AFTER BEING MARRIED OFF TO A BLIND VILLIAN - CHAPTER 21

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Chapter 21 (Part 1/2)

Yin Shi  was also afraid that in her rage, Chi Ying might do anything. After all, Concubine Xue's health was failing; right now she relied on medicinal decoctions to sustain her life. Chi Ying had even less to lose. She herself didn't care about her life, but she couldn't drag the entire Chi manor down with her!

At present, Yin Shi  could only forcibly suppress her fury and have people clean out Chi Yingyue's boudoir.

Chi Ying composed her emotions and walked out the door, saying to Cheng Huai, "Tonight I'm staying at the manor to accompany Mother. I'll return to the manor early tomorrow morning. I'll trouble you to send word back to inform His Highness."

Cheng Huai gave the Princess Consort an extra glance before bowing in acknowledgment.

The guard who'd secretly followed Yin Shi earlier had returned to report. Only then did he learn that the Chi manor indeed harbored secrets. He simply ordered that person to directly return to the manor and report this matter up the chain.

Chi Ying dined in Yin Shi 's courtyard, then first instructed Baoshan to leave the manor and make a trip to Huichun Hall.

The physicians at Huichun Hall were benevolent healers, they surely wouldn't collude with Yin Shi .

Yin Shi  looked over coldly. "What, you still don't trust me? Afraid I'll mistreat Aunt Xue? Since I've promised you, I won't go back on my word."

Chi Ying no longer beat around the bush, sneering coldly, "When has Mother colluding with physicians been rare?"

Yin Shi  trembled with rage. "Your wings have truly hardened, you really think you're a princess consort?"

Chi Ying paid her no heed.

Cheng Huai stood guard outside the courtyard gate. Seeing the Princess Consort's maid Baoshan leave, saying she was filling a prescription for Yin Shi , yet her words carried evasive intent, he kept his guard up and immediately assigned someone to quietly follow and investigate.

Not long after, Chi Ying emerged from Yin Shi 's courtyard heading toward Zhaohua Courtyard, Chi Yingyue's former boudoir.

Cheng Huai then also led people to follow and stood guard outside Zhaohua Courtyard.

Seeing she couldn't shake him off, Chi Ying had no choice but to temporarily give up and think of another method after dark.

Though Chi Yingyue had been away from the manor for several months, her boudoir was maintained as clean and proper as always. Though the Earl manor had declined, their cultivation of her could rival daughters of great families.

Chi Ying's gaze swept over the luxurious screen and canopy bed, remembering how in childhood she wasn't allowed through this door. Seeing these things again now, her heart had long since felt no ripples.

Naturally she had no plans to rest here. Her gaze fell on the gold-painted mother-of-pearl vanity, then looked Xiangqin up and down. An idea formed in her mind.

"You're skilled at grooming and makeup. Could you... disguise me to look like a courtyard maid?"

Xiangqin was slightly surprised. "Miss, you want to..."

Chi Ying nodded. She didn't know why, but she always felt Cheng Huai and the others were excessively vigilant, not like accompanying guards but rather closely monitoring her. To reach Chunliu Courtyard, she had to think of another way.

But no matter what, tonight she had to make a trip to Chunliu Courtyard. Just listening to Yin Shi 's one-sided words about how well she was caring for Mother, Chi Ying still wasn't reassured.

Xiangqin was somewhat troubled. "This servant has never done such makeup..."

Chi Ying: "Just try."

Xiangqin had no choice but to send someone to fetch a set of maid's clothes and shoes. She removed Chi Ying's makeup and hair, applied dark-colored powder to her face and spread it around, dotting spots of various sizes, then used wispy hair to cover her forehead and cheeks. Under the dim candlelight, the person in the mirror had dark, sallow skin—just a maid with fairly decent features.

Chi Ying stared at the gradual transformation in the mirror. By the end, she almost didn't recognize herself. Delighted beyond measure, she even wanted to learn this skill from Xiangqin—who knew when it might come in handy?

The room was lit. She had Xiangqin stay inside, occasionally saying a few words to create the illusion she was in the room. She herself found a pretext to follow a servant woman from the courtyard out, saying the Princess Consort wanted to eat cheese custard and she'd go to the kitchen to make a bowl. Passing by the guards outside the courtyard, Chi Ying hunched her back and buried her face downward, using the dim evening light to conceal her features.

Cheng Huai watched the two people. Just as he was about to ask more questions, a shadow guard happened to come deliver a message. He went to handle it. When he returned, the two servants had already gone toward the kitchen direction, so he let it go.

Prince Zhao was privately investigating the Princess Consort's background, which was why he had him bring people along, conveniently checking if the Chi manor had any oddities. But accompanying wasn't the same as surveillance. Going to the kitchen to make food didn't warrant dragging them over for interrogation.

After Chi Ying left under this cover, she immediately went to Chunliu Courtyard.

The room was permeated with rich medicinal scent. Chi Ying entered the inner chamber and saw Aunt Xue lying on the bed. All the emotions accumulated over these days surged up together. She couldn't help reddening her eyes. "Mother."

Aunt Xue was resting against soft pillows. Seeing someone come, she initially paid no attention. Not until the person walked close and called her "Mother" did Aunt Xue examine her carefully, only then discovering it was actually her daughter. Shocked and delighted at once, "A-Ying, why are you dressed like this?"

After speaking, she couldn't help panicking. "Did you come secretly? Will you be discovered?"

Chi Ying shook her head and poured her a cup of warm water. "No one discovered me. Mother, I came to see you. How has your health been these past days?"

Aunt Xue was the same as always, though thanks to those two ginseng roots, her complexion looked passable. To set her daughter's mind at ease, she only picked out good things to say.

Just as they were talking, Baoshan led Physician Hu Zhengqing from Huichun Hall inside.

This Physician Hu had quite a reputation in the capital, often treating poor common people. Even Chi Ying had heard of him. She hadn't expected Baoshan could invite him here.

Baoshan said, "Physician Hu happened to be holding consultation hours today, so this servant invited him here."

Chi Ying looked at her gratefully, then said to Physician Hu, "I'll trouble you to examine our... our aunt."

Physician Hu nodded. He set down his medicine box and took Aunt Xue's pulse, also reviewing the prescriptions Aunt Xue usually used. After deliberating a long while, he finally said, "The pulse is weak and feeble, an image of kidney essence deficiency and insufficient heart blood. This prescription treats symptoms but not the root cause."

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Chapter 21 (Part 2/2)

Chi Ying said urgently, "Is there a way to treat it?"

Physician Hu: "I'll add a few more ingredients to this prescription to supplement qi, strengthen essence, and warm and nourish qi and blood. We'll gradually adjust her condition first. If she can make it through spring and summer, we'll determine treatment based on her condition then."

Chi Ying nodded. "Thank you, Physician."

Thinking of something, she asked again, "Does the Jiji Pill have medicinal efficacy?"

Physician Hu's eyes brightened. "The Jiji Pill is an excellent medicine for nourishing vital energy. To combine it with medicinal decoctions would naturally be ideal. However, this medicine uses expensive ingredients and requires complicated preparation, thus its price is steep..."

He examined the woman before him, merely dressed as a maid, with a sickly aunt on the bed. Presumably they weren't favored in the manor, how could they afford Jiji Pills? He sighed and said, "Strengthening the foundation and cultivating essence isn't achieved overnight. Long-term use is required."

Chi Ying was silent for a moment. "I understand. Thank you, Physician."

Previously, Yin Shi had given Mother a few Jiji Pills, which saved Mother's life. But Jiji Pills cost ten taels of silver per pill, those with better ingredients could cost over a hundred taels. Yet Changyuan Earl was someone too stingy to give her even fifty taels. How would they be willing to continue giving Mother such expensive medicine? Moreover, Yin Shi loathed mother and daughter to the extreme, she certainly wouldn't care for them attentively. She was merely using cheap prescriptions to muddle through, barely keeping Mother alive.

Chi Ying paid the consultation fee and had Baoshan quietly lead Physician Hu out through the side gate to fill the new prescription.

She still had several dozen taels of silver on hand, but it was merely a drop in the bucket.

She still needed to talk with Yin Shi.

After people left, only mother and daughter remained in the room.

Aunt Xue grasped Chi Ying's hand. "Didn't you say the young master you married was gravely ill and dying? Why haven't you returned yet? Has something happened?"

Chi Ying managed a smile. "He didn't die. His illness was cured, and now he treats me very well. It's just... Second Sister has found another good match and is unwilling to switch back identities with me. I'm afraid I'll have to stay at that manor a while longer."

Aunt Xue always felt it wasn't so simple. Second Miss was after all the Earl manor's legitimate daughter. For them to have her marry over as a bride of joy... it must not be an ordinary household. If it was truly as good as her daughter said, why wouldn't Second Miss marry him?

Chi Ying only reassured her. "I'll think of a way for the medicine money. Mother needn't..."

Before she finished speaking, Aunt Xue seemed to discover something. She reached out to touch the red mark exposed on her neck. "What's this here..."

Chi Ying instinctively rubbed the side of her neck. Her fingertip wiped off a bit of powder. She froze before realizing, her cheeks faintly flushing red.

Aunt Xue had been through it all. Seeing her face full of embarrassment, what couldn't she guess? "You... consummated the marriage with that young master?"

Chi Ying pressed her lips. "Not exactly. We've only been intimate."

Aunt Xue: "He thinks you're Second Miss?"

Chi Ying paused, then nodded.

Aunt Xue's emotions were complex. "You've had physical intimacy with him. In the future, if your identity is exposed, won't you..."

Chi Ying pondered a long while, looking at her and saying gently, "Mother, just consider me married to him. I promise you—in the future, whether I continue being his wife or find a way to extract myself safely, I'll protect myself well. Mother must also promise me to take good care of your health and wait for my return."

Aunt Xue nodded, only hating that her own body was useless, implicating her daughter to suffer because of her.

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Prince Zhao Manor

The subordinate coming to report originally thought Prince Zhao was at Yangui Tower, never expecting he'd be at Shuyu Pavilion instead.

Two guards met at the courtyard gate and entered together to report.

Yan Xuecui sat on the couch drinking tea. First hearing that the Princess Consort would stay overnight at the Chi manor tonight, he used the brocade handkerchief in his hand to wipe the corners of his lips, eyelids drooping slightly, only returning a faint "Mm."

"Also," the guard paused before saying, "Yin Shi met someone in the reverse-seat room today. Publicly she claimed it was a manor steward, but this subordinate heard that person call Yin Shi 'Mother.' Moreover... that woman is also pregnant. She says it's... His Highness Prince Xuan's child..."

Yuan De nearly couldn't maintain his expression. "Prince Xuan's child?"

The guard nodded. "Yes. That Yin Shi and the servant woman beside her acted secretively, carefully avoiding outsiders. This subordinate only heard this much."

Yan Xuecui frowned and chuckled lightly, an unexpectedly absurd development.

Another guard who'd followed Baoshan to Huichun Hall had also uncovered some important clues. The matter being grave, he didn't return to Changyuan Earl Manor but chose to directly return to the manor to report.

"This subordinate followed Baoshan to Huichun Hall to fetch a physician, but saw... saw His Highness Prince Xuan's carriage stopped in the shadows at the street corner."

 Yuan De was stunned. "Prince Xuan again?"

The guard confirmed, "Yes. That Baoshan secretly went to pay respects to Prince Xuan. It was also Prince Xuan who sent someone into the medical hall to specifically request Huichun Hall's best physician to go to Changyuan Earl Manor to examine Yin Shi's pulse."

Yuan De pondered, "So you're saying that Yin Shi actually has another daughter who's pregnant with Prince Xuan's child? Our Princess Consort is probably also... also somewhat entangled with Prince Xuan?"

As his words fell, he only felt the atmosphere in the room suddenly freeze. He looked carefully toward the person on the couch.

Yan Xuecui set down his teacup, maintaining his usual composure on his face, as if he'd expected this all along.

But Yuan De still felt his spine go cold, as if in an instant, the room had grown so frigid it was nearly frozen still. Even the birds in the trees outside the window fell silent at this moment.

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TRANSLATOR: Guys, i just realized this book is rated 18, and i cannot continue posting it on my website. i am still trying to figure out what to do when we get to those chapters.

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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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