Chapter 29
The day before the Ghost Festival, Yunzhu returned home to her parents' house.
Li Yao was at court with the emperor, Li Xian was buried in his studies at the academy, and only Meng shi came out to greet her daughter.
Yunzhu asked, "Is father out again?"
Meng replied, "No. If he didnât parade around so shamelessly every day, I might suspect he's seeing someone on the side."
Yunzhu smiled. "If fatherâs enjoying his freedom in his old age, you should cut him some slack."
Meng sighed. "I have no clue what heâs up to. Iâd rather he stay home idle than bring shame to us."
Yunzhu teased, "You act like if you can't see him, heâs just lounging around right outside your door, waiting to be nagged."
Meng nodded. "Youâve only been married a few days, and already you think you can tell me what to do."
After a quick exchange, Meng dismissed the maids and smirked. "Did you hear the news? The Marquis of Changxing turned down Cao Shaoâs proposal."
Yunzhu hadnât heard. "Madam Marquis probably told Pan shi in private. Even if the Xie family refused, they wouldnât make it public. Pan shi shouldnât have spread it. She and Cao Xun arenât like that."
Meng shi smiled knowingly. "Since you became Cao Shaoâs âsisterâ, Pan shiâs been obsessed with the Xie family. She sings Wenyingâs praises all the time. Itâs obvious what she wants. When Fushan returned, with his unmarried stepson, Pan shi delayed proposing marriage to the Xie family. She even sent Wenyingâs mother to offer incense. Did you notice how many people took note of that?"
Yunzhu, already fed up with Pan shiâs gossip, shrugged it off. "Iâve already spoken to Pan shi. Whatever happens to her, itâs not our problem. Letâs talk about something else, something happier."
Meng shi raised an eyebrow and eyed her daughterâs belly. "Oh? Really?"
Yunzhu, a bit flustered, replied, "Itâs only been a month. Donât jump to conclusions."
Meng shi was skeptical, but her curiosity shifted to a different worry. "Does Fushan treat you like a guest or a stranger in front of others?"
She was concerned that Cao Xun might have married Yunzhu out of obligation.
After asking, Meng shi noticed her daughter's confident stance and heard her proudly declare, "Heâs glued to me all the time. Sometimes, I wish heâd just sleep in the front yard and leave me some space."
Meng Shi smiled contentedly, clearly pleased. Even heroes, it seemed, could fall under the spell of this captivating beauty. Reflecting on her own early marriage, she remembered the constant desire to be near her handsome husband, often abandoning the dignified restraint expected of a scholarly family. In those quiet moments before dawn, she would cling to him, urging him to think things through, even when he wasnât in the mood.
"Newlyweds are like that, so don't push Fushan away completely."
After speaking with her mother, Yunzhu went to observe her younger brother at school. At fourteen, Li Xian had back-to-back civil and military classes, his schedule busier than that of a household accountant managing finances.
Yunzhu stood outside the classroom, watching as her brother spoke fluently with his teacher.
Though she adored him, her mind kept drifting back to the 'blind' Crown Prince in the palace. Her resentment toward Pan Shi only intensified her growing dislike for the Crown Prince. Yet, he was still the Crown Prince. Even Cao Xun, his uncle, wouldnât dare openly challenge him. Yunzhu wouldnât act recklessly, so she kept her frustration to herself.
At home for lunch, Yunzhu waited for her father. But when he didnât return, her mother insisted she go back to the Duke of Dingguoâs Mansion.
Just as Yunzhu finished changing, Cao Xun walked in.
âWhy are you back so early today?â Yunzhu asked.
âThe Emperor has allowed ministers to return home early to prepare for ancestor worship tomorrow,â Cao Xun replied.
âThe Emperor is thoughtful,â Yunzhu said sincerely.
As Cao Xun settled onto a couch in the next room, Yunzhu joined him. Removing her embroidered shoes, she noticed him sprawled out on her pink-soled Su embroidery cushion.
âDonât you dare flatten my cushion like that,â she said, annoyed. âYouâve made it all lumpy.â
âIâm just resting my head on it, not sitting on it. Itâs hardly ruined,â he retorted.
Yunzhu, graceful as ever, moved beside him, gently taking the cushionâs corner in her hands. âIf you want a cushion, I can get you one from the courtyard. These are mine, after all.â
Lian Qiao and Shiliu, understanding the tension, quietly stepped away.
Without missing a beat, Cao Xun grabbed Yunzhuâs arm and pulled her closer. âThis way, we can rest together.â
The sun still blazed outside, but Yunzhu wasnât in the mood to linger. As she tried to pull away, Cao Xun pushed her back into his embrace, his hands firmly on her back. One wanted to escape, the other refused to let go. He even tried to lift her skirt.
Yunzhu froze, shooting him a sharp look. "Is this really all you can think about?"
Cao Xun smirked. "Stay still, and I wonât be upset with you."
She bit her lip and shot back, "Fine, Iâll stay still. So, why all this?"
Cao Xun adjusted her clothing, clearly content.
Yunzhu leaned back, her head resting against his strong chest, listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat through the soft fabric.
Cao Xun stroked her hair gently. "Did you go out just now?"
"Yes, I went to my familyâs estate. My father wasnât there, though."
"Whatâs he been up to lately?"
Yunzhu hesitated, not revealing that her father was trying to secure an official position.
Looking at her fluttering lashes, Cao Xun mused, "If your father-in-law wants a shortcut, he should appeal to the emperor directly. Thatâs why I didnât take matters into my own hands."
Yunzhu shot him a look. "I married you to shut the mouths of the gossipers, not to have you help my family."
Her family didnât need his help. If her father wasnât capable, her brothers could step in. They werenât at a point where they relied on Cao Xun.
Cao Xun smiled reassuringly. "Iâll offer help when itâs needed. After all, Iâm the son-in-law of the Li family, arenât I?"
His words were calming. Yunzhu smiled, leaning in, her eyes narrowing. "Honestly, do you secretly look down on my father?"
Cao Xunâs gaze softened. "No. Your father may not be wealthy, but his sacrificeâgiving up wealth and position to serve the countryâis admirable."
Yunzhu hummed, her expression turning playful. "Youâd better be sincere. If I find out youâre just flattering me..."
Before she could finish, Cao Xun leaned in and kissed her gently, cutting off her words.
*
On the morning of the Ghost Festival, Cao Xun led his family to the ancestral hall to honor their ancestors.
It was the first time Yunzhu had seen Cao Shao since his marriage proposal had been turned down again.
Cao Shao looked slightly thinner than before, wearing a blue brocade robe. His face, still strikingly handsome, held an expression that seemed to have been waiting for her gaze. Their eyes met when she turned, and the affection in his eyes was unmistakable.
The last time he'd looked at her like that, on the bridge, she'd felt a stir of emotion. This time, though, she saw the sincerity was missing. His feelings were like duckweed on waterâthere, but easily swept away by the wind. When she left, she felt calm, with no lingering thoughts.
As the eldest daughter-in-law, Yunzhu followed Cao Xun and performed the kowtow to the Cao ancestors.
After the ceremony, the family sat down for breakfast together.
Pan Sho, sitting across from Yunzhu, acted shy, but once they were alone, she showed no pretense. She kept a stern expression, speaking only to Cao Shao.
Cao Shao glanced uneasily at his brother.
Cao Xun responded with a silent, concerned look.
Once the meal was finished and the two brothers were alone, Cao Shao apologized, "My mother is upset about my failed marriage. Please bear with her, and with my brother and sister-in-law."
Cao Xun reassured him, "It's only natural for her to be concerned. But you shouldnât worry about that. Iâm more concerned about you. Whatâs your plan going forward?"
Cao Shao turned toward the ancestral hall, his earlier gloom lifting. With a renewed smile, he said, "Iâll follow your example, big brother, and focus on building my career first. Once Iâve proved myself and redeemed my mistakes, a lady will naturally want to marry me. Yunzhu wonât look down on me then."
Cao Xun smiled, pleased. "That's the spirit. This is the way of the Cao family. Your elder brother is rooting for your success."
Cao Shao bowed his head modestly. "Iâm planning to go with a few classmates to the temple today to observe the monksâ rituals. If you donât need me, Iâll take my leave."
Cao Xun nodded. As Cao Shao left, he turned toward the rear quarters, seeking out Yunzhu.
Yunzhu sat in the study, her desk adorned with paper lanterns sheâd arranged to be brought back from the temple early.
"Can you make river lanterns?" she asked Cao Xun.
He nodded.
"Still enjoy it?" she asked, surprised.
Without a word, Cao Xun moved closer, cutting the lantern paper alongside her.
The river lanterns also featured memorial inscriptions. The two of them sat across from each other, Yunzhu writing words to honor her grandparents. As she finished, she glanced up to find Cao Xun still at work. She gently set her lantern aside, it drifting toward his side.
Cao Xun was meticulously inscribing each petal of a nine-petaled lotus river lantern.
As Yunzhu read through the memorial titles, she paused at âmother,â and a thought struck her. She remembered Cao Xunâs pastâheâd lost his mother when he was only six months old and was raised almost entirely by his father. Yunzhu, on the other hand, had always been surrounded by the warmth of her parents and couldnât imagine growing up without her mother. Cao Xun, however, couldnât even recall what his mother looked like.
Once the lanterns were crafted, theyâd take them out to the river at night.
For Yunzhu, releasing the lanterns was far more enjoyable than the memorial itself. She loved watching them float down the river, their light brightening the night. She also enjoyed the company of young men like Cao Shao, who would gather around her, staring at her in awe. To Yunzhu, any festival with young people around was a chance to shine like the bright moon, surrounded by admiring stars.
But tonight was different. The young men were absent, replaced by her husband, Cao Xun.
Cao Xun led her to a quiet part of the river, where an old, twisted tree cast shadows, nearly concealing the bluestone pier.
He held Yunzhu as they descended the stone steps.
At the bottom, Yunzhu paused, her eyes shifting from the lantern in her hand to Cao Xun. "This lantern, standing here for years, seems so lonely tonight," she remarked.
Cao Xun met her gaze, a subtle smile forming. "Itâs the most exhilarating moment for me."
Yunzhu stood still for a moment, then understoodâthis was the moment he had spent alone all those years, but now, she was here with him.
"Never mind, itâs easier for you," she said softly.
A warm smile spread across Cao Xun's face. In a few moments, he gently placed the river lantern on the water, watching its soft light drift with the current, following her every movement.
Soon, lanterns from upstream began to appear, their numbers growing steadily.
Noticing the young lady captivated by the sight, Cao Xun sat two steps higher and pulled her into his embrace, protecting her.
Yunzhu leaned her head on his shoulder, quietly taking in the beauty of the lanterns before sighing softly and turning to hold him.
Cao Xun asked, "Are you cold?"
Yunzhu shook her head, "I just want to be close to you."
Who could blame her? His childhood had been filled with such isolation.