Chapter 35: C35. I've Never Been Afraid.

Chapter 35

Before slipping into slumber last night, Yunzhu found herself simmering with frustration, her anger ignited by the mere sight of Cao Xun pacing in the front yard.

It wasn’t his presence that truly grated on her—it was the audacity of the man. He was the one who had wronged her, yet he refused to offer so much as a shred of remorse. Instead, he chose to escalate their quarrel with his silent rebellion, retreating to his separate quarters and fueling a frigid, unspoken war. It was maddening.

Restless and unsettled, Yunzhu couldn’t find peace between the sheets. Unwilling to rouse the maids, she threw on her coat, cracked open the window, and leaned against the sill, the cool night air brushing her face.

The heavens were crystal-clear, and the moon hung bright and bold above her. As her eyes followed its glow, her thoughts wandered—to the sorrow etched in Liu Jing’s gaze, to Zhang Xingjian’s illness.

In the vast scheme of life and death, her spat with Cao Xun seemed so trivial, so insignificant.

Exhaustion eventually claimed her. She closed the window, slipped back under the covers, and let sleep take over.

But dawn brought no reprieve. Just as she began to sink into the comfort of a calmer morning—her nerves soothed, her body finally relaxed—chaos struck.

Lian Qiao’s piercing scream shattered the fragile quiet.

The maid had been checking in, her concern driven by the biting morning chill and the possibility that Yunzhu had kicked off her covers. But as she rounded the screen, her eyes froze on a pair of men’s boots stationed just beyond the gauzy veil.

The Duke—Cao Xun—had spent the night in the courtyard, but now…

Lian Qiao’s heart seized at the scandalous thought of "a thief in Madam’s bed." Her scream echoed as she nearly dropped the screen in her shock.

Yunzhu stirred, her drowsy gaze finding Cao Xun already up, parting the gauze with maddening calm. His voice was low, steady. “What’s wrong?”

Lian Qiao, trembling, managed to stammer, “Nothing… nothing at all. I didn’t realize you were here. I’ll take my leave.”

And with that, she fled, her composure in tatters.

Cao Xun let the curtain fall and sank back against the pillow, his expression one of infuriating ease. Catching Yunzhu’s wide-eyed bewilderment, he offered her a faint smile and reached for the quilt, tucking her in with infuriating tenderness. “Care to rest a little longer?”

But Yunzhu wasn’t about to let him off so easily. Her eyes narrowed as she shot him a pointed look. “Lian Qiao stayed up all night keeping watch. Didn’t she let you in? Why did she look so terrified?”

Cao Xun met her gaze with an irritatingly composed expression. “The verandah door was locked. I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I climbed the wall. Your window was open, so I let myself in.”

Yunzhu said nothing, but her silence was laced with simmering disbelief.

Cao Xun pressed on, his voice tinged with a quiet smugness. “If I truly wanted to snub you last night, do you think I’d go to this much trouble to be here now?”

Yunzhu’s lips tightened, her irritation battling with reluctant acknowledgment. This man was impossible.

Yunzhu’s resolve wavered, her doubts finally shaken. Could it really be that he’d stayed away, not out of indifference, but out of fear—fear of letting loose the wrong words in a drunken haze?

Yet the absurd image of a grown man, a full thirty years old, clambering over walls and sneaking through windows ignited a spark of indignation within her.

"You’ve brought this on yourself," she teased, her smile sharp and her gaze unyielding. "Next time, every door and window will be locked tight. No amount of climbing or scheming will get you in."

The golden morning light spilled through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow on her tousled hair and bare shoulders. But it was her eyes—deep, clear, and glistening like petals kissed by dew—that truly held him captive.

Cao Xun leaned in, closing the gap between them, every inch of his movement deliberate.

*

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, it’s a long-standing tradition for a married woman to take her husband to her parents’ home, loaded with lavish gifts to honor the occasion.

In preparation, Cao Xun meticulously ensured everything was perfect. Beyond the freshly steamed mooncakes, which must be made on the day of the festival itself, he directed Manager Zhang to prepare an array of gifts well in advance for his in-laws—father, mother, and brother alike.

As Yunzhu inspected the haul, her fingers brushed over two large, glistening green watermelons nestled in a wooden crate. She raised an eyebrow. “Watermelons for Mid-Autumn? Those are all the rage in the capital lately. Living so far out here, how did you know to include them?”

Cao Xun’s smile carried a hint of smug satisfaction. “I picked it up from colleagues in the city. Let’s just hope they’re perfectly ripe—red and sweet on the inside. Nothing worse than a son-in-law offering bitter, unripe melons to his father-in-law.”

Yunzhu shot him a sharp look before sweeping into the carriage with a flourish.

When they arrived at Duke Ningguo’s mansion, the family lunch was a spectacle. One of the watermelons sent by Duke Dingguo was sliced with delicate precision and arranged petal by petal into a stunning “Lotus Reunion Melon.”

Meng Shi, Yunzhu’s mother, plucked a piece and let out a sigh of delight. “This is the sweetest watermelon I’ve had all year.”

Her son, Li Yao, couldn’t resist a jab. “If you want to praise my brother-in-law, just say it outright. No need for all the theatrics.”

Meng Shi’s sharp glare silenced him. “And while I’m at it, I’d like to compliment my daughter, too. But do you have the guts to marry her off?”

Li Yao’s bravado evaporated, leaving him mute.

Li Yong, Yunzhu’s father, chuckled at the exchange. “The Emperor himself asked about your marriage yesterday. If you’ve got someone in mind, he’s ready to grant the decree.”

Li Yao grumbled under his breath, “Is he addicted to matchmaking now?”

The Duke’s eyes flashed with warning as he gave his son a stern reprimand, then turned to his son-in-law with a warmer demeanor. “The Emperor mentioned the autumn hunt at Nanyuan this year. Word is, decrees will follow the festival.”

Cao Xun nodded respectfully. “I’ve heard whispers about it. Will you be attending? I still remember the last time at Nanyuan, you bagged a white fox and took the top prize.”

Li Yong’s face broke into a broad grin. “You were barely fifteen back then. Now it’s your turn to shine. It’s a hunt for the younger generation this year.”

Yunzhu’s lips curled into a sly smile as she glanced at her husband. “Not exactly a spring chicken yourself anymore, are you?”

Cao Xun caught her teasing gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly before flicking to Li Yao.

Meng Shi’s sharp stare landed on her daughter. While it might be fun to poke at her husband’s age, these playful barbs could easily sour if tempers ever flared. A newlywed’s banter was charming in the moment, but Meng Shi knew how quickly it could turn into a crack in the foundation.

After the meal, Meng Shi seized the moment to pull her daughter aside for a private chat.

Yunzhu replied with a sly grin, “He’s not as uptight as you think. Sometimes, he even mocks himself for fun.”

Meng Shi leaned in, her tone firm yet concerned. “Still, stay sharp. Tomorrow’s a holiday. What’s your plan for the day?”

Yunzhu thought for a moment. “I was originally going to leave early, escape to the mountains, soak in the autumn views, and spend the night at Zhuangzi. But, it’s a day meant for family, so I decided to stay home. At least we can have a reunion dinner with Pan Shi. Better that than giving her an excuse to badmouth us for being unfilial.”

Cao Xun, always a man of honor, couldn’t ignore the weight of his reputation.

Meng Shi nodded approvingly. “Smart move. It’s just a meal. Who you share it with doesn’t matter. Besides, if you don’t like her, chances are she doesn’t like you either. Flash her a sweet smile—it’ll sting her even more.”

Later that afternoon, after leaving Duke Ningguo’s mansion, Cao Xun casually suggested taking Yunzhu to the city’s most prestigious jewelry store.

Yunzhu raised an eyebrow. “Why the sudden urge to buy me jewelry?”

Cao Xun smirked, his fingers lazily playing with the jade bracelet on her wrist. “I upset you last night. Consider this my apology.”

Yunzhu teased back with a mischievous smile, “Oh? Don’t blame me if I pick the most expensive thing in the store.”

With a calm confidence, Cao Xun handed her a money pouch filled with banknotes.

Curious, Yunzhu peeked inside, spotting a thick stack of five-hundred-tael notes. Clearly, he was serious about making amends. This wasn’t just a flashy gesture—it was sincere.

In the end, Yunzhu didn’t deliberately pick the priciest item. Instead, she chose an elegant crested gold hairpin adorned with nine sparkling gems. To her surprise, Cao Xun added a ruby ring she had tried on earlier.

Yunzhu glanced at him, bemused. “I’m not really into rings. They feel like a hassle to wear.”

Cao Xun shrugged, unfazed. “Buy it anyway. Wear it when the mood strikes.”

The shopkeeper couldn’t hide his admiration. “The Duke Dingguo truly knows how to keep his lady happy.”

Blowing such a hefty sum just to see her smile—now that was devotion. And truthfully, Yunzhu was moved.

The next day, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived. After breakfast, Cao Xun took Cao Shao outside the city for some horse racing. By noon, they returned triumphant, carrying a freshly hunted gray rabbit.

Lounging on the sofa, Yunzhu gave Cao Xun a once-over as he stepped out of the shower, his damp hair clinging to his skin. Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Such a devoted brother, leaving his wife at home while galloping off for fun with his sibling.”

Cao Xun chuckled, unbothered. “You said you didn’t want to come, so we spared you the hassle.”

Yunzhu rolled her eyes and tossed a cushion at him. She knew full well that if she’d joined those two outside the city, half the capital would’ve turned out just to witness the scene.

By mid-afternoon, Yunzhu had indulged in a quick nap, letting her body rest before the evening ahead. As dusk deepened, the sky unveiled a stunning golden full moon, hanging low and tantalizing above the treetops. Its brilliance was rare, seductive—a moon worth savoring.

Dinner was set in the garden, orchestrated to perfection. With such intoxicating moonlight, even sharing a table with Pan Shi didn’t feel like such a drag.

The family feast was a display of opulence: a traditional "Lotus Reunion Melon" paired with four gleaming plates of freshly delivered, large southern crabs. Yunzhu loved the taste of crab roe and tender meat but loathed the tedious work of peeling. In previous Mid-Autumn Festivals, the men of her family had eagerly catered to her every whim. Tonight, however...

Pan Shi was no fool; she understood Yunzhu’s high standards all too well. So when she noticed Cao Xun peeling a crab for Yunzhu, her gaze darted toward her own son. He seemed eager but hesitant, a silent plea in his eyes. Pan Shi pushed her son forward with a sharp yet loving nudge. "Yunzhu, you adore crabs, don’t you? Why not indulge a little tonight?"

Yunzhu didn’t bother hiding her amusement. Not every man would bend to her commands as willingly as her late father or doting brother once had. Yet, Pan Shi, ever the tactician, grabbed a crab and started peeling it herself, her eyes flickering with intent.

Across the table, Cao Shao buried his head, trembling with the silent fear of his elder brother’s wrath.

Yunzhu had little patience for Pan Shi’s maneuvering and was ready to let her words float into the night when Cao Xun, her husband, stole the moment. He calmly cracked open the shell of a crab in his hands, his focus as sharp as a blade. Without glancing up, he said, “I’m not a fan of these myself, but I’ll peel them slowly for you. Go ahead and try something else for now.”

Yunzhu blinked, surprised by his quiet sincerity.

Cao Xun met her eyes briefly and added, “Your father once told me you pricked your finger as a child and have hated peeling crabs ever since.”

That small revelation caught her off guard. She hadn’t realized her father remembered such a trivial detail, much less that he had passed it on to Cao Xun. But here her husband was, seamlessly stepping into the role her family once filled, and for the first time in a while, Yunzhu felt an unfamiliar warmth seep into her guarded heart.

Ignoring the murmurs and glances, she slid closer to him, her tone soft but commanding. “Let me show you how it’s done.”

Cao Xun caught on fast. His fingers worked with precision, and once he got the hang of it, his speed was almost unfair. Yunzhu smirked and grabbed the first bite of crab roe, savoring its rich flavor before casually holding up a piece to his lips.

Cao Xun’s brow quirked ever so slightly. He glanced at Cao Shao, who was already squirming under the weight of his brother’s unspoken challenge, then cleared his throat and turned to Yunzhu. “You eat it. I peeled it for you.”

Yunzhu shot him a sharp look, her voice playful but firm. “Open your mouth.”

He sighed but gave in, letting her slip the morsel past his lips.

Pan Shi watched the scene unfold, her son stewing in quiet jealousy while Yunzhu and Cao Xun shared a closeness that set the air on fire. She bit back her frustration, cursing her luck silently. Yunzhu wasn’t just eating crabs tonight—she was savoring her victory.

Feeling too drained to linger, Pan Shi devoured her meal hastily before putting on a convincing show of feeling unwell. She turned to her son, feigning weakness, and asked him to escort her back to the yard.

Cao Shao, restless and uneasy, was a storm of emotions. A pang of sadness twisted in his chest, mingled with a flicker of relief. He couldn’t shake the worry that his elder brother might pick up on something suspicious.

Playing the role of a dutiful son, he supported his mother with care, bidding a polite farewell to his brother and sister-in-law before they left.

The moment the door closed behind them, Yunzhu couldn’t hold back her laughter. She leaned closer to Cao Xun, her voice dripping with playful mischief. "Peeling crabs for me, are you? Aren’t you worried your oh-so-noble brother might start questioning why you really married me?"

Cao Xun’s lips curved into a lazy, confident smile. "Afraid?" he murmured, his tone low and smooth. "I’ve never been afraid."

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The author has something extra to add:

Cao Shao: Hey bro, if my sister-in-law and I end up in the water, just save her and leave me alone.

Cao Xun: Yeah, sure.