Chapter 36
Cao Xun worked deftly, peeling two crabs in quick succession for the young lady. She indulged in his effort until she was full, leaving the rest untouched.
Watching him wipe his hands with the towel the maid handed over, Yunzhu couldn't help her curiosity. "So, tell me-do you truly dislike crabs, or is it just that peeling them feels like a chore?"
Her mind flitted to a memory: him pricking his finger on a shrimp shell, his distaste for seafood unmistakable.
Cao Xun's voice was smooth but unapologetic. "Both," he admitted as he dried his fingers, "but mostly the latter. I don't have patience for food that requires too much effort."
Yunzhu's lips curved into a teasing smile. "Then I should feel very flattered. My husband is willing to put in all that trouble just for me."
His gaze lingered on her, tinged with amusement. "Haven't I been taking care of you since the day we married?"
Yunzhu, not one to back down, shot back playfully. "Except when you scolded me the other day. Even my father has never been that harsh."
Cao Xun chuckled lowly. "Didn't I apologize? You can't just hold on to the bad parts."
Yunzhu arched an eyebrow. "Forgiveness isn't instant. I'm no saint, and an apology doesn't erase the sting."
A glimmer of humor danced in his eyes. "If I'd known you'd cling to grudges, I wouldn't have taken you jewelry shopping yesterday."
Pretending to take offense, Yunzhu threw him a glare before shifting her attention to the cold remnants of their meal. She suggested lightly, "The night's young. How about a walk?"
The festive Mid-Autumn curfew meant the streets were quiet and perfect for a stroll. Cao Xun agreed easily. "Let's go."
The sprawling garden of Duke Dingguo's mansion stretched before them. As they ambled along, Yunzhu suddenly hooked her arm around his. "Carry me to the garden gate."
Cao Xun paused, tousling her hair with a grin. "Why do you always want to be carried?"
Her answer stayed in her thoughts: Because you're tall, strong, and impossibly broad-shouldered, and it feels safe. But aloud, she shrugged. "If it's such a burden, forget it."
Without a word, he crouched in front of her, inviting her onto his back. Yunzhu climbed on eagerly, delighting in his silent compliance. To reward him, she pressed a soft kiss to the back of his neck and murmured, "Be good tonight, and I might forgive you."
Cao Xun smirked. "How generous of you, Madam."
Her laughter bubbled out as she swatted him lightly. Nestled against him, she cast her gaze toward the moon hanging low in the sky.
When they reached the garden gate, Cao Xun didn't slow down. Yunzhu, suddenly self-conscious, wriggled on his back. "Put me down already. People might see!"
But Cao Xun didn't budge. "What's wrong with carrying my wife a little farther?"
You might not care, but I do, she thought, eyeing the mansion's entrance. Sure enough, a carriage waited by the gate.
Turning to him with a mix of surprise and delight, Yunzhu asked, "You planned this?"
Cao Xun smiled, his tone softer now. "I thought a walk might not be enough. Holidays were never my thing, but you're here now. I thought I'd try something different."
For a man who rarely showed sentiment, his gesture spoke volumes. Her heart warmed as she climbed into the carriage with him. Perhaps, just perhaps, forgiveness would come easy tonight.
A-Jiu had been sent ahead to Zuixianju to secure a private room and order the finest dishes. Meanwhile, Yunzhu and Cao Xun stepped off their carriage early, deciding to take their time strolling through the lively, lantern-lit streets that pulsed with the energy of the bustling Mid-Autumn Festival.
Yunzhu thrived on the thrill of the crowd. Even after countless visits to Beijing's famed Lantern Festival, each trip left her invigorated, as if seeing it for the first time. This year, however, was particularly special-the first Mid-Autumn Festival after the Xia Dynasty reclaimed Jiuzhou. The celebration felt electric, with vibrant new lantern designs drawing her admiration.
"Yunzhu!"
A deep, booming voice called her name from ahead, jolting her from her reverie. Her head snapped up, and there he was-her brother, Li Yao. Towering and poised when standing alone, he looked disarmingly boyish next to his companion, their elder brother Li Xian.
Delighted, Yunzhu broke away from Cao Xun's side, her steps quick and eager. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice bright with excitement.
Li Yao, always protective, intercepted a careless passerby who nearly collided with her. Smiling, he explained, "I had a feeling you'd show up. Brother Xian and I decided to come along. You always loved attending these festivals together. Brother was worried you might feel out of place."
His gaze shifted briefly to Cao Xun, assessing, probing. Cao Xun met his stare with a calm, self-assured smile, his demeanor unruffled.
Li Xian, somewhat embarrassed, murmured, "Since Brother-in-law is with you, we can leave early."
But Li Yao had other ideas. Misunderstanding his brother's tact, he declared, "Nonsense! We're already here-let's enjoy the night together!"
This impromptu decision meant Cao Xun and Li Xian were now stuck walking side by side, their conversation peppered with mutual courtesy. At one point, Li Xian leaned in and quietly muttered, "Apologies, Brother-in-law. My brother's enthusiasm is hard to temper."
Cao Xun, ever gracious, replied smoothly, "No apologies necessary. We're family. As long as your sister is happy, that's all that matters."
At Zuixianju, the private room was lively with chatter, laughter, and the clink of wine cups. Li Yao, emboldened by the festive mood, even suggested a drinking contest with Cao Xun. But Yunzhu, sharp and daring, outperformed them both, leaving Li Yao red-faced and Cao Xun visibly irked.
Though usually composed, the wine loosened Cao Xun's tongue, his words laced with irritation. His uncharacteristic candor unsettled Yunzhu, and she quickly suggested he step out to clear his head.
Once outside, Cao Xun questioned her with quiet intensity, "If you don't want me drinking, why didn't you stop your brother?"
Yunzhu sighed, her tone weary yet affectionate. "My grandfather was a drinker, and my brother inherited the same stubborn fondness for it. My mother couldn't stop him, and neither could I. Thankfully, he holds his liquor well enough to avoid trouble, so she eventually let it be."
Cao Xun nodded, his expression softening as they walked the lantern-lined streets bordering Zuixianju. The cool night air brushed against them, and the hum of festival revelry faded into the background, leaving the two of them alone in the moment, immersed in their own quiet rhythm.
Waiting for them at the street entrance wasn't the expected carriage. No, it was a sleek, powerful horse with a glossy black mane-Cao Xun's personal steed, standing tall and proud.
Yunzhu's eyes darted around, uncertainty flickering in her gaze.
Cao Xun's lips curled into an irresistible smile as he leaned closer, his voice smooth and teasing. "Earlier, you mocked me for racing horses with my second brother. Well, the moon is breathtaking tonight. Let me take you on a midnight ride-a real race outside the city."
Yunzhu hesitated, her tone caught between reluctance and intrigue. "How late will we be out? What if the gates close before we return?"
"The curfew's lifted for the next three nights," he replied, his voice low and certain. "Even if the gates close, it'll be later than usual. But," he added, his gaze locking with hers, "we're not coming back tonight. We'll stay in the village, and tomorrow, I'll take you hiking to enjoy the autumn scenery."
Her heart skipped. That was exactly what she'd planned for the day, albeit frustrated he'd been late. Yet here he was, effortlessly turning her complaints into something far more enchanting.
The evening's attire wasn't ideal for horseback riding, so Yunzhu perched sideways before him. His arms casually caged her, the strength in his hold impossible to ignore. The night stretched ahead, quiet and shadowed, with the faint glow of lanterns barely punctuating the darkness. The moonlight painted a ghostly glow on the streets, obscuring the identities of the couple on horseback to those they passed-a fleeting silhouette, untouchable.
It wasn't until they approached the city gate that recognition dawned. Cao Xun's face, so striking it bordered on infamous, drew immediate deference from the guards, who stepped aside without question.
Once they crossed into the open wilderness, Yunzhu finally exhaled, her guarded posture dissolving. She sank into him, her arms wrapping boldly around his waist, her head resting on the solid expanse of his chest. The rhythmic sway of the saddle beneath them matched the steady thrum of the horse's hooves. Overhead, the full moon seemed to chase them across the vast, empty plains, bathing everything in a silvery glow. The claustrophobic confines of the city faded, replaced by a serene, breathtaking expanse.
Yunzhu was utterly captivated.
Cao Xun tilted his head, the rough graze of his chin brushing the soft strands of her hair. His voice, low and intimate, broke the silence. "Have you ever slipped away like this during Mid-Autumn?"
She shook her head, her hair brushing against him. "Not once. Aside from brief visits to Zhuangzi with my mother, I've never been out of the capital at night."
He glanced skyward, his gaze far away. "Out here, the moon feels larger."
"The moon is even bigger on the grasslands," she murmured, her curiosity tugging her gaze back to him. She studied his face, his strong jaw and intense eyes softened by moonlight. "When you were at the border, did you look up at the moon like this?"
There was a pause, the kind that hinted at memories deeper than words.
Gazing at the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival always stirred a deep ache of longing-a sharp pang of homesickness. For Cao Xun, that ache had dulled over a decade of being away from the place he once called home.
He cast a fleeting glance at the glowing orb above before offering a sly, dismissive reply. "I didn't brood over it much," he said, his tone casual but tinged with mischief. "It was just something to pass the time on the border. I'd steal a glance or two when stumbling back from a banquet."
Yunzhu's heart quickened at his words, curiosity flaring. "A banquet, hmm? The kind with a singer swaying her hips in a dance?"
Cao Xun's laugh was rich, low, and reverberated through his chest, the sound rough but tantalizing.
Before she could press him further, his hand caught her chin, tilting her face toward his. His lips claimed hers with a bold, unspoken answer-one she made no effort to deny.
*
The cold, silvery moonlight poured through the window, casting a gentle glow on Cao Shao as he stood there, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes locked on the moon. His thoughts, however, weren't on the serene beauty of the night sky. No, his mind was consumed with visions of Yunzhu, curled up next to his elder brother, coaxing him to eat crab roe. That image burned in his mind-Yunzhu, playful and sweet, teasing his brother, trying to win his affections, while he stood helpless, distant.
He knew exactly what she was doing, stirring the pot and provoking his mother on purpose. But it was no accident-his mother had started it. He couldn't help but feel a gnawing jealousy deep within, a frustration that twisted in his chest. How badly he wished he were in his elder brother's place. He could have given Yunzhu the crab roe, touched her hand, kept the moment intimate, free from the constraints of his father's watchful eye. But no-he let that chance slip through his fingers.
His elder brother, Xie Lang, was nothing but envious, a passive observer of the love that seemed to blossom so easily between Yunzhu and the world around her. But not Cao Shao. He wasn't like Xie Lang. He had once been her first choice, her desire to marry him hanging in the air like a secret between them. He could have had her, could have made her his, but he didn't. And now, all he could do was lie awake at night, alone in his bed, tormenting himself with regret, his mind tangled in thoughts of what could have been.
The night stretched on, dark and endless, before he finally fell into restless sleep. When morning came, he put on his usual mask-forcing a smile as he joined his family for dinner in the main courtyard. But before he could leave, a maid arrived, delivering a message that made his stomach twist.
"Duke took his wife out of the city last night to enjoy the moon," she said. "They'll return this evening. The elder madam will dine with you as planned."
Cao Shao smiled, masking his discomfort. "Understood."
As soon as the maid left, his smile vanished. His brother wasn't the type to indulge in frivolous activities like moon-gazing. This had Yunzhu's playful nature written all over it. She had dragged him out for a night on the town, enjoying herself without a care. Before marriage, she had to play the part of the prim and proper lady, but now that she was married to his brother, she had the freedom to let loose. And she did. She was bound to do whatever she pleased, with no regard for rules or convention.
Cao Shao couldn't help the bitterness that flooded his chest. "I will definitely marry someone I like more than you," he thought, his heart heavy with the realization that Yunzhu had already found someone who could give her exactly what she wanted-someone who wasn't bound by a controlling mother, someone who was free to make decisions, to live without restraints.
And yet, even if she had married him, he would still be trapped-his life tethered by his mother's expectations, unable to choose his own path like his elder brother.
How could Yunzhu not be drawn to such a man?
*
As anticipated by Li Yong, right after the Mid-Autumn Festival, Emperor Yuan Qing had a decree issued. The plan? A grand journey to Nanyuan for the annual autumn hunting excursion.
Nanyuan, a lush paradise set over twenty miles south of the capital, was an empire unto itself-flaunting vast, sparkling lakes, endless, rolling grasslands, and the rugged embrace of towering mountains. This was no ordinary hunting ground; it had been the sacred hunting preserve of emperors past and, since the dawn of the Empire, a tradition that had been fiercely upheld. Over time, the hunting grounds expanded, and opulent palaces were erected for the emperor, his concubines, and his royal kin to indulge in luxurious stays.
Ningguo Mansion and Dingguo Mansion were among the chosen nobles to accompany the emperor, granted the privilege of bringing their families along for this majestic journey.
News of the royal decree sent Yunzhu into immediate action, preparing with meticulous care. She sifted through her wardrobe, carefully selecting four or five perfectly tailored sets of riding attire-each one more captivating than the last.
As she held up a stunning dress, admiring it in the mirror, Cao Xun's voice broke through the room with a teasing edge. "The Emperor's chosen this trip to find a new concubine for the eldest prince. You'd better tone it down a little, sweetheart. Don't snatch all the attention for yourself. Give someone else a chance."
Yunzhu shot him a look in the mirror, her eyes narrowing in a way that left little to the imagination. "Please. With my looks, the spotlight's going to find me, whether I want it or not. Besides, the eldest prince may be a fool, but he wouldn't make the mistake of falling for a married woman. Get a grip, will you?"
Cao Xun smirked, his tone softening. "I just don't want you to get too jealous of the other ladies."
Yunzhu scoffed, holding up a pair of skirts and casting a glance at him. "Jealous? Please. If envy were enough to bring me down, I'd've lived a thousand lifetimes and been reborn each time-nothing to it."
Cao Xun fell silent, his lips tight, contemplating her words.
Yunzhu, still holding the skirt, caught the way his gaze lingered-intent, unreadable, piercing. She couldn't quite decipher it, and yet, something told her he was still thinking, still analyzing. After a moment, she drew in a deep sigh, wrapping the skirt around her body with a deliberate flourish. "Fine, if you're so worried, I won't go. Wouldn't want to make a scene."
A slow, seductive smile curled on Cao Xun's lips.
He knew the stakes. Nanyuan was going to hold him captive for half a month. If she stayed behind, she'd be pleased, but he would be tormented.
Without another word, he pulled her into his embrace, his lips grazing the delicate, soft skin of her neck, planting a kiss deep enough to stir desire. "You're going. Even if someone doesn't want you to."