Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 44

At the same time, Yuan Zhao arrived at the Chi Residence as scheduled, becoming a personal bodyguard by Shen Tangning’s side.

This matter had already been approved by Second Madam Chi. Given the previous incident where Shen Tangning had been injured, she fully supported hiring a guard.

Shen Tangning’s back injury had mostly healed. One day, she suddenly remembered Yuan Zhao and lightly knocked on the window. In no time, his silent figure appeared before her.

He stood upright, sword in hand, serious and formal. “Master, your command?”

At first, Shen Tangning used to be startled by his sudden appearances, but by now, she had grown used to them. Resting her chin in her hand, she studied him. “Let me ask you something.”

Yuan Zhao felt his scalp tingle under her gaze and took a cautious step back. “Please ask.”

“Why were you at Princess Yunan’s residence that day?” She had been puzzled about this for a long time.

What could be in the Princess’s residence that was worth sneaking in at the risk of being discovered?

Yuan Zhao’s expression stiffened. “May I… choose not to answer?”

Shen Tangning wasn’t surprised. She calmly said, “You and I are on the same boat now. We’re grasshoppers on the same rope—what, you think I’ll harm you?”

Yuan Zhao hesitated. “That’s not what I mean… it’s just that knowing too much may not be good for you.”

Shen Tangning blinked slowly. “Don’t you realize that makes me even more curious?”

“…” In the end, Yuan Zhao was defeated by her gaze. After a moment of internal struggle, he said with a complicated look, “I was at the Princess’s residence looking for someone.”

Her eyes flickered. “Who?”

“I don’t know her name or identity,” Yuan Zhao replied with hesitation. “I only know she’s a woman, around thirty-five years old, and her appearance is damaged.”

Shen Tangning searched for her memory but found nothing. “Then at least tell me why you’re looking for her?”

“I’m not the one looking for her,” Yuan Zhao explained. “A few months ago, I took a bounty mission to investigate her whereabouts. I followed the clues all the way to the Princess’s residence. But I couldn’t find her… and almost lost my life instead.”

Shen Tangning nodded thoughtfully. A disfigured woman hiding in a Princess’s residence—now that’s a story.

She smiled slightly. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Yuan Zhao shook his head. “It’s fine if she can’t be found.”

After all, he’d already washed his hands clean of that life.

In the past, he lived on the edge, licking blood off the blade for every coin—and the money he earned wasn’t even enough to treat his wounds. Compared to those bitter days, the peaceful life in the Chi residence had him feeling more than a little regret.

——

“Your Highness, the Third Prince is here again.”

Yin Fang entered quietly and said softly to Yan Mingyi, who was kneeling on the prayer mat.

Yan Mingyi opened her eyes lazily, a trace of annoyance flashing in them. “Tell him to get lost.”

“And let him know—if he wants to do something, then do it cleanly. I helped him out this time only because of family ties. It won’t happen again!”

Yin Fang understood clearly: the Princess was disappointed in the Third Prince. She couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.

Really now sending an assassin after a young girl? What a fine prince!

Yin Fang passed on the Princess’s message. The Third Prince’s always-smiling face cracked a little. After a pause, he gave a solemn bow. “Please tell Auntie that I acted recklessly. I only meant to scare that Shen family girl a bit. I had no ill intent.”

Yin Fang didn’t respond, just smiled politely. “I will relay your words to Her Highness.”

Yan Xingzhou lowered his eyes to hide the darkness within. “If Aunt refuses to see me, then I’ll visit another day.”

And with that, he turned and left.

Back inside, hearing Yin Fang’s return, Yan Mingyi asked offhandedly, “He’s gone?”

Yin Fang nodded.

“Finally, some peace.” Yan Mingyi looked out at the bodhi tree’s lush branches and whispered, “Time passes differently in the mountains. Even after hiding in a place like this for over a decade, I still can’t escape the court’s chaos.”

Yin Fang wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

Her Highness had once been lively and carefree. She hated confinement, often riding horses on the outskirts of the capital. The late Emperor had even built her a special racecourse.

Yet now she willingly spent her days wasting away in this monastery. If His Majesty were still alive, how heartbroken would he be?

……

Captain Changqing approached. Seeing the Third Prince’s grim face, he asked, “The Princess still refuses to see Your Highness?”

Yan Xingzhou’s expression darkened. “Everything was fine until that Shen Tangning appeared. Since then, nothing’s gone right!”

Changqing couldn’t help but sigh. “That Shen girl is something. She even managed to connect with the Princess.”

Yan Xingzhou’s eyes gleamed dangerously. “I forgot—she’s my royal brother’s cousin. Technically, she’s my cousin too.”

Changqing glanced at him knowingly. “Is Your Highness thinking…?”

Yan Xingzhou curved his lips into a slow smile. “She just got married. I think it’s time I gave her a wedding gift. Let’s see if she likes it.”

Changqing lowered his gaze respectfully. “A gift from Your Highness is surely her blessing.”

A flicker of amusement crossed Yan Xingzhou’s eyes.

He did not like things that fell out of his control.

Uncertain elements? Best to eliminate them entirely.

——

It was now July. The summer heat was unbearable.

In the corner sat an ice chest, half-melted ice barely cooling the room.

Xue Qing sighed. “The ice melts so fast. If it were an ordinary household, they’d have to just suffer through summer.”

Some might dig ice from the lakes and store it underground during winter, but that took manpower—and in the South, it hardly snowed, let alone froze over.

What’s more, the second household wasn’t eligible for the court’s free ice rations. If they wanted ice, they had to buy it themselves.

But it was expensive, and hard to come by. Even though they had money, they still had to use it sparingly.

Chi Yan, dizzy from studying, straightened up. “Why buy it? Making ice isn’t even hard!”

Shen Tangning looked at him.

He lit up at anything not related to books. “You just need saltpeter to make ice! Find out where we can buy some—I’ll show you how it’s done!”

Xue Qing looked skeptical. “Young Master can really make ice?”

Chi Yan glared. “You’re judging me based on appearances, aren’t you?”

She blinked in confusion. “When did I do that?”

He clutched his chest dramatically. “You’re underestimating me!”

Shen Tangning couldn’t help but laugh.