Chapter 10 : He knew that his wife was extremely beautiful

Words like these, almost promises, were rare for Cui Yunzhao in her previous life.

However, she didn’t talk much to Huo Tan in the first place, and after they got married, they lived worse than strangers.

Now, reborn and hearing such words, Cui Yunzhao felt a rare sense of happiness.

Even though Huo Tan was not an emperor at the moment, he had always been true to his word. If he vowed to protect her, he would do so to the end.

Unless Cui Yunzhao betrayed him.

Cui Yunzhao softly responded, “Is it a promise?”

A smile that Cui Yunzhao couldn’t see flowed in Huo Tan’s eyes. He turned around and, following her example, lay down on the bed properly.

“It’s a promise.”

Soon, Cui Yunzhao fell asleep.

But that night, she felt unusually restless, as if something heavy was pressing down on her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t push it away.

She struggled in her dreams but to no avail, eventually giving up and falling back to sleep.

The next morning, Cui Yunzhao woke up early. She struggled to open her eyes and saw the handsome face of the man beside her.

Huo Tan lay on his side next to her, having stolen half of her pillow. His right arm was draped over her shoulder, almost encircling her completely.

No wonder, Cui Yunzhao cursed him inwardly and gave him a firm push.

No wonder she had dreamt of being crushed by a heavy weight all night; it was because he couldn’t sleep properly without holding her.

How had she not noticed this habit of Huo Tan’s before?

Huo Tan, however, remained quite alert.

Although Cui Yunzhao thought she had pushed him hard, to Huo Tan, it was like a cat’s scratch barely felt.

Still, Huo Tan woke up.

He turned over to his own side of the bed, lay flat on his pillow, and then grunted as he slowly opened his eyes.

“Good morning, My lady.”

Cui Yunzhao, too lazy to engage in small talk, said, “You’re really not a good sleeper.”

Huo Tan smiled, lifted the bed curtain, and glanced at the outside light.

After a moment, he said, “I slept so well, it’s rare that I overslept today.”

Cui Yunzhao yawned quietly and asked, “What time is it?”

“About time for the morning meal.”

Cui Yunzhao replied that she wouldn’t sleep anymore.

So, the couple got up together.

Huo Tan did not like to be waited on, so Li Qing only prepared water and towels for him, hung up his clothes, and let him dress himself.

On the other side, Cui Yunzhao was being attended to by Li Qing as she began her makeup.

Today, she did not request a bright and bold look but preferred something elegant and refined to highlight her noble heritage.

Li Qing applied light makeup and styled her hair into a simple double bun, adorned with a pair of silver hairpins.

Once dressed, Cui Yunzhao left the warm room.

As soon as she emerged, Huo Tan praised her, “My lady, you look truly beautiful.”

Cui Yunzhao pressed her lips together, ignored him, and instructed Li Qing to bring breakfast.

Today’s breakfast clearly came from outside, featuring hot soy milk, sweet dumplings, and sticky bean buns filled with red bean paste, all looking quite appetizing.

Huo Tan smiled as the food was served.

He told Cui Yunzhao, “The eleventh and twelfth young brother are off to school and won’t be home during the day. Mother wakes up early and usually goes to the market to buy fresh vegetables. Sometimes, elder sister and younger sister also go with her.”

Although Cui Yunzhao knew this from her previous life, she still asked, “The eleventh and twelfth brother are going to school?”

Huo Tan smiled and explained, “They’re not attending regular school but a martial academy. Chenzhang lacks the temperament for scholarly studies, but the Chengpu seems more refined.  He is still young now, so I will just let him learn martial arts with Shiyilang in the martial arts school. There are also literary classes there, so I will let him attend them by himself.”

Despite being a family of military generals, changing one’s path was not impossible. In today’s world, martial prowess often outweighed scholarly accomplishments, allowing those who could fight to do as they wished.

Cui Yunzhao took a slow sip of her soy milk and said, “Eight years old is not too young.”

She recalled that in her previous life, Huo Chengpu was very introverted and was often bullied at school due to his poor health. His condition worsened with the hardships of life, and even when Huo Tan became emperor and sought all possible treatments, the younger brother’s health deteriorated.

Cui Yunzhao sighed and said, “Huo Tan, do you know how the Cui family educates their children?”

Huo Tan paused for a moment.

He finished the red bean bun in a hurry, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and replied, “Please, My lady, go ahead.”

Cui Yunzhao continued, still holding her chopsticks, “In the Cui family, boys start their early education at the age of three, enter the clan school at five, and must take the provincial examination by thirteen.”

“If they fail the provincial examination, they return to the clan school to continue their studies. If they still do not pass by the age of eighteen, they are relegated to managing domestic affairs.”

Huo Tan was astonished.

Despite the ongoing wars, the imperial examinations had never ceased, and the scholarly traditions had continued uninterrupted.

Due to the wars, many struggled just to make a living, balancing their livelihood with their studies. Consequently, there were many gray-haired scholars still persevering.

Failing to pass meant continuing to try, with hope for eventual success.

But the Cui family had a different approach. They sent their children to take the provincial exams at thirteen, and if they did not pass by eighteen, they could no longer sit for the exams. This competition was indeed harsh.

“That’s rather severe,” Huo Tan commented.

Cui Yunzhao shook her head.

“Think of it this way,” she said, lifting her gaze toward the wintersweet tree in the courtyard. “The Cui family is a large clan, whose legacy has been built on the excellence of our ancestors’ literature and governance. After several generations, our population has grown significantly.”

“When the population became too large, the offshoots sent out in earlier years could barely afford food, yet they clung to their books, studying tirelessly. My grandfather believed that wasn’t the right way.”

“Education is important, but so is sustenance. One cannot rely on a single path forever; one must always have an alternative.”

“Do you know what kind of library we have in my family? Do you know what distinguished scholars teach in our clan school? Do you know the kind of education they have received from a young age?”

“In such an environment, if one cannot even pass the exam to become a scholar after fifteen years, then there is no need to continue.”

“They lack the talent.”

Huo Tan was hearing for the first time how great families sustained themselves and how they educated their descendants. He listened intently, deeply noting each of Cui Yunzhao’s words.

He suddenly recalled the meaningful look from General Lu when he had been “given” this advantageous marriage. Lu had said to him, “Since you are entering this marriage, you must treat My Lady Cui well. You are not marrying just her, but the history of a century-old family.”

At the time, Huo Tan hadn’t fully understood, but now he did.

The wealth and traditions of high families were vastly different from those of ordinary people.

There was much he had yet to see and learn.

Cui Yunzhao continued, undeterred by the impact of her words on Huo Tan “So for me, as…”

“If Chengpu wants to study in the future, then he should find a proper school to attend.”

“Don’t settle for something less, don’t hesitate, and don’t wait until he’s older.”

Cui Yunzhao remembered that the current school they attended seemed to have some mischievous children who often bullied Huo Chengpu. At that time, she hadn’t inquired in detail, but now she understood that they were attending a martial academy.

Children learning martial arts tend to look down on those who are more scholarly.

Huo Tan, taking Cui Yunzhao’s serious words to heart, said, “I understand.”

“I’ll ask him about it tonight.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, sighing in relief. She decided to be thorough and ensure everything was properly arranged.

“Lord, if Chengpu wants to study, I will help him choose a school.”

“The Cui family’s clan school is not suitable for him. I wouldn’t recommend it. But in the city of Bo Ling, with its rich literary tradition and a hundred years of heritage, there are countless good schools. It’s quite simple to find one with a patient and kind teacher.”

Huo Tan looked at her bright eyes with newfound seriousness and smiled.

He lifted a large bowl of soy milk and nudged it toward Cui Yunzhao. “Thank you, My lady. I’ll use this soy milk as a toast to express my gratitude.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled and clinked her bowl with his.

Their meal was more harmonious than the day before. After finishing their meal, Huo Tan prepared to leave.

He had just changed into his outer robe when Cui Yunzhao called out to him.

“My Lord, are you going to the military camp on horseback?”

Huo Tan paused, turned back to look at her, and replied, “Yes.”

In front of the eastern courtyard was a dedicated horse path where Huo Tan’s horse was stabled. When soldiers visited, their horses were also kept there.

When Huo Tan turned around, he saw that Cui Yunzhao was wearing a brand new Hu attire.

The Hu attire was vibrant, a bright purple color, featuring a narrow-sleeved jacket and Hu skirt, with an embroidered overcoat adorned with pom-poms.

Cui Yunzhao stood gracefully, looking both radiant and dignified, like the rising sun, dazzling and brilliant.

She stood in front of the screen, smiling gently at him.

In that moment, she was like a reflection of dawn light, graceful and enchanting.

Huo Tan may not have known all the elaborate words or the soft, flowery language, but he knew that his wife was extremely beautiful.

Cui Yunzhao continued to smile tenderly, her voice soft and sweet.

“Lord, I would like to visit the camp as well.”

She said this with a cautious expression “Is that okay?”

Huo Tan: “…”

Huo Tan suddenly found himself unable to say no.

He wasn’t opposed to Cui Yunzhao going to the military camp, it was just something for later, when they were more familiar with each other. But Cui Yunzhao’s charming and delicate appearance made it impossible for him to refuse.

Unable to refuse, Huo Tan asked, “Do you know how to ride a horse? How will we get there?”

“You agreed?”

Cui Yunzhao’s face instantly lit up with a bright smile.

She quickly stepped forward and joined Huo Tan “I don’t know how to ride a horse, but I can take a carriage!”

Cui Yunzhao proudly lifted her chin: “I already had Tao fei call for a carriage. It should be waiting at the gate now.”

Gently linking her arm with Huo Tan’s, she appeared very docile “Lord, shall we go?”

Huo Tan looked down at her hand resting on his arm and, after a moment, he chuckled softly.

“Alright.”

“Let’s go, My lady. I’ll take you to the military camp.”