Chapter 15: I Am Pei Zhang’s Wife

Chapter 15: I Am Pei Zhang's Wife

Cuizhu said with a hint of grievance, "I saw that you were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to wake you."

To her, it wasn't a big deal at all. With so many visitors, how could the lady possibly meet them all? Waiting for hours was nothing unusual. Besides, today was already New Year's Eve—which respectable family would visit at this time? It was simply improper.

If it weren't for the fact that she was the lady's own sister, Jiang Wanying, she would have turned her away at the door.

Jiang Wanrou was taken aback. She had thought that Jiang Wanying would at most send someone with gifts, not come in person. Their relationship was a bit complicated—no enmity, but she inexplicably disliked Jiang Wanying, and Jiang Wanying also seemed to avoid her intentionally or unintentionally. Since Jiang Wanrou married into the Lu family, the two had not seen each other for many years.

When she saw Jiang Wanying in the parlor, she was momentarily stunned, failing to recognize her.

"Lady Lu."

Jiang Wanying spoke, and Jiang Wanrou suddenly came back to her senses. She straightened the golden brocade shawl over her arm and nodded at her, "It's been many years. How have you been, Lady Pei?"

Since she addressed her as "Lady Lu," there was no need for her to use sisterly terms.

They were practically strangers, but Jiang Wanrou was socially adept, and Jiang Wanying had at least been the wife of a prefect in Jiaozhou for several years, so the conversation didn't turn awkward. The maids brought in tea and snacks, and the two spoke in a somewhat indifferent manner.

After three rounds of tea, Jiang Wanrou was ready to see her guest out.

No other reason, but the way her fifth sister looked at her was truly unsettling! It was a mix of disgust, wariness, envy, suspicion, and a hint of fear.

It was all too much, and Jiang Wanrou was overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. Over the years, she had encountered all kinds of people, many who flattered her to her face but secretly despised her. She was broad-minded, not only unbothered but even entertained by their insincere smiles. Jiang Wanying was different; her presence was unnerving, like a viper lying in wait, not yet striking but chilling to the core.

Just then, a young maid in a new jacket entered and whispered something in her ear. Jiang Wanrou smirked and said to Jiang Wanying, not entirely sincere:

"Lady Pei, what a coincidence. The master has summoned me to dine with the grandmother. The entire family, young and old, is gathered, and it wouldn't be right to keep them waiting."

The intention to send her off was clear.

Jiang Wanying seemed to ignore the hint and replied, "Commander Lu treats you so well. I've heard that among all the powerful families in the capital, only Commander Lu remains pure and upright, with no one in his rear courtyard."

Hmm, a touch of bitterness.

Jiang Wanrou chuckled, maintaining her virtuous demeanor, "Lady Pei, you misunderstand. It's not that I'm jealous, but the master is too busy with official duties and has no interest in women."

"If my master truly fancied someone, could I really stop him?"

This was her usual response to outsiders. Previously, some had accused her of "jealousy," which was one of the seven grounds for divorce. Jiang Wanrou couldn't let such a label stick to her, so she simply shifted the blame to Lu Feng.

She couldn't control him; if he didn't sleep with others, could she force him?

Jiang Wanying suddenly smiled, her meaning unclear, "True. A man as noble as Commander Lu will surely have a harem and multiple wives and concubines in the future. You only have these two good years left."

Jiang Wanrou: "Huh?"

What was this inexplicable pity about? She couldn't understand why she needed anyone's sympathy. Not to mention worrying over nothing, even if Lu Feng were to suddenly become like his third brother in the future, she wouldn't be afraid. She had Huai Yi, status, connections, and business acumen. If things really became unbearable, the savings she had accumulated over the years would be enough for her to live in luxury for the rest of her life.

She had indeed gained many benefits because of Lu Feng, but she wasn't left with nothing without him. She had prepared a way out for herself. Her fifth sister truly overestimated Lu Feng. Even she, as his wife, often felt that the Lu family was like a blazing fire. Many families had been ruined by Lu Feng's hand, and he had made too many enemies. Now that the emperor trusted him, even the cases involving the princes were handed to him. What if the emperor regretted it in the future and decided to make an example of him? Or what if the next emperor ascended the throne—what would happen to him, a powerful minister of the previous dynasty?

When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.

Some said he "held immense power," others said he "had the emperor's favor," but this was the first time she had heard someone describe Lu Feng as "noble," and even mentioned a harem, as if he were the emperor?

Jiang Wanrou smiled faintly, unconcerned, "Then I should make the most of these two years and enjoy my good life."

Jiang Wanying seemed to realize she had spoken out of turn and quickly shifted the topic to herself. Women didn't have much to talk about besides clothes, jewelry, and household matters. Listening to her, Jiang Wanrou realized that her married life wasn't going well.

It was purely her own doing.

She couldn't fathom how Jiang Wanying, who had such a promising beginning, could end up in such a state.

That so-called cousin with the zither, she knew about her existence even before the marriage. With the bond between cousins and the favor of Pei Zhang's mother, she should've taken care of her before they left the capital. As the wife of the cousin, she could have found her a promising young man, given her a generous dowry, and married her off in a grand manner, satisfying everyone. Instead, she sent her off to the backwater of Qingzhou. Someone like Pei Zhang was rare even in the capital, let alone in the remote Qingzhou. No wonder the girl kept putting off her marriage.

Now, after three years of serving Pei Zhang's mother, the delicate young girl had been dragged into becoming an old maid. By both sentiment and reason, Pei Zhang wouldn't abandon her. She had created her own trouble, yet she kept saying, "I don't know where this vixen came from." How... utterly foolish.

What surprised her the most was that Jiang Wanying had accompanied Pei Zhang on his official duties for three years, yet she failed to win his heart! She was a daughter of the Ning'an Marquisate, even if she was born to a concubine, she was still more noble than Pei Zhang, who was a penniless scholar at the time. She wasn't unattractive, and she had married below her station. Pei Zhang's temperament was far better than Lu Huaiyi's. Logically, three years should've been plenty of time for the couple to grow close and affectionate. If Pei Zhang cherished her, no cousin or sister-in-law would be a threat.

And then there was Pei Zhang's mother. She and her husband had been away enjoying themselves for three years. How could her mother-in-law like her? She should've bent when she had to, lowered her head when it was called for, after all, "filial piety" was paramount in this dynasty. The mother who raised a top scholar like Pei Zhang couldn't be narrow-minded. Over time, things would've gotten better. Even if Pei Zhang's mother was truly unreasonable, Pei Zhang wasn't a fool. Would he just stand by and watch her suffer under his mother's harsh treatment? As an official, would he really want a reputation for neglecting his household?

...

And so on. Jiang Wanying seemed to have finally found a way to vent her frustrations. Jiang Wanrou listened with mixed feelings. When Jiang Wanying finally asked for a fertility remedy, Jiang Wanrou genuinely felt that perhaps the lack of a child wasn't the main cause of her current predicament.

She said slowly, "You and Lord Pei are still young. I think your main focus now should be—"

It's Pei Zhang! Now that you're all alone in the household, you need to cling to Pei Zhang, you idiot!

Jiang Wanrou was struggling to phrase her words when Jiang Wanying suddenly interrupted, "I need a child."

She gently touched her stomach and said firmly, "As long as I have a child, everything will be fine."

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

Fine how? He's ignoring you now, and he'll ignore you and the child later?

In social situations, it's a big no-no to get too personal when you're not that close. Jiang Wanrou swallowed her unspoken words. It was just a prescription; she didn't mind sharing it.

She called Cuizhu to get the prescription and warned, "Having children is largely a matter of fate. This isn't some magic potion. Look at me, I've been taking it for years, and still no news."

Jiang Wanying clearly didn't take it to heart. She said happily, "Thank you, Sixth Sister. Having something to try is better than nothing. At least it gives me hope."

Well, now she's "Sixth Sister." This Fifth Sister...

Just as Jiang Wanrou was running out of patience, the maid came to urge her again. Jiang Wanying, having gotten the prescription, didn't want to stay either. The two exchanged a few fake pleasantries, ready to wrap up the visit on a friendly note when Lu Huaiyi showed up.

"Lu Huaiyi is looking for his mother."

He said indifferently. Today, Lu Huaiyi was dressed in a heavy purple brocade robe with gold edges, the collar and cuffs adorned with exquisite white jade buttons, and a qilin jade belt around his waist. His sword-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, straight nose, and thin lips, even the scar on his forehead, did not detract from his noble and handsome appearance but added a touch of roguish charm.

With a "crack," the cup in Jiang Wanying's hand shattered, accompanied by a gasp, "Your leg—"

Though the voice was soft, it didn't escape Lu Huaiyi, who had trained in martial arts. He frowned slightly and looked at his wife's guest.

Jiang Wanrou hadn't expected this turn of events either. She quickly stood up to smooth things over, "Breaking is auspicious, breaking is auspicious. Fifth Sister, weren't you in a hurry to leave? I have things to attend to, so I won't see you off."

On such a good day, she didn't want anything to go wrong. Lu Huaiyi usually walked slowly, just like an ordinary person, and his limp was hardly noticeable. Who knew Jiang Wanying would be so stunned, staring at Lu Huaiyi's leg? His expression grew darker as he asked, "Whose family are you from?"

He didn't have the grace to avoid trouble with women. In the past, when someone gossiped about Jiang Wanrou behind her back, he didn't care if they were old, weak, or women. He personally cut out a few tongues and sent them to their husbands. His reputation for cruelty wasn't unfounded.

But since this was Jiang Wanrou's guest, he would give her face and not make a scene now.

"I... I'm from the Jiang... no, I'm from the Pei family."

Jiang Wanying seemed frightened, her words jumbled. Only when she mentioned Pei Zhang's name did she calm down a bit.

She said, "I am Pei Zhang's wife."

Pei Zhang?

Commander Lu's eyes gleamed slightly. That scholar had some guts, but who would have guessed he'd end up with such a disgraceful wife.

His face darkened as he sat like a king at the head of the table, sipping tea without a word.

Jiang Wanrou, as if oblivious to his dark mood, pushed a plate of pear blossom cakes toward him and said softly, "Today's tea is bitter. Have some cakes to sweeten it up."

Commander Lu remained silent. Jiang Wanying noticed that he frowned slightly while eating the cakes, yet he finished the entire plate.

She bowed her head and murmured, "I've been here too long. I should get going. I heard that Commander Lu is skilled in calligraphy and painting. My husband has a box of treasured pigments—vermilion (a bright red), azurite (a deep blue), and gamboge (a rich yellow), all of the finest quality."

"My husband has long admired you, Commander Lu. Please accept this modest gift."

After she left, Jiang Wanrou couldn't help but ask, "Since when do you know calligraphy and painting?"

Commander Lu had served in the military, but due to a leg injury, he never took the imperial exams. Others praised his martial prowess, and it was only after marrying him that Jiang Wanrou discovered the extensive library in the Lu household and Commander Lu's profound knowledge.

As for calligraphy and painting, Commander Lu had never been known for such skills. Instead, it was the second master of the Lu family who was known for his refined taste and love of collecting famous paintings.

Perhaps Jiang Wanying had made a mistake in her inquiries.

Jiang Wanrou thought so, but Commander Lu just stared at her, making her squirm. Out of nowhere, he gave a weird laugh, his usual sternness replaced by a mischievous grin.

"You don't know?"

He walked up to her, leaned down, and stared directly at her. "You really don't know?"