By now Zhao Yaoqian also knew that the treasure map her father left her had become her death warrant. Unless the riddle was solved, she would never know peace.
She wished desperately that she could immediately find the other half of the treasure map, and then retreat to the mountains to become a nun. Whatever Qian Jiaoniang asked her, she answered honestly, even recalling in detail what her father had said to her before he died, trying her best not to miss a word.
“My father gave me this half scroll of the treasure map when he was at death’s door. He told me again and again that this matter was of utmost importance, and that apart from my future husband, I must not speak of it to anyone.
“I asked him where the other half of the map was hidden. My father only said that once I was married, my husband would naturally know.
“I asked him how my husband would know. He did not explain, only repeated again and again that once I was married, I would understand.”
Qian Jiaoniang narrowed her eyes slightly, “Your father said your husband would know? Not that you would know?”
Zhao Yaoqian thought carefully, then nodded. “Yes, he did indeed say that my husband would naturally know, not that I myself would know.”
A thought stirred in Qian Jiaoniang’s mind. She asked again, “And he truly said after marriage?”
“Yes, after marriage…” Zhao Yaoqian paused, as though something had come to her.
Qian Jiaoniang did not miss the change in her. “Miss Zhao, have you thought of something?”
Zhao Yaoqian’s cheeks flushed faintly, but she hesitated and nodded.
“Please tell me your father’s exact words, every single one. Sometimes a secret lies hidden in just one word or phrase,” Qian Jiaoniang urged.
Zhao Yaoqian bit her lip. “I remember now, my father did not say after marriage…”
Her wet nurse gasped sharply. Could it be that her young mistress had always misheard?
“My father said after the bridal chamber. He said once I entered the bridal chamber, my husband would know.”
The wedding chamber, the candle-lit night—only then would the husband learn the truth.
Qian Jiaoniang could not get more from her. On her way back, she kept turning over those two suspicious points in her mind.
Even when Xing Muzheng returned, she remained deep in thought. The two ate quietly together. Xing Pingchun still did not come, busy with his dearest friend. Xing Muzheng dismissed the servants, planning to rest early.
After washing, he returned to find Qian Jiaoniang still sitting on the bed, absent-minded, yet her hands still busy with embroidery. He went forward to take away her embroidery, pulling her into his arms, biting at her ear.
“What are you thinking about, that you’ve been lost in thought all evening?”
Her body tightened in his embrace. She turned to look at him and asked: “Tell me—before marriage and after marriage… no, before the bridal chamber and after the bridal chamber—what is the difference?”
Xing Muzheng only laughed. “A difference? Of course there is.”
He did not explain further, but carried her to the bed, showing her with his body the difference between before and after the bridal chamber.
After a bout of lovemaking, Xing Muzheng, instead of leaving, held her in his arms. Qian Jiaoniang lay on his chest, breathing lightly.
He lifted her delicate face, kissing her idly. Qian Jiaoniang lazily kissed his chin and lips in return.
Her drowsy eyes gradually cleared.
So—the difference between before and after the bridal chamber, was it in this union of bodies? Or in a woman’s lost virginity? Or in what a man released?
Xing Muzheng stroked her slightly damp hair. “Did you go to Zhao Yaoqian today?”
Qian Jiaoniang did not conceal it, nodding, and told him everything Zhao Yaoqian had said.
“She said her father told her that after consummation, her husband would know.”
Xing Muzheng heard this, and after a moment, his dark gaze flickered.
“So that means…”
“That other half of the treasure map is on Zhao Yaoqian’s body,” Qian Jiaoniang concluded.
Who but her husband would ever see a maiden’s bare form? Yet Chunwu had said they saw nothing.
“Chunwu said they didn’t see it, perhaps it doesn’t show ordinarily.” Qian Jiaoniang frowned. “Could it be that Lord Zhao used some secret art… one that would only appear after his daughter lost her maidenhead?”
“Oh.” Xing Muzheng let out one cool syllable, but it carried a dangerous edge.
Qian Jiaoniang lifted her head warily. “You mustn’t go and cook up some vile scheme again, sending someone to harm Miss Zhao.”
Xing Muzheng frowned. In his view, that was the best way to resolve the matter.
“Did you hear me? You’re not allowed to act recklessly.” Qian Jiaoniang shifted slightly and bit his stubbly chin.
Xing Muzheng hadn’t yet had his fill; when she moved, he moved with her, still speaking, “Then what about a drunken lapse of decorum?”
“That won’t do either!” Qian Jiaoniang groaned. “Let me think again—there must be another way…”
“Fine, as you wish,” he said—if not, they could discuss it later. With soft jade in his arms, Xing Muzheng no longer cared about anything else. He rolled over and pressed Qian Jiaoniang beneath him again.
