman’s lips pressed against the rim of the bowl, sipping the water slowly. Her delicate little nose fluttered slightly. Yet her eyes remained tightly shut, her thin, tender eyelids fluttering rapidly. Her long, thick lashes cast shadows upon her lower lids, still dotted with lingering teardrops.
She looked very much like a pitiable little rabbit.
Huo Pingxiao looked down at her and let out a helpless, low chuckle.
He had never before imagined what his future wife would be like, much less expected that he would marry someone so soft and delicate.
Dealing with a tiny little Ruan An was more troublesome and thorny than facing an army of tens of thousands.
Enemies could be cut down or killed as one pleased.
But when handling Ruan An, if he exerted even a little too much force, she would whimper and cry without end.
He couldn’t quite name the feeling it gave him, but he didn’t dislike it. If his woman was a bit delicate, then he would simply indulge her.
After Ruan An finished drinking, Huo Pingxiao carried her to the bath chamber first, abandoning his original plan to continue teasing her.
Once Ruan An had freshened up and changed into a comfortable silk nightgown, she lay back down on the inner side of the four-poster bed. But she suddenly lost all drowsiness and could not fall asleep no matter what.
The inexplicable trembling in her heart had not ceased since the moment he had lifted her onto his body. Fortunately, in such a situation, most women were flustered and nervous, allowing her to use that as cover for her own unusual feelings.
Lying flat, Ruan An clasped her two fair, slender hands together and placed them over her heart.
Her thoughts still lingered on the question the man had asked her earlier.
How had the two of them ended up doing those things together the first time?
Of course, just like Huo Pingxiao, she could not remember those events clearly either. After being abducted to the bandit stronghold by Chen Yunzhong in her previous life, some vague images had surfaced, but those were only fragmented scenes.
After carrying her into the bed enclosure, the man had said, “If you don’t remember, it doesn’t matter. Just remember tonight.”
Thinking of this, Ruan An couldn’t help blinking her lashes and slowly letting out a long, deep breath.
The maids had left some candles burning in the room, but Ruan An’s night vision was poor. Hearing that the breathing of the person beside her had gradually become even and light, she assumed Huo Pingxiao was already asleep.
What Ruan An did not realize was that Huo Pingxiao was actually lying on his side, propping his head on his hand, silently observing her.
Due to his martial training and years of military campaigns, Huo Pingxiao’s night vision was superior to ordinary people’s. He could naturally see every subtle movement and expression Ruan An made.
He was curiously watching her every action when he saw his young wife slowly turn over, propping herself up with one hand on the bed, carefully leaning her body toward him.
Huo Pingxiao’s brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed just as quickly.
The man chose to remain motionless, watching her with great interest, curious about what exactly she intended to do.
Before Ruan An’s eyes was nothing but endless darkness. She couldn’t see a thing. Believing Huo Pingxiao to be fast asleep, she harbored her own little secret intention.
Now that she was his wife, it was only natural to touch the scar on his neck, wasn’t it? Surely that wasn’t too much?
In truth, in her previous life, although Li Shuying had scarred her face, she had ways to restore her appearance had she wished. She had put considerable effort into studying scar-removal techniques.
But the scar on Huo Pingxiao’s neck had been there since childhood, making it difficult to heal with ordinary methods.
At this thought, a hint of melancholy appeared in Ruan An’s expression.
Guided by intuition, she reached out to find the scar on his neck. Just as she was about to lower her small hand, she heard a smack.
Her wrist bone suddenly grew hot. The young woman’s watery almond eyes immediately showed a flicker of panic.
“Where are you touching?”
The man suddenly seized her wrist, pulling her toward his chest. He abruptly drew close to her face, pressing his forehead against hers, and slowly enunciated two words: “Go to sleep.”
He hadn’t been asleep at all!
Her cheeks burning, Ruan An could only nod shyly and reply softly, “Mm, I’ll go to sleep now.”
After Huo Pingxiao’s forehead left hers, though Ruan An had answered him, she still kept her beautiful eyes wide open, wanting to secretly look at him a few more times.
Even if she couldn’t see him.
Ruan An still didn’t know that Huo Pingxiao was still watching her.
His young wife kept blinking, refusing to sleep.
Huo Pingxiao simply gripped her thin shoulders, turned her over, pressed one hand on her soft belly, and directly covered her eyes with the other. Lifting his gaze, he commanded again: “Sleep.”
Pulling Ruan An into his embrace, the man caught the familiar faint scent of medicinal herbs, along with a young lady’s fragrant, sweet yet not cloying cosmetic powder.
His breathing suddenly deepened. His hard, cold Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. His voice low and hoarse, he said, “Sleep. I don’t want to torment you. If I break you, who will give me another wife?”
He wasn’t trying to scare her. Given Huo Pingxiao’s physical strength and power, if he truly sought his own satisfaction, Ruan An might lose half her life.
He really could break that small, frail body of hers.
Ruan An’s little face flushed at the man’s blunt words, but her heart gradually settled. She finally obediently closed her eyes.
Above her eyes was the man’s slightly rough palm — broad, thick, and warm.
But this time, when he covered her eyes with his hand, it was no longer to close them in death.
And when she opened them again, what greeted her was not death, but a brand new day.
The next morning.
The Prime Minister’s residence was located in Yongxing Ward, east of the imperial city. Though not as grand in scale as the forbidden palace, it occupied more land than ordinary noble mansions or the official residences of powerful ministers. The residence featured outer double watch towers and four gates, with an inner three-courtyard depth. Every brick and stone radiated the overwhelming prestige of a top-tier aristocratic family.
It was the height of spring. The flowering trees in the garden were lush and thriving. The dark green cypresses flanking the main path seemed to reach toward the heavens, standing even taller than the poplars lining the imperial avenue.
Wei Yuan had come that morning to the courtyard where Ruan An and Huo Pingxiao were temporarily staying. He said the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence was still under renovation. The lotus pond, originally dug long ago, had become clogged with silt after years of neglect, and artisans were rushing to dredge it and channel fresh water into it.
Moreover, the pavilions and waterside gazebos that had existed when the late emperor bestowed the residence had mostly been eroded and destroyed by the rainy seasons of the previous two years.
Now that Huo Pingxiao had a family, he naturally wanted his wife and child to live in the finest possible surroundings.
Wei Yuan brought many pattern samples for Ruan An to review. Everything — flowering trees, pavilions, halls, corridors and boat houses, as well as rockeries and lake stones was left to Ruan An’s decision, arranged according to her preferences.
Ruan An didn’t know much about garden design, so she instructed Wei Yuan to follow the most fashionable styles of the noble families in Chang’an.
She thought that this way, at least she wouldn’t make any mistakes.
After she and Huo Pingxiao separated from the Prime Minister’s residence and officially established their own household, as the wife of the Marquis of Dingbei, she might need to invite other noble ladies to banquets. As long as the scenery in their residence did not disgrace the marquis’s status, that would suffice.
The day Huo Pingxiao returned from Qianzhong Circuit, he had also promised Ruan An at the Duke of Pei’s mansion that after they moved out of the Prime Minister’s residence, if she wanted to open a medical clinic, he would allow it.
However, moving to their own residence was still some time away.
A medical clinic was even further off.
Ruan An was still living in the Prime Minister’s residence, so on the day after the wedding, she naturally had to go to the main hall of the residence to present tea to her parents-in-law.
Three days before her wedding, Huo Pingxiao had discussed with her that he would take Huo Xi to meet his grandfather Huo Lang first.
After Huo Xi was taken away, he had remained at the Prime Minister’s residence. Ruan An had not seen her son for several days and missed him dearly.
She had thought she would see the child at the main hall, but after entering with Huo Pingxiao, Huo Xi was nowhere to be seen.
Though somewhat disappointed, Ruan An maintained a cautious attitude and presented tea with a peaceful, respectful demeanor to Madam Gao and Huo Lang, who were seated in the main seats.
Everything went smoothly. Ruan An methodically finished presenting tea and took her seat.
Madam Gao, seated in the main seat, had not taken her eyes off this new daughter-in-law since Ruan An entered the hall.
Because Ruan An’s features were pure and youthful-looking, even playing the role of an eighteen or nineteen-year-old Fang family cousin, subtracting a few years from her age, no one would notice anything amiss.
At first glance, Madam Gao saw that Ruan An was wearing a light green silk robe. Her thick, dark hair had been styled into a woman’s coiled cloud bun. This Fang family cousin had a sweet, gentle, and pure temperament just as Madam Gao had initially thought, her disposition seemed timid and easy to control.
However, this little cousin’s appearance was truly exceptionally outstanding.
Madam Gao couldn’t help but marvel to herself that the Fang family seemed to produce beauties.
When she had first become Huo Lang’s second wife, Huo Pingxiao’s birth mother had been dead for nearly three years. But when Madam Gao herself was a young lady, she had seen Eldest Lady Fang at noble family banquets.
That radiantly beautiful face was indeed unforgettable, to the point of making others feel inferior.
But this distant cousin from the Fang family was another type of beauty altogether.
This little beauty had slender, soft willow brows, naive and charming almond-shaped cheeks, skin as white as thin ice and smooth as clotted cream, and delicate yet pure eyes and nose…
Truly a gentle, weak appearance that would easily arouse a man’s sympathy.
Like a soft, delicate little white rabbit.
At this thought, Madam Gao took a sip of tea.
She secretly felt that this little cousin’s looks were exactly the type that living devil would like.
It was just a pity that she wasn’t very skilled at dressing up.
The fabric of her robe was good, but the style was too ordinary. Moreover, the way she had styled her hair was no longer fashionable in Chang’an.
Though Gao’s family background was not as illustrious as Eldest Lady Fang’s, her father was currently serving as the Minister of Personnel. Even though she was no longer young, she still carried the pride she had as a maiden. She enjoyed the finer things in life, insisting that every morsel of food and every piece of clothing be exquisite.
She therefore felt that while Ruan An was certainly beautiful, she inexplicably carried an air of rusticity.
Truly a distant cousin from Shu — nothing like the grace and grandeur of Chang’an noble ladies!
Nevertheless, as the matriarch, she still expressed concern for Ruan An in a few words in front of Huo Lang and Huo Pingxiao: “Is the new wife getting along well living in the Prime Minister’s residence?”
Ruan An had naturally noticed that Madam Gao’s gaze had been fixed on her, but she didn’t react. She gave Madam Gao a gentle smile and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Mother. My cousin and I are both very comfortable.”
When she said “cousin,” Ruan An sensed Huo Pingxiao glance sideways at her from the corner of his eye, his sharp gaze carrying an unreadable emotion.
Madam Gao replied with a smile, “That’s good. After you establish your own household, you must still visit often. No matter what, we are family.”
Ruan An respectfully inclined her head.
In her previous life, though she had lived in the rear palace, Ruan An had witnessed plenty of the amicable relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law on the surface, just like Li Shuying and the Empress, while they secretly undermined each other.
If even a biological mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could be like that, how much more so for a stepmother-in-law like her?
Moreover, given Huo Pingxiao’s temperament, although he didn’t live in Chang’an for long periods, every time he returned to the Prime Minister’s residence, he was surely arrogant and overbearing.
Madam Gao’s tone when speaking to Ruan An seemed polite on the surface, but was distant in every respect. She didn’t like Huo Pingxiao, her stepson, and naturally she wouldn’t be fond of Ruan An either.
Ruan An understood this very clearly. After all, she would only be living in the Prime Minister’s residence for about a month. Once He Xinruo married into the Huo family, she would no longer be living under Madam Gao’s watchful eye.
As long as she and Madam Gao kept their distance and didn’t interfere with each other, as long as Madam Gao didn’t cause her trouble—Ruan An would certainly respect her mother-in-law.
With this thought, Ruan An also took a sip of tea to steady herself.
While still at the Duke of Pei’s mansion, Fang Xiao had briefed her on the Huo family situation. Aside from remembering not to mention Huo Pingxiao’s birth mother, Ruan An had also been able to vaguely recognize the people seated on either side after entering the main hall.
The woman with delicate, sickly features, appearing frail and unwell, was likely Jiang Xiao, the mother of Huo Pingxiao’s third brother, Huo Leshi.
It was said that Jiang Xiao bore some resemblance to Huo Pingxiao’s birth mother, especially in the eyes. However, Jiang Xiao came from a humble background; her own mother had been a servant woman of another branch of the Huo family. But Huo Lang had once been quite fond of her and had taken her as a concubine of the proper status.
Perhaps out of curiosity about the new daughter-in-law, when Ruan An’s gaze inadvertently fell on Jiang Xiao, she found Jiang Xiao looking back at her.
When their eyes met, Ruan An offered Jiang Xiao a soft, warm smile.
Jiang Xiao paused for a moment before finally nodding slightly in return.
Ruan An averted her gaze and glanced at the woman seated closer to Madam Gao. Her appearance was rather plain, her complexion somewhat sallow. Though she wore clothing made of fine silks and brocades, and her hair ornaments were quite luxurious, her expression always seemed timid and cowering.
Ruan An guessed that this was likely Huo Pingxiao’s other stepmother—Madam Zhang.
Madam Zhang had originally been the maidservant of the principal wife, Madam Gao. According to Fang Xiao, after Huo Lang took Jiang Xiao as a concubine, Madam Gao, seeking to balance the power in the rear household, had immediately chosen the plain-looking Madam Zhang, whom she trusted greatly, to become another concubine of Huo Lang, acting on the advice of her maternal family.
Although Madam Zhang had no children, her status in the Prime Minister’s residence was much higher than Jiang Xiao’s. The reasons included Madam Gao’s deliberate suppression of Jiang Xiao, as well as the fact that Madam Zhang’s elder brother was gaining increasing influence in the imperial palace.
In her previous life, Ruan An had paid little attention to Jiang Xiao and Huo Leshi. However, Madam Zhang’s elder brother was Zhang Yong, the young eunuch who served as the close attendant to the Crown Prince—who was also Li Shuying’s husband.
After the Crown Prince ascended the throne as emperor, Zhang Yong, Madam Zhang’s brother, became the most powerful eunuch in the forbidden palace. At that time, Ruan An had heard that a noble concubine in the Prime Minister’s residence had received considerable protection as a result, though she didn’t know what the situation in the residence had been like in her previous life.
The noble concubine who had benefited from Zhang Yong’s power and influence must have been Madam Zhang.
But in her previous life, it had been Zhang Yong’s schemes that had nearly led to Ruan An being molested by the Crown Prince. Although Ruan An was a healer, she was not a sage who adhered to compassion in all matters. With those old grudges from her previous life, she was destined not to feel any goodwill toward Madam Zhang.
It would be best to keep her distance in the future.
She vaguely recognized Huo Changjue’s appearance. Moreover, from the official robe he wore, similar to Li Yifang’s, she could also identify his identity.
But she did not see the third son of the Huo family—Huo Leshi.
Huo Pingxiao, seated beside her, seemed to share her thoughts. In a lazy tone, he asked, “Where is Third Brother?”
Huo Leshi was Jiang Xiao’s son. Yet when Huo Pingxiao asked about him, Jiang Xiao chose to remain silent. She seemed to have no place to speak in the main hall, merely lowering her head submissively.
It was Madam Gao who answered Huo Pingxiao: “Your third brother finally managed to get into the National University last year. He’s three years later than other young masters. Other noble sons enter the National University at thirteen; the son your Jiang Xiao bore you entered at sixteen. Naturally, the slow bird must start early, he’s gone to review his lessons.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Gao felt a chill run down her spine.
Huo Lang, seated beside her, had cast a cold glance in her direction.
Madam Gao was terrified.
She had truly been carried away today! How could she criticize Jiang Xiao in front of the Prime Minister?
What she should never, ever have done was mock Huo Leshi’s studies. Huo Leshi was, after all, the Prime Minister’s son.
The Prime Minister was surely angry with her now!
Madam Gao was about to rise and apologize to Huo Lang, but Huo Lang’s tone, though relatively calm, carried an underlying chill. He ordered Steward Su, “Take me back.”
“Yes.”
After Huo Lang left the main hall in his wheelchair, Huo Pingxiao set down his teacup with a clatter and said quietly to Madam Gao, “Official duties are pressing. I’m heading to the military camp as well.”
Huo Pingxiao was dressed in a dark-colored military uniform. His bearing was dignified and refined. As he rose, his somewhat cool, deep dark eyes fell upon Ruan An, still seated in the armchair.
As if silently signaling to her — I know you’re tired of being here, you can leave with me.
That morning, the man had indeed told her that spring and summer were the best seasons for training soldiers, so his military duties were very demanding, and he might return to the residence very late.
Ruan An wasn’t particularly attached to his company. If he wasn’t there in the evening, she had plenty of things to do. She hadn’t yet had a chance to mention to him that she needed to find a tutor to teach her calligraphy.
Besides, after Huo Lang had abruptly left with a dark expression, she hadn’t had an opportunity to ask about Huo Xi’s whereabouts. But she guessed that Huo Xi was temporarily being looked after at Huo Lang’s quarters.
After sitting in this main hall for the time it took to drink a few cups of tea, she felt she had already experienced again the flavor of her previous life serving in the Eastern Palace.
In Ruan An’s view, the Prime Minister’s residence and the Eastern Palace had more similarities than differences.
Back then, to curb Li Shuying’s arrogance, the Empress had also placed a well-bred concubine of good family by the Crown Prince’s side, to serve as a counterbalance.
But soon after, Li Shuying had also placed a beautiful maidservant by the Crown Prince’s side. Such methods were exactly the same as Madam Gao’s tactics against Jiang Xiao.
The only difference was that in her previous life, she had been an outsider to such matters. Now, even if she moved out of the Prime Minister’s residence, she would still be an insider within it.
Under Huo Pingxiao’s gaze, Ruan An rose and was about to take her leave from Madam Gao.
But Huo Pingxiao spoke before she could, saying to Madam Gao in a light tone, “I’d like my cousin to see me off. Madam, you don’t mind, do you?”
Madam Gao let out a soft laugh, concealing the slight embarrassment at the corners of her eyes, and replied, “You’re newlyweds. How could I mind?”
Yet in her heart, she thought: Although the living devil was as unruly and untamable as ever, now that he had a wife, he was speaking politely to her.
Well, after the living devil went to the military camp and wouldn’t return until very late, the little cousin would still be staying in the Prime Minister’s residence.
She would have plenty of opportunities to spend time with her. There was no need to rush.
Near dusk. Colorful koi fish swam happily in the lotus pond, where the flowers were budding, ready to bloom.
That morning after returning to the courtyard, Ruan An had sent a servant to inquire about Huo Xi’s whereabouts and learned that Huo Xi was indeed with Huo Lang.
She hadn’t seen her son for days and naturally wanted to see him as soon as possible. Yet she was somewhat intimidated by Huo Lang’s authority and didn’t dare go to his quarters alone to fetch Huo Xi.
She was just considering whether to send a servant to sound out Huo Lang’s attitude when she happened to encounter Huo Leshi crossing the curved bridge over the lotus pond as he returned from school.
“Hello, Sister-in-law.”
Huo Leshi wore a moon-white robe. Unlike his mother Jiang Xiao’s sickly, frail demeanor, the young man had a fresh, healthy, and vigorous temperament. He seemed like a very good-natured person, his face always bearing a warm, gentle smile, giving off a very approachable feeling.
As the eldest sister-in-law, Ruan An noticed the servant boy following behind him carrying a bookcase and asked with concern, “Third Brother, have you finished school for the day? Is studying at the National University tiring?”
Hearing Ruan An ask about his studies, Huo Leshi cleared his throat gently and replied warmly, “It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Having uttered only four words, he quickly changed the subject and asked Ruan An, “I heard that Elder Brother will be returning very late these days. It’s not yet time for the evening meal. Where is Sister-in-law headed?”
Huo Leshi had always considered himself a carefree illegitimate son of a marquis’s household. Unlike Huo Changjue, who exerted himself constantly, he was quite satisfied with his status and current situation.
The eldest brother’s excellence was innate. No matter how hard others tried, they could never surpass him.
The second brother’s diligence was compelled by the principal wife, Madam Gao. After all, as Madam Gao’s only legitimate son, he naturally bore great expectations.
Only he, the youngest, seemingly a marginal figure, was actually the most at ease. Some things were never meant to come to him anyway, so he didn’t care much.
His source of joy in attending the National University each day wasn’t the knowledge taught by the instructors, but rather the gossip about noble families he gleaned from the various aristocratic youths.
Besides gathering noble family gossip, Huo Leshi’s other pleasure was writing storybooks.
Only his elder brother Huo Pingxiao knew about his hobby of writing storybooks. The reason he had told Huo Pingxiao was that he knew his eldest brother wouldn’t mock him.
Whenever his monthly allowance ran short, he only needed to mention it to Huo Pingxiao, and the man would certainly have Wei Yuan take silver from his own private coffers to cover the shortfall.
However, Huo Leshi’s feelings toward Ruan An were somewhat complicated.
He had always been very interested in the female itinerant physician Healer Ruan from Jiannan and had planned to use her as one of the main characters in a storybook set in Chang’an.
As it happened, his elder brother had been saved by that female physician, so Huo Leshi had obtained many details from Huo Pingxiao. The storybook that had spread throughout Chang’an recently was his work.
He held admiration for the female physician Healer Ruan. He also knew that his elder brother had distributed that storybook to storytellers in various wine shops to announce to the world that he and the female physician shared some ambiguous connection.
He had thought Huo Pingxiao would marry that female physician surnamed Ruan.
But unexpectedly, he had instead married a distant cousin of the Fang family and even had a child with her.
Although outsiders said it was perfectly normal for a man to have one wife and two concubines, Huo Leshi had always believed his eldest brother Huo Pingxiao would be a devoted person, unlike other licentious young men who philander everywhere.
Yet in the end, Huo Leshi’s expectations were dashed.
His eldest brother had a gentle wife and young child at home, and outside, he also had a female companion. No different from other men.
But this was, after all, his elder brother’s private affair, and he had no right to interfere.
Yet after meeting his elder brother’s wife and finding her to be a gentle and kind person who had borne him a son, he knew the woman his brother truly loved in his heart was not her.
At this thought, Huo Leshi sighed inwardly, feeling increasingly sympathetic toward his eldest sister-in-law.
Before Ruan An could reply to Huo Leshi’s question, she saw the young man’s expression already shifting unpredictably. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong with Huo Leshi.
“Third Brother, I want to ask—would you be willing to accompany me to the Prime Minister’s quarters? Huo Xi is there with him, and I haven’t seen him for several days.”
As soon as Ruan An’s gentle voice fell, Huo Leshi finally set aside the melancholy in his eyes and nodded repeatedly to her: “Of course. Father hasn’t examined my studies in a long time either. Sister-in-law can come with me.”
In truth, Huo Leshi was quite terrified of his stern Prime Minister father. But thinking that this was a rare opportunity to help his sister-in-law, he naturally had to seize it.
He could not let this poor woman suffer any more disappointments in matters like this.
“He who loves his relatives dare not harbor ill will toward others.”
“Respect and devotion are fully expressed in serving one’s parents, while virtuous teaching is extended to the common people and exemplified throughout the realm.”
After returning to his private retreat, Tongjian Garden, Huo Lang had napped for a while following his usual routine. When he woke, it was already around 3:45 PM.
Huo Xi, neatly dressed, was holding the Classic of Filial Piety with his two small hands in front of the desk, reciting its contents in a babyish voice.
The boy’s voice was clear and bright. He looked serious when reciting, pronouncing each word carefully, which was utterly adorable.
Steward Su and Huo Lang had both noticed over the past few days that Huo Xi was truly an exceptional child. While Huo Pingxiao had been brighter than ordinary children in his youth, even he did not possess Huo Xi’s astonishing photographic memory.
Steward Su always felt that a child as young as Huo Xi would never take the initiative to pursue learning deliberately. At such a tender age, it would be good enough if he wasn’t causing mischief.
Could it be that the young heir was so diligent because his mother forced him?
But when he recalled Ruan An’s soft, gentle, and easily intimidated appearance, he found that unlikely.
Regardless, witnessing the heartwarming scene of the Prime Minister surrounded by his grandson was quite intriguing.
Steward Su pushed Huo Lang’s wheelchair toward Huo Xi. Little Huo Xi, seeing that his grandfather had arrived, quickly set down the book scroll. He opened his small mouth slightly in surprise and rose from the desk, calling out softly, “Grandfather~”
But Huo Lang reached out to signal him to remain seated. He asked, “I haven’t seen you rest at all. Don’t you want to find some playmates your age?”
Huo Xi shook his little head. He had stayed in Tongjian Garden for the past few days. Though he missed his mother deeply, he had naturally developed affection for his grandfather, Huo Lang.
Huo Xi trusted Huo Lang greatly, so he voiced his thoughts in his babyish voice: “Because I want to take the Children’s Examination. Only then can I enter official service!”
As soon as he said this, Steward Su’s expression showed great shock.
A child just over three years old, already determined to become an official—truly remarkable.
Huo Lang’s expression remained fairly calm, though his brow furrowed slightly. He asked, “Why do you want to enter official service? Did your mother ask you to?”
Huo Xi shook his little head in confusion and replied in a muffled voice, “No. Mother doesn’t know my thoughts yet.”
Huo Lang’s brow relaxed slightly. He said in a light tone, “Even if you don’t become a court official, you will inherit the title in the future.”
But Huo Xi replied with resolute determination, “No, Grandfather, I still want to become an official…”
Because only then could the man who claimed to be his father write the divorce letter!
Meanwhile, servants guided Huo Leshi and Ruan An into the hall.
Before they had even walked past the folding screen, Huo Leshi heard that familiar male voice. He immediately stopped short, overcome with astonishment.
He opened his mouth wide in disbelief. That faint, light laugh just now seemed to come from…
His father?!!
His father had actually laughed!!!
Huo Leshi was still in shock. For as long as he could remember, he had never seen Huo Lang laugh.
This being her first time visiting Huo Lang’s residence, Ruan An was naturally nervous, but she tried hard to remain calm. She had just heard a child’s voice—she would see Xi’er soon.
When the servants outside the screen led Ruan An and Huo Leshi into the inner chamber, Huo Lang had already withdrawn his smile. But his face no longer carried that icy, gloomy expression, instead, it seemed slightly more human.
After Ruan An and Huo Leshi finished paying their respects to Huo Lang, before she could mention taking the child back, Huo Lang spoke first. In a low, light tone, he said, “I like this child very much. I want to raise him by my side. You don’t mind, do you?”
Ruan An’s expression changed slightly. Though phrased as a question, his words carried an unmistakable forcefulness.
She parted her soft lips slightly, unsure of what to say.
Huo Pingxiao and Huo Lang might seem to have a strained relationship, but father and son were far too similar in some ways.
Both had said almost the exact same thing today—asking if the other party minded, yet in reality, already issuing an order.
Seeing Ruan An’s startled expression, Steward Su quickly reminded her, “Madam, the Prime Minister personally raising the young heir is an honor most people could only dream of. You must know, back when the Prime Minister had not yet become Chancellor, aspiring young men from every supervisory circuit of the Li Kingdom would fight tooth and nail to become his retainers. Why don’t you quickly thank the Prime Minister?”
Ruan An’s brows furrowed briefly. Huo Lang continued to observe her impassively, while Huo Xi looked as though he wanted to say something but hesitated, clearly wanting to speak to Huo Lang.
Of course, she knew that compared to ordinary tutors, having a powerful minister like Huo Lang—with his grand strategies and exceptional vision—educate Huo Xi would allow the boy to learn far more.
But from Huo Lang’s words, he intended to keep Xi’er by his side.
If that were the case, after she and Huo Pingxiao established their own household, would she no longer be able to see Huo Xi whenever she wished?
…
As night grew darker, Ruan An had no heart to organize her medical manuscripts as usual.
She still wasn’t quite accustomed to living as a mistress, so she preferred to undress herself. The beauty stood alone behind a sheer screen embroidered with hibiscus branches, having only removed her green outer robe.
She didn’t notice when it slid down her fair body and fell onto the carpet below.
Unaware of this, she continued mulling over the afternoon’s events. Given the special circumstances, she had no choice but to agree to Huo Lang’s request for the time being.
However, whether Huo Lang would raise Huo Xi was not her decision alone. The child’s father, Huo Pingxiao, had not yet agreed, and she felt this was something the couple should weigh together before making a decision.
Outside the room.
Huo Pingxiao returned to the residence from the military camp. He entered the room without letting the servants announce his arrival, instead lowering his voice to ask Fuling where Ruan An was.
After Fuling replied in an even smaller voice, the man walked directly toward their bedchamber.
Candles blazed, casting a warm orange glow. He stopped only when he saw the petite silhouette reflected on the screen.
The beauty’s shadow on the screen showed her reaching both slender hands behind her back, seemingly trying to untie the fastenings of her bodice. But despite her dexterous fingers, she couldn’t locate the right clasp.
Her profile reflected on the sheer silk was delicate yet peaceful and radiant. When she slightly lowered her eyes, the shadow of her lashes lengthened. Though she was past twenty, Ruan An’s aura still carried a maiden’s gentle softness and naive charm.
Seeing this, Huo Pingxiao half-lowered his eyelids, the emotion beneath his dark lashes unreadable.
Ruan An sensed nothing amiss beyond the screen.
As a marquis’s wife, her clothing was naturally far more complex than the cloth skirts she had worn before. Ruan An decided to call a maid to help her.
Before she could speak, she suddenly felt a familiar, clear breath emanating from above her head.
The man’s tall shadow on the carpet enveloped her completely. His breath slowly fell upon her, stirring the loose strands of hair by her ear and tickling the skin of her neck.
Before she could withdraw her hands from behind her back, her delicate fingertips accidentally brushed against the tiger’s mouth of the man’s right hand. Their breaths were audible to each other. His large hand with its distinct knuckles stiffened briefly, and she quickly withdrew her small hand.
Ruan An’s slender body suddenly froze, her breath growing more flustered.
“After I help you—”
Huo Pingxiao hooked the ribbon at the back of her skirt with his finger and asked in a low voice close to her flushed ear, “—shouldn’t you help me too?”
**