27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mu Fanqing
Iglance up at Shu over the tip of my bowl.
We are currently enjoying a quiet breakfast at the governor’s manor.
To my left a breeze wafts in from the open wall where the courtyard can be seen beyond.
There is a small stone waterfall. I think I could enjoy it more if I didn’t imagine that fox spirit lurking these halls ready to either kill my husband or tell my secrets to the world.
Still, this small quiet breakfast is nice. It’s strange how I have so quickly gotten used to dining with Shu. For many years I ate alone, scarfing down meals in the midst of my cultivation and studies.
Shu reaches over, plucking up a steamed bun but pauses and glances up at me. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have food on my face?”
I hiccup as I lower my bowl of congee. “You uh…” I feel my cheeks start to turn bright red.
I can’t exactly tell him that I had been studying his handsome features.
I am not quite sure why I can’t think up an excuse in this moment but it’s as if my very wits have fled me.
“Yes,” I say quickly as I lean over the table and swipe at his unstained chin with my sleeve.
I lean back, averting my gaze to a small bird in the courtyard. “There, now it is taken care of.”
Shu raises his hand slowly touching the part of my chin I swiped at. He looks quite surprised at my forward actions. Truth be told, I am quite surprised myself.
I only just managed to admit to myself that I’ve started to fall for him and now suddenly I can’t keep my hands off of him. I flex my fingers, pressing them into my leg. I need to get ahold of myself.
Fortunately, at just that moment, Ting hurries into the room. She drops into a quick bow to both me and Shu before she straightens. “My lady, I have just learned a very interesting bit of news from some of the washer ladies.”
I feel my eyebrow rise as I turn fully to her, grateful for the distraction. “What is it?”
“There is apparently a reason why we have not met the First Lady of this manor and why the second lady is the one who is running everything.”
Shu turns, now Ting has his full attention as well. “Oh, and why is that?”
“Because the First Lady has supposedly…” Ting’s eyes widen as she glances around and she leans closer, dropping her voice as if afraid that she will be overheard. “Gone mad.”
Shu and I share a glance over the table.
This is interesting indeed, the governor’s first wife is supposedly mad, and we don’t even know it whilst staying under his roof?
What I have heard of the governor’s primary wife is that she is a beauty to behold, so I will admit to being quite confused that the second wife was the one who acted the hostess to us.
“She has locked herself in her room,” Ting continues. “She will not leave for anything and is constantly hysterical claiming that the second lady of the house will devour her and steal her beauty.”
That does sound extremely suspicious like the second lady could be the fox spirit… the only problem is that it almost sounds too perfect.
I wonder if there is any credence to her words or if she is only saying this out of jealousy and spite toward the second wife.
It is not uncommon for a lord of any standing to have up to two wives.
Such a thing becomes a brutal hierarchy between the first formal wife and the concubine second wife.
I am always quite thankful that my father never took a second wife, and also that with the contract my status as Shu’s only wife is secure.
Shu reaches over, lifting a teacup and taking a careful sip out of it. His face is completely impassive as he asks, “For how long has this been happening?”
“Since the beginning of summer,” Ting says.
It has been some weeks then. It started before we came here.
He presses his lips together, considering this when suddenly Yan Yi comes striding into the room with a purpose in his stride. He drops into a bow as well before straightening. “My lord, the governor has invited you and Lady Xiao to a banquet tonight.”
“Just on time.” Shu sets the teacup down and turns to me. “This will be the perfect opportunity to properly investigate the second lady.”
“We need to be careful about this,” I say as I glance down so that Shu can’t read my expression. “So, we don’t tip her off if she is the fox spirit.”
She cannot learn that I have decided to side against her and work with Shu toward her eradication. That disgusting creature is going to learn that I am not one to be backed into a corner, only when it is too late for her to reveal my secret.
He arches his brow, looking a bit confused. “I am the investigator in charge of rooting out this spirit. Why do I have to be subtle about it?”
I reach out, running my finger across the edge of the table. “A shapeshifter is a wily creature. We cannot allow her to get away and assume a different identity.”
He nods slowly, still looking a little confused. “All right, wife. What do you suggest then?”
I hold out my hand, palm up. “Give me some money.”
Shu’s eyebrows shoot up. “What for?”
I blow out an indignant breath, look at this man acting so stingy as if he isn’t the Fourth Lord of Da Xian and isn’t personally rewarded by his majesty for every spirit that he slays.
Not to even mention his smuggling business, which from what I have seen, appears to be a fair bit successful.
I level him with a hard look and shake my fingers expectantly.
Shu glances away before he sighs heavily and pulls a coin purse out of his sleeve. He places it in the palm of my hand. “Will this be enough?”
I weigh it in my hand before nodding. I turn to Ting and gesture her closer.
She steps forward; her hands folded respectfully in front of her and her head bowed. I hold the coin purse out to her. Ting hesitates a second before she accepts it. She doesn’t say anything, but her eyes echo with an unspoken question.
“Take this and find out who will be serving us at the banquet tonight,” I say. “Pay her to cause a little accident with the wine and spill it on me. Oh, and also make sure to set out my least favorite dress for me to wear.”
Ting doesn’t look any less confused, but she accepts the coin purse with a curtsey and hurries off to do my bidding.
Shu, however, is not as willing to be silent. He holds up a finger, pointing after her. “What exactly are you planning? Why would you pay her to arrange an accident?”
I roll my eyes. For someone who smuggles, Shu doesn’t seem to be very well versed in the art of deception.
It’s a good thing I’m here now to make sure that he doesn’t accidentally reveal his secrets.
Under my supervision I will ensure that no one finds out about his smuggling and he can continue to do this pastime that he apparently cares about so much.
“So that I will have an excuse to leave the banquet of course,” I respond as I push to my feet. I shake out my skirts, readjusting them.
Shu also pushes to his feet. “What do you plan on doing?”
“I’m going to have a look around the second lady's rooms tonight while everyone is at the banquet. Find out once and for all if she is this fox spirit.”
And if she is then I will have Shu kill her before she can breathe so much as a word about Chenghou.
Shu reaches out, snagging my arm before I can turn and walk away. “That hardly sounds safe. What if she is the fox spirit?”
“She will be attending the banquet,” I respond. “So, I would actually be safer investigating her room rather than staying with the fox spirit like you will be.”
Shu doesn’t look convinced. He narrows his eyes and tightens his hold on my arm. “And what if she isn’t the fox spirit?”
I smile up at him, reaching up to pat his hand once. “Then it isn’t going to matter that I poked around the second lady’s room, and I still wouldn’t be in any danger.”
Shu purses his lips. “I still don’t like it. What if you took Quanyu with you?”
“I could hardly quietly slip away if I bring half the banquet hall with me, now could I?” Shu still doesn’t look convinced, so I make a clicking sound with my tongue and reach out, tugging on his sleeve.
“You act as though I’m helpless. It’s insulting.
I am a cultivator, you know, I am more than capable of taking care of myself. ”
Shu’s eyes pierce mine as he holds my gaze. “I’m just worried about you. It’s my duty to make certain you are safe.”
I am certain that my face, treacherous as it is, is flushed bright scarlet again.
I release my hold on Shu’s sleeve and move back a step, pulling my arm out of his hold.
My retorts clog in my throat. I quickly look away before I am completely undone by Shu’s perfect features and far too earnest expression.
I remind myself that it’s foolish to feel this flustered.
He does not feel the same way for me as I do to him.
He treats me no differently than he did when we were first wed.
He is only acting like this because he is kind and a man of integrity.
It is I who am fickle. I am the one who considered turning him in to the imperial court, I’m the one who listened to the fox spirit’s offer without immediately rebuffing her, I’m the one who would break the contract by leaning forward and kissing him right now.
I’m the one who doesn’t deserve a husband like Shu. He is a man who puts me first and treats me with respect without asking for a single thing in return. And I’m a selfish creature that thinks only of herself.
Which is why I owe it to him to help him catch his fox spirit. Not to protect my secret, not even to cover that moment my mind wavered when I considered her offer, but to protect him. She has a vendetta against him. She wants him dead.
And I would be twice cursed, once in this life and the other in the afterlife if I’m going to allow that creature to get her claws on my husband.
I ball my hand into a fist and raise my gaze. “I will be careful,” I tell him. “But this is something I am going to do. Don’t even think about trying to change my mind.”