Ban Qin watched as Cheng Jiao-niang rose and made her way to the inner chamber. Unable to help herself, she turned her gaze to Duke Jin’an, who was still half-kneeling on the floor.
He seemed somewhat surprised by Cheng Jiao-niang’s sudden departure, his hand still extended in mid-air – an almost awkward posture.
Ban Qin clenched her own hands tightly and bit her lower lip, hesitating for a moment.
“Your Highness,” she stepped forward and whispered, “my mistress, she… didn’t mean anything by it…”
Before she could finish, Duke Jin’an had already turned and headed toward the inner chamber.
“…If you won’t have Doctor Li take a look, how about a bowl of medicinal tea?” he asked, as though he hadn’t heard Ban Qin’s words at all.
Ban Qin fell silent then. Watching the two enter the inner room, she let out a faint sigh of relief, though a light frown still lingered on her brow.
Just then, Su Xin entered the room, having been called over by a maid who had overheard the commotion outside.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Ban Qin wasn’t quite sure how to explain it. If she said something had happened, she didn’t really know what exactly. Yet if she said nothing had happened, from the look of things, that didn’t seem right either.
“Sister, His Highness asked to prepare medicinal tea,” she whispered, tugging gently on Su Xin’s sleeve.
His Highness asked for it? Not our mistress?
Su Xin’s eyes flickered with surprise. Seeing that Ban Qin had more to say, she promptly followed her out of the room.
“…Is that all?”
After hearing Ban Qin’s account, Su Xin looked even more surprised.
Ban Qin nodded.
“Does… does that count as an argument?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Count as an argument?
“I wouldn’t say so,” Su Xin replied. “Didn’t Miss say before? She just doesn’t like His Highness calling her ‘Ah-Fang.’ She’s mentioned it in the past.”
With that, she gave a firm nod and reached out to pat Ban Qin’s shoulder.
“Don’t overthink it. You know what Miss is like – she says what she means.”
Ban Qin let out a small sigh of relief but couldn’t help glancing back toward the inner chamber.
She hoped… that His Highness wouldn’t overthink it either.
The room was as quiet as ever, yet the atmosphere felt subtly different.
Duke Jin’an watched as Cheng Jiao-niang settled onto the daybed.
“I–” she began to speak.
But before she could finish, Duke Jin’an had already stepped closer, reaching out to adjust the pillow for her.
“Lie down for a while,” he said, a trace of concern in his voice.
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at him before lying back.
“I want to…” she started again.
Again, Duke Jin’an spoke first.
“Cheng Fang,” he began, taking a seat beside the daybed, his tone tinged with apology, “I… I’m not entirely sure how I should address you. Now that we are about to marry, calling you by your full name feels a bit too formal.”
But there’s always the option of using a more intimate name…
Duke Jin’an reached for the fan nearby, using the motion to avert his gaze slightly.
“I don’t want to use the names others call you,” he muttered quickly, almost under his breath. Then, holding the fan properly, he turned to look at Cheng Jiao-niang with a steadier expression. “I’ll remember from now on – I won’t address you like that again.”
As he spoke, he began gently fanning her.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him for a moment.
“It’s just a name,” she said.
The name itself isn’t what matters – what matters is the person using it. The one before her now is not Yang Shan. She couldn’t afford to act unreasonably or make a fuss over such things.
“I won’t behave that way in the future either,” she continued, offering him a faint smile. “You may call me whatever you like.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Duke Jin’an’s eyes, but it was quickly overtaken by delight.
I won’t behave that way in the future.
Was that… an apology?
She actually apologized?
It seemed he couldn’t always give in to her. If he had let her be alone with her thoughts and simply walked away, this matter would likely have been brushed aside. She wouldn’t have brought it up again, and she certainly wouldn’t have spoken words like these.
A smile gradually softened Duke Jin’an’s expression, and he began fanning her even more gently.
“That’s not quite right either,” he remarked, then nudged her lightly, his tone casual. “Move over a bit – let me sit beside you.”
Cheng Jiao-niang simply looked at him.
“…You really are…” she murmured under her breath, then sat up and shifted inward to make room.
No one else would dare cling to her like this, thought Duke Jin’an, a hint of pride stirring within him. They probably have no idea just how good-natured she truly is.
Pretending he hadn’t heard her murmur, he settled cross-legged on the daybed, continuing to fan her softly.
“How can you say that I may call you whatever I like?” he began. “Do I seem like the type who disregards others just to suit my own whims?”
He paused for a moment, then added, almost to himself, “Well… perhaps I am.”
After all, hadn’t he disposed of corpses by leaving it at someone else’s gate? Hadn’t he deliberately frightened the Empress Dowager herself?
This was precisely how he acted – doing as he pleased, with little regard for what others thought.
“Or rather,” he corrected softly, “do I seem like the type who would disregard you just to suit my own whims?”
Cheng Jiao-niang stared at him in slight astonishment for a moment before letting out a soft, genuine laugh.
Her previously reserved expression instantly softened, and her large, dark eyes seemed to shimmer with light.
She rarely laughed like this – perhaps no one had ever really tried to amuse her before.
Unconsciously, Duke Jin’an reached out and gently brushed his hand against her cheek.
“Cheng Fang,” he said softly, “please don’t be upset. When you’re unhappy… I feel a little afraid.”
Cheng Jiao-niang stiffened slightly, her smile fading momentarily before returning naturally, as if she hadn’t noticed a man’s hand touching her face.
“I’m not upset,” she replied. “It’s just that…”
She paused there, letting the words hang.
For her, this kind of hesitation – holding back when she wanted to speak – was something she had never done before.
Duke Jin’an dropped the fan and brought his other hand up to gently cradle her face.
“Just what?” he asked.
Though the gesture felt somewhat unusual, his tone was utterly earnest.
“…It’s just that I’ve never really felt happy,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied quietly.
Never really felt happy.
Although he often thought her life had been harder than his own, she had never spoken a word about it herself. Now, hearing this simple statement – hardly even a complaint or a sigh – Duke Jin’an felt a sudden pang in his chest. Yet, along with that ache, came a flicker of joy. It reminded him of the time when Liu Ge’er had first reached out to him, grabbing his hand and calling him “Brother” in that soft, childish voice.
It was the feeling of being trusted.
His heart swelled with a strange, tender fullness. Gazing at her pale, delicate face so close to his – her fine brows, her bright eyes, her small lips – he couldn’t resist leaning closer, just as he had once bent to hug little Liu Ge’er. He wanted to kiss her.
His warm lips brushed against her cheek. The softness of his mouth meeting the faint firmness of her skin sent an involuntary shiver through both of them, and their bodies froze for an instant.
This… this doesn’t feel like kissing Liu Ge’er at all…
It was as if a pot of oil had been poured over him and then set ablaze. Blood rushed through his veins, roaring and restless. He couldn’t stay upright and leaned in further, pressing her gently down.
He remembered holding her once before. Though he had tried to suppress the memory, it sometimes surfaced in the depths of the night, leaving him restless and unable to sleep.
But this – this was different from that earlier embrace when they were standing. Now, with her beneath him, her body felt as soft and yielding as fine silk.
A low sound escaped Duke Jin’an’s throat, something between a groan and a murmur. His hand slid to her waist, and without hesitation, his lips shifted from her cheek to find hers, sealing them in a sudden, unmistakable kiss.
Crouched beneath the window, Ban Qin and Su Xin felt as if they had been struck right between the eyes. They toppled backward in unison, scrambling away in a flustered, clumsy retreat – desperate to make no sound.
At the same moment, a muffled thump echoed from inside the room.
But Ban Qin and Su Xin had no attention to spare for what was happening behind them. They stopped beside a nearby tree, panting slightly, and exchanged a glance, each seeing the other’s flushed face.
“I told you not to worry,” Su Xin stammered, her voice still unsteady. “Between husband and wife, quarrels at the head of the bed are made up at its foot.”
Ban Qin wanted to reply with something in agreement, but words failed her. Instead, she simply smiled, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment.
“Don’t drag me into this kind of thing again,” Su Xin whispered, shooting her a stern look.
Ban Qin didn’t answer – she just kept smiling softly. Su Xin watched her for a moment, then couldn’t help smiling too.
As the two were still quietly smiling to themselves, Eunuch Jing hurried in through the courtyard gate in a state of visible agitation.
“Your Highness, Your Highness!” he called out.
Startled, Ban Qin and Su Xin quickly moved to block his path.
“I have urgent news to report,” Eunuch Jing said, frowning.
“His Highness and Madam… are… occupied at the moment,” Ban Qin replied, her cheeks flushing pink.
What could they possibly be busy with!
Eunuch Jing stamped his foot impatiently.
“Stop this – it truly is urgent,” he insisted, and without another word, he gently pushed past the two maids blocking his way.
Though he had been castrated and entered palace service as a child, he had never neglected his martial training. The two young women were no match for him – with a light, effortless motion, he brushed them aside and strode up the steps.
Su Xin and Ban Qin were both flustered and alarmed, but to their relief, Eunuch Jing did not barge straight inside. Instead, he stopped outside the door and bowed respectfully.
“Your Highness, Your Highness,” he called out.
Hearing the address, Duke Jin’an – who was sitting somewhat awkwardly on the floor -hastily got to his feet and stepped out as if making an escape.
Once he was outside the inner chamber, though, he felt a flicker of regret.
What does my expression look like right now? Is my robe tidy enough?
I should have gone to the washroom first to straighten myself up.
Eunuch Jing was, after all, a fussy and observant man. Still, even if he were to ask questions, he could simply order him to be silent. What did it matter if his clothes were slightly disheveled inside his own quarters…
While his mind wandered along these lines, Eunuch Jing caught sight of him through the curtain and, without waiting for permission, hurried into the room. Now, it would be even more awkward for Duke Jin’an to turn and head to the washroom.
“Your Highness,” Eunuch Jing began, but unlike usual, he didn’t first scrutinize the Duke’s appearance or expression. Instead, he spoke urgently, “Something’s wrong.”
…
Meanwhile, upon returning home, Chen Shao set his teacup down heavily on the table.
“What do you mean, what’s wrong?” he said with a trace of impatience. “How can you even ask what’s wrong?”
Madam Chen felt a little aggrieved.
“It’s not unheard of for young ladies to enter the palace as study companions,” she replied, a hint of defiance in her voice. “If you truly believe it’s inappropriate, then I’ll simply tell Shi’ba-niang that Shi’jiu-niang won’t be going.”
Chen Shao sighed.
“It’s not that entering the palace as a study companion is inherently wrong,” he explained, pausing briefly. “It’s just that the timing is unfavorable. At present, the Empress Dowager is in the process of selecting a consort for the Crown Prince. Given Dan-niang’s age, it would be prudent for her to avoid such proximity.”
Madam Chen’s expression cleared with sudden understanding, and she smiled faintly.
“So that is what my lord is concerned about,” she said, refilling his teacup. “Even if the Empress Dowager were to take a liking to Dan-niang, it would be no issue as long as we decline. If the Empress Dowager truly had such intentions, she would surely inquire with you directly. And surely you are not one who would hesitate to respectfully decline the Empress Dowager’s suggestion?”
It wasn’t a matter of merely declining the Empress Dowager – Chen Shao had never shied away from respectfully opposing even the Emperor’s wishes on numerous occasions. He accepted the teacup but frowned slightly.
“It’s only that if…” he began, but just then, a maid hurried in from outside.
“My lord, the Old Master requests your presence to speak with him.”
Chen Shao immediately stopped mid-sentence and set the teacup down.
“I was about to go after changing my attire,” he said. The delay had been caused by Madam Chen’s mention of the Empress Dowager’s gifts to Dan-niang.
Just as he was about to step out the door, the family steward hurried in.
“My lord, an edict has arrived from the palace,” he announced.
It was not unusual for the Chen household to receive imperial decrees, so neither the household nor its members were thrown into a panic.
But why would an edict come at this time?
Moreover, such proclamations were usually ceremonial – both the messenger and the recipient would typically have communicated in advance.
Chen Shao frowned.
What kind of edict could this be, arriving so suddenly without any prior notice?
…
“What do you mean, something’s wrong?” Duke Jin’an asked, frowning slightly as he casually straightened his robe.
Eunuch Jing didn’t even seem to notice the gesture.
“The Empress Dowager has issued an edict designating the Crown Prince’s consort,” he replied urgently.
Duke Jin’an paused, taken aback.
“Who is it?” he asked immediately, his tone tense.
But another voice spoke up even before his, clearer and sharper.
“An edict?” Cheng Jiao-niang’s voice came from behind him, and as she spoke, she stepped out into the room.
Duke Jin’an instantly forgot his own question and turned to look at her.
“Are you saying that the Empress Dowager used an edict to appoint the Crown Prince’s consort?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked, her eyes fixed on Eunuch Jing as she repeated the question.
Speaking out of turn before her husband… truly improper, Eunuch Jing thought with a flicker of displeasure, but he still bowed to her respectfully.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has issued an edict selecting the nineteenth daughter of Minister Chen Shao as the Crown Prince’s consort,” he said, deliberately emphasizing his reply to the Duke.
The Chen family!
Duke Jin’an’s expression shifted with surprise.
But Cheng Jiao-niang’s face darkened.
“An edict…” she repeated slowly, her voice low and thoughtful.
…
Standing in the hall, the Old Master Chen’s hand suddenly went slack. The long bow he had been holding clattered to the floor, landing with a heavy, dull thud that drew startled looks from the maids both inside and outside the room.
Old Master Chen’s face had turned slightly pale.
“An edict…” he murmured under his breath.
