TLs note: You’ll love this chapter hihi
With the calligraphy in hand, Shen Lingzhen made her way to Huo Liuxing’s courtyard. She hadn’t yet stepped through the door when she saw him wheeling himself out.
They hadn’t spoken much in recent days, and now, suddenly face-to-face, both felt a touch of awkwardness.
Shen Lingzhen, sensing his recent coldness, carried a knot of unease in her heart. As for Huo Liuxing, he’d grown used to them being equals, both confined to wheelchairs. Now that her foot had healed and she stood above him, her posture seemed to carry a hint of confrontation, stirring a vague sense of dread within him.
So the two of them stood still, separated by the moon gate, silent and unmoving.
Huo Liuxing narrowed his eyes slightly, glancing at the paper in her hands. He spoke first. “What’s that?”
“Oh,” Shen Lingzhen snapped out of her thoughts and unfolded the rice paper. “It’s a poem written by you, isn’t it?”
His gaze sharpened for a moment, then returned to calm. Instead of answering, he asked, “Where did you get it?”
“Miaoling found it in Eldest Miss’ room.”
Behind him, Kongqing and Jingmo both held their breath.
This piece must have been written by their master years ago, casually, not something meant to be hidden. They’d never paid much attention to where it ended up, and couldn’t recall when Eldest Miss had taken it to keep. But judging by the current situation, their master would likely have to claim it as his own.
Huo Liuxing’s fingers rubbed lightly against the wooden armrest of his wheelchair. After a pause, he said, “Yes, it’s mine.”
Shen Lingzhen frowned. “That’s strange. It’s also semi-cursive, but I clearly remember the handwriting on that handkerchief, it looked nothing like this. Didn’t you say that was your writing too?”
The calm expression Huo Liuxing had maintained began to falter. He bit his lip gently.
The sword matched him. The scars matched him. Even the martial arts techniques matched him. Everything that shouldn’t match, did. So why was the one thing that should match, his handwriting, so off?
Kongqing and Jingmo stood stiffly, eyes lowered, pretending to be invisible.
Then they heard Huo Liuxing let out a confused hiss. “How could it be different? That handkerchief had my handwriting on it.”
“No,” Shen Lingzhen replied firmly. “Young Master, I’ve had an exceptional memory since childhood. I wouldn’t mistake it.”
“Oh?” Huo Liuxing’s expression wavered. “Perhaps we weren’t looking at the same handkerchief? How about this, you sketch out the handwriting you remember.”
Kongqing silently admired his master’s shameless persistence. Huo Liuxing never turned back until he hit a wall. But the young madam, usually mild-tempered, could be just as stubborn when she latched onto something. Even if they managed to cover it up for now, it wouldn’t stay hidden forever.
Shen Lingzhen hesitated. “The script I saw was bold and vigorous, flowing like drifting clouds, coiling like a startled dragon. With my skill, I couldn’t possibly replicate it.”
Huo Liuxing sighed and turned to scold his attendants. “Such a trivial matter, how many days have you had, and there is still no answers? You’ve left Young Madam to worry over it herself.”
Jingmo bowed his head in sync. “I am incompetent. Please punish me, Master.”
At the word “punish,” Shen Lingzhen immediately recalled Huo Shuyi’s ten lashes. She knew the Huo family didn’t hold back when it came to discipline. Alarmed, she quickly interjected, “No need, truly. I wasn’t troubled, just happened to notice something odd and thought to ask, that’s all.”
Huo Liuxing frowned in thought, then offered, “Based on what you’ve told me, it’s possible the handkerchief was swapped somewhere between me and you. The whole thing feels strange. I can’t make sense of it yet, but let Jingmo investigate again with a new approach.”
Shen Lingzhen still felt a flicker of doubt, but his demeanor didn’t seem deceitful. After a moment’s thought, she nodded. It was the only path forward.
She said, “In that case, if you have someone trustworthy, perhaps they could retrieve the handkerchief from the Duke’s manor. With the real item in hand, the confusion might be cleared up.”
Huo Liuxing smiled faintly. “I do have people I can send. I just worry the Princess won’t be willing to hand it over.”
“That’s easy,” Shen Lingzhen replied. “Just have your man pass along a message from me. Once Mother hears it, she’ll understand.”
This suggestion suited Huo Liuxing perfectly.
Huo Liuxing nodded in agreement, but seeing that Shen Lingzhen still looked unconvinced, as if she had more to ask, he suddenly turned and said, “That task I asked you to handle a few days ago, did you take care of it?”
Kongqing froze for a moment, then suddenly understood. He nodded vigorously and turned to Shen Lingzhen. “Young Madam, Young Master said that you’ve suffered quite a bit these past few days. He feels deeply guilty and ashamed to face you, so he sent me to gather some of your favorite treats to make it up to you! They arrived this morning!”
“…” Huo Liuxing cast a cold glance at Kongqing. That… didn’t sound like what he’d said. This wasn’t just embellishment, it was a complete rewrite.
Kongqing blinked innocently, feeling quite pleased with his own cleverness. First, he’d deflected Young Madam’s attention. Second, he’d played peacemaker for the couple who’d been sleeping apart for days.
Shen Lingzhen mulled over Kongqing’s words, then looked at Huo Liuxing’s expression, clearly saying, “Why must you run your mouth?” She understood immediately and smiled. “So the reason you’ve been ignoring me these past few days is because you felt guilty for frightening me that night?”
Huo Liuxing frowned slightly at her bright smile, the gloom on her face completely gone. He said nothing.
Kongqing jumped in to explain, “Young Madam, don’t make it hard for Young Master. He’s just too embarrassed to admit it.”
Shen Lingzhen responded with two soft “Oh”s. “Then I won’t make it hard for him.” She turned to Kongqing again. “What was it you said arrived this morning?”
“Lychees! Fresh lychees, rushed in from the south! And some lychee treats- lychee cakes, lychee wine! I’ll bring them to you shortly!”
Shen Lingzhen nodded. Seeing that Huo Liuxing seemed uncomfortable from having his feelings exposed, she tactfully took her leave. She smiled at him as she turned away. “Then I’ll go wait for my lychees.”
Huo Liuxing watched her go, then silently turned and wheeled himself back into the courtyard.
Once the area was clear, Kongqing gazed up at the sky with a sigh. “Jingmo, what do you think will become of Young Master and his wife?”
Jingmo glanced at him. “Why worry? Right now, Young Madam’s still in the dark. Master holds the upper hand.”
“You know,” Kongqing said, “you’re great at analyzing schemes and strategies, but when it comes to matters like this, I see things more clearly.” He sighed again. “Let me ask you, if I told you not to think about what a lychee looks like, what’s the first thing that pops into your head?”
“…” Jingmo coughed lightly. “A lychee.”
“Right?” Kongqing pressed. “So by that logic, if Young Master keeps telling himself not to care about Young Madam… what do you think will happen?”
Jingmo had no reply.
“Look just now I gave our master a perfect excuse to step down. In the past, he’d have taken it without hesitation. But now, he refuses to use sweet words to coax her. Why? And these past few days, without having to deal with her, he should be relaxed. Yet he looks more troubled than ever. Why?”
Before Jingmo could answer, Kongqing declared with finality: “Young Master… is in danger.”
That night, Huo Liuxing once again slept in his own courtyard.
Kongqing wanted to speak up, but seeing the storm brewing on his master’s face, he dared not. He simply helped him settle in silently.
But just as the candles were being snuffed out, Jingmo rushed in, saying something strange was happening in the inner quarters. He’d asked around and learned that Young Madam had gotten drunk.
Huo Liuxing frowned and rose from the bed. “Who gave her wine?”
Kongqing scratched his head. “Could it be the lychee wine from this morning?”
“I thought it was fresh lychees. How did it become lychee wine?”
“There were fresh lychees… and lychee cakes… and lychee wine.”
Huo Liuxing shook his head and gestured vaguely at him. “She can’t handle alcohol.”
Kongqing choked on his words. How was I supposed to know? And Young Master had been right there when he said it, clearly lost in thought.
Huo Liuxing threw on his robe and made his way to Shen Lingzhen’s courtyard. As he entered the bedroom, he saw Jian Jia and Bailu hovering around her. Shen Lingzhen sat on the edge of the bed, her long black hair loose and tousled, feet swinging back and forth, muttering, “I won’t sleep… I won’t sleep…”
Jian Jia and Bailu turned at the sound behind them and bowed. “Young Master, we failed in our duties. Young Madam got carried away and drank too much lychee wine.” They turned back to help Shen Lingzhen lie down.
But she waved them off. “You’re hurting me…”
The two maids didn’t dare use force and quickly withdrew, unsure what to do next.
Huo Liuxing looked at her flushed cheeks and wheeled himself forward. “Leave us. I’ll take care of her.”
Jian Jia and Bailu hesitated for a moment, then bowed and quietly withdrew.
Freed from their restraint, Shen Lingzhen relaxed and immediately tried to hop off the bed.
Huo Liuxing stood up and caught her under the arms. “It’s the middle of the night. Where do you think you’re going?”
It was as if she only now realized someone else was in the room. She tilted her head, blinking drowsily at him. “Father… where’s your beard?”
“…” Was she drunk enough to think she was still at the Duke’s manor, before her marriage?
Huo Liuxing couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not your father.”
“Father, what nonsense are you saying?” Shen Lingzhen looked at him curiously and reached up to stroke his chin. “But where did your beard go?”
Both his hands were occupied holding her arms, so he couldn’t block her. He turned his head to avoid her touch, but she chased after him, pinching and prodding.
“What are you doing!” he snapped. “I’m not your father. This isn’t the Duke’s manor. You’re married now.”
Startled by his raised voice, Shen Lingzhen dropped her hands. Her expression crumpled, and her voice wavered. “Father doesn’t want me anymore… Father wants to marry me off…”
Huo Liuxing froze and slowly released her arms. “I…”
Sniffling, Shen Lingzhen crawled back onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow and sobbing softly. “Go away, Father. I want to sleep. I’ll be good and marry that big brute…”
“…”
Huo Liuxing turned to leave, took one step, then stopped. He spun back around, grabbed her, and gritted his teeth. “Who are you calling a big brute?”
Shen Lingzhen blinked. “Of course it’s Huo… um, Huo what again?”
She didn’t even remember his name.
Huo Liuxing inhaled sharply. “His name is Huo Liuxing.”
“Oh, right!” Shen Lingzhen giggled, then her smile faded into a pout. “Father… do I really have to marry him?”
Huo Liuxing didn’t seem to realize he’d tacitly accepted the role of “father.” “You don’t want to get married?” he asked.
“Of course I don’t.” Shen Lingzhen pouted. “I only told Father I was willing to marry to trick him. I was afraid he’d confront Imperial Uncle for me…”
Huo Liuxing loosened his grip on her hand and sighed with his eyes closed.
When he opened them again, there was a new clarity in his gaze.
He asked, “Do you like your Imperial Uncle?”
“He used to treat me well… but this time, I don’t like him.”
“Then if I stand up for you in the future, will you be on my side, or his?”
Shen Lingzhen clamped a hand over his mouth. “Don’t be foolish, Father. How could you go against Imperial Uncle?”
He looked down at her with a smile. “There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t dare to do.”
She dropped her hand and shook her head furiously. “No, no… I’d better just get married. What if that Huo… Huo Liuxing turns out to be good-looking?”
Huo Liuxing raised an eyebrow. “He looks exactly like me. Would you say that’s good-looking?”
Shen Lingzhen squinted at him, then nodded. “If he looks like Father, then of course he’s handsome!” Then her face fell again. “But what if he’s all looks and no substance?”
Huo Liuxing gave her a light flick on the forehead. “Who are you calling useless?”
“Ow!” Shen Lingzhen yelped, clutching her head and retreating to the corner of the bed. She eyed him warily. “No, no… Father never hits me. You’re not my father!”
Huo Liuxing climbed onto the bed and cornered her. “Only now you realize you’ve let the wolf into the house? Isn’t it a bit late?”
As he leaned closer, Shen Lingzhen raised her hands to shield herself, shrinking back. “…Who are you?”
“I’m your husband.”
“What’s a husband’? Is that something you eat?”
“You want to eat me? You’ve got guts.”
Shen Lingzhen shook her head. “I’m not brave at all… I just want to sleep…” With a sudden twist, she slipped out from under Huo Liuxing’s arm and dove for the blanket, trying to wrap herself up like a cocoon. But he yanked her right back.
Huo Liuxing held her tightly in his arms and suddenly asked, “In this world’s food chain, mantis eats cicada, oriole eats mantis, eagle eats oriole. Do you know who eats the eagle?”
Shen Lingzhen stared blankly and shook her head.
“No one eats the eagle. Eagles have no natural enemies. They think I’m the cicada, but I intend to be the eagle.”
She blinked at him, confused. “What… what does that mean?”
“It means I’m confident I’ll win this fight.” He looked down at her, eyes steady. “From now on, whoever owes a debt, I’ll collect it. As long as you stay by my side and don’t betray me, I’ll protect you completely.”
Shen Lingzhen gazed at him in a daze, her sleepy eyes blinking slowly. She let out a little drunken hiccup. “Huh?”
Huo Liuxing grabbed her chin, his face dark. “Huh what? I’m asking you, will you follow me from now on?”
Author’s note: Big dummy, stop asking. Your wife has officially logged off.
