Reborn and Reunited with My Resentful Husband - Chapter 4

“Husband—”
Qi Ranran truly understood that the letter and seal were insignificant. Today’s meeting was merely to make Chu Chengyan realize she had subtly shifted from guest to host. If he still wished to earn her trust as he had in the past, he would have to offer greater sincerity and bargaining chips.

She was indeed planning to move into the Celestial Master’s residence. Leaving aside other considerations, her own princess manor was shrouded in shadows, and even if Empress Zheng had boundless power, she absolutely could not extend her reach into Yu Changfeng’s domain.

In her previous life, she had been burdened with countless worries, fearing that her unusual movements as a ‘royal spy’ would attract the attention of the Yu clan elders, thereby inviting unnecessary trouble. Moreover, she was uncertain of the Celestial Master Yu’s own attitude, so she preferred to tread cautiously and reside outside rather than ‘borrow the tiger’s might’ by leveraging her legitimate husband’s influence.

But after rebirth, she suddenly saw things clearly.

Since Yu Changfeng was willing to set up a mourning hall for her personally out of regard for their past acquaintance, it was enough to show that this man was not as heartless as she had imagined.

Besides, throughout history, how many men had relied on their wives’ wealth to establish households and ascend rapidly? Now that the genders were reversed, why couldn’t she take advantage of Yu Changfeng?

Thinking this, she didn’t even dare waste time packing. The moment she left the Chu residence, she hurried straight to the Celestial Master’s residence.

—And then she was stopped, along with her horse, at the foot of Heli Mountain by officials from the Imperial Clan Court.

Heli Mountain, where the Celestial Master’s residence was located, was a mystical paradise blessed with spiritual energy. The mountain stood majestic and magnificent, its depths adorned with ancient trees reaching for the skies. Winding paths led to secluded spots, creating an aura of mystery and wonder.

Yet at this moment, the mountain trail that should have been tranquil and elegant was swarming with imperial guards. The Minister of the Imperial Clan Court stood among them, bowing respectfully to her with proper decorum.

“Your subject pays respects to Shaoyang Princess.”

The Minister’s surname was ‘Zheng’—the same ‘Zheng’ as Empress Zheng’s.

This maternal cousin of the Empress Dowager habitually wore a benevolent smile, his words dripping with courtesy, speaking as if everything was open for discussion.

“Your Highness, please forgive this offense. The reason I have come to greet you at the foot of Heliming Mountain is because a matter of great importance leaves me no room for delay or concealment.”

“One hour ago, while observing the celestial phenomena at night, I incidentally noticed that the Heart-Moon Fox constellation shows signs of clashing with the Year Star. The Heart-Moon Fox is a star of great peril, and this configuration may bring harm to the primary position.”

There was a place in the palace called the ‘Year Star Hall’—and this was precisely where Qi Ranran had resided before her marriage.

Sure enough, before Qi Ranran could respond, Minister Zheng waved his sleeve and continued speaking as if to himself:

“Shaoyang Princess carries a noble body worth a thousand pieces of gold, and your esteemed person cannot tolerate the slightest mishap. Upon receiving this news, I was filled with trepidation and deeply concerned for Your Highness’s safety. Therefore, I specially requested Empress Zheng’s decree to respectfully invite Shaoyang Princess to immediately accompany me to the Imperial Clan Court, where Taoist priests from the Chongxuan Office will perform rituals to ward off evil and ensure your protection.”

His words were spoken with solemn dignity, yet you can’t write the character ‘Zheng’ two different ways—Minister Zheng’s intentions in this move were glaringly obvious.

A eunuch dressed in court attire promptly presented a decree. With her retreat firmly blocked, Qi Ranran coldly glanced up and discovered, to her surprise, that this eunuch was none other than Cheng Shouzhen—an old acquaintance from her previous life with whom she had once shared warmth by a fire.

She immediately laughed. Her initial intention to ‘avoid trouble’ abruptly shifted, her round little dimple faintly indenting as wicked thoughts of stirring up mischief suddenly surged within her.

“Oh my! Minister Zheng’s skills are truly divine, a true pillar of our court! To be frank with you, my lord, I have indeed been feeling somewhat unusual today.”

Her long, curled lashes gently lowered, completely veiling her shimmering eyes as Qi Ranran exaggeratedly sighed and briefly recounted the matter of the red mole.

“I was originally wondering why, ever since this red mole appeared, my spirits haven’t been right. Not only do I occasionally lose control of my actions, but many things I clearly remember one moment become completely forgotten the next. Thankfully Minister Zheng came to enlighten me, otherwise I would have thought myself possessed by evil spirits.”

As she spoke, she slightly turned her body, raising her right hand to reveal her wrist while her left hand stealthily reached behind her back, firmly grasping the horsewhip at her waist.

“By the way, didn’t Minister Zheng just mention that you brought a token from the Empress Dowager? What was it again? Quickly bring it here for me to see.”

Cheng Shouzhen nearby hurried forward. “It’s an edict personally written by Her Majesty the Empress— Ah!”

At that very moment, an unexpected whip suddenly lashed out, striking Cheng Shouzhen squarely across the mouth. Having succeeded with her first strike, Qi Ranran gave him no time to react, swiftly swinging her sleeve backhanded to deliver another blow to his face.

Crack!

Crack!

Two heavy, fully-powered whip strikes instantly reduced the grand eunuch who had been waiting to see the spectacle to howling in misery. Cheng Shouzhen cried out in disgrace, covering his half-swollen face as he retreated, even forgetting to pick up the dropped imperial edict.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye, catching everyone off guard. Even Minister Zheng, who had spent years navigating official circles, was momentarily stunned.

Only when Qi Ranran threw down the whip and feigned surprise with a gasp, covering her mouth, did he seem to finally regain his composure, frowning as he retorted, “What is the meaning of this, Shaoyang Princess? Could it be that you wish to defy the imperial decree?”

Qi Ranran blinked innocently. “Has Minister Zheng forgotten? Because the Heart Moon Fox clashes with the Year Star, my behavior occasionally becomes uncontrollable. Didn’t you personally confirm this just now?”

Wearing an expression of calm assurance that said ‘you all know I’m mad,’ she picked up the horsewhip again and leisurely advanced toward them. As she walked, she swung her arm in wide arcs, creating two sharp whistles through the air.
“Ah, it seems I’m losing control again. Minister Zheng should quickly step back. While Eunuch Cheng and I may suffer this unwarranted disaster, you are a pillar of the state—you absolutely must not endure beatings due to this abnormal celestial phenomenon either.”

Crack!

Another whip came whipping toward his head as she spoke. Minister Zheng cried out “Aiyo!” as his plump body awkwardly curled up, completely resembling a rat scurrying for cover.

“Princess, Princess, you’re perfectly fine! You’re not mad! Shaoyang! I am practically your elder after all, please calm down!”

Poor Uncle Zheng, accustomed to a life of luxury with no particular exercise habits, was suddenly forced to perform a ‘cat and mouse’ routine. After several consecutive dodges, he was already in complete disarray.

Stammering out a few strained words of coaxing, he desperately seized a moment to shoot a meaningful glance at the imperial guard commander behind him. The commander, being clever, didn’t dare boldly snatch the whip but secretly produced a small stone from his sleeve, skillfully flicking it toward Qi Ranran’s wrist—

Clatter!

The exquisite horsewhip immediately fell to the ground. Qi Ranran grunted in pain, clutching her wrist as she took a step back.

Finally seizing the opportunity, Minister Zheng didn’t even pause to catch his breath before hurriedly waving his hand, signaling for the distant palanquin to quickly approach—appearing ready to have Qi Ranran forcibly taken away on the spot.

The accompanying imperial guards felt apprehensive. “Sir, we are still within the Celestial Master Manor’s territory. If Master Yu pursues this matter after we take the princess away like this…”
Official Zheng waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. The discord between the princess and Celestial Master Yu is no recent development. Moreover, we are acting under imperial decree. The Celestial Master Manor has no reason to offend Her Majesty the Queen over this. As long as we act swiftly and avoid direct confrontation with the manor, Master Yu likely won’t pursue the matter afterward.”

Finally shedding his pretense, he raised his arm in a ‘please’ gesture. “Princess Shaoyang, you’d better enter the carriage yourself. The imperial guards are mostly rough men—we wouldn’t want anyone to accidentally harm you.”

Qi Ranran stood unwavering, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips as she reminded him, “Official Zheng, baseless rumors are merely for amusement—you shouldn’t take them as truth. My husband and I shares a deep bond. Today, you…”

Her misty eyes suddenly brightened. With a delighted smile, Qi Ranran rose on her toes to peer behind him.

“Husband!”

Everyone presents started in shock, instinctively turning to look.

Sure enough, in the next moment, two trails of fire descended from the mountaintop—orderly and majestic like twin dragons plunging into the sea, their magnificent momentum cleaving through the night.

Where the dragon heads converged stood a figure in wide sleeves and flowing robes, dark hair crowned elegantly, his posture as ethereal as an immortal’s. Yet his sharp eyes resembled a frost-tipped bow under moonlight, radiating lethal pressure poised to strike.

Official Zheng’s face instantly paled, a cold sweat breaking out over his body in that single moment.

His worst fear had come true.
Under normal circumstances, the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and the Celestial Master Manor had no dealings. Even if he arrived uninvited late at night, he could have offered humble excuses and smoothed things over with polite deference.

The problem lay in the Great Yong’s three consecutive years of severe droughts. The Chongxuan Office had repeatedly failed in rain-praying ceremonies, leading to crop failures and widespread public discontent.

It wasn’t until early this year that Celestial Master Yu personally ascended a rain-praying platform that had been under construction for three years. After launching some thunderous object into the sky, the rains finally came.

Since then, public sentiment had surged, claiming the entire Court of Imperial Clan Affairs wasn’t worth half of Celestial Master Yu’s finger.

The newly promoted Vice Minister of the Court happened to be a coddled scion of a noble family. Unable to swallow this humiliation, he repeatedly voiced criticisms against the Celestial Master Manor in court, both overtly and covertly.

Now, with relations already strained by the vice minister’s actions, Official Zheng—the legitimate head of the Court—had led troops to surround Crying Crane Mountain at night without prior notice.

Who would believe he wasn’t deliberately provoking a confrontation?

Frankly, Official Zheng himself wouldn’t buy such a feeble excuse.

Meanwhile, Qi Ranran was already pushing past the crowd toward Yu Changfeng. Her strides were large and unwavering, charging forward with a headstrong, almost reckless grace.

No one dared stop her now.

The imperial guards who had moments earlier been poised to restrain her now demonstrated remarkable perceptiveness, subtly yet unmistakably clearing a path—as if ready to carry her over on a palanquin.

Under countless varied stares from all directions, she calmly walked to Yu Changfeng’s side. Her grape-like eyes curved ingratiatingly as she called out to him brightly,

“Husband—”

Yu Changfeng didn’t respond, merely glancing down at her.

Qi Ranran didn’t mind at all. She smiled at him and made a playful gesture to tug at his sleeve, but her fingers barely extended before the Celestial Master’s evasion caused her to miss, making her frown instantly with a pained expression.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Changfeng frowned as he looked at her. “What happened to your hand?”

Qi Ranran didn’t hide it either. She lifted her sleeve to show the Celestial Master her swollen red right wrist. “I got hit.”

She said this loudly, but immediately lowered her voice afterward. Mysteriously covering her lips with her left hand, she rose on her tiptoes and suddenly leaned close to the Celestial Master’s ear.

The distance between them instantly narrowed to an extreme.

A warm, rustling breath surged like a tide—soft and fluffy as goose down, slightly hot and ticklish—seeping right into the Celestial Master’s ear.

Yu Changfeng, startled by this sudden and unfamiliar sensation, furrowed his brows. He lowered his gaze, his eyes holding a lukewarm inquiry that directly met Qi Ranran’s sparkling eyes.

“Celestial Master, I’ve already been hit. Could you just put on a show and cooperate with me this once?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of your influence for free. I’ll discuss a deal with you later—I promise you won’t lose out.”

…

The Celestial Master rarely remembered things vividly. His talent had emerged too early, and from a young age, he had been elevated to a lonely, revered peak, so most people and things were nothing more than vague, indistinct outlines to him.

But everything about Qi Ranran had always been remarkably vivid in his mind.

Like now.

She had once again adopted that posture she habitually used when asking for a favor—her terms concise and clear, her smile sweet and obedient, her large eyes blinking animatedly—easily evoking the delusion that refusing her would be an unforgivable sin.

Yu Changfeng had thought this part of his memory had faded. They had parted when she was still young, and her subsequent marriage had been a mess—full of twists, turns, and suffering. Even the most brilliant recollections would inevitably lose their color over time.

—But at this moment, those gray fragments seemed to have faintly regained a hint of color.

Yu Changfeng’s fingertips twitched slightly as he indifferently lowered his gaze.

After a long moment, he averted his eyes.

Yet his sleeve, along with most of his arm, remained in place as if tacitly permitting her approach.
Qi Ranran immediately understood. She leaned in even closer.

With a mischievous glance at the trembling Minister Zheng, she cleared her throat lightly and suddenly declared loudly in front of everyone:

“Husband, Minister Zheng just said…”