Xi Cai turned her head in surprise. Even in the dim light, her astonishment was unmistakable.
Was he a ghost? How could he even know about this? Did the Xi residence really have spies planted inside?
Since the subject had already been brought up, she naturally had to defend herself.
“We have been close since childhood. If we happen to meet in the corridor, how could we possibly refuse to speak to each other?”
He let out a cold laugh, looking as though he had caught her red-handed.
“So you did speak privately after all. It seems my guess was correct.”
Xi Cai was speechless.
So he had been trying to trick her into revealing the truth! And because she had answered honestly, she had fallen right into his trap.
“Xie Qiao is the son of my biological aunt. We have always been as close as brother and sister. Just because I am married now doesn’t mean we have to pretend we don’t know each other when we meet.”
She turned back toward him.
“My lord, we must be reasonable about this. You have sisters too, yet I have never asked you to stop speaking to them.”
His voice was as flat and lifeless as a still pond.
“If you don’t want me to speak to them, I can stop. Have you ever heard the saying that cousins are distant relatives? Cousins do not share the same paternal clan. Plenty of people marry their cousins. Surely you know that?”
Xi Cai was left speechless. After struggling for a long time, she finally managed to reply.
“My family is different from other families. If there had been any such intention, Xie Qiao’s wife wouldn’t have been dead for four or five years already. There are plenty of marriages that simply cannot happen, no matter what.”
“Noble young ladies from powerful families would never agree to become a second wife,” he said quietly. “But a woman who has already been married is different.”
His words made Xi Cai uneasy.
He seemed capable of seeing straight through people’s hearts. Even the little thought she had secretly entertained had been guessed by him.
However, she would rather die than admit to anything of the sort.
Resting against her pillow, she said, “I already have a husband. What does any other marriage have to do with me? If I happen to run into my cousin, it is only natural to exchange a few words out of courtesy. Otherwise, people might think I’m arrogant and have forgotten my relatives simply because I’ve married into another family. But if you dislike it, I won’t seek him out for conversation anymore.”
After a pause, she leaned closer and asked, “You’ve been making these sarcastic remarks all evening. Is it because I saw Xie Qiao today?”
He glanced sideways at her.
“I am merely reminding my wife not to give people unnecessary reasons to gossip.”
“What could anyone possibly gossip about at my parents’ home?” she asked with a smile. “My lord, you are being excessively cautious. In fact, you’re being a little petty.”
His response struck directly at the heart of the matter.
“I am chronically ill. If you care about my dignity, you should take my advice.”
What else could she say?
He had just placed a huge moral burden on her. All she could do was accept it obediently.
Xi Cai resigned herself to her fate and nodded repeatedly.
“Of course, of course. I’ll keep my distance from Xie Qiao.”
Compared with whether she could see Xie Qiao again, getting a peaceful night’s sleep was far more important to her at the moment.
She therefore asked him in a pleasant voice, “My lord, don’t you think something feels wrong about this pillow?”
He was clearly doing it on purpose. Keeping his eyes closed, he replied, “No.”
Xi Cai grew anxious.
“How can you say that? It smells different. Didn’t you notice? You’ve taken my pillow. Shall we switch back?”
He continued ignoring her, frowning as he turned his face away.
Xi Cai refused to give up. She desperately wanted her own pillow back, so she began whispering persistently beside his ear.
“My lord… My lord… Let’s switch back. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep.”
Her constant nagging finally irritated him.
“I don’t dislike you, but you seem to dislike me. It’s only a pillow, yet you refuse to let the matter go. How can I expect you to stay by my side until we grow old together?”
Xi Cai quickly denied it, speaking hesitantly.
“That’s not true. Sometimes I move around in my sleep, and I even drool. I drooled last night, actually… If you truly don’t mind, then you can keep using my pillow. I’m perfectly happy with that.”
Yang Xun suddenly went completely still.
He turned his neck and stared at her for a long time. In the end, he silently sat up and gestured for her to move to the inner side of the bed.
Xi Cai immediately rolled over and settled herself on her own pillow.
She even took the opportunity to make another sarcastic remark.
“So much for not disliking me! You only had to hear a little trick, and your true feelings came out immediately.”
Yang Xun ignored her and turned his back to her.
She gave a dissatisfied snort, seized the quilt, and wrapped herself tightly in it.
Since they were newlyweds, it was considered improper for them to sleep under separate quilts. But when she pulled the bedding toward herself, most of his body was left exposed. He could only silently pull some of it back and cover himself as best he could.
Xi Cai was still intent on getting her revenge.
Like a little worm, she wriggled twice more toward the inner edge of the bed, taking the quilt completely away from him.
Yang Xun suppressed his irritation and called her twice.
“Madam.”
She pretended not to hear him.
In the end, he was forced to use brute strength and squeeze himself beneath the quilt.
“It seems you enjoy this sort of entanglement,” he whispered beside her ear. “I am merely trying to recover my health, but if my wife wants to consummate our marriage tonight, I can take the risk.”
His words were certainly intimidating.
Xi Cai immediately surrendered. She carefully spread the quilt back over them and spoke obediently.
“I was being unreasonable. My lord, please go to sleep. Make sure you cover yourself properly. You absolutely mustn’t catch a chill.”
They lay flat on their backs, staring at the ceiling without speaking.
During the night, however, she heard him coughing. Half asleep and barely conscious, she found his chest and patted and rubbed it several times.
That was enough to fulfill her duty as a virtuous wife.
The next morning, when she opened her eyes, she saw him slowly sitting up. His crossed collar had come undone, leaving part of his chest exposed, and his clothes were in disarray.
To be honest, Xi Cai was somewhat afraid of him. Part of it was because he was older than her, and part of it was because of his extraordinary military achievements.
Now, with his hair loose and his collar hanging open to reveal his collarbones, he looked almost like a divine being whose dignity had been profaned.
Xi Cai quietly pulled the quilt over her head.
She knew she was responsible for what had happened. Not only had she pulled open his collar, but she seemed to have slipped her hand inside as well.
Of course, she hadn’t entertained any improper thoughts. She had merely been trying to ease his breathing. But since she had been half asleep and unable to open her eyes properly, her hands had acted on their own, without consulting her brain.
When she heard him cough twice, she remained completely motionless, hoping he would get out of bed first.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly pulled the quilt away from her head.
In a calm voice, he said, “I can’t lift my arms properly. My wife, please help me fasten my collar.”
She had no choice but to sit up. Carefully, she tied the silk ribbons and straightened his crossed collar.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
His eyes were closed, and his expression was solemn, like a bodhisattva sitting inside a temple.
She had thought that if she remained silent, she might escape embarrassment. Unfortunately, she could not avoid what came next.
He calmly said something that made her want to disappear.
“I was coughing during the night and disturbed your sleep. You became so frightened that you used both your hands and feet to rub me all over. You’ve practically felt every part of my chest.”
Xi Cai stared at him in disbelief.
She tried hard to recall what had happened, then hesitantly muttered, “I don’t think so… I was only trying to help you breathe more easily. I wasn’t touching you improperly.”
He was surprisingly magnanimous about it. As he straightened his sleeves, he said, “It’s nothing. We are husband and wife, the closest of relations. If you want to touch me, then touch me.”
Wait, that wasn’t right!
That was not how the situation should be described.
By being so generous about it, he had practically confirmed the suspicion that she had been groping him in her sleep.
She was not that kind of person!
If she wanted to touch him, she would do so openly while he was awake. What was the point of randomly pawing at him in the dark?
However, he had already decided not to pursue the matter. If she continued arguing, who would she be arguing with? There was no one else in their bedchamber to hear her explanation.
Xi Cai lowered her head dejectedly.
“How about this? Tonight, we’ll sleep in separate beds, with only a curtain between us. If you need me, my lord, I’ll hear you immediately.”
Unfortunately, he rejected the suggestion without hesitation.
“We are newlyweds. Sleeping separately would bring bad luck.”
Xi Cai stared at him blankly.
Nothing was allowed! Nothing at all!
What annoyed her most was that she could not remember what had happened.
The last time she had touched him, she had only checked how much flesh there was on his back. She had never dared to touch his chest.
Now that she had finally done so, she had no memory of it whatsoever.
What a waste! What a terrible waste!
She dejectedly shuffled to the edge of the bed and rubbed her eyes. Just as she was about to put on her shoes, he suddenly wrapped an arm firmly around her shoulders.
Turning his head, he whispered close to her ear, “Everyone says the young lady of the Xi family is dignified, gentle, and always proper in her conduct. But who would have guessed that behind closed doors, my wife is so passionate?”
She was just about to defend herself when he gathered his robe around himself and strode out of the room.
Xi Cai angrily punched the edge of the bed.
He had thoroughly ruined her reputation!
Forget it. She had no time to remain angry. She still had to dress up and enter the palace to thank the Grand Empress Dowager.
She changed into a jacket with a crossed collar, arranged her hair into a graceful serpent-shaped bun, and adorned it with a long golden hair ornament that dangled all the way to her shoulders. Every step she took was elegant and charming.
After breakfast, just before they were about to leave, Yu Wu brought her a long silk scarf decorated with paired birds and linked pearls.
Xi Cai had only just draped it over herself when a sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, lifting the embroidered ribbons hanging from her clothes. They fluttered in the breeze, making her look almost as if she might rise into the sky.
This time, Yang Xun’s gaze lingered on her just a fraction longer than usual.
Xi Cai assumed he must have been captivated by her beauty. Men were shallow creatures, after all. They could hardly resist a woman’s irresistible charm.
However, once they were seated inside the carriage, she realized she had misunderstood.
Every so often, Yang Xun would briefly take her hand.
At first, she thought his desire for physical closeness had returned. But when he did it repeatedly, she began to find it strange.
When she looked at him in confusion, he explained bluntly, “The weather is cold. Why are you wearing so little? If you catch a chill, I’ll have to make them prepare two batches of medicine on the stove.”
Xi Cai secretly ground her teeth.
Do you think everyone is as sickly as you? You’re wearing a cloak even in the middle of summer!
Still, she was naturally talented at acting coquettishly. Taking advantage of his words, she clasped his hand.
“If I get cold, my lord, you can warm my hands for me.”
He looked at her without agreeing or refusing. In the end, he silently turned his gaze away.
After their silent battle of wills, they finally arrived in the inner city.
Yang Xun had been summoned to meet the emperor, while Xi Cai went directly to Jinyong City to visit the Grand Empress Dowager.
When the Grand Empress Dowager saw her, she naturally asked after her health and offered words of comfort.
“You have suffered so much. Someone as delicate and precious as you should never have been imprisoned in such a place for several days. I was extremely worried. Several times, I considered issuing an order for your release. After all, you are already married and should no longer be bound to your birth family in the same way. But after discussing the matter with my attendants, I became concerned that this incident involved too many people and too many interests. It would have been unwise to interfere recklessly.”
Xi Cai had always been calm and composed in her dealings with others. She gently reassured the Grand Empress Dowager.
“This matter was indeed serious. Anyone connected to it had to be brought in for questioning. Although I am the marquis’s wife, I am also my father’s daughter. I would rather prove my innocence and face the world with a clear conscience than carry a stain on my reputation and bring trouble to my husband. It was only my imprisonment that caused you so much worry, and for that, I feel truly guilty.”
The two women were exchanging polite words of concern and sympathy when Yang Su suddenly interrupted them.
“Mother, don’t feel so sorry for her. You have no idea how much her reputation has improved! Everyone says she is a heroine among women, a model of filial devotion who stood by her parents through life and death. She spent only five days in the Sili Prison and came out with an even better reputation. No matter how you look at it, she hasn’t lost anything. She also knows that Ninth Brother cares about his dignity. He would never let his own wife die in prison, so she had nothing to fear. She only needed to wait for Ninth Brother to rescue her.”
Yang Su’s hostility toward Xi Cai had never diminished.
The last time, she had thought the Xi family was finished and that Ninth Brother’s marriage would soon come to an end. Yet Xi Cai had somehow managed to survive and return to her place beside him.
The more Yang Su thought about it, the angrier she became. Whatever she had discussed with Xi Cai before no longer mattered. Her wishes had not come true, and the daughter of the Xi family remained an eyesore and a thorn in her side.
Unlike Yang Su, who cared only about her personal feelings, the Grand Empress Dowager always considered the bigger picture.
Xi Jiyuan was a staunch supporter of the emperor and one of the central figures among the loyalist faction. By marrying Xi Cai, Xi Jiyuan’s daughter, to Yang Xun, the court had effectively placed an irreplaceable informant beside Yang Xun. The arrangement carried enormous significance.
As for the foolish Yang Su, she had no understanding of the situation. All she cared about was her little romance. She never considered the possibility of usurpation, a change of dynasty, or the collapse of the existing political order.
She spent all her time thinking about how to compete with others and assert herself. The truth was that the person she was fighting over had barely even noticed her, yet she had already allowed her feelings to cloud her judgment.
Xi Cai glanced awkwardly at the Grand Empress Dowager but said nothing.
The Grand Empress Dowager’s expression darkened. She turned to Yang Su and scolded her.
“You have gone too far! This is your elder brother’s wife. Not a single word that comes out of your mouth shows her any respect. I overlooked your behavior the first two times, but you have repeatedly ignored proper etiquette. Do you want me to punish you?”
To Yang Su, the Grand Empress Dowager was like a loving mother. She usually treated her with affection and a constant smile. Seeing her suddenly turn stern frightened Yang Su considerably.
Xi Cai hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“Mother, the princess and I are like sisters. We are simply speaking casually among family. There is no need to be so particular about every word.”
The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at Yang Su, the anger still visible in her eyes. She clearly no longer wanted the princess to remain there.
She dismissed her with an order.
“The palace kitchen has just prepared a fresh batch of steamed pastries. Go and supervise the palace servants. Make sure they pack one box of each kind for your sister-in-law to take home.”
Yang Su reluctantly agreed. Her face was full of resentment, and even her footsteps seemed to rebel as she walked away.
After she left, the Grand Empress Dowager sighed and spoke honestly to Xi Cai.
“That child has suffered greatly. Her parents died during the war, and the late Emperor Taizu brought her back wrapped in his own cloak. Over the years, I have been afraid that she might suffer again, so I spoiled her too much. As a result, she has grown up without proper manners. How could I not know about her feelings for Ninth Brother? I simply refused to expose them. Now, I must ask you to be patient with her.”
After hearing this, Xi Cai actually felt relieved.
This was an excellent opportunity. The Grand Empress Dowager knew that Yang Su had feelings for Yang Xun. That meant Yang Xun’s plan to marry her off to Xie Qiao was now obvious.
“Actually, I understand,” Xi Cai said carefully. “Every time the princess sees me, she acts as though she wants to fight me. She is still young and cannot hide her feelings. I certainly cannot hold that against her.”
She paused before continuing.
“Mother, I visited my parents yesterday and happened to see my cousin from my aunt’s family. My cousin, Xie Qiao, was previously the Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Because His Majesty values his abilities, he has now been transferred to the Ministry of Personnel as a Shangshu Lang. After I returned to the marquis’s estate yesterday, my husband mentioned my cousin’s marriage. From what he said, it seemed that he intended to arrange a match between the princess and my cousin…”
She raised her eyes to look at the Grand Empress Dowager.
The Grand Empress Dowager was extremely perceptive and immediately understood what she meant.
Xi Cai smiled again.
“The princess has a mind of her own, so I am worried that arranging this marriage might hurt her feelings. After all, her marriage should be decided by you, Mother. If my husband brings this matter up with you, I hope you will have time to consider it carefully.”
The Grand Empress Dowager made up her mind immediately.
“Her judgment is not yet mature. I will keep her by my side for another two years. If she never matures, then I will keep her by my side for the rest of her life.”
This was the decisiveness of someone who held the highest authority.
Perhaps depriving a young woman of the chance to find happiness was cruel. But if she could so easily be manipulated by someone else, keeping her nearby and under supervision was the safer choice.
This decision would not only protect Xie Qiao. It would also prevent the Ministry of Personnel from falling into Yang Xun’s hands.
At last, Xi Cai could relax. With the Grand Empress Dowager supporting her, the marriage would probably never take place.
Xi Cai remained in Cihe Palace for a while longer, waiting for the pastries from the palace kitchen. However, she waited a long time without seeing Yang Su return.
The Grand Empress Dowager instructed the chief palace attendant, “Send someone to see whether the pastries are ready.”
Xi Cai stood up.
“Let me go as well. If the princess is still upset, perhaps I can help calm her down.”
The Grand Empress Dowager agreed and assigned a palace attendant to guide her.
The kitchen of Cihe Palace was some distance from the main hall. Jinyong City was enormous, with towering palace buildings and numerous covered walkways. Sometimes, walking along the ground required several turns, while taking the elevated corridors could save a great deal of time.
The attendant led Xi Cai up a flight of steps. A vermilion-painted covered bridge stretched across the air, offering a clear view of the palace courtyards and government offices below.
After walking for a while, the attendant pointed ahead.
“Madam, it is not far from here.”
Xi Cai nodded and continued forward slowly with Gong Xi.
They had barely taken a few steps when Gong Xi suddenly tugged urgently at her sleeve.
Xi Cai turned to look at her. Gong Xi motioned with her lips toward the area below.
Following her gaze, Xi Cai discovered two people standing in the alley beneath the elevated walkway.
It was Yang Xun and Yang Su.
Xi Cai immediately stopped. After sending the palace attendant away, she hurriedly hid behind a pillar and stood on tiptoe to peer down at them.
Unfortunately, the covered walkway was too high. She could see them but could not hear what they were saying.
Although she could not make out their conversation, their expressions and gestures revealed quite a lot.
Yang Xun had his head lowered as he spoke at length, apparently appealing to Yang Su’s feelings while reasoning with her.
At first, Yang Su looked furious and unwilling to listen. Gradually, however, her anger gave way to obedience. She even wiped away her tears with trembling shoulders.
Xi Cai had a bad feeling about this.
The sickly man’s silver tongue had apparently persuaded his foolish younger sister. Faced with the choice between cutting ties with him forever and helping him, Yang Su had chosen the latter.
Never underestimate the damage a foolish person can cause. Once someone like her decided to act without considering the consequences, even the Grand Empress Dowager might not be able to stop her.
Young women of that age could easily be persuaded by the person they loved. If Yang Xun casually told her, There will always be a place for you in my heart, she might be willing to charge straight into danger for him.
It would also be easy to force everyone to accept the marriage. She would only have to enter Xie Qiao’s official residence and stay there for the time it took an incense stick to burn. After that, the marriage might become unavoidable, whether anyone approved of it or not.
Seeing Yang Su nod, Gong Xi anxiously tugged at Xi Cai.
“This is bad… This is going to be bad!”
Xi Cai’s mind worked rapidly.
Sometimes, one had to be willing to sacrifice something small to achieve a greater goal. Within a moment, she had already come up with a plan.
There was no need to panic yet.
She led Gong Xi back the way they had come and waited behind Cihe Palace.
After a while, Yang Su appeared with two palace attendants. When she reached Xi Cai, she impatiently pointed at the boxes they were carrying.
“The pastries Mother asked me to prepare are ready.”
Xi Cai looked at the two food boxes and smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescents. However, she did not ask Gong Xi to take them. Instead, she folded her hands into her sleeves and said, “Please have them sent to my carriage.”
Yang Su glared at her angrily.
“Don’t push your luck!”
Xi Cai smiled.
“Princess, I’ve been waiting for you to call me ‘sister-in-law.’ I’ve even prepared a red envelope for you. Why haven’t you called me that yet?”
Yang Su was furious.
She snatched the food boxes from the palace attendants and thrust them into Xi Cai and Gong Xi’s arms.
“I’m very busy. I don’t have time to wait on you!”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Unlike the elevated walkways, the ground-level paths were full of palace maids and eunuchs. Many people had witnessed the princess’s rude behavior.
Xi Cai did not take offense. She and Gong Xi each carried a food box and leisurely made their way toward Duan Gate.
Inside the black-wheeled carriage, Yang Xun was already seated.
Seeing Xi Cai carrying the food boxes, he asked in confusion, “Didn’t any palace attendants escort you?”
Xi Cai answered, “No.”
She stepped forward, took Gong Xi’s box, and placed both boxes neatly beside her.
“The princess said I was pushing my luck, so she refused to have anyone carry them to the carriage for me. But it’s fine. They aren’t heavy, and we managed to bring them back ourselves.”
She smiled happily and continued, “You have no idea how delicious the pastries from the small kitchen in the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace are! I didn’t dare eat too many while I was in Cihe Palace. The Grand Empress Dowager said she would give me two boxes to take home, and I was absolutely delighted.”
Perhaps he found it difficult to understand how something so trivial could make her so happy. He looked at her strangely.
Xi Cai paid no attention to his expression and casually asked, “Now that Prince Cao’s guilt has been established, how does His Majesty intend to punish him?”
Yang Xun’s brows drew together slightly. He fell silent for a moment before answering.
“Pepper torture.”
Pepper torture involved grinding dried Sichuan peppercorns into powder and forcibly stuffing it into the victim’s mouth and nostrils until the person suffocated to death.
It was a cruel form of punishment from a previous dynasty that had disappeared decades ago. Xi Cai had never expected to see it return.
Her scalp prickled at the thought. After a long silence, she finally asked, “Was that your idea, my lord, or did His Majesty issue the order?”