Chapter 39: A Jealous Wife at Home

Chapter 39: A Jealous Wife at Home

Lu Feng's expression softened slightly. Without avoiding Pei Zhang, he leisurely opened the envelope.

His gaze gradually turned serious.

Pei Zhang's hand beneath his sleeve quietly clenched, then loosened, and then clenched again, his slender knuckles turning slightly white.

He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, asking as if casually, "Has something happened at home?"

Lu Feng's narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and he chuckled, folding the letter in his palm.

"Women bickering out of jealousy, it's nothing."

Chang'an's secret letter arrived a day earlier than Jiang Wanrou's home letter. He already knew about the attack on the small courtyard in the southern part of the city, and he didn't believe it was the work of Prince Chen's remnants.

Although Prince Chen's remnants were like a centipede, dead but not stiff, after several recent encounters, Lu Feng was certain their stronghold was in the Jiangnan area. The capital was under the emperor's feet, and at most, Prince Chen's remnants could only plant a few spies to gather information.

Even Prince Gong's mansion wouldn't dare to barge in, so would they dare to openly assassinate Jiang Wanxue?

Moreover, they had no reason to kill her. He had checked the account books; the last batch of weapons was enormous, with a deposit of twenty thousand taels. If they truly had the courage to restore the country, they should be most anxious about the whereabouts of those weapons now.

If it wasn't Prince Chen's remnants, then who wanted Jiang Wanxue dead... Lu Feng already had a guess.

This sudden assassination attempt disrupted Lu Feng's plans. He replied to the letter, ordering people to continue monitoring, responding to changes with stability. Just after replying to Chang'an's secret letter, he received Jiang Wanrou's home letter today.

Her letter was long, talking about various matters in the household, about Lu Huai Yi, about the child in her womb, about herself. Such as what she had for breakfast, how her taste had recently turned heavy, liking ginger and spicy soup; the "light yellow" fish in the pond had given birth to a nest of fry... she could ramble on for four or five pages.

Lu Feng liked to open her letters at night, washing away the day's bloodstains, reading them repeatedly under the lamplight, as if he were in the small courtyard of the Lu residence thousands of miles away, bringing joy to his heart. This time, Jiang Wanrou's letter was only two pages long, lacking its usual warmth, and at the end, there was even a tone of accusation.

She spoke as usual about household matters, saying Huai Yi was sick, she had used the token he gave her, and now the illness was stable. Then she turned the topic to the small courtyard in the southern part of the city.

"I never expected that the wife of the 'old acquaintance' you mentioned was my own elder sister. Since we are family, why did you hide it from me?"

"Originally, I didn't know, so it was fine, but now that I do, I must pay a visit. But now I am pregnant, and it's not suitable for me to go out. What am I to do?"

"My sister and I haven't seen each other for a long time. When you return, why don't we go together? I am merely a woman, I don't grasp the larger picture, but I feel this is really not proper etiquette. What do you think?"

"Though the letter is short, my feelings are deep, hoping for your early return."

...

A total of two thin pages, half sarcastic, half accusatory. Lu Feng rubbed the resilient letter paper in his hand, feeling both irritated and amused.

She always loved to maintain her composure, smiling when happy, smiling when unhappy. Others said he had a strange temper, hard to figure out, but little did they know his wife was no less than him.

Now, being so jealous, it was rare. Through the letter, he could imagine her expression as she wrote, undoubtedly more vivid and lively than ever.

This woman, usually so shrewd, how could she be so foolish about this, like a kitten guarding its meal. During these days in the misty Jiangnan, where women were of all shapes and sizes, including those as beautiful and voluptuous as Jiang Wanrou, Lu Feng, a man in his prime, had been celibate for several months.

He had never been away for so long. His subordinates found him clean women to relieve his desires, but he suddenly remembered her, thinking she would surely be heartbroken. Although he was an eight-foot-tall man, not the kind of henpecked weakling, he didn't want to cause her sadness.

Now, seeing how petty this woman's heart was, she was indeed a jealous woman.

He sighed to himself, patted Pei Zhang's shoulder, and said, "Brother, let's move the plan forward by ten days."

"Why?" Pei Zhang asked, "Has something happened? If you don't mind, I can provide some input."

Lu Feng smirked slightly, "No need, just do as I say."

With a jealous wife at home, he couldn’t rest easy when he was away.

...

Lu Feng acted decisively, making many decisions. Although Lu and Pei discussed matters together, it was ultimately Lu Feng who made the final call. He brooked no defiance. Though Pei Zhang thought some decisions were too radical, after much deliberation, he chose not to speak up.

He returned to his room, retrieved a porcelain bottle of camphor balls from a hidden compartment, and gave it a light sniff.

Lately, he’d been dreaming more often.

Besides the voluptuous and beautiful woman in the alley, he often dreamed of the young woman from the bookstore.

He saw her again, this time in the small courtyard he rented.

"Here, Mr. Pei, I promised to return this to you."

He glanced at the two copper coins in the young woman’s pale palm but didn’t take them.

"How did a young woman like you find your way here?"

"I asked the bookstore shopkeeper. Your place is easy to find; a quick inquiry and everyone knows a handsome gentleman lives here. I heard you often help neighbors with their letters. Mr. Pei, you’re well-regarded around here."

"Ah, stop talking nonsense and take it quickly. I can’t stay out long; it would be terrible if I’m caught."

He still didn’t take them.

He gazed intently at the young woman before him and said, "You’re dressed richly; surely you’re from a wealthy family."

"Not from a wealthy family, just a common girl."

The young woman lowered her head, her tone suddenly somber. "My mother is sick, and I can’t even afford a doctor or good medicine."

"Living under someone else’s roof, our lives are at their mercy."

He was deeply moved; the stubborn young woman was living a hard life.

He asked, "May I ask which family you’re from?"

"Why do you want to know?"

The young woman stepped back two paces, looking at him warily. "I believed you to be a gentleman. How important is a woman’s chastity? If something happens, I’d have to die to prove my innocence!"

"You’re not the type to seek death easily."

He smiled and said, "I feel a connection with you, Miss... I want to help you."

"You look so young, why do you speak so mysteriously? Look here, our connection is only this."

She slapped the two copper coins onto the stone table in the courtyard and said, "I return them to you. From now on, we go our separate ways. You must never say you’ve seen me. I still hope to marry into a good family."

"What is a good family?"

He said indifferently, "Handsome as Pan An, gentle and considerate? Or wealthy and powerful?"

"Mr. Pei, you’re daydreaming in broad daylight!"

The young woman said irritably, "If there really were such a gentleman in the world, it wouldn’t be my turn. Marrying a man is about clothing and food. I just want him to be good to me, good to my mother, and able to protect us. That’s all I ask for."

He remained silent for a moment, then said, "The spring examination is approaching. I have topped both the prefectural and the academy exams. I don’t see anyone in the spring examination who can outdo me."

"Wow! That’s quite a boast. Well, congrats in advance, Mr. Pei, on your success."

"If that day comes and I win the top honor, would you... marry me?"

He took a step back, his wide sleeves billowing gently, and clasped his hands in front of him, bowing deeply before her.

"Miss, you are a vision of natural beauty and grace, and your virtuous heart has won me over. I want to protect you for the rest of my life, to live in harmony and grow old with you."

His expression remained calm, but his palms were already damp with sweat. This was really bold of him. The young lady’s hands trembled as she said, "You..."

He braced himself to be called a 'scoundrel,' but after waiting for a long time, the young lady said:

"You—"

"You think two copper coins can buy you a wife? Keep dreaming!"

He was stunned, and before he knew it, the young lady had bolted. He stood up to chase after her, but his mother's voice came from the backyard, "Zhang, we have a guest outside?"

He returned to his mother's side, supporting her arm, "Mother, they've already left."

"Ah, child, why didn’t you invite them in? We’re a widow and her son, and we depend on our neighbors. Even though we’re not rich, we can’t be rude."

"I understand, son."

He thought for a while, then said, "Mother, I’ve fallen in love with a young lady."

"That’s wonderful! My son’s finally come to his senses!"

His mother laughed heartily and asked, "Which family’s daughter is it? Tell me, and I will propose the marriage for you."

"She’s of noble birth, a lady of high status. I fear I am not worthy."

"Nonsense! My son, don’t sell yourself short."

His mother gently patted him with her calloused hands, "It is indeed a bit difficult now, but wait a little longer. When you pass the exams and wear the official robe, even a princess could be yours."

"As long as you like her, we still have a few acres of land in our hometown. I have saved all my life and have some personal savings. We’ll use it all for the betrothal gift, and we will surely bring the bride into our family with great honor."

...

Pei Zhang’s head throbbed with pain. It was just a dream, but the events in the dream felt so real. He could even feel the nervousness in his heart when he proposed to the young lady.

It was all false. Upon waking from the dream, there was no such young lady! The wife he married was Miss Jiang, who had helped him out when he first arrived in the capital and was penniless.

She was his benefactor, yet she did not ask him to repay the money. She wanted him to marry her.

She cried, "I am a concubine’s daughter, abused by the main wife since childhood. Now she wants to marry me off to a man who indulges in all vices—gambling, drinking, and whoring. Mr. Pei, if you don’t marry me, I will be beaten to death."

She was a noble lady from a marquis’s family, yet she did not disdain his humble background and resolutely married him. A wife who shares one’s hardships should not be abandoned, even though their marriage was not harmonious, he had never entertained any other thoughts.

Until he met the wife of the Commander.

Pei Zhang felt as if he was torn in two. One half was the way of a gentleman, the friendship with Lu Feng, and the other half was occupied by two young ladies. Though he could not see their faces clearly, he had a feeling that the young lady was her!

Though their figures and temperaments were different, he was so certain that it must be her.

Could it be that we were destined to be together in a past life?

Pei Zhang was deeply perplexed when a knocking sound came from the door, and someone outside asked, "Is the second-in-command here?"

"What is it?"

"The boss has instructed us to ask you to stay closer to us. Blades are blind, and we wouldn't want to accidentally harm you."

Pei Zhang replied in a low voice, "Got it. Please thank the boss for me."

***

Meanwhile, far away, Jiang Wanrou's life continued undisturbed.

The Lu Duke's mansion boasted the finest medicinal herbs, and the imperial physicians from the imperial hospital were summoned at will. Huai Yi's health took a swift turn for the better. Jiang Wanrou had lost sleep over his illness for days, which made Lu Huaiyi feel deeply guilty.

Jiang Wanrou asked the two book boys, Shu Qi and Shu Mo, and could roughly guess what was on his mind. She sent everyone away and personally fed Huai Yi his medicine.

"My dear son, your mother isn't well-read, but recently I came across a poem whose meaning I don't understand. Can you explain it to me?"

Lu Huaiyi's dark eyes sparkled with interest, and he nodded slightly, saying with restraint, "Please continue, Mother."

"It was penned by a revered scholar."

Jiang Wanrou slowly recited, "All parents wish for their children to be wise, but I have been misled by my own intelligence all my life. I only wish for my child to be uncomplicated and carefree, free from disasters and difficulties, and to rise to a high position."

"Huai Yi, your father has hired the greatest scholars of our time as your teachers. Can you explain to me what this means?"

Lu Huaiyi's face fell in an instant.

He clutched at Jiang Wanrou's sleeve, "Mother, I'm sorry. I was wrong."

He shouldn't have made his mother worry.

Jiang Wanrou gently patted his head and said softly, "I'm not scolding you. It's wonderful that you're so driven. I, Jiang Wanrou, am proud to have a son with great aspirations."

"If it were someone else, I would certainly like them to be smart and ambitious. But you are my son, and I'd prefer a healthy, happy child over a brilliant but frail one."

"Mother."

Lu Huaiyi muttered unwillingly, "I won't turn into a carefree child."

Surrounded by a cadre of erudite teachers and watched over by his father and the emperor, there was no way he could become a carefree child.

Jiang Wanrou let out a soft sigh and asked, "Huai Yi, what do you think of our Lu Duke's mansion?"

Lu Huaiyi thought for a moment and replied, "Exceedingly prosperous."

"And your father?"

"Wielding immense power and influence."

"Since that's the case, you should understand that our Lu Duke's mansion doesn't require an exceptional heir."

Jiang Wanrou earnestly advised, "Your father has countless adversaries, and our Lu mansion is already in a precarious position, attracting much envy. If you excel in all things, won't we become an even greater target?"

"But I'm often frail and unwell, and we are still seen as a thorn in others' eyes."

Lu Huaiyi was not easily fooled. After a moment of thought, he retorted eloquently, "Father said that showing weakness to enemies is of no use. Only through courage, strength, and the threat of force can we make them fear and retreat."

"I think Father is right!"

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

She couldn't help but pat Lu Huaiyi's little head, remarked in a slightly annoyed tone, "You're truly your father's son!"

Lu Huaiyi touched his forehead and smiled sheepishly at his mother, "I understand what you mean, Mother. I know I was wrong."

"I promise you, I will take good care of myself, and not let you worry."

After finishing a bowl of bitter medicine, Lu Huaiyi's face contorted in discomfort, but he endured without complaint. Jiang Wanrou, feeling compassionate, fed him a piece of preserved fruit.

"Alright, focus on getting better. There's no need to push yourself so hard."

Jiang Wanrou tucked him in, "Our family is already prominent enough. Even if you pushed yourself to the limit, at most you'd inherit a title. But my son, you are the eldest grandson."

"Your father's possessions will eventually be yours."

She couldn't comprehend the ambition in little Huaiyi's heart. Lu Feng stood too high, having reached a position that future generations could hardly aspire to. Others might spend three generations scheming, yet they still couldn't match the dukedom passed down by Lu Feng. There was no need to strive so hard.

Now, she only hoped to safely give birth to the two children in her womb. With three children, even if she didn't allow Lu Feng to take concubines, others wouldn't dare say much. When the time came, she could face the ancestors of the Lu family with a clear conscience.

Let the men take care of the outside matters. She would simply wait to relax and enjoy the latter half of her life in comfort.