After those two left, Madam He was still not reassured. She sent someone to their Lanchun Courtyard to inquire about last night's situation, only to hear from the people in their courtyard that there had been blood.
Madam He's expression immediately turned even uglier. She scoffed, "Heavens, so they truly had the energy to do the deed. I suppose we must give them credit."
Her relationship with this stepson could not be described in ordinary terms—it was as bad as the relations between Great Li and the foreign states in the past two years. When she had first married into the family as a second wife, Cui Jingci had only been six years old. It was not that she had been unwilling to be a kind mother, nor did she want to earn a reputation for mistreating the late wife's child. But that Cui Jingci was truly a little demon in the flesh—he had nearly caused her death.
His temperament was terrible, and yet he was genuinely gifted in several ways. The old master doted on him, and the entire household had to defer to him. Fortunately, heaven had its own way of dealing with wicked people. Later, he contracted some unknown illness and was badly afflicted, appearing as though he would not live long.
Madam He had been hoping for his death, but no matter how she wished for it, it never came. And then, on top of everything, he went and took a wife.
She gritted her teeth, thinking that Cui Jingci's marriage must have been premeditated. That man probably wanted to leave a seed behind even in death, to compete with her own son for the Cui family inheritance.
But then again, his wife came from a rustic village. Even if she left a seed behind, so what? The day he died, she would be at everyone's mercy.
Madam He sighed, only hoping that this scourge would die soon.
The two returned to Lanchun Courtyard, and Cui Jingci went to the study. Huai Zhi did not understand him—if her health were failing, she would not push herself the way he did.
After Cui Jingci left, Huai Zhi sat alone in the main hall, not knowing what to do.
The servants came and went outside, appearing very cautious and polite. Huai Zhi secretly watched the scene outside, thinking to herself that the great households truly were more impressive.
A girl about her age, named Mianmian, was assigned by the head matron to serve as her personal maid.
Mianmian was young, but she had already been here for several years.
The head matron also brought the servants in to pay respects to Huai Zhi. They all addressed her in unison as "Madam," and Huai Zhi felt rather flattered and overwhelmed, enduring the ceremony as best she could.
By custom, when a new bride entered the household, all internal affairs should have been handed over to her. But Huai Zhi could not even read, and she knew nothing of household management. Cui Jingci said it was fine—if she needed money, she could simply take it herself.
However, thinking it over, he knew Huai Zhi was thin-skinned and would likely be too embarrassed to do so. So he instructed the matron to deliver twenty taels of silver to her each month as her personal allowance.
Cui Jingci was not short on money. Not to mention the ten thousand taels of gold and silver bestowed by the Emperor for his victorious campaigns in the north years ago, his mother had also left him a substantial fortune after her death. Together, these sums only continued to grow.
After the servants had paid their respects, the matron brought her twenty taels of silver, saying it was her monthly allowance.
Huai Zhi had never expected there to be a monthly allowance of twenty taels. In her entire life, she had never seen so much money!
She and her mother had worked together at the embroidery workshop. Every month, however much they earned, her family knew exactly. They made her contribute to the household expenses, and Huai Zhi handed over most of her wages, only managing to secretly keep a little for herself. After all this time working, she had calculated that she had not even managed to save ten taels of silver.
She looked at the twenty taels of silver, and couldn't help but be dazzled by the sight of money. She thought, even if Cui Jingci were a demon or ghost, if he ever died and became a dead ghost of a husband, she would happily acknowledge him as such.
With food to eat and a monthly allowance, Huai Zhi felt that the pain from last night was nothing at all.
Nanny Yao watched Huai Zhi grinning foolishly and said, "The young master said that after you return to your family for the customary visit in three days, he hopes you won't have too much contact with your former family."
Cui Jingci meant that when she went home for the visit, he hoped she could make things clear.
Huai Zhi had never studied, and though she didn't understand many principles, she did understand this much about social relations. Cui Jingci marrying her was already something people criticized, and her family was all of that sort—like her, not very presentable. The Cui family had given a substantial betrothal gift, intending to sever their familial ties. From then on, Huai Zhi was a member of the Cui family.
Given this, asking her to have less contact with them wasn't too excessive a request.
Moreover, they had treated her quite poorly, so Huai Zhi agreed to Cui Jingci's request without much psychological burden.
She said, "Alright, I understand."
Nanny Yao rather liked this young madam's temperament. Though she was timid and of low birth, she wasn't awkward in her actions. Knowing that she and the young master each got what they needed, she would likely do her best to fulfill her part.
But how things would actually turn out couldn't be judged in a single day—only time would tell.
Nanny Yao said, "The young master is weak in qi and frail in body. The young madam will need to be patient with him."
That was only natural. For the sake of that monthly allowance of twenty taels, she should take good care of him.
But remembering last night, Huai Zhi was still a bit curious and asked, "The young master… has he never been with a woman?"
Nanny Yao knew they had consummated the marriage last night, though it probably hadn't been very satisfying. She said with some sadness, "The young master's birth mother passed away early, and his stepmother wasn't very kind. Even before he fell ill, he was already very strict with himself. He was busy then, devoting all his attention to official duties."
The implication was that he likely never had.
At noon, Cui Jingci came to have lunch with Huai Zhi. After lunch, he had Mianmian take her around the estate to familiarize herself with the paths. Huai Zhi was actually feeling some dull pain down below, but she wouldn't say no to Cui Jingci's arrangements.
But after walking for over half an hour without even finishing the tour of the Cui estate, Huai Zhi was the first to cry uncle, saying, "Mianmian, let's just go back."
Mianmian assumed she was tired and said yes, seeing that Huai Zhi's thin arms and legs truly weren't built for endurance.
It was already June, and the air was somewhat muggy. Huai Zhi used to wear coarse cloth garments, and whenever she walked more than a few steps outside, sweat would pour from her body, and the rough fabric would make the back of her neck itch. But the Cui family's clothes were fine and precious, smooth to the touch—wearing them, no matter how much she walked, she didn't seem to get hot. And there were ice chests in the rooms, making summer feel like spring. It was so comfortable.
Huai Zhi thought, so having money could change the seasons.
She had only worked up a light sweat. When they returned, Mianmian washed a cloth for her to wipe off the sweat.
Huai Zhi said thank you.
She carefully wiped her face with the cloth, then dabbed at her neck. Once the sticky sweat was gone, she looked fresher and cleaner. Mianmian studied her, curiosity barely concealed in her eyes.
When Huai Zhi first came to take the young master's measurements for his robes, Mianmian had been there too. She never expected that later she would see Huai Zhi become the young mistress of this household.
Although Cui Jingci's health was the subject of much gossip, for Huai Zhi, this was still like a sparrow turning into a phoenix. Seeing that Huai Zhi was easy to talk to, Mianmian couldn't help but make idle conversation: "Did the young mistress not do any work while at home?"
"I did. When the fields got too busy, I would even go down and help harvest the rice," Huai Zhi said, extending her hand for Mianmian to see. There was a thin layer of calluses on her palm. "Look, hands don't lie."
Mianmian mustered up her courage and touched it—indeed, it was rather rough. She exclaimed, "The young mistress has such fair skin, you really can't tell at all."
Everyone said so. From childhood to now, Huai Zhi had heard many people praise her for being fair-skinned. She let out a soft laugh and said, "I take after my mother. She was fair too, and she never tanned."
Mianmian chuckled. "That's lovely."
She herself tanned at the slightest exposure to the sun, so she rather envied Huai Zhi.
Over the following days, Huai Zhi settled into the Cui household. When the three-day period was up, it was time for the customary visit back to her natal home, but Cui Jingci used his poor health as an excuse not to go. When Huai Zhi heard he wasn't going, she was actually quite pleased as she left.
Cui Jingci privately speculated that she was probably worried that having him, this sickly invalid, accompany her home would be a burden.
Then again, Cui Jingci had no desire to interact with Huai Zhi's family either. He was more concerned with another important matter.
Huai Zhi—this person, though truly ordinary, and her personality rather dull and wooden as well.
But he needed a wife, and he needed children.
He thought to himself that he needed to accomplish this task as soon as possible, and he absolutely could not disgrace himself like last time.
Cui Jingci summoned his personal attendant, whose name was Jiang Li. He first asked him, "Why does she feel pain?"
In the past, Cui Jingci had gone to a restaurant for social engagements with his colleagues. Once, when he stepped out to relieve himself, he happened upon a colleague rolling around on the bed with a courtesan. Both of their expressions were ones of ecstasy. Cui Jingci watched from afar, utterly disgusted. Who would have thought that the man would even dare to invite him to find someone for his own pleasure?
Cui Jingci smiled faintly and said there was no need, telling him to go ahead and enjoy himself. Then he left the place, and from that day on, he refused to have any further dealings with that man.
A man who couldn't even control his own crotch was unworthy of his close acquaintance.
"What?" Jiang Li was initially confused about what Cui Jingci was asking.
Cui Jingci asked, "Why does she feel pain when I go in?"
The moment Cui Jingci said this, Jiang Li immediately understood. The young master had already taken a wife, so naturally he was asking about the matters between husband and wife.
The young master had never been with a woman before. That night, who knew whether he had made a fool of himself. But judging from his question, was it only the girl who felt pain? Had the young master figured it out on his own?
Indeed, the young master was clever—he could do everything well.
Seeing that his master was asking about matters of the bedchamber but remained puzzled, Jiang Li thought: when a woman marries, she follows her husband; when a servant serves a master, he follows his master's ways. Cui Jingci was strict with himself, harboring great ambitions and working diligently day and night. Ever since entering officialdom, he had never stopped moving forward. Women were nothing but a hindrance to him. Since the master was like this, those below naturally had to conduct themselves in the same manner. Jiang Li clasped his hands in salute and said solemnly, "I don't know either. I'll find someone to ask on the young master's behalf."
Meanwhile, Huai Zhi had no idea what Cui Jingci was doing at home.
She took the Cui family's carriage back to her own home. A crowd of neighbors came running out to watch the commotion, nearly blocking the entrance to the alley entirely.
Today was the day of the home visit, and they had expected to see the once-famous eldest son. But who would have thought that only Huai Zhi would return? They were immediately disappointed, yet secretly relieved—it seemed that she hadn't married into a life of comfort after all. Her husband was probably so ill he couldn't even get out of bed.
They were all neighbors living along the same alley, seeing each other day in and day out. If one of them were to rise to prominence, it would be enough to make the others green with envy.
Someone pretended to joke, teasing Huai Zhi as she entered from the street corner, asking why her husband hadn't come back with her today.
But after catching a glimpse of her attire, their eyes all turned envious and greedy, as if they wished they could strip the clothes off her with their stares.
Before Huai Zhi could even respond, her father, Huai Yuan, grabbed her and pulled her inside.
He was a burly man in his forties with wheat-colored skin, rough and rugged in every way. As he dragged her along, he spat at the onlookers, "What's there to gawk at, I'd like to know!"
Huai Yuan yanked her into their house.
The house came with a small courtyard, which was cluttered with a messy pile of firewood—so chaotic there was barely any room to set foot.
Huai Zhi knew they would soon move away from here. The money the Cui family had given was enough for them to afford a decent place.
Huai Yuan asked her, "Where's your husband? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Huai Zhi said, "He's not in good health, so he's resting at home."
Huai Zhi was actually glad Cui Jingci couldn't come. With the house in this state, if he came, he'd only suffer. His health was already fragile, and besides, her father was insatiably greedy and had an irritating way of talking.
Huai Yuan said angrily, "No matter how bad his health is, how can he not even come to see his father-in-law? No manners at all! Doesn't even understand basic respect for elders!"
Good heavens, Huai Zhi had no idea how he could say such a thing.
Huai Zhi didn't argue with him, because in the past when she did, he'd get furious and hit her.
Just then, her mother heard the commotion and rushed out from the inner room, saying, "You've come home for a visit—did you bring anything good?"
Huai Zhi turned her head away and said, "I did."
Nanny Yao was very good at handling things. She had prepared gifts for Huai Zhi's return, but in the end, Huai Zhi only brought over a bolt of cloth.
Huai Yuan stared at the cloth with wide eyes and said, "That can't be all, right?!"
"That's right, that's all." Huai Zhi was somewhat afraid of him from past beatings, so she forced herself to say it.
"These Cui people aren't being a bit too stingy!"
Huai Zhi said, "They already gave the betrothal gifts, and besides, you barely provided any dowry. The fact that they're willing to give a bolt of cloth is already very generous!"
Huai Yuan raised his hand to hit her.
Huai Zhi dodged and ran away, saying, "You can't hit me now—he'll see!"
Who was "he"? Obviously.
Her mother narrowed her eyes shrewdly and grabbed her, asking, "He sees you? That sickly man—has he actually consummated the marriage with you?!"
Huai Zhi didn't want to discuss such private matters with them, so she said, "If you keep prying into things that don't concern you, I'll leave."
Her mother certainly wouldn't let her go. She half-pulled, half-dragged Huai Zhi back into the house. Huai Zhi's younger brother, now twelve or thirteen, glanced at her when she arrived, then turned and ran out to play again.
She had left at noon, and afterward they kept her there, interrogating her about this and that, and even insisted she stay for dinner.
The evening meal was quite ordinary, no different from usual. Huai Zhi kept her head down and ate a few bites. Her mother no longer held a grudge over her bringing back only one bolt of cloth, and even served her food with a smile far kinder than before, saying, "Eat, eat more. It's not often you get to come home."
Huai Zhi gave a muffled "mm" in response and chewed the two vegetable leaves down.
After the meal, her mother saw her onto the carriage. Once aboard, Huai Zhi left one parting remark: "I won't be coming back often from now on."
And then she left.
By the time Huai Zhi returned to the Cui residence, it was already growing dark.
Cui Jingci sat in the main hall, as if waiting for her.
He had been staring off into space, but at the sound of movement, he turned to look.
His little wife had finally returned from that garbage heap.
Cui Jingci had learned quite a bit today, he thought. Now that Huai Zhi was back, they could try again, and he could put his studies to the test.
Reading about it on paper always felt shallow—only practice could yield true understanding.
In this day and age, a man as studious as he was truly a rare sight.