The Pampered Consort Demands a Divorce - Chapter Three

 

Wen Zilong drew his gaze back from Cui Jingyan, caressing his teacup to feel its lingering warmth. He spoke in a soft, measured tone:

 "The water transport in the capital has always been held tightly in the grasp of the Water Transport Gang. In the past, even dukes and imperial sons-in-law who wished to dip their hands into this business found themselves completely shut out.

Two years ago, when the new docks were completed, my brother-in-law seemed to perceive the unfolding situation earlier than anyone else. You made every preparation in advance regarding vessel dimensions, crew numbers, cargo capacity, and the like. Only because of that were you able to snatch thirty percent of the shipping volume ahead of everyone else, without the slightest fear of retaliation from the Water Transport Gang. If you were relying solely on your status as a commandery prince, I fear you wouldn't possess such capability..."

Cui Jingyan froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "Eldest Brother-in-law truly lives up to the post of Junior Lord; your perception is razor-sharp."

As for the unspoken words lingering beneath Wen Zilong's statement, anyone could deduce he was inquiring about Cui Jingyan's backer. And who could be more formidable than dukes or imperial sons-in-law, inspiring such dread that even the Water Transport Gang dared not offend them?

Cui Jingyan's management of the Prince of Jin's family enterprises was known only to those within the princely estate, and they would never speak of it loosely outside. But precious few knew that, in truth, the current Emperor's private assets were also held in Cui Jingyan's hands.

 It was he who carried out business planning, commercial ventures, andWen Zilong looked away from Cui Jingyan, rubbing his teacup to feel its lingering warmth. In a faint voice, he said, "The canal transport in the capital has always been controlled by the Water Transport Gang. In the past, even dukes and imperial sons-in-law tried to get involved in this business, but none of them could even get their foot in the door. 

Two years ago, when the new pier was completed, you seemed to have anticipated everything before anyone else—the requirements for ship sizes, the crew numbers, the cargo volumes, and so on. Because you prepared everything in advance, you managed to seize thirty percent of the shipping volume ahead of everyone else, without even fearing revenge from the gang. If you had only relied on your status as a Commandery Prince, brother-in-law, I'm afraid you wouldn't have had this kind of power..."

Cui Jingyan froze for a moment, then let out a bitter smile. "My elder brother-in-law truly lives up to his post as Vice Minister—nothing escapes your sharp eyes."

Although Wen Zilong had left his thoughts unspoken, it was obvious he was asking who backed Cui Jingyan. And who else could be more intimidating than a duke or an imperial son-in-law, making even the Water Transport Gang afraid to offend him?

Only the people within the Prince of Jin's household knew that Cui Jingyan managed its private businesses, and they were not ones to gossip. However, very few knew that in reality, the reigning Emperor's personal fortune was also in Cui Jingyan's hands. He handled all kinds of business management and investments for the Emperor, as well as confidential affairs that could never see the light of day.

The Emperor appeared muddle-headed, foolish, and entirely lost in pleasure, looking like nothing more than Cui Jingyan's childhood friend who only shared drinks and fun. But when it came to sheer wealth, with Cui Jingyan strategizing behind the scenes, it was no exaggeration to call the Emperor the richest man in the world.

Having received the answer he expected, Wen Zilong said no more. He merely patted Cui Jingyan on the shoulder. "Rest assured. What I shouldn't know, I will treat as if I know nothing. As for the relationship between you and my sister, I won't say anything out of line either."

With the conversation winding down, Wen Zilong escorted Cui Jingyan out of the warm pavilion and bade him farewell. He had intended to have a servant guide him, but unexpectedly, Cui Jingyan seemed impatient; he gave a brief cupped-hand salute, turned a corner, and headed straight for the garden.

Wen Zilong hastily called after him.

Cui Jingyan turned around, only to see his elder brother-in-law wearing an expression that seemed both hesitant and faintly amused.

"Brother-in-law, you're heading toward my courtyard. Wen Rou's room is in the other direction."

Cui Jingyan's expression froze. He nodded and turned toward the other path. He tried hard to maintain an air of calm composure, but the tease drifting from behind him nearly made him trip over his own feet.

"It seems that whether you've lost your memory or not, you haven't changed a bit, brother-in-law! I still remember back then, frail scholar that you were, somehow scaling the high courtyard walls of the Marquis Manor just to meet my sister at night—only to end up sneaking into my courtyard instead..."

It was assumed Cui Jingyan would return to the courtyard where Wen Rou had lived before her marriage, but instead, he told a servant he had business to attend to outside and left the Marquis Manor on his own.

Because this post-wedding visit to her maiden home had been delayed from three days to a full month, Wen Rou had already agreed with Cui Jingyan to stay overnight at the Marquis Manor. She never expected that after he and Wen Zilong finished their discussions in the afternoon, he would vanish without a trace.

Waiting until dinner, Wen Li flew into a furious temper, yelling that if Cui Jingyan didn't come back to fetch her, Wen Rou wouldn't need to return to the Prince's Manor at all—the Prince of Jin and his wife would have to come in person to give him an explanation.

With Wen Rou and Lady Wang soothing him, the evening meal was barely finished. Wen Rou dragged her exhausted body back to her room, truly feeling that dealing with an enraged father was far more exhausting than coping with the amnesiac Cui Jingyan.

Whenever she thought about the man who had left without saying goodbye, a wave of gloom washed over her. No matter how careless and indifferent she acted in the face of his blunt remarks, her heart wasn't completely immune to the pain; she had simply buried it beneath her understanding.

He has amnesia. Everything he's doing right now isn't intentional.

She knew that given how deeply they had once loved each other, once his memory returned, he would certainly regret how he had treated her during this time. Yet slowly, she was growing unsure. Could she really wait until that day came?

Since she wasn't returning to the Prince's Manor tonight, Wen Rou went back to her own room. She soaked in the bath for a long while, hoping to dispel the stuffy feeling in her chest, but it only seemed to settle in deeper.

After bathing, she sat blankly before the dressing table, letting her maidservant, A'yue, dry her hair while she stared into the bronze mirror, her thoughts a tangled mess.

The reflection in the mirror showed brows that were a bit too thick, eyes a bit too large, and a straight nose that looked far too heroic. Her complexion wasn't fair enough, and on top of that, she had always preferred military uniforms, nomadic attire, or even men's clothing. Combining all these traits had turned her into what Cui Jingyan called a "tomboy," who looked more masculine than he did when walking outside.

Before meeting her, Cui Jingyan had always admired delicate, frail beauties like Xi Shi clutching her heart. In the past, when their passion had burned deep, she hadn't cared much since he had chosen her in the end. But things were different now. Even though Wen Rou knew she wasn't bad-looking, as long as she didn't match the image he liked, walking back into his heart would be twice as hard.

She knew just how stubborn he could be.

Suddenly, she wondered: what would she look like if she dressed up like his ideal type of woman? Would it catch his eye, even for a single moment of genuine wonder?

"A'yue, I remember I had a pink 'immortal-pleated' skirt left here in the Marquis Manor, right?" Wen Rou asked abruptly.

A'yue's hand paused on the comb. "Yes, the Mistress had that made specifically for you the year you returned to the capital. Since you never wore it once, it wasn't brought over to the Prince's Manor."

"Help me change into it." She took a breath, looking at herself in the mirror once more. "And style my hair into... whatever hairstyle is popular nowadays, and put on some makeup."

Thinking her ears were playing tricks on her, A'yue stumbled over her words. "The Princess Consort wants to dress like a woman? Oh, no, the Princess Consort has always been a woman. What this servant means is..."

Three years ago, when Wen Rou had just returned to the capital, the Marchioness had specifically requested A'yue from her maternal family to serve as her daughter's personal maid, intending for her to help Wen Rou adjust to capital life. Because of Wen Rou's independent streak and her dislike for overly meticulous pampering, A'yue had never really been able to lend a hand with Wen Rou's personal styling over the past three years; she had only assisted with daily essentials. Thus, Wen Rou's sudden change of heart caught her completely off guard.

"I understand what you mean. I'm just trying it out... Well, now that I'm married into the Prince's Manor, maybe I'll need it for banquets and such in the future," Wen Rou came up with a casual excuse.

In truth, she had already been dressed up elaborately on her wedding day. But the ceremonial attendant who groomed her face had painted it so red and white that she had become completely unrecognizable, which she found unbearable. Fortunately, Cui Jingyan never got the chance to lift her veil and see it, having been knocked unconscious during the bridal escort.

Later, while waiting for him to wake, she couldn't resist calling for a cloth to wipe away the heavy layers of makeup. Otherwise, had he woken up to that face, he might have thought he was seeing a ghost in a nightmare.

With Wen Rou offering a reasonable excuse, A'yue went along with it smoothly. In the past, Wen Rou had always had a mind of her own, and A'yue knew there was no point in arguing. Besides, she was a rigorously trained maid; now that Wen Rou finally cared about dressing up, she naturally pulled out all the stops to make her look like an ethereal fairy.

She fetched the pink pleated skirt, paired it with a matching wide-sleeved top embroidered with peach blossoms, and fastened the white sash with a bright red palace ribbon. Skillfully, A'yue combed Wen Rou's hair into a side-swept "fallen-from-a-horse" bun, then dusted her face with light powder and dabbed on a delicate touch of rouge.

"The Princess Consort is young and has smooth skin, so there's no need to apply heavy makeup—a light layer of powder is quite enough. Paired with this gentle hairstyle..." Having finished, A'yue nodded with satisfaction. She held the bronze mirror slightly further away and invited Wen Rou to stand up and look for herself.

Wen Rou stood up but didn't walk immediately. Instead, she touched her head awkwardly, feeling as though the bun might fall off at any moment. "A'yue, with this hairstyle you've given me, I'm afraid I won't be able to pull it off! Legend says that Sun Shou, the ancient originator of this bun, wore a sorrowful brow, a weeping face, a fallen-horse bun, a swaying broken-waist gait, and a toothache smile... One had to go to such lengths to enchant her husband.

"Luckily, you didn't shave my brows and paint on that crying look. I know my own limits: I'm taller than most, with broader shoulders, and dressed in light colors. If I were to put on a weepy face, walk with a slow, swaying gait, and smile like I had a toothache, wouldn't I look like the spitting image of the White Impermanence ghost?"

Hearing her description, A'yue couldn't help but burst into laughter. "How could that be? The Princess Consort looks wonderful like this!"

Wen Rou shook her head, unable to agree, but still took a few cautious steps. The outer layer of the skirt was light gauze—flowing and airy, yet lacking flexibility. The floor-length fabric made her walk on eggshells; several times she nearly stepped on the hem and tumbled forward. Still, glancing into the mirror in A'yue's hands from a distance, the vague outline of a graceful lady seemed passable enough.

Cui Jingyan barely managed to rush back to the Marquis Manor before the second watch of the night. He had even alerted the capital's night patrol, and only avoided being arrested for violating the curfew by showing his Commandery Prince token. Still, upon returning, he had been thoroughly scolded by Wen Li. Cui Jingyan genuinely believed that if a burlap sack had been on hand, he would have been shoved into it right then and there.

Entering the room, the outer chamber was dark, but voices drifted from the inner room. Cui Jingyan took a few more steps and pushed open the inner door, only to be struck dumb by the beauty standing before his eyes. He froze in the doorway, caught in a trance-like daze.

Truth be told, in his memory, he had never seen her dressed so "normally." Although she had been dressed elaborately on their wedding day, he had just regained consciousness after the ambush; seeing her had startled him first, leaving him no energy to notice her attire.

In reality, if she just stood there without moving, her features and figure made her a stunning beauty. He dared say few women in the entire capital could match her appearance.

Yet the moment she opened her mouth and spoke of Sun Shou, Cui Jingyan felt torn between tears and laughter. Any lingering romantic illusions shattered in an instant. And when she began to move, her clumsy, wobbling steps made his heart skip a beat; he was terrified she would fall flat on her face, in which case Wen Li would surely take his rage out on him again.

Just then, Wen Rou reached the bedside. As she turned to walk back, she spotted Cui Jingyan standing quietly in the doorway.

Self-consciously, she smoothed down her skirt and instinctively tried to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, only to grab empty air before realizing all her hair had been swept up into a bun.

"You... when did you get back?" Did he... did he hear the foolish things she had just said?

Cui Jingyan didn't answer her. Instead, he furrowed his brows and asked, "What on earth are you wearing?"

Had he noticed her change? Nervous, Wen Rou twisted her sleeve with her hands. "Does it look good?"

Most people would offer a polite compliment even if it looked unflattering, but Cui Jingyan had no intention of placating her. He spoke bluntly: "This outfit doesn't suit you."

To him, wearing a skirt that dragged along the floor seemed to tie her hands and feet, making her entire body stiff. She was like a painted marionette—richly colored, but playing a role that wasn't hers.

It was pretty enough, and she was naturally good-looking, but it simply didn't suit her. In contrast, the military attire she usually wore highlighted the curves of her figure, making her look crisp and spirited. Her dark hair, tied up with a ribbon and left flowing down her back without an elaborate bun, swayed as she walked, radiant and bold. That was the look that matched her completely.

His words struck like a sharp arrow through Wen Rou's heart. She felt that all her effort this evening had been wasted; he didn't appreciate it in the slightest. A surge of embarrassment and annoyance flooded her, and Wen Rou gritted her teeth, asking back, "How does it not suit me?"

He hit the nail right on the head: "You're simply not made for wearing skirts. Making the hem so long for no reason—you nearly tumble over after two steps. Even in imperial robes, you don't look like a crown prince; have you ever seen a prince brought down by his own robes? Or do you plan to hitch up your skirt and march around like a swaggering warrior? I think you'd better stop making a scene and change back into your normal clothes."

The more she listened, the less willing she was to accept it. Was she really that terrible? "All the noble ladies outside dress like this. Why can't I wear it?"

"Are you the same as them?" Besides, among the women out there, who could match your dashing, heroic charm that attracts both men and women alike?

Cui Jingyan held those unspoken words on the tip of his tongue and ultimately kept them to himself.

He knew very well that plenty of men in the capital admired her style, and even women favored and imitated her military outfits because she carried them with such dashing ease. But he had no desire to boost her pride while dampening his own; if she knew he actually thought well of her, her tail would surely rise into the air.

Yet to Wen Rou's ears, his words sounded like confirmation that she could never compare to those delicate, willowy maidens. Her heart tightened painfully, but on the surface, she remained defiant.

"Fine, if you don't want me to wear it, I won't! I, Wen Rou, might not wear skirts well, but they could never imitate me either!"

Throwing out that spiteful line, Wen Rou immediately told A'yue to help her change, acting as if she didn't care at all about him standing right there.

By all logic, they were husband and wife, so there was nothing to hide. Even though they had not yet consummated their marriage, Cui Jingyan knew how bold she was; she wasn't shy about him watching in the least.

Yet, because of the guilty thoughts stirring inside him, he didn't dare look!

Before her palace ribbon was even undone, Cui Jingyan turned on his heel to leave without a word, only to be stopped by Wen Rou's voice.

"Wait!" She halted A'yue's hands and moved to walk toward him. But she tripped on her hem and fell straight into his embrace.

Instinctively, Cui Jingyan reached out to catch her. Just like that, the two of them ended up holding each other, her momentum forcing him back two steps.

A delicate fragrance drifted from her. As his large arms wrapped around her, her soft fullness pressed against his chest, making him realize her figure was far more curvaceous than it appeared.

He had no intention of acting inappropriately; he had repeatedly claimed he could never like her, so he should have released her immediately. Yet, having taken her into his arms, an unexplainable sense of comfort washed over him, telling him that this was exactly where she belonged.

"You..." She looked up at him, but catching sight of his handsome face and the complex emotions swirling in his eyes, she forgot what she had been about to say.

As if drawn by some irresistible pull, his face leaned closer toward hers, almost out of his control. Just as he was about to touch her, she suddenly spoke:

"Why are you covered in dust?" Only now did she notice that his dark robe was coated in dust, with a noticeable stain smudging the hem. "Where did you go this afternoon? Getting your clothes this dirty..."

To Cui Jingyan, those words felt like a bucket of icy water dumped straight over his head. All those strange, stray thoughts vanished instantly.

Without answering her question, he released her and turned to leave. "I'm going to wash up."

"You didn't go rummaging through a garbage pile, did you?" she suddenly blurted out.

Cui Jingyan stumbled, nearly falling flat on the floor.

"Did I guess right?" she pressed.

Wasn't it all for you, woman! Otherwise, why would he have rushed back to the Prince's Manor to dig up that thing? Cui Jingyan glanced back to glare at her with a baffled look, said not another word, and hurried out of the room.

Squinting as she watched him flee in disarray, Wen Rou abruptly turned to her maid.

 "A'yue, when we return to the Prince's Manor tomorrow, go ask Zhishu what on earth the Prince went off to do this afternoon..."