Chapter 1: Beloved

This was the most restful sleep Jiang Wu had had in days.

Upon waking, the satisfaction brought by sufficient rest swept away the frustrations that had plagued her these past few days, if only for this moment.

The calming fragrance in the room was familiar to her.

“Madam.”

A gentle, steady voice sounded beside her—respectful, yet never servile.

Jiang Wu looked over to see the man who had been sitting by the window approaching her.

“Did you sleep well?”

She sat up from the lounge chair.

Honestly, this was hardly an ideal environment. The hard lounge chair paled in comparison to the soft bed in her own residence. Though the incense burning was rare and expensive, it could not compare to the superior nanmu wood room she was accustomed to.

Not to mention, she had slept fully clothed, with the hair ornaments still not properly removed.

Yet, she felt quite comfortable.

At least more so than in that cold, grand mansion.

Still, she had a banquet to attend later.

Just as she was gathering her thoughts, the man knelt beside her and softly asked, “Is your indigestion any better? Would you like me to massage it again?”

Mo Yangzhou was a very proper man.

Although outsiders might speculate on the nature of his relationship with Jiang Wu, it was clear that without her consent, he would never cross any boundaries.

That was precisely why Jiang Wu had chosen him.

She lazily extended her hand—an invitation. Mo Yangzhou then began pressing the area between her thumb and forefinger with a moderate, comfortable pressure.

“Princess Qingyang has sent messengers to inquire several times,” he said, continuing the massage as he spoke.

Jiang Wu enjoyed this moment of ease and was in no rush.

“If it were truly urgent, she would have barged in by now.”

She said this while still watching Mo Yangzhou.

He was no longer young.

As the wife of the Prime Minister of the Great Yan Kingdom, she could not summon him directly and had to rely on Princess Qingyang as an intermediary.

Besides, that flamboyant princess, always surrounded by numerous admirers, wouldn’t mind an extra affair.

Indeed, the princess didn’t mind, but upon learning that Mo Yangzhou was already in his thirties, she looked incredulous. “If you’re going to keep a lover, shouldn’t he be young and handsome? If not, I’ll send you two of my favorites. Such an old man…”

The words “loss of beauty” vanished from her lips when she saw Mo Yangzhou approaching.

Princess Qingyang even drank two cups of tea in a row to cover her embarrassment and didn’t bring it up again.

Mo Yangzhou’s hands contrasted with his gentle demeanor—rough and calloused. Jiang Wu guessed he must have endured much hardship in the past, though she never asked or investigated.

He was quite tall. Kneeling beside Jiang Wu, there was no sense of oppression or servility—only the natural closeness of a true couple. His service and deference to her felt perfectly ordinary.

This thought made Jiang Wu pause briefly before withdrawing her hand.

“I must be going.”

Mo Yangzhou said nothing further but stood up with her, tidying her slightly disheveled hair and expertly replacing the few hair ornaments she had removed.

“If you can’t sleep well, come to me,” he advised. “Do not take cinnabar again.”

Jiang Wu had once relied on cinnabar to fall asleep, but when Chu Ling discovered it, he did not scold her; instead, he executed all who had knowledge of it but failed to report. Only after her desperate pleas and assurances that she had not overdosed was her personal maid spared.

Thereafter, there was no trace of cinnabar in her life.

Jiang Wu said none of this but smiled in agreement and left the room.

Princess Qingyang waited outside, wearing a scolding expression. “Oh? Finally willing to leave your cozy nest?”

She probably assumed the two had been entangled in passion, so she paced anxiously but did not disturb them.

A cozy nest? In a way, yes—though not as she imagined.

Jiang Wu apologized but without much sincerity. “Whether I go early or late, the Duchess will never be satisfied.”

The Duchess of Yongguo was Chu Ling’s mother—Jiang Wu’s mother-in-law.

Despite nearly twenty years of marriage, Jiang Wu had never won her approval.

No matter when she arrived, what gifts she prepared, or in what manner she presented herself, her mother-in-law was never content. Over the years, Jiang Wu had adopted a rather indifferent attitude.

For instance, today was her birthday, yet Jiang Wu was still leisurely catching up on sleep here.

Princess Qingyang pursed her lips before speaking again. “The Prime Minister also sent someone to inquire.”

Chu Ling?

Jiang Wu suddenly felt a flicker of panic. “Why would he send someone? Has he already gone?”

“No.”

Jiang Wu breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course not; Chu Ling would not arrive so early. He had been very busy lately. Busy with what? Jiang Wu gave a wry smile.

***

As expected, when Jiang Wu arrived, the Duchess’s eyes briefly flashed with displeasure.

However, having been a duchess all her life, she quickly masked it perfectly and smiled, nodding after Jiang Wu’s greeting.

The woman beside her was less composed.

“Oh, sister-in-law, what an impressive entrance—so late even on mother’s birthday.”

That was Chu Ling’s younger sister, Chu Chan.

Jiang Wu thought, “Your brother hasn’t even arrived yet.”

Just then, Chu Chan continued, “My brother is busy with important matters. Sister-in-law, since you don’t need to worry about affairs in the inner court, what could possibly delay you?”

Indeed, your closest confidants are often your fiercest enemies. It was as if she knew exactly what Jiang Wu was thinking.

Jiang Wu also detected jealousy in her words. She really didn’t need to concern herself with inner court matters—after all, Chu Ling’s inner court consisted solely of her.

Rumor had it that Chu Chan’s husband had recently taken a concubine. This was not the time to vent her frustrations.

But having just left Mo Yangzhou’s side, Jiang Wu was in a good mood. Besides...

If Chu Chan knew what important matter her brother was busy with, her expression would surely be priceless.

With that thought, Jiang Wu’s spirits lifted, and she chose not to engage with her sister-in-law further. Seeing Jiang Wu’s indifferent attitude, Chu Chan was annoyed and about to retort, but the Duchess stopped her.

What made Jiang Wu happiest was seeing her children.

Chu Ling had his own separate residence, due to various reasons. In short, he did not live with the entire household of the Duchy.

Yet their children were raised by the Duchess.

Jiang Wu rarely saw them.

Her son and daughter had grown into poised young man and woman.

“Mother,” the siblings greeted Jiang Wu politely.

Jiang Wu’s heart warmed, her gaze fixed on her daughter’s increasingly enchanting face. “Nianyin, haven’t you grown taller since mother last saw you?”

She thought her own face was approachable, but her daughter seemed nervous, perhaps shy, cheeks flushed. “No, mother. It’s brother who has grown quite a bit.”

Jiang Wu was about to say more when Chu Chan’s voice came from nearby: “Nianyin, your grandmother is calling you.”

Jiang Wu watched her children bid farewell and follow their grandmother. They spoke softly, their faces bright with smiles.

A shadow of sadness crossed her eyes. Her children were not close to her.

***

After the banquet, everyone moved to another location to watch an opera with the Duchess.

Jiang Wu found it rather dull.

The performance lacked the soulful poignancy that only Yangzhou’s singing could provide.

She had never seen a man sing with such heartrending emotion.

But now, the stage’s shrill sounds only gave her a headache, making her want to leave.

She glanced at the Duchess and caught the eyes of Chu Nianyin sitting nearby. Before she could smile, the girl looked startled and quickly looked away.

Jiang Wu’s smile froze, bitterness creeping through her heart.

She now suspected she had overeaten again; indigestion was building, causing pain from her stomach to her chest. She mimicked Mo Yangzhou, massaging the area between her thumb and forefinger.

Halfway through, a servant burst in, barely containing excitement. “Old Madam! Good news! Lady Ruyue will return to the court!”

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the room.

The elderly lady reacted with disbelief for a long moment before asking, “Really?”

Her trembling voice barely concealed her joy.

“Really! Great Yan has won! The Beiyao Kingdom seeks peace and agrees to return Lady Ruyue to the court.”

Tears sparkled in the old lady’s eyes as she grew emotional. Everyone else offered congratulations.

Though this news was new to them, Jiang Wu had long been aware. As the Prime Minister’s wife, she had access to more timely information.

She deliberately looked toward Chu Chan. As expected, her sister-in-law was the only one gritting her teeth in anger, while her husband beside her seemed utterly distracted.

Jiang Wu found it amusing.

Her arm was tapped—Princess Qingyang.

“Your mouth is about to get you into trouble,” the woman teased.

Jiang Wu quickly composed herself, lifting her wine cup to hide a smile, though something felt off.

“It’s a joyous occasion! Why shouldn’t I smile?”

Everyone else was smiling.

Princess Qingyang said nothing, but her gaze was complicated.

Jiang Wu thought she must seem pitiful to her—but truly, she was not.

Speaking of Lady Ruyue, she was a truly legendary figure.

Originally a farmer’s daughter, the Duchess had been on a mountain pilgrimage while pregnant with her younger sister-in-law. She went into labor just as Lady Ruyue’s mother did nearby.

Ruyue’s mother was bold enough to switch babies, transforming her daughter into a noble daughter of the Duchy. This secret held until they turned fifteen, when Chu Chan was taken back.

Yet after raising her for over a decade, the Duchess had grown fond of the girl and raised her alongside the others.

What followed was a series of twists and turns too complex to recount in a single sitting. For instance, Chu Chan’s current husband had originally been Lady Ruyue’s fiancé. Rumor had it he now took concubines modeled after Ruyue’s likeness.

Of course, at that time Ruyue had not been a princess; the title came later through a political marriage.

Chu Chan had played a significant role in arranging that marriage, earning much private criticism.

But the public only knew of their tangled love and hatred, unaware that the Prime Minister had also been involved.

Thinking this over, Chu Ling was not so bad.

While others had many substitutes, he only had one true love.

“Prime Minister has arrived!”

Speak of the devil—the busy man finally appeared at his mother’s birthday banquet.

From afar, a figure in dark robes approached, radiating an overwhelming presence even at a distance.

Though nearing forty, his sharp, handsome features defied his age. Perhaps the only thing age had given him was a cold, commanding aura.

Jiang Wu lowered her head.

Whenever she heard street storytellers recount the tales of Chu Chan and the others, she couldn’t help but sigh.

They were too weak compared to Chu Ling.

He had endured humiliation to send away his beloved, spent over a decade climbing to the position just beneath the throne, and now, driven by a king’s wrath for a woman, led an army to forcefully bring her back.

Wasn’t that even more heroic and touching?

Alas, such a compelling story was so well hidden by Chu Ling that only she witnessed it.

The towering presence seated beside her brought with it a heavy scent of pine resin, reminiscent of the man himself. Before Jiang Wu could look up, the pressure made her limbs stiffen. She composed herself and respectfully greeted, “My lord.”

Her demeanor was perfectly obedient.

No one present dared defy him. Jiang Wu was no exception.

Others feared him, but only saw him a few times a year; she feared him daily. Just thinking about it made her feel miserable.

The man responded with a low hum.

Jiang Wu was used to it and poured him a full cup of wine.

Lowering her gaze, she saw Chu Ling’s hand resting on the table. His well-defined fingers tapped lightly—a hand both strong and unyielding, as if it could crush anything it gripped.

Only the emerald on his thumb ring gleamed brightly—a constant companion.

Jiang Wu momentarily drifted in thought before he suddenly asked,

“What fragrance are you wearing?”