Chapter 13

The fiery sunset gilded the verdant mountain ridges with a border of gold. Ripples shimmered across the lake, reflecting the inverted evening glow like a pool of shattered starlight. Pei Mushan handed her dressing case to her maid, leaned against Xu Yunqi, and watched the man approaching unhurriedly in the distance.

He wore a well-tailored narrow-sleeved robe of deep blue, speaking with several officials by the lake. The slanting light rested on his brows, intertwining with his innate cool elegance to form a faint, cold mist that seemed to set him apart from everyone around him.

After admiring her brother’s looks for a moment, Pei Mushan couldn’t help sighing:

“Sister-in-law, if I have to find a husband who looks like my brother, I’m afraid I’ll end up alone for life!”

Xu Yunqi’s gaze also fell on her husband, who stood out like a crane among chickens. Mountain wind carried drifting blossoms—some landed on his shoulders, some clung to his robes, and one caught in his thick lashes. He raised a hand and brushed it away, as if wiping off a trace of mortal dust.

Pei Muheng chatted unhurriedly with those officials, then casually lifted his gaze in this direction. His eyes met Xu Yunqi’s startled expression, and he saw a figure lounging lazily against her, grinning at him with ill intent. He frowned and looked away.

Pei Mushan half-teased, half-dejectedly nudged Xu Yunqi: “I wish I could marry an outstanding husband like you did, Sister-in-law. Tell me honestly—are you happy marrying my brother?”

Xu Yunqi stroked the soft hair of the girl in her arms. Her throat seemed to catch for a moment before she gave a soft “Mm.”

Pei Mushan looked into her clear eyes, smiled, straightened up, and asked no more.

After Pei Muheng finished with those officials, he strode over. His tall figure came to a stop before the tent steps. He nodded first at Xu Yunqi, then turned his gaze to his sister:

“What are you doing here?”

His tone carried obvious impatience.

Pei Mushan’s temper flared. She planted her hands on her hips and declared with righteous indignation: “I’m supposed to be here!”

Taking advantage of the step, she felt she ought not to lose in presence.

Pei Muheng glanced at her coolly, then ignored her entirely as he spoke to Xu Yunqi:

“Has my lady had dinner yet?”

Xu Yunqi curtsied and smiled: “Not yet. And you, Third Master?”

He shook his head, then looked at Pei Mushan with a clear expression of dismissal.

Pei Mushan was incensed. She pulled Xu Yunqi’s arm closer and hugged it. “Listen here, I’m telling you—Mother said I’m sharing a tent with Sister-in-law! You showing up out of nowhere ruins everything. I don’t care—I’m staying right here tonight. You find somewhere else to go!”

Pei Muheng looked at her quietly, his clear eyes utterly devoid of emotion.

Huang Wei, caught between laughter and tears, stooped and tried to mediate:

“Fifth Young Lady, aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you—fighting your own brother over his wife?”

Given an escape route, Pei Mushan quickly changed her tone, looking down her nose at Pei Muheng:

“Did you bring me any rouge or powder? If you did, I’ll graciously hand Sister-in-law over to you.”

After she said this, there was no reaction from below the step. She glared at him, only to meet his eyes, now devoid of patience. Pei Mushan involuntarily swallowed. Gradually, her cheeks grew warm. Finally, unable to hold out any longer—and ever adaptable—she turned to Xu Yunqi and said:

“Ahem, I just remembered—Father isn’t here, and Mother must be lonely. I’ll go keep her company.” Then she shot one last fierce glare at Pei Muheng and strode off with great dignity.

Huang Wei stifled a laugh, quickly took Pei Muheng’s luggage from the guards, and quietly slipped into the tent.

Xu Yunqi let the siblings’ drama play out, then gestured inside. “Third Master, please come in.”

Pei Muheng mounted the steps and entered the tent. Xu Yunqi followed.

The tent was not large—only about three zhang wide. The outer area served as a sitting room for guests; beyond a folding screen, a white curtain divided the space into two small sections. One held a modest wooden bed as the sleeping quarters, the other served as a bath and washroom.

Everyone else had been dismissed. Xu Yunqi attended to Pei Muheng—washing his face and serving tea. When she returned with the basin and towels, she noticed a long box sitting on the table, which had been empty before.

Pei Muheng sat in an armchair, sipping tea. He looked up at her, then pointed at the box. “I brought this for you. See if you like it.”

Xu Yunqi froze, her clasped hands slowly lowering. She gently pinched her sleeve. “For me?”

What about his sister?

A flush crept across her cheeks—not from shyness, but from guilt. How was she going to face Pei Mushan?

Seeing her hesitate, Pei Muheng set down his teacup. “What’s the matter?”

Xu Yunqi sat down across from him, took the box slowly in her hands, and proposed: “Third Master, I don’t lack for anything. Perhaps we could give this to your sister instead?”

Looking at his plainly attired wife, then recalling his sister, who loved to pile herself with jewelry, Pei Muheng’s expression was hard to read. “This is for you,” he said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

Xu Yunqi said no more. She opened the box to reveal a pair of white jade Fu bracelets. Pei Muheng had excellent taste—the bracelets were lustrous, their texture like congealed cream, the finest quality of mutton-fat jade.

Faced with her husband’s kindness, she gave him a broad smile. “They’re beautiful. I love them.”

In truth, Xu Yunqi never wore jewelry—just a simple jade hairpin to hold her hair, with a pair of pearl earrings of mediocre quality. That was all. It was terribly inconvenient to wear bracelets or rings when seeing patients and administering needles.

Seeing his wife happy, Pei Muheng drained the rest of his tea.

The last time, the Empress had pressured him into bringing a food box for Xu Yunqi. This time, returning from his travels, he had taken the initiative to bring his wife a gift.

“Try them on?”

Xu Yunqi complied, slipping both bracelets onto her wrists. They were heavy and felt foreign. Her dark eyes darted about for a moment before she asked hesitantly: “Could I give one to your sister?”

Pei Muheng: “…”

“There are two sisters—which one?” he said flatly.

Xu Yunqi lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Pei Mushan had an elder sister, Pei Mulan—but Pei Mulan was reserved and seldom spoke to anyone. Xu Yunqi had barely seen her a handful of times.

—

Pei Mushan, fuming, stormed back to the Princess Consort’s tent.

The Princess Consort, who had finally found some peace, looked at her daughter charging in and changed color. “Why are you back?”

“I came to keep you company, Mother.” Pei Mushan set her dressing case on the table and flopped onto the arhat couch, her expression glum.

The Princess Consort was utterly unfeeling: “I don’t need your company.”

On the verge of tears, Pei Mushan sprang up. “Third Brother is back…”

The Princess Consort paused, then broke into a smile. “Heng’er is back?”

Her words had barely faded when footsteps sounded outside. Before long, Pei Muheng entered with Xu Yunqi to pay their respects.

The Princess Consort beamed as she drew her son close and asked after his well-being.

Xu Yunqi stood beside Pei Mushan, trying to pull her sleeves down as far as possible.

But Pei Mushan had sharp eyes. She soon caught a glimmer of lustrous white at Xu Yunqi’s wrist. Cocking her head, she saw them.

A pair.

Not a single one for her.

Her eyes shot daggers at Pei Muheng.

“Brother, you are too much!” she gritted out.

Pei Muheng ignored his sister’s accusations and briefly told his mother what had happened in Yangzhou.

The Princess Consort glared at her unreasonable daughter.

Pei Mushan turned to Xu Yunqi with a pitiful look, and Xu Yunqi took her hand to comfort her. “Don’t be sad—I’ll buy you some next time,” she whispered.

Presently, the Princess Consort ordered the meal to be served and kept Pei Muheng and Xu Yunqi for dinner.

After the meal, she studied her son, her eyes full of sympathy. “You’ve lost weight. These two months away—you’ve suffered, haven’t you?”

Pei Muheng smiled dismissively. “Mother, it was a rare opportunity. I gained a great deal—it was worth it.”

He did not tell her that during those two months in Yangzhou, he had survived over a dozen assassination attempts, each perilous, each a brush with death.

The Princess Consort’s gaze shifted to Xu Yunqi beside him. Her youngest daughter-in-law’s face was fair and clean, her eyes bright and lustrous, her skin so fine it seemed to drip with moisture… With her husband away, she had managed to take excellent care of herself. The Princess Consort recalled that when Prince Xi had gone to war, she herself had been unable to sleep, growing gaunt beyond recognition. Seeing Xu Yunqi’s carefree appearance, she spoke sternly:

“Take good care of your husband.”

Xu Yunqi had no idea how she had offended her mother-in-law again. She nodded resignedly: “Yes, Mother.”

As darkness fell, the Princess Consort noticed the weariness in her son’s brow and asked, “Are you going to your grandfather’s tent later?”

Pei Muheng shook his head. “No. I traveled day and night to get here. Grandfather told me to rest.”

The Princess Consort said no more. She waved them off.

Pei Muheng and Xu Yunqi returned to their tent one after the other.

The night sky was clear, brimming with stars. The mountain breeze was slightly cool against the skin, carrying a faint moisture—just like the scenes from her childhood in the Jingzhou countryside. Xu Yunqi stood at the entrance for a moment, then turned and went inside.

Distant sounds of patrolling guards and chirping insects only made the tent feel more serene.

Pei Muheng preferred quiet. Yinxing and the other maids had all been sent to the small tent outside designated for servants.

When Xu Yunqi entered, Pei Muheng was dozing in his armchair.

He truly looked exhausted.

She checked the washroom first—a large tub of steaming hot water had been prepared by the matrons. Returning to the outer room, she saw Pei Muheng still sitting motionless. She found the bundle Huang Wei had brought in and rummaged for his clothes.

Xu Yunqi looked at the clothes and paused for a moment. She had never properly attended to his dressing before.

After a moment, she carried the clothes into the washroom and laid them on the rack, then came back out.

“Third Master, the bath is ready.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, swaying in the night air.

Pei Muheng opened his eyes and looked at her.

She stood by the screen in a plain jacket, her slender figure blurred by the warm lamplight—and his vision blurred with it.

Pei Muheng was indeed exhausted. In Yangzhou, he had slept with his armor on, never letting his guard down. Only upon returning to the capital had his defenses eased. He rose and walked toward the washroom.

His tall frame brushed past her. Xu Yunqi stood by the screen and did not follow—she did not know if Pei Muheng needed her help.

The curtain inside was drawn. A tall, dark shadow was cast upon the white fabric, but no invitation came.

Xu Yunqi returned to the inner room, removed the two bracelets and tucked them safely in their box. She undid her hair and jewelry, washed her face, and when she came back to the bed, she remembered that Pei Mushan had taken her bedding, while the mattress prepared for Pei Muheng was still in the carriage. There was only one quilt here.

She made the bed as best she could.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind her.

The man emerged, neatly dressed, his temples still damp. His dark gaze fell on her, with something flickering deep in his pupils.

Xu Yunqi was kneeling on the bed, her slender back tracing an elegant curve. Her sleeve slipped down, revealing a creamy, rounded arm. She glanced back inadvertently, and a soft curve flashed briefly before his eyes. Somewhat embarrassed, she quickly rose and stepped off the bed.

Pei Muheng averted his gaze. Xu Yunqi went into the washroom.

She called for a matron to bring fresh water, washed herself quickly, and had the washroom cleaned. When she was done, two quarters of an hour had passed.

Emerging from the washroom, she saw that the candle in the inner room had been blown out. By the faint light filtering in, she could see Pei Muheng lying quietly on the inner side of the bed, his eyes closed, as if asleep. The corner of the quilt was draped over his chest; the rest was left for her.