Husband

Hearing Yun Fei call out, Wen Yunmian paused and set down her writing brush. "What is it?"

Yun Fei came in just then and scratched her head in puzzlement. "I heard footsteps over by the Side Chamber earlier and thought someone was hiding there, skulking about. But when I looked closely, it turned out to be a cat."

Smiling, she set down the Sweet Cheese Wen Yunmian usually enjoyed. "My lady, have some of this first. The Phoenix-Luan Spring Favor Carriage will be here to fetch you soon. Once you've eaten this, you'll be able to face anything calmly."

Seeing Yun Fei's innocent expression, Wen Yunmian gave a helpless little laugh. Only after burning the words she had just written did she sit down and eat half a bowl of Sweet Cheese.

The icy treat left Wen Yunmian feeling much more refreshed.

But it was snowing outside. Yun Yang came in through the snow, and when she saw Wen Yunmian eating Sweet Cheese again, she lightly poked Yun Fei's forehead. "You little rascal, why are you indulging her with Sweet Cheese again? It's freezing today. Too much of that will upset her stomach."

Yun Fei pouted, and Wen Yunmian spoke up for her. "I was the one who wanted it. Don't blame her."

Yun Yang smiled helplessly. "My lady, it's almost time. You should go outside to wait for the Phoenix-Luan Spring Favor Carriage."

Wen Yunmian murmured her assent. She had nearly finished the Sweet Cheese. It was indeed very cold, filling her stomach with a chill and leaving even her fingertips icy, but she did not mind.

Yun Yang turned to fetch her cloak. Wen Yunmian lifted the heavy curtain and walked out, where freezing snow mixed with shards of ice swept into her face, leaving her far more alert.

Seeing Wen Yunmian outside in such thin clothing, Yun Yang hurried after her and draped the cloak over her. "The wind and snow are bitterly cold, my lady. Don't catch a chill."

The Phoenix-Luan Spring Favor Carriage arrived outside the Peony Pavilion just then. Once Wen Yunmian climbed aboard, the Imperial Horse moved forward, and the bells rang crisply along the covered corridor.

When Wen Leyan heard that sound, it grated on her ears. Worse still, one of the palace maids standing outside murmured, "Noble Lady Yun really is favored. Not only does His Majesty visit the Peony Pavilion himself, but whenever he comes to the inner palace, he turns over her name tablet. Her future must be boundless."

"Isn't that the truth? No one in the palace can compare to Noble Lady Yun. With a beauty like that, a dazzling vision as fleeting as a startled swan, who wouldn't cherish her?"

The palace maids' words stabbed into Wen Leyan's ears like needles. She bit her lip hard and was about to go teach those two loose-tongued servants a lesson when Nanny Hong caught hold of her.

"My lady, don't act rashly. Her Majesty the Empress already promised you today that when His Majesty has a spare moment over the next couple of days, she will remind him that he has yet to favor you. You mustn't stir up trouble at such a critical moment."

How could Wen Leyan swallow this insult? No one had ever dared treat her this way at home. Madam Meng had raised her into someone overbearing and spoiled.

"The Empress's words are useless. She's nothing but a sickly invalid. I thought she could help me right away, but she was only brushing me off. Isn't Wen Yunmian still the one serving His Majesty tonight? If you ask me, I'd be better off fighting for an opportunity myself."

Nanny Hong sighed. She wanted to say that Noble Lady Yun had earned the chance to serve His Majesty tonight through her own ability, but feared making Lady Leyan even angrier. Instead, she advised, "In my opinion, why not ask the marquis to put in a few words for you at court? Though court affairs and the inner palace must not become entangled, a tactful reminder might bring you to His Majesty's mind."

Wen Leyan paused. That was a good idea. Even having her father mention that two of his daughters had entered the palace would be enough to remind the emperor of her.

"Then we'll do as you suggest. Hurry and write to Father."

When Wen Yunmian arrived at Chanyang Palace, she bathed according to the rules, then changed into a thin nightdress and entered the hall to wait.

Chanyang Palace was even warmer than her Peony Pavilion. Wen Yunmian sat barefoot on the edge of the bed, her thoughts turning through a hundred twists.

In her previous life, when she had been the imperial noble consort, the emperor had nearly ordered the Blood-Dropping Agents to dispose of her in secret. Only after surviving by a fortunate stratagem had she happened to learn that her father had handed all his military authority to the Duke of State Pacification. The two had plotted rebellion together and were already on the verge of forcing the emperor to yield.

Pitifully, she had been kept utterly in the dark and had nearly become a dead soul beneath the Blood-Dropping Agents' blades.

By then, Consort Shu was already gone, while Wen Yunmian had a son, and the Marquis’s Residence was obedient enough. The Duke of State Pacification had therefore intended to place her son on the throne, then marry his granddaughter to the boy, making her the Empress, the motherly model for all under heaven.

Just as their grand scheme approached fruition, the Marquis’s Residence, along with the Duke of State Protection's Residence, was wiped out by the emperor. Only then did Wen Yunmian realize that he might have been secretly laying his plans long before.

She had thought that, with the lips gone, the teeth would surely feel the cold-that her own days were numbered. Yet the emperor had suddenly died while ordering the Grand Secretariat to draft an imperial decree. Only thus had she narrowly escaped disaster and helped her own son ascend the throne.

Now, however, fate had already been rewritten. Wen Leyan was the one capable of bearing children, while she herself was destined to tread the path of a bewitching consort. Every outcome might therefore be different.

If she wanted to avoid repeating her past mistakes and successfully attain the position of imperial noble consort again, she had to make the emperor believe that she and the Marquis’s Residence were not of one mind. Even if it was only an act, she had to make it convincing.

Soft footsteps suddenly pulled Wen Yunmian from her thoughts. An idea stirred, and she pinched her thigh hard, instantly forcing tears into her eyes.

When Jun Chenyu entered, Wen Yunmian was standing beside the window. Her figure was so slight that a gust of wind seemed enough to topple her, her frailty stirring tenderness.

"Is something troubling you, Noble Lady Yun?" A cool, probing voice sounded behind her. Jun Chenyu's tall, straight frame blocked the light, and his broad arms enfolded her completely.

Wen Yunmian seemed to come back to herself, and her performance began.

Her eyes were red, glistening tears spilling down. Those eyes, moist as lychee flesh, appeared wounded and helpless beneath Jun Chenyu's Phoenix Eyes.

"Your Majesty..." she called plaintively. Then she turned in his embrace, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, and pressed her face to his chest, sobbing softly.

Jun Chenyu's thoughts briefly wandered. Amid the wavering light and shadow, his high nose seemed almost to cleave the light in two, while his narrow eyes betrayed no emotion.

His slightly rough palm stroked her long, smooth black hair. "Who has bullied my noble lady and brought this beauty to tears?"

Wen Yunmian raised her face, tears streaking both cheeks. Jun Chenyu wiped them away for her. "Tell me. I will see justice done for you."

"Your Majesty, I miss home so much."

Jun Chenyu's cold, sharp eyes darkened slightly. He had thought she was going to bring up the matter of Consort Shu.

"Oh? So my beloved consort is deeply attached to the Marquis’s Residence."

Wen Yunmian bit her lip, her slender neck and shoulders trembling faintly from her weeping.

Rather than answer Jun Chenyu, she asked softly, like an injured kitten, "Your Majesty is my husband. Could you always protect me...?"

Husband? Jun Chenyu stared at the woman in his arms, whose tears had soaked a patch of his robes. Suddenly, he wondered what a woman this timid could possibly accomplish. Had he been too guarded?

"Since you are my woman, I will naturally protect you."