Tuan Yun was getting married.
Counting it up, this was already his third marriage, his first two had both been to Ji Zhiwei.
By rights, he ought to have been experienced by now yet this was the first time he truly realized just how many things there were to prepare for a wedding.
For several days in a row, the Cui residence was bustling with people coming and going. Tuan Yun alone had fittings for seven or eight different sets of clothing.
Palace female officials were specially dispatched to oversee the arrangements for the wedding rites, while Cui Jianying urgently summoned craftsmen to add new landscaping to the already newly opened Cui estate, striving to ensure that the residence’s scenery would lend additional splendor to Madam’s wedding ceremony.
Zhu’er came to help him try on outfits and apply makeup. In private, she circled Tuan Yun, giggling as she whispered teasingly:
“The timing is really perfect, Madam hasn’t started to show at all yet.”
“Once you’re draped in the phoenix crown and red bridal robes, your figure is still the kind that can be swept up in one arm.”
“Look at how quick our new groom moved, just from that, you can tell how impatient he was.”
Indeed, it was a speed no one could have imagined. In just a few days’ time, the entire residence was already overflowing with festive cheer.
Yet whenever the conversation touched on Cui Jianying, Tuan Yun refused to respond, his cheeks flushing red as he shot Zhu’er an embarrassed glare.
This only made Zhu’er laugh even harder. “Why are you glaring at me? Fine, fine, I can see it now. Madam has someone backing him up these days.”
Master and maid laughed and teased one another, the liveliness not ending there.
Zhu’er was constantly running in and out and after one round of commotion, she brought Tuan Yun a piece of news. “Madam, have you heard? Lately, people outside have been spreading rumors that the second young master of the Earl’s residence can’t father children.”
The second young master of the Earl’s residence was, naturally, Ji Zhiwei.
Tuan Yun fell silent for a moment. Whether the rumor itself was true or false was unclear and in truth, that distinction wasn’t particularly important. As for who had spread the news, though, it was all too easy to guess.
Cui Jianying truly did not allow himself to suffer even the slightest loss. Not only did he invite the entire capital to witness him marrying another man’s wife, he also seized the rightful identity of the child’s biological father without leaving any room for doubt.
“Good thing that second young master has already set off on his journey,” Zhu’er said with a grin, showing not the slightest trace of sympathy. “Otherwise, he’d be unable to defend himself no matter how many mouths he had. With no way to clear his name for the time being, how would he even lift his head in front of his former colleagues?”
In truth, even after setting off, he still wouldn’t be able to hold his head high but when faced with Cui Jianying, what could he do even if he refused to accept such successive humiliations?
When someone was capable to the extent that Cui Jianying was, they truly could trample over others at will.
Ever since that day at the wine house, Tuan Yun had never seen Ji Zhiwei again.
In his heart, he also had a premonition that in this lifetime, he would likely never see Ji Zhiwei again.
Tuan Yun gazed out the window, lost in thought as he recalled the last time he had seen Ji Zhiwei, the way Ji Zhiwei’s eyes had been split wide with rage and shock in that final glance.
For Ji Zhiwei, whose memories had returned, there were probably many words he had wanted to say to Tuan Yun. After all, parting forever in such a startled, rushed situation was bound to leave a sense of abrupt incompleteness.
But matters in this world were always like this. For Tuan Yun, Ji Zhiwei’s sudden loss of memory and sudden aversion, was that not just as shocking and rushed, giving him no time at all to prepare?
The weather today was truly fine.
Though it was already summer, the day was clear and comfortable, neither too warm nor too cool.
Tuan Yun stopped thinking about it. He removed the ornate, gorgeous wedding robes and changed into another set of attire, one with a more solemn and proper specification.
Zhu’er, having come from a poor background, had never served in this kind of matter before. She went out and called in two older matrons to help together before they finally finished dressing Tuan Yun appropriately.
This was a formal outfit for entering the palace to give thanks, attire for a titled lady. A few days earlier, the Imperial Consort had gone on an outing to her palace retreat, only returning to the palace today. Tuan Yun, this newly appointed “titled madam” could finally complete the thanksgiving ceremony that had been delayed for several days.
Tuan Yun was just a country lad who had never entered the imperial palace and had seen few grand occasions. Inevitably, he felt somewhat nervous.
“It’s all right. Just wait.”
Cui Jianying did not mock him at all. Early that morning, he had told Tuan Yun that he would accompany him. When everything was finished and they stepped outside, Cui Jianying was indeed waiting right beyond the main gates.
The man sat astride a tall, powerful horse, truly standing like a pillar between heaven and earth. The moment he saw him, he dismounted, his gaze sweeping slowly over Tuan Yun from head to toe, a quiet smile playing on his lips as he said nothing.
“Sir?”
Tuan Yun found it strange himself. Between the two of them, they had already done more than a basketful of absurd, intimate things; in every practical sense, they were already an old, well worn married couple.
He felt that when Cui Jianying teased him lightly in private, he was no longer so easily embarrassed yet for some reason, here at the bustling front gate, with people coming and going, merely being appraised by him with a couple of glances made his whole body uncomfortable, his ears burning hot, his back tingling with an inexplicable unease.
Cui Jianying raised his hand and helped his little wife down the steps.
Smiling, he said, “I’ve seen thousands of titled ladies in this world but only my Madam, one look and I’m left lightheaded.”
Tuan Yun flushed even more, thinking to himself: nonsense.
Yet his cheeks still reddened all the same.
The two of them did not ride in the same vehicle. Cui Jianying remained on horseback and only when they reached the palace gates did he come over to the carriage again to help Tuan Yun down.
Within the inner palace, Cui Jianying accompanied him as they walked and looked around together. People often said that Cui Jianying was a favored minister of the emperor and this was not without reason. Along the entire way, not a single person urged Tuan Yun to hurry his steps; on the contrary, they repeatedly asked whether he needed to rest.
They even said that the emperor and the consort were chatting leisurely by the waterside pavilion and were in no hurry and that they were celebrating Madam Cui’s joy of carrying twins.
Compared to before, this was what it truly meant to climb the social ladder and rise to the heavens in a single step.
What was strange was that there was no scorn or mocking laughter at all. Everyone treated him with respect, their faces lit with genuine happiness.
Among them, the one who seemed most delighted was the Imperial Consort herself.
All along the way, Tuan Yun’s heart remained tense. Even though Cui Jianying deliberately startled him now and then to tease him, he never fully relaxed yet he never expected that the legendary Imperial Consort would burst into a smile the moment she saw him, rising from her seat herself to take his hand and walk him around in a circle, examining him closely.
“No wonder” Consort Miao said, her eyes bright as brilliant stars as she looked at him.
“I’ve been burning with curiosity over what kind of person could possibly capture our Commander Cui. The moment I see you, I’m instantly enlightened, so that’s how it is. It’s you.”
“For someone as cold hearted and ruthless as Lord Cui, isn’t it only right that he be matched with a piece of pure, crystalline white snow like you? That’s what you call a match made in heaven, perfectly fated.”
“Oh my, what a pretty little beauty. Those eyes are as clear as crystal beads, who wouldn’t like you? Even I feel tender affection at the sight. No wonder he was determined to fight his way in and out among that whole crowd of censorial officials…”
The Imperial Consort was extremely beautiful, a peerless national beauty in full bloom, like a luxuriant cluster of peonies; drawing close to her was like drawing close to heavenly fragrance itself.
Tuan Yun stared at her, stunned for a long while.
Though their statuses differed and their temperaments, one inwardly soft, the other outwardly bold, were not alike, they turned out to be remarkably compatible. From the first exchange of words, they quickly grew close, chatting so animatedly that the consort did not even wish to pay attention to the emperor, insisting instead on taking Tuan Yun alone to row a small boat on the river.
By the time the day ended, Tuan Yun had received many shocks to the heart, bottling up countless things he wanted to say to someone.
There were not many people to whom such words could be spoken, only Cui Jianying, the man who would be intimately bound to him for the rest of his life, with no secrets between them.
As soon as they returned to the residence and dismounted, Tuan Yun immediately went to Cui Jianying’s side, his eyes bright and shimmering.
Cui Jianying gave him a thorough once over, then deliberately chose to tease him, avoiding his gaze. It was only after the two of them returned to their room and Tuan Yun grew so anxious that he reached out to grab his sleeve, that Cui Jianying finally couldn’t help laughing.
“Didn’t expect it?” he asked.
“Yes.” A faint flush tinged Tuan Yun’s fair face, excitement clear in his expression. He was still young, after all, at such an age, how could he not have a heart eager for novelty and liveliness?
“Her Highness the Consort… the Consort is so tall.”
At last, Tuan Yun voiced his amazement in a small, hushed tone.
Cui Jianying laughed even more at that, propping his chin by the flower latticed window in the afternoon light, watching that drifting cloud of a person.
Soft as cotton, like a water lily; his appearance was fairy like, a gentle, luminous presence. When he was happy, he only grew more delicate and clear, more strikingly beautiful.
Tuan Yun said, “The Consort seems to be a head taller than His Majesty and even a bit taller than you, sir?”
“That’s right,” Cui Jianying replied. “More than half a finger taller than me.”
She truly was very tall. Tuan Yun recalled the Imperial Consort’s dignified bearing, whether standing or seated, she was always a full head higher than the emperor. The more he thought about it, the more he replayed the image in his mind and the deeper his sense of astonishment grew.
As he spoke, he gradually fell silent. For what had shaken him was not limited to that alone. Tuan Yun remembered something else the Imperial Consort had told him.
It turned out that aside from the imperial edict of marriage and the decree of ennoblement, on that very day Cui Jianying had privately entreated Consort Miao to step forward as well. If anyone from the Earl’s Manor were to enter the palace to accuse Tuan Yun of failing to observe wifely virtue, the consort would be asked to take the emperor’s place and sit upright upon the high dais.
How foresighted he had been, sure enough, the womenfolk of the Earl’s Manor really did come.
And then?
It became a story told with laughter. The mistress of the Earl’s Manor had arrived in great fury, only to choke speechless before the Imperial Consort, like someone who had swallowed a fly and could neither spit it out nor swallow it down. As for the line about “a woman or a young spouse ought to be faithful to one till the end” the Imperial Consort laughed so hard when recounting it that her branches trembled with blossoms. Clearly, it was no trivial matter yet Cui Jianying had not mentioned a single word of it to him.
Thinking of this, Tuan Yun looked toward Cui Jianying.
Cui Jianying had taken half a day’s leave to accompany him. Now that he had escorted him back, he would have to return to his duties at once. After just a few words, he rose again, hooking his hand around the long blade at his waist, preparing to depart.
Tuan Yun naturally would not stop him yet he still could not quite restrain himself. Like a little tail, rustling and soft, he followed closely behind Cui Jianying.
Cui Jianying laughed at him. “I’ve just finished escorting my madam and now my madam is escorting me. Wouldn’t that go on without end?”
Tuan Yun did not reply to that. He only asked, “Sir, will you be back for dinner this evening?”
“I will” Cui Jianying said.
“Then I’ll wait for you to eat together.”
After saying that, he said no more, simply lifting his eyes to look at Cui Jianying.
Cui Jianying met his gaze, then stopped and turned back.
Suddenly, he leaned in close.
The maids and servants waiting at a distance all assumed it was a kiss and quickly lowered their heads. What fell upon Tuan Yun’s brow, however, was only Cui Jianying’s fingertip.
Cui Jianying lightly flicked him and answered, “I know. I’ll be back early.”
The two looked at each other. Cui Jianying smiled, saying nothing.
Tuan Yun blinked, watching the man’s tall, straight back as he walked away. One hand came to rest on his still flat lower abdomen, the other lifting to fan himself lightly.
It seemed he had made a mistake.
How could the weather be considered fine?
It had clearly grown hot, heat rising from all directions.
So hot. Far too hot.
✦ ✧ ✦
Fleurveil
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Coffee is technically a form of emotional support.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · How can you, so crude and vulgar, be a match for me?Chapter 2 · Children don’t just appear out of thin air if you want themChapter 3 · I also grew up reading the classicsChapter 4 · I am willing to dress up as the Goddess of MercyChapter 5 · If Cousin Ji doesn’t like me, do you not like me either?Chapter 6 · He actually summoned such a YamaChapter 7 · Am I not worthy of your attention, Madam?Chapter 8 · I think Lord Cui likes you very muchChapter 9 · Dragon and phoenix twinsChapter 10 · I will never allow anyone to belittle or despise you againChapter 11 · If that’s true, then marry your wife to meChapter 12 · Well, it really is true that one thing can subdue anotherChapter 13 · Extra 1Chapter 14 · Extra 2Chapter 15 · Extra 3Chapter 16 · Extra 4