Chapter Forty-Three: Carried Onto the Bed

Li Xiuning blushed at Cui’er’s piercing words, her heart laid bare. “How did you know?” she asked, but as soon as the words left her lips, she realized Cui’er had been baiting her.

Li Xiuning reached out and grabbed Cui’er by the neck. “Well, you little rascal, daring to trick me!”

“Spare me, Princess! I’ll never do it again!”

“Now you beg for mercy, hmph, but it’s too late!” Li Xiuning began tickling Cui’er’s belly. Unable to withstand the sensation, Cui’er twisted and writhed on the bed like a boneless snake.

The two teased and tumbled for almost half an hour, until both were drenched in fragrant sweat. They lay on the bed, catching their breath.

“Princess, are you worried the Crown Prince will dismiss Lord Chen from office?” Cui’er asked.

Li Xiuning replied, “No, you’re oversimplifying things. Though the Crown Prince holds sway as heir to the throne, second only to Father in all the realm, even he cannot act as he pleases.”

“So you mean the Crown Prince can’t dismiss Lord Chen?” asked Cui’er.

“Exactly!” Li Xiuning said. “Since Prince Qin’s defeat at Shallowwater Plain, the Western Qin army has been unstoppable, capturing cities and crushing all before them. Lord Chen and his men defended Jingyang at the cost of forty-three lives—excluding the common folk—not only holding the city, but destroying three thousand troops led by Zong Luo, forcing Prince Xue Renguo of Western Qin to retreat in disgrace. It’s the only bright spot for our Tang in these times. Father issued a decree, rewarding and promoting the victorious generals. Lord Chen has been in office less than a month, his duties without fault. If the Crown Prince were to dismiss him, Father would not approve, and what would the world think of our Tang? Lord Chen did nothing wrong, and even if he had, it’s not so simple to remove him; such a move would chill the hearts of those who fight and bleed for our empire.”

“Then… Princess, what is there to worry about?” Cui’er asked.

Li Xiuning said, “If he’s truly dismissed, it’s a blessing. Without office, I’d bring him to the Princess of Pingyang’s residence as Chief of Cuisine, and he could make beggar’s chicken for me every day. Dismissal isn’t the only way to make things difficult; there are many methods, but you wouldn’t understand. Enough, let’s sleep!”

“Oh,” Cui’er replied, rising to extinguish the candles one by one, plunging the chamber into darkness.

Li Xiuning lay on the wide bed, yet her mind could not settle.

She now understood the cause of the conflict between Chen Ying and Li Xiaoguang—it was over two maidservants. Though Green Pearl and Red Sleeve were charming and pure, they weren’t beauties unrivaled in the world; their identical twin appearance was simply intriguing. Moreover, when Li Xiuning had them attend her in the bath, she saw they still wore their maiden veils.

Chen Ying was willing to offend a founding marquis for two maids; such courage and responsibility surpassed Prince Chai a hundredfold.

Unconsciously, Li Xiuning compared Chen Ying to Chai Shao, and the more she did, the worse Chai Shao seemed.

Drowsy, Li Xiuning drifted into dreams.

At dawn, Chen Ying rose, washed, and sent Zhao Yuanqiao to the Second Merit Mansion to request leave. As Chen Ying was eating breakfast, Zhao Yuanqiao returned and reported, “The Second Merit Mansion has granted your leave.”

“As expected, Li Jiancheng is starting to make things difficult for me,” Chen Ying mused. Still, he didn’t regard the Second Merit Mansion as his true foundation; the position of Ducal Captain was merely a stepping stone. In time, it would be best to leave Chang’an altogether.

He responded calmly, “Go eat quickly.”

After a hurried meal, Chen Ying instructed old Zhou the coachman to harness the carriage; he intended to visit Manager Xu at the Xu Inn. As he was about to leave, Li Chuyi ran up, panting, “Master, Lady Lan has awakened!”

Chen Ying rushed to the west wing. Lan’s hands and wounds were all bandaged, but her delicate face was drained of color.

“Lan, are you feeling any better?” he asked.

Lan’s eyes were empty, unresponsive.

Chen Ying touched her forehead; her temperature was slightly high, but not dangerous. “It’s not infected, that’s good. Lan, rest and recover. I promise you, this vengeance will be repaid. None of them will escape.”

Lan remained silent.

Chen Ying sighed inwardly; her wounds were not the only issue—her heart bore scars not easily healed. After all, what she suffered was a nightmare any woman could never shake.

The Xu residence had four rough maids, named simply North, South, East, and West for convenience. Chen Ying appointed the eldest, East, to care for Lan.

Once Lan was settled, Chen Ying arrived at Xu Inn at half past ten. In this era, people were accustomed to two meals a day; around nine, guests began to dine. The inn’s servants were busy tending to them.

Seeing Chen Ying and Liang Zan enter, the inn’s lovely lady manager, Second Lady Xu, hurried to greet them. “So this morning’s magpies were chirping so merrily because Lord Chen has arrived. Will you be staying, or dining?”

Chen Ying smiled, “I have some business with Manager Xu.”

Second Lady Xu paused, her face puzzled. “What business does Lord Chen have with me?”

“It’s hard to explain quickly,” Chen Ying said. “Is there someplace quiet where we can talk?”

“Please follow me,” Second Lady Xu replied.

She led him through the dining hall to the courtyard guest rooms. At the north end stood two small side rooms. Chen Ying, by now familiar with the layout of such compounds, guessed these were servants’ quarters by the back gate. The room was small and low, its window barely three feet square; even now, it felt rather dim inside.

Chen Ying’s eyes swept the little room. Against the north wall was a simple cabinet stacked with ledgers and books. By the window stood a six-foot-long desk, bearing only writing implements and abacus rods—no other clutter, the surface spotless. A pink curtain hinted at a bed behind it.

He thought, “Is this Manager Xu’s boudoir?”

Second Lady Xu, uneasy, said, “It’s small, but rarely visited, and quite private.”

Chen Ying nodded, “Indeed.”

She was about to call for tea.

“No need,” Chen Ying interrupted. “I’m here to discuss a business matter with you.”

“Oh?” Second Lady Xu smiled. “Lord Chen wishes to patronize the inn? I thank you for your generosity…”

Chen Ying paused, “What do you think the Xu Inn is worth?”

Her face chilled, displeased. “What do you mean? Whatever your offer, the Xu Inn is not for sale!”

“Please, don’t be hasty. Let me finish,” Chen Ying said.

“We have nothing to discuss. Leave, leave!” Ever since her husband’s family cast her out, the inn had been her home and lifeblood. She stood, grabbed his sleeve, and tried to push him out.

Chen Ying had no choice but to rise. “Manager Xu, listen to me, please!”

“I won’t listen, I won’t!” she snapped.

“Just one sentence, and I’ll go.”

“Get out!” Second Lady Xu erupted.

Unable to push Chen Ying, she shrieked for help at the door. “Sixth, Fatty! Sixth, Fatty, come quick, throw him out!”

Chen Ying’s temper flared; he pressed her onto a stool.

Second Lady Xu struggled, but though Chen Ying appeared thin and frail, his strength was surprising—perhaps a quirk of his reincarnation. Not just women, even strong men couldn’t match him.

Seeing she couldn’t break free, Second Lady Xu bit his arm.

“Ouch…” Chen Ying recoiled, releasing her.

She quieted down.

Chen Ying rolled up his sleeve; a row of clear bite marks oozed crimson.

Her face showed a hint of guilt, but when she noticed him looking, it changed in an instant, turning fierce. “Serves you right, always bullying me…”

“Your temper’s quite fierce. At least hear me out, won’t you?”

“Whatever you say, the inn will never be sold!”

“I never said I wanted to buy it,” Chen Ying replied, both amused and exasperated. “I just noticed your inn is run-down, the decor lacking. It only attracts common folk and porters. If you renovate the facade, repaint, replace all the old tables and beds, your business would surely improve…”

Her tone softened. “Then you should’ve said so…”

“You blame me? Did you give me a chance?” Chen Ying said. “I happen to have some spare funds and wish to invest in your inn.”

Second Lady Xu realized the misunderstanding, and gently took his arm, asking with concern, “Does it still hurt?”

The inn’s fat chef and Sixth, each brandishing a door bar, hurried to the side room, tense and ready for trouble. But they stopped short, seeing Second Lady Xu shyly examining Chen Ying’s arm.

To them, their posture looked rather intimate.

Sixth was about to shout, “Thief—”

But the fat chef, quick on his feet, clapped a hand over Sixth’s mouth and dragged him aside.

“Fatty, why drag me? Didn’t you hear the manager call for a beating?”

The fat chef smacked him on the head, grinning wickedly. “Beat what? If you keep beating, you’ll end up in bed!”