Life in the General’s Residence passed in quiet calm. For an entire year, Manyao never saw Zongzheng Wuyou again, and she rarely went to the tea garden either. On the surface, she had transferred Longyue Tea Garden to someone else and left Chenyu to manage it; in truth, it still belonged to her.
Qingmi Garden.
In the lush, verdant bamboo grove, Manyao found a shaded spot and set out a chess table. Holding a red piece in her hand, she stared at the board, lost in thought.
“Master, why are you staying out here? Weren’t you going to take a midday rest?” Ling’er strode over, asking with a smile as she walked.
Manyao said淡淡ly, “The weather is getting hotter and hotter. I can’t sleep. It’s cool here, so I came out to sit for a while.”
Ling’er sat down beside her and gently fanned her with a fan.
“Master wants to play chess? I’ll play with you.” Ling’er had followed Manyao for four years and had learned Chinese chess for a time, though she was far from skilled.
Manyao smiled. “You? Even if I gave you half my pieces, you wouldn’t last the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. Where is Xiao Sha? Lately he’s always like a dragon whose head can be seen but not its tail—busier than even I am.”
Ling’er said, “Exactly. Every time I need him for something, I can never find him. Next time you see him, Master, you must give him a proper talking-to.”
Manyao smiled faintly. Outside the bamboo grove, Steward Liang was leading servants over, several boxes held in their hands.
“Reporting to Madam, these were just sent back by the General. He said they were bestowed by His Majesty. Please have a look, Madam.”
Manyao swept her gaze over them symbolically. They were nothing more than gold, silver, jewels, brocades, and silks. But when her eyes reached the last exquisite, small wooden chest, her gaze instantly brightened, and she rose to her feet.
Ling’er asked curiously, “Master, what is that?”
“Lychees.”
They were a deep red color and looked very fresh. Manyao picked one up. Its icy-cool touch felt extraordinarily soothing in the heat of midsummer. She brushed aside the top layer and saw that crushed ice was packed underneath. In this world, fruit was scarce—especially lychees, which were difficult to store. In this era of undeveloped transportation, by the time they were delivered to the capital, they were often no longer fresh; as for ice, it was even rarer.
Steward Liang smiled. “Madam is truly knowledgeable. Xiangmei, leave this chest of lychees for Madam.”
Manyao waved her hand. “No need. Leave a few for tasting, and send the rest to the cellar. Wait until the General returns to the residence before serving them.”
Steward Liang agreed with a cheerful smile and led the others away. Manyao peeled the lychee shell, and a long-lost sense of familiarity rose within her heart. She could no longer remember how long it had been since she had eaten lychees. Qiyun Kingdom did not have these fruits, and in the capital of Lintian Kingdom, only the imperial palace could enjoy them.
Ling’er teased, “Master, the General treats you so well. No matter what His Majesty bestows, the General always has it sent back first for Master.”
Manyao smiled and said nothing.
Ling’er tilted her head to look at her, always feeling that there was a faint, indescribable melancholy between her brows.
“Master, do you know? Now, all the women in the capital are envious that Master married such a good husband. But why do I feel that you, Master… still aren’t happy at all?”
As for how Fu Chou treated her, he was indeed extremely good—attentive, protective, almost without fault. Yet it was precisely such goodness that made her feel it was unreal, as if he were deliberately putting on a show for others, announcing to the world just how well he treated her. Even so, shouldn’t she be content?
“Before we came to Lintian Kingdom, this servant felt that Master seemed to have many worries. Later, after we arrived in Lintian Kingdom, Master’s worries became even greater than before. Master, so much time has passed. Are you still resentful toward His Majesty?”
The “His Majesty” Ling’er referred to was naturally the elegant, refined man in the palace of Qiyun Kingdom—the young emperor who, according to rumor, doted on her greatly.
Resentful? She shook her head. She could not say. Her life now was not bad either. At least it was calm and peaceful. Fu Chou had no concubines, so she did not have to face the scheming and intrigue between women.
A faint smile appeared on the woman’s lips. That kind of smile seemed to have already become one of her habits.
“I’m not unhappy,” Manyao said淡淡ly. “This is already very good.”
Her heart was like still water, tranquil and without ripples. Happiness or unhappiness no longer mattered. She peeled a lychee and handed it to Ling’er. “You try one too.”
Ling’er took a bite and said joyfully, “It’s so sweet! What a pity that chest is so small.”
Manyao said reproachfully, “You really are greedy. This chest is already quite a lot. I heard lychees are only produced in Jiangnan. For them to still be this fresh after being transported to the capital, they must have been brought at full gallop. Who knows how many people were changed along the way, and how many horses collapsed?”
Ling’er did not care about such things and only said, “Since Master likes them, just have the General send people to Jiangnan at full gallop to bring back more. In any case, the General has plenty of people under him, and he treats Master so well. He will definitely agree.”
Manyao could not help laughing. “Do you think I’m Noble Consort Yang?”
“A single rider raises red dust, the consort smiles; none know it is lychees that have come.” That tragic, beautiful love between that legendary woman and the emperor, apart from proving the saying “the imperial household is the most heartless of all,” had left nothing behind in the end.
“Who is Noble Consort Yang?” Ling’er asked curiously.
Manyao said, “An ancient person.”
Ling’er gave an “oh,” then suddenly thought of something and cried, “Eh? Master said lychees are produced in Jiangnan? Isn’t Jiangnan Prince Li’s fief?”
Manyao’s hand trembled. The lychee she had peeled halfway fell to the ground and rolled far away. The two words “Prince Li” had not been mentioned to her by anyone in a very long time.
A year ago, after those three days in the dark room, he had disregarded Emperor Lintian’s strenuous opposition and resolutely left the capital for his fief in Jiangnan. During the New Year, every region had actively offered tribute, yet Jiangnan alone had sent no tribute at all. Instead, news came that the five great families of Jiangnan, who had been at odds for centuries, had for some unknown reason suddenly become harmonious and had voluntarily offered several million taels of silver to aid Prince Li in developing his fief. It was said that Jiangnan now was even more prosperous than before. But with Zongzheng Wuyou’s temperament, when he did not even care for the imperial throne, how could he put so much effort into a mere Jiangnan? He detested the imperial palace even more—why would he have lychees rushed to the capital at full gallop? This did not seem to match his way of doing things.
Manyao was lost in thought. Ling’er called her several times, but she did not hear.
“Rongle, what are you thinking about? So absorbed.”
At some unknown point, Fu Chou had appeared beside her. Ling’er hurriedly moved over a stool. Fu Chou sat down next to Manyao, and as he looked at the chess pieces laid out before her, his gaze darkened slightly, though he said nothing.
Manyao came back to herself and smiled faintly. “Why has the General returned so early today?”
Fu Chou took her hand out of habit and smiled gently. “What, do you dislike my returning early?”
Manyao shook her head. “Of course not. I only feel… a little strange. You are always busy with official duties and only return to the residence after the sun sets each day. Oh, right. The lychees bestowed by His Majesty today were very fresh, so I had them placed in the cellar. Ling’er, have them bring some more over.”
Ling’er agreed happily, but before she could turn around, she heard Fu Chou ask, “Lychees? His Majesty’s bestowals today were only gold, silver, jewels, brocades, and silks. Where did lychees come from?”
Manyao froze. Ling’er beside her spoke first. “There were, there were. This servant tasted them too. General, look, there’s still one on the ground.”
Fu Chou followed the direction Ling’er pointed and saw the lychee that had rolled onto the ground, its flesh crystal-clear and round. His gaze instantly sharpened, and he called outside the bamboo grove, “Xiang Ying.”
“This subordinate is here.”
“When did an extra portion of lychees appear among His Majesty’s bestowals today?”
“Replying to the General, this subordinate was under the General’s orders to send His Majesty’s bestowals back to the residence. Just after leaving the palace, Eunuch Chen caught up and said that we had taken one item too few. He also said… this chest of lychees was for Madam.”
For her? Manyao was slightly startled. She remembered that because of Zongzheng Wuyou, Emperor Lintian had formed a prejudice against her in his heart. It was only because of her special status that he barely maintained appearances. Why would he suddenly bestow upon her a chest of such fresh lychees?
Ripples suddenly rose upon her calm heart. Manyao frowned, then heard Fu Chou say, “It seems he has already returned to the capital! His speed truly is fast. Such a long distance, and he used only five short days. Rongle, you should eat this chest of lychees soon. Don’t waste his intentions.”
Why did Fu Chou’s tone sound faintly sour to her, with a hint of mockery hidden within it?
“Who is he?” Manyao asked instinctively, her long lashes trembling lightly like fans.
Fu Chou looked at her and laughed softly. “Naturally, Prince Li.”
Though she had clearly already guessed this answer, her heart still fell into disorder beyond her control. If that was so, then these lychees had been given to her by Zongzheng Wuyou? Why would he send her this? Should he not hate her, loathe her?
“What’s wrong? In such hot weather, why are your hands still so cold?” Fu Chou took her hand again, his sword-like brows drawing together slightly.
Manyao withdrew her hand unnaturally and said淡淡ly, “I’m fine. He… I mean Prince Li. Doesn’t he dislike the imperial palace? Why did he suddenly return?”
Fu Chou did not answer, but asked instead, “How does Rongle know that he dislikes the imperial palace?”
He was clearly smiling, and it was his usual gentle smile, yet for some reason, she felt a trace of chill sweep across the bottom of her heart. She hurriedly lowered her head and did not speak.
Fu Chou seemed not to mind and smiled again. “Seven days from now, there will be a flower-viewing banquet in the palace. Prepare in advance.”
Another banquet. She frowned.
This time, Fu Chou held the chess piece in her palm along with her hand, his strength somewhat heavy, as if he wanted to crush the piece between her fingers. He said, “I know you have always disliked such occasions, but this time it is His Majesty’s decree. All officials must bring their wives and daughters to attend. So… I can only wrong you.”
Manyao pressed her lips together. This could not truly be considered a grievance; at most, she would inevitably have to listen to a few more idle remarks. She simply did not know why Emperor Lintian wanted the officials to bring their wives and daughters, and by way of imperial decree at that. She thought this silently, but did not ask.
The General’s Residence at night was very quiet. Manyao had originally wanted to rest early, but after lying on the bed and tossing and turning, she could not fall asleep no matter what. She simply got up and went out for a walk. She had not expected this walk to bring trouble, as she ran into two ignorant young maids hiding behind a rockery and gossiping about her, while she sat on a stone bench to one side of the rockery, concealed by trees.
The wind gently brushed her cheeks, carrying the dryness particular to summer. The surroundings were utterly still. Aside from the whispering of those two maids, there was no other sound.
“Hey, don’t you think it’s strange? It’s been more than a year, and I heard… the General has never entered Madam’s room at night. Why is that?”
“Do you even need to ask? He thinks her body is dirty, of course! Don’t be fooled by how he holds her in his palm like a treasure during the day. In his heart, how could there not be a thorn? Men, ah, the thing they can’t endure most is their own woman being unclean.”
“That’s true. I’m so curious. Since Madam gave her body to Prince Li back then, why didn’t she marry him? Prince Li’s status is noble, and he is His Majesty’s most favored prince. Perhaps he might even become emperor in the future. And he’s so good-looking. I heard that in the whole capital, as long as a noble young lady has even a bit of beauty, the first person she wants to marry is Prince Li… If Prince Li could take a fancy to me, I’d be willing even to die.”
“Dream on! No matter how good Prince Li is, I don’t like him. I only like the General.”
“If you like the General, then have the General marry you as a secondary wife…”
Manyao had not heard such remarks for the first time and had long since grown accustomed to them. She rose淡淡ly and was just about to leave when she suddenly heard two thuds. Immediately after came the two maids’ trembling pleas for mercy from behind the rockery, terrified to the extreme. “G-General… General, spare our lives…”
Manyao paused. Fu Chou was here too? It seemed those two maids’ luck was not very good. Though Fu Chou appeared gentle, the rules in the General’s Residence were very strict. Now that they had been caught by him, those two maids would not come away well. She was still hesitating over whether to go over when she heard Fu Chou ask淡淡ly, “Who wants to become a secondary wife? You?”
There was the sound of a deep intake of breath. One of the maids kowtowed like pounding garlic, her voice filled with sobs as she said again and again, “This servant does not dare! This servant deserves death! Please, General, spare my life…”
“Take them away.” Fu Chou turned a deaf ear to the maid’s pleas, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger. “In the future, if anyone dares to gossip behind others’ backs again and slander their masters, take them all to the interrogation room and beat them to death with rods.”
Beat them to death? Manyao was startled and could no longer think further. She hurriedly turned around and stopped them. “Wait.”
Xiang Ying’s movement of dragging the two maids paused. When the two maids saw that she was there as well, their faces turned even more bloodless from fright, and they even forgot to beg for mercy.
Fu Chou did not seem surprised by her appearance. He stepped forward to meet her and smiled gently. “It is so late. Why has Rongle not slept?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for a walk.” Manyao looked at the two maids, who were stunned with fear. They were seventeen or eighteen, about the same age as Ling’er. She could not bear it and said, “The two of them merely spoke without restraint. It is not as if they committed some unforgivable crime like murder or arson. A small punishment as a great warning will suffice. There is no need to take their lives, is there?”
She knew that what those two maids had spoken of was not only her sore spot, but also precisely the humiliation a man was least willing to have mentioned. But they were lives, after all. She could not sit by and do nothing.
The gentle smile at the corners of Fu Chou’s mouth remained, but his gaze gradually sank, like a bottomless marsh. He looked at her for a while, then suddenly smiled. “Very well. Since Rongle has spoken, how could I refute your wish? Leave them their lives. Drag them away and carry out the punishment of muteness.”
When the two maids on the ground heard this, their eyes rolled back, and they fainted.
The punishment of muteness meant having their tongues pulled out, never again able to speak. Manyao froze, not expecting such an outcome. She still wanted to say something, but the two maids had already been swiftly dragged away. She stared blankly at the handsome man before her, whose face still bore his usual gentle expression, and suddenly felt a chill sweep over her body, making her shiver involuntarily in the heat of summer.
Fu Chou noticed her abnormality and sighed. “You are too kind, Rongle. I cannot seal off the idle gossip outside, but at least within this General’s Residence, I do not want you to hear those words again. Do you understand?”
He looked into her eyes, so gentle, so considerate. Manyao lowered her head and did not make a sound.
In the distance, Steward Liang hurried over after hearing the news, trembling as he pleaded guilty to Fu Chou. Fu Chou reprimanded him with a few words, then came up and took Manyao’s hand. His movement was incomparably natural as he said, “It is late. Let us return to the room and rest. Xiang Ying, tonight I will rest in Qingmi Garden. You need not follow.”
At his words, Manyao’s body trembled, instantly stiff as iron.
Qingmi Garden, sleeping chamber.
Fu Chou dismissed Ling’er and all the maids. In the vast room, only the two of them remained. Manyao stood before the window, somewhat nervous.
A year had passed, and she still could not escape this hurdle. She knew that, as a wife, this was her duty and beyond reproach. But she… Ah! She let out a soft sigh.
Outside the window, a crescent new moon hung in the sky. Specks of silver radiance poured down, draping the dense night in a layer of lonely, thin light, yet she had no heart to admire it.
Fu Chou sat at the edge of the bed and looked at the woman by the window. Her white clothes were dyed with moonlight, like an immortal maiden from an ethereal realm. Even the moonlight became her ornament and foil, making one unable to help wanting to touch her reality. Her slender figure seemed drawn with soft, graceful lines, revealing a calm yet breathtaking beauty that drew him closer. He could not help imagining the expression on her face at that moment. Her lips were probably pressed together, the corners slightly raised, bearing a trace of indifference and coolness. Her brows would be lightly furrowed, a faint sorrow hidden between them. Her eyes, hazy as mist yet clear as spring water, should be gazing at the distant sky, carrying hesitation and struggle…
Manyao heard footsteps behind her—extremely light and slow, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquil night. The footsteps drew closer and closer, and her body grew increasingly tense. When a hand rested on her shoulder, she trembled slightly. The cool smile that was always at the corners of her mouth completely stiffened, unable to curve even the slightest bit.
Fu Chou held her shoulders with both hands. Her body was even thinner than he had imagined, so frail that it made one unable to help cherishing her. He felt the stiffness of her body, and his hands paused slightly. Lowering his head beside her ear, he called gently, “Rongle.”
Before his words had fallen, Manyao suddenly turned around, took two steps back, and bumped into the window. Countless thoughts were already turning in her mind, yet she could not find a suitable reason to use as an excuse to refuse.
“General, I…”
The words had only just left her mouth when his finger swiftly pressed against her lips. In his deep pupils, specks of tenderness rippled. He lowered his head and fixed his gaze tightly on her, saying softly, “Do not look for excuses… and do not say your body is inconvenient. Rongle, it has been more than a year. How much longer must I wait before you are ready?”
Manyao was stunned. He truly saw through her clearly. Biting her lower lip lightly, she pushed away his hand, shifted her body to the side, and gave a light cough.
“I want to bathe,” she said, her expression very unnatural.
Fu Chou smiled. “Did you not already bathe?”
Manyao’s gaze flickered. “It is too hot, and I sweated just now. I… cannot sleep when there is sweat on my body. General… please rest first.” After saying this, without waiting for his reaction, she had already turned and strode out the door.
Fu Chou watched her hurriedly departing back, the smile at his lips deepening. He laughed lowly. “So you get nervous too! Bathe? Very well. I will wait for you here. Someone, brew a pot of tea.”
Top-grade West Lake Longjing, its clear fragrance overflowing, refreshing the heart and spirit.
Fu Chou’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he asked, “Is there only this?”
Ling’er replied, “This is what Master usually loves to drink most.”
Loves to drink most? If he remembered correctly, this also seemed to be another person’s favorite tea.
His gaze gradually darkened. He lifted his head and drank a cup, waiting quietly as he drank. By the time the teapot in his hand had already been emptied for the fourth time, she still had not returned.
“Go to the bathhouse and take a look,” Fu Chou said to Ling’er, setting down the teapot. Ling’er answered and was about to go, but he stopped her again. “Forget it. I will go myself.”
In the bath chamber, mist curled upward, and faint fragrance lingered in wisps through the air.
In the large bathing pool at the center, the jade-green surface of the water was covered with delicate, vibrant petals, setting off the woman in the pool so that her skin appeared even fairer than snow.
Manyao leaned against the edge of the bathing pool with her eyes closed. The water was about to grow cold again. She could not remember how many times hot water had already been added.