"No..." Pei Ying was utterly startled by his words and instinctively shook her head in refusal, attempting to withdraw her hand from the man's grasp.
But his large hand clamped down like iron, making it impossible for her to pull away. Pei Ying looked at Huo Tingshan with fear in her eyes. "General, this matter is inappropriate."
The man's gaze was deep and unfathomable, his dark pupils reflecting the beautiful woman's panicked—even terrified—expression. Yet his expression remained unchanged as before. "What exactly is inappropriate?"
His tone seemed calm, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible displeasure.
Pei Ying didn’t notice Huo Tingshan’s mood. Her mind was still reeling from his last statement.
Youzhou needed a mistress—did that mean she had to marry him?
No, absolutely not.
Pei Ying quickly replied, "There are other ways to resolve this. We don’t need to go that far."
"Oh? I’d like to hear them." Huo Tingshan sat down casually, taking a seat on Pei Ying’s soft divan.
As he settled in, Pei Ying had no choice but to retreat further inward. The divan wasn’t particularly spacious, and with Huo Tingshan sitting in his usual imposing manner, even when she pressed herself against the backrest, her legs still brushed against his.
"General, I could fake my death," Pei Ying racked her brain for a solution. "We could announce that I’ve succumbed to illness, then secretly send me away to another place. Once the rumors die down, I can reappear."
She added hastily, "When I leave, Ling'er will come with me."
Huo Tingshan slowly curled his lips, though his eyes held no trace of amusement. "The rumors have already spread. Spies lurk around Youzhou’s army—do you really think you could slip away unnoticed? The moment you step out of the military camp, someone would be on your heels, ready to seize you."
Pei Ying lowered her voice. "Yanmen has fallen to you, General, and Jizhou is also under your control. If you wish to keep something hidden, surely it can be done discreetly."
Huo Tingshan’s brow twitched slightly.
So all her cunning was now being used against him.
But outwardly, the man remained composed. "Madam, you must understand two phrases: 'Even the most careful plans have flaws' and 'Beyond one’s reach.' If word somehow leaks, and villains target you while I’m away, I might not be able to reach you in time."
Pei Ying had another idea. "General, there’s another way."
Huo Tingshan’s brows furrowed imperceptibly.
Where did she keep getting all these ideas?
Huo Tingshan: "Fine, let’s hear it."
"General, rumors are just rumors. Most people have never even seen me. Even if the gossip reaches the Emperor’s ears and he wishes to take me into the palace, we could find another willing woman to enter the palace under the name of 'Madam Pei.'" The more she spoke, the more feasible it seemed.
A beauty obtained this way would surely live in comfort once inside the palace.
She didn’t want to enter the palace, but surely someone else would.
"Do you know the penalty for deceiving the Emperor?" Huo Tingshan said leisurely. "To mock the imperial court is an act of great disrespect—punishable by execution."
Pei Ying stiffened for a moment before whispering, "If I don’t speak, you don’t speak, and that woman doesn’t speak, the Emperor would never know."
"There are no walls without cracks. If word ever leaks..." Huo Tingshan pinched the tips of the delicate fingers in his grasp. "The Emperor’s authority may be waning, but he still has the power to execute a woman who deceives him—along with her entire family."
Pei Ying’s pupils constricted. This time, she truly had no rebuttal.
Some might risk their lives for wealth and status, but when it came to implicating their entire clan, they would think twice.
"Why are you so unwilling to marry me?" Huo Tingshan frowned deeply.
Other women would cling to him if they could, yet here she was, fleeing like a rabbit into its burrow at the sight of him. Even when caught by the ears, she remained restless.
Pei Ying tried again to free her hand, but it remained firmly trapped in his grip.
The beautiful woman averted her gaze. "I don’t want to marry anyone."
Huo Tingshan’s slight frown smoothed.
So it wasn’t about him—she simply didn’t want to marry at all.
"Why not?" he pressed.
Pei Ying murmured, "After marriage, one must integrate into the other’s family. There’s serving parents-in-law, tending to a husband. If the man is promiscuous, with a house full of concubines, not only would there be endless squabbles over illegitimate children, but the concubines alone would be a headache. My late husband was the most upright and devoted man—his household had only me, no other women, not even a mistress with an illegitimate child. Yet even in the relatively uncomplicated Meng family, dealing with its members sometimes exhausted me. How much more so as the mistress of Youzhou?"
He was a governor, and one who had achieved the position before turning forty. There had to be a powerful family backing him.
Pei Ying didn’t know the Huo family’s standing in Youzhou, but she could guess it wasn’t some minor household. She’d have to be out of her mind to consider marrying him.
Huo Tingshan said gravely, "Clan affairs are handled by others. You wouldn’t need to worry much about them. As for the inner quarters..."
At the mention of the inner quarters, Huo Tingshan’s expression darkened, nearly gritting his teeth. "Do you truly see me as some lustful beast who would bring any woman into my home, no matter how unworthy?"
Pei Ying hesitated, unable to hide the doubt in her eyes.
Given their previous encounters—and the half-finished third time—she absolutely did think so. The man was insatiable.
Huo Tingshan nearly choked on his own breath, feeling as though she might be the death of him.
Seeing his face darken like ink, Pei Ying grew uneasy and made an excuse to leave the divan. "General, let me pour you some water."
Huo Tingshan remained seated on the outer edge, still holding her hand. "No need. I’m too full of anger to drink."
Pei Ying: "..."
Huo Tingshan massaged his temples, genuinely pained by her. "If I were truly indulgent, Youzhou’s defenses would have long been breached by the northern barbarians. Years ago, the court cut off our military funds, and the heavens showed no mercy. The state’s armory and granaries came to me wailing for silver. I emptied my own coffers, yet the treasury remained in deficit—every coin had to be stretched thin. Where would I find the means to support a harem? Keeping you alone is taxing enough. How could I possibly spare energy for others?"
Pei Ying pressed her lips together, understanding his meaning, yet still unwilling to become Youzhou’s mistress.
"General, the rumors haven’t reached the Emperor yet. There’s no urgency—let me think further. There must be another way." Pei Ying spoke earnestly.
Huo Tingshan’s expression gradually hardened until it was cold as still water. "You refuse to marry me—is it because you’re still hung up on that short-lived Meng Ducang?"
"Of course I remember him. He was Ling'er’s father." Pei Ying thought men of this era could hardly bear the thought of their women pining for another, so she added without hesitation, "We were childhood sweethearts, married for over twenty years, deeply in love. I’ve forgotten none of our memories, which is why I truly have no desire to remarry."
When Pei Ying first admitted her lingering thoughts, she distinctly saw a terrifying storm gather in Huo Tingshan’s eyes. Yet, for some reason, the more she spoke, the calmer he became. It wasn’t the eerie calm before a storm—it was genuine serenity, as if dark clouds had been swept away, leaving behind an ordinary sky.
Pei Ying’s heart skipped a beat, unsure where things had gone wrong.
"As my lady has said, this matter has yet to reach His Majesty’s ears, so there is still time. You may reconsider the matter of becoming the lady of Youzhou. If nothing unexpected occurs, Prince Huikang will depart before noon tomorrow. After that, my lady may move freely within the estate." Huo Tingshan rose from the couch. "It is late. My lady should retire early."
After Huo Tingshan left, Pei Ying sat on the couch in a daze, her mind a tangled mess.
The rumor had come out of nowhere, leaving her defenseless.
Outside, the night was deep. Only then did Pei Ying realize she had been lost in thought for a long time. A brazier warmed the room, so she wasn’t cold, but staying in one position for so long had left her limbs numb.
When she stepped onto the floor, a prickling pain shot through her feet. Grimacing, she circled around the screen and returned to her bed.
She climbed under the covers, ready to sleep.
Pei Ying usually slept well, often dozing off within minutes of lying down.
But tonight, she couldn’t sleep.
Tossing and turning for hours, she gave up and tried to think of a solution to her predicament. Yet no matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t devise a foolproof plan.
By the time she finally drifted off near dawn, she was utterly exhausted.
She slept late and woke even later. When she opened her eyes the next day, the sun was already high in the sky.
"My lady," Xin Jin said softly, "it is already mid-morning. Lunch will be served soon. Should we prepare breakfast for you…?"
"So late already?" Pei Ying was startled. After dismissing the idea of breakfast, she turned to look out the window.
Sunlight streamed in—today was a fine day.
By the time Pei Ying freshened up and stepped outside, a thin layer of snow covered the courtyard, lighter than the night before. Under the sun, it looked like a blanket of white down, warm and delicate.
The little snowman she had built the previous day had melted halfway. Pei Ying walked over and slowly reshaped it.
Having woken late, she had no appetite for a nap after lunch. Remembering Huo Tingshan’s words that Prince Huikang would leave after the midday meal—which had already passed—she decided to visit her piglets.
The hunter had said the piglets were caught outside the city. Unlike their domesticated counterparts, these wild boars had never eaten filth, so their scent was lighter.
Even so, Pei Ying had chosen the most secluded courtyard in the governor’s estate for them.
The elegant lady emerged from the main residence, cutting diagonally across the estate. Unaccustomed to being surrounded by servants, she only had Xin Jin accompanying her.
Xin Jin kept her eyes forward, walking attentively.
Neither of them noticed the man who had been staring at them since they left the main residence. At first, he was stunned, but when he regained his senses, his eyes gleamed with excitement. He immediately turned and ran back the way he had come.
And that man, too, failed to notice the tall Youzhou soldier standing in a shadowed corner.
Guo Dajiang watched the scene unfold from his hiding spot. Once the servant had left, he also turned and headed toward the study.
……
In the small courtyard.
Pei Ying inspected each of the four piglets, thoroughly satisfied.
Perhaps it was the cauterization or the winter chill, but all four had survived the procedure. Their appetites had soared, and their round little bellies grew plumper by the day.
The sight lifted Pei Ying’s spirits.
Grow quickly, little ones. Once you’re big enough—
Braised pork, pickled cabbage stew, boiled pork slices…
Her mind was flooded with recipes when footsteps suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
Xin Jin turned first. Upon seeing two unfamiliar faces—especially the way their eyes lingered—she instantly tensed. "Who are you?"
One was dressed as a servant, likely a household retainer.
The other appeared to be in his early thirties, moderately handsome but with dark circles under his eyes and a dull, murky gaze. He wore gold and jade, his belt adorned with exquisite pendants. For a man, his hands were surprisingly decorated with rings.
"How dare a mere maid speak so insolently before Prince Huikang!" the retainer barked.
Pei Ying hadn’t turned around yet, but at the mention of Prince Huikang, her heart lurched.
Prince Huikang?
Hadn’t Huo Tingshan said he would leave before noon?
Why was he still here?
She pushed the thought aside and whispered to Xin Jin, "Ignore them. Let’s hide inside."
Xin Jin nodded.
To Prince Huikang’s astonishment, the maid suddenly turned, and the beautiful woman in the white fox fur cloak fled with her into the house.
After a stunned moment, the prince eagerly gave chase.
Pei Ying and Xin Jin rushed inside, slammed the door shut, and locked it in one swift motion.
By the time Prince Huikang reached the door, it was already sealed.
The glimpse of the beauty’s profile as she slipped inside lingered in his mind. He stared at the closed door, both lovestruck and itching with desire.
But pounding on the door would only frighten her. That wouldn’t do.
Prince Huikang cleared his throat and called out, "Do not fear, my fair one. This prince is the uncle of His Majesty, titled Huikang. I am a guest of Lord Huo of Youzhou—no ruffian, I assure you."
The fact that he had chased her was enough for Pei Ying to know he was no gentleman.
Before the prince could say more, his servant whispered, "Your Highness, Lord Huo is here."
Prince Huikang stiffened and turned.
Sure enough…
Under the bright sun, Huo Tingshan approached with another man. Clad in black, the longsword at his waist glinted ominously in the light, mirroring the sharpness in his narrowed eyes.
"Your Highness claimed to be too hungover to rise earlier. What brings you to this pigpen? Could it be that the stench of wild boar helps sober you up?" Huo Tingshan’s tone was laced with mockery.
The prince flushed but, thinking of the beauty behind the door, brushed off the embarrassment. "Lord Huo, this prince chanced upon a woman so fair she seemed divine. Enraptured, I followed her here without realizing it—not for the pigs, I assure you."
He felt it necessary to clarify, lest his beloved think poorly of him.
Huo Tingshan arched a brow. "So the prince is sober now?"
Prince Huikang nodded. "Quite. The fine wine in your estate is unforgettable."
Huo Tingshan didn’t expose him. Instead, he said bluntly, "I must visit the barracks this afternoon. Since Your Highness is awake, I won’t detain you further. Guo Dajiang, fetch a few jars of good wine from the storeroom and escort—"
"Lord Huo, Lord Huo!" Prince Huikang interjected.
Huo Tingshan’s eyebrow lifted higher. "Is there something else?"
The prince couldn’t help glancing back. The door remained shut, yet his gaze burned as if he could see through it to the woman beyond.
"Prince Huikang has a small request," said Prince Huikang with a beaming smile.
Huo Tingshan replied, "Your Highness may speak freely."
Prince Huikang's smile widened. "Just now, I encountered Qingqing and was instantly smitten. Might Governor Huo be willing to gift her to me, as a gesture of goodwill?"
Among the nobility, it was common to exchange concubines as gifts. Prince Huikang himself had received many and had also given away quite a few.
When Huo Tingshan remained silent, Prince Huikang quickly added, "Of course, I won’t take her without compensation. I offer a hundred fine steeds and ten gold pieces in exchange."
For a military man, there was no one who didn’t cherish good horses. Prince Huikang believed his offer was more than generous.
Yet Huo Tingshan still said nothing.
Prince Huikang inwardly cursed—You stubborn Governor Huo, still refusing to yield! But the memory of that delicate profile he had glimpsed earlier made his heart itch with desire.
Since before the age of fifteen, he had been indulging in the company of beauties. Favored by his father, the emperor, he had amassed a harem even before coming of age. Over the years, he had traveled far and wide, encountering countless enchanting women. But lately, no matter how stunning the ladies, none had stirred that rare, breathtaking awe in him.
Until today. That long-lost feeling of wonder had returned.
Gritting his teeth, Prince Huikang raised his offer again. "Fifty more gold pieces and a thousand dan of grain."
One dan of grain was worth two hundred and fifty coins. A thousand dan amounted to two hundred and fifty thousand coins.
Behind the door, Pei Ying’s heart clenched in unease. She wondered how Huo Tingshan would respond.
Surely… he wouldn’t agree, would he?
The fragrant soap she had introduced had taken Chang’an by storm, earning them a fortune. Surely he wouldn’t trade her away for a hundred horses and some grain… right?
Suddenly, Pei Ying heard Huo Tingshan chuckle.
"Come out, my lady."
Pei Ying’s almond-shaped eyes widened in disbelief.
Did he just agree?
But she quickly dismissed the thought. No—if he had agreed, he would have said so outright. Why summon me now? What is he planning?
"My lady," Xin Jin whispered beside her.
Pei Ying lowered her gaze and finally reached for the door latch.
Outside, Prince Huikang’s thoughts were the opposite of Pei Ying’s. He assumed Huo Tingshan had been swayed and was overjoyed.
The door creaked open.
The moment Prince Huikang saw Pei Ying, his pupils constricted sharply.
All the legendary beauties he had encountered—the jade-skinned, the willow-waisted—paled before this face, radiant as a lotus blossom.
Her skin was fair and luminous, her eyes dark as ink, her lips red as if painted. Each feature was striking on its own, but together, they formed a vision of soft elegance, like autumn waters—so inviting one could drown in their tenderness.
Prince Huikang stood frozen, his mind repeating: The rumors were true! Compared to his nephew’s famed Consort Li, this exquisite lady before him was far more captivating.
His gaze burned so intensely that Pei Ying turned her face slightly away.
"Governor Huo, I thank—"
"My lady, come here."
Prince Huikang stiffened.
Pei Ying’s lashes fluttered as she stepped toward Huo Tingshan.
Before she could reach him, his large hand seized her wrist and pulled her close. Once she stood beside him, his grip slid down to settle possessively at her waist.
"Your Highness, this lady is the future mistress of Youzhou. Our wedding is set for next year. If you find the time, you’re welcome to attend the celebration," Huo Tingshan said with a smile.
Prince Huikang felt as though struck by lightning.
Pei Ying was equally stunned.
Prince Huikang’s face cycled through shades of green and white. "Governor Huo, this—"
Huo Tingshan arched a brow. "What does Your Highness wish to say?"
"Are you mocking me, Governor Huo?" Prince Huikang finally found his voice.
Huo Tingshan feigned surprise. "Why would you say that? The laws of Great Chu don’t forbid a widower from remarrying, do they?"
Prince Huikang glared at Huo Tingshan, his eyes nearly spitting fire.
A wedding next year?
This was a deliberate provocation! If Huo Tingshan had truly intended to marry her, why announce it only now, in front of him?
Just as Prince Huikang was about to unleash a torrent of curses, his attendant quickly whispered, "Your Highness!"
Don’t provoke him! We’re in his territory, and this Governor Huo holds real power over two provinces. As a leisure-bound prince, picking a fight would be unwise.
Swallowing his rage, Prince Huikang averted his gaze. But before he could steal another glance at Pei Ying, Huo Tingshan lazily ordered, "Guo Dajiang, escort my lady back for her midday rest."
Guo Dajiang bowed and complied.
Pei Ying was more than eager to leave. With Xin Jin in tow, she followed Guo Dajiang out.
As she neared the courtyard gate, she glanced back.
Prince Huikang and Huo Tingshan stood facing each other—one livid, the other smirking with effortless control.
A strange suspicion crept into Pei Ying’s heart.
Prince Huikang had followed her into the courtyard. She had hidden inside, yet Huo Tingshan arrived almost immediately after the prince began speaking.
How had he come so quickly?
Back in her chambers, Pei Ying sat by the latticed window, lost in thought. Something didn’t add up.
She had meant to question him at dinner, but Xin Jin informed her that Prince Huikang was still lingering in the manor, even staying for the evening meal.
"My lady, perhaps you should retire for the night," Xin Jin suggested softly.
Pei Ying shook her head. "I’ll wait a little longer."
Though she held a book of travelogues, her mind was elsewhere. A peculiar intuition told her he would come tonight.
The candle flickered quietly. A moth bumped against the lantern shade, circling futilely before giving up.
Knock. Knock.
Two firm raps sounded at the door.
Pei Ying’s grip on the book tightened. "Come in."
The door swung open.
A tall figure stepped inside. "My lady."
"Huo Tingshan, I have questions for you," Pei Ying set the book aside.
Huo Tingshan paused mid-step. She’s using my full name—she’s angry.
"What would you like to know?" He approached slowly.
Pei Ying met his gaze. "You said yesterday that Prince Huikang would leave before noon today."
Huo Tingshan stopped before her. "What I said was: barring unforeseen circumstances, Prince Huikang would depart by noon. But the man is stubborn. He claimed a hangover and overstayed his welcome. That, I admit, was unexpected."
Pei Ying’s delicate brows knit together. "Why did you arrive so quickly this afternoon? Did you already know?"
"My lady, this commandery’s manor is still my residence," Huo Tingshan said pointedly.
It took Pei Ying a moment to grasp his meaning. Then her temper flared.
So he did know!
"Don’t be upset," Huo Tingshan soothed. "Prince Huikang is a notorious libertine. Having traveled all this way, he would’ve moved heaven and earth to see you. Rather than let him scheme further, I thought it best to settle matters decisively. There’s no harm in it."
He sat beside her on the divan.
Pei Ying’s voice was firm. "I’m not ready to marry."
Huo Tingshan nodded, then asked her, "Now, my lady, tell me—after a day has passed, what strategy have you devised to handle this situation?"
Pei Ying faltered; she hadn’t come up with anything.
Huo Tingshan continued, "If I hadn’t spoken the way I did this afternoon in front of Prince Huikang, how would you have handled it, my lady?"
Pei Ying pressed her lips together tightly.
Truthfully, she didn’t know what kind of influence Prince Huikang held in the court. She had only heard from Huo Tingshan that he was the emperor’s uncle and had a notorious reputation when it came to women—nothing more.
When she heard that the prince had casually offered a hundred fine steeds and a thousand bushels of grain, she instinctively felt that Prince Huikang had substantial resources.
How could one refuse such a man…
Pei Ying remained silent.
"Prince Huikang knows our wedding is set for next year, and he will undoubtedly spread the news. In a way, this helps shield you from others who might scheme in the shadows. You also need not worry about entering the palace anymore. The matter is settled, my lady. Focus on preparing for the wedding." Huo Tingshan took her hand, his thumb pressing firmly against the delicate skin of her wrist.
Pei Ying lowered her gaze, lost in thought for a long while.
Huo Tingshan waited patiently.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the beautiful woman lifted her eyes. "I will marry you, but on one condition."
Huo Tingshan’s brow relaxed. "Speak, my lady."
Pei Ying said earnestly, "The root of this matter is to avoid entering the palace. Since you once mentioned that His Majesty’s health is failing, it likely won’t be long. After the emperor passes, I want a divorce."
Huo Tingshan frowned. "What do you mean by 'divorce'?"
Pei Ying explained it to him.
At present, there were the "Seven Grounds for Divorce" and the "Three Exceptions."
The so-called "Seven Grounds" meant that if a woman violated any one of seven specific rules, her husband could immediately cast her out.
As for the "Three Exceptions," these were conditions under which a husband could not divorce his wife, no matter what. But whether it was the "Seven Grounds" or the "Three Exceptions," the power to end a marriage never lay with the woman.
Divorce by mutual consent, or "heli," emerged after the Tang Dynasty, and there was even a law at the time stating: "If a couple separates amicably due to incompatibility, neither shall be punished."
Meaning, once it was done, it was done—no repercussions for either side.
But this was not the case now. In their current era, there was no such thing as divorce by mutual consent—only widowhood or a husband’s repudiation. So Pei Ying wasn’t surprised he didn’t know of it.
After hearing her explanation, Huo Tingshan’s expression darkened completely.
She wasn’t even married to him yet, and she was already planning her escape. Couldn’t she direct all that cleverness toward something more constructive?
Pei Ying softened her tone, speaking gently, "This isn’t directed at you, General. It’s just that I truly cannot adapt to life in the inner quarters. That’s why I propose this agreement—once His Majesty passes, we part ways. Afterward, you may choose another lady, one skilled in managing a household, to be your wife."
