A Stirring of Desire.
Originally, he had no particular enthusiasm or curiosity for women’s cosmetics, considering them merely as playthings favored by young ladies.
However, working in Zhaoyu Prison, he had come into contact with numerous cases and knew that the rouge and powder beloved by women were not ordinary. If skillfully applied, they could even reshape and alter one’s face, causing a noticeable change in appearance.
Thus, he couldn’t help but wonder: Was there a significant difference between the exquisitely made-up Pu Wange and the Pu Wange who wore no cosmetics?
The night was deep. Though the moonlight was bright, the heavy curtains blocked its glow, making it difficult for him to see clearly.
Perhaps the difference was indeed significant? Pu Wange’s personal maid had mentioned that she was very fond of beauty. Her natural appearance was likely not as pleasing as her powdered and rouged face, which was why she constantly needed cosmetics to adorn her features.
If her face were truly flawless, why would she go to such lengths to conceal it? With this thought, Yan Chiyun dismissed the matter and closed his eyes to sleep.
“…”
The next day, Yan Chiyun rose early.
The theft case in Jingcheng remained unresolved, and the implicated officials still needed to be thoroughly investigated. Time was running short, and further delays would only complicate matters.
He glanced inward and noticed that the person beside him was no longer maintaining her usual composed and proper sleeping posture. Instead, she faced inward, curled up once more.
Her head was buried in the bedding, her long hair cascading down, revealing the delicate, pale nape of her neck, still marked with his fingerprints.
At the sight, Yan Chiyun couldn’t help but recall their entanglement the previous night—her soft, small hands guiding him as he explored.
Her other hand had not been idle either. She had taken control of him, her inexperience making her clumsy at times, occasionally failing to gauge the right pressure…
As he dwelled on these thoughts, a faint stirring of desire arose within him.
Morning energy was already vigorous; how could he allow himself to dwell on such matters?
Fortunately, she had not yet awakened and could not detect his unusual state. Recalling how Pu Wange had been staring at him intently over the past two days, he realized that if she were awake, she would likely notice his stirring desire.
Yan Chiyun quickly got up without lingering any longer.
Pu Jinyu had been thoroughly exhausted the previous night. However, having remained vigilant in her past life, her body’s reflexes had not yet fully relaxed from the “discipline” of that time. Thus, even in her drowsiness, she was somewhat roused by Yan Chiyun’s gentle movements as he rose.
Awake as she was, she made no move.
To be fair, Yan Chiyun was indeed a qualified scion of a noble family, a model gentleman. He seldom made things difficult for her. When she first married into the household, he would wake early, and no matter how early it was, she would follow Madam Pu’s orders and rise to help him dress.
The Northern Pacification Office handled major cases, often requiring early starts and late finishes. Noticing the weariness she tried to conceal in her eyes, he had specifically told her that she need not rise in the future and should continue resting.
Thanks to this, she no longer had to get up. Now, she lay listening to the faint sounds of the man washing and dressing.
In her daze, Pu Jinyu couldn’t help but think of her own father, who was also considered a model man. Outwardly, he presented himself well, but in truth, hadn’t he also indulged in affairs outside the home?
He had kept a mistress for many years, never once considering taking responsibility. He was merely enjoying the beauty of the concubine’s youthful body.
Men were all the same.
With this thought, her expression grew even colder. She lay still, eyes closed, unmoving.
After Yan Chiyun finished tidying up, he glanced toward the curtained bed before heading out.
Unexpectedly, as he rounded the Chuihua Gate, he encountered Yan Huaixiao and his close friend Cheng Wenque, whom he had brought home to stay for a while, returning from outside in the covered corridor.
"Elder Brother." Yan Huaixiao, accompanied by Cheng Wenque, bowed respectfully toward him.
"Hmm." Yan Chiyun's gaze inadvertently swept over the man beside Yan Huaixiao.
This Cheng Wenque was indeed exceptionally handsome. Though his family background was humble, his appearance was outstanding, his demeanor refined and scholarly, and his every movement carried an innate grace.
Yan Chiyun was adept at concealing his emotions. Even though Cheng Wenque had grown up under others' roofs and was skilled at reading expressions, he remained unaware of Yan Chiyun's scrutiny.
He had long heard of the Yan Family's eldest son being extraordinarily talented and brilliant. Seeing him today, he truly appeared restrained, solemn, and commanding respect without anger, making one hesitant to meet his gaze directly.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Yan Chiyun left with his subordinates.
"Your elder brother is truly extraordinary," Cheng Wenque remarked as they passed the Chuihua Gate.
"My elder brother has been exceptional since childhood. He is the most outstanding genius the Yan Family has produced in a century, praised by everyone in Jingcheng," Yan Huaixiao said, his face filled with admiration as he spoke of Yan Chiyun.
"Indeed," Cheng Wenque nodded.
Feeling guilty, Yan Huaixiao thought about how he had used Cheng Wenque as a shield, only to have him forcibly kept at the Yan Family. He draped an arm over Cheng Wenque's shoulder and sighed,
"Wenque, as the saying goes, 'the pavilion closest to the water gets the moonlight first.' With the imperial examinations approaching, the tutors are swamped with work. Staying with our Yan Family, you can be like me—if you encounter any difficult questions, copy them down and have my elder brother take a look."
Yan Chiyun was the first person in the current dynasty to achieve the "Triple First" honor in the imperial examinations. His literary talent and writing were highly praised by the emperor himself, and some of his insights even left the tutors at the Imperial Academy feeling inadequate.
Many sought his help in reviewing their essays, but he declined them all, citing the busy affairs of the Northern Pacification Office.
Of course, Yan Chiyun would help his own younger brother, but his insights were often too profound. Many of the comments he made while reviewing essays left Yan Huaixiao unable to fully grasp them, always feeling as if he were lost in a fog.
He could only sigh in wonder: born of the same parents, why was his own talent so lacking compared to his elder brother's?
Hearing this, Cheng Wenque was overjoyed, but soon he worried that this path might not work, as the head of the Yan Family appeared aloof and unapproachable.
Yan Huaixiao reassured him, "You are close to me, so Elder Brother will surely help you."
Though Yan Huaixiao said so, Cheng Wenque felt uncertain.
Where exactly was their friendship so special? If it weren't for Yan Huaixiao encountering an assassination attempt and falling into the water while traveling in Lanling four years ago, and Cheng Wenque happening upon him while delivering a meal to his mother who was washing clothes by the river, how could someone of his humble background ever associate with such a scion of a noble family?
The Cheng family was poor, and after his father's death, they fell into even deeper poverty. Their only property was taken from them under false pretenses, and over the years, living under others' roofs, he had endured countless scornful looks and exclusion.
To support his studies and transfer him to a better academy, his ailing mother had humbled herself everywhere, begging for help. She even sold off her burial savings and borrowed money through usury to scrape together enough silver for him.
But even with enough silver, he couldn't transfer into Jingcheng's top academy. This was a gathering place for the nobility and aristocracy; without connections, every step was an uphill struggle.
Recalling the jade pendant left by Yan Huaixiao, whom he had rescued many years ago, he decided to try his luck. He wrote a letter and sent it along with the pendant to Jingcheng. Unexpectedly, he actually received a letter of recommendation from Yan Huaixiao, who had sought the help of a Yan Family general, and thus smoothly entered the academy.
After entering the academy, he realized just how vast the gap was between himself and those scions of noble families.
The instructors at Lanling Academy were already quite good, but compared to those in Jingcheng, they still fell far short. The academy here had far more ancient texts, policy essays, and examination papers—all things he had never encountered in Lanling. If he didn’t work hard, he would have no chance of passing the imperial examinations.
He had no way out. This trip to the capital had to result in passing the exams and achieving success; otherwise, he and his mother would be trampled into the mud, with no hope of ever rising again.
But were there some things that could truly be obtained through effort alone?
At this thought, Cheng Wenque couldn’t help but recall the Young Mistress of the Yan Family, who had stared at him in a prolonged daze during yesterday’s return banquet. His eyes flickered with thought.
“I wonder if your sister-in-law has any particular items she favors?” he probed.
“You want to send my sister-in-law some gifts, take her route, so my elder brother will help you?”
Cheng Wenque nodded. “Yes.” Lowering his voice, he continued to inquire, “I wonder… how is the affection between your brother and sister-in-law?”
Yan Huaixiao didn’t think too deeply about this probing question, assuming Cheng Wenque was asking to gauge the depth of their relationship and see whether winning over Pu Wange could move his elder brother.
Gifting the inner household to indirectly seek tangible benefits was a common tactic among noble families in their social dealings.
Yan Huaixiao waved his hand, still saying it wasn’t necessary. For his sake, his elder brother would definitely help review his essays, given Cheng Wenque’s past life-saving grace.
But Cheng Wenque remained insistent on sending gifts and still wanted an answer to his previous question.
“My elder brother and sister-in-law are united through a noble family alliance, so their marital relationship is naturally harmonious.”
A noble family alliance…
No matter how harmonious, how close could it truly be? Yesterday, the two of them seemed quite respectful and distant.
“What does your sister-in-law usually like?” Yan Huaixiao thought for a moment. Truthfully, he didn’t know, as he had very little contact with this elder sister-in-law.
“Rouge, powder, pearl hairpins, and jewelry, I suppose?” Most women tended to favor such things.
After saying this, it occurred to him to consider Cheng Wenque’s family circumstances, so he offered, “If you want to send gifts, that’s fine too. Later, I’ll ask my younger sister about my elder sister-in-law’s specific preferences, then help you prepare the gifts. You can just take them and send them over.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Brother Huaixiao. I’ve already asked for your help many times. These gifts should be prepared by me.”
After all, what he truly wanted to do was not just send gifts, but to show care.
Yan Huaixiao told him not to stand on ceremony, but in the end, he couldn’t overcome Cheng Wenque’s stubbornness. “Alright, as you wish.”
“If you encounter any difficulties, just come to me…”
After the return banquet, Pu Jinyu had fewer tasks on her hands.
On this day, while reviewing and organizing accounts, she sent Jing Chun to the storeroom to search for the gift register, wanting to see what gifts the Fang Family had sent to the Yan Family’s eldest branch for their full-month celebration in the past. This would help her choose a suitable gift to send back, as the Fang Family’s infant’s full-month banquet was approaching.
In truth, she remembered quite clearly and knew what would be appropriate to send. But Jing Chun had been hovering around her these past few days, which was utterly annoying, so she simply sent her away.
Jing Chun was very loyal to her legal sister and was also her confidante. She had long known that her legal sister was not dead. Over the past two days, she should have reported her own unusual behavior to her Legal Mother, but there had been no movement from her. Was she afraid of alerting the enemy?
Pu Jinyu pondered distractedly when she suddenly heard a young maid outside announcing that the Third Young Master’s friend had come to visit.
Cheng Wenque?
Thinking of that face so similar to her sworn brother’s, she set down her brush. “Invite him in.”
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