Ch 111: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

The Mid-Autumn offering table at the Grand Attendant’s residence was incomparable to those in ordinary households.

On the long table, intricately carved red candles as thick as a child’s arm were lit, and the incense burner was a royal gift from the palace’s internal treasury. All the cups, plates, and bowls holding the offerings were part of a matching silver set, resting on lacquer trays.

The moonlight paper was not the usual type sold at small roadside stalls, printed using wooden carving blocks. Instead, it was specially commissioned from a skilled painter, standing half a zhang tall, with gold powder mixed into the pigments. It was meticulously crafted and glowing softly. Depicted on it was the Moon Goddess sitting lotus-style with a compassionate expression, along with a lively moon rabbit pounding herbs.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque each held incense sticks, offering their prayers before placing the incense in the burner.

The moonlight paper was so grand that when Qin Xia placed it into the brazier to burn, he felt a slight sense of loss.

“Can you still eat mooncakes?”

The mooncakes on the offering table today were, of course, from the former Qin Ji Eatery, now a product of the Heguang Pavilion in the bustling capital.

There were snow skin, puff pastry, and traditional types, each crafted with seven or eight different molds featuring themes such as the Twelve Flower Gods, the Twelve Zodiac Animals, or intricate designs like plum blossoms, bamboo, chrysanthemums, koi fish, clouds, or auspicious characters.

The snow-skin mooncakes shaped like little dogs, rabbits, or peach and lotus flowers remained the most popular variety.

“I’d like to try some, but I might not finish it.”

Yu Jiuque pointed to a snow-skin rabbit mooncake, and it was immediately placed on a plate and presented to them.

With two small spoons, they each took turns taking a bite, finishing it together.

After the mooncake, the traditional Mid-Autumn customs were considered fulfilled.

It was still relatively early—just past the second quarter of the Hai hour. Back when they were in Qinan County, they would often still be in the eatery, waiting for the last few tables of customers to settle their bills and leave for home.

After a while, a servant entered, announcing that the bathhouse was prepared and inviting the masters to bathe.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque soon made their way along the corridor.

As the bathhouse door opened, steam rolled out. They removed their shoes at the entrance and stepped barefoot inside, first treading on a short plush rug made of wool brought by foreign merchants before entering the bath area.

The four surrounding firewalls were lit, a routine for every season except summer, warming the room in advance so that the masters wouldn’t feel cold even without a stitch of clothing.

Knowing that Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque preferred bathing without attendants, the maids and stewards waited quietly outside, ready to answer if called.

Every time Yu Jiuque stepped into the bathhouse, he was reminded of Qin Xia’s thoughtful touches.

The original bathhouse wasn’t like this. It used to be a simple room with firewalls, a large central bathtub, and two spaces separated by screens for bathing and changing clothes.

Once they moved in, Qin Xia, ever mindful of the bathhouses he had once dreamed of, had hired craftsmen to install what he called a “dry and wet separation.”

The bathhouse was split in two—one half had a pool large enough for two adults to stretch out and relax comfortably.

Next to the pool was a section paved with pebbles, with a small drainage channel carved beside it. The bathtub was set in that area, so even if water splashed out, it wasn’t a concern.

As they moved further along, the other side was entirely different—a wooden sauna room.

At first, Yu Jiuque didn’t understand what was so great about this contraption. It seemed like they’d just brought over the steamers used in the kitchen for steaming buns to steam people instead!

But after Qin Xia dragged him in to sit for a while, he sweated all over and felt completely refreshed. Even the slight discomfort caused by palace affairs seemed to dissipate. Only then did he realize that steaming in the sauna indeed had the effects of expelling dampness, detoxifying, and promoting blood circulation.

However, after becoming pregnant, he could no longer use it.

Qin Xia had also considered installing a “shower,” but that plan hadn’t come to fruition yet.

For now, both the pool and the bathtub were filled with water at just the right temperature, and several large copper kettles were nearby, ready to heat more water if needed.

They helped each other wash their hair first, then settled together in the pool to soak.

For decoration, and to add a soothing scent, the water was sprinkled with plenty of petals, turning it into a fragrant bath.

It was mid-autumn, and the air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, gently floating in the water, releasing their subtle perfume.

Before long, the two in the water shifted positions.

Now past the first three months of pregnancy, and both being in the prime of their youth, Yu Jiuque sometimes found it hard to suppress his desires when faced with his husband’s body.

Qin Xia was no exception.

Of course, both were mindful of limits and didn’t take things too far. They merely stayed close to each other, indulging in a bit of affection, but even that left Yu Jiuque a little short of breath by the end.

When it was time to get out, he was practically lifted out of the pool by Qin Xia.

Aware of how much heavier he had grown, Yu Jiuque clung tightly to Qin Xia’s neck, feeling a little afraid. But to his surprise, the journey out was steady and safe.

Qin Xia teased him, “I may not be a martial artist, but I’m not so weak that I can’t carry my own husband.”

Once Yu Jiuque was comfortably lying on the bed, the nearby charcoal basin had already been prepared to dry his hair. He shook out his hair and lifted his hand, curling one finger into a circle to measure his other wrist.

“Ever since carrying this little rascal, I’ve definitely put on some weight.”

“You were too thin before. Now that you’ve filled out a bit, you look even better.”

In truth, Yu Jiuque was far from what one would call “plump.” He had been skinny before, but now he was simply more well-proportioned.

Back when he was in Qinan County, Yu Jiuque had been practically skin and bones. It wasn’t until Qin Xia began feeding him five bowls of rice per meal that he gradually filled out.

Sitting by his side, Qin Xia gently took hold of Yu Jiuque’s wrist, where a jade bracelet of vibrant green was wrapped around, making his skin look even more radiant.

“Even if you get a bit plumper, your husband will still be able to carry you. But you should still heed the physician’s advice.”

At that time, many in the common folk believed that being plump and having a large belly during pregnancy was a good omen for having a son, but it often had no relation to the baby’s gender. In fact, it could even lead to difficult labor or worse.

This wasn’t the first time Yu Jiuque noticed Qin Xia showing concern about this. He reversed their hands and gently stroked the back of Qin Xia’s hand with his thumb.

“When the time comes for me to give birth, even if something were to go wrong, we can always call the imperial physicians from the palace. Don’t worry, my love.”

But Qin Xia immediately tightened his grip.

“Don’t talk about something going wrong. Let’s not say things like that.”

Yu Jiuque noticed the sudden paleness of his face and realized he had said the wrong thing. He quickly spat twice, as if to ward off bad luck.

“That doesn’t count! It’s a holiday today. The Buddha and the gods won’t trouble us over such a small matter.”

Noticing that Yu Jiuque was trying to comfort him, Qin Xia realized he had been overly anxious. So he changed the topic and moved on.

“Bring me the comb from over there. I’ll help you comb your hair.”

As he combed, several more strands of hair fell out. Qin Xia quietly thought that he should make some nourishing “five black pills” for his husband and quickly hid the fallen strands under a cloth.

Yu Jiuque, of course, knew that hair loss during pregnancy was common. Lately, he had noticed more and more strands on his pillow each morning but felt fortunate that he still had plenty of hair to spare.

Seeing Qin Xia’s little gesture, he didn’t point it out, choosing instead to silently enjoy the peaceful, moonlit night together.

…

After Mid-Autumn Festival, Yu Jiuque returned to the palace for his daily duties.

He hadn’t attended the banquet on the fifteenth, but upon his first day back, he heard plenty about it, especially the praise for the chrysanthemum hotpot, which had become a popular favorite.

The one relaying the gossip was the palace’s head eunuch, Eunuch Xia, whom Yu Jiuque had personally promoted. Loyal to him, Eunuch Xia was overflowing with gratitude.

The head eunuch wasn’t supposed to attend the banquet but got the opportunity when Yu Jiuque couldn’t go, making him all the more appreciative. He knew the chrysanthemum hotpot had come from Heguang Pavilion, so he recounted all the compliments from the banquet to Yu Jiuque.

Yu Jiuque, who had been feeling stressed from the stack of official documents in front of him, found his mood lightening. In good spirits, he casually made a suggestion.

“We’ve been working together for quite some time, but we’ve never really had a proper gathering. Why not pick a good day, and I’ll host a meal for everyone at Heguang Pavilion to treat all our colleagues?”

When Yu Jiuque spoke those words, it truly gave his subordinates great honor. Led by Eunuch Xia, the head eunuch, they quickly expressed their gratitude, saying, “How could we trouble you, Lord Yu, to dine with us?”

Yu Jiuque, however, had his own plans in mind. He merely smiled and said, “It’s already decided. Once I settle on a date, I’ll notify everyone.”

He then joked, “Just don’t hold it against me when I can only serve tea instead of wine, and spoil the fun.”

The group all hastily replied that they wouldn’t dare.

Later that afternoon, someone came to summon Yu Jiuque, informing him that the Emperor was calling for him.

After tidying his robes, Yu Jiuque, with the help of a nearby young eunuch, slowly made his way to the imperial study.

Upon arrival, after a brief wait, he exchanged glances with a few ministers leaving the study, and then it was his turn to enter.

As always, the Emperor granted him a seat, though Yu Jiuque, as usual, did not sit fully, only enough to use the seat for support, so as not to strain himself too much.

The two first discussed several state matters, and once those were settled, the Emperor, looking a bit fatigued, rubbed his temples and sipped the ginseng tea offered to him. He smiled slightly as he raised his hand and said, “The snow skin mooncakes you sent to the Eastern Palace during the festival— the Crown Prince loved them. He even said that from now on, he’ll want the same style of mooncakes every Mid-Autumn Festival.”

When talking about his child, the Emperor’s expression softened. He had high hopes for the Crown Prince, but he had not stripped him of his childhood entirely, proving himself both a wise ruler and a loving father.

The ministers, however, still hoped that the Emperor would expand his lineage soon and have more sons. But the Emperor’s health had not been robust, and the lack of heirs seemed to be a matter that plagued this dynasty.

After a while, both business and small talk came to an end, and Yu Jiuque prepared to take his leave. Just then, a deputy from the Ministry of Rites requested an audience, bearing an urgent matter.

The Ministry of Rites had been busy preparing to receive a delegation from the Sharong Kingdom, and any matters concerning Sharong were never trivial.

The Emperor asked Yu Jiuque to stay and listen.

It turned out to be quite a significant issue— a fire had broken out at the guest quarters of the Meeting Hall where foreign delegations were hosted. Two guest rooms had burned down, and the walls were blackened with smoke. Repairs would have to be rushed before the Sharong delegation arrived next month.

Though the Emperor held little regard for Sharong, this was still a major diplomatic matter. He quickly wrote an edict, ordering the deputy to take it to the Ministry of Revenue to expedite the release of funds. With the delegation arriving soon, there was no time to waste.

After the official from the Ministry of Rites left, the Emperor turned to Yu Jiuque, unable to conceal his concern.

“The Meeting Hall has been in use for decades without a single fire. Why does it happen now, at such a critical moment?”

Sensing the Emperor’s suspicion, Yu Jiuque suggested sending spies from the Eastern Palace to investigate.

“In addition, I believe it would be wise to have both the Ministry of Justice and the Northern City Patrol investigate the matter together. Sharong has long harbored ambitions, and if there is something suspicious about the fire, it’s possible they may have had a hand in it. Not only should we investigate, but we should do so openly, making a grand show of it.”

At this, he thought of the rowdy Sharong people causing disturbances in the capital, emboldened by the fact that Dayong’s laws did not bind them.

After leaving the imperial study, Yu Jiuque summoned his trusted aide from the Eastern Palace, Ding Peng, and relayed his orders.

A few days later, as promised, Yu Jiuque reserved a private room at Heguang Pavilion and hosted a banquet for several colleagues from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

In the midst of the grand feast, with everyone enjoying themselves, a young eunuch hurriedly approached Yu Jiuque and whispered, “Lord Yu, a group of Hu people on the first floor of the main hall are harassing a girl who sings here with her blind father. It’s caused quite a commotion, and Boss Qin has already gone to handle it.”