Chapter 88
Cao Xun had been deep in conversation with the temple master for what felt like an eternity, but when he returned, his eyes immediately found Yunzhu, sitting gracefully beneath the eaves of the corridor. Two young Taoist boys, barely six or seven, flanked her. She perched elegantly on a stool dragged in from the guest room, while the little boys squirmed nervously on tiny seats they found somewhere.
As soon as they saw Cao Xun, Yunzhu stayed relaxed and calm in her place, while the boys stood up in a rush, as though anticipating a scolding. Cao Xun, dressed in all his refined elegance, cut a figure that demanded respectâespecially since he was the uncle of the Emperor. The boys couldn't even look him in the eye.
"Donât mind me," Cao Xun said, his voice smooth but assertive. "Keep talking. Iâll be inside."
Once inside the room, Cao Xunâs attention shifted back to Yunzhu, watching her every movement as she listened to the young Taoists chatter away. Her figure was slender, poised, and effortlessly captivating.
The guest room, though plain and uncomfortable, didnât seem to faze her, but for a fleeting moment, Cao Xun wondered if it was enough to make her want to return to the capital at first light. He had suffered through far worse during his time at the border, yet the thought of her discomfort gnawed at him.
Yunzhu rose, ready to send the boys off, but just as she did, Cao Xunâs voice stopped her. "Stay right there," he called out. The tension in the air shifted, thick with the unspoken.
Yunzhu froze, a slight tug on her skirt as Lian Qiao worked to untangle the caught fabric. Cao Xun, who had been moving away, paused mid-step, his attention sharp as ever.
"Send Lian Qiao to rest in the next room," Yunzhu ordered. As the door clicked shut behind the maid, she moved to the bed, pulling off her skirt to inspect the small tear.
She caught his eye, a small, almost satisfied smile crossing her lips as she examined the damage.
"Iâll replace it," Cao Xun offered quickly. "Ten skirts, satin, just like this one."
Yunzhuâs gaze flicked up, a playful glint in her eye. "And when the rain stops tomorrow, how will I get down the mountain?"
Their luggage had been sent with a different carriage, and the clothes she wore now were drenched. The tear in her skirt was the final straw.
"Good thing the hem's long enough to cover it," Cao Xun said, his voice steady, but Yunzhu wasnât impressed.
"What if the wind lifts it?" she teased, enjoying the tension sheâd built.
Though the tear was barely visible, Yunzhu held herself to impossibly high standards, and with little else to focus on, she wasnât going to let it slide.
Cao Xun caught on immediately. His sharp mind knew she was deliberately making things difficult. A slight furrow creased his brow. "What if I sew it for you?"
Yunzhu shot him a disbelieving look. "You know how to sew?"
He shrugged, casual yet confident. "It canât be that hard."
Her lips curved up slightly, intrigued, as she motioned to Lian Qiao. "Go ask the temple for a sewing kit."
It wasnât long before two baskets of threads in various colors were delivered to her. Yunzhu watched him with a sly smile as he opened the window, prepared to thread the needle under the dim light.
"Wait," she instructed, her tone low and almost teasing. "Donât move." She laid down a handkerchief on the rough bench to make sure his fine clothes didnât catch.
Once she was prepared, she leaned elegantly on the table and watched as Cao Xun held the needle in one hand and delicately fiddled with the spool in the sewing basket with the other.
Unfortunately, he couldn't locate a thread that matched the color of Yunzhu's skirt.
Cao Xun abandoned the idea of mending and lowered his head to carefully examine the damaged areas of the skirt.
He attempted to straighten the thread, which helped to some extent, but there was still a loose section. Cao Xun inspected both the outside and inside of the skirt, then suddenly turned the inside out and carefully used a needle to pull back the piece of silk thread that had been pulled out. It was a meticulous task, and he executed it with great patience, ultimately restoring the entirety of the skirt without a trace of the flaw.
Yunzhu: "..."
Perhaps this general had more talent than her when it came to sewing.
Cao Xun closed the window, approached with the skirt in hand, and said, "I'll assist you in putting it on."
Such acts made it effortless for a man to serve and become enticing. Yunzhu glared at him, seized the skirt, and prepared to sit by the bed to put it on.
However, Cao Xun caught up from behind, his graceful arms encircled her waist, and his lips were already grazing her neck.
Even amidst such modest surroundings, Yunzhu found herself unexpectedly captivated by him.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside.
Cao Xun kissed her cheek and instructed Yunzhu to sit on the bed while he answered the door.
It was the young Taoist boy bringing their meal.
Cao Xun accepted the tray and left the door ajar.
Dinner was modest, consisting of vegetarian porridge with steamed buns and a refreshing cucumber salad. According to the young Taoist boy, the cucumber was grown in the temple's own gardens.
An oil lamp illuminated the table, and rain poured outside the window. Yunzhu mused that most people led such simple lives, didn't they?
Though she had endured much, Yunzhu felt that even if it meant enduring a little more hardship, it would be worth it to have such a tranquil existence.
As the night fell, Cao Xun's worries from the day were quickly forgotten, melting into the darkness.
The bed in the guest room was old and creaky, so he didn't hesitate to lift Yunzhu into his arms, carrying her to the window instead. Outside, the wind howled, and the rain beat against the glass, muffling any sound from within the room.
He wanted her on the table. But the shabby craftsmanship of the furniture made him hesitant. So, he carefully spread out his Taoist robes, creating a soft and comfortable space for her to sit.
Yunzhu's voice broke the silence. "Youâre disrespecting the gods."
He smirked. "Tao follows nature, and the gods donât care about things like this."
She couldn't argue, not when she was drawn to him like this.
The room fell silent again, save for the steady rhythm of the rain. Yunzhu lay on Cao Xunâs body, the warmth of the moment thick between them. It was a cool, rainy night, and he gently pulled the quilt over her shoulders, a tender gesture that made her shiver just slightly.
Yunzhu tapped his chest lightly. "You must take me with you, thatâs why."
Cao Xunâs hand moved to her head, his fingers grazing her hair. "You wonât think highly of me."
Yunzhu chuckled softly, her lips brushing his chest. "Who told you that? You havenât done anything good yet."
His words stilled. "What good is wooing you? Sweet words, promises of vows?"
Suddenly, Yunzhuâs mind flashed to Cao Shaoâs gaze, the same affectionate look heâd given her when he promised to marry her. She imagined Cao Xun staring at her with that same intensity, and a shiver ran down her spine.
Noticing her chill, Cao Xun gently lowered her and pulled her into his arms, his embrace warm and tight.
Yunzhu murmured against his chest, "I donât need your sweet talk. Just donât scold me."
He was silent for a moment, and she could feel the weight of his unspoken words. "Iâm not scolding you," he said quietly. "Iâm afraid... afraid youâll leave me. Thatâs why I speak so harshly."
Yunzhu froze, her mind racing. He had always claimed he was afraid of her getting into trouble, but tonightâtonight, it was different. "What do you mean, leave you?" she asked, her voice soft, leaning into the warmth of his chest.
Cao Xunâs fingers ran through her hair with a tenderness that felt almost out of place. "I thought he had more power, that being a queen or concubine would give you more prestige. I wanted to make sure you wouldnât leave me... the aging one."
Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to argue, to defend herself, but his hand on her cheek silenced her.
"Donât worry," he said, his voice smooth, almost soothing. "Iâm just a husband trying to stop you from such thoughts. I wonât think less of you for it. Men chase power in the world of officials. Women, too, have their ways of fighting for it. It all depends on what they can do."
He paused, the sincerity in his voice growing. "If I were in your place, Iâd be proud for you to have such ambitions. When I first came to Beijing and realized you wanted to marry me, I was elated, but I never thought about you and me in terms of that younger nephew."
Cao Xun wasnât a gentleman, and he didnât need a virtuous lady with an unblemished character. Most of those from noble families wore a mask, pretending to be something they werenât, hiding hearts full of darkness.
Yunzhu said nothing, her thoughts a blur.
Cao Xun playfully pinched her ear, a glint in his eye. "You have the qualities to marry whoever you want."
This was a compliment, sharp and laced with something else. Just as Yunzhu had lightly downplayed her beauty, Cao Xun followed with something even sharper, "I know you donât have any real feelings for me. Maybe youâll never see me as Xing Jianâs sister-in-law, or as A Min to your brother, but thatâs fine. All that matters is that youâre willing to stay with me."
Yunzhu stared, her mind spinning. Was he really that naive, or was he just pretending to feel sorry for her?
It didn't matter. Yunzhu wasnât about to back down, her voice low and certain: "Who told you I don't care about you? I'm not cold-hearted. If you're kind to me, I'll return it. But if you insult me, donât think I wonât do the same. Youâre the one whoâll look like a fool."
His words hit a nerve, and she didnât like it one bit. She wasn't about to let him think he could just walk all over her.
Cao Xun softened his gaze, almost remorseful. "Yes, you're right. Iâve made mistakes, mistakes Iâve never made with anyone else."
Yunzhu raised an eyebrow, teasing him, "Really? Never insulted anyone outside of here?"
"No," he replied, a hint of a smile creeping onto his lips. "Even my enemies hear only kind words from me."
Kind words, with an undercurrent of something that made you feel both absolved and suffocated at the same time.
Yunzhu hummed, amused but sharp, "So, I should feel honored to be the one you criticize?"
Cao Xun chuckled, then rolled over, pulling her close. His fingers traced her face, the gentleness a stark contrast to the intensity in his eyes. "You always think the worst of me. I just want you to know that only you..."
Yunzhu cut in, her voice daring, "What if itâs just me?"
Cao Xun sighed, almost with a touch of exasperation, "Forget it. You wonât believe me anyway."
Yunzhu nudged him playfully. "Tell me. Maybe Iâll believe you."
"And if you donât?" he challenged. "Then everything I say will be for nothing."
She fell silent, her mind racing, but the moment slipped away as sleep took over. He didnât finish his sentence, and she didn't push him for the rest.
The next day, the rain had cleared, the sun now casting a soft, inviting light. The droplets clinging to the eaves shimmered, breaking the otherwise peaceful silence.
The earth was still muddy, the path up the mountain sticky with the aftermath of the storm. Yunzhu wasnât having any of it. So, Cao Xun, ever the gentleman, scooped her up and carried her down.
The others were told to stay back at the temple, waiting for Cao Xun to finish his descent before they moved on.
On that quiet, narrow mountain trail, it was just the two of them. Yunzhu rested against his back, her eyes wandering over the droplets clinging to the leaves and the trickling stream snaking down the road.
The air was thick with the fresh scent of rain-drenched earth and greenery. She took a deep breath, savoring the moment, before tapping his shoulder and teasing, "When we get down, letâs take separate carriages. Iâm heading back to the capital."
Cao Xun looked back at her with a glint in his eye. "In three days, youâll see the sea."
She smirked, unfazed. "Fine. Iâll go back after Iâve seen the sea."
The playful challenge in her eyes didnât go unnoticed, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop as they exchanged that look.