In the latter half of the night, when it was time to administer the medicine, Jiang Yinyue did not do it personally. She simply stood there with her arms crossed, watching Wei Qin who “struggled” to sit up, her face sharp and shrewd, no longer fooled.
“Lord Wei, take it yourself.”
She left behind those uncompromising words, then hummed a little tune as she walked behind the screen to bathe on her own.
One screen blocked the spring scenery of misty lantern light and flower shadows.
The young lady with willow-leaf eyes and plum-blossom cheeks soaked in the bath barrel. She suddenly narrowed her eyes and peered through the semi-translucent screen at the shadow by the bed, confirming that he was obediently drinking the medicine. Her lips unconsciously curved up, revealing pearly white teeth like blooming magnolia.
It was a gentle, restrained smile, silent and wordless.
After her bath, the young woman tiptoed to the bedside and tucked in the blanket for the sleeping man.
The Old Physician’s decoction had a sedative effect, so she assumed he had truly fallen asleep.
Jiang Yinyue sat by the bed and murmured softly, “Don’t deceive me again.”
Even though she had let go of the past deception and exploitation by Wei Xichen, the scars remained in her heart, leaving no room for even the slightest deceit.
A few days later, the Duan Family was surrounded by soldiers so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through. Duan Feng, who claimed everyone in his household from top to bottom was innocent, feared the torture instruments and voluntarily confessed to several Duan Family uncles and brothers not on Wei Qin’s list.
How ironic.
The Crown Prince flipped through Duan Feng’s confession, his brows furrowed as he leaned back in the armchair and pinched the bridge of his nose.
From the Salt Transport Office and Salt Tax Department to the various salt fields, the thorough investigation of corrupt officials had already delayed their continued journey south.
The Eldest Princess, about to return, handed him a cup of fragrant tea and advised, “We shouldn’t delay any longer in Yangzhou. The southern inspection affairs can be handed to trusted ministers. Your Highness should hurry back to the capital to avoid missing the last sight of the Chief Minister…”
Wei Xichen had already learned from the family letter delivered by the messenger that his maternal grandfather was on the verge of death, but as the Imperial Censor on salt patrol, he could not abandon the emperor’s decree at hand.
“We’ll delay a bit longer.”
“And the matter of continuing the southern patrol?”
“Replace him with the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. Trouble Aunt to request it from Father Emperor on my behalf.”
The Eldest Princess nodded, her beautiful eyes glancing at the little tabby cat in her nephew’s arm, “The matter of the selection…”
“You made the trip in vain, Aunt.”
“Even knowing it’s missed, you’ll persist in this stubbornness?”
Her nephew’s lifelong obstinacy had coalesced into this bitter old affection. As someone who had been through it, the Eldest Princess empathized but lacked her nephew’s fixation.
For one, Jiang Song was the eldest son of a prestigious family, deeply favored by the emperor to balance court factions—he could not be forcibly taken. For another, looking back over the years, she realized she was not as devoted as she had imagined; neither old loves nor new ones could match even a fraction of that one person, though the novelty could still dilute the bitterness of unrequited longing.
“Your Highness has never indulged in romance and doesn’t understand its wonders. Why not let go once, experience it, and perhaps change your mind?”
Wei Xichen leaned his head back against the chair, his golden countenance and jade demeanor unable to mask the desolation in his heart. “Please return, Aunt.”
The Eldest Princess rose helplessly, her heart uneasy. What was nurtured in restraint might not be resilient character, but evil thoughts. Without the emperor’s constraints on every word and action of the Heir Apparent, without a formidable rival like the Third Prince, would the long-restrained Heir Apparent release those evil thoughts?
A reputation of noble repute could crumble before desire.
Evil thoughts and restraint coexisted, intertwined.
Half a month later, Fu Zhongcai, who had seen off the Eldest Princess at the ferry crossing, caught a whiff of rich wine aroma on his way back to the post station. He looked toward the white-haired old man passing by, his gaze shifting from the two wine gourds clinking together to the man’s silhouette.
The dim, overcast sky blurred his vision. Fu Zhongcai rubbed his eyelids and chuckled to himself.
He thought he had encountered a senior like .
The fierce winds before the downpour ravaged the grass and trees, kicking up yellow sand. After walking dozens of steps, the white-haired physician suddenly turned his head, his lips curling up slyly.
The Old Physician, carrying a jar of wine back to the Wei Residence, checked Wei Qin’s wounds and snorted, “Youth is wonderful; you’re recovering very quickly.”
The wounds had scabbed over, no longer needing bandages.
“With the summer storms approaching, this old man must go home to shelter my flowers and grasses.”
Jiang Yinyue handed over the consultation fee.
The Old Physician weighed it in his hand. “Extra gratuity?”
“Yes, to thank you for your benevolence and skill.”
“This old man loves hearing you talk, girl, but…” The Old Physician glanced at Wei Qin, who was lowering his head to tie his clothes, shook his head, and held back his words.
Other physicians came to earn silver; he had footed three hundred taels himself!
Wei Qin raised his eyes and blinked lazily.
The Old Physician insisted on departing in the storm, donning a rain cape and singing mountain songs as he went, utterly carefree.
Jiang Yinyue stood at the gate watching him leave and could not help but wonder what experiences had forged the old man’s temperament of adapting to circumstances without fear of wind or rain.
This elder must have weathered great storms to face them with such calm indifference.
Once the old man’s figure completely vanished, Jiang Yinyue turned around, and amid the torrential downpour came the neigh of a horse.
A purebred steed of a thousand li, vigorous and powerful, trod through the mud as if on flat ground.
Jiang Yinyue, who had fallen behind her mother-in-law and the others, stared dazedly at the man and horse emerging from the rain curtain, her almond eyes suddenly turning red.
Heroic and dashing, just like their first meeting.
“Sister Hong Mei.”
The tall woman in her twenties rode sidesaddle on the fine horse, followed by the sound of hooves.
Over a dozen female guards appeared in unison.
“We servants pay respects to the Eldest Young Miss!”
Before coming to Yangzhou, Jiang Yinyue had been a spoiled brat who was clothed and fed without lifting a finger, and these female guards were a “fortress” sent by Jiang Song to his daughter, meant to let her grow up slowly in a sturdy cradle.
They tended to Jiang Yinyue’s daily life with meticulous care, especially Hong Mei, who was almost inseparable from her young miss.
Before Jiang Yinyue could go forward, Hong Mei dismounted in large strides, wrapped her arms around her waist, lifted her with one arm, and weighed her in the crook of her elbow.
“You’ve gotten thinner.”
“No, I haven’t.”
Jiang Yinyue reacted and hugged Hong Mei’s neck tightly, intimate as sisters.
The pouring rain could not drown out the women’s laughter.
Held in Hong Mei’s arms, Jiang Yinyue found the long-lost familiarity and sense of security.
“Miss, the Young Master is returning to the capital.”
Jiang Yinyue’s eyes reddened further; her heart raced homeward.
Wei Qin stood under the eaves, watching Jiang Yinyue lead the female guards into the residence amid chatter and laughter, his narrow eyes slightly downcast.
For the entire day, Jiang Yinyue immersed herself in warm reunions with old acquaintances, without pretense. Her heart was open, her face relaxed, back to the girl untouched by heartbreak and worldly affairs.
Surrounded by the guards, the girl had no attention for anything else and did not return to the East Wing Room even by evening.
With the Old Physician gone, Du Juan meticulously cleaned the vacated West Wing Room for Hong Mei to stay in temporarily; the other guests were arranged by Jiang Yinyue at a nearby inn.
They had rushed day and night and deserved a good rest for a few nights.
At dead of night, Du Juan lingered outside the West Wing and knocked. “Second Young Madam, Second Young Master should take his medicine.”
Jiang Yinyue, who was cheek-to-cheek with Hong Mei, nodded with a smile. “Just bring it to him.”
Du Juan gripped the tray tightly and slunk off toward the East Wing Room.
The few steps felt endlessly slow.
Hong Mei glanced at the half-open window lattice and vaguely caught sight of a figure standing by the window opposite.
“The Young Master doesn’t seem to like this servant; perhaps I should stay at the inn with the sisters.”
“No, he has a cold face but a warm heart.”
Hong Mei raised her glistening red lips and stroked the woman leaning on her shoulder. “The Master hopes the Miss returns to the capital soon. Has Miss decided on the departure date?”
“You all need to rest first.”
“This servant fears delaying Miss from meeting the Young Master.”
Jiang Taolue, who had long guarded the border, was returning to the capital once to visit family and once to pay respects to the emperor; he might be sent on some imperial errand again and not stay long in the capital.
Jiang Yinyue had no objection but needed to consult her in-laws.
For tonight, though, she only wanted to bask in the reunion with Sister Hong Mei; other matters could wait a couple of days.
“Miss won’t return to her room tonight?”
“I’ll stay with Sister.”
Hong Mei ruffled her young miss’s soft long hair and smiled fondly. If not for the Master’s rotten idea to have Miss and the Young Master travel alone together as man and woman, she would not have been separated from Miss for so long.
The rain stopped, the moon emerged from the clouds, spilling clear light everywhere.
Jiang Yinyue, who hooked fingers with Hong Mei before sleeping, asked uncertainly, “When Brother returns to the capital, will Sister…”
“This servant will stay with Miss.”
“You could actually…”
“This servant only wants to accompany Miss.”
Jiang Yinyue had nothing to say; she had yet to sort out her feelings for Wei Qin—how could she persuade others?
“Miss and the Young Master?”
“They’re quite good.”
Hong Mei let Jiang Yinyue hook one hand while pillowing the other under her head, staring at the ceiling in deep thought. The Master’s first rotten idea had pulled her away from Miss’s side to give the son-in-law an opportunity; the second had her play the seductress to tempt Miss and stir the Young Master’s jealousy.
During this rest period, she was to fan the flames even more.
Old fox, old fox—did he have only her as a pawn in scheming his daughter’s marriage?
“Has Miss and the Young Master… consummated the marriage?”
Jiang Yinyue flushed and buried her head in the quilt, making Hong Mei’s mouth twitch.
Even the old fox miscalculated sometimes; prolonged time together had not bred affection.
The next morning, Jiang Yinyue let Hong Mei dress and adorn her, transforming back into the most dazzling and radiant proud daughter.
From her hair tips to her soles, everything was exquisite.
Unlike Wei Qin’s styling, Hong Mei preferred a lazy and glamorous look.
The young lady in fiery red makeup was radiantly alluring, drawing gasps of admiration from her two young sisters-in-law.
“Sister-in-law is so beautiful.”
Flattered profusely, Jiang Yinyue suppressed her delight, hiked up her skirt, and scurried to Wei Qin, tilting her little face up expectantly for praise.
Ignored all evening, Wei Qin gazed at his wife—so close, yet so distant.
His gaze inadvertently fell on Hong Mei leaning at the East Wing door.
That glance was deep and cold.
Hong Mei shrank her neck. The woman who had crawled out of the mud had seen all sorts of villains; from the first sight, she knew this Young Master was not to be trifled with.
Without praise, Jiang Yinyue proudly lifted her skirt and spun half a circle, tracing a beautiful arc at her ankles. She ran to her Hong Mei Sister, pulled her along to head out, and planned to take the group of female guards to enjoy Yangzhou’s stunning scenery while the weather was clear.
Over a dozen people boarded several Wu Peng Boats.
Cormorants perched on the Wu Peng Boats, green-headed ducks rippled the clear waves, guiding the boats deeper into the shimmering waters.
A small sedan on the shore was halted.
The guards acting as sedan bearers and the person inside both noticed the scene on the water.
Wei Xichen, who had been working through the night at the Salt Transport Office and was heading back to the post station to bathe, gazed at the water surface. In that instant, it was as if he had returned to many years ago.
The carefree girl frolicked by the pond in the Imperial Garden with palace maids. Upon seeing him, she abandoned everyone and ran straight to him.
The impact of that memory on his heart brought no warmth, only pallor.
With Wei Qin recovering from severe injuries, all the investigations and accountings fell on his shoulders. To rush back to the capital early, he had barely slept these past days.
Fatigue bred weariness; the Crown Prince’s heartstrings loosened without the dew of nourishment.
No one but Jiang Yinyue could soothe his exhaustion.
It had always been thus.
Wei Xichen recognized Hong Mei among the guards and formed a guess.
Jiang Taolue, guarding the border, was returning to the capital; Hong Mei had come to escort her young miss back for a family reunion.
Twilight slanted across the grass and trees, tender maidens swayed with supple willow branches. In the dim yellow sky, Jiang Yinyue carried three jars of vinegar pulp back to the Wei Residence, handing two to Kitchen Aunt Cheng Shen and keeping one to prepare a special treat for Wei Qin.
“It’s for beating the heat. Come try some.”
Lord Wei, neglected for nineteen hours, closed the door, blocking the faint rosy glow amid the dim sky. He walked to the table, took the vinegar pulp that Jiang Yinyue handed over, and took a shallow sip. Sourness spread across his tongue tip.
After drinking two small bowls, Jiang Yinyue asked, “Don’t like it?”
“Sour.”
“Then don’t drink it.”
Eldest Miss Jiang, who knew how to manage a household, sealed the lid tightly and picked up the jar, intending to take it to the opposite wing room.
Wei Qin asked, “Are you still resting there tonight?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Until returning to the capital?”
Jiang Yinyue sniffed the air. “Someone’s drinking vinegar?”
She lifted the jar and shook it, her eyes curving into smiles. “Oh, so it’s the vinegar pulp.”
Wei Qin said nothing, simply watching her playful laughter.
How could playfulness endure against seriousness… Jiang Yinyue straightened her attitude. “I’ve been separated from Sister Hong Mei for too long. I want to keep her company.”
“When Miss returns to the capital, will the days we’re apart be short?”
“Then tomorrow night I’ll come back to the room… to keep you company.”
Wei Qin, having received the promise, showed no softening in his tense jaw. Instead, he gripped Jiang Yinyue’s wrist and pinched it lightly between his fingertips. “When do you plan to set off?”
“In two more days.”
“It’s been a month.”
“What month?”
Wei Qin’s enigmatic brows and eyes were shrouded in the dimness of the small room, overlaid with a layer of shadow. “What do you think?”
Jiang Yinyue could no longer pretend. She set down the jar and shook her gripped arm, negotiating amiably. “I’ll give you a reply the next time we meet.”
“Unable to give one?”
Indeed, Jiang Yinyue had yet to sort out her feelings for Wei Qin. She nodded solemnly. Was it the affection born over time, as her father wished, or a complex weave of familial love, gratitude, loyalty, and tacit understanding? She could not discern.
Perhaps scarred by past hurts, she had grown sensitive and perceptive in matters of emotion. She always felt Wei Qin was like a mountain wreathed in clouds—seemingly close, yet untouchable.
His thoughts weighed too heavily, so heavy that he refused to lay them bare.
A warm heart and profound depths of mind were two different matters. He was a good man, good enough that she willingly drew near, yet she lacked the power to dispel the mists surrounding him.
For instance, he refused to speak of his childhood. She had probed carefully once, only to receive a cool “Not worth mentioning.”
How could she devote her whole heart to accepting him like this?
“Sister Hong Mei is waiting for me.”
“I am waiting for Miss as well.”
Sensing Wei Qin grow even more solemn, Eldest Miss Jiang—who already had a short temper—twisted her wrist. “Give me some more time!”
Wei Qin tilted his head and tugged at the corner of his lip. He had thought she accepted him, only for it to end in empty joy.
The hand pinching the woman’s wrist gradually loosened. In the corner of his eye, the figure in red skirts darted swiftly toward the door.
But in the instant Jiang Yinyue pulled open the door, a hand with bulging veins slammed against the narrow gap, trapping the woman between the door panel and his arms.
Wei Qin cupped Jiang Yinyue’s face and leaned down to kiss her.
A forceful kiss.
His heart, numbed by pain and driven solely by vengeance, had desired nothing—until he encountered a ray of morning sun. Then he began to crave light.
He could have coaxed her patiently, but Hong Mei’s arrival had diverted the attention of the woman who filled his heart and eyes these past days.
She had never been one who could not live without him.
Even Hong Mei could steal her favor.
“Mmph… what are you doing… mmph…”
Her breath plundered, Jiang Yinyue’s pretty face flushed red from holding it in. She pounded furiously at the man confining her, but mindful of his injuries, she dared not strike hard. In response, the man only grew more insistent in his plunder.
Her lower back fell under the control of Wei Qin’s other hand. With a surge of force, she was compelled to lean forward, pressing against the man’s hard lower abdomen.
From beyond the door came Hong Mei’s soft call. Jiang Yinyue dared not struggle further, lest the intimate sounds reach others’ ears.
Both anxious and furious, she bit Wei Qin’s lip corner.
The taste of blood spread.
A fresh red hue stained each of their lips.
Jiang Yinyue tilted her head back. She would not let herself come out the worse.
Wei Qin tightly embraced the puffed-up woman, soothing her agitation while venting his irrepressible flames of jealousy. He envied Hong Mei, and could not suppress it.
For the first time in his life, he envied a woman.