The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 73

73: New Year’s Eve

The New Year’s Eve dinner was held at the Second Madam’s courtyard. It was said that when the old general was still alive, the whole family would gather together. But now that he was gone, the relationship between the eldest brother’s family and theirs was not good, and meeting would only lead to awkwardness.

The candle flame crackled and sputtered, its light flickering and dancing.

A young maid stepped forward to trim the wick, the silver bracelet on her wrist jingling lightly.

Fu Yu’an instinctively glanced over and saw that it was Ni Yi’s daughter. He smiled and asked, “Why didn’t you go eat with your mother? There’s no need for so many people here.”

The little maid seemed a bit nervous, clasping her hands and saying she would go later.

Fu Yu’an nodded, then looked at her bracelet and sincerely praised, “That bracelet is quite nice.”

The Second Madam chuckled and explained, “It was sent by Elder Sister A’Ren. She’s very generous—she prepared some holiday gifts for every servant in the courtyard.”

Qi Ren lowered his head to pick out fish bones by the candlelight and replied indifferently, “She’s being so generous this year? Was she always this extravagant in the past?”

“You’re rarely home, so you wouldn’t know. Normally, she’s afraid I’ll be bullied by the First Madam and the others in the mansion, so she never stints on money or jewelry, saying it’s for me to manage the servants properly so I won’t be mistreated.”

Fu Yu’an nodded, thinking it was indeed necessary.

“But this year, she even went to the trouble of asking about everyone’s preferences and sent each of them a gift—that’s really thoughtful! Maybe it’s because of His Highness’s influence!”

Qi Ren also nodded in agreement, placing the tender fish meat into Fu Yu’an’s bowl and saying, “She suffered from those snobbish and malicious servants in the past. Money can make the devil turn the millstone—after all, these are just worldly possessions. It’s only right to manage them well.”

“True,” Fu Yu’an agreed wholeheartedly. “When we get back, you should also open the storeroom and pick out some things to distribute to everyone.”

Qi Ren said okay, his left hand secretly squeezing Fu Yu’an’s under the table.

…

On the way back, they happened to run into Ni Yi, who seemed to have been waiting for them deliberately, her face full of hesitation as she looked at the two of them.

Fu Yu’an quickly let go of Qi Ren’s hand and asked her what was wrong.

“General, Your Highness… I…”

Her expression was troubled, her fingers twisting as she struggled to speak.

Fu Yu’an and Qi Ren exchanged glances, both confused.

What was going on? It was the New Year, after all.

“Just say it! Do you want to ask for leave?”

“No, no! Not this… It’s… Back then, you saved me and my daughter, and we are so grateful to you, but… this matter is truly shameful… Oh dear…”

What on earth is going on?

“A few days ago, my mother sent a letter. She found out about my situation and told us to return to her, so…”

Qi Ren looked suddenly enlightened. “Oh, you want to settle your wages, is that it?”

“No, no!” Auntie Ni quickly waved her hands, her wrinkled face filled with embarrassment and distress. “You saved us—how could we dare ask for wages? It’s just… it’s only been a few months, and the work we’ve done isn’t enough to repay your great kindness… I… I feel so guilty…”

“There’s no need for that,” Fu Yu’an said with a smile. “It was just a small effort on our part—we never expected repayment. But could you wait a few more days? With the festival coming up, we’re short on hands, as you know.”

Auntie Ni let out an “ah” her expression conflicted, but she nodded in agreement.

Qi Ren patted her shoulder and pulled Fu Yu’an past her, heading back to Guhe Manor.

“Why the sudden decision to leave? How strange. Could it be some enemy has come for her?” Qi Ren removed his outer robe, thoroughly puzzled.

Fu Yu’an couldn’t help but laugh. “Not everyone has enemies—Auntie Ni is just an ordinary commoner. But given her situation, returning to her parents’ home might be awkward for her.”

Qi Ren tilted his head in confusion. “Huh? Why would it be awkward for her to return to her own family? If my own daughter suffered so much outside but managed to come back safely, I’d be burning incense in gratitude!”

“No, think about it. As the saying goes, ‘A married-off daughter is like spilled water.’ Women are already bound by the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. Now, she essentially sent her own husband to prison—though of course, the man deserved it—but…”

“And she’s bringing her child with her. It won’t be easy for her to remarry.”

Fu Yu’an nodded.

“I think the reason she endured that man for so many years was, first, to repay the life-saving kindness the old woman mentioned, and second, so her daughter could have a complete family.”

Qi Ren stared at him for a moment, then chuckled softly.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like she has to marry another man. We can give her extra travel money, and if things don’t work out, she can always come back and work in the manor. It’s not like she’ll have no way out!”

He pulled Fu Yu’an into his arms, resting his chin on the top of his head and murmuring, “Everything will get better. We’ll get better too. It’s almost over… Our good days are still ahead…”

For no reason, Fu Yu’an felt his nose sting.

Not wanting to be teased, he buried his face and discreetly wiped his eyes before letting out a soft “Mm.”

Qi Ren thought he was acting coquettish and immediately became intrigued. The more he looked at him, the more adorable he seemed—so much so that Qi Ren wished he could tuck him into his pocket and carry him around forever!

He lowered his head to kiss him, his eyes darkening with something familiar to Fu Yu’an—something he had seen just a few nights ago during the celebration of Xiao Zhu’s wedding feast.

Before Fu Yu’an could even voice a refusal, the man pressed him down onto the bed, swallowing his startled gasp. The candle dripped wax silently, burning through the night without rest.

By midnight, after their passionate entanglement, Fu Yu’an was too exhausted to move. He bossily demanded that Qi Ren carry him to bathe.

Qi Ren was about to go out and order hot water to be prepared, but Fu Yu’an, unwilling to embarrass himself, tugged at him and protested,

“It’s the New Year—do you really want the whole household to know? Go do it yourself!”

“Alright, alright!” Qi Ren, mindful of his feelings, relented. He kissed him before setting him down and obediently went to heat the water.

In the end, however, it was still the servants from the courtyard who came in to carry the water in.

Fu Yu’an frowned and shot him a glare, silently demanding an explanation.

Once the servants left, Qi Ren peeled him out of the blankets and placed him into the comfortably warm bath, explaining, “Everyone’s staying up late tonight—there’s no way such a commotion would go unnoticed! Don’t overthink it. Just pretend you don’t know.”

“How can I pretend not to know?! I told you not to do it, not to do it! It’s the New Year—this is blasphemy against the gods!”

“What do the gods have to do with this? I was handling you, not the heavens. The way you say it makes me sound like some kind of sinner!”

“You are one!” Fu Yu’an huffed, punching him lightly, both embarrassed and annoyed.

After cleaning him up, Qi Ren made do with the now lukewarm water to wash himself hastily.

The bedsheets had been changed by Fu Yu’an himself, albeit with great effort. The original ones were long soiled beyond use, crumpled into a ball on the floor. When Qi Ren came out and saw them, he casually tossed them into the bathtub.

The new sheets were haphazardly spread, wrinkled and uneven, but Qi Ren didn’t dare complain. Instead, he even praised Fu Yu’an a little.

Fu Yu’an could tell the difference between genuine and sarcastic praise. Now that he was clean and comfortable, his mood improved, and he magnanimously decided not to hold a grudge.