Chapter 18: A Jealous Prince

Cui Xingzhou had spent his days training with soldiers at the military camp, his appetite worlds apart from the delicate tastes of idle princes and noble ladies in the capital.

Aside from the crab roe buns, Lian Silan had also prepared a small bowl of bird’s nest soup and a plate of honey-glazed meat jerky.
The snacks were exquisite, their flavors refined and pleasing — but after a few bites, they left his stomach neither full nor satisfied. Nothing compared to Li Mama’s large steamed radish buns.

Still, Cui Xingzhou remained polite. He left one bun untouched as a sign that he was full, offering his cousin a gentle compliment on her improved culinary skills.

His praise made Lian Silan’s cheeks brighten. She promised shyly that she would prepare more delicate foods for him in the future.

She didn’t bring up her father’s recommendation letters again. Instead, she spoke softly about the Empress Dowager’s daily habits. When she saw his expression gradually soften, she knew it was time to withdraw.

Just as she was about to leave, her gaze fell upon the slightly worn sachet hanging at Cui Xingzhou’s waist. Sweetness rose in her heart. Smiling, she said,
“This sachet wasn’t embroidered well by Silan. I didn’t expect my cousin to keep wearing it. When I have time, I’ll embroider you a better one…”

Cui Xingzhou’s lips curved faintly.
“I’m not one to chase after new things. I’ve grown accustomed to this one. There’s no need to replace it. But thank you for your kindness, cousin.”

The sachet was indeed the engagement gift sent through the matchmaker when they were betrothed. And truthfully, the embroidery was quite good. The matchmaker claimed it was personally made by Miss Lian — the secluded orchid design elegant, restrained, and fitting for a man. Out of courtesy, he had worn it ever since.

Cui Xingzhou was not someone who easily changed what he was accustomed to.
This applied to objects — and to people.
He had never expected much from a future wife. Needlework, the pride of noblewomen, was of little importance to him. As long as his wife was gentle, virtuous, and peaceful, that was enough.

But everything changed when he rescued Liu Miantang.

She had recognized him as her fiancé solely because of this sachet.

And unlike noble ladies who clung to appearances, Miantang had no vanity. When he subtly questioned her about the sachet, she told him honestly that although it was part of her dowry, she hadn’t embroidered it. Her maid, realizing they were missing a sachet while organizing items along the journey, had bought one at a post station from a wandering embroiderer.

This embroiderer, as it turned out, did “proxy embroidery” for wealthy families — an open secret of Great Yan. Many noble girls lacked needlework skills, so these artisans discreetly crafted unique embroideries on their behalf, preserving their reputation.

It seemed that the same embroiderer had coincidentally done proxy work for the Lian family as well. Finding the work tedious, she likely reused the same secluded-orchid pattern, assuming the two brides — one marrying into the capital, one staying local in Zhen Prefecture — would never encounter each other.

Thus, the sachet Miantang purchased was identical to Lian Silan’s engagement token.

That small coincidence was what made Liu Miantang mistake Cui Xingzhou — the man wearing the worn sachet — as her husband, Cui Jiu.

When he first realized the misunderstanding, he was surprised. But Miantang’s candid explanation laid everything bare.

And through it, Cui Xingzhou glimpsed a side of his cousin’s hidden vanity he had never considered.

Normally, he would not trouble himself with trivial matters like needlework. A young lady’s desire for praise was natural.
But today, when Lian Silan mentioned the sachet again, he couldn’t help but wonder — had her needlework truly improved? Or had she found another “proxy”?

His mood was already clouded. After receiving a lecture from his future brother-in-law, irritation piled atop irritation.

When the Lian siblings finally departed, Cui Xingzhou changed into casual clothes and stepped out of the military camp. He followed the dirt path through the countryside, hoping to clear his mind.

Under his governance, Zhen Prefecture had developed new farmlands, planting rice that yielded two harvests a year. The seedlings were already tall and lush.

In the ponds that watered the paddies, farmers were busy catching crabs — the same crabs used in Lian Silan’s crab roe buns.

“June yellow” crabs were delicious only briefly. Once their shells hardened, their flavor was never the same.

Seeing his master staring at the ponds, the servant Mo Ru instantly understood. He ran to inquire about the price, returning shortly with two large baskets of crabs.

“Your Highness, should we ask the camp cook to steam them for your lunch?”

Cui Xingzhou imagined the rough cooking of the camp kitchen and felt it would be a waste.
“Call the carriage. We’ll go to Lingquan Town for lunch.”

Lingquan Town had proper chefs who could bring out the crabs’ true flavor.

He had no intention of going to the North Street residence.

But fate had other plans.

He had just stepped down from the carriage at a secluded restaurant when he heard a familiar voice call out joyfully:

“Husband!”

Cui Xingzhou turned. A woman in a smoke-colored pleated skirt was hurrying toward him, her eyes bright with delight. Li Mama was chasing behind, panting heavily.

“I was on my way to bring food to Mr. Chen and recognized your carriage from afar… but Li Mama insisted it wasn’t you and wouldn’t let me follow. I almost lost you!”

Miantang was out of breath, her cheeks flushed, her slender neck glowing pale and delicate under the sun. Her ankle twinged faintly — an old injury acting up after running too fast.

When she reached the carriage, she instinctively steadied herself against it.

Cui Xingzhou immediately sensed her pain. Although Zhao Quan had reconnected her severed foot tendons, she would never recover completely. Running must have hurt her sharply.

He reached out and held her arm to keep her from stumbling.

Her delicate arm had grown softer after a year of recovery. His fingers tightened instinctively…

Li Mama finally arrived and fell to her knees.
“Master… this old servant couldn’t stop the mistress… Please punish—”

But before she could finish, she caught the cold, warning glance of the Prince of Huaiyang and wisely fell silent.

Miantang, distracted by pain, hadn’t noticed Li Mama’s attempt to confess. She asked softly,
“Husband… you came back to town, but didn’t return home? Were you planning to eat here?”

Her eyes fell on the two baskets of crabs in Mo Ru’s hands.

Quick-witted, Mo Ru immediately covered for him:
“The master knows you love crab, madam, so he bought these especially for you. He planned to bring them home after the restaurant prepared crab roe buns…”

Miantang’s heart warmed. She had once asked for crab during her recovery, only to be admonished by Li Mama for extravagance. She had never dared ask again.

Yet he remembered.

Looking at his handsome face, she said softly,
“Why make buns? June crabs have soft shells — they’re best stir-fried with spices. I bought homemade spicy bean paste yesterday. That would taste far better and save money!”

Whatever solitary plans Cui Xingzhou had vanished.

He held her gaze — eyes full of unguarded joy — and something in him shifted.

“If you like spicy crab,” he said slowly, “then we’ll stir-fry them.”

He supported her back into the carriage, and they returned to the North Street residence.

This time, he didn’t bother with secrecy. When they arrived, he personally helped Miantang down from the carriage, under the watchful eyes of every curious neighbor peering their heads out.

Rumors had long painted her husband as a worthless scoundrel.

But today—

Under the bright sun stood a tall, elegant man in a moon-colored robe. Broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, refined in temperament, with striking brows and deep eyes.

Not at all like a merchant.
If someone had said he was an official from a prominent family, everyone would have believed it.

In an instant, the neighbors decided:
This couple was heaven-made — perfectly matched.

Old Lady Yin called warmly, “Madam Cui! Your husband’s back? Come have some roasted melon seeds!”

Standing proudly beside him, Miantang raised her voice,
“We can’t today! My husband went all the way to the countryside to buy crabs for me. We haven’t eaten yet!”

With that, she held his arm and walked home beaming.

Cui Xingzhou had his own thoughts.

Miantang had been here so long without anyone coming for her. Perhaps… Lu Wen had abandoned her on purpose. If so, revealing himself publicly might serve another purpose.

If Lu Wen learned that the woman he once cherished was now the favorite of the Prince of Huaiyang, he would surely panic — fearing she might reveal his secrets.

And panic leads to action.

Thinking of Lu Wen’s attempts to seek amnesty and disguise himself as a future official, Cui Xingzhou sneered inwardly:

Does a bandit truly believe he can wear an official’s skin?
We’ll see if I allow it.

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