chapter 16

Duan Jing had rendered meritorious service in protecting the Emperor. When the front courtyard heard he had fainted, they summoned a highly respected old Imperial Physician. After feeling his pulse for a long while, stroking his beard, he finally asked, “Did he suffer a fright just now?”

The Imperial Physician and I exchanged silent glances. After a while, I pondered, “Perhaps he killed too many people… Is it serious?”

The Imperial Physician said Duan Jing was agitated and distressed, but a good sleep would suffice.

I cradled him and curled up on the small couch, sleeping for several hours. Vaguely, I sensed someone petting me like a dog. I opened my eyes in a daze to see Duan Jing gazing at me with boundless affection.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” I rubbed my eyes, burrowing further into his arms to soak up his warmth.

Duan Jing chuckled foolishly, “I’ve already thought of a hundred names for the child. Tomorrow, I’ll write them all down for you to pick your favorite.”

So he had been staring wide-eyed in the middle of the night just to think of names.

I lazily shifted my head, found a comfortable position, and mumbled sleepily, “You decide.”

Now, Duan Jing would tell anyone he met. I even saw him squatting in a corner, showing off to a little male dog, “I’m going to be a father.”

He ended up being chased and bitten by the dog.

For the days that followed, we moved back into Duan Mansion.

Lord Duan, Madam Duan, and the Second Young Master all stood on Prince Duan’s side and should have been dealt with as traitors.

Yet, all three were released.

When the news arrived, snow had just begun to fall.

Layers of cloud-like white snow blanketed the red plum blossoms. Beneath the tree, Duan Jing wore a cloak and brewed wine by the stove.

He drank a few more cups than usual tonight and was tipsy, his eyes half-closed as he beckoned to me, “Your shoes and socks are soaked, come here.”

A candle burned in a small stone niche, its dim orange glow filtering through the carved holes, casting light on Duan Jing’s snowy cloak and sharply defined profile.

He was no longer a minor official, but a rising star in the court, basking in glory.

Those who once mocked him now had to respectfully address him as Vice Minister Duan.

Once the Minister of Personnel retired, the governance of officials across the land would be in Duan Jing’s hands-it was only a matter of time.

Tonight, as he sat amidst the swirling snow, he was only my Fox Immortal.

Still in high spirits, my cheeks flushed from the cold, I carried a snowball over, leaving footprints all over the snow.

Duan Jing wrapped my hands in a warm cloth, roughly brushed my face a few times, then pulled me close and pecked my cheek.

“Zhang Wanyi, pregnancy dulls the mind for three years. You were never very clever, and now you can’t even tell hot from cold.”

If I had married the accomplished Duan Jing, perhaps I would have adored him, admired him, but I would never have been so bold as tonight, cupping his face and earnestly speaking the words I’d hidden in my heart for so long.

“You are mine.”

A snowflake landed on Duan Jing’s lips. He licked his lips dryly, rested his head on my shoulder, and after a long while, sighed, “Ten months of pregnancy… ah… it’ll be a long wait.”

It took half a month to purge the traitors. From Duan Jing’s conversations with Chunsheng, I gleaned some details.

Prince Duan’s rebellion had been anticipated by His Majesty, who only wished to use the opportunity to root out those with ulterior motives.

The Second Young Master was dismissed from office. Everything connected to Prince Duan’s faction was to be thoroughly investigated, which brought to light Madam Duan’s misdeeds.

Li Shi had used the Late Madam’s dowry to subsidize her own son, schemed to seize family assets, and even in the bottom of the Late Madam’s bridal chest, they found an unopened box of Five Minerals Powder and a Prescription.

Lord Duan stared at the Prescription for a long time. At dawn, he brought out a long sword, intending to kill Madam Duan.

The early autumn morning was chilly. Duan Jing stood under the corridor, watching the farce with cold eyes. Dew clung to me as I drew his gaze from afar, weakly wrapping my arms around him, “Husband, I’m cold, carry me back…”

He lowered his eyes and wrapped me tightly, “Alright.”

On the way, I looked at him with concern.

Sensing my gaze, Duan Jing smiled, feigning composure, “Why are you looking at me?”

But he hardly seemed unaffected. After returning, Duan Jing took three days’ leave from court, did nothing else, and clung to me every day, never leaving my side.

To me, he was like a wounded puppy-silent, but more dependent on family than anyone.

After three days, Duan Jing returned to normal, but he never set foot in Lord Duan’s courtyard again.

Having narrowly escaped the calamity of clan extermination, the Duan Clan Relatives all condemned Madam Duan for betraying her own, and for a time, even the Second Young Master’s parentage was called into question.

The next time I saw him was also in the courtyard.

Times had changed. Cui Yuehua’s family had been declared traitors and would be executed after autumn. The Second Young Master, not yet formally married, escaped disaster-he was merely a hapless victim deceived by Prince Duan.
“Sister-in-law…” His face looked somewhat haggard, yet he still greeted me with a faint smile.

I had nothing much to say to him. After a few polite exchanges, just before leaving, he said again, “To be able to marry Sister-in-law is my elder brother’s good fortune. If I had such a fate, perhaps I wouldn’t have ended up like this…”

“Second Young Master, there’s something I’ve been holding back and never said.”

If I don’t make myself clear now, I’ll feel uneasy for the rest of my life.

“If, on the day I arrived in the capital, I was truly to marry you, would you have dared to defy your mother’s orders and wed me?”

Duan Yuan seemed as if I’d struck a sore spot; his expression suddenly darkened.

“I come from a humble family. In the eyes of the world, I’m not even fit to be Duan Jing’s shoe maid. He doesn’t say it, but I know how people outside insult me.”

“He was willing to give up his career for me, to turn his back on the Duan clan. Would Second Young Master be willing to do the same for me?”

Duan Yuan looked embarrassed.

“There are hardships Duan Jing is willing to endure, so there are blessings he deserves to enjoy.”

“One can’t have everything. This is something I’ve only come to understand now, and I hope Second Young Master can understand it too.”

He never truly liked me; he simply thought that whatever Duan Jing had, he ought to have as well.

Thinking back, the young man Eldest Aunt once described as a celestial being come to earth was indeed Duan Jing.

After speaking, I left on my own.

Moonlight filtered through the branches, scattering mottled patches of light. At the corner, Duan Jing returned under the moon, not knowing how long he’d been standing there.

He smiled at the corners of his lips and praised me: “My Wanyi is more and more like the Mistress of the Household-knowledgeable and sensible, truly admirable.”

I tugged lightly at his sleeve. “Let’s go home. I don’t like it here.”

Duan Jing was taken aback, then after a moment said, “Alright.”

In late autumn, Madam Duan suddenly fell ill.

Her symptoms were exactly the same as mine had been before.

Several times I wanted to speak but hesitated. “Madam Duan’s illness…”

Duan Jing was overseeing official duties, memorials piled on the desk, his brush marking them as he spoke indifferently: “My mother fell into her trap, and you almost did too. If I let him go, I’d be a coward.”

After saying this, he paused, glanced at my pregnant belly and dazed look, then regretted his bluntness and nuzzled close to me: “I won’t let her die, don’t be afraid.”

Ever since surviving a rebellion, I sometimes woke in the night, clutching Duan Jing’s collar, drenched in cold sweat.

Duan Jing teased me for being timid, but made it clear to others that he never spent the night outside the residence, always coming home to stay with me.

Now, Duan Jing was at the height of his glory, and many people had their eyes on the vacant spot at his side.

One day, as soon as he returned, I noticed his knuckle was injured.

“Did you get into a fight?”

Duan Jing washed his hands nonchalantly, then rested his head in my lap: “Ran into a madman who insisted on pushing a woman onto me.”

“Then you could’ve just refused. Why hit someone?”

Duan Jing stared at me blankly for a while, then suddenly laughed: “Zhang Wanyi, aren’t you jealous?”

I shot him a glare. “I’m talking about serious matters.”

“A fight’s a fight, what else can I do? They come for me, but I have you to protect me!”

My thin arms and legs had somehow become Duan Jing’s shield, all because I was recently granted a title of honor.

The Empress herself summoned me to the palace. When she saw me, there was a glimmer of tears in her eyes: “Back then, His Majesty and I were just like this. To this day, he still bears a scar on his hand from shielding me from a blade.”

It was said the current Empress did not come from a distinguished background. When His Majesty wanted to make her Empress, many opposed it.

In the end, with the support of a few ministers, His Majesty defied all objections and made her Empress.

One of those ministers was Lord Duan.

Perhaps this was the true reason why he and Second Young Master escaped disaster.

Standing atop the high steps, the Empress spoke meaningfully: “Some people are born with noble fates. Yours and mine, we earned ourselves. I hope you guard it well and live a smooth life.”

I was puzzled, thanked the Empress, and had just stepped onto the palace path when I saw a beauty pass by in a sedan chair.

A palace maid whispered, “That’s the Imperial Concubine. His Majesty favors her greatly.”

I choked up, finally understanding the Empress’s words.

That night, I sat by the window, listless and unwilling to talk to anyone.

When Duan Jing returned, he spoke for a long time, but I just sat there dazed, not responding.

After undressing, he picked me up and set me on his lap, his stubbly chin rubbing against me.

I frowned and muttered, “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Why?” Duan Jing looked innocent. “Is it that time of the month?”

I was pregnant, so there was no such thing. Silently, I slipped off him and went to bathe by myself.”
Duan Jing wanted to come in, but I stopped him with a shout, so he could only stand outside the screen, peeking in: “Wanyi, be careful, don’t slip. Can’t reach your back? Husband is strong, let me scrub it for you?”

Pah.

Last time he nearly scrubbed a layer of skin off me.

Young Master Duan really can’t lift a hand or shoulder, useless at everything except eating, clumsy and awkward, not charming at all!

When I climbed out of the bath barrel, he didn’t care at all and just hoisted me onto his shoulder, carrying me into the room.

“How come, even after getting pregnant, you’re still so light? Wanyi, have you lost weight again?”

All the little maids serving me say I’ve grown plumper lately, but only Duan Jing always complains that I’m too thin.

I remembered the Imperial Concubine I saw in the palace, petite and delicate. He must want to fatten me up, then go out and find a weak, helpless Concubine!

I shrank into the covers, keeping far away from him, not letting him touch me at all.

Duan Jing sighed, then used my bath water to quickly wash himself before coming to bed.

This was one of the rare cold wars between Duan Jing and me.

What you think by day, you dream by night. In my dream, Duan Jing brought home a charming, beautiful Concubine, told me she was pregnant, and that the Duan Mansion would be inherited by her son. I argued with him all night long.

In the end, it was Duan Jing who woke me up.

“Wanyi, had a nightmare? Why are you crying?”

For a moment, I couldn’t tell dream from reality, sobbing as I complained to him: “Go to your Concubine, I’ll take our son and leave… never coming back.”

It was still early, darkness all around. I pressed my tear-stained face against Duan Jing’s chest, crying miserably.

After a while, Duan Jing laughed softly: “Was I such a scoundrel in your dream?”

I just whimpered, not speaking.

Duan Jing wrapped his arm around me, stretching out his hand: “Then bite me, vent your anger.”

I said sourly, “Lord Duan is so precious, how would I dare bite you…”

Duan Jing retorted, “You two, big and small, are the most treasured in the mansion. What am I, Lord Duan, worth?”

After a long pause, Duan Jing poked me: “Wanyi, don’t be mad. The key to our storeroom is in your hand, Chunsheng only listens to you. If I ever lose my mind and keep a Concubine, you can just kick me out.”

Thinking of Duan Jing being kicked out of the mansion naked, I burst out laughing through my tears: “I don’t want money… I like you, not money…”

That really made Duan Jing feel sorry for me. After finally coaxing me into a good mood, he hurried off to the palace at dawn.

After that, an Imperial Edict suddenly appeared.

No one knows how Duan Jing spoke to His Majesty, but he managed to have it written solemnly in the Imperial Edict: Duan Jing will only marry Zhang Shi Wanyi in this life, never take a Concubine. If he breaks this vow, he will be executed immediately.

It’s said that when His Majesty wrote it, he laughed at Duan Jing for fearing his wife. Just then, the Empress passed by the door, His Majesty glanced at her and said no more, stamping the edict when finished.

From then on, I became famous.

Many people dug into my background: Parents who once sided with traitors and were exiled a thousand miles away, a brother with blood on his hands who was executed after autumn, and wondered how Duan Jing ever took a liking to me.

At this moment, the protagonist of the story was dressed in splendid clothes, lying on a treetop: “Wanyi, where did the kite fall?”

I waved: “To the right.”

While he turned to look, I quietly placed a Brocade Box on the table, a birthday gift I had prepared for Duan Jing.

I wanted to surprise him, but from the tree came his shout: “Found it, Wanyi, catch your husband down!”

He sat on the branch, smiling and waving the kite, blocking the sunlight through the leaves, yet brighter than the sun itself.

I smiled, just about to ask him to throw the kite down, when my lower abdomen suddenly clenched tight. I froze in place.

As the cramps grew more frequent, I pretended to be calm: “Husband, there’s a surprise I need to tell you.”

“What surprise?”

“I’m about to give birth…”

“What do you mean, about to give birth?”

“I…”

The branch groaned under strain, snapping in the brilliant sunlight, dust flying everywhere.

Duan Jing landed in the mud, shouting desperately: “Chunsheng! Doctor! Go get the Doctor, quick!”

That year, as summer drew to a close, the cicadas had just fallen silent, and a baby’s cry rang out through the Duan Mansion.

The delicate saplings planted at the start of the new mansion now stood tall and flourishing.

(The End)