Chapter 9: Entering the Palace Gates, Meeting the Mother-in-Law

Chapter 9: Entering the Palace Gates, Meeting the Mother-in-Law

Ning Xishi got more and more moved by his own words as he spoke—when he added it all up, there really didn't seem to be any downsides.

Except that his husband was a man.

But wasn't marrying a man the biggest downside of them all?!

Ning Xishi had to kick Qi Huairui several times before he finally stopped crying, only to hear Ning Xishi warn him: "Today is the wedding day—don't you dare say you're here to crash the bridal chamber."

Qi Huairui quickly shook his head. Being a male wife was way too shameful; he didn't have the guts to mess with his good brother like that.

Qi Huairui said, "It's Biniang—Biniang is missing."

Ning Xishi immediately stood up: "Speak clearly."

Biniang was a little white cat that he and Qi Huairui had saved from a vicious dog's jaws when they played hooky to go out. Because she had a pair of emerald eyes, Ning Xishi had named her Biniang.

At the time, Biniang's front leg had been pierced through by the dog's teeth, and the poor thing was all droopy and pitiful. It was only because the two of them bought some human medicine for bruises, swelling, and blood circulation from the pharmacy, and because Biniang was a fighter, that she managed to pull through.

Ning Xishi really liked this little white cat, but at the time, he had gotten the worst grade in the exam. His dad had already gotten a bamboo switch ready to beat him, so Ning Xishi didn't dare take Biniang home. He just kept her in the dorm room at the Imperial Academy.

The dorm room was where Ning Xishi took his afternoon naps, which he shared with Qi Huairui. With Qi Huairui covering for him, it was the perfect spot to hide a cat.

Qi Huairui said, looking miserable: "Actually, it's not just Biniang—even our dorm room got taken away... A few days ago, after class, when we went back, our bedding had been tossed outside, and Biniang was nowhere to be found. I had people look for her for days and found nothing."

Qiu Changyu, up on the roof, felt this trip had been totally worth it.

The general's spies had been going back and forth investigating for so long and never found out that Ning Xishi had some lover named 'Biniang' on the side!

Qiu Changyu thought it over and figured this was pretty serious—he needed to tell the general right away.

He waved his hand from the rooftop, and a guard immediately came out of the shadows, stepping on the stone wall to climb up to the roof.

This time, Ning Xishi noticed right away, and realized there were now two people on his roof.

Ning Xishi's good feelings toward the general's mansion instantly vanished. He said, "You go back and keep looking. I probably can't get out today, but I'll meet you at the usual spot early tomorrow morning, and we'll talk it over then."

Qi Huairui quickly nodded and left, but before he went, he couldn't help wailing: "Bro, without you, I'm really suffering."

Ning Xishi waved his hand, annoyed.

·

After dinner, Ning Xishi took a bath and rested. The disabled general hadn't come to see him, and the spies on the roof had all left. Other than Steward Li from the mansion bringing him meals, no one else bothered him.

Ning Xishi finally got a good night's sleep, but the next morning, he was woken up by the commotion outside.

Half-asleep, he heard Dongshuang saying to someone: "My young master is still asleep—come back in half an hour to wake him."

Steward Li quickly urged: "My dear master, this can't wait. Today we have to go to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

Hearing the words 'enter the palace,' Ning Xishi was wide awake, and it suddenly hit him—the most pivotal scene in the original story.

It was very short, just one sentence—

"That good-for-nothing, resentful at being married off as a male wife and forced to show his face in public, pushed General Xie into the water, trying to kill him."

Ning Xishi: "..."

Does the original story really think readers are that dumb?

Not to mention that Xie Jingxing, a general, even if disabled, couldn't possibly die from being pushed into the water;

And with all these highly skilled shadow guards around, he and Dongshuang together couldn't take on even one of them. With all that, how could anyone possibly kill the general?

Ning Xishi thought to himself, could this novel have been written by some enemy of Xie Jingxing's?

Speaking of enemies, the one who most wanted Xie Jingxing dead had to be the current emperor.

General Xie Jingxing and the current emperor were both sons of the Empress Dowager, who was deeply favored by the late emperor. Although there were other consorts, overall, the family of four lived pretty happily.

By that logic, an emperor raised in such a family shouldn't be so suspicious of his own younger brother, even stripping him of his princely title, leaving him only the title of General of the Western Expedition—which Xie Jingxing had earned through military achievements.

But after the late emperor's death, the current emperor saw Xie Jingxing as a thorn in his side, wanting nothing more than to get rid of him...

By all rights, Xie Jingxing never formed factions, and now that he'd married a male wife, he posed no threat to the emperor's throne. Why go after him to the death?

Dongshuang was still outside trying to stall the steward when he heard Ning Xishi's voice from inside: "I'm awake, Dongshuang."

Dongshuang shot Steward Li a glare: "I told you to keep it down. My young master doesn't even get up this early at home."

Steward Li: "..." How are you the one who's upset?

He quickly arranged for people to go in and help Ning Xishi wash up.

At home, Ning Xishi was usually waited on by Dongshuang and two other servants. He had just finished brushing his teeth when he found a row of people standing behind him, each holding a tray with the clothes and accessories he was about to wear.

"It's not a dress again, is it?"

"Of course not. On the wedding day, the Ning family's stuff wasn't prepared by our mansion. Young master, please change first, and if you need anything, just call me."

Dongshuang helped Ning Xishi get dressed, and a servant came over to comb his hair.

It was only then that Ning Xishi noticed there wasn't a single maid in his yard. The servant combing his hair was a stranger, but his hands were very gentle—Ning Xishi barely felt a thing before his hair was tied up.

He asked, "Does your mansion not have any maids?"

The servant replied, "No, Young Master Ning."

Ning Xishi was a bit shocked: "Not a single woman? Even the laundry room is all men?"

The servant said, "Yes, Young Master Ning."

Ning Xishi was genuinely stunned this time. He gave Dongshuang a look, thinking to himself that this general really must like men.

Actually, from Xie Jingxing's attitude toward him yesterday, Ning Xishi had thought the guy's preference for men was just an act, but now it didn't seem that way.

The steward, hearing this exchange from outside the door, along with Ning Xishi's sharp gasp, couldn't help but recall that after Strategist Qiu's investigation yesterday, he had reported that Second Young Master Ning had a lover stashed at the Imperial Academy, named Biniang.

The reason they hadn't found out before was simple—it was the Imperial Academy, the place where the empire's scholars studied. How could it be defiled?

Moreover, the Academy had many female instructors who strictly supervised students' private lives. If anyone was caught bringing a woman into the Academy, they'd be immediately expelled, and censors would impeach their fathers.

So, to stay at the Academy and protect their fathers' reputations at court, even sons of prime ministers had to behave and study hard.

Who would've thought this Ning Xishi would be this bold?

Steward Li couldn't help but recall how, when Qiu Changyu brought back this news yesterday, the general hadn't believed it outright but instead asked, "Are you sure?"

Qiu Changyu said firmly, "Absolutely true."

Whether the general ultimately believed it or not, Li Yuan certainly did. Otherwise, how else could one explain Second Young Master Ning's blatant disrespect toward the general in broad daylight?

Now seeing Second Young Master Ning asking again if there were any women in the residence, Li Yuan immediately thought of the several female cooks he was about to hire and decided on the spot to replace them all with male cooks—not a single woman would set foot in the general's residence.

After Ning Xishi finished dressing, Li Yuan walked him out the gate. Yesterday, he had been furious and had been practically dragged along by Li Yuan, so he hadn't really memorized the route. Today, walking it again, he got a rough sense of the layout of the various courtyards in the general's residence.

When they reached the front gate, Li Yuan gave a respectful bow and said, "The general is already waiting for you in the carriage, young master. Please step in."

Ning Xishi looked behind the carriage and saw only one vehicle. He was still thinking about how Xie Jingxing had forcefully shoved him away yesterday—not that he was afraid, but he felt they would only annoy each other, and he'd rather not be stuck in such a small space with him.

But the steward kept urging him, and Ning Xishi, mindful of the plot he needed to follow at the palace, ultimately steeled himself and climbed into the carriage.

Xie Jingxing was already sitting upright inside, his wheelchair placed off to the side. As Ning Xishi lifted the curtain and entered, he noticed a slight sheen of sweat on Xie Jingxing's forehead.

Ning Xishi was puzzled. Though it was indeed hot in August, it was still early, and sitting in the carriage, why was he sweating? He himself hadn't broken a sweat on the walk over.

Ning Xishi sat down on the opposite side of the carriage from Xie Jingxing, sitting as far from him as the carriage's diagonal would allow—the maximum distance he could maintain.

Xie Jingxing glanced at Ning Xishi but said nothing, just murmured, "Let's go."

The driver acknowledged and immediately snapped the whip.

As the carriage lurched forward, Ning Xishi suddenly felt hungry. He had woken up and gone straight to washing and dressing, then been hustled into the carriage, completely forgetting he hadn't eaten.

Just as he raised a hand to press against his stomach, Xie Jingxing, who had his eyes closed, seemed to notice and spoke: "There's food in the compartment on your right."

Ning Xishi had indeed smelled the steamed pastries. He glanced over at the compartment on the right and realized that to reach it, he'd have to sit across from Xie Jingxing.

And Xie Jingxing's legs were long. Ning Xishi felt that if he sat over there, he'd inevitably brush against them, and he feared the man might react on reflex and toss him out of the carriage.

Ning Xishi said, "Never mind, I'm not hungry."

Xie Jingxing's tone was no longer as friendly, turning cold: "Suit yourself."

He had wanted to apologize for yesterday's incident, but with Ning Xishi's attitude, he didn't know how to broach it. Out of sight, out of mind.

The moment the words left his mouth, Ning Xishi immediately regretted it, because he truly was hungry.

He was used to talking back when spoken to—after all, a spoiled young master wouldn't just obey. Those familiar with him knew that gentle persuasion would get him to soften a little even when he was angry.

Unexpectedly, Xie Jingxing had a temper too. Ning Xishi, shot down, grew even angrier and knocked twice on the carriage door: "I want to get off."

The driver was taken aback: "Young Master Ning?"

Xie Jingxing opened his eyes and looked at Ning Xishi, with a cold look: "What do you want to do?"

Ning Xishi: "Buy buns!"

He jutted his chin out: "What, do you want some?"

They happened to be passing by the Vermilion Sparrow Avenue outside the Imperial Academy, and the buns from the stall at the alley entrance were Ning Xishi's favorite—soft and fluffy skin, plenty of tasty filling. He could eat four in one sitting.

Xie Jingxing gave a cold snort: "I've already eaten."

Ning Xishi said "Oh," then lifted the curtain and jumped down from the carriage. Just then the sun emerged, casting a golden light on the fluttering hem of Ning Xishi's robe. The youth moved with the grace of a lark in flight, and Xie Jingxing felt his heart skip a beat.

He thought to himself: "I assumed he was just a good-for-nothing wastrel, but even though he can't fight, his movements are quite graceful."

There was something uniquely carefree and agile about him.

In no time, Ning Xishi was knocking on the carriage again. Before Xie Jingxing could respond, the muffled voice of Second Young Master Ning came through the curtain: "General Xie, could I borrow some money?"

Xie Jingxing: "..."

Then Xie Jingxing saw a slender, elegant right hand reach through the curtain, pale palm, wrist wrapped in a red cord strung with a beautiful gilt rabbit.

Oh, right—Second Young Master Ning was born in the Year of the Rabbit.

The red cord made Ning Xishi's wrist look even slimmer, the wrist bone slightly prominent, quite elegant.

Perhaps because Xie Jingxing made no move, the hand gave a little pleading wave in the air.

Yes, in Xie Jingxing's eyes, it was a coaxing gesture.

Xie Jingxing dropped a small piece of gold into his palm.

Ning Xishi snatched it back immediately, withdrawing his arm without a second thought.

Xie Jingxing's gaze followed, but only saw the curtain fall back into place, and felt an odd emptiness.

Then he heard Ning Xishi's annoyed voice: "General Xie, does your household buy buns with gold?"

Xie Jingxing hadn't actually noticed it was gold. Seeing that hand, he had already held back and only given a small piece, rather than handing over the jade in the carriage.

The driver couldn't take it anymore and said, "Young master, I have copper coins on me. Please use mine."

Ning Xishi took the copper coins, threw the gold back to the driver, bought his buns, and reboarded the carriage.

After the earlier money-borrowing episode, Ning Xishi didn't snap at Xie Jingxing this time, and they arrived at the palace gate without incident.

Quite a few officials waiting for the morning audience were already gathered outside. Seeing the general's carriage stop, they moved aside, and watched as the attendants brought down the wheelchair and helped the general into it.

The whole thing was hardly graceful.

After all, unable to move his legs and having to descend from the carriage in front of everyone—how could one look elegant?

Ning Xishi watched the entire scene and suddenly understood what the original novel meant by "forced to appear in public, deeply resentful." It was just that this should have been General Xie's situation.

As a spoiled young master, he'd been gawked at like a monkey in a zoo plenty of times; one more wouldn't matter.

Before the attendant could step forward to push the wheelchair, Ning Xishi stepped forward and stood behind Xie Jingxing, saying, "General, I'm not familiar with the palace roads. You point the way, and I'll push you."

The faint scent of soap on the young man drifted to his nose, and Xie Jingxing couldn't help but think of the youth's slender wrist bound with the red cord, his pale palm, long fingers, and nails that were round and shiny like shells.

That same hand was now pushing his wheelchair.

For some reason, Xie Jingxing felt as if his heart had been stuffed full of cotton, blocking everything up.

He suddenly felt a strong urge to apologize.

The wheelchair rolled along the palace path Xie Jingxing had walked countless times. When they reached the entrance of the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace, the lead eunuch looked at the high threshold and hesitated.

The head eunuch of Cining Palace, seeing Xie Jingxing arrive, pretended to be concerned: "Oh dear, it's all this old servant's fault. Knowing the general was coming today, I should have had the threshold removed long ago. It's all my fault. You there, hurry over and take it down!"

Ning Xishi suddenly said, "No need, I'll carry the General in."

He added, "There are steps beyond the threshold, so even if it were removed, it wouldn't help, would it, Chief Eunuch?"

Seeing this, the chief eunuch panicked for a moment before quickly forcing a smile and saying, "The lady makes a valid point."

Ning Xishi's eyes bulged with fury at being called 'lady,' and only then did he realize that the servants of the General's mansion had been calling him 'Young Master Ning,' surely at Xie Jingxing's instruction.

Well, he'd just let yesterday's business go and call it even.

Though Ning Xishi was quite displeased with the title 'lady,' he was in the palace, and even as a spoiled playboy, he knew better than to act out—if he dared to cause trouble, any random person could squash him like a bug.

Ning Xishi carried Xie Jingxing all the way into Cining Palace, helped him get seated, and even reached up to tidy his disheveled hair.

Xie Jingxing even held his breath; Ning Xishi's demeanor today was noticeably more intimate than yesterday, yet he didn't feel the slightest urge to make him stop.

After they had sat for a long while, the Empress Dowager's senior lady-in-waiting came over and said apologetically, "Her Majesty is feeling unwell today, so the new wife's tea ceremony is skipped. She said there are two newly arrived elk in the rear garden with beautiful antlers. If the General and the lady don't mind, you may go take a look before returning."

Ning Xishi finally let out a sigh of relief; he really couldn't bring himself to kneel and serve tea to his mother-in-law.

Though his mother had reminded him about it, hearing about it was one thing, and doing it was another.

Today, the Empress Dowager didn't want to come see her irksome male daughter-in-law, which spared him the hassle, and his steps were noticeably brisker as he carried Xie Jingxing out.

Xie Jingxing suddenly spoke up, "The Empress Dowager is very kind."

Ning Xishi sensed it and replied, "Indeed, a very kind person."

Though he could still read a hint of bias against him as a male daughter-in-law in her words, she likely knew he was forced into this, and even the palace attendants treated him decently.

Seeming to sense that Ning Xishi's resistance toward the Empress Dowager had eased since they arrived, Xie Jingxing's mood lifted slightly, and he asked, "Back to the mansion, or go see the elk?"

Ning Xishi's keen eyes spotted a small white cat perched on a tree branch, watching him with eyes the color of a clear blue lake.

Its build and looks were all too familiar, and Ning Xishi quickly called out, "Biniang!"