Chapter 12: A Dog In Her Own House

Yan Chiyun was inquiring this thoroughly?

Why did he think she and Cheng Wenque were old acquaintances?

Could it be that he had noticed her staring at Cheng Wenque a little too long at the homecoming banquet?

When he asked this question, Yan Chiyun kept his eyes fixed on her, observing her expression.

The woman in his arms first looked puzzled.

Then realization dawned.

She shook her head and explained to him that they were not old acquaintances.

“It’s just that he resembles someone.”

“Who?” Yan Chiyun pressed.

Brief as the moment was, Pu Jinyu had already found an excuse in her heart.

She spoke concisely.

Some time ago, she had gone out with her mother to worship at the temple.

On the road, they had chanced upon an emaciated old woman searching for her kin.

The old woman was looking for her lost son and had a young daughter with her.

The little girl bore a certain resemblance to Cheng Wenque.

That was why she had been momentarily dazed when she first saw Cheng Wenque at the homecoming banquet.

“Searching for kin?” Yan Chiyun’s brow furrowed slightly.

Pu Jinyu nodded.

“Mother even sent people to help look for him at the time.

But it was like a stone dropped into the ocean—no trace ever found.”

“Since Master Cheng is younger brother-in-law’s friend, he naturally cannot be the son that old woman was seeking.”

Cheng Wenque was not her adopted brother.

He merely resembled him in appearance.

Their temperaments were entirely different.

Though this matter of searching for kin was somewhat coincidental, it was not impossible.

Yan Chiyun recalled the expression on her face that day as she gazed intently at Cheng Wenque.

For a moment, he could not articulate what felt amiss.

Yet he sensed it was not so simple.

If it were merely about the son of some old woman searching for her kin, why would she look at a complete stranger with such an expression?

So lost in thought she had gone utterly still.

But one could not rely solely on intuition.

Having presided over the Northern Bastille, having investigated so many cases, he understood well the importance of evidence.

Beyond this, there was something more significant.

He and Pu Wange had been married for over three years now.

Their life together had proceeded smoothly.

She had no reason to deceive him.

Perhaps there was reason.

But still—every person was entitled to their own secrets.

Whether or not she truly knew Cheng Wenque, these were matters of the past.

To dig and pry and refuse to let go served no purpose.

“I see.”

He let the matter drop.

He held her close, his fingertip tracing the smooth curve of her shoulder.

Though reason urged him to set it aside as he always did, between one thought and the next, some faint displeasure rippled through him.

He suppressed it silently, digested it alone.

Yan Chiyun had grasped her meaning from merely a few words and helped her “remove” Jing Chun.

As for whether Cheng Wenque was her old acquaintance, he might still harbour doubts.

But none of that mattered.

Pu Jinyu was certain he would not continue digging.

The lingering warmth of their intimate passion had not yet faded.

She was not immersed in it.

Surely Yan Chiyun was the same.

Having lived one lifetime already, no one understood better than she.

This man who shared her bed in name only was, in truth, profoundly cold-hearted.

He would not care.

All he required was a perfunctory explanation from her, something to serve as a formality.

After all, who knew who else might have noticed at the homecoming banquet?

Should others ask, at least there would be something to offer them.

The two held each other in silence.

After a moment, he lifted her in his arms and rose.

***

Hearing the summons from within, Jing Chun rushed forward as usual, vying to attend to Pu Jinyu.

Yan Chiyun regarded her for a moment.

His look made Jing Chun’s skin prickle with unease.

In the end, he said nothing.

Yet Jing Chun did not permit herself a single relieved breath.

While bathing Pu Jinyu, she asked if something had happened.

Why had Yan Chiyun looked at her so strangely?

The young woman soaking in the tub had washed away the smeared rouge and powder from her face.

Her original features emerged—exquisite, bewitchingly beautiful.

Especially the corners of her eyes, which radiated a languid allure.

She was captivating beyond measure.

Even Jing Chun could not help but steal several glances.

Yet the young woman remained silent.

As though she had not heard the question at all.

Jing Chun recalled the look in Yan Chiyun’s eyes and could not set her mind at ease.

She ventured to raise her voice, asking if Pu Jinyu knew what was wrong.

Pu Jinyu lifted her damp lashes halfway.

“You are afraid?”

Meeting her tranquil, deep-set eyes, Jing Chun’s anxiety redoubled.

“Miss, whatever are you saying?

What would this servant be afraid of?”

“If you have done nothing to trouble your conscience, why are you perpetually so cautious?”

Her words were veiled, indistinct.

Yet they struck Jing Chun like a thunderclap.

She clutched her cloth until her fingers cramped.

A thought surfaced in her mind.

The third young lady likely knows something.

What exactly, she could not guess.

Pu Jinyu paid her no further heed.

She closed her eyes.

Jing Chun swallowed her trepidation and continued with her bath and toilette.

Yan Chiyun finished bathing more quickly than Pu Jinyu.

Jing Chun saw that he had already retired to the bed.

She escorted Pu Jinyu into the inner chamber but did not approach the bedside before withdrawing.

Pu Jinyu lay down in her usual place.

But before long, she shifted, inching toward Yan Chiyun.

He had sensed her approach the moment she drew near.

He thought she merely wished to turn toward him as she slept, or perhaps find a more comfortable position.

He had not expected her to come to him.

She burrowed into his arms.

Just as she had before their bath.

She wrapped her arms around his waist.

Carefully, she inched upward.

Was she trying to bury her face against his neck?

Yan Chiyun lifted his gaze to look at her.

Pu Jinyu met his eyes.

She looked straight at him.

Before him, her face was freshly made-up.

She looked at him.

It was as though she was silently asking, with those beautiful eyes of hers, whether she might sleep in his arms as before.

Yan Chiyun regarded her for a long moment.

His expression was calm, as always.

Yet he raised his hand to her cheek.

His thumb traced the curve of her eye.

Out of instinctive defensiveness, Pu Jinyu closed her eyes.

Yan Chiyun looked at her carefully adorned face.

He pressed lightly upon her eyelid.

Stroked her long, dense lashes.

He could not help but wonder—what did Pu Wange look like without rouge and powder?

She was very docile, permitting his touch.

He lowered his head and kissed her eyelid.

The warmth of his breath descended, brushing against her.

Pu Jinyu paused briefly.

“…”

The man withdrew as soon as he had touched her.

He drew her waist closer.

His large palm pressed her head against his neck.

His deep, resonant voice came from above.

“Rest now.”

Pu Jinyu lifted her eyes slightly.

After a moment, she slowly let them close.

***

Truly, yesterday had left her too weary, her waist aching.

Rarely, she slept soundly the next morning.

When she woke, Yan Chiyun was gone.

Jing Chun was gone as well.

The newly assigned maidservant was called Si Yan.

She worked swiftly and deftly and even knew some martial arts.

Pu Jinyu went to attend Lady Yan and General Yan during their morning meal.

Lady Yan noticed her maidservant had been replaced and asked about it in passing.

Pu Jinyu explained that someone in Jing Chun’s family had fallen ill.

An urgent letter had arrived, and she had released the maidservant that very morning.

“Is this the one Yun ge’er selected for you?” Lady Yan inquired further.

Pu Jinyu smiled and said it was.

“Mm.”

Seeing the young couple drawing closer, having requested bathwater several times the previous night, Lady Yan was pleased with this development.

After the meal, Pu Jinyu expressed a wish to visit her family home.

Lady Yan asked what the occasion was.

Pu Jinyu fabricated a casual excuse.

Lady Yan did not impede her.

***

Recalling the events of her previous life, Pu Jinyu’s emotions churned violently during the journey.

Primarily, disgust.

For soon she would have to see her mother again.

Her most beloved mother.

The mother who had deceived her for an entire lifetime, used her with absolute thoroughness.

The Pu household servants did not seem surprised by her arrival.

Madam Pu had long been waiting.

The moment Pu Jinyu entered the main hall to pay her respects, a slap came flying toward her.

The force was tremendous.

Though she strained to steady herself, the blow still knocked her askew.

Half her face trembled, instantly blooming with vivid red marks.

The corner of her lip split.

“Madam, whatever you have to say, why not speak it properly with the eldest young lady?

You absolutely must not resort to violence!”

The old matron tried to soothe Madam Pu.

Her eyes signaled: if Pu Jinyu’s face were ruined, the consequences would be dire.

“I see this little wretch’s wings have hardened.

She dares send every last person I placed there back to me.

Given time, will she not fly straight up to heaven and do as she pleases?”

Pu Jinyu’s hand, pressed against her stricken cheek, concealed her downturned eyes.

Within them surged nothing but icy venom.

She rose to her knees.

Knelt before Madam Pu.

“Mother, you misunderstand your daughter.”

“And who are you to call me mother?”

Even having delivered that slap, having struck Pu Jinyu’s hair loose, having forced her docile to her knees—

Seeing her there, adorned with gold pins, draped in finery, so preciously delicate, Madam Pu’s fury blazed anew.

All of this.

Every single thing.

Should have been her Wange’s.

Yet here was this wretched creature born of a concubine, enjoying it all

If she could not even muster gratitude, if she instead dared such insolence, employing these contemptible schemes—

If Madam Pu did not teach her a lesson, the girl would truly trample upon her very face.

“Madam, perhaps there is some misunderstanding.”

The old matron poured Madam Pu a cup of tea.

Having drunk it, Madam Pu remained unsatisfied.

Her voice turned icy.

She ordered Pu Jinyu to kneel there.

“When you have decided how to account for yourself, then we shall speak.”

She regarded Pu Jinyu for a moment.

Then Madam Pu swept from the hall.

When Master Pu returned and learned that Pu Jinyu was being punished, he said nothing.

Only at dinner, glancing at Pu Jinyu still kneeling there, did he offer a perfunctory word to Madam Pu.

“Mind your measure.

Do not overstep.”

Madam Pu laughed coldly.

One single remark—”and did you mind your measure back then, Master?”—silenced him completely.

He knew that Pu Wange’s supposed death by illness, his permitting Concubine Ruan to enter the household at that very juncture, and his substitution of Pu Jinyu for Pu Wange as bride—all of this had kindled an inextinguishable rancor in Madam Pu.

She had grown somewhat unhinged.

Even knowing this, he offered no rebuttal.

The clinking of jade bowls and silver chopsticks.

The sounds of chewing and swallowing.

All drifted into Pu Jinyu’s ears.

The disgust in her heart would not dissipate.

From the moment she had stepped into this sprawling, oppressive compound, it had begun.

Now it was intensifying.

She lowered her head to look at the fine, soft cushion beneath her knees.

Having knelt so long, she could no longer feel any softness.

Only a cold, unyielding hardness, like stone.

Through the glow of candlelight, she saw her own shadow.

Crouched upon the ground like a dog.

She felt so many things pressing down upon her back.

Upon her body.

Even to move, to make the slightest sound had become an impossibility of the highest order.

Her mind flickered with countless images.

From this life.

From the life before.

But mostly from that previous life.

A revolving lantern.

Cycling endlessly.

An inexhaustible stream.

Soon, Master Pu and Madam Pu finished their evening meal.

Madam Pu ordered the candles extinguished.

Still, she paid Pu Jinyu no heed.

The young woman’s slender, supple form was framed within the open doorway.

Motionless.

The night wind stirred the loose strands at her temples.

***

The nine-linked rings case was nearing its conclusion.

Though almost finished, a new case had already arisen.

Busy as he was, Yan Chiyun returned somewhat earlier than usual tonight.

Yet he had not expected the inner chamber to be so quiet, so empty.

“The young madam has gone to her family home?”