Chapter 27 : The aura of the two people entangled together.

The old lady thought she was very clever.

This idea was so good, it pleased her greatly.

She looked at Cui Yunzhao with pride, waiting for her to refuse.

Then she could reprimand her as an elder.

But the old lady waited and waited, and Cui Yunzhao didn’t respond.

Just as she was about to speak, her vision blurred, and she realized Cui Yunzhao had already come to her side.

With a smile, Cui Yunzhao took her arm and gently pushed her towards the main hall.

“Grandmother, it’s cold outside, and Cousin Gu is unwell. Let’s go inside the main hall to talk.”

The old lady was momentarily confused by this push and instinctively followed as Cui Yunzhao guided her forward.

Seeing that everyone was moving ahead, Gu Yinhong bit her lip and hurriedly followed with her bundle.

Cui Yunzhao, still holding the old lady’s hand, spoke with a very polite and affectionate tone.

“Grandmother, I’m very pleased that Cousin Gu is coming to our home,” Cui Yunzhao said gently. “The house is not very large, so we certainly don’t want to inconvenience Cousin. I’ll go back and move the bookshelf and desk from the small study, buy a bed for Cousin Gu, so she can have a proper place to stay.”

The old lady’s expression stiffened.

“That’s just an empty partition, isn’t it?”

Cui Yunzhao smiled and replied, “Grandmother, you left home early, so you might not know. The books and the precious rosewood bookshelf and dressing box I brought from home are all placed in that partition. As it stands, there’s no space left even for a chair, let alone a bed.”

Her voice was clear enough for everyone present to hear.

“If the partition can’t fit the rosewood bookshelf and dressing box, I’ll have them sent back to the Cui family and won’t use them for reading.”

She emphasized the words “rosewood” deliberately.

The old lady instinctively responded, “No.”

Having been poor and fearful in her youth, Old Madam Gu was very reluctant to part with money or valuable items.

To her, the precious rosewood bookshelf brought to the Huo family was now considered her own, and she couldn’t easily let it be moved out again.

However, if the bookshelf remained in the partition, there would be no space left for Gu Yinhong.

Gu Yinhong lowered her head, her fingers lightly gripping her bundle, and her lips pressed tightly together.

People said this eldest daughter of the Cui family was as clear and bright as the moon, talented and gentle, an exemplary lady of high status in the city.

But now it seemed that the rumors were not entirely accurate.

From her sharp and articulate manner, it was clear there was less of the gentle and refined nature one might expect.

Seeing the old lady hesitate, Gu Yinhong felt uneasy.

She hurried forward, speaking in a soft and weak voice.

Gu Yinhong said, “Auntie, I should return home. Although it’s bustling there, there’s still a place for me.”

The statement sounded quite pitiable.

Cui Yunzhao turned around and gave her a faint glance but didn’t address her comment directly.

She first helped the old lady to sit down, then waited for Lin Xiu Gu to take her seat before sitting beside Huo Tan at the secondary seat.

Next, she smiled at Gu Yinhong as if she were the head of the household.

“Cousin Gu, don’t stand . Please sit down and let’s talk.”

Gu Yinhong: “…”

Gu Yinhong fidgeted with her fingers but eventually sat down.

The old lady suddenly had another idea “Since the main house won’t work, why not let her stay in the side rooms? There’s a small partition there, isn’t there?”

Cui Yunzhao immediately responded, “Grandmother, the side rooms are occupied by my maids. Today, my wet nurse will also move in, and the three of them living together won’t be a problem. I’m just worried that Cousin might… mind.”

It’s not appropriate for the mistress to share a room with the maids.

Upon hearing this, the old lady frowned.

She was growing impatient and began to insist stubbornly, “This won’t do, that won’t do. Where can Yinhong stay? I don’t care, Yinhong must have a place to live.”

Gu Yinhong lowered her head, and her eyes turned red.

Cui Yunzhao glanced at Huo Tan, who winked at her before looking at the old lady.

“Grandmother, why not let Cousin Gu stay with you?”

The old lady was momentarily stunned.

Huo Tan gave Lin Xiu Gu a look, and Lin Xiu gu said, “Oh, my mind, it’s true. The room in Mother’s house has a big bed and is spacious with good sunlight. Miss Gu could stay there and keep Mother company. Isn’t that the best of both ?”

The old lady was unusually silent.

Cui Yunzhao noticed that she was fiddling with her Buddhist beads and realized she was considering the pros and cons. After being nudged by Huo Tan, she continued, “If Grandmother is unwilling, how about I cover the cost of renting another house for Cousin Gu to recover in and then return home?”

Huo Tan had hoped she would look at him but was pleasantly surprised to see her speak so eloquently without even glancing his way.

The feeling of being in sync with someone without needing many words was truly wonderful, making his heart leap with joy.

Clearly, the idea of renting another house for Gu Yinhong was unacceptable to the old lady.

She had brought Gu Yinhong here with other intentions, and spending additional money to rent a house would be considered a loss.

The old lady’s resolve was immediately firm “Then let Yinhong stay with me.”

The old lady spoke, then looked up at Yinhong with a renewed smile on her face.

“Yinhong is a good child and will definitely be filial to me.”

Cui Yunzhao lowered her gaze and added, “Yes, Cousin Gu seems much more attentive than I am. With her taking care of Grandmother, I feel reassured.”

As she spoke, Cui Yunzhao stood up and walked over to Gu Yinhong.

With a warm smile on her face, she took off a silver bracelet from her hand and held Gu Yinhong’s hand firmly.

Gu Yinhong’s hand was a bit cold, whether from the chill or nervousness, it wasn’t warm at all.

“Cousin Gu, since this is our first meeting today, as the elder sister-in-law, I cannot greet you empty-handed.”

“I gave gifts to the younger siblings a few days ago. Although I didn’t prepare anything today, I can only give you this silver bracelet.”

“I hope you won’t mind.”

Gu Yinhong’s face immediately turned red.

She hadn’t expected Cui Yunzhao to present a gift as her elder sister-in-law. At that moment, she didn’t know whether to accept or refuse, and she stood there awkwardly.

Cui Yunzhao raised her eyebrows and feigned surprise: “Oh, Cousin Gu, why don’t you accept it? Are you dissatisfied with this modest gift…”

Before she could finish, Gu Yinhong quickly took the bracelet: “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Cui Yunzhao was satisfied and patted her on the shoulder “Grandmother is getting older, and Mother has to worry about the whole family. If you find yourself uncomfortable here, just let me know.”

With that, she casually returned to her seat, her smile unchanged.

The old lady looked at her with some surprise.

Could this daughter-in-law be as simple-minded as the daughter-in-law she already knew?

No matter her nature, the old lady had plenty of ways to handle her.

The old lady pondered for a while and then waved her hand: “You may go now. I’m tired and need to rest.”

Cui Yunzhao and Huo Tan stood up and prepared to leave.

But as soon as the couple reached the door, the old lady’s gruff voice rang out again.

“Daughter-in-law, I’ve heard that noble families have many rules, especially the Cui family,” the old lady said, squinting her narrow eyes with a calculating look. “Is it true that the wives in your family must greet their mother-in-law daily?”

Cui Yunzhao was a bit surprised, as these things had not happened in her previous life.

However, Cui Yunzhao was no longer as naive as she was in her youth;,she had developed a thick skin and wasn’t easily intimidated.

“What’s that about?” Cui Yunzhao widened her eyes in feigned surprise. “I’m not aware of such customs.”

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was somewhat exaggerated “Grandmother, please don’t listen to those gossips. Our Cui family never makes life difficult for the daughter-in-law. The more respectable a family is, the more harmonious the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law should be, leading to a happy family.”

The old lady was taken aback, and even Lin Xiu Gu, who was about to decline, couldn’t keep up with the conversation.

Cui Yunzhao turned around and smiled at the old lady:”How could a noble family that values reputation the most have such a reputation? If that’s the case, who would be willing to marry their daughter into the family?”

“Grandmother, if you hear such things again, please help to clarify for the Cui family. Our Cui family has a clean family tradition, and such things will never happen.”

The old lady had only said one sentence, and Cui Yunzhao had delivered a whole speech in response, with every word justified.

By this point, wouldn’t it be considered as quibbling and unreasonable?

Before the old lady could say anything more, Lin Xiu Gu loudly said, “You shouldn’t be standing here and disturbing your grandmother’s rest. Quickly go back.”

As soon as Lin Xiu Gu spoke, Huo Tan immediately took Cui Yunzhao’s hand and led her briskly out.

It wasn’t until the couple had passed through the moon gate that Cui Yunzhao came back to herself.

She looked up at Huo Tan, who was also gazing at her.

They looked at each other, sharing a silent understanding.

In the next moment, they both burst into laughter.

It was afternoon, and the sunlight was bright and radiant.

The warm sun eliminated the winter chill.

Huo Tan held her hand tightly, his gaze steady and focused on her face.

Though they had just married, their mutual understanding was already stronger than that of many long-married couples.

The feeling was indescribable, making his usually hard heart soften.

It was like the blooming of spring flowers, the fine rain of summer, the autumn breeze, and the brightest light of winter.

It made him feel comfortable all over.

Cui Yunzhao, being looked at with such focus, couldn’t help but stop smiling and looked up at him.

She instinctively shook the hand he was holding: “My lord, what’s the matter?”

Their joined hands swayed in the wind like a swing, creating ripples in their hearts.

A smile gradually appeared on Huo Tan’s face.

“My lady, thank you.”

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily stunned, then she pursed her lips, her expression showing a rare hint of pride.

“You should naturally thank me.”

Thinking of the old lady’s displeased expression earlier, Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but smile again.

“If not for me…”

“If it weren’t for my cleverness, how could today’s events have gone so smoothly?”

Huo Tan nodded, leading her forward slowly.

As the afternoon sun dipped in the west, casting long shadows, their intertwined hands remained firmly clasped.

“I know, my husband doesn’t want a stranger in his home.

Cui Yunzhao said this and suddenly stopped under a jujube tree, looking up at Huo Tan.

Her eyes sparkled, brighter than all the stars in the sky.

With her cheeks slightly flushed, her face was perfectly delicate, as beautiful as the moon reflected in the water.

She lightly curved her red lips, which seemed like flowers in bloom.

“Or,” Cui Yunzhao’s voice was soft, “are you saying that you would prefer having a delicate cousin in the house?”

Huo Tan felt her voice tugging at his heart, scratching at its core.

It was a sweet, aching sensation, making him want to scratch the itch but feeling unsure how to.

Huo Tan suddenly lowered his head, closing the distance between them. In an instant, their breaths intertwined. Huo Tan’s low chuckle brushed against her reddened, tender earlobe with his deep voice.

“My dear, I can’t even take care of you at home, so how can I have the energy to take care of others?

“You said so?”

He was too close. Their noses were almost touching. The warmth of their breaths carried the familiar scent of osmanthus wine they had just shared. It was pure and fragrant, making one feel intoxicated.

Cui Yunzhao hadn’t felt drunk before, but now her head was spinning, and she felt somewhat disoriented.

Huo Tan gazed intently into her eyes, noticing the daze and intoxication within them. He couldn’t help leaning in closer, getting even nearer. 

Just as their lips were about to touch, Cui Yunzhao pushed Huo Tan away. Her face was flushed, more vibrant than the peonies in March. It was naturally beautiful and incredibly alluring.

Huo Tan felt a pang of regret, but not that regretful.

Deep down, there was an indescribable sense of anticipation, constantly urging for more in the future.

Cui Yunzhao was about to scold him when she saw him extend his hand, gently touching his lips.

As if savoring the moment.

Cui Yunzhao: “…”

Cui Yunzhao’s face turned even redder, her anger rising “You…”

“Shameless!”

Huo Tan burst into laughter.

Following behind Cui Yunzhao, his voice was laced with amusement as he spoke, “My lady, how could I be shameless?

“Heaven and earth are witnesses, I truly didn’t touch you just now.”

Cui Yunzhao ignored him.

She quickly entered the main hall, sat with her back to him at the Eight Immortals table, and poured herself a large bowl of cold tea.

Li Qing was tidying up things with Xia Mama, and Tao Fei was helping in the small kitchen, so they had forgotten to add charcoal to the tea stove.

Cui Yunzhao delicately lifted the teacup and was about to drink the cold tea when the man behind her grabbed her wrist.

“The tea is cold. Wait until it’s hot before drinking.”

Cui Yunzhao wasn’t unaware of what was appropriate. Now, with Huo Tan’s concern, the small irritation caused by her embarrassment quickly dissipated.

“Then make tea.”

Huo Tan responded, “As you wish, my lady.”

Cui Yunzhao listened to the sounds behind her, glanced back quietly, and saw him carefully making tea. She turned back to her seat, feeling that she had managed to be discreet, though she didn’t see the smile at the corners of his mouth.

Huo Tan’s hands were long and strong. He retrieved charcoal from the incense burner and placed it in the tea stove.

Soon, steam began to rise from the tea.

Huo Tan poured a bowl for Cui Yunzhao and sat beside her at the Eight Immortals table.

They sat one on each side, observing the shifting light through the window.

Huo Tan said, “My lady, I know today was difficult for you. If you feel unhappy about anything, you can tell me.”

Cui Yunzhao understood what he was referring to.

The Old Madam’s attitude had been quite poor. Any new bride facing such a senior would feel quite wronged.

But Cui Yunzhao had dealt with the Old Madam many times in her previous life and knew well what kind of person she was; she was just a bit peculiar.

“My lord, why do I feel like grandmother doesn’t quite like you?”

Huo Tan, holding the teacup smoothly, sipped his tea slowly before saying, “Grandmother has never liked me much.”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t press further, but Huo Tan naturally continued.

“It’s probably because my mother was an orphan and because my mother was the woman my father defied grandmother to marry, so grandmother has never been very kind to my mother.

“Later, when my mother was pregnant and gave birth to my elder sister, the family situation improved somewhat.”

There were some things that Cui Yunzhao hadn’t cared about in her previous life, so she listened intently now.

“After my elder sister was born, my mother soon… she became pregnant again and gave birth to a boy.”

Cui Yunzhao was momentarily stunned, but quickly realized that this boy was not Huo Tan.

Huo Xinzhi was three or four years older than Huo Tan, meaning this boy was Huo Tan’s elder brother.

“Perhaps because of the consecutive births or because the family wasn’t well-off at the time, after giving birth to this child, my mother’s health wasn’t very good, and the child was always sickly.”

Huo Tan sighed and continued, “I didn’t know this when I was young. Later, fearing it might affect me, my mother told me about the past.”

Cui Yunzhao understood now.

This part of the story was likely Lin Xiu’s pain and something she was reluctant to remember, but for the sake of her son, she had still revealed the truth.

Huo Tan lowered his gaze and put the teacup back on the table with a dull thud.

“The boy was frail and passed away before he was even a month old.”

“My mother was very distressed at that time, and my grandmother was even more so.”

“My grandfather had passed away early, and with only my father as the child, everyone tried to take advantage of the situation. My grandmother relied on her own tenacity and the fierce determination of her younger years to keep the family going.”

“She was eager for my father to have more children, especially grandsons, and had high hopes for them.”

“Unfortunately, the child soon passed away, leaving her expectations unfulfilled and causing her to fall seriously ill.”

“My mother fell ill as well.”

Huo Tan sighed as he reached this point.

Cui Yunzhao pressed her lips together and comforted him, “But things are better now, aren’t they?”

Huo Tan nodded, glanced at Cui Yunzhao, and then looked away.

“After that, my mother did not become pregnant for a whole year, which made my grandmother very anxious, and she urged my father and mother to go to the temple to pray.”

“Perhaps it was the blessing of the Buddha. After returning from the temple, I was conceived.”

“That’s why my name is Tan, because I was prayed for at the temple.”

Cui Yunzhao had always thought Huo Tan’s name was pleasant, with a certain old-fashioned and steady charm, evoking the scent of sandalwood.

Only today did she learn the origin of Huo Tan’s name.

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was soft, “So it seems you have quite an affinity with Buddhism. Your name is also very beautiful.”

Huo Tan smiled, his eyes still focused on the gentle flames flickering in the tea stove.

“After I was born, my mother did not give birth again for many years. My grandmother’s attitude toward her became even worse, and by extension, she also disliked me.”

“Until my father got promoted and our family’s situation improved, my mother’s health improved.

“…had to bring in the children, and that’s when my mother gave birth to my younger brother and sister.”

Huo Chenzhuang and Huo Xinliu were twins. In those times, twins were considered an auspicious sign.

“It was because of them that my grandmother’s attitude changed. She began to show some rare smiles to my mother, but her feelings toward me remained the same as before.”

When Huo Tan said this, his tone was flat, as if he didn’t feel any grievance at all.

But how could one not feel wronged?

Cui Yunzhao felt a pang in her heart. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to comfort Huo Tan.

“Each person’s fate is different. Your mother told you about this painful past just to explain why your grandmother dislikes you. It’s not that you are at fault, it’s just a matter of unfortunate circumstances. You couldn’t replace the hopes she had for her deceased eldest grandson.”

Because of her intense expectations and affections, when her eldest grandson died, she poured all her frustration onto the innocent Huo Tan.

“It’s not your fault, my lord.”

Huo Tan suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling back on Cui Yunzhao.

In the blink of an eye, as time passed, the evening glow spread across the sky.

The setting sun cast its brilliant rays through the window frame, leaving a golden lotus pattern on the floor.

The tea stove on the table emitted a gentle steam, filling the room with the fragrance of tea, and the atmosphere was soft and tender.

Huo Tan actually didn’t care much about how his grandmother treated him.

He had been raised with care by his parents, and he would never forget their kindness. He had always been clear about who treated him well, and he returned that kindness.

He had never cared about how his grandmother treated him or what she thought of him.

But Cui Yunzhao’s words were so warm, warming his usually cold heart.

Huo Tan reached out and took Cui Yunzhao’s hand, their fingers intertwining.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Cui Yunzhao’s face flushed.

“What are you thanking me for? You’ve thanked me many times today. I’m just speaking the truth.”

Huo Tan smiled lightly, his voice gentle but soft.

He was truly a peculiar person.

Despite being a formidable general feared by enemies, cold and unyielding on the battlefield, he was always gentle and affectionate within his own home.

Even in their previous life, when they barely spoke a few words each day, Huo Tan had always been courteous to her.

His polite demeanor was no less than many scholars.

Cui Yunzhao cleared her throat, suddenly remembering something, and said, “No wonder Father always…”

“…then proposed such a policy of relief.”

Huo Tan sighed softly, “My lady is truly perceptive.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled gently, her voice soft, “At that time, my grandfather had already died in battle. My father had only two children, and my mother was in poor health, with an elderly mother to care for as well.”

“If he too had died in battle, how would this family of widows and orphans have survived?”

“So, he proposed this policy of relief to the emperor,” Cui Yunzhao explained, “because it was his greatest concern.”

This policy was not only to provide for the war orphans but also to ensure that the soldiers had no lingering worries and could fight for the country with their all.

Cui Yunzhao sighed, “It’s only natural.”

Huo Tan responded with a gentle squeeze of her hand before asking, “Wife, are you afraid?”

The way he asked the question seemed casual, but the term “wife” revealed his anxiety.

Cui Yunzhao could feel the warmth of his hand.

The seemingly casual question was actually what mattered most to him.

In times when military generals held power and local officials governed, who wouldn’t want to rise swiftly to success overnight?

Yet, with blood staining the earth and bones scattered across the fields, if her husband were to be lost forever, never to return, that kind of pain of separation, of life and death, is not something everyone can bear.

Her father had passed away four years ago. During those years, her mother seemed to carry on as usual, but Huo Tan knew that her mother had never stopped missing her father.

He didn’t want Cui Yunzhao to end up like his mother, a widow who smiled through tears in the future.

Before marriage, Huo Tan had never thought so much about these things.

At fifteen, he was on the battlefield, dealing with too many matters to even think about family issues, let alone ponder over matters of affection.

But now, everything was different.

As he held Cui Yunzhao’s soft hand, he suddenly understood what it meant to feel reluctant to part.

All the matters of affection surged toward him in these few days, leaving him with mixed feelings and slowly making him experience new entanglements.

Huo Tan wasn’t sure what answer he wanted from Cui Yunzhao.

But he still asked.

Perhaps, in some mysterious way, countless deities guided him toward a new path.

Cui Yunzhao looked down at their entwined hands, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke slowly.

Every word she spoke was heartfelt.

“Huo Tan, I am afraid.”

“So you have to work hard,” Cui Yunzhao raised his eyes and looked deeply at Huo Tan with his beautiful phoenix eyes, “You have to work hard to win every battle,

“Every time you’re injured, survive. Every time you leave, come back home.”

“Huo Tan, live well, and I will wait for you.”

Huo Tan’s throat tightened as countless emotions filled his heart, creating a roaring sensation in his ears like a tsunami breaking.

He didn’t hesitate for long and quickly gave his answer.

“I will.”

Huo Tan’s voice was firm and resolute.