Perfect Match – CH 047

Chapter 47

Second Madam Yang had been holding these words in since before the New Year, and now she blurted them out, feeling a sense of relief.

Seeing her cousin raise an eyebrow, she snorted, “You did not expect that, did you?”

But after she finished speaking, she heard her cousin ask her, “How do you know they are together?”

Second Madam Yang quickly replied, “Do you think I, with my eyes wide open, cannot see it? Teng Yue went to the flower market to catch a thief, and he even brought Madam Deng with him. He did not catch the thief, but he’s been clinging to Madam Deng, afraid the thief might hurt her, as if that girl were some treasure.”

Old Madam Lin, hearing this, laughed.

“So what? Deng Ruyun is Yu Chuan’s wife. Would he let thieves harm her?”

She asked Madam Yang, “But what about you? How did Deng Ruyun offend you? That girl has had it hard enough. You want me to just kick her out like that?”

Madam Yang was surprised. She had been holding back these words all New Year’s, waiting for them to be a bombshell, but her cousin did not seem to care.

“Why are you bringing me up now?” Madam Yang snapped. “Fine, you are just like your son, only caring about that concubine. In that case, do not even think about my niece! Even if she comes in a month or so, I will not tell you!”

She got up to leave, looking furious. But Old Madam Lin heard her last sentence and quickly stopped her.

“What did I say? Why are you so angry? If I valued Deng as a proper wife for Yu Chuan, why would I make such a fuss? Do not be angry; sit down and have some tea.”

She quickly pulled Madam Yang back down to sit, personally pouring her a cup of tea. Seeing her cousin huffing but then accepting her offer and taking the teacup, she asked the most important question.

“Judging from your tone, Zhenhui is coming back to Xi’an? Is she not still under the mourning period?”

After she asked, Madam Yang naturally put on airs for a while, refusing to answer. Old Madam Lin had no choice but to say, “I brought you a set of Datong jade jewelry when I returned from Wutai Mountain. Youyun and Youling both have some. Would you like to take a look?”

These words immediately piqued Madam Yang’s interest. Her cousin was always very generous with money; anything she brought back could not be of inferior quality.

She said there was no need to look, muttering, “Would I be greedy for your things?” She added, “It’s really your betrothed wife. Anyway, the matter of the Prince of Enhua’s Mansion is resolved; I do not think she needs to stay.”

She said that the Marquis’s niece, Zhang Zhenhui, wanted to return to Xi’an.

“Originally, it would not be appropriate during the mourning period, but my old lady is ill, is she not? And Zhenhui sent someone to visit her maternal grandmother before the New Year. Hearing that her grandmother was ill, she was extremely worried and not only sent people over repeatedly but also wrote to her two uncles, asking if she could come back for a visit, even just to take care of her grandmother for two days. This child is truly filial. My old lady heard this, and tears streamed down her face. She just wanted someone to bring her back quickly; anyway, the year of mourning is almost over, so bringing her back would not be a problem.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lin’s eyes brightened.

“Have you already sent someone to the capital?”

Madam Yang said they would depart in a few days, “just in time for her to finish her year of mourning, so we can have an explanation for the Marquis’s Mansion.”

But Madam Yang’s tone shifted. “But you are still keeping this contract wife like a treasure. Why not get rid of her as soon as possible, before anyone knows? Zhenhui knows about Deng being a contract wife, but knowing is one thing; seeing her intimately with Teng Yue is another. Are you really going to keep her for three years?”

These words did indeed serve as a wake-up call for Old Madam Lin.

The matter of the Prince of Enhua’s Mansion was over, and the county princess, now demoted to a commoner, could not possibly force a marriage. Teng Yue’s ordeal was over; there was indeed no need to wait another three years. Moreover, regarding Deng Ruyun, her uncle and aunt had also been suppressed.

She thought for a moment and said, “I will break off the contract with Deng Ruyun as soon as possible and let her leave. However, we have only been married for less than a year, and Teng Yue has been transferred back to Xi’an in the past few months. Even if, as you say, she and Teng Yue are on good terms, we cannot just let her leave now, can we?”

“If we immediately send Deng Ruyun away, would that not arouse Teng Yue’s suspicion? It’s uncertain whether he will even agree.”

Old Madam Lin said, “Seeing that the Tartars outside the Great Wall are causing trouble again, I reckon he will not stay in Xi’an for long. Once he’s transferred away and things cool down between him and Deng, I will have the person leave. I will even sign the divorce papers for him. Would that not make things go smoothly?”

Second Madam Yang could not help but feel annoyed at the thought of Deng Ruyun’s anger towards her, but hearing her cousin’s explanation, she thought it made sense.

“That’s true, but if that contract wife latches onto Teng Yue and secretly reveals the contract to him, all your plans will be ruined. Then that country girl will truly become a general’s wife!”

Second Madam Yang gave her a sarcastic look, but Old Madam Lin ignored her.

“Why do you think I specifically sought her out? She’s an extremely sensible girl, with an undying pride. She knows I’ve chosen someone else for Teng Yue as his wife, and she knows that in this world, everyone values ​​status. If the contract is broken and she insists on staying, first, she’d tear up the agreement with me, her mother-in-law, making future mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relations impossible; furthermore, relatives like you look down on her, making her lose face everywhere.

“Perhaps some people could endure this suffering just to cling to their husbands for wealth and status, but Deng Ruyun would not. If she had any ability to support herself, she would not submit to such a ‘difficult and uneasy’ life.”

Old Madam Lin’s words caused Madam Yang to pause slightly, but after regaining her composure, she muttered again.

“She’s just a poor girl with a bad temper, and you are making her sound so wonderful.”

Old Madam Lin smiled, not wanting to argue about right and wrong.

She knew what kind of person Deng Ruyun was. The matchmaker had found so many women for her, and she had rejected them all. Only Deng Ruyun appeared, proud and aloof, preferring to marry an old widower rather than kneel and kowtow to those wicked people. She knew then that this girl would definitely be able to fulfill the contract for her.

She thought that even if one day she herself did not want to go through all the trouble anymore and let Teng Yue marry his contracted wife, Deng Ruyun would not stay.

A girl like that would not want to be someone else’s second choice…

Old Madam Lin did not mention Deng Ruyun again, only asking Madam Yang when Zhang Zhenhui would arrive. “Since she’s here, the child should stay for a while longer; she’s not having an easy time in the capital.”

Madam Yang said that it was natural. “Xi’an is so far from the capital; she should stay for at least several months. If you want Teng Yue to see her, then you’d better think of a good way.”

She glanced at Old Madam Lin as she spoke, and the latter smiled and nodded, saying she understood.

The two chatted for a while, but as Second Madam Yang was leaving, she gave her a special reminder.

“Even if Madam Deng does not covet power and wealth, does that not mean the two of them will not develop feelings for each other? You should pay more attention, my cousin!”

Her words made Old Madam Lin think for a moment.

Back at Canglang Pavilion, she called Qingxuan over. “How are things going with Second Master and Madam at Liumingxuan lately?”

Qingxuan did not understand the meaning of this question, only saying that everything was as usual.

Old Madam Lin thought for a moment, “By the way, what’s going on with Nanny Wei?”

Qingxuan only had a vague understanding of Nanny Wei’s situation. She told Old Madam Lin everything she knew, and then, remembering something, whispered:

“Nanny also told me to watch over Second Master and Madam’s intimate moments.”

Old Madam Lin asked, “Did Madam use any contraceptives?”

Qingxuan replied immediately, “Yes, she did. Actually, when Nanny Wei sent me there, it was already late, but when I arrived, I saw that Madam had already used the medicine beforehand and wanted me to check it.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lin breathed a slight sigh of relief. After asking a few more casual questions, she dismissed Qingxuan.

*

The border war was intense, and Teng Yue only managed to return home on the seventh day.

He came in haste, not even having time to return to Liumingxuan. He only asked Deng Ruyun to bring him a few changes of clothes to the outer courtyard.

Deng Ruyun quickly took the clothes but smelled blood on Teng Yue.

Teng Yue simply told her, “It’s nothing. I am going back to Ningxia. Ningxia is in chaos because of the infighting between Prince Enhua and the Chief Eunuch. When there’s no war, it’s one thing for these people to fight amongst themselves, but now that the Tartar army is invading, we cannot let them run rampant. The Commandery has issued orders, and I am taking men there today,” he said, looking down at his wife with an apologetic gaze.

“I am sorry I cannot be with you on the grand opening day of Yuyun Hall, and now I have to leave again.”

What was this matter compared to resisting foreign enemies and protecting our country?

Deng Ruyun told him not to say such things, but he said, “When I return from Ningxia after the war, I will bring you two cartloads of medicinal herbs as an apology. Yunniang, you must accept them.”

Seeing that he had not even had time to change his clothes and was only talking to her about these things, Deng Ruyun could only nod.

“I know, I will accept them.”

The two cartloads of medicinal herbs from Ningxia were not cheap.

As soon as she said she would accept them, he became happy, his bright eyes softening with laughter. Urged by Deng Ruyun, he quickly took off his dusty outer robe and tossed it aside. Deng Ruyun got him a clean set of clothes, but then she noticed blood seeping from his arm.

“You are injured?!” Deng Ruyun exclaimed in surprise.

He said it was just a minor cut, nothing serious. “It will heal in a few days.”

But he was about to head to Ningxia for the battlefield, and with this wound on his arm, swords and spears could strike without mercy. What if he was caught off guard by this injury?

Deng Ruyun quickly said, “At least change your bandage before you go. I will change it for you; it will be quick!”

As she spoke, she told Tang Zuo to quickly fetch the medicine.

But when she turned around, she saw Teng Yue looking down at her. He said softly, “So, even Yunniang worries about me.”

Deng Ruyun was taken aback.

A wisp of wind drifted in from outside, dispersing some of the bloody smell in the room, leaving only his familiar scent, which had somehow enveloped her.

Deng Ruyun was momentarily speechless at these words, but fortunately, Tang Zuo returned quickly.

Deng Ruyun took the medicine bottle and urged Teng Yue to quickly remove his clothes, revealing his injured arm.

His clothes were stuck to his flesh and blood; no wonder he had only changed his outer garment, not his undergarments.

Deng Ruyun noticed that his wound had been there for a long time, seemingly repeatedly pulled and unable to heal, stuck tightly to his clothes.

Teng Yue wanted to simply tear off the sleeve, but Deng Ruyun told him not to move, “Do not do anything rash, or the injury will never heal in your next life.”

Her words were harsh, but her touch was incredibly gentle.

Teng Yue slightly turned his head to look at his wife’s eyes and brows. For a moment, a moment he had never felt before, he was reluctant to leave.

But then, footsteps sounded again in the courtyard.

Old Madam Lin arrived with her entourage. She was surprised to see Teng Yue injured.

She quickly examined him and saw that the wound was not serious, but it seemed to have been poorly treated, with the flesh and blood mangled. Deng Ruyun was bending down, carefully separating his clothes from the tightly connected flesh.

The young woman was working meticulously, completely focused.

Old Madam Lin suddenly remembered what Second Madam Yang had said before leaving that day—

“Even if Deng does not covet power and wealth, would not the two of them be tempted? You should pay more attention, my cousin!”

A thought flickered in her mind, and she suddenly called out to Deng Ruyun.

“This wound is difficult to treat. Yunniang, why not let Qingxuan and Ziyuan do it? They are both experienced.”

Deng Ruyun was almost finished treating Teng Yue. She thought to herself, “No need to trouble others; it will be done soon.”

But just as the words were about to come out, she suddenly realized something.

Deng Ruyun paused slightly, then stood up.

“Alright,” she said, “let the two elder sisters do it.”

She immediately stepped aside.

Teng Yue, however, was taken aback. “No need to change people; you can continue. I will not be in a hurry.”

He looked at her, but Old Madam Lin also looked over.

Deng Ruyun, who had already stepped back, did not move. She said it was fine.

“The General uses Yanchun Hall’s medicine. If he uses my medicine later, I will handle it.”

Teng Yue burst out laughing at this and said directly to Old Madam Lin.

“Mother, from now on, please switch all our medicines to Yunniang’s. Otherwise, she will be unhappy.”

Old Madam Lin also chuckled and casually asked Deng Ruyun, “It seems your pharmacy is doing quite well?”

Deng Ruyun stepped back two paces from Teng Yue, saying she was just joking.

“If I want to catch up with Yanchun Hall, I reckon I will need another fifty years.”

Old Madam Lin chuckled softly. As she spoke, she turned and washed her hands, her expression calm and composed. After Qingxuan and Ziyuan treated Teng Yue’s injuries, and Tang Zuo and the others packed their belongings, she simply followed behind, seeing Teng Yue off without saying a word to him alone or offering any further comment.

Teng Yue did turn back to look at her, as if he wanted to say something, but with battle still raging at the front, he had no time to linger. He spurred his horse and led his troops away.

After Teng Yue left, Deng Ruyun returned to Liumingxuan with Xiuniang. The two discussed hiring a pharmacist to make medicine.

Seeing that her mind was entirely on the pharmacy, Old Madam Lin felt relieved.

Deng Ruyun showed no further interest, but her son’s attitude towards Ruyun was indeed different from before. However, it was impossible to tell how much affection he might have for her at the moment.

However, he was not home, so she could only wait and see.

But thinking back to her cousin’s “complaint,” she felt that her cousin, at her age, was still arguing with a young girl; no wonder the house was always in chaos, and everything was going wrong.

Old Madam Lin shook her head.

*

The first month of the lunar calendar passed, and with the border wars resuming, the liveliness in Xi’an Prefecture diminished somewhat.

The streets were deserted, and the number of guards had increased. Deng Ruyun had some free time to visit Yuyun Hall more often. She had heard that a thief had sneaked in through the backyard a couple of days ago, but Zhu Huang had chased him away with a stick. Today, she specially treated Zhu Huang to a small meal at a restaurant.

Deng Ruyun naturally also invited Master Sixth Young Master Bai along. This time, they ate at a mutton noodle shop by the roadside. Zhu Huang finished two bowls of mutton noodles in no time.

But perhaps his master had already reprimanded him, for after finishing two bowls of mutton noodles, Zhu Huang said he was full, thanked Deng Ruyun, and before Deng Ruyun could speak, said, “I still have work to do at the shop; I will be going now.”

Once Zhu Huang left, only Deng Ruyun and Bai Chunfu remained at the table in the mutton restaurant.

Deng Ruyun thought to herself, if someone fighting far away knew that she and Bai Chunfu were eating together, and just the two of them, he would probably be unhappy.

But he was not there and would not know; even if he was angry, he could only be angry in his dreams.

As Deng Ruyun was thinking these things, she suddenly heard the person at the table say something.

“You would not be thinking about someone else while eating with me, would you?”

Deng Ruyun was startled; she wondered if she had spoken aloud what she had been thinking.

Obviously, she had not; the person was only guessing.

She repeatedly denied it and was about to change the subject, asking if he wanted another side dish.

But before she could speak, he suddenly pulled her chair, bringing her very close to his side.

The scent of medicine emanating from him wafted over her. Deng Ruyun did not know what he was doing; why did he like to pull up chairs like that other person?

But she felt too uncomfortable sitting so close to him and wanted to get up and move aside.

He suddenly called her softly.

“Yunniang, do not go. Can you do me a favor?”

He spoke, and at this distance, she could almost feel the rhythm of his breathing. The beauty mark under his eye was now exceptionally clear.

His hand was still holding the corner of her chair, but Deng Ruyun was slightly surprised by his words. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the street and saw two people with Beijing accents, talking and searching for something, walking past the roadside.

So, was this Master Bai using her to avoid the two people looking for him?

Were these two also sent by his mother, the Grand Princess?

Deng Ruyun did not know what kind of hide-and-seek the mother and son were playing. Fortunately, the two did not notice anything, walked to the next intersection, and turned onto another road.

As soon as they left, Deng Ruyun said, “They are gone; do not worry.”

After saying that, she immediately pulled her stool and herself back to their original positions.

Bai Chunfu nodded and thanked her.

However, the man’s gaze lingered on the distance she had created as soon as she finished.

If it had been Teng Yue today, would she have immediately created distance?

Bai Chunfu did not know and did not want to know.

However, on the way back to the pharmacy after they had eaten, he unexpectedly saw the two again in the distance, right in the alleys near Yuyun Hall.

This time, even Deng Ruyun noticed immediately. “Why not hide for a while before going back?”

Bai Chunfu could only agree. Deng Ruyun returned the way she came, while he parted ways with her on the other side.

Watching him leave, Deng Ruyun thought to herself that she wondered what was going on between him and the Grand Princess and that she really did not want to reveal even a trace of his true identity.

Deng Ruyun thought to herself that she would have to instruct everyone in the pharmacy who knew about this to keep it a secret for him.

She hurried towards Yuyun Hall, but as soon as she arrived at the entrance, she heard someone questioning Shopkeeper Qin in the crowded hall.

“Your shopkeeper is quite something. You absolutely refuse to call your boss out. Could it be that Liang Yun, the owner of Yuyun Hall listed in the register, is someone who cannot be seen in public? Could he be a Tartar spy, selling cheap medicine to harm people?”

Shopkeeper Qin became agitated upon hearing the mention of Tartars. “What Tartar spy? Do not spout nonsense and make baseless accusations!”

“Then why not send someone to fetch your boss? Who exactly is this Liang Yun?”

Shopkeeper Qin was speechless. Just then, someone pushed their way out from behind the crowd.

“Are you looking for Liang Yun? I am Liang Yun.”

Deng Ruyun was dressed in a men’s brocade robe befitting the owner. Although she was not tall, her voice carried authority. Everyone in the shop fell silent and looked at her.

Shopkeeper Qin was overjoyed to see her return and quickly went forward to explain the situation to her in a few words.

“…They say our medicine made someone foam at the mouth. The patient did buy the medicine from us two days ago, and there’s still some left. I just checked carefully, and it’s definitely our medicine. The medicine is correct, and the patient is an old neighbor of ours. But then two people came out of nowhere. I initially thought they were just there to watch the commotion, but they started shouting and yelling, attracting everyone from the passersby. They even brought people from Huimin Medical Hall with them, demanding we go to the yamen to settle things!”

Huimin Medical Hall was a place designated by the Imperial Medical Bureau and the local government to manage local medical affairs. These pharmacies naturally fell under its jurisdiction.

At this moment, Deng Ruyun stepped forward. The two men who had been shouting immediately called to the people from Huimin Medical Hall, “Look, the owner of Yuyun Hall is here! His pharmacy has made someone foam at the mouth and faint; they might die any minute now. We have to arrest him quickly; we cannot let him get away!”

Bai Chunfu was not there; Shopkeeper Qin had already taken the old neighbor to another pharmacy for emergency treatment.

The people from Huimin Medical Hall, seeing that Deng Ruyun had arrived, said, “Perfect timing,” and gave her a heavy snort.

“Owner Liang, you have to come with us.”

How could Deng Ruyun leave before she had fully understood the situation?

But these two men were not just there to watch the show; they suddenly called over the people from Huimin Medical Hall, who grabbed Deng Ruyun and pulled her away.

The people from Huimin Medical Hall were clearly in cahoots with them, dragging Deng Ruyun outside.

Seeing this, Shopkeeper Qin’s face turned pale, and he quickly ordered his men to stop them.

Deng Ruyun said directly, “You can take me to the pharmacy or the yamen if you want, but at least get to the bottom of this, right?”

Her gaze swept over the troublemakers.

“What? Afraid that Yuyun Hall will find out the truth? So eager to convict Yuyun Hall?”

As soon as she said this, the men’s expressions changed. The people from Huimin Medical Hall, having some sense of propriety, released Deng Ruyun, but the two “onlookers” suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“You are really something. You’ve said all that, so smooth-talking and deceitful. You must be a swindler. You deserve to be sent to the yamen and given twenty strokes of the cane first!”

This man’s grip was incredibly strong, almost breaking Deng Ruyun’s arm.

Deng Ruyun cried out in pain, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Just as she was about to say something more, someone suddenly stepped forward.

Zhu Huang stepped forward and kicked the person holding Deng Ruyun to the ground. Bai Chunfu, who had been avoiding the Grand Princess’s search, suddenly appeared before the crowd, blocking her path.

Bai Chunfu immediately looked her over and saw that her hands and wrists were bruised and red from the force of the men’s grip.

The men pointed at her, threatening to continue, and then pointed at the people from Yuyun Hall, saying, “Selling medicine is a business of conscience; we will not tolerate you, little devils, causing trouble! If we do not ruin your reputation today, we will be letting down the people you’ve killed!”

The men continued shouting.

Bai Chunfu suddenly let out a heavy, cold laugh and turned to look at the people from Huimin Medical Hall.

“What? Has Huimin Medical Hall also colluded with these people?”

The faces of the people from Huimin Medical Hall grew increasingly grim.

This commotion drew a large crowd of onlookers, and in the chaos, Deng Ruyun noticed that the two men from the Grand Princess’s faction that Bai Chunfu had previously avoided on the road had also gathered around.

She quickly gestured to him, telling him not to concern himself with his affairs.

But several troublemakers approached Bai Chunfu and asked, “You certainly have a big mouth. And who are you?”

Upon hearing this, Bai Chunfu laughed.

Deng Ruyun saw him suddenly speak, directly calling out to the two guards of the Grand Princess who had come looking for him.

“Tell him, who exactly am I?”

A hush fell over the surroundings.

Deng Ruyun was stunned.

Why had he just revealed his carefully concealed identity like that?

The two guards sent by the Grand Princess, who had been searching for the Sixth Master for a long time, were now being called upon by Bai Chunfu. They stepped forward, dumbfounded.

“Sixth Master? Sixth Master! You…you are here?!”

At the guards’ shout, the people at Huimin Medical Hall froze. Someone asked incredulously.

“Could this be Sixth Young Master Bai? The Sixth Young Master Bai sent by the court to supervise pharmaceutical affairs?”

And Huimin Medical Hall was right under his supervision!

The staff at Huimin Medical Hall were all dumbfounded, and the troublemakers were also at a loss. The Grand Princess’s guards hurriedly stepped forward to bow to him.

On the long street where the cold wind howled, the crowd surrounded him in the center. The man’s face was somber, his usually gentle eyebrows now cold and stern.

Although he was still wearing a simple cloth robe, he stood tall and straight, hands behind his back, his entire presence silencing the clamor of the entire street.

Deng Ruyun turned to look at the person before her, momentarily stunned.