Chapter 150: A Consort's Heart as Impregnable as a Fortress (Part Two)

Chuxiu attempted to pull her hand away from Nie Peixiao’s grip, but he held on tightly. Strangely enough, she felt no pain, only a profound sense of… impropriety. Wave after wave of warm sensation washed over her. Although she knew their joined hands were concealed beneath her wide sleeves, she still felt nervous and flush with shyness.

Nie Peixiao showed no intention of letting go. His handsome eyes glanced sidelong at Yun Xiangrong, who stood weeping at the foot of the steps, stunned into silence. His cold voice rang out once more: "Lady Chuxiu is entering the palace for the banquet tonight by the Emperor's direct decree. What is the meaning of this? Do I, a Prince of the First Rank, need to report to the Eldest Miss Yun just because I came through the night to promulgate an imperial secret edict?"

Clearly not expecting the person inside the study to be someone other than Shen Yu, Yun Xiangrong asked in flustered bewilderment, "You are..."

"Seeing Prince Cheng, why do you not offer your salutations?" Chuxiu asked helplessly, letting Nie Peixiao clasp her hand from behind as she sternly commanded the servants and maids who had gathered to watch the commotion.

Only then did the crowd snap back to their senses, hurriedly dropping to their knees in a rustle of garments to pay their respects.

Unwilling to let the matter escalate further, Chuxiu instructed Zhuying, "Take the Eldest Miss back at once!"

With a guilty, soundless bite of her lip, Yun Xiangrong—her eyelashes still damp with un-dried tears—turned in a panic and prepared to leave.

"Hold on!" Nie Peixiao commanded in a deep voice, halting Yun Xiangrong in her tracks. He added, "Does the Eldest Miss expect to leave just like that? You slander your sister-in-law's virtue, and now you think you can depart without a word of explanation?"

Finally releasing his hold on Chuxiu's hand, Nie Peixiao pushed open the remaining half of the study door and stepped out, standing tall upon the steps to look down from above. With his hands clasped behind his back, his upright posture and purple robes set against the vast, starry sky radiated an aristocratic aura as dazzling as scattered stars and jade, making him resemble a sovereign looking down upon all living beings:

"Just now, I personally escorted Zifeng out. Zifeng is your husband, yet on New Year's Eve, he abandoned you and returned to the manor alone. Instead of introspecting as a wife should, you instead splash dirty water upon your sister-in-law? Lady Chuxiu has exhausted herself in heart and mind for the Yun family, yet not only are you devoid of gratitude, you are here making a scene and hurling groundless accusations. With a narrow mind and virtue such as yours… no wonder you and Zifeng are estranged as husband and wife."

Even in the deep gloom of the night under dim lighting, Chuxiu caught sight of Yun Xiangrong's face suddenly draining of color. Nie Peixiao’s words had struck too hard; no doubt they had pierced straight to her most painful spot.

Sure enough, Chuxiu saw Yun Xiangrong bite her lower lip, lift her tear-filled eyes, and suddenly soften her tone: "Sister-in-law, do not blame me… I only listened to the wild talk of a maidservant..."

"The Eldest Miss would rather trust the biased words of a mere maidservant than believe your own sister-in-law?" Nie Peixiao interrupted, letting out a cold laugh. "If I recall correctly, just now you declared you wanted Zifeng to write a letter of divorce? That sounds like a fine idea, and no doubt Zifeng would be quite pleased with it. Why not take this opportunity to invite him back so that I may serve as a witness in person? A clean break, and the two of you can go your separate ways to marry anew, completely unrelated from this day forward."

"Sister-in-law…" Yun Xiangrong trembled at the words, offering a conciliatory plea as she dropped heavily to her knees, weeping tearfully, "Xiangrong has weak ears and was led astray by a servant's nonsense. I beg my sister-in-law… to punish me."

"Oh? Which maidservant dared to talk nonsense and insult the mistress of the Yun household?" Clearly infuriated, Nie Peixiao was determined to put Yun Xiangrong through the ruder trial of humiliation.

Watching her kneel outside and offer a low plea for forgiveness, Chuxiu felt a wave of throbbing headaches wash over her. Thinking of the cold and distant relationship between Shen Yu and Yun Xiangrong nowadays, a twinge of guilt stirred within her heart. She softly intervened, looking toward Nie Peixiao: "My Lord… let us spare those who can be spared..."

Catching Chuxiu's clear, darting glance, Nie Peixiao understood her intent, let out a cold huff, and said no more.

Chuxiu massaged her temples, avoiding Yun Xiangrong's gaze entirely as she issued an order: "Zhuying, escort the Eldest Miss back to Zhuihong Courtyard." After a brief moment of thought, she added, "The Eldest Miss is unwell and spouting nonsense; have a doctor come examine her tomorrow."

Acknowledging the command, Zhuying stepped over to Yun Xiangrong and offered a polite gesture of guidance. Scrambling up from the ground in haste, Yun Xiangrong offered a shamefaced bow of farewell to Chuxiu and Nie Peixiao before scurrying away. Seeing this, Danxin also stepped forward to disperse the onlookers: "What are you all still standing around for? The Prince and her Ladyship are discussing confidential matters; are you planning to eavesdrop?"

Who could bear the weight of such an accusation? The gossiping servants scattered like birds and beasts in an instant.

Only then did Chuxiu let out a soft sigh, pulling the study door shut once more. "I have made a laughingstock of myself before Your Lordship." As she spoke, she slowly seated herself, the exhaustion and helplessness welling in her eyes no longer concealed. Watching her, Nie Peixiao felt a pang of heartache.

When Chuxiu remained silent for a long while, Nie Peixiao half-expected her to weep. Instead, she merely lowered her gaze into her own quiet solitude until, after a moment, she let out a faint, melancholy sigh: "You have come to my rescue twice tonight, My Lord, and I hardly know how to thank you properly."

Nie Peixiao glanced down at the palm of his hand, where a faint, lingering fragrance seemed to remain. After he had so openly grasped her hand just moments ago, could she truly be unaware? Or was she deliberately ignoring it?

Naturally, Chuxiu recalled that very scene. For Nie Peixiao to take her hand from behind—to say there was no awkwardness would be a lie, though she had assumed it was merely the usual uninhibited and romantic flair of Prince Cheng, who paid little heed to the proper bounds between men and women.

Lacking the heart to converse further, Chuxiu spoke with veiled deflection: "I am somewhat indisposed tonight. If Your Lordship's business is not urgent, might I pay a formal visit another day?" She assumed Nie Peixiao would understand her current state of mind; regardless of how monumental a matter he carried, she simply lacked the strength to deal with it anymore.

Yet Nie Peixiao had no intention of leaving. He feared that if he missed tonight, finding another opportunity would prove exceedingly difficult. They say that "at the first beat, courage is roused; at the second, it wanes; and at the third, it vanishes." While he still possessed the courage this evening, he refused to let the chance slip away.

"Is it worth it?" he asked her in a low voice. "The family your Ladyship is striving so single-mindedly to protect treats you like this—is it truly worth it?"

Chuxiu managed a feeble, powerless smile. "There is no such thing as worth or lack thereof. The hardest days have already passed, and now… things are quite well enough."

She spoke without any conscious sense of self-pity or self-mourning, but to Nie Peixiao's ears, the words sounded bitterly ironic. Indeed, even he had once misunderstood her, assuming her to be a woman who would stop at nothing to climb to power… no doubt everyone in the Yun household thought the exact same way. Just how much suffering had she endured? How could she bear so much in silence?

A rush of annoyance and stifled frustration churned within Nie Peixiao. "You haven't answered the question I asked you just now, Lady."

The question from moments ago? What was it? Tangled up as she had been by Yun Xiangrong's disruption, Chuxiu could no longer remember.

Guessing that she had forgotten, Nie Peixiao offered a wry, bitter smile before asking once more with utmost care: "I asked earlier, if there were ever a man who truly respected, admired, and cherished your Ladyship in the future, would you consider remarrying?"

A man who truly respected, admired, and cherished her? Chuxiu thought of Shen Yu. She could not say whether Shen Yu respected or admired her, but his deep devotion was beyond doubt. Still failing to grasp the deeper meaning behind Nie Peixiao's words, she lowered her gaze and replied lightly, "Your Lordship jests. Since I was willing to accept that chastity memorial arch, I naturally resolved to spend the rest of my days in widowhood."

She felt some perplexity as to why Nie Peixiao was dwelling on this topic. If he had rushed to her courtyard on New Year's Eve merely to verify such a matter… it was making a mountain out of a molehill. Finding Nie Peixiao's behavior today thoroughly abnormal, and having no heart left to spar or dance around his words, she offered another gentle explanation, hoping to swiftly end the conversation and send her guest on his way:

"I understand Your Lordship's meaning, and I am most grateful… but my mind is made up, and I feel not the slightest bit coerced. To be able to guard the Yun family for my late husband—that is contentment enough for me."

Hearing her speak thus, Nie Peixiao could restrain himself no longer, rising abruptly from his seat. An inexpressible agony seemed to gradually eat its way into his very marrow, spreading through his entire body with every word Chuxiu uttered until it became utterly incurable and pushed him to the brink of death.

"Even if you must protect the Yun family, a chastity memorial arch is not the only way…" Nie Peixiao's voice carried a hint of a tremble. "As for the arch, if Your Lordship feels even the slightest trace of reluctance, I am willing to go and persuade His Majesty and the Seventh Brother to retract the decree."

He paused, realizing how frantic he sounded, and deliberately softened his tone. "What I mean is… the Seventh Brother's words at the banquet were merely a casual jest. While the edict has yet to be formally issued, there is still room to turn things around."

"I thank Your Lordship for your kind intentions." Recalling the poem *The Broken Zither* that Nie Peixiao had once penned, Chuxiu felt all the more that he was a rare and inherently kind-hearted member of the imperial lineage. It was simply a pity that she had no need of it.

"Your Ladyship need not reply so quickly. You… may take your time to consider it." Nie Peixiao was barely conscious of what he was saying. The underlying, humble supplication hidden within his tone felt hypocritical and shameful even to himself.

With the conversation brought to this point, Chuxiu finally began to awaken to a certain realization, though she hardly dared to believe it. Biting her lip in thought for a moment, she forced a lighthearted smile and asked, "Surely Your Lordship did not visit the Liuyun Manor tonight solely for the sake of a chastity arch, did you?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a trace of regret, for the fiery brilliance flashing in Nie Peixiao's handsome eyes was far too obvious. The infatuation and deep devotion burning within his gaze were laid entirely bare, making them impossible for her to ignore.

Chuxiu found it nearly unbelievable. How could a grand prince like him…

Before the thought could fully form, Nie Peixiao let out a helpless laugh. "I felt I had dropped enough clear hints tonight. Why does Your Ladyship still not understand?"

As Chuxiu lifted her gaze to meet his, she was momentarily stunned by his frank and steady stare—laden with heavy attachment and intoxicating fondness. In a mere flash of thought, she found herself swept straight into a solid, warm embrace.

"My Lord!" Chuxiu gasped in alarm. The next instant, Nie Peixiao’s hand cupped her chin, forcing her to raise her head and look him directly in the eyes, locked in a position of such… intimacy.

Chuxiu's forehead brushed lightly against the hollow of Nie Peixiao's throat. The faint vibration of his voice as he spoke sent a scorching wave of heat across her brow. Flustered, she tried to push him away, but he was iron-willed in his refusal to let go. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips against her forehead, his burning breath mingling with his impassioned words: "Why did you never tell me that you are Hanchu?"

A heavy thud echoed in Chuxiu's heart, and she instantly understood why he had been acting so out of character tonight—he had found out about this… With that realization, she paradoxically felt a measure of calm. Recovering her composure after a brief moment, she asked in a low voice, "Was it Prince Mu who told you?"

Without offering further explanation, Nie Peixiao simply inhaled deeply of the enchanting fragrance clinging to her, utterly intoxicated and reluctant to let go.

Now that they were close, Chuxiu caught the faint scent of wine lingering about him, and even his breath carried a haze of intoxication. She began to struggle anew: "Your Lordship, you are drunk. Will you let me go first?"

Had she said nothing, it might have been fine, but the moment she spoke, Nie Peixiao only tightened his arms, caging her firmly against his chest. That magnetic voice washed over her once more, carrying an even heavier, reluctant attachment than before: "Since you had heard that tune *The Broken Zither*, why did you not tell me you were Hanchu? Why, instead, did you deny to me that you could play the zither? Hmm?"