A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 55

A Letter from Jiejie

A Familiar yet Unfamiliar Feeling, Like Picking Up a Free Wife

The night was still sweltering. Jiang Chenyu took a cloth, soaked it in warm water, and loosened her collar. Gently, she wiped down her forehead, her cheeks, her shoulders, her neck, and her collarbone, bit by bit.

            

This was to prevent her sweat from sticking to her skin and making her uncomfortable. Ah Tang had already slept for two days and a night. If she didn’t wake up tonight, then tomorrow, even if she had to take her in a carriage to seek a doctor elsewhere, it wouldn’t matter.

In a place where no one knew them, what did it matter if she was a man or a woman? Gazing at her cheeks, which looked even paler and more translucent after being wiped, she leaned down to press two kisses on them, then turned, about to carry the water basin away.

But a limp, weak hand caught her wrist. She hastily threw the cloth into the basin, her eyes bright as she spun around to look at her.

            

Yet her eyelids remained tightly shut; only her arm had stirred.

“Ah Tang, wake up quickly, or else I’m going to take off your clothes!” After being tricked by her hand like this several times, as if she were about to wake up, yet she remained asleep, she had a bit of a temper too, after all.

“Heh… Go ahead and take them off then,” a weak, slightly raspy voice came softly.

            

“Ah! You’re awake! You scared me to death, sleeping for so long.” Suddenly hearing her voice, Jiang Chenyu froze for a moment, then reacted, leaning gently against her neck to press close to her.

“Mmh, I’m awake. I slept for a long time.” So long that it felt like living through another life.

Her eyes were still slightly bloodshot as she carefully and thoroughly studied the devastatingly beautiful, delicate girl before her. She felt as if she had reaped the spoils of a situation without effort¹.

            

Compared to the version of her who had first transmigrated, the Shen Hetang who had been raised as a man since birth and spent four years in the military camps was far more comfortable accepting a sweet, soft wife.

Her fingers slowly traced circles on the slender waist. This simultaneously fresh yet familiar sensation intrigued her, especially since merely touching the fabric brought back vivid memories of the smooth, supple waist hidden beneath.

Unaware that her mind was entirely filled with nonsense, Jiang Chenyu planned to have the kitchen make some light vegetable congee for her; after not eating for two days, she was surely hungry.

            

“Lie back down. I’ll go tell Nanny to boil some congee for you.” Jiang Chenyu tied the sash of her nightclothes. Since her neck had just been wiped clean, she currently looked exceptionally soft and easy to tease.

“My head hurts. Help me let down my hair,” Shen Hetang said weakly, her gaze still wandering over Jiang Chenyu’s face.

Looking at her now, she felt a thrilling sensation akin to having an illicit affair. She couldn’t describe the feeling well; she was clearly the one putting in the effort, yet it felt as though she had picked up a wife for free.

            

“Alright, I’ll let it down for you.” Jiang Chenyu had been so consumed with worry over the past two days that she had forgotten about her headache. If she had unpinned it earlier, she would have been much more comfortable.

Her ink-black hair fell to the side in two large waves, making her jade-white face look a size smaller, appearing a bit fragile.

“Wait for me. I’ll massage it for you when I get back.” Looking at the pitiful Ah Tang, she felt a bit of heartache.

            

“Mmh, then be quick.” It was hard to tell whether her voice was whiny or if she was acting spoiled.

“Alright, I’ll be quick!” Jiang Chenyu lowered the gauze curtains to prevent anyone from seeing her lying relaxed inside.

“Miss, Miss, the ice basin is here!” Chuntao called out, entering just as Zhuzi carried in the ice basin. Lately, in the sweltering heat, the wealthy Wu family’s business was booming; buying even a little ice required queuing up and drawing lots.

            

Shen Hetang was merely weak from sleeping so long. She felt sweltering and wanted to bathe and change her clothes, but decided she would wait until after she had eaten.

She just continued to lie there lazily with her hair disheveled, eyes wide as she waited for her to return.

Before long, after giving instructions to the kitchen, Jiang Chenyu returned to the bedroom. Seeing that Shen Hetang was still lying motionless on the bed, she quickly slipped off her shoes and got onto the bed as well.

            

“The late-night snack will be ready in a bit. Where are you uncomfortable? Shall I massage it for you first?”

“Right here.” Shen Hetang lifted a finger and pointed to her forehead.

“Lie still, then.” Jiang Chenyu gently lifted her head and placed it in her lap. Her soft, delicate hands slowly massaged outward from the center of her forehead.

            

Closing her eyes, Shen Hetang basked in the soothing relaxation. It seemed very effective, clearing her groggy head quite a bit.

She secretly opened her eyes and looked at the lovely woman who was massaging her so seriously, wondering if she had been seduced by beauty.

Just then, Chuntao brought the freshly prepared snack into the room. She placed the tray on the table, softly excused herself, and walked straight back out without casting so much as a single glance toward the bed.

            

“Ah Tang, should I help you up?” Jiang Chenyu looked down at her and asked tentatively.

“No need, I can do it.” With that, Shen Hetang sat up and gathered her long hair. As she was looking around, a white jade hairpin was handed to her from ahead, as if the other knew exactly what she was looking for.

“Mmh… alright.” She took the hairpin and casually twisted her hair into a loose bun.

            

“Ah Tang, why do I feel like you’re being so bashful?” Jiang Chenyu’s eyes darted as she looked her up and down.

“Huh? I’m not.” Surely she didn’t seem any different?

“Let’s eat first.” Jiang Chenyu couldn’t shake the feeling that she was acting strangely distant.

            

“Let’s eat first, let’s eat.” Shen Hetang took her hand and pulled her over to the table.

Minced meat and yam vegetable congee, red bean cakes, stir-fried shredded chicken in sweet bean sauce, and quick-tossed pea seedlings—fearing she would have no appetite, these savory side dishes were specially made to go with the congee.

However, Shen Hetang was in decent spirits, though she still felt a slight, dreamlike disorientation, as if she weren’t quite sure where she was.

            

By the time they had bathed, it was already the Hour of the Pig². Normally, they would have been fast asleep by this hour, but after sleeping for two days straight, Shen Hetang was wide awake. Jiang Chenyu, thrilled to finally have her awake, was in no hurry to sleep either.

Over the past two days, she had been worried to death. Despite the hot weather, she still wanted to snuggle close to her.

With no one else in the room, Jiang Chenyu had long since changed into an emerald-green corset-camisole³ and white satin shorts, looking incredibly fresh and cool.

            

“Ah Tang, why don’t you take off your outer blouse too?” Although the short shirt made of light gauze was very thin, she still had an undergarment on beneath it.

“Ah… I’m not hot,” Shen Hetang replied, her expression completely unchanged.

These words sounded terribly familiar. Jiang Chenyu leaned closer to look her up and down, her gaze flickering.

            

“Then… kiss me?” She stared intently at the dazed Shen Hetang, finding her incredibly strange.

“Where should I kiss you?” Having spoken without thinking, her face also quietly blushed.

“Hmph! Have you remembered something? Or do you just not like me anymore?” As she said the latter part, Jiang Chenyu lowered her small face, looking as if she didn’t really want to hear the answer.

            

“No, no! I’ve been wronged. I indeed remembered a lot of things, but I absolutely do not dislike you.” Oh no, was the difference really that obvious?

She quickly went forward to coax her. Besides, the person held in her arms was so soft, so smooth; while her mind might need a day or two to adjust, her hands seemed to have already developed a mind of their own.

“What did you remember? Did you remember me?” Hearing that she remembered her past, Jiang Chenyu was stunned for a moment. Her past? Would their future life change as she recovered her memories…?

            

“Of course I did. How could I ever forget you?” In truth, she didn’t remember the little child who had been covered in tears and snot, but she vividly recalled how she had eaten flying vinegar⁴ last time, which had left her feeling downcast for days!

Back then, when she was idle, she liked to do some good deeds from time to time, and she might have rescued a few girls. But her life afterward was chaotic and difficult, so she had completely forgotten these trivial matters. Still, even if beaten to death, she couldn’t let her know this!

Sure enough, upon hearing her words, Jiang Chenyu’s expression instantly transformed from a drooping flower to a blooming rose, looking incredibly vibrant and lovely under the dim lamplight.

            

Tonight, the two of them probably had some things to talk about. After hearing a rough outline of Shen Hetang’s family matters, besides her astonishment, Jiang Chenyu also felt a pang of heartache.

She clung to Shen Hetang’s neck, gazing at her with eyes as wet and wide as a young deer’s. “Why’s your life so hard? Can’t you just stop? Why don’t you just not go back and stay here for the rest of your life?”

Though she said it, she herself knew it was highly unlikely. Her hands tightly gripped her collar, deeply afraid she would just fly away like this.

            

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. I’ve already grown used to it,” Shen Hetang murmured, gently patting her to soothe her anxiety.

The candles burned for who knows how long. The ice basin placed by the bedside was of some use after all. The return of her memories felt like opening the gates to another world.

And her life during this time had been as dreamlike as the Peach Blossom Spring⁵, yet the person beside her was entirely real. It took only a single warm embrace to anchor her back to reality.

            

It proved the reality of this life, and the past she recalled also served as a reminder that it was time to return.

Sure enough, certain things must not be dwelled upon; once you think of them, they’re highly likely to come true.

At the very tail end of the eighth month, Shen Hetang received a letter from her jiejie. The letter explicitly stated that the Emperor was already preparing to dispatch people to Qingyuan County to fetch her back.

            

Ever since Zhao Chenlan had come to Qingyuan County, because his itinerary changed, it drew the attention of others. Later, when the Emperor probed her, Shen Yunshu had simply decided to report Shen Hetang’s injuries and memory loss directly to His Majesty.

She had also stated that her younger brother was still recovering from his wounds and had not yet regained his memory, but that she would personally bring him back once some time had passed.

However, the Emperor had countered that returning to the capital would make it far easier for the imperial physicians to treat him. He had even brought up the fact that the Dowager Empress had long intended to bestow a marriage between the Little General and County Princess Qingyang.

            

This was even more troublesome than returning to the capital. Where did this County Princess Qingyang pop up from anyway? She didn’t remember her!

But whether she remembered her or not was beside the point. The critical issue was that she absolutely could not marry her!

In her letter, Shen Yunshu had also mentioned that this County Princess Qingyang was highly favored by the Dowager Empress, who had always wanted to find a perfect son-in-law⁶ for her and had set her sights on Shen Hetang long ago.

            

But back then, she was either fighting wars or missing, never giving the Dowager Empress a chance. This time, having caught wind of her, the Dowager Empress wanted to keep her.

As for the Emperor, he was only too pleased to see this happen. County Princess Qingyang’s parents had both passed away, and she had been raised by the Dowager Empress’s side ever since, making her essentially half a princess.

She was precisely the kind of noblewoman who had reputation but no real power, making her a perfect match for the Shen family’s Little General. If he found him an in-law family with actual power, the Emperor feared that over time, he would not be able to control him.

            

Yet, since the Old General, Shen Chengyi, had recently died shielding him from an arrow, the Emperor could not openly mistreat the younger generation of the Shen family.

The Little General of the Shen family was a contradictory existence in the Emperor’s eyes; he wished for him to remain forever victorious to guard the gates of the Great Qian Dynasty, yet he didn’t want him to remain powerful forever and gradually establish a foundation.

And the death of Old General Shen Chengyi just happened to ease the Shen family’s blazing prosperity⁷, allowing the Emperor to relax slightly.

            

After the Old General died shielding him from the arrow, the Emperor had also regretted his own narrow-mindedness. But he was the Emperor—how could he accept the Shen family holding a higher place among the people than he did? No matter how good their bond was, it was bound to grow cold with the passage of time.

Yet at the moment Shen Chengyi was struck by the arrow, the Emperor had also been filled with emotion, feeling that he might have misjudged him. When the arrow was later found to be poisoned and the Old General could not be saved, it left the Emperor filled with even more guilt.

Soon after, the Shen family’s Little General went missing, and the Emperor was reminded once more of the Shen family’s goodness, sending people to search everywhere. However, the Brocade Guard grew increasingly useless, failing to find a full-grown living person despite all their efforts.

            

Upon hearing that the Little General had been found, the Emperor was genuinely happy in his heart, and coinciding with the Dowager Empress mentioning County Princess Qingyang’s marriage, the Emperor thought about it and felt it was viable.

It was just as well; during this time, he estimated that the Shen family’s kid would have to recuperate well in the capital before he could continue taking up the Shen family’s burden.

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