Must Marry
Chu Xuan was amused by Wen Yan’s words, but soon began to cough repeatedly. After finally regaining his breath, he said, “Alright.”
Wen Yan’s face immediately blossomed into a smile as she threw herself once more into Chu Xuan’s arms.
Mingyue crouched again atop the roof of Chu Xuan’s house, watching the pair embrace in the courtyard below with a trace of confusion. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why has Chu Xuan changed his temperament?”
Qin Shi did not answer. After finishing her wontons, Mingyue set the porcelain bowl beside her, lifted her arm, bent her elbow, and nudged Qin Shi’s chest with a frown. “Say something, will you?”
“The master need not know everything so clearly. This is Wen Yan’s story, not Chu Xuan’s. Some things are for him alone to understand.”
Mingyue was dissatisfied, sprang to her feet, and in doing so knocked over the porcelain bowl. Seeing it about to roll off, she instinctively lunged forward. Fortunately, Qin Shi caught her by the foot, or both she and the bowl would have tumbled down for sure. Settling back onto the rooftop, Mingyue patted her chest in lingering fright. “Good thing, good thing—if I’d fallen, it wouldn’t have mattered if they found the bowl, but I’d have been crippled for sure.”
Qin Shi silently tossed the bowl outside Chu Xuan’s courtyard, offering no further comment.
Wen Yan stayed behind to tidy up and look after Chu Xuan. The old nurse who cared for him was somewhat displeased with Wen Yan, but out of consideration for Chu Xuan, she maintained a gentle demeanor and seldom spoke sharply or coldly, only rarely exchanging words with Wen Yan.
Thus, Mingyue watched the two as months slipped by, her chin resting in her hands. Fortunately, time in this dream realm passed swiftly, and as Wen Yan didn’t narrate every detail, it was not too hard to endure.
As for Wen Yan and Chu Xuan, neither had ever truly loved before, so their days together were often filled with moments that were both laughable and touching. In those moments, Chu Xuan would always ruffle Wen Yan’s hair, smiling, “What a silly child you are.”
Wen Yan would always laugh, though tinged with a hint of complaint, and when she could laugh no more, she would bury herself in Chu Xuan’s arms.
Life was simple, yet brimming with happiness—at least for Wen Yan. Affected by her state of mind, the dream realm often defied the seasons, with flowers blooming everywhere, as glorious as spring. But as observers, Mingyue and Qin Shi knew well how things would end for the two of them.
One day, while grinding ink for Chu Xuan, Wen Yan accidentally spilled the inkstone, staining her hands and her collar. Chu Xuan laughed aloud for once, and when Wen Yan reached out her stained hands, he gently caught them and, seizing the moment, used her hands to paint on a blank scroll.
In that instant, Mingyue felt that Chu Xuan was truly happy, regardless of why he had changed his mind from before.
After watching for a while, Mingyue suddenly turned and asked Qin Shi, “Do you think Chu Xuan’s illness was because he saved Wen Yan, or because of those wretched palace affairs?”
“I do not know,” Qin Shi replied coolly, “but… if it was the former, Chu Xuan would not regret it. If the latter, Chu Xuan would not resent it.” With that, he added her title, his thick brows unconsciously furrowing.
Wen Yan remained by Chu Xuan’s side for over a year without title or status. During this time his health fluctuated, but there was never a shortage of rare and precious medicines. At first, Wen Yan found this odd but soon paid it no mind, since none of it helped him anyway. Because of Wen Yan’s words at the banquet, the Wen family had lost all face in Yanzhou, and Lady Wang never once mocked or scorned them, so they enjoyed a few tranquil days. But Mingyue could see that Wen Yan was actually very worried about Chu Xuan.
After witnessing Chu Xuan secretly hiding yet another bloodstained handkerchief, Wen Yan returned to the Wen household for the first time since turning fifteen. Kneeling before Lady Wang, she pleaded, “Mother, Chu Xuan’s health is failing—I don’t know how much time he has left. I can’t bear to waste another moment. I beg you to let me marry him! I know you’re still angry, and that’s why Chu Xuan has refused to marry me, but Mother… I don’t want to waste the last of our time. I promise you, if Chu Xuan passes, I will never defy you and Father again.”
Lady Wang was silent, lowering her gaze as she sipped her tea.
“Mother, I beg you just this once! If I have failed as a dutiful daughter, that is my fault and has nothing to do with Chu Xuan. Please don’t take it out on him. Please, Mother!” Wen Yan kowtowed again and again, her forehead soon marked with red.
Lady Wang asked, “Can you swear that after Chu Xuan is gone, there will never be another Lin Xuan or Zhao Xuan?”
“If Chu Xuan truly leaves one day, I will never defy my parents again. Should I break this vow, let me die by heavenly retribution!”
Lady Wang’s lips twitched. At last, she replied, “Very well, you have said it yourself. Go back and discuss a date with Chu Xuan, and inform your father and me once it’s settled.”
Overwhelmed with joy, Wen Yan nodded through tears and hurried away. Before Mingyue followed, she saw Lady Wang summon the nurse and heard her command coldly, “Keep a close watch on the apothecary’s apprentice and increase the dosage in Chu Xuan’s medicine. I’d rather see Yan’er a widow early than have her waste five or ten years on that sickly nobody of unknown origin. In any case, few will know of this marriage, and with the Wen family’s status, what difficulty will we have finding her a fine match? Our Wen family has but one daughter; how could I let a commoner take her?”
Mingyue frowned, a chill rising in her heart, and left the Wen household with Qin Shi. Before they had fully returned to the little courtyard, she heard Wen Yan’s laughter.
“I just slipped and hit my forehead, it’s nothing. But Chu Xuan, did you hear? My mother agreed—she really agreed! She’s given her consent for me to marry you! Wen Yan is going to be your wife!”
In the days that followed, Wen Yan began making preparations for the wedding. She had wanted Chu Xuan to help, but had to give up due to his health. Perhaps at Chu Xuan’s instruction, the nurse became much kinder to Wen Yan, assisting her in arranging the bridal chamber and ensuring everything was in order.
Mingyue watched as the once-cold courtyard was adorned with bright red decorations, as vibrant as fire and as crimson as blood, making Chu Xuan’s thin pallor look all the more stark.
On the day of Wen Yan and Chu Xuan’s wedding, only a handful were present—Chu Xuan’s nurse and Wen Yan’s parents. Though the atmosphere was awkward, Wen Yan’s smile had never been so radiant.
To Mingyue, it seemed that in this moment, Wen Yan’s eyes saw only Chu Xuan and their future together, which was why she could display her happiness so openly and unabashedly.
The day after the wedding, Chu Xuan took Wen Yan to a mountain villa, which was far larger than the little courtyard and fully equipped for daily life, though only the two of them lived there, making it somewhat lonely. Every few days, Chu Xuan would take Wen Yan for a walk in the mountains, and sometimes they would climb to the very summit. Such experiences were new to Wen Yan, and her smile was all the brighter for it, full of wonder.
Perhaps the mountain air was better for him, for Chu Xuan’s health seemed to improve slightly; he no longer fell ill as frequently as before.
As always, Mingyue and Qin Shi followed at a discreet distance. “If only, in this dream realm, they could see us only when we spoke to them—there are too many things to be wary of now. Tell me, why isn’t Wen Yan curious about Chu Xuan’s identity? He’s clearly no ordinary man.”
“Perhaps Miss Wen truly does not care who Chu Xuan is, just as he never cared for her status as a young lady of the Wen family.”
Mingyue frowned. “Chu Xuan is a prince, after all. Why would he care about an illegitimate daughter of a branch family?”
Qin Shi fell silent, following quietly behind. Mingyue, finding no amusement, simply trailed after the pair ahead.