Chapter 364: A Mutually Respectful and Loving Couple

The next day.

Morning.

Before dawn fully broke, thick snow had already piled on the eaves of the Jin Wang Fu.

The north wind swirled the goose‑feather snow, pattering against the window lattice.

It pressed the plum branches in the courtyard down to a bow, as if wrapping the few pink buds in a layer of plain white fur.

Inside, however, it was warm and cozy.

The silver‑bone charcoal in the brazier burned brightly, casting a gentle glow on the gilt‑edged copper mirror.

Du Gu Mi Luo sat alone before the mirror, her plain hands holding an ivory comb, leisurely smoothing her waist‑long hair, and thought angrily:

"Yuwen Ze actually hid that mother and daughter in a secluded courtyard in Chang'an!"

"It's truly an outrageous betrayal!"

"He doesn't regard Weiguo Gong Fu at all!"

Her jet‑black hair fell like a waterfall onto her scarlet brocade nightgown, making the exposed neck at the collar appear even more luminous.

Yet her expression was extremely displeased.

From the information gathered from many sources, her husband's affairs with women outside were already bad enough.

He even took a mother‑daughter pair he brought back from the merchants' guild as concubines, keeping them in Chang'an…

And that secluded courtyard, it was obvious, was provided by his good elder brother, the damned Director of the Mingjing Office!

"We must find a way to eliminate them quickly!" Du Gu Mi Luo lifted the comb, gliding it through her hair, occasionally catching a few rebellious strands, then gently smoothed them with her fingertips.

Her brows, like distant mountains tinged with indigo, and eyes, like rippling autumn water, were full of murderous intent.

Some things can be tolerated, others cannot!

Even if the marital relationship were strained, she could not tolerate another woman sharing her husband.

"We can't continue to stalemate with Yuwen Ze…"

"For me and my household, there is not a single benefit!"

"We must devise a way to break this situation and capture his heart…"

Du Gu Mi Luo picked up the screw‑black pigment from her dressing table, delicately applying it before the mirror, her brows furrowed and eyes flashing with calculation.

She knew clearly that the empty title of Crown Princess held no real power…

She must turn the void into substance, seize Yuwen Ze, the future Jin Prince, to secure greater benefits for the Du Gu clan, perhaps even replace him.

Du Gu Mi Luo blinked, as if a thought struck her, murmuring to herself, "Perhaps I should first feign gentleness and tenderness…"

"Don't all men fall for that trick?"

She had heard her mother say before that men, as a species, are easy to conquer…

With her beauty plus a bit of maneuvering, deliberately approaching, it should not be difficult!

Step one: arrange a rendezvous under flowers and moonlight.

When Yuwen Ze is utterly smitten beneath her pomegranate‑colored skirt, she can manipulate him at will!

"Madam, the bird's nest soup is ready!"

Just as Du Gu Mi Luo was lost in her scheme, faint footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the soft voice of maid Fang Zi.

A corner of the curtain was gently lifted, letting in a slight chill, as Fang Zi entered carrying a gilt lacquer tray.

In the tray, a white porcelain bowl of bird's nest soup steamed gently, its sweet fragrance mingling with the crispness of snow water, spreading through the warm bedroom.

She placed the lacquer tray steadily on the small table beside the dressing table and bowed with a knee.

Du Gu Mi Luo's face darkened instantly at those three words, full of displeasure, a layer of frost covering her, even her voice turning colder: "Bird's nest soup?"

"Again, bird's nest soup!"

Her voice rose sharply, bearing long‑suppressed impatience: "In this vast Jin Prince's Residence, is the morning meal limited to a single bird's nest soup!"

Having married into the Jin Prince's Residence for almost two months, the daily morning refresh was always this repetitive bird's nest soup.

Never even a change?

"Madam, calm your anger!"

Fang Zi, facing the angry Du Gu Mi Luo, lowered her eyelids, speaking courteously, calm and composed.

She paused briefly, then urged: "Bird's nest soup is highly beneficial; the nobles of this household drink it upon rising, the prince included…"

"Madam, please have some!"

Saying so, she moved the bowl of bird's nest soup toward Du Gu Mi Luo's face.

The heat from the white porcelain bowl brushed her back of the hand, yet she seemed unaware, her face still expressionless, showing no fear.

"I won't drink!"

Du Gu Mi Luo slammed the table and rose abruptly, the hem of her scarlet nightgown sweeping over the dressing table, causing the white jade hairpin to clang as it fell to the floor.

She pointed at Fang Zi, her chest heaving violently, anger blazing like oil in fire, and scolded loudly: "You, a servant, dare to act as the master for this Crown Princess?"

"Do you even understand hierarchy!"

Du Gu Mi Luo was already dissatisfied with Yuwen Ze, and now she even invoked Yuwen Hu to pressure her?

That's truly adding insult to injury.

Having said that, she snatched the bowl of bird's nest from the table and, with a forceful wrist flick—

Bang!

The white porcelain bowl smashed hard onto the blue bricks, shattering instantly.

The soup, mixed with shards of porcelain, splattered everywhere.

"I dare not!" Fang Zi lowered her head, expressionless, replying with neither servility nor arrogance.

"From the moment I entered, I heard a bowl smashing and shouting—what could provoke such a huge anger?"

At that moment, a teasing voice drifted lazily, as if watching an amusing play.

Immediately after, Yuwen Ze was cloaked in a dark sable fur coat, his ink‑black hair still dotted with unmelted snowflakes, clearly having just come in from outside.

Behind him followed Lu Cangfeng, carrying a tray.

His gaze swept over the shattered porcelain and mess on the floor, finally settling on Du Gu Mi Luo, whose face flushed red and hair in disarray, a half‑smile curling his lips.

"Greetings, Prince Heir!"

"Greetings, Prince Heir!"

Fang Zi, seeing this, bowed her head toward Yuwen Ze in salute.

Qing Lu, Chun Lan and the other maids also knelt at the sound, hands clasped before their waists, skirts slightly creasing with the motion, and they all bowed in unison.

Yuwen Ze, what are you doing here?!.......... Du Gu Mi Luo stared at the suddenly appearing Yuwen Ze, a bit taken aback, and after a moment of daze a mocking smile curled at her lips, her voice carrying unabashed yin‑yang: "Prince Heir, why are you in the mood to visit my chambers today?"

Having said that, she raised her hand to smooth her disheveled hair.

Has the sun risen in the west?

Yuwen Ze taking the initiative to come into her room—what a rare occurrence!

After all, since the wedding night, he hadn't appeared again.....

Even meetings have been extremely rare.

"It's just that I'm especially missing you today, so I came to see the Madam..."

The teasing in Yuwen Ze's expression faded a bit, and he suddenly leaned forward, his tone becoming exceedingly gentle, with an inexplicable earnestness, and he opened his mouth.

Then he waved to the maids, "All of you, step down!"

Fang Zi nodded, leading the other maids out silently, and as they left she gently closed the hall doors.

Missing you? Hmph! Could it be that after your father just bestowed the Grand Tutor title on my father, you hurried back to fix things......... Upon hearing this, Du Gu Mi Luo let out a soft hum, as if seeing through the man's intent, yet still playing along, she said softly, "I, too, miss my husband dearly!"

That affectionate demeanor was all but pretended.

Yuwen Ze let out a low laugh, the sound hiding an indefinable meaning, like a hidden current stirring beneath a winter lake.

He stepped another half‑step forward; the snowflakes on the dark sable fur coat had already melted, exuding a crisp chill that brushed her crimson nightgown.

His gaze rested on Du Gu Mi Luo's slightly trembling lashes, his tone deliberately lingering, as if with a sincere sigh: "We haven't met for many days; Madam, your beauty surpasses even the past....."

As if truly captivated by this "scenery."

Yet that expression seemed more like admiring a finished work.

Indeed, it's hard to tell.....

"My husband, you flatter!"

Du Gu Mi Luo, upon hearing that, adopted a perfectly timed shyness, lifted her hand to lightly brush the side of her hair, as if unintentionally grazing the towering bun, her voice soft and gentle, with a hint of deliberate grace: "It's merely a touch of makeup....."

Such a harmonious scene felt as if the wedding night and the following day had never occurred.

It resembled a pair of mutually respectful, loving spouses.

"I ordered the kitchen for the Madam to prepare mandarin fish soup....."

"We fetched freshly caught mandarin fish, deboned it, thickly minced it, and made it into a fish paste!"

Yuwen Ze raised his hand, gave Lu Cangfeng a gentle wave, and smiled at Du Gu Mi Luo, saying,

Lu Cangfeng carried the tray, hurried forward; atop it was a bowl of milky‑white mandarin fish soup steaming, the broth dotted with a few scarlet goji berries and a sprinkling of finely chopped scallions.

A fresh fragrance mingled with a faint ginger scent spread out.

"Eat it while it's hot....." Yuwen Ze lifted the mandarin fish soup, smiling gently.

"My husband, you're thoughtful!"

Du Gu Mi Luo did not reject Yuwen Ze's "flattery"; a smug smile curled her lips as she lifted the jade spoon set beside the bowl, lightly scooping a spoonful of mandarin fish soup.

She sipped it in small mouthfuls.

"How beautiful!"

Yuwen Ze watched Du Gu Mi Luo lower her head to eat, his smile deepening, appreciatively admiring her face, sighing, "How could I not have known before that my wife was born so beautiful? It's truly intoxicating......."

She looked utterly enamored.

Yet, deep in her eyes lay an inscrutable longing.....

"How could that be?"

Du Gu Mi Luo, flattered, became a bit shy and set the jade spoon down.

Yuwen Ze suddenly averted his gaze, straightened up to smooth his slightly disheveled collar, the earlier enamored look receding like the tide, familiar mischief flickering again in his eyes, and said, "Madam, I have good news to tell you....."

His tone was light, with a hint of deliberate mystery.

"What good news?" Du Gu Mi Luo, piqued by curiosity, asked.

Yuwen Ze's lips curled into a sly grin: "Last night, Duke of Chu Zhao Qian conspired with Generals Yang and Yan to plot a palace coup, and I, A Xiong, have completely eradicated them!"

"What?!"

"The Duke of Chu rebelled?!"

"And Chen Yan wiped them out?!"

Du Gu Mi Luo stared at Yuwen Ze in a daze, as if she hadn't heard his words clearly, nor could she believe her ears.

The Duke of Chu Zhao Qian was, after all, her father's ally and close friend!

Yuwen Ze gave a half‑smile, raised an eyebrow slightly, and thoughtfully added, "Your father, Dugu Lao Zhuguo, also took his own life last night out of guilt!"

——

PS: Today's 7,000‑chapter update, making up for what was owed earlier; the rest will still be pumped out vigorously.

Starting a new volume, hoping for a free little gift (? ＞? ＜)?