AFTER BEING MARRIED OFF TO A BLIND VILLIAN - CHAPTER 6

Chapter 6

The long night dragged on, the water clock dripping away.

Thin sweat seeped from Yan Xuecui's forehead, his breathing rapid. The blood beneath his skin was boiling. His body was almost pathologically addicted to this soft, warm scent, unwilling to let go no matter what.

It had been a long time since he'd lost control like this.

He clearly despised being touched by outsiders and had never been one to indulge in beauty. This past year, dwelling in darkness, he had been extremely averse to the people and affairs around him, never so obsessed with someone's scent before.

Like becoming addicted to something, just one handkerchief had made him unable to control himself.

His subconscious told him this was very wrong.

Perhaps it was a grand gift sent by one of his royal brothers, perhaps she had ulterior motives in approaching him. Otherwise, how could her voice, her scent, even the fleeting touch of her skin, all provoke such intense physical reactions?

Using a honey trap on a blind man—truly, they had gone to great lengths.

Yan Xuecui's consciousness gradually returned. He tore the handkerchief from his face, veins bulging on his clenched palm, eyes closed, breathing heavily.

After a long while, he removed his jade thumb ring, rose from the bed, and following the sizzling sound of burning candles, walked to the bronze branched lamp. Using his palm to sense the candle flame's temperature, he slowly held the handkerchief now stained with his scent above the fire.

The brocade handkerchief was consumed bit by bit by the flames. The scorching heat quickly approached his fingertips. The vigorous flames licked at his pale, slender knuckles, yet he seemed completely unaware.

Only after the handkerchief had burned to ash did Yan Xuecui slowly withdraw his hand.

His palm was now covered in burn blisters, the scalded skin bright red and grotesque. The intense burning pain stimulated his deprived senses without mercy. Only after a long while did it finally drive away all the pleasure that handkerchief had brought him.

...

Early the next morning, the hidden guards reported their investigation findings.

For over a year now, because of his blindness, all intelligence was carved onto bamboo slips and presented to Yan Xuecui. He ran his fingertips over each character.

"Chi Yingyue, age seventeen, second daughter of the Earl of Changyuan Chi Mingxiang, born of legitimate wife Countess Yin. Beautiful and radiant, dazzling as spring flowers;

"Arrogant and domineering, servants both respect and fear her;

"Slightly skilled in painting, embroidery, and calligraphy, especially adept at the qin;

"Fond of pearls, jade, and fine garments;

"Fond of befriending noble ladies, frequented Princess Huizhen's manor, Marquis of Anping's manor, Earl of Cheng'en's manor, Minister of Revenue's manor, etc.;

"After the imperial marriage decree entered the manor, the consort was apparently unwilling, crying for many days, once saying 'I'd rather die than marry';

"For half a year awaiting marriage in her chambers, never venturing out.

"Grandfather: Marquis of Weining Chi Yuancheng; maternal grandfather once served as Vice Minister of Revenue; father Earl of Changyuan Chi Mingxiang currently holds the rank of Junior Minister of Court of State Ceremonial, fifth rank. Has two sons and three daughters.

"Eldest son Chi Xingwu, age twenty-three, born of Concubine Liu, currently training at Tongzhou Guard, mediocre abilities;

"Second son Chi Xingye, age ten, mother deceased early, raised by Countess Yin, studying at the private school of Hanlin Attendant Lecturer Chen Mingyi;

"Eldest daughter Chi Xinyue, age twenty, born of Concubine Zhou, married into the Song family of Cangzhou, gave birth to a son last year;

"Third daughter Chi Ying, age sixteen, born of Concubine Xue. At age nine, caused Countess Yin to miscarry during play, she and her mother were expelled to a country estate outside the capital. Last year she returned to the manor to seek medicine..."

Yan Xuecui's fingertips swept over each character on the bamboo slip, finally stopping at the phrase "I'd rather die than marry."

He laughed lightly. How wonderful—"I'd rather die than marry."

Yuan De, standing nearby, noticed those four characters and felt his heart leap with alarm. He carefully observed his master's expression and said cautiously: "The consort is still young, pampered and spoiled since childhood. Naturally her temperament is willful and her words unguarded. Your Highness needn't take it to heart."

Yan Xuecui: "You think she's willful?"

Yuan De was slightly taken aback. Thinking of the consort's respectful, well-mannered appearance, he also felt it had nothing to do with the word "willful."

He speculated: "Perhaps during this betrothal period she received instruction and reformed her ways. After all, she's to be a consort, her virtue, speech, appearance, and work should all be impeccable."

Yan Xuecui casually set down the bamboo slip. "In just a few months, can someone be completely transformed?"

"Or perhaps," Yuan De pondered for a moment, "the consort previously heard about Your Highness's... Your Highness's reputation, and felt fearful. That's why she restrains herself in the manor, being cautious and careful, not daring to act recklessly..."

Yan Xuecui's lips curved: "Afraid of me?"

Yuan De sighed inwardly. Over these years, His Highness's reputation had been thoroughly destroyed by those several princes. Rumors were rampant, sharp as blades, step by step destroying His Highness's standing in both His Majesty's and the people's hearts.

But he also didn't dare say that while His Highness appeared refined and gentlemanly in public, some of his private, unknown actions were indeed... true to his reputation.

For instance, His Highness's burned hand, with his alertness and perception, he didn't even need servants to attend him in daily life. How could he be easily burned by candlelight? And burned so severely at that.

Or those times Consort Zhuang stabbed him, His Highness had once charged into battle on the northern frontier unstoppably. Could he really not dodge scissors randomly thrown by Her Ladyship?

Thinking of the brutal torture in the dungeon, the flesh splattered like mud, the thick smell of blood, nowadays whenever Yuan De saw his master's smile, he couldn't help but feel chilled to the bone.

If he felt this way, how much more so a girl barely seventeen years old?

"Are you trembling?"

Yan Xuecui asked suddenly. Yuan De immediately shuddered, marveling at how since His Highness's blindness, his hearing had become astonishing. Normally he could even detect wrongness in unconscious physical reactions.

Yuan De wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, just trying to figure out how to explain, when a guard came to report that Imperial Physician Lin had arrived. As if granted amnesty, he hurriedly invited him in.

Learning that Prince Zhao's palm had been burned by candlelight, Imperial Physician Lin was shocked beyond measure. Just as he was about to step forward to examine it, he heard Yan Xuecui say: "It's nothing. I already applied medicine and bandaged it last night. Look at the eyes first."

Imperial Physician Lin bowed in acknowledgment, set down his medicine box, and went to examine Prince Zhao's eyes.

The snow-white gauze was unwound. Yan Xuecui slowly opened his eyes, beneath the thin eyelids still that ash-gray, deathly still color, like a deep pool without waves or ripples.

Imperial Physician Lin applied acupuncture and medicine as usual.

Yuan De stared at those silver needles and asked carefully: "Imperial Physician Lin, in your opinion, when will His Highness show improvement?"

Imperial Physician Lin didn't dare make guarantees, only saying: "The meridians around the eyes are fragile, and His Highness was deeply poisoned. A strong dose would not only fail to completely detoxify but could easily damage the brain. This humble subject can only do his best, gradually using medicine to expel the poison, supplemented by acupuncture to unblock the channels. I can only say that over time, there will definitely be some improvement."

Years ago, when Yan Xuecui investigated the truth behind Prince Ding's death in battle, he was pursued by assassins sent by Prince Rong, Yan Yunfan, who lured him into a miasma forest. After several rounds of fighting, Prince Yunfan's assassins were no match. As they fled, they used Heaven's Scattered Flowers poison to destroy his eyes. Combined with the thick miasma that day, which activated the toxicity, he was deeply poisoned. Both the Imperial Medical Bureau's physicians and the folk healers widely recruited by Emperor Yongcheng were helpless.

Imperial Physician Lin, with his military medical background, had considerable knowledge of miasma and various poisonous flowers and plants. Having once received favor from Prince Ding, he secretly researched for a long time and finally developed an antidote to Heaven's Scattered Flowers poison. Under the pretext of routine pulse-taking and treating injuries, he entered Prince Zhao's manor. To this day, no one suspected anything.

The outside world spread rumors that Prince Zhao was gravely injured beyond treatment, partly due to Imperial Physician Lin's frequent visits to Prince Zhao's manor.

After the acupuncture was complete, Imperial Physician Lin was about to treat Prince Zhao's burned hand when Qing Ze came in to relay that the consort was requesting an audience.

Yan Xuecui recalled the secret report on the bamboo slip, his lips curving slightly: "Invite her in."

Outside Yanguī Tower, Chi Ying took a deep breath.

She'd thought it through. Since she was trapped in this situation with no escape, she might as well make the best of it. Chi Yingyue was now hiding in the separate residence. As long as Prince Zhao didn't die, she naturally wouldn't dare rashly return to the manor. As long as Chi Ying was thorough in everything and cautious everywhere, she could surely deceive everyone.

From what she could see now, though Prince Zhao's temperament was unfathomable, he wasn't the kind of brute who would torture his wife to death. When he eventually lost interest in her, she could find an opportunity to switch back with Chi Yingyue, lest complications arise from delay.

Chi Ying climbed the stairs softly, reaching the inner chamber. A man in pure white robes embroidered with crane patterns came into view.

Snow-white gauze covered his eyes, black hair falling over his shoulders. He sat quietly in the curling sandalwood incense smoke, like autumn waters and cold moon, snow-pure and bright as empty sky.

Chi Ying didn't dare look too long and slowly bowed in salute.

Imperial Physician Lin presented the snow-skin cream he'd brought. Chi Ying thanked him, handed the white porcelain bottle to Aunt Fangchun, went to the side to wash her hands, then came to change Prince Zhao's medicine.

Yuan De handed her the burn medicine with a soft sigh: "Last night His Highness's hand was burned by candlelight. Please help apply medicine and bandage it, Consort."

Chi Ying was slightly alarmed and only then noticed Prince Zhao's palm wrapped in gauze faintly seeping blood.

She leaned down and looked up at him. "Your Highness, let me change your medicine."

Yan Xuecui's slightly lowered fingers didn't move. He smiled gently: "Mm, thank you for the trouble, Consort."

Chi Ying tried her best to steady her breathing. After a moment's hesitation, she carefully touched the man's bandaged fingers. The instant her fingertips made contact, the man's knuckles immediately trembled uncontrollably.

Thinking she'd hurt him, she said in a fluster: "Your Highness, forgive me. You... please bear with it, I'll be gentler."

Yan Xuecui smiled calmly and composedly: "No matter. Even if you're rough, I won't blame you."

Chi Ying didn't dare be careless. Supporting the back of his hand lightly, she unwound the gauze layer by layer. The blood also spread layer by layer. The innermost layer of gauze stuck to the flesh, the bright red tender skin and burned surface shocking to see. Even each finger bore traces of burns. As she gently pulled away the gauze, Chi Ying herself felt her heart ache with shock.

The back of Yan Xuecui's hand pressed against the girl's soft fingertips. He reminded her gently: "Steady your hand. I don't feel pain."

The corner of his lips lifted slightly, his expression unchanged, as if the injured person weren't him at all.

Chi Ying didn't understand. She'd been injured before, under Mother's protection, she'd only taken a few lashes, yet years later, that piercing, bone-deep pain remained vivid in her memory.

But Prince Zhao seemed to lack perception of pain. Especially this injury—an ordinary person, the moment their fingers touched flame, would immediately pull away. At most the fingertips would be burned. How could it become like this? It was as if he'd let that candlelight burn for a long time.

Chi Ying said from the heart: "Your Highness cannot see. At night, someone should attend you closely. Otherwise, you'll keep getting injured, and Consort Zhuang will worry too."

With him adding new injuries every few days, she would also need to come to Yanguī Tower daily to apply medicine. Being under the same roof constantly was not a good thing.

Yuan De stood nearby in a cold sweat, carefully glancing at Prince Zhao.

Ever since His Highness injured his eyes, every time he'd tried to attend to him, he'd been driven away without exception.

At first, His Highness perhaps didn't like others seeing his disheveled state. Now, though he could move freely, burns like last night's, Yuan De never wanted to see such things again.

He hadn't expected the consort to dare advise him directly to his face. He couldn't help but anticipate his master's reaction.

Only he hadn't expected His Highness to ask instead: "So the consort thinks my injury is due to the servants' dereliction of duty?"

Hearing this, Yuan De's legs went weak. Along with all the servants in the room, they knelt down, prostrating on the ground, trembling as they awaited punishment.

Chi Ying was momentarily speechless.

He was always like this, smiling pleasantly, yet his words carried sharp edges that caught people off guard.

"This consort's meaning is..."

"According to the consort's view, how should I deal with them?"

Chi Ying's entire body went rigid, her clenched palms slick with sweat.

Seeing her remain silent, Yan Xuecui pressed further: "As mistress of the manor, you should naturally be clear in rewards and punishments. Did your mother never teach you how to manage servants?"

Though he'd lost his sight, when those ash-gray eyes "looked" at her, it was exactly like a scrutiny that left one nowhere to hide.

Chi Ying clenched her fingers tightly, her snow-blue skirt crumpled from gripping, her knuckles bone-white.

In her world, there was no such thing as "managing servants."

Though she was Third Miss of the Chi family, from childhood her situation had been no better than the servants'.

Mother had once been Yin Shi's maid, taken advantage of by Father in a drunken state, only then elevated to concubine. After giving birth, she'd personally chosen the name "Ying" (firefly) for her daughter—rather than following the Chi family daughters' "Yue" (moon) character, to show Yin shi her attitude: firefly light would never compete with the bright moon's brilliance.

Last year when she returned to the manor, she had deliberately observed Chi Yingyue's words and behavior, trying to make herself more like her. But that legitimate daughter steeped in endless affection since childhood was never meek or timid in her manner. Even if the washing water was too hot or too cold, she would readily strike and scold.

With Chi Yingyue's temperament, if such a serious accident as scalding or burning occurred, the servants in the room would probably all be beaten nearly to death, or directly sold off.

Chi Ying also wanted to make herself act more convincingly, to drag out the servants for interrogation and harsh punishment. But as for why the burn occurred, Prince Zhao surely understood perfectly well himself. Why did he insist on asking her opinion?

Could it be he'd discovered something wrong with her?

That's right, what kind of temperament did Chi Yingyue have? If Prince Zhao had any intention to investigate, he could certainly find out.

She blamed herself. She shouldn't have spoken out of turn just now.

Chi Ying swallowed, deliberating for a long time before softly speaking: "She did teach me. This consort was willful in the past, and Mother spent considerable effort instructing me because of it. Before I married, she repeatedly reminded me that I needed to learn to be lenient with others, and couldn't be willful anymore, lest Your Highness dislike me. This consort has just arrived and isn't yet clear on the manor's rules, but Your Highness can rest assured, in the future, this consort will definitely follow Aunts Fangchun and Qionglin closely and properly learn how to combine grace with authority..."

Listening to the end, Yan Xuecui only felt her voice was excessively soft, and her trembling, earnest attempts to explain were truly amusing.

He couldn't help but laugh: "The consort speaks too seriously. I merely asked casually. You are the legitimate daughter of the Earl of Changyuan's manor, naturally impeccable in every way."

Chi Ying lowered her head and said softly: "Your Highness flatters me too much."

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, steadied her mind, and continued with her task. As she applied medicine, she unconsciously blew on the wound.

In the past, whenever she bumped or scraped herself, Mother would apply medicine this way. Blowing on the injury would ease the pain somewhat.

Only in a place she couldn't see, the man tilted his head back slightly, his breathing unsteady, his Adam's apple rolling several times.

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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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