Chapter 52 : Shall I serve my wife while she bath

Huo Tan said this as he diligently served Cui Yunzhao a bowl of egg custard.

“Eat, my Lady.”

Cui Yunzhao glanced at him, noticing his smile and a hint of eagerness to please, which made her unable to suppress a smile herself.

“What a tease.”

She chided lightly.

Huo Tan watched her laugh, his expression bright and cheerful.

“This isn’t teasing, I genuinely want to thank you, my Lady.”

At this point, Huo Tan couldn’t help but sigh, “You are well-read and knowledgeable, and your ideas are much better than mine. They align much more closely with Governor Guo’s vision.”

“Whether this can succeed depends entirely on Governor Guo’s stance General Lu will surely be pleased. For today’s effort, I must thank you again.”

Cui Yunzhao replied, “You don’t need to thank me every time, there’s no need to be so formal.”

The lanterns in the main room flickered gently, the space elegantly arranged. Cui Yunzhao sat in her warmly lit home, exuding an air of grace and leisure. This was her home, as well as his.

Huo Tan gazed at Cui Yunzhao deeply, his eyes filled with subtle appreciation.

He said earnestly, “It’s not formality.”

“Even between husband and wife, one should express gratitude when it’s due.”

“There’s no obligation in this world to give and take,” Huo Tan replied. “You are so learned and clever, yet you can only advise me. When this is mentioned outside, it all becomes my achievement, and I feel guilty.”

He continued, “If you were like Governor Lu, able to go into battle and gain honors, building a career, yet there has never been a precedent for a woman holding office in court.”

Cui Yunzhao hadn’t expected Huo Tan to be so serious or that his words would be so heartfelt. He was indeed different from most men.

Thinking of this made her heart flutter. She put down her chopsticks and looked seriously at Huo Tan.

She knew Huo Tan well, he had always respected her, both in the past and present, and he respected everyone equally.

In his eyes, regardless of gender or age, a person was just a person, without distinction. Capable individuals deserved respect, while ordinary people needed protection. It was that simple.

Cui Yunzhao had often thought these days that if she could change her own fate and the future of those around her, what about more people? If she could walk to the end of her life with Huo Tan, perhaps she could change many destinies, even five, ten, or a hundred years down the line. A single star could illuminate the path ahead.

She looked seriously at Huo Tan and asked softly, “My lord, do you think women can hold office?”

Huo Tan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to ask such a serious question, but he never brushed her off. Instead, he pondered deeply.

Seeing him take it seriously reassured Cui Yunzhao. She lifted her porcelain bowl and took small bites of the egg custard.

Huo Tan slowly said, “I believe it is feasible. I used to see little of the world and thought women could only go into battle to defend the nation, which they can do just like men.”

Having seen it himself, he naturally thought it was a commonplace matter. “But I haven’t seen women in official positions in court, yet…”

Huo Tan looked at Cui Yunzhao, his eyes betraying his admiration.

“From my time with you, I believe you are completely as capable as those men. This shows that, with the same education and learning, men and women are essentially the same.”

Cui Yunzhao nodded, urging him to continue.

“Sometimes, men and women think differently. They might offer more insights and broader perspectives,” Huo Tan chuckled, “You might laugh, but my original idea for resettling the displaced was to have them build the Anmin granaries.”

Anmin granaries were places where taxes on farmland were stored each year. The granaries in places like Boling had not been maintained for decades and were in ruins. If displaced people could be brought in to repair them, it was indeed a good idea.

Cui Yunzhao agreed, “Your plan is feasible, especially since the displaced people might be willing to stay in Boling once they see the stored grain, thus increasing the population there.”

Huo Tan, rarely praised by his wife, looked a bit pleased. He touched his nose, cleared his throat, and continued, “Of course, your suggestion is still better.”

“Fulu is indeed a favored place of Governor Guo,” Huo Tan remarked, steering the conversation back to the topic of women in office. “However, to allow women to hold office, we first need to debate with those old scholars. After all, customs have not changed in thousands of years, and if we want to make a significant move, those old scholars might well resist to the point of death.”

Cui Yunzhao chuckled, unsure whether she found his words amusing or if she simply enjoyed Huo Tan’s commentary on the old scholars.

In her past life, he often lost his temper with those scholars, yet ultimately couldn’t do much about them.

Cui Yunzhao replied, “That’s a matter for later. The emperor probably doesn’t have such ideas now, but if you think it’s feasible, I’m already quite satisfied.”

“Actually, I’m not suited to hold office; I don’t have the capabilities of my parents. Everything I know is mostly from reading historical texts.”

Cui Yunzhao was aware of her limitations. She had lived one life, aware of many future events, and her diligence in reading and thinking during her last few years had shaped her current self. Compared to many, she didn’t consider herself exceptional; in fact, she felt she wasn’t suited for the political arena.

In this life, she simply wanted to live happily and ensure her loved ones had fulfilling lives. Beyond that, if she could do small, insignificant things to help many people escape their predicaments, she would be content.

Huo Tan was somewhat surprised to hear her say this. After thinking for a moment, he remarked, “Are you considering other women?”

Cui Yunzhao nodded. “Yes.”

Huo Tan laughed again. “You truly have a kind heart.” As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the steaming pot on the table, his expression resolute.

“People used to say that military generals were only good for fighting; what else could they do? But now? Now, they take turns ruling as emperors.”

“People once claimed that women were incapable of even tying up a chicken; now? Aren’t women still generals?”

“As for the future, no one can predict it. Perhaps all it takes is one opportunity for fate to change.”

Huo Tan’s tone was unusually firm as he spoke. It seemed he was addressing the issue of women in government, but there was a deeper meaning behind his words.

Cui Yunzhao’s heart raced with understanding. She now clearly realized that Huo Tan had always harbored great ambitions. His ambitions weren’t limited to Boling, Fulu, or even Bianjing. He sought broader horizons, greater power, and longed to be someone admired by all.

He had been striving forward all along.

Huo Tan was a determined person; he never hesitated.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but look at him, her gaze filled with encouragement. “My lord, let us toast to the future.”

She raised her teacup earnestly towards Huo Tan.

Huo Tan suddenly turned his gaze back to her. The woman before him, with her charming smile and expressive eyes, had a brightness that outshone the stars.

Those were the most beautiful eyes Huo Tan had ever seen, capable of seeing into one’s heart. In her gaze, there was encouragement, affirmation, and boundless courage. Most importantly, there was no trace of fear.

Huo Tan suddenly smiled.

He raised his teacup and gently clinked it against Cui Yunzhao’s. “To my lady wife, and to the future.”

After they finished their meal, Cui Yunzhao remembered something. “Mother said she has prepared the items for the twelfth brother’s wedding ceremony. You should take a day off tomorrow morning, and we’ll visit the Baihe Academy.”

Huo Tan acknowledged her with a simple, “Got it.”

Cui Yunzhao didn’t say more. After running around these past few days and working up a sweat, she asked Li Qing and Tao Fei to prepare bathwater, wanting to take a bath.

Huo Tan heard her from the study and, once the maids had left, he peeked out.

Rarely, he adopted a somewhat playful tone. “Shall I serve my wife while she bathes?”

Cui Yunzhao shot him a glance.

Huo Tan chuckled, casually asking, “Aren’t we still not that familiar? The New Year is almost here.”

Cui Yunzhao replied, loosening her hair as she said, “It’s not even a month yet.”

“Are you getting impatient, my lord?”

Huo Tan said something she didn’t catch, and she didn’t inquire further.

When Cui Yunzhao emerged from her bath, she found Huo Tan in their bedroom, tending to some incense.

He rarely played with such things, and it appeared he was somewhat clumsy with them.

Seeing him handling the incense, she didn’t stop him. As she dried her hair, she moved to the dressing mirror.

The room was filled with the scent of incense, and while it wasn’t cold, it wasn’t as warm as in previous days. With heavy snow falling outside, the world was icy, and no matter how fiercely the incense burned inside, it couldn’t fend off the biting cold.

Cui Yunzhao wore a cozy, fur-lined coat and loose trousers suitable for home, looking relaxed and at ease. Sitting in front of the dressing mirror, the candlelight illuminated her, making her appear as beautiful as a painting.

Huo Tan found himself irresistibly drawn to her. He even forgot the fire stick he was holding until it burned him, jolting him back to reality.

Cui Yunzhao caught a glimpse of him in the mirror and noticed he had been burned, causing her to smile lightly.

“My lord, don’t waste my new incense.”

Huo Tan replied, more deftly this time. Once he finished lighting the incense and placed it in the pagoda incense burner, he stepped behind Cui Yunzhao.

She had already applied pearl powder to her face. Her complexion was fair and delicate, now glowing even more, resembling a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

Through the mirror, Cui Yunzhao saw Huo Tan’s gaze resting on her long hair. It was glossy and black, occasionally scented with osmanthus perfume, giving her an intoxicating sweetness.

However, at that moment, the scent of osmanthus was replaced by a rich and fragrant aroma. Huo Tan couldn’t quite identify it; he wasn’t well-versed in all those fragrances.

“What is that scent?” Huo Tan asked.

Cui Yunzhao applied a layer of facial cream he hadn’t seen before and then said, “It’s gardenia.”

Huo Tan sniffed again and replied, “It’s very fragrant.”

For some reason, Cui Yunzhao felt her face heat up a bit.

“You should go busy yourself,” she suggested.

But Huo Tan shook his head. “I have nothing to do.”

Cui Yunzhao raised an eyebrow, likely finding it bothersome that he stood there while she was applying cream.

Yet Huo Tan seemed oblivious to her discomfort. He reached out to take a strand of her long hair, gently brushing it. “Did you not dry your hair?”

Cui Yunzhao explained, “It was too stuffy in the warm room, so I thought I’d come out and sit for a bit, then dry it with the hot water bottle.”

Huo Tan’s eyes lit up immediately. “Let me dry your hair.”

Before she could refuse, he went to fetch the hot water bottle and carefully placed it on her hair.

This particular hot water bottle was small, about the size of a palm, but flat enough to wrap the hair around and dry it quickly. Huo Tan knew how to use it well, but he handled her hair with even more caution and care.

Cui Yunzhao caught sight of his serious expression in the mirror, and her heart softened unexpectedly. She bit her lip and suddenly said, “Thank you, my lord.”

Huo Tan didn’t look up, continuing his task while responding lightly.

The candlelight flickered in the room, creating a tranquil atmosphere, with only the sound of the flames dancing in the background.

Cui Yunzhao felt a warm sensation at the back of her neck as Huo Tan gently dried her long hair, strand by strand.

Once he finished, she stood up, but before she realized it, Huo Tan pulled her tightly into his embrace.

With a smile in his eyes, he was right before her. Their breaths intertwined in that moment.

“My Lady, don’t you want to thank your husband?”