The man at the head of the table was called by his full name, yet he merely set down his wine cup, his face showing no sign of anger. "Do not worry, my lady. I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."
"The wine you drank before was clear, mild rice wine. What we have here now is distilled liquor, much higher in strength. How can it be the same as that mild wine?" Pei Ying's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Huo Tingshan spoke of the past. "I drank quite a lot when the first batch of this distilled liquor was finished, and I didn't feel drunk then."
Hearing this, Pei Ying knew he hadn't given up the idea. She simply stopped trying to persuade him. "Fine, then drink. However, I dislike the smell of alcohol lingering in the bedchamber. After you finish that wine, please make do in the study for tonight, General."
Huo Tingshan, who had been about to raise his hand to call a maid to refill his cup, paused. "Must it come to that, my lady?"
Pei Ying said nothing and did not look at him.
Huo Tingshan watched her for a moment, then clicked his tongue softly. "Alright then. I suppose I can do without those last few sips."
Their conversation wasn't particularly loud, but with only the five of them in the main hall and the seating arranged closely for this family banquet, those below could catch snippets of their words. Combined with observing the expressions and gestures of the couple at the head table, the three below grasped the gist of the matter.
Huo Mingji lowered his gaze. Huo Zhizhang looked astonished. Strangely, Meng Ling'er didn't seem very surprised.
Of course, a single black pig, even a large one, couldn't be finished in just two meals by a family of five, so the guards in the estate also enjoyed some good fortune today.
Even after eating their share and distributing some, given the pig's large size, there was still meat left over.
"Huo Tingshan, how should this meat be preserved? Should it be stored in the cellar?" Pei Ying asked.
Huo Tingshan replied, "There are several deep wells in the estate specifically for storing meat. Leftover meat is usually placed in a hanging basket and lowered into a well for preservation."
Pei Ying was thoughtful.
That wasn't necessarily a bad method. The water temperature in a deep well would be much lower than at the surface. However, areas near water sources are prone to breeding insects. Once the ice is made, it would be more proper to preserve the meat buried within it.
After the meal, Pei Ying returned to the main courtyard. Huo Tingshan had intended to go with her, but a guard came to report something midway, so he changed course for his study instead.
Back in the main courtyard, Pei Ying took paper and brush to outline the steps for making ice with saltpeter the next day.
After spending some time writing it down, she looked over the paper again and again. "We'll try it first. If it doesn't work, we can adjust the plan."
With the plan listed, Pei Ying went to the side chamber to bathe. The weather was warmer now, so the water didn't need to be scalding hot. After a comfortable soak in the large wooden tub, it still wasn't time to retire for the night.
The main chamber was spacious, furnished with many items: a sandalwood dressing case with cloud patterns, the soft couch she usually reclined on by the window, a low table with a xiangqi board set upon it, a carved wooden screen, and rows of clothing chests against the wall...
Pei Ying's gaze settled on the clothing chests.
Among the row of chests, the ones carved with lotus patterns were hers. The plain, unadorned chests that looked like ordinary clothing boxes were his.
The chests were placed on wooden racks, categorized by the garments they held. The bottom layer held cloaks and heavy outer robes, the one above held lower garments, and above that, upper garments. Undergarments like trousers and belly wraps were stored separately elsewhere.
In general, the items worn on the body were arranged on the rack from top to bottom accordingly.
Pei Ying looked at the unadorned chests as if facing a formidable enemy. She remembered once helping Huo Tingshan fetch clothes and accidentally seeing inside his chest.
The clothes inside his chest were all in "clumps," many twisted together like braids, a sight painful to the eyes of anyone with a touch of obsessive-compulsive tendency.
Standing still for a couple of breaths, Pei Ying finally walked over. She first opened the chest where Huo Tingshan kept his cloaks.
Seeing the cloaks inside were relatively neat, Pei Ying let out a sigh of relief and closed that chest.
Then she opened the chest above it, which held his robes.
This time, upon opening the chest, the "braids" appeared.
Huo Tingshan's outer robes were mostly dark-colored, a large tangled mass where it was almost impossible to tell which piece belonged to which.
Pei Ying pressed her fingers to her temples, then still took the robes out.
Shake them out, then fold them neatly.
After folding two pieces, Pei Ying felt something was amiss.
Logically, after the laundry servants washed and dried the clothes, the maids would take over, deliver them to the courtyard, and help fold and store them in the chests.
He didn't have many clothes, just a few sets, enough to manage during the rainy season when clothes were slow to dry. Therefore, there were only two chests for storing his outer robes.
Pei Ying opened the adjacent chest.
The situation in this chest was somewhat better than the previous one, but it was still messy. It looked as if someone had reached in to grab clothes and disturbed the neatly folded garments in the process.
Pei Ying fell into thought.
So, this man simply had a bad habit of rummaging through his clothes haphazardly when taking them out.
Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard a breath close to her ear. Startled, she was about to turn when an arm like an iron band encircled her waist from behind.
"My lady organizing my clothes for me brings me great joy."
Pei Ying struggled slightly, but finding it futile, she resigned herself to it. "Huo Tingshan, why are your clothing chests such a mess, all tangled up like braids?"
Huo Tingshan glanced up at his chest and offered a reasoned explanation. "This is what they call 'those who accomplish great deeds do not bother with minor details.'"
Click.
The beautiful lady before him reached out and closed his clothing chest.
Huo Tingshan was momentarily taken aback.
"That's true. You're so accustomed to ignoring minor details that even if I tidy them up, you'll probably just go back to your old ways tomorrow." Pei Ying decided it was best to turn a blind eye.
Huo Tingshan gave a light cough. "Then I'll be more careful tomorrow."
Pei Ying patted the hand still around her waist and assigned him a task. "You should at least organize one chest yourself. You fold the clothes in this chest, and I'll take care of the other one."
Seeing she was serious, Huo Tingshan pondered for a long moment, then slowly released Pei Ying.
He began folding his own clothes.
His movements were very slow, clearly someone who had never done this task before.
And indeed, that was the case. Huo Tingshan was born into the Huo clan, which had already risen to prominence by his great-grandfather's time. Although the family had experienced a period of decline, it was revitalized again by his father's generation.
Since childhood, he had servants attending to his daily needs; it never fell to him to do such tasks personally.
As for during military campaigns, that was truly a time of ignoring minor details. There was often no time to even change clothes, let alone fold them. Personally organizing his wardrobe was an entirely new frontier for him.
Pei Ying stood beside him. As he folded one piece, she folded another.
Huo Tingshan glanced sideways, taking in the fair profile of the beautiful lady. The soft glow of the night-pearl lamp fell upon her eyelashes, those long, dark lashes like crow feathers holding the light. She seemed enveloped in a gentle halo, serene and elegant.
The man's gaze returned to his hands. He shook out a robe and slowly folded it.
Alright then. Occasionally folding clothes didn't seem so bad either.
After the two chests were organized, Huo Tingshan went to the side chamber to wash up. By the time he reappeared, Pei Ying was already in bed.
He wore only a set of black undergarments. He hadn't even tied the sash properly; the crossed collar of the undergarment was open all the way down to his abdomen, boldly revealing a row of well-defined, solid abdominal muscles.
Hearing his footsteps, Pei Ying, holding the quilt, shifted further inward, making room for Huo Tingshan on the outer side of the bed.
In this era, within a married couple, the husband holds the esteemed position. Therefore, when resting, the husband sleeps on the inner side of the bed, making it convenient for the wife to attend to his needs during the night.
Seeing Pei Ying curled up with the quilt on the inner side, Huo Tingshan said nothing. He would undoubtedly rise earlier than her the next day, so sleeping on the outer side was just as well.
Getting onto the bed, Huo Tingshan reached out and pulled her over. "Why are you sticking to the wall? There's no need for you to act as the bed curtain."
Pei Ying kicked her legs slightly. "Huo Tingshan, it's hot."
The slight force on his leg was like a tickle to him, which Huo Tingshan paid no mind. "Don't try to fool me, my lady. The windows in the room are not closed, and the gauze curtains haven't even been drawn."
Pei Ying complained, "You're like a furnace. It gets hot as soon as you get close."
Sleeping next to him in winter might be comfortable, but staying close to him in summer was another matter entirely.
"A calm heart naturally feels cool," the man said leisurely.
Pei Ying pressed her lips together.
"My lady, in a few days, we will likely go on a campaign. You will accompany me," Huo Tingshan changed the subject.
Pei Ying was taken aback. "A campaign..."
She suddenly remembered the words she heard from Huo Zhizhang after the midday meal in the pig enclosure. He had said the Xiongnu had been making frequent small moves lately, raiding several villages to the south.
"Is it to campaign north against the Xiongnu?" Pei Ying, held from behind by him, moved, wanting to turn around.
Huo Tingshan sensed her intention and loosened his arm slightly, allowing the person in his embrace to turn. "Yes, north."
After answering, he paused briefly before asking, "Did that lad Huo Zhizhang tell you today?"
Pei Ying gave an affirmative hum. "He said the Xiongnu have been active lately. Actually, only the north remains now. Currently, Emperor Zhao is merely in poor health, not yet passed away. The other provinces cannot make major moves, as they would lack a justifiable cause for war."
Huo Tingshan's movements halted slightly, and he pulled her a little tighter. "That is indeed the case."
An autumn campaign would have been most appropriate, but precisely because Emperor Zhao's health is failing, he could not wait that long.
The situation changes in the blink of an eye. Once the one or two-month "period of propriety" after the emperor's passing is over, the various provinces will begin to stir.
The north of You Province suffers from Xiongnu raids, while Ji and Bing Provinces border Si, Yan, and Qing Provinces to the south. If the increasingly powerful Xiongnu in the north are not dealt with, and attacks come from both north and south simultaneously, he could very well find himself attacked from both front and rear.
"I wonder if the Xiongnu know about stirrups and the high-cantle saddle," Pei Ying murmured.
Huo Tingshan: "They might already know. The Xiongnu are not skilled in iron smelting, but the Jiankun people they defeated and have now incorporated into their ranks are masters of the craft. They likely have items like saddles, but the quantity is certainly not large."
Stirrups and the high-cantle saddle have been in existence for less than a year, not to mention that after learning of these two miraculous items, Huo Tingshan initially kept them secret.
"Set your mind at ease, my lady. This battle will surely be victorious." Huo Tingshan stroked his wife's back as if soothing a rabbit.
Pei Ying's brow twitched. "Pride goes before a fall. Be more cautious."
"My lady also understands that pride goes before a fall," Huo Tingshan chuckled softly.
His breath sprayed against her neck, making it itch. Pei Ying raised her hand to push him. "It's hot. Move over a bit."
Huo Tingshan grasped her wrist, his tone casual. "Did my lady apply medicine tonight?"
Yet Pei Ying keenly detected another meaning in his words.
If she hadn't applied medicine, that meant she was fully healed.
So Pei Ying said she had.
"Last night, I was somewhat unable to restrain myself. You suffered for it, my lady. Let me see if that place is still swollen." Huo Tingshan's hand moved downward.
Hearing the words "You suffered for it," Pei Ying thought the man's conscience had stirred, only for there to be another sentence following.
"Huo Tingshan, you..." Pei Ying flushed crimson.
Inside the bed curtains, it was dim, forming shadows in this secluded corner. The burly man moved to the foot of the bed, facing Pei Ying, and placed her legs on either side of his waist.
"We are already husband and wife. There's no need for shyness." Huo Tingshan's hands did not stop moving.
Pei Ying felt a coolness on her legs. Trying to close them was no longer possible, and soon she felt her undergarments being removed as well. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a small, soft brocade pillow nearby and hurriedly grabbed it.
Huo Tingshan reached out to feel and thought the swelling seemed less than this morning. Lifting his eyes to speak to Pei Ying, he saw her place a small brocade pillow over her own face.
Out of sight, out of mind.
He chuckled softly. "My lady often says she cannot compare to a young lady of twenty, but I see no difference at all."
"Hurry up and move away. I want to sleep," Pei Ying mumbled, pulling her undergarments back into place.
Huo Tingshan lay back down, pulling her over once more. Sensing the restlessness of the person in his arms, he stroked her back again. "I won't touch you today, but if my lady keeps twisting and turning and stirs a fire, then that's another matter."
Pei Ying complained, "But it's hot. As soon as you get close, I feel like I'm leaning against a heated brick bed. Who sleeps on a heated bed in summer?"
Huo Tingshan loosened his hold slightly. "How long does the ice-making method my lady mentioned require?"
Pei Ying: "One or two hours will suffice."
Mentioning ice-making gave Pei Ying a reason. "There's no ice today. It's truly hot being close to you. Let's wait until tomorrow."
After much persuasion, Pei Ying finally managed to get a certain large heated brick bed to move away. Without the overly scorching heat source, she soon drifted into dreamland.
She fell asleep, but the man beside her had not yet.
Since she had moved in, a faint, sweet fragrance had filled the main chamber. That scent permeated every corner of the room, quietly softening this simple, austere, and hard space.
Listening to the gradually even breathing beside him, Huo Tingshan stared unblinkingly at the gauze canopy above.
Emperor Zhao's health failing...
A long time later, the man let out a slow breath and slowly closed his eyes.
When Pei Ying woke, the space beside her was empty, and the spot where Huo Tingshan had lain was already cold.
Pei Ying mused to herself that, in a way, he was truly a workaholic.
He slept late, rose early, was often either at the military camp or in the study, and seemed not to have the habit of taking midday naps either.
"My lady." Hearing movement from within, Xin Jin approached.
After Pei Ying finished her morning meal, she went to the courtyard of the main compound and had the guards bring all the items purchased yesterday.
There were two bags of saltpeter in total, all bought from the apothecary. The saltpeter from the apothecary was in lump form, piece by piece. Pei Ying poured the saltpeter into a stone mortar and used a pestle to grind all of it into powder.
"Xin Jin, go find two earthenware jars, one large and one small, and fill them with water," Pei Ying instructed Xin Jin.
Xin Jin accepted the order.
The jars were heavy when filled with water, so Pei Ying had Guo Dajiang accompany her.
Not long after, the two returned.
Pei Ying placed the small earthenware jar inside the large one. With a splash, a layer of water overflowed from the large jar.
"Mother."
Pei Ying turned at the voice and saw the three youngsters. "Why have you come?"
Huo Mingji led his younger siblings in paying respects. "We come to pay our respects to Mother."
Pei Ying then understood why they had come.
Great Chu values filial piety, and prominent families place even greater emphasis on propriety. Children are to pay respects to their parents daily.
As she was now the legal mother, the younger generation below should, by custom, come to greet her.
"There's no need for such formality."
Pei Ying bade them to rise. "Truthfully, I am not so strict about formalities. You are all grown now, each with your own affairs to attend to. There's no need to come pay your respects every day."
The Huo brothers hastily declined.
Pei Ying, noticing their unease, said with a smile, "Later, I'll have your father speak with the two of you."
The Huo brothers fell silent this time.
Meng Ling'er was not as reserved as they were. Looking at the two clay pots, she asked curiously, "Mother, what are you planning to do with these?"
"Make ice," Pei Ying said.
The morning greetings concluded, and Huo Mingji, who had intended to leave after a brief chat, paused. "Make ice?"
He merely repeated Pei Ying's words, unsure of the exact characters she meant.
Pei Ying nodded with a smile. "Yes. The weather is getting hotter now, and I thought to make some ice to cool off."
"Mother, how can ice be made?" Huo Zhizhang was puzzled. "You must mean having someone fetch ice from the ice cellar."
Pei Ying shook her head. "Not at all. I mean making ice. The ice cellar method is too costly and labor-intensive, and the ice must be used sparingly. It's not economical. Making ice avoids these concerns. It's quite a coincidence; I haven't started yet. If you'd like to watch, you may observe."
However, after saying this, Pei Ying suddenly remembered that two of the three youngsters likely had lessons.
She looked at Huo Zhizhang and Meng Ling'er. "Ling'er, Zhizhang, don't the two of you have morning lessons?"
The named pair stiffened slightly.
They did indeed have lessons. They had come to the main courtyard to pay their respects during a break between classes.
Seeing their expressions, Pei Ying knew she hadn't misremembered. "It's not urgent. You two should return to your lessons first."
Huo Mingji also spoke up. "Listen to Mother. You two should go back now."
Watching them dawdle, practically turning back with every step as they headed towards the courtyard gate, Pei Ying chuckled. "Go on. I'll make some for you to see another day."
After the two left, Huo Mingji asked, "Mother, is there anything I can assist with?"
"Not at all, Mingji. Just watch." Pei Ying poured crushed saltpeter into the outer clay pot.
After the saltpeter dissolved in the water, Pei Ying added salt and then began stirring with a small wooden stick. "There, it's done. Now we just need to wait."
"...Done?" Huo Mingji was astonished.
From what he saw, his mother had only added two things to the water.
In the study.
Huo Tingshan's gaze swept over the assembled men. "We depart tentatively on the first day of the seventh month. Please expedite all preparations within your respective areas of responsibility."
Everyone bowed respectfully. "We shall obey your orders, My Lord."
Today was the tenth day of the sixth month, leaving twenty days until the first day of the seventh.
After dismissing most from the study, Huo Tingshan kept a few behind. Once matters were settled, he walked out with Gongsun Liang.
"I have a question I wish for you to answer, My Lord," Gongsun Liang said suddenly.
Huo Tingshan replied, "Speak freely, Taihe."
Gongsun Liang stroked his goatee. "Now that you are married, why do you still forbid news of Emperor Zhao's passing?"
This prohibition wasn't just for the common people; it extended to the manor as well, forbidding any mention. To emphasize its importance, My Lord had even reiterated the order twice in the study.
Huo Tingshan rotated the thumb ring on his finger.
Gongsun Taihe was his trusted confidant and, moreover, a man of exceptional intelligence. Keeping it from him might prove impossible over time.
But to tell him of that matter...
Huo Tingshan's expression became reserved.
That was a matter between him and his wife. It would be improper to casually let an outsider know.
"You will understand in time, Taihe," Huo Tingshan said mildly.
Seeing his reluctance to speak, Gongsun Liang asked no more. After all, his inquiry stemmed merely from curiosity, not urgent business.
After parting ways with Gongsun Liang, Huo Tingshan headed for the main courtyard. As he reached the courtyard gate, he heard exclamations from within.
"Madam! Ice... there really is ice!"
"Mother, what did you add to the clay pot earlier?"
"Madam Pei, this is truly incredible!"
Huo Tingshan raised an eyebrow slightly and stepped inside. His entrance drew everyone's attention.
Huo Mingji bowed to him. "Greetings, Father."
Huo Tingshan's eyes swept over his eldest son. "Here to pay your respects to your mother?"
Huo Mingji nodded in affirmation.
"And the other two?" Huo Tingshan asked, seeing only him.
Huo Mingji explained for his siblings. "The younger ones have lessons. They returned after paying their respects."
Huo Tingshan walked to Pei Ying's side and looked down.
Even with some prior expectation, when he actually saw the ice nearly filling the small clay pot, his pupils contracted slightly.
