Chapter 86: The Hurdle in Her Heart
Qin Mingxu prepared a Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet.
He specially invited Cai Qingyao over and seated her at the head of the table.
Zhu Xifeng and Hua Lian also came.
He held my hand and welcomed guests.
At the dinner table, he carefully served Cai Qingyao, ladled soup for me, and smilingly urged Zhu Xifeng and Hua Lian to eat the lamb leg.
“This lamb leg was brought by a Hu merchant from the city on a swift horse from the grasslands. They used over ten barrels of ice along the way. You won’t find such fresh lamb anywhere in Yangzhou City. Xifeng, Hua Lian, please try it.”
He was enthusiastic and attentive.
In front of others, he was no different than usual.
But only I knew the stiffness in his palm when he held my hand.
He refused to look directly at the wound from that day.
The more he acted as if nothing happened, the more it was etched in his heart.
On the stage, the actors sang “Embroidered Skirt Record” with their melodious voices.《》
“The brocade screen empties youth, a hundred years of time flies like an arrow. Youth gone, regret for old age, the peach blossom face laments the past. Break free from karmic debts, do not linger, do not listen to the songs of the women of Xunyang…”
Cai Qingyao listened to the lyrics, feeling uneasy and a little sad.
She followed the actor, reciting from the script: “A single leak in the vastness of Qianzhong, living in a house all day feels like being on a boat. When Chongyang arrives, the sky clears, urging drunkenness, before the Ghost Gate Pass, by the Shu River.”
After a moment, she asked me, “Sang Yu, when will Gao’er return?”
I replied, “Replying to Mother, he should be back within these few days.”
She nodded.
Midway through the meal, Xiao Yin brought hot towels.
While everyone was wiping their faces, Cai Qingyao said to me, “Sang Yu, what’s going on between you and Xu’er?”
I smiled and said, “He and I are very well. Yesterday, the old Taoist from Sanqing Temple came to the residence to collect alms. He said the fetus in my belly will be a great person in the future. Mingxu said it doesn’t matter if the child is great or small, as long as they are safe. I think so too.”
Cai Qingyao said, “Why do I feel like Xu’er is a bit off?”
After all, mother and son had been together day and night for over twenty years.
She understood him.
I lowered my head and said, “Mother, it’s nothing. We just had a small argument. Even tongues bump into teeth; in married life, how can there be no friction?”
She said with a sigh, “Sang Yu, it’s a rare fate that you two could be together and become husband and wife. Many lovers in this world can only dream of being together. They don’t even have anyone to argue with. You are an understanding child, you should know Xu’er’s feelings for you. Whatever obstacles there are, you must overcome them. Cherish each other and grow old together.”
I bowed and said, “Mother, what you say is absolutely right.”
Her eyes reddened.
“Gao’er also doesn’t want your life to have any more disturbances.”
I quickly handed her a handkerchief, “Mother, please don’t be sad. Your child knows what to do.”
The play ended.
The banquet dispersed.
Qin Mingxu escorted Cai Qingyao back to Qing Yue Pavilion.
Zhu Xifeng and Hua Lian returned to Zhu Residence.
I returned to my room and spread out “Peach Blossom Stream”.《
This painting, after many days of work, was finally nearing completion.
In the painting, a woman in a hemp robe stood beside a young man in a blue robe. The young man had a tall, elegant build, delicate features, and a free-spirited gaze, exuding a dashing and elegant demeanor. The evening clouds in the sky gradually receded, leaving a clear, glassy sky. Peach trees bloomed like a fairyland. Petals floated on the stream, drifting into the distance. A bird perched on a fishing boat.
I colored the painting.
Footsteps were heard from outside.
Qin Mingxu had returned.
He habitually walked towards the west wing room.
He had been sleeping alone in the west wing room for over ten days.
During these days, he had not lacked the care or attention he should have given, yet he refused to share a bed with me.
The wind under the eaves came and went. The osmanthus flowers in Qin Manor bloomed fragrantly and vibrantly, filling the entire residence with a clear scent. He and I, separated by two doors, were like the most distant of couples.
The last stroke was applied.
The painting was finished.
I thought for a moment, then, carrying the painting, I walked towards the west wing room.
The door was not bolted, it was ajar.
It seemed to have been silently waiting for me to push it open.
The person on the bed heard the movement, the bedding shifted slightly, but he remained silent.
I lit the lamp.
Light filled the room.
“Mingxu, I have something to show you,” I said.
He still didn’t speak.
I held up the painting, walked to the bedside, nudged him, and smiled, “The moon is so big and round tonight. You’re sleeping so early, aren’t you wasting such a beautiful moonlit night? ‘Peach Blossom Stream’, I’ve finished it, and I plan to give it to you.”《
He opened his eyes, wanting to say something, but then closed his mouth, carefully refraining from showing any sign of joy.
I cupped my hands and performed a male salute, saying, “This humble one has worked hard on this painting for a long time. Won’t Boss Qin reward me with a few coins?”
I pretended to bring the painting towards the candlestick, “Since Boss Qin doesn’t like it, I’ll burn it then.”
He got up and sighed, “I’d rather you set this room on fire than burn this painting.”
I laughed, “Absolutely not. The painting won’t be burned, nor will the room. It’s my painting, my room, my husband. Why should I burn them?”
He looked at the people in the painting, the scenery, his eyes moistening.
He held the painting and looked at it, again and again.
After a full quarter of an hour, he finally put it down.
He reached under his pillow, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to me.
I asked, “What is this?”
“Didn’t you just ask why Boss Qin wouldn’t reward you with a few coins? Here, this is it.”
This was no ordinary paper. It was an official document. An official document selecting Zhu Family’s Hua Lian as tribute wine.
With this, the Zhu Family’s business would prosper further, and the reputation of Zhu Family’s Hua Lian would grow.
He must have been busy with this for a long time.
He said, “I submitted an additional twenty thousand bolts of silk from the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau this year. This is the reward granted to me by Director Peng of the Weaving Bureau.”
The candlelight licked the darkness.
From the beginning until now, he had been helping me. Even when we had disagreements, his thoughts were still of me.
He treated the Zhu Family’s affairs as his own.
“Mingxu.”
I called out to him.
He looked at me, his eyes holding pain, love, and helplessness.
“Sang Yu, I’ve thought a lot over these past ten days. This marriage, I wanted it. The child, it was conceived after drinking. The cause of all this is me. How can I blame you? But I don’t know why, I just can’t get past myself. I dare not face many cruel realities. The more critical the moment, the more clearly these facts become apparent.”
He gave a self-deprecating laugh.
“I am not an upright person. My only virtue is loving you. I hope you love me too, even if not as much.”
“Mingxu—”
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my forehead behind my ear.
“Sang Yu, you should go rest.”
I said softly, “You still refuse to return to our room?”
He blew out the lamp, lay down again, hugged “Peach Blossom Stream”, and closed his eyes.《
After a long while.
I walked out of the west wing room.
The moon was round like a mirror.
The moonlight was as clear as washing.
The courtyard was pure white, as if veiled in fine gauze.
A figure flashed before me: “Elder Sister, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”
He had arrived.
A little earlier than I had expected.
I extended a finger and tapped his forehead: “You didn’t come through the main gate again.”
He smiled faintly, “I didn’t want to make a big fuss with a large entourage. I just wanted to see Elder Sister.”
“You, last time, caused such a commotion, you scared Elder Sister. I was so worried something would happen to you.”
He touched my belly, “Let me see Dou Ya.”
After a moment, he looked up, his eyes reflecting the full moon.
“Elder Sister, you only need to remember that besides you and Mother, no one can truly harm me.”
Feng Gao came to Yangzhou this time with an imperial decree.
His Majesty ordered him to go to Shenju Mountain for recruitment and pacification, and to have Zheng Tai assist.
His Majesty’s intention was none other than that the Zheng family had incurred public wrath this time. On the surface, he wanted Zheng Tai to atone for his mistakes. Inwardly, he believed Feng Gao would handle the matter perfectly and let Zheng Tai join, gaining merit effortlessly.
When it was discussed in the Imperial Court, it wouldn’t seem like favoritism towards the maternal relatives.
As His Majesty’s trusted confidant, Feng Gao naturally could not refuse such a request.
I said, “Dou Ya, Elder Sister feels that the One-Eyed Dragon doesn’t seem like someone who would be pacified.”
“No matter what, he has already attracted His Majesty’s attention. Recruitment and pacification is better than suppressing bandits. I’ll go and see first.”
“That’s fine. Be careful.”
“Elder Sister, don’t worry.”
The next morning, Feng Gao departed.
Zheng Tai dawdled, put on his most luxurious clothes, boarded an eight-person sedan chair, and traveled through the streets, stopping at every turn, as if he wanted the entire city to know he was going to do something important.
Feng Gao had already found the mountain stronghold; he had just reached the foot of the mountain.
The Autumn Tiger was scorching. Zheng Tai wanted to rest under the shade of a tree, as he had already put on a good show. However, Zou Cheng advised him that he should at least go up to the mountain stronghold. Otherwise, if His Majesty wanted to bestow rewards, he wouldn’t have a reason.
Zheng Tai went up the mountain, and within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, something happened.
A little girl, about six or seven years old, with a round face and watery, intelligent eyes. She sat on a high tree branch and, upon seeing Zheng Tai and his entourage, let out a few coded signals towards the sky.
A huge net descended, covering the sedan chair Zheng Tai was in, and was suddenly pulled.
The sedan chair was swiftly pulled into the dense forest.
Zheng Tai’s attendants rushed towards the sedan chair, and one by one, they all fell into deep traps.
The little girl climbed down from the tree branch like a monkey, clapped her hands, and said, “Tell Uncle, I’ve caught a big fish.”
“Big fish” was slang among the bandits.
It meant they had captured a valuable hostage.
