Chapter 25: The Wife, the Equal Partner

Chapter 25: The Wife, the Equal Partner

Lu Feng's body stiffened slightly.

She was soft all over, except for her round, taut belly. Lu Feng didn’t dare apply any pressure, afraid he might hurt her.

Jiang Wanrou raised her bright eyes and said, "Husband, can you feel it? Our little one is so active."

Lu Feng’s lips tightened slightly, and he gave a stiff nod. "Hmm."

He added, "The doctor said walking more during your pregnancy will help with the delivery."

"Yes, but the courtyard at Jinguang Courtyard is quite small. I can walk back and forth three times a day..."

Jiang Wanrou deftly changed the subject, hiding her amusement. It was a newfound joy she had recently discovered.

The child had been fine just moments ago and hadn’t kicked her at all.

Lu Feng always had a stern look, and she used to be too afraid to misbehave in front of him. She had always acted dignified and proper, thinking Lu Feng was a strict traditionalist. She thought going along with his ways was the key to a peaceful life.

Recently, while tending to his leg with warm medicinal paste, they shared a rare moment alone. She realized that she might have misunderstood Lu Feng.

He wasn’t the rough, brutish soldier she had imagined. He was refined and well-read, even explaining to her that the sky was round. He told her about the stars above and the vast rivers and mountains below—things she had never imagined.

He was skilled at playing the guqin, his music powerful and bold.

He played dice with her, his expressions relaxed, radiating charm.

He loved to gently stroke her belly with his broad hand, as if it were a priceless treasure.

The warm candlelight softened the sharpness of his features. She couldn’t help teasing him with a playful joke.

"Husband, look—the baby’s kicking you."

She noticed Lu Feng's body stiffen.

His hand moved gently as he murmured, "Hmm, strong kicks. Must be a healthy baby."

Jiang Wanrou was speechless.

Later, she tried it again, unable to resist. Lu Feng, usually so sharp, seemed to believe her every time.

Jiang Wanrou felt a complex mix of emotions as she watched Lu Feng, so serious yet spouting nonsense. A peculiar satisfaction washed over her.

She thought hazily: To lie to the famous Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau and have him agree—such a thing was surely rare.

...

Lu Feng's expression remained calm as he discussed a few matters about the child with her, but he didn’t let her steer the conversation away. "So, how does my wife plan to make amends?"

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

This man could be easy to deal with at times, but at other times, he was truly hard to fool.

She fiddled with the subtle patterns on Lu Feng's sleeping robe and softened her voice, "Husband, whatever you want, I’ll do it."

"I will listen to you, husband."

With a man like Lu Feng, the best approach was to go along with him. Jiang Wanrou had shared a bed with him for many years and had long since mastered the art of handling him.

"Really?"

Lu Feng lifted her chin, "No takebacks once the pieces are placed, do you remember, my lady?"

Jiang Wanrou felt another wave of embarrassment.

When he was applying the medicinal paste to her leg, they had played a few games of chess. She had expected Lu Feng to be impatient, but to her surprise, he was a very patient teacher, explaining things in a straightforward manner, allowing her, who had never touched a chess piece before, to manage a few moves. Of course, she was no match for a master like Lu Feng.

She had never won.

Frustrated by her losses, she secretly moved a few pieces when he wasn't looking. When caught, she stayed calm and justified herself, "Husband, you're being unfair to me. I'm just a novice, how can I compete with you?"

"I've already given you three advantages. If you still think it's unfair, tell me, I'm listening."

Lu Feng straightened the pieces she had disturbed and said indifferently, "No takebacks, my lady. Your sportsmanship is lacking."

...

He didn't say anything harsh, but it made Jiang Wanrou blush deeply. Now that the matter was brought up again, she felt a bit embarrassed.

She also remembered to leave herself an out.

She stuck out her round belly and said pitifully, "I'll accept any punishment you give me. It's just a shame our unborn child has to suffer along with me."

Lu Feng was particularly concerned about this pregnancy. Now, her belly was a treasure, her talisman, good for only five more months. Once expired, it would be useless, so she had to make good use of it.

Lu Feng calmly said, "It's fine, the child has endured with you more than once."

"I heard you found the prenatal medicine bitter and secretly poured it out?"

Jiang Wanrou's smile froze, her earlier playfulness vanished, and her heart suddenly trembled.

Lu Feng's temperament was truly hard to predict, not that he was moody, but hard to fathom.

For example, earlier in the day, he had casually ended a life as if it meant nothing.

She could feel that he was suppressing his anger at that time. Her red eyes weren't just from jealousy; she was terrified.

Later, he seemed less angry. When she served him to dress and wash in the evening, he stopped her. She sighed in relief, thinking the matter was settled, but then he brought up past issues.

From the moment she married into the Lu household, Jiang Wanrou knew she was tied to this man for life. Ordinary couples could divorce if things didn't work out, but with Lu Feng's temperament, she feared she would die within the Lu household. Living together day and night, she slowly tested his boundaries. She acted the part of a dutiful wife, and they respected each other, making life bearable.

Later, she discovered that Lu Feng preferred her occasional willful and coquettish side, so she let her temper loose. Who wants to be a spineless puppet? They got along well as a couple. When she thought she had understood this man enough, even taking pride in teasing him with her pregnancy, he would suddenly say something that instantly brought her back to reality.

She couldn't find where his bottom line was.

He was so concerned about this pregnancy, asking the imperial physician for her pulse records every day, yet he didn't question her about secretly pouring out the prenatal medicine. Today, she had caused a scene at the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, challenging his authority in front of the servants. He was clearly angry but held back.

He was like deep, still water—calm on the surface, but one never knew when a storm would brew.

Jiang Wanrou's face turned somewhat pale.

"Quite fierce during the day, now you're scared?"

Lu Feng pinched her chin and examined her carefully. He liked this posture; his palm was large, as if firmly holding her in his grasp.

He said, "My wife is truly beautiful, a sight that stirs pity."

In fact, it wasn’t as complicated as Jiang Wanrou had imagined. Lu Feng’s focus was largely on court matters. The case of Prince Gong and the water bandits in Jiangnan were issues that demanded his daily attention. The rest of his energy was partly spent on Lu Huaiyi, and only then did it reach Jiang Wanrou.

In terms of status, she was his lawfully wedded wife and the mother of his two children. In terms of affection, she had been with him since humble beginnings, and their years of marriage had been harmonious. Lu Feng was very satisfied with his wife and showed her extraordinary patience and tolerance.

He didn’t mind that she wasn’t great at music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, nor did he care about her occasional petty schemes. He accepted her willfulness and indulgence without question. As Lu Feng’s wife, she had every right to live freely and boldly.

Her playful nature melted his heart, making him reluctant to speak harshly to her. Lu Feng couldn’t resist pinching her slightly chubby cheek and sighed, “What a silly girl.”

With her big belly, what could he do? Beat her? Not likely. She was usually so clever, so why was she acting foolish now? Her timid nature only made him feel more protective of her.

Jiang Wanrou’s skin was soft and fair, and her face turned red from his pinching. She pouted, “You were the one who scared me first, husband.”

She wasn’t a mind reader. The renowned Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, with his perpetually cold and stern expression—who wouldn’t be afraid of him?

Lu Feng raised an eyebrow and said, “Making a scene in broad daylight at the government office, anyone else would have been beaten with sticks. But you, after just a few words, you’re already feeling sorry for yourself?”

Lu Feng threw her earlier words back at her, but his tone softened in the end.

Jiang Wanrou seized the moment, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and cooing, “You said it yourself, that’s for outsiders. I’m not an outsider; I’m your wife. I shouldn’t be beaten with sticks.”

Lu Feng hadn’t meant to punish her harshly, just to scold her. After all, she was now the mother of two children and needed to be more careful. Fortunately, today it was just their own people. She didn’t think about what would happen if her actions were seen by colleagues from the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court. Not only would she be seen as disrespectful to her husband, but also as jealous and intolerant. If the Emperor took a dislike to her, she might be safe while pregnant, but what about after the baby was born? Would her life still be easy?

They had been married for many years. Had she ever seen him look at another woman? Hearing a few words of gossip and doubting her husband—was this how a wife should behave?

Today, he had declined the Emperor’s summons to return home, planning to have a heart-to-heart talk with her. She was different from Lu Huaiyi. Lu Huaiyi would one day take on the family’s responsibilities and needed strict guidance. But she was his wife. In ancient teachings, managing the family came before ruling the state and bringing peace to the world. As a smart wife, she should understand his intentions.

Unfortunately, neither of them could read the other’s thoughts. Lu Feng didn’t know Jiang Wanrou’s awe of him, and Jiang Wanrou didn’t understand Lu Feng’s tolerance toward her. She clung to him like a lifeline, rubbing against him. Lu Feng was a strong man, and after abstaining for so long, her actions lit a fire in him.

When Jiang Wanrou felt something hard pressing against her waist, her eyes widened in surprise. By the time she thought about getting off Lu Feng, it was already too late.

She looked at him in disbelief, stammering, “Husband… my belly… the baby.”

Lu Feng was strong and often rough in such matters. If they were to engage now, she might not survive the bed.

She was genuinely frightened, clutching her belly. “Later… I will serve you well, husband. But now… it’s not possible.”

Her eyes darted around, searching for something sharp. Men could lose all reason at times like these. If it came to that, she would strike him to bring him back to his senses.

She had to protect herself and the baby.

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t touch you.”

Lu Feng’s voice was hoarse, his dark eyes fixed on Jiang Wanrou. Her hair was disheveled, and the corners of her eyes were slightly red. Thanks to the tonics she had been taking recently, her fair skin had a faint pink hue.

Lu Feng reached out, his calloused thumb rubbing against her cherry-like lips.

“Good girl, open up.”

By the time true spring arrived in the third month, the harshness of winter had completely faded. Jiang Wanrou’s pregnancy was stable, and she ate and slept well. Lu Feng became even busier. Aside from the ongoing case of Prince Gong, the water bandits in Jiangnan grew more audacious, even daring to ambush scholars on their way to the capital for the imperial examinations. The Emperor was furious and wanted to send someone to Jiangnan to suppress the bandits, but the choice of envoy remained undecided.

***

Regardless of the chaos outside, the inner household remained peaceful. Jiang Wanrou, now in good health, took back some of the household duties. When she had the energy, she even received a few guests. Cuizhu advised her to rest, but Jiang Wanrou laughed, “Day after day of resting has made my bones soft. Let me do something.”

Such leisurely days were pleasant, but after a while, eating and sleeping all day became monotonous. She wasn’t used to handing everything over, especially since the major responsibilities still lay with Lady Zhou and Yao. She wouldn’t overexert herself. With the household running smoothly and Huaiyi behaving well lately—eating more and even earning praise from the strict Lu Feng for his calligraphy—she felt at ease.

Stealing a moment of leisure, Jiang Wanrou, now heavily pregnant, had Cuizhu wash her long, glossy black hair. Outside, the spring sunlight was warm, and magpies chirped in the trees. Jiang Wanrou had someone bring out a reclining chair, and she lounged in the shade of the courtyard, basking in the sun.

Jinguang Courtyard wasn’t large. Initially, it had been just an empty little yard, but over the years Jiang Wanrou had lived there, she had planted peach and plum trees, cultivated orchids by the window, and had craftsmen build a swing by the pond. Now, in the midst of spring, the courtyard was a riot of flowers, with colorful butterflies flitting about and koi fish swimming in the pond. Jiang Wanrou half-closed her eyes, wrapped in a brocade blanket, drowsing under the dappled shade of the trees.

"Mom, mom—"

On a quiet afternoon, Lu Huaiyi's voice was particularly clear, startling Jiang Wanrou awake.

"Sweetheart, take it easy."

Jiang Wanrou sat up, yawned, and said to Jintao, "Go, wipe the young master's sweat."

Lu Huaiyi was wearing a sapphire-blue brocade robe with a round neck today, with white auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, making him look like a delicate little fairy.

Lu Huaiyi was too shy to let a woman tend to him, so he took the handkerchief himself, thanked Jintao, then turned to Jiang Wanrou excitedly:

"Mother, today Father didn't circle any characters for me. He said I wrote every one of them well."

Of course, Lu Feng wouldn't praise him so directly, leaving only two words: "Passable."

For the usually strict Lu Feng, this was high praise indeed, which made Lu Huaiyi particularly excited.

"Is that so? My Huaiyi is really something."

Jiang Wanrou enthusiastically praised him. As long as Huaiyi was healthy, that was all that mattered. There was no way around it; Lu Feng was too strict with the kids, and she couldn't help but spoil him more, especially since Huaiyi was so well-behaved.

Lu Huaiyi looked shy, and he lowered his head, asking, "Mother, is my sister behaving today? Has she been giving you any trouble?"

Even the most skilled doctor couldn't tell the baby's gender, but Jiang Wanrou had been craving spicy food lately. As the old saying goes, sour for a boy, spicy for a girl, and experienced midwives said it was most likely a girl.

Jiang Wanrou wasn't disappointed. She had already made up her mind: if it was a boy, he would be a playmate for Huaiyi; if it was a girl, that was fine too. Having both a son and a daughter would make her life complete.

Huaiyi always asked about his sister when he visited, but today his expression was a bit unusual.

Jiang Wanrou smiled and said, "Alright, tell me what's on your mind. No need to be coy."

Lu Huaiyi smiled shyly and said, "Mother, I want to go out for a bit today."

Lu Feng was strict but usually didn't stop him from going out as long as he had enough guards. Jiang Wanrou, however, didn't like him going out too much, and he had been going out more frequently lately.

She spoke softly, "I won't stop you, but you need to tell me where you're going so I know where to look for you."

Jiang Wanrou rarely confronted anyone directly, whether it was Lu Feng or Lu Huaiyi. Boys at this age were naturally playful, and the more you tried to control them, the more they rebelled.

But her son wasn't going out to play; he was going to a bookstore to read. Jiang Wanrou was surprised and laughed, "Our mansion has a rich collection of books. Which one do you want to read? I'll find it for you. Why go out to read?"

Lu Huaiyi stammered, "It's... quieter there. I like it there."

Could it be quieter than the mansion? They had a specially designated small study, the most peaceful spot in the mansion.

Jiang Wanrou thought for a moment, then called Lu Huaiyi over and straightened his collar, which had gotten messy from running.

"Alright, go if you want, but take your guards. Do you have any money? Let Cuizhu get you five hundred taels from the accounts. You need money when you're out."

"No, no."

Lu Huaiyi shook his head like a rattle drum, "Five coppers are enough. Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

After he was out of sight, Jiang Wanrou called Jintao over and said, "Follow him."

Jintao hesitated, "But if the young master really..."

She knew what Jiang Wanrou was worried about; their young master was still young and might be led astray by bad influences outside.

"No need to disturb him, just follow him," Jiang Wanrou said calmly. "Huai Yi is growing up, and we must consider his reputation. You don't need to do anything, just note down where he goes, whom he meets, and what he does."

"As you wish, madam."

Lu Huaiyi eagerly lifted the bamboo curtain and saw a refined gentleman by the window, holding a book and brewing tea.

***

"Lord Pei."

He walked over briskly, his dark eyes shining brightly. "I wanted to thank Lord Pei."

Pei Zhang put down the book in his hand and smiled faintly. "I only offered a little guidance; you flatter me, young friend."

But Lu Huaiyi knew it went beyond that. Lord Pei not only taught him calligraphy but also how to choose quality paper and ink, and answered his questions about his studies, from which he had greatly benefited.

It is said that a teacher imparts wisdom, teaches skills, and resolves doubts. In his heart, Lord Pei was just like a teacher.

He took out a beautifully bound book from his robe and presented it with both hands, bowing respectfully. "Please accept this, Lord Pei, as a small gesture of thanks."

Pei Zhang looked at it briefly; it was *Discourse on the Equality of Things*.

He helped Lu Huaiyi up, his delicate fingers caressing the cover, and said gently, "You are thoughtful, young friend."

Seeing Pei Zhang's neutral expression, not showing the joy of receiving a beloved item, Lu Huaiyi couldn't help but ask, "Lord Pei, do you not like this book?"

Pei Zhang patted his head. "I do like it."

As the shopkeeper had said, he had read through all the books here years ago, so there was no particular preference.

He had been spending time in this bookstore, feeling as though he was waiting for someone.

Lately, he had been having many restless dreams.

In his dreams, he wore a worn-out robe, and before him stood a person with a blurred face, saying, "As long as you absorb the knowledge, whether you rent or buy the book, it's the same. In the end, you gain."

"Do not look down on the poor youth; I see you have a noble bearing, as if destined for greatness."

Waking up in the middle of the night, he felt a sense of loss but couldn't recall anything, his heart aching with emptiness.

Seeing Pei Zhang's increasingly downcast expression, Lu Huaiyi anxiously asked, "Lord Pei, what's wrong?"

"If you don't like this book, I—I have other books at home."

Lu Huaiyi paused, then looked at Pei Zhang earnestly. "My father has many books, Lord Pei. Which one do you like? I’ll make sure to get it for you."