After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 29
Chapter 29: Moving Mansion
“Brother-in-law… I have seen my elder brother…”
He Xinruo rose from her seat, trembling, and bowed to Huo Pingxiao.
Huo Pingxiao’s gaze was scrutinizing. He silently watched her for a long while, neither telling her to sit down nor to leave the place.
The quietness in the side hall was such that you could hear a pin drop.
After all, the man was a bloodthirsty war god who had devoured wolves and driven tigers on the battlefield. Once he became slightly angry, those proud and deep black eyes of his carried an oppressive feeling that made people shiver.
In fact, Huo Pingxiao just glanced at her indifferently, but He Xinruo felt extremely frightened, even feeling that her heart had never beaten like this before.
If Huo Pingxiao continued to stare at her like this, she felt she might die suddenly from a heart attack.
“The Marquis had specifically instructed your husband the other day to tell you to avoid trouble. Did he mention this to you?”
Huo Pingxiao asked in a deep tone, sitting in the armchair next to Ruan An.
“He did…”
He Xinruo explained to Huo Pingxiao with a trembling voice. She still didn’t dare to look directly at the couple seated at the head, and the sweat on her back was almost soaking through her clothes.
What is called the pressure of a general, she experienced it today.
It seems the saying that a real general can dominate the enemy on the battlefield with his mere presence is not an exaggeration.
“Sister-in-law… I meant no harm, I just wanted to remind you to not forget to respect the royal family…”
But Huo Pingxiao coldly interrupted her defense, not following along with her words, and continued, “Yet you still cause trouble and annoy your elder sister-in-law.”
He Xinruo felt as if her heartbeat had stopped for a few beats, and after blinking, she realized what was happening.
Huo Pingxiao had no intention of listening to her explanation, only wanted to reprimand her, and support the cousin of the Fang family. At this moment, the only thing she could do was to quickly apologize to the main house.
Perhaps if she lowered her stance, the Marquis of Dingbei’s arrogance might lessen.
Thinking this, He Xinruo humbly said again, “Next time, I will definitely be careful…”
“No need.”
Huo Pingxiao said lazily, leaning back in his chair. His gaze shifted, falling on Ruan An’s quiet and beautiful cheeks, lingering there for a moment.
He Xinruo was completely baffled.
What did the Marquis of Dingbei mean by this? Not giving her any chance, just because she said something wrong to Mrs. Fang, would their main house completely cut off relations with their second house?
Huo Pingxiao did not speak again, his sharp eyes subtly expressing the intention to dismiss the guest.
Just then, Ruan An’s voice calmly rose, “The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day, suitable for moving. At that time, I and the lord will not be staying in the Minister’s mansion.”
She lifted her delicate hand, looking towards He Xinruo, and said softly, “It’s getting late, you may leave now, sister-in-law.”
Hearing Ruan An’s words, He Xinruo was struck as if by thunder.
Suddenly, she understood.
The emperor had already bestowed a residence to Huo Pingxiao in Huaide District. Sooner or later, the cousin from the Fang family was going to move out with him. Why had she been contending with this young cousin in the Minister’s mansion these past few days? Wasn’t it all in vain?
The next day.
Before the official opening of their own mansion, Ruan An and Huo Pingxiao naturally had to meet in the main hall with Huo Lang and the people of the Huo family one last time.
As the main mother, Madam Gao, in front of Ruan An, pretended to instruct her about some trivial matters the future Marchioness would face.
Her many reminders seemed as if she truly couldn’t bear to let her eldest daughter-in-law leave.
Madam Gao thought, the cousin from the Fang family was really lucky. She transformed from a sparrow to a phoenix in an instant. Just over a month after entering the door, her husband directly established their own mansion, and the fearsome lord seemed to dote on her, not keeping any concubines in the backyard.
Once in the new mansion, the cousin from the Fang family’s life would be comfortable and smooth. Among the marriages in Chang’an City in recent years, she would be the most fortunate bride.
After Madam Gao finished speaking, Ruan An respectfully thanked her.
She noted down the useful things from Madam Gao’s words.
In reality, with Wei Yuan there, Ruan An really didn’t need to worry much about household affairs.
But He Xinruo wanted to seize an opportunity to say a few divisive words, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she was stopped by a look from Huo Changjue.
And the eldest brother opposite, who seemed like a fearsome Yama, also gave her a cold glance.
He Xinruo decided not to take this loss and swallowed the words she was about to say.
Initially, it was thought that Grandfather Huo Lang, sitting at the head of the table, would at least address a few words in his special tone towards his eldest son and daughter-in-law.
However, Huo Lang hardly spoke throughout the entire time.
Only at the end, Huo Lang cast a faint glance at Manager Yang.
After understanding his hint, Manager Yang quietly said to Huo Pingxiao, “My Lord, after you and your lady move to the mansion, don’t forget to send the young master to Tongjian Garden on the scheduled days. The Minister’s Residence will also send a carriage to pick up and drop off from the Marquis of Dingbei’s Mansion. Even though you two are moving, you should still frequently bring the young master to visit Lord Minister and the lady.”
After Manager Yang finished speaking, Madam Gao couldn’t help but blink.
Lord Minister truly is…
He seemingly neglected the ‘living Yama’ but willingly provided meticulous guidance to Huo Xi.
However, it’s not surprising for Lord Minister to do so, given that the son of the ‘living Yama’ is both adorable and clever, as well as eager to learn.
Such a legitimate eldest grandson would be treasured in any family.
On her last night at the Minister’s Residence, Ruan An, as usual, had a restless sleep filled with dreams.
She closed her eyes and slowly exhaled a warm and sweet breath, knowing that her problem of insomnia and frequent dreaming couldn’t be cured by just a few doses of medicine.
Ruan An, being a physician herself, also deeply understood that heartache is the most difficult to cure.
The lady was trying to clear her mind, even silently reciting medical prescriptions in her head.
Yet, she was unaware that the man beside her was slightly tilting his head, discreetly observing her sleeping posture.
Still unable to sleep.
Ruan An’s beautiful face showed a trace of annoyance as she suddenly opened her eyes.
Sensing her awakening, Huo Pingxiao averted his gaze and continued to lie silently, but did not close his eyes.
He knew Ruan An couldn’t see in the dark and was curious about what she would do when she couldn’t sleep.
After giving up on trying to sleep, Ruan An adjusted her position, turning to face Huo Pingxiao and lying on her side.
She extended her slender, fair hand, tentatively feeling his face, and also mentally picturing his sharp and handsome features.
Although she had been his wife for over a month, Ruan An still didn’t feel a real connection, always feeling as if she and Huo Pingxiao were from different worlds.
In her previous life, she occasionally remembered him in her half-asleep state, and had imagined what kind of person Huo Pingxiao’s wife would be.
She was also curious about how he would speak and look at his wife.
Now, as his wife, she no longer needed to imagine.
Ruan An always felt that a dazzling figure like Huo Pingxiao should have a passionate love story.
But she came from an ordinary background, with a tepid and mild temperament, and hardly any temper.
For a girl like her, it seemed difficult to even spark his interest, let alone his liking or admiration.
A flash of disappointment crossed Ruan An’s almond-shaped eyes, but she quickly concealed the emotion.
Thinking that Huo Pingxiao was sound asleep, she wanted to quietly touch his hand. Her fingertips touched his warm hand, wanting to place it in his palm to let him hold her hand as he slept.
“What are you doing?”
Huo Pingxiao’s voice was low and faint, yet he pinched the young lady’s hand with a non-negligible force.
The touch was warm and smooth as jade, still as soft as if it had no bones.
Thinking of this, the man’s dark eyebrows and eyes drooped slightly, and his strong palm also loosened its grip, not wanting to hurt her.
Ruan An panicked in her heart, she had not expected Huo Pingxiao to wake up at all!
The young lady simply lied, speaking timidly, “I wanted to take your pulse.”
“Take my pulse?”
Huo Pingxiao sighed helplessly, glancing at Ruan An and adding, “Once we move to the new residence, Miss Ruan can take pulses for others.”
Fortunately, her excuse had deceived the man.
Ruan An sighed with relief.
Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, Huo Pingxiao grasped her slender wrist, following her blushing gaze, and asked, “Why won’t Miss Ruan take my pulse anymore?”
His words were utterly serious.
Ruan An also thought, since she was a healer, she should indeed take Huo Pingxiao’s pulse regularly.
Soon, the young lady sat upright and spoke earnestly to the man gazing at her, “If you want your pulse taken, then let’s do it properly. Sit up, so I can be more accurate.”
Hearing this, Huo Pingxiao laughed softly.
His little wife was indeed not immune to teasing.
Whatever he said, she took seriously.
….
Before the auspicious day of the Crown Prince’s wedding, the Gao family sent He Xinruo to the Dingbei Marquis residence, also entrusting her with the gifts of relocation prepared by her and concubine Zhang.
The Gao family found a good pretext, one was to maintain harmony among the sisters-in-law, choosing a day when Huo Pingxiao was not at home, so He Xinruo could formally apologize to Ruan An.
And as a mother-in-law, it was inconvenient for her to personally visit the younger generation’s new residence.
The Dingbei Marquis residence was located in Huaide District, a bit farther from the imperial city than the Minister’s residence, but more convenient for Huo Pingxiao to travel to the outskirts of the camp.
The Minister’s residence’s carriage stopped at the imposing brick-carved archway of the Marquis residence. He Xinruo lifted the curtain and saw the golden plaque inscribed with four bold and vigorous characters — Dingbei Marquis Residence.
From the outside, this Marquis residence was quite different from the Minister’s residence.
For instance, there was a cobblestone horse track outside the Marquis residence, highlighting the military identity of the owner.
Due to He Xinruo’s visit, which also represented the Gao family’s intentions, it was Wei Yuan, the steward, who personally welcomed her.
Following Wei Yuan around the Fu Lu Ying Bi (Screen Wall of Fortune and Prosperity), the first thing He Xinruo saw was a five-room wide entrance hall.
She thought, although this entrance hall looked spacious and grand, Huo Pingxiao was after all a martial man, and his cousin from Shu was also not one for elegance.
Their residence’s setting must only have grandeur, and likely no delicate scenery to speak of.
As she followed Wei Yuan through the winding corridors, He Xinruo’s calm demeanor soon turned to an uncontrollable sourness.
The scenery inside was indeed every five steps a building, every ten steps a pavilion, exuding the nobility and elegance of a prestigious family.
Outside the corridor, willows reached the clouds, lotus blossoms just opening on the pond, creating a serene and cool shade.
The lengthy north-south corridor divides the marquis’s mansion into two areas. He Xinruo headed to the southern section, and it only took the time of a cup of tea to traverse, indicating she had only covered about one-tenth of the mansion.
Along the way, she saw many unique pavilions and elegant structures.
After passing through the Choushou Corridor and the Chuihua Gate, she arrived at the Yanyun Hall for receiving guests. Though called a hall, it was actually a spacious, four-roomed Mandarin Duck Hall.
He Xinruo always dreamt of building a similar hall in the residence she would share with her husband in the future, a place warm in winter and cool in summer.
This Northern Marquis Mansion was exactly the kind of residence she envisioned.
He Xinruo struggled to suppress her jealousy.
Inside the hall, the Fang family’s cousin still wore a turquoise dress, exuding a calm demeanor. Sitting there, she seemed more elegantly untroubled than when she was at the Minister’s Mansion.
Upon seeing He Xinruo enter with her maid, Ruan An gestured for her to sit and spoke softly, “Steward Wei is efficient. Please inform our mother-in-law back at the Minister’s Mansion that there’s no need for her to worry. The Marquis and I are doing well.”
He Xinruo, holding back her jealousy, nodded to Ruan An and replied, “Yes.”
During the ensuing time, He Xinruo felt extremely uneasy, not wanting to stay a moment longer.
She still couldn’t be sure when Huo Changjue would split from the Minister’s family and take her to live in another residence.
Although the Minister’s Mansion was larger than the Marquis Mansion, living there with her mother-in-law and the several concubines of Lord Minister made He Xinruo feel constrained.
Frustrated, she left after less than half an hour and returned to the Minister’s Mansion.
Upon her return, a maid informed her, “Madam, an invitation has arrived from the residence of Grand Tutor Li.”
Taking the expensive invitation made of Ruyao paper, He Xinruo suddenly remembered Ruan An’s words at the Minister’s Mansion.
With a slight smile, a plan began to form in her mind.