The returning carriage was packed full, loaded with rewards from Emperor Shun’an, causing quite a commotion when they brought everything back to the main courtyard.
Ji Yuluo sat by the window while Hongshuang was braiding her hair.
Biwu hurried over with ginger soup. She hadn’t accompanied her to the palace today; the young lady said she was more capable than Hongshuang, so she entrusted the important tasks of the back courtyard to her. Naturally, Biwu was pleased to be given such responsibility. However, in the midst of her happiness, she heard that the young lady had jumped into the water to save Consort Xi in the palace and received many rewards from the Emperor.
Upon inquiring about the details, Biwu’s eyes widened like copper bells as she looked at the person in the mirror. She asked, “Miss? How did you dare to jump into the water to save someone? What if something went wrong? You can’t even swim!”
At her words, both Ji Yuluo and Hongshuang stopped their actions simultaneously and exchanged a glance in the mirror.
Ji Yuyao couldn’t swim…
Indeed, Ji Yuyao couldn’t swim. If she had known how to swim, she wouldn’t have drowned that night.
However, circumstances required quick action, and she didn’t have time to think much. Even if she had considered it, saving Consort Xi was the easiest way to get invited to her birthday banquet.
Ji Yuluo pinched the spoon and remained silent for a moment. With a “clang,” she let go, and the spoon fell into the ginger soup. She spoke softly and slowly, “Biwu.”
The atmosphere suddenly changed, causing Biwu’s heart to skip a beat, though she didn’t know why. She hesitated, “Miss… what’s the matter?”
Ji Yuluo turned to look at her. The little maid had a round face, a very innocent appearance, with no hint of malice.
Remarkably, she was a loyal and protective person.
Unfortunately, she had followed a foolish and soft-hearted mistress, spending many years in hardship.
Ji Yuluo, having lived in the Cuixue Pavilion for many years, knew well the treacherous nature of the world and the unpredictability of human hearts. The most valuable thing in this world was loyalty.
If not for this, she wouldn’t keep someone who could potentially expose her around.
In other words, she cherished talent.
Hongshuang saw the flickering light in Ji Yuluo’s eyes, indicating a rise and fall of murderous intent. She couldn’t help but feel relieved for Biwu, who narrowly escaped death.
Biwu, still unaware, only felt chills under the young lady’s gaze. When she couldn’t hold her breath any longer, Ji Yuluo spoke, “Biwu, remember, I learned to swim during my three years at Chengyuan Temple. I know how to swim.”
Biwu was taken aback and asked in confusion, “Miss, when did you learn?”
During those three years at Chengyuan Temple, she ate and lived with the young lady. The young lady spent her days reciting scriptures and meditating, and also had to study the medical theories taught by Master Jingchen. When did she have time to learn to swim?
Ji Yuluo looked at her and said, “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t. If anyone inquires, just say what I told you. Understand?”
Biwu choked on her words, wanting to say more, but was subdued by the seriousness in Ji Yuluo’s eyes. Unconsciously, she nodded and responded in a low voice, “I understand, Miss.”
Ji Yuluo acknowledged with a soft sound and pointed to the desk behind her, asking, “Where did that painting go?”
Biwu glanced back and said, “The stewardess came by this morning. She said the master instructed to take it to the study.”
Ji Yuluo said nothing further and turned back to drink her ginger soup. Hongshuang resumed drying her hair, and the earlier interruption seemed to vanish as if it had never happened. Biwu, after a brief moment of confusion, busied herself with organizing the chests and muttered to herself, “Should I dress more brightly for the homecoming in a few days?”
….
Nanyue stood on tiptoe on a chair, adjusting the painting, “Master, is it crooked?”
Huo Xian, with his arms crossed, leaned against the bookshelf, “Raise the left side a bit more.”
Nanyue lifted it to the left, “How about now?”
Huo Xian stepped back a few paces and said, “Now, lift the right side a bit more.”
Nanyue felt exasperated; it had taken him a quarter of an hour to hang a painting!
Fortunately, Sheng Lanxin soon arrived. Rubbing his sore arms, Nanyue stepped outside the door.
Sheng Lanxin’s breath was uneven, as if she had hurried back to the mansion and rushed to the study without resting her feet. Huo Xian walked to the table to pour her some tea and motioned for her to sit down with a nod of his chin. Sheng Lanxin, however, didn’t drink the tea but asked directly, “Do you have spies in Yunyang?”
Huo Xian paused slightly with the teapot in his hand, “What did Zhao Yong say to you today?”
Only then did Sheng Lanxin sit down, sipped the tea to moisten her throat, and said, “At first, he inquired about your daily whereabouts as usual. After I reported, he suddenly asked what case the Town Patrol was investigating in Yunyang. Seeing that I didn’t know, he didn’t mention it again. I asked if he wanted me to find out, but he shook his head and said it wasn’t necessary, then changed the subject.”
Upon hearing this, Huo Xian showed a moment of contemplation and said, “There are so many cases handled by the Town Patrol. Zhao Yong wouldn’t ask about a case for no reason, especially since this old case in Liyang was investigated quietly and without fanfare.”
Sheng Lanxin nodded, “That’s what I was concerned about too… But from what I saw, he doesn’t know what you’re investigating, only that the Jinyiwei spies went to Yunyang.”
Huo Xian fell silent. If Zhao Yong didn’t know what the Jinyiwei were doing in Yunyang, why did he care that they went to Yunyang… No, it meant that Zhao Yong was more concerned about Yunyang itself than the case!
But what connection does Zhao Yong have with Yunyang?
Sheng Lanxin pondered and asked, “Is the case you’re investigating related to Heir Apparent Huo?”
She asked because the eldest son of the Xuanping Marquis, Huo Jue, had died in battle in Yunyang years ago. Apart from that, she couldn’t think of any other connection Huo Xian might have with Yunyang.
Huo Xian’s fingers curled slightly. He hadn’t heard anyone mention Huo Jue in a long time. Shaking his head, he said, “It’s an old case from three years ago, not important, just investigating casually.”
Sheng Lanxin mused, continuing her speculation, “Then it must be about the assassination last time. You never believed General Lou’s death in the Eastern Palace… that day you went to the Eastern Palace and saw the body, was it him?”
Huo Xian chuckled, thinking that Nanyue’s mouth was like a sieve; he might as well sell her off to become a storyteller.
He turned to look out the window, where the eaves were dripping with melting frost and snow, and said in a not very serious tone, “How would I know? It was burned beyond recognition.”
Sheng Lanxin glanced at Huo Xian, then silently retreated.
Seeing her come out, Nanyue was about to go in to serve but was stopped by Sheng Lanxin, “Your master is probably not in a good mood right now. If you don’t want to get in trouble, stay outside.”
Nanyue hesitated, then decided not to go in. She bowed to Sheng Lanxin and said, “Thank you, Miss Sheng. Take care.”
He called out to that gentle figure, but it wasn’t to address her as “Concubine Sheng”—at first, out of habit, he had called her that, nearly earning himself a severe punishment from his master. When no one was around, Nanyue dared not call her that anymore.
She indeed was not a concubine.
Sigh, if the Eastern Palace hadn’t encountered misfortune, the Sheng family, which had always been on good terms with the Eastern Palace and even had a marital arrangement with them, wouldn’t have been implicated and ended up with their entire family executed. In that case, Miss Sheng might have already married the young prince, becoming the crown princess, and potentially the future empress of Dayong.
But fate is unpredictable, twisting and turning, leading them into this murky situation.
On November 21st, it was Ji Yuluo’s day to return to her family.
To be honest, Ji Yuluo wasn’t keen on visiting the Ji family. She had successfully married into the Huo family and didn’t want to deal with the insincere interactions with the Ji family. Just thinking about Ji Xianyu and her affectionate demeanor gave her a headache.
While Ji Yuluo had no interest in returning, someone else was quite enthusiastic.
Ji Yuluo had instructed Biwu to prepare the simple luggage and carriage, but in the end, seven or eight carriages followed her to the Ji family. If a ceremonial band had followed them, it could have been mistaken for a wedding procession.
Biwu whispered, “These were all prepared on the master’s orders. It had nothing to do with me.”
Ji Yuluo responded, “… I understand.”
She boarded the carriage where Huo Xian was already seated, his elbow resting on the table as he flipped through documents, not even looking up to acknowledge her.
Aside from necessary public appearances, they were practically strangers, as Huo Xian had stated. As long as she behaved, he wouldn’t mistreat her in terms of food and clothing, and he had indeed kept his word, limiting his care to “basic necessities.”
But for Ji Yuluo, this arrangement was ideal. She dutifully greeted him, “Husband,” then closed her eyes to rest.
The grand procession attracted many onlookers as they reached the Ji family residence.
Upon entering, Ji Chongwang, Lin Chan, Ji Xianyu, and even the dazed Ji Yunkou were waiting in the main hall, their emotions varying. No one seemed more discomforted than Ji Chongwang, whose face twisted like he’d swallowed a mouse upon seeing Huo Xian approach with a broad smile.
Ji Xianyu was different.
She rushed out, clinging to Ji Yuluo before she could even step inside, crying, “Sister, you scared me! I heard you saved Consort Xi when you entered the palace. Are you really okay?”
Ji Yuluo calmly pushed her away, maintaining a flawless smile, “I’m truly fine.”
Ji Xianyu, still sobbing, wiped her tears, then noticed the imposing man beside them. Her expression shifted through confusion, surprise, and fear, but lacked the joy of seeing her brother-in-law.
The sight of his face reminded her of the incident at the city gate, making her instinctively pull Ji Yuluo back a step, “Sis… sister… brother-in-law.”
Huo Xian seemed accustomed to such reactions, nonchalantly acknowledging her before striding into the main hall.
Ji Xianyu pulled Ji Yuluo aside, whispering in her ear. Ji Yuluo, unable to free herself, had to pause.
Huo Xian took his seat, offering tea to Ji Chongwang with a carefree demeanor.
Ji Chongwang, adhering to protocol, couldn’t afford to lose decorum at this moment and give Huo Xian a handle to criticize him. He reached to accept the cup, but as soon as his hand touched it, Huo Xian’s hand trembled, spilling tea all over Ji Chongwang.
Feigning sincere regret, Huo Xian’s apologies left Ji Chongwang fuming with a darkened face.
Seeing this, Lin Chan didn’t dare to accept the tea Huo Xian offered and quickly retreated awkwardly.
After all, as a woman living within the deep confines of the household, no matter how much she cursed Huo Xian in private, she was still fearful when facing him. Whenever she saw him, she would recall the chilling Zhaoyu prison and overheard conversations of the jailers next door.
They spoke of a particular punishment in Zhaoyu called “flaying and stuffing,” where a person’s skin was peeled off and stuffed with straw.
Huo Xian’s hands were reputedly so steady that he could peel a person’s skin off without tearing it, turning it into a meticulous work of art.
The jailers bragged excessively about this, and Lin Chan couldn’t help but glance at Huo Xian’s hands, feeling a sudden urge to vomit.
Huo Xian glanced at the two sisters conversing affectionately outside the door and made small talk, “The sisters share a deep bond. If there’s a chance, Third Miss could come and stay at our residence for a few days.”
Absolutely not!
Lin Chan quickly replied, “Lord Huo must be joking; that would be too much trouble… Actually, they aren’t usually this close. It’s just that Xianyu heard about her elder sister jumping into the water to save Consort Xi in the palace a few days ago, and she was naturally worried. After all, Yao Yao doesn’t know how to swim, and what she did was really reckless. Fortunately, she did manage to save the consort, so it turned out to be a good thing.”
The curve of Huo Xian’s lips paused slightly, and his gaze shifted from the sisters back to Lin Chan, “Is that so… doesn’t know how to swim?”
