Chapter 54
The day Li Xian left Beijing with King Li, the morning greeted them with a steady drizzle, the kind that clung to skin and dampened spirits.
It was mid-June, the air thick with the scent of rain, and many, reluctant to brave the mud and inconvenience, had opted out of attending King Liâs departure ceremony.
Li Xian, whoâd spent the night in the palace with King Li, had no choice but to stay and join him for the journey, unable to return home that day.
Meanwhile, Meng Shi, eager to see her son, had already taken her daughter and daughter-in-law out of the city at the break of dawn, waiting for the procession to pass. The relentless rain had transformed the once-pristine roads into a slippery mess of mud, dirtying the skirts of the women and staining their shoes.
At long last, King Li's ceremonial guard appeared at the city gates, marching in perfect formation with carriages between them. In the first carriage sat Li Xian, alongside King Li, cloaked in his quiet authority.
As they neared the three waiting women, the carriage came to a sudden halt.
With a subtle gesture from King Li, Li Xian stepped out into the drizzle. King Li, his gaze sharp as ever, watched the weeping female relatives standing by the roadside, but his indifference was clear. A barely perceptible nod, then the curtain fell, sealing him off from any interaction. Engaging with the women, especially from Duke Ningguoâs house, was a risk not worth takingânews of such pleasantries would only spell trouble back at the palace.
âMother, sister-in-law, sister,â Li Xian said, his voice steady, his steps deliberate as he approached them.
Yunzhu, standing closest, moved quickly to shield her brother from the rain, the umbrella held firmly over his head. Her silence spoke volumes as she wrapped him in a tight embrace.
She hadnât been so worried when it had been her elder brother leaving for training. Heâd been older, and she knew it was just a part of growing up. But Li Xian, at fifteen, was still a child in her eyes. No matter how tall he grew, he was hers to protect.
Yunzhu had heard the stories of military families, how their sons often left for distant borders as part of their training. Cao Xun had gone at sixteen, Xie Lang at a similar age.
She remembered the gossip that surrounded Xie Langâs departureâthe envy from Cao Shao, the concern from Sun Yurong. It hadn't mattered much to Yunzhu then. She simply hoped for his safe return. But now, with her brother leaving, it was different. Now, she understood the weight of blood and family.
Her heart ached as she thought about himâalone, vulnerable, far from home. No family, no protection, surrounded by the cutthroat politics of King Liâs faction and the scheming officials eager to win the emperor's favor. The world felt darker and more dangerous now, and her brother was stepping right into its heart.
Li Xian pulled his sister, slightly shorter but no less dear, into his arms, his voice a teasing whisper, âIf I knew youâd cry like this, I wouldnât have left the damn carriage.â
Her head nestled on his shoulder, Yunzhu seemed to want to stay there forever, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, as if it was the only place that made sense.
He murmured low and almost intimate, âSister, stay calm. Thereâll come a day when Iâll be back. Weâll reunite in Beijing.â
Unless peace prevails between the Xia Dynasty and its neighbors, the Li family men will always be called upon, and theyâll answer.
Their elder brother may have been born for battle, but Li Xian is just as capable, if not more.
Guiding her hand, he placed it on his shoulder, showing how far heâd come since the fragile, delicate child he once was.
Yunzhu couldnât help but compare her younger brotherâs body to Cao Xunâs, realizing he was still a boy in many ways.
But she had to hold herself together. He was leaving, and the tears were threatening, but she fought them back. She forced a smile, her voice thick with emotion: âYou have to eat well. Be strong, even if you're not as tough as our eldest brother, at least be as strong as our father.â
Li Xian nodded, his promise solid.
Yunzhu stepped aside, her place taken by their mother, who gave one last piece of advice. Meng Shi looked at the carriage, her tone soft but insistent. âYou may be the younger one at home, but youâre older than the prince by a year. You must show him respect and take care of him. Be cautious.â
Li Xian nodded, serious.
Not wanting to keep the prince waiting any longer, Gu Minâs parting words were simple, âTake care of yourself.â
He thanked his sister-in-law, then turned and entered the carriage, glancing back at his family. His lips curved in a final, bittersweet smile before he disappeared inside.
As Li Xian settled into his seat, he caught the rare sight of Li sanlang, usually composed, his eyes glossing over with emotions he usually kept hidden. Li Xianâs voice dropped low, almost a confession, âIn truth, I envy you.â
He couldnât deny itâLi sanlang still had a family, a connection. Li Xian had been abandoned, his mother gone soon after childbirth, and his father never truly present. After his father's death, all he had was a half-brotherâsomeone who once wished him dead.
Li Xianâs gaze drifted to King Liâs pale face, and with a steady hand, he inscribed the character âCaoâ on his palm.
King Li, curious and alert, followed the intricate strokes, recognizing the words almost immediately. âWhat is this?â he asked, puzzled.
Li Xianâs answer was simple, yet it held weight. âThese are Cao Xunâs words for you.â
Was it for his brother-in-law? Or for his royal nephew?
It was clear to both of themâit was meant for the nephew.
In King Liâs mind, the image of his uncle, a man of power and righteousness, surfaced as the weight of the message settled between them.
Since Cao Xunâs return to Beijing last March, their encounters had been few, and always surrounded by others. Any exchange between them was polite and distant, marked by respectful words and Cao Xunâs simple, affirming nods.
King Li could sense the bond between Cao Xun and Emperor Qianxing, though back then, the emperor was still just the crown prince. Had Cao Xun shown any favoritism toward another prince's nephew, it would have put both him and others in danger. King Li wasnât naïve; he knew Cao Xun wasnât one to make foolish moves.
But today, for the first time, King Li truly felt his uncleâs concern for him. Though the guidance seemed casual, even like a formality, Cao Xun had subtly pointed him toward Zeng Yu, the Governor of Guizhouâa favor that could prove invaluable, even life-saving, in the right moment.
In a court full of sycophants, all scrambling for Emperor Qianxingâs favor, Cao Xunâs loyalty to his nephew stood out like a beacon, even at the risk of earning the emperorâs disapproval.
*
Yunzhu trudged back to Duke Ningguoâs mansion, her spirit completely drained, following her mother and sister-in-law. The weight of everything was heavy, especially on her, as she tried to push through the exhaustion.
Meng Shi, her mother, had seen her fair share of hardship in life. Even though it hurt her to let go of her youngest son, she never let her other duties slip. She turned to Yunzhu with a hard, no-nonsense tone, "Youâve been holed up at home for three nights straight. Your brother Xian is gone, and itâs time you got back to your own place. Donât wait for Fushan to come pick you up in the evening. Go now."
Yunzhuâs face darkened, irritation curling up inside her. "And what exactly do you want me to do when I get home, facing that arrogant man?"
Pan Shi, once just the emperorâs mother-in-law, had seen her status skyrocket. Now, as the emperorâs grandmother, her influence stretched across the capital. Her daughter and grandson were powerful figures in the palace, and Panâs position couldnât be more elevated. Since the period of national mourning, she had been drowning in flattery from officials and their wives. It was as though everyone now worshipped her, and Yunzhu was forced to play the role of hostess.
"I donât care about any of that," Yunzhu muttered, feeling resentment rise in her chest. "Iâm done with all the socializing, especially when I know Pan Shi will use it as an excuse to belittle me."
Her mother, unfazed, gave a sly smile. "She may be proud, but that pride is all skin-deep. Donât worry about her acting all high and mighty; she canât boss you around forever. She canât expect you to cater to her every whim, can she?"
Yunzhuâs voice was sharp as she responded, "Only in her wildest dreams."
Meng Shi raised a brow, the smile not leaving her face. "Exactly. Sheâs got no real power over you. Why should you keep hiding at your parents' place, letting her think youâre scared of her?"
Yunzhu knew her mother had a point. Staying at her parentsâ home wasnât an option anymore, and she certainly wasnât going to let Pan Shi get into her head. She had a marriage to think about now. Her relationship with Cao Xun was something that demanded attention, and her position as a wife wasnât something she could ignore.
Back at Duke Dingguoâs mansion, Pan Shi learned that Yunzhu had returned. The corners of her lips curled into a smile as she said to Nanny Fang, "Send someone to fetch her. Iâm sure she wonât be able to resist my invitation."
Nanny Fang hesitated, sensing the tension. "With her temper, the maid might not be able to do much to please her."
Pan Shiâs expression didnât change, but her voice was firm. "Sheâs not foolish. She knows which side her bread is buttered on. The Li family may have fallen from grace, but if sheâs smart, sheâll know how to make her peace with me."
Nanny Fang went ahead and sent a young maid to carry the message to the main courtyard.
Yunzhu, sitting by the window with a book in her hands but no desire to read, let her mind wander. The sound of the rain outside only made her thoughts heavier, especially as she thought about her brotherâs journey through the storm.
When Panâs maid arrived, Yunzhu was lounging by the window, staring out into the rain, lost in her thoughts.
Lian Qiao, stepping lightly through the curtain, delivered the message, frustration in her eyes.
Yunzhu couldnât help but smile at Pan Shiâs attempt. She knew exactly what Pan was trying to do. She hadnât laughed once in the last three days since the emperor had sent his younger brother away. And now, she was expected to bow down to Pan Shi's power games.
With a lazy smirk, Yunzhu replied, "Tell her Iâm too tired to move. She can either send another maid with a message, or she can come tell me herself."
The tension between Yunzhu and Pan Shi had been brewing for some time, and it was no secret. Even though Yunzhu played the role of a compliant daughter-in-law, she wasnât about to let Pan Shi walk all over her. She wasnât the type to bow to mistreatment.
Lian Qiao, always sharp and tactful, intervened skillfully, passing on only part of Pan Shi's message to the young maid who had been sent with it. Pan Shi, with her usual thinly veiled mockery, insisted on Yunzhuâs presence. âIf sheâs tired, tell her to rest before joining me,â she commanded, her tone dripping with condescension.
The maid, poor thing, was forced to make another trip, all to obey Pan Shi's demands. But this time, Lian Qiao took charge, her voice firm as she responded to the maid, âIâll let the lady know. Tell the elder madam that sheâll have to wait a little longer.â The implication was clearâPan Shi would just have to be patient, even if it pushed her limits.
As the day dragged on, it was clear that Pan Shi's patience was running thin. She waited until evening, and when Cao Xun finally returned, he wasted no time in getting comfortable. After a quick bath and change, he sought out Yunzhu, whom he hadnât seen in days.
Yunzhu lay languidly on a divan, her hair a little wild, holding a delicate little carving of a boy. As Cao Xun settled beside her, he couldnât resist teasing her. âTrying to win someone over, huh?â
She simply nodded, resting her head on his shoulder, looking worn and distant. Taking the carving from her hand, he studied it, his fingers tracing the features of the boy. âLooks like Brother Xian, doesn't it? The eyes, the brows,â he noted, his voice low and observant.
Yunzhu smiled faintly, sharing the memory of finding it when she was ten, and how it had never left her side since. âIâve always kept it. I donât know why,â she said, her voice softening at the thought.
Cao Xun, always playful, suggested they get similar carvings of Yunzhu and her brother, creating a set. Yunzhu, in her usual teasing way, swatted at him. But instead of retreating, he leaned in for a kiss, only for her to pull away, her mood too heavy to indulge in such playfulness.
Just as the moment passed, Lian Qiao appeared, her face serious. âPan Shi is here to see the Duke in the main courtyard,â she reported, casting a glance at Yunzhu, as if she already knew the reason for her visit.
Unbothered, Yunzhu turned to Cao Xun, asking if he planned to handle it. He, clearly more interested in relaxing, simply told Lian Qiao to let Pan Shi know theyâd deal with it tomorrow unless it was urgent.
As Lian Qiao left, Yunzhu couldnât help but smirk at the familiarity of the excuse. The Duke and the young Madam were both skilled at evading Pan Shi, and it seemed their methods were perfectly in sync.