💟 Valentine's Day Story: Accidental Interstellar Bride - 4/7💟

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She tasted every item on his plate. They both drank tea. The only thing she could think of that was different was that the Duke drank alcohol, and she didn’t. Liyanne also remembered watching the alcohol being poured into both the Duke’s cup and the cup of whoever he was drinking with.

And he had started drinking early on, too; why had none of those guests shown signs? Was it a delayed response?

She looked up as she swept her tongue across his and tried to single out any tastes she hadn’t tasted at their meal. Her hands grasped either side of his head to keep him from moving as she ran the names of spices through her head. Star Anise. Ginger. Salt. Black pepper, white pepper....

She felt his mouth seal over hers as he leaned forward and plunged his own tongue into her mouth. Liyanne’s eyes widened as she drew her head back, tearing her lips off his.

His flushed face and glistening eyes looked up at her with confusion and protest. “Yanyan....”

“Shenwei, stop moving! I need to find what’s causing you to heat up!” Had he no sense of urgency? What if his body was unable to regulate his temperature? He’d get heatstroke.

“Yanyan....” His breathy voice reached her ears as he leaned upwards. One rough, calloused hand cupped the side of her face as he pulled her closer and opened his mouth.

He was acting drunk, but he had been fine when he walked her to her courtyard. She never-the-less readjusted herself and continued her task. Her eyes narrowed. Spring crimson lotus root and star orchid? She ripped her head away from him and glared.

“Did you take an aphrodisiac?” Disbelief laced her voice as she looked him over. Burning skin, heart palpitations, glassy eyes.... She looked lower and settled on his midsection. Liyanne drew her lips inward. “That’s a yes.”

“Madam! I’ve brought the cold water!” She heard Steward Peng’s voice outside her house and stepped back only to feel a hand slide from her lower back over the swell of her butt.

The Duke’s eyes were looking ahead, where they were at her chest level. “Yanyan is so soft....” His hand squeezed her, and she resisted the urge to slap him.

This isn’t his fault. He’s drugged. She tried to convince herself. She grit her teeth. “I wish I could say the same for you.”

“Madam!” Steward Peng rushed into the chamber with a bucket of well water. How it wasn’t sloshing out at his speed was a miracle. He nearly skidded to a stop as he saw them. They were standing close to each other, and the Duke’s hand was on her ass.

Liyanne reached back and grabbed his wrist. She easily pulled him off her and stepped away. “Strip him and place wet cloth across his body to try to cool it. I need to make an antidote.”

Steward Peng’s eyes went wide with relief. “You know what’s wrong with the Duke?”

Liyanne scrambled to get to the antechamber where her boxes of plants had been placed. “He’s been drugged with an aphrodisiac!”

She barely heard Steward Peng’s gasp before she threw open the antechamber’s doors and rushed to her boxes. They were already open and numerous things had been taken out. She was organizing her plants and cuttings when the Duke and Steward Peng came rushing into her courtyard.

“Kundo weed, black ginger, lung moss...kundo weed, black ginger, lung moss....” She chanted the ingredients she needed to herself until she found them. She tossed them on to the table and pulled a wooden cutting board, mortar and pestle, and a small knife from the box.

She brought one of the pale lanterns to the table for more light before she began cleaning, cutting, and then mashing the ingredients together. In a rush, the best she could do was a lumpy dark-brown paste. It could be spread on a piece of bread to help the patient swallow it, as the taste left much to be desired, but they didn’t have time for that.

Liyanne grasped the heavy stone mortar and a wooden spoon. She wiped it as clean as she could get it against her top robe before returning to the bed chamber.

“How is he....” Her voice trailed off and she came to a stop. The Duke was sprawled across her bed with his limbs tied to the bed posts and his naked body layered with wet cloth.

Steward Peng was taking out another strip of cloth from the bucket when she came in. Despite the scene, he looked fearful. “His body is continuing to heat up, Madam. The wet cloth isn’t helping much.”

Liyanne shook herself out of her stupor and came forward. “The cloth is helping to stop the heat from increasing rapidly. This should cool his body down and flush the toxins out.” She held the mortar in one arm as she scraped together the paste and collected it on the spoon.

“Your Grace, the Madam has prepared an antidote,” Steward Peng said, worried. “You must eat it.”

“Yanyan,” the Duke pulled against the cloth strips tied to his wrists. His eyes moistened. “Yanyan, quickly.”

She stopped beside him and held up the spoon. “Open your mouth.” He opened his mouth at once and she put the spoon in. “Close and swallow all the contents of the spoon. Do not spit it out!”

His eyes watered and he pulled his head back as she removed the spoon. The paste was in his mouth, and he seemed to struggle to swallow it.

“Shall I get him some water?” Steward Peng asked as he watched his master’s face contort.

“Yes, the paste tastes terrible,” Liyanne said. The steward nodded and rushed out of the bedchamber once more. Liyanne let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, Shenwei. There isn’t anything I can do about the taste.”

He looked up at her with a faint look of accusation in his eyes. He swallowed hard and shut his eyes. The paste would take effect soon, but the taste likely brought him out of his haze. “Disgusting....”

“I know.” She placed the mortar and the spoon on the floor beside the bed as she knelt down. She raised her hand and stroked his hair back. Her eyes crinkled up. “Your hair is wet with sweat....”

“I’m sorry....” he wheezed as he looked at her.

“It’s not your fault.” She lifted her hand and brought her fingers to his neck. “Okay...your heart rate is slowing. You’ll be back to normal soon.”

The Duke closed his eyes and fell back against the bed. He seemed to be trying to get his breathing under control and Liyanne brought a damp cloth to wipe around his head and neck.

Steward Peng returned with a metal canister and poured some water into an empty teacup. “Your Grace, have a drink.”

The Duke craned his head upwards once more to drink and Steward Peng let out a breath of relief as he brought the cup to the Duke’s lips.

“He should be fine in a few hours. The paste acts quickly,” she told them. “Is it all right for him to stay the night? I can sleep in the antechamber.”

Steward Peng nodded. “Of course, it is, Madam! I will fetch a change of clothes for him.”

“Bring sheets, as well. The bed is wet from sweat and water,” Liyanne said as she untied one of the Duke’s wrists. Steward Peng nodded and retreated once more. She brought a chair from the side of the room closer to the bed and put his arm across her lap so she could monitor his pulse. The Duke kept his eyes closed as he took even breaths. “I think it was the tea,” she said, suddenly.

The Duke let out a heavy breath as he kept his eyes closed. “Again?”

“It’s easy to mix such a thing into liquid. The taste can also be covered up.” Liyanne frowned. “They served us tea from separate pots.”

His eyes opened and he turned his head towards her. “Someone in my own home drugged me.”

“They could’ve been paid to do it by anyone,” she said. “There were plenty of women eyeing you.”

“You noticed?”

“It was difficult not to,” she said, looking at his hand. She frowned. “It’ll be difficult to find out who drugged you, as well.”

He frowned and closed his eyes. “Leave that to me. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”

“All right.”

“Can you do me a favor first?”

“Sure.”

“Untie me.”

Both of them looked at the cloth at his ankles and then at his remaining wrist. Liyanne avoided his gaze. “In a bit. I don’t want you to make any sudden moves until all the toxins are removed.”

He narrowed his eyes and gave her an annoyed look. “What do you think I’m going to do to you?”

She looked at him incredulously. “Did you forget you grabbed me?”

His eyes moved to her chest and then looked to the side. She caught the corner of his lip curl up. “Soft.”

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Li Yan was correct in that it was difficult to find out who would have put the aphrodisiac in his tea. The teapot had passed several hands and it was identical to all the others. It was impossible to be fair and punish a single person, or even those who may have come in contact with a particular teapot.

Shenwei fell back on something his commanders used to do. If the involved parties did not step forward, then everyone would be punished.

Deducted pay, half as many meals, and finally, the decision to replace anyone who Shenwei didn’t personally vet at some point. Panic swept through the estate and servants were blaming other servants in a desperate attempt to remain. It didn’t help them.

Shenli was desperately looking into new servants to fill vacant positions at once, then brought them individually to Shenwei to look over. Then, three days after the incident, twenty-five people were gone one morning. The next day, twenty-five new people arrived.

“Elder Brother, there was a rumor that no one had seen or heard from the twenty-five people who ‘left’ since we sent them away,” Shenli said, sounding worried. “Should we try to quell this rumor?”

“No,” Shenwei said as he flipped over some folded sheets of paper. “Let them be afraid. I will not accept traitors in this estate, Shenli. If they dare take a bribe against me, then they should consider it merciful that I allowed them to live.”

Shenli shut his eyes and scowled, looking on the verge of tears. “I should’ve been more careful at the banquet. I should’ve posted more guards.”

“Shenli, how much experience do you have throwing banquets?” Shenwei said as he looked up towards his brother.

Shenli furrowed his brows and thought. “Father’s steward always planned them.”

“Then, our answer is none.” He watched his brother’s face redden. “Shenli, everyone makes mistakes, especially when they are doing something for the first time.”

“But my mistake became a problem for you!” Shenli said. “What if you didn’t see Elder Sister-in-law? What if some other woman found you before then?”

His brother was doing his nervous gesture: pacing back and forth while pulling at his fingers. He looked ready to cry once more.

“Shenli, let this be a learning experience for you. Don’t worry yourself over events that never happened. I went to Yanyan, and she took care of me.”

Shenli’s cheeks blushed furiously, and he looked away. “It...it is good that you and Elder Sister-in-law have a good relationship.”

Shenwei nodded. “Consider this banquet behind us, but stay alert. Our Uncles want more say in the family and they think that having someone whisper in our ears at night will give it to them.”

A look of determination appeared on his brother’s face. Shenli’s eyes narrowed as his lips tightened into a line. “They’ve already sent their wives and daughters to encourage Sun Mei to accept a concubine for me.” His hands turned into fists at his sides. “Like Father, I don’t plan to take any other woman. I only want Sun Mei.”

“You wrote her so many love letters, I can tell,” Shenwei said with a grin. His brother flushed once more and looked away. “You must be firm with our relatives, Shenli. Not only for you, but for Sun Mei and the boys.”

“But you are here now, Elder Brother,” Shenli said with a relieved breath. “They are more likely to listen to you than to me.”

“Not by much. And what if I am called to the border again?” Shenwei said. “I will need you to be a steady hand and maintain the estate.”

Obediently, his brother nodded. “I will try, Elder Brother.”

He bowed and stepped out of the office.

Shenwei returned to his work. He was almost caught up in the financial review of the estate. In a few days, he would attend court to give greetings to the Emperor and take part in the court. He was not looking forward to it. He’d used the excuse of mourning and reviewing the state of his household to avoid meeting with others the last few days.

It wouldn’t last and eventually, he’d have to meet political and social peers who were curious about his time at the border and his wife. The thought of having to deal with them tired him and he called for Steward Peng to bring him something to drink.

The short steward arrived quickly and, seeing the exhausted look on Shenwei’s face, began to speak of Li Yan.

“The mulberry trees have been selected for their height and health, Your Grace. Master Tang inspected them himself before they were dug up to be brought to the Madam’s courtyard,” Steward Peng told him as he placed the cup of water beside Shenwei.

Shenwei lifted his head from his desk and looked towards the partially open doors of his office. His eyes narrowed.

“Did she like them?” he asked in a quiet voice.

Steward Peng seemed to smile as he nodded. “Yes, Your Grace. The Madam was incredibly pleased. She’d had them planted in the open space next to the pond. It will be a simple matter for her to collect leaves for her silkworms.”

“And when do they arrive?” Shenwei asked, glancing towards him.

“In three days. The small storage room in the Madam’s courtyard has been cleaned and the racks and baskets to hold her silkworms are ready. She has also asked to have some panels made for when they cocoon themselves.”

Shenwei gave a wave of his hand. “Give her whatever she wants,” he said without a second thought.

Steward Peng gave him a bow. He took a step back, about to leave. “Your Grace, another invitation has arrived inviting the Madam.”

Shenwei frowned. As soon as the day after they returned, invitations from various matrons and maidens in the capital to attend a garden party or have tea were sent to Li Yan. Shenwei had rejected all of them.

“Li Yan has no interest in those things. She only wants to raise silkworms.” He looked back at the papers he was reviewing. “Decline.”

Steward Peng was still. “It is from Princess An Ting.”

Shenwei paused as his hand reached for a brush. He raised his eyes. “Why does she want to invite Li Yan?”

“It has been half a month since you returned with a new wife, Your Grace. There are many curious parties, and the Princess has made her interest in you apparent in the past....”

Shenwei closed his eyes and took a deep breath before exhaling. “It has been five years and she’s engaged to Marquess Jung’s eldest son and heir,” he said, carefully. He opened his eyes and frowned. “And I have no interest in her.”

“Regardless, Your Grace, it would be difficult for the Madam in the future if she does not attend.”

Shenwei glared at his desk. Part of him knew that, but he still didn’t want Li Yan to attend any such gatherings. Those women would eat her alive or she’d lose her temper and use her knowledge of medicinal plants for revenge. He also knew that if she was going to be his wife, she needed to join the capital’s social circles.

He lowered his hand and frowned.

However, Li Yan wasn’t really his wife. How could he forget that they had an agreement? She was there to help him ward off talk of marriage prospects until he was able to settle himself and the estate. In return, she wanted silkworms to raise, harvest, and use to make a new robe.

Afterwards.... Shenwei looked to the side with confusion. Afterwards, Li Yan had every intention of leaving.

They’d been together for roughly two months. The first month and a half, they were with each other every day for hours at a time. He felt comfortable with her, her casual speech, and her interest in medicinal plants. Since they returned, he made a point to have at least one meal with her every day.

That was more meals than he’d had with his brother, who was running all over town on errands for him.

There was really no reason for Li Yan to go to a gathering.

He frowned. Except, this was an invitation from an imperial family member, the favorite daughter of the Emperor. Rejecting the invitation was not an easy task.

When he told Li Yan a few days later, he didn’t think she’d agree.

“Then, if we have to go, we have to go.” There was reluctance in her voice, but she didn’t reject the invitation.

He looked up from their meal served inside her courtyard. As usual, Li Yan ate very little. She’d taken a few sips of soup and stopped. “Are you sure?”

“Shenwei, it’s not about me being sure,” Li Yan told him with a sigh. “I am in a position where I am all but ordered to attend the garden party.”

Despite knowing she was right; he didn’t like that she was agreeing. He frowned. “It is a ladies garden party, Yanyan. I can’t attend with you,” he told her in a strained voice. He knit his brows together in worry. “I won’t be able to help you and the women who will be there....”

“Sister-in-law has told me all she could about what to expect with such gatherings,” Li Yan said.

He tilted his head to the side. “When did she tell you?”

“She and the boys visit my courtyard as the two want to see the silkworms,” she replied. “We had tea as they watched the worms hatch.”

Shenwei made a disgusted face and looked down at his food. Without a word, he pushed it forward, his appetite gone. “And she told you about the gatherings?”

“She thinks I will be harassed because of my background and because my husband is Duke Zhang.” Li Yan looked out the window. “Steward Peng warned me. I’m also expecting it.”

“Yanyan, I don’t want to let you go. I know how they can be,” he said. He lowered his head. “I’m sorry for putting you in this position.”

“When we made the agreement, this sort of thing was already implied,” she said as she reached across the table and gently pushed him back up. He met her eyes hesitantly. “You have been good on your word, from the silkworms to the trees to declining invitations for me and I appreciate it.”

“The ladies who will be present represent some of the most influential families in the capital,” Shenwei said in a low voice. “They could make your life difficult.”

“My life here won’t be for long.” Li Yan chuckled. He lowered his eyes. He knew that, but when she said it, he couldn’t help but feel discomfort.

“It is next month,” Shenwei said. “I will come with you to drop you off and pick you up.”

“Is that necessary?” she asked with a raised brow. He nodded.

“I want them to know that you are important to me.”

She laughed and smiled, making his heart quicken. “Then, if you insist. Let’s continue with the show.”

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He looked more nervous than her and Liyanne almost wanted to laugh. She looked across the carriage as he sat tense in his seat, his eyes darting towards the windows as his hands seem unable to settle. Their carriage was lined up in front of the gates of Princess An Ting’s estate, behind three others.

One or two women and their maids stepped out of each of the carriages and were escorted through the gates and into the estate. Liyanne looked around the carriage. She didn’t have any servants with her, just the Duke, who wasn’t attending.

“It’s not too late to leave. You can tell them that you suddenly became ill,” he said, looking towards her with encouraging eyes. Liyanne raised a brow.

“There isn’t much they can do to me that will matter,” she said. “Socially, I won’t be here for long and I have no interest. Whether they like me or not doesn’t change the fact that I’m your consort. And I’m not so weak as to lose in a fight with aristocratic women.”

He seemed to pale even more. “You think you’re going to fight them?”

“I’ve considered the many things that could happen,” she said. She sighed. “Shenwei, it’ll be fine. I’m not going to do anything to embarrass you or the Zhang family, aside from how much my existence embarrasses you now.”

“You don’t embarrass me,” he said with a firm frown. “You’re strange and rude, but not embarrassing.”

She squinted her eyes at him. “Thank you?”

“Madam, we have arrived!” Steward Peng called from outside and the Duke rushed to get out before her. He seemed to want to show that they were close by escorting her off the carriage and for the most part, it seemed to work.

As soon as Liyanne stepped down, holding his hand, she could see several eyes look at her with envy. Being ‘married’ to a handsome man was troublesome. What more being ‘married’ to a handsome, wealthy, and noble man?

“Yanyan, I will pick you up when it is over.” The Duke took the hand he was holding and cupped it in his before holding it over his heart. He gave her hand a squeeze while giving her a beseeching look.

She wasn’t sure if he was silently asking her to behave or to come home.

She pulled her hand away and smiled before giving him a bow. “I will return soon, Your Grace.”

She stood up straight and turned around, making a point to get her robes to swirl around her. One of the few things she actually liked about the dresses of well-to-do women in this field location was how they moved like water around her. Today, she wore the most elaborate the silk robes she owned; rich, dyed blue with gold embroidery over drapey white fabric.

The Duke had someone do her hair and there were new, shiny, and stone accented metal hair pins in her hair. She had new jewelry, which Steward Peng had carefully selected to go with her clothes. All of this was done to make her appear the part of Duke Zhang’s wife.

A servant woman bowed to her in greeting and then led her through the estate, passing beautiful pavilions, manicured gardens, and small ornamental ponds with bright orange fish. The garden party seemed to be in the inner part of the estate, past the main courtyards and in a sprawling outdoor area that was backed by a small forest that looked too pristine to be natural.

Liyanne looked around at the two dozen or so matrons and maids mingling with each other as they walked around the gravel lined paths winding around a large pond with a red bridge over it. There was a small pavilion that stretched out into the water, and seated at the center, in the far end, was a young woman in the most elaborate set of robes Liyanne had seen.

The servant brought her to the steps of the pavilion and rushed to whisper to another servant. That woman gracefully slipped into the pavilion to whisper to the young woman in the elaborate robes.

In an instant, the young woman had sat up and the women around her seemed to realize something was happening. Liyanne bowed the way Steward Peng instructed.

“You are Duke Zhang’s new consort,” the young woman said. Her eyes went up and down Liyanne’s body. “I am Princess An Ting.” Physically, she would’ve been in her late teens, perhaps early twenties at most, though Liyanne thought they married rather young.

Then again, she was over three centuries old and for many people her age in Pleiades, marriage was at least another hundred or so years away.

Liyanne did not rise. “Greetings to Her Highness Princess An Ting. I am Li Yan, consort of Duke Zhang. Thank you for inviting me today.”

“Rise and let me see your face,” the princess said. Liyanne stood up straight and met the irritated, if not outrightly disgusted, faces of the women in front of her. The princess waved her hand dismissively. “Well...that’s a disappointment.”

There were a few chuckles and Liyanne smiled pleasantly. Haha...but my husband doesn’t seem to think so.

“You may look around, admire the flowers, and speak to the other guests,” the Princess told her with a proud look. “Tea will be served soon.”

Liyanne gave her a respectful bow and turned around. She didn’t make it two steps before she heard them talking about how common she looked, how rustic her clothes were, and how she was an overall embarrassment to the Duke’s household. The only positive things Liyanne heard were that she made her sister-in-law look better.

Sun Mei hated attending these things, having been bullied at them in the past. Before Liyanne left, Sun Mei expressly told her never to go anywhere alone or be led somewhere alone. “Always stay with the group or where the group can see you. If they single you out, they may be plotting something.”

Liyanne took a deep breath and decided to spend her time looking at the plants in the garden. Ornamental plants were everywhere and though a few had some helpful properties, they weren’t anything too special. Still, they were interesting to look at until she could go home, wait for the moon to come out, and then harvest leaves for her worms.

She knelt down by the water’s edge to look at the lotus floating and felt something try to push her forward. A small pair of hands and that much stretch didn’t do much and she swayed a bit. She glanced over her shoulder and saw another young woman look away while three other girls with her pretended nothing was wrong.

Liyanne weighed her options faster than the other girl could step back. She could spend the entire afternoon being harassed by a bunch of spoiled rich girls or she could come up with an excuse to leave.

Well, thanks for the opening. Liyanne purposely swayed forward and let out a scream. As soon as she saw heads turn in her direction, she grabbed on to the girl who tried to push her into the water. Liyanne leaned back and fell into the lake, but not before dragging the other girl into the water with her.

Dragging perhaps wasn’t the best description. Liyanne had grabbed the bulkiest part of the girls’ robes and threw her into the lake as she fell back.

The garden descended into chaos as Liyanne purposely held the girl down in the guise of struggling, all while wondering to herself if this would embarrass the Duke.

She broke the surface and released the other girl. Liyanne continued to thrash her arms around in an exaggerated manner as she crawled her way on to shore, pretending to cough up water, and panting. She whirled around with a look of anger on her face as servants pulled the other girl out.

The other girl was legitimately coughing up water. She was shaking, pale, and drenched. Several people rushed over to see what the commotion was about and Liyanne moved quickly.

“What is wrong with you!?” she yelled at the girl still on her hands and knees, choking water. “How dare you push me into the lake! Do you know who I am? I am Duke Zhang’s wife! Tell me your name! Quickly! What family are you from? When my husband finds out about this, he will not be pleased!”

She’d blame them before she could be blamed. Besides, whoever cried foul first threw out the accusation and the other party would need to defend themselves. The crowd that gathered looked speechless.

The girl was pale and shook her head as she looked up with red eyes. “I didn’t push you-”

“Then how did I fall into the lake?”

“We saw you!” One of the girls who were with the one she pulled into the lake defended her friend. “You fell in on your own!”

“Who would purposely fall into a lake? And we are supposed to believe you? I saw you with this wretched creature! You were right behind her when she pushed me. I bet you were encouraging her.” Liyanne dramatically pointed her finger at the girl, not caring if it was rude. She was a bumpkin according to these people anyway. “Accomplice! What is your name? I will report you to my husband, as well!”

“Madam Zhang, that is enough!” an older woman rushed forward and seemed to shield the girls from her. “This was an accident-”

“An accident?” Liyanne narrowed her eyes. “Then why did she push me?”

“I didn’t! I wasn’t anywhere near her!”

Liyanne stomped past them, towards the area where they had been standing. She looked down and sneered. “These footprints on the soft ground say otherwise.” She narrowed her eyes. “If you’re in doubt, we should raise an issue and have this investigated. Someone call for my husband-”

“Madam Zhang, I’m sure it was an accident. Miss Sheng must’ve lost her balance when she was by the lake. It is a bit sloping, after all.” The Princess’ smooth voice cut in to stop Liyanne’s dramatics. “Didn’t you, Miss Sheng?”

She looked at Miss Sheng, who was just getting on her feet and shivering, with sharp eyes. Miss Sheng hesitated, but nodded her head. “Yes...yes, I lost my balance and must’ve accidentally pushed Madam Zhang.”

“There, see? It was all a misunderstanding,” the Princess said. A servant was standing beside her, holding up an umbrella. “Wang Zhen, take Miss Sheng to change clothes. Wang Tung, take Madam Zhang to change, as well.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness; however, I have sensitive skin. Anything other than specially dyed silks and I will start to itch,” Liyanne said. “I am afraid I will need to take my leave for today.”

Her announcement surprised the crowd once more and since she had given them a rather firm reason, they didn’t have much of an excuse to hold her back. The Princess seemed to frown a bit.

“Is that so? That must be so troublesome for you,” she said. She gave a nod to one of her servants. “Escort Madam Zhang back to the gate and send someone to call for someone from the Zhang estate to pick her up.”

The servant bowed her head and scrambled to Liyanne. “Madam Zhang, please follow me.”

Liyanne gave the Princess another respectful bow and then followed the servant. As soon as they were far enough from the garden, Liyanne quickened her pace. She watched the servant in front of her take a left turn when they were supposed to take a right.

Liyanne didn’t say a word and turned right. She passed the ornamental pond with the orange fish when she heard the servant call for her, having finally realized she wasn’t following. Liyanne kept walking as if she didn’t hear her.

“Madam! You’re going the wrong way!”

“No, you’re just disoriented. I can understand. The commotion at the garden must’ve been very stressful for you. It’s all right,” Liyanne said in a cool voice as she took a left. She could see the gate in front of her. “See, there is the main gate.”

She heard the servant let out a heavy breath. “Madam, you must not step out as you are! It’s indecent! Come and change first.” The servant grabbed her wrist and tried to pull her back only to be pulled forward.

“It’s all right, I see my husband’s carriage outside the gate,” Liyanne said. I guess he didn’t leave yet. She continued to pull the servant forward with ease, as the servant wouldn’t release her. Liyanne raised a brow, impressed. “You’re determined. Good for you.” Still, she didn’t stop walking until she reached the gates and walked through.

Steward Peng was seated on the edge of the driver’s seat of the carriage and almost choked when he saw her. Before he could say a word, the curtain to the carriage flew to the side and the Duke nearly flew out.

“Yanyan!” His brows were creased, and he was pale.

Liyanne looked at the servant woman still clinging on to her arm. “Are you going to come home with us?” She smirked and the servant immediately released her.

“Yanyan! What happened? Why are you wet!” He shrugged off his cobalt outer robe and swept it over her shoulders.

“Someone ‘accidentally’ pushed me into the lake,” Liyanne replied, unperturbed. The Duke’s face turned into a scowl at once.

“What?”

“It was an accident.” Liyanne looked up at him and moved closer. She lowered her voice and gave him a decisive look. “I want to go home, Shenwei.”

He took a deep breath and looked back at the Princess’ manor. He narrowed his eyes and shot a glare at the servant. “Tell whoever pushed my wife to be prepared.” He put his arm around Liyanne’s shoulders and brought her back to the carriage. Once they were inside, he ordered the driver and Steward Peng to get them home immediately. As the carriage moved forward, he looked back at her. “What happened?”

“I was looking at the lotus by the lake when I felt someone try to push me forward into it. I thought that if I fell in, I could use the excuse of being wet to go back to the estate. It worked.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Did you fall in on purpose?”

She blinked at him, but didn’t answer immediately. “I may have also accidentally pulled in the girl who pushed me. Accidentally.”

He stared at her for a moment before he drew his lips in and bit them. His shoulders shook as he tried to suppress a laugh. “You didn’t have to go that far.”

She grinned. “I needed a reason to go back to the estate. I told them I had a skin sensitivity and could only wear specific silk, so I had to go back and couldn’t change into clothes at the Princess’ manor.”

The Duke raised a brow. “She offered to let you change?”

“Is that strange?”

“A bit, if you knew her like I did. Princess An Ting isn’t the most generous of the Emperor’s daughters.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. “It’s good you came out immediately.”

“Well, the servant tried to lead me elsewhere.” He frowned once more and Liyanne raised her arms to calm him. “I’m out of there now, Shenwei. That’s what’s important.”

He let out a low breath. “Do you know the name of the girl who pushed you in?”

“Miss Meng. I don’t know her given name.”

“I’ll look into it. When we get home, change. Steward Peng will have servants prepare a bath, as well.”

“Your Grace...Shenwei.” Liyanne furrowed her brows and looked towards him with downturned lips. “Will this look badly upon you?”

The corner of his lip curled up and his expression softened. “Not as badly as it already does.”

That was the best for which she could hope.

They reached the estate soon and a hot, scented bath was prepared for her quickly. Liyanne took a long bath and washed her hair to get the muddy remains out before she was done around sunset.

She carried a lantern with her to check on her silkworms in the storage room. The finger sized, white worms were quickly putting on weight and they were getting larger by the day. However, what was important was how much lunar energy their cocoons would have.

She fed them only mulberry leaves bathed in the moonlight that she collected before dawn. Now that the sun had set and the moon was out, she carried out the flat trays of hungry worms to feast beneath the moonlight.

If she could not sense enough lunar energy in their cocoons, she’d have to let them all turn into moths and try for a second generation of silkworks to use. As she laid out the last tray in the moonlight, she crouched down and looked at the little fat creatures.

“Eat quickly and grow up,” she said as she let out a tired sigh. “I want to go home.”

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It was bad enough that he had to attend court the entire day. He really didn’t want to have to go drinking afterwards, as well, however it was practically a part of his job. He needed to be social and forge relationships with his fellow courtiers. When he was gone, that fell to Shenli and now, Shenli happily let him take his place.

At that moment, his brother was likely at home, comfortably sleeping.

Shenwei was wobbling a bit as Steward Peng helped him walk through the estate to get to his courtyard. Shenwei wasn’t sure if it was because he had been drinking or if it was a combination of drinking while tired.

In the last few weeks, he’d hardly been at home. When he was, he was in his office working. When he wasn’t working, he was sleeping. Thrice, he’d fallen asleep in his office. He’d hardly had any family dinners, as he’d eat in his office or attend a dinner with his peers.

Shenli had said he needed to rest, but there was so much to do in order to assert himself as Duke Zhang and make it clear to his relatives that he was not to be trifled with. His diligence and reputation outside as a stern, serious, and somewhat ruthless man was solidifying his position, but it was exhausting.

He’d also just finished dealing with the Mengs for what their second daughter tried to do. He doubted anyone would try to pick on Li Yan again.

“You don’t have much to do tomorrow, Your Grace. There are no meetings with which you must deal. Young Master Shenli insists that you rest. He reminds you to care for yourself and think of your health so as not to overwork yourself.”

Shenwei sighed heavily. “He only says that because he doesn’t want to do my job again.”

“The Young Master has difficulty dealing with your relatives and aggressive courtiers.”

“He needs to learn.”

“I understand, Your Grace.”

They passed by a tightly closed familiar moon gate with a guard standing on either side of it. Shenwei narrowed his eyes.

He hadn’t seen Li Yan in days. The last time he did, it had been passing because she was playing jianzi with his nephews and she saw him off. He’d had no time to visit her or have a meal with her.

“Take me to Yanyan’s courtyard,” he said.

Steward Peng looked at him in surprise and seemed to hesitate before turning them around and walking back to Li Yan’s courtyard. The guards remained standing to attention and Shenwei shrugged Steward Peng off.

“Your Grace-”

“I can see her alone,” Shenwei said. He steadied himself and gave a nod to the guards. One of them stepped forward and opened the door to let him in before closing it shut behind him.

It was late, but the night was clear, and a large, full moon illuminated the wide yard. Shenwei carefully headed down the path to her house, but saw pastel robes moving before the mulberry trees by the lake. He narrowed his eyes and changed course.

The closer he got, the more he noticed white spots on the mulberry trees. First a few, then more and more, until several tree branches were almost falling at the weight of fat, white moths that could barely fly.

“I’m not disappointed in you. This isn’t your fault,” he heard Li Yan speaking calmly. He cocked his head and looked around. No one else was there. “You’re just not producing the silk I want. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take your children and try again.”

Was she speaking to the moths?

He focused on the robed figure and held his breath. She was standing by the backdrop of the pond with a full moon reflected on its rippling water. Several moths were in her hand, and a few climbed around her neat, upswept black hair.

His heart jumped. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman under the full moon. It was as if she were glowing.

“Your Grace, what are you doing here? It’s late. You should rest. Steward Peng told me you had court and dinner with peers today.” Li Yan looked towards him, and her eyes widened with surprise. She began to carefully remove the moths from her and put them on to the tree.

“Yanyan....” He wanted to touch the halo that seemed to appear around her body. “Yan-” His stomach contracted, and he felt something rush up his throat. His hand that had been reaching for her flew to his mouth as he tried to close it.

He wasn’t fast enough, and alcohol laced vomit pushed through his fingers.

Li Yan looked at him with a tired and defeated expression. “I hope you’re not drugged again.”

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