Chapter 38

There was clearly a long distance between the two of them, separated by snow and dust. Even Yiling could not clearly make out Xie Hengzhi’s features, but she could still feel his gaze upon her.

Like a knife, like a sword, it pierced through layers of wind and snow, resting against her neck.

She had known he would return, but still, she wouldn’t have. No, how could he suddenly come back?

There was such heavy snow tonight that even the soldiers could barely move, yet Xie Hengzhi had returned.

Could it really be because of the letter she sent him?

If so, it was over.

Now, not only was Yiling not sick as the letter had described, she was tearfully braving the wind and snow to see someone off.

And Xie Hengzhi had caught her red-handed.

The cold wind brushed against the fur collar wrapped around her neck, sending a subtle chill. Yiling thought to herself that she should wipe away the awkward tears at the corner of her eyes first.

Just as she stiffly raised her arm, Xie Hengzhi finally looked away from her and rode his horse into the city.

Suddenly, Yiling felt a sense of weakness and swayed in the snow. Fortunately, Mallow rushed over to support her.

Xie Hengzhi led the way on horseback, not rushing, while the coachman dared not pass him and obediently followed behind.

Inside the small carriage, Yiling had no intention of speaking loudly.

“When did he arrive?” she asked.

Mallow hesitated before answering, “It was… when you were chasing after someone just now.”

Yiling: “…”

She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths before asking again, “Wasn’t he at Daluo Mountain? How did he suddenly appear at the city gates?”

If Xie Hengzhi had returned from the outside, he should have stopped ahead of her, so how did he silently appear behind her?

Mallow hesitated for a long time, unsure how to tell Yiling the truth.

“No… no, sir rode back from the outside.” She recalled the scene just now, and her scalp tingled.

“He passed right by you, and you didn’t see him…”

Yiling: “…”

She opened the window and looked outside. In the thick snow, everyone was huddling their necks and hands, but only Xie Hengzhi’s figure stood tall and proud like a pine tree, drawing attention with his majestic presence.

She couldn’t understand how she had managed not to see him.

If she had just paid more attention, she wouldn’t have found herself in this embarrassing situation.

Now, it was worse—Xie Hengzhi had seen her, full of life, sending someone off in the snow. How could she claim it was just a fleeting moment?

What made it even more unsettling was that he had really braved the wind and snow to rush back overnight without even bringing any guards.

The cold of the late winter cut to the bone, yet he, alone on horseback, never once showed a sign of suffering.

Looking at his back, Yiling suddenly had a thought, one that made her uneasy.

When they reached the estate, the steward had already led everyone to greet them at the door.

As Xie Hengzhi dismounted, snowflakes from his cloak fell to the ground, indicating his long, weary journey.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, he turned toward the carriage, waiting for the person inside to step out.

By now, it was obvious why Xie Hengzhi had suddenly returned.

Some were astonished, and some sighed. A man who could command the winds and rain outside was rare in his attentiveness at home, something they’d never seen before.

Of course, there were also those, like Mama Cao, who didn’t dare speak, feeling guilty and nervous for Yiling’s situation.

Yiling, on the other hand, sat rigidly in the carriage, unmoving, as if unaware they had already arrived.

The doorman, having prepared the stool and waited a long time, saw no movement inside.

Mallow, about to get down, stuck her head out, eagerly watching Yiling: “Madam?”

Yiling snapped back to reality and quickly bent over to exit.

As she extended her upper body from the carriage, a long, elegant hand reached out to her.

Yiling had long been accustomed to Xie Hengzhi’s considerate gestures, thinking of them as mere displays for outsiders.

After all, it was an imperial marriage bestowed by the Emperor, and he was good at hiding the truth. Yiling had never thought anything was amiss.

But as she was about to place her hand in his, she noticed that Xie Hengzhi’s long, fair hand, which usually held a pen, was now reddened from gripping the reins in the snow.

In an instant, a thought rushed into her mind, breaking through her confusion, and she suddenly understood—

Xie Hengzhi… could he be in love with her?

This thought sprouted in Yiling’s mind, growing rapidly and unexpectedly.

In the blink of an eye, it seemed less like a guess and more like a conclusion.

She hurriedly lifted her eyes to meet his, and a few subtle details from the past flashed through her memory.

When he returned from Qingyang, he wasn’t like this.

At least, his eyes had always been cold, never like now, filled with obvious emotions.

As their hands met, their body heat melded, and Yiling felt a shiver of warmth spreading through her, making her skin tingle.

She quickly withdrew her hand, not daring to look Xie Hengzhi in the eye, and hurriedly exited the carriage.

Seeing her retreating figure, Xie Hengzhi was not surprised, only raising his brow slightly, too lazy to ask.

Once inside the Linfeng Yuan, they went their separate ways: one went straight to the study, the other hurried to the bedroom and sat down, silent.

Mama Cao paced back and forth in front of Yiling, seeing her staring into space, still holding the hand warmer, unable to bear it any longer.

“Madam, why don’t you explain things to the master?”

Yiling paused, then lifted her head. “Explain?”

“Explain!” Mama Cao urged. “The master must have rushed back because of your letter. Now that he sees you’re fine, he must be angry! Go explain things to him quickly, so he doesn’t misunderstand!”

Yiling didn’t answer, only shaking her head.

Mama Cao anxiously added, “You did relapse last night, we all saw it. Go tell the master; he’ll surely calm down.”

Yiling, already feeling dazed, became more irritated after being scolded by Mama Cao. She couldn’t help but frown and say, “You go out first; let me have some peace and quiet for a while.”

That peace and quiet lasted until dusk.

Xie Hengzhi hadn’t left his study, and Yiling remained in her quarters as well.

Even for dinner, they ate separately.

As the sky darkened, Li Chun finally returned to the capital from Daluo Mountain.

His mind was preoccupied with many complex matters, mentally calculating the priorities, what needed to be reported, and what didn’t need to trouble Xie Hengzhi.

When he entered the Xie residence, he found the atmosphere was not as he had imagined.

Why was everyone so quiet, like quail? Had something serious happened to the madam?

Li Chun couldn’t help but quicken his pace.

Upon entering Linfeng Yuan, he learned that Xie Hengzhi was in the study.

He glanced around in confusion, scratching his head.

When he entered the study, he found Xie Hengzhi sitting alone at the table, eating.

There were a few simple dishes in front of him, which looked quite appetizing.

However, Xie Hengzhi wasn’t focused on his food. His eyes were fixated on something distant, with a deep, contemplative expression.

Seeing this, Li Chun hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“My lord.”

Xie Hengzhi did not react, only responding with a brief “Hmm.”

Li Chun quietly reported the follow-up regarding Daluo Mountain. After finishing, he waited for Xie Hengzhi’s instructions but saw him continue to chew thoughtfully on his food, occasionally stirring his porridge with a spoon, producing a faintly crisp and muffled sound.

When Li Chun had seen Yiling chasing after Yiyun in the snow, it had ignited an inexplicable anger within Xie Hengzhi. He couldn’t understand why she was so protective of Yiyun, even going out to send him off in such cold weather.

But upon reflecting for a moment, his rationality regained control, and he began to sense something amiss.

From what he knew, Shang Yiling had grown up in Jiangzhou and had never been to the capital before her marriage.

Although Yiyun had traveled with his father during childhood, that was a long time ago, and he hadn’t left the Beijing for over ten years.

There was no way they could have had any past connections.

Since their marriage, Shang Yiling had been extremely reclusive, and she rarely interacted with any of the Beijing’s nobility, let alone with Yiyun, that impetuous young man.

But why did she care so much about him?

It was as though Yiyun was an extremely important person to her.

The unease began after her drowning incident.

Xie Hengzhi, who had never believed in ghosts or spirits, dismissed the possibility of her being possessed and attributed it to a fever that had affected her brain.

But now, it seemed like there was much more to it than a fever.

After a night of unconsciousness, she seemed like a completely different person.

Was it a change in character, or had she simply stopped pretending to be someone else? Had she always been this way?

Or had she used some trick during their time in Qingyang to deceive him?

After a long while, Xie Hengzhi finally spoke.

His instructions to Li Chun, however, had nothing to do with Daluo Mountain.

After hearing them, Li Chun was momentarily stunned before replying, “I will investigate this immediately.”

Xie Hengzhi added, “Keep an eye on that young man from the Yi family.”

“Yes… huh?”

Li Chun took a few steps before turning around and asking, “Which young man from the Yi family?”

“Who else from the Yi family?” Xie Hengzhi, already irritated, replied impatiently, “That forty-year-old young man, Yi Shangshu’s son?”

“… Oh.”

That night, the Xie residence was quiet as the lights were dimmed, and Xie Hengzhi returned to his quarters.

Having not slept the entire night, and after a tiring journey, combined with his injuries and illness, even an iron man couldn’t withstand it.

Xie Hengzhi set aside his official matters and focused on family affairs.

After bathing and changing, it was still not yet time for the midnight hour.

Weary, he sat by the window, reading a leisurely book by candlelight.

Before long, Yiling returned.

Her footsteps were cautious, and she didn’t even glance at Xie Hengzhi. She went straight to the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bath.

Xie Hengzhi set aside his book, lifting his eyes to look at the bath, silent.

He knew Yiling wouldn’t tell him the full truth, but he was curious to see how she would try to explain herself this time.

As expected, Yiling lingered in the bath far longer than usual.

Occasionally, he overheard whispers between Mama Cao and Mallow, along with Yiling muttering, but he couldn’t make out their conversation.

After a long time, Yiling finally emerged, her body still glistening with sweat.

Xie Hengzhi picked up his book again, concealing half of his face.

As Yiling passed in front of him, his peripheral vision caught sight of her wearing a thick cloak over her nightgown.

Her steps were light, as if trying to minimize her presence, her waist slightly hunched.

But when she turned around after picking up her pillow, their eyes met.

He looked at her coldly.

“What is this about?”

Yiling felt a chill down her spine, awkwardly replying, “I’ll sleep in the east wing tonight.”

After a moment of silence, Xie Hengzhi didn’t ask further, only observing her more intently.

He then placed his book on the table and stood up, walking towards the bed.

The long night stretched on, with cold winds and still waters.

That night, the Xie residence was exceptionally quiet; even the wind dared not blow too fiercely.

There was no movement from the east wing throughout the night, and the main quarters remained peaceful.

On the second day, before dawn, Xie Hengzhi left the residence and entered the palace.

Today, His Majesty rarely appeared at court in the early morning, so all the officials arrived earlier than usual, and naturally, Xie Hengzhi would not fall behind.

The Emperor had come to court today specifically for the Luo Tian Great Ceremony, and upon seeing that Xie Hengzhi had returned to the capital, he immediately inquired about the preparations for the ritual.

After Xie Hengzhi answered, the Emperor did not ask about other court matters.

He glanced downward and asked, “Why don’t I see the Crown Prince?”

Xie Hengzhi replied, “His Highness caught a chill last night and was weak upon waking this morning, so he is absent from court today.”

Xie Hengzhi spoke calmly, but the Emperor’s face already showed signs of displeasure.

“He is so frail. If he can’t even attend court, should I, as his father, not go to tend to his illness after court?”

The officials, both civil and military, were all startled by these words and dared not speak further, silently thinking that it was indeed an inopportune time for the Crown Prince to be sick.

Every year, the Luo Tian Great Ceremony is presided over by the Emperor, with the Crown Prince and Xie Hengzhi assisting. The Emperor could only feel at ease if they personally handled all matters.

Now, with the ritual approaching, the Crown Prince was absent from court due to a mere cold, which naturally displeased the Emperor.

Furthermore—

Xie Hengzhi, still with signs of illness, covered his mouth and coughed lightly before continuing, “His Highness has the Emperor’s protection, and he will recover in time for the Luo Tian Great Ceremony.”

As expected, the Emperor, seeing Xie Hengzhi looking so weak after traveling back and forth from Daluo Mountain, felt even more convinced that the Crown Prince was lazy and careless.

“If he is so fragile, then the Luo Tian Great Ritual need not require him to travel to Daluo Mountain in person.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire Xinan Pavilion fell silent, the officials daring not make a sound.

If there were any ghosts in the air at that moment, they would surely be frightened into a cold sweat.

In the end, Xie Hengzhi, with great difficulty, said, “The Luo Tian Great Ceremony is a matter of great importance. Without a prince to take the lead, it would be disrespectful for me alone to oversee the preparations.”

The Emperor pondered for a moment.

In truth, there wasn’t much to think about.

The current Emperor had few heirs, and aside from the Crown Prince, there were only the First Prince and the Fifth Prince, who had a lowly maternal family.

Recently, the First Prince had lost the Emperor’s favor due to an inappropriate remark, and now seemed like a good time for him to redeem himself.

“Then you and Yetai, along with the Ministry of Rites and the Taichang Temple, will handle the preparations for the Dajiao (Great Ceremony).”

With this simple statement, the balance between the princes shifted subtly.

The officials, always quick to follow the wind, had already heard the news before the decree was formally issued, and it reached the ears of the First Prince, Zhou Yetai.

Thus, when Xie Hengzhi left the palace in the evening, it was no surprise that he saw the First Prince waiting for him at the palace gate.

The snow had yet to melt, and everything was blanketed in white. The First Prince’s black tiger cloak stood out prominently.

He walked toward Xie Hengzhi with an unhurried demeanor, smiling as he said, “It’s been many years since such a heavy snowfall in the capital. I hear you’ve just returned from Daluo Mountain; you must be exhausted.”

“Serving His Majesty, I dare not complain of fatigue.”

Xie Hengzhi replied as he cupped his hands in a salute.

“The Luo Tian Great Ceremony is grand and arduous; I know well the difficulty of it,” the First Prince said as he steadied Xie Hengzhi, leaning in. “In the future, we will need your continued support.”

Xie Hengzhi replied, “I will do my best.”

Seeing Xie Hengzhi’s respectful demeanor, the First Prince felt quite pleased.

Though framing his younger sister for a crime was inhumane, it had succeeded in driving a wedge between Xie Hengzhi and the Eastern Palace, making him a valuable ally—truly a profitable transaction.

Reflecting on this, the First Prince felt a sense of accomplishment and could not help but add, “I heard Mrs. Xie fell into the water on the Western Mountain a few days ago. Has she recovered?”

“Your Highness is concerned.”

Xie Hengzhi lowered his eyes, his gaze calm. “My wife has already recovered.”

“That’s good.” The First Prince looked at the snow-covered palace and sighed. “Mrs. Xie is a woman of great talent, young and beautiful. This is the perfect time for you both to grow closer, but you must be careful not to let anything unexpected happen.”

Xie Hengzhi remained silent, his gaze hidden in the vast expanse of snow, his thoughts unreadable.

This was the reaction the First Prince had expected.

He smiled faintly and changed the subject.

“Enough of this talk. It’s so cold today; I’ve been craving the roasted lamb at Hongtianlou. Would you care to join me, Lord Xie?”

At night, Xie Hengzhi had yet to return to the residence.

Yiling was still resting in the east wing, the doors and windows tightly shut. The charcoal fire was burning brightly, and she was covered with two blankets, sweating all over yet still feeling cold.

Mama Cao was anxious, frequently glancing out the window, not knowing when Xie Hengzhi would return.

Last night, Yiling had spent the night alone in the east wing. Though she was uneasy, she had managed to endure it.

This morning, she only felt weaker and thought she was close to recovery, needing just a few more days to rest.

But by tonight, she was starting to feel overwhelmed.

“Madam, why not go back and wait for the master in the main hall?” Mama Cao said urgently. “It’s so cold at night; you won’t be able to withstand it.”

Yiling just shook her head.

Mama Cao continued, “The master even asked about you before going to the palace today. It seems he has calmed down. As husband and wife, what misunderstanding can’t be resolved?”

Yiling didn’t know how to explain to Mama Cao. Right now, she didn’t care whether Xie Hengzhi misunderstood her.

What mattered now was that Xie Hengzhi seemed to have developed feelings for her!

Previously, he had been indifferent toward her as his wife.

Yiling spent the whole day and night trying to figure out where things had gone wrong, wondering how she, a mere decorative wife, had become more attractive than the great talent.

And she couldn’t figure out what Xie Hengzhi was thinking.

In any case, in his eyes now, it seemed that the concubine was in love, and the master had feelings too—this could only lead to them becoming true husband and wife!

How could Yiling dare to sleep with him in the same bed?

“No need; I’ll sleep here.”

Mama Cao sighed several times, standing aside without speaking further.

After a long while, she seemed to hear some movement outside.

She walked to the window, listened carefully, and said, “Madam, it seems like the master has returned!”

Yiling didn’t respond.

Mama Cao knew she wouldn’t be able to persuade her, so she said, “Then I’ll go and prepare some medicine for you, Madam.”

With her departure, the room became quiet for a long time.

Yiling felt somewhat more comfortable for no apparent reason. When she heard footsteps approaching again, she wrapped herself tightly in the blankets and weakly said, “I don’t need the medicine anymore; I’m feeling much better. Can you bring me another blanket? It’s still a bit cold.”

But there was no answer.

Yiling was stunned. Before her consciousness fully returned, she already felt herself surrounded by a familiar and reassuring presence.

She faced the bed, her expression unmoving, but her mind was flooded with countless inexplicable and unexplainable thoughts.

After a long while, she turned her head and, in the dim night, saw Xie Hengzhi, with a slight smell of alcohol.

“You—”

Their gazes met for a moment. Though no words were spoken, the subtle tension of the past two days seemed to dissolve in that instant.

Before Yiling could react, Xie Hengzhi moved forward, bent down, and swept her and the blanket up in one motion.

“Come back to bed with me.”