The spring morning sun was warm and gentle. Pei Ying sat on the bed, feeling utterly languid and lacking any energy. Still, compared to the alternating chills and fever of the previous day, she was much better now.
Xin Jin had been waiting outside. Knowing Pei Ying was awake, she first helped her dress, then said, "Madam, the young lady is waiting outside the courtyard."
Pei Ying was surprised. "Ling'er is here? Has she had breakfast yet? Quickly, let her in."
Xin Jin first replied that she had eaten, then went out to invite Meng Ling'er in.
Meng Ling'er almost ran in. The moment she entered and saw Pei Ying, her eyes reddened, and she called out "Mother" in a voice full of grievance and confusion.
Five days ago, when Pei Ying and Ning Qingying went out to the market and never returned, Meng Ling'er had been unaware. Huo Tingshan had directly sealed off news from the Lingxi Courtyard, forbidding anyone from revealing a word.
Meng Ling'er only found out about this the day before yesterday. It started when she finished her lessons and wanted to have a meal with Pei Ying, only to find her missing.
At first, Xin Jin followed orders and tried to hide it from her, saying Pei Ying had gone out to the market. But Meng Ling'er simply waited in the courtyard, seemingly determined not to leave until she saw her mother.
In the end, they couldn't keep it hidden.
Learning that Pei Ying had disappeared made Meng Ling'er feel as if the sky had fallen. Later, after much persuasion from Xin Jin, she was finally convinced to go back and wait for news.
Yesterday morning, Pei Ying was found and brought back, but she had developed a severe high fever. Huo Tingshan suppressed the news and didn't tell Meng Ling'er that her mother had been found.
It was only after her lessons, when Meng Ling'er made her usual several trips to the courtyard, that she discovered Pei Ying had returned.
But at that time, Pei Ying had taken medicine and fallen asleep. Huo Tingshan only let her take a brief look before, citing Pei Ying's need for quiet rest, he directly sent her away, saying only that everything was fine and she should come again tomorrow.
After that, no matter how Meng Ling'er pleaded with the courtyard guards or even attempted to climb the wall, she couldn't enter the main courtyard.
"Mother, he wouldn't let me in." The tears that had been shimmering in Meng Ling'er's eyes finally spilled over.
Why was she only allowed one glance yesterday?
The person inside was her mother, her closest kin.
Pei Ying took a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "It's not too late to see me today. And now that you've seen me, you know I'm actually not seriously unwell."
Pei Ying actually agreed with Huo Tingshan keeping her daughter outside. Yesterday had indeed been somewhat critical; letting the girl in would probably have scared the wits out of her.
Meng Ling'er wiped her eyes and looked Pei Ying up and down. Seeing her rosy complexion, with little sign of weakness, her anxious heart finally settled back into place.
"Mother, you..." Meng Ling'er started to ask, but seeing Pei Ying hadn't eaten breakfast yet, her words took a turn. "You should eat first, then tell me later."
Pei Ying remembered today wasn't her day off. "Ling'er, don't you have lessons today?"
"I asked the teacher for half a day's leave," Meng Ling'er said truthfully.
Pei Ying nodded and began her meal.
Breakfast was noodle soup with shredded meat and greens, light and clear. Pei Ying's appetite was a bit better today; she felt some desire to eat.
While she ate, Meng Ling'er looked at Pei Ying several more times, the last trace of fear in her heart slowly fading away.
Once completely settled, Meng Ling'er noticed something she had overlooked before. For instance, this room was not her mother's bedchamber.
Although the layout and orientation were the same, the furnishings were quite different. This place was much simpler; there was no dressing table placed beside the screen by the bed.
Clearly, this was not a lady's bedchamber.
Meng Ling'er's eyebrow twitched. Her gaze shifted to the beautiful woman opposite her, who was eating her noodle soup unhurriedly, showing no sign of discomfort or urgency from being in someone else's room.
Meng Ling'er lowered her eyes and adjusted the jade bracelet on her wrist.
She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt that seeing her mother today was somehow different from before.
Soon, Pei Ying finished a bowl of noodle soup.
As soon as she put down her chopsticks, Meng Ling'er couldn't wait to ask, "Mother, what exactly happened that day? How did you go missing?"
Pei Ying recounted the events calmly.
After listening, Meng Ling'er was astonished. "So someone wanted to invite you to be his strategist, and that's why they kidnapped you?"
Pei Ying: "That's right."
Using this incident as a lesson, Pei Ying cautioned her daughter, "From now on, when you go out to the market, you must not go alone. I'm not saying guards have to be right beside you, but at least keep yourself within their sight."
Meng Ling'er obediently nodded.
Meng Ling'er stayed in the main courtyard all morning, even having lunch there before reluctantly leaving.
After her daughter left, Pei Ying took her medicine and then slept again.
When she woke up again, it was already the hour of Shen (around 3-5 PM). Pei Ying got up from the bed and, as she prepared to get down, keenly heard a slight movement from elsewhere.
Sure enough, the next moment, a tall figure walked around the screen and appeared before the bed.
"How are you feeling now, Madam?" Huo Tingshan asked.
He was naturally tall, and standing as he was now, Pei Ying had to tilt her head back slightly to look at him from her seated position by the bed. "I'm fine."
Huo Tingshan lifted the corner of his mouth. "So it seems. You're even well enough to run back on your own."
Pei Ying averted her eyes. This man was about to start his antics again.
But then she suddenly remembered another matter and shifted her gaze back to him. "Huo Tingshan, release all those female scouts you captured."
Huo Tingshan's eyebrow raised slightly.
He wasn't angry, but she had called him by his full name and dropped the formal address when speaking to him.
It wasn't his imagination; she really was less distant with him now.
The smile in his eyes deepened. "I'll release them, but not immediately."
Tilting her head to talk was uncomfortable, so Pei Ying simply stood up and slowly walked out to stretch her limbs. Hearing him say he couldn't release them immediately, she turned to him in confusion and asked why.
"Only locked up for a day? That's not enough. They should be locked up for at least five, six, seven, or eight days." Huo Tingshan strolled leisurely beside Pei Ying.
Pei Ying said truthfully, "They didn't mistreat me. In fact, the food in the secret room was quite good. It was my own idea to leave, which is why I deliberately caught a chill to induce them to find a physician for me."
However, after hearing her explanation, the scene Pei Ying anticipated—him agreeing right away—did not appear.
The smile hanging on the lips of the man beside her vanished. "You deliberately caught a chill?"
Pei Ying pressed her lips together, suddenly feeling it might be better not to speak right now.
"Wearing that rabbit's skin, yet doing such wolfish things. Pei Ying, you've really outdone yourself. Hearing a few praises from outside calling you a celestial maiden, and you dare to do anything, not even afraid you might accidentally ascend to the heavens on a crane." Huo Tingshan sneered.
Pei Ying couldn't help but defend herself. "I heard them say the Prince of Anxi would arrive in Xiaojiang County in three days. Xiaojiang County is so large; how could a thorough search be possible in just three short days? When the Anxi Prince arrives, you couldn't possibly still have people searching the entire city. It wouldn't look good."
Huo Tingshan's gaze turned gloomy. "Let the prince come if he wants. I have my own ways. You should have just waited there patiently. A high fever and chill are no small matters. Weren't you afraid they might worry about exposure and simply not treat you?"
Pei Ying said softly, "They wouldn't have."
Huo Tingshan was amused by her anger. "Don't know how? How many of those who can serve as scouts are soft-hearted? They've all taken lives, if not ten then at least eight. Do you think adding you makes much of a difference?"
Pei Ying said nothing.
She knew the odds of winning the bet were not small, because what held this female scout troop together was precisely the respect and value placed on their lady commander.
Huo Tingshan knew that even if she kept quiet, she was probably refuting him in her mind. He couldn't be bothered to argue. "This kind of thing only happens this once. From now on, no matter what, there's no need for you, Madam, to go to such reckless trouble."
Pei Ying glanced at him, said nothing, and slowly started walking towards the courtyard gate again.
Huo Tingshan's brow furrowed slightly.
Just a few words of criticism, and she's already unhappy. Her temper really is getting bigger and bigger.
"So, how many days does Madam think is appropriate for their confinement?" Huo Tingshan also stepped towards the courtyard gate.
Pei Ying suddenly thought: since he previously mistakenly believed she caught a chill from them, could it be that...
"Huo Tingshan, did you have them punished?" Pei Ying asked anxiously.
Huo Tingshan saw her turn her head. At first, he just met her gaze without speaking, but slowly, the corner of the man's mouth lifted, and he finally snorted a laugh: "Yes."
Pei Ying's delicate brows knitted together, somewhat incredulous. "How could you just punish them?"
"Madam only said to let them go at the time. You didn't say when, nor did you say to release them completely unharmed." Huo Tingshan had his reasons.
Pei Ying: "I'll go find a physician."
"Rest assured, I've already arranged for a physician to attend to them. The King of Hell won't be taking them." Huo Tingshan raised his hand and hooked a finger.
Pei Ying took a step, then felt a tug at her waist. She couldn't help but look down and saw that he had caught one end of her dangling sash.
Following the sash, Pei Ying looked again at the man beside her, confusion in her eyes.
Huo Tingshan: "They won't die, no need for Madam to trouble yourself. What I'd rather know now is when Madam plans to fulfill the promise she made me earlier?"
Pei Ying took a moment to react before she understood what he was referring to.
Yesterday, she promised to wash a pouch for him.
"You can't just press someone into service like this. I'm still taking medicine today." Pei Ying rescued her sash from his hand.
"Not asking you to do it immediately," Huo Tingshan said.
Pei Ying said suspiciously, "If you're not asking for it to be done right away, then why ask? Could it be you think I was talking nonsense yesterday because I wasn't in my right mind?"
Huo Tingshan did not respond.
Pei Ying felt she had guessed correctly. She found it utterly exasperating. "You really are..."
He always had a way of making it impossible for her to feel the slightest bit fond of him.
"Would Madam like to stroll in the garden? I'll accompany you." Huo Tingshan changed the subject.
Pei Ying shook her head. "Not the garden. I want to go see them."
Huo Tingshan said indifferently, "The prison is filthy. Your fever has just broken; it's not suitable for you to go to such a place."
That wasn't an issue in Pei Ying's view. "Have them brought out of the prison, and I'll meet them elsewhere. Then it won't be a filthy place."
"Not today. Wait a few more days, Madam." Huo Tingshan said, his tone not open for discussion.
Hearing this, Pei Ying's heart skipped a beat. "You didn't use severe punishment, did you?"
Huo Tingshan: "With your prior warning, the injuries are not fatal. However, they are indeed not a pleasant sight. They are also carrying illness now. You've just gotten better; it's not suitable for you to meet them."
In the end, Pei Ying didn't get to go. Without Huo Tingshan telling her, she simply didn't know where they were being held.
However, Pei Ying still left the small courtyard. Since she couldn't go see the prisoners, she changed her destination to the garden. She had slept too much recently; if she didn't move around a bit, her bones would turn to dust.
Pei Ying glanced at the man beside her and said nothing.
If he wanted to come along, then so be it.
It was indeed as Huo Tingshan had said before: Shi Lianhu, the former governor of Bingzhou, was greedy for wealth. His governor's mansion was more extravagant than Yuan Ding's.
This extended to the rear garden as well, which was larger and more imposing.
Spring had arrived, and the flowers in the rear garden had regained their vitality, blooming in clusters like a colorful scroll slowly unfurled by the hand named "Spring."
Huo Tingshan walked beside Pei Ying. Seeing her look here and there, her steps very slow, turning back into that tortoise-like crawl, it was clear she was quite interested.
He lifted his gaze and followed her glance around.
Nothing much to see. Those flowers were for looking, not eating. Not as practical as a pot of cooked grain.
The man withdrew his gaze again.
Pei Ying saw butterflies. Several butterflies, drawn by the fragrance, fluttered around the flower buds. Next to the flower bed was a rockery, jagged and rugged. Through a gap in the rocks, Pei Ying saw a flash of white moving.
Pei Ying focused, about to get a better look at what it was, when the other party stepped out from behind the rockery first.
Ning Qingying was wearing an apricot-white round-collar ruqun today. Her demeanor was naturally as cool and aloof as a lotus, and this white dress made her seem even more ethereal and refined.
Seeing Pei Ying and Huo Tingshan, Ning Qingying showed a surprised expression. "General, Madam Pei."
Today, the courtyard where she stayed, Qinghui Yard, had its restrictions lifted. She had guessed somewhat that perhaps she had returned. In that moment, she felt an indescribable anxiety.
She understood men's base nature all too well. Now that she had been found with great difficulty, what was originally treasured at eight parts could easily become ten. And she couldn't stay in the governor's mansion forever. The current situation was very unfavorable for her.
Pei Ying nodded slightly, treating it as a greeting to Ning Qingying.
Huo Tingshan's expression remained as before.
Ning Qingying approached with small, delicate steps. "Madam Pei, that day at Yunxiu Tower..."
"Madam, come with me to the study. I just remembered there is an important matter requiring your assistance." Huo Tingshan spoke abruptly, not caring if he was interrupting someone.
Ning Qingying was startled.
Pei Ying was also taken aback, but after saying this, Huo Tingshan had already turned and walked away on his own.
Pei Ying glanced at Ning Qingying, then followed Huo Tingshan's steps.
Once they had left the rear garden, Huo Tingshan said, "At most three days. Zhi Zhang will have her sent away."
Pei Ying studied him for a moment, then asked him in a low voice, "Huo Tingshan, aren't you tempted by her reputation?"
Huo Tingshan stopped walking. "Did she tell you that herself last time when you went out with her?"
"No, I heard it by chance," Pei Ying answered truthfully.
Huo Tingshan twisted the thumb ring on his finger. "Then she told Zhi Zhang."
A flicker of surprise passed through Pei Ying's eyes. "You..."
How did he know?
Right, Ning Qingying was from Huo Zhizhang's maternal clan. The only person in the mansion she was close to was Huo Zhizhang. So, aside from telling her, the only other person Ning Qingying could have told was him.
Huo Tingshan asked, "Has that kid come to you about this?"
Pei Ying shook her head. "No."
"At least he's not completely foolish." Huo Tingshan continued leading her towards the study, his pace not fast.
"Huo Tingshan." Pei Ying called him.
Huo Tingshan knew she wanted to ask the initial question. His voice was very calm: "Madam, I don't believe in those empty, illusory things."
Pei Ying said, "You may not believe it, but there will always be those among your followers who do. Perhaps belief is irrelevant; it's enough to know that such a reputation can build momentum for you, using it to attract renowned scholars and awe the unenlightened common folk. They would say it's beneficial and harmless, one more thing doesn't matter."
Huo Tingshan sneered, "Scholars attracted by such a reputation, being that foolish, I wouldn't dare use them even if they offered themselves. As for the commoners, the best way to win their awe isn't with some illusory, insubstantial reputation, but with things that can truly benefit them."
"But policies that benefit the common people cannot be implemented overnight; it's inevitably a lengthy process," Pei Ying said.
"It certainly isn't overnight, but so what? It's not as if my time is running out." A smile lifted the corners of Huo Tingshan's eyes. "Why is my wife taking the initiative to discuss these matters with me? Do you have some thoughts on managing the inner household in the future?"
Pei Ying replied, "I do have some thoughts."
Huo Tingshan made an acknowledging sound. "Let's hear them, wife."
"These are my true feelings, but hearing this honesty, you might find it absurd, even feel offended. Knowing that, do you still wish to hear it?" Pei Ying looked at him.
Her clear, almond-shaped eyes at that moment were like pools of water with shattered starlight, shimmering with a quiet yet intoxicating focus.
Huo Tingshan was momentarily dazed. His narrow eyes slightly narrowed. "Naturally, I wish to hear it. Getting a word of truth from my wife is no easy feat."
Pei Ying sighed softly. "My husband had only me, one woman. I lived with him for many years and grew accustomed to a life for two. I do not like, nor can I accept, my husband having any other women besides me."
Yi Hua
Huo Tingshan gazed at her and suddenly realized something. The "husband" she spoke of was not the short-lived Meng Ducang, but someone else, somewhere unknown.
A man who had truly lived with her for many years, and likely even had children with her.
This man was undoubtedly special. Precisely because he was now forever beyond reach, he had become an eternally vivid presence.
Huo Tingshan's gaze turned cold and heavy. "How it was with him, let it be how it is with me."
Pei Ying detected no hesitation in his words, and a trace of surprise flickered in her eyes.
Had he agreed? And he wasn't even angry?
She glanced at Huo Tingshan again. Perhaps he was still somewhat displeased; otherwise, his expression wouldn't be like this.
But his agreement was ultimately a good thing. Now was the time to smooth his feathers. So, Pei Ying nodded and said okay.
Huo Tingshan shot her a glance.
Agreeing so quickly clearly showed little sincerity.
Earlier, telling Ning Qingying they were going to the study wasn't entirely a lie; they did go.
However, the "important matter" was false. Pei Ying played several games of chess with Huo Tingshan there.
...
For the next two days, Pei Ying mostly rested, occasionally drinking tonics to replenish her blood and energy.
Two days later, Pei Ying felt completely recovered. Calculating the time, today seemed to be the day the Prince of Anxi was passing through Xiaojiang Commandery.
Pei Ying summoned Guo Dajiang, who was guarding the courtyard. "Squad Leader Guo, is Huo Tingshan not at the residence?"
Guo Dajiang froze for a moment.
Seeing his expression, Pei Ying belatedly realized her mistake. Over the past two days, she had changed how she addressed him. Huo Tingshan hadn't said anything, and she had grown accustomed to it.
"Replying to Madam Pei, the Grand General has indeed gone out," Guo Dajiang replied, snapping back to attention.
Pei Ying pondered for a moment.
Since he wasn't here, she couldn't ask him, but asking someone else should be the same.
So she asked again, "Squad Leader Guo, do you know where the female scouts brought back earlier are being held?"
This was something Guo Dajiang actually did know.
He shouldn't really say, as they were considered important prisoners, and the Grand General had ordered others not to approach casually. But Madam Pei wasn't just "others." Madam Pei had just addressed the Grand General by his full name; if he deceived her...
Thinking this, Guo Dajiang told the truth.
Pei Ying then learned that Xue Cha and the others were in a courtyard within the Provincial Governor's mansion.
This Provincial Governor's mansion of Bingzhou was truly vast, with numerous courtyards, not to mention the rooms within them.
Without specifically looking, one would never find them.
After getting the answer from Guo Dajiang, Pei Ying immediately went to that separate courtyard.
From outside, the small courtyard looked no different, but upon entering, Pei Ying saw Chen Wei. Under the warm spring sun, Chen Wei's face appeared excessively pale.
Seeing Pei Ying, Chen Wei cupped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Madam Pei."
"Squad Leader Chen, how are their injuries now?" Pei Ying asked as she walked inside.
Chen Wei replied, "Physician Feng prescribed excellent medicine. They should be fine now."
Hearing the word "should," Pei Ying felt an ominous premonition. However, when she pushed open the door and entered the room, she found the situation better than she had feared.
There were six people in the room.
Pei Ying remembered there had been more; it seemed some had successfully escaped. Among these six, familiar faces were only Jin Yu and another woman whose name she didn't know.
Seeing Pei Ying, complex emotions flashed across the six faces.
Pei Ying caught the scent of medicine, with a few threads of blood hidden within it.
"My apologies, I didn't make it clear to Huo Tingshan at the time," Pei Ying said with guilt.
Jin Yu and the others didn't expect Pei Ying to apologize. After all, they had kidnapped her first; it was normal for Huo, the Provincial Governor, to vent his anger on them.
"Madam, you needn't be like this. Coming to Xiaojiang Commandery, we were prepared for any outcome," Jin Yu said.
Scouts lived a life on the knife's edge. From the moment they left Chang'an, they were resolved to face death at any time.
Pei Ying said, "I have spoken to him. For now, focus on recuperating. Once your injuries are healed, you may leave on your own."
The six women exchanged glances, then simultaneously performed a curtsy towards Pei Ying.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Madam."
"Thank you for your great kindness, Madam."
...
In the evening, when Huo Tingshan returned, Pei Ying brought up the matter of the female scouts.
"As you wish, wife," Huo Tingshan said, utterly indifferent.
It was merely feeding six more mouths temporarily; he could certainly afford it.
Pei Ying chatted with him, asking about the Prince of Anxi today. "The Prince of Anxi is passing through here. How many days will he stay?"
Huo Tingshan replied, "Xiaojiang is a major commandery. He'll likely stay three or four days."
As he spoke, Huo Tingshan remembered the curly-haired Prince of Anxi giving him orders, and his adjutant relaying the message, asking if there were any great Chu beauties in Xiaojiang Commandery.
Huo Tingshan looked at Pei Ying sitting across from him.
Red lips, beautiful eyes, purple robes, black hair. Even sitting still, she resembled a meticulously detailed painting by a master. With a single turn of her gaze, everything came to life. Those autumn-pupil eyes were like peach blossom petals blooming in spring, carrying an unconscious, radiant charm.
"Wife, you have fully recovered now," Huo Tingshan suddenly said.
Pei Ying knew what he wanted. "Alright then, give me your pouch."
Huo Tingshan untied the pouch from his belt and handed it to her.
Pei Ying took it, went to the side room to fetch water, and as she turned to get the soap, she nearly bumped into Huo Tingshan who had appeared behind her.
The man promptly raised his arm to encircle Pei Ying's waist. "So clumsy and hasty."
Pei Ying was quite impressed by his skill in shifting the blame. She pushed his hand away and continued reaching for the soap. "Why did you follow me over here?"
Huo Tingshan: "I'm here to supervise."
Pei Ying was at a loss for words: "...Are you afraid I'll wash it wrong?"
Huo Tingshan chuckled softly in a low voice, "It wouldn't matter if you did. You could just sew me a whole set of clothes as compensation."
Pei Ying: "It's a shame you don't go into business."
However, after saying this, Pei Ying, who was holding the soap and about to wash the pouch, paused. Her gaze fell upon Huo Tingshan—more precisely, on his trousers.
It seemed she really should make him some clothes.
Noticing Pei Ying's gaze, Huo Tingshan looked down. "Are you thinking about it, my lady?"
