Chapter 13

The fiery red sunset outlined the verdant mountains with a golden edge. Ripples danced on the lake’s surface, reflecting the inverted evening glow, resembling a pool of shattered starlight. Pei Mushan handed her jewelry box to a maid, leaning against Xu Yunxi as they stood together, watching the man approaching leisurely from a distance.

He wore a well-tailored azure narrow-sleeved robe, conversing with several officials by the lakeside. The slanting rays of the setting sun rested on his brows, blending with his naturally cold and distinguished demeanor, forming a faint layer of cool mist that naturally set him apart from those around him.

Pei Mushan admired her brother’s good looks and couldn’t help but sigh, “Sister-in-law, if I were to look for a husband as handsome as my brother, wouldn’t I end up alone forever?”

Xu Yunxi’s gaze also fell on her husband, who stood out in the crowd. The mountain wind carried fallen petals, some landing on his shoulders, some on the hem of his robe, and a few on his thick eyelashes, which he brushed away as if wiping off the traces of the mundane world.

Pei Muheng dealt with the officials at a leisurely pace. When he glanced in their direction, he caught Xu Yunxi’s dazed expression and saw a figure lazily leaning against her, smiling mischievously at him. Pei Muheng frowned and looked away.

Pei Mushan tugged at Xu Yunxi, half-joking and half-dejected, saying, “I want to marry an outstanding husband like you did, sister-in-law. Tell me honestly, are you happy being married to my brother?”

Xu Yunxi gently stroked the girl’s soft hair, and her throat suddenly felt sticky. After a moment, she replied softly, “Yes.”

Pei Mushan looked into her clear eyes, smiled, and stood up without asking further.

After dismissing the officials, Pei Muheng walked over, his tall figure stopping at the steps of the tent. He nodded to Xu Yunxi before gazing at his sister, “What are you doing here?”

His tone was noticeably impatient.

Pei Mushan’s temper flared as she put her hands on her hips and asserted, “I belong here!”

Taking advantage of the steps, Pei Mushan felt her momentum shouldn’t be lacking.

Pei Muheng glanced at her indifferently, then ignored her and spoke to Xu Yunxi, “Have you had dinner, madam?”

Xu Yunxi curtsied with a smile, “Not yet, and you, Third Master?”

Pei Muheng shook his head, then looked at Pei Mushan with an expression that clearly told her to leave.

Pei Mushan was annoyed. She pulled Xu Yunxi’s arm into her embrace and said, “Hey, I’m telling you, Mother instructed me to share a tent with my sister-in-law. Your sudden return has disrupted the plan. I don’t care. I’m staying here today. You go find another place to stay!”

Pei Muheng quietly looked at her, his elegant eyes showing no hint of emotion.

Huang Wei, who was at the side, couldn’t help but laugh, bowing slightly as he intervened, “Fifth Miss, aren’t you afraid of being laughed at for fighting with your brother over your sister-in-law?”

With that, Pei Mushan found a way out and immediately changed her tone, looking down at Pei Muheng from a higher position, “Did you bring me any makeup? If you did, I’ll let sister-in-law stay with you.”

After saying this, there was no response from below the steps. She glanced over, meeting Pei Muheng’s exasperated gaze. Pei Mushan subconsciously gulped and, gradually feeling her face heat up, finally couldn’t stand it any longer. She turned to Xu Yunxi and said, “Ahem, I just remembered, with Father not around, Mother might not be used to being alone. I’ll go sleep with Mother.” She then gave Pei Muheng a fierce look before leaving in a huff.

Huang Wei stifled a laugh, quickly taking Pei Muheng’s clothes from a guard and quietly heading toward the tent.

Xu Yunxi waited for the siblings to finish their commotion and then gestured inside, “Third Master, please come in.”

Pei Muheng climbed the steps and entered the tent, with Xu Yunxi following behind.

The tent was not large, only about three zhang wide. The outer area was for receiving guests and drinking tea, while the interior was divided by a white screen into two small rooms—one with a modest-sized wooden bed for a bedroom and the other for bathing and toileting.

The attendants left the tent, and Xu Yunxi helped Pei Muheng wash his face and drink tea. When she finished tidying up and returned, she noticed a long box on the previously empty table.

Pei Muheng sat in the armchair, sipping tea. He looked up at her and then pointed to the box, “It’s for you. See if you like it.”

Xu Yunxi was taken aback, and her clasped hands slowly lowered as she pinched the sleeve, “For me?”

What about his sister? Her cheeks flushed, not with shyness, but with guilt. How could she face Pei Mushan?

Seeing her hesitation, Pei Muheng set down his teacup, “What’s wrong?”

Sitting opposite him, Xu Yunxi slowly took the box in her hands and suggested, “Third Master, I don’t need anything. Why not give this to your sister?”

Pei Muheng looked at his modest wife, recalling his sister who loved to be adorned with jewelry. He said firmly, “This is for you.”

Xu Yunxi said no more and opened the box. Inside was a pair of fine mutton-fat jade bracelets. Pei Muheng had excellent taste; the bracelets were lustrous and of the highest quality.

Facing her husband’s goodwill, she gave a big smile, “They are beautiful. I love them.”

In truth, Xu Yunxi rarely wore jewelry—just a simple jade hairpin and a pair of modest pearl earrings. Wearing bracelets would be inconvenient for her daily medical practice.

Seeing his wife happy, Pei Muheng finished his tea.

Previously, the empress had forced him to bring Xu Yunxi a lunchbox, but this time, he voluntarily brought her a gift upon his return.

“Try them on?”

Xu Yunxi obediently put on the bracelets, feeling their weight and discomfort. She hesitated and softly asked, “Can I give one to your sister?”

Pei Muheng: “…”

“Two sisters, to whom?” His tone was indifferent.

Xu Yunxi lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Pei Mushan had an elder sister, Pei Mulan, who was introverted and rarely spoke. Xu Yunxi had barely seen her a few times.

*

Pei Mushan returned angrily to Princess Consort Xi’s tent.

Princess Consort Xi, finally enjoying some peace, was startled by her daughter’s fiery entrance, “Why are you back?”

“I came to keep you company, Mother.” Pei Mushan set the jewelry box on the table and slumped onto the daybed, looking distressed.

Princess Consort Xi, unsympathetically, replied, “I don’t need your company.”

Pei Mushan was on the verge of tears. She bounced up and said, “Brother is back…”

Princess Consort Xi was momentarily stunned, and then she smiled, “Heng’er is back?”

Before she finished speaking, footsteps were heard outside, and shortly after, Pei Muheng entered with Xu Yunxi to pay their respects to Princess Consort Xi.

Princess Consort Xi beamed with joy, pulling her son close and asking him all sorts of questions.

Xu Yunxi stood beside Pei Mushan, trying to pull her sleeves down as much as possible. However, Pei Mushan, with her keen eyes, quickly noticed the lustrous glow on Xu Yunxi’s wrist. She tilted her head to look closer, “A pair!”

Not hers!

Her eyes, like daggers, shot at Pei Muheng.

“Brother, you’re too much!” She gritted her teeth.

Pei Muheng ignored his sister’s complaint and simply recounted his experiences in Yangzhou to his mother.

Princess Consort Xi glanced at her unreasonable daughter.

Pei Mushan turned to Xu Yunxi, looking aggrieved. Xu Yunxi took her hand and comforted her, whispering, “Don’t be upset. I’ll buy you some next time…”

Soon, Princess Consort Xi ordered the servants to bring dinner, asking Pei Muheng and his wife to stay and dine with her.

After dinner, she looked at her son, feeling sorry for him, “You’ve lost weight. You’ve had a hard time these two months, haven’t you?”

Pei Muheng laughed lightly, “Mother, this was a rare opportunity for me. I gained a lot from it, and it was worth it.”

He didn’t tell Princess Consort Xi that during his two months in Yangzhou, he faced more than ten assassination attempts, each one life-threatening.

Princess Consort Xi’s gaze shifted to Xu Yunxi, who was clean and bright-eyed, with skin so good it could be pinched. Despite her husband’s absence, she had taken good care of herself. Princess Consort Xi recalled her sleepless nights and weight loss when Prince Xi went to battle, and in contrast, Xu Yunxi seemed indifferent. Her tone became stern as she instructed, “Take good care of your husband.”

Xu Yunxi didn’t know what she had done to upset her mother-in-law again and nodded helplessly, “Yes, mother.”

As night fell, Princess Consort Xi noticed the fatigue on her son’s face and asked, “Are you going to your grandfather’s tent later?”

Pei Muheng shook his head, “No, I’ve been traveling day and night. Grandfather told me to rest.”

Princess Consort Xi said nothing more and waved them off.

Pei Muheng and Xu Yunxi returned to their tent, one after the other.

The night sky was clear, filled with stars. The evening mountain breeze was slightly cool, with a faint moist feeling on the face, reminiscent of the scenes in the countryside of Jingzhou years ago. Xu Yunxi stood at the entrance for a while before turning back inside the tent.

In the distance, the sounds of patrolling guards and chirping insects and birds created an increasingly serene atmosphere inside the tent.

Pei Muheng liked quiet, so all the maids, including Yin Xing, were sent to the small tent outside designated for the servants.

When Xu Yunxi entered, Pei Muheng was reclining in the armchair, seemingly dozing. He looked truly exhausted.

She first checked the bathhouse, where a large tub of hot water was already prepared, still steaming. Xu Yunxi returned to the outer room and saw Pei Muheng sitting motionless. She took the initiative to find the package Huang Wei had brought in and took out his clothes.

Xu Yunxi stared at the clothes for a moment, lost in thought. She had never properly attended to his dressing before.

Soon, Xu Yunxi carried the clothes into the bathhouse and placed them on the clothes rack. Turning to the outer room, she softly called, “Third Master, it’s time for your bath.”

Her voice was gentle and light, swaying in the night air.

Pei Muheng opened his eyes and looked at her. She wore a plain robe, standing gracefully by the screen. The dim yellow light blurred her silhouette and his vision.

Pei Muheng was indeed very tired. For the past two months in Yangzhou, he had been on high alert, never letting his guard down. Returning to the capital, his defenses finally relaxed. He got up and headed to the bathroom.

His tall figure brushed past her. Xu Yunxi stood by the screen, not entering. She didn’t know if Pei Muheng needed her help.

The curtain inside was drawn, and a long black shadow cast on the white screen. There was no sound of any invitation.

Xu Yunxi returned to the inner room, removed the two bracelets, placed them back in their silk box, and started to remove her makeup and hairpins. After washing her face, she returned to the bed and remembered that Pei Mushan had taken her bedding. The bedding prepared for Pei Muheng was still in the carriage, and there was only one quilt here.

Xu Yunxi managed to make the bed as best as she could.

At that moment, footsteps approached from behind.

The man emerged, neatly dressed, his hair meticulously combed with a hint of moisture. His dark eyes fell on her, a glimmer seemingly flickering in their depths.

Xu Yunxi was kneeling on the bed, her slender back forming graceful lines. As her sleeve slipped, it revealed a segment of her slender, jade-like arm. She glanced back inadvertently, her roundness briefly flashing before him. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Xu Yunxi quickly stood up and stepped off the bed.

Pei Muheng averted his gaze as Xu Yunxi entered the bathroom.

She called for the maid to bring in another bucket of water and washed herself before instructing the maid to clean the bathroom. It was already 30 minutes later when she finished tidying up.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she saw that the candle in the inner room had been extinguished. In the dim light from outside, she saw Pei Muheng lying quietly on the inside of the bed, his eyes closed as if asleep. He had draped a corner of the quilt over his chest, leaving the majority of it for her.