Chapter 12: Daring to throw a tantrum, how unusual…

Chapter 12: Daring to throw a tantrum, how unusual...

Due to his leg condition, Lu Feng walked rather slowly. The couple arrived one after another at the small study in the front courtyard, a serene and elegant space that originally served as the Lu family's library. Later, when Lu Huaiyi reached the age to read and write, it was specially converted into his study.

When the couple arrived, Lu Huaiyi was standing with his hands clasped behind his back in a corner, his frail, lonely figure tugging at Jiang Wanrou's heartstrings.

"Commander Lu, Lady Lu."

A tall, thin gentleman with a gray beard stood up, trembling slightly as he bowed to the couple. Lu Feng nodded in acknowledgment, while Jiang Wanrou patted Huaiyi's head and looked at the old gentleman with displeasure in her beautiful eyes.

She spoke bluntly, "Sir, it's study time. What has my son done to deserve being made to stand?"

Having endured hardships in her youth, Jiang Wanrou couldn't bear to see her only son, Huaiyi, suffer due to his frail health.

A faint blush appeared on Lu Huaiyi's pale face as he tugged gently at Jiang Wanrou's sleeve and whispered, "Mother, I couldn't recite the text. It's my fault."

Even if he couldn't recite it, making him stand was too harsh! His fragile body couldn't take it!

Jiang Wanrou, typically level-headed, couldn't help but lose her composure when it came to Huaiyi, her expression darkening. In contrast, Lu Feng spoke gently, "My wife is out of line. Please excuse her."

"Madam's concern for her son is only natural. No forgiveness is needed."

The old gentleman laughed heartily, his eyes flickering between the couple as he stroked his beard, "Since Commander Lu is free today, it seems I need not show off my meager skills."

Lu Feng smiled slightly, "You are too modest, sir."

Jiang Wanrou was taken aback. Lu Feng was known for his harsh reputation, and even within their own household, the servants feared him more than they respected him. The second and third masters rarely approached him, so she wondered who this gentleman was to earn such respect from Lu Feng.

Though still uneasy about Huaiyi's punishment, Jiang Wanrou gracefully curtsied and said to the old gentleman, "Huaiyi's health is delicate, and as his mother, I can't help but fret. Please don't take offense, sir."

"You are both too kind," the old gentleman chuckled. "The young master is bright and talented, and with Commander Lu and Lady Lu as strict yet loving parents, he is sure to have a bright and smooth future."

After politely escorting the old gentleman out, Jiang Wanrou summoned a servant and instructed him to deliver an umbrella. The weather had turned unexpectedly, with sudden winds and snow, catching everyone off guard. The umbrella was a small yet thoughtful gesture, neither obsequious nor discourteous, leaving no room for fault.

Lu Feng chuckled softly, "You—"

No wonder Mr. Qi held her in such high regard.

Since Lu Huaiyi started studying in the front courtyard, Jiang Wanrou seldom visited him there. It wasn't that she didn't care, but as the saying goes, "Parents who love their children plan for their futures." Huaiyi was a boy, and she feared that her doting might harm him, so she focused on his clothing and meals.

While the student enjoyed fine meals, the teacher couldn't be overlooked. She always prepared a portion of the soups and dishes she sent for Huaiyi to share with the teacher. During festivals, she would choose calligraphy, paintings, or rare books as gifts for the teacher, hoping he would teach Huaiyi well. Over time, though she rarely met the old gentleman, he held a favorable impression of Jiang Wanrou.

Jiang Wanrou keenly picked up on his unspoken words and, setting aside her irritation, quickly asked, "Is that old gentleman of significant background?"

Lu Feng had found the man, and Jiang Wanrou hadn't inquired much. After all, Huaiyi was his only son; he wouldn't mistreat him.

"Does it matter if he is or isn't?" Lu Feng replied. "Huaiyi's future is in my hands. You needn't worry."

With that, he turned to Lu Huaiyi and suddenly lowered his voice, "Was it 'The Imperial Examinations' or 'The Civil Officials'? Which one couldn't you recite?"

Lu Huaiyi looked up and replied crisply, "Father, I've reviewed both and can recite them. But today, the teacher tested me on the first volume's 'Geography' chapter, which I learned three months ago. I forgot."

"Oh? Then it seems the teacher was mistaken."

Lu Feng's expression was icy, his tone inscrutable, "My son was unfairly punished today."

Lu Huaiyi was silent for a moment, his dark eyes darting around before he shook his head, "The sage once said, 'Review the old to understand the new.' I should have revisited the earlier texts. This is my fault, and I accept the punishment."

Lu Feng nodded, "In that case, stand for another incense stick's time and write five additional pages of calligraphy today. Do you accept?"

Lu Huaiyi said readily, "I admit, Father. Don’t worry, I won’t make this kind of mistake again."

Lu Feng's expression eased a bit, but Jiang Wanrou was not pleased. She glared at Lu Feng with wide, beautiful eyes and said angrily, "What kind of punishment is this? Huai Yi is still so young, his daily studies are already heavy, and now you want to add more practice? Do you want to damage his wrist?"

"Lu Feng, this isn’t the Forbidden Dragon Bureau. Huai Yi is not your subordinate, nor is he your prisoner. He’s your own flesh and blood. How can you treat him so harshly?"

Jiang Wanrou was incensed, addressing Lu Feng by his full name, showing none of her usual respect. She felt deeply aggrieved, thinking that she had attended to Lu Feng meticulously, all in the hope of ensuring a better life for herself, her concubine, and her son. Although she had suffered greatly because of this marriage, after Huai Yi was born, she felt more gratitude than resentment.

Huai Yi was born the son of a marquis, the eldest grandson of the Duke's mansion, surrounded by servants and living in luxury. His health was weak, and the entire Imperial Medical Bureau was at his beck and call. When he began his education, Lu Feng hired the best tutors for him. Even if the boy turned out to be a disappointment, the wealth and titles of the Lu family would ensure his lifelong prosperity.

She had risen from being the unloved daughter of a concubine to where she was now, giving Huai Yi everything she could. She would never let him endure the hardships she had suffered. In this way, she felt that their mother-son bond was not in vain.

Lu Feng may not have been a good husband, but he was an extremely responsible father. She didn’t need to ask; the admiration in Huai Yi's eyes was clear. She just hadn’t expected him to be so strict with Huai Yi. In a family like the Lu household, there was no need for the child to endure such extreme measures to achieve success.

Lu Feng said calmly, "To love without discipline is to harm. Madam, I thought you knew better."

"I don’t understand! The New Year is almost here, and the school is on break. Why should Huai Yi still be punished? This is ridiculous! From today until the first day of the New Year, Huai Yi will rest and not study."

He had already treated her poorly enough, and now he wanted to punish her son? Last night had truly crossed Jiang Wanrou's limits. She was seething with anger and spoke firmly.

Lu Feng looked at her deeply, and Jiang Wanrou met his gaze head-on, her beautiful eyes flickering with small flames of defiance.

She had expected Lu Feng to be furious, but after a long moment, he slowly said, "A doting mother often ruins the child," then turned and walked into the inner room to inspect Huai Yi's recent calligraphy.

As soon as he left, Jiang Wanrou's anger dissipated, and a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes. While the couple had been speaking, Huai Yi had remained obediently silent. Now, he looked in the direction Lu Feng had gone, then at his mother's dazed expression, and reached out a small hand to tug at Jiang Wanrou's embroidered sleeve.

"Mother, let’s go play with the spinning tops?"

His eyes were large and dark, lively and endearing on his delicate little face. He said, "I’m really good at it! I can spin three tops at once. Shuqi and Shumo can’t beat me!"

Shuqi and Shumo were his study companions, around eight or nine years old, who attended to Huai Yi's writing needs.

Jiang Wanrou bent down to touch his little face, which felt cold, and suggested, "How about we play in the room? There’s a charcoal brazier, and we can take off our coats to play."

Huai Yi nodded obediently and eagerly went to fetch the spinning tops. He spun them with great enthusiasm, while Jiang Wanrou, who didn’t understand the appeal, watched his flushed little face with contentment, offering enthusiastic praise.

"Wow, Huai Yi is so amazing! Mother can’t spin them like that."

"Huai Yi, teach Mother, okay? Is it like this, or like this?"

"No, Mother, you hold it like this..."

...

The mother and son played in the small dining alcove, while Lu Feng sat at the desk, correcting Huai Yi's calligraphy. Just a wall away, the sounds of their laughter and chatter reached Lu Feng's ears. He usually checked Huai Yi's calligraphy every day, but with the recent busyness of Prince Gong's case, he hadn’t done so for a while, and the quality had noticeably declined.

Under one particularly crooked character, he wrote, "Not as good as before. Do not slack off."

On the next sheet, he wrote, "The strokes are loose, soft, and sloppy, lacking any sharpness."

He criticized Huai Yi's calligraphy harshly, but there was no anger on Lu Feng's face. Instead, a faint smile played on his lips, making him look exceptionally handsome.

The image of Jiang Wanrou from earlier reappeared in his mind, her beautiful, stubborn eyes overlapping with those from many years ago, still breathtakingly beautiful.

He chuckled softly, arranging the stack of calligraphy neatly, and murmured, "Daring to lose her temper... that’s rare."