Chapter 35

After some playful whining and clinging to her mother, Su Ci returned to her room and threw herself onto her bed, almost sighing in comfort. “Damn it, a dragon bed isn’t as good as a doghouse. Though not big or luxurious, this canopy bed of mine is still the most comfortable.”

Su Ci lay there, not wanting to move a finger. The days in the palace had killed countless brain cells, and being home made her feel like her brain was finally relaxing. She couldn’t help but sigh, realizing she was more suited to a laid-back life. She rolled on the bed, tossed away her hairpin, and ruffled her hair, feeling her scalp relax. However, her body felt empty, and her undergarments were itchy and uncomfortable, so she couldn’t help but rub a few times. Her skin was delicate, and Yang Yanzong’s hands were covered in calluses from sword training. Although he hadn’t undressed her the other day, her sensitive spots were rubbed red, and her fair skin had some noticeable marks.

“Sis, come wash up!”

Her diligent and loving sister, Su Yan, had already asked the kitchen to heat water. She and a maid brought a tub, stool, soap, and other items, rolling up her sleeves to pull the motionless Su Ci off the bed.

The sisters laughed and played for a while. Su Yan rolled up her sleeves to scrub Su Ci’s back, but Su Ci refused. Her fair skin showed the marks too clearly, so she declined.

In the end, she was still discovered. There were marks on the back of her neck, hidden by her collar and hair, but Su Yan found them while drying her hair. Su Yan, though straightforward, wasn’t stupid. She realized what had happened and pulled Su Ci’s inner garment and cloak aside, revealing the marks. She gasped, and Su Ci quickly covered her mouth to avoid alarming their mother.

Su Yan’s face turned pale, thinking Su Ci had been bullied in the palace.

Su Ci hurriedly explained, “No, it’s nothing. Don’t overthink it. It was Yang Yanzong.”

The sisters had nothing to hide from each other, but some details weren’t suitable to share. So, Su Ci vaguely explained that they had been together due to special circumstances without specifying what those circumstances were. “Alright, let’s not talk about this. I didn’t manage to bring any of my medicine or medical tools.”

What kind of people are they!

Su Yan had some guesses and spat in her heart, but she didn’t dare say anything since it involved the emperor. She quickly opened the door and windows to check for eavesdroppers, then closed them and returned, scratching her head. “Never mind, it’s good that you’re back. You need to get married soon!”

She ran out like the wind to inform Mrs. Chen, leaving Su Ci with a face full of cold wind. Su Ci leaned against the door and shouted, “Sis! I’m going to sleep now. Whatever you have to say, let’s talk tomorrow!”

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Actually, she wasn’t very sleepy. Su Ci was mainly thinking about what Yang Yanzong had said before he left. The sisters often slept together, and after such a long separation, it was no surprise that they would want to be close again. She was just worried that Yang Yanzong would really knock on the window; it would be pretty troublesome.

Su Yan didn’t look back. She had already darted to the main house’s door and waved her hand to indicate she understood. “You go ahead and sleep!”

Su Ci closed the door with a bang, thought for a moment, and then bolted it to make sure her sister wouldn’t come back in.

The sisters were quite noisy, and the courtyard wasn’t that big. Everything could be heard clearly from the west wing. Mrs. Bai opened the window to look and saw the main house’s door curtain sway before it closed with a bang. She pursed her lips, muttering about how they always caused trouble, and closed the window.

But Mrs. Bai was actually anxious, hopeful, and worried, unable to sit still. “My child, now that the eldest young master is back, but you, what you said before…”

Would the eldest young master really take charge? But he came back in such a hurry and left again. Wouldn’t it be uncertain?

“He won’t, Mother, don’t worry.”

Su Rong calmly reassured her mother. She sat on the kang, looking composed but still just a sixteen-year-old girl. She wasn’t sure how effective her message had been, and as the moment of truth approached, she was still very nervous. Because of this, she tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Just before dawn, she suddenly heard a strange sound.

“Clack!” The sound of a door bolt being moved, coming from Su Ci’s room in the east wing. The sound wasn’t loud, but it was quite evident in the ears of a sleepless person in the dead of night. Su Rong’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately got up and pushed open the wooden window, just in time to see a tall, somewhat unfamiliar, yet familiar man in dark blue walking into Su Ci’s room. She held her breath.

Unexpected, yet somewhat within reason. After a while, she sighed and quickly left the bed to splash her face with cold water.

…

Yang Yanzong returned at the third watch of the night. This time, he didn’t climb through the window but walked straight through the door.

Su Ci had just gotten up in the night. She hadn’t been sleeping well. Partly because she was secretly wondering if Yang Yanzong would come to pry open the window and partly because she hadn’t drunk much water during the day, so she drank more at night, making it hard to sleep soundly with her bladder constantly reminding her to relieve herself. She had just stood up from behind the screen when she heard the door and footsteps. Peeking out, she saw him boldly entering through the door and sitting at the table as if it were his own home, even lighting the candle.

Su Ci: “…”

Su Ci exclaimed and rushed to check the door bolt, looking left and right. She had secured it tightly!

She picked up the short dagger Yang Yanzong had casually placed on the table, examining it and gesturing a few times. “How did you do this?” It opened with a single pull as if it were no challenge at all.

“What’s wrong? What did the Sixth Prince say?” She asked while examining the dagger.

Yang Yanzong succinctly replied, “Tomorrow, I’ll enter the palace.”

Oh, so it’s settled.

Su Ci mouthed, “Are you confident?” She was referring to the matters after entering the palace. The third thing that kept her awake tonight was worrying about the situation, fearing the Sixth Prince would discover any flaws.

Yang Yanzong nodded. The Sixth Prince didn’t trust him; he trusted his own spies. He lowered his eyes, realizing the old emperor had secretly reorganized his inner circle several times.

Yang Yanzong had spies in the Yangdu Palace. Even when he was wholeheartedly following the heir, he hadn’t revealed all his cards. He had people around the Sixth Prince and the heir, and he also had spies in the Yangdu Palace.

Yang Yanzong was a cautious person. The areas north and east of Yangdu were his strongholds, where he had long established his influence.

“That’s good!” Su Ci put down the dagger and glanced at him. “Do you need medicine?”

Yang Yanzong replied, “No need, I applied it at the Sixth Prince’s estate.” He glanced at her. In the candlelight, she was resting her chin on one hand, her eyes darting over his back before returning. She wore a slightly loose nightgown with an old squirrel fur cloak draped over her shoulders. When he looked at her, she immediately covered her neckline with her hand, like a wide-eyed little fat cat, warning, “I’m warning you, don’t try anything!”

Yang Yanzong laughed, amused by her. In the Su family, they weren’t married yet. What could he possibly do?!

“Do you think I would do it again here?” He snorted with a hint of annoyance, “Stop worrying about these things,” he glanced at her, “The Imperial Medical Office will probably send someone, but definitely after tomorrow’s matters are settled. For now, don’t worry about anything else. Just get the household affairs in order and arrange the wedding.”

Their wedding had been postponed. It was initially scheduled for the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month. However, they were still in the palace attending the Lantern Festival banquet, worrying about whether they could leave the palace and return home smoothly. In the end, it was postponed.

Fortunately, rescheduling wasn’t difficult. Yang Yanzong remembered that among the three alternative dates he had reviewed, one was at the end of this month, either the twenty-sixth or twenty-seventh of the first month. It was soon, just around the corner, perfect timing for him to handle external matters.

Su Ci exclaimed, “So soon?”

The twenty-sixth? Today is the seventeenth, not the eighteenth yet, so only eight days are left!

That’s too soon. Su Ci still felt she hadn’t fully recovered from the palace atmosphere. She thought this and said, “How about March? Isn’t there a good day at the beginning of March?”

Given the family’s recent anxiety, they probably hadn’t had the mind to plan these things. She thought a month’s delay would be perfect.

Unexpectedly, Yang Yanzong frowned and glanced at her abdomen under the table, “What if you’re pregnant?”

The first month was perfect, no doubt about the timing. March wouldn’t match up at all. He felt she was being a bit reckless.

Su Ci: “…”

Caught off guard by his remark and his reproachful look, Su Ci almost jumped up and blurted out, “No, don’t worry!”

Yang Yanzong squinted his eyes, almost immediately recalling her words the morning after their intimacy, “It hasn’t been that long anyway.” His gaze turned a bit dangerous, and Su Ci remembered, too. She couldn’t help but laugh, noticing his face darkened even more. She quickly said, “No, I’m serious. It won’t happen.”

Although the safe period isn’t absolutely safe, it does have a range. After the luteal phase, it’s definitely not a problem. Tonight, she felt a familiar slight heaviness in her lower abdomen. Su Ci’s menstrual cycle was regular, and her period was due tomorrow.

Yang Yanzong stared at her for a while, then suddenly asked, “Your teacher, is it a man or a woman? How old?”

Su Ci couldn’t help but laugh. She knew the standard answer, but seeing Yang Yanzong’s expression, her naughty side couldn’t resist teasing him: “In his forties,” she pretended to think, “He has a refined appearance, tall and slender, elegant and vigorous, decisive and efficient.”

In her previous life, many of her male teachers were quite good-looking. The most handsome one, even in his forties, still received love letters from female students. He was charming, never made anyone uncomfortable, and highly skilled, which made him very admired.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him with a playful smile, “Now, who knows where he’s wandering.”

“Don’t bully me. He’s very impressive!”

Yang Yanzong’s face darkened immediately, amused and annoyed. He stood up to leave, but Su Ci quickly grabbed him, “Hey, hey!”

She laughed, “Don’t be mad,” shaking his hand playfully, “He has a wife and kids, they go everywhere together, like a fairy couple, isn’t that nice?”

She winked at him, teasing, “Don’t be so petty!”

“If you’re like this, I won’t dare talk to you anymore.” She poured a cup of tea, holding it with both hands like a hamster, and handed it to him with a smile, nudging him with her hip, “Hey, don’t be mad.”

She even poured tea to apologize.

Cute and lovable, with a beaming smile.

Yang Yanzong was caught between anger and amusement. He glared at her for a while, then took the half-cold tea she offered and drank it in one gulp. Slamming his hand on the table, he grabbed her chin and kissed her fiercely!

After a long while, Yang Yanzong finally vented his frustration.

Su Ci winced. Don’t ask—if you do, she’ll say she regrets it. She forgot he wasn’t her tame cat but a wild tiger. However, since they were in the Su family home, he didn’t go all the way, which was a small mercy.

Finally, Yang Yanzong gave her a sidelong glance and lightly scolded, “Behave yourself. We’ll get married on the twenty-seventh of the second month.”

Su Ci lay on the bed, not daring to make a sound.

Yang Yanzong snorted softly, then leaned over to pull the inner blanket over her bare shoulders. “Did you hear me?”

“Yes.”

With that, he turned and quickly left.

Hearing the door close with a creak, Su Ci grabbed the blanket and sat up, pouting in the direction of the door. Hmph.

You can snort? So can I!

It was the end of the third watch, and Yang Yanzong still had other matters to attend to before dawn, so he didn’t stay long. He opened the door and left quickly, not through the main entrance, mindful of Su Ci’s reputation, but through the side door. The night was deep, the air heavy with moisture, and the faint moonlight shone on the old wooden door. Yang Yanzong opened the door and stepped out, followed by someone.

Su Rong had been waiting for half an hour. She mustered her courage, wrapped herself in a cloak, and followed him out. Yang Yanzong raised an eyebrow and turned around.

Su Rong bowed, “Young Master.”

After all, she was a young lady of the inner chambers and couldn’t speak of marriage arrangements, but they were both smart, so no words were needed.

Yang Yanzong understood her intentions as soon as he saw her.

After greeting him, Su Rong stood nervously, her head slightly lowered, the cold wind blowing. She licked her lips, trying to stand more properly.

She seemed well-mannered and composed, not rash or reckless.

Su Rong was a daughter of the Su family, and Yang Yanzong didn’t intend to use her to win over confidants or subordinates. She couldn’t be too lacking, as she was Su’s daughter. Moreover, with the current turbulent times, the situation would become more complex, and Yang Yanzong didn’t plan to expand his influence too far.

Su Rong indeed had some merit. Thanks to her timely report, the bacterial strains were transferred and preserved early, which was crucial. Even if the Imperial Medical Office sent people later, confidentiality and control over the progress remained in their hands.

Yang Yanzong pondered for a moment and ordered, “Call Yanxin.”

Except for the injured Yang Chongying, the men in the house hadn’t slept. Yang Yanxin and the others had just returned. With Yang Yanzong back, the backbone was there, and the camp’s atmosphere relaxed, finally allowing for shifts. Tonight, Su Di stayed behind while Yang Yanxin and Yang Yanzhen returned, having just visited the Sixth Prince’s estate with Yang Yanzong.

After tidying up, A Zhao called them out. Yang Yanxin was a bit confused, “What’s wrong, big brother?”

Yang Yanzong calmly said, “You’re of age now. External matches are often unsuitable, and mother doesn’t approve of the familiar, age-appropriate girls.”

He had made up his mind to have Yang Yanxin marry Su San. Su Rong was decisive and strategic, which wasn’t a bad thing. On the contrary, rash and foolish people were the real root of endless troubles. Yang Yanzong knew his second brother well. Yang Yanxin wasn’t quick-witted; his thinking and reactions weren’t as agile as their youngest brother, Yang Yanzhen. He would likely follow his elder brother’s lead throughout his life. Choosing a well-organized and discerning partner for him would ensure the couple complemented each other.

A stable household allows a man to focus on his career.

Yang Yanzong didn’t trust Mrs. Yan’s judgment much, so he decided to settle for Su Rong. He was confident that under his leadership, his brothers would fare well, and Su Rong would also achieve her wishes.

Yang Yanxin widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Ah!” He quickly glanced at Su Rong and then at his elder brother. However, his elder brother was a man of his word, and Yang Yanzong had many matters to attend to.

“Tomorrow, I will report this matter to our parents.” After waiting for a response and hearing none, Yang Yanzong hurriedly left.

The wind howled, and Su Rong’s anxious heart suddenly settled.