"Together?"
For ten years, the only time she had ever said "together" to him, it was to invite him to die by her side...
Qi Jinshan offered an icy, chilling smile. Xie Mingyue, oblivious to his meaning, said, "What is it? If you're busy, I can go myself."
Noticing the softness in her tone, he cast a startled glance her way, only to meet her clear, steady gaze.
"I am free," he said, stepping back from her with profound detachment. "Go change your clothes first."
Xie Mingyue looked down and realized she had been wandering around in front of him wearing only her undergarments. Her face flushed, and she immediately ducked behind a folding screen.
"I apologize for the trouble, but please wait for me in the outer room and have some tea."
Qi Jinshan’s brow twitched as he watched her graceful silhouette move behind the screen, which was decorated with paintings of court ladies. Except for today, he had not stepped foot in her bedchamber for over a year, let alone sat there to drink tea. Today, everything was unfolding in ways he had never anticipated.
Opening the wardrobe, Xie Mingyue frowned at the collection of drab, matronly garments.
"Madam, is something wrong?" Wutong asked cautiously.
"No, it's nothing."
Xie Mingyue shook her head. How one dresses reflects who they are. At sixteen, she had loved to adorn herself in elegant, vibrant gowns; but at twenty-six, her wardrobe was filled with lifeless, dismal colors. It was just like the face she saw in the mirror—utterly devoid of vitality.
She rubbed her thin wrists and picked out a dark blue dress, pairing it with jade hair ornaments. At that moment, Wutong pulled a thin, pale peach-pink cloak from the bottom of a chest.
"This cloak is lovely." Xie Mingyue’s eyes brightened, and she praised it enthusiastically. Having been raised in the lap of luxury within the Xie Family, she could spot a quality item at a glance.
"Madam, this was a gift from the Eldest Young Master eight years ago. You flew into a rage back then and declared you would never wear it again as long as you lived."
Xie Mingyue paused in surprise, then took the cloak. It was beautiful—exactly the style she would choose for herself.
"Why was I so angry?"
Wutong pursed her lips and said in a low voice, "That day, you were talking to the Eldest Young Master in the garden. When the heir apparent arrived, you became distracted. The Eldest Young Master lost his temper, and you threw the cloak at me, saying you’d never wear it again."
Xie Mingyue opened her mouth to speak. Even if she didn't know what had been on her mind back then, she was married to Qi Jinshan now and would never have any lingering thoughts about Qi Xiuyu.
"I wouldn't be distracted by Qi Xiuyu. He misunderstood," she said with certainty, then lowered her eyes to think. If it were only because of Qi Xiuyu, she and Qi Jinshan shouldn't have reached such an impasse. And it was even more unlikely that she would have become such a spiritless, stifled shell of a person. There must have been other reasons behind it. What could they be?
Xie Mingyue shook her head, finished dressing, and drifted out from the inner room.
"Thank you for the gift," she said, wrapping the pale pink cloak around her shoulders and turning for him to see. "If you hide away nice things instead of using them, they will eventually rot and rust. I failed to appreciate your intentions in the past, but I understand now. From now on, I will treasure them a hundred times over."
Thinking of the words Qi Jinshan had said earlier, she realized he believed her constant trouble-making was all for the sake of Qi Xiuyu. Since they had the opportunity today, she wanted to clear the air so he wouldn't constantly be suspicious of her.
Qi Jinshan looked at her, his cold, detached expression unmoved. He didn't seem to believe her at all.
"As you wish." He set down his teacup and rose slowly, his posture as straight as a pine. "Everyone is waiting. Let’s go."
Xie Mingyue let out a silent breath and followed him toward the front hall. Along the way, she reviewed the current situation of the Shunqing Marquis Estate, focusing her thoughts on Xie Wanqing.
Xie Mingyue was absolutely certain she was the true daughter of her mother; that being the case, didn't that make Xie Wanqing the fake one? Although they had grown up together as sisters, Xie Wanqing had always been jealous and petty toward her. Looking at the poisoning incident, it clearly bore Xie Wanqing’s fingerprints.
When the couple entered the hall, Madam Luo, Madam Yun, and Xie Wanqing were already seated. It was only then that Xie Mingyue realized that when Qi Jinshan had said Madam Luo was not his true mother, he hadn't been speaking out of spite. Since his promotion, the Marquis of Shunqing had elevated his biological mother, Madam Yun, to the status of equal wife. In the estate, Madam Yun was the Grand Madam and mistress of the First Branch, while Madam Luo was the Marchioness and mistress of the Second Branch. Now, Qi Jinshan was also a legitimate son of the estate, and he held the seniority of the "eldest" over Qi Xiuyu. The eldest legitimate son.
Seated in the place of honor, Marchioness Luo wore a stern face. Catching sight of the harmony in Qi Jinshan and Xie Mingyue’s figures as they walked in, she curled her lip and said coldly, "The matter of the poisoning has already been settled. Why stir up such a fuss?"
She had already investigated the truth, but Qi Jinshan’s men had arrived and taken everyone away. What was this? It was a public slap to her face, a clear sign that he didn't trust her ability to manage affairs. Men usually didn't meddle in the inner chambers, especially someone as busy as Qi Jinshan. Yet here he was, reaching into the domestic sphere for the sake of a siren like Xie Mingyue—it was truly bizarre!
Xie Wanqing looked at Xie Mingyue meaningfully and interjected, "Eldest Brother is the Censor-in-Chief, burdened with myriad affairs. Must you trouble him with such trifles, Sister-in-law?"
Though he was a third-rank official, Qi Jinshan held real power over the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review. Xie Wanqing dared not offend him, so she could only sow discord between him and Xie Mingyue. Qi Jinshan had everything—status, position, and power. The only place he had suffered was in his choice of a wife; Xie Mingyue had lost her family standing and was nothing more than a melancholy vase. For ten years, she had schemed to drive a wedge between them without fail. She never expected that today, Xie Mingyue wouldn't just swallow the insult but would dare to seek Qi Jinshan’s support. *They’ll be quarreling again tonight,* Xie Wanqing thought gleefully.
Xie Mingyue replied directly, "I was poisoned and vomited blood, and then I was slandered for feigning illness to win favor. You call this a trifle?"
She raised an eyebrow at Xie Wanqing, just as she had in the Xie household. Facing her provocation, she didn't hold back: "One must cultivate one's family before governing the state. Jinshan is my husband; when something happens in the house, he sends men to assist me to ensure the inner chambers are stable so he can attend to his duties with peace of mind. It is the most normal thing in the world. Yet, the way you put it, it sounds like some illicit affair. Could it be that you spend your days thinking only of those kinds of relations between men and women, Madam Heir Apparent?"
As her words fell, not only was Xie Wanqing stunned, but the others present showed looks of sheer astonishment. In the past, Xie Mingyue had treated Qi Jinshan like an enemy; how could she be so affectionate in public and even refer to him as "husband"? The very fact that they were standing peacefully together was a shock.
"You nonsense! The heir apparent has been stationed in Jinzhou for two years. I have been responsible for all the estate's affairs, running ragged from dawn till dusk! How dare you paint me so cruelly!"
Xie Wanqing was truly red with rage. Since she entered the estate, Madam Luo had handed the keys to her, and she had acted as the lady of the house. Xie Mingyue had been moping in her own courtyard, the First Branch had been leaderless, and Qi Jinshan had been too busy with work. Eventually, Madam Yun had decided to let her manage the First Branch’s affairs as well. Although it was more work, she had profited handsomely from the First Branch, and she could occasionally make things difficult for Xie Mingyue. Even when disputes arose, both matrons stood by her. Thinking of this, Xie Wanqing prepared to use her old tactics to handle Xie Mingyue.
"Xie Mingyue, you don't manage anything, and yet—"
Qi Jinshan did not give her a chance to continue.
"Shut up."
He sat in the hall, his gaze imposing and powerful. In an instant, the front hall of the Shunqing Marquis Estate turned into the court of the Censorate. It was solemn and deathly silent.
"Bring them in."
Qi Jinshan ordered in a deep voice. In front of all the women, his subordinates brought in two servants and presented a series of incriminating items. When he personally oversaw the interrogation with the methods he used for official cases, this inner-chamber conspiracy looked pathetic by comparison.
Xie Mingyue sat to the side, admiring Qi Jinshan’s sharp, handsome profile, when a sudden, needle-like pain pierced her head.
*No,* she thought. *The chronic ailment I've had for ten years... it’s still here.*