Chapter 7: All Settled
Su Tang saw the young gentleman’s eyes widen in an instant, and amidst her surprise, she couldn’t help but feel a flush of pride. It seemed she truly didn’t need her little husband to say anything after all.
She gazed up at the star-studded sky and sighed softly, “The stars hang high, unchanged since time immemorial, while mortal life passes by in the blink of an eye. Heroes and beauties, gifted men and graceful women—all, in the end, are but fleeting clouds. Only these stars witness the turning of ages; small, yet enduring, in this dust-laden world…” Her words broke off abruptly.
The young gentleman before her had disappeared without her noticing.
Looking around, she saw the large black dog wagging its tail furiously beneath the wall, while the young gentleman moved a ladder over. When he saw Su Tang glance his way, he pointed upward.
Su Tang was speechless.
***
Stars glittered in the sky.
On the rooftop, in the blurred darkness, something seemed to move silently.
After a moment, a figure emerged—Li Qingtian.
Within the Zhao family’s courtyard, which stretched across three sections, the lamplight flickered uncertainly. Guards, carrying clubs, paced between the corridors.
One of the guards held a large dog on a leash.
Li Qingtian’s gaze lingered on the dog for a moment; his lips, hidden in the shadows, curled almost imperceptibly, and then his figure melted back into the night.
**********
The stars shimmered, their lights intertwining.
“That one is the North Gate of the Army in the ‘Room’ constellation, southwest of the Guards. North means it lies to the north, Gate means a border of the heavens, Army means multitude, and the Gate of the Army is like a military camp gate. The North Gate of the Army means ‘the northern gate of the camp.’”
On the rooftop, Su Tang pointed to the brightest star in the sky, her gaze dreamy.
Beside her, the young gentleman nodded, then looked back at her.
Su Tang pressed her lips together. She could sense her little husband admired her and wanted to hear more. Yet her mind was beginning to fog.
Everything she knew from her era was learned from books—she’d never truly seen the stars herself. If she wanted to know more, she’d have to ask an AI. Even her scant knowledge about the stars was inherited from her predecessor, for that star was the brightest in the autumn night sky, but as for the rest, the original host didn’t know, so neither did she.
What else could she say? She couldn’t very well start talking about Pisces, Leo, or Cancer!
She’d have to keep the rest to herself.
Su Tang shifted her gaze and pointed to another cluster of seven stars, obviously shaped like a ladle.
“Do you know what those are?” Su Tang asked.
The young gentleman looked at the stars, then at her.
Su Tang smiled, her thoughts racing. Were those the Great Bear or the Little Bear?
But before she could speak, the young gentleman’s clear voice sounded in her ear: “When the handle points east, it is spring; south, summer; west, autumn; north, winter.”
“You know them?” Su Tang was astonished.
He looked at her.
Wasn’t this common knowledge? Did she spend all her days buried in learning to cook?
The starlight fell bright and clear into Su Tang’s eyes, but all she saw was her little husband’s brilliant, sparkling gaze.
Her little husband was truly remarkable.
***
“Is it from the family library?” Su Tang asked.
The young gentleman shook his head.
“Your father taught you? He must be quite impressive,” Su Tang exclaimed in awe.
He looked at her.
The light in Su Tang’s eyes faded a little; she stammered, “Not your father? Then… was it your mother who taught you?”
The young gentleman’s eyes darkened.
Su Tang felt regretful. She’d managed to change the subject, but perhaps not for the better.
Earlier, Sister Li had asked around in town, and Su Tang had learned a little about the mother-in-law she’d never met.
Her husband’s father had once married a beautiful woman, but later she left. There were rumors in town that she’d run off with a traveling merchant. A year ago, his father had left for a month, and upon returning, brought home a son who looked nothing like him. There was gossip that the boy was adopted, or that he was the son of the woman and another man, and that Lu Dashan was raising another man’s child. After Lu Dashan made a round of the town with his boning knife, no one dared mention it again.
Over the past year, her little husband had rarely left the house. Over time, people began to say he was a fool.
Su Tang knew otherwise.
Not only was he not, he knew far more than she did, despite having been raised in seclusion as a noble girl for fifteen years.
“Your mother must have been very gentle, wasn’t she?” Su Tang asked.
His pupils trembled, but he said nothing.
Su Tang lowered her lashes, as if she hadn’t noticed his reaction, her tone subdued: “Mothers are always gentle… But mine left early. I’ve only seen her in a painting.”
She spoke the truth. Her predecessor’s mother had passed away before she could remember her, and the only clue to her appearance was a portrait, painted by her late father.
She’d meant to empathize with her little husband, only to realize her own fate was even more tragic.
At least her little husband still had a father.
As for her, she would never see her parents again in this life.
If her parents knew she was still alive, they’d surely be glad.
Su Tang tried to smile, but her vision blurred, her eyes grew wet, and tears threatened to fall.
How ridiculous—to be swept up in her own emotions before she could comfort him.
She hastily wiped her eyes, just as she was about to lift her head, she felt a weight settle on her shoulder.
The young gentleman placed his hand on her shoulder, his expression a mixture of nervousness and solemnity, his bright eyes shining like the stars above.
He said, “Don’t be afraid.”
Su Tang stared in surprise.
She was being comforted by her little husband.
She nodded, curving her lips into a smile. “I’m not afraid. And neither should you be.”
In the depths of night, the young gentleman gazed straight into his young wife’s eyes.
Her eyes shimmered with tears, filled with longing and resilience, but also—was that a hint of tenderness?
His gaze flickered.
Su Tang sensed something different in his eyes, but before she could examine it, she was distracted. Sitting opposite her, behind her little husband, a sudden burst of firelight flared in the darkness.
Su Tang immediately lowered her head, pressing a hand to her forehead. “I feel a little dizzy. Let’s go down, shall we?” She got up, preparing to descend from the rooftop.
The young gentleman’s eyes flickered, and he turned to look.
In the night, flames danced, blooming like a flower.
***
Just as expected—
“There’s a fire,” said the young gentleman.
Su Tang had to look. She exclaimed in surprise, “I wonder whose house it is.”
“…” he replied.
“The wind’s too strong. Let’s go down,” Su Tang urged.
He didn’t move.
Su Tang grew anxious.
If there was a fire over there, Sister Li would be back soon. If her little husband stayed on the roof, wouldn’t he be caught watching?
“Are you hungry?” Su Tang asked.
He turned to look at her.
Was she trying to coax a child?
Su Tang felt a little relieved. Indeed, nothing was more distracting than the mention of food.
“What would you like to eat?”
“…” he replied.
“You don’t like spicy hot pot. How about I make you some noodles?” Su Tang offered.
He looked at her.
Her gaze softened further. “They’re delicious.”
He pressed his lips together.
Her eyes sparkled even more.
Success!
“I don’t want any,” he replied.
What?
Su Tang’s lips twitched as she glared at her little husband, who had already turned away and was showing her the back of his head.
She suspected he was doing it on purpose.
But she had no proof.
She could only sigh silently, her voice growing softer and sweeter, “Darling—”
Her cooing tone echoed around her, raising goosebumps along her arms.
She refused to admit defeat—
“Hm?”
Suddenly, her little husband, still facing away, made a noise.
Su Tang’s mind went blank.
On the street facing the eaves, there stood Li Qingtian.
…