My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 10

In the days that followed, Helan Ci no longer went out.

 

The roof had been repaired, but after several days of rain, the interior was damp, and many ancient texts in the study had begun to suffer from humidity.

 

Helan Ci could only take advantage of the sunny weather to roll up her sleeves and, together with Shuang Zhi, spread the books out one by one on the mat in the courtyard to dry. Those that had already begun to mold or had fragile pages had to be copied again.

 

After a hard day’s work, she finally finished drying them.

 

Having stretched her limbs and neck, Helan Ci returned to her room to practice her calligraphy. Just then, her brother Helan Jian rushed in like a gust of wind, beaming with joy, “Xiao Ci, are you done writing… Let me see, which one is for me?”

 

Helan Ci’s role as a scribe was not only to write articles for Helan Jian but also to write characters.

 

That was why Helan Jian had been so anxious that day.

 

Helan Ci finished writing in her hand and casually pointed to a piece of paper.

 

Helan Jian immediately cherished it as if it were a treasure, holding it close to his chest: “Xiao Ci, your handwriting is truly excellent.”

 

Helan Ci responded perfunctorily with a couple of “mm-hmms.”

 

If he hadn’t mixed up the calligraphy of Mi Fu and Zhao Mengfu last time, she might have believed he was sincere.

 

Of course, what Helan Ci didn’t know was that due to the chaos that day, the piece she wrote in public was stolen, and now it was being sold at a high price on the black market, causing even “Helan Jian’s handwriting” to rise in value.

 

“What else is there?”

 

“Here!” Helan Jian happily tucked the letter away and took out a stack of portraits, placing them in front of Helan Ci. “Dad asked me to gather some information; these are all suitable young men who are unmarried. Take a look and see if any of them catch your interest.”

 

Helan Ci raised her eyes to look at him.

 

“Why are you staring at me like that? Your brother put in a lot of effort for this!”

 

It was probably something her father wanted to see, but since Helan Jian had a request for her, he brought it to her first.

 

Helan Ci was speechless for a moment, but she still picked up the stack of papers. Under the portrait, there were names, family backgrounds, academic achievements, and some hearsay gossip, which was indeed much more serious than his studies.

 

“What do you think?”

 

A  young lady in the boudoir should have felt quite shy looking at this, but Helan Ci did not. She was very composed, like picking out vegetables, discarding the unsuitable ones first and leaving the ones that seemed fine.

 

Until——

 

A familiar name flashed before her eyes.

 

Helan Ci paused for a moment, then without hesitation, removed the portrait from the list.

 

Helan Jian picked up the fallen portrait and said, “Are you really not considering it? I thought you two were acting all mysterious, and I figured you might have some feelings for him… From what I know, he seems quite popular among the young ladies in the capital. At that last banquet, didn’t you see the fuss when he finished writing that poem? Several young ladies looked like they wanted to throw themselves into his arms…” His reasoning was quite simple and blunt, “Since others are vying for him, it must mean he’s a good catch. You should think it over.”

 

Helan Ci curled her lips and replied, “It might also attract a bunch of unnecessary troubles, only to find out it was just an overstatement.”

 

After sifting through it again, she handed it back to Helan Jian.

 

When Helan Ci returned from Qingzhou, still in her coming-of-age years, suitors and matchmakers almost trampled the threshold of the Helan residence. However, as her father’s official position rose, coupled with Helan Ci’s beauty and growing reputation, it seemed she could only be admired from afar, and no one dared to propose anymore.

 

Even though she was reluctant to marry, Helan Ci had to face reality—she needed a legitimate husband to fend off gossip and unwanted suitors.

 

Considering the potential risks, this husband at the very least had to possess good character, be intelligent, and not weak-willed; it would be even better if he had some ambition. Of course, Helan Ci also had her own selfish desires, hoping that he had no concubines before their marriage and wasn’t too outrageous.

 

After sending off Helan Jian, Helan Ci practiced her calligraphy for a while, then took a curled and yellowed page from an old book to start copying.

 

As the saying goes, a righteous heart leads to a straight pen; calligraphy has always been a way to refine one’s character.

 

Helan Ci was actually quite restless as a child, but during that time, she often fell ill and had no chance to climb up and tear down the roof. Most of the time was spent on the bed drinking medicine, and apart from reading and writing, there wasn’t much else to do. Over time, she gradually got used to it.

 

The more chaotic the heart, the more one needs to calm it.

 

After reading for a little while, she rubbed her neck and decided to take a short nap on the slightly worn chaise longue.

 

*****

 

“……As for when I will return, I truly do not know. You siblings should take care in the capital and avoid trouble. If anything happens, just seek help from aunt.”

 

It was her aunt who lightly packed her belongings and set off in a carriage to Yizhou for her appointment, her figure fading into the distance.

 

“Miss! It’s bad! Something has happened! Yiyun is in big trouble! The master… the master has been stripped of his position and imprisoned!”

 

“Xiao Ci, what should we do? I really didn’t owe that money…”

 

The tone was frantic and disordered.

 

“……It’s not that I don’t want to help, but you don’t understand the current situation. It’s truly like a clay Buddha crossing a river*, unable to protect itself.”

 

“Niece, you are still young. The ups and downs of the officialdom are common. As an elder, I advise you to seek another path.”

 

One door after another closed.

 

“Miss Helan, don’t think I’m insulting you. That gentleman, although older, sincerely wishes to take a wife. You should think it over carefully.”

 

“Miss Helan, don’t you want to clear your father’s name? This is the best opportunity. As long as you follow that gentleman, he will surely help you vindicate your father’s case in the future…”

 

“Now that Lord Helan is in this situation, shouldn’t you consider him? What if you really get implicated? Falling into the hands of the Jiaofangsi** would be worse…”

 

Faces with ill intentions crowded closer.

 

“Everything is ready. Out of respect for my mentor, I can only help here. You should leave quickly.”

 

“If you wait any longer, I’m afraid the longer the night, the more dreams one has***.”

 

In the deep of night, under the stars and moon, the wheels roll on, leaving no trace behind.

 

“…It’s this carriage! Quick, catch up!”

 

“Miss Helan, you have nowhere to escape; where do you think you can run?”

 

“Better to come with us willingly; why resist stubbornly?”

 

The night was eerily dim as she collapsed onto the bed, instinctively gripping the hairpin tightly. Her face was pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead, and her breathing was chaotic.

 

The sound of boots approached the bed step by step, fingers slowly lifting the curtain. The gaze was cold and distant, as if admiring a prized catch, and with a sneer, that person said, “Helan Ci, given this situation, do you still think there’s any room for resistance?”

 

*****

 

Helan Ci suddenly woke up, sitting up from the bed, clutching the blanket, gasping for breath, cold sweat rolling into the collar of her clothes, her fingers gripping the edge of the bed turning pale from the strain.

 

“Miss, you’re finally awake!” Shuang Zhi, who had been watching over her, quickly said.

 

Outside the window, the sky was dim, with only a faint glimmer of moonlight, a thin layer coating the cool steps in front of her. She stared blankly for a moment, suddenly realizing it was just a dream.

 

“…How long have I been asleep?” Her voice trembled slightly.

 

“Two hours,” Shuang Zhi noticed something was off, “Did you have a nightmare, Miss? Do you want… some water?”

 

As she spoke, she hurried out to pour a cup of warm tea and handed it over.

 

Helan Ci took it, but before she could drink more than a couple of sips, she choked, coughing repeatedly until it took a while for her to recover.

 

Shuang Zhi gently patted her back, saying, “Miss, please take it easy…”

 

Indeed, she was having a rough time; even drinking water could lead to choking.

 

Helan Ci rubbed her temples, feeling a splitting headache, wanting to hit her head a couple of times to ease the pain.

 

In the past two hours, she had a long and convoluted dream.

 

In the dream, her father, Helan Jin, was appointed as the governor of Yi Yun. While in office, he was falsely accused and framed. Her father came from a clean background and had the emperor’s favor, so usually, he faced no troubles. However, in the dream, the situation changed dramatically; her father was stripped of his position and taken back to the capital in chains.

 

The court was also in turmoil, with the factions of the first and second princes at odds, coinciding with the Ministry of Personnel’s six-year inspection of the capital, leaving everyone on edge.

 

Her brother Helan Jian actually didn’t know why he was in so much debt.

 

Overnight, the Helan residence was in turmoil.

 

So in her dream, she sensed something was wrong, asked her father’s old friends for help, packed her things overnight, and was about to leave the capital to return to their family hometown. However, she was intercepted by the Eastern guards on the road and locked up in a house on the outskirts of the capital.

 

When night fell, someone entered the house.

 

Then came that final scene.

 

But just when it was that critical moment she woke up! 

 

She didn’t really see what the other person looked like; she only remembered those last words, like a snake flicking its tongue.

 

This dream was incredibly vivid, every detail etched clearly in her mind, including how she sent her father out of the capital, how she received the news of his demotion and imprisonment, and how she faced the coldness of others, experiencing the warmth and chill of human relationships.

 

There was also the matchmaker who came to threaten her with her father’s situation, demanding that she give herself to a powerful man as a concubine or even a secondary wife to save her father. In the dream, she could clearly see the malicious expression on that woman’s face; it was all truly unimaginable.

 

In the end, she fled in the night but was caught and placed under house arrest. The intense feeling of being “a fish on a chopping board” was so real it sent chills down her spine.

 

As her consciousness gradually awakened, everything that had happened in the dream began to fade away.

 

Helan Ci, ignoring her headache, got out of bed and took a pen to write down the details she could still remember one by one.

 

“Miss, are you alright…” 

 

After finishing her writing and putting down the pen, Helan Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief and said to Shuang Zhi, “It’s nothing, don’t worry.” After a pause, she added, “Shuang Zhi, you go out first. I want to be alone for a while.”

 

She carefully pondered over the dream, weighing it back and forth.

 

Although dreams are mostly false, what if there’s a one in ten thousand chance that it could be real?

 

Moreover, this dream was so detailed.

 

After much contemplation, she decided to go out of the city the next day to take a look.

 

Helan Ci remembered that outside the house that trapped her, there was a peach orchard, and the plaque at the entrance read “Cangyuan.” There was also a couplet that seemed to imitate the style of Wang Huaiqi’ calligraphy, but it was just a fleeting glimpse in her dream, and she couldn’t be sure when she thought back on it later.

 

However, early the next morning, before she could even step outside, Shuang Zhi hurriedly ran in. 

 

“Miss, Miss… outside, outside, someone from the palace has come to summon you to the palace.”

 

*****

 

Helan Ci sat in the palanquin, feeling a bit puzzled.

 

Although her father held a position of the second rank and was qualified to bring his family into the palace for feasts, Helan Ci had never been invited once. Moreover, she was neither a madam of the household nor did she have relatives in the harem, making her summons even more strange.

 

A eunuch outside the palanquin whispered, “Miss Helan, there’s no need to worry; this is a joyous occasion.”

 

Helan Ci forced a smile but remained silent.

 

After a dream last night, she had an ominous feeling as if a storm was approaching.

 

When the palanquin reached outside the imperial city, she had to get out and change to walking.

 

The sun rose in the east, the morning light was soft, and the sky was not yet fully bright. The palace gate was already ablaze with lights.

 

Red lanterns hung from the city tower, and flickering wind lanterns were seen everywhere. The sounds of carriages and palanquins echoed continuously, and it seemed that the morning dew’s dampness still lingered in the air.

 

Helan Ci stepped down from the palanquin and saw a large group of scholars dressed in the official robes of the Jinshi standing outside the palace gate. They wore black hats adorned with emerald leaves and velvet flowers, their wings extending to the sides, with ribbons fluttering. The deep blue silk robes had long sleeves that billowed in the wind, each of them appearing like elegant trees swaying in the breeze.

 

It was then that she remembered the palace examination had concluded, and it seemed her father had gone to the palace for this early in the morning.

 

Helan Ci subconsciously glanced up, and the person at the top seemed to sense something, raising his head to meet her gaze directly.

 

In the past, Helan Ci found him quite bothersome, but at this moment, seeing a familiar face brought her a sense of warmth, as if one foot that had almost stepped into emptiness had found solid ground—especially since Lu Wuyou hadn’t added to her troubles in her dreams.

 

Thinking of this, Helan Ci couldn’t help but smile.

 

That smile truly felt like the warmth of spring returning, the ice melting and the snow dissolving, the mist half-bright and half-dark, the morning light igniting the lanterns, all reflected in her clear, soulful eyes, beautiful like a splendid haze, as if a celestial being were saving all living souls.

 

The scholars were left dumbfounded.

 

Then Helan Ci departed.

 

Just as they regained their senses, dozens of scorching gazes that had just been fixed on Helan Ci suddenly shifted to Lu Wuyou.

 

Lu Wuyou: “……”

 

“Did Miss Helan just smile at Ji’an?”

 

“And smiling like that…”

 

Immediately, someone sarcastically remarked, “I didn’t expect that Lu gongzi would make a name for himself in the capital, even Miss Helan has taken a liking to you…”

 

“Ji’an, you wouldn’t really have feelings for Miss Helan, would you…”

 

“When is the wedding! Are you really keeping it a secret from us?”

 

Even Lin Zhang cast him a confused glance, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.

 

Lu Wuyou watched the girl finish smiling and then turn away, her cold back showing no signs of attachment, almost making him laugh out of anger.

 

He recalled some not-so-pleasant memories, his brow furrowing quickly, but it relaxed just as fast, revealing a perfectly puzzled expression on his face. With an innocent tone and a serious demeanor, he said, “You all must be joking. I haven’t even exchanged a few words with Miss Helan”

 

Everyone: “……”

 

Over there, Helan Ci entered the inner court with the palace maids. As the sky gradually brightened, streaks of morning light poured in. She looked at the magnificent and extravagant palaces before her, surrounded by a garden filled with splendid flowers, and finally had a few guesses.

 

Imperial Concubine Li has a fondness for peonies, so the Emperor specially created a peony garden for her, housing thousands of flowers, each one a priceless and renowned specimen.

 

At a glance, Helan Ci can recognize the clusters of Yao Huang, Wei Zi, the two Qiaos, and Mo Kui among the Garden. Thus, in the garden filled with flowers, they were not just flowers, but layers upon layers of golden mountains and silver hills. She felt a twinge of heartache  for the money, feeling rather wasteful.

 

She is looking at the flowers.

 

Others were also watching her.

 

Entering the palace, it is naturally impossible to wear a veil. The beauty passes through the flower bushes, dressed in white like snow, surpassing the flowers in purity and elegance. The myriad of vibrant colors of the flowers only serves to highlight her presence.

 

Although the palace attendants did not dare to look openly and boldly, those passing by couldn’t help but steal glances.

 

“The road doesn’t have eyes! Where are you looking?!”

 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

 

“Oh no! How did we bump into each other again!”

 

“Look again, I’ll report to the higher-ups and have your eyes gouged out!”

 

Helan Ci: “…”

 

She waited for a while under the corridor of Yu De Palace before being led into the hall, completely unaware of a pair of gray eyes hidden in a secret corner.

 

Inside the hall, it was even more resplendent, with each item on display being of considerable value, shining with golden light. Sitting in the prominent chair was a beautiful woman who was enjoying a sweet soup, with cloud-like hair and a flower-like complexion, adorned with pearl hairpins. A flawless, large Dongzhu Pearl hung from her forehead, dressed in an extremely luxurious manner. She appeared to be no more than thirty, radiating beauty, and was most likely the favored Imperial Concubine Li, who outshone the six palaces****.

 

Helan Ci politely greeted her.

 

Imperial Concubine Li casually set down her bowl and turned to look at her.

 

Seeing Helan Ci’s face, she was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, “What a beautiful girl. I had heard people say that the Helan family’s daughter could bring a city to its knees in beauty, and I thought it was just talk. But seeing her today, it’s not an exaggeration at all.”

 

Helan Ci, unsure of the other party’s intentions, could only respond awkwardly, “Your Highness, you flatter me.”

 

“Come closer, let me take a good look at you.”

 

The thick incense in the palace made Helan Ci want to turn and run, but she held herself back. The other party stared at her with wide, beautiful eyes, as if admiring some object.

 

Imperial Concubine was not young anymore, yet there was still a hint of innocence in her expression. She even reached out a slender finger which was painted with vermilion, to gently touch Helan Ci’s cheek, as if verifying whether this was real.

 

The cold touch seeped into the skin from her cheeks, and Helan Ci couldn’t help but shiver.

 

At that moment, a male voice echoed from outside the hall, seemingly laced with a smile, but unfortunately devoid of any warmth.

 

“Greetings, Imperial concubine.”

 

As this voice reached Helan Ci’s ears, her mind exploded with a bang; she instantly froze, her scalp tingling, and her tongue began to feel numb.

 

“Is it inconvenient for this son to come?” 

 

With two clear sounds of boots echoing, it seemed that person had entered the hall. The footsteps approached steadily, and although the voice remained smooth, it carried an indescribable chill and stickiness. 

 

This voice was exactly the same as the one that had threatened her in her dreams! 

 

Helan Ci quickly dug her fingertips deep into her palm, biting her lips to force herself to calm down, but alarms were still blaring in her mind, as if she had instantly returned to that dream. Before her was no longer the grand palace, but a place where her life was uncertain, where she could be caught at any moment on the bed of danger.

 

Imperial Concubine Li, completely unaware, waved at the approaching person with a smile, saying, “What a coincidence, you came at just the right time. Come over here, this is Miss Helan, the Imperial Censor’s daughter.”

 

“—So it’s Miss Helan.”

 

This time, the voice was so close it felt as if it were right beside her.

 

A wave of goosebumps surged through her, and in just a few breaths, Helan Ci’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

 

She lowered her head and softly said, “This humble daughter has met the Second Prince.”

 

1. 泥菩薩過河 (ní púsà guò hé): This is a Chinese idiom that means “to be in a precarious situation where one can barely save oneself.” It’s like a clay Buddha trying to cross a river—it’s likely to dissolve before reaching the other side.
2. 教坊司 (jiàofāng sī) an ancient Chinese court music institution .It was responsible for the teaching and performance of court folk music. Government-owned brothels are also under Jiaofangsi jurisdiction.
3. 夜長夢多 (yè cháng mèng duō): This is a Chinese idiom that literally means “the longer the night, the more dreams one has.” It’s often used to express the idea that the longer one waits, the more likely it is that unexpected or undesirable things will happen.
4. Six Palaces refer to the area where the Emperor’s wives reside.

T/N: I’m sorry for the late updates (シ_ _)シ