Volume 1, Chapter 3: Standing Up for Her

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Together?
In the past ten years, the only time she ever said the word “together” to him was when she meant to die alongside him...

Qi Jinshan curled his lips into a faint, chilling smile. Xie Mingyue was puzzled, “What’s wrong? If you’re busy, I can go on my own.”

“I’m not busy,” he said coolly, stepping away from her, his tone distant. “Change your clothes first.”

Lowering her head, Xie Mingyue realized she had been standing in front of him in her undergarments all along.

Though they were husband and wife, she had only just begun to truly interact with him, and immediately blushed, retreating behind the painted folding screen.

“Please wait outside and have some tea.”

Qi Jinshan’s brows twitched slightly as he watched her slender figure disappear behind the screen adorned with elegant ladies.

Apart from today, he had not set foot in her chamber for over a year, let alone sat down there for tea.

Today, everything was unfolding in a way he had never expected.

Opening the wardrobe, Xie Mingyue frowned at the dull, somber clothes inside.

“Madam, is there something wrong?” she asked cautiously.

“Nothing.”

Xie Mingyue shook her head.

A person is like the clothes they wear.

At sixteen, she loved adorning herself with delicate yet vibrant dresses, but now at twenty-six, her wardrobe was filled only with lifeless, dull hues.

Just like the face she saw in the mirror—devoid of any vitality.

She touched her slender wrist and selected a deep indigo dress from the cabinet, pairing it with jade hair ornaments.

At that moment, Wutong pulled out a pale peach-colored thin cloak from the bottom of a chest.

“This cloak is nice.” Xie Mingyue’s eyes brightened as she praised it heartily.

Having been raised in the Xie household with its wealth and refinement, she could easily recognize quality.

“Madam, this cloak was a gift from Young Master eight years ago. You were angry at the time and said you would never wear it.”

Xie Mingyue was momentarily surprised but then took the cloak. It was beautiful, exactly the style she liked.

“Why was I angry?”

Wutong pursed her lips and lowered her voice. “That day, Young Master was speaking with you in the garden. After the heir arrived, you seemed distracted. Young Master got angry, so you threw the cloak to me and said you would never wear it again.”

Xie Mingyue opened her mouth, unable to recall what she had been thinking back then. But now that she was married to Qi Jinshan, there was no longer any room for feelings toward Qi Xiuyu.

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Another misunderstanding...

She lowered her gaze and pondered carefully.

If it were only because of Qi Xiuyu, things would not have deteriorated between her and Qi Jinshan to this extent; she would not have become so withered and lifeless.

Surely, there was something else standing in the way.

Never mind, she would take things one step at a time.

Xie Mingyue shook her head and soon dressed herself, drifting out of the inner chamber like a colorful cloud.

“Thank you for your gift,” she said with a graceful smile, draping the pale pink cloak he had given her. “Good things left unused will only rot and rust. Perhaps I made some mistakes before, but I won’t again. I will be the lady of the house I ought to be and will not bring shame upon the main family.”

She recalled the words Qi Jinshan had said today.

He believed her constant troubles were all because of Qi Xiuyu. Thinking it over, she took this chance to speak openly with him, to prevent him from always suspecting and doubting in the future.

Qi Jinshan watched her, his expression cold and unmoved.

“Do as you please.” He pushed aside the teacup in his hand and slowly rose, his posture dignified like a pine crane. “Everyone is here; let’s go.”

Xie Mingyue quietly exhaled and followed him slowly toward the main hall.

Along the way, she reflected on the current state of the Shunqing Marquisate, focusing particularly on Xie Wanqing.

Xie Mingyue was certain she was her mother’s true daughter. By that logic, wasn’t Xie Wanqing the impostor?

Though they had grown up together as sisters, Xie Wanqing had always been spiteful, scheming against her. The poisoning incident, to Xie Mingyue, was undoubtedly Xie Wanqing’s doing.

When the couple entered the hall, the two elder ladies of the Luo and Yun families, as well as Xie Wanqing, were already seated.

Only then did Xie Mingyue learn that Qi Jinshan’s claim that Lady Luo was not his mother was not out of spite. Since his promotion, the Shunqing Marquis had elevated his birth mother Lady Yun to the status of a legitimate wife. Now Qi Jinshan was the legitimate eldest son of the Marquisate, even outranking Qi Xiuyu by the title of “eldest.”

The legitimate eldest son.

Within the Shunqing Marquisate, Lady Yun was the senior madam of the main household, while Lady Luo was the madam of the second household.

“The poisoning has already been settled, so why make a fuss now?”

Seeing the harmonious posture between Qi Jinshan and Xie Mingyue, Lady Luo curled her lips coldly.

She had uncovered the truth, but when Qi Jinshan’s men arrived earlier, they took everyone away.

Xie Wanqing looked meaningfully at Xie Mingyue.

“Big brother is the Left Metropolitan Censor, busy with daily affairs; do you really need to trouble him over such a trivial matter, sister-in-law?”

Although Qi Jinshan was a third-rank official, he held real power over the Censorate and the Supreme Court. Xie Wanqing dared not offend him and instead tried subtly to sow discord between him and Xie Mingyue.

Now, Qi Jinshan had status and rank, everything was perfect except his choice of wife. Without family background, Xie Mingyue was but a melancholic ornament.

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For ten years, she had consistently schemed to drive a wedge between the two, never failing. But today, Xie Mingyue surprisingly refused to tolerate it and dared to seek Qi Jinshan’s support.

These two would quarrel again tonight.

Xie Wanqing gloated, but Xie Mingyue spoke plainly, “I was poisoned and vomited blood, then falsely accused of poisoning to gain favor. Is that a trivial matter?”

Raising her brow at Xie Wanqing, just as she had in the Xie household, she responded mercilessly to the provocation: “Set your own house in order before governing the country. Jinshan is my husband. When trouble arises in the household, he sends help to secure the rear and focus on his duties. That’s only natural. Yet you twist it into a love affair. Is the Crown Prince’s wife’s heart truly so focused on mere romantic matters?”

Her words left not only Xie Wanqing stunned but also the others present, who all wore strange expressions.

Previously, Xie Mingyue had wished to sever ties with Qi Jinshan, yet now she openly showed closeness and called him “husband.”

For the two of them to stand quietly together was itself astonishing.

“You’re lying! The Crown Prince has been away on assignment in Jinzhou for two years. I’ve handled all the household affairs, busy every day. Why do you make me sound so despicable?”

Xie Wanqing’s eyes reddened with genuine anger.

Since her arrival at the house, Lady Luo had entrusted her with managing the household. She acted as the mistress, while Xie Mingyue wallowed in sorrow in her courtyard. With no one to manage the main household and Qi Jinshan busy with official duties, Lady Yun later assigned the main household’s affairs to Xie Wanqing as well.

Though this increased her workload, Qi Jinshan’s matters were off-limits to her. Xie Mingyue said nothing, allowing Xie Wanqing to reap many benefits and occasionally torment her.

Even when conflicts arose, the two madams always sided with her.

Thinking of this, Xie Wanqing prepared to use her old tactics against Xie Mingyue.

“Xie Mingyue, if you don’t manage the household then—”

But Qi Jinshan cut her off.

“Silence.”

He sat down in the hall, his gaze radiating authority. Instantly, the front hall of the Shunqing Marquisate transformed into a solemn courtroom within the Censorate.

Solemn and silent.

“Bring them in.”

Qi Jinshan ordered in a low voice. Before the assembled ladies of the household, his men brought in two servants, followed by a series of objects related to the matter.

Using investigative techniques personally during interrogation, the intrigue within the residence suddenly seemed scant in comparison.

Xie Mingyue sat quietly to one side, a strange sensation rising within her heart.