Two days later, General Huixin sat in the garden of her residence in the capital. Despite its simplicity, it was exquisite. The mansion in the capital was bestowed upon her by the late crown prince on her eighteenth birthday, when her true identity was revealed. She often wondered why she was allowed to keep it despite everything that had happened since.
Servants bustled in and out of the various rooms hurriedly making preparations for the guest they have later that day. To Huixin's surprise, Minister Chen had agreed to the marriage a day later. She didn't expect him to be so decisive in trading his own safety for his son's.
He had stood before the imperial court and announced the marriage using compelling arguments that she had fed him, like how the union of a soldier and a scholar's family which would serve as proof that war and governance walk hand in hand to guarantee a successful reign. This would ease the growing tension in the capital between military and scholar families.
But Chen Yuan had even gone as far as expressing how it must be a heavenly blessing that his son's betrothed was still alive despite being presumed dead for so many years and how fulfilling the childhood betrothal was the best he could do to honour the late members of the Liu family.
Huixin had clenched her fist through his speech, he had mentioned her family so flippantly. But she reminded herself that this was all still part of her plan.
When asked about why he'd agree to his son being a matrilocal husband, he had smoothly replied that the young master was frail, and travelling between residences may worsen his condition. Since the General's estate would be well-guarded and quiet it would be perfect for the sake of his health.
The court had erupted in a few murmurs, matrilocal marriages were rare, and they usually brought some level of shame to the man's family, but otherwise, no one openly objected.
Huixin hadn't cared for any of the others, she had kept her eyes fixed on the second prince, trying to gauge his response to the news. Obviously, his newest ally in the capital becoming in-laws with one of his enemies was bound to kick his feet out from under him. But the second prince had remained as composed as ever, keeping up his perfect, benevolent facade, he had even been one of the first to congratulate Huixin and Minister Chen.
The emperor was a reasonable but firm man, Huixin knew that he would always make the choice that would give off the appearance of a stable rule. If a scholar-soldier marriage would ease the tensions in the capital then he would allow it. The emperor had blessed the marriage, promising to send an envoy on the day to observe.
"You know I just hate how benevolent appears to everyone else." She complained about the second prince for the thousandth time. Brooding over the previous days events with Wei Lai.
"He does the most harm to the realm, yet he always manages to appear like the perfect son to the emperor! And who ends up looking like the bad guy? Me!" She continued her tirade.
"It's okay. We know he's growing impatient, five years have passed and the emperor has not named him crown prince yet, he's bound to do something drastic and get caught soon." Wei Lai said, ever composed, ever patient.
Huixin was grateful to have Wei Lai next to her. His cool nature complemented her fiery sense of justice. His advice, which she didn't heed as often as she should, saved her life many times.
And when they were not scheming or fighting, he made a pretty decent older brother, he protected her from the bullying of the other boys in the army before she had learnt to stand up for herself and even now she knew that he worried about her even though he never voiced it out loud.
After she was orphaned, the Wei family at the Northern Frontier took her in at the behest of the Crown Prince. General Wei, Madame Wei and Wei Lai, were the closest thing to family that Huixin had experienced and she was eternally grateful for them.
"About your wedding, I didn't expect Minister Chen to sacrifice his son like that. He would really marry his son to someone like..."
Huixin gave Wei Lai a scorching look, daring him to complete that sentence.
"...you." He finished with a smirk.
Huixin opened her mouth to scold him when a commotion at her front door distracted them.
The Chen family had sent through betrothal gifts. Huixin watched the servants bring in the various gifts in pairs. Tea leaves, embroidered fabrics, silks, gold, silver, wines and dried meats. The Chen family seemed to have spared no expense. Huixin wondered how much of the gifts came from the Second prince's favours.
Huixin remained where she was while Wei Lai went to speak to the family representative. For everything regarding her wedding, Wei Lai would stand in the place of her family. General Wei and Madame Wei would not be able to make it, as they were handling the affairs of the North in her absence.
The betrothal contract was agreed on and a modest dinner was held with the matchmaker and the Chen family representative. The exchange was ordered and filled with pleasantries, it seemed that apart from those in the garden days earlier, no one was aware of the true nature of the marriage. To everyone outside, this was merely a childhood betrothal being fulfilled. The return gifts were swiftly sent to the Chen mansion along with the representatives.
Later that evening, Huixin sat at the cleared dinner table with Wei Lai beside her. She let out a heavy sigh.
"What's bothering you?" Wei Lai asked.
"I suspect that the Second Prince is using the siphoned imperial funds to fund the skirmishes in the Eastern Frontier."
Lately, multiple small-scale invasions had been happening at the Eastern Frontier, that Frontier was part of the Second Prince's fief. Every time a skirmish arose, he charged there and returned in victory, earning him more military merit and solidifying him as a loyal protector of the realm and gaining him the King's favour. Huixin found it suspicious that invaders would try to invade from the Eastern Frontier when everyone knew that the Northern Frontier was the easiest to breach and led directly to the capital.
"If I can audit the Chen's family affairs under the guise of this marriage. I could find transactions that prove this theory. By marrying Young master Chen, no one would be surprised if I obtained access to household records, letters, and financial documents." She continued.
Wei Lai hummed in agreement. "The Second Prince is bound to pull away from the Chen family when he sees you getting into their business. This could also be advantageous, as this means the Second Prince will lose an important ally in the capital, and he'll have to rework his networks which will definitely result in some loose ends."
"That makes sense, but also the Second Prince could do the exact opposite and use the Chen family to get at me. Ruiyu will be in my household he may use him to plant or gather false evidence against me. It's not like he hasn't done it before..." Huixin trailed off, the unspoken name of the late crown prince hung in the air.
She shifted to make eye contact with Wei Lai. "Wei-ge,* when Young master Chen enters the household, you should assign someone to keep a close eye on him."
"You're his wife, none should watch him closer than you." Wei Lai teased with a grin.
"You're unbelievable," Huixin said, swatting his shoulder. The talk of politics and the heavy air of duty dissolved, replaced by the familiar banter and the light laughter of the pair. Crickets echoed through the summer night as the light breeze rustled through the leaves.
Across the capital, in the Chen household. The lantern's glow washed against the carved screens of Ruiyu's chamber, painting the room in shifting gold and shadow. The Young lady Chen, slipped inside, her small hands carrying a tray of medicinal tonics. She paused at the threshold, bowing slightly.
"Gege,"** she said softly, her voice tight with worry. "I asked Ziqi if I could bring your medicine tonight. Your health has been worsening lately, I worry that you will not be well taken care of in the Liu household."
Ruiyu's eyes lifted, steady but holding warmth. "Xiǎomèi,*** you worry as though the world depends on your shoulders. Do you think a girl of fifteen should concern herself with a grown man's affairs?"
She swallowed, stepping closer. "But… she is not kind, she threatened you. I do not want to see you suffer. And… when you leave, I will have no one to protect me from our parent's attention. You have always been my shield."
He reached out, lightly resting a hand on her shoulder. "Xiǎomèi you have grown in ways that even you do not see. I am more than capable of taking care of myself. This is a chance for you to mature, listen to Mother's instructions. I trust that you will be good."
The young Miss Chen swallowed, a lump in her throat. "I will try, Gege," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ruiyu inclined his head, faint warmth in his eyes. "That is all I ask. Tend well to yourself. Do not let worry consume you."
She lingered for a moment, her gaze on him, the quiet of the night pressing around them. Then, carefully, she set the tray down and left the room. Stepping back into the shadows outside, leaving only the faint scent of herbs and the gentle echo of her concern.
Minutes passed. Ruiyu sat, carefully consuming his combination of tonics before bed. A slender, shadowed figure slipped inside through the wide-open window, moving without a sound. Her deftness igniting a sense of pride in Ruiyu.
She laid a folded paper before him.
"The task is complete, Master." She whispered.
"Didn't I tell you to report to Ziqi and not me for the time being?" Ruiyu asked coldly, not even looking up to meet her eyes.
"I have sworn loyalty to you and you alone, not Ziqi." The shadow replied defensively.
"This shall be the last time I see you." he said dismissively, "Once I enter the Liu household, there is no doubt that I will be under constant watch. You will only meet with and report to Ziqi. Do not become a burden to me."
"...of course." The shadow murmured. Then a trace of disdain flicked across her features. "By the way, congratulations on your marriage."
Before he could reply, she was gone, vanishing silently into the night as if she had never been there.
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* 'Wei-ge' specifically means Older Brother Wei.
** 'Gege' means older brother
***'Xiǎomèi ' means little sister