Chapter 71
When Emperor Qianxing got that damn memorial from King Li, Yunzhu wasnât just twiddling her thumbs. She got a letter from her younger brother, too.
This cheeky young man sent her a three-page noteâshort and sweet, talking about the customs heâd come across during his journey south. He couldnât resist mentioning the Stone Village at Prince Li's Mansion, and of course, the foodâhe was all about the local delicacies. He went on and on about how amazing they were, making it clear this wasnât bad news.
But despite that, Yunzhu was practically glowing. Seeing her brother's words so far from home felt like she could almost touch him, hear him, as if he were standing right there beside her.
Later that evening, when Cao Xun came home, he noticed a dish that was new on the dinner table.
With a teasing smile, Yunzhu couldn't help herself. She leaned in and said, "I had them make this fish in sour soupâjust like my brother's recipe. It looks incredible, doesn't it? You have to try it."
Yunzhuâs excitement was contagious, and Cao Xun could feel the warmth pouring off her. He picked up a piece of the fish, the sourness and spice dancing on his tongue.
"Exactly what we need for the weather turning chilly," he said. "You should have the kitchen make it more often. What did Brother Xian have to say in the letter? Is he settling in alright?"
Yunzhu smiled slyly, "You eat first, then I'll show you."
By the time dinner was done, the night had swallowed up the light outside. Cao Xun led her to the second room, a little more relaxed now.
He sank into the couch while Yunzhu settled next to him, handing him the letter. She snuggled against him, her fingers brushing over the words as they read it together.
Cao Xun chuckled softly. "I see youâve learned to write âXian Ge'erâ so well."
Yunzhu didnât miss a beat. "Of course, my fatherâs got brains and brawn. My grandfather always said Brother Xianâs got more power than my father ever did."
Cao Xun wrapped his right hand around the letter and gently ran his left hand through her hair, a quiet gesture that felt like a promise.
When they finished the letter, he began telling her about his own journey through Guizhou. Yunzhu had already settled into his embrace, her body relaxing against his. She let him speak, but when he finished, she lifted her gaze to meet his, eyes full of questions.
"My brother wouldnât hide anything from me that could upset me. Have you heard anything worrying?" she asked, voice soft but laced with tension.
Cao Xun paused for a moment before answering. "King Li sent word to the Emperor. Twenty-three soldiers died on the road from illness. When they got to Guizhou, the commander, Wei Gang, and a doctor from the Song Dynasty tried to poison the prince. They were executed."
Yunzhu froze, her heart skipping a beat as the news hit her like a punch.
Cao Xun sat up and gently took her hand, his voice reassuring. "Brother Xian mustâve played a part in all this. Even though heâs young, he knows how to handle things."
The harsh reality of what it took to come out on top, the way strength is forged in battleâYunzhu understood all that, but the fear clawed at her anyway, tightening in her chest.
Wei Gang wasnât an idiot. He knew exactly what was going on: Emperor Qianxing had given him the order to poison the second prince, and there was no reason to hide it. The Emperor had already crushed King Li beneath his heel, and now he was playing the merciless tyrant, taking lives without a second thought.
"Doesnât he fear the consequences of murdering his own brother?" Yunzhu scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.
Though she didnât name names, Cao Xun caught on immediately, murmuring, "Thereâs no solid proof against him."
Of course, there was no clear evidence, but people werenât stupid. The whispers would start, the rumors would spread, and if Emperor Qianxing continued his reckless path, he would alienate even those who had once been loyal.
Cao Xun leaned closer, gently brushing the furrow between her brows with his fingers, his voice smooth and reassuring. "Donât worry. Iâve had eyes on them the whole time. Itâs not the right moment to intervene, but now that theyâve reached the feudal territories, my people can slip in unnoticed and take their place in the palace. If your brother Xian and the others handle it on their own, weâll stay out of sight."
Yunzhu nodded, understanding the weight of it all. The fewer people who knew, the safer they all were. If the Emperor caught wind of Cao Xunâs involvement, it could mean his life next.
She nestled closer to him, feeling the warmth of his body against hers, and whispered with genuine gratitude, "Thank you."
Whether he was protecting King Li or her brother Xian, as long as it benefited Xian, she would always be thankful to him.
Cao Xun tightened his hold around her, his voice low and steady. "Your brother is my brother. Itâs the least I can do."
She could feel the vibrations of his chest as he spoke, and her cheek warmed against his skin. In the chill of autumn, having someone like him by her side made it all bearable.
The next day, however, news of her brother Li Yao's failed campaign against the bandits reached the capital. Yunzhu had barely managed to avoid her parents the day before, but this time, she had no choice but to go home.
Gu Minâs sister-in-law greeted her at the door, her face etched with sorrow. "Sister, Iâm so sorry. Father heard about the defeat and was so upset, he collapsed. The doctorâs been called."
Yunzhuâs heart sank, and she rushed inside.
Her father, Li Yong, was lying in bed, with only Meng Shi by his side. Yunzhu rushed to his bedside, expecting to find him exhausted and defeated, but instead, she was shocked to see him smiling.
Yunzhu stared at her mother, a little lost, trying to make sense of it all. Then, the sound of the door clicked shut behind her, and she whipped around. There, standing with a soft, modest smile, was Gu Minâcompletely transformed from her earlier, heavy demeanor.
Meng shiâs voice was gentle but firm as she spoke to her daughter: "Your fatherâs just putting on an act for everyone. Heâs faced three failures and didnât even flinch. How could he possibly be so upset over your brotherâs little setback?"
Yunzhu was silent, unsure how to respond.
Li Yong, clearly a little embarrassed, grumbled, "At least my daughter-in-law is hereâcanât you save me some dignity?"
The coupleâs bickering filled the room, and suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The tension eased, replaced by something a little more lively.
Meng shi turned back to praise her daughter-in-law with a teasing smile: "Your brotherâs a bit reckless, honestly. I was worried heâd forget everything your sister-in-law told him. But, turns out, he remembered it all perfectly. Clearly, in your brotherâs eyes, her words hold more weight than any of my nagging."
Gu Min blushed, her cheeks a soft pink.
Yunzhu couldnât help but realize that her brotherâs incompetence was just an act, and when she saw her fatherâs exaggerated display of illness, she couldnât help but feel a wave of relief.
Li Yong let out a heavy sigh. "Your brother Xian safely escorted the second prince to the feudal lands. If the imperial palace wasnât already displeased, theyâre bound to be now. This loss works in our favorâotherwise, the Emperor might have targeted our whole family again."
It sounded like a win, but the undercurrent of suppression and helplessness that came with it left Yunzhu feeling uneasy and a little down.
But as a minister, her father had no choice but to quietly bear the weight of the Emperorâs scrutiny, knowing it was the only way to protect the family.
*
For a while, all the chatter in the capital was about Li Yao. People couldnât help but revisit the old tale of Li Yongâs three humiliating defeats from the previous year, and once again, the Duke of Ningguoâs palace became the butt of all the jokes.
With the biting cold of winter settling in, Yunzhu found herself more reluctant to venture out, preferring the calm solitude of Duke Dingguoâs mansion garden. She would wander through it, delicate and graceful, as though the world outside was a distant echo.
But when news broke that Sun Yurong was getting married, Yunzhuâs curiosity couldnât be contained. She had to witness the extravagant affair for herself, no matter what.
It was a shame, though, because Duke Qiguo and his wife had originally planned for their daughterâs wedding in September, but with the untimely death of the late emperor, everything was pushed back until October.
The Duke of Qiâs mansion was a prestigious, long-established family in the capital, known for their wealth and connections. As the carriage from Duke Dingguoâs mansion made its way through the city, it found itself stuck behind a procession of luxury carriages, all vying for space.
Yunzhu sat in the carriage, her mind swirling, as the hustle and bustle outside played out. In that moment, she couldnât help but thinkâthough the men in her family might not be extraordinary, lacking in both merit and fault, they still held power and prestige thanks to their title. It was a power that had managed to hold its ground for generations, and perhaps that was enough.
Cao Xun noticed her silence, her lashes lowered in thought, and asked, "Whatâs on your mind?"
Yunzhu murmured something under her breath.
Cao Xun smirked. "Then you know the Sun family isnât what it used to be, right?"
He was right. Once a powerful force, a family with wealth that stretched back generations, the Sun family had once been able to expand its empire with ease. But now, when the Sun familyâs grip loosened, all those coveted assetsâshops, farmland, the lovely daughters and granddaughtersâwould be claimed by anyone who had the means. Their choice of husband would no longer be their own; it would be dictated by who could seize what was theirs.
Yunzhu didnât need to be told thisâshe understood all too well. After all, her own family had fallen from the heights of power, and the long descent into ruin had twisted her emotions. Thatâs why, for a moment, she couldnât help but envy the Sun familyâs carefree position.
Finally, their carriage came to a stop at the gates of Duke Qiâs mansion.
Cao Xun was the first to step out, a distinguished guest on this grand occasion. Waiting outside to greet him were Duke Qiguo, along with his son Sun Chao and his heir, Sun Guangfu.
As soon as Cao Xun emerged from the carriage, he was immediately surrounded by the Sun family men. Yunzhu followed, stepping out to see her companion flanked on one side by the charming heir and on the other by the proud Duke himself. Cao Xun had always been handsome, but standing next to the Sun family, he was undeniably the most striking man in the room.
In that moment, Yunzhu found herself indifferent to the Sun familyâs riches. Her fatherâs blend of wisdom and military skill, her older brotherâs bravery, and her younger brotherâs sharp intellect far surpassed anything the Sun family could offer. Their desperate situation was clear to her nowâthe Sun family was fading, while her own family had the potential to rise again, stronger than ever.
Sun Chao was busy buttering up Cao Xun, but Sun Guangfu had his eyes set on Yunzhu, a lustful spark dancing in his small eyes, making no attempt to hide his infatuation.
Yunzhu was fully aware of the way he looked at her. Despite his unappealing exterior, he never crossed the line with her. His naivety and ridiculousness were almost endearing, making it impossible for her to truly despise him. She simply found him beneath her.
"Sister, Yu Rong can't stop talking about you this morning," Sun Guangfu said with a sly grin.
Sun Chao shot his son a glare, ready to lecture him for being disrespectful, especially in front of Duke Dingguo. But Cao Xun, ever the diplomat, chose to ignore the slip-up.
Yunzhu nodded politely to Sun Chao before smoothly gliding over to Sun Yurong's side.
The room was buzzing with laughter as Sun Yurong finished up her makeup, surrounded by a group of chatting female guests. But as soon as Yunzhu walked in, the noise stilled, and curious glances were exchanged between the women.
Yunzhu, unfazed, gave them all a sly smile before directing her attention to the bride.
Seated comfortably on the couch, Sun Yurongâs face lit up as she eagerly reached out for Yunzhuâs hand. âLook whoâs here! My darling sister! Letâs go out for tea, shall we? Itâs the perfect time for some gossip.â
The others followed suit, and the group made their way outside, the women walking together in unison.
Once seated, Yunzhu leaned in and teased, "I thought you might be planning to mock me again."
Sun Yurong blushed but playfully scolded her, "Who hasnât made their share of mistakes? Donât bring up the past, or Iâll really get upset!"
Yunzhu raised an eyebrow, "Oh? You really want to be upset on such a joyous day?"
Sun Yurong let out a little sigh, "Whatâs so joyous about it? The groomâs not even that handsome."
Yunzhu lowered her voice and leaned in closer, "Well, the top scholarâs definitely good-looking. Are you ready to marry him? As for the second-ranked scholar, he's got a future ahead of him. Now that youâre married, donât get hung up on looks. If you canât stand him, itâll mess with your marriage."
Sun Yurong blinked in surprise, "I canât believe youâre saying that. Just last time you were complaining about how your husbandâs sweet words were nothing but empty promises."
Yunzhu smirked, "Are you trying to outdo me?"
Sun Yurong quickly backed down, "I wouldnât dare. Iâm not nearly as lucky as you are."
Yunzhu playfully swatted her on the arm, amused by her friendâs sudden humility.
But as more women filtered in, Yunzhu couldn't hog Sun Yurongâs attention any longer. The room filled with chatter, and Yunzhu knew her moment of dominance was slipping away.
When the hour of destiny finally arrived, Xu Guan showed up, ready to sweep the bride off her feet.
According to tradition, Sun Guangfu had the unenviable task of carrying his sister to the sedan chair. But the man was heavyset, weak, and struggling under the weight of the task. His face flushed a deep red as he fought to lift her, and just as he was about to complain about her weight, his eyes landed on Yunzhu, mingling with the other women. In that moment, his entire posture shifted. With a quick adjustment, he tried to look effortless, as if the whole thing was no trouble at all.
Yunzhu, sensing the shift, made a choice. She decided not to mingle with the other women in the front yard. She couldnât risk Sun Guangfu slacking off, faltering in his duties halfway. So she stayed close, tracking his every move, like a shadow on his heels.
Her presence worked like a charm. Every time Sun Guangfu looked like he might give up, he'd steal a glance at Yunzhu, and suddenly, there he wasâmore determined, stronger, pushing through with renewed strength.
Through sheer willpower, and perhaps a little push from Yunzhuâs watchful eyes, Sun Guangfu managed to get his sister to the sedan chair.
But as he stumbled away, drenched in sweat and disheveled, waving his sleeves in a half-hearted, embarrassed attempt to hide his discomfort, Yunzhu just smiledâa slow, knowing smile, her face half-hidden behind a delicate round fan.
Cao Xun, watching from the sidelines, couldnât help but notice the glint in Yunzhuâs eyes. There was something different about her smile, something mischievous, something daring. In that moment, he realized it had been far too long since he'd seen her smile like that.