The patrons in the tavern murmured among themselves.
“That’s Vice Minister Li’s Second Miss, isn’t it? She’s truly remarkable—a woman who outshines even the bravest of men.”
“Really admirable. Who would have thought she’d go to the battlefield as a woman? That takes real courage.”
Mo State had no rule forbidding women from going to war.
Moreover, at the border, women there could never be pampered in the seclusion of the inner chambers.
“Vice Minister Li is truly blessed—two daughters, each more impressive than the last.”
“If you ask me, this Second Miss is far better than that literary prodigy, the Consort of the Heir Apparent.”
That man had probably been drinking, his mind a bit muddled; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare say such things in broad daylight.
“Shh! Do you have a death wish? Don’t say such things recklessly!”
Everyone quickly distanced themselves from the man.
What status did the Consort of the Heir Apparent hold? How could they casually discuss her?
Nanny Wang heard someone disparaging her mistress. She turned her head, her eyes sharp and fierce as she glared at the speaker.
Li Mengxi did not turn around, keeping her gaze fixed on the soldiers passing below. “Nanny, do not be angry.”
Nanny Wang withdrew her gaze, her face grim.
Li Ya was merely a concubine-born daughter, while her mistress was of legitimate birth!
Besides, her mistress excelled in all the arts—qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. And when it came to martial skill, her mistress was no slouch either!
On the street below.
Li Ya, riding on horseback, turned to say a few words to her uncle.
Seeing her uncle looking upward, she followed his gaze and looked up as well, asking, “Uncle, what are you looking at?”
When Li Ya looked up at the tavern, she had already ridden directly beneath the tavern’s window, so she could not see Li Mengxi.
Ruan Yaocheng had already withdrawn his gaze. He thought he had seen her.
His eyes faced forward. “Nothing.”
The man’s voice was warm and smooth as jade.
Since her uncle didn’t want to say, Li Ya didn’t dare press further.
No matter how gentle and refined her uncle appeared, Li Ya didn’t know why, but sometimes she was still a bit afraid of him.
Soon, however, Li Ya shifted her attention elsewhere.
She spotted Su Fei.
Standing on the tea house, the man with handsome, sharp features offered her a faint smile.
Li Ya’s lips curved slightly upward. She mouthed the words, “Brother-in-law.”
Su Fei saw it. He understood lip-reading.
He could tell what she had called him.
She had called him brother-in-law.
A hint of displeasure flickered in Su Fei’s cool, clear eyes.
He didn’t like her calling him that.
This time she had returned to the capital.
He planned to confess his feelings to her.
For the past two years, he hadn’t dared to reveal his heart.
First, because she was on the battlefield, and he feared distracting her. Second, because he had not yet divorced Li Mengxi.
He would divorce Li Mengxi, then seek to marry her.
As long as she agreed, he would welcome her into his home with all due splendor.
After two years of honing herself on the battlefield, her bright, striking features looked even more wild and untamed when she smiled.
Li Ya saw that her brother-in-law had come specifically to see her.
While she was pleased, she couldn’t deny a secret delight in her heart.
Though she had been away from Jingcheng for two years, her mother’s sister had written to her about everything happening in the capital.
The letters had said that her literary prodigy of a legitimate elder sister had, in these three years, not only failed to bear a son but had also fallen out of favor with her husband.
Li Ya had once envied Li Mengxi greatly.
She envied how, wherever Li Mengxi appeared, she was always surrounded by admirers.
But now, she no longer needed to envy Li Mengxi at all.
Li Ya listened to the cheers of the common folk welcoming the soldiers, and she curved her lips gently.
The achievements she had now were already beyond what her legitimate elder sister could match.
Even her brother-in-law… the faint affection in his eyes when he looked at her—she had noticed it.
She wasn’t foolish. Her brother-in-law had likely taken a liking to her.
…
After the soldiers had passed.
The common folk were free to move about again.
Li Mengxi led Nanny Wang downstairs and out of the tavern, where the carriage was already waiting at the door.
She lifted her skirt slightly, stepped onto the stool, and boarded the carriage.
As the carriage passed the tea house.
Li Mengxi instructed the driver to stop.
She looked at Nanny Wang, lifting her chin slightly, and said with gentle grace, “Nanny, go ask the Heir whether he would like to accompany me to the Li Residence.”
If nothing unexpected happened, Su Fei would surely agree to go with her to the Li Residence.
Nanny Wang acknowledged with a “yes.”
She got off the carriage and entered the tea house.
Lu Xi saw Nanny Wang. “Heir, Nanny Wang has arrived.”
Nanny Wang curtsied in greeting and relayed the Consort’s words to the Heir.
After hearing this, Su Fei pressed his thin lips together and rose to his feet.
The Heir’s meaning was clear—he would accompany them to the Li Residence.
Nanny Wang’s face immediately lit up with joy as she followed.
If the Heir accompanied the Consort to the Li Residence, the Consort would gain face.
Su Fei descended from the tea house and walked to Li Mengxi’s carriage. Through the curtain, he said in a flat tone, “Madam, go ahead. I will follow shortly.”
This meant he had no intention of sharing the carriage with her.
Seated inside the carriage, Li Mengxi smiled with composure and replied softly, “Very well.”
Nanny Wang instructed a maidservant to go ahead to the Li Residence to announce their arrival.
Then the Heir boarded a separate carriage.
Nanny Wang then boarded the carriage. She lifted the curtain and bent down to enter.
She glanced at her mistress and whispered consolingly, “Young Madam, the Heir is likely being considerate. After all, he hasn’t fully recovered from his illness—perhaps he’s afraid of passing it on to you.”
Those words sounded somewhat reasonable.
Unfortunately, they were completely wrong.
Li Mengxi held an embroidered handkerchief to her lips, concealing a mocking smile, and said, “Nanny, rest assured. Such a small matter isn’t worth my grief.”
She didn’t want to share a carriage with him anyway.
…
Nanny Wang had already sent a maidservant ahead to the Li Residence to inform the head of the household, Madam Shen.
The gates of the Li Residence were already open.
Madam Shen stood at the entrance herself, waiting for her daughter and the Heir.
The carriage came to a stop before the Li Residence’s main gate.
Li Mengxi descended from the carriage with Nanny Wang’s support.
She looked up and saw Madam Shen.
Li Mengxi hurried over with a smile and said, “Mother.”
Dressed in a light blue long skirt with tassels hanging at her waist, Madam Shen—still beautiful and graceful—first carefully examined her daughter’s complexion.
Seeing her daughter’s rosy cheeks, she finally felt at ease.
Two days ago, her daughter had suddenly rushed back to the residence, hugged her, and burst into tears.
That had kept Madam Shen worried the whole time.
Madam Shen turned to look at Su Fei, relief shining in her eyes. This time, the Heir had accompanied her daughter back to the residence.
It made her feel more reassured. “Heir.”
Su Fei gave a slight nod to Madam Shen. “Mother-in-law.”
The two exchanged a few pleasantries.
The group then walked into the residence.
Madam Shen had already sent someone to the yamen to summon her husband back.
Since the Heir had come, the household needed at least a male head to receive him.
Before long, Vice Minister Li hurried back to the Li Residence.
Today was a day of great joy for the Li family.
Yaer had brought him honor.
It made Vice Minister Li feel as if he were walking on air.
Now that her father had returned, Li Mengxi no longer needed to remain in the main hall with Su Fei.
She went to speak with her mother instead.
Madam Shen saw her daughter coming.
She immediately instructed Nanny Huang to have the kitchen prepare Li Mengxi’s favorite sweets, and also sent her to summon Doctor Xiao.
Li Mengxi sat down on the couch, leaning close to Madam Shen. “Mother, are you feeling unwell?”
Madam Shen took her daughter’s hand. “Doctor Xiao specializes in regulating women’s health.”
She didn’t say much more, worried about upsetting her daughter.
Her daughter had been married into the Hou Mansion for three years now, and there was still no sign of a child. The things people outside were saying were quite harsh.
Li Mengxi had never told her mother about her and Su Fei still not having consummated their marriage, for fear of worrying her.
But now that she was planning a consensual divorce, there was no need to keep such things hidden.
“Nanny Huang, no need to summon Doctor Xiao. All of you, leave the room.” Li Mengxi dismissed the maidservants from the chamber.
Once they had all withdrawn,
Li Mengxi finally spoke with a bitter smile. “Mother, let me tell you the truth. My health is perfectly fine. There’s no need to see a doctor for regulation.”
Hearing this, Madam Shen’s face instantly turned pale with shock. “Could it be the Heir…”
Could it be that the Heir was incapable?