Chapter 25

Madam Xun’s action was too sudden, shocking everyone.

“Madam, are you alright?” The servants hurriedly cleaned the floor in a panic.

Scalding tea dripped from her knees down her skirt, but Madam Xun didn’t feel the pain.

Yunqi… Yunqi.

Looking at that beautiful face, initially only familiar, now closely resembling Xun Yunhe, she wondered if that little girl hadn’t died. Impossible, she had watched them perish in the flames.

At this moment, Princess Consort Xi noticed that her complexion was off and frightfully pale, so she leaned in to ask, “Madam Xun?”

Princess Consort Xi’s call snapped Madam Xun back to reality. She was startled, then tears fell from her eyes as she explained, “Your Highness, you may not know, but I once had a dear friend named Yunqi. We were very close, but she passed away many years ago. Every time I think of her, my heart aches terribly. Just now, hearing the Third Young Madam’s name, I lost my composure.”

She wiped her tears, taking the opportunity to glance at her daughter, who was stunned.

Xun Yunling was also terrified, staring blankly at Xu Yunqi, her arms trembling. How could she be named Yunqi? How could she bear the name Yunqi?

Receiving her mother’s stern gaze, Xun Yunling bit her lip and lowered her head.

Princess Consort Xi could not think of any other reason and simply nodded, “I see.”

Madam Xun then composed herself and gently asked Xu Yunqi, “May I ask where are you from?”

Xu Yunqi calmly replied, “I’m from Jingzhou.” Her voice was exceptionally clear.

Madam Xun’s heart skipped a beat, nearly suffocating.

Princess Consort Xi suddenly remembered something, her expression lighting up, “Oh, it seems she is from the same hometown as the Xun family.”

Madam Xun suppressed her inner panic, pinching the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, and forced a smile, “Indeed, it’s quite a coincidence.”

Her heart was in turmoil, on the verge of losing composure. Fearing her anxiety would be noticed, Madam Xun didn’t dare to stay long. Using her wet clothes as an excuse, she took her daughter and left. Before leaving, she glanced at Xu Yunqi, who stood there with an innocent smile. Madam Xun tried to discern something from that naive smile but found nothing.

Mother and daughter returned to the Xun residence, their minds heavy with thoughts.

Upon entering the house, Madam Xun instructed the maid to close the corner door. Looking at her familiar courtyard, her knees weakened, and she almost collapsed. Fortunately, the old maid and Xun Yunling supported her from both sides.

The old maid whispered a reminder, “Madam, stay calm!”

Madam Xun slowly regained her composure and looked at her daughter. At that moment, Xun Yunling’s face was deathly pale, and she was in a state of panic, not knowing what to do.

Madam Xun forced herself to stay calm. “Yunling, don’t panic. She might not be.”

Xun Yunling immediately cried, “Mother, how could she have the same name as my sister? Could it be a coincidence?”

Madam Xun hoped so, too. She glanced at the trusted maid, and they exchanged a heavy-hearted look.

The group returned to the main house, and Madam Xun sat on the Luohan bed, closing her eyes to calm her mind.

The old maid sent all the servants away and stood guard at the door.

Xun Yunling, anxious like an ant on a hot pan, paced back and forth in the room.

“Yunqi, from Jingzhou… Mother, didn’t you say my eldest sister died of the plague? Who is she? She looks somewhat like Father. Could she still be alive?”

Madam Xun turned her head, her gaze icy, “Yunling, try to think. If she is indeed alive and your father finds out, what would happen?”

Xun Yunling’s heart tightened, and she stumbled backward, bumping into the antique shelf. If that were the case, they would have no place to stand.

Seeing the mother and daughter in a panic, the old maid spoke in a calm voice from the bead curtain, “Miss, young miss, don’t worry. First, many people in the world have the same name, and she might not be her. Second, even if she is, I observed that the Third Young Madam seems naive and innocent; she might not remember. Otherwise, how could she dare to reveal her name in front of Madam? Moreover, if she knew the truth, she would have acknowledged her father long ago instead of pretending here.”

Madam Xun calmed down a bit, “True, but what if she has never met the master and doesn’t recognize him?”

The old maid replied, “So, the most important thing now is to find out her background and prevent her from meeting the master.”

The first task was easy, but the second was difficult, like having a ticking time bomb nearby. Madam Xun’s heart was filled with dread, making it hard to breathe.

That afternoon, Madam Xun instructed the old maid to discreetly investigate Xu Yunqi’s background. She herself couldn’t even swallow a mouthful of soup, lying on the bed shivering. Xun Yunling was no better. She didn’t know what had happened in the past but understood that if Xu Yunqi was truly her older sister, her future would be bleak.

Xu Yunqi spent some time chatting with her second sister-in-law, Li Xuanyan, before returning to Qinghui Garden.

Yin Xing, who had followed her in, observed the situation and pulled Xu Yunqi aside to talk. “Miss, Madam Xun is clearly feeling guilty.”

Xu Yunqi sat on the kang by the southern window, her gaze fixed on the glaring sun outside, her eyes unusually cold. “Of course, she feels guilty. She got her position as Madam Xun dishonestly.”

Thinking about how her own miss almost became the eldest daughter of the Xun family, with her mother as the respected Madam Xun, Yin Xing gnashed her teeth in anger, “No, we should go to Grand Secretary Xun right away and tell him the truth. Let him know that you and your mother are alive and well.”

Xu Yunqi shot a look at her, “Do you think he is a good person? Even if he is innocent, after sharing a bed with that woman for over a decade and having children, do you think he would stand up for me? In the end, to save face, he would just try to downplay everything.”

She would never place her hopes on others.

Is her goal to recognize her father? No, she has no interest in that man.

She wants revenge.

Yin Xing grew anxious and stepped forward, asking, “So what should we do? We can’t just let them live comfortably.”

“You must make them lose their reputation completely!”

Ruin their reputation completely?

Xu Yunqi gently lifted the curtain by the window, letting the midday sun’s rays hit her eyes, making her squint.

Her mother wasn’t there. Aunt Pang heard the crying outside and rushed into the Xun residence from the backyard. She first carried Xu Yunqi out of the house, hiding her in the backyard, and then ran back into the fiery front yard to save her own daughter.

The fear of death made her instinctively run to the back mountain, but the fire surrounded the Xun residence, and the flames poured down from the bamboo forest in the back. She fell beside a water tank and hid in the nearby cellar, waiting for the rain to come and save her life.

She hid in the cellar for a long time without hearing anything from Aunt Pang and her daughter.

Ruin their reputation completely? How could that be enough?

She wanted them to pay with blood!

Seeing Xu Yunqi’s indifferent expression, Yin Xing’s anger gradually subsided, and she calmed down, “Miss, it’s difficult to investigate a case from back then.”

“Exactly,” Xu Yunqi turned her gaze to her, “The plague came just in time, covering up her crime. Or maybe she already knew about the county’s plan to set the village on fire, and she used it as an opportunity to kill without a trace. It’s been so long. Using the old case to hold her accountable is impossible.”

Yin Xing gritted her teeth in anger and asked, hands on her hips, “So what do you plan to do?”

Xu Yunqi smiled faintly, “What do you think will happen now that they know of my existence?”

“Haunted by nightmares, restless and uneasy.”

“So, I invited the enemy into the trap!”

Pei Muheng hadn’t returned home for three days. Xu Yunqi, being very clever, guessed that she might have upset him that night. But the truth was, she had done nothing, so why was he angry?

With Pei Muheng not coming back, Xu Yunqi had no way to address the situation.

On Madam Xun’s side, Yin Xing had been quietly gathering information about the Xun residence for the past few days. When she got the news, she was overjoyed.

“Miss, Madam Xun has fallen ill. They say she hasn’t eaten anything for three days and secretly summoned a doctor. Today, the fourth young lady went to visit, and it’s said that even the second young lady has lost weight. Her face, already small, now looks like two deep hollows, making her look eerie.”

Xu Yunqi showed no expression.

---

Since the Crown Prince left the capital, the court had been calm recently.

However, after a period of calm, the elder ministers, led by Shi Zhuo, petitioned the Emperor to appoint a Crown Prince, as the Emperor had advanced in years and his health had been declining in recent years. In case something happened to him, what would they do?

Naturally, the Emperor was furious. But despite his anger, this wise and cunning Emperor sent Liu Xiwen to deliver a message, “Which prince do the ministers think is suitable to be the heir?”

This statement caused a huge stir. Officials privately discussed and expressed their opinions. For a time, the memorials piled up like mountains on the desk in the imperial study. Needless to say, most of the memorials recommended making Prince Qin the Crown Prince.

Next in line was the Twelfth Prince, the legitimate son of the Empress, followed by Prince Chen and Prince Qi. What surprised Pei Muheng the most was that many military generals also supported Prince Xi.

Their heroic rescue of Yang Kang previously had clearly made a significant impact.

The Emperor specifically asked Pei Muheng to call the names. In the end, even Prince Xi had four memorials.

The Emperor sat on the imperial couch, leisurely flipping through the book, and without looking up, asked him, “Heng’er, what do you think?”

Liu Xiwen glanced at him with concern.

Pei Muheng methodically sorted and categorized all the memorials requesting the appointment of a Crown Prince. He then stepped back, raised his sleeve, and bowed, saying, “The matter of appointing an heir is a decision for Your Majesty alone. It is not a question I should answer. I respectfully ask Your Majesty to retract the question.”

Hearing this, the Emperor looked up at him, resting his elbow on his raised knee, and smiled, “What if I insist on you answering?”

Pei Muheng lowered his gaze, “I do not discuss the affairs of the monarch. However, if Your Majesty insists, then I will say this: Throughout history, either the most virtuous or the eldest son is chosen as the heir. The Emperor’s nine sons are all extraordinary. Your Majesty has a wealth of choices, which is a blessing for you and for the people.”

The Emperor smiled faintly, reclining slightly, and pointed to the four memorials supporting Prince Xi. “Heng’er, do you want to see who supports Prince Xi?”

Liu Xiwen broke out in a cold sweat for Pei Muheng.

Pei Muheng inwardly sighed with a faint smile. The Emperor was testing him, just as he wanted to test the Emperor. He replied, “There’s no need for me to look. Those who wrote the memorials are Your Majesty’s ministers, and my father is Your Majesty’s son. With so many princes, it’s not surprising that my father has a few memorials. However, these people must be ignorant and unaware of court affairs. With the virtuous Second Prince and the Empress’s legitimate son, the Twelfth Prince, how could my father, who has withdrawn from court and remains uninvolved, dare to be considered for the position of Crown Prince?”

Pei Muheng skillfully distanced the generals from the issue and subtly directed the conversation towards Prince Qin.

Upon hearing the term “virtuous prince,” the Emperor’s expression subtly changed. He threw the book aside in his hand and calmly asked, “Do you also think your Second Uncle is a virtuous prince?”

Pei Muheng was about to nod, but when he looked up and saw the Emperor’s deep expression, he quickly lowered his gaze, “I… don’t know.”

The Emperor took in his expression and coldly curled his lips. “Leave.”

Pei Muheng exited the imperial study, his face betraying no emotion, as he adjusted his sleeves and walked briskly away from the Fengtian Hall.

It was evident that the Emperor did not favor Prince Qin, but it was also not easy for Prince Xi’s residence to carve out a path to success in the fight for succession.

Pei Muheng was deep in thought.

When Pei Muheng returned to Qinghui Garden, the sky had just darkened. He had been busy all day until the third quarter of the Hai hour (around 9 PM). Since Xu Yunqi told him that she slept no later than this hour, he never came back to the back courtyard past that time. Tonight, as he sat at his desk, rubbing his temples, he was uncharacteristically hesitant.

To say he didn’t mind would be a lie. However, he had promised before that he wasn’t the type to avoid her just because something happened. Pei Muheng was a man of his word. He looked up at the dark window and slowly stood up.

He always thought that mutual respect and open communication were enough for a good marriage. Now he realized it wasn’t that easy.

It was the sixteenth of the month, and the full moon was high in the sky. The lights in Qinghui Garden were already off, and the moonlight brightened the entire residence.

Pei Muheng walked along the corridor to the main courtyard. An old maid was dozing at the entrance. Hearing footsteps, she quickly woke up. Recognizing Pei Muheng, she hurriedly greeted him and went to prepare water.

Pei Muheng first headed to the east side room. Suddenly, a light appeared inside. It was Xu Yunqi who had lit a glass lamp, looking out. She stood gracefully under the bead curtain, wearing a ginger-yellow blouse and an apricot-yellow pleated skirt, hurriedly tied at the front. It was clear she had just woken up. Her chest was wrapped in a red undergarment, her fair skin faintly visible.

Xu Yunqi rarely dressed so casually, obviously not expecting him to come.

The couple stared at each other across the steps.

Pei Muheng’s deep eyes and tightly pressed lips remained silent, while Xu Yunqi was the first to react. She placed the lamp on a high table and came down the steps to pour him tea.

Wearing thin embroidered shoes, her skirt trailing on the ground, her figure was light and delicate. “Third Master, have some tea.”

As she turned around, her bright eyes and white teeth were soft and beautiful, as if tinged with the glow of spring.

This girl, did she have no heart? Did she not know he had been angry for four days?

Pei Muheng took the tea she offered but didn’t drink it. His tone was slightly stern, “I’ll change my clothes first,” and he went to the bathroom.

The bathroom in Qinghui Garden was huge. Previously, Princess Consort Xi, knowing her son’s peculiarities, had specifically arranged a spacious bathroom for his sole use. The last time Pei Muheng used the soapberry here, it smelled wonderful. Today, he found that the box had been replaced with a new one. Pei Muheng picked it up and sniffed it—it wasn’t the same scent. His deep voice came through the screen, “Did the previous soapberry run out?”

Xu Yunqi remembered that Yin Xing had noticed the soapberry was almost gone while cleaning the bathroom today and had replaced it with a new one. She quickly went around the screen. The man stood tall and slender by the bath barrel, his clothes half-open on his broad shoulders, his deep eyes revealing no emotion. His exposed chest had smooth lines and faintly visible abs.

Even though they had done more intimate things, Xu Yunqi had never openly observed him like this. She averted her gaze and explained, “The previous soapberry ran out, so I replaced it with a new one. This one is made from He Shou Wu, mountain pepper, mugwort, and more than ten other herbs. It’s good for washing hair and body. You should try it.”

Pei Muheng couldn’t help but admire his wife’s skills—not only could she make medicinal meals, but she could also make soapberry. He smelled the new soapberry again but shook his head, “The scent isn’t as pleasant as the previous one.”

Xu Yunqi was momentarily stunned, meeting his gaze, and then chuckled, “The previous one is gone. I only have some left on my side. How about I make more for you tomorrow, and you try this one tonight?”

Pei Muheng would not use the soapberry she had used.

As expected, Pei Muheng frowned, sniffed the new soapberry again, and found the scent too strong for his liking. He suddenly thought that if her heart belonged to someone else, she would never be willing for him to use her things. He then looked at Xu Yunqi with a resolute expression, not open to negotiation.

Xu Yunqi understood, her cheeks slightly warm. She went to her side, took the soapbox from the shelf, and handed it to him, “Here, it’s all here.”

Pei Muheng looked at her for a moment, then took it from her hand.

Xu Yunqi found it amusing and turned away with a smile.

Pei Muheng sensed his wife’s amusement and felt his mood lighten.

Xu Yunqi lay back on the couch, waiting for him to return. She had only napped for a while, so she was still quite awake.

Pei Muheng took longer than usual to bathe, so long that Xu Yunqi fell into a deep sleep. It wasn’t until he got into bed and she felt the bed sink that she woke up and looked at him. Seeing his damp hair, she frowned.

“Third Master, wait until your hair tips are dry before sleeping. Otherwise, it’s easy to develop headaches when you’re older.”

Since he couldn’t sleep anyway, Pei Muheng sat up willingly and lifted the curtain. The night breeze gently flowed in, cooling him down and bringing a sense of comfort.

Xu Yunqi also sat up. The couple faced each other across the bed.

“Third Master, were you upset with me that night?” Xu Yunqi took the initiative to ask.

Pei Muheng was pleased that his wife was addressing the issue. He really didn’t have time to be angry with her and replied, “You seemed a bit distracted that night.”

Xu Yunqi was slightly choked up. Seeing Xun Yunhe that day had stirred her emotions, and it wasn’t until she fully immersed herself in the physical pleasure that her feelings were released. She hadn’t realized Pei Muheng was this perceptive. She guessed that he must have misunderstood.

“I wasn’t…” she gently refuted. “I just saw an old acquaintance that day and remembered the times in Jingzhou.”

Pei Muheng was slightly stunned. Was that the reason? He had thought she was thinking of someone else. He recalled that Xu Yunqi had been left in the countryside by her parents for many years.

No wonder she was so quiet and reserved.

“I was wrong. I shouldn’t have misunderstood you,” he apologized.

Xu Yunqi didn’t expect him to be so straightforward. In fact, Pei Muheng had already done very well. Though they had no emotional connection as a couple, he still took on the responsibilities of a husband, giving her respect and protection.

Xu Yunqi was very satisfied. “It’s alright.”

She said it with a smile. She was always very generous.

“Has your period ended?” Pei Muheng asked again, his voice gentle.

Xu Yunqi could only assume he had certain intentions. She tightened her hands slightly and softly replied, “It just ended yesterday.”

Pei Muheng felt a bit disappointed.

Since her period had come, it meant she wasn’t pregnant.

His hair was almost dry, so Pei Muheng lay down.

“Sleep.”

That night, he deliberately moved closer to the middle. When Xu Yunqi lay down, her arm almost touched his chest.

The warmth increased.

Being abandoned in the countryside by her parents as a child, she must have been a girl who lacked love. There’s no lasting grudge between husband and wife that can’t be resolved.

Pei Muheng lifted his hand and pulled his wife into his arms.

As Xu Yunqi wondered what her husband intended to do, he hugged her and fell asleep. She had been alone for so many years, never held like this, not even in bed.

Xu Yunqi closed her eyes in his embrace.