Chapter 8: The Beloved Woman

After that night, everyone in the Hou residence knew that He Zhiyu had acknowledged Meng Shi as the legitimate first lady.

Madam Hou, who had been hesitating whether to grant Meng Yunshao authority over the servants in the Fuyue Pavilion, relinquished her control the very next day and even assigned a few people under Meng Yunshao’s management. Several months later, seeing Meng Yunshao’s intelligence and capability, Madam Hou entrusted her with the keys to all the official documents of the household—though that is a story for later.

Though Meng Yunshao only managed a few people, everyone sensed the shift in the winds.

It wasn’t just the crafty old hands of the Hou household who were adept at gauging the tides of power; anyone with eyes began to respectfully address her as “Young Madam.”

On the day He Zhiyu returned from his inspection tour of the south, news spread through the residence like rippling waves that the heir had spent the night at the Fuyue Pavilion.

Having been apart for three or four months, it was already remarkable that no rumors of romantic entanglements had surfaced about the heir. Returning to Fuyue Pavilion on the very first night showed that Meng Yunshao’s status remained unchanged.

For months, some ill-intentioned servants had quietly convinced themselves that the relationship between Meng Yunshao and the heir was lukewarm and distant. They believed that after such a long separation, the heir would, like many men, be reluctant to return home, indulge in romantic escapades, or even bring back a concubine.

Men were all the same in their fickleness. The Marquis himself had been deeply devoted to Madam Shen but still took a third concubine, Lady Liu. The heir might well be similarly enchanted by the seaside beauties of the southern continent, forgetting his faithful wife.

These assumptions all proved wrong. Those who had entertained such thoughts soon retreated, fearing that Meng Yunshao might have noticed their true intentions.

Some mischievous onlookers peered out at night and saw the two of them return together to Fuyue Pavilion. They even overheard a maid delivering a basin of water at the late hour of the “ugly hour” (around 1-3 a.m.), but the heir did not call her in; instead, he personally came to fetch it.

The next morning, every servant in the Fuyue Pavilion rose early, tidying themselves before the official waking time set at the second quarter of the Mao hour (around 5:30 a.m.), fearful of neglecting the heir and his wife.

This was exactly what Meng Yunshao wanted—her rightful place.

Yet, at that moment, she was truly exhausted.

Having been busy with the welcome banquet for several days and barely rested the previous night, she vaguely heard the night watchman faintly ringing the bell in the early morning but stubbornly refused to get out of the warm bed. Multiple attempts to open her eyes ended in failure.

He Zhiyu, however, woke immediately, his face radiant as if he had enjoyed a full night’s sleep. In truth, he had only slept a little over an hour, but his military experience had accustomed him to irregular hours; staying up late was nothing to him.

He quietly sat on the bed, watching Meng Yunshao for a moment.

Seeing her with closed eyes, her fair jade arm exposed, trying to push the covers away to force herself up, only to sulkily pull them back over her head as if deciding to sleep in, then peeking out again to repeat the same motions.

Only when she was in such a half-unconscious state could he stare at her unabashedly and greedily.

He found it amusing, telling himself it was like observing a beautiful little animal.

After a while, Meng Yunshao still did not get up. Seeing the time dragging on, He Zhiyu softly said, “Meng Shi, get up. We have to eat with my mother soon.”

At these words, Meng Yunshao seemed doused with ice water and instantly woke, sitting up abruptly.

He Zhiyu felt a faint pang of sympathy and guilt, resolving not to trouble her so much next time.

Normally, due to his mother's many rules, he restrained himself from indulging in private affections, allowing himself to visit only once every ten days. When the time came, his self-control often faltered.

Having been apart for three or four months, this time he was especially unable to hold back.

After they finished dressing, the two went together to the Qingli Courtyard.

Along the way, they neither showed excessive intimacy nor exchanged many words or laughter, but standing side by side, Meng Yunshao’s delicate beauty and He Zhiyu’s upright posture made them appear as a perfectly matched pair.

Once inside Qingli Courtyard, Meng Yunshao conscientiously went to oversee the small kitchen and the meal preparations.

Yesterday, He Zhiyu had saved her a seat beside him, but she had yet to eat. Today, he was determined to call her over to prevent her from going hungry and risking a recurrence of her stomach ailment.

She came over after a short while. Since the gathering was small—only the Marquis and Marchioness, the two couples, and He Qingxian—Meng Yunshao did not have to expend as much effort as the day before.

The table was laden with a variety of steamed dishes, both sweet and savory, assorted small dishes with meat and vegetables, and several kinds of porridge and soups, all carefully arranged. Each dish was exquisitely small and delicate, chosen in advance by Meng Yunshao.

He Zhiyu recognized the steamed pork tendon with black bean sauce and pepper, the fresh chicken coconut soup, and the scallion pancakes placed before him as her special preparations—all his favorites.

Meng Yunshao also served porridge to everyone: the Marquis favored the five-black porridge, the Marchioness preferred yam and glutinous rice soy milk porridge, He Qingxian liked pork liver and fresh vegetable porridge, and He Zhiyu enjoyed thick millet porridge. She served each accordingly.

He Qingxian took a sip of her pork liver porridge and smiled, saying, “Sister-in-law, ever since you took over the household affairs, I’m the first to admit it—you’ve even made my pork liver porridge free of any fishy smell.”

Her words were sincere and innocent, but Meng Yunshao’s heart tightened. Previously, the Marchioness had managed the household. For Qingxian to say this was to inadvertently offend the Marchioness, implying she had not done as well.

Meng Yunshao quickly responded, “It’s all the same ingredients. Perhaps with the arrival of winter, the pork liver is easier to preserve.”

Unaware, He Qingxian continued, “If only you were my real sister, I’d cling to you since childhood and be well cared for in everything.”

Meng Yunshao dared not respond further. If she were her sister, then what of He Zhiyu? Though everyone knew Qingxian spoke without malice, the Marchioness was strict, and such words might anger her. She smiled awkwardly and remained silent.

He Zhiyu said coldly, “Qingxian, don’t speak nonsense. Let’s eat.”

But He Qingxian was restless by nature. Taking a bite of a kidney bean and pork rib bun, she earnestly said, “Brother, though you’re my elder brother, I speak the truth. You don’t know, a few days ago mother had me learn household management from sister-in-law. I know she’s formidable. Managing the household well is one thing, but I truly want to learn her business skills…”

Hearing this, the Marchioness angrily shouted, “Sixth sister!”

Meng Yunshao trembled in fright and quietly put down her chopsticks.

The Marquis, who had been silent, now wore a dark expression and said, “Is this the good daughter you’ve been teaching at home?”

Both the Marchioness and He Qingxian were frightened into silence by the Marquis’s words.

The Marquis snorted coldly, threw down his chopsticks, and left directly.

No one enjoyed that breakfast.

The Marchioness punished He Qingxian by making her kneel in the ancestral hall to reflect on her behavior. He Zhiyu left first, and Meng Yunshao stayed behind to clean up the mess.

Poor Meng Yunshao had prepared the menu in advance tailored to everyone’s tastes, procured the finest ingredients, and instructed the serving maids on where each dish should be placed, yet barely a few bites were eaten before the meal was abruptly ended.

After tidying up, Meng Yunshao found the Marchioness sitting alone in an inner room, her head supported by her hand, looking troubled. She stepped forward to comfort her gently, “Mother-in-law, the Marquis just returned home and may not have rested well. Don’t take it to heart.”

The Marchioness sighed and said, “Yunshao, you don’t often see him. You don’t know—he’s always been this way.”

Meng Yunshao remained silent.

The Marchioness continued, “Everyone says I’m too strict, but they don’t know I only act according to the Marquis’s wishes. If I didn’t behave in a way that earned his trust and favor, when he was close to Madam Shen and had a son before me—my own elder sister—we would never have the heirship or even Qingxian’s position.”

Meng Yunshao wanted to comfort her but didn’t know how. She had seen the Marquis a few times, always dignified and strict, and the household was known for its stern discipline. She hadn’t witnessed him lose his temper before. Today, hearing her own daughter speak a few words and seeing his reaction was surprising.

In comparison, He Zhiyu’s coldness seemed mild.

She also recalled her own upbringing: though her foster father Meng Dongqi ignored her, he doted on her elder half-sister Meng Yunshu, treating her like a cherished gem and indulging her tantrums. Meng Yunshao had often envied that.

The Marchioness, however, pulled herself from her melancholy and said, “Forget it, why tell you this? Qingxian’s careless words may have implicated you. She may even criticize you next. I’ll think of ways to help you make up for it.”

Meng Yunshao felt the Marchioness was exaggerating. Managing the household’s lands and shops was part of her duties. Would the Marquis truly blame her for doing well? Yet she said politely, “Thank you, mother-in-law. It’s my oversight.”

The Marchioness waved her hand, dismissing her.

Meng Yunshao said, “Then this daughter-in-law will take her leave.”

The Marchioness paused, then added, “Yunshao, though your birth family has treated you poorly, they are still a form of support. Women have few places to rely on. I see you rarely visit home even when you can. Now that Zhiyu has returned to the capital to receive his reward, you should go home and visit. We must observe the proper etiquette.”

Meng Yunshao felt overwhelmed.

She did not resent being married off on behalf of her family; she was naturally empathetic and understanding.

Her foster mother, Madam Chang, though scheming in matters of children, had taken Meng Yunshao in at eight years old out of an old friendship with her biological mother. That was no small kindness.

But over time, feelings faded. Meng Yunshao’s talents and looks stood out, yet the family’s resources were scarce. Her elder half-sister Meng Yunshu was average, which gradually drew Madam Chang’s displeasure, causing her to treat Meng Yunshao coldly.

Fortunately, Meng Yunshu’s skill in playing the guqin earned her a good reputation and a favorable marriage prospect—promising a bright future.

Yet after He Zhiyu was imprisoned on their wedding night, Meng Yunshao believed any mother would have struggled to accept this. Her biological father forbade cancelling the engagement. Through a series of misunderstandings, Madam Chang forced Meng Yunshao to marry in her place out of a sense of obligation.

Meng Yunshao felt somewhat disheartened but bore no hatred.

She had long grown accustomed to the fickleness of the world. At least Madam Chang had once shown her genuine affection, though it was brief.

But she was somewhat afraid of Meng Yunshu.

She had never imagined that Meng Yunshu truly, deeply loved He Zhiyu.