Volume One, Chapter Six: The Tea Ceremony Incident

Xiao Yuanyi was so frightened that her whole body trembled. She opened her drowsy eyes and met his fierce, terrifying gaze; it would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared.

At this moment, she was even more humble than a dependent living under someone else’s roof. Her earlier sharp retort of “Get lost” had been said in a fit of rage.

So, she sensibly got up, clutching the bedding as she put on her shoes.

Having just come of age, her previously cropped bangs hadn’t grown out yet, hanging loosely to partially cover her face, making her look even more like a child.

She was not even as tall as Lou Hejing’s shoulder when passing by him.

Moreover, her wrist was still bandaged, and she clumsily knelt on the ground, arranging the beddings.

Even Lou Hejing, who had killed countless men, felt a pang of awkwardness at the thought of bullying such a little girl.

Lou Hejing, oh Lou Hejing—you’ve slept amidst heaps of corpses, yet you make such a fuss over a mere bed?

“Forget it.”

He tossed the bedding Xiao Yuanyi had painstakingly arranged back onto the bed and flopped down on the floor with his own bedding.

Kneeling there, Xiao Yuanyi looked bewildered. Was he really tormenting her like this?

In truth, had he asked her to wash his feet earlier, she wouldn’t have dared refuse.

A man that strong would surely hurt if he struck.

Yet, after she lay back on the bed, Lou Hejing said no more, casually resting his head on his hand as he lay down.

Born into wealth, Xiao Yuanyi was naturally not one to neglect her master. Besides, she was too exhausted and soon fell asleep.

But she was a restless sleeper, always tossing and turning, often kicking off her covers even in winter.

The Princess of Nan’an couldn’t help but worry, sometimes braving wind and snow to check in on her.

But afterward, her mother never tucked her in again.

Xiao Yuanyi turned over once more.

Suddenly, Lou Hejing’s eyes snapped open. Habitually reaching for his sword, he instead touched the soft bedding and remembered he was no longer on the battlefield.

He lost count of how many times he had woken up that night, glaring angrily at the lump on the bed.

He couldn’t tell if she was deliberately tormenting him.

He gave up on sleep, staring wide awake, pondering memories of childhood hide-and-seek and the flash of blades and blood on the battlefield.

Suddenly, he heard a few murmured words, almost like sobbing.

“Mother, do you believe in Yuanyuan...?”

“Do you believe in Yuanyuan?”

Mixed with crying, Lou Hejing couldn’t catch the words clearly, only hearing “Yuanyuan”—perhaps a pet name?

How childish.

Before he knew it, dawn had broken. Long Yu and Si Rui brought in hot water early.

Lou Hejing was gone; from the noise, it sounded like he was training in the courtyard.

Perhaps for appearances, the bedding he had thrown on the floor was now back on the bed.

---

Long Yu woke Xiao Yuanyi. Thanks to Lou Hejing, the morning meal was unusually abundant, unlike the usual hard steamed buns.

After only a few bites, Lou Hejing strode in, his bronze skin glistening with sweat. His damp shirt hung open just enough to reveal the outline of his strong muscles.

Xiao Yuanyi stood up. The breakfast was actually prepared for Lou Hejing; only upon seeing him did she realize something was amiss.

“Not so fast. I’ll go wash up.”

Lou Hejing found it strange. Earlier, Xiao Yuanyi had been bold and reckless; why now pretend to be timid in his presence?

He went to the bathhouse. Unable to resist, Xiao Yuanyi pinched one of the warm meat buns.

Old Nurse Liu and Si Rui chuckled secretly nearby, but Xiao Yuanyi ignored them, swallowing the meat filling.

Lou Hejing changed into his robe and emerged to find only one bun left in the basket.

Frowning, he promptly ate the remaining three bites.

“Let’s go.”

Xiao Yuanyi rinsed her mouth and silently followed behind him.

His long legs and quick pace soon left her far behind. Fortunately, Lou family servants trailed behind, guiding her to Yansheng Hall.

The newlywed couples gathered there to offer the tea ceremony together. She arrived late; Lou Hejing was already seated.

The family patriarch was away leading the troops. Lou’s two ladies sat in the honored seats; the rest were younger Lou family members.

Without exception, their gazes were icy cold.

Xiao Yuanyi felt her legs grow heavier but forced herself to walk in.

The servants brought a bundle of cattail and had already poured the tea.

Kneeling, Xiao Yuanyi said, “Xiao Liu is late. Please forgive me, madam. Please have some tea.”

She lifted the teacup, but the moment her fingers touched it, something felt wrong—the soft fingertips instantly burned red.

Qin Zhiyin glanced at Shen Suyun beside her, then took the cup, sipped lightly, and set it down.

“It’s time you start calling me mother-in-law,” she said with a meaningful smile.

Being young, Xiao Yuanyi did not understand the significance of this marriage.

Words like divorce or requesting to be sent away were mere bluster; at this point, only death could bring true release.

All empty formalities, Xiao Yuanyi knew this well. She forced a smile and addressed her, “Mother-in-law.”

Qin Zhiyin handed over the prepared gift.

Xiao Yuanyi thanked her and turned to Shen Suyun, who wore pure white and whose eyes and brows brimmed with cold hatred.

If looks could kill, Xiao Yuanyi would have died countless times.

She lifted another steaming cup, maintaining a polite smile. “Second aunt, please have some tea.”

The hall was eerily silent, making her rapid breathing all the more audible.

She had to keep shifting her fingers to steady the cup.

If it were before, she would have dropped it long ago.

---

But her brother was the one who caused her son’s death—that was an undeniable fact.

“Second aunt, please have some tea.”

Her smile was on the verge of collapsing. An unbearable itch and pain crawled at her wrist, as if ants were gnawing at the wound.

Shen Suyun continued to regard her coldly. Surrounded by so many people, sitting like aloof gods, her own small frame seemed even more fragile and vulnerable.

“The tea’s cold. Have a fresh cup,” Shen Suyun said indifferently.

A servant poured out Xiao Yuanyi’s tea and refilled the cup.

Her ten fingers were blistered and swollen from the heat, but she still reached out with trembling hands to take it.

Because she knew her reason for living now was to prove to His Majesty that the Lou family bore no resentment toward the royal house.

Despite the burning pain, her fingers pressed against the silver cup, tears welling in her eyes, yet she held it with proper dignity, preserving everyone’s honor.

Qin Zhiyin’s eyes flickered, about to speak, but someone was quicker.

“Second aunt, please drink this cup quickly. Your nephew must hurry to the military camp; there is no time to delay,” Lou Hejing said with slight impatience.

Shen Suyun’s expression shifted slightly; others looked shocked.

Qin Zhiyin tapped the table. “What the seventh young master says is true. Don’t let the children’s affairs be delayed.”

Shen Suyun snorted coldly and finally took the cup—but instead of drinking, she poured it all to the ground.

“I’m a jinx who lost her son. Seventh madam probably doesn’t want the gifts I sent,” she sneered.

Xiao Yuanyi quietly rubbed her fingers together, lowering her head submissively. “Second aunt, you’re too harsh.”

Shen Suyun stood and left. Qin Zhiyin said nothing, only giving the sixth young lady a look; Lou Xianyue immediately followed.

“The one who just left is Sixth Cousin. She came first to greet Fourth and Fifth Sisters-in-law.”

With Lou Hejing’s earlier protection, no one dared trouble her anymore, though their gazes grew more probing.

Xiao Yuanyi did not expect Lou Hejing to defend her. At this moment, she dared not meet his eyes.

“These are Ninth and Little Tenth.”

They were younger family members, and it was proper for Xiao Yuanyi to present gifts to them.

For the sake of the Nan’an Prince’s household’s dignity, these had been prepared well before her marriage. Nurse Liu, though reluctant, had no choice but to bring them out.

Ninth Young Master Lou Siyuan was the eldest son of the third branch. Though still a boy, he wore neatly fitted armor.

“I lived in Yanjing for seven or eight years and have seen the world. Seventh madam comes from the royal family, so why send such inferior goods?”

He took out a sword from the brocade box, unimpressive in appearance. Xiao Yuanyi was stunned.

He toyed with it carelessly. “Ah, it’s broken! Such poor quality. Seventh madam, are you hoping I die on the battlefield too?”