Chapter 84: Lu Xusheng, you’re jealous of me, aren’t you?……

Chapter 84: Lu Xusheng, you're jealous of me, aren't you?......

This is indeed an irresistible temptation.

Even if the Cheng family is in a perilous situation, she still wants to take a look.

To see her dear An An.

Xia Fu lowered her eyes and pondered for a long time, then nodded gently.

After Xia Fu agreed, Cheng Mingyu came out to invite Lu Xusheng and Cheng Yian to have dinner at the Cheng residence.

Lu Xusheng didn't even think before refusing,

"The trip to the Cheng family is quite a distance, and I'm worried An An might not adapt well. Isn't the second sister-in-law's wedding in a few days? We can visit the Cheng family then."

Since the portraits couldn't be obtained, Lu Xusheng didn't want to push his luck.

After finally returning, the couple preferred to spend some quality time together rather than going to the Cheng family to join the bustle.

This son-in-law has always had a sharp temper, and Cheng Mingyu didn't bother to scold him, instead looking at Cheng Yian.

Cheng Yian also wanted to see her childhood portraits, but she sensed her father had other intentions, so she didn't disturb him, "Let's go in a few days."

Cheng Yiqiao's wedding is on August 6th, and she would have to return to the Cheng residence a couple of days in advance.

Cheng Mingyu didn't insist.

Cheng Yian now holds a prestigious status, and even if a banquet isn't held today, many will surely come to deliver congratulatory gifts, possibly even rewards from the palace. The couple didn't dare to linger, rested for a moment, and then returned to their residence.

As expected, when they returned to the Lu residence, the Empress and the Crown Princess both bestowed rewards, and given her pregnancy, they excused her from expressing her gratitude in person. Cheng Yian kowtowed in the direction of the palace.

Lu Xusheng generously rewarded the eunuch who delivered the decree, and the chief eunuch left with a broad smile.

The couple returned to Ningji Hall, where Nanny Li and Ru Hui were sorting through the congratulatory gifts in the west wing. As Cheng Yian passed by, she saw that the gifts almost filled a room, giving her a headache,

"Have they all been recorded in the book?"

Ru Hui came out and replied, "Half have been registered, and there's still half left. Would the young mistress like to take a look?"

Cheng Yian shook her head. Pregnant women tire easily, and Cheng Yian was clearly tired after her outing. She and Lu Xusheng headed back to the main room, tidied up, and then lay down on the bed. Cheng Yian had a restless night, so she just turned over and nestled into Lu Xusheng's arms. Lu Xusheng had traveled back to the capital from Sichuan, and along the way, two horses had been exhausted. He also desperately needed some sleep.

The two snuggled together.

"Don't get upset about the portraits anymore, I'm right here with you, what do you need the portraits for?"

Lu Xusheng is usually easygoing, but he can be very possessive, "I'll get them back eventually."

Cheng Yian was afraid he would fight with her father, "Then you might as well paint them yourself."

Lu Xusheng wanted to, "My painting skills probably wouldn't capture your beauty..."

Cheng Yian was amused by him and gently pushed his chest. This gentle push stirred something in his heart. Lu Xusheng had been without intimacy for too long and couldn't help but cup her face and kiss her, pulling her soft body towards him. It was strange, after not touching for a while, she had grown a full size larger. His rough fingertips inadvertently brushed past, sending a tingle to her heart, and Cheng Yian suddenly felt a stir, hurriedly stopping.

She remembered that after becoming pregnant, an old matron had come to the Cheng family, meticulously instructing her on what to be careful of, one of which was absolutely no intercourse in the first three months. Not only no intercourse, but certain areas must not be touched, as it could easily harm the baby.

And today, the two had clearly crossed the line.

Lu Xusheng looked at her with a face full of apology, slowly calming his breathing, "You sleep, I won't touch you again."

They lay down side by side.

After lying for a while, Cheng Yian suddenly looked at him with a grievance, "But I want you to hold me close."

Lu Xusheng hesitated, "I’m worried you won’t sleep comfortably."

Cheng Yian said, "In my past life, you only held me when we were intimate, never otherwise. When I was pregnant with that child, how I longed for you to be by my side."

At that time, facing Lu Xusheng's cold and stern face, she didn’t dare to voice her feelings.

Now, unafraid of him, she dared to speak her mind.

Lu Xusheng’s heart ached with guilt, and he immediately moved closer, pulling her close and cradling her head on his arm.

Cheng Yian, leaning against him, was still not satisfied, "Put your arm around me."

Lu Xusheng was truly in a dilemma now, "Darling, are you sure this isn’t payback?"

As instructed, he gently wrapped his arm around her, wanting to place it on her waist but worried about pressing on her belly. Moving up would inevitably touch her soft chest, and moving down was even worse... leaving his arm awkwardly suspended.

Cheng Yian didn't care about his predicament, tangling herself around him, finding a comfortable position and falling asleep.

Her steady breathing whispered in his ear, and the softness of her chest occasionally brushed against his. Except for her belly not touching him, almost her entire body was pressed against him. Lu Xusheng smiled helplessly, what was this?

A bittersweet burden.

He slept in this awkward position for half an hour before waking up. Opening his eyes, he noticed Cheng Yian had rolled away from him. Lu Xusheng carefully tucked the blanket around her, got up, and went to the main room, where Ru Lan was staring intently at a box on the table.

"What is this?"

Ru Lan pointed at the box and said, "Second Master, Ming Saozi just brought this in. She said it was a congratulatory gift received at the gatehouse, with no name attached. We didn’t know who sent it, so we didn’t dare open it and planned to show it to Second Mistress."

Lu Xusheng nodded faintly, instructing Ru Lan to make tea, and sat down at the table, his gaze falling on the brocade box. Suddenly, something felt off. Usually, when people send congratulatory gifts, they are afraid the recipient won't know who sent it, so they not only write their name clearly on the card but also tie it tightly with a ribbon to prevent it from being lost. Was this one lost or intentionally left anonymous?

Under what circumstances would someone send a gift without a name? It must be that they didn't want the recipient to know.

This made the gift highly suspicious.

Lu Xusheng decisively opened it and was instantly captivated by the intricate porcelain painting inside. It was just an ordinary brocade box, one foot long and half a foot wide, with a thick layer of red silk padding at the bottom. Inside was a pair of colorful porcelain cups, painted with a pair of pink babies, their forms lifelike and utterly charming.

The porcelain cups were thin and delicate, with underglaze blue and overglaze colors, exuding a dazzling charm. Lu Xusheng, being born into a noble family, could tell that this piece was of exceptional craftsmanship. Even if it wasn’t an authentic piece from a former dynasty’s imperial kiln, it was undoubtedly a masterpiece.

That was strange. Who on earth could have sent this?

Just then, Ru Lan came in with a pot of tea and, upon seeing the porcelain cups, was surprised.

Lu Xusheng, noticing her expression, asked, "Have you seen this before?"

Ru Lan shook her head, "No, but our lady crafted similar ceramics in her youth."

A thought suddenly flashed through Lu Xusheng's mind, and his expression darkened, "An identical porcelain painting?"

Ru Lan scratched her head and thought, "It seems so, it seems like it was someone's work, and our lady liked it and made a copy..."

Needless to say, Lu Xusheng already knew who had sent this gift.

He closed the brocade box, cradled it in his arms, and strode out without a word.

After the start of autumn, the sky darkened quickly. By the end of the evening (You hour), the once azure sky was left with only a faint bluish hue. Lu Xusheng positioned several shadow guards at the brocade pavilion in the alley, and the group rode towards the Cheng family fortress.

Lu Xusheng had never been to the Fan family, but the shadow guards were familiar with the route. When they arrived at a dark alley near the Cheng family and the Fan residence, a shadow guard quickly approached the Fan residence and discovered Fan Yulin painting in his study. He shot a small arrow at the window frame with just two words written on it, "A chat." Fan Yulin then emerged, bewildered, from the side gate.

He wore a long, snow-white robe, tall and slender, the white robe lending him an air of elegance. Though his face couldn't match his father-in-law's, he was still considered handsome in the local area.

Was it this man who had once charmed Cheng Yian into running away with him?

Yes, Fan Yulin had always been a source of irritation for Lu Xusheng.

He knew Fan Yulin was unworthy, but he just didn't like him.

He disliked any man who was handsome and dressed in white.

In Lu Xusheng's view, they were all useless pretty boys.

When Fan Yulin saw Lu Xusheng, he was clearly startled. His gaze then fell on the brocade box in Lu Xusheng's arms, and his expression turned dark.

It was odd; they were both aware of each other, but this was their first meeting.

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Fan Yulin's initial panic gave way to composure, while Lu Xusheng's eyes were deep as the sea, his expression calm.

Yet, both harbored resentment, finding the other distasteful.

Finally, Fan Yulin spoke first,

"Master Lu, what brings you to my modest home?"

Lu Xusheng hefted the brocade box in his hand, "Was this from you?"

Fan Yulin's face changed when he saw Lu Xusheng's fingertip resting on the box, "What if I did?" His eyes narrowed, fearing Lu Xusheng might smash it at any moment.

Lu Xusheng noticed his worry and snorted softly, "Still holding on?"

Fan Yulin sighed with his eyes closed,

"It's not about holding on, but fulfilling a long-held wish of hers."

Lu Xusheng's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged, "That doesn't mean you should interfere, Fan Yulin. Truly caring for someone doesn't mean harassing her after her marriage. That's the greatest disrespect."

Fan Yulin stared at him sarcastically, "I didn't sign it. If you hadn't interfered, she wouldn't have known. I just wanted to give her a gift she once loved."

Lu Xusheng was almost driven mad by his obstinacy, "You think she wouldn't guess it was you without a signature?"

Fan Yulin was taken aback, "Did she guess?"

Lu Xusheng laughed in anger, "Your little trick isn't worthy of her attention."

A flicker of disappointment passed through Fan Yulin's eyes, but he quickly let it go,

"Lu Xusheng, I have no ulterior motives. Just say it's from you, that you bought it. I only hope you can present this gift to her and make her happy."

Lu Xusheng probed, "Are you sure she'll be happy? Maybe she'll see it's from you and want to smash it in disgust!"

"No..." Fan Yulin's expression became distant, murmuring, "No, this was the gift she most wanted when she was thirteen..."

The Cheng family's curriculum was diverse, ranging from classics, history, philosophy, and literature to major subjects like playing the qin and painting, as well as minor subjects like flower arrangement, tea art, and ceramics. It seemed Cheng Mingyu noticed Cheng Yian's interest in pottery, and once, he invited the most renowned ceramic master of the Great Jin Dynasty, Tao Chengxin, to teach.

During the class, Tao Chengxin taught the girls how to mold ceramics and also introduced the works of some famous ceramic artists throughout history. Among them, Cheng Yian particularly admired a master known as "Xiangshan." This master integrated painting into ceramics, creating pieces with exquisite colors and lifelike figures, characterized by a gentle artistic style.

It’s a shame that Mr. Xiangshan left behind almost no works for future generations, and the few that exist are kept in the imperial palace.

Even the Cheng family has never obtained one. Why?

This Mr. Xiangshan was actually the last emperor. He did not attend to state affairs but devoted himself to pottery, pursuing perfection to an almost obsessive level. If he was the least bit dissatisfied with a piece, he would immediately smash it and start over.

As a result, only five of his works survived after his death, and all five are kept in the imperial palace.

They’ve never been circulated or publicly displayed.

Later, it was the master of Tao Chengxin who, while presenting tribute to the emperor at the time, requested to witness their splendor. He copied the porcelain paintings right then and there and took them back to replicate. These five works depicted five porcelain dolls in different forms. No matter how much they were replicated in later years, no one could capture the essence of Mr. Xiangshan's artistry. Either the painting style wasn’t lifelike or detailed enough, or the porcelain body wasn’t thin or even enough. In the end, that set of porcelain doll teacups became a one-of-a-kind, unmatched masterpiece.

Tao Chengxin copied the porcelain paintings, and Cheng Yian made her own copy, starting to learn pottery in her room.

At thirteen, Cheng Yian vowed to create a set of colorful porcelain doll teacups in her lifetime, but she never succeeded.

Now, Fan Yulin has succeeded.

Although not five, he managed to make two.

"From that time on, I began to learn pottery, Lu Xusheng. Do you know how many times I’ve rubbed my hands raw or how many burns I’ve suffered? I went to Yixing just to learn this craft. I failed countless times, but finally, after exhausting all my efforts, I made this pair. Even if it only makes her smile, it’d be worth it."

At this point, Fan Yulin stepped closer to Lu Xusheng, his eyes even filling with tears.

"Lu Xusheng, you only married her because of the emperor’s order. You don’t truly love her, and you’ve never even taken the time to understand her. I, Fan Yulin, am destined to have no connection with her in this lifetime. I only hope you treat her well."

"This birthday gift is the last thing I can do for her. Please give it to her. If you care, tell her you bought it from a disciple of Mr. Tao in Yixing. She won’t think it’s from me."

Listen to how deeply heartfelt this is.

Lu Xusheng watched as Fan Yulin stepped closer, feeling like a blizzard was slapping his face. He finally understood why Cheng Yian ended up marrying Fan Yulin in their previous life. Faced with a man who spent years just to make a pair of porcelain dolls, any woman would easily be moved.

He laughed—a cold, cutting laugh.

"Do you think you’re so great? Putting in so much effort just to make her happy, to fulfill her wish?"

Fan Yulin pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Lu Xusheng slowly held out the brocade box with both hands, almost pushing it into Fan Yulin’s face.

"So what?"

He said, "Do you know what it means to be a man?"

"A man should achieve great things, support a family, and let a woman do what she wants—whether it’s pottery or painting—freely, to protect her."

"Not waste years of effort on something that seems impressive but is ultimately useless, just to win over a noblewoman, to coax her into marrying you, bearing your children, managing your household, and shielding you from the storm. Fan Yulin, everything you’ve done is just to find yourself a protector!"

"If I were you, I would use these five years to make a name for myself, to have the ability to marry the woman I love, instead of moping around here, feeling sorry for yourself."

Fan Yulin’s face turned pale.

Suddenly, Lu Xusheng hurled the brocade box, and it flew past Fan Yulin’s face, smashing into the opposite wall with a sharp crack before falling to the ground.

Fan Yulin’s eyes widened in horror, his heart aching as he glared at Lu Xusheng in fury.

"Lu Xusheng, do you know what you’ve destroyed? Do you know I’ve spent five years, day after day, just to make this pair of porcelain cups!"

"Just because I made them, just because of your petty male possessiveness, you’ve made An An lose an extremely rare treasure. If you truly cared for her, if you truly loved her, you would give her what she wants, instead of being so petty and jealous!"

"It seems that in your heart, your own possessiveness is more important than her as a person. So, you don’t deserve to be her man!"

"Hah!"

Lu Xusheng couldn’t help but admire Fan Yulin’s way with words; he almost got tangled in his rhetoric.

So, being Cheng Yian’s man means being generous and keeping quiet?

"You’re out of your mind." Lu Xusheng punched him in the face.

On the first night after his rebirth, Cheng Yian had slapped him. If Lu Xusheng recalled correctly, that slap should have been for Fan Yulin. Today, he would return it.

Lu Xusheng's martial skills were formidable. This punch carried the weight of his past and present grudges, landing squarely on Fan Yulin's nose. His once-perfect nose was instantly shattered, blood gushing from his nostrils. Lu Xusheng sidestepped to avoid the spray, but he didn’t let Fan Yulin off. He seized his collar, hoisting him into the air, and looked down at him with sharp eyes,

"So, I should build you a little house in the Lu estate, send you in to play the zither and paint every day, and only then would I not be petty, and only then would I be worthy to be her man, is that it?"

Fan Yulin was nearly sent reeling by the punch. The excruciating pain from his broken nose made his vision blur, and he couldn’t even hear Lu Xusheng's mockery clearly. But he was quick-witted. He spat blood, glaring at Lu Xusheng with a sneer,

"You’re jealous, admit it! You’re jealous that I’ve known An An for years, jealous that I know her past preferences better than you, jealous that I please her more than you do!"

Lu Xusheng had to admit, every word pierced his heart, fueling his rage.

Just thinking about how Cheng Yian had spent five years with him in his past life, Lu Xusheng wanted to strangle him right then and there.

His foot was already raised, ready to kick Fan Yulin in the chest, but Lu Xusheng suddenly stopped.

He stared at the man he’d hated for two lifetimes and suddenly wondered why he hated Fan Yulin so much, to the point where he didn’t even want to hear his name.

At that moment, he suddenly realized.

Rather than hating Fan Yulin, he despised himself—despised his past self for his pride, for never yielding, causing him to miss Cheng Yian, to publicly let her go and remarry another man, to realize his regret in countless dark nights at the border when it was already too late to turn back.

The first chill of August swept through the night, and Lu Xusheng calmed down. He let go of Fan Yulin and flashed him a sudden, cold smile,

"I’m not jealous of you."

His narrow eyes lowered, his gaze clear, "I should thank you for wasting five years showing me her preferences."

Fan Yulin froze, his face going pale.

"From now on, I’ll spend my life doing... whatever she desires." Lu Xusheng dusted off his robe, took one last look at Fan Yulin, and turned to leave.

Fan Yulin stared at his retreating figure, all his strength seemingly drained. He let out a broken laugh, muffling his sobs with his hand.

Lu Xusheng heard the sob but didn’t look back. He mounted his horse and galloped towards the Lu residence, his mood heavier than it seemed.

He had no idea Cheng Yian enjoyed sculpting clay. He stood on heights Fan Yulin could never climb, but he had to admit that Fan Yulin was more meticulous in some aspects, more pleasing to women.

Cheng Yian liked Master Xiangshan's works.

Imitations? He’d give her nothing but the finest!

Lu Xusheng's gaze turned towards the majestic and solemn palace.

It was already the hour for the palace gates to be sealed. At this time, if the Lu Duke knocked on the palace gate, it must be for an important matter. The palace gate officer dared not delay and immediately reported to the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Soon, someone from the Office of Ceremonies came to say the gate should be opened.

Lu Xusheng followed the young palace attendant to the imperial study.

The emperor was going through the reports. Since the establishment of the Grand Secretariat, the emperor had visibly become much more relaxed. Routine affairs could be handled by the Grand Secretariat and the Office of Ceremonies through consultation, and major court matters were also prepared for his review and decision.

Seeing Lu Xusheng walk in looking downcast, the emperor frowned,

"What’s going on? Who has upset you?"

In his youth, Lu Xusheng was known as the little troublemaker of the capital, and no one dared to provoke him. At the age of four, he could beat ten-year-old boys, and he never backed down or admitted defeat.

Seeing him so despondent today was indeed rare.

Lu Xusheng plopped down beside the emperor's desk,

"Your Majesty, I've been shown up again today."

The emperor was surprised, "Shown up? Who could show you up?"

Lu Xusheng said with a wry smile, "Today is my wife's birthday."

"I know that. Didn't I instruct the empress to give her rewards?"

"Yes, but that's not enough."

The emperor's face darkened, "What do you mean?"

Lu Xusheng sighed, "Today, my wife’s parents celebrated her birthday. Cheng Mingyu, you know him, right? He actually painted a portrait of my wife."

"A single portrait is one thing, but it turns out he has painted a portrait of my wife every year, a total of eighteen portraits, and he never let me see them. It’s been driving me nuts."

The emperor was a little amused by this father-in-law and son-in-law pair, always stirring up some drama. If it weren't for the fact that both Cheng Mingyu and Lu Xusheng were highly capable, he would really suspect Cheng Yian of being a "troublemaker."

"Can't you two act a little more dignified?"

"He's her father, can't we just drop it?"

However, Cheng Mingyu's gesture was indeed touching for his daughter.

"So, you've been shown up again?"

Lu Xusheng was devastated, "It doesn't end there."

"What else?"

"Fan Yulin, does Your Majesty know him?"

The emperor vaguely remembered someone mentioning Fan Yulin's admiration for Cui Lin, "That one with the unusual tastes?"

Lu Xusheng shook his head, "No, this Fan Yulin lives next to the Cheng family and has had his eye on An An for years. Today, on An An's birthday, he actually imitated Master Xiangshan's work and personally made a pair of ceramics for An An. He even had the nerve to ask me to be magnanimous and help him deliver it to An An. What does that say about me?"

Alright, the emperor understood the purpose of his visit and immediately looked away, returning to the reports.

"Alright, it's getting late. I have important matters to attend to. Go back and accompany your wife. No present beats being there. You've been away fighting for years; a single day of companionship is worth more than ten portraits."

Seeing that the emperor wasn’t biting, Lu Xusheng reached out and scooped up the stack of reports into his arms, "Your Majesty, you can't just ignore this. You can't let me be pushed around like this. If this continues, my wife will take my child and return to the Cheng family."

The emperor tried to snatch the reports back, "I can't help you with this. What you’re after is long gone."

"How do you know what I want?"

The emperor was speechless, then tapped Lu Xusheng's forehead sharply,

"You're just after my treasure, aren't you?"

"Ha! Your Majesty got it right!"

Lu Xusheng smiled ingratiatingly, "Your Majesty, today is my wife's birthday, and I haven't prepared a single gift. Your Majesty, you've got to help me out!"

"There are still five, right? I just want one!"

"Just give me the one you like the least!"

"I like them all!"

The emperor and his minister went back and forth, and finally, the emperor, unable to keep up with him, snapped at the head of the Office of Ceremonies,

"Liu Xi, go to my treasury yourself and fetch the five porcelain cups from Xiangshan."

Then, pointing at Lu Xusheng, he said, "One, I'll give you one, and you better treasure it like a family heirloom, got it?"

Lu Xusheng nodded eagerly, "Understood, understood!"

A short while later, Liu Xi gingerly brought over a slender rosewood brocade box. The item was so precious that Liu Xi held his breath as he set it down.

The emperor gently opened it, and under the bright yellow silk, a burst of stunning colors met the eye. There were five tea cups, each with a unique shape but the same size. Some had lotus-shaped rims, while others looked like stars. The porcelain paintings were vibrant and bright, and the five porcelain dolls, each with a unique expression, were equally captivating.

Even Lu Xusheng, who usually didn’t give a hoot about such things, was blown away.

The emperor looked at his trusted general, heartbroken, and said,

"I’ll give you one, just one, and that’s it."

"No way!" Lu Xusheng slowly closed the box and tucked it into his arms,

"Your Majesty, think about it, these five porcelain dolls are a set. How can you split them up?"

"Wait, didn’t we agree on just one? Lu Xusheng, you’re breaking your promise!"

"Your Majesty, I'm also considering your imperial reputation."

The emperor looked at the shameless Lu Xusheng, feeling the chill in his chest rise in anger,

"My imperial reputation? You're dragging my imperial reputation into this? My imperial reputation is tarnished because I've spoiled you too much!"

Lu Xusheng smiled lightly, "Your Majesty, I'm not bluffing. Think about it, what use is a work of a late emperor in your hands? Abandoning the empire, depleting the treasury to fire kilns and mold pottery—is that the act of a wise ruler? Treasuring Xiangshan's relics and hiding them in the treasury truly damages your illustrious name. Such corrupting items, it's better to give them all to me."

The emperor: "..."

He was almost convinced.

"Shen Zhi, these are rare treasures. At least leave some for me."

Lu Xusheng, already standing up with the brocade box, started walking out, "Your Majesty, isn't every treasure in your treasury a rare and priceless item? These five tea cups, do you really cherish them? No!"

"No, Shen Zhi, these five treasures, I was planning to reward Princess Ning when she gives birth. If you take them all, what will I reward her with later?" The emperor, bypassing the imperial desk, chased after him.

Lu Xusheng, meanwhile, had already instructed the kneeling eunuch to register the items for removal. Hearing the emperor's words, he nonchalantly said,

"Your Majesty, there's no good news from Prince Ning's mansion yet, but my wife is already pregnant. Of course, they should be rewarded to my wife first. When there's good news from Prince Ning's mansion, I'll help you pick something from the treasury, something he'll surely be satisfied with."

Upon hearing that Lu Xusheng intended to visit his storage room again, the emperor immediately clammed up.

Watching as Lu Xusheng nonchalantly stamped his seal and took away the treasures, the emperor pointed at his retreating figure with a bitter expression and said to Liu Xi,

"Did he just take everything like that?"

Liu Xi gave a dry chuckle, "Yes... everything."

"That little scoundrel!" the emperor cursed with a laugh.

Liu Xi helped him back to the imperial throne and said, "General Lu has worked hard and achieved great merit. With the imminent victory in the campaign against the Chehan, consider this an early reward for him."

The emperor smiled, "It's all Cheng Mingyu's fault. He's such a capable father-in-law, putting me, the father-in-law, through the wringer."

Liu Xi quickly changed his tone, "Exactly, who told you to treat General Lu like your own son?"