Chapter 17 : My lord, are you afraid

The next morning, before Cui Yunzhao had fully awakened, Huo Tan was already up.

He usually slept on the outer side of the bed, and over the past few days, Cui Yunzhao had gotten used to it.

To avoid waking her, he moved very quietly, but Cui Yunzhao still opened her eyes, groggy.

The canopy was still dim, but her autumn-like eyes sparkled with a faint light.

“Lord?”

Cui Yunzhao called out to him in confusion.

Huo Tan felt his heart soften instantly. He lowered his voice and said, “My lady, continue sleeping. It’s still early.”

Cui Yunzhao had another nightmare the previous night and hadn’t slept well, so upon hearing Huo Tan, she immediately closed her eyes again.

Her demeanor was so obedient and cute that Huo Tan couldn’t help but watch her for a moment before getting out of bed quietly.

Sleeping in was so comfortable.

When Cui Yunzhao woke up again, she felt warm and extremely well-rested. She rolled over in bed and then lay on the edge, gently lifting a corner of the canopy. This canopy was something she had brought from her home.

Since it was their wedding, it was embroidered with a pomegranate vine design. The thick, rich brocade blocked out the light, making it hard to discern the passage of time.

As she lifted a corner of the canopy, the room was filled with golden light. The moon had already set and dawn was breaking.

There was no one in the bedroom, only the tea kettle on the table emitting steam.

Remembering that she needed to return to her family’s home today, she called out, “Li Qing.”

After a moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside, and Li Qing entered.

“Miss, you’re awake?”

Li Qing had an unusually cheerful smile on her face.

Cui Yunzhao was a bit surprised but didn’t rush to ask. She said, “Yes, I’ve woken up. We need to return to my family’s home later.”

Mentioning her return home made Li Qing’s smile even more pronounced.

She usually kept her emotions in check, but today she was clearly in a great mood.

Cui Yunzhao got out of bed, dressed in the clothes for her return home, and then looked at Li Qing. “What’s making you so happy?”

Li Qing couldn’t help but smile.

She glanced back to make sure the door was securely closed and said, “Miss, you don’t know how much the young master has prepared for the return home gifts.”

According to the customs of Bo ling, after a daughter’s marriage, there is a return home visit within three days, and the groom is expected to prepare return home gifts as well.

While common folk usually don’t make a fuss, if the husband’s family values the wife, they will prepare the gifts meticulously.

Typically, there would be four jars of wine,

There were four jars of wine, symbolizing a bountiful harvest, six bolts of fabric, representing six blessings, and eight types of meat, including chicken, duck, fish, and pork, symbolizing abundance and plenty.

In general, when a family marries off a daughter, they must, even if grudgingly, prepare the return home gifts.

However, the choice of wine and fabric is quite important.

Cui Yunzhao was a bit surprised.

In her previous life, she had not been very forthcoming when she married, and Huo Tan had constantly been fussing over her. On the day of the return home visit, she was lackluster, and with her own mood being poor, Li Qing and Tao Fei had also been cautious, naturally saying little about it.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t know what Huo Tan had prepared in her past life for the return home gifts, so she was quite curious now.

“What did he prepared?”

Li Qing said, “Master Huo prepared Bai Fan Lou’s aged ‘Hundred Flowers Drunk’ wine, the finest Shu brocade from Linlang Silk Store, and the chicken, duck, and fish are all from Bai Wei Zhai’s preserved meats, everything is top-notch.”

Cui Yunzhao was astonished.

“Where did he get so much money?”

She had seen the Huo family’s current situation, and in her past life, she had lived with the Huo family. Huo Tan had never been a spendthrift. Even after he became a governor and a military commander, he had never been extravagant.

Cui Yunzhao knew well that Huo Tan was a very practical person.

But did Huo Tan really have money?

The question that Cui Yunzhao blurted out was quickly followed by her own realization. After a moment’s thought, she said, “No, he must have money.”

Huo Tan had been in the military since he was fifteen, and it had been four years.

During these four years, there had been wars in Qiyang and Fulu, and Huo Tan had performed exceptionally in every battle.

In times of military prominence, as long as one excels on the battlefield, rewards are never lacking.

Cui Yunzhao had never seriously looked into the Huo family or Huo Tan’s past, so she hadn’t realized that Huo Tan was not actually impoverished.

On the contrary, he might have received quite a few rewards.

Cui Yunzhao breathed a sigh of relief as she thought about this. “That’s good.”

Seeing that the young lady was frowning one moment and smiling the next, Li Qing was unsure if she had said something wrong. However, seeing Cui Yunzhao’s smile eventually return, Li Qing continued, “Master Huo has also prepared gifts for Fifth Miss and Young Master Ting, and even for Aunt Xia.”

This was something Cui Yunzhao had not anticipated.

She vaguely remembered that in her previous life, Huo Tan had not prepared so many gifts.

Perhaps because she had noticed the issue with Huo Chengpu and helped resolve the simple sibling conflict, Huo Tan had carefully prepared these gifts to show his gratitude.

In any case, since he had put in the effort, Cui Yunzhao naturally felt pleased.

She nodded, washed her face, and then had Li Qing help with her makeup.

“Are the side rooms all arranged?”

Li Qing nodded. “Earlier, when you and the master mentioned dividing one of the side rooms, master had people bring a set of Bi Sha wardrobes. They were installed yesterday.”

Cui Yunzhao had forgotten about this amidst her many thoughts the day before. Hearing this, she said, “I’ll go check it out later.”

Li Qing, while helping her comb her hair, added, “You can look at it later when you return. Although the Bi Sha wardrobes aren’t the best quality and the craftsmanship isn’t complex, they’re sturdy and durable, and quite breathable. They suit me and Tao Fei perfectly.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and said, “For now, bear with it. We might not stay there long.”

This statement sounded a bit odd.

But Li Qing didn’t ask any questions and instead responded gently, “How could I possibly feel wronged?”

Once Cui Yunzhao was ready, she stepped out of the room.

As soon as she stepped outside, she was greeted by a tangy and spicy aroma.

Looking carefully, she saw a bowl of hot and sour soup on the table, accompanied by some crispy fried dough sticks.

Hot and sour soup is a specialty of Bo Ling. People there love to buy and eat it all year round.

Especially in the cold winter months, a bowl of warm hot and sour soup can really make one feel comfortable all over.

Since the family’s cook definitely wouldn’t make hot and sour soup, this was clearly bought from outside.

Huo Tan had just come in from outside and was wiping his sweat. Seeing that she was already awake, he said, “Have breakfast. The carriage is ready. I’ll accompany you to visit your family later.”

Cui Yunzhao looked up at him and said, “Thank you for your thoughtfulness, my lord.”

Huo Tan glanced at Li Qing, knowing she had already taken care of all the return home gifts.

He then sat down at the table without any pretense, watching Cui Yunzhao eat her breakfast.

Cui Yunzhao always ate with calm and composure, never rushing.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Huo Tan couldn’t help but smile.

“My lady, you truly are clever.”

She must have already guessed that he had private funds, which was why she wasn’t surprised.

Cui Yunzhao glanced at him and added,

“My lord you are brave and rare among young generals. The superiors will surely appreciate it and won’t be stingy with rewards.”

Huo Tan propped his right hand on the table, resting his chin on it, and smiled as he looked at her.

Despite going to a prominent family like the Cui family, Huo Tan rarely showed any nervousness. He remained as calm and composed as ever, with a few…

A sense of indescribable ease washed over him.

“Thank you for the compliment, my lady.”

He paused, then added, “If there are any difficulties at home in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask. I, Huo Tan, will not hesitate to what I can do.”

Cui Yunzhao raised her eyebrows, finished the last bite of her hot and sour soup, and carefully wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

Putting down the handkerchief, she opened her lips slightly and said, “Since you have said so, I will remember it.”

“Please do keep your word, my lord.”

Huo Tan nodded and patted the Eight Immortals table with a big hand. “Shall we go, my lady?”

Cui Yunzhao adjusted her skirt and smiled. “Let’s go. I’ll show you around the Cui family in Bo Ling.”

The two of them stepped out of the room. Cui Yunzhao draped a fur-edged cloak over her shoulders. The fox fur was as white as snow, highlighting her fair skin and making her red lips even more striking.

Huo Tan glanced at her and said, “This cloak is quite nice.”

Cui Yunzhao acknowledged him and then got into the carriage with him.

Since he was accompanying her back to her family, Huo Tan didn’t ride a horse but instead sat in the carriage with her. The carriage was also very warm. A heated stove in the corner was giving off warmth, and tea and snacks were prepared, clearly arranged by Huo Tan early in the morning.

Cui Yunzhao glanced at the man sitting across from her, then lowered her eyes and suddenly spoke, “My lord, let me tell you about the Cui family.”

The Cui family of Bo Ling is a high-ranking noble family that has produced countless loyal ministers who have supported the state over the years. Among the prominent families in the Central Plains and even the entire realm, everyone knows the Cui family of Bo Ling.

However, many stories about the Cui family are not well known to outsiders.

The Cui family is known for its strict management, with most servants being born into the family, and no one dares to speak ill of the master outside.

So to learn about the Cui family, one must hear it from a member of the family themselves.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao slowly arranging the fox fur on her cloak, any slight tension Huo Tan had felt dissipated.

Cui Yunzhao began speaking slowly, “My father passed away five years ago, and my mother, overwhelmed by grief, also passed away. After that, my second uncle succeeded as the head of the family.”

“Outsiders do not know that the Cui family does not select successors based on direct descent but on the individual’s talent and capability.”

“Due to our marriage, my second uncle’s reputation might be somewhat tarnished, but he is indeed the most learned and highest-ranking official of this generation.”

“So, when my father passed away, he succeeded as the head of the family.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

The Cui family has always placed great importance on their status. Over the past century, Cui family women have married into many high-ranking families and even produced empresses, so their marriages have always been highly regarded.

“My father was devoted to studying, so after marriage, my mother did not conceive immediately. I am half a year younger than my second uncle’s eldest cousin.”

“My cousin married a month earlier than I did, to the Su family of Fulu.”

While the Cui family declined, the Su family of Fulu’s reputation soared.

The Cui family doesn’t always marry off their daughters to high-ranking families, but it’s not as casual as arranging a marriage with a military official without any solid foundation, especially a military official who lost his father early.

Cui Yunzhao’s eyes were cold. “So today, for the sake of restoring our reputation, my second uncle will certainly prepare many things.”

She looked up, her gaze sharp as she looked at Huo Tan.

“My lord, are you afraid?”