Chapter 50: Little Fool

“Impossible!!” The Governor’s Wife, Lady Bao, was first stunned, then she screeched, “How could she be the Heir Consort? This… this must be a mistake! Master, investigate it clearly!!”

In the guest hall, the assembled officials’ wives realized they had walked into a disaster. They stared at each other, not knowing what to do. Madam Liang’s face had gone a ghastly pale. She swayed dizzily, her voice airy. “She… she… she is the Heir Consort? Then what about my husband? What’s happened to my husband?”

“Liang Yu is now in their hands. Whether he’s dead or alive is hard to say,” Governor Wen spat out a harsh line and stormed off in a swish of sleeves.

Liang Yu was indeed at the Imperial Medicine Hall—trussed up like a fowl and thrown into the firewood room. Two of his soldiers were beside him; one with nerves of steel was already snoring. Liang Yu was boiling with rage and kicked him. By now, he believed this Lord Wei truly had a powerful background; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare seize him in Peaceful Ease Prefecture. But this wasn’t some unpardonable crime of his. He could only hope Governor Wen was reliable and could fish him out.

After all these years preying on others, to be pecked by a fledgling hawk!

The fury and hatred made him gnash his teeth. His hands were bound, and the wound on his face itched with a maddening pain. He kicked the sleeping soldier twice more. The soldier, gagged, only whimpered, angry but afraid to speak out. Kang Xun, standing guard outside, heard it all but pretended not to.

In the main room of the Imperial Medicine Hall, Wei Qingchen had just rinsed her mouth and grimaced from the bite of the mint. A young maid giggled from the side. Yining also smiled, saying, “Let the Young Master try our Imperial Medicine Hall’s mint powder.”

“Hm?” Wei Qingchen pressed her lips together in slight embarrassment. Chu Mingxi wrung out a cloth and handed it over herself. Wei Qingchen took it and wiped her face.

Once everything was tidied up, Yining led the maids in a salute and withdrew. The room grew quiet, just the young couple remaining.

“What brought you to the Imperial Medicine Hall today? Did you just happen to run into all this?” Chu Mingxi asked, one hand holding up her long hair, the other lifting the thin blanket as she lay down.

The lamps in the room were still lit. Having been apart for so long, both wanted to talk.

“Yes and no.” Wei Qingchen lay down beside her, turning on her side to look at her. “The task His Majesty assigned to Fifth Brother and me is somewhat connected to Governor Wen. We’ve been in Peaceful Ease Prefecture this whole time and only recently uncovered some clues. Liang Yu has troops under his command—we always had to guard against that. During the day, Kang Xun told me he was heading with men toward the Imperial Medicine Hall. Hmph, of course I came running.”

Her playful tone made Chu Mingxi smile.

As they spoke, Wei Qingchen remembered the scene she’d walked into at the shop. She stirred under the blanket and said gently, “Now that we’re alone, let me see your wrist.”

Chu Mingxi’s hands were hidden beneath the blanket. She closed her eyes and remained silent.

How could Wei Qingchen not guess? Her voice grew urgent, tinged with annoyance. “It’s badly injured, isn’t it? Let me see, quickly.”

Saying this, she moved to take her hand, yet was afraid of hurting her. In the bed, she was almost fidgeting with anxiety.

Chu Mingxi sighed and opened her eyes. “You can look, only if you promise not to get angry.”

So saying, she allowed Wei Qingchen to gently take her hand and lift it between them. Wei Qingchen first studied her face, then carefully rolled up the sleeve of her sleeping robe.

Across the fair, jade-like wrist, a stark bruise marred the porcelain skin, a sight that sent a sharp pang through Wei Qingchen’s heart.

A military officer’s grip was always heavier than most. That sudden, rough grab might not have been intentionally vicious, but the bruise was undeniable.

“That bastard!” Wei Qingchen stared at the bruise for a moment, then suddenly threw off the blanket. With a decisive “Ha!” she sat up, pushed aside the bed curtains, and started to get out.

“Where are you going?” Chu Mingxi felt her temper rising and hurriedly sat up as well. Wei Qingchen was already fumbling for her shoes, head down. Chu Mingxi grabbed her shoulder. “You promised not to get angry.”

“No! I’m going to beat him!” Wei Qingchen was truly furious, her voice altered.

“You already beat him today.” This person, capable of sharing the Emperor’s burdens, was now acting just like a child. And it was for her sake. As Chu Mingxi thought this, her heart ached for her.

The distant lamplight filtered through the bed curtains, outlining Wei Qingchen’s handsome, spirited brows and eyes—eyes now simmering with rage.

Chu Mingxi was very close to her, her tone carrying a hint of unconscious coquettishness. “It’s very late. Don’t go out, okay?”

Pulled back by her, Wei Qingchen slowly turned. They were almost pressed together. Chu Mingxi was beautiful. Wei Qingchen had always known it, but never before had she felt it as breathtakingly as tonight. Wei Qingchen’s anger had dissipated entirely, replaced by a pair of clear eyes tinged with confusion, staring entranced at the woman before her. The confusion gradually took on a shade of desire, burning her eyes red.

Chu Mingxi tilted her head up slightly and saw a tiny reflection of herself in those eyes—utterly, completely, herself. The subtle desire in those eyes spread a matching flush across her own face. Chu Mingxi wanted to lower her head, avoid this kindling that had flared from who knows where. But Wei Qingchen didn’t let her.

Breath quickening, Wei Qingchen gently lifted her chin. Chu Mingxi already sensed what was about to happen and couldn’t help but close her eyes.

Wei Qingchen’s kiss landed on her cheek.

The lips were burning hot, like her heart.

Both lay back on their pillows. After that first kiss, like two little fools, neither knew what to say next.

Chu Mingxi clutched the blanket, unaware of the sweat in her palms. Her face was still somewhat red. Her throat tickled, and she coughed.

Wei Qingchen blinked, then sat up again. Chu Mingxi looked at her questioningly.

She got out of bed, shuffled into her shoes, walked to the door, and called out, “Someone!”

Yining, on night watch in the outer room, immediately responded, approaching the door. “Young Master?”

Wei Qingchen opened the door. “Go get the medicine chest.”

Yining was startled but was astute enough not to ask questions. She hurried off. A moment later, she returned from the side room carrying a medicine chest—not the usual travel one; this contained only common household remedies.

Wei Qingchen took the chest and told her to go rest. The Eldest Young Miss inside the room remained silent. Yining curtsied and closed the door behind them.

Chu Mingxi had pulled the blanket up and was sitting against the headboard. Wei Qingchen sat on the edge of the bed, opened the chest, and looked at the array of jars and bottles.

The milky-white ointment was mixed with Peach Kernel and Red Peony Root; its scent was not unpleasant. Wei Qingchen scooped out some with her fingertip. Her left hand cradled Chu Mingxi’s wrist while her right applied the medicine, spreading the ointment over the bruise with gentle strokes.

The candle behind her cast a dusky yellow glow, throwing her shadow across Chu Mingxi, as if encompassing her entirely within an embrace. Chu Mingxi’s heart fluttered. Lifting her gaze within this shadow, she instead saw Wei Qingchen’s long eyelashes, and beneath them, a focused tenderness.

The next morning, Chu Mingxi woke in a daze and wanted to rub her eyes. When her wrist neared her nose, she caught a faint medicinal scent. Instantly, everything that had happened on this bed the night before came flooding back. Her hand paused, then changed direction. Her fingertips brushed down and touched the spot on her cheek where she had been kissed last night.

Still… somewhat embarrassing.

She lay there a while longer before finally getting up.

The maids came in to help her wash and dress. She asked casually, “Where is the Young Master?”

The maids all said they didn’t know.

She didn’t think much of it. Wei Qingchen had important matters to attend to; she had probably left to work early.

After breakfast, Chu Mingyu pestered Qingdai into accompanying her to the embroidery shop. When they had come to Chen Prefecture, they never imagined they would stay so long. They had barely brought any summer clothes and had to keep buying new ones as needed.

Chu Mingxi was still preoccupied with those corn kernels. She recalled the serving-woman yesterday mentioning the chickens fed with the corn and wondered if they had been brought back yet. She called for a maid and asked where the Steward was. Just then, Yining walked in with a basket, saying the servant sent to the farm had returned.

Chu Mingxi nodded and decided to go see for herself.

The Imperial Medicine Hall had been purchased as a large residence. In the back was a small drying yard for preparing medicinal herbs. The servant had driven the cart back and temporarily parked it in the drying yard. Several boys were helping carry the chickens.

Chu Mingxi sent for Shopkeeper Yu and Doctor Tang from the front shop. By the time the two men had hurried to the rear courtyard, the Steward had also arrived.

“Eldest Young Miss,” the Steward bowed.

When the cart returned, protocol demanded he see to it first. He was late and quickly apologized.

Chu Mingxi glanced at him. “Where were you coming from?”

“Replying to the Eldest Young Miss, this servant came from the firewood room. Early this morning, the lads said there was a commotion over there. This servant remembered there were still some officials locked up and ran over to check.”

“Oh?” Chu Mingxi became attentive. “What happened?”

“It was… it was the Heir. At the crack of dawn, the Heir went to the firewood room and gave those officials another beating. The leader especially—he was whipped until he howled. Then Second Master Kang went and gagged them again.” The Steward looked utterly baffled. “Didn’t they get beaten yesterday? Why another beating today?”

Chu Mingxi tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, hiding the slight blush on its tip. She turned to Shopkeeper Yu. “Go see what killed those chickens.”

“Eh?” Shopkeeper Yu had been thoroughly absorbed in the Steward’s gossip. He paused, slightly muddled, before bustling over in a fluster. “Oh, yes. Right away.”

Doctor Tang hastily followed. The two physicians, applying their diagnostic skills, proceeded to examine the chickens lying on the ground.

After “stretching her limbs” first thing in the morning, Wei Qingchen had gone out, taking only Kang Ze with her. Kang Xun remained at the Imperial Medicine Hall’s rear courtyard, guarding the firewood room.

The two of them were dressed in brocade finery, swaggering through the streets. In the bustling main avenue, Kang Ze pointed at a gateway. Wei Qingchen grinned slyly, and they ducked inside.

Behind them, a few men in rough cloth clothes dared not follow too closely. It was a while before they caught up and saw it was a gambling den, thronged with people.

The leader was Governor Wen Minxu’s trusted man, who had truly handled many matters for him. Seeing the gambling den so crowded, he inwardly cursed his luck. Hastily pushing aside the cloth curtain and rushing in, there was no trace of the two targets!

It was already the fifth month according to the Moon Order. The fragrance of Dragon Boat Festival zongzi drifted from some unknown household. Children’s hems were already adorned with five-colored silk threads. Near Peaceful Ease Prefecture’s bustling marketplace was a building called the Drunken Immortal Tower, serving as both a teahouse and wine shop. In a private room on the second floor, two carved windows were open. A guard stood sideways by the window and, spotting Wei Qingchen’s figure in the distance, turned and said, “Your Highness, the young cousin has arrived.”

“Oh?” Mu Qishao, the Fifth Prince, walked to the window and cast a glance down at the street below.

Wei Qingchen, as if sensing their gaze, happened to look up at them.

Knowing full well she couldn’t see them from this angle, Mu Qishao was still impressed by her alertness. He casually laughed, “Good lad!”