Marrying a treacherous official

Yunji woke up hungry in the middle of the night.

She got out of bed in the dark, called out twice, and Granny Kong brought out the prepared cold noodles, fried sheep intestines, and crystal soap to the table, saying softly:

"Madam, you've worked hard. Please have something to eat."

"It's so late, why is it the nanny serving outside?"

Yunji picked up the celadon-glazed double-fish bowl, took two bites of the cold noodles, and said, "Let Xikui take over the night watch. Granny can rest a bit after she goes back."

"After serving the First Madam her meal, this old servant went to call Xi Kui to stand guard outside."

Seeing that the First Madam was truly hungry, in just half an incense stick's time, she finished a bowl of cold noodles, emptied the plate of fried sheep intestines, and even left only a few pieces of crystal soap.

This person ate much more than usual.

"How about this old servant brings the First Madam another bowl of millet porridge?"

"No need, Granny."

Yunji reached out to grab the teapot, but just as she touched the handle, Granny Kong stopped her hand and said, "Madam, please wait. Let this old servant fetch you a bowl of hot soup."

As she spoke, Granny Kong withdrew and brought out a warm pregnancy-preserving soup from the kitchen, which she then presented to the First Madam.

Yunji looked at the bowl of dark, murky medicine and immediately withdrew her hand.

"This is--?"

"A pregnancy-preserving formula passed down from my late wife."

Granny Kong leaned closer to her and said mysteriously, "The late Madam conceived the young master after drinking this herbal soup."

Yunji looked at her suspiciously, still unable to believe it.

Granny Kong whispered in her ear:

"Ever since the late Madam married into the Marquis's mansion, the Marquis has never treated her well. He only had sex with her once a month. It was thanks to this pregnancy-preserving formula that the late Madam was able to get pregnant on the first try. After giving birth to the eldest son, she secured her position as the Marquis's wife."

Yunji suppressed her shyness and felt a strong urge to try.

"Is this herbal medicine bitter?"

"It's not bitter, it's not bitter at all."

Granny Kong took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and coaxed her, saying, "This old servant has also prepared candied fruit for the First Madam, just waiting for her to taste this sweetness after she finishes her medicine."

Yunji picked up the celadon bowl, and just as she was about to drink it, she didn't forget to remind Granny Kong:

"Don't tell the old man about this."

"Don't worry, Madam, this old servant will never let a word of this slip out."

Seeing that the First Madam was frowning and had finished the thick medicine in her bowl in one gulp, Granny Kong quickly poured out some candied fruit and handed it to the First Madam.

A major concern that had been weighing on her mind finally came to a head, and she couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear.

The news that Cui Zemin was to be sent to Xijing as the commander of the Xuanjia Army quickly spread throughout the capital.

Before leaving the capital, he had many military affairs to hand over and deploy, but after the court session, he distributed all the political affairs to his subordinate generals. He left the Privy Council early under the pretext of returning home for a midday rest, and ordered his generals not to come to his door unless there was an urgent matter.

Huo Xi took a stack of military supply ledgers to the Privy Council, and from there to the Marquis's residence, eager to present them to the general for review. However, Li Xiuji stopped him at the back gate.

"The Tiger Wing Army's account books must be submitted to the general for review; this is military regulation. Why are you stopping me?"

"Stopping you from going in will get you killed."

Li Xiuji released him, seemingly intending to follow him into the abyss to his death.

Huo Xi squatted down on the threshold, gazing at the silent courtyard, and inquired:

"What is the general doing in the backyard?"

"Lunch break."

"Who are you trying to fool? I've served as the general's personal guard for so many years, and I've never seen the general close his eyes even once at midday."

"To accompany the First Madam for her afternoon rest."

Li Xiuji's single sentence completely silenced the arrogant Huo Xi.

Huo Xi remained silent for a long while, then, unwilling to give up, asked again, "General, when will you wake up?"

"Hard to say."

Li Xiuji glanced at him and said, "Yesterday he slept until almost dusk, and the day before he didn't leave the main room. Today, nobody can say for sure."

Huo Xi looked at the military supplies ledger in his hand, thinking that if the old man didn't check the accounts soon, the soldiers' pay would be delayed, and the soldiers would be left to starve by the end of the month.

"If all else fails, I'll take the account books to the general for a look while he's doing his morning drills."

"The general hasn't gotten up to train these past few days."

"How is that possible?"

Huo Xi said incredulously, "Even in the dead of winter, when the wind is howling and snow is falling, the general insists on getting up early to practice his spear and staff. Now that the sky is clear and the air is crisp, how could the general not get up to train?"

Li Xiuji said in a calm tone:

"Help the First Madam rest early."

Huo Xi had nothing more to say about this.

Li Xiuji knelt down on the other side of the threshold, facing him directly, and said:

"Do you know when the general will leave the capital?"

"Isn't it the seventeenth of this month?"

"It was postponed for another seven days."

Li Xiuji revealed to him again, "The general requested an imperial decree from the emperor after the morning court session today, and the emperor nodded in approval."

Huo Xi had no idea when this waiting for the general to "make time for an audience" would end. Suddenly, his thoughts shifted, and he stared intently at Li Xiuji, saying:

"What are you doing here instead of working at the Privy Council?"

Li Xiuji revealed a stack of documents from his wide sleeves and gave Huo Xi a meaningful look.

Huo Xi immediately understood and burst out laughing, saying, "Having you here with me is worth it."

Cui Zemin never takes a midday nap, so he can't fall asleep no matter how he closes his eyes.

But that didn't stop him from taking a midday rest with Yunji.

He looked down at her as she fell asleep in his arms, his large hand slipping inside her thin silk robe, roaming freely over her exquisite, curvaceous figure.

She especially loves the curve of her pert buttocks drooping down to her slender waist.

He stroked her back and forth like that, countless times, until he saw her gaze rise and stare intently at him.

"Is Madam awake?"

"It's perfectly ripe."

"What?"

"The dimples on my lower back are cooked through."

Yunji leaned her waist against the bed, pinning his still mischievous hand beneath her and catching him red-handed.

Cui Zemin pulled her into his arms and coaxed her, "Sleep a little longer."

Yun Ji decisively refused him, saying:

"My reputation has been quite bad lately. People say that you're indulging in romantic affairs and neglecting your military duties. You should stop taking afternoon naps and focus on important matters."

"Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring."

Cui Zemin said righteously and sternly, "What could be more important than what we are working on right now?"

Yunji didn't want to get entangled with him any longer, so she called out to someone outside:

"Is anyone outside looking for the old man?"

"Reporting to the First Madam, General Huo and General Li have been waiting at the second gate for half an hour to request an audience with you, sir."

"Sir, hurry up and don't delay the important business."

Yun Ji pushed Cui Zemin away, finding him extremely annoying, and then pulled the thin quilt over her head and went back to sleep.

Cui Zemin picked up his undershirt from the ground, pulled it around his waist, and scolded her as he said:

"When Madam needs something, Zhong Wuyan is there; when she doesn't, Xia Yingchun is there. Don't expect me to come when I call or leave when I dismiss you next time."

He stood outside the curtain and waited quietly for a moment, but she didn't reply. Looking at the lovely woman sleeping soundly inside the curtain, he realized that he had really worn her out.