Chapter 004: Selecting Eight Men

“Po, Pomu—” Liu Yandai stammered in protest, “This isn’t right, this breaks the law.”

The law?

“He was the one who first violated the Jiafa of our Qin Mansion. How he treats me, I shall treat him the same. Yandai, you must understand that you should have your own set of laws. How others treat you, you treat them the same. Otherwise, wouldn’t you always be bullied?”

Qin Chanyue turned to look at Liu Yandai, her fox-like eyes carrying a hint of coldness as she gently stroked her head and said, “Yandai, these words, Pomu has only spoken to you alone. You must be careful, never let anyone find out, including your Shufu, understand?”

Her timid daughter-in-law, who trembled with every step, shook and shook like a sieve, looking as if she were about to cry again. But this time, perhaps because it involved Qin Chanyue, she inexplicably gained a bit more courage, clenching her fists and saying, “I, I won’t tell anyone, Pomu.”

Even if someone held a knife to her neck, she wouldn’t say a word!

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, and a maid announced from the outer room, “Reporting to Madam, the Marquis’s servant has returned, saying the Marquis will be back in half an hour.”

When the maid’s voice rang out, Liu Yandai was still immersed in the thought of “Pomu wants to kill Father-in-law.” Already trembling with fear, the sudden noise startled this unworthy daughter-in-law, causing her to let out a low gasp of “Ah!”

Look at how timid she is!

Qin Chanyue carefully put away the poison in her hand, calculated the time, and then said, “To the small kitchen.”

She was going to personally stew a bowl of nourishing soup to give to her husband when he returned.

Before leaving, Qin Chanyue turned back, calm and composed, and said to Liu Yandai, “Go back and rest early. Don’t worry about Zhou Yuanting and Bai Yuning’s matters. I will handle them.”

Liu Yandai, still in a daze, followed her Pomu out of Shangyue Garden and all the way back to Shuhai Courtyard.

When she returned to Shuhai Courtyard, the matron waiting for her frowned.

Earlier that day, after Liu Yandai went to the ancestral hall, she was scolded away by the Shizi, then went to complain to the Marquis’s wife, causing the Shizi to be reprimanded. This news had already spread throughout the mansion, making the matrons of Shuhai Courtyard extremely distressed, and they secretly cursed behind her back.

“Shizi Furen really can’t do anything right! She was supposed to plead for Shizi, but instead she got him scolded!”

“She doesn’t know any rules at all. Marrying her was such a waste for our Shizi.”

“We must teach her properly. How can this go on?”

So they had been waiting at the entrance early, and as soon as they saw Liu Yandai return, they hurriedly said to her, “Shizi Furen! This old servant told you to bring food to Shizi today. How did you end up angering him instead? Shizi arguing with you like this is entirely your fault! What kind of wife makes her husband dislike her so much? You must quickly think of how to appease Shizi, or else you’ll be divorced!”

Liu Yandai stood still for a long while, her face pale, before saying, “Don’t worry about that anymore.”

Being divorced was no longer a big deal… because her Pomu had gone mad!

In a way, Qin Chanyue had already succeeded, because Liu Yandai truly no longer cared about what happened to Zhou Yuanting.

Nanny was taken aback for a moment, not yet having the chance to ask, “Why won’t you intervene? How can you not intervene in such a major matter?” when she heard Liu Yandai say, “Quickly bring me brush and paper. I need to write a letter to Shufu.”

She had to write to Shufu immediately to inform him… Wait, she had promised Pomu not to tell Shufu!

Liu Yandai’s hands, which had been tightly twisting her handkerchief, suddenly froze.

“What do you intend to write to Zhennan Wang for?” The nanny thought for a moment, assuming Liu Yandai wanted to complain to Zhennan Wang about how poorly she was treated in Houfu, and immediately replied disapprovingly, “Do you plan to use Zhennan Wang’s influence to force the young master to yield? That is not a good idea. You came from Nanjiang and never learned proper etiquette. Now, not only are you refusing to learn, but you’re also resorting to coercion to pressure your husband. This is not acceptable.”

“You are married now, and your husband should be your priority.” Seeing Liu Yandai’s dazed and foolish expression, the nanny’s tone inevitably carried a hint of reprimand, as if from an elder. She said, “How can you pressure the young master? You must serve him diligently. If the young master resents you, you must serve him even more attentively. One day, you will move him, and then your good days will come.”

Liu Yandai wanted to defend herself, but seeing a group of nannies surrounding her, staring at her with stern eyes, she found herself at a loss for words. Her cheeks flushed slightly, yet she couldn’t utter a single word.

Just then, someone arrived outside the courtyard. The nannies inside temporarily set aside Liu Yandai and went to the door.

As soon as the nannies from Shuhai Courtyard crossed the corridor, they saw several nannies from Shangyue Garden standing outside, accompanied by a few servants, waiting with an air of hostility.

“Oh, what brings you here? Does Madam have any instructions?” The nanny from Shuhai Courtyard spoke with a hint of sarcasm as soon as she stepped out.

Most of the nannies in Shuhai Courtyard were originally from the Zhou family, while Qin Chanyue’s nannies were from Qin Mansion. The nannies from the groom’s and bride’s sides had gathered here, and there had been friction between them for a long time, with little harmony over the years.

Liu Yandai went out to look and saw that it was Pomu’s most trusted confidante nanny who had arrived.

Pomu’s confidante nanny, surnamed Zhao, glanced coldly at the nannies from Shuhai Courtyard and said, “Madam has ordered that you nannies have been gossiping behind others’ backs, bullying your masters, and disturbing the peace of Houfu. You are all to be punished and sent to the manor to perform hard labor.”

The nannies from Shuhai Courtyard widened their eyes in shock and said, “What nonsense are you talking? I am the wet nurse of the Marquis! How will Madam explain to the Marquis if she sends me away?”

Nanny Zhao paid no heed and simply waved her hand, saying, “Take them away!”

The sturdy nannies behind her rushed forward and forcibly dragged the nannies away.

The nannies being dragged away continued to shout, “How dare you! Just wait until the Marquis returns, wait until the Marquis returns—”

Nanny Zhao pretended not to hear and quickly took charge of Shuhai Courtyard’s affairs. She then dismissed all the nannies and maidservants serving in Shuhai Courtyard and replaced them with Qin Chanyue’s confidantes.

Previously, Qin Chanyue had been too lazy to manage Shuhai Courtyard’s affairs, but now she was determined to take control.

She found these nannies irritating, so she had them all dealt with and sent to the manor in the suburbs, replacing them with her long-time, most loyal confidantes from Qin Mansion. No one would be allowed to bully Liu Yandai.

And this was not the end of it.

She was about to embark on a life of wealth after killing her husband, so naturally she had to pave the way for her daughter-in-law as well. It was only right for both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to enjoy prosperity together. Thus, Qin Chanyue generously waved her hand and selected eight robust young men from the Qin family’s private guards, sending them all to Liu Yandai’s courtyard.

She had promised Liu Yandai a good life, and she intended to deliver. Qin Chanyue was someone who repaid a drop of kindness with a flood of generosity, and what she gave Liu Yandai would undoubtedly be the best she had to offer.

These were all private soldiers of the Qin family—her father had passed away, but he had left her this team to command, serving as her backbone. Picking a few to serve as male companions was more than enough.

Later, her adoptive brother had also supplied her with some private soldiers in Nanjiang. At one point, she had over a hundred men under her command, though they were all later used to clear her adoptive brother’s name, and not a single one returned. Otherwise, Qin Chanyue would never have fallen into such dire straits.

Qin Chanyue had long grown accustomed to commanding such disposable private soldiers, but Liu Yandai was not.

This was the first time Liu Yandai had ever seen so many—so many men.

Liu Yandai watched wide-eyed as eight burly young men stood at the entrance of her chamber. At the command of the matron, they immediately began stripping off their clothes, baring their upper bodies before kneeling in unison with a resounding “thud.”

Liu Yandai felt dizzy.

These eight men’s… ah, not that—those sixteen… ah—ah! Ah!!

Liu Yandai raised her hand and covered the lower half of her face.

“Shizi Furen,” the matron beside her said with a smile. “Madam intends for these men to serve you. Please select a few that catch your eye.”

Such a secretive, unspeakable matter, yet the matron spoke of it so openly!

At this moment, the entire Shuhai Courtyard had been taken over by Qin Chanyue’s people. Zhou Yuanting was kneeling in the ancestral hall, and all his trusted aides had been dealt with, leaving no one to send word outside!

Qin Chanyue had always acted with such boldness and ferocity, defying conventions like a monkey from Mount Emei, unpredictably swooping down to slap someone twice. How could ordinary people possibly evade it!

Liu Yandai certainly couldn’t.

She stared blankly at the eight men for a long while before suddenly collapsing backward—briefly fainting.

The tension that had built up all day finally snapped.

“Shizi Furen?” The matron was startled and hurriedly helped Liu Yandai up, pinching her philtrum to revive her.

When the rabbit-like Shizi Furen awoke, her first words were: “Help me up. I need to write a letter.”

—

That evening, a letter emerged from Shangyue Garden, and another from Shuhai Courtyard.

One was Qin Chanyue’s letter on matters of state, filled with her concerns, while the other was Liu Yandai’s ramblings, writing that her pomu wanted to find her eight men. These two letters left the Houfu in Chang’an one after another, heading straight for Nanjiang.

—

And where was Qin Chanyue’s husband, Zhongyi Marquis Zhou Ziheng, at this time?

—

At this moment, as night fell and stars filled the sky, in a humble residence in Chunxiu Ward.

Zhongyi Marquis Zhou Ziheng was nestled on a low couch with his unofficial concubine, Concubine Fang, chatting.

“Husband, will you stay with me tonight?” Concubine Fang, delicate and petite, nestled in Zhou Ziheng’s embrace, her eyes filled with reluctance.

“I’m afraid not.” Zhou Ziheng gently embraced his concubine, yet his words held no mercy. He said, “Qin Chanyue is waiting for me.”

Sighing, he continued, “You know Chanyue’s temperament. She is so jealous that I have no choice but to hide you away. It truly wrongs you.”

A flicker of resentment passed through Concubine Fang’s eyes.

How could she not hate Qin Chanyue?

In earlier years, when she was still a young lady, it was she who had fallen in love with Zhou Ziheng first. Their love had been earth-shattering, inseparable. Originally, Zhou Ziheng should have gone to propose to her, but later, under his family’s arrangements, he married Qin Chanyue.

Unable to compete with Qin Chanyue, she had wanted to leave Zhou Ziheng. Yet, unexpectedly, Zhou Ziheng had clung to her desperately. The two had secretly entangled for a long time. On the eve of Zhou Ziheng’s wedding, he had even brought her into the newly built Houfu ahead of time. In the bridal chamber meant for him and Qin Chanyue, they had spent the night as husband and wife. Before Qin Chanyue, he had belonged to her first.

Later, when Qin Chanyue became pregnant, she happened to be pregnant as well.

Though she and Qin Chanyue were pregnant at the same time, Qin Chanyue received all the glory and favor, while she had nothing. Heartbroken, she had intended to leave this place and raise her child alone in peace. But Zhou Ziheng, under the pretext of official duties, chased after her for a hundred li and painstakingly brought her back.

They were like two vines entwined, impossible to separate, their love thickly enveloping each other. In the end, for the sake of love, she swallowed all her grievances and wanted to become Zhou Ziheng’s concubine.

If she couldn’t marry him as his wife, then she would be his concubine. After all, which man under heaven didn’t have San Qi Si Qie? But Qin Chanyue simply refused!

She had even invoked something called the Qin Manor family rules, forbidding Zhou Ziheng from taking a concubine.

With Qin Chanyue unwilling and herself unable to part with Zhou Ziheng, she could only become an unofficial mistress, living in ambiguity.

Qin Chanyue had forced her into such a situation, denying her even a proper title!

What man wouldn’t be unlucky to marry such a woman?

She lowered her head slightly, feigning grievance, and asked, “Then whom do you love more?”

“Of course, I love you,” Zhou Ziheng declared firmly. “Only you. Being with her is merely due to the pressure of power.”

These words were true. In his heart, he truly loved only Fang Qingqing—it was just that this love was not as important as power.

If one day Qin Chanyue lost her influence, he would divorce her and want no one else but his Qingqing.

Hearing this, Fang Qingqing was delighted and said with a smile, “Then go attend to your matters, husband.”

Though she did not have Zhou Ziheng’s person, his heart was with her. That was enough! She had already won over Qin Chanyue in this regard!

Zhou Ziheng savored Concubine Fang’s tender affection, leaned down to kiss her forehead, then rose and left the outer courtyard of Concubine Fang’s residence.

The carriage rumbled as Zhou Ziheng returned to the Houfu from the gate of his mistress’s courtyard.

It was now the middle of the Xu hour.

The Houfu was adorned with lanterns, their overlapping lights casting a brilliance as bright as day. As Zhou Ziheng entered through the gate, the golden patterns on his silk robes shimmered under the lantern shadows. In an instant, a refined and elegant face was revealed.

Zhongyi Marquis, Zhou Ziheng, was only thirty-four years old—still in the prime of his life.

Zhou Ziheng came from a good background, a noble son of a prestigious family. He was well-read, gentle in temperament, and never argued with others. He was also handsome. When he returned through the mansion’s entrance in the evening and walked along the corridor, the night breeze swept through, lifting his sleeves, making him appear as pure and lofty as snow-capped mountains.

Quiet and steady.

The maids nearby blushed at the sight, lowering their eyes and not daring to look too boldly, only attending to Zhou Ziheng as he returned to his study.

Although Zhou Ziheng held the title of Zhongyi Marquis, he was not the type of frivolous noble who only knew how to indulge in pleasure. He held an official position in the palace as the Crown Prince’s Tutor. While not exactly overwhelmed with affairs every day, he was indeed busy, often appearing and disappearing like a dragon.

Because of his connection to the Crown Prince, some matters could not be discussed openly. Therefore, no matter where Zhou Ziheng went, Qin Chanyue never pressed him for details.

She trusted him.

This also gave Zhou Ziheng opportunities. Whenever he lingered among flowers, he would claim he was busy with official duties.

Qin Chanyue would then ask no further.

Today, Zhou Ziheng returned to Shangyue Garden from outside the mansion as usual.

Shangyue Garden was where he and Qin Chanyue usually resided. It was a name he had chosen himself—”Shangyue,” meaning “admiring the moon,” referred not only to the moon in the sky but also to the person in the mortal world.

Qin Chanyue loved this name, and Zhou Ziheng loved it too—he was quite satisfied that he could effortlessly please Qin Chanyue with it.

As Zhou Ziheng walked under the eaves of the corridor, he happened to catch sight of Qin Chanyue’s silhouette sitting in the side chamber. From his angle, he could see half of her profile.

She was as dazzling as a gilded peony, with rosy lips and an enchanting figure. Even from just her back, one could tell she was a woman who was anything but simple.

Qin Chanyue and Concubine Fang were completely different types. Concubine Fang was gentle, obedient, and delicate, while Qin Chanyue was willful, capricious, and unreasonable.

He had married her back then because her status could help him contend for the title. After so many years of marriage, he was still quite satisfied. Although she could be domineering at times, she mostly knew her place. Outside, she could command respect from others; inside the mansion, she managed mundane affairs with ease. And her eyes held only him. In return, all he had to offer were some sweet words, superficial concern, a few fashionable hairpins, and some sentimental poetry.

She was a qualified wife and a transaction that would never incur losses. Zhou Ziheng glanced at her back before stepping into the side chamber.

As soon as Zhou Ziheng entered the side chamber, he saw Qin Chanyue turn around and flash him a charming smile, saying, “Husband, are you done with your work? Come quickly and have your meal.”

Zhou Ziheng quite enjoyed her attentiveness and care. Despite Qin Chanyue’s arrogance and domineering nature outside, she always softened her temper in front of him.

“Didn’t I say I had official duties? Why did you wait for me to have dinner today?” Without giving it much thought, he asked directly.

Outsiders often said Qin Chanyue had a fiery temper and was difficult to get along with, but Zhou Ziheng knew better. Qin Chanyue had a “black-and-white” personality—if she disliked you, she truly disliked you; if she liked you, she truly liked you. Extreme and intense. In front of him, Qin Chanyue was like a child. She believed everything he said, and he never had to bother guessing her thoughts. All he had to do was ask.

“I missed you, husband,” the dazzling Madam leaned against the table, pushing forward a bowl of golden-thread fire-stewed old chicken soup, and cooed, “Husband, you’ve already eaten, so you don’t need anything else. Just try this soup. I made it myself.”

The woman’s slender fingertips pushed forward, the chicken soup in the white-glazed bowl gently swaying, shimmering with a warm and clear glow under the lamplight. Qin Chanyue gazed at him with infatuated affection, as if loving him to the very marrow of her bones.

Listening to her coquettish voice, Zhou Ziheng felt a hint of helplessness rise in his heart at being fought over by women.

He had been dining at Fang Qingqing’s place more often these days, rarely accompanying Qin Chanyue. He guessed she must have missed him.

Qin Chanyue had been spoiled since birth and needed constant indulgence and pampering. Having not seen him for so long, she naturally came looking for him, insisting on pulling him in for another meal—such a willful temperament.

Zhou Ziheng stopped overthinking it and took a seat beside Qin Chanyue, accepting the bowl of aged chicken soup without hesitation and drinking it in one go.

This was his wife. They had been together for over a decade, sharing countless meals. What reason did he have to doubt her?

And so, on an ordinary day, he drank an ordinary bowl of golden-thread fire-braised aged chicken soup.

After finishing the soup, Zhou Ziheng seemed to suddenly remember something and said, “By the way, I heard there was a new guest at the Houfu today, and it caused some friction between you and Yuanting?”

Though he wasn’t at the Houfu, his trusted aides kept him informed. He had also heard that his wet nurse had been punished and naturally wanted to ask Qin Chanyue about it.

Qin Chanyue rested her chin on her hand and nodded. “Your son brought Bai Yuning back and even said he wants to divorce Liu Yandai and marry Bai Yuning.”

“Absurd,” Zhou Ziheng frowned. “You did the right thing. He deserves to be properly disciplined.”

Bai Yuning’s family had long lost its influence. How could they possibly form a marriage alliance with the Houfu? When Bai’s father had come to plead with him back then, he had made it clear: in this world, one has parents above and children below. Small favors could be granted, but when it came to matters that could ruin a family, he would never lend a hand. As for Liu Yandai, she was the adopted daughter of Zhennan Wang, representing his power. Naturally, he needed to win Zhennan Wang over.

So this marriage alliance could not be broken.

“And your wet nurse,” Qin Chanyue added, as if remembering something else. “She has been throwing her weight around in the Houfu, relying on your authority. Just the other day, someone reported to me that she had embezzled some gold from the Houfu’s treasury for her own use. Today, I sent her away to the estate as a minor punishment. Once she behaves herself in a few days, we can bring her back.”

As she spoke, a hint of well-timed unease surfaced on her face. “After all, she nursed you. If you feel sorry for her, you can call her back now.”

After hearing the whole story, Zhou Ziheng said, “If we call her back now, there would be no discipline. Wouldn’t that make her even more arrogant in the future? There is a distinction between master and servant. Matters of the Houfu’s inner courtyard are entirely up to you. You are my wife, and we are one. I trust you to manage things.”

He had no reason to doubt Qin Chanyue’s words. She was his wife and had never lied to him. Besides, sending the wet nurse away didn’t mean she wouldn’t be brought back. It was just a minor punishment to teach her a lesson.

Hearing his words, Qin Chanyue smiled and nodded.

Zhou Ziheng wanted to say more but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness—probably from exhaustion these past few days.

He rubbed his temples and said, “When you deal with Zhou Yuanting, don’t be soft-hearted. That boy—”

Qin Chanyue was perfect in every way, except for one flaw: she was too protective of her own family and always reluctant to take action against them.

Sitting opposite him, Lady Qin watched him with a gentle smile and said softly, “It’s only right. I won’t be soft-hearted.”

Zhou Ziheng had no idea that the woman before him was no longer the person she once was. Beneath her radiant exterior flowed scorching, molten lava, ready to erupt at any moment and burn him to ashes. The shadow she cast upon the ground was that of an orchid mantis with sharp fangs, silently pressing its scythe against his neck.

A generational feud would require eighty-one cuts and forty-nine tribulations to kill him, but a betrayal by the one who shares his pillow needed only a gentle stab to plunge him into the abyss.

The light from the entwined floral lantern beside them flickered and swayed, while the moon hung high above all of Chang’an, looking down, watching and watching.

The wheel of history veered off course after rolling over a single pebble, breaking free from its destined end and hurtling toward another unknown direction.

That very night, Zhou Ziheng fell into a high fever.

The illness struck suddenly, and Lady Qin was heartbroken. She immediately summoned the physician who had served her for years to attend to him, even personally caring for him by his side.

Yet others paid little mind to this illness—just a minor ailment, it would pass in a few days.

Only Liu Yandai, upon hearing the news of her father-in-law’s illness the next day, nearly fainted from fright.

Now, even the sight of the eight private soldiers from the Qin Mansion guarding the courtyard gate terrified her. She dared not step outside, only weeping alone before her dressing mirror.

Please stop, Pomu! The government troops are everywhere!

——

This day was the twenty-sixth of the seventh month, summer of the thirty-seventh year of Yongchang.

The second day after Bai Yuning entered the Houfu, at noon.

The sky was clear, the sun bright, a few green bamboo stalks swayed in the breeze, and yellow birds chirped as they flew in through the window.

Today, the Qin Mansion seemed no different from before. The heir, Zhou Yuanting, remained confined in the ancestral hall, his back covered in blood from the beating, cursing Liu Yandai in fury.

Liu Yandai had intended to pay her respects to Pomu, but as soon as she stepped out, she saw eight tall and imposing private soldiers stationed at the door. Instantly, she recalled the sixteen delicate ones from yesterday—her vision darkened, and she simply gave up on paying respects, retreating back under the covers to write letters, occasionally clutching the blanket and weeping.

Lady Qin was calculating the dosage of poison, thinking it would take less than half a month to send her wretched husband to the underworld. Just as she was feeling pleased, a maid suddenly reported from outside the door.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Replying to Madam,” the kneeling maid outside replied. “Today, we waited for Young Lady Bai to rise so we could escort her out, but Young Lady Bai has yet to wake. Another matron checked and said Young Lady Bai has suddenly fallen gravely ill and cannot get up. This servant has come to ask whether we should find a physician for Young Lady Bai.”

Qin Chanyue’s hand, which had been calculating the poison, paused slightly. Only then did she remember—there was still a Bai Yuning in their Houfu.

In her past life, Bai Yuning had never fallen gravely ill.