Chapter 61: Fortunate Enough to Bring Her Husband Prosperity

Both the inner and outer doors of the Yearning Hall were wide open. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, Chu Mingxi heard the Old Madam Wei’s piteous wailing, crying out “my child” and “my flesh.” Seeing the Young Mistress return, the maids all bobbed in respectful curtsies. Chu Mingxi quickened her pace, heading straight for the main room’s door. As she lifted her hand to push aside the door curtain, she secretly took a deep breath. Ruolan, who had returned with her, was quick-eyed and swift-handed, lifting the curtain for her Young Mistress.

Wei Qingchen had already changed into everyday household clothes. The Old Titled Lady was holding her tightly in her arms, wiping away tears in distress. When Chu Mingxi returned, both grandmother and grandson’s eyes lit up. But before Wei Qingchen could even speak, the Old Titled Lady had already pulled Chu Mingxi’s hand over, urging her to examine her precious grandson.

Wei Qingchen hadn’t seen her wife for several days. Now, sitting in the chair, she tilted her head slightly to look at her, her eyes bright and clear, a smile playing on her lips.

Thankfully, there were no broken bones or strained tendons. Chu Mingxi felt slightly relieved and only then realized that, having rushed all the way here, her palms had already broken out in a sweat. She curled her fingers inside her sleeve, discreetly relaxing them, before carefully scrutinizing Wei Qingchen for a few moments. This person had injuries on her forehead, jaw, and even her neck. The marks weren’t deep; most were likely scrapes and scratches.

Like a cat that had been in a fight over territory.

Thinking this, Chu Mingxi’s lips curved up in a smile. But seeing that the Old Titled Lady was still crying, she suppressed the smile and consoled her, “It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry, Old Ancestor. Let me take a look at him right away.”

“How did the Heir end up like this?” A maid had already brought a chair over. Taking advantage of being seated beside the corner table and checking her pulse, Chu Mingxi asked in a half-teasing manner.

Before Wei Qingchen could answer, Old Madam Wei started crying again, “To save the Son of the Old Emperor, no less! Almost went tumbling down to the bottom of a mountain cliff! Can you imagine how dangerous that was? It’s a good thing my Chen’er has great fortune and a strong destiny. It was with great difficulty that he managed to come back!”

The Old Titled Lady was truly anxious. Her tears streamed down in rivulets, crying so hard that no one could possibly console her.

The Grand Princess had already been sitting to the side for quite a while. Seeing this, she also rubbed her forehead. Honestly, with Qingchen, this problematic child, getting into some scrape or another every few days, it was impossible not to worry.

Chu Mingxi was just taking the pulse. Upon hearing this, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Wei Qingchen. Using her own body to block the Old Titled Lady’s view, Wei Qingchen mouthed silently, word by word: “Tell… you… later…”

Chu Mingxi lowered her eyelashes. Actually, she wanted to laugh, but felt that if the Old Titled Lady saw, it wouldn’t be very appropriate after all.

Qingdai had already brought the medicine chest over. Chu Mingxi didn’t immediately open it but instead looked at Old Madam Wei with a smile. “The Heir’s injuries aren’t serious; no internal damage was done. I’ll apply some ointment for him, and he’ll be fine in a couple of days.”

The Old Titled Lady let out an “Ah,” nodded, and rubbed Wei Qingchen’s hand, then asked, “And on his body? Are there any injuries there?”

Chu Mingxi’s hand, resting on the medicine chest, paused slightly. Pressing her lips together, she said, “I’ll examine any on his body in a moment.”

“Good. Good. Good.” The Old Titled Lady answered in rapid succession. Her serving maids came over to help her stand, and the Grand Princess also prepared to accompany her out.

Who knew that when the Old Titled Lady reached the door, she would turn back and instruct her granddaughter-in-law: “Brew him a bowl of Calming Soup. He’s just a child; he must have gotten a fright. You need to gather back his three ethereal souls and seven corporeal souls, settle them properly.”

The young couple, Wei Qingchen and her wife, had risen to see her off for a couple of steps. Hearing this, they were both momentarily stunned. Chu Mingxi was the first to react, nodding, “Alright. I’ll brew Calming Soup for him.”

Saying this, she walked up and personally took over from the maid, supporting the Old Titled Lady herself. Her voice softened with gentleness as she reassured, “Don’t you worry. I’ll go to the small kitchen right away and make him the soup. Red dates and lotus seeds are the best for calming the spirit. They’re also perfectly seasonal right now.”

“Mm. You’re a good child, I know it.” Old Madam Wei nodded with satisfaction. Chu Mingxi accompanied her all the way to the entrance of the Yearning Hall, listening to the old woman’s rambling instructions without showing the slightest hint of impatience.

It was just that when she returned, her face was somewhat flushed. Wei Qingchen noticed and asked curiously, “Eh? What’s the matter? What else did the Old Ancestor say to you?”

Chu Mingxi turned her back to fetch medicine from the chest. Wei Qingchen leaned her head over to tease her. She gave her a glance, her gaze landing on the scratches on Wei Qingchen’s face, which said everything without words.

“Ah!” Wei Qingchen understood, thinking about how to explain. As she did, she raised a hand and nearly touched the wound on her face.

Chu Mingxi hurriedly stopped her, scolding, “What are you doing!”

“Oh. I forgot.” Wei Qingchen withdrew her hand.

It wasn’t really her fault. Those small wounds would naturally both itch and hurt; it was all too easy to rub or scratch them without thinking.

Chu Mingxi opened a small white porcelain jar and took out some ointment. The scent of plants and herbs once again permeated the room. Unconsciously, she let out a sigh.

Wei Qingchen sensed her low spirits and obediently sat down on the chair, tilting her face up for her to apply the medicine, while starting to explain: “Yesterday, Prince Lian and my Fifth Imperial Brother were racing horses. Fifth Brother’s mount became startled and bolted…”

She recounted the events at the Elegant Orchid Hunting Grounds from beginning to end. But when describing the fall over the cliff, she said she had landed in a large tree, clung on with all her might, and just waited for Old Five to come rescue her.

The young couple’s medicine-applying session had by now moved to the inner chamber. Wei Qingchen had loosened her outer clothes and rolled up her sleeves, waiting for her wife to help rub out the bruises on her arms using a salve.

“I’m not blaming you.” Chu Mingxi applied a thin layer of ointment and slowly kneaded the bruised area, sighing softly. “I just feel…”

“What?” Wei Qingchen didn’t let her continue massaging. She pulled her back slightly, and the couple ended up sitting close together on the daybed.

Chu Mingxi raised her eyelashes, looking at the wound on her forehead. “I just feel that you are also a girl, yet you’re always getting injured here and there. Even if others don’t pay it much mind, that’s one thing, but you… you should be a bit more careful with yourself.”

Her tone was cool and clear, like ice and jade falling onto Wei Qingchen’s heart, yet it stirred a feeling both achingly soft and sharp. Wei Qingchen grasped her soft hand, meeting her gaze without avoidance. “So you do care about me, right?”

She hadn’t been misled by the diversion. She had heard the true meaning.

Chu Mingxi lowered her eyelashes.

From the very first time they met, this person was always getting hurt—for her country, for her family, for her sovereign, for her brother.

And for… her.

Seeing her like this, Wei Qingchen felt a pang in her heart. Amidst that aching, her heart also fluttered with emotion. Gently, she lifted Chu Mingxi’s chin, closed her eyes, and leaned in to kiss her.

But Chu Mingxi used a fingertip, white as fine jade, to stop her lips.

“Hm?” Wei Qingchen blinked.

Chu Mingxi shook her head, a smile in her voice. “You reek of medicine. Forget it.”

“You’re disgusted by me??!!” Wei Qingchen’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

“Mm…” Chu Mingxi retreated a little, answering with action.

“Heh!” Wei Qingchen gave a cold laugh. Without another word, she flipped over, pinning her down, and planted a loud, resounding kiss on her lips—”Smack!”

Chu Mingxi gritted her teeth and glared at her. Unafraid, Wei Qingchen was about to kiss her again when Chu Mingxi stopped her once more, her eyes far more serious than before.

She had no choice but to pause, listening to her.

“From now on, if you get injured again, you are not allowed to kiss me.”

Wei Qingchen looked down at her from above, taking in her stunning, picturesque features. Such an aloof, icy person, yet at this moment, her eyes held a trace of both tender affection and endearing attachment.

Wei Qingchen’s eyes slowly reddened.

Chu Mingxi was taken aback. Puzzled, she asked, “What’s… the matter?”

Little by little, Wei Qingchen relaxed her hold and buried her face in the crook of her neck. Muffled, she said, “In the future… I won’t let myself get hurt anymore.”

In a place Wei Qingchen couldn’t see, Chu Mingxi gently curved the corners of her lips upwards. Then she raised her hands and wrapped her arms around her back.

“Okay.”

The day after the Wei father and sons returned to the mansion, an Imperial Edict arrived from the palace. Eunuch Qiu, the Edict-bearing Eunuch, stood in the main hall to proclaim the decree. Wei Qingchen had performed a meritorious service for the state and the imperial clan. Today, she was appointed as the Junior 3rd Rank General of the Feathered Forest Guards, commanding the Thousand Bulls. Henceforth, she was to protect the country with diligence and strive unceasingly.

Grand General Wei led the entire household in respectfully kowtowing to express their gratitude for the imperial grace. The Old Madam Wei was overjoyed, profusely thanking the imperial grace and then the blessings of the ancestors.

Eunuch Qiu cupped his hands and said, “His Majesty has further rewards that will likely be delivered tomorrow. This servant congratulates the Marquis, the Grand Princess, and the Heir in advance!”

Grand General Wei laughed heartily. Mu Yunxian had lavish gratuities prepared, which Eunuch Qiu gleefully accepted.

After seeing off the Edict-bearing Eunuch, Wei Huaishu and Mu Yunxian exchanged a meaningful glance and returned together to the Jade Grain Courtyard.

For imperial relatives by birth, it wasn’t uncommon to be promoted all the way up to the First or Second Rank. For example, Prince Heng, who had been asked to act as matchmaker for Wei Qingchen, was a Junior First Rank official at court. Yet Prince Heng’s actual official duties weren’t of high power; he drew a Junior First Rank salary but merely attended routine roll calls.

The Junior 3rd Rank General of the Feathered Forest Guards, commanding the Thousand Bulls, was different. This position, though Junior 3rd Rank, held real authority.

“His Majesty is…” Behind closed doors, Wei Huaishu looked at his wife.

Mu Yunxian thought for a moment. “I’m afraid the intention is to gradually hand over the defense of the Capital City to Qingchen. Naturally, for now, it’s still a period of training and tempering.”

“But can that brat handle it?” Grand General Wei spoke words of disdain, yet the corners of his mouth kept quirking upwards, impossible to suppress.

The Grand Princess cast a sideways glance at him. “When the Marquis was at that age, wasn’t he already leading an army into battle on his own?”

Grand General Wei stopped pretending then, letting out a chuckle. After a moment he nodded, “Chen’er is a child of destiny. He saved the Fifth Prince this time, almost at the cost of his own life. His Majesty, this time… truly sees Chen’er as one of his own now.”

The Grand Princess, however, said, “It’s a good thing we arranged for him a good wife.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mingxi has a fate that brings her husband prosperity.” The Grand Princess blinked, revealing a hint of the playful charm of her younger days. “Ever since Chen’er set his heart on this wife, his career has risen in leaps and bounds. Look, in these three years, he’s been promoted twice. How many officials his age at the Junior 3rd Rank can there be in the entire court? From now on, whatever he encounters, he’ll surely turn misfortune into blessing and find safety in disaster.”

“Hahahahaha!!” Grand General Wei slapped his thigh, laughing. “Madam, you speak the truth! Our daughter-in-law brings her husband prosperity. My child truly has this noble, fortunate destiny!”

In the Yearning Hall, the young couple Wei Qingchen and Chu Mingxi had also returned to their room. The several close-serving maids already knew the news and smilingly kowtowed, congratulating their masters. After they withdrew, Wei Qingchen took Chu Mingxi’s hand, wanting to have a good talk with her.

But Chu Mingxi, with a smile, slipped her hand free and poured herself a cup of tea.

Wei Qingchen’s gaze followed her every movement, watching as she lifted the teacup, walked over, gracefully bent her knee in a curtsy, and said with a glowing smile:

“Oh, General~ please have some tea~~”