Chapter 30: Going to Jiangnan with Pei Zhang

Chapter 30: Going to Jiangnan with Pei Zhang

"Who would dare to wrong me? This maid is just spouting nonsense."

Jiang Wanrou stood up to greet him, but Lu Feng quickly pressed her back down, chiding softly, "You're being so reckless, not thinking about the consequences."

He walked briskly, and his legs showed little sign of discomfort. Jiang Wanrou exclaimed in surprise, "Husband, your legs... are better?"

Cuizhu and all the maids lowered their heads in silence, not daring to look at Lu Feng's face, much less his legs. Lu Feng supported Jiang Wanrou and said in a deep voice, "Yes, there's been some improvement."

She had seen him at his lowest, so Lu Feng had no reservations in front of Jiang Wanrou. He said, "That young Mr. Luo truly has some skill."

"That's truly wonderful."

A smile spread across Jiang Wanrou's face. Of course, she hoped for Lu Feng's legs to improve. She didn't dare hope they would be as good as a normal person's, but she wished he wouldn't suffer during the cold winter months.

Before, she had hoped for his legs to improve out of fear that his unpredictable temper might turn on her. Now, after many years of marriage, her heart wasn't unfeeling. He was her husband, the father of her two children, and she ached for the pain he endured.

Others only knew Commander Lu for his ruthless methods, and his reputation alone was enough to strike fear into their hearts. But Jiang Wanrou saw him as a person—someone who needed to eat and drink, who would feel pain and bleed when hurt.

Every year, she would donate incense money to the Huangjue Temple, where three longevity tablets were enshrined: one for her birth mother, Madam Li; one for her son, Lu Huaiyi; and the last for Lu Feng.

If he was well, she was well. Husband and wife were one, sharing both honor and shame.

"So happy?" Lu Feng's stern face softened with a hint of a smile, touched by her joy.

Jiang Wanrou half-reclined on the pearwood lounge chair by the window with his support, smiling, "What are you saying? Of course, I pray day and night for your well-being."

It was already mid-spring, and the warm sunlight outside was pleasant. Jiang Wanrou had recently taken a liking to sunbathing. She shifted inward, pulling open a small blanket and patting the empty spot beside her.

"Husband, since you finally have some free time, let's enjoy the sun together for a while."

Jiang Wanrou's skin was extremely fair, and under the sunlight, her snow-white complexion glowed softly, like a ripe, juicy lychee. Lu Feng had originally planned to go to the palace to meet the emperor, but before leaving, he glanced at his wife. Seeing this, he suddenly paused.

"Alright."

"Wait—Cuizhu, get a change of clothes for the master."

Previously, it had always been Jiang Wanrou who helped Lu Feng dress, but now that she was heavily pregnant, Lu Feng wouldn't let her lift a finger. The maids in the room had served him a few times, but he either found them too slow or too clumsy, and nothing felt quite right. So, he decided to do it himself.

He leisurely undid the buttons, removed the deep purple dragon-patterned official robe, and changed into a light, pristine white cloud-patterned brocade robe. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with auspicious cloud and ruyi patterns, and the wide sleeves accentuated his broad shoulders and strong waist.

Perhaps it was the beautiful spring light, or perhaps it was the radiant white robe, but Jiang Wanrou looked up at him, a spark of admiration in her eyes.

"Husband, you look so dashing!"

Lu Feng usually wore black, dark, or purple robes, which gave him a solemn and imposing air. Combined with the deep scar on his brow, he often appeared fierce and intimidating. But recently, Lu Feng had become gentler with her. When they were making spring clothes last time, Jiang Wanrou had a sudden inspiration and had this pure, light robe tailored for him.

She knew his measurements well, and it fit him perfectly.

Lu Feng had initially thought the color was too soft and scholarly, but when he saw the admiration in Jiang Wanrou's eyes, he swallowed his words.

He stiffly brushed down the wide sleeves and said, "This style is quite unusual."

"It's the latest fashion in the capital."

Jiang Wanrou said enthusiastically, "The fabric is cloud brocade—light and breathable. As soon as I saw the design, I knew it would look good on you."

Clothes make the man. Dressed in white, Lu Feng's demeanor transformed, as if he had returned to the young nobleman he had been many years ago, before everything had happened.

Lu Feng's feelings were somewhat complicated.

In his inherent beliefs, women adorned themselves for those who appreciated them, and it was natural for women to wear makeup and powder. Men in the world should focus on achieving great deeds and not concern themselves with appearances.

He reached out and pulled the small blanket over Jiang Wanrou, suddenly asking, "Do you feel wronged marrying me?"

At this moment, he suddenly understood that the appreciation of beauty is human nature; not only do men appreciate beauty, but women also favor handsome men.

And he, back then, was a cripple who couldn't even stand up.

"Hmm?"

Jiang Wanrou, resting her head on his arm, squinted her eyes comfortably under the sun, "Husband, you're full of jokes today, aren't you?"

She said, "Husband, you are of noble status, with the grace of a dragon and the dignity of a phoenix. It is my fortune from eight lifetimes to have married you, how could I feel wronged?"

It was a mismatch in status; according to her original status, she had never dreamed of marrying into such a prestigious family as the Lu Duke's mansion. She also did not wish to marry a so-called "suitable" son of a noble family, living under the family's protection, bowing and scraping every month for a monthly allowance.

That would truly be a life without any chance of improvement.

Neglected by her father and mistreated by her stepmother, she could not venture out to achieve great deeds like a man could, and could only plan for herself in marriage. Her father was employed in the Hanlin Academy, and at that time, she thought her best outcome would be to find a poor but ambitious scholar.

Being poor, she would be marrying beneath her status, and her in-laws, out of respect for the Marquis's household, would not dare to mistreat her.

A scholar, with the imperial examinations held every three years, could rise from a farmer to a court official, slowly working his way up, and one day make a name for himself.

Later, by a twist of fate, she became a member of the Lu family.

In fact, Jiang Wanrou had not lied earlier; apart from the initial difficulties, after managing the large affairs of the Lu mansion, she indeed felt she had "married up."

She didn't care at all about Lu Feng's legs; living in fear back then, she didn't even dare to hope for a future husband's looks or age, as long as he had a good temper, treated her well, and could protect her and Aunt Li, that was enough.

What Lu Feng gave her was far better than she had originally imagined. The Lu Duke's mansion was splendid and wealthy, and she didn't have to live a hard life of "cooking and making soup" right after entering; Lu Feng was favored by the emperor, and as the wife of a powerful minister, she didn't have to be like Wang Baochuan, waiting in a cold kiln. She was granted the title of a lady in her third year of marriage, and at palace banquets, she sat closest to the imperial concubine, looking down, no one younger than her.

Even though Lu Feng's temper was unpredictable, after so many years, she had gradually figured out his ways. Especially recently, with the child in her belly, they had less intimacy, but it added more warmth than before.

Jiang Wanrou thought, she and Lu Feng were harmonious as husband and wife, now only hoping for Huai Yi to be safe and healthy, and to give birth to the little one, raise them well, and in the future, comfortably become an old lady, enjoying a lifetime of peace.

She would be content with this life.

Jiang Wanrou nuzzled against Lu Feng's arm, lazily saying, "Husband, tell me, what do I have to feel wronged about?"

Lu Feng was silent.

He had originally thought that marrying him, Lu Feng, would not be a compromise for any woman in the world. The words of Jiang Wanxue that day still echoed in his ears, causing a crack in his rock-solid heart.

She said, even if Prince Gong had failed, she would not regret it.

As the most esteemed young master of a noble family in the dynasty, Lu Feng had been a proud son of heaven since childhood. When his fiancée schemed against him and chose to embrace Prince Gong, he thought it was just a woman's greed for vanity, never considering anything else.

Apart from his background, he believed he surpassed Qi Xuan in every way.

Now that Qi Xuan had fallen, not even worth a dog, a vain woman like Jiang Wanxue was still devoted to him, and Lu Feng's steadfast heart inevitably developed a subtle sense of comparison.

How could Qi Xuan compare to him? A weakling with no strength, those legs he temporarily left on him for two years, sooner or later he would make him pay in blood.

When Jiang Wanxue said those words, he sneered, this woman was greedy for vanity, ignorant of the times, and utterly shallow!

Fortunately, his wife is obedient, sensible, and understanding of the bigger picture, unlike the ordinary women in this world.

Now he suddenly realizes that his wife seems... to place quite a bit of importance on appearances.

Just by changing into a different outfit, she gave him such an admiring look, her eyes sparkling, leaving him both amused and exasperated.

Lu Feng remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "A true gentleman does not judge by appearances. Handsome men are often superficial and rarely accomplish anything significant. Throughout history, the true heroes..."

He heard the soft, even sound of her breathing beside him. He glanced down and saw that she had already fallen asleep, her brows relaxed and a smile on her lips, likely lost in a pleasant dream.

Lu Feng watched her for a while, gently brushing his thumb across her slightly flushed cheeks, then slowly closed his eyes beside her.

***

The emperor was unusually tolerant of Lu Feng. Even when he arrived late, the emperor was not angered, though his expression tightened slightly at the sight of him. "Jun Chi looks... quite dashing today," the emperor remarked.

Clad in simple white robes with thin sashes and flowing sleeves, Lu Feng looked very different from his usual stern and imposing self. At a glance, the usual gloom around him seemed to fade.

Lu Feng replied, "Blame my wife for this. Let's not dwell on that. Your Majesty summoned me—what is the pressing matter?"

Jiang Wanrou not only had good taste but also chose fabrics that were extremely soft and comfortable. After a brief rest with her, Lu Feng found his usual official robes unbearably heavy.

As the saying goes, "The beauty's embrace is the hero's grave." The ancients did not lie.

When it came to serious matters, the emperor dropped his earlier teasing and handed Lu Feng a letter through an attendant, saying, "Take a look."

Lu Feng skimmed the letter, his expression darkening.

"I never expected it to be them," the emperor said, his face showing a complex mix of emotions. After more than twenty years, the embers had flared up again, and he had watched them stir right before his eyes.

Lu Feng paused, then said, "It makes sense."

Back then, the remnants of Prince Chen's forces fled south and disappeared without a trace. They had nearly turned the south upside down in their search but found nothing.

It turned out they had been hiding on the waterways.

Pei Zhang reviewed the records of water bandits over the years and discovered that in the past three years, the bandits had become particularly rampant, their weapons more sophisticated, and their raids on merchant ships swift and precise, almost like a well-organized army.

This timing coincided perfectly with Prince Gong's private forging and smuggling of iron weapons.

Though seemingly unrelated, Pei Zhang, with his meticulous attention to detail, noticed while reviewing old cases of water bandits that they often used hook spears.

Hook spears had a straight blade at the front and a horizontal blade on the side, capable of both stabbing and hooking, ideal for naval combat.

Among the iron weapons Prince Gong had been smuggling, hook spears were the most common.

When all the coincidences came together, they ceased to be coincidences. Though Pei Zhang was unaware of the details of Prince Chen's affairs, he reported his findings to the emperor, who, seeing the bigger picture, understood everything.

The emperor said, "I once thought Pei Zhang was still too inexperienced, but now I see I was narrow-minded."

"Heroes often rise from the young. I am getting old," the emperor sighed, then added, "Jun Chi, set aside your current tasks and go south with Pei Zhang."

Lu Feng knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "As you command."

The remnants of Prince Chen's forces could only be dealt with by him—this was an unspoken understanding between him and the emperor.