Chapter 47: Defense

After winter, Meinang became busier. Every day, she met with the housekeepers to ask questions and handle the household chores, which was mostly managed by Ning Rulan. Meinang focused her energy on checking the accounts, inspecting how the money and goods were being received, where they came from, how much, and how they were obtained. She paid close attention to these details, often questioning the outer house managers for a long time to get to the bottom of things. The managers were baffled by her meticulousness, wondering what exactly she was looking for. The books were clear enough did she suspect them of embezzling?

Before and after the winter solstice, there were three days when the imperial court allowed officials to stay home to honor their ancestors. Meinang took this opportunity to focus on Xu Jun Ying. Despite his coldness, she made sure to visit him in the East Garden every morning, noon, and evening, insisting on sharing meals with him. She was not a morning person, but Xu Jun Ying would rise early to practice martial arts, and she had to time her visits perfectly to wait for him after he returned from the training ground. A few little maids kept her informed, and despite the difficulty of getting up from the warm bed, she repeatedly thought of Xu Jun Ying, nearly wearing out the name in her mind.

At night, things were difficult. Xu Jun Ying was a military officer who had spent his youth reading military texts and rarely delved into political philosophy or governance. Having stabilized the northern border for years, the emperor had recalled him to the capital for a more comfortable life. In the court, he often found himself in the company of the emperor, dealing with state affairs, and surrounded by intellectual ministers who impressed him with their wisdom and eloquence. Feeling ashamed of his limited knowledge, he spent his free time reading history and political texts. As a martial artist, Xu Jun Ying’s body was always warm, and he refused to have a brazier or incense in his study, so Meinang, secretly, would sneak his clothes away to scent them with incense.

Meinang had hoped to be the elegant wife beside him, but the reality was quite different. Her hands froze from the cold while sewing or reading, and the thick, heavy ancient Chinese texts she tried to read made her wish for the modern simplicity of spreadsheets.

She also thought about Zheng Mei Yu, who was relentlessly trying to win Xu Jun Ying’s favor. Meinang heard rumors about Zheng Mei Yu’s attempts to spread lies about their relationship, and she was disgusted. But Meinang didn’t let it show and quietly took action, instructing the servants to investigate the source of these rumors. Meanwhile, Zheng Mei Yu’s blatant ambition and disregard for her own reputation were becoming more obvious.

On the second night of accompanying Xu Jun Ying while he read, Meinang endured silently, but was constantly troubled. Xu Jun Ying, a man of few words, had told her at first that she didn’t need to stay, and she could leave. She stayed, saying she was only sitting idly, with nothing else to do. He did not respond, and continued reading, occasionally sipping tea. Meinang went outside to fetch more hot water for him, watching as the hallways were lit with lamps. Xu Jun Ying treated the servants well, but she was the one freezing in the cold study.

As she debated whether to leave or not, the time dragged on until Xu Jun Ying closed his book and she finally sighed in relief. Later, Xu Jun Ying took her back to her room before heading to the purification room for the night. Meinang couldn’t help but notice how well he held up through his late nights. He didn’t have the usual signs of exhaustion no dark circles, no fatigue, just bright, clear eyes. Maybe he practiced some extraordinary technique. If possible, she thought, she would want to learn it too.

On the third day, Zheng Mei Yu went home. Meinang sent orders through Cui Si to inform the servants in the East Garden not to expect her for the night. Meinang had no intention of continuing this farce of accompanying Xu Jun Ying to read. But she was shocked when she heard that Xu Jun Ying had not returned for dinner that evening and had instead been with Lady Zhou and Miss Zhuang Yu Lan.

Her mind instantly pictured Zhuang Yu Lan’s passionate eyes and Xu Jun Ying’s smiling face. She couldn’t help but sigh heavily. As a wife, it was already difficult to bear, but if she were to look at this situation through the eyes of a lover, it would be unbearable.