All right, that could at least be considered a form of protection. Although Yang Xun’s words sounded arrogant and conceited, she had to believe in his ability to control the situation. After all, even the most ruthless people feared someone who was not afraid to die. The Marquis of Yanling held military power in his hands and had refused to surrender it even now. Plenty of people disliked him, yet none of them could get rid of him. He certainly had the power to act so recklessly.
For the time being, she would accept his protection.
Come to think of it, Yang Xun seemed to enjoy this kind of intimate contact. Since she had married him, pinching her cheeks, touching her back, and even leaving a mark on her neck were apparently things he had every right to do.
Xi Cai was not particularly fond of such behavior. She felt uncomfortable with it, but she could not refuse him either. All she could do was grit her teeth and endure it until she fell asleep. Once she was asleep, at least she would no longer feel anything.
Unexpectedly, tonight he seemed determined to tease her.
Lowering his head, he studied her face. His voice carried a lazy, almost languid tone.
“We’ve been married for half a month, yet we still haven’t consummated our marriage. Do you blame me for that?”
Xi Cai shook her head. “Of course not. Our souls are in perfect harmony, my lord. How could I be so shallow as to crave nothing but physical pleasure?”
Her heart was actually pounding with anxiety, but her expression remained as solemn as a devout pilgrim’s.
“Besides, haven’t you noticed that you’ve been coughing less since our wedding? That’s a good sign that your condition is improving. We must persevere at a time like this.”
“Persevere?”
His gaze lingered on her face, reluctant to move away. Finally, he let out a melancholy sigh.
“With such a beauty beside me, yet I’m powerless to do anything. How could you possibly understand the humiliation I feel, Madam?”
Men and women really were different.
Even if a man was wary of a woman and had no affection for her whatsoever, he could still say sweet, nauseating things to her without hesitation. He could even accept physical intimacy without feeling the slightest resistance.
Women were different. If a woman disliked someone, her entire body would instinctively reject his closeness. If Yang Xun tried to take things any further, Xi Cai feared she might not be able to stop herself from pulling out the small dagger she kept among her cosmetics.
Fortunately, he knew when to stop. He was merely teasing her and did not necessarily intend to act on his words.
Tonight was different from the previous nights. The weather had suddenly turned cool with the arrival of autumn, and their bodies no longer felt uncomfortably hot when pressed together.
The bed was also much smaller than she would have liked, making it difficult to keep any distance between them. Before long, they fell asleep leaning against each other.
When Xi Cai woke up, she discovered that her head was still resting on his arm.
As expected, the man who had fought countless battles with swords and spears had finally been defeated by a moment of carelessness on her part.
The next morning, Yang Xun discovered that he could no longer lift one of his arms.
Xi Cai hurriedly patted and massaged it, looking apologetic.
“You’ve suffered because of me, my lord. I never imagined my head was so heavy that I could actually paralyze your arm.”
He used his other hand to rub his shoulder. Instead of getting angry or showing impatience, he laughed at his own misfortune.
“Now I finally understand why my deputy general could no longer lift his sword with his left hand after getting married.”
This little inconvenience caused by marriage was not enough to ruin his mood. After getting out of bed, he went through his usual routine of washing up and taking his medicine.
As usual, Lü Hua brought the medicine. Knowing that the principal wife had intended to promote her to concubine, she felt somewhat awkward in front of the Marquis.
After Yang Xun finished the medicine, he returned the celadon bowl to the tray. Before Lü Hua could leave, he instructed her, “Wait outside for now. Madam will have something to tell you later.”
Lü Hua’s face immediately turned red. She bowed and answered that she understood before retreating to the corridor.
Xi Cai was still standing there in a daze.
She had originally planned to let the matter quietly pass without mentioning it again. Who would have thought that Yang Xun had taken it to heart and was determined to make her settle everything once and for all?
There was nothing she could do.
After Yang Xun left, Xi Cai summoned Lü Hua.
Looking at the young woman, who was both nervous and full of anticipation, Xi Cai did not know how to begin. After considering her words for a long time, she finally decided to get straight to the point.
“Last night, I spoke to the Marquis about you. He believes his health is too poor and that he shouldn’t drag you down with him, so he rejected the idea immediately. Looking back, I regret bringing it up so carelessly. I should have kept things vague and allowed everything to continue as before. Unfortunately, I mentioned it outright, and now there’s an awkwardness between everyone involved. You can no longer continue serving the Marquis’s medicine.”
Earlier, when Lü Hua had been told to remain behind, she had assumed the arrangement was practically guaranteed. She had been so happy that she hardly knew what to do with herself.
Who could have imagined that the news she received in the end would be this?
Putting aside the question of promotion, did this mean she would even lose her current duties?
“Madam, I’ve always been responsible for preparing the Marquis’s medicine. I’ve never allowed anyone else to handle it. We can simply treat what happened as a joke. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Xi Cai sighed, looking troubled.
Matron Mi, who had been waiting nearby to report on household affairs, saw Lü Hua’s distress and tried to comfort her.
“It seems this was the Marquis’s decision. Madam can’t do anything about it either.”
“That’s right,” Xi Cai replied. “You all know the Marquis’s temper. Once he makes up his mind, there’s no room for discussion. I feel deeply sorry toward Lü Hua.”
She paused before continuing, “Since Matron is here, let me make another arrangement. The sewing department has always been managed by the household steward. From today onward, I’ll put Lü Hua in charge of those duties and increase her monthly allowance.”
Matron Mi bowed. “I’ll follow Madam’s instructions.”
After a moment, she asked, “Should we choose someone else to prepare the Marquis’s medicine? I can summon the servants who work in the tea department for Madam to select from.”
Xi Cai shook her head.
“There’s no need. The Marquis’s health is my highest priority. We don’t need to choose anyone else. From now on, I’ll personally oversee his medicine.”
What a remarkable turn of events!
At first, Xi Cai had been frustrated that her plan had failed once again. But who could have expected Yang Xun to insist on sending Lü Hua away altogether?
Wasn’t that exactly what she wanted?
Trying to harm someone indirectly was a waste of effort when she could simply take control of his medicine herself.
She didn’t need to poison him to death immediately. It was more like planting a flower: bury the seeds in the soil, water them every day, and before long, the flowers would bloom.
Seeing that the principal wife intended to oversee the medicine personally, Matron Mi ordered someone to bring the stove and charcoal into the main residence.
She also handed responsibility for the Marquis’s medication over to the maids serving in the main residence. After making the arrangements, she led Lü Hua out of the courtyard.
As they walked, Lü Hua wiped away her tears and complained bitterly to Matron Mi.
“I was doing perfectly well serving the Marquis before. Then Madam insisted on promoting me. Look what happened! I’ve been kicked out of the main residence and sent back to the rear courtyard. Everyone says Madam is a virtuous woman, but now I think she’s quite calculating.”
Matron Mi’s eyes widened in shock. She immediately lowered her voice and scolded, “Silence!”
Worried that someone might overhear them, she glanced around in every direction. Only after confirming that nobody was nearby did she continue.
“She is the principal wife who entered this household through a proper marriage. Why would she need to resort to tricks just to get you out of the way? You’re only a low-ranking maid. If she truly couldn’t tolerate you, she could easily find an excuse to sell you off or arrange a marriage for you. She wouldn’t need to involve the Marquis at all.
“In fact, I already knew about this matter several days ago. Madam asked me how old you were and inquired about your background. She was practically one step away from asking for your birth date and hour. That shows she genuinely intended to promote you.
“Unfortunately, the Marquis refused to agree. In the end, we still have to consider appearances. How could he take a concubine only half a month after getting married?
“I’m only telling you all this because I have a good relationship with your mother. From now on, keep your distance from the Marquis and put these thoughts out of your mind. Madam has assigned you to manage the sewing department. You finally have proper responsibilities of your own. Isn’t that better than becoming a concubine whose only purpose is to warm someone’s bed?”
After finishing her lecture, Matron Mi tucked her hands into her sleeves and gazed toward the distant horizon. Narrowing her eyes, she asked another question.
“In wealthy households, principal wives have traditionally been willing to let their husbands take concubines. Our new Madam is no exception. Do you know why?”
Lü Hua shook her head in confusion.
As expected, young women only knew how to seek a higher position in life. They rarely thought about things deeply.
“Think about it. The principal wives who marry into noble households usually come from distinguished families. They’re pampered and accustomed to being treated delicately. They may even need servants to support them when they walk a few steps.
“Something as difficult as bearing children is naturally not something they want to do themselves. So they take concubines. The children born to those concubines are registered under the principal wife’s name, and her position remains completely secure. She can enjoy good food and comfortable living without having to risk her life in childbirth. What’s not to like?”
Matron Mi decided to make the matter even clearer.
“A concubine is essentially there to bear children. You might think that as long as the Marquis favors you, you’ll be fine. But in truth, the quality of your life depends entirely on a single word from the principal wife.”
Lü Hua still looked dejected.
“So it really was because the Marquis refused, then?”
Matron Mi rolled her eyes at her.
“After everything I’ve told you, you’re still asking me that?”
She quickened her pace and left Lü Hua behind.
“I don’t know! Figure it out for yourself!”
Meanwhile, Xi Cai stood in front of the medicine packets and stove, already making plans in her mind.
She ordered the servants to set aside a room on the eastern side of the residence specifically for preparing medicine. Yang Xun’s medication was too important. Apart from herself and her personal maids, nobody else was allowed to interfere.
When she opened the medicine packet, she recognized several of the ingredients.
There was aconite in the prescription as well…
She smiled and carefully wrapped the medicine back up.
After the Emperor’s birthday celebration the following day, she planned to return to Yangshu Street to visit her parents.
In the meantime, she had plenty of work to do. She examined the accounts, inspected the storerooms, and reviewed the loan documents for the family businesses.
It was already evening by the time she finally remembered that she had once again spent the entire day without seeing Yang Xun.
Was it normal for someone who was frail and frequently ill to be so busy that he was hardly ever home?
She still remembered the first time she had seen him on their wedding night. His face had been so pale that her heart had nearly jumped out of her chest.
Back then, she had assumed he would be bedridden at home all day, barely clinging to life.
Yet even with his poor health, he never seemed to stop going out.
It seemed that once someone had enjoyed glory and power in their youth, they could never be content with an ordinary life.
Under the pretext of being concerned about his health, Xi Cai went to the front of the residence to inquire about his whereabouts.
Although the Marquis of Yanling had not been granted the title of king, the arrangements and grandeur of his household followed the standards reserved for a prince of the highest rank.
The long buildings facing north on either side of the main gate belonged to his private administration. Inside were various officials, including his chief secretary and military officers.
When they saw the Marchioness arrive, they all stood up and greeted her with respectful bows.
Of course, she could not get anything useful out of them.
She was the Marquis’s wife, but she was also the daughter of Xi Jiyuan. These officials were naturally on their guard around her.
They merely told her that the Marquis had important military affairs to attend to and would return shortly.
But she waited and waited until it was very late.
Sitting beside the table, Xi Cai began to think things through.
Remaining inside the residence and keeping watch over the household was not going to work. She needed to go outside, preferably accompanying Yang Xun wherever he went.
Under the excuse of taking care of him, she could learn whom he met every day and what he was doing.
When he finally returned home, Xi Cai immediately tried to negotiate with him.
“My lord, you’re always so busy that you barely come home. How can your health possibly withstand this? I’m worried sick about you. Next time you go out, I’d like to accompany you and take care of you personally.”
Yang Xun lowered himself into a horseshoe-back armchair, using the armrests for support. He raised a hand to press his temples and sighed.
“I really am a little tired. Once this busy period is over, I’ll rest properly at home. You don’t need to worry. I know my own body better than anyone.
“Whether it’s the government offices or the military camps, those places are terribly boring. If you had to wait there for several hours, you’d probably feel suffocated.”
Xi Cai did not insist. As usual, she attended to his medicine and handed him clean water to rinse his mouth afterward.
“I’ve assigned Lü Hua to the sewing department in the rear courtyard. I couldn’t very well leave her with nothing after everything that happened, so I’ve asked her to help manage the embroidery and sewing work. It’s a return to her old duties.”
She spoke in a casual tone before continuing, “As for the medicine, I think we can stop having the other servants handle it. All we need is a stove and someone to keep an eye on it. The maids in my own quarters are enough to help me.
“But tell me, my lord, are you comfortable with me handling your medicine? If you aren’t, we can select one of the older servants in the household to take charge instead.”
Her tone was calm, but she watched him from the corner of her eye, uncertain whether he would suddenly come up with another unexpected response.
This time, however, his answer was perfectly reasonable.
Looking down, he straightened his sleeves and said, “If I can’t trust the person who shares my bed, should I trust an outsider instead? Still, preparing medicine every day is a tedious task. I’m afraid you’ll exhaust yourself, and I don’t particularly want you to suffer.”
Xi Cai pressed her lips together and smiled.
“My lord, why are you still treating me like an outsider? I’m confined to the inner household all day. Having something to do will help me pass the time.”
Her determination was so firm that she barely cared what happened to the person on the receiving end.
Whether he noticed anything suspicious or not, their marriage had never been built on a stable foundation in the first place. She would simply deal with whatever happened as it came.
The night passed peacefully.
The next morning, Xi Cai got up early to check the fire beneath the medicine pot. Once the medicine had been boiled down, she poured it into a bowl and let it cool.
By the time she brought it to Yang Xun, the temperature was just right.
A silver needle rested against the rim of the bowl. When she took it out, it remained bright and white.
Yang Xun picked up the bowl and drank every last drop. Then he set it aside and casually reminded her to hurry up and get dressed, as they would be entering the palace together.
Xi Cai returned to her quarters to change clothes and arrange her hair.
Since this was a grand ceremonial occasion, she had to wear the formal robes of a nobleman’s wife.
She put on a crimson ceremonial robe called a quezhai. Two rows of jade pendants and other ornaments hung from her belt. On her head, she wore an elaborate headdress with a veil-like covering and seven golden and jade ornaments.
Every time she moved, the ornaments chimed softly against one another.
By the time she finished dressing and went out to meet Yang Xun, he had also changed into his official robes. With his broad ceremonial sash and imposing belt, he looked every bit the nobleman he was.
The two walked out of the main residence side by side. At first glance, they looked like a perfectly matched couple.
They settled into a black-wheeled carriage and traveled along Tongtuo Street. After the time it took to burn one stick of incense, they arrived at Changhe Gate.
By then, the carriages of princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials were already lined up outside the gate.
Xi Cai turned toward Yang Xun and whispered, “Why don’t we get out here? Everyone is watching. Driving straight through the palace gate would attract too much attention.”
Yang Xun did not agree.
He had always been so high-profile. Since the Emperor himself had granted him special permission, why should he hesitate?
“Sit properly,” he said. “It’s not time to get out yet.”
Xi Cai had no choice but to straighten her posture. She held down the curtain beside the window with one hand to prevent the wind from blowing it open and exposing her to the people outside.
Yang Xun let out a quiet laugh, as though mocking her excessive caution.
She frowned and muttered, “What’s so funny? I’m only worried that people will gossip about us behind our backs.”
“When have I ever escaped public criticism?” he replied unhurriedly. “If I lowered my head and kept my eyes down every day just to please everyone, they probably would have swallowed me alive long ago.”
Sunlight streamed through the window on his side, illuminating half his face.
Only then did Xi Cai notice how exceptionally handsome his bone structure was. His brow bones were prominent, forming a natural overhang above his eyes. The shadows beneath them made his gaze appear even deeper and more mysterious.
The palace walls were topped with crenellations, and the shifting sunlight was broken into alternating patches of light and shadow that moved across his face.
He kept his eyes lowered, and Xi Cai had no idea what he was thinking.
At last, they reached Duan Gate.
An attendant came forward to receive them, raising his arm to help them step down from the carriage.
Beyond Duan Gate lay the imperial palace of Luo.
This was where Yang Xun and Xi Cai would have to part ways. He instructed her to follow the attendants guiding her to the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace. He himself would go to Zhengyang Hall to join the officials who had gathered to attend the ceremony.
Xi Cai agreed.
She watched as he walked north along the central path toward the towering front hall. Then she turned around and followed the palace attendant into Cihe Palace to pay her respects to the Grand Empress Dowager.
By the time she arrived, quite a few noblewomen had already gathered in the Grand Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters. Xi Cai was among the later arrivals.
Looking around, she noticed a noblewoman standing in the center of the crowd. The woman wore a dark ceremonial robe and a headdress decorated with twelve ornaments. The jade-green feathers and luminous pearls adorning her from head to toe made it clear that she was the current Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager looked toward Xi Cai and smiled.
“So, this is the wife of the ninth son?”
Xi Cai hurried forward to pay her respects.
The Empress Dowager personally reached out to help her rise and said warmly, “There’s no need for such elaborate formalities. We’re family, after all.”
The meaning of family here went far beyond the relationship between sisters-in-law. Their connections within the imperial court were far more important.
Everyone in Luo knew that Censor-in-Chief Xi and the Marquis of Yanling were bitter enemies. Out of spite, the Marquis had forcibly married the unfortunate daughter of the Xi family.