You Yuji and Si Que stayed at the You family residence for another month.
During this month, His Majesty’s health deteriorated. The Emperor, who had once been keen to lead military expeditions personally, aged significantly after the new year and became increasingly incapable of managing state affairs. With the Crown Prince deposed, discussions about the new emperor’s succession spread throughout the court and the public. The Crown Prince was no longer an option, and many speculated whether the new emperor would be Prince Pinghuai or Prince Jinnan, both of whom remained in the capital. Some even guessed that Prince Shengxiang, who had been exiled to his fiefdom, still had a chance of ascending the throne. Perhaps the Emperor’s decision to exile him was a form of protection.
Most speculated that Prince Pinghuai would succeed.
Amidst the rampant speculation, surprising news arrived from the frontlines: the Chen army had suffered successive defeats.
In recent years, the Kingdom of Chen had smoothly annexed surrounding territories, and the public considered the campaign against the unyielding Ning Kingdom a sure victory. However, the Chen army faced repeated setbacks.
Rumor had it that the soldiers of Ning Kingdom were blessed by some malevolent deity, each one exhibiting extraordinary strength, able to fight ten enemies single-handedly.
The news of defeat reached the palace, and Emperor Chen gazed at the map spread on the table with a pale face. Was his grand ambition to end in failure?
A bowl of thick medicinal soup sat at the corner of the table, its bitter taste reminding him that he was no longer young, no longer the warrior who once rode to battle.
“Deshun,” the Emperor called to the chief eunuch, listing several ministers’ names and summoning them to the palace for a council. The Emperor feared that Ning Kingdom might ally with Xuan Kingdom, and he needed to plan ahead.
The chief eunuch wanted to remind the Emperor that it was already late, but seeing the Emperor’s furrowed brows, he swallowed his words, responded affirmatively, and went to carry out the orders.
Smoke wafted from the incense burner, passing by the Emperor’s graying temples.
The defeats had dampened the morale of the Chen army, which had set out with high spirits. The atmosphere in the camp had become tense.
In the Chen army camp, the soldiers were eating. Chen Anzhi sat in a corner, holding a coarse wheat bun. He had left the capital in early January, and it was now early April.
When he left, his skin was fair and his face rosy. Although he had not yet fought in a real battle, months of marching had changed him. His once fair face was now sun-kissed, and his lips were chapped from eating the bun. The burn on his right hand had mostly healed, but it was no longer as nimble as before. It would forever bear a hideous scar, and he struggled to use it. In bad weather, his joints ached unbearably.
He had not yet wielded a weapon in battle because he had been deemed too weak and injured to fight and was assigned to the cookhouse instead.
Now, the bun he was chewing on was one he had made himself.
Tie Zhu walked over with two buns and a bowl of porridge, sitting down next to Chen Anzhi. He laughed heartily, saying, “It’s a rare thing to eat food made by the young master. When we get back, we can boast about it to the neighbors!”
Tie Zhu was tall and broad-shouldered, with a loud voice that he didn’t lower, drawing laughter from the surrounding soldiers.
At first, Chen Anzhi couldn’t help but blush at such remarks. His fair skin turned red very noticeably, often prompting more laughter.
After hearing these comments for a while, Chen Anzhi got used to them. He even laughed along, saying, “I wish I could join you on the battlefield.”
Tie Zhu took a big bite of his bun, feeling quite sentimental as he looked at Chen Anzhi. On the day the army set out from the city, Tie Zhu had jokingly patted Chen Anzhi’s shoulder, thinking he was too delicate for the journey. It was only later, when someone else mentioned it, that he learned of Chen Anzhi’s identity. During the march, they often ended up sleeping next to each other by coincidence.
Tie Zhu had witnessed Chen Anzhi’s transformation firsthand. He still remembered how this pampered young master had been so frightened by a rat that he couldn’t walk and how he used to cry under his blanket at night. Initially, everyone avoided provoking him, but over time they realized that Chen Anzhi was determined to experience this lifestyle. Their group, known for their rough and unrestrained banter, eventually began to joke with him as well.
Tie Zhu didn’t understand why someone of Chen Anzhi’s background would want to mix with them. He picked up his bowl of porridge and took a big gulp, finishing half the bowl in one go. Before taking another sip, he laughed and teased, “You’ve improved, you don’t blush anymore, haha!”
Chen Anzhi wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth elegantly and smiled, “I’m still embarrassed by your jokes, but now that I’m tanned, you can’t see me blush.”
Tie Zhu laughed heartily, and the others around them joined in the laughter.
With a siege planned for the next day, everyone quickly retired to their tents after dinner. Chen Anzhi, along with a few other soldiers, washed several large pots of dishes before returning to their tent. As soon as he stepped inside, he was hit by the overwhelming stench of sweat and foot odor.
At first, this smell had made him vomit, but now he had gotten used to it. Chen Anzhi lifted his arm and sniffed his sleeve, unable to tell if the odor was coming from him. Bathing was a luxury in the army.
Inside the tent, the sleeping mats were closely packed. Some men were already snoring, while others gathered in small groups to chat or gamble with dice.
Chen Anzhi squeezed through the crowd to his spot. A footprint had mysteriously appeared on his clean mat. When he first arrived, he would have assumed it was deliberate, but now he knew it was just carelessness.
He sat down and scrubbed at the footprint with an old piece of clothing until it was somewhat clean, then lay down.
Tie Zhu lay nearby, holding a pair of knee pads and thinking about his wife.
Chen Anzhi saw the knee pads in Tie Zhu’s arms and joked, “Still hugging the knee pads your wife made for you?”
“What’s the matter? Jealous?” Tie Zhu tightened his grip on the knee pads. “I bet your wives and concubines compete to make your clothes and bedding.”
Chen Anzhi was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
Tie Zhu, intrigued, sat up and pressed further, “I’ve heard you have quite the luck with women. You’ve got the two most beautiful ladies from twelve kingdoms in your courtyard! Your childhood sweetheart cousin and a talented concubine. You can take any maid you fancy and make her yours… How could you leave such a cozy nest?”
Chen Anzhi found their coarse talk about women distasteful. He frowned and said, “We have to get up early tomorrow. Let’s sleep.”
He turned over, his back to Tie Zhu, not wanting to continue the conversation.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t come to this place to suffer. I’d be hugging a beautiful wife every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a concubine or not; having one true-hearted wife is enough,” Tie Zhu laughed, lying down and hugging his knee pads again, thinking about his wife. To him, she was perfect in every way, even when she angrily waved a vegetable knife at him.
Listening to Tie Zhu’s muttering, Chen Anzhi’s thoughts wandered.
He thought of the women in his own household.
Every night, he had to wash so many dishes. Where was there hot water in the army? His hands soaked in cold water for so long, the burns on his hands always hurt afterward.
The pain in his hands reminded him of that nightmare.
He didn’t want to think about Fang Qingyi, but her heartfelt words during their last meeting still pierced his heart, making it ache.
Admitting to oneself that one is terrible takes courage.
Amid the noise, Chen Anzhi felt a strange calm.
Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he was too arrogant, feeling superior and condescending toward those women. If he hadn’t made such a mess of his household, he wouldn’t have harmed his cousin, his mother, and his sister…
Thinking about the fire, Chen Anzhi closed his eyes.
He regretted it. Truly regretted it. Once he returned to the capital, he would be filial to his father and mother, listen to them, and never involve himself with other women again. As for those currently in his household…
The first person he thought of was You Yuji, his wife.
The effects of the anger-dissipating medicine had worn off, and after these setbacks, he realized he had wronged her. He felt even his apology before he left had lacked sincerity. Once he returned, he would cherish her.
Perhaps she truly didn’t want to be with him anymore?
But he knew he was wrong now, and he wanted to win her back, to let her remain his wife. He needed to make amends for his past mistakes, to win her back sincerely and with a lifetime of dedication.
Next, Chen Anzhi thought of Princess Que. She was the goddess who had once stirred his heart with just a thought…
Since bringing her to his residence, he hadn’t dared to approach her. If he had been neglectful, it was out of fear of offending her. He had promised to protect her for life and intended to keep that promise. When he returned, he would no longer let fear keep him at a distance. He should act like a true man and openly show his affection.
Chunxing was his first woman, always obedient and sweet. He couldn’t abandon her. Even if he no longer loved her, he could still ensure she was well cared for.
Cuiyu, he would send her away. At worst, he would give her some money to find her own way, ensuring she wouldn’t spread her bad habits to others.
Thinking of Hongzan, he couldn’t help but recall Fang Qingyi. Keeping Hongzan in the residence, he wouldn’t visit her anymore.
Si Han… Chen Anzhi struggled to remember what she even looked like. Initially, he had kept her to please Si Que, but who knew… He decided to send her away too.
If You Yuji, his main wife, disliked the concubines, he would send them all away.
Chen Anzhi resolved that he would no longer bring new women into his household. You Yuji and Si Que would be enough. Thinking about the good relationship between You Yuji and Si Que made him smile with satisfaction.
Inside the noisy tent, Chen Anzhi, filled with dreams of a happy future for the three of them, fell asleep with a smile on his face.
—
Although You Yuji had been staying at the You family residence, she kept in constant contact with Princess Jinnan. By mid-April, she learned that Princess Jinnan’s burns had mostly healed and that her pregnancy was stable, allowing her to leave her room.
Only then did You Yuji decide to return to Prince Jinnan’s mansion.
The plan was to visit the Empress Dowager with Princess Jinnan and inform her of the annulment of her marriage to Chen Anzhi.
Si Que sat up, lifted the bed curtains, and looked around the room, spotting You Yuji sitting at the dressing table, drawing her eyebrows. Lazily, he got out of bed, not bothering to put on his shoes, and sauntered over to You Yuji.
“Sister,” he called, bending down, his disheveled long hair brushing against You Yuji’s ear and draping over her fair wrist.
From the moment Si Que got out of bed, You Yuji had paused her eyebrow-drawing, holding the fine brush motionless, watching him approach step by step in the bronze mirror. Only when he bent down close to her did she arch her brows and sigh lightly with a helpless smile, “Put on your pants.”
The person hugging her from behind didn’t move. Instead, he nuzzled his nose against her delicate cheek and lazily called her “sister,” saying, “I don’t want to get dressed yet, I still want to use you a bit longer.”
You Yuji looked at Si Que’s face gently rubbing against her in the bronze mirror.