Chapter 046
Chapter 46: The Chaos at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion Actually Happens Today?
So it would seem after the brothers left the study, Yun Zheng went to seek the comfort of his beloved wife, while Yun Zhan walked toward the Qing Garden. As he moved through the quiet paths, the secret report from the Shadow Hall kept echoing in his mind, and he could not understand how a crown princess of such rank could have fallen into such misery.
A slender figure approached him with light steps, and she greeted him with a gentle voice: “Seventh Lord, you have returned.”
Yun Zhan stopped and murmured an acknowledgment, his gaze settling on the fine silver mask that hid her face. His eyes were steady and bold, as if trying to look through the mask and into her heart, and though a trace of confusion rose in Yin Shuang’s eyes, she did not step away as she asked softly: “Why is Seventh Lord looking at me like this?”
Yun Zhan raised his hand, his fingertips brushing the edge of her mask, and he spoke with care: “Yin Shuang, I wish to see your face.”
Yin Shuang stilled for a breath, then lifted her hands and removed the mask. A delicate oval face appeared, and though her features were fine, large patches of dark, scarred sores covered her cheeks. The ruin of it would frighten a child to tears. Yun Zhan studied her closely. When he ignored the sores, the woman before him matched the portrait hidden inside his robe. One question was answered, yet many more were born.
Yin Shuang lowered her head and half-covered her left cheek as she forced a light tone: “Why would Seventh Lord suddenly want to see my face? Are you not afraid of a nightmare?”
She herself could hardly bear it. A single glance at her reflection made her stomach twist. Yet this was already much better than before. When they first met, festering wounds covered her from head to toe, not an inch of good skin left. She had long wondered what kind of man Yun Zhan was, to lift her up without a blink, unafraid of stain or contagion.
Yun Zhan gave a low laugh and eased the mask back over her face with tender care, and he said: “You exaggerate.”
Her unease deepened at his unusual warmth. She tried to sound casual, yet her voice was careful: “Seventh Lord, did something happen recently?”
Yun Zhan returned the question with calm eyes: “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, nothing,” she answered, shaking her head and hiding her worry.
Yun Zhan sighed and spoke in a gentler tone: “Yin Shuang, if something weighs on your heart, tell me. There is no need to hold back.”
Her fingers tightened as she lifted her gaze, and he urged her with quiet patience: “Speak. I can see you are troubled.”
She took a breath and let the words out with courage: “I only feel that Seventh Lord has been a little strange lately.”
He chuckled, the sound soft as wind through bamboo, and he asked: “You mean I have been too attentive to you?”
Her expression stiffened; she did not know how to answer.
He looked at her, and his voice turned solemn: “Yin Shuang, if I were to propose marriage to you, would you accept?”
Her eyes flew wide, her heart pounding until it hurt, and after a long stunned pause she lowered her lashes with a faint, self-mocking smile as she said: “Seventh Lord, please do not tease me.”
Yun Zhan rubbed his temples and spoke with a weary honesty: “I am not teasing you. I am serious.”
He continued before she could form a reply, his words measured and clear: “I truly wish to marry you. But you should follow your heart. There is no pressure. I would never force you. I only wanted you to know my feelings.”
He had not planned to say it this soon. There was still time before the promise he had made to his eldest sister-in-law. Yet the portrait he had seen set many thoughts in motion. He had already learned from Little Fourth’s heart voice how to cure Yin Shuang’s poison. Her beauty would soon return. If he waited and confessed after that, she might think he only loved her face. Then what would his sincerity be worth?
“Why?” she asked in confusion, her voice small as she whispered: “Seventh Lord, do you care for me?”
How could he like her? She despised her own reflection. Could any man truly like her like this?
He answered with honest doubt and steadiness both: “Perhaps I do. I have not been close to many women, and I cannot be sure what true affection feels like. But I cannot bear to see you wronged. I only wish for your happiness.”
He did not say what burned most in his chest: he could not imagine her marrying another. For two years she had been beside him, quiet and careful, until she became a habit of his life. Before, the feeling lay vague and unnamed. After Little Fourth’s heart voice pierced the fog, it burst forth like wild grass after rain. In his heart, Yin Shuang was more precious than any noble lady.
She forced a thin smile and tested him with a bitter joke: “Do you perhaps prefer ugly women?”
His brows drew together, and he answered with a straight face: “What nonsense. There are many women far uglier than you in Great Wu. If ugliness alone chose my wife, you would have little chance.”
Yin Shuang fell silent.
He steadied his tone and set the matter down with care: “I have spoken my heart. You are free to refuse me, but do not doubt my sincerity. There is no rush. Take all the time you need.”
He lifted his hand again and brushed her cheek, and his voice was low: “Your face is damaged, yes, but you are not as ugly as you think. Your eyes outshine every flaw.”
Not only her eyes. To him, every part of her was beautiful.
…
The next morning in the front hall, the fragrance of food tugged Yun Wan Ning awake. Her eyes stayed shut, yet her tiny nose twitched with joy as her thoughts spilled out bright and greedy: [Ah, so fragrant! I smell roast goose, braised pork trotters, honey-glazed char siu, duck tongue with cordyceps, mushroom soup, fish stew with pickled vegetables, almond pastries, and lamb hotpot!]
Her hunger rose like a tide as she whimpered in her heart: [Aaah, drooling… my mouth is watering.]
Her tone turned full of wounded pride: [Father and mother are so mean! They know I cannot eat solid food, yet they tempt me with all this. Sob, I want food too!]
She kicked her feet in outrage: [I do not want milk, I want real food! Waaaah!]
Everyone at the table fell silent. They exchanged helpless looks over the feast. Usually a nursemaid watched her at mealtimes, but the woman had taken leave. They had thought the child would sleep. None of them had expected this.
Madam Yun rose and went to her with a soft smile, thinking the little milk bun must be hungry. Once she drank her fill, she would stop yearning after rich dishes. She spoke to the others over her shoulder as she walked: “I will go check on Little Fourth.”
Yun Zheng frowned and looked around the table: “Where is Yun Wan Ye? Why has he not come?”
The family gathered for breakfast, but the second son was missing. The dishes cooled, and Yun Zheng’s face grew darker. Yun Wan Yao shook her head and answered in a low voice: “I do not know. Perhaps he is still sleeping.”
He was about to send a servant to fetch the boy when a head poked carefully around the door. Yun Wan Ye edged in and spoke with a guilty smile: “Father, Mother, I have something to do today, so I will skip breakfast. Please eat without me.”
“You, come in,” Yun Zheng ordered, his tone cold as iron.
Yun Wan Ye flinched and shuffled forward with a small, careful bow as he asked: “Father, did you need me?”
Yun Zheng tapped the table once, displeasure thick in his voice: “If you were not going to eat, why did you not speak up earlier? You made everyone wait.”
“I am sorry, Father,” Yun Wan Ye blurted, trying to soothe his temper with a rush of words: “Next time I will say it at once. If I am late again, do not wait for me. Let me starve.”
“Hmph,” Yun Zheng snorted, his eyes narrowing: “What are you going out for?”
Not daring to lie, Yun Wan Ye answered at once: “Today is Wei Chao Hui’s birthday. He invited friends to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. I am going to celebrate with him.”
At the words Wei Chao Hui and Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, Yun Wan Ning jolted where she lay, forgetting even her milk as her thoughts rang out like a struck bell: [Wait, what? The plot event with the big fight at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion is actually today? Father, stop him! Do not let Second Brother out today. He will cause trouble for sure!]
Everyone froze. Heads lifted. Ears sharpened.
Yun Wan Ye’s heart sank to his boots. He hurried to plead in his mind: [Little Sister, speak quickly! Your second brother is desperate. Tell me what trouble is coming so I can brace myself.]
Obediently, Yun Wan Ning began to narrate every step with exact detail: [Wei Chao Hui is Second Brother’s close friend. He holds a birthday banquet today at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion and invites several idle noble sons. They drink too much and grow very drunk. Near the end, they run into Lu Huai Jin, who is also there with friends. Second Brother never got along with Lu Huai Jin. He often insults him behind his back, and everyone knows it. Eager to flatter Second Brother and bold with wine, the youths mock Lu Huai Jin for relying on others. Lu Huai Jin answers back, and the quarrel turns into a fight. It spins out of control. In the chaos, Lu Huai Jin’s friend is beaten to death, and Lu Huai Jin is badly hurt. The pavilion reports the incident at once. The Capital Prefecture Office arrests everyone. Unluckily, the dead youth is the Senior Policy Minister’s illegitimate son. Enraged, the Senior Policy Minister joins with Marquis Chang Le and brings the case to the Emperor. The Princess is furious that her future consort was injured. The court erupts. Second Brother is sentenced to a hundred lashes and demoted to a criminal commoner. The youth who dealt the killing blow is executed. Wei Chao Hui and the others are sent to the border to build walls.]
Her thoughts turned heavier as a storm: [The blow spreads to Father and Seventh Uncle. Censors accuse Father of failing to teach his son. Officials line up to demand punishment. Pressured on all sides, the Emperor strips Father of command at Cangyun Ridge, suspends him from duty, docks a year of salary, and orders six months of house arrest.]
Madam Yun’s hand shook so hard that the spoon slipped, and a splash of milk dotted Yun Wan Ning’s cheek. The little one blinked, surprised by the cold touch, and she cried out in her heart: [Mother, what distracted you so badly that you splashed milk on my face? Wipe it off, hurry. It feels awful.]
Madam Yun came back to herself at once and set the bowl aside to wipe her daughter’s face, and she soothed her with a whisper: “I am sorry, Little Fourth. Mother’s hand slipped.”
Yun Wan Ning forgave her at once, sweet-tempered even while sticky: [It is fine, Mother. I do not blame you. Everyone makes mistakes. I understand.]
The mother’s smile warmed, then sharpened as she turned to glare at Yun Wan Ye, and she scolded with a steady voice that cut like a thin blade: “Ever since you returned from the military camp, you have done nothing but idle, drink, and play. It is not acceptable. If you truly have nothing to do, go back and train. When a real battle comes, you will not drag your father down.”
Yun Wan Ning agreed with all her heart, her thoughts ringing like a wooden clapper: [Yes, Mother is right! If Second Brother is idle, he should return to camp to train. Wandering outside only brings trouble, especially today. You must not go! Young men are hot-blooded. Fighting over nothing is foolish. Lose and you are hurt. Win and you must pay compensation. There is no gain. Is a hundred lashes fun? Is becoming a criminal something to show off? Is building walls at the border enjoyable?]
Yun Wan Ye felt wronged to the core. Why did it feel like he was already guilty before he even left the house?
Yun Zheng’s gaze was grim, and he agreed with a hard snort: “Madam is right. This brat has had too much freedom. It is time he returned to camp.”
“Father, Mother, I will go back to the camp,” Yun Wan Ye yielded at once, then tried to bargain with a sheepish smile: “But can it wait until after the New Year? Eldest Brother and Seventh Uncle just came home. I want to spend time with Eldest Brother first.”
Yun Wan Chen’s smile was gentle as moonlight: “If you want to be with me, then do not go out today. I am recovering well. Stay home and train with me.”
And so, for now, the disaster at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was neatly averted.