The rear courtyard of the Marquis’s residence, Zheng Shi’s Chunxuan Hall.
In this familiar place filled with elegant incense and lingering tea fragrance, Yun Ran finally relaxed and began to chat with the women of her family about what she had seen, heard, and felt over the past two months.
Upon learning that Jing Prince’s Manor was not as plagued by poisonous miasma, snakes, and rats as the rumors claimed, and that the Jing Prince did not have the strange habits of eating raw meat, drinking fresh blood, or catching and gnawing on live mice in the dead of night, Zheng Shi and the three sisters-in-law all breathed sighs of relief. “That’s good.”
“Looks like the boxes of sulfur and cinnabar and rat repellent you packed with the dowry won’t even be needed.”
“It’s not a bad idea to keep a box or two of the herbal sachets for plague prevention, exorcism, and insect repelling— they don’t take up much space anyway.”
“Alas, those rumors outside were really frightening, so we had to prepare more than necessary.”
“If you ask me, those spreading falsehoods are really lacking in virtue! The moment I saw our brother-in-law today, I thought all those outside were talking nonsense—”
Third Sister-in-law Qian Sijin gripped a handful of roasted sunflower seeds, her face full of righteous indignation. “Our Prince’s brother-in-law has the appearance of pure gold and jade, the bearing of a dragon and phoenix, and a demeanor untainted by the mundane world. How could he be some savage who lives on raw meat? Just because he spent time among the Rongdi doesn’t mean we should attribute their bad habits to him. That’s a huge injustice.”
At these words, Yun Ran and First Sister-in-law Li Wanrong both looked at her.
Qian Sijin paused her shelling of seeds. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”
“Uh, I admit I used to say bad things about the Jing Prince too, but… I only heard it from some storytelling masters at the teahouse.”
Qian Sijin’s eyes flickered uneasily, her pretty face flushing with embarrassment. “It’s those storytelling masters making things up to stir up fear! Next time I hear such nonsense, I’ll be the first to defend our brother-in-law!”
She admitted her mistake quickly, and no one present had anything to say.
After all, besides Yun Ran, everyone there had heard at least some of the Jing Prince’s infamous stories and scandals; everyone was equally guilty and no one had the face to criticize another.
Yun Ran held the Qingci Jade Cup and drained the bowl of Eight-Treasure Green Bean Osmanthus Tea before speaking. “But those rumors aren’t entirely false. He does keep quite a few snakes, and his temperament is indeed peculiar.”
At this, Qian Sijin, who had just been so confident in defending “the Prince’s brother-in-law,” suddenly choked.
Zheng Shi and the others were also stunned. “Really? He keeps snakes? Quite a lot?”
Yun Ran nodded. “They say the west side of the manor has a yard set aside just for raising snakes. I don’t know the exact number, but every day the manor sends a cartload of mice to feed them. I estimate there must be several hundred.”
Several hundred!
Zheng Shi and the others stiffened.
The thought of hundreds of snakes lurking in the back courtyard sent shivers down their spines.
Yun Ran, however, remained calm. “But aside from raising snakes and having a strange temper, everything else is fine. It’s not as scary as people say.”
Zheng Shi and the three sisters-in-law exchanged uneasy looks.
Hundreds of snakes weren’t scary enough?
If there was even one snake in the manor’s back yard, they wouldn’t sleep peacefully.
“Ranran, why does the Prince keep so many snakes?” Second Sister-in-law Lu Lingzhen timidly asked. “Have you ever tried to persuade him to release them?”
“Maybe it’s a personal hobby. I haven’t asked him directly. As for persuading him to release them…” Yun Ran scratched her chin awkwardly and smiled, “Second Sister-in-law, you overestimate me. I’m not that close to him yet.”
Qian Sijin frowned. “You’re married to him, and you’re still not close?”
She knew more about Yun Ze than just a day after their wedding — even the few moles on his back.
Yun Ran blinked. “We’re married, but there are degrees of closeness. Right now, we’re… okay.”
Qian Sijin: “Okay?”
Newlyweds should be smitten and inseparable, yet Yun Ran said “okay” so reluctantly. Could it be…
Their marital harmony wasn’t quite right?
Apparently, Qian Sijin wasn’t the only one thinking this way, but with so many people around, no one dared ask directly.
So everyone looked at each other and awkwardly forced a laugh.
Seeing everyone fall silent, Yun Ran thought they must still be biased against the Jing Prince because of his two shortcomings.
“Actually, as a husband, he’s not bad.”
Yun Ran said, “Back when I was at the Daoguan, I heard countless marital troubles — like Old Man Liu at the village entrance secretly getting the village widow pregnant despite his old age, Tian Third’s husband beating his wife, a young bride unable to endure it jumping into the river, and Wang Yuanwai’s son forcibly marrying a commoner and even beating her brother…”
Stories like these, Yun Ran had heard from pilgrims over the years.
Some men were vicious in every conceivable way, utterly without bottom lines.
Every time she heard such stories, Yun Ran felt grateful to be an outsider, untouched by marriage.
Yet fate was unpredictable.
Compared to those who beat, steal, gamble, and whore, the Jing Prince was only a bit odd-tempered—
Let him be odd, at least he didn’t harm others.
Time passed quickly during their casual chat. Soon, the maids were ready. “Shall we start the meal now?”
Zheng Shi glanced out at the bright sunlight. “Set the table.”
After a pause, she said, “Wan Niang, Ranran and I will come by later.”
Li Wanrong understood this was a private conversation between her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, so she agreed and looked at the two sisters-in-law. “Second and Third Sister-in-law, let’s go.”
After the three daughters-in-law left, Zheng Shi dismissed the maids as well, leaving Yun Ran alone.
Yun Ran’s curiosity showed. “Mother, is there something you want to say?”
Zheng Shi spoke, holding her daughter’s hand and carefully examining her from head to toe before seriously asking, “Ranran, be honest with me. How are you really doing at the manor? Does His Highness the Jing Prince treat you well?”
So that was the question.
Yun Ran smiled with gentle eyes. “Mother, everything I told you is true. I’m well fed, well rested at the manor. Aside from not seeing you all, it’s not much different from being at home.”
“Besides, the manor’s courtyard is three times bigger than Listening Summer Pavilion! The front yard is spacious enough not just for Tai Chi but for practicing alchemical swordplay. The back yard even has a big open area with a few peach trees— such a waste! I’m thinking after these two months, I’ll tidy it up. Spring will be just right for planting— half vegetables, half flowers. I can fence off a corner to raise some free-range chickens.”
“My bed now is especially large. Last night I slept crosswise; tonight I plan to try diagonally. The food at the manor is excellent. There are several cooks, including a female chef skilled in Huaiyang, Shandong, Cantonese cuisines, and pastries. Her skills are impeccable…”
She rattled off these details to convince Zheng Shi that she was doing well.
Zheng Shi’s attention, however, focused on one thing. “You slept crosswise last night, but what about the Jing Prince?”
“Huh? I don’t know.”
Yun Ran blinked in confusion. “I haven’t slept with him.”
Zheng Shi: “…?”
Of course! She thought it was too smooth. Since no one else was around, Zheng Shi pursed her lips and quietly asked about their wedding night.
After Yun Ran truthfully answered, Zheng Shi was surprised. “You still observed the wedding rites?”
She had thought with the Empress Dowager watching, the night would be consummated.
Yun Ran’s pale face flushed. “Probably he’s like me — new acquaintances, not yet close, and both embarrassed.”
Zheng Shi: “…”
Men don’t care about such things as ‘close or not’ — it’s about whether they want to or not.
Though the Jing Prince was handsome, Yun Ran was a delicate and beautiful young woman; she should not be unattractive to him…
Hmm, the Jing Prince must be the problem.
“Mother? Mother?”
Yun Ran eyed Zheng Shi’s stern frown and felt uneasy. “Is the wedding rite really urgent? If it is, I can think of a way to get it done?”
Zheng Shi choked on the words, her face flushing. “Well, it’s not that urgent.”
They were already married and living under the same roof; they saw each other every day. If there were any intimacy issues, it would resolve naturally over time.
Besides, the Empress Dowager was probably more anxious than them about this matter.
“No rush.”
Zheng Shi looked at her daughter’s delicate, radiant face and said softly, “These things require letting nature take its course. You can do it whenever you feel ready.”
Yun Ran tilted her head. “Ready? When exactly is that?”
She clearly hadn’t grasped it yet.
Zheng Shi sighed inwardly and pinched her daughter’s smooth white cheek. “You’ll know when the time comes.”
Yun Ran understood that phrase well—
When she asked her master or senior sisters questions, they often said, “You’ll know when the time comes.”
She suspected they said that just because they couldn’t answer her.
Hmph.
–
Yun Ran and Zheng Shi arrived at the dining hall, where everyone else had gathered, including Sima Jing.
He lifted his eyes and saw Yun Ran linked arm in arm with Zheng Shi entering the room.
They were whispering about something, both with crescent-moon smiles so full of joy they might overflow.
He had never seen her laugh so happily before.
So this was her true state at the Marquis’s Mansion.
No wonder she wanted to go home so badly.
Only when she reached the round table did Yun Ran finally glance at Sima Jing.
Coincidentally, their eyes met.
Her mood was very good, surrounded by familiar surroundings and family. She cheerfully winked at him.
Sima Jing: “…”
She was so bold today.
Flirting openly in front of so many people?
He frowned and looked away.
Yun Ran released Zheng Shi’s hand and sat beside him.
“Your Highness.”
She greeted him sweetly, the softness of her voice barely shifted from when she spoke to Zheng Shi. “Did you just rest in the guest room?”
Sima Jing gave her a strange look and hummed in reply.
Yun Ran noticed he seemed restless. Looking around at the others at the table, she lowered her voice and leaned closer. “What’s wrong? Has anyone slighted you? Or neglected to care for you? If there is, don’t keep it bottled up. Just tell me, and I’ll take care of it.”
Being this close, her breath carried a faint sweetness of osmanthus flowers.
Sima Jing guessed she must have eaten some osmanthus pastries. Calmly, he said, “Be more formal outside. Don’t get so close.”
Yun Ran: “…?”
She kindly asked, and he complained about her proximity?