Volume 1, Chapter 20: The Moment Closest to Her
“Mmm…”
Xie Mingyue instinctively clutched his slender waist, lightly struggling twice under the pressure.
For some inexplicable reason, Qi Jinshan recalled the moment when she had vomited blood from poisoning, and they had lost control of themselves.
That was the closest he had been to her in ten years.
His movements instantly became gentle.
A faint scent of jasmine wafted from Xie Mingyue.
Qi Jinshan inhaled the familiar yet strange fragrance, and memories involuntarily drifted back ten years.
Back then, she had been driven to the manor outskirts by the Xie family, dressed in fine clothes that could not withstand the chill of the mountains. Frozen and delirious, she smiled at him.
That very smile was what drove him mad—still inexperienced but willing to break all plans and confront everyone just to shield her from the bitter wind and snow.
The jasmine trees that once filled the courtyard had long been uprooted, yet the scent brought him back to those days, and his heart naturally found a moment of ease.
He released the pitifully clinging Xie Mingyue and chuckled softly.
Xie Mingyue ground her teeth in annoyance. “Scoundrel!”
She had always been proper and never imagined she would one day be pinned beneath a stone table and kissed.
Qi Jinshan breathed evenly. “I am your husband.”
Jin He and Yu Jiang pressed their ears against the door crack of the side courtyard, wishing they could raise them to the heavens.
Good heavens, if the master had said such things before, the lady would have immediately been furious. Yet now, they were teasing each other back and forth.
The two rubbed their hands eagerly and asked Wutong, “Wutong, how did the lady suddenly come around?”
Wutong replied honestly, “Today, the marquis spoke with the lady and told her that when the master married, he gave up a promising rise in status.”
She thought, the lady’s heart was not made of stone; even if she did not love the master, she would surely be moved.
In the courtyard, Xie Mingyue, still blushing, jumped down from the stone table.
Qi Jinshan reached out to catch her, but she opened her hand. “No touching.”
Having tasted sweetness, Qi Jinshan was not annoyed, but his eyes darkened with a weight that was somewhat intimidating.
Xie Mingyue was still a little afraid of this look, pursed her lips, and said, “Today, my father wants me to oversee the kitchen affairs.”
“So, Xie Wanqing has been dismissed?” Qi Jinshan raised an eyebrow.
“Of course not,” Xie Mingyue was startled by his bluntness but then recalled that he had only entered the mansion in his teens and lacked the pretentious airs common to noble sons.
She recounted the day’s events.
“Is it alright for me to handle the thirty thousand taels this way?”
Worried she had not sought Qi Jinshan’s approval beforehand, Xie Mingyue glanced at him cautiously.
Thirty thousand taels was no small sum, all earned by Qi Jinshan himself, yet she had used it to buy her mother’s shop, which felt improper.
Qi Jinshan smiled faintly. “My lady is indeed resourceful. From now on, you decide all household matters; there’s no need to report to me. If you don’t want to manage the kitchen affairs, then you don’t have to.”
Her scheme was affirmed, and joy bloomed softly in her heart.
“There is something else important,” Qi Jinshan reminded her, “In a few days, the Princess Dowager’s Spring Blossom Banquet will be held at our residence.”
“A Spring Blossom Banquet?” Xie Mingyue was slightly taken aback but then understood.
The Princess Dowager loved festivities; since she could remember, the princess had hosted a banquet each season. However, these were usually held at the princess’s own mansion—why now at the vassal’s house?
“After the prince consort left, the two princesses went south to recuperate, leaving the Princess Dowager alone in the residence. The emperor, out of concern for his eldest sister, permitted banquets to be held in turn at the houses of his subjects,” Qi Jinshan mentioned casually.
Seeing her stunned expression, he spoke as if in passing.
At that time, Yun and Xie Wanqing would likely appear to receive guests.
Xie Mingyue understood his meaning. The result of her painstaking efforts might not be entirely satisfactory.
Yet when it came to important matters, she knew how to prioritize. Besides, with Yun and Xie Wanqing’s temperaments, if they were released, trouble was sure to follow. She was not worried about lacking chances to deal with them.
Qi Jinshan stayed to dine in the courtyard with Xie Mingyue, but her mind was still full of what the Marquis of Shunqing had said earlier. She felt unable to eat, so she used the excuse of taking a nap and slipped away.
In the afternoon, Wutong entered holding an exquisite pearl-studded jewelry box.
“My lady, Jin He sent this. It’s the headpiece the master ordered for you at the Jade Cloud Pavilion.”
“A headpiece?” Xie Mingyue was surprised. It was rare for a man to buy jewelry for his wife; usually, women chose for themselves.
Wutong covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. “My lady, the master worries you haven’t seen guests in a long time and might lack proper attire, so he’s upgraded your headpiece.”
Xie Mingyue opened the box to reveal a set of treasures: gilded, adorned with white jade, tourmaline, coral, and intricate kingfisher feather embroidery—exquisite and luxurious, truly rare.
Even in the Xie family, she had never possessed such precious jewelry.
He was truly thoughtful…
Her fingers lightly traced the cool headpiece, and warmth filled Xie Mingyue’s eyes, deepening her belief in the Marquis of Shunqing’s words.
Qi Jinshan had willingly sacrificed his future to marry her.
“Let’s go to Guinan Lane,” she said.
She carefully packed the headpiece, seeing there was still time to visit Bai Xin once more and inquire about past matters.
Knocking on the gate of the previous courtyard, Bai Xin was surprised to see Xie Mingyue alone but quickly called Xiao Tongguang over.
“Madam Xiao, don’t frighten the child.”
Xie Mingyue smiled and gestured, while Wutong stepped forward, handing over a long-prepared pouch embroidered with five blessings and persimmon patterns.
Inside was a bulging packet of silver melon seeds. Bai Xin waved her hand hurriedly.
“Lady Qi, that’s unnecessary. Master Qi already cares enough for Tongguang.”
“This is just a small token for the child,” Xie Mingyue said with a gentle smile. “Madam Xiao, I came today to see you and to ask about some details from ten years ago when you saved me.”
Bai Xin suddenly understood—it was for this matter.
She had thought Xie Mingyue was simply feeling nostalgic and smiled. “Ten years ago, a common woman went to the riverbank, stumbled upon you being drugged by a wicked servant and dragged into the woods. She ran back to the village to seek help and just happened to meet Master Qi arriving. Then you were rescued by Master Qi and taken back to the city. Less than a month later, Master Qi sent wedding pastries, and the woman knew you and Master Qi had married.”
Xie Mingyue’s hand, resting on a flower bud in the courtyard, froze.
She had not been driven away by the Xie family but sent to the manor outskirts so they wouldn’t lose face by having her wander about.
As for the wicked servant daring to drug her, it likely had their tacit approval.
Xie Mingyue smiled softly.
She knew these noble families too well; her hasty marriage to Qi Jinshan was probably for this very reason.
If they hadn’t married, and she had stayed at the manor outskirts, who knew what awaited her?
If Qi Jinshan hadn’t saved her, she might have been tormented to death long ago.
Her vision blurred.
He was so good—did she know it back then?
If she had, these ten years would not have been like this.
“By the way, Lady Qi,” Bai Xin continued, “after you were rescued, a woman with a black mole near her mouth was seen lurking around the village. I noticed, but my family had matters then, so I forgot to mention it. Alas, I only remembered now. I hope it’s not too late.”
So many years had passed; Bai Xin was somewhat regretful.
A woman with a black mole near her mouth?
Xie Mingyue searched her memory and suddenly her eyes sharpened.