“Was there something going on with Mother?” Chu Mingxi finished applying medicine on her, waited a moment, then pulled her clothes back down to cover her. The weather was getting colder, but with the heated floor in the room, it didn’t feel like much. “You’ve looked preoccupied ever since you got back. Is it because of… what happened during the day?”
“Mhm.” Wei Qingchen was lying on her stomach on the pillow. From behind, Chu Mingxi couldn’t see her expression, and only heard her muffled voice. “Mother said that although today’s bailiff was well-hidden, behind the scenes… it might be someone from the Qin family.”
“The Qin family?” Chu Mingxi thought for a moment before recalling the web of relations within the Marquis Mansion. “Is that… on the Eldest Sister-in-Law’s side?”
“Mhm..”
“Do you and your eldest brother… have a conflict?”
“Not… really.”
Chu Mingxi nodded after hearing this, indicating she understood. Since childhood, she’d often dealt with noble and powerful families. Some words didn’t need to be spoken aloud; the implied meaning was what mattered.
After this exchange, they both fell silent.
However, both were intelligent people. Knowing who was behind the scheme, they naturally could guess what kind of trap had been laid.
After a short while, the sound of the night watchman’s clapper echoed faintly from the corridor. Without calling for a maid, Chu Mingxi blew out the lamp herself, leaving only a single candleholder as she walked to the bedside.
She placed the candleholder at the foot of the bed and let down the canopy. The room fell into deep, mottled shadow.
Wei Qingchen shifted her body further inside, still lying on her stomach. Chu Mingxi tied up her long hair and lay down beside her, asking casually, “Since that side went to so much trouble, they probably won’t give up easily. Taking it to Jingzhao Prefecture—was the intention to let the Marquis know?”
It had been quite some time since she’d joined the household, but she was still not used to addressing the Marquis of Jingyuan as ‘Father.’ In public, she had no choice, but when it was just the two of them, she still referred to him as ‘the Marquis’ as before. Wei Qingchen went along with it.
“If they just wanted Father to know, they wouldn’t need to go through so much trouble. By tomorrow, I’m afraid even the palace will know,” Wei Qingchen said, narrowing her eyes. As if remembering something, she chuckled.
“You fell into someone else’s trap and you’re still so happy about it?” Chu Mingxi said, covering her mouth as a thin yawn escaped.
“Let’s sleep. We’ve been running around to several places in one day. You must be tired too,” Wei Qingchen reached out to pull the quilt higher and tucked the gap around Chu Mingxi’s shoulders properly.
Chu Mingxi was indeed tired, yet still uneasy. Closing her eyes, she asked, “If the palace does find out, what will happen?”
“Nothing much. At worst, a scolding,” Wei Qingchen replied. Hearing her voice grow sticky with sleep, yet still worrying about this matter, Wei Qingchen reached her hand over under the quilt and gently squeezed Chu Mingxi’s hand. “Sleep. It’s fine.”
“Mhm…” Chu Mingxi managed to reply. Her breathing gradually became deep and even, sinking into dreams.
The next morning, a court official did indeed arrive at the mansion. Wei Qingchen, like a little monkey in the Buddha’s palm, was escorted into the palace. Chu Mingxi didn’t go out. Early in the morning, she paid her respects to the Grand Princess and didn’t return immediately to her own rooms. She stayed there, chatting about health maintenance for winter.
Mu Yunxian naturally knew Chu Mingxi was worried about her daughter and was pleased in her heart. She didn’t demand formalities from her daughter-in-law. The two women, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, enjoyed red date sweet tea with pastries sent from the small kitchen and then accompanied each other to the garden to admire the flowers.
“You needn’t panic. According to past precedent, Chen’er will most likely just receive a reprimand this time. His request for his father to let him lead a single army independently probably can’t happen. He’ll likely be kept by his side, serving as a personal guard.”
Mu Yunxian spoke as she walked slowly forward, holding her daughter-in-law’s hand. Maids had long since set out pastries and fruits in the pavilion and lowered three of the hanging curtains to block the wind, leaving only the side facing the plum garden. This way, they could admire the winter plum blossoms in the distance without letting the cold wind chill their chests.
“In the end, the incident started because of the Imperial Medicine Hall. Qingchen was only worried I was being bullied and intervened.”
“That branch of the family was clearly looking for fault with Qingchen. Even if not at the Imperial Medicine Hall, they would have found another place,” Mu Yunxian gave a cold laugh. “They thought they were acting without anyone knowing, never imagining you could bring a dead man back to life.” She paused, then continued, “It’s also fortunate it was at the Imperial Medicine Hall. If it had been elsewhere, who knows how they would have stirred up trouble.”
Hearing this, Chu Mingxi could only manage a smile.
Winter days were short. Noon was approaching again. Aunt Qi came over to ask where the Mistress wished to have her meal. The pavilion was a nice scenic spot, but not suitable for dining. Besides, after strolling for half the day, the Grand Princess said she was tired and instructed to set the meal inside.
“It’s already this late and he’s not back yet. Chen’er must be at her Imperial Grandmother’s palace, cadging a meal.”
As Mu Yunxian said this, she laughed to herself first. Aunt Qi was just about to respond when suddenly, a maid came running over in panic.
“Your Highness! Young Mistress! The Heir is back!”
Being back was good. Why so flustered?
“He must have rushed back to accompany Her Highness and the Young Mistress for the meal,” Aunt Qi finally managed to finish her sentence.
Mu Yunxian and her daughter-in-law exchanged a smile.
“Ah! No!” The young maid was so anxious she was about to cry. “The Heir was beaten. He’s covered in blood! He was carried back!”
What?! Both women stiffened in shock!
“Who beat him? Where is he now? Is he badly hurt?” Mu Yunxian fired off a rapid series of questions.
The maid, frightened by her, stammered out, “In, in the front hall.” Chu Mingxi was already speaking. “I’ll go take a look ahead first.” Without even waiting to properly excuse herself, she bypassed the maids and old women and headed straight for the front hall.
Today, it had been the Kang brothers accompanying Wei Qingchen to the palace. The two had waited with the mansion guards at the Carriage Station for half the day, only for their young Heir to be carried out!
The eunuch who came out said that Heir Wei had provoked the Imperial wrath and had been given twenty strokes of the board on the spot!
This… this… Kang Ze was completely dumbfounded. They hadn’t brought a carriage today. Beaten to this state, there was no way she could ride a horse. Looking at his equally shocked brother, neither knew what to do.
Luckily, a group of junior palace servants came running over, carrying a heated sedan chair. They said the Seventh Princess, upon hearing her cousin had been beaten, had hurriedly dispatched them.
The two brothers expressed profuse thanks and, in a flurry, helped the Heir into the sedan chair, escorting her all the way back to the mansion.
When Chu Mingxi arrived at the front hall, the Marquis was also there, already ordering the Kang boy to pull down his son’s pants to check the injury. Wei Qingchen was gripping her sash with the desperate air of a maiden protecting her virtue. Wei Huaishu was both furious and amused. Seeing Chu Mingxi approach, he pointed at her. “Your wife is here. What are you still fussing about?”
Seeing Chu Mingxi was like seeing a savior. Wei Qingchen’s eyes sparkled as she just looked at her.
Chu Mingxi saw that her outer robe was stained with blood again. New injuries had been added before the old ones had even healed. She couldn’t help frowning. She turned and bowed briefly to Wei Huaishu. “There are still guests in the hall. Perhaps I should accompany the Heir back to our rooms to examine him carefully.”
Wei Huaishu waved his hand, letting them go.
The two Kang boys supported the Heir, one on each side, escorting her to the inner courtyard gate. Jingyun and several senior maids had already received the news. They brought sturdy old women carrying a soft stretcher, received the Heir, and swiftly sent her back to her own courtyard.
Back in their room, the maids helped her out of her bulky outer clothes and, with practiced ease, settled the Heir onto the bed. Chu Mingxi entered with medicine tucked in her sleeve and found the scene utterly familiar.
As if knowing their masters’ habits, after settling everything, Jingyun quietly led the junior maids away. Chu Mingxi placed the medicine on the shelf and first took her pulse to diagnose. The internal injuries weren’t serious. Only then did she take scissors and slowly cut open Wei Qingchen’s moon-white inner trousers. The pale fabric was stained with blood. Once removed, it revealed a mass of black, purple, red, and swollen flesh—not a single good spot anywhere.
“Why were you beaten this time? Was it yesterday’s incident?” Chu Mingxi wrung out a hot cloth and gently wiped away the bloodstains.
Wei Qingchen lay with her head buried in the pillow, hesitating. “It was… but it also wasn’t.”
She waited, but no follow-up question came, so she continued on her own. “The censors petitioned, saying I was arrogant and domineering, trying to kill someone within the Imperial City. Mother likely had already guessed what Imperial Uncle would ask and had sent someone to tell him. But without solid evidence, it couldn’t be stated too clearly. In any case, you brought the person back to life. Imperial Uncle just told me to go home, shut my doors, and reflect on my mistakes, and then serve at the military front in the future to atone for today’s transgression. Unfortunately, the Fourth Prince was also there today. He’s never seen eye-to-eye with me. He said that precisely because I am young and a relative of the Imperial family, I should receive a small punishment as a large warning, to prevent greater mistakes in the future. Hearing this, Imperial Uncle gave me twenty strokes.”
She rambled on until she finished. Chu Mingxi had already applied one layer of medicine. This beating was lighter than the last one. It seemed His Majesty knew she was wronged, and the men wielding the boards had held back some strength. But new injuries added to old ones inevitably worsened them again.
“You… don’t be angry anymore.” Wei Qingchen tilted her head, wanting to look at her wife but couldn’t see her. She had to turn her body sideways.
“Don’t move!” Chu Mingxi commanded in a low voice. Wei Qingchen instantly froze. Chu Mingxi turned back to get more medicine and continued along Wei Qingchen’s line of thought. “Why would I be angry.”
Her tone was flat, not sounding angry at all. But Wei Qingchen just felt she was unhappy. Why she was unhappy, Wei Qingchen couldn’t quite say.
At that moment, the Grand Princess arrived. She settled into a chair in the small flower hall with Aunt Qi. The door to the inner chamber was closed again.
From halfway across the room, the Grand Princess said coolly, “Your Imperial Uncle beat you?”
“Mhm..”
“Why did I hear that you brought this beating on yourself?”
Startled, Wei Qingchen immediately twisted her head to signal frantically. Chu Mingxi’s elegant brows furrowed deeply.
Acting as if she saw nothing, the Grand Princess continued, unhurriedly. “The junior palace attendants who sent you back told me everything. His Majesty clearly ordered you to go home, shut your doors, and reflect. Yet you insisted on provoking your Fourth Imperial Cousin, even arguing loudly outside the Imperial Study and nearly raising your fist. What’s this? Are you trying to solidify your reputation as a worthless dandy?”
Seeing her daughter’s face flush bright red and her daughter-in-law pensive, the Grand Princess chuckled inwardly and decided to add fuel to the fire. “Were you that eager to stay home? To avoid going to Huazhou, you even resorted to a ruse of self-injury?”
Chu Mingxi’s hand, applying the medicine, noticeably paused. Wei Qingchen trembled all over from the pain but gritted her teeth and didn’t cry out. Chu Mingxi frowned and quickly relaxed her grip.
Having achieved her goal, the Grand Princess left instructions for her to recuperate well and departed, leaning on Aunt Qi’s arm.
Once the door was closed, Wei Qingchen called out hesitantly, “Mingxi…” No answer came. Bearing the pain, she turned to reach for Chu Mingxi’s hand. Chu Mingxi pulled her hand away, evading the touch.
