AFTER BEING MARRIED OFF TO A BLIND VILLIAN - CHAPTER 5

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Chapter 5

After leaving the secret prison, Guard Cheng Huai came to report: "This subordinate returned to Chengxian Street but didn't find the consort's earring."

Yan Xuecui laughed lightly: "Someone picked it up?"

Cheng Huai speculated: "Perhaps one of the consort's maids discovered it and retrieved it, or perhaps a passing commoner."

Yan Xuecui: "Perhaps?"

Cheng Huai's back broke out in sweat. He knew his master disliked such ambiguous statements and immediately bowed: "This subordinate will investigate at once!"

...

Chi Ying quickly washed Prince Zhao's silk handkerchief, pondering when to return it to him.

Baoshan volunteered to make the trip for her, but was stopped by the guards at Yanguī Tower.

The armor-clad guard with stern brows and eagle eyes showed not a shred of courtesy, raising his hand to dismiss her: "His Highness is not at the Residence today. Miss, please return."

Never mind that Baoshan was merely a dowry maid attending the consort, even if the consort herself came, the guards would say the same thing.

Just look at His Highness's absence on his wedding day—clearly, the consort wasn't favored by him. She might even be a spy sent from outside. The Prince Residence guards naturally couldn't relax their vigilance.

Over the years, there had been no shortage of women trying to approach His Highness. Without his permission, they wouldn't accept or deliver any sachets, handkerchiefs, or similar items sent by women.

Baoshan wanted to ask more, but was frightened away by the guard's sharp gaze.

After returning, Baoshan reported truthfully. Chi Ying took back the handkerchief without any expression of disappointment.

If she hadn't used Prince Zhao's handkerchief and promised to wash and return it, she would never willingly seek him out.

Xiangqin also said: "It's just a handkerchief. Surely Prince Zhao doesn't lack for them. He has probably forgotten about it long ago."

She was Yīn shi’s trusted maid and had been instructed before coming that the matter of Third Miss being a substitute bride must never be exposed. She had to help cover everything up. Now that Prince Zhao wasn't gravely injured and unconscious after all, but had instead become entangled with Third Miss—and with such a bloodthirsty temperament—how could Xiangqin not be afraid? Just thinking of that night on Chengxian Street, corpses everywhere and blood flowing like rivers, she couldn't help but shudder all over.

Chi Ying was silent for a moment and was just about to put the handkerchief away when Aunt Fangchun came in from outside and happened to witness this scene.

"Is this His Highness's handkerchief?"

Chi Ying's fingertips paused. Seeing she couldn't hide it, she could only truthfully explain the handkerchief's origins, thinking it might be better to ask Aunt Fangchun to deliver it. She was an old retainer of the manor, so Yanguī Tower naturally wouldn't stop her...

Unexpectedly, before she could speak, she heard Aunt Fangchun say: "Why doesn't the consort deliver it herself?"

Chi Ying hastily said: "His Highness is busy with affairs and still injured. How could I presume to disturb him?"

"How would it be a disturbance?" Fangchun stared at the handkerchief, the astonishment in her eyes not yet faded. "You've just arrived and don't know, His Highness's personal belongings are all handled by designated people. He never lets outsiders touch his private items. If he's willing to let you use his own handkerchief, that means he considers you a close person."

Chi Ying felt that perhaps she misunderstood Prince Zhao, but couldn't very well write her difficulties on her face. She could only make an excuse: "Another day... when His Highness returns to the manor, I'll go in person."

She was deliberately delaying, but Aunt Fangchun took it to heart. The next day at noon, learning Prince Zhao had returned to the manor, she immediately came to the room to relay the message.

The implication was clear, she could now go return the handkerchief, and could also take this opportunity to check on His Highness's injuries and become closer to him.

Chi Ying was helpless and could only agree.

After all, what ordinary couple would have a wife coldly stand by while her husband was gravely injured, making excuses to avoid visiting him?

After tidying up a bit, the mistress and servants headed to Yanguī Tower.

Yanguī Tower had flying eaves and interlocking brackets, five stories high, seven bays wide. Painted beams and rafters were everywhere. The golden glazed tiles on the hipped roof were magnificent as clouds at sunset. Golden bells under the eaves chimed in the wind.

Aunt Fangchun introduced: "The manor's library and His Highness's study are both here. There's also a place for quiet cultivation. His Highness often stays here."

Chi Ying nodded at each point.

Seeing it was Aunt Fangchun, the guards were much more courteous. They glanced at the consort and Baoshan, whom they'd seen that morning, said nothing more, and turned to go inside to report.

Chi Ying stood quietly at the steps waiting, her mind recalling the man's elegant, cool yet dangerously meaningful words in the carriage that day. Especially remembering how he'd caught her stealing glances several times, she couldn't help but feel her scalp tingle, still shaken.

Before long, the guard came out with a response: "His Highness requests that the consort and Aunt Fangchun enter."

Chi Ying took a deep breath and slowly ascended the white jade stone steps.

Baoshan and Xiangqin were about to follow in, but were stopped by the guard: "His Highness only said to let the consort and Aunt Fangchun enter. All others are not permitted inside."

The two maids had no choice but to step aside.

Prince Zhao's personal eunuch, Yuan De, greeted them at the door with a smiling face and bowed: "Consort, blessings and peace upon you."

Chi Ying saw his pale, beardless face and delicate voice, thinking he must be a palace eunuch His Highness had brought out from the palace. She hastily told him to rise.

Aunt Fangchun was familiar with Yuan De. As they entered, she asked: "I heard Imperial Physician Lin also came to the manor today. Is His Highness's injury better?"

Yuan De said: "His Highness is recovering fairly well. Those earlier wounds are showing signs of improvement, and medicine has been reapplied to both eyes. It's just..."

His gaze shifted, secretly sweeping over the consort who had been silently walking along. Out of caution, he ultimately didn't truthfully reveal the situation with His Highness's eyes.

Chi Ying didn't care. Following the stairs upward, gradually, faint medicinal fragrance and sandalwood incense seeped into her breath.

Reaching the top floor bedchamber and stepping inside, she saw a person reclining against a couch, wearing frost-white sleeping robes, snow-white gauze covering his eyes, his collar half-open, faintly revealing a section of white bandage. His arm rested casually on a red sandalwood table. An attendant was helping him change bandages and apply medicine.

Yuan De: "Your Highness, the consort has arrived."

Chi Ying lowered her eyes, not daring to look much. She bowed in salute and carefully returned the handkerchief.

Yan Xuecui's lips curved slightly: "It's just a handkerchief, yet you went to such trouble... Did you wash it yourself?"

Chi Ying didn't know why he asked this. Perhaps by nature fastidious, he didn't want those rough-handed servants touching his handkerchief.

Thinking this, she answered truthfully: "Yes."

The handkerchief delivered, she didn't wish to stay long. Thinking of finding an excuse to take her leave, she suddenly heard Prince Zhao give a soft "hiss."

Everyone in the room instantly tensed. Qing Ze, the attendant changing his medicine, trembled and immediately knelt to apologize: "Your Highness, forgive me! This slave didn't know his own strength..."

Yan Xuecui's brow furrowed slightly, but he only said: "No matter. You may go."

Cold sweat poured from Qing Ze's forehead, his whole body trembling.

He was always meticulous in his work, otherwise he wouldn't have been kept to serve at His Highness's side. Applying medicine was something he had done countless times. Just now, he had applied the wound medicine as usual, using very light pressure. He didn't know what had gone wrong to cause His Highness pain...

One must know, His Highness was someone who, in the past, had taken several sword wounds and had arrows pulled from wounds without making a sound.

Could it really be that he'd momentarily lost focus and used too much force?

Yuan De was about to step forward to apply medicine to Prince Zhao when Aunt Fangchun gave him a meaningful look. "Since the consort is here, why not let her apply His Highness's medicine?"

Chi Ying was completely caught off guard. She instinctively wanted to use inexperience as an excuse, but unexpectedly Prince Zhao's thin lips parted, uttering a single word: "Fine."

Now she was truly in a difficult position. "This consort has never done this..."

Fangchun smiled: "Everything has a first time. The consort is gentle and considerate, meticulous as can be. What's to worry about?"

Yuan De stole a glance at Prince Zhao. Seeing his master's lips curve without speaking, he understood somewhat and passed over the medicine: "Consort, please try."

Chi Ying had no choice but to accept the wound medicine. Her fingers gripped the porcelain bottle tightly as she slowly stepped forward and leaned down before Prince Zhao.

The sweet orange blossom fragrance quietly drifted past his nose. That warm breath, now near, now far, present yet elusive, brushed across the wound on his forearm, stirring up the dark itch that grew during the healing period. Yan Xuecui imperceptibly tightened his palm.

At this moment, Chi Ying was even thinking—should she pretend to be clumsy and hurt him? In the future, considering this, Aunt Fangchun would give up the idea of pushing her forward to attend to him.

But thinking of Prince Zhao's sinister, bloodthirsty nature—offending him, who knew what kind of retaliation she'd suffer—she abandoned that idea.

The moment her gaze fell on the horrific wound on the man's arm, Chi Ying's pupils trembled slightly, instantly snapping back to her senses.

The wound wasn't smooth. There were traces of fine stitches, the edges of torn flesh crimson and twisted, horrifying and grotesque. It was hard to imagine how dangerous the situation must have been.

Chi Ying recalled what Aunt Fangchun had said, that Prince Zhao was injured by Consort  Zhuang. Yet the wound wasn't smooth and clean like a slash from sword or blade. Rather, it looked like some sharp object had viciously stabbed in, then torn forcefully, creating this ugly, centipede-like scar.

Prince Zhao lowered his head slightly toward the source of that warm breath, almost clearly sensing that she seemed to be holding her breath.

He pondered for a moment, then asked with a smile: "Is my wound very ugly?"

Chi Ying's fingers trembled slightly. She hastily collected her thoughts. "No, not ugly..."

Her mind was a mess, it seemed every time he spoke, he caught her completely off guard.

Yan Xuecui: "Not ugly?"

Chi Ying said softly: "As long as Your Highness continues applying medicine, the wound will heal quickly, and the scar will gradually fade."

Yan Xuecui seemed to laugh. "Is that so."

Chi Ying nodded, the tassels in her hair swaying with the motion. Then she heard Prince Zhao laugh: "My apologies. I can't see. Are you nodding or shaking your head?"

Chi Ying had no choice but to say: "I was nodding. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

She lowered her head and concentrated fully on applying the wound medicine for him.

Fortunately, she had applied medicine for her mother before. Later, when Mother was bedridden with illness, it was she who cared for her daily all these years. Her hands were steady and gentle. She barely touched the man's skin at all and quickly reapplied medicine and rebandaged the wound.

After tying the gauze knot, Chi Ying breathed a soft sigh of relief, not noticing the man's knuckles tremble almost imperceptibly.

Imperial Physician Lin, standing to the side, seeing how properly she'd handled it, couldn't help but praise: "The consort's technique is gentle and efficient, with perfect tension. It's no less skilled than those incompetent disciples of mine."

Yan Xuecui smiled: "I thought that since the consort comes from a noble family, she wouldn't be skilled in such matters. I didn't expect her to be so proficient. This is my good fortune."

Chi Ying hadn't initially noticed anything odd about Imperial Physician Lin's remark. But upon hearing Prince Zhao's words, her mind exploded with a thunderous sound, cold sweat pouring out.

That's right, Chi Yingyue had never lifted a finger to do rough work since childhood. Though her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting weren't top-tier, her daily activities involved elegant pursuits like burning incense, tasting tea, flower arranging, and hanging paintings. Where would she have done things like bandaging and applying medicine for others?

She'd been so afraid her movements would be unsteady and displease Prince Zhao that she'd instead performed too skillfully.

Chi Ying's heart raced. She clenched her fingers, forcing herself to calm down.

Perhaps it was just polite small talk. Would an ordinary person suspect her identity was false because of this? She was feeling guilty, losing her composure.

"It's... it's because my mother had a female physician teach me," Chi Ying thought for a moment and explained. "Before I married, Mother heard that Your Highness was gravely injured. She specially invited a female physician to our manor to teach some simple medical principles and bandaging techniques. This consort is slow-witted and only learned superficial skills. I've made Your Highness laugh."

But Yan Xuecui precisely caught the flaw in her words. "But didn't the consort just say she'd never done this before? Those who don't know might think you're unwilling to be close to me."

Chi Ying's heart seized, her back growing cold.

Hearing her disordered breathing, Yan Xuecui couldn't help but laugh: "It was just a joke. Did I frighten you?"

Chi Ying swallowed: "No... no."

Yan Xuecui said: "The Countess has a kind heart. The consort need not be so modest. You did very well just now."

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly tried to raise his hand forward. Chi Ying didn't understand what he meant. Her face paled, and she instinctively dodged backward.

Yan Xuecui's fingers touched empty air. He paused, and only after a long while did he slowly withdraw his hand, seeming to laugh desolately.

"The consort isn't wearing the earrings from the night you returned home?"

Chi Ying was slightly startled and instinctively touched her earlobe. Could he actually hear that her earrings were different?

"Those earrings... were lost."

She didn't say they'd been shot off by him. Losing half of them counted as losing them, didn't it?

Yan Xuecui wasn't surprised and asked again: "Did you lose them that night?"

Chi Ying nodded, then added an "mm" sound.

Yan Xuecui: "It was my fault, letting you encounter an undeserved disaster and even losing your earrings. In the future, I'll definitely find a better pair to compensate you."

Chi Ying didn't want too much entanglement with him. "It's just a pair of earrings. Your Highness needn't concern yourself."

But Yan Xuecui said: "The consort's affairs are my affairs. How can I be perfunctory? By the way, is your injury better?"

Chi Ying replied: "It's only a superficial wound, nothing serious."

She'd already removed the gauze today.

Yan Xuecui raised his hand and ordered: "Imperial Physician Lin, please examine the consort."

Imperial Physician Lin bowed in acknowledgment. Seeing Chi Ying standing there rigidly, he made a gesture of invitation. "Please sit, Consort."

Chi Ying was helpless and had no choice but to walk over and sit by the table.

On her neck was only a fine mark that had already scabbed over. Imperial Physician Lin examined it carefully for a moment and said: "The consort is fine now. If you continue applying ointment to the wound, within two months it will heal completely."

Yan Xuecui: "I've heard that the Imperial Medical Bureau has a snow-skin cream that's most favored by the palace consorts and concubines, remarkably effective at fading scars."

Imperial Physician Lin immediately nodded: "Yes, this subject will send someone to deliver it as soon as I return..."

Yan Xuecui waved his hand: "No need for such trouble. Just bring it when you come tomorrow, and personally explain the dosage to the consort then."

Chi Ying hadn't yet reacted to what was happening when she saw Prince Zhao "look" in her direction. "The consort will come tomorrow, won't she?"

Caught off guard by this question, she nearly tied her tongue in knots: "I... this consort..."

Yan Xuecui said cheerfully: "Since the consort specially learned medical principles for me, and your bandaging technique is skilled and efficient, why not have you bandage and apply medicine for me starting tomorrow? How about it?"

Chi Ying: "..."

She suddenly felt the powerless sensation of lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

To say Prince Zhao had any interest in her, she absolutely didn't believe it. If he had even a shred of respect for the Earl of Changyuan or for her, he wouldn't have used grave injury as an excuse to not even show up for the wedding ceremony.

But if he thought nothing of this marriage, why did he always say such ambiguous things and even want her to personally bandage and apply medicine?

Was it mockery, or was it testing?

Everything was different from what she'd imagined when coming here. Perhaps the rumors were false, perhaps Father and Yin Shi had simply deceived her. But at this point, there was no room to turn back.

Prince Zhao's injuries were improving, his health was good, and he was even having the imperial physician treat his eye condition, which meant his eyes still had a chance of being cured.

If he continued to live well, would she still have hope of leaving?

Chi Ying sighed inwardly.

For now, all she could do was play the role of the legitimate daughter of the Earl's residence carefully and prudently, deceiving everyone and staying alive.

Then, wait for an opportunity.

...

Deep night.

Yan Xuecui dismissed everyone, staying alone in the bedchamber.

He held the handkerchief in his fingers, slowly bringing it close to his nose, finally catching that familiar scent.

Only this time it didn't contain those strong powder and perfume fragrances, only that scent belonging to the woman, washed clean of all adornment, warm and sweet orange blossom fragrance.

The scent was extremely faint, yet like a parasite it forcefully burrowed into his skin, seeping into his blood inch by inch along his meridians, penetrating his lungs and viscera, filling his senses that had been empty for so long.

Yan Xuecui clenched his palm, letting that soft brocade twist and deform in his grasp. Yet even this didn't feel like enough. His Adam's apple kept rolling as he pressed the silk handkerchief tightly against his face, from nose to lips, greedily seizing every trace of her scent left on the cloth.

TRANSLATOR: Hi everyone, i hope you enjoy this! PLEASE CHECK OUT THE GLOSSARY BELOW

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GLOSSARY

Characters

Chi Ying (池萤) - Female protagonist; concubine-born third daughter who substitutes for her legitimate elder sister in marriage to the Prince of Zhao

Yan Xuecui / Prince of Zhao (晏雪摧 / 昭王) - Male protagonist; blind prince with a dark reputation, suffers from touch-starvation condition

Chi Yingyue (池颖月) - Chi Ying's legitimate elder sister who was originally supposed to marry the Prince of Zhao

Countess Yin / Yin-shi (殷氏)- Chi Yingyue's mother; the legitimate wife who arranged the substitute marriage

Aunt Xue / Xue Yiniang (薛姨娘) - Chi Ying's mother; a concubine in poor health

Consort Zhuang (庄妃) - The Prince of Zhao's mother

Prince Ding (定王) - The deceased elder brother of Prince of Zhao

Emperor Yongcheng (永成帝) - The current emperor

Servants & Attendants

Xiangqin (香琴) - Chi Ying's maid, originally serving Lady Yin's interests

Baoshan (宝扇) - Chi Ying's maid

Aunt Fangchun (芳春姑姑) - Senior servant managing household affairs

Steward Yuan / Yuan-de (元德) - The Prince of Zhao's chief steward

Qingzhi (青芝) & Yintiao (银翘) - Maids at the manor

Qingze (青泽) - The Prince of Zhao's attendant

Physician Lin (林院判) - The physician treating the Prince of Zhao

Locations

Prince of Zhao's Manor (昭王府) - The prince's residence

Shuyu Pavilion (漱玉斋) - Chi Ying's residence, formerly the Prince of Zhao's chamber

Yangui Tower (雁归楼)- The Prince of Zhao's current residence with a dungeon beneath

Shouchun Hall (寿春堂)- Consort Zhuang's residence

Changyuan Earl Manor (昌远伯府)- Chi family's declining noble household

Titles & Terms

Wang/Prince (王)- Imperial prince title

Wangfei/Princess Consort (王妃) - Wife of a prince

Dianxia/Your Highness (殿下) - Formal address for a prince

Niangniang/Your Ladyship (娘娘) - Formal address for an imperial consort

Di (嫡) - Legitimate-born (from legal wife)

Shu (庶) - Concubine-born

Substitute marriage (替嫁)- Marrying in place of another

Consummation/Yuan fang (圆房) - Completing the marriage ceremony through intercourse

Returning home visit/Hui men (回门) - Traditional bride's first visit to natal home after marriage

Cultural Items

Bamboo cane/scrolls (竹杖/竹简) - The prince uses these for mobility and reading

Incense (熏香) - Various types used for ambiance

Dragon and phoenix candles (龙凤喜烛) - Wedding candles

Phoenix seal (鳳印)- Symbol of empress status

Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons pattern (百子千孙图) - Auspicious bedding embroidery symbolizing fertility

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