In the spring of the thirty-sixth year of the Yuanjia era.
It was dusk. The sky was dim, and a fine drizzle fell. Suddenly, a chilly wind blew through, dampening the thin gauze lanterns hanging beneath the red eaves.
The sound of rain seeped into the room through the window, keeping everyone awake.
Tao Shuang rushed in, her voice urgent. She called out hastily, “Madam! Madam—”
Hearing the commotion outside, Xingyu, who was attending inside the room, quickly lifted the curtain and came out, whispering, “Keep your voice down. Madam has stayed up all night because of that mistress. She’s finally fallen asleep now, so don’t wake her.”
Upon hearing this, Tao Shuang immediately fell silent, though her face still showed signs of distress.
Seeing this, Xingyu guessed at the situation. “What happened?”
Tao Shuang lowered her voice and said indignantly, “The servant who brought the news said the mistress is already three months pregnant. Just think how long our lady has been kept in the dark!”
Xingyu went silent instantly.
Still seething, Tao Shuang gritted her teeth. “That mistress is nothing but a courtesan from Yangzhou. How can she compare to our lady?”
“The Duke really brings home all sorts of dirty, smelly things. It’s a wonder our lady trusts him so much, doesn’t he fear being tainted?”
Xingyu’s heart skipped a beat, and she sharply scolded, “Watch your words!”
Immediately realizing she had spoken too loudly, Xingyu glanced toward the inner room. Not hearing any movement inside, she felt a measure of relief. Then she glared at Tao Shuang and whispered, “The master is the master. How dare you speak ill of him?”
Tao Shuang, who had been angry, turned pale with fright and stammered, “I… I only felt sorry for Madam.”
Xingyu knew she wasn’t ill-intentioned, so she sighed and advised, “Don’t be reckless next time. Walls have ears. If word gets out and the Duke finds out, trouble could follow and even Madam might not be able to protect you.”
Tao Shuang’s face went pale repeatedly, and she hurriedly promised never to do it again.
Xingyu patted her hand and said no more.
Both she and Tao Shuang were maids who had accompanied the lady from her dowry. They had been personally chosen by the old lady and had grown up with her. To put it bluntly, they considered the lady as a sister. How could they not be angry seeing her suffer such humiliation?
Though harsh, Tao Shuang’s words were not wrong.
What is their lady’s status?
She is the eldest daughter of the most prestigious family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Cui family of Qinghe and the younger sister of the current Crown Princess. How many noblewomen could compare to her?
Even if the Duke wanted a concubine, he should have chosen someone from a respectable family.
On the day of their marriage, the Duke had sworn to his wife that he would never take a concubine and would never have a child with another woman.
How long has it been? That vow is no longer valid.
Keeping a Yangzhou courtesan as a mistress is not only a disgrace to the lady, but to the entire Cui family of Qinghe and the Crown Princess!
Cui Yaoning woke from a nightmare and was about to call for her maid when she suddenly heard Xingyu and Tao Shuang speaking in very low voices outside.
She paused, then fell silent.
She’s already three months pregnant…
Cui Yaoning closed her eyes.
That meant they had been seeing each other for at least three months.
And Pei Yu had acted so convincingly that she hadn’t noticed at all.
If she hadn’t smelled some rouge on Pei Yu a few days ago, which had aroused her suspicion and led her to investigate, she might have been completely deceived.
Fortunately, her perseverance paid off, and they had finally found some clues.
A colleague had introduced a young woman from Yangzhou. At first, Pei Yu refused, but later, feeling sorry for her, he arranged for her to stay in a side courtyard. According to the investigating servant, the young woman bore some resemblance to Cui Yaoning.
After that, Pei Yu often went to visit her in the side courtyard and began staying there every night.
Cui Yaoning secretly took Tao Shuang and Xingyu to that secluded courtyard, where red candles burned through the entire night. Pei Yu did not leave until dawn, when at last there was some movement.
What else did she not understand?
Cui Yaoning could only feel disgust.
Pei Yu had told her he had official business to attend to, and she believed him.
He said he had important matters, and she believed him.
He had kept it so well that no one suspected a thing.
He still picked flowers for her, bought her snacks, and traveled all over Chang’an to find the freshest and most sought-after pearl hairpins. In her heart, he was still the good husband.
But his heart had wandered without his own awareness.
She had never imagined that Pei Yu, her childhood sweetheart who had blushed and promised to love her for life, could change his mind.
Cui Yaoning could not tolerate it. She had already said before their marriage that she was petty and would never share her husband with anyone else.
Pei Yu had readily agreed, and sworn an oath just as readily.
And yet, what was the result?
Cui Yaoning closed her eyes briefly, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
“Lord Duke.” The maids and servants outside knelt on the ground.
Cui Yaoning snapped out of her daze and saw Pei Yu stride in. He wore a bamboo-green long robe, his bright eyes and handsome face radiating elegance. As a highly valued titleholder, he naturally carried a refined, aloof temperament.
“Yaoyao.” Pei Yu quickly approached. “Are you feeling any better?”
Cui Yaoning’s gaze fell on him.
She and Pei Yu had known each other since childhood. Ten years had passed, and she knew his expressions all too well. She could see that his concern now was genuine, but it struck her as absurd.
He feigned affection and asked about her well-being, yet after leaving the Duke’s mansion, he was having an affair with his mistress in a side courtyard.
Thinking this, Cui Yaoning felt her stomach churn.
Pei Yu panicked. “Yaoyao—”
Cui Yaoning coldly avoided his hand. Pei Yu assumed she was merely being petulant while ill and did not worry. He had a maid bring her medicine.
Doukou, a new maid who had just joined the household, smiled and said, “Madam, all the noble ladies in the capital envy you. You are ill, and the Duke has taken three days off to care for you at home.”
The other maids, unaware of the situation, joined in the teasing.
Cui Yaoning did not smile, but propped herself up.
Pei Yu blew on the medicine bowl to cool it, then tested it before feeding it to her. Cui Yaoning, annoyed, pushed it away. The medicine spilled, and the white porcelain bowl adorned with peach blossoms fell and shattered.
Pei Yu stood stunned, but he assumed it was simply her little habit of getting upset when sick. He instructed the maid to bring another bowl and patiently coaxed her, “Yaoyao, the physician said you must take your medicine. If it’s too bitter, I’ll have someone bring candied fruit to eat with it, alright?”
“Once you feel better, I’ll take you horseback riding in the countryside, or perhaps to Lingyang to relax. There’s a hot spring there that’s excellent for your health.”
He spoke softly, seemingly unconcerned that his long robe was now soiled.
Cui Yaoning felt disgusted. She grabbed a gold-threaded incense burner from the side and smashed it on the ground. Pei Yu did not have time to dodge. The incense burner cut his forehead, and blood immediately flowed, looking extremely gruesome.
Pei Yu stared at her in shock, then quickly turned angry. “Cui Yaoning!”
Cui Yaoning looked at him, then asked Xingyu to bring her a soft pillow for her head. She calmly asked, “How is your mistress doing?”