3 – Dressing Her
The next morning, Shen Qiu woke up habitually at two ke past mao hour, but Ye Chen was already gone.
Without giving it much thought, Shen Qiu called for Ming Yue and Xing Er at the door, but it was Ye Chen who answered and entered.
Ye Chen smiled and said, “Why are you up so early? Why not sleep a little longer?”
Seeing Ye Chen, Shen Qiu was reminded of how he had tormented her the previous night and unconsciously took two steps back.
Ye Chen noticed this and felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. He mocked himself inwardly, thinking that he must bear the consequences of his own actions.
Ye Chen said, “I sent Ming Yue and Xing Er to check if the place for your morning practice is suitable. They’ll be back soon. For now, let others assist you with washing up.”
After saying this, he waved his hand, signaling the maids waiting outside to bring in hot water. Shen Qiu glanced at Ye Chen and went to wash up, while Ye Chen rummaged through the wardrobe on his own.
After a moment, he ran to the door and called out, “Granny Li, where are my wife’s clothes?”
Granny Li hurried over and said, “They’re all in the wardrobe!”
Ye Chen replied in a low voice, “No, the rose-red dress that my mother prepared before her passing isn’t there.”
Granny Li looked at Ye Chen and whispered, “Lord Duke, have you forgotten? That dress was given to Miss Gu, who is now… Lord Chen’s… second wife.”
Ye Chen thought for a moment and remembered. That dress had been made by his mother while she was still alive, intended for her future daughter-in-law.
In his previous life, he had been convinced that Miss Gu Ruojin of the Gu Family was the woman he must marry. When his grandmother arranged his marriage to Shen Qiu, he had been both angry and heartbroken, feeling that only Gu Ruojin deserved to wear that dress.
So he had taken it to Gu Ruojin, the third daughter of the Gu Family, but she had refused to accept it. Where had he put it after bringing it back?
Suddenly, Ye Chen remembered: he had stored it in his study. In his previous life, he had always believed the dress belonged to Gu Ruojin, so he hadn’t wanted Shen Qiu to wear it.
Since he spent most of his time in the study, he had kept it there. At first, he would occasionally take it out to look at it, and he had even painted a portrait of Gu Ruojin wearing the dress, which he treasured in his study.
Recalling this, he said, “Granny Li, don’t look for any dresses for my wife until I return.”
With that, he hurried out the door. Ye Chen rushed all the way to his study, twisted a protruding knob behind a chair, and immediately a hidden compartment opened in the wall. Inside were a portrait and a rose-red dress.
Ye Chen picked up the portrait, unrolled it, and looked at it briefly. Then he called out, “Mu Qing.”
A guard dressed as a man entered promptly, cupping his hands in salute to Ye Chen. “Lord Duke.”
Ye Chen said, “Bring me a basin.”
Mu Qing turned and left. Ye Chen placed the portrait on the desk, picked up the rose-red dress, and a faint smile touched his lips.
When Mu Qing returned with a bronze basin, he saw Ye Chen staring blankly at the dress. He spoke up, “Lord Duke, I’ve brought the basin.”
Without looking up, Ye Chen pointed to the portrait on the desk and said, “Burn it.”
Mu Qing asked in confusion, “Burn the portrait?”
Mu Qing had grown up by Ye Chen’s side and knew almost everything about him. He knew whose portrait it was. Just before the wedding ceremony yesterday, his lord had been in the study, shedding tears over the portrait of Miss Gu. Now, he wanted to burn it. Hence, the question.Ye Chen looked at Mu Qing and said, “Burn it. It’s better for both her and me. If Qiu’er ever sees it someday, misunderstandings are bound to happen. It’s better to burn it now and be done with it.”
Mu Qing thought he had misheard, wondering, “Qiu’er? Who is that? Oh, the newly married lady’s maiden name is simply ‘Qiu’.”
Without hesitation, Mu Qing thought it was a good thing that the Duke could let go. He immediately took out his portable fire starter and set the painting ablaze.
Watching the portrait he once cherished turn to ashes, Ye Chen felt a sudden relief in his heart. Yes, that was a matter of the past life. Now, everything was different. No one was more important than his Qiu’er.
Then, holding the set of clothes, he ran all the way back to the courtyard he shared with Shen Qiu.
By the time Ye Chen returned, Shen Qiu had already finished her makeup but hadn’t put on her clothes yet.
As soon as Ye Chen entered, he said, “All of you, leave.”
Granny Li and the maids attending to Shen Qiu promptly exited. Ye Chen placed the clothes on the table, pulled Shen Qiu up, and said, “Qiu’er, let me help you dress, alright?”
Shen Qiu didn’t know what Ye Chen was up to and looked at him suspiciously, saying, “Duke, let the maids handle it. It’s not appropriate for you to serve me.”
Ye Chen pulled Shen Qiu into his embrace and said, “It is appropriate. Not just today, but from now on, I will personally attend to you. Also, could you stop calling me ‘Duke’ from now on?”
Shen Qiu pushed Ye Chen away to separate from him, looked at him, and said, “Duke, there are many tasks today. I need to get dressed quickly. The Old Madam is probably already waiting.”
Ye Chen sighed and said, “It’s not yet past the hour of Mao. Grandmother doesn’t wake up this early.”
Pursing his lips, Ye Chen said, “Alright, as you wish. Let’s get dressed first.”
With that, he truly picked up the clothes and began helping Shen Qiu dress. The outfit consisted of three layers, inside and out. Ye Chen dressed her piece by piece—this was his first time dressing a woman in two lifetimes, and especially his first time dressing his Qiu’er.
But it didn’t matter. From now on, he would dress and adorn his Qiu’er every day.
Shen Qiu stared straight at Ye Chen. Something was off—very off. Ever since Ye Chen woke up from his nightmare last night until now, things had been consistently strange.
If it weren’t for what had happened initially, his current behavior wouldn’t feel so awkward to Shen Qiu. But after all, the hatred in his eyes at the beginning had been so real, and now he was like this—it felt somewhat eerie.
Shen Qiu didn’t dare say much and let Ye Chen fuss over her. However, it must be said that Ye Chen’s service was quite skillful.
After dressing her, Ye Chen looked at Shen Qiu, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gazed down at her tenderly, asking, “Qiu’er, shall we have breakfast here or in the main hall?”
Shen Qiu was startled by his sudden move and stammered, “Let’s… let’s go to the main hall.”
“And… could you let go of me?”
Ye Chen smiled and said, “No, not now and not ever.”
Ignoring Shen Qiu’s reaction, Ye Chen kept his arm around her as they walked out.
Outside, Ming Yue and Xing Er had also returned. They exchanged smiles upon seeing Shen Qiu, with Ming Yue looking somewhat excited. Granny Li and two other maids were also nearby.
After coming out, Ye Chen said, “Xing Er, go fetch the sandalwood box by the bed of the Madame and me. Remember, do not let it leave your side!”Then he said to Granny Li, “Granny, please serve breakfast in the front hall.”