That night, in the Luoyu Hall of the Xuanping Marquis Manor, Li Yue completed his first major reform within the manor. Hua Xiaoling obtained the usage rights of Xie Wenzhao for nine days each month, and the Old Madam could now peacefully look forward to the birth of her little grandson.
Everyone was fairly satisfied with this result—only Xie Wenzhao’s world was injured and fulfilled.
Xie Wenzhao never imagined, not even in his dreams, that he—a dignified marquis—would one day, in his own Marquis Manor, fall to the point of being sent to accompany others in bed. And for twenty-seven days a month at that! Even the girls in the brothels aren’t as miserable as him, right? And if this matter spreads out, how would his friends, those colleagues in the court, look at him? (T/N: LMAOO)
But his mother had already spoken clearly, and as a man, Xie Wenzhao couldn’t possibly admit that he wasn’t up to it—that he couldn’t handle three women a month. He glared resentfully at Meng Fu, but whether his wife hadn’t noticed the anger and threat in his gaze or simply didn’t care about his feelings, she instead opened her mouth and said to the Old Madam: “Concubine Hua was the first to enter the manor, so let Xie Wenzhao go to her place tonight.”
Hua Xiaoling, upon hearing this, grinned so wide her smile nearly reached behind her ears. But the moment she lifted her head and saw Xie Wenzhao’s dark, gloomy expression, she quickly restrained the curve of her lips—though the joy in her eyes could not be hidden. She decided that in the future, she must properly listen to the Madam’s words.
Xie Wenzhao, seeing Hua Xiaoling’s jubilant expression that looked like it was New Year’s, got even angrier. He felt like a pig about to be slaughtered, about to be cut into pieces and sent off for dumpling filling.
The Old Madam nodded and said to Li Yue, “You arrange it as you see fit.”
Li Yue had originally thought it would take some effort to persuade the Old Madam, but unexpectedly, she was so reasonable. His mood improved quite a bit. He felt that after slapping Xie Wenzhao once, he should also give him a sweet date. This method wasn’t new to him. It was just that in the past, when he slapped people bam bam bam, most of them didn’t survive long enough to receive a sweet date from this Emperor.
Looking at it this way, Xie Wenzhao was indeed quite lucky.
Li Yue said to Xie Wenzhao: “If you think having the same person for nine days in a row would be boring, you can also rotate one per night, go three rounds and rest one day—should be manageable, right?”
Xie Wenzhao took a deep breath. He felt that if he spoke with Li Yue for even two more sentences, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from using force. His face pulled long, and he said coldly, “No need.”
Xie Wenzhao didn’t want this sweet date from Li Yue, and Li Yue didn’t care either. After all, wool comes from the sheep’s back. Whether he eats the date or not, he’s still going to be busy for twenty-seven days a month. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have the thought of taking in another concubine.
Li Yue let out a yawn. Hearing the sound, the Old Madam turned to look at her. She knew that her daughter-in-law always acted by the rules—if she wasn’t truly unable to help it, she would never yawn in front of her. Thinking about how these past years had not been easy for her in the Marquis Manor, and remembering the many good words Hua Xiaoling had spoken on her behalf that afternoon, the Old Madam’s gaze grew more affectionate. She said to Li Yue, “If you’re tired, go back first.”
Li Yue didn’t stand on ceremony and got up to return to Jixue Courtyard.
After Li Yue left, Xie Wenzhao also planned to return to his study, but the Old Madam instantly saw through his intention to escape and said to him, “Go back with Xiaoling, and have Xiaoling come tomorrow morning to massage my shoulders again.”
Everyone present could hear the implication in the Old Madam’s words—it was obvious she wanted Hua Xiaoling to come report tomorrow on what happened between her and Xie Wenzhao tonight.
Xie Wenzhao hadn’t felt so aggrieved in years, yet he had the word “filial” pressing down on him. Apart from going along with his mother’s wishes, he had no other choice.
The Old Madam raised her hand and lightly patted the back of Hua Xiaoling’s hand, saying: “Go on, then.”
Hua Xiaoling immediately skipped over to Xie Wenzhao, a bright smile blooming on her face. As soon as she got to his side, she reached out to hold his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Xie Wenzhao felt uncomfortable all over at her touch. Just as he was about to pull away the hand Hua Xiaoling had wrapped around his arm, he saw the Old Madam sitting up front staring directly at him. He had no choice but to lower his hand and, unwillingly, walked out of Luoyu Hall with Hua Xiaoling, heading toward Linglong Pavilion.
The Old Madam looked at their departing backs and gently sighed. In truth, she would rather the eldest grandson of the Xuanping Marquis Manor come from Meng Fu’s belly. However, Xie Wenzhao truly didn’t like Meng Fu, and Meng Fu’s health wasn’t too good either. She couldn’t keep putting all her hopes on Meng Fu. Now she had come to accept it—no matter who it is, as long as they can give birth, it’s fine.
She just hoped that her son’s body didn’t have any problems.
Qu Hanyan and Sun Yulian very quickly learned the news that Xie Wenzhao had gone to Linglong Pavilion tonight. After hearing the servant girl’s report, Sun Yulian revealed a slightly surprised expression on her face. She hadn’t expected that Xie Wenzhao would really end up following Meng Fu’s words. This wasn’t a bad thing for her. She slightly lowered her head and touched her own belly. Each person would have nine days a month to be with the Marquis—what a pity it started with Hua Xiaoling.
Qu Hanyan, however, was not so pleased. Even though Xie Wenzhao didn’t necessarily come to her place for nine days each month before, at least in the past it showed he treated her differently than others. Qu Hanyan had already understood back when she was in the brothel—if during the courtesan competition every girl got one vote, then that one vote meant nothing. At any time, favoritism is far more useful than fairness.
Qu Hanyan sat there with a cold face, unable to swallow this breath no matter how she thought about it. She turned her head and said to the servant girl beside her, Ling’er: “Bring me my qin.”
“Miss, it’s already so late, you still want to play the qin?”
At this time, most people in the manor were about to sleep. What if they were woken up?
Qu Hanyan precisely wanted them to be unable to sleep. Anyway, in this manor, other than Xie Wenzhao, no one liked her. She didn’t care what those people thought. Not only did she want to play, she wanted to open the windows and play. She urged Ling’er, “Hurry up.”
Ling’er knew that tonight Qu Hanyan was determined to play this qin. She could only quickly bring over her qin and place it before her.
Qu Hanyan plucked the strings. Within the resonating notes, there was no longer the soft lingering affection of before. Without even needing to listen carefully, one could hear the chill of killing intent within. Qu Hanyan did not believe that in this situation, Hua Xiaoling and the Marquis would still be able to sleep.
It was already late. Li Yue had returned to Jixue Courtyard, practiced a set of boxing, and was just about to sleep after bathing. But before he could even lie down in bed, he heard the sound of a qin from outside.
Why were there so many yao mo gui guai (妖魔鬼怪 – monsters and demons) in Xuanping Marquis Manor? Maybe one day he really should invite a few monks or Taoist priests over to exorcise evil spirits!
Li Yue took a deep breath and asked Qingping, who slept in the outer room: “In the middle of the night, who’s being a demon again?”
Qingping replied, “Should be Concubine Qu.”
Li Yue let out a chuckle. But in that chuckle, Qingping didn’t hear any amusement—rather, her back went cold.
Li Yue said to Qingping: “Go bring her to Jixue Courtyard and have her play here. Tonight, if I don’t say stop, she’ll keep playing!”
He was ready to go without sleep tonight too, to properly deal with these women’s problems.
Xie Wenzhao had already divided them clearly—why were they still being such a nuisance one by one?
Qu Hanyan had always carried herself with lofty pride in the manor, looking down on others. The first time Qingping went to summon her, she didn’t take it seriously, wearing a look that said “what can you do to me?” The second time, Li Yue directly had three or four servants go and “invite” her over—escorting her to Jixue Courtyard and making her play the qin. If she didn’t play, they’d pull her hair.
Qu Hanyan didn’t believe the servants would really dare lay hands on her. Just as she was about to smash the qin, someone yanked out a strand of her hair. Tears immediately welled up in Qu Hanyan’s eyes. Even when she was in the brothel, she had never suffered this kind of humiliation!
Li Yue was completely unmoved by Qu Hanyan’s tear-stained pitiful appearance. Cold and ruthless, he urged her, “Hurry up.”
Qu Hanyan held the qin without speaking, stubbornly locking eyes with Li Yue.
Li Yue said, “If you don’t want to play, forget it.”
Qu Hanyan was momentarily dazed. Before she could understand why the Madam had suddenly loosened her tone, she heard Li Yue continue: “Anyway, your hair is thick enough. It can be pulled out for quite a while. Play the qin or lose your hair—your choice.”
After speaking, Li Yue yawned and turned to go back inside.
Qu Hanyan looked at the group of servants around her, eyes like tigers watching prey. Originally, she wanted to wait for Xie Wenzhao to come rescue her. But seeing the current situation, she had a bad feeling that by the time Xie Wenzhao showed up, she might already have been sent to a nunnery.
In the end, she could only sit down with great grievance and start playing. The qin sounds were bleak, mournful and lingering, like weeping and complaining.
Far away in Linglong Pavilion, Xie Wenzhao indeed heard the commotion and wanted to go save her. But as soon as he reached the door, someone pulled him back—it was someone sent by the Old Madam. The Old Madam told Xie Wenzhao to stay put at Linglong Pavilion tonight, not to worry about those chaotic matters, and to focus on letting her hold a grandson sooner. That was the real business.
Xie Wenzhao could only return in dejection and grievance.
The shadow guards who had returned to the Xuanping Marquis Manor with Li Yue tonight truly broadened their horizons. Back in the palace, His Majesty had especially instructed them: after arriving at the Marquis Manor, they must properly take care of the Madam, and by no means let her suffer any loss. But looking at things now, this Madam seemed to have thoroughly inherited His Majesty’s true legacy—likely, not even the entire Marquis Manor combined could do anything to her.
In the imperial palace, Meng Fu was still completely unaware of everything happening in the Xuanping Marquis Manor. She had finished reviewing memorials very late. After bathing and lying down to sleep, she began to dream.
This dream was about Li Yue. In the dream, His Majesty was punching Xie Wenzhao in the Marquis Manor, kicking all the concubines, and even infuriated the Old Madam to death. He himself was then sent to the authorities, thrown into prison, and not long after, this emperor broke out of jail, raised a banner in revolt, and overthrew herself.
This dream was utterly absurd yet vivid, scaring Meng Fu awake on the spot. When she awoke, the heart in her chest was still pounding furiously. She raised her hand and pressed it against her chest, beginning to consider whether she should dispatch two more shadow guards to the Xuanping Marquis Manor. Perhaps His Majesty might need them when handling corpses and crime scenes.