Chapter 8: A Man Should Never Go Hungry

Chapter 8: A Man Should Never Go Hungry

Not only did it not hurt him, but it also stirred him up. Lu Feng groaned, his dark eyes suddenly deepening, nearly crushing her waist.

...

Outside, the cold wind howled, while inside, the charcoal fire crackled, and the incense smoke from the censer rose, unable to mask the scent within the curtains. The gauze curtains swayed several times before settling down again. Jiang Wanrou felt like a puddle of water, wrapping herself in a blanket to cover her vital parts, slowly rolling towards the corner.

"Feisty."

Lu Feng let her be, chuckling softly, his voice hoarse and low, with a hint of sensuality.

Jiang Wanrou silently cursed him as a "beast," but didn't respond. Lu Feng got up, put on his clothes, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it to Jiang Wanrou.

After moistening her throat, Jiang Wanrou said hoarsely, "Open the curtains, it's too dark."

Lu Feng raised an eyebrow, "It's the sky that's darkening."

His tone carried a hint of pride.

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

What a beast.

She looked at the slightly darkened sky outside the window, wanting to get up but lacking the strength, so she said to Lu Feng, "Go check on Huai Yi having dinner."

She rarely spoke to Lu Feng so bluntly, but he didn't take offense, leaving with a smile that frightened the maids of Jinguang Courtyard.

After a while, Cuizhu came in to help her bathe and change clothes, bringing a bowl of mushroom glutinous rice porridge, six vegetarian dishes, and the ever-present black medicinal juice.

***

The aftermath of overindulgence left her drained.

Jiang Wanrou felt listless for several days, but fortunately, Lu Feng had the self-awareness not to disturb her in the following days. He was indeed busy, leaving early and returning late, even neglecting to check on Lu Huaiyi's calligraphy for several days.

About ten days before the Spring Festival, the emperor issued an edict: Prince Gong, Qi Xuan, had privately hoarded iron ore, secretly sold weapons, sold official positions, and colluded with rebels. His disloyalty, injustice, and lack of filial piety were unforgivable. However, out of the emperor's benevolence, considering that Qi Xuan had been misled by villains, his life was spared, but he was stripped of his royal title, demoted to a commoner, confined to his mansion, and forbidden to leave for life.

After this edict, all those involved in Prince Gong's case were either executed or exiled. The number of people involved was enormous, and the Ministry of Justice lacked the manpower to confiscate their properties, so they borrowed personnel from the Forbidden Dragon Bureau. The capital was in a state of panic, with every household barring their doors.

The quiet streets echoed with the shouts of soldiers, the clatter of horseshoes on the stone-paved roads, and the sobs of women and children.

This year's New Year was a tough one.

The Lu residence was least affected by the turmoil, but many of the previously prepared festival gifts were now useless, piled up in the storeroom. While fabrics and timber were manageable, the fresh fruits were a different story. Dozens of crates of persimmons and oranges remained, with no one to send them to.

The Minister of Personnel had once facilitated some matters for Prince Gong, but his involvement was not deep, resulting only in a year's salary deduction—a close call. Earlier, Jiang Wanrou had sent a message to Lady Cui, who came to express her gratitude, bringing a crate of lychees to the Lu residence before the New Year.

This was a rare treat, especially in winter. Lady Cui must have gone through great efforts to obtain it. However, despite her voluptuous and graceful figure, reminiscent of Consort Yang, Jiang Wanrou didn't particularly care for lychees—they were too sweet, almost sickly.

The elderly matriarch avoided raw and cold foods. Jiang Wanrou set aside some lychees for Lu Feng and her son, distributed some to the various households, and sent a considerable amount to the concubine Li. Still, half a crate remained. As she pondered over the storeroom full of fresh fruits and the half crate of lychees, the second wife, Lady Zhou, and the third wife, Lady Yao, arrived together.

"Oh, sister-in-law, you're busy."

The voice came before the person. It was the third wife, Yao Jinyu, a delicate, fair-skinned woman from Jiangnan with soft, charming speech that could melt anyone's heart.

Behind her was the second wife, Zhou Ruotong, tall and slender, with a frail, willow-like figure that perfectly matched the literati's ideal of "slender" beauty. She wore a green brocade jacket, her black hair tied up with a single mutton-fat jade hairpin, her downcast eyes resembling a figure from a classical painting.

"Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, have some tea."

Jiang Wanrou smiled and ordered tea to be served. Seeing these two sister-in-laws standing together always made her want to laugh.

The wives of Lu Feng's two younger brothers were both unique women.

Given the Lu family's status, both women could be considered "beauties" in terms of appearance and figure, but their charms were vastly different. The third sister-in-law, Yao Jinyu, was the daughter of a merchant. Although merchants were considered the lowest class in the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, her family had the privilege of supplying silk and porcelain to the imperial court. For convenience, the emperor had granted her father the title of a minor official in the Jiangnan textile bureau, a mere seventh-rank position, but it set them apart from ordinary merchants.

Miss Yao, raised in a luxurious environment, was naturally accustomed to luxury. She wore gold and silver daily, adorned herself with dazzling silks and satins, and her hair was always filled with golden hairpins and tassels, so much so that it was dazzling to the eye. Being petite, Jiang Wanrou often felt that the weight of Yao's hair accessories made her seem even shorter.

The second wife, Zhou Ruotong, was a full head taller than Yao Jinyu, almost as tall as Jiang Wanrou herself. The Zhou family had a long history of scholarly prestige, and Zhou Ruotong's father was a fourth-rank official in the Imperial Academy. She herself upheld the family tradition, well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, fond of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and admired the elegance of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums. Her clothing and accessories were always understated and refined, reflecting her elegant taste.

Had they not married into the same family, these two women would never have spoken to each other. Yao disliked Zhou for her aloofness, while Zhou looked down on Yao for her mercantile air. Before Jiang Wanrou joined the family, the two sister-in-laws had been at odds for a long time.

Later, when Jiang Wanrou married into the family, her background was the humblest among the wives. She lacked the wealth of the Yao family and the scholarly prestige of the Zhou family, and she was also the youngest. Yet, both women had to address her as "sister-in-law," which they resented, and they often made things difficult for her.

Fortunately, neither Zhou nor Yao was malicious. After the elder matriarch was confined to the Buddhist hall and Lu Feng became the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, Jiang Wanrou's position as the head of the household became unshakable. As the household manager, she displayed the dignity of a matriarch, ensuring that both families were well-provided for in terms of food, clothing, and other necessities. Gradually, the two women stopped competing with her.

Interestingly, with Jiang Wanrou's rise to prominence, Zhou and Yao began to find common ground and grew closer, developing a mutual appreciation.

...

Jiang Wanrou smiled and asked, "What brings you two here today?"

She had long since put behind her the earlier conflicts, but the two women, perhaps feeling guilty, rarely visited without a reason. Since they avoided her, Jiang Wanrou enjoyed the peace.

Yao and Zhou exchanged glances, and Yao Jinyu spoke first, "Sister-in-law, we came to ask... what's the current situation outside?"

Recently, the capital had been in turmoil. Not only ordinary citizens but even official families had shut their doors to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

"What situation? It's just about catching the culprits. That's the men's business, nothing to do with us women."

Jiang Wanrou took a sip of tea and replied smoothly, "We should just eat, drink, and enjoy the New Year."

"I've already sent the New Year supplies to your places. Let me know if you need anything else. Oh, and the tailor will be coming the day after tomorrow to take measurements. Make sure the children don't go to school that day. With the New Year approaching, let the children relax a bit."

The eldest branch of the Lu family had only Lu Huaiyi as the only son. The second branch had one son and three daughters, while the third branch had three sons and two daughters. Of course, not all of them were born to Yao and Zhou. The second master, who fancied himself a scholar, had two beautiful maids who were elevated to concubines and bore him children. The third master was a libertine, with no qualms about his indulgences. He had four officially recognized concubines and several unnamed maids in his study, resulting in many children.

The two women agreed and began to chat idly, their conversation meandering as they sat firmly in their chairs.

After the third cup of tea, seeing that Jiang Wanrou remained composed, Yao Jinyu grew impatient. She glanced at Zhou Ruotong and said softly, "Second sister-in-law, didn't you have something to say to our elder sister-in-law? Why are you silent now that we're here?"

Jiang Wanrou had already guessed that Zhou had something to say. Yao Jinyu was straightforward; if it were her matter, she would have spoken before finishing the first cup of tea. Yao didn't care much about face and was articulate and adaptable. Zhou, on the other hand, was too proud to lower her guard and often put on airs.

Jiang Wanrou graciously turned to Zhou Ruotong and said gently, "We're family. No need to be polite. Just say what's on your mind."

Though Zhou was aloof, she wasn't malicious. Over the past two years, they had gotten along quite well, and Jiang Wanrou had no intention of making things difficult for her. She readily agreed to Zhou's request.

It wasn't a big deal. A distant relative of Zhou's father, an official in the capital, had been implicated in the case involving Prince Gong and was sentenced to have his family property confiscated and exiled. The men were to be sent to Lingnan after the New Year, while the women were to be enslaved, with those of suitable age sent to the entertainment quarters.

Zhou's father had gone to some trouble to ensure that the women would not be humiliated. However, there were limits to how many enslaved women each rank could purchase. After the case involving Chief Minister Hu Liangyu, the Zhou family had already bought many enslaved women and couldn't simply dismiss or kill them without cause. His fourth-rank position wasn't sufficient, so he thought of his in-laws.

Zhou Ruotong said sorrowfully, "The girl is just fifteen, poor dear. She was a pampered young lady at home. I thought our household could provide for her. Sister-in-law, with your compassionate nature, could you give her a place to stay? Consider it as building good karma for Huaiyi."

Jiang Wanrou suddenly felt a pang of irritation.

She had already agreed to Zhou's request, so why bring Huaiyi into it? Huaiyi's health had always been a concern for her, and Zhou's insinuation that Huaiyi's frailty was due to a lack of good karma struck a nerve.

Did she also think that Lu Feng's misdeeds had diminished Huaiyi's fortune?

Jiang Wanrou couldn't help but feel indignant on Lu Feng's behalf. She admitted that Lu Feng wasn't a good man, but he was merely carrying out the emperor's orders. In essence, he was a cold blade, and the emperor was the one wielding it. Why did these people praise the emperor's benevolence while condemning Lu Feng?

Others might be overlooked, but what qualifications do you, Zhou Ruotong, have? The second master is a pedantic scholar, always boasting about his learning, yet he can't even pass the lowest level of the imperial exams. Today he's invited to admire some genuine artifact, tomorrow to evaluate some ancient manuscript. Why should others show him respect? Even the hairpin on her own head was bought with family money! They comfortably enjoy the advantages Lu Feng brings, yet where do they get the audacity to criticize him?

Frankly speaking, the second master is pedantic and the third master is dissolute. If it weren't for Lu Feng holding up the family's reputation, who knows what state the Lu family would be in? How can you sit there so self-righteously, pitying others?

Jiang Wanrou placed the teacup heavily on the table, her smile fading.

"After all, she is from a criminal's family. With the current tense situation, it's not appropriate for her to be seen. Keep her in your courtyard and ensure she doesn't wander off."

"Don't worry, elder sister-in-law, I know what I'm doing."

Lady Zhou quickly stood up and curtsied, realizing too late that she had misspoken, wanting to apologize but unable to open her mouth. Zhou Ruotong is twenty-five this year, while Jiang Wanrou has just turned twenty. Given their age difference, she couldn't bring herself to apologize.

Yao Jinyu, sitting nearby, chuckled and quickly tried to ease the tension, "Alright, alright, second sister-in-law, get up. It's not New Year yet, we can't accept such a formal gesture from you."

"Judging by the sky, the second master should be returning soon. Aren't you going to greet him, second sister-in-law? My Yue'er still wants a little brother to play with, you know."

The "Yue'er" she mentioned is Lu Siyue, currently the youngest child in the Lu household.

Zhou Ruotong blushed and scolded, "If you want a brother, go ask your third master. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll rip your mouth off."

"Ah, elder sister-in-law, look at her..."

...

With laughter and jokes, the atmosphere eased. Lady Zhou seized the moment to stand up and say her goodbyes. Yao Jinyu, munching on melon seeds, stayed put. After Lady Zhou left, she smiled and said:

"Second sister-in-law means no harm, she just has a way with words. Elder sister-in-law, don't take it to heart."

Jiang Wanrou glanced at her, meaningfully saying, "You two seem to be getting along well now."

Yao Jinyu smiled charmingly, "Yes, in this big house, I can only share a few heartfelt words with second sister-in-law to ease my loneliness."

Jiang Wanrou neither agreed nor disagreed. She wouldn't take the initiative to engage in conversation, letting Yao Jinyu come to her to "relieve loneliness." She lives comfortably on her own, and unless it's a festival, her sisters-in-law don't actively seek her out. This state is good, and she doesn't want to change it.

She gave a polite dismissal, "Third sister-in-law, is there anything else?"

"Not really."

Yao Jinyu pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands, cooing, "It's all because the fruits here are so tasty, I don't want to leave."

She is two years older than Jiang Wanrou, sweetly calling her "elder sister-in-law," with the unique charm of a woman from the south of the Yangtze River, making it hard to stay angry.

So, when Yao Jinyu inquired about the recent meals in the household, Jiang Wanrou patiently explained, mentioning that for the ancestor's birthday, the whole household would be vegetarian.

Yao Jinyu said, "What about the master? Does he also abstain from meat?"

Jiang Wanrou was a bit puzzled and replied, "The master, as the head of the family, should set an example and honor our grandmother."

This is an old rule from past years. Yao Jinyu, having been married into the family for many years, shouldn't be unaware. Why is she suddenly asking this?

Under Jiang Wanrou's puzzled gaze, Yao Jinyu stood up and slowly said, "We women in the inner chambers, usually embroidering flowers, don't exert much effort. But the men outside are doing big things, they can't go hungry."

Jiang Wanrou laughed, "Is your third master going hungry?"

"Of course not, he's a good-for-nothing. I'm worried about the master going hungry."

Yao Jinyu looked steadily at Jiang Wanrou, her expression serious, "Elder sister-in-law, men can't go hungry. If they don't eat enough at home, they'll eat outside. Don't you think that's the truth?"