“Marquis, you’re out?” Qian Jiaoniang smiled, tugging at her lips. “Chou’er here was worried about you.” He had said five days, and sure enough, in five days he was out—precisely grasping the old Emperor’s temperament. Was this foresight or prophecy?
“Mm, I’m fine,” Xing Muzheng said, eyes fixed on her. “You didn’t sleep well?”
Qian Jiaoniang touched her cheek, gave two dry laughs, her eyes still holding some suspicion. Had she really only dreamed last night?
Di Qingya stepped forward, bowed slightly to Xing Muzheng, and addressed him as “Marquis.”
Xing Muzheng inclined his head slightly. “So you are Prime Minister Hang’s wife.”
Hang Zhi pulled at the corner of his lips—he made it look as if he truly hadn’t known.
Di Qingya said, “Qingya thanks the Marquis and Madam for all your care until now.”
Xing Muzheng replied, “The reunion of Madam Hang and the Prime Minister after a long separation is indeed a happy event—though it does mean Jiaoniang will have one less person to talk to.”
Hang Zhi’s brows lifted slightly. He had never been able to figure it out—if Xing Muzheng knew Ya’er was his wife, why not let them reunite sooner? If there were some scheme, he had no need to bring Ya’er to Yongan. And if he meant for him to see her on purpose, why not hide her afterward, instead letting her openly appear at his wife’s side? It wasn’t as if he coveted Ya’er for himself. Then what was his purpose in opposing him? Surely it wasn’t just so his wife could have a companion?
Hang Zhi looked strangely at Xing Muzheng.
Di Qingya turned to Qian Jiaoniang. She couldn’t bear to part with Jiaoniang either, but… if only Jiaoniang could also live in Yongan.
Qian Jiaoniang smiled at Di Qingya, then turned to Xing Muzheng, hesitating to speak. Xing Muzheng understood, leaning toward her ear and murmuring,
You can leave Dongsheng here. That’s what he said. Qian Jiaoniang was surprised—how did he know she was worried for Qingya and wanted someone to protect her? But since these people were all Xing Muzheng’s subordinates, she was indeed in no position to bring it up herself.
Qian Jiaoniang summoned Dongsheng and quietly asked if she was willing to stay in Yongan. Shock flickered in Dongsheng’s eyes—not at being asked to remain, she was a bodyguard and followed orders, but at the fact that Qian Jiaoniang had actually asked for her opinion. When Dongsheng said nothing, Qian Jiaoniang assumed she was reluctant. “If you don’t want to be far from your family, that’s fine. I’ll ask someone else.”
Dongsheng quickly said, “I’m an orphan, I have no family. If Madam tells me to stay, I will stay.”
Qian Jiaoniang nodded at this. Turning to Di Qingya with a smile, she said, “Qingya, we are sisters. I don’t have much to give you. I’ve noticed you and Dongsheng have always gotten along, so why not have her stay by your side? That way you’ll have something to think of me by—when you see her, you’ll remember me.”
Qingya was startled; she understood Jiaoniang’s true intent. Her chest warmed slightly, and she nodded with a light smile.
“And you should also help arrange Dongsheng’s marriage when the time comes.”
“All right.”
After saying this, Qian Jiaoniang turned to Hang Zhi with a smile. “Prime Minister, I’m leaving a young woman with Qingya—you don’t mind, do you?”
Hang Zhi gave a wry smile. “With such goodwill from Madam Xing, I’ll thank you on Ya’er’s behalf. If it can bring everyone peace of mind, why not?” His face grew a little hot—wasn’t this implying he couldn’t protect his own wife? How could that not sting? But compared to his pride, Ya’er’s peace of mind mattered more.
Qingya sighed softly and stepped forward to take Qian Jiaoniang’s hand. Qian Jiaoniang smiled. “Don’t be lazy—send me a letter every month. I’ll reply. And if my handwriting is ugly, don’t hold it against me.”
“I understand. You… take care of yourself, too.” Di Qingya’s voice was slightly choked.
Hang Zhi asked Xing Muzheng, “Marquis, are you returning to Yuzhou?”
Xing Muzheng nodded. “At the latest, the day after tomorrow.” They needed to get back to Yuzhou for the New Year. This year, he had a wife and child—suddenly, Xing Muzheng found himself actually looking forward to it. The thought of the whole family gathered together for New Year’s Eve dinner, then staying up through the night—it sounded wonderful.
Hearing this, Qian Jiaoniang turned sharply to look at him. Xing Muzheng also looked at her, as though their minds were in sync, his dark eyes carrying a secret joy.
Di Qingya drew in a quick breath. Did the Marquis’ words mean… the imperial family had yielded?
Hang Zhi, a man of deep feeling himself, could see the infatuation in Xing Muzheng’s eyes for Qian Jiaoniang. So there was another man in the world like him. He thought he must have found a way to make the imperial family change its decree. But the imperial family was not one to suffer a loss—it couldn’t be that they’d let him off so easily.
Still, it was his family’s affair, not his place to worry about it. Hang Zhi offered sincere thanks to both Xing Muzheng and Qian Jiaoniang for saving Di Qingya, saying he would hold a grand banquet in their honor. Xing Muzheng only said the timing was not right, politely refusing. Even after Hang Zhi and Qingya repeatedly invited them, Xing Muzheng and Qian Jiaoniang declined again and again. In the end, Hang Zhi could only order heavy gifts prepared for them. Qingya also prepared a separate box of gifts for Qian Jiaoniang, pulling her into an inner room to give it to her. It was mostly light gold-and-jade jewelry, plus several thousand taels in silver notes.
Qian Jiaoniang refused to take it, but Qingya said, “These are all my dowry, left to me by my parents. Just take them—I have more.”
Qian Jiaoniang clicked her tongue and widened her eyes. “You have so much dowry, and that old crone still looks down on you?”
Di Qingya sneered. “She wouldn’t even bother to glance at this little bit of dowry I have.”
“She’s a lunatic!” Qian Jiaoniang shook her head. “You, take more care for yourself. Yes, I know you trust the Prime Minister, but in the end, he’s still a man — and an important official at court. He can’t be there to protect you every moment. You have to watch out for yourself. Keep Dongsheng with you at all times, and if anything happens, don’t go soft — strike first!”
Di Qingya nodded earnestly. “I know. Don’t worry.”
Qian Jiaoniang looked at her, hesitating as if to say more, then let out a sigh and poked her forehead. Di Qingya covered her forehead and chuckled, tugging at her hand like a younger sister teasing an elder sister.
“Live well. The Prime Minister has feelings for you. As long as he can truly resolve this matter, the two of you can still live well together… If he really can’t clean it up completely, don’t blame him too much — after all, she’s his own mother. Write to me, and we’ll discuss it again.” Qian Jiaoniang added, “By the way, if I send you a letter, how will it reach you? Write me some instructions, and I’ll have Dongsheng go get it.”
Di Qingya quickly took out paper and brush, wrote down a list, blew the ink dry, and sealed it in an envelope to hand to Qian Jiaoniang. Qian Jiaoniang tucked it into her bosom and patted it. Di Qingya slipped a stack of banknotes in as well. “Don’t let the Marquis know about these. Keep them for your own use. I know you’re resourceful — maybe one day you’ll… forget it, I won’t nag. With your sister not by your side, just don’t wrong yourself.”
Meeting her gaze, both women’s eyes reddened at the same time. They embraced and wept.
