Chapter 2: Husband, It's Time for the Bridal Chamber

Chapter Two My Lord, the Chamber of Secrets

What price did the little spy pay for her talent?

The number of soldiers stationed outside the chambers doubled from two to four.

Within, the butterfly remained in the room, her name a mocking whisper: “Staring at the Rafters.”

She truly understood the art of “staring at the rafters.”

Yet Chen Yi said not a single word of dissent; instead, he raised both hands in welcome.

For a single man confined was like being cast into the cold palace, while two meant warmth in each other’s embrace.

If four soldiers stood guard, it meant the Xiao family held him in high regard—protecting him.

Jokingly, he couldn’t even best one of them, let alone four.

At that moment, Xiao Duo Duo tossed the covers aside, propped her feet on the table, and puzzledly asked, “My lord, where did you hide that counterpoetic poem?”

A counterpoetic poem?

Not surprised, Xiao Duo Duo smirked. You, who excel at face-to-face “staring at the rafters,” know this well.

That verse, if placed in the early Kangxi or Yongzheng eras, would have had people sitting in contemplation, waiting for the autumn reckoning. Its merit could’ve even earned the eradication of nine tribes.

Chen Yi, copying the Xiao family’s edicts, awkwardly confessed, “Xiao Duo Duo, perhaps I never wrote that poem.”

“Impossible!”

Pure as the spring water, yet her mind sharp—her memory flawless.

In three breaths, she’d recited the entire *Song of Shu Zhou: Entering the Xiao Gate* without a single error.

Her diction crisp, her voice clear as morning dew—even seasoned performers would bow to her, begging her to become their master.

After hearing her recitation, Chen Yi scratched his head in frustration. “Your poetry’s not bad, but it’s still behind me.”

Xiao Duo Duo’s cheeks flushed. “Oh my lord, it was you who wrote it, not me!”

“Your poem’s name is ‘Entering the Xiao Gate,’ after all.”

Chen Yi eyed her sharply. You’ve got a keen eye, Xiao Duo Duo.

He fell silent. Xiao Duo Duo, triumphant as if she’d won a battle, crossed her arms, her small face rigid with seriousness. “My lord, I’m watching. Don’t think you can slip away.”

“Alright, alright—no running…”

Chen Yi had no intention of fleeing, especially now that he knew someone sought to harm him.

Even if he did plan to escape, he’d wait until he’d gained some means of self-defense.

Besides, lately, his days in Hou’s mansion had been quite pleasant.

As a frail scholar, he couldn’t lift a plow or carry a burden. He wasn’t needed for labor. Extra food, clothing, and attendants—servicing him was like living the dream of a former ox.

If, after his restrictions were lifted, he could remain a idle son-in-law, sipping tea and fishing at leisure, he’d find little to complain about.

“My lord, are you thinking of escaping?” Xiao Duo Duo noticed his idle gaze, her vigilance surging.

Chen Yi withdrew his thoughts, placing the copied edict aside, and said without looking up, “I’m just wondering if the evening chef will make beef tonight. That bowl at noon was eaten by a certain little pig.”

Xiao Duo Duo blinked, then blushed and lowered her head, fumbling. “My lord, I’m not a pig…”

She merely had a large appetite.

But who was to blame? The fault lay with… my lord.

After all, he’d been constantly plotting escape, sending her from Chunhuan Garden to the neighboring Jiaxing Estate, searching for brides.

She’d run back and forth several times, exhausting her strength, naturally eating more.

Chen Yi finished copying another edict, then took a sheet of cypress paper and scrawled hastily: “You’d better not be a pig, Xiao Duo Duo.”

“Oh my lord, don’t change my name so arbitrarily—it sounds awful…”

Over these days, Chen Yi had discerned Xiao Duo Duo’s gluttonous nature.

Had it not been for her appetite, he might still be as irritable as when he first arrived, nagged daily by Xiao Duo Duo.

She blamed him for fleeing the marriage, causing distress to Second Mistress and the Xiao family, and even brought illness upon Old Master, spreading tales across Wei’s nine prefects and circuits. Some said even the children had new playmates.

—What a stunning woman, a runaway groom! The golden match was but a dream; the Xiao household became a subject of laughter.

Who was this talented individual?

After a while of idle chatter, Chen Yi noticed Xiao Duo Duo had fallen silent, and chuckled softly.

There she was, seated with legs together on the small stool, elbows on knees, chin resting on hands—already in slumber. Her eyes half-closed, lips glistening with drool, occasionally tapping her temple. Adorable in her sleep.

“Xiao Duo Duo’s a good girl, unassuming, unspoiled, with no malice in her heart. If she were my wife, our days would be lively.”

In truth, Chen Yi was grateful to Xiao Duo Duo.

Without her company and conversation, he’d have grown distant from this world faster.

Perhaps he’d have found Hou’s mansion folk cold and distant.

In reality, most people weren’t bad.

This could be seen from Xiao Duo Duo herself—if the family laws were strict or the masters harsh, such a naive, gentle soul wouldn’t have been allowed to flourish.

Yet the Xiao family was decent, though long past their prime, steadily declining.

Old Master Xiao was aged, his years of border campaigns leaving him frail. Hence his collapse from fleeing the marriage.

The old lady had passed away before the new year.

Xiao Wenghong’s father and several uncles, too, had perished in battle—wounded or dead. Her mother and aunts fared no better.

Like the women of Yang Men, fierce and unyielding.

Now, all affairs were managed by the eldest daughter, Xiao Wanyue, with aides and retainers like Old Master Xiao’s legitimate sons and grandsons.

Another branch of the legitimate line had a young lord, Xiao Wuge, who was said to be studying in the mansion’s academy—likely a scholar of both martial and literary arts.

As for Xiao Wenghong, Xiao Duo Duo rarely mentioned her, as if afraid. Each time, she’d stammer and fail to speak.

Chen Yi mused, it couldn’t be like his past life—rumors in Jiangnan claimed Xiao Wenghong stood eight feet tall, robust as an ox, eyes like bronze bells, hair thick and luxuriant…

It probably wasn’t. It must’ve been slander, twisted by good intentions.

After all, daring to take the name “Wenghong,” even if not as graceful as “Graceful as a startled phoenix, elegant as a wandering dragon,” at least bore some resemblance.

Thinking this, Chen Yi copied the edict once more, rubbed his sore wrist, sipped some spring tea, and leaned back to rest.

Soon, he too drifted off to sleep.

Like spring drowsiness, summer drowsiness, summer drowsiness—no different.

……

In a daze, Chen Yi heard someone calling his name, the voice soft and delicate, carrying the gentle strength of southern water towns.

He smiled, his eyes fluttering open.

And there stood a rugged woman resembling Zhang Fei at the foot of the bed, speaking in a rough, commanding tone:

"My lord, you’re awake. We should retire to the marital chamber now. Let’s get it done before we lose our chance!"

Chen Yi’s smile froze, his lips parting in a stunned silence as he stared at her. Muttering softly, he said, "O younger brother, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m the elder brother Liu Bei."

"Who’s this Liu Bei and Cao Cao? Not half as good as a peaceful night like this! Get out!"

Then Chen Yi was shaken and tossed upon the bed, wriggled and jostled until—

"My lord, wake up. It’s time for supper."

Chen Yi jolted awake, and upon seeing the little butterfly bell, he quickly brushed off the sweat on his forehead with a sigh of relief.

My goodness, thank heavens it was just a dream.

"My lord, did you have a bad dream?" Xiao Duo asked, concern clear in her voice.

Seeing him nod, Xiao Duo rummaged somewhere and produced a small bell.

She walked around him, tapping it gently.

Ting, ting, ting—Xiao Duo chanted softly as she went: "Evil spirits, be gone! Spirits, remain at peace! Evil spirits, depart—"

Chen Yi found it amusing and asked, "Where did you learn this?"

Such a thing couldn’t be done by just any maid.

"When I saw the matriarch doing this for young master without a weapon to drive away nightmare demons."

Xiao Duo paused, her expression softening into a smile. "My lord, it’s very effective. After that, young master without a weapon never had nightmares again."

I hope so…

Chen Yi thought back to the nightmare, his skin crawling with unease.

Unable to help but ask, "Xiao Duo, truthfully now—does the mistress… or the young mistress look beautiful?"

(End of chapter)