chapter 14

Simply because he didn’t like her.

Duan Jing was someone who dared to love and hate.

If he liked Cui Yuehua, he would have made a move long ago.

The moment I turned around, Cui Yuehua raised her voice: “Do you know how much suffering Jiming has endured because of you? It’s bad enough that his official rank is low, but your status makes it so he can’t even lift his head in front of others every single day!”

My body stiffened, my steps halted, and I clenched my handkerchief tightly.

She had hit upon my deepest worry. Even if Duan Jing were all-powerful, he could hardly withstand the spittle of others, let alone when he was just an ordinary man.

“Don’t you know?” Cui Yuehua spoke urgently. “He won’t tell you, afraid you’ll be upset and sad, but have you ever thought about him?”

I took a deep breath and looked up at the star-filled sky. “Chunsheng, close the door.”

Duan Jing returned late. Outside the room, he whispered with Chunsheng, and I heard everything.

When he came in, his expression was relaxed. “Cui Yuehua was here?”

“Mm.” I pointed at the wedding invitation. “She’s inviting us to her wedding banquet.”

Duan Jing didn’t even look at it. He walked over and hugged me. “Are you angry?”

I answered honestly, “Yes.”

Duan Jing explained, “She used to cling to me all the time. I found her annoying, so I pushed her toward Duan Yuan. If Chunsheng hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known her feelings in a hundred years.”

I leaned against him. “It’s not because of that. Why don’t you ever mention when people insult you?”

“Let them insult me. It’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh.”

Seeing me staring at him without blinking, Duan Jing grew nervous. “What? Are you thinking of running away again?”

“Yes.” I suddenly put on a stern face, fierce and intimidating. “I wish I could run right up to them and give them a good beating!”

Duan Jing was stunned, suddenly dazed.

My temper flared up completely at that moment. I grabbed Duan Jing by the collar. “Tell me! Who is it? You men care about your pride, but I don’t! I want to beat him until he’s picking up his teeth off the ground!”

Duan Jing gulped, patting my back. “Be good, let’s not get angry…”

“Don’t touch me!” I angrily shook off his hand. “They probably haven’t seen how fierce a shrew can be!”

Duan Jing couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing, pinching my cheeks and tugging them back and forth. “The Wife’s authority is established, with my Wife supporting me, Husband fears nothing.”

I shook off his hand in annoyance. “Who exactly is it!”

A vein throbbed on Duan Jing’s forehead. “Are you serious?”

I knew he wouldn’t tell me, so I used a little trick. After spending so much time with him, I’d learned a few methods.

Duan Jing’s expression gradually changed, his voice hoarse. “Wanyi, you’re not fighting fair.”

I was quite pleased with myself. “Anyone who dares disrespect this Fox Immortal must be severely punished.”

Duan Jing’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he pulled me into the red canopy.

Later, when he couldn’t take it anymore, he reluctantly told me.

While he was still dazed and distracted, I asked him for a Hairpin-the most expensive kind in the Capital City.

Duan Jing agreed without even thinking, truly like a scholar bewitched by a Fox Immortal.

A few days later, I went to the Ministry of Personnel to pick up Duan Jing, only to hear an official at the gate arguing with him furiously: “Can’t you control your Wife? Women should stay in the house, never stepping out the front or back gates. Why is she wandering in front of my residence every day?”

Duan Jing wore a dark official robe, his usual careless demeanor replaced by a composed stance, sleeves gathered, smiling. “The street isn’t owned by you. Why shouldn’t my Wife walk wherever she pleases?”

The official was livid, spittle flying everywhere. “Seven days! The women and concubines in my residence have squandered over a hundred taels of silver! Are you trying to bleed me dry? If it weren’t for that Hairpin on her head, would it have come to this?”

Duan Jing laughed. “My Wife is more beautiful than any flower. She looks good in anything. If you want to blame someone, blame the heavens and the earth-can you really blame my Wife’s beauty?”

“Duan Jiming! You have no shame! Always talking about your Wife-what future do you have?”

“I have no future. I’m my Wife’s treasure. Minister Xing, don’t lower yourself by speaking to me.” With that, Duan Jing swaggered off, flicking his sleeve.
I stifled a laugh, peeked out from the street corner, and called softly, “Husband!”

Duan Jing saw me and came over with his hands behind his back, his face beaming with a smile. “I heard you swindled quite a bit of silver from people?”

It was a willing transaction on both sides-how could that be called swindling?

They bought it because they liked how it looked; it wasn’t me who made them do it.

Duan Jing reached out and hooked his finger around mine. “They keep a whole bunch, but I only keep one. You just spend as you like, there’s money.”

Later, the people from the jewelry shop came to discuss business with me. In just a few months, I had earned a considerable income.

I knew Duan Jing’s official career was difficult, so I secretly set aside the money, just in case.

The wedding of the Second Young Master and Cui Yuehua was approaching. I mentioned it to Duan Jing, who was teasing the goldfish in the tank, replying absentmindedly, “I’m not going. No need to spoil their fun. I have a few days off and want to stay home with you.”

Actually, at noon, Father-in-law had already sent someone to ask if I would go, even sending some jewelry to inquire.

This was a veiled gesture of reconciliation. Duan Jing looked at the gifts for a long time without saying a word.

Chunsheng asked if he should throw them out. Duan Jing, rarely losing his temper, snapped, “Why throw them out? Sell them all and buy Wanyi some new clothes!”

After dinner, Duan Jing sat in the courtyard gazing at the moon. I brought over a cup of hot tea. “Husband, let’s go.”

I knew he didn’t truly hate his father; he just had a grievance, waiting for the other side to yield.

Duan Jing sighed and patted his leg. “Come sit.”

He held me and said earnestly, “Wanyi, between the two of us, I’m the luckier one, to have married you.”

The day I left home, returning again, I was already an outsider.

The servants in the residence were all very reserved when they saw Duan Jing.

Cui Yuehua was in the bridal chamber. Several wives called me to help with the bridal adornments. I couldn’t refuse, so I followed them in.

She sat before the mirror, her delicate face smiling, in a very good mood, tilting her head as she put on earrings.

“Wanyi, people should strive upwards. I’ve figured it out.”

Her words were odd. I didn’t want to stay with her, so I simply echoed, “It’s good to have figured things out.”

If I can just live peacefully with Duan Yuan, in harmony, I’d count myself lucky.

“Tonight, His Majesty will come.”

I nodded. “You are blessed. I wish you and the Second Young Master a hundred years of happiness.”

Before long, we heard the imperial procession arrive outside. As women helping the bride, we didn’t need to go out to greet the emperor, thus spared the formalities.

“Wanyi, aren’t you going to see your Parents?” Cui Yuehua, fully dressed, turned and smiled radiantly.

When it came to my Parents, disappointment outweighed anger. The day Duan Jing declared I’d severed ties with them, I acquiesced, so there was no need to see them again.

I shook my head, refusing Cui Yuehua.

Cui Yuehua’s smile grew even brighter, unnaturally so.

As I handed her the last hairpin, she suddenly grabbed my hand, raising a strange smile. “Close the door.”

The wide-open doors were suddenly shut. A squad of armored soldiers marched past the window, their halberds clanking.

A formless panic spread. The scene instantly descended into chaos. The ladies pounded desperately on the unmoving doors, trying to escape, but it was useless.

“Cui Yuehua, what are you trying to do?”

Cui Yuehua, her face adorned in bridal makeup, her bright eyes curved, said, “Men are like warhorses-if you hold the reins, they can conquer lands for you. The current emperor is foolish and incompetent. Prince Duan will take his place. Ladies, pray your men have chosen the right side.”

As soon as she finished, several fainted on the spot.

Naturally, I was afraid too.

Treason and rebellion.

I’d only ever heard of such things from storytellers. Now, being in the midst of it, I realized there was none of the rumored turbulence-just, on a certain night, one group of people quietly surrounded another.

Choose right, and you live.

Choose wrong, and you die.