Zhao Chu had always allowed any form of conspiracy, calculation, and utilitarian purpose.

He grew up amidst them, and to him, these things were like the rising and setting sun, like the cycle of the seasons, just another part of the world's operating laws.

Everyone lives within them.

But Fang Linyuan seemed to be different.

The only ones who could exist outside the rules, untainted by the dirt of conspiracy, were the sages and gods imagined by people.

But they had always been cold, painted on fragile paper or muddy clay, never to be touched.

Zhao Chong lowered his eyes, his fingers slowly tracing the three marks he had drawn on the paper.

The cold paper was not like warm skin; there was no sensation like yesterday.

Zhao Chong withdrew his hand without a word.

*

In the days that followed, Fang Linyuan finally found an excuse to stay away from Zhao Chu.

Every time he returned home, he cited busy official duties, retreating to the study until the early hours of the morning. He even used the excuse of being too busy to see anyone for several days in a row, not even meeting Wu Xinghai, who came to invite him.

In his busy schedule, Fang Linyuan regained some peace of mind.

In the quiet of the night, sitting in the study flipping through books with boredom, Fang Linyuan couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.

If his father were alive, he would surely has lost his eyes (NT: be astonished).

After all, he had always been wilful and active since he was a child, and his least favorite thing was the Four Books and Five Classics (NT: authoritative and important books illustrating the core value and belief systems in Confucianism. In ancient China, they were the core of the official examinations for the civil service ). In the two years before he went to the border, his father had broken three or five twigs to make him study.

Where had his father seen him willingly lock himself in the study without coming out?

Thinking of this, Fang Linyuan's mouth curved downwards.

Forget it, it would be better if his father in the grave didn't know anything about him bringing a man home with so much effort.

This calmness continued for three days.

Over the course of several days, Yu Tao gradually realized that Fang Linyuan was a hands-on person, and gradually relaxed, beginning to lazily avoid work. Fang Linyuan, in turn, seamlessly took over most of Yu Tao's work, shuttling around the Honglu Office every day.

On this day, Fang Linyuan returned to the mansion only at the time of the Dog Hour (NT: 19h-21h).

Just as he arrived at the gate, he saw attendants and Yanting waiting there. In the dim light, Fang Linyuan recognized that the attendant was from Jiyue Hall.

"Master Hou, the Lady invites you to have dinner at Jiyue Hall," the attendant said with a smile as he approached.

Fang Linyuan responded with a sound and followed him to Jiyue Hall.

His sister-in-law always worried that he wouldn't eat properly when he was busy, so occasionally she would summon him to dine together. However, this time, the guiding attendant hesitated several times, then spoke in a low voice, "Master Marquis, the elder Lady may have a few words to say to you later."

"What?" Fang Linyuan was startled.

Fang Linyuan observed the attendant's sorrowful expression as the latter mentioned, "Madame visits the elder Lady daily, and she's aware of your absence for the past few days."

Fang Linyuan: ?

He gazed at the squire in surprise, taking a while to regain his voice.

He finally asked, "Did Madame complain?"

The attendant hurriedly shook his head, "No! It was the Lady’s own inquiry. Master Marquis, rest assured, Madame will definitely speak up for you later..."

Fang Linyuan didn't have time to listen to him defending Zhao Chu.

Is Zhao Chu sick?

People don’t know he is a man, but doesn't he himself know he's? Does he really think he's already going to complain after just a few days without seeing him?! What’s the matter, you really can't live with him Fang Linyuan!

His expression quickly turned ugly, then he turned around and strode quickly towards the Ji Yue Hall.

He wanted to see what this crafty fox was up to!

*

Zhao Qi actually felt a bit wronged.

By relying on the identity of the Marquis's wife, he had escaped from the palace, but correspondingly, he had to make some concessions—such as pretending to be a couple with Fang Linyuan, as well as wasting some time every day to attend to the Ji Yue Hall morning and evening.

This matter started three days ago.

When he went to the palace to pay respects, Fang Linyuan was still staying at the Huaiyu Pavilion, but the next day, before dawn, he left.

While Zhao Chu was dressing, he turned his head to look in the direction of the side room and heard Juan Su whisper, "Marquis Anping left early. His attendant came just now to say that he went to the yamen early in the morning."

Ah, so he's keeping his distance.

With one hand holding the screw pine, Zhao Chu couldn't help but picture Fang Linyuan's cautious rabbit-like expression when they were alone.

"Why is Your Highness laughing?" Juan Su asked.

Zhao Chu didn't realize he was smiling. He absentmindedly responded with a sound of acknowledgment and continued to paint his eyebrows in the mirror.

At that moment, Wu Xinghai entered with a box and stood by the dressing table. "Your Highness, gifts from the Dou Mansion have arrived."

Zhao Chu glanced over.

The box was carved with the pattern of Guan Yin bestowing children (NT: Guan Yin is a bodhisattva associated with compassion in Buddhism. He receives prayers for seeking blessings for fertility), the style was extremely delicate, and it was made of very precious redwood.

With a glance, Zhao Chu gestured for it to be opened.

As soon as the box was opened, a strong medicinal fragrance wafted out.

"The person delivering the gifts said they were filial gifts from Mr. Dou," Wu Xinghai's face showed a hint of subtle strangeness, paused for a moment, and continued, "…They said they are very good postpartum medicines."

Zhao Chu chuckled.

He looked up and reached into the box, examining the medicine package with interest. "Did they send the prescription?"

"No," Wu Xinghai replied. "Mr. Dou said they would send it after Your Highness has finished consuming them. They didn't mention the prescription."

Zhao Qi glanced at Juan Su.

Understanding his intent, Juan Su reached out and took the package from his hands, opening it.

"Chuan Qiong, Yan Hu Suo, Chai Hu, Xiang Fu, Yi Mu Cao." (NT: respectively: Sichuan Lovage Root, Corydalis Rhizome, Bupleurum Root, Cyperus Rhizome, Leonurus cardiaca. Used to improve blood circulation and relieve pain) With just a quick glance, he smoothly listed the ingredients.

After a moment, he put the medicine package back into the box and said, "Your Highness, aside from the usual postpartum medicine ingredients, these are also included. They are all mild in nature, but they promote blood circulation and dispel stasis, benefiting the uterus."

Zhao Qi almost laughed out loud.

He turned his head to look at the box, his eyes showing a hint of teasing.

His uncle had lived to such an old age, yet he could only resort to such tricks.

He reached out and picked up the medicinal herbs in the box, smiling lightly as he was about to speak, but Wu Xinghai's expression darkened and he closed the box.

"Going too far. Your Highness, I'll go and get rid with these things…" he said.

"Hold on," Zhao Qiao replied, pressing his hand on the box.

Wu Xinghai looked down, and Zhao Chu's expression had become cold. "Wu Xinghai, you're getting old and confused."

Wu Xinghai immediately understood his meaning.

"The Marquis's residence has spies from the Dou Mansion," he said in a deep voice. "But, Your Highness, these medicines are clearly brought by Dou Huairan to harm you. How can you take them?"

"Why not?" Zhao Chu raised his eyes. "Why would I be afraid of contraceptive drugs?"

Wu Xinghai hesitated for a moment in place, and even the hand holding the box was trembling slightly.

"Your Highness!"

"Since they were sent, I will use them." Zhao Chu casually turned his head away, calmly drawing the last stroke of his brows in front of the mirror. "Not only will I use them, but I will also use them openly."

"...I'm afraid Your Highness is too humiliated." Wu Xinghai said in a low voice.

Zhao Chu seemed to hear a joke.

"Humiliated?" he said. "But don't forget why Dou Huairan sent the medicine."

He slowly put the hairpin back on the table, his eyes containing a cold smile, looking at the figure in the mirror.

Charming, bright, a pair of eyebrows drawn like gentle distant mountains, softening his features, as if even his eyes contained two more female-exclusive traits of tolerance and gentleness.

Even though those eyes, every time they faced the mirror, were as cold as a bottomless abyss.

Zhao Chu bitterly resented his neither-male nor-female appearance.

But he knew that this female robe was the disguise that could blunt his edge, giving him a chance to survive in the chaos left by his mother's downfall. And if he wanted those courtiers who talked endlessly about loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness to pave the way for him to the dragon throne, he needed an even deeper disguise.

That was to be a woman willing to be a wife.

His mother was only seen as a possible contender for the throne when she entered the court, which is why she died with the title of a jealous woman in the cold palace. As for him, he had to show the attitude of a wife and mother in order to make those who thought they were clever feel that he could be used but was not a threat.

After all, in their eyes, as long as this ambitious woman lived in harmony with her husband, played the zither and flute harmoniously, served the elders of her husband's family with courtesy, and even actively gave birth to children—then no matter how powerful a woman was, she was just a woman.

As for humiliation?

Zhao Chu looked at his reflection in the mirror with a cold expression and smiled.

When he was eight years old, he would still tremble with excitement when he put on a man's cloak, but now, he was long past the age of hoping to live like a normal person.

After all, there was only one rule in the world to measure humiliation, and that was to win or lose.

Everything else was meaningless.

So, even though Song Zhaojin repeatedly advised him not to be too formal, Zhao Chu still visited early and late these days without fail.

However, Song Zhaojin saw some clues in between.

"Has Second Brother been staying in the Fuguang Pavilion these past few days?" she asked with a rare seriousness, turning to the maid beside her. "What has he been busy with these two days?"

Zhao Chu paused slightly.

It was his negligence, forgetting that there were still such family affairs in the backyard while pretending.

"The Turkic envoys are coming to pay their respects in a few days, and Father has arranged some matters for my husband to attend to," Zhao Chu replied first.

However, Song Zhaojin's worried expression did not ease.

She reached out and patted Zhao Chu's arm, soothingly saying, "Second Brother has always been like this since he was young. If something is entrusted to him, he will certainly not care about anything else. Your Highness, it is fortunate that you are willing to tolerate him, but now that he is married, there are some things he should not be ignorant of."

Without waiting for Zhao Chu to retort, Song Zhaojin instructed the people around her, "Mingyue, send someone to wait outside for the Marquis, and invite him to dinner tonight."

The words of refusal from Zhao Chu were stuck in his throat.

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his eyelids.

Having stayed at the Marquis of Anping's mansion for a few days, he also noticed that this lady was of a gentle and non-interfering nature. Today, she specially invited Fang Linyuan over, presumably with the intention of teaching him a lesson.

Fang Linyuan was indeed avoiding him, he knew.

But since he was willing to rack his brains to find reasons to avoid him, Zhao Chu was happy to have some peace and quiet. Although the silk thread on his heart occasionally scratched him lightly, it was nothing serious.

Today, Song Zhaojin's intention to admonish Fang Linyuan didn't bother him. It was just that Fang Linyuan, who had finally enjoyed a few days of tranquillity...

Zhao Chu wondered how the other would raise those snow-white ears again, vigilantly scrutinizing him.

As if seeing his appearance, Zhao Chu lifted his handkerchief to cover his lips.

Concealing the faint smile that surfaced uncontrollably.

--

The author has something to say:

Song Zhaojin : becoming a fan of Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu's CP (NT: Couple Pairing)!

Fang Linyuan: Sister-in-law, if you keep doing this, you'll only harm me!

 

Translator : DarNan