Four Delicate Offenders – CH 102

Chapter 102. Fate Is Truly A Wonderful Thing.

There were many matters to attend to at court, and it was almost nightfall when he finally returned from outside.

Yunpan, as usual, stood waiting for him under the wooden porch in front of the door. The light from the lanterns on the eaves rippled, obscuring the moon gate at the end of the porch. Finally, she saw his figure approaching from the other end, smiling at her from afar. That smile brought a sense of peace, and Yunpan’s anxious heart finally settled. She reached out her hand to him.

He came over and took her hand, his tone tinged with reproach. “Did I not tell you not to wait for me? Why did you come out again?”

Yunpan replied dismissively, “I just ate some fruit and was just about to stretch my legs to digest, so I came to the door.”

The two of them went inside together. Once inside, she reached out and took off his cloak, then handed it to Lu-Tan. Luckily, she had sent someone to deliver an overcoat that morning; otherwise, he would have been in a sorry state.

She pulled him down into the armchair and asked, “How is it outside? Is everything stable?”

Li Chenjian hummed in agreement. “Everything’s stable, just some sorting out the scattered troops, which can be handled by the subordinates.” He yawned as he spoke, covering his mouth. “Third Brother’s timing in starting the uprising was impeccable; it did not waste any time, and he could have still attended court the next day.”

Yunpan took the tea offered by the maid and placed it beside him. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “What about Eldest Brother…?”

He knew what she wanted to ask. He raised his eyes and smiled faintly. “Do not worry, everything is as usual.”

Yunpan breathed a sigh of relief and stood beside him, telling him, “Last night, after leaving the side gate, I did not go home. I went straight to the Duke of Chen’s mansion. I was with my sister-in-law, listening to the reports coming back layer by layer.”

Upon hearing this, Li Chenjian’s eyes lit up with admiration. He thought to himself, how could someone unfortunate in life understand the joy of marrying such a virtuous and capable wife?

She never needed him to plan; she knew what she had to do. The trip to the Duke of Chen’s mansion served two purposes: first, to demonstrate that both families were in the same boat; and second, to forge a deeper bond with Lady Jing during this crisis—a bond far more profound than ordinary social interactions. If nothing unexpected happened, Lady Jing would undoubtedly become Empress. Maintaining good relations with the Empress was crucial for a subject; it was about assessing the situation, about planning ahead, and even more important than a blood oath between men.

He pulled her close, asking with some guilt, “Si Si, do you regret making this decision?”

Yunpan said no, gently stroking his hair. “An emperor has his glory, and a subject has his comfort. Life is difficult. Like now, I can wait for you after your duties every day and have tea and meals with you; that’s already enough for me.”

He buried his face in her chest; after the clash of swords and the thunder of war, what he cherished most was the warmth of his wife’s embrace.

But one thing suddenly occurred to him, and he asked, “Has the physician come to examine you?”

Yunpan smiled and said, “Physician Wang from the Imperial Medical Bureau came today.”

“How is it?” he pressed.

Yunpan hesitated for a moment, then said shyly, “What else could it be? I am pregnant.”

Upon hearing this, he scooped her up in his arms. “See? I told you you were pregnant!”

Actually, he already had a feeling, but the confirmed diagnosis did not stop him from being overjoyed once again.

Men often acted foolishly when they were happy; his recklessness made the maids and nannies standing nearby all hold their breath in apprehension.

Yunpan hurriedly pounded on him. “Oh dear, are you crazy? Put me down quickly; do not let me fall!”

Of course, he knew to be careful. After gently setting her down, he cupped her face and kissed her passionately. “I love you so much!”

The maids were embarrassed. Since the lady had entered the house, they had never seen the duke so disoriented. They exchanged glances, shyly and knowingly giggling.

Yunpan blushed and gently pushed him away. “Stop it, everyone’s watching.”

Nanny Yao, however, was very considerate. She waved her hand, sending everyone around her to the outer room.

Only the couple remained in the inner room, allowing them to properly discuss the situation at court and how the Duke of Chen had tried to persuade him to stay after he expressed his intention to retire.

Yunpan sighed. “People are all made of flesh and blood. I know my Elder Brother must also be wary of you, but you are still useful to him. We should be even more cautious in our actions from now on; he’s bound to be magnanimous.”

Li Chenjian nodded, “After all, it was the Lulong Army that helped him escape in that critical moment, and the entire court knows that. If he were to gain a reputation for being a treacherous minister right after taking power, it would not do him any good. Besides, in that critical moment, he came to the gate to rescue me first; I believe in his sincerity.”

Yunpan agreed, “As a subject, one should be as cautious towards the Emperor as one would towards heaven and earth. Do not be arrogant or eccentric because of your high achievements, and as long as you do not offend the Emperor, I think we can still live out the rest of our lives peacefully.”

This was his wise wife’s reminder, admonishing him to be careful. He smiled and agreed. The two spent a few more moments of tenderness before changing their clothes and going to Mao Garden to pay their respects to the Grand Madam and the Princess Consort.

The family reunited, filled with tears and relief. The matriarch stroked his face repeatedly, weeping, “My eldest grandson has suffered so much…”

Li Chenjian knelt, saying, “It’s my fault for being unfilial, causing Grandmother and Mother worry.”

The Princess quickly helped him up, saying, “Your elders do not ask for anything from you, only for your safety… You will soon be a father yourself, so be extra careful in your actions. Remember, the whole family depends on you.”

No further words were needed. Everyone happily gathered for a reunion dinner, making up for the disappointment of not being able to reunite on New Year’s Eve.

During the meal, the Princess Consort brought up the matter, saying, “Today, my in-laws came to our door to mediate between Huicun and Xiang Xu. I have not agreed yet, and I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

Huicun, standing nearby, blushed and stammered, “Why is Mother bringing this up now?”

The Princess Consort smiled and said, “This is a good thing. Why can we not talk about it now? Your brother is back, so naturally, we should ask his opinion. I think Xiang Xu is a really good boy. While you were away, he sent New Year’s goods to the mansion and quietly helped with external affairs. He’s a true friend in need. Such a boy is a thousand times better than that boy from the Geng family.”

Speaking of the Geng family, the Grand Madam remembered and asked, “Has the court ordered an investigation into their collusion with the Duke of Chu?”

Li Chenjian said, “The Court of Judicial Review has begun a thorough investigation, and all the members of the family have been imprisoned. They will be dealt with after the trial.”

Huicun’s focus was always different from others. “It seems Xu Xiangning is quite lucky. If she had stayed with the Geng family, she would not have enjoyed any blessings and would instead be in prison.”

So everything was preordained; the kind of life you were destined to live was all planned out by fate.

The Princess, unwilling to have her questions interrupted, said hastily, “Why are we bringing up the Geng family again? I was still asking about Huicun and Xiang Xu’s marriage.”

Li Chenjian considered carefully for a moment and said, “Xiang Xu is an upright man, a trustworthy person. If your aunt’s family truly intends to arrange the marriage, I think we should agree. Huicun will be fine with him.”

The princess hesitated. “It’s just that the relationships are a bit complicated. How will we address each other as brother and sister?”

Yunpan smiled. “Just address each other as before, so no one takes advantage of anyone else.”

The Princess then looked at Huicun. “Ultimately, it’s Hui’er’s consent that matters. What good is it if we just agree?”

Everyone looked at Huicun, assuming the young lady was shy and would inevitably try to decline. But to everyone’s surprise, though somewhat shy, she was anything but pretentious, saying frankly, “I think Xiang Xu is excellent; there’s nothing to consider. Mother, do not ask me, just agree.”

Everyone laughed, and the Grand Madam said, “My Hui’er has such a straightforward temperament; she does not drag things out, just like her father.”

Now that everything was agreed upon, once the situation stabilized, the betrothal ceremony could begin.

On the way back after dinner, the two walked side by side. Li Chenjian joked, “I never expected that Xiang Xu would end up marrying Huicun. This marriage is truly mysterious.”

Yunpan said, “Earlier, when we were running around for you, I had a feeling that these two were a good match. Now that Aunt Jin has acted as a matchmaker, I suppose her side has already made the decision. Our two families have a deep connection, and now this marriage strengthens our kinship. Close relatives will not have to be separated anymore, and we can all be together during holidays—how perfect!” Speaking of Jin Shengyu, she remembered some good news. “I forgot to tell you, Aunt Jin is pregnant! Her child is a few days older than ours. In the future, the uncle and nephew will grow up together, and the two will have a companion.”

Li Chenjian was surprised. “Father-in-law is truly vigorous!” He himself married before them, and his child was even younger than theirs; how could he not express such sentiments?

Yunpan scoffed, “Do not talk nonsense! It’s a good thing that Father has another legitimate son. With Aunt Jin’s temperament, she will definitely be able to raise the child well.”

Li Chenjian agreed, “Aunt Jin has a strong personality. With a child to keep them together, they can truly live together harmoniously. However, I was truly surprised that Father-in-law risked his life to rescue us at Xijiao Gate. I’ve served in the same court as him for many years and know he’s always been cautious and self-protective. I never expected him to have such courage this time.”

“Ultimately, it’s because of family ties,” Yunpan said. “Today, Aunt Jin and Father came to visit me at the mansion together. I noticed that Aunt Jin was much gentler with Father. I suppose it’s because of this incident that she looks at Father differently.”

In the end, a person’s face and dignity needed to be cultivated. If you stood tall, people would respect you; if you did not, people would despise you, and that was only natural.

The two slowly strolled back to the inner chamber. After washing up, they climbed into bed and lay down on the soft, fragrant bedding. He sighed sincerely. “The bed at home is so comfortable. Lying down, I do not have to think about anything.”

Yunpan turned to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered, “From now on, come home every night, be by my side every night, and I will ask for nothing more.”

Her words touched his heartstrings. He leaned in and kissed her lingeringly, their lips meeting with a mixture of emotions and trembling.

His breathing became unsteady, and other desires began to stir within him. He wanted to take things further, but she stopped him. She whispered, “Physician Wang said the baby is still small, the pregnancy is not stable, and we cannot be reckless.”

He said, “Oh,” and immediately gave up. “I was being foolish.”

Then he placed his arm over her head and let her rest her head on it. No matter how much bloodshed and danger raged outside, as long as he could smell her fragrance, nothing else mattered.

The next day at court, the dragon throne was indeed empty. The Duke of Chen stood before the steps, presiding over state affairs. He declared that Li Yujian’s disloyalty had frightened the Emperor, causing his illness to worsen. After announcing Li Yujian’s crimes, he commended the generals of the Lulong Army and restored Li Chenjian’s title.

The civil and military officials were not confused. The current situation was clear; the Emperor’s successor was obvious without needing to be stated.

A different scene unfolded. Those who had previously sided with the Duke of Chen were overjoyed, while those who had inadvertently sided with Li Yujian were disgraced. It was likely that a new upheaval would soon occur in the court.

After court, as Li Chenjian emerged from the Daqing Hall and strolled along the long, straight path, he noticed a tiny blade of grass growing from a crack in the brickwork. He paused, examining it closely.

Behind him, the Duke of Shu caught up and said, “The wedding date for Meifen and Zhao Chongyan has been set for the second day of next month. Go back and tell Si Si to let her know.”

Li Chenjian agreed, cupping his hands in congratulations. “Congratulations, Uncle. Si Si has been saying these past few days that because of our situation, Young Lady Mei’s wedding was postponed, and she feels truly sorry for her. Now that the date is set, she will surely be very happy. I will definitely pass on the message when I get back.” He paused slightly and asked, “A few days ago, Aunt Jin came to discuss the marriage arrangement. I did not feel comfortable asking Xiang Xu directly, so I had to inquire with you, Uncle. I wonder what Xiang Xu thinks?”

The Duke of Shu laughed heartily, “This time it’s a done deal. My family is already preparing the betrothal gifts and will be at your residence to present them soon. You know Xiang Xu; he’s always been taciturn. When his mother talks about engagements, he always makes excuses. But this time is different. He immediately said it was a good match. Look at that, what a coincidence! Oh dear, you and his sister did not get together before, but now your sister and he have…” As he spoke, he proudly patted his arms. “Fate is truly wonderful.”

Li Chenjian smiled and said, “They’ve met a few times, so they must be quite familiar with each other and have developed feelings for one another. The marriage will proceed naturally. Please, Uncle, prepare the betrothal gifts quickly; my grandmother and mother are eagerly awaiting them.”

The Duke of Shu nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course. It’s almost ready, tomorrow or the day after.”

They chatted for a few more minutes before boarding their carriages. Li Chenjian made a special trip to the Rulao Zhang Restaurant, buying them some crispy cakes and various sizes of soft pastries. When he got home, he had Yunpan try them. Girls’ tastes were indeed similar; she also felt the crispy cakes were overrated, and the soft pastries were much better.

Everything proceeded smoothly; everything was gradually coming to fruition. The next day, the Duke of Shu’s household indeed came to formally propose marriage. The betrothal gifts, adorned with five-colored satin, numbered ten bundles, including silk, jewelry, betrothal money, wine, millet, rice, and flour—nothing was neglected.

Jin Shengyu, acting as a matchmaker for the first time, performed the task with surprising skill. Upon entering, she bowed to the host family, tucked her hands behind her back, and loudly proclaimed, “I dare to propose the betrothal.” He then gestured for the master of ceremonies to hand the goose to Li Chenjian.

Normally, the betrothal ceremony, including asking for the name and the auspicious date selection, was completed on the same day. Afterwards, a prominent man of official rank from the clan would be chosen to deliver the marriage certificate. However, the Duke of Shu and Lady Ming were both impatient. The Duke of Shu immediately declared that there were no relatives in the Xiang clan with higher official ranks than himself and Xiang Xu. Since they were already there, he would simply present the marriage certificate, and the matter would be settled.

Thus began the amusing scene of Xiang Xu delivering his own marriage certificate. He respectfully presented a nanmu box to the Princess, who accepted it, and smiling, he read aloud to the assembled guests: “Xiang Junjie bequeaths his marriage certificate: The eldest son is of marriageable age but unmarried. The second daughter, Chengxian, is gentle, kind, virtuous, and prudent, possessing all four virtues. Wishing to be her worthy ally, through our matchmaker, Jiang Jinshi, he humbly requests your marriage. If you do not send him away, then keep him under your care and await your favorable command.”

The guests congratulated Xiang Xu. Being a scholar, Xiang Xu had never experienced such a ceremony and could only blush as he returned the greetings.

In the nearby flower hall, Huicun watched on tiptoe. The marriage she had agreed to was, of course, much more satisfactory than the one arranged by her parents.

Yunpan, seeing her sister-in-law staring intently at the exchange of gifts, could not help but laugh. “My aunt and uncle are both straightforward people. Exchanging marriage certificates today! It’s difficult for our Duke, who has to write a reply letter on the spot.” She nudged Huicun with her elbow. “What are your thoughts now?”

Huicun realized her anxiety was written all over her face and blushed, playfully scolding, “Sister-in-law, you are making fun of me!” But after her initial embarrassment, she did not hide it, sitting down next to Yunpan and smiling. “Actually, I am truly overjoyed. I’ve met Brother Xiang a few times, and I can tell he’s a responsible man. The marriage with the Geng family was supposed to be arranged because a military man like him would be more upright, but it ended up like this. Since then, I’ve made a plan: when I marry again, I will definitely choose a civil official, at least to avoid this disaster! Now that I’ve met Brother Xiang, he’s refined and cultured, yet not weak; passionate and principled in his actions. What more could I ask for? That’s why the Xiang family asked Aunt Jin to arrange the marriage. I was worried that Mother and Brother might have reservations, so I was constantly on edge. Now that we’ve exchanged the marriage certificates, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Yunpan was about to tease her, but quickly held back, sighing that Huicun was truly a straightforward girl, speaking her mind without reservation. It would be unkind of her to ridicule her!

So she said seriously, “Big Brother is of noble character, and our families know each other well. My aunt and uncle are very strict; something like what happened to the Geng family will never happen again. We, the Duke and I, will be at ease knowing you are marrying into that noble family. However, Cousin Mei’s wedding is at the beginning of next month; she will likely get married before you two.”

Only now did Huicun reveal her girlish side, twisting her handkerchief and saying, “I’ve already mentioned it to my mother, but I haven’t had enough of being unmarried yet. We’ll talk about it again at the end of the year.”

Yunpan was surprised. “A whole year? I am afraid Big Brother will not be able to wait.”

Huicun became even more embarrassed, twisting the handkerchief in her hand into a strip, making her fingertips red and round like cherries.

That evening, the family sat down for dinner, and as usual, they discussed Huicun’s wedding date. The Princess flipped through the almanac, checking each day, and when she found a suitable date, she quickly handed it to the Grand Madam. “The twentieth day of the fifth month, an extremely auspicious day!”

The Grand Madam held the almanac far away, squinting as she examined it closely. “Suitable for breaking ground, opening a business, getting married, setting up a bed… It’s a perfect day with no taboos. I just wonder if the Xiang family will have enough time to make arrangements.”

The Princess said there was no problem. “It’s not even the end of the first month yet. Four months of preparation is not enough…”

Just then, they heard Bi-Xie on the porch asking a maid to deliver a message, saying there was something important to report to the master.

Because it had not been long since the previous incident, everyone’s anxiety had not subsided, and upon hearing there was something important, their expressions immediately changed.

Li Chenjian could only reassure them, saying it was fine. “I will go see.” He put down his chopsticks and went out to ask what had happened.

Bi-Xie crossed his hands and reported, “The Duke of Chen sent word that the Emperor’s condition is getting worse and he can no longer speak. He requests that Your Highness enter the palace to discuss related matters.”