Wen Tang discovered that her legitimate sister, Wen Zhiyi, had changed a lot.
Before she came to Beijing, she heard from others that in the eyes of the world, Wen Zhiyi was a noble lady who was as beautiful as the moonlight, cold and aloof, and had a sense of pride in her bones.
But after Wen Tang entered the capital, she found that this person looked nothing like the legend.
When she first came to the capital five years ago, she saw Wen Zhiyi, the rumored arrogant and goddess-like girl. At that time, Wen Zhiyi looked sickly with a thick white gauze wrapped around her head. It was said that she had slipped and hit her head, and her whole person had changed after the injury. She no longer looked like the rumored girl. She had a sense of fragility and helplessness all over her body, and tears welled up in her eyes.
At that time, Wen Tang could not associate the person in front of him with words like cold and arrogant.
When they met again today, she was even more fragile, as if a gust of wind could blow her down. Moreover, her eyes were always filled with tears as she looked at her, as if she was full of guilt, or more like, she had complex emotions that were difficult to explain, making people feel uneasy.
Mrs. Zhou helped Wen Tang get on the carriage.
Wen Tang lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked back at the gate. In the twilight, Wen Zhiyi's frail figure still stood there, the dim glow of the lanterns in the corridor casting a halo around her, her vision obscured in the dimness.
Only by lowering the car curtains could the sticky sight be blocked.
Returning to the Duke's Mansion, he walked through several porches with hanging flowers and entered the main room.
The main door opened and closed.
Wen Tang took out the safety lock from his sleeve. It was indeed small and finely crafted, and looked very valuable.
She casually placed it on the rosewood table by the window. The cold touch of the safety lock seemed to still retain the warmth of Wen Zhiyi's fingertips.
Mrs. Zhou followed behind and walked forward. When she saw the lock, her face immediately fell. Without saying a word, she reached out to take it, "Why does the grandma keep such an unlucky thing? I'll take it away right away..."
"No need," Wen Tang said softly, his eyes sweeping over calmly, "Put it away first."
Mrs. Zhou had no choice but to put it away in disappointment, muttering to herself, "It's unlucky."
Not long after, the weather suddenly changed, and like yesterday, heavy rain poured down.
The rain lashed the plants in the yard, the banana leaves were crackling, a layer of water quickly accumulated on the bluestone pavement, and the air was so humid that water could be wrung out of it.
While Wen Tang was waiting for Qin Gong to come back, he gave instructions in an orderly manner.
He asked the maids to prepare hot tea to dispel the cold and warm the stomach, some exquisite snacks, crystal shrimp dumplings, fish paste lotus cake, and a few refreshing side dishes, pickled goose feet, cold crispy lotus root, and a pot of clear and sweet pear blossom white tea. These were all Qin Gong's preferences, and they were just right for this cool rainy night in summer.
Just as Qin Gong had told her last night, he came back not too late today, which was just the right time for the couple to have a drink.
Qin Gong's birthday is in a few days.
On his birthday, as a qualified wife, she naturally had to ask her husband for his opinion.
In the warm room of the main house, candlelight danced in the sound of rain, casting a warm yellow halo. On the rosewood eight-immortals table, the dishes and drinks were warm, creating a perfect atmosphere for couples to have a drink.
Under candlelight,
Wen Tang gently stood up, picked up the wine pot, and poured wine for Qin Gong who had just sat down.
Her fair wrists shone like jade in the candlelight. When Qin Gong picked up the wine cup, she poured herself a glass and raised it with a smile, "My dear, your birthday is in a few days. I want to discuss the rules with my mother-in-law. Do you have any arrangements in mind? Do you want to invite any colleagues to come to the mansion to celebrate?"
As the emperor's trusted confidant, Qin Gong's birthday was never just a birthday, it was a display of power and a touchstone of human nature.
On Qin Gong's birthday, there would be a feast for all those who flocked to him in the capital. Visiting cards and gift lists would pour in like snowflakes, but few would sincerely wish him well. Most would come with ulterior motives, seeking support, probing for information, or seeking concessions. Wen Tang would have to discern precisely which ones were Qin Gong's recent friends, worthy of generous treatment, and which were merely passing visitors who should be ignored.
She must find out her husband's recent social patterns.
Qin Gong and Wen Tang drank a glass of wine. He seemed to be in a good mood. The stern expression that had always shrouded his face seemed to have loosened a little because of the warm candles, warm wine, and his wife's thoughtfulness today.
This is a rare tender moment for the couple.
Qin Gong sat at the table and handed a side dish to Wen Tang. "Fu Jiu will obey your orders."
Fu Jiu is his confidant and close follower.
Wen Tang bent her slender waist slightly and leaned her soft body towards Qin Gong.
She took Qin Gong's chopsticks, slightly opened her lips, and nibbled the small piece of crisp lotus root he had picked up. After chewing and swallowing carefully, she raised her face, her naturally affectionate fox eyes, the tear mole at the corners of her eyes moist, and her tone was a little tentative and angry, "Husband, what are you doing? Don't you trust me to do it?"
She spoke slowly.
Wen Tang said this half-jokingly.
Qin Gong heard the coquettish tone in her words and looked up at her.
Wen Tang picked up a piece of lotus cake from the celadon plate. The cake was moist and tender. He passed it to his lips and said, "Master, try this. The kitchen put a lot of thought into it. They used the best fish meat and mixed it with the juice squeezed from the fresh lotus leaves to make it into a delicate and lovely lotus shape."
Wen Tang knew when to stop, and restrained her coquettish behavior and returned to her gentle and graceful demeanor.
Qin Gong ate from her hand before asking about her return home today, "Is Madam Yuan in good health?"
He was not stingy with material things towards Wen Tang's biological mother, Madam Yuan. Qin Gong personally arranged for rare medicinal materials and medical experts, and he spent money like water.
When talking about his mother, Wen Tang's eyes and brows softened.
She stood up and leaned against Qin Gong's side naturally, resting her head on his shoulder. She said softly, "Thanks to your care, mother is now in such good health and full of energy."
This was true. If it weren't for Qin Gong, on that same stormy night a few years ago, her only close relative would have passed away long ago. She wouldn't have been able to live with dignity and confidence like she does now.
Wen Tang stretched out her hand again, gently wrapped it around his waist, half raised her face, and the teardrop mole next to her fox eyes flickered in the candlelight.
She knew just the right angle to bring out her beauty.
Qin Gong may be cold and indifferent during the day, but in front of everyone he appears to be an unkind and powerful official.
But at night, especially in this private warm room with the curtains drawn low and the incense burner emitting warm fragrance, Qin Gong would reveal the burning desire of a living person, and Wen Tang's still sore waist was all caused by this man's grip.
He didn't love her as a person, but he was satisfied with her body.
The hot long fingers suddenly lifted her chin and took her face into the broad palm.
Qin Gong looked at his wife's gentle and beautiful face, and stroked her cheek with his long fingers for a few moments.
Wen Tang tilted his head due to the slight itch brought by the rough fingertips, dodged for a moment, and called softly, "Master..."
Then she seemed to hear a very low and hoarse chuckle, but when she looked up carefully, it was still Qin Gong's indifferent face.
Wen Tang showed an embarrassed and annoyed expression as if he had been teased, and struggled to free himself from his grasp. "Master, how about we talk about what we should do on my birthday?"
The families of some officials should be treated well, and the visiting cards of others should be ignored.
"Just proceed as usual." Qin Gong withdrew his hand.
"Same as previous years?" Wen Tang confirmed.
Qin Gong said "hmm", and then added a few more details. Wen Tang listened attentively and wrote them down one by one. Finally, Qin Gong tapped his fingertips on the edge of the table and pointed out a person in particular. He was a recently promoted Shaoqing of the Dali Temple who was about to take office.
"Shaoqing of the Dali Temple?" Wen Tang raised his eyes.
Qin Gong nodded, said nothing more, and stood up. Wen Tang followed him and stood up. After a few steps, Qin Gong in front of him suddenly stopped.
Wen Tang was puzzled.
Qin Gong casually loosened a button fastened around her neck, his eyes sweeping across her gentle yet alluring face, and said in a light tone, "Bath."
"No need to follow."
Wen Tang paused, knowing that he had misunderstood.
"I'll undress you."
Wen Tang was embarrassed and walked forward, putting his hand on the jade belt hook around his waist.