Volume 1, Chapter 55: Taking a Concubine

A sudden spring breeze swept through, carrying the fragrance of blooming flowers. Qi Jinshan stood by the long corridor, letting the cold wind brush past him. Inside the room with hydrangea-patterned windows, Gou Zihan held a silver needle, carefully inserting it point by point into the acupuncture points on Xie Mingyue’s pale face.

His usually cynical expression was unusually grave now.

“This Han Yu poison is not easy to find. I’ve traveled far and wide and seen it only a few times. How did your wife contract it?”

“It’s been in the Xie family,” Qi Jinshan replied, frowning slightly.

Gou Zihan clicked his tongue. “She used to be the cherished daughter of the Xie family. How could they do nothing about this?”

Qi Jinshan remained silent, rubbing the finger ring on his hand. The raised edge pressed sharply against his knuckle, as if only piercing pain could keep his reason intact.

Before she lost consciousness, she was still calling for him... still trying to explain. If only he had been a bit calmer, he would have seen the complete trust in her eyes—a trust without reservation.

He had betrayed her unguarded dependence.

Suppressing the dark shadow in his eyes, Qi Jinshan closed them briefly and spoke in a low voice to Jin He, “Go bring Zhou Yang here.”

Jin He was surprised but respectfully replied, “Yes,” and left the courtyard.

Wu Tong came out carrying a basin of water. Seeing her, Qi Jinshan called her over.

“What’s the story with that fertility-preventing medicine?”

He recalled Xie Mingyue’s frantic explanation before she fainted, which kept echoing in his mind.

“Master, my lady does not wish to avoid having children; she simply feels her body is too weak and wants to recover first to give birth to a healthy child.”

Wu Tong couldn’t help but add, hoping to ease any discord between Qi Jinshan and Xie Mingyue.

“My lady feared you would be angry if you knew, so she prepared to find a doctor outside the manor to prescribe a harmless medicine. She never actually took the fertility-preventing medicine.”

Afraid he would be upset.

She actually knew everything.

A sharp, intense bitterness surged in his heart, choking his throat. The veins on the side of Qi Jinshan’s neck bulged as he fixed his gaze on Xie Mingyue’s slender fingers resting by the bedside.

He had thought he was caring for her, but secretly, she had been leaning on him, sacrificing herself.

He exhaled softly and noticed an unfinished embroidered sachet hidden in the basket by her pillow.

Qi Jinshan’s fist clenched suddenly, squeezing until a sliver of blood appeared between his fingers, yet he did not look away for a long while.

It was a sachet embroidered with a hundred blessings and pomegranate patterns.

A symbol of many children.

The design pricked him like a needle, making his eyes burn as if about to bleed.

“All done. When she wakes, have her drink the prescribed medicine. A few months and then we’ll see…” Gou Zihan clapped his hands and stretched as he stepped out, but upon seeing Qi Jinshan’s expression, he was startled. “Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

Qi Jinshan ignored him, withdrawing the chill that emanated from him as he strode into the room.

Gou Zihan had no choice but to follow.

“This Han Yu poison is insidious. It not only gradually destroys the body but, worse, it robs the mind of all joy. It’s remarkable your wife lasted ten years. Without me, she might have lived only five more.”

Qi Jinshan crossed over and grasped Xie Mingyue’s hand, his throat rolling with emotion.

So all these years, she had been sinking in a deadly quagmire.

And he had remained oblivious.

Gou Zihan noticed his distracted state and chattered on, “Don’t worry; I’m here, nothing will go wrong. And stop getting teary-eyed so easily—if you keep that up, you’ll damage your eyes.”

Yuan Bai, standing nearby, though saddened, couldn’t help letting out a small laugh at his words.

“Hey! You little wench, no manners at all.”

Gou Zihan heard the remark and turned his head, playfully tapping Yuan Bai on the forehead.

Yuan Bai’s face paled, and she quickly pursed her lips and knelt down. “Please forgive me, Master, Gou the Healer. I did not mean to.”

“Don’t beg me—beg him,” Gou Zihan shrugged. He wasn’t her master, after all.

Qi Jinshan lowered his gaze momentarily and said in a calm voice, “Five slaps. Go find Yu Jiang.”

Knowing Xie Mingyue was fond of this maid, he did not lose his temper.

But rules could not be broken.

Five slaps, no more, no less—just enough to serve as a warning.

Yuan Bai’s brows furrowed and she mournfully kowtowed, then got up to accept her punishment.

Hearing this, Yu Jiang was taken aback.

“Such a thing warrants punishment?” He sighed and shook his head. “Don’t be upset, Master. The lady is still unconscious. It’s hardly the time to be laughing.”

Yuan Bai understood well. “Not upset. Master didn’t beat me to death—that’s mercy enough. Five slaps is all because of the lady. Honestly, it’s all that Gou the Healer’s fault, saying things to make people laugh. He truly lives up to his name—dog-like!”

As she spoke, she saw Gou Zihan glance toward them from the window. She quickly adjusted her expression and urged Yu Jiang, “Hurry up and do it, just don’t leave me disfigured.”

“If you get disfigured, Gou the Healer can fix it.”

Yu Jiang chuckled and rolled up his sleeves.

“Slap! Slap!”

Two sharp smacks landed on Yuan Bai’s face.

They stung but were not severe.

Yuan Bai endured obediently. Her eyes drifted, then suddenly she turned them and stubbornly said, “Master cares so much for the lady that he vents on the servants. I serve the lady day and night—why should I be beaten like this?”

“You’ve got no shame!” Yu Jiang’s eyes widened as he stepped forward, covering his mouth. “What nonsense are you talking!”

“Why be beaten here? Stop it.”

At that moment, Madam Yun entered from outside. Seeing Yuan Bai’s flushed face, she spoke to stop the punishment.

Yu Jiang was startled again and suddenly understood Yuan Bai’s intention.

He snorted, “Madam Dowager, you don’t know—this clumsy girl was laughing by the lady’s bedside just now. Not killing her is Master’s mercy.”

Madam Yun looked closely at Yuan Bai’s bowed, silent form and said, “Enough, stop. Consider it as earning merit for your lady.”

Only then did Yu Jiang step back. Yuan Bai did not look up but softly followed Madam Yun, “Thank you, Madam Dowager.”

“You’re a good one. Jinshan cares for Mingyue, but he would never mistreat his servants.”

Madam Yun smiled kindly, filing Yuan Bai in her heart.

Inside the room, Qi Jinshan sat holding Xie Mingyue’s hand. Seeing her merely nod in acknowledgment without rising, he asked softly, “How is Mingyue? Why did she suddenly faint like this?”

Madam Yun’s face darkened but her voice remained gentle.

Gou Zihan smiled and cupped his hands, “The young madam just caught a mild chill and hadn’t rested all night, so she overexerted herself and fainted. She’ll wake soon. Mother need not worry; it’s a minor ailment.”

Qi Jinshan finally released Xie Mingyue’s hand and stood before Madam Yun.

She looked at her upright, noble son and spoke slowly, “Mingyue’s health has been fragile and troubled for ten years. You are thirty now, and today the second wife is to take a concubine. What are your thoughts?”

Qi Jinshan narrowed his eyes, sat down, and lifted a cup of tea.

“What do you mean, Mother?”

He sat tall, holding the cup without even raising his eyelids, exuding a calm yet solemn aura.

Madam Yun also took a seat. “You pity your wife, and I shall not oppose you. But offspring are equally important. The first wife’s household must not fall behind the second. I intend to take a concubine for you to continue the family line.”