Volume One, Chapter 11: The Lantern Festival

“Don’t you like to eat, my husband?” Yun Xiang, seeing that Ji Yu was treating her kindly and occasionally responding to her during their meal, felt a sweet warmth in her heart and ventured to ask.

“Hmm.” Ji Yu was inwardly impatient but wore a calm expression, even giving off a sense of good spirits.

The court was tumultuous lately, with the Third Prince plotting to usurp the throne. Ji Yu still needed Yun Shouzheng’s support, so he couldn’t afford to neglect his daughter completely.

“My husband, will you accompany me to the Lantern Festival tonight?”

After the meal, Ji Yu sat at the main room’s table, buried in a towering stack of documents—his first time handling official business in the main chamber. Yun Xiang stood beside him, grinding ink, creating a picturesque scene of a lady assisting her husband.

“All right.”

Yun Xiang was anxious but thrilled to hear his reply; her heart seemed to burst into fireworks.

She lowered her gaze to observe Ji Yu’s reaction but saw only his profile, head bent over the paperwork. That earlier ‘yes’ felt like a mere illusion.

At some point, the room darkened.

Looking up, Yun Xiang realized night had fallen.

She had been grinding ink all afternoon until her hands ached. Several times, she wanted to give up—after all, she had been raised among nobility, not to do servant’s work.

But having this rare time with her husband, she was unwilling to squander such an opportunity and gritted her teeth to persevere.

She hadn’t expected him to have so many official matters to attend to; his previous claims of busyness were not mere excuses.

Quietly massaging her wrist, she thought sweetly.

Lighting a candle, the dim glow reflected on her bright, expressive face.

Turning, Yun Xiang caught her husband’s gaze fixed on her. Her cheeks flushed like rosy clouds. “What is it, my husband?”

“Nothing.”

Ji Yu stopped tapping his fingers on the table, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Let’s go. Get ready.”

Yun Xi sat inside, dining with Hong Ying. They had spoken little when a commotion outside drew their attention.

Hong Ying slightly opened the window.

Twilight’s glow filtered through the narrow gap, casting light upon Yun Xi’s face.

Through the window, she saw the couple—like celestial beings—dressed casually, closely leaning on each other, surrounded by maids and servants as they left the courtyard.

“Hong Ying, what day is it today?” Yun Xi turned away, swallowing the cooling rice on her chopsticks.

Hong Ying scoffed and closed the window.

Hearing Yun Xi’s question, she scratched her head, furrowed her brows in thought, then brightened and answered, “Miss, today is the Lantern Festival.”

The Lantern Festival. So, Ji Yu was accompanying her elder sister to celebrate.

Yun Xi clenched her chopsticks, lips pursed, making them appear even more tender.

Seeing her charge’s unusual expression, Hong Ying bit her chopsticks silently.

“Hong Ying, let’s go celebrate tonight too,” Yun Xi said after a long silence, her eyes shining brightly in the dim light.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the streets were especially lively, with lanterns hung everywhere, illuminating the night.

The lake shimmered under the lantern light; a few painted boats drifted, faintly carrying the soft sounds of stringed instruments.

In an upper room of the riverside tavern, Ji Yu leaned back in his chair, fingers with distinct knuckles gripping the teacup’s edge, lifting it to his lips in one sip.

Yun Xiang watched his throat move as he swallowed and blushed faintly.

To have this moment alone with her husband, she had instructed the maid to wait outside and given Nurse Li the night off.

She knew her husband was not a man merely interested in physical pleasures.

The riverside tavern was the best vantage point in the capital, usually requiring advance reservation for a private room.

Her husband must have prepared to bring her here early.

“Thanks to my husband for resolving my second brother’s matter,” she said. Her mother had sent word yesterday that her second brother had been released.

Raising her cup to hide her flushed cheeks, she struck a refined pose. “I toast to my husband.”

After drinking, Ji Yu smiled at her. Yun Xiang smiled back, picking up a dried scallop with the serving chopsticks and placing it in his bowl. “Husband, try this wine-soaked river scallop.” She leaned sideways as if to rest on his lap.

“Ah—”

At that moment, leaning awkwardly, perhaps unsteady, Yun Xiang nearly fell.

Embarrassed, her face flushed deeply, her mood shifting like the weather.

“No need, you eat first. I have other matters,” Ji Yu said, glancing coldly at the dish, frowning subtly.

He then stood and strode out of the room without waiting for a reply.

“My husband…husband…” Yun Xiang stomped her foot in anger.

After finally having time together, before the dishes were even fully served, he left. Any one would be upset.

Her expression darkened. She grabbed the nearby teapot and smashed it onto the floor.

“Clatter—”

The waiter outside heard the noise and called several times but received no answer.

When he tried to enter, the door suddenly opened and a shower of broken porcelain hit him, causing him to grimace in pain.

“What are you staring at? Get out!” she shouted.

The poor waiter had no choice but to clutch his aching side and leave.

He couldn’t afford to offend these high-class guests; some were ill-tempered and he had to accept it.

No wonder her husband left so quickly—no one would want to stay with such a fierce lady.

“Pfft—” he spat towards the upstairs as he walked away.

“Master, everything is settled.” Ji Yu sat inside the carriage, lazily holding a book. His almond-shaped eyes drooped in boredom, lashes casting shadows over his eyelids.

Hearing the report, he turned the page without looking up. “Hmm. Have someone stake out at Chunfeng Pavilion.”

The court was unstable; many watched him closely. He had to act cautiously, even using an outing with his wife as a cover.

Ji Yu clicked his tongue, setting the book down and massaging his brow.

He closed his eyes briefly, about to give orders to the driver, when the carriage curtain was suddenly drawn aside, revealing a lovely face.

Yun Xi had sent Hong Ying away.

She had just seen the eldest master leave the tavern, yet in the blink of an eye, he had vanished.

Standing still, she lowered her gaze in thought.

Today she was dressed splendidly, wearing a pink phoenix-tail skirt embroidered with flowers, her appearance enchanting—a gift from Nurse Chen, who had saved her monthly allowance during their time at the estate.

Her delicate oval face was framed by large almond eyes and slender eyebrows, lending her a fragile, graceful charm.

She had dressed this way to “accidentally” meet Ji Yu as the third Miss Yun, but the plan had gone awry; now not a trace of him could be found.

As Yun Xi looked around, a group of people suddenly appeared before her.