The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband

The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband – Chapter 52

Translated by: Oinkoink

Proofread by: SilkScreen

Chapter 52 – Awaken

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Instead of going south to Yuzhou, Chu Jinglan chose Yanzhou which was closer to Northern Land and farther away from Wangdu when he arranged their evacuation route, which fundamental reason can summarize into three words – The Shen-Ce Army.

The matter about this army could be traced back to ten years ago. At that time, billowing smoke filled the borders of Chu Country with upheaval of the Yi tribe in the north and intrusion of the Rong tribe in the west. The late emperor ordered his younger brother, Chu Rong to lead his troops to suppress the foreign invaders. Trudging thousands of miles to the west border, he led the Shen-Ce Army to fight the bloody battles against the strong and mighty Rong tribe for several months. He finally destroyed them and brought the current peace to the west. Henceforth, the impressive reputation of the Shen-Ce Army spread widely and became known to everybody.

Regrettably, Chu Rong was stabbed in the abdominal cavity by the enemy during the battle of Lingxiao Pass and passed away shortly after. Chu Jinglan then inherited his legacy and led the 100 thousand Shen-Ce Army to conquer the capital of the Rong tribe, where he beheaded the savage king to assuage his uncle’s soul in heaven. After the battle, he personally transported his uncle’s coffin back to Wangdu, thousands of miles away, and the Shen-Ce Army followed the lead of Chu Jinglan ever since then.

Everyone thought the Shen-Ce Army achieved divinity in one battle, but nobody knew the price they had to pay was not small either. Out of the 100 thousand troops, only over 60 thousand survived death, injuries or illnesses. A group was later reassigned because of a shortage of soldiers in Northern Land and only 30 thousand remained in Wangdu. After Chu Sanghuai falsified the imperial decree and ascended the throne, he and his family immediately joined forces with Wang Xie to massacre these 30 thousand soldiers in the name of treason; hence, the once invincible Shen-Ce Army died just like that in the hands of their own people, which was extremely tragic.

When Chu Jinglan first heard this bad news, his grief was unbearable that he vomited blood on more than one occasion. After he buckled up, he started to secretly contact his old subordinates. Fortunately, a group of the Shen-Ce Army was transferred to Northern Land and although they were scattered, they are still right under his nose. His effort was at least not wasted and he took upon himself to secretly train his troops under the pretext of shielding in Northern Land.

And the one who shot Deng Tianguan was among them.

Though there were merely a few thousand people this time, it was difficult to sneak them into Jingzhou from Northern Land; thus, Yanzhou–situated in between–played a decisive role. This is the fiefdom of Chu Rong’s son, Chu Zhenghe. From the provincial governor to the county magistrates, none dares to offend him. So, he secretly sent the Shen-Ce Army to Jingzhou.

All these years, he seems to be an idler in Yanzhou but in reality he is just as aggrieved as Chu Jinglan over the annihilation of the Shen-Ce Army. He doesn’t want his father’s painstaking efforts buried, so he supported Chu Jinglan’s actions in secret by supplying provisions and funds to the Shen-Ce Army, as well as doing all the necessary cover up.

At this moment, he is sitting inside Chu Jinglan’s study with his legs crossed and one foot poised in mid-air.

“Look at you. It’s not easy for you to make a trip to my place, yet you’re always showing a deadpan face. Haven’t the problems in Jingzhou been resolved? The remnants of Deng Tianguan’s troops and Chang Xin are fighting in full swing, so just let them fight. The royal court will dispatch troops to clear them up once you have reported to the royal court when you return to Wangdu. So, what are you zealously worrying about?”

Tang Qingfeng was dripping sweat as he listened by the side. Perhaps only Chu Zhenghe dares to address Chu Jinglan like this.

As expected, Chu Jinglan did not get angry but merely asked with a cold face, “what are you doing here? Has the Shen-Ce Army left Yanzhou safely?”

Hearing that, Chu Zhenghe’s dashing eyebrows rose, as if he was subjected to a dubious query.

“With me here, are you still afraid that they won’t be able to return to Northern Land? As to what I am doing here… Obviously to ask you to go out and have fun. There are plenty of amusing things to do in Yanzhou’s Jiucheng 12th Road. What’s the fun of staying in a stifling mansion? After fighting the battles with my dad for several years, even your temperament has truly become like his!”

When Chu Rong was mentioned, Chu Jinglan’s face slightly mollified yet he still ignored his languorous remarks. He only asked in a stiff voice, “did you find the medical officer I asked you to find?”

“Found. As a matter of fact, I brought the person along when I came to look for you today… Hey! Where are you going?”

Without saying a word, Chu Jinglan simply flicked his sleeves and walked directly out of the study. Raising the tip of his eyebrows, Chu Zhenghe was about to follow when he was stopped by the bitter-faced Tang Qingfeng.

“Junwang[1], Wangye may have gone to see Wangfei. You better not stir up any more trouble for him.”

These words sounded somewhat presumptuous, yet Chu Zhenghe did not take any offense; instead he asked incredulously, “isn’t his marriage to that woman, by decree? When has he set his heart on her?”

“Ai… This subordinate is unclear, too. You should ask Wangye yourself later.”

Tang Qingfeng hurriedly chased after Chu Jinglan once he finished speaking. Chu Zhenghe stared at their backs when a sudden faint interest flashed in his eyes. He stroked his chin for a moment and decided to meet Lan Wangfei some other day.

The moon on the tip of the branches cast oblique sparse shadows while scattered voices resounded within the narrow courtyard.

Today is the fifth day Ye Huaiyang regained consciousness. Chu Jinglan who had been constantly keeping watch by the bedside without leaving a step unexpectedly never appeared after she woke up. He merely asked the medical officer to report her condition to him on time. Ye Huaiyang’s illness kept recurring these few days and in fits of anger, he dismissed several medical officers. So when he heard Chu Zhenghe brought someone new over, he couldn’t help but want to come and check her condition.

Only after quickly walking through the numerous quiet and narrow winding corridors did he realize he didn’t have any lamp in his hand, but his steps did not falter as he strode towards the light source in front of him. Once he reached the vicinity, he suddenly stood frozen outside when an abrupt male voice resounded behind the slightly shut door.

“Your body is still weak. So, what is it that you have to say now? Besides, us meeting like this really does not conform to etiquette…”

The man’s voice sounds somewhat embarrassed but the person on the other side didn’t care and even laughed lightly.

“Haven’t seen for just a few days and Yuanshu is back to his old self again. I thought you would have a great awakening after experiencing this adversity.”

“What great awakening? The social etiquette must not be abandoned!” Pei Yuanshu fixedly glared at her, seemingly a little irritated, “I’m going back if you don’t tell me what the matter is.”

“It’s nothing. I just want to thank you personally.” Ye Huaiyang shifted her entangled bandages on her left leg with an extremely laborious movement. “The medical officer said it was fortunate that this was dealt urgently beforehand, otherwise, the recovery would certainly be slow.”

But the situation now is still not any faster!

Having that thought in mind, Pei Yuanshu said with a helpless look, “Don’t need to thank me. I only hope that after we return to Wangdu, you can say some good words in front of Huailing lest I get more scolding.”

Raising her eyebrows, Ye Huaiyang said, “Why don’t you simply let me conceal this for you?”

“It was precisely my fault for leaving you alone by the mountain stream. Moreover, what a man has done is done, and it’s pointless to cover it up. This is against this gentleman’s principle.”

Pursing her lips with a smile, Ye Huaiyang’s pale cheeks blushed but were rapidly brushed off by a rush of coughing. Yue’ya hurriedly handed over some warm water. After swallowing several mouthfuls, it barely suppressed the cough. With her back covered in sweat, she leaned on the bed for a long while without saying a word.

Seeing this, Pei Yuanshu hurriedly said, “It’s late. You should get some rest. I…”

“Yuanshu,” Ye Huaiyang interrupted him softly. Raising her head slowly, the phoenix eyes were amiably clear, “tell me, what did you see at the foot of the mountain that day?”

Pei Yuanshu’s expression changed slightly. The reservation and tension caused by the coexistence of man and woman in the same room vanished instantly and replaced with a profound sense of caution.

At that time, he saw the unscathed Chu Jinglan and the shadow guards, as well as the clean-without-an-enemy-in-sight Wushan. If he himself had not experienced the previous scene of assault, he almost would have thought Deng Tianguan was the one who was ambushed and lured to death.

Deng Tianguan was indeed dead and his death was downright strange, as if their group of people had attained divine help.

He would have believed it if he was a country bumpkin but regrettably he was not. He knows there must be something hidden behind Chu Jinglan but he does not wish to probe into it, just as he doesn’t want to comply with Chu Sanghuai’s order to wait for an opportunity and frame Chu Jinglan. He has righteousness in his heart.

With Pei Yuanshu’s intelligence, Ye Huaiyang knew he would definitely be able to see any inkling. She, nevertheless, does not know what he is thinking and at this very moment she needs him to have a clear standpoint.

“No matter what you have seen, I don’t want them to be presented in front of the Emperor as they are. Do you understand?”

Pei Yuanshu fell silent all of a sudden. He looked straight at Ye Huaiyang for a spell before saying, “is this why you called me here today?”

She didn’t say a word. The shadow from the lotus lamp fell onto layers of swaying thin silk bed canopy, reflecting her calm water-like pair of eyes, which were attentively hardened and shrewdly calculative.

What surprised him is that he doesn’t loathe her, who has such proficient scheming.

Pei Yuanshu sighed inwardly. He has yet to speak when the door behind was abruptly pushed open. Turning his head, a furious Chu Jinglan appeared in front of him. With great alarm, his shaking legs knelt down but before his knees hit the ground, two extremely cold words were heard.

“Get out.”

The air was filled with piercing chillness that Pei Yuanshu didn’t even dare to take a deep breath. He rushed out from the side of the door in a slightly disordered gait after he was done with the salutation. In stark contrast, the person on the bed was like a green mountain in autumn water, where the slightly raised clear and calmly luster eyes fell into Chu Jinglan’s sight.

His anger however didn’t cease a fraction due to this.

“You have been lying in bed for five days and you called him over as soon as you can sit up simply to cover this matter for me?”

Propping her body up slightly, Ye Huaiyang whispered to him, “Jinglan …”

A tiger-shaped medallion suddenly hit the bottom of the bed with an extremely heavy noise. Chu Jinglan then strode in front of her, the hem of his robe swiveled in the wind as it gathered along boundless anger that surged towards Ye Huaiyang.

“So what if he knows about these 30 thousand Shen-Ce Army or my utmost desire to become the emperor? I, Chu Jinglan, have been in power for decades and quelled countless storms; thus, what can a mere Pei Yuanshu do to me? Is there a need to drag your sickly body to threaten him? If you really have much vitality, why didn’t you come and ask me the reason for probing you up to this point and hurting you so much?”

Ye Huaiyang raised her lips and smiled lightly, her voice was extremely light, “What is there to ask? You probed me out because you want to trust me and, wanting to trust me … since you have me in your heart.”

Chu Jinglan froze abruptly, his heart seemed shrouded by the drizzle of late spring and only got dampened.

She has always been delicate and tender. With such a long wound that aches constantly, she has not even voiced out half a word of reproach, just because she finds out that she has already entered his heart and this kind of joy seems able to soothe all the pain.

This knowledge made him particularly distressed.

If the price of eliminating his inner demon is to lose her, he will never forgive himself in this lifetime.

Chu Jinglan closed his eyes as a gush of fear filled his heart. This feeling has yet to quell down when violent coughs suddenly sounded in his ears. He abruptly opened his eyes and saw Ye Huaiyang lying weakly by the bedside with knitted brows as she muffled her intention to vomit.

“What’s the matter?”

“Young Miss has been unwell since this morning and has vomited all the medicine she took in…”

Yue’ya’s heart was frantic as she kept wiping Ye Huaiyang’s sweat. Frowning deeply, Chu Jinglan strode forward and picked her up. The scalding temperature made his heart constrict all of a sudden. He immediately ordered, “Go get the medical officer!”

“Yes!” As if woken from a dream, Yue’ya hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.

[1] 郡王 (Jùn wáng) – Prefecture King / County King. Prince of 2nd rank.

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