Chapter 12

Noble Consort Yan leisurely observed Xu Yunxi, her long tortoiseshell nails lightly tapping on the high table, making a faint sound.

Xu Yunxi stood motionless.

Princess Consort Xi would never let Noble Consort Yan trouble her daughter-in-law. She stood up coldly and smiled wryly, “Your Majesty, if you’re concerned about Henger’s health, you can ask me…”

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunxi immediately understood, stepped forward, and knelt in the hall, saying, “In response to Your Majesty, I dare not speculate on the severity of my husband’s injuries. I only saw that his skin was torn, and his flesh was bloody.”

Noble Consort Yan wasn’t truly concerned about Pei Muheng’s injuries; she was annoyed that he spoke on behalf of the Crown Prince, ruining Prince Qin’s plans. “I ask you, your husband was beaten by His Majesty until he was covered in blood. Do you resent it?”

Princess Consort Xi felt that Noble Consort Yan was being unreasonable and let out a light snort.

However, Xu Yunxi smiled and calmly replied, “Both the thunder and the rain are His Majesty’s grace. My husband is His Majesty’s grandson. When a grandson makes a mistake, it is common for a grandfather to punish him. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the harsher the reprimand. His Majesty’s punishment for my husband shows that he values and wishes to correct him. How could we, his grandchildren, harbor any resentment?”

The Crown Princess and Noble Consort Yan were both taken aback by these words.

The Crown Prince had made such a grave mistake. Did the Emperor punish or scold him? No, the Emperor had only sent the Crown Prince back to the Eastern Palace to reflect, without even seeing him once. Could it be that the Emperor had given up on the Crown Prince?

The Crown Princess’s palms began to sweat.

At the same time, Noble Consort Yan thought: Prince Qin had stirred up public resentment to force the Emperor to deal with the Crown Prince. With the Emperor’s wisdom, how could he not see it? Up until now, had the Emperor reprimanded Prince Qin even once? No, on the contrary, the rewards for the Qin Mansion were ranked first among all the mansions on New Year’s Eve.

Noble Consort Yan realized this and suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Her sharp nails slowly gripped the edge of the high table, and she straightened up, looking at Xu Yunxi with a softened expression, “Stand up.”

Xu Yunxi stood up and thanked her.

Noble Consort Yan then asked, “Why were you daydreaming earlier?”

Xu Yunxi smiled shyly and said, “Your servant was reminded of the roadside stalls in my hometown when I saw that plate of candied hawthorns. It made me homesick.”

After all, she was a girl from the countryside and had never seen such grand scenes in the palace, which might have scared her. Noble Consort Yan waved her hand dismissively, and Xu Yunxi returned to her seat.

As for that plate of candied hawthorns, not a piece was touched.

Upon returning to the mansion, Xu Yunxi expected Princess Consort Xi to scold her. However, as they crossed the gate of the mansion, she glanced at her three daughters-in-law and finally fixed her gaze on Xu Yunxi, “Third daughter-in-law, you did well today. You must maintain this kind of calm dignity. Heng is outstanding in the court, and you must not diminish his prestige. No matter who troubles you, don’t be afraid. Our Xi mansion has no cowards.”

Princess Consort Xi had feared that Xu Yunxi, coming from the countryside, would be timid and unable to uphold their reputation. Today, Xu Yunxi did not disappoint her.

After returning to Jinhe Hall, Princess Consort Xi sent Nanny Hao to Qinghui Garden, replacing Princess Consort Qin’s jade bracelet with one of her own, of better quality. She was merely trying to irritate Princess Consort Qin and had no real interest in the bracelet, planning to return it under some pretext.

The events at Kunning Palace naturally reached Pei Muheng’s ears. When Xu Yunxi visited him, he quietly observed her for a while and gained a new appreciation for her. “You have been wronged.”

Xu Yunxi remained composed in the face of challenges, demonstrating the demeanor of an exemplary wife.

On the second day of the new year, when daughters return to their parents’ homes, Pei Muheng’s injuries prevented him from accompanying her. Xu Yunxi went to the Xu family alone. Madam Zhang couldn’t help but cry while hugging her, worried that Pei Muheng’s fall from favor with the Emperor would implicate her daughter.

Xu Yunxi spent some time comforting her mother.

After lying in the rear courtyard for three days, Pei Muheng moved back to his study.

The plea for help from Tongzhou had yet to yield any clues. While the case was largely understood, the person who wrote the plea remained elusive, leaving Pei Muheng feeling that something was beyond his control.

After Pei Muheng left Qinghui Garden, Xu Yunxi found it inconvenient to visit him but prepared medicinal soups and meals every few days to help him heal and replenish his energy.

As Pei Muheng’s wounds gradually healed, he could slowly walk around the mansion and occasionally visit Qinghui Hall to see his wife.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, Xu Yunxi was hanging lanterns under the corridor with the maids when a tall figure appeared outside the moon gate.

Pei Muheng, draped in a black cloak, stood tall by the corridor pillar. Lanterns blossomed in the twilight, their brilliant light spreading through the night mist, illuminating his handsome face.

Pei Muheng took a book from Huang Wei and handed it to Xu Yunxi, “The ancient recipes I promised you last time.” His tone was gentle, with even a slight smile at the corner of his lips, but it did nothing to diminish the aura that kept others at a distance.

Xu Yunxi hesitated before taking it. Being used to caring for patients, she felt more at ease with the injured Pei Muheng. “Thank you. It’s windy outside. Third Master, please come in for some tea.”

The couple entered the room together.

To be safe, Xu Yunxi had someone place a soft cushion for him.

Remembering her care for him over the past few days, Pei Muheng initiated a conversation. He asked a question, and Xu Yunxi answered, but all the warmth and concern from the New Year’s Eve were gone.

Pei Muheng was puzzled.

During those days, she was very attentive, not only treating his wounds but also making pastries, brewing medicinal soups, and giving countless instructions. Now that he was better, she seemed distant.

Pei Muheng couldn’t understand and asked directly, “Madam, are you unhappy?”

Xu Yunxi looked surprised, “No, not at all.” She let her previously relaxed hands fall, “Why does Third Master say that?”

Pei Muheng couldn’t ask her why she had grown distant. He wasn’t used to guessing a woman’s thoughts, so to avoid similar situations in the future, he discussed it with Xu Yunxi, “If I ever do something that upsets you, can you tell me directly?”

Xu Yunxi was confused, “Rest assured, Third Master, I’m not unhappy. If I were, I would tell you.”

When she was little, she would cry and throw tantrums whenever her parents left. But later, realizing that crying and tantrums were useless, she stopped. When her mother came to visit, she would happily welcome her and politely send her off when she left. Gradually, she understood that happiness had to come from within. She spent her days happily digging for wild vegetables, peanuts, and even secretly baking sweet potatoes in the field. Once she learned not to place her expectations on others, she never felt unhappy again.

Pei Muheng looked at his composed wife and felt reassured. He disliked women who were overly dramatic and spoiled, preferring his wife’s calm demeanor, which promised fewer troubles in the future.

Pei Muheng fully recovered a month later. One day, he wrote a letter of apology and sent it to the palace. The Emperor, taking the opportunity, first criticized him for his impetuous nature and said he needed more experience. Then, he assigned him to oversee the Censorate and investigate a major case related to the salt trade in Jiangnan.

Previously, Pei Muheng served as an advisor in the Imperial Study, only providing consultation. Now, he was given real power by being assigned to one of the six ministries.

The imperial edict was delivered to Prince Xi by the cabinet, and Prince Xi, pleased, brought it to Pei Muheng’s study. “The edict states that you must go to Yangzhou overnight and thoroughly investigate this case.”

Pei Muheng took the edict and, examining it under the lamp, understood the Emperor’s intent.

“The fire in the Tongzhou granary exposed the court’s shortcomings. The lack of military supplies is fundamentally due to the depleted state treasury. His Majesty is sending me to investigate the salt trade in Yangzhou to root out corrupt officials and increase revenue for the treasury.”

The embezzlement of the salt trade had been ongoing for a long time, involving many court officials and influential local families.

Pei Muheng looked at the red ink of the Emperor’s handwriting on the edict and smiled bitterly, “His Majesty is forcing me to become an isolated minister.”

Rooting out the country’s parasites means going against the powerful. If Pei Muheng only wanted to be a diligent official, he could simply be the Emperor’s sword, but he wasn’t; he had grand ambitions.

Prince Xi lightly cursed, “Old fox, using the same tactics you used against me.”

The Emperor used Prince Xi, letting him command the army to fight for the country, but also guarded against his military power. He appointed him as the Censorate, tasked with inspecting garrison farms and enforcing military discipline, causing Prince Xi to offend many military leaders.

Pei Muheng’s expression remained unchanged as he paced slowly in the study, holding the imperial edict, his cold and handsome eyes hidden beneath thick lashes, deep and inscrutable, “No matter, I have a way to help my grandfather enrich the treasury without alienating the court officials.”

With that, Pei Muheng headed south.

During the two months he was away, the Emperor took action against Great Wu. The Jin treasury wasn’t full enough for a prolonged war, so to achieve a quick victory, the famous military strategist Lord Wen, known as the modern-day Zhang Liang, was sent to the northern frontier. He spread false information about a food shortage in the Jin army to lure Great Wu in while secretly mobilizing troops and setting a trap. When Great Wu gathered heavy forces to attack Jin, they fell into the trap, and Jin dealt a severe blow to Great Wu’s army.

It was now April, and the Emperor’s longevity celebration was approaching. Great Wu’s Khan Tuotuoka’er sent his son to Jin to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday and discuss peace between the two countries.

This wasn’t the first time Jin and Great Wu had engaged in peace talks. According to tradition, the talks were to be held at the Xuanfu Palace.

The Xuanfu Palace was two hundred li from the capital. The aging Emperor, reminiscing about his youthful victories in battle, decided to move the longevity celebration to the Xuanfu Palace.

The Emperor’s plans to travel sent ripples through the court. Deciding who would stay behind and who would accompany him was of great importance.

The Crown Prince’s faction quickly seized this opportunity, petitioning the Emperor to release the Crown Prince, allowing him to atone for his sins so that the Emperor could travel to Xuanfu with peace of mind.

In the past, whenever the Crown Prince made a move, Prince Qin would confront him head-on.

But this time, Prince Qin did not.

Having endured three months of humiliation, Prince Qin secretly convened his trusted advisors, “The Emperor’s journey is merely an excuse to pardon the Crown Prince, allowing him to rightfully continue overseeing the state.”

Seeing that Prince Qin was not as angry as expected, the Court Judicial Review Chief asked, “Does Your Highness mean to comply with the Crown Prince this time?”

Prince Qin stroked his beard, his eyes fixed on the map of Xuanfu’s terrain, and smiled darkly, “To seize, one must first give. These past three months, I’ve had sleepless nights, but my uncle advised me to remain patient and not act rashly.”

The Court Judicial Review Chief expressed his concern, “The Prime Minister must have his reasons. Please reconsider your actions.”

Prince Qin was tired of hearing these words. He paced from the desk to the window, standing with his hands behind his back, and angrily said, “The Emperor’s health is deteriorating day by day. I can’t wait any longer. Even if it means risking the Emperor’s displeasure, I must take this gamble. I can’t let the Crown Prince smoothly take that position.”

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade him, the Court Judicial Review Chief asked, “What does Your Highness plan to do?”

Prince Qin turned, his stern face showing a determined ruthlessness. “This inspection tour is the perfect opportunity. I will ensure the Crown Prince’s complete downfall.”

At the same time, in the Imperial Study.

Xun Yunhe sat behind the desk, drafting an edict for the Emperor. The thin, elderly Emperor rested his hand on the window lattice, giving instructions word by word, “During my inspection tour, the Crown Prince will oversee the state. As for the cabinet…”

The Emperor slowly paced back and stood in front of Xun Yunhe, “Yan Ping and Xiao Yu will accompany me. You and Elder Zheng will stay behind. Elder Zheng is too soft-hearted and ineffective. Yunhe, I’m entrusting the court to you.”

Xun Yunhe stood and bowed, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will not fail you.” He then sat down again and drafted the Emperor’s words into an edict.

The Emperor thought for a moment, then looked towards the darkening sky and said, “As for the harem, Noble Consort Yan will accompany me. The Empress will oversee the palace. In the military, the Right Censor, Yang Kang, will go with me, while the Left Censor, Cui Zhen, will stay in the capital under your supervision.”

Xun Yunhe remained expressionless but understood that taking Yang Kang, the Crown Prince’s father-in-law, was to prevent the Crown Prince from causing trouble. Having Prince Qin, Yan Ping, and Noble Consort Yan accompany him meant keeping an eye on them. Despite his age, the Emperor saw through the schemes of those below him.

After a while, Xun Yunhe finished drafting the edict and presented it to the Emperor for review.

The Emperor read it silently, then looked out the window with a sigh, appearing somewhat worried.

Xun Yunhe slowly set down the edict, glanced at the Emperor’s furrowed brows, and suddenly spoke, “By the way, I remembered something.”

“What is it?” The Emperor looked at him indifferently.

Xun Yunhe bowed and smiled, “Though this northern tour is for peace talks with Great Wu, Your Majesty should not forget your own birthday. Even if it’s not a major milestone, it should still be celebrated.”

The Emperor paced and stood in front of him, looking at him with great interest, “What do you mean?”

Xun Yunhe calmly replied, “Allow the spouses of officials above the fourth rank to accompany you and celebrate the longevity festival for Your Majesty.”

Hearing this, the Emperor’s pitch-black pupils slightly contracted, deeply looking at him.

No wonder he was the Emperor’s trusted aide, always able to alleviate his worries at the right time. Allowing the spouses of officials above the fourth rank to accompany the Emperor would prevent the ministers from acting rashly. Neither the Crown Prince nor Prince Qin would be able to cause a significant disturbance.

With this, the Emperor’s worries were completely eased. He smiled and patted Xun Yunhe’s shoulder, “Let’s do as Minister Xun suggested.”

The Crown Prince, upon receiving the news, felt relieved. He had no intention of doing anything. It was a great fortune that the Emperor had released him, and he couldn’t afford to repeat his mistakes.

Prince Qin, however, was furious, “Xun Yunhe, that old fox, ruined my plans.”

The Court Judicial Review Chief smiled wryly, “Your Highness, the phrase ‘trusted by the Emperor’ is not just idle talk. Otherwise, why would the Emperor always have him draft the edicts?”

Prince Qin angrily clenched the desk with his broad hand, gritting his teeth, “No matter, I have a backup plan.”

On the first of April, the decree to accompany the Emperor was sent to each residence, and Xu Yunxi received a letter from Pei Muheng stating that he would soon return to the capital.

While packing her luggage, she asked Nanny Chen, “When will Third Master return to the mansion? We are to depart tomorrow. Will he make it in time?”

Nanny Chen replied, “He will go straight to Xuanfu and meet you there.”

Prince Xi was not allowed to accompany the Emperor, so Princess Consort Xi left the eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Xie, to manage the household while taking the rest of the family to Xuanfu. The warm and clear weather of April, with blooming flowers, made it a perfect time for a spring outing. Princess Consort Xi brought along her two grandsons, making the journey lively. The two young boys frequently bickered in the carriage, giving Princess Consort Xi a headache. In the end, she handed one to Madam Li and the other to her illegitimate daughter, finally getting a chance to rest.

Pei Mushan went off to play with her friends while Xu Yunxi quietly read a medical book in the carriage. They departed in the morning and arrived in the northwest near the Chai River in the afternoon, where the soldiers set up camp by the water.

Princess Consort Xi arranged for Pei Mushan and Xu Yunxi to share a tent. Their maids and older female servants helped move their daily-use items and boxes into the tent. Xu Yunxi had fewer belongings and settled quickly, then went out to help Pei Mushan. Pei Mushan was holding her beloved jewelry case, about to enter the tent, when she heard Huang Wei’s excited shout from behind, “Young madam, Third Master is back! He is currently meeting the Emperor in the imperial tent.”

Xu Yunxi was taken aback, standing gracefully in the evening breeze, somewhat at a loss. Before she could react, Pei Mushan complained, “Why is he back so soon? Wasn’t he supposed to meet us in Xuanfu? If Third Brother is back, where will I sleep?”

Pei Muheng and Xu Yunxi were a legitimate couple and were supposed to sleep together. Having been apart, their reunion was like a second honeymoon. Pei Mushan couldn’t ruin her brother’s happiness and, after feeling annoyed for a while, decided to take her jewelry case and head to Princess Consort Xi’s tent. After a few steps, she turned back and shrugged Xu Yunxi’s shoulder playfully, “I’ll wait here for my brother. If he brought me a gift, I’ll let him have my sister-in-law.”

Xu Yunxi looked at her silently, not knowing what to say.