Chapter 013: Choosing to Close Her Eyes

When this small sedan chair entered the Zhongyi Hou Mansion, the masters of the Houfu had already heard the news.

In Shuhai Courtyard, Liu Yandai trembled inwardly upon hearing this.

In the past, she might have thought that Pomu must be very upset now, surely wronged, and that she should find a way to stand up for Pomu. But now… she felt Pomu might be grinding medicine again, or digging a pit for someone.

Pomu even dared to drive her own husband to the brink of death, let alone this outside concubine and her son?

After pondering for a long time, she finally closed her eyes.

If Pomu was doing something bad… she just wouldn’t look! As long as she didn’t look, then Pomu wasn’t doing anything bad!

—

Meanwhile, Bai Yuning, staying in the Guest Wing Room, learned of this matter but did not take it to heart.

The important tasks she had to complete in the Houfu were already done. Since the Second Prince had not given her new orders, she didn’t need to do anything, just stay quietly. If she had to say anything—

Tonight, she wanted to go to the Ancestral Hall to see Zhou Chiye.

Remembering how Zhou Chiye had stood up for her and defended her today, her heart softened in a way it hadn’t in a long time. Her once dead, dried-up heart seemed to be moistened by spring rain again; she felt alive once more.

She was going to see Zhou Chiye.

—

By the time the news reached the Ancestral Hall, Zhou Chiye was being given twenty strokes of the cane.

The servants who had not used much force when beating Zhou Yuanting earlier now also did not use much force on him. As a trained martial artist, such minor injuries were like a drizzle to him; he paid them no mind.

Only after the beating did Zhou Chiye ask, “Did Mother agree?”

A servant nearby hurriedly replied, “Madam took pity on the Marquis and agreed.”

Zhou Chiye snorted but said nothing.

He didn’t care about this outside concubine and her son either. Right now, he didn’t want to bother with his father or brother; his thoughts were completely filled with Bai Yuning.

Just as he was thinking of her, the window of the Ancestral Hall suddenly moved. Zhou Chiye looked up in surprise to see a beautiful face appear outside the window.

Through the window lattice and thin gauze, she smiled at him from afar.

A beauty arriving under the cover of night, bathed in the cool, melting moonlight.

For a moment, Zhou Chiye recalled not long ago—when his elder brother had lain here, and now he lay here, while she had moved from his elder brother’s side to his.

His heart was filled, leaving no room for anything outside.

—

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuanting, lying in Qiufeng Hall, felt a brief surprise upon learning that an outside concubine had brought her son into the mansion, followed by irritation.

A concubine and a bastard son had arrived, but what did it have to do with him? These two couldn’t possibly take anything from him; he only felt sorry for himself.

Father was so ill he was on the verge of death, so Mother showed special mercy… Yet he was also severely injured, nearly dying, and Mother hadn’t considered him at all!

Zhou Chiye had kicked him so hard that two of his bones were broken, making it difficult to walk, yet Mother only made Zhou Chiye kneel in the Ancestral Hall. She hadn’t stood up for him! Nor had she taught that wretched woman Bai Yuning a lesson!

That wretched woman was playing between the two young masters of the Houfu—how could Mother still keep her in the mansion?

Just thinking about it made him seethe with hatred. He couldn’t be bothered with any concubine, simply stewing in anger day after day.

—

While there was little commotion inside the Zhongyi Hou Mansion, the news of the Zhongyi Marquis’s concubine entering the mansion spread quickly through Chang’an, sparking much discussion outside.

“Have you heard? A new concubine has entered the Zhongyi Hou Mansion!”

“I’ve heard. They say the Zhongyi Marquis was on his deathbed and confessed to the Marquise that he had kept an outside concubine. Out of pity for his dying wish, the Marquise brought the mother and child into the mansion.”

“The Zhongyi Marquis truly had some skill, managing to hide this from the Marquise for over a decade.”

Some singled out Qin Chanyue for mockery: “Qin Chanyue relied on her father and brother’s achievements to act arrogantly her whole life. In the end, she gained a concubine sister—how bitter she must feel.”

Outsiders offered various opinions, mixing ridicule and spectacle, but Qin Chanyue paid no attention to any of it.

She gathered her strength and personally arranged for the mother and child to enter the mansion.

That same day, she cleared out a courtyard near the Guest Wing Room. Named Luoye Courtyard, it had previously been used for long-term guests but now became Concubine Fang’s residence.

Concubine Fang’s son was surnamed Zhou, named Wenshan, with the courtesy name Xiaozhong. He was the same age as Zhou Yuanting and his brothers. Zhou Wenshan was settled in Hongfeng Courtyard near Luoye Courtyard, close to his concubine mother.

After entering the Hou Mansion, the two came to pay their respects to Qin Chanyue with tea. The son immediately knelt and addressed Qin Chanyue as “Mother.”

Qin Chanyue did not make things difficult for them in the slightest. Smiling warmly, she rewarded them with many fine gifts and even affectionately held Concubine Fang’s hand to chat for a while. Finally, she escorted the mother and child to Qiufeng Hall, instructing them to visit the critically ill Zhou Ziheng.

“Since falling ill, the Marquis has been thinking of you constantly,” Qin Chanyue said, a trace of weariness in her eyes. “As death approaches, I won’t dwell on past grievances. From now on, we are all family under one roof. You may go see the Marquis.”

The mother and son had expected to face oppression from Qin Chanyue after entering the mansion, but they never imagined Lady Qin would be so understanding. Somewhat dazed, they were escorted by maids to Zhou Ziheng’s sickbed. Only when they saw the gravely ill Zhou Ziheng did they snap back to reality, throwing themselves before the bed in a fit of weeping.

On his deathbed, Zhou Ziheng’s only regret was this mother and child. Seeing them kneel and weep by his side, his own eyes grew moist.

The only person he had ever wronged in his life was his Qingqing.

In earlier years, he had been in love with Fang Qingqing. Originally, Qingqing should have been his rightful wife, but in his youthful arrogance, he was unwilling to lower his status and was determined to compete for the position of Marquis.

At that time, he was merely the second son of the Hou Mansion. His elder brother held the advantage of being the “firstborn” and also enjoyed a reputation for virtue, excelling in the imperial examinations beyond his own abilities. Unable to gain a foothold, he naturally had no claim to the title. To secure the inheritance, he explored every possible avenue and eventually devised a plan.

He would marry Qin Chanyue.

At that time, Qin Chanyue had just lost her entire family and was taken under the Empress Dowager’s wing to be raised alone. The glory of the Qin Mansion rested entirely on her shoulders. Whoever she chose would share in her radiance. With Qin Chanyue’s support, his elder brother could not possibly compete with him.

Thus, he chose to pursue Qin Chanyue.

Qin Chanyue’s temper was not gentle. Though stunningly beautiful, she was willful, capricious, and sharp-tongued. She demanded unconditional love from her husband, to have him all to herself, and even expected him to remain chaste after her death.

What an unreasonable demand! Among the noble sons of Chang’an, which one did not have outside concubines from a young age, and lost their virginity at thirteen or fourteen? Who could possibly meet such a condition?

Yet Qin Chanyue insisted, even declaring that if no one could do it, she would establish her own household and never marry. The Empress Dowager doted on her so much that even her outrageous behavior was indulged.

Most in Chang’an City withdrew at this, but Zhou Ziheng alone went against the tide. With gentle grace, he agreed to all her unreasonable demands and wild whims, tolerating her sharp edges and temper. In the end, he succeeded in marrying her.

After their marriage, the Emperor appointed him as the Zhongyi Marquis. He seized this honor from his elder brother’s grasp. Everything seemed perfect, yet deep in his heart, he still carried regret.

He felt guilty toward Fang Qingqing, the woman he had abandoned.

He and Fang Qingqing had been entangled for a long time, and in the end, he reluctantly made her his outside concubine. But in his heart, he always held onto a thought: sooner or later, he would make Fang Qingqing stand openly in the Zhongyi Hou Mansion. He wanted everyone to know that Fang Qingqing was his woman.

Now, he had finally done it.

He held Fang Qingqing’s hand, even feeling as though his illness had eased somewhat.

——

Knowing he was dying, Zhou Ziheng began to compensate Fang Qingqing and her son doubly from that day onward. He gave them all the best things and even forced himself to attend court, hoping to secure an official position for his son with Fang Qingqing, Zhou Wenshan.

In the past, he had prided himself on his integrity and never sought official posts for his two sons with Qin Chanyue, insisting they earn their positions through examinations. Now, for Zhou Wenshan, he was willing to break his own principles, showing just how much he favored this mother and son.

Qin Chanyue, too, seemed to indulge Zhou Ziheng endlessly during this time. Whatever Zhou Ziheng wanted to do, she did not oppose it. She only came daily to feed him a bowl of medicine, leaving him to Fang Qingqing and her son for the rest of the time.

Fang Qingqing had her own ambitions. Having witnessed such opulence in the mansion, her desires grew day by day.

During these days, she often overheard the maids outside discussing her and her son.

“When the Marquis passes, this mother and son will surely be driven out.”

“Not necessarily. The Marquis dotes on them so much; he must have left them a way out.”

“What if the outside son inherits the title?”

“How could that be! That would be an immense fortune!”

Fang Qingqing didn’t remember much else, but she remembered two words: inherit the title.

Seeing Zhou Ziheng grow weaker by the day, she whispered in his ear day after day, hoping he would leave something substantial for her son and herself. Zhou Ziheng’s mind grew increasingly muddled, his thoughts no longer clear. It was then that Fang Qingqing said to him, “My lord, you are leaving, but our son still has no support. You must leave a position for our son!”

Zhou Ziheng, in his dazed state, reached out to touch her face and asked, “What position?”

Fang Qingqing held his hand and said softly, “Let our son inherit the title. That way, he will never be bullied again.”