Chapter 166: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 166: 

 

For a moment, Liu Mian Tang became even more curious about how she had ended up choosing Cui Xingzhou as her husband.

After examining her pulse, Zhao Quan discovered that Mian Tang’s blood circulation had improved compared to before, but there were still some blockages and stagnation. This must be the reason for her amnesia regarding the three years spent with Cui Xingzhou.

Mian Tang's memory loss wasn’t a recent occurrence. Zhao Quan had previously suggested prescribing some herbal medicine to help dissipate the blood stasis and invigorate her mind in order to treat her amnesia.

At first, Cui Xingzhou had looked down on this fallen woman, unwilling to expend any effort on her. Later, driven by jealousy and fearing that she might still hold onto memories of her former lover, he became even less inclined to help her remember.

However, now that Liu Mian Tang had completely forgotten about him, Cui Xingzhou found himself tormented, unable to endure even a moment of her indifference.

So, Zhao Quan, the physician, wrote out three prescriptions and arranged for acupuncture and heat therapy, hoping that a combination of treatments would yield better results. 

To Mian Tang, though, this felt like a form of torture. She could eat and sleep without feeling any deficiency, so why should she be forced to drink bitter medicine or endure acupuncture?

Perhaps due to having taken too much medicinal broth during her injuries, Mian Tang grew intolerant at the mere scent of the herbs, refusing to drink even a drop.

Li Mama took the lead in gently persuading her, but Mian Tang remained stubborn, refusing to cooperate.

In truth, this time, the returned princess displayed an intimidating demeanor and was particularly resistant to advice, which left Li Mama utterly exhausted and at a loss.

The most critical issue was that the only one who could effectively manage the princess, the prince himself, had recently been absent from the estate.

After Master Xie had nearly been killed by the pirates, and with Cui Xingzhou threatening him with a knife to his throat, he had become more compliant, and the shipbuilding sped up considerably.

Meanwhile, the patrols around Ko Island had intensified. Cui Xingzhou was determined not to allow the pirates to escape back to Japan, planning to confront Eikushi-ji in a life-and-death battle before the typhoon season hit.

Eikushi-ji had not only kidnapped Liu Mian Tang but had also caused her to completely forget her past with him. This agony was like a thousand knives torturing him, constantly gnawing at Cui Xingzhou and filling him with murderous intent.

However, his absence from the estate wasn't solely due to his busy official duties. Every time Cui Xingzhou saw Liu Mian Tang looking at him with unfamiliar eyes and deliberately avoiding him, it left a heavy feeling in his heart. He preferred to spend his time in the military camp, wrestling with his soldiers to blow off steam.

After all, even if he went home, Liu Mian Tang wouldn’t allow him to share the same bed. Rather than suffocating himself with that, it was better to avoid her altogether.

To make matters worse, Zhao Quan, who was supposed to administer acupuncture to Liu Mian Tang, frequently came to the military camp instead. This time, he brought a pot of wine and a lunch box, wanting to drink with Cui Xingzhou and Li Guangcai.

Cui Xingzhou couldn’t stand to see Zhao Quan idle anymore. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Zhao Jia Yu, are you getting a bit lazy? Is the princess’ condition improving?"

Zhao Quan poured himself a cup of wine and downed it in one go without needing any side dishes. In recent days, he had found himself unable to part with alcohol. "Wine gives people courage," as the saying goes.

After finishing a cup, Zhao Quan choked up as he said to Cui Xingzhou, "Xingzhou, after all these years of friendship, can you really be so heartless as to watch me suffer? Each time I need to go treat your beloved princess, I end up crying for half the day before I can leave. On one hand, I have the needles, and on the other, she’s playing with a dagger. Once, I barely pressed on an acupoint, and she stabbed that dagger right between my fingers! I almost lost a finger… I miss my mother. I want to go home, marry, and have children. Boo hoo..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Quan was already sobbing uncontrollably. 

Li Guangcai hadn’t expected that just one cup of wine could make the usually composed Zhao Quan lose his composure. He hurriedly tried to comfort the tearful marquis while also instructing the soldiers to brew a hangover soup.

Cui Xingzhou paid no mind to his weeping friend. He simply raised his wine cup and downed its contents in one go.

If one were to take a closer look, both friends shared a deep sorrow in their hearts, though each bore a different kind of pain—a sorrow akin to the melancholy brought on by autumn winds and rains.

Before long, a soldier brought in the hangover soup. Zhao Quan took it, his body still shaking with sobs. However, after just a sip, he spat it out, glaring at the soldier. "Did you bring me the water used to wash the pots? It smells rancid!"

The soldier wore a helpless expression. "My lord, that was specially prepared for you as a hangover remedy. But since the food in the general’s tent is sent by the princess every few days, we only need to heat it up. The cooks here can barely make anything beyond stews and large pots of rice, so you'll just have to make do with it..."

Since Liu Mian Tang lost her memory, the considerate and caring princess had ceased to exist.

Zhao Quan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of relief as he realized that there were worse situations than his own. In his case, he would eventually return home to his loving mother, wife, and children.

But now, looking at Cui Xingzhou's wife, he couldn’t help but think that she was even more absent than his devoutly religious ex-wife. She seemed completely unconcerned about the well-being of Prince Huaiyang.

To have a wife who was so unreachable, so unapproachable—was this really what marriage was about?

Li Guangcai, now in the throes of his new marriage, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the prince. The reality was that men serving on the front lines were often physically and mentally exhausted. 

Just think of all the generals who returned triumphant, often bringing back one or two wives or devoted concubines from the battlefield. It was simply a matter of needing someone to care for them after such arduous times.

But now, the princess had forgotten all her duties as a wife due to her amnesia. Although Beihai was a wild and untamed land, it was not lacking in beautiful and talented women.

Li Guangcai feared that if the princess continued to neglect the prince, there might come a day when she regained her memories, only to find another woman already tending to him.

With that thought, he felt it was crucial to gently nudge Liu Mian Tang back toward her husband. Even if she couldn’t shower him with the same affection as before, she shouldn’t distance herself so completely from the prince.

However, as a man, he found it challenging to broach the subject directly with her. Instead, he decided to consult Cui Fu, hoping she could convey this message.

Cui Fu, on the other hand, had initially doubted Liu Mian Tang’s amnesia. But seeing her return without even greeting her made her realize something was amiss. They hadn’t even shared a meal together.

Most troubling of all, Liu Mian Tang hardly wore skirts anymore. Instead, she seemed to prefer hunting attire, looking like a tomboy, as if she had transformed into someone else entirely.

Watching as Cui Xingzhou stayed away day after day, Cui Fu felt this situation couldn’t continue. 

So, she decided to personally prepare some purple sweet potato cakes to share with Liu Mian Tang.

Liu Mian Tang was in the courtyard, stretching and practicing her moves with a small wooden sword alongside her son, Yi'er. Over the past few days, Yi'er had taken to imitating his mother’s sword practice, trying to mimic her movements with a childlike enthusiasm, his little mouth making playful sounds as he swung the sword around.

When Cui Fu arrived to bring food, Mian Tang clasped her fists in thanks and reached for the dishes. However, Fangxie was quick to hand her a handkerchief, urging her to wipe her hands before eating.

In these past few days, Mian Tang had learned from the maids about the kind of extravagant life she had led for the past three years. When she opened her wardrobe, she was taken aback by the multitude of beautiful skirts she owned. There were various dresses categorized for home wear, outdoor wear, and different types of banquets.

While hiding in her room, she had secretly tried on a few pieces and found that they looked stunning on her. However, when stepping out into the courtyard, she still opted for practical trousers and a short top.

At this moment, Mian Tang felt as if she had just come down from Yangshan Mountain, having become accustomed to dressing in male attire. The sudden suggestion to embrace her femininity, don elegant clothing, and apply makeup made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Moreover, her so-called husband always wore a sullen expression whenever he saw her, and lately, he hadn’t even been coming home. What was the point of dressing up so nicely if no one was looking?

Thus, Liu Mian Tang stuck to her old habits, wearing simple clothes and tying her hair back in a casual braid.

Cui Fu cleared her throat and smiled at Mian Tang, asking, "Have you been feeling more comfortable these past few days? Any discomfort in your body?"

Mian Tang picked up a piece of cake and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Cui. I’m doing well now. Could you... perhaps talk to Prince Huaiyang and ask him to stop giving me medicine and acupuncture? That Lord Zhao is a decent person, but every time he sees me, he seems so nervous, shaking his legs and hands, making me suspect he’s here to poison me. It’s just uncomfortable..."

Cui Fu frowned at Mian Tang’s words, displeased. "Don’t call me ‘Madam’ I’m your sister-in-law! Poison you? Huaiyang would rather taste every bit of food you eat himself. You are precious to him, so who would dare harm you?"

Mian Tang hadn’t heard anyone speak of her being cherished like that in a long time, and it stirred something within her. Even though he wasn’t staying at home, he still sent people every day to bring her snacks and seafood, all her favorites.

Seeing her expressionless face, Cui Fu thought Mian Tang was being as stubborn as ever, so she sighed and continued, "Don’t think all the women from Beihai are dark and thin; there are plenty who are beautiful and voluptuous! The local customs are quite open. Recently, by the creek near the military camp, there have been many women coming to wash clothes and bathe. I saw it with my own eyes when I went to deliver food to Guangcai. Those women would go into the water wearing just their undergarments! They wash and sing, and the lyrics are all about... 'Oh, my beloved,' and 'Without a lover, I can’t sleep'... Oh, it’s really quite wild! You’ve forgotten all that due to your amnesia, but by neglecting your husband like this, you’re giving those wild women a chance to take advantage."

Mian Tang’s gaze turned cold. She knew well that some women could seize opportunities. After all, her good friend Sun Yunniang had surely taken advantage of Ziyu’s study, hadn’t she?

It was clear that when seeking a husband, one should be wary of attractive men; otherwise, one would be troubled by numerous suitors. It was her amnesia that had led her to agree to marry Cui Xingzhou in the first place.

If she had remembered her past, she would never have chosen such a flashy man... good-looking but useless!

Although Mian Tang thought this in her heart, she said lightly, "According to you, what should I do, Madam?"

Cui Fu assumed she had come to her senses and replied, "Of course, you should be as considerate to your husband as before and send him some food and drinks. You look so good; even just walking near the military camp should make those village women feel ashamed and behave themselves."

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