Volume 1, Chapter 33: I Have Not Bullied My Wife
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Xie Mingyue’s womb had been silent for ten years; it seemed she might never bear children. Yet, if the two legitimate sons of the Marquis’s household were both born from her, then...
A surge of emotion stirred within Xie Wanqing, instantly dispelling the frustration she’d felt from losing power.
With the fertility pills, if she could just share a bed with Qi Xiuyu even once, there was a chance she could conceive.
Once she was pregnant, all the current problems would be effortlessly resolved.
No one in the Marquis’s residence would dare harm the mother of the two children, and Xie Mingyue had no right to contest power with her.
The Luo matron would grow old eventually, and when that time came, the inner household would be ruled by her will alone.
Xie Wanqing clenched the pill tightly, resolute.
“Qinghua,” she said coldly, her gaze sharp as a blade, “tomorrow, find a reputable clinic outside. Ask if there’s any medicine to help a man with injured legs and hips recover faster. Even if the medicine is strong, it doesn’t matter.”
There was no ripple in her heart; this was all because of Qi Xiuyu’s indecisiveness. She had borne the consequences for him—he deserved it.
She was pushed into a corner with no choice.
If there was blame, it lay with Marquis Shunqing and Lady Luo for their blindness in favoring a lowly woman inferior to her in every way.
Qinghua was stunned.
The Second Madam was... no longer caring about the Second Master’s health?
She was a little frightened by Xie Wanqing’s coldness but nodded obediently, “Yes, mistress. I will go first thing tomorrow.”
In Qionghua Courtyard, Wutong was grinding ink for Xie Mingyue.
“Madam, how do you know the Second Madam will definitely use those fertility pills?”
She could not understand why Xie Mingyue wanted her to befriend Qinghua. Someone like Qinghua, who was treacherous and untrustworthy, would never obey.
Xie Mingyue calmly began to write, “She has only one path—to conceive.”
She knew Xie Wanqing’s temperament all too well: jealous and suspicious, yet not clever enough.
She used her mind only halfway. Once she realized Qinghua was not loyal to Xie Mingyue, Xie Wanqing would stop overthinking.
Her trap was set; now it was unknown what kind of prey it would catch.
Taking out the notebook filled with names of her enemies, Xie Mingyue’s gaze settled on the names of Xie Wanqing and Qi Xiuyu, pondering carefully.
If she did not arrange a more brilliant ending for them, it would be difficult to dispel the resentment stolen from her life over the years.
She added a few words after their names, then carefully put the book away and lay down in quiet contemplation.
Before sleep, she heard Wutong softly leave the room; outside, there were faint voices, possibly Jin He or Yu Jiang, but indistinct.
Was Qi Jinshan in trouble? Drunk from socializing again?
She leaned against the soft embroidered pillow, eyes open, listening for a moment. When Wutong returned, she asked, “What’s going on?”
“Did I wake you, Madam?” Wutong was startled. “Nothing, just reminded the night nurse of a few things.”
Wutong was lying.
Xie Mingyue frowned slightly, unsure what the young servant of Qi Jinshan had said.
Should she get up and check?
As soon as her face left the pillow, recalling Qi Jinshan’s infuriating words from the day, she hesitated and heavily laid back down.
She felt he did not regard her as his wife, just as he felt she did not see him as her husband.
Then what was the meaning of their marriage?
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Perhaps it was the cold night that chilled Xie Mingyue’s heart.
So be it.
She closed her eyes and buried herself under the quilt.
No more care.
But after a while, she got up again.
“Wutong,” she said vaguely, “bring me a pot of green plum wine.”
Unable to sleep, her mind was filled with the passionate and lingering kiss beneath the flowering tree earlier that day.
Xie Mingyue could only drink in hopes of forgetting.
*
Late at night, Qi Jinshan entered the Qihai Courtyard, playing with a jade hairpin in his hand.
Yu Jiang watched nervously.
That hairpin was made of the finest mutton fat white jade, a precious gift the young master had painstakingly obtained from the Duke of Huai. If it were broken, what could he present to the madam?
Qi Jinshan leaned against a tree in the courtyard, his long fingers stroking the hairpin as his gaze drifted with the mottled shadows.
“Master, the madam has already gone to bed.”
Jin He hurried in from outside and lowered his voice upon seeing Qi Jinshan’s demeanor.
“Hm.”
Qi Jinshan responded vaguely, still leaning under the tree, feeling the night’s chill seep into his body bit by bit.
All the outside commotion quieted at this moment.
Yet he felt a secret pang within himself.
Accompanied by Xie Mingyue’s faintly disappointed gaze from earlier that day.
Qi Jinshan extended his hand, looking at a shallow scar on his palm, chuckled softly, and tucked the hairpin into his bosom.
“Go to Qionghua Courtyard.”
The lights in Qionghua Courtyard had long been extinguished and the doors shut.
Jin He gently knocked on the door. Qi Jinshan walked straight to the door, where Wutong was waiting outside. Upon seeing him, she was startled and immediately bowed.
“Don’t startle her.”
Qi Jinshan spoke softly, nodding to signal Wutong to open the door.
Wutong hesitated to speak but ultimately did not tell him that the madam had drunk tonight before going to bed.
The madam cared about her reputation in front of the young master; if he knew she drank before sleeping, he might be displeased.
Qi Jinshan slowly stepped into the canopy bed. A faint light burned on the cabinet outside the bed. Through the thick curtains, only a dim glow remained.
Xie Mingyue nestled under the covers, breathing evenly. Qi Jinshan leaned in slightly, catching a faint scent of alcohol.
He smiled wryly and reached out to brush aside the strands of hair clinging to her neck.
The warmth and softness of her skin made it difficult for him to withdraw his hand.
Qi Jinshan’s breathing grew heavier, just as he was about to pull away, Xie Mingyue flipped over and wrapped his hand in her embrace.
Her slender fingers immediately felt the round softness.
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“Mm…”
Xie Mingyue groggily opened her eyes, her gaze hazy and moist.
“Qi… Jinshan?”
“Mm.” Qi Jinshan snapped out of his daze and couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her.
Xie Mingyue trembled lightly, her mind foggy.
Wasn’t Qi Jinshan a concubine’s son of the Qi family? Why was he in her bed?
She tried hard to recall, but the man’s burning lips interrupted her thoughts.
“Why are you here?”
Xie Mingyue reached out, placing her hand on Qi Jinshan’s shoulder.
“You’ve… gotten much better looking.”
Very different from the gloomy face she remembered.
“How much did you drink?”
Qi Jinshan saw she was drunk and peeled her off his shoulder, tucking her into the quilt.
“Rest well.”
Xie Mingyue felt a chill against her front, pouted, and persistently clung back to him.
“Even in dreams, you’re so annoying. How did I dream of you?”
Though she said she disliked him, her fingers slowly traced the contours of Qi Jinshan’s exquisite face.
“But, why are you so handsome?” Xie Mingyue’s voice softened. “Forget it, I’m in a good mood, so I’ll allow you to stay.”
“Why are you happy?”
Qi Jinshan was stirred, his whole body aflame. Seeing the delicate curves revealed in the dim light, he gently pressed down the restless figure in his arms.
Xie Mingyue, cheeks flushed, smiled softly.
“Qi Jinshan bullied me, and I scolded him away.”
He chuckled, “Bullied you?”
Xie Mingyue seemed to recognize him, furrowed her brow, and after a long silence, turned away in a huff, curling up under the quilt.
How was he like this when drunk?
Childish.
Qi Jinshan lifted his long legs, pulling both her and the quilt into his embrace.
“I never bullied you, madam.”
He watched her reddened ear tips and pressed gentle kisses along them.
Xie Mingyue trembled from the kisses, emitting a soft, beast-like whimper.
“You did bully me…”
She sobbed quietly, making Qi Jinshan’s heart swell with impulse. Just as he was about to kiss her more fiercely, his fingertip touched something warm and wet. He paused.
“Why are you crying?”