Xi Cai waved her hand and smiled. “Matron, you’ve misunderstood me. I meant every word I said. Over the past two days, I’ve watched her running around, taking care of everything. She has never made a single mistake. I was even thinking of transferring her to the main residence so she could serve the Marquis personally.”
Matron Mi was a little confused. Could a newly married wife really be so open-minded?
Then she thought about it again. This was, after all, the daughter of Censor-in-Chief Xi, a young lady who had long been praised for her virtue. Wanting to take good care of her husband and finding someone reliable to help her was perfectly reasonable by the standards of the time.
After years of warfare, the Great Sheng Dynasty had not even been established for ten years. Many women born into humble families were desperately searching for a good marriage. If a kind and generous mistress was willing to promote one of the servants in her household, that was still far better than being married off to a groom or a cook. Such an arrangement would be an act of kindness from the mistress and a blessing for the servant.
Bowing slightly, Matron Mi said, “Madam is truly kind and has considered everything very carefully. Still, I suggest you observe her for a few more days. Only with time can a person’s true character be revealed.”
Xi Cai nodded, placing great hopes in Lü Hua.
Over the next few days, Xi Cai paid close attention to Lü Hua’s words and actions. She noticed that before bringing medicine to the Marquis, Lü Hua would always smooth her hair, apply a little powder, and make sure she looked presentable before entering his room.
In ordinary situations, Lü Hua was rather proud and did not get along particularly well with others. Whenever she had to reprimand a young maid with less experience, she could go on lecturing her for ages.
So Lü Hua really was the perfect candidate!
Xi Cai looked forward to making a good start with her. Once the first concubine was settled, she could gradually add more women to the household. The concubines in the rear courtyard could then compete to please Yang Xun and use every possible means to win his favor.
As for Yang Xun, he could simply take care of himself.
Xi Cai would remain the virtuous and gentle principal wife, neither fighting for favor nor showing jealousy. No one would be able to find fault with her.
This just went to show that when one was away from home, one’s reputation depended on how well one managed it.
After observing Lü Hua for another two days, Xi Cai was certain that the girl was interested in the Marquis.
That evening, Lü Hua came to deliver Yang Xun’s medicine. Since he had not returned yet, Xi Cai called her over and casually started a conversation, asking how long she had been responsible for preparing and serving his medicine and whether the Marquis treated her well.
Lü Hua did not understand why Madam was asking these questions. She clasped her hands respectfully and replied, “This servant has been serving the Marquis’s medicine for exactly half a year. Before that, I worked in the sewing department. The Marquis is kind and generous toward his servants. He treats not only me but everyone in the household very well. Now that Madam is managing the household, you are considerate of us as well. We servants will do our utmost to carry out your orders and repay the kindness shown to us by the Marquis and Madam.”
Just listen to her! What a smooth talker! She certainly knew how to make herself likable.
Xi Cai smiled warmly. “You’ve given me such high praise that I feel I must make even better use of you. You are one of the people who can enter and leave the main residence freely, unlike the others. I’ve also noticed how diligently you serve the Marquis. From now on, you must be even more careful. I will discuss things with the Marquis, and I promise you won’t be treated unfairly.”
Lü Hua had grown up in the Yang family’s old residence and was naturally a clever girl. Although the principal wife had not said anything explicitly, her words already hinted at something.
Lü Hua blushed and lowered her head. “Please rest assured, Madam. From now on, this servant will be even more careful and will never disappoint your expectations.”
So she had agreed!
Xi Cai smiled and nodded. “The Marquis should be back soon. You may go now.”
Lü Hua bowed again and left, secretly delighted.
Xi Cai walked over to the dining table to inspect the evening meal. The dishes were light without being bland. Although preparing them had cost quite a bit of money, she was finally living a relatively normal life again.
She was about to adjust the placement of the bowls and plates when she suddenly heard a series of deep, rumbling sounds.
The noise was not coming from inside the residence. It seemed to be traveling through the alley outside, right along the ground on the other side of the courtyard wall.
Xi Cai hurriedly looked up at the lamps hanging from the ceiling. They were not shaking, so it was not an earthquake. What could the noise be?
She was about to ask Yu Wu to send someone outside to investigate when Yang Xun entered through the main gate. As he walked in, he untied his lightweight cloak and casually handed it to the servant waiting by the door.
Xi Cai went forward to welcome him, glancing outside as she asked, “What was that noise just now? Why did it sound like the pounding of horse hooves?”
For someone who had lived through years of warfare, the sounds of horses and clashing weapons were among the most terrifying memories buried deep in the heart. The moment Xi Cai heard that thunderous rumbling, her entire body had tensed up.
When his medicine was brought in, Yang Xun picked up the bowl and casually replied, “The city guards are changing shifts. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Only then did she relax.
“That was quite a commotion. I haven’t heard horse hooves pounding so densely in many years.”
Yang Xun tilted his head back and finished the medicine. Frowning, he set down the celadon bowl and accepted the clean water she handed him to rinse his mouth.
Only after that did he offer a few words of reassurance.
“The world won’t fall into chaos again. As long as I’m here, I guarantee that you’ll be safe and sound.”
Xi Cai listened and smiled shyly. Twisting her fingers and shifting her body bashfully, she said in a soft voice, “My husband really does know how to take care of me. At least I haven’t married the wrong man.”
Two people who did not truly trust each other had been forced into marriage. To maintain the appearance of courtesy, they occasionally had to exchange sweet, affectionate words.
How could such an act not be exhausting for both of them?
Once they had finished their obligatory performance, they each turned their faces away. Looking directly at each other’s features was somehow suffocating.
Xi Cai was still doing relatively well. Yang Xun, however, actually covered his mouth as though he were about to feel sick.
“What’s wrong?” Xi Cai asked, feeling rather displeased.
Could her sweet words really have been so overwhelming that they had made him want to throw up?
Yang Xun slowly regained his composure. He lowered his long-fingered hand from his face and said helplessly, “I’ve been drinking these medicinal concoctions every day. I don’t know when this will end. I’m already sick and tired of them.”
Xi Cai had never asked him about the details of his illness before, but today she could not hold back her curiosity. After helping him sit down, she asked, “I’ve heard of your reputation for a long time, my lord. Among the nine sons of the Great Ancestor, you are the youngest and the bravest. By all accounts, you should have a strong constitution. You’re also still in your prime. So how did you suddenly fall ill and end up spending every day drinking medicine?”
Her question plunged him into silence.
After a long while, he finally answered, “On the battlefield, no one can predict where a blade or arrow will strike. When charging into battle and fighting the enemy, injuries are inevitable. During the Battle of Chenshui, an enemy general fired an arrow coated with poison into my side, just beneath my ribs. I managed to survive, but as time passed, the poison that had remained hidden in my body eventually began to act up.”
As he spoke, he reached out and grasped her wrist.
“So, Madam, you needn’t be afraid. My illness isn’t contagious. I won’t infect you.”
He was sitting while she stood beside him. The weight of his hand resting on her wrist felt surprisingly heavy.
His illness would not spread to her, but it would still be a burden.
Xi Cai maintained her patience. She covered the back of his hand with her warm palm and said gently, “Now that I’ve married you, I’ve never worried about such things. I believe that as long as you receive proper care and treatment, you’ll eventually recover.”
After offering him a few more words of comfort, she guided him to the dining table.
Even if he had filled his stomach with medicine, he still needed to eat something. Otherwise, he might get hungry in the middle of the night.
Xi Cai rolled up her sleeves and served him food. Her skin was fair and smooth, shimmering under the lamplight like the pearly sheen on a piece of white satin.
“My lord, try the pine-pollen kidney dish. I had the cook clean the kidneys this afternoon and soak them in aged wine, ginger, and vinegar. There’s no unpleasant smell at all.”
Yang Xun tasted it and praised the dish. “It’s very good. It reminds me somewhat of the dishes served at palace banquets in the Southern Dynasty.”
Xi Cai’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’m glad you like it. The cooks spent half the day preparing everything, so their effort wasn’t wasted.”
But then Yang Xun raised his eyes and fixed his gaze on her face.
He looked at her with such an inquisitive expression that it was almost as if he had only just met her for the first time.
“Before our marriage, I had already heard of your reputation for virtue. People said you were exceptionally kind and noble, with aspirations comparable to Ban Zhao. I thought you would be a rigid, conventional woman with a dull personality. I never expected you to be so lively and charming, so full of life.”
Was he complimenting her?
Coming from his mouth, however, the words sounded as though they carried some hidden meaning.
Xi Cai knew she had to respond carefully. Keeping her composure, she said, “People have simply been too generous in their praise. They compose poems and sing my praises, but I’m not nearly as wonderful as they claim. I’ve only tried to fulfill my responsibilities and treat others with kindness.
“I’m not some words recorded in a book. I’m a living, breathing person. And like everyone else, I have emotions, joys, and sorrows. There are people and things I care about.
“For example, I care about peace in the Great Sheng Dynasty. I don’t want the common people to suffer through separation and displacement again. And I care about your safety, my lord. To me, it is even more important than my own life.”
She sighed as she continued, “But I suppose you won’t understand. Men can never truly understand what goes on in a woman’s heart.”
Yang Xun fell silent.
After a long while, he finally said, “Perhaps you’re right. But I know how much you care about me.”
Since the conversation had reached this point, and Lü Hua happened to enter the room to collect the medicine bowls, Xi Cai noticed a pretty figure passing briefly through the corridor.
Taking advantage of the moment, she continued, “My lord, there’s something I’ve been thinking about for some time.
“In the early years, wars broke out everywhere. Fortunately, I was raised in the Xi family and was spared much of the suffering. Perhaps because of that, I’m not as thoughtful or attentive as women who came from poorer backgrounds.
“I want to take good care of you, but I’m afraid I might overlook something and accidentally cause you discomfort. That’s why I’ve been wondering whether I should find someone to help me—someone reliable, someone whose background is familiar to me, and someone who is wholeheartedly devoted to you.
“That way, if I fail to consider something, she can help make up for my shortcomings. She could also ensure that your daily meals and living arrangements are even more comfortable.”
Yang Xun understood what she was getting at, but he merely responded with a quiet “Mm” and said, “Go on, Madam.”
Xi Cai decided not to beat around the bush any longer.
“What do you think of Lü Hua? I’ve been observing her for several days. She’s capable, careful, and quite beautiful. Sometimes, we need someone to attend to you in your private chambers, but unmarried young women aren’t permitted to enter. Wouldn’t it be more convenient if we promoted her?”
Under ordinary circumstances, a wife voluntarily offering to arrange a concubine for her husband was an exceedingly rare and fortunate thing.
What man in the world could resist the temptation of having another woman devote herself to serving him?
If sharing a husband with the Princess of Tianshui was merely a joke, taking Lü Hua as a concubine was something real and attainable. Yang Xun only had to agree, and the arrangement could be made immediately.
Xi Cai was so confident that she had already decided which courtyard to assign Lü Hua.
Yet once again, Yang Xun refused to follow the expected course.
“Perhaps I’ve done something inappropriate and caused you to misunderstand me,” he said. “Servants and young male attendants can serve tea and deliver medicine just as well. From now on, send Lü Hua to work in the rear courtyard. She is no longer allowed to enter the main residence.”
Wait… What? That wasn’t right!
Xi Cai hurriedly explained, “I mean what I say. I truly want to promote Lü Hua and have her help me. There are so many household affairs to manage, and I have to oversee everything. When I’m busy, I’m afraid I might neglect you. If she’s here to help, wouldn’t I feel more at ease?”
After listening to her, Yang Xun put down his silver chopsticks and looked at her seriously.
“I know you’re a virtuous wife, Madam, but you’re almost too virtuous. You’re making me wonder whether you care about me at all.
“We’ve been married for only half a month. This should be the time when a newly married couple is most affectionate toward each other. Yet you’re already trying to arrange a concubine for me. Why? Am I not to your liking? Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?”
Xi Cai was left speechless.
She hurriedly waved her hands. “That’s not what I mean! I only think Lü Hua is thoughtful and careful. She’s been serving tea and carrying things around for years. It seems like such a waste of her abilities.”
“Then marry her off,” he said calmly. “There are several good-looking male servants in the household. Let her choose one for herself.”
Xi Cai’s spirits sank. She tried to think of something else to say, but quickly realized that there was no way to turn the situation around. In the end, she could only give up.
Perhaps that was why Yang Xun felt entirely justified in sulking.
After washing up, he climbed into bed without saying a word and turned his back to her.
Xi Cai secretly rolled her eyes.
She had not wanted to pay him any attention in the first place. He had repeatedly ruined her plans, and she was becoming thoroughly fed up with him.
But if they became enemies now, negotiating with him in the future would be even more difficult. How could she gain his trust and eventually catch him off guard?
She had no choice but to continue enduring the humiliation.
Staring at his back, she forced herself to soften her tone.
“My lord, since you’re unwilling, I won’t bring up the matter of taking concubines again.”
He still said nothing.
His long, dark hair spread across the pillow, reflecting a faint blue-black sheen.
Xi Cai waited for him to respond. Just when she was almost ready to give up, he finally spoke.
“My health is poor. You know very well that I’m physically incapable of doing certain things, yet you still want to arrange a concubine for me. You’re clearly humiliating me.”
It seemed she really had been too impatient.
Xi Cai reflected on her mistake. Everything had to be done gradually. One couldn’t expect to eat an entire pastry in a single bite.
She needed to make amends quickly.
Moving a little closer, she tugged at his sleeve and said, “I didn’t think it through properly. Please don’t be angry, my lord. What if you make yourself ill from anger?”
His tense shoulders slowly relaxed. He let out a quiet sigh, and his voice softened as he turned to face her.
“Madam… my wife… I may only have you for the rest of my life. Please don’t drag other women into this and ruin their lives as well.”
Xi Cai immediately felt so angry that her head spun.
She wasn’t delighted or touched. She felt as though she had drawn the worst possible lot in life.
So he had decided that she alone would have to suffer his misfortune. He wouldn’t even give her the chance to find someone to share the burden!
She had offered to arrange a concubine out of goodwill, intending to ask the young woman’s opinion rather than force her into anything. It wasn’t as though she planned to buy and sell people against their will. Even if Yang Xun died someday, she wouldn’t abandon the women who became his concubines.
Yet he had dismissed the entire idea by accusing her of ruining another woman’s life.
Why would a woman willingly become a concubine?
Wasn’t it because she wanted to escape being ordered around by others and suffering from hunger? Could it possibly be because she admired him so much that she wanted to be his concubine out of love?
Xi Cai had already mastered the art of complaining inwardly while forcing a smile outwardly.
She managed to keep smiling, though she wasn’t sure whether she looked more like someone laughing or crying.
To avoid making him suspicious, she spoke in a choked voice, “My lord, you’re so devoted to me. How fortunate I am!”
Yang Xun frowned as he looked at her.
Perhaps he could no longer control his own expression either, because he simply pulled her head into his arms.
He didn’t even want to face her while giving her further instructions.
“The day after tomorrow is the Emperor’s birthday. All civil and military officials must enter the palace to offer their congratulations. Since you’ve only recently married into the family and don’t yet have anyone familiar to rely on, stay by the Grand Empress Dowager’s side.”
Xi Cai raised her head slightly.
“Will all the officials’ wives be entering the palace as well?”
“Yes,” he replied. “But the wives of princes and nobles won’t be in the same place as the wives of government officials. The women of the Yang family will attend the inner court, while the officials’ wives will gather in the outer court. I’m afraid you won’t be able to see your mother.”
“That doesn’t matter. Staying with the Grand Empress Dowager will be just as good.”
Xi Cai then asked, “What about you? Will you be attending the inner court? I’m a newlywed bride, and I’ll be surrounded by my husband’s relatives. I’m a little nervous.”
“There will be plenty to take care of during the outer court’s celebrations. Several of my elder brothers who were assigned to posts outside the capital will also return for the occasion. This year’s birthday celebration is especially important because the Emperor will be undergoing his coming-of-age ceremony. The rituals will be complicated, and I won’t have much time to spare. I’m afraid I won’t be able to look after you.”
He smiled faintly. His dark eyes reflected her small figure as he leisurely stroked her face.
“I told you before. As long as you remain the wife of the Marquis of Yanling, you have nothing to fear.”