“What are you doing…”
Zhao E’s voice was soft and languid with drunkenness. Her hand instinctively pressed against his chest as she struggled, her toes barely touching the ground.
Zhou Yu held her waist with one hand and gripped the back of her neck with the other, pressing her against the rockery as he lowered his head to kiss her.
His movements were fierce, as if carrying a hint of punishment.
Zhao E could barely breathe and lightly pounded his chest.
Only then did Zhou Yu relent.
As she caught her breath, Zhou Yu asked in a hoarse voice, “Do you know Meng Ziqi?”
Even as he spoke, his lips remained pressed against hers, the scent of fruit wine mingling between their breaths.
“I don’t know him.” Zhao E gave him a peck and laughed softly with her forehead against his chin. “He said he wanted to make amends to me.”
In the faint light filtering through the rockery, Zhou Yu held her tighter and murmured by her ear, “Don’t pay him any more attention.”
“Zhou Yu, you’re drunk.” Zhao E gave him a gentle shove.
Zhou Yu said nothing, only pulling her closer.
“Don’t worry. I’m a woman of my word.” Zhao E patted his shoulder and chuckled lightly. “Before the deal is done, I’ll stay in my place.”
She could probably guess that Zhou Yu’s behavior was driven by a man’s possessiveness.
Why would she be so foolish? Zhou Yu was her pillar of support; she wouldn’t weave a cocoon around herself.
Zhou Yu still said nothing, only loosening his grip.
Zhao E straightened her dress and walked out.
Zhou Yu followed a few steps, watching her fade into the distance amid the hazy moonlight and the scattered glow of lanterns.
In the dead of night, the sound of hooves rang out especially loud before the Fuguo Duke’s Residence.
The gatekeeper jolted awake and hurried over: “Is it Da Shao Furen returning?”
“What is it?” Zhao E’s voice carried a hint of lazy indifference.
“Da Furen has instructed that Da Shao Furen should come to the main hall immediately upon return—there is an important matter to discuss.” The servant relayed the message from a distance.
At the carriage window, a fair hand lifted the red gauze curtain, and Zhao E’s stunning face appeared.
“Come here.” She beckoned to the servant.
Flattered and excited, the servant stumbled halfway over: “Da Shao Furen.”
Zhao E extended her hand: “Here.”
The servant hurriedly reached out, and a small handful of gold melon seeds fell into his palm.
“Thank you, Da Shao Furen! Thank you, Da Shao Furen!” The servant was beside himself with excitement, thanking her repeatedly.
Everyone said the newly arrived Da Shao Furen was wealthy beyond measure and generous with her spending—today he’d finally gotten a taste of it.
“Is there nothing else you want to tell me?” Zhao E leaned against the window, looking at him.
“There is, there is.” The servant nodded eagerly, glancing left and right before lowering his voice: “Da Shaoye went to a banquet today, but for some reason returned early and shut himself in the study, smashing everything inside to pieces.
Just now, Da Furen came home and went to knock on his door, but no matter what, he wouldn’t open it.
I reckon Da Furen is summoning Da Shao Furen because of this matter.”
“Let’s go.” Zhao E let the gauze curtain fall and gave the order.
The carriage drove through the main gate.
The servant stood in place, biting each gold melon seed one by one between his teeth, his heart practically blooming with joy.
Da Shao Furen was so generous—this was a source of income. From now on, he’d keep a close eye on the household’s goings-on so he could be the first to send word to her.
“Miss, shall we go to the main hall?” Xiyu asked in a low voice.
“No, back to the courtyard.” Zhao E replied indifferently. “Ling Feng, keep watch at the door for me.”
She was tired and only wanted to return to the courtyard to rest.
As for Jiang Wang-shi’s summons, she’d deal with it tomorrow.
After returning to the courtyard and bathing, she drank a calming herbal decoction and lay down with her soft quilt.
It wasn’t until dawn, amid the chirping of birds, that she opened her eyes. “Someone.”
“Young miss is awake?”
Xiyu and Xishi led several attendants in to serve her.
Zhao E sat up and looked at Ling Feng. “Did Jiang Wang-shi not come looking for me last night?”
“She did not.” Ling Feng shook her head.
“Perhaps she knew Ling Feng was on guard—even if she came, she couldn’t have gotten through the door.” Xishi, lively by nature, was quick to speak.
Zhao E smiled at Ling Feng. “Reward her with a small gold ingot.”
One should not be stingy with those who prove useful.
“Ling Feng, hurry and thank the young miss.” Seeing Ling Feng silent, Xishi kindly prompted her.
A small gold ingot was worth one tael of gold, equivalent to ten taels of silver—enough to feed an ordinary family for months.
“Young miss need not reward me. I signed a Siche contract; I am your personal property, and I have no use for gold or silver.” Ling Feng bowed. “Besides, protecting you is my duty.”
“My personal property?” Zhao E was somewhat surprised.
“Yes, you are the master named on my deed.” Ling Feng nodded.
Zhao E mused for a moment. “Since you are mine, then from now on, you need not be so formal before me. Treat me as Xishi and the others do.”
A female guard with Ling Feng’s agility was no common find—Zhou Yu had been generous to send her outright.
Ling Feng looked young, yet she always carried herself with a composed, solemn air. It must be exhausting.
“Yes.” At that, Ling Feng raised her eyes to her and couldn’t help but smile.
The maids brought up breakfast.
“Jinqianchu?” Zhao E set down her porridge bowl and, spotting a fish on the plate, asked, “Where did this come from?”
The Jinqianchu was a deep-sea fish, difficult to catch. It resembled a yellow croaker in appearance, but its swim bladder was uniquely shaped—golden in color, like a cylinder.
That swim bladder was extremely nourishing, earning it the nickname “better than ginseng,” and thus it was quite costly.
“It was delivered by Xiao Wangye’s subordinate before dawn.” Xishi replied with a smile.
The young miss favored fresh seafood, and Xiao Wangye still remembered her tastes.
“Young miss.” Xiyu entered from outside. “Jiang Wang-shi has sent someone—she asks that you come quickly.
I made a few inquiries; it seems Jiang Huaifu was causing a scene again this morning.”
Zhao E said nothing, taking her time with breakfast.
The Jinqianchu was a rare delicacy—she would not waste it.
By the time she left Zhaoyang Yuan, half an hour had already passed.
Jiang Huaifu’s study was in Cuizhu Ju, where he had taken up residence since their marriage.
Jiang Wang-shi waited anxiously beneath the eaves. Though it was deep autumn and the weather had turned cold, her robes were nearly soaked through with sweat.
“Mother-in-law.”
Zhao E arrived at a leisurely pace, clutching her round silk fan.
“So you finally deign to show up!”
With her only son at stake, Jiang Wang-shi could not contain her fury. She raised her hand to strike.
“Da Furen, please calm yourself.”
Ling Feng raised her hand and easily caught her arm.
“Last night I summoned you and you didn’t come; today I invite you, and you drag your feet until now!” Jiang Wang-shi pointed at Zhao E. “Do you have any regard for me at all?”
“Mother-in-law.” Zhao E lifted her fan and pushed her hand away. “I am not here to be scolded. If you have something to say, say it. If not, I’ll be on my way.”
Jiang Wang-shi’s chest heaved with rage. “I want Huaifu to divorce you.”
“Nothing would please me more.” Zhao E smiled, her small face unafraid.
The Fuguo Gong had embezzled disaster relief funds and was waiting to use her dowry to fill the hole—how could he ever let her go?
But she—her great vengeance had not yet been fulfilled, so how could she leave?
“Yesterday, why did you have to spread the matter of the diviner’s illness at the banquet?” Jiang Wang-shi held back her anger and spoke.
“I spread it?” Zhao E’s delicate little face was full of innocence. “Mother-in-law, you wrong me with those words.”
“If not you, then who else could it be!” Jiang Wang-shi forced herself not to raise her voice.
“Didn’t you also attend the banquet, Mother-in-law? How could you not know?” Zhao E’s long raven-black lashes fluttered twice. “It was Aunt and a few of the ladies who mentioned it while chatting.”