Chapter 29 : My lady is injured, I will be distressed

The carriage sped along with the cold wind howling.

As winter arrived, the city of Bo Ling grew colder by the day, and every household had started burning warming stoves to keep their homes warm.

Even when going out, Li Qing carefully prepared a heating cage for her to hold in her arms to keep out the cold.

Cui Yunzhao felt the warmth from the stove and the tenderness from Mother Xia, and soon settled down comfortably.

Her heart seemed to calm along with her.

The carriage curtain was dawn, and Cui Yunzhao stopped looking out at Huo Tan.

She seemed like a child who never grew up, snuggling up to an elder and acting coquettishly.

Mother Xia gently patted her back, her voice tender: “Miss, if it’s about Young Master, you should speak directly to him.”

“In a marriage, the most important thing is not to keep secrets,” Mother Xia continued. “The more secrets there are, the harder life becomes. If you encounter any difficulties, just tell Young Master directly. He is a straightforward man and will not keep anything from you.”

Mother Xia believed that her words were in response to something concerning Huo Tan.

Cui Yunzhao responded softly and did not speak further.

The carriage fell silent. If this had been the old Cui Yunzhao, she would have been sad for a long time, but times had changed, and she was no longer the same person she once was.

In just a short while, Cui Yunzhao had composed herself, standing up from Mother Xia’s embrace.

Her face was tearless, her lips curved in a smile, and she was completely relaxed.

“I’m fine now.”

Mother Xia breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s good that you’re fine.”

As they talked, they arrived at the front of Baihe Academy.

The academy was open for teaching every day, so there was no need for advance notice, one could come at any time to seek knowledge.

When Cui Yunzhao got out of the carriage, the gatekeeper mistakenly thought “Is the lady here to report for the girls’ school?”

Cui Yunzhao shook her head and smiled, “I’m here to see the headmaster. Please let him know.”

The gatekeeper asked for her surname, and upon hearing it was Cui, did not show any curiosity or make further inquiries. Instead, he led Cui Yunzhao to a guest room to wait, and then hurried inside.

About fifteen minutes later, the gatekeeper came to invite her in.

Cui Yunzhao followed him, passing by rockeries and bamboo groves, with glimpses of mountain cottages and classrooms.

The sound of reading aloud came from the classrooms, the clear and youthful voices of children.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao was very focused, the doorman smiled and said, “That’s a young student in the introductory class. Usually they just follow along.”

“It’s still better at Baihe Academy.”

Soon, the gatekeeper led her to the inner study.

After knocking on the door, Cui Yunzhao responded and entered.

Inside, an elderly gentleman in his forties was writing.

Once he finished the scroll of large characters in his hand, he looked up at Cui Yunzhao.

It had been many years since they last met.

Cui Yunzhao had grown from a young child into a graceful young woman, her appearance vastly changed from when she was younger. Yet her bright eyes were just as they had been before, which immediately reminded Zhu Shaohe of who she was.

“Your niece?”

“It’s been years, and you’ve grown up so much.”

Zhu Shaohe quickly set down his pen, turned from his desk, and invited Cui Yunzhao to speak at the tea table.

“Over the years, the academy has been busy, and I haven’t had many visits. It feels a bit unfamiliar now.”

Zhu Shaohe said this, but in reality, it was not due to his many duties, he simply disliked dealing with hypocritical people like Cui Xu,  so he rarely visited the Cui family.

Cui Yunzhao was well aware of this and smiled as she said,  “I haven’t seen you for a few years. Now that I see you, my uncle, you are so energetic and vigorous. I feel relieved.”

Zhu Shaohe had been close friends with her father many years ago, and Cui Yunzhao had seen him many times. She naturally understood her uncle’s character.

Therefore, Cui Yunzhao did not exchange much pleasantry but directly asked, “Uncle, my husband’s younger brother wishes to study at the academy. Are there any regulations for this?”

Zhu Shaohe sighed.

“You’re married now, and that person is gone. Time flies.”

Cui Yunzhao knew he was reminiscing about her father, so she also raised her cup of tea in a respectful gesture.

Zhu Shaohe did not remain melancholic for long. After finishing a cup of tea, he returned to his usual calm demeanor.

He inquired about Huo Chengpu’s situation. Hearing that the student was somewhat reserved and timid, he stroked his long beard and said, “Let him join the second class. The students there are of similar age. They started their education later, around seven or eight years old, so he should be able to keep up.”

Such children are often of common origin.

Cui Yunzhao was immediately delighted and said, “Thank you very much, Uncle.”

Zhu Shaohe waved his hand.

The uncle and nephew talked for a while before Zhu Shaohe asked, “You got married in a hurry and Cui didn’t send me an invitation. I only vaguely heard your brother say that you married a soldier in Bo Ling City. What’s his name and what’s his personality like?”

As Zhu Shaohe spoke, his expression clearly grew somber.

Cui Yunzhao sat quietly, and upon hearing his question, she showed no signs of complaint and simply said, “Yes, my husband’s name is Huo Tan. He currently serves as a military envoy under General Lu and has quite a reputation.”

Zhu Shaohe was somewhat surprised. “So he is Military Envoy Huo?”

Cui Yunzhao was also surprised. “Uncle knows my husband?”

Zhu Shaohe stroked his long beard, and his expression gradually softened.

“If it’s him, he is indeed a good choice.”

Cui Yunzhao was quite astonished.

She knew that Huo Tan was well-liked among military officials, respected by generals, and admired by soldiers, but she did not expect that a scholar like Zhu Shaohe would also hold him in high regard.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao’s puzzled expression, Zhu Shaohe smiled and said, “I have indeed met your husband before, but he was only about fifteen or sixteen years old at that time.”

“Three years ago, your elder brother and I went back to our hometown to worship our ancestors. When we passed Wuping, we were attacked by mountain bandits. At that time, the Wuping mountain bandits blocked all the main roads and abducted all the passing merchants and civilians. They either had to pay silver to redeem themselves or stay in the mountains as slaves.”

“Your elder brother and I were merely returning to our hometown to pay respects and did not have much money with us, so we had no choice but to stay on the mountain as slaves.”

“For several days, your elder brother and I were extremely anxious, fearing that your aunt and sister-in-law were worried at home. With each passing day, our worry grew.”

Cui Yunzhao listened intently, her eyes growing brighter and her focus unwavering.

Zhu Shaohe continued, immersed in his memories, “For five or six days, there was no movement from the mountain. Your elder brother and I grew increasingly anxious, secretly discussing plans to escape with others.”

“But the bandits were armed with swords and were ruthless criminals. Even if we had more people, there was little chance of success.”

“Just when everyone was at a loss, the Qi Yang cavalry came to our rescue.”

Cui Yunzhao immediately understood that Huo Tan was among the soldiers at that time.

Zhu Shaohe looked at Cui Yunzhao and said, “The team was led by General Lu, but the one who performed outstandingly in battle was a sixteen-year-old youth.”

“Huo Tan?”

It could only be him.

Zhu Shaohe smiled faintly. “Indeed, it was him.”

“You probably haven’t seen him in action. He wielded a long spear with great skill and ferocity. Even though he was young, General Lu mentioned that he had just joined the army but showed such bravery and fearlessness.”

“During the battle, the bandits were thrown into chaos. One of them took the opportunity to capture a child and used a knife…”

“To force the soldiers to stay away, Huo Tan led the charge, disregarding the danger, and directly confronted the bandit. While blocking the bandit’s long knife with his bare hands, he managed to rescue the child.”

“He was injured on his arm but didn’t even furrow his brow.”

Zhu Shaohe, being a teacher, told the story with vivid emotion, allowing Cui Yunzhao to be fully immersed in it.

“His heroic figure left a deep impression on me. Later, when General Lu learned of my identity, he sent troops to escort me back to Bo Ling.”

“The team leader was Huo Tan. That was when I learned his name.”

This backstory was quite touching. Hearing this, Cui Yunzhao said, “It seems that my husband and Uncle have quite a connection.”

Zhu Shaohe sighed deeply. “It’s really a matter of life-saving grace.”

He then looked at Cui Yunzhao and said, “Your husband is remarkable. During our journey, I found out that although he is a military officer, he has read many books and is quite insightful. It’s no wonder he was promoted to military envoy in just a few years.”

Cui Yunzhao replied, “Uncle is too kind.”

Zhu Shaohe shook his head. “I’m not praising him just because of the life-saving grace. At that time, there was also General Lu’s eldest son who joined the campaign. Although he was a few years older than your husband, he did not measure up. You could tell just by the number of enemies they killed who was more valiant.”

Zhu Shaohe felt a sense of satisfaction as he spoke.

“My niece, you’ve married a good husband.”

This was something many people had said to Cui Yunzhao in her previous life, especially after her separation, and the number of people saying it only increased.

Everyone said she was ungrateful, that she was blind to the good fortune right in front of her, missing out on someone like Huo Tan, and losing the chance to be revered by all.

On the surface, it did seem like a great loss.

But many details of past events were not known to outsiders. Cui Yunzhao had countless grievances she could not share with others.

She snapped back to reality, smiled at Zhu Shaohe, and said, “Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I will listen carefully and live well with my husband.”

Seeing her earnestness, Zhu Shaohe finally relaxed. “Indeed, indeed.”

With the matter settled and after hearing the story, Cui Yunzhao prepared to leave.

Zhu Shaohe called out to her, “Niece, when you bring the student back later, if your husband is free, have him come along too.”

“It’s been a long time since we last met, and I would like to thank him properly.”

Cui Yunzhao was surprised by his genuine admiration for Huo Tan and replied:

“Alright, I will definitely mention it to my husband.”

Zhu Shaohe personally escorted her out of the academy.

On the way, Zhu Shaohe reminded her, “I know that the Cui family school is famous and the teachers there are all great scholars, but your parents are dead, the family might not provide as much guidance. Although I cannot visit often, if you or your siblings have any issues, feel free to come to me.”

“Make sure to keep a close watch on Tintang’s studies and don’t let him fall behind.”

He spoke at length, but his concerns were sincere.

Cui Yunzhao listened attentively and bowed deeply as she bade him farewell at the gate. “Thank you for your care, Uncle. I will visit again .”

Once Cui Yunzhao got into the carriage, Mother Xia let out a long sigh of relief.

“It’s been many years, and Mr. Zhu is still the same noble person.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled and nodded in agreement.

Mother Xia looked at her with something on her mind, hesitating to speak.

Cui Yunzhao, amused, asked, “What’s the matter, Mother?”

“I was so stunned to hear Mr. Zhu praise your husband.”

“I never expected that your husband could converse so freely with a great scholar from a prestigious family.”

Cui Yunzhao reflected for a moment and, unusually, praised Huo Tan as well.

“He truly is accomplished in both literature and martial skills.”

—-

Zhu Shaohe’s upright demeanor, like a bright, clear moon, helped settle Cui Yunzhao’s heart after their conversation.

With the day’s matters handled efficiently, Cui Yunzhao, noting that there was still time, decided to inspect her own shops.

Besides the silk shop and grain store, which she had just reviewed, there was also a general store. The locations of these shops were very good, showing the affection the Yin family had for their daughter.

Mother Xia had previously managed these shops, and the shopkeepers and helpers all recognized her. Seeing the young lady today, they were somewhat nervous.

Cui Yunzhao greeted each one, and finally, she chose the manager of the silk shop and said to Mother Xia, “Manager Liu is experienced. Have him help select one or two account keepers and managers to send to Fulu.”

Mother Xia nodded. “Understood.”

Cui Yunzhao thought for a moment and added, “You should personally visit the one hundred acres of good farmland in Fulu. In addition to rice, you should also plant various vegetables and fruits. We might need to go to Fulu in the future.”

Mother Xia hadn’t considered that.

“Do you plan to visit Fulu for leisure, Miss?”

Cui Yunzhao shook her head.

She said, “General Lu is appointed as the Defense Commissioner of Bo Ling, and he is a trusted aide of the Qi Yang governor, Guo. Recently, there have been reports of unrest in Wuping. The governor of Wuping, Li Fengnian, is the brother-in-law of the late Emperor Liu Xiyin and the husband of Princess Feng Tian.”

Cui Yunzhao’s voice was calm, but it sent a chill down Mother Xia’s spine.

In times of chaos, rites collapse, music breaks down, and the royal authority is in disarray.

The current emperor, Pei Ye, was once a prominent minister in the previous dynasty. He followed the founding emperor in expanding territories. The thirteen states of Youyun, which were ceded to the Li Rong by the previous Jin dynasty, had two states that Pei Ye personally recaptured.

Such a seemingly loyal general, under the suspicion and exclusion of the emperor, and in the twilight of the dynasty, could only rise in rebellion and establish his own empire.

Now, in the heartland of Central Plains where hundreds vie for supremacy, anyone with capability can become emperor.

But whether this throne can be firmly held is unknown.

Pei Ye himself came from a background of battles and wars. Now as emperor, he is well aware that he cannot even be certain of his own stability on the Dragon Throne, let alone the longevity of the dynasty.

Cui Yunzhao sighed.

“Earlier at the grain store, I noticed that rice prices have risen by two coins recently. But at this time, there should be old rice stored in the granaries.”

She speculated, “That’s why I have this suspicion.”

The Cui family, regardless of gender, attended the clan’s school from a young age.

However, women could not take the imperial examinations. Noble women in the family only studied until they married, focusing more on classics, history, and other literature to refine their character and broaden their knowledge.

This is why Cui women are renowned and often achieve high status.

To marry well is to marry a virtuous person, and the Cui family has produced many capable women.

Cui Yunzhao didn’t realize her own worth in her early years. Her life, though lived, was neither smooth nor fulfilling, and she had no ability to influence the course of history or preserve the dynasty.

At that time, she only wished for a peaceful life. Yet, fate, in its irony, granted her another chance after she had been cruelly poisoned.

It seemed to be Heaven’s mercy upon her.

In this life, Cui Yunzhao decided to live well.

Even if not for herself, she wanted to do something for the suffering people of these chaotic times.

Cui Yunzhao said, “Mother Xia, what I didn’t mention at the grain store was that I wanted to discuss it with you.”

Mother Xia became serious. “Please, Miss, go ahead.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and thoughtfully said, “Every winter, the government opens the granaries and releases stored old rice. The winter is cold and food is scarce, so this old rice helps the people get through the season.”

“This year’s old rice hasn’t arrived yet, so we should keep our new rice prices stable. This way, the people will at least have something to eat.”

Mother Xia’s eyes were full of admiration. “I will do as you say.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled, but after the smile, her expression turned serious again.

In summer, the newly harvested rice is abundant, and the price is low, typically sixty wen per dou. As autumn passes and winter arrives, the price of new rice rises to eighty wen. Just now, I saw that the price at our family’s grain store has already risen to eighty-two wen, while the old rice hasn’t yet arrived.”

“Manager Sun said he has already inquired with the court’s clerk. This year’s old rice has been kept in Fulu and hasn’t been distributed to the various states.”

“Old rice being held back, Mother, what do you think it could be used for?”

Mother Xia sighed.

Though she didn’t have the insight of the young miss, she was an experienced steward from the Yin and Cui families and had seen and heard much.

After Cui Yunzhao said this, Mother Xia understood that the court could no longer keep Li Fengnian.

“Another war is coming again.”

Mother Xia couldn’t help but worry, “Will the master be going?”

Cui Yunzhao was taken aback.

In her previous life, Huo Tan did not participate in this campaign against the rebels. He stayed in Bo Ling to defend the city, and that was why he had not been promoted that year.

She couldn’t share this with Mother Xia, so she just shook her head and said, “I don’t know.”

Mother Xia seemed to have something more to say but held back.

In the end, she didn’t say anything more and just said, “I’ll go make some sugar cakes and prepare them.”

Sugar cakes are a type of pastry that uses a lot of rice, salt, and sugar. They are very hard and thick, best enjoyed when soaked in hot soup. However, if carried during military campaigns and baked over a fire, they are not only sweet but also provide a good source of energy, making them ideal for wealthy military rations.

Typically, armies do not prepare such rations.

Seeing Mother Xia’s concern, Cui Yunzhao said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Mother.”

The two of them chatted as they returned home.

By now, it was getting late. The setting sun cast its golden rays on the plain entrance of the Huo residence, giving it a touch of antiquity.

As Cui Yunzhao got out of the carriage and was about to enter, she heard a deep, familiar voice say, “My lady.”

Cui Yunzhao turned around to see Huo Tan walking towards her from the alley.

He must have left his horse at the stable and walked back home.

The setting sun melted into gold, and the afterglow illuminated his face, casting a golden sheen over his handsome features.

The residual twilight was colorful and enchanting.

Huo Tan’s originally cold and handsome face seemed to warm up, especially his eyes as he looked at Cui Yunzhao, which seemed to carry boundless tenderness.

“Where did you go, my lady?” Huo Tan asked as he smoothly approached Cui Yunzhao.

Cui Yunzhao looked up at him.

In just an hour’s absence, it felt as though years had passed.

She tried to smile,

Cui Yunzhao tried not to recall the earlier scene and gave Huo Tan a faint smile. “I went to Baihe Academy.”

“Have you just returned from your duties? You must be tired.”

Huo Tan nodded, and the couple walked side by side into the house.

When they entered the main room, Cui Yunzhao saw that Huo Tan was already washing his face in cold water.

“Wait a moment…”

Before she could say anything further, Huo Tan had finished washing his face and was now drying it with a handkerchief.

“What’s the matter?”

Cui Yunzhao was taken aback. “You’re really not afraid of the cold, are you?”

She glared at him, then stepped forward to help him remove his outer robe.

Huo Tan looked down at his petite wife and couldn’t help but smile.

“Is there something you need?”

In recent days, Huo Tan had discovered that while his wife spoke sweetly, she would only act if there was something in it for her. Otherwise, even holding hands would be a challenge.

Huo Tan didn’t mind this, in fact, he found it quite enjoyable.

Men have this annoying trait: the more difficult something is to obtain, the more precious it becomes.

Huo Tan enjoyed Cui Yunzhao’s “care” and said with a smile, “Just tell me what you need.”

Cui Yunzhao glanced up at him, helped him remove his outer robe, and then said, “In a few days, Mother Xia will need to go to Fulu. My mother’s dowry includes a significant portion of property there. It has been managed by my second aunt for the past few years, but I’m not at ease, so Mother Xia needs to check on it.”

Cui Yunzhao said this and Huo Tan nodded.

“Alright, I will send someone to accompany Mother Xia.”

He was truly quite perceptive; there were many things the couple didn’t need to say directly but understood each other’s thoughts clearly.

Seeing Cui Yunzhao’s surprised look, Huo Tan put on a soft robe from home, then sat down at the Eight Immortals table.

He poured himself a cup of tea. “We really are in sync as a couple. Sometimes, with just a glance from you, I know exactly what you want.”

Huo Tan looked up and gave Cui Yunzhao a carefree smile.

His smile was clean, bright, and carried a purity that was beyond others’ reach.

“My lady, do you think we are a match made in heaven?”

Cui Yunzhao glanced at him and couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t know if we’re a match made in heaven, but I’ve certainly seen your intelligence.”

Cui Yunzhao sat down on the other side of Huo Tan and poured herself a cup of tea.

She began discussing the matters related to Baihe Academy.

Cui Yunzhao finished speaking and then asked, “Why didn’t you mention before that you had this connection with Master Zhu?”

Huo Tan drank another cup of tea before responding, “Master Zhu is a great scholar of our time. At that time, it was merely a matter of military orders and duties, it wasn’t a matter of saving a life.”

Huo Tan always had this attitude.

As a soldier, saving people was part of his duties. How could he use it to seek repayment?

Cui Yunzhao understood his nature and didn’t push further. She said, “Master Zhu still remembers you clearly and praises you repeatedly. He even mentioned that when you were studying in the past, he hoped you would join him. He hasn’t seen you for a long time and still misses you.”

Huo Tan smiled, “That’s very good. I also look forward to discussing things with him.”

At this point, Cui Yunzhao wanted to ask about Bai Xiaochuan.

She lowered her eyes, organized her thoughts, and was about to speak when Huo Tan suddenly grabbed her hand.

His hands, just washed with cold water, were cool to the touch, but his palms were warm.

His large hand gripped her slender wrist firmly, not loosening even a bit.

Cui Yunzhao was startled.

“What’s wrong?”

Huo Tan turned her wrist over and used his other hand to gently smooth out her slightly curled fingers.

Three small bloodstains immediately became visible to both of them.

Cui Yunzhao instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

But Huo Tan’s grip was too tight, leaving her no chance to escape.

“How did you get injured?” Huo Tan’s voice was deep yet pleasant.

It had a soothing quality that reached the heart.

Cui Yunzhao felt her face flush with heat.

Huo Tan looked down, and Cui Yunzhao couldn’t see his emotions, only that he retrieved a medicine pouch from his waist and took out a small porcelain box.

“How could you be so careless?”

Huo Tan sighed softly, opened the porcelain box, and took out a small amount of white ointment.

A medicinal fragrance immediately filled Cui Yunzhao’s nose, making her face turn even redder.

“It’s just a minor injury, it’s nothing.”

Huo Tan shook his head.

He slightly lifted his gaze to look at Cui Yunzhao, his expression focused and serious. His eyes, bright and starry, seemed to contain an endless sea of stars, captivating and enchanting.

“The injury is on my lady’s hand, and my heart aches for it.”

Huo Tan’s voice lingered in Cui Yunzhao’s ear, making her ears burn with heat.

He applied the ointment to her minor injury with gentle, careful movements.

“From now on, be more careful, otherwise, I really won’t dare to let you go out.”

“My lady is injured, I will be distressed.”