News of the Prince of Huaiyang’s seven-day absence from his mansion had reached the ears of Prince Sui.
When Cui Xingzhou first arrived in the capital, his household was in disarray. Besides the people planted by the imperial palace, Prince Sui had also placed many of his spies.
Unfortunately, the Princess of Huaiyang had recently used the excuse of preparing for childbirth to recalculate the feng shui of the mansion. She dismissed many servants whose birth charts conflicted with hers, including numerous maids and matrons, many of whom were spies from various parts of the capital. Even the outer courtyard was purged of many informants.
Suddenly, gathering intelligence on the Huaiyang Prince’s mansion became much more difficult than before.
Prince Sui knew of the princess’s capabilities; such housecleaning came naturally to her.
However, the seed of doubt Prince Sui had planted at the palace gate wasn’t a fire that she could easily extinguish with a wave of her hand.
First, the Prince of Huaiyang’s seven-day absence from the mansion was unusual. Additionally, his frequent inquiries about the old Yangshan subordinates revealed his intentions.
On the day the Prince of Huaiyang returned to the mansion, a spy in the outer courtyard managed to learn that the prince had beaten the princess.
It was said that the beating was severe, and even the prince’s elder sister had intervened. However, the details of the argument were hard to uncover.
Prince Sui, calculating the situation, estimated that Liu Miantang had finally revealed her true nature to the Prince of Huaiyang.
The model couple of the capital had come to blows!
That day, Prince Sui drank two extra pots of fine wine at dinner, venting much of the frustration he had harbored since arriving in the capital.
After that, the Huaiyang Prince’s mansion seemed to return to calm. However, the princess was constantly running to the military office, either delivering food or clothes, her attempts to please subservient. It was said that the Prince of Huaiyang’s attitude towards his wife had cooled considerably.
Prince Sui could understand the Prince of Huaiyang’s position. How could men of their status and power feel at ease with a former bandit as a bedmate?
Moreover, the Prince of Huaiyang, who held himself in high regard, had been deceived into marrying a female bandit leader. His pride was wounded, yet he had to maintain the mansion’s reputation and couldn’t make it public. It was truly like a rag in a pharmacy – utterly bitter!
He imagined that when the princess gave birth, she would “coincidentally” have a difficult labor and hemorrhage, possibly dying on the birthing bed.
At that time, keeping the child but losing the mother would allow the princess to die with dignity, and the Prince of Huaiyang could regain his lost face.
Thinking of Liu Miantang’s delicate appearance, it was a pity for such a beauty to perish. However, this would be like cutting off half of the Prince of Huaiyang’s arm. While lamenting the loss of a fragile flower, Prince Sui’s mood greatly improved.
In any case, while the Prince of Huaiyang’s household was in turmoil, he could seize the opportunity to turn the political situation in his favor. It would be best to have people spread some rumors first.
Then, if anything happened to the Princess of Huaiyang, people would think that the Prince of Huaiyang had killed his wife to maintain his reputation and avoid public scandal.
However, the princess, destined for a short life, seemed unable to bear her husband’s coldness. She had recently taken an interest in forming a poetry society and had even sent invitations to some notable figures in the capital.
Could this be considered a dying struggle?
Miantang had indeed started a poetry society. The Empress Shi had given birth to a princess, her second child, making a perfect “good” character with her children. The Emperor had granted a general amnesty, conveniently allowing the four brothers to be released.
Miantang felt relieved and became even more attentive to her husband.
However, Cui Xingzhou wouldn’t allow the four loyal brothers to stay in the inner courtyard of the prince’s mansion.
With no other choice, Liu Miantang had them return to the escort agency. However, her recent business ventures were doing well, so Miantang followed the custom of noble ladies in the capital and bought a garden in the suburbs. After renovations, it was perfect for hosting the poetry society.
Cui Xingzhou was surprised by her sudden interest in refined pursuits. During a day off at home, he asked her, “What made you decide to start a poetry society?”
Miantang was combing her husband’s hair. Cui Xingzhou’s thick, long hair always needed careful combing after washing. Although Miantang lacked patience with her hair, she loved tending to her husband’s, gently combing it with a small ivory comb.
Hearing Cui Xingzhou’s question, she answered honestly, “You said that when I was younger, I didn’t learn proper ways and had the air of a bandit and a vulgar merchant. Since you won’t let me go to the escort agency or the shops anymore, I thought I’d start a poetry society and socialize with refined scholars. Maybe I can become better through their influence…”
Cui Xingzhou didn’t like hearing the former bandit leader’s chatter. He pointed at the guest list with his long finger and said, “This is the first time I’ve seen a poetry society organized by a wife with so many unmarried refined scholars invited.”
Miantang tilted her head to look at the list and said with some regret, “Sister has almost fully recovered recently. She’s a talented lady from Zhenzhou and could shine at the poetry society. Unfortunately, there aren’t many unmarried talents comparable to her. Even these few, I had to rack my brains to gather. Some are even widowers. I wonder if sister will mind.”
Hearing that she was arranging this for his sister, Cui Xingzhou nodded and said, “Although my sister won’t remarry so soon, it’s not a bad idea for her to socialize and relax. But you shouldn’t join in the fun. Your belly is so big now, be careful not to tire yourself.”
Miantang rubbed her belly and said with a smile, “It’s good to listen to them recite poetry. Our children can listen too, and maybe they’ll be able to compose poetry in the future. By the way, have you transcribed some poems for me? I need short ones that are easy to memorize.”
Cui Xingzhou replied coolly, “I’m so busy with official duties, how could I have time to help you cheat by transcribing poems? I had Mo Ru find a book of poems I wrote when I started school at seven. It has poems about the four seasons, landscapes, and various subjects. You can use those to get by.”
Liu Miantang’s knowledge of poetry couldn’t fill a single hand. Now that she had become the founder of a poetry society with a gathering approaching, she inevitably felt anxious and needed someone to prepare some material for her to save face.
Cui Xingzhou was highly talented, having nearly become the top scholar in the palace examination. He was perfect for the task.
Initially, when he said he would use poems from when he was seven, Miantang felt it was too insulting. But when she opened the book, the power of the writing and the fluency of the beautiful verses were far beyond what she could achieve now, even if she rode a donkey to chase after them.
Moreover, looking at the neat handwriting, Miantang couldn’t help but imagine a seven-year-old Xingzhou with chubby cheeks seriously writing poetry. She found it so endearing that she turned her husband’s handsome face towards her and planted a big kiss on his cheek.
The Prince of Huaiyang raised an eyebrow at the woman who had just earnestly promised to memorize poetry.
Miantang also felt she had been a bit impulsive.
After learning of her true identity, the prince, feeling deceived, finds his wounded pride difficult to heal. He always acted coldly toward her in front of the servants.
Of course, at night in bed, the prince made of ice naturally became a pot of boiling water.
Miantang understood that a deceived heart needed time to heal its wounds. After all, when she learned that Cui Xingzhou had tricked her into marriage, she had been upset for a long time too.
The prince’s heart was naturally more precious than that of a commoner like her, so his sullen face was understandable.
But seeing the prince’s sullen face, Miantang always couldn’t resist teasing him a bit. Just like now, after kissing him, she continued to seriously read the poems, ignoring him.
The Prince of Huaiyang waited, but nothing more happened. His face inevitably soured further. He embraced the little fox pretending to memorize poetry and said, “You didn’t kiss the right place. If you want to kiss, kiss here.”
With that, he captured her vermilion lips, personally tutoring her.
Miantang wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly, “You’ve been ignoring me lately. Outside, people are saying that you despise me because of my background!”
Cui Xingzhou laid her on the soft couch and said calmly, “How dare I despise you? You handed me a divorce paper, turning a thousand-jin weight of marital affection into two taels in an instant.”
Miantang pulled him down to lie with her: “Are you still angry? Didn’t I tell you that I don’t want to divorce you either? It’s because you were so fierce that I thought you didn’t want me, so I thought I should be sensible and leave.”
As she spoke, Miantang’s eyes began to redden. Cui Xingzhou, not good at handling tears, saw the signs of an impending flood and immediately softened his voice: “Alright, alright. Tomorrow at the poetry society, I’ll go with you. I’ll be there to support you, grinding ink and being your writing boy. Let you save face in front of others, okay?”
Cui Xingzhou had naturally heard the rumors about the Princess of Huaiyang being despised. He didn’t need to guess to know who was guiding public opinion, gossiping about the Huaiyang Prince’s household.
Prince Sui wanted to manipulate the political situation, always trying to cause trouble for him and tarnish his reputation.
Unfortunately, Liu Miantang’s past as a bandit was tied to a dark period in the current Emperor’s history. No one could bring it up openly. Prince Sui found it difficult to stir up a big storm, and Liu Miantang wasn’t the type of woman who cared much about reputation.
However, Cui Xingzhou didn’t like others laughing at his wife.
Their marital spat had been exaggerated to ridiculous proportions, and he felt he needed to save some face for Miantang in public.
But Miantang just smiled slightly and said, “Doesn’t Your Highness need to inspect the army camp outside the city? Go ahead with your business. The water needs to be murky for the spirits to show themselves. Since he’s intent on spreading rumors, let’s see what he’s up to.”
Cui Xingzhou understood Miantang’s meaning but didn’t want to do so: “You married me, not to live on a knife’s edge. Don’t get involved in court matters. Just be my princess, drink tea, and relax.”
These words carried the arrogance of a domineering man, but Miantang felt warmth in her heart.
She didn’t remember her past in Yangshan. Perhaps that past was too tiring, too heavy, to the point that she didn’t want to recall it.
Cui Xingzhou wasn’t the perfect husband she had imagined back in North Street.
Everything between them had started with “deception.”
Although at first, Cui Xingzhou had used her in every way without any sympathy.
But later, when he fell in love with her, he truly saw her as a delicate woman who needed care, rather than Liu Yu, who saw her as a tool to expand territory and grasp power.
For Miantang, who had no father or brothers to rely on since childhood, this was enough.
Miantang burrowed into Cui Xingzhou’s embrace, nuzzling hard, then poked her head out and said, “By the way, I heard people say that I might not survive childbirth. There’s a high chance I might die from hemorrhage!”
Before she finished speaking, the Prince of Huaiyang’s face had turned pale. He firmly pinched Miantang’s mouth, spat on the ground, and angrily said, “Liu Miantang! Can you not go a day without angering me? What nonsense are you talking about? You’re always practicing martial arts or wielding sticks, as strong as a cow. You’d better give birth smoothly for me. Don’t you dare have any complications!”