Even though Xing Muzheng was still sick, the moment he stood upright, he looked completely fine. Today, he was wearing the same black clothes from the day before. His hair was tied up in a topknot with a white jade hairpin. Other than his complexion being a bit paler than usual, he appeared mostly the same.
“What are you holding in your hand?” Xing Muzheng asked, his voice still hoarse from the illness. Since the dog had already exposed him, he stepped out of hiding.
Qian Jiaoniang looked down at the little coat in her hands. “Is the Marquis feeling better? I was really worried all night, you know.”
“That’s for the dog to wear?” Xing Muzheng frowned. Dogs needed clothes? He recalled seeing a flash of the dog earlier—did it have a floral eye patch on its blind eye? He looked around. Last night had been too dark to see anything clearly—he had only smelled the heavy dog scent and heard some growling before leaving the room. But now he saw a giant dog bed, complete with plush cushions, delicately embroidered edges, and even little tassels hanging off it. Heaven help him—were they raising a dog ancestor?
From Xing Muzheng’s expression, Qian Jiaoniang could tell he found it all ridiculous. She figured a rough man like him wouldn’t understand her refined intentions. With a flick, she stuffed the coat up her sleeve and walked out.
In the main hall, Li Yan, Dongsheng, and Shanzha were setting the table. Xing Muzheng called out to Qian Jiaoniang as she passed by. She turned back and smiled sweetly. “You eat up, Marquis. I already had breakfast with Chou’er and Ding’er.”
“I didn’t call you for breakfast. I have something to ask you.”
Qian Jiaoniang paused and asked with a smile, “What is it?”
Xing Muzheng pointed to the seat beside him and picked up a large meat bun, taking a bite. By the time Qian Jiaoniang sat down, he’d already finished one. Xing Muzheng went on to eat five meat buns and drank a bowl of duck blood soup. Only after that did he take the wet towel Dongsheng handed him to wipe his hands and wave for the others to leave.
Qian Jiaoniang silently watched him do all this, her gaze fixed on the corn cob on the table as if hoping it might bloom.
Xing Muzheng took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and finally asked, “Chou’er… how has he been doing in his studies lately?”
Qian Jiaoniang was briefly stunned. She hadn’t expected him to ask about Chou’er’s schooling the moment he got back. But since it concerned their son, she answered earnestly, “He’s improved quite a lot. He can recite more passages now and speaks more fluently. His handwriting has gotten better too. It seems Master Cao is doing a good job.”
Xing Muzheng nodded. He had only brought it up to start a conversation with her—if he really wanted to know about Chou’er’s studies, he could just ask Master Cao directly. But seeing how seriously Jiaoniang responded, he was a bit surprised. He had thought Chou’er’s education was his responsibility—if he handled it, then Jiaoniang wouldn’t need to worry. But clearly, she still kept a close eye on it.
Moved by this, Xing Muzheng said, “I plan to have him start learning archery…”
This was meant to be a statement of decision, but for some reason, Xing Muzheng suddenly remembered what Li Qing had said about mutual consultation. So he forcibly added, “What do you think?”
Qian Jiaoniang looked at him in surprise—she truly hadn’t expected him to ask for her opinion.
This truly was a first for Xing Muzheng. He had always been the most decisive one. Ever since joining the army, the brothers around him had always followed his lead. In the years since, as a general, his word had become law—never once had he sought the opinion of a woman. But seeing how Li Qing got along so harmoniously with his wife, there had to be some wisdom in it. If this could help Jiaoniang change her mind about him, he was willing to change.
“Chou’er is still young. Isn’t it too early for him to be drawing bows and shooting arrows?” Though she was shocked, Qian Jiaoniang maintained a calm expression.
“It’s not too early. Now is the perfect time for him to learn,” Xing Muzheng racked his brains, even dredging up things he once thought were nonsense. “When I first entered the barracks, several of the boys were already better than me at archery. Turned out they had started learning at seven or eight. If anything, Chou’er is already late.”
Qian Jiaoniang knew nothing about archery, but she feared Xing Muzheng might push Chou’er too hard and injure his muscles or bones. Since others had learned at this age too, she had no reason to object. She nodded her agreement.
See? After all that talk, it still ended with Xing Pingchun learning archery. For Xing Muzheng, this whole conversation would’ve once seemed completely unnecessary. By his thinking, he could’ve just gone and found a teacher. But now, being able to talk to Qian Jiaoniang calmly like this already felt like a blessing.
Qian Jiaoniang paused in thought, then glanced at Xing Muzheng. He immediately asked, “Is there something you want to say?”
Qian Jiaoniang said, “Chou’er is really fascinated by mechanisms and gadgets. Do you know if Master Cao teaches those? If he’s interested, it might be good for him to study it a bit.”
Xing Muzheng was a little surprised. “Master Cao is a classically trained scholar of orthodox Confucian studies. Mechanisms and contraptions fall under miscellaneous learning—he doesn’t cover that.”
Qian Jiaoniang looked slightly disappointed.
Xing Muzheng thought for a moment. In the education plan he’d made for Xing Pingchun, there had been no mention of mechanical arts—after all, those were not considered “proper” studies. But recalling the way Pingchun had been completely engrossed while solving the mechanical puzzle box, and seeing how Jiaoniang was clearly supportive… “If you think it’s necessary, I’ll find another teacher in miscellaneous studies and have him teach alongside Master Cao.”
Qian Jiaoniang’s eyes lit up. “Is that possible?”
“Of course it’s possible.”
Chou’er would definitely be happy to hear that. Smiling sweetly, Qian Jiaoniang picked up a large steamed bun and placed it into Xing Muzheng’s bowl. “The Marquis is still recovering—you should eat more to nourish yourself.”
Xing Muzheng was caught off guard by the favor. He knew this woman was probably pleased at getting her way and now trying to flatter him, but he couldn’t help feeling giddy all the same. He had never understood why a great man would let himself be swayed by a woman’s affections—but now, he was beginning to see the light. And Li Qing’s advice on how to manage a household—Xing Muzheng was starting to grasp a little of it too.
“This afternoon…” Xing Muzheng was about to ride the momentum and press his advantage—when suddenly someone burst through the door.
***
Xing Muzheng had just been speaking with Qian Jiaoniang when a man ran in from outside. He assumed it was some clueless servant, but looking closely—it was actually Wang Tieniu.
Wang Tieniu had gone home the day before and spent the whole night drinking. The more he drank, the angrier he became. After all, he had been granted marriage with Qian Jiaoniang by imperial order—they had completed the bowing ceremony, entered the bridal chamber—Qian Jiaoniang was his wife. What right did Xing Muzheng have to keep holding on to someone else’s wife? And Qian Jiaoniang—she had clearly gone after wealth and status, deceiving him while pretending to be the lady of this household!
Early that morning, still drunk on rice wine, Wang Tieniu stormed into the Marquis’s estate in a rage. As the estate’s gardener, no one stopped him from entering. He made his way straight to Jiaoniang’s courtyard and burst in without a thought.
As the saying goes: the road to heaven was open, yet he insisted on barging into h*ll.
The moment Qian Jiaoniang saw him, her heart jumped in fright—she stood up abruptly.
A sour wave surged in Xing Muzheng’s gut, followed closely by murderous rage. Look at her panic.
Wang Tieniu had barged in hoping to confront Qian Jiaoniang. He never expected Xing Muzheng to already be back. Startled, he instinctively began to back away.
