Qian Jiaoniang couldn’t make sense of Xing Muzheng’s feelings. Zhao Yaoqian was stubborn to the bone—she admired Xing Muzheng, yet carried herself with a noblewoman’s reserve and never thrust herself forward, only that she refused to consider anyone else. She seldom appeared before Qian Jiaoniang, though they often played polo together. Qian Jiaoniang couldn’t bring herself to dislike the girl, nor could she say much, and so could only treat her like a vague relative boarding in the household.
Zhao Yaoqian had come to deliver a birthday gift—a pair of embroidered shoes she had stitched herself, with very thick soles and tight neat stitches, clearly made with care. Taking advantage of her own birthday, Qian Jiaoniang gritted her teeth and asked, “Miss Zhao, if the Marquis truly has no such fortune, what plans will you have in the future?”
Zhao Yaoqian was just as forthright: “Then I’ll go to a nunnery and become a nun.”
“And that treasure map…”
“Madam, I truly won’t hide it from you—I really don’t know. My father only said that my husband would know!”
After years of interaction, Qian Jiaoniang could see Zhao Yaoqian wasn’t lying. She truly didn’t know. Only, if Xing Muzheng refused to take her, and she went up the mountain as a nun, then wouldn’t that treasure map never see the light of day? Qian Jiaoniang knew Xing Muzheng hadn’t said it aloud, but in his heart he valued that treasure. Otherwise, why would he have taken Zhao Yaoqian in, allowed her to live in the manor, and—despite his impatience—never driven her away?
These past two years of Xing Muzheng’s devotion to her, Qian Jiaoniang was not unaware. Yet Zhao Yaoqian remained like a blade suspended above her and Xing Muzheng, constantly reminding her—she could neither advance nor retreat.
And so, after circling around, she ended back where she started. Qian Jiaoniang could only feel helpless. Once the women of the Zhen family were ushered in, Zhao Yaoqian took her leave with tact.
She didn’t attend the evening banquet, but the feast was lively, and Xing Muzheng even had fireworks set off.
He too had prepared a birthday gift. Only, aside from the first year when his present was somewhat novel, in the past two years he could never quite guess her heart’s desire, so he gave her what seemed to make her happiest—deeds to land and fields. He gave them at every holiday, gifts plain and even a bit vulgar, yet Qian Jiaoniang was delighted. That alone eased Xing Muzheng’s heart.
That night of her birthday, Xing Muzheng tended to a Qian Jiaoniang eight-tenths drunk with great care, while she floated between waking and dreaming, intoxicated and lost.
After Qian Jiaoniang’s birthday passed, husband and wife seemed all the more harmonious, so much so that even Granny Zhou could see it. From the bottom of her heart, she was happy for Qian Jiaoniang. When Qian Jiaoniang had once fled and come to her, she thought the girl doomed to misfortune. Never had she imagined she would have such fortune instead. In private she sighed to Qian Jiaoniang: “For us women, to have such days is the best blessing there could be. Whatever quarrels there were before, just let them pass.”
Qian Jiaoniang smiled, warmed by Granny Zhou’s long-standing concern, and nodded gently.
Zhen Hao took a few days’ leave and spent several days playing in Yunzhou, eating and lodging in the Marquis’ manor, but restless as a monkey, always rushing out. Qian Jiaoniang heard the very first place he went was the Yunzhou brothels, to look at Yunzhou beauties. His wife was long accustomed to it, and even regretted he hadn’t found a new little sister-in-law.
Seeing the younger woman’s eyes like a pool of stagnant water, Qian Jiaoniang sighed inwardly. Zhen Hao’s wife was already three months pregnant.
When the Zhen family departed by boat, Xing Muzheng personally saw them off. Zhen Hao laughed as he bid him farewell: “Elderst brother shines more and more these days, I no longer worry. Don’t forget to study well that chest of books I sent.” He winked.
That chest of spring palace illustrations, along with other indescribable delights, were very much to Xing Muzheng’s taste. He coughed lightly, and thinking of how much closer he and Jiaoniang had become of late, his eyes could not help but curve with a smile.
“You rascal, rein yourself in. More is not always better.” Xing Muzheng patted Zhen Hao’s shoulder with the air of one who had lived through it, speaking with deep meaning.
Unfortunately, Zhen Hao failed to catch the hidden sense and left with his family on the boat.
Mounting his horse, Xing Muzheng was about to answer Li Qingquan’s question of where he was headed when a dispatch rider galloped up, delivering a sealed letter into his hand. Xing Muzheng opened it, and his face shifted.
“Pass down the order—we leave the city in one hour.”
Li Qingquan was startled. “Master, could it be…”
“Mm. Go get ready. I’ll return to the manor once.” Xing Muzheng said no more, urging his horse away without hesitation.
Two quarters of an hour later, he returned to the inner court. Entering the Honghu Courtyard, he found only a little maid wiping the tables, who curtseyed when he entered. Xing Muzheng disliked being announced, so now none dared to report him. The bedchamber door was open, with only a curtain hanging down. Xing Muzheng paused at the doorway. Knowing he was about to leave Yunzhou again, a rare trace of reluctance rose in his heart. He had been back only a few days. If Jiaoniang learned he was leaving again… would she be sad?
“Jiaoniang, do you truly still mean to take contraceptive medicine?”
The clear voice from within made Xing Muzheng’s heart jolt!
