Chapter 41: Heartache

Chapter 41: Heartache

"That one... seems quite honest."

Cuizhu frowned deeply, her round face showing distress, and said, "The old lady doesn’t like being waited on by others, so she tends to the flowers and plants in the courtyard. She keeps to herself most of the time, doesn’t like to talk to people, and others don’t bother to talk to her either."

Jiang Wanrou’s hands paused for a moment, then she asked again, "Does she act suspiciously? Or any secret dealings with people outside the mansion?"

Cuizhu replied, "Madam, the first part is hard to say, but as for secret dealings with outsiders, you’re worrying too much! In our sprawling mansion, there’s a gate every five steps and a wall every ten steps, with so many maids and servants guarding inside and out. Nothing scandalous like that could happen."

Jiang Wanrou rubbed her forehead, "I’m not worried about that, I’m concerned... Ah, forget it. Go slice me a melon and bring Jintao here."

"Hmph, Madam always favors Sister Jintao over me."

Cuizhu muttered discontentedly but obediently stepped out, not forgetting to remind her before leaving, "Madam, melons are cooling, don’t eat too much, it’s bad for your health."

"Good girl, I’ll listen to you, hurry along."

Cuizhu was quick, and Jintao stood before Jiang Wanrou in no time. She curtsied and spoke up before her mistress could ask, "Madam, I believe that Miss Zhou is probing for some information."

"How so?"

Jintao lowered her head and spoke clearly, "At the time, Miss Zhou was adamant, saying she would rather drink a sterilizing potion to serve the master. But when the master was in the mansion, she was unknown, and only made her move when the master was gone. That’s the first suspicious point."

"If Miss Zhou truly sought to climb the social ladder by attaching herself to the master, then she would’ve tried to win over the old lady in the small Buddhist hall. But I’ve been watching her for several days, and she only tends to the plants in the outer courtyard, having spoken to the old lady less than ten times in total. That’s the second suspicious point."

"First, she caused a big stir in the third wife’s quarters, then attempted to enter the Jin Guang courtyard. When her plan failed, she turned to the small Buddhist hall. This lady is usually reclusive but diligent, from trimming plants outside to cleaning incense ashes inside, she’s always there. I think she’s observing."

As for what she’s observing, that’s not for a maid like Jintao to worry about.

In fact, Jiang Wanrou was also at a loss at this moment, but she knew there must be something wrong with Zhou Miaoyin.

She had only suspected before, but later she called the Third Master to inquire, and he was so startled that he bowed and begged forgiveness, complaining bitterly to Jiang Wanrou.

That day, he happened to be drunk and saw a young woman weeping with her face covered in the garden. In his drunken state, he asked her which maid she was, as she looked unfamiliar.

The lady fled in shock, and after sobering up, the Third Master didn’t think twice about it. The third wife’s quarters were full of beautiful women, all charming and witty. The Third Master wouldn’t dwell on a young girl, and soon after came the news that Zhou Miaoyin had attempted suicide.

The Third Master repeatedly apologized to Jiang Wanrou, but he was too drunk that day, he couldn’t remember what inappropriate thing he might have done.

Having lived in the mansion for many years, Jiang Wanrou had a good understanding of the character of her two brothers-in-law. The Second Master was elegant and aloof, the Third Master was romantic and amorous, neither had much ambition, and neither held any official post. Although Lu Feng wielded great power, his two younger brothers had never asked their elder brother for favors.

The Second Master had a circle of literary friends outside, and the Third Master had countless female admirers. Over the years, neither had ever caused trouble for Lu Feng, let alone engaged in any bullying or exploitation. Both brothers respected Lu Feng greatly and treated their young sister-in-law with courtesy. They were not foolish men.

Jiang Wanrou immediately concluded that there was something wrong with this Miss Zhou. No matter how drunk the Third Master was, he wouldn’t have gone to the second wife’s quarters to cause a scene. Wasn’t the second wife’s area big enough for her to cry in?

Jiang Wanrou ordered people to keep a close eye on her, even using the informants Lu Feng had left behind. This lady had stirred up a lot of trouble, and Jiang Wanrou thought she had grand ambitions, but then she settled into the small Buddhist hall, which was baffling.

The small Buddhist hall only housed an old lady on her deathbed. Could there be some treasure hidden there?

Often, the unknown is the most terrifying. It’s a waiting game, to see who would lose their composure first, Jiang Wanrou or Zhou Miaoyin.

Jiang Wanrou asked, "Have we looked into Miss Zhou’s background thoroughly?"

Jintao lowered her head, "There’s no problem."

She had specifically asked the Forbidden Dragon Bureau to investigate, and Jiang Wanrou, still not reassured, had it checked twice. She was indeed a distant cousin of the Zhou family, who had lost her mother at a young age, with her father and brothers still on the road to exile. Her background was spotless.

She pondered...

Indeed, if she were a specially trained spy, Jiang Wanrou wouldn’t have easily noticed anything amiss. Miss Zhou seems delicate and pampered, probably a sheltered young lady who suddenly faced a drastic change and was exploited.

Given Lu Feng’s position, Jiang Wanrou isn’t intimidated by such scheming individuals. She’s determined to find out who’s stirring up trouble in her household!

She slowly said, "A fox will always show its tail. Keep watching, but don’t startle the snake."

"As you command, Madam."

Jintao looked up and saw the account book by Jiang Wanrou’s side, softly advising, "Madam, you shouldn’t push yourself so hard."

After the eldest son’s recent illness, the princess outside the household, and the suspicious Miss Zhou inside, Madam is about to give birth and is still reviewing account books. It’s too much for her.

"These little things aren’t worth tiring over."

Jiang Wanrou smiled, "I merely give orders. Inside and outside the household, it’s all thanks to you."

When she first married into the family, it was a truly dire situation. Now, with Lady Zhou and Yao helping her manage the household, and with Cuizhu and Jintao as her trusted confidantes, along with Chang’an in the outer courtyard and the people Lu Feng left for her, she even holds such an important token.

This is her strength.

She asked Jintao, "Have the midwife and the doctor been arranged?"

"Madam, you can rest assured."

Jiang Wanrou had begun arranging the midwife, doctor, and even the wet nurses as soon as she discovered she was pregnant. The Lu household has been generously providing for them for over half a year. Now, as the due date nears, they’re even more eager than Jiang Wanrou herself for the baby to arrive, so they can take their payment and leave.

The emperor personally assigned a royal physician skilled in gynecology to the Lu household, decreeing that the child must be kept safe.

Now that everything is prepared, Jiang Wanrou, having previously given birth to Huai Yi, feels no anxiety or fear about childbirth. She struggled to her feet, stood by the window, and sighed softly.

"He promised he’d return before I give birth."

Since the last letter, Jiang Wanrou hasn’t received any reply from Lu Feng. She can’t help but worry about him.

As long as he returns safely. If he can’t make it in time, so be it.

Jiang Wanrou said, "Bring the 'Heart Sutra'; I want to recite two volumes."

The 'Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra' is often used to pray for the safety of distant loved ones. Jiang Wanrou used to enjoy listening to operas, but now she recites a section of this solemn Buddhist scripture daily.

She closed her eyes and thought: May the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva bless my husband with safety and a safe return.

***

The Fuchun River’s scenery is beautiful, but the terrain is extremely complex and treacherous. The peaks rise like knife sheaths into the clouds, and the river in the canyon is turbulent, constantly hitting the rocks on both banks.

The grand and luxurious merchant ship was surrounded by several boats. Lu Feng, clad in black, looked stern, encircled by tall, muscular men wielding long knives, their blades and even the handles dripping with blood, exuding an aura of death, like the ten kings of hell.

"Never thought we’d have the honor of the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau personally taking action."

A slender young man, about twenty-five years old, with a fair and delicate appearance, slowly walked out onto the opposite deck. One would never guess that the ruthless leader of the water bandits would look like a scholar.

"Chen Fu."

Lu Feng said coldly, his gaze like an eagle’s hook, directly piercing him, sneering, "No longer hiding like a turtle?"

He and Pei Zhang had been spending extravagantly in the Hangzhou area, openly loading dozens of empty chests onto a luxurious ship, claiming to continue south. Sure enough, near Ziling Gorge, they were ambushed by a large group of water bandits, even attracting their leader.

The surviving bastard from back then.

Hmph, quite arrogant, daring to name that bastard "Fu." Lu Feng raised his wrist, the blood-stained blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, "Kill him, leave no survivors."

He would personally shatter this dream of "restoration."

"Commander Lu, it seems you haven’t clearly understood the situation yet?"

Chen Fu smiled faintly and said, "No matter how brave and fearless you are elsewhere, now I have the numbers, and we're on my turf—the water. Do you really think you can win?"

In response, a sharp arrow flew from the opposite side. Chen Fu's eyes darkened as he swiftly dodged, the arrow embedding itself into the mast behind him, which snapped with a loud crack.

"Such savagery!"

Chen Fu's smile faded as he coldly said, "Lu Feng, do you realize how sloppy your plan is? You previously killed over a hundred of my brothers in Suzhou, and now you think I'm a fool with such obvious moves?"

Lu Feng sneered, "You’re here."

That was enough.

Lu Feng and Pei Zhang had analyzed Chen Fu's character along the way—he was inherently arrogant, first ambushing scholars on their way to the capital for the imperial exams, then attacking the emperor's appointed envoys, blatantly challenging the court's authority.

The two quickly shifted their strategy, making a bold show in Hangzhou. This was no secret plot but an open challenge. They bet that Chen Fu, upon learning their identities, would rise to the occasion.

Chen Fu indeed took the bait. The court had sent two groups—one in the open, one in the shadows. The hidden group sought to trap him, but on the water, who was truly the prey?

In truth, both sides had gambled correctly. Lu Feng wanted to eradicate the remnants of the Chen dynasty in one fell swoop, while Chen Fu sought to humiliate the court. This was no longer about schemes but sheer strength.

Chen Fu sighed, "Commander Lu, if you truly wanted to meet me, you could have sent a formal invitation. I would have welcomed you with fine wine and tea. Why go through all this trouble, even disguising yourself as a tea merchant... You! Lu Feng, how dare you!"

Lu Feng signaled, and a barrage of arrows rained down. He couldn’t understand why Chen Fu had so much to say. If he wanted to talk, Lu Feng had no patience to listen.

All he needed to do was end him.

The battle erupted instantly. Chen Fu's men, hardened by years of pillage and slaughter, fought with ruthless cunning. They wielded hook spears, viciously tearing into the merchant ship, puncturing the canopy and riddling the hull with holes. Behind Lu Feng, archers stood poised, while his men, wielding long swords, fought with unmatched bravery.

The battle was intense and evenly matched. Suddenly, the smell of gunpowder wafted through the air. Chen Fu furrowed his brow, pondering, when in an instant, sparks of fire appeared. A group of men, concealed in the rolling hills on both banks, held flaming arrows. Pei Zhang, standing among them, smiled and said, "Release."

"Impossible!"

Chen Fu screamed, "You couldn’t possibly have this many men!"

Lu Feng had no patience for his chatter, his blade aiming straight for the kill. It was Pei Zhang who explained with interest, "Young Master Chen, a single leaf can block the view."

Indeed, they hadn’t brought that many men, but Lords Xu and Liu had also arrived on the imperial ship. Originally intended as decoys, the situation shifted, and they adapted their strategy, mixing truth and deception—who could tell the difference?

Pei Zhang had calculated beforehand that this location was ideal—they were now perfectly positioned downwind.

What followed needed no further explanation. Lu Feng clearly held the advantage, but Chen Fu's men were fiercely loyal. Several times, Lu Feng attempted to strike him down, only to be thwarted by his followers. These men, having roamed the waters for years, were excellent swimmers. In the end, the remaining survivors abandoned ship and fled into the water.

As the group reached the shore, Pei Zhang led a large contingent to meet Lu Feng. He frowned slightly, "A shame, they got away."

Lu Feng, just out of the brutal battle, was splattered with blood—on his face, body, even his hair. A subordinate handed him a cloth, and he wiped the blood from his hands and the hilt of his sword. Gazing at the turbulent waters, he said, "I’ll go downstream to cut them off."

Pei Zhang shook his head gently, disagreeing, "Don’t pursue a fleeing foe."

Lu Feng looked at him, "Lord Pei, why are we here?"

They had been on this mission for nearly four months. Chen Fu had to die!

Pei Zhang was about to say more when a flash of cold light passed by his ear. Lu Feng’s blade came down, and a head tumbled to the ground. Pei Zhang clutched his chest, his face pale.

"How are you?"

Commander Lu’s expression darkened with impatience. At this crucial moment, his focus was on killing Chen Fu, leaving no energy to tend to his colleague.

"I... I’m fine."

Pei Zhang lowered his head, subtly stepping a few paces away from Commander Lu.

"Let’s not linger on the life-saving debt of gratitude. That man just attacked me from behind with a palm strike. Thanks to your timely intervention, I’m unharmed."

"Commander Lu, please act as you see fit. However, I observe that Chen Fu is cunning and treacherous. He may have a contingency plan. You must be extremely cautious."

Commander Lu replied curtly, then began counting his men as he headed downstream. Once he was out of sight, Pei Zhang suddenly coughed up blood, dropped to one knee, and collapsed.

***

Pei Zhang drifted into a long, vivid dream.

In the dream, he had earned the title of top scholar in the imperial examination, wearing a bright red robe and a black official hat, parading through the streets on horseback, reveling in his glory.

He stood in the grand hall of the palace, where the Emperor praised his literary talent and asked what reward he desired.

In front of the entire court, he slightly bowed his head and declared, "Your Majesty, I wish to request a marriage arranged by you."

"Oh?"

The Emperor asked with interest, "Which family’s young lady has captured your heart, Pei Qing?"

He replied, "I wish to marry the sixth daughter of the Ning'an Marquisate. I humbly request Your Majesty’s decree."

The Emperor pondered for a moment and finally remembered, "Ah, she’s my daughter-in-law’s sister. Pei Qing, there are countless fine women in the world. Why not seek another?"

"No, Your Majesty, it must be her."

Uncertain of the Emperor’s intentions, he quickly defended his choice, "Though there are countless good women in the world, none compare to her. My heart is set, and I beg Your Majesty’s favor."

The Emperor remarked ambiguously, "I never took Pei Qing for a man who values beauty over power. Very well, but since she’s a commoner, I’ll grant her to you as a concubine."

As a newcomer to the court, receiving such an evaluation from the Emperor was akin to being deemed "unfit for great responsibility." After much deliberation, he kowtowed to the lofty Emperor.

"Miss Jiang... she is an exceptional woman, like a radiant pearl and a bright moon. My heart longs for her, and I cannot bear to see her reduced to a concubine."

"If she were to be a concubine, I would likely never marry. As the sages say, one must cultivate oneself, manage one’s family, and then govern the state and bring peace to the world. If I can’t even manage my own household, how could I serve Your Majesty in governing the realm?"

"I humbly thank Your Majesty’s grace!"

...

Ultimately, the Emperor granted his request. With a lavish procession, he married his beloved in a grand ceremony.

Their married life was blissful. She was clever, lively, and insightful, never acting like a noble lady. She said, "Oh, you know me well. I used to depend on you for even two copper coins. What’s all this about being a lady? Now, I’m simply your wife."

Due to his defiance of the Emperor, he wasn’t given any significant responsibilities and was instead sent to a remote town as a magistrate. His mother disapproved of her, but she never complained, spending her days embroidering and cooking with her mother-in-law. When his mother fell ill, she personally attended to her, even tasting her medicine, and even found a suitable match for her cousin, using her own dowry to enhance the cousin’s trousseau. By the time they assumed their post, his mother had grown to greatly appreciate her.

In the remote town of Luoyun, they lived like a pair of immortals. He would read to her in his leisure time, and she would mend his clothes. Her embroidery skills were lacking; even after years of practice, her mandarin ducks still resembled ordinary ducks. She disliked staying indoors, preferring to roam the markets, watch the sunrise on the hills, ride horses with the herders, and gaze at the stars under the night sky.

She also had her quiet moments. On tranquil afternoons, with a cup of tea, she could sit and read for hours, enjoying folk tales and plays. Writing plays was no challenge for him, the top scholar. He penned several plays for her, where she was the damsel in distress, and he the dashing scholar. Behind the curtains, they found great joy.

Later... many things happened. The Emperor, valuing talent, eventually recalled him to the capital. By then, they had a lovely son. He rose through the ranks, becoming a senior minister. They never once quarreled in their lifetime. After her passing, he peacefully closed his eyes in his sleep.

...

Pei Zhang suddenly opened his eyes, and someone beside him exclaimed, "He's awake! Lord Pei is awake!"

The physicians gathered around his bed, anxiously asking, "How do you feel, sir? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Pei Zhang's gaze gradually focused. He clutched his chest and murmured, "My heart hurts."

"Huh? That’s strange. Your injury is on your back."

The physician rambled on, "The one who struck you has immense power. That palm strike—well, to put it bluntly, if it weren't for Commander Lu's quick reflexes and the armor you were wearing, your life might have ended here."

"Commander Lu saved your life!"

Pei Zhang remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, a sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Hurry, bring me my needles. Third Son, go and brew the medicine."

Pei Zhang remained silent, shrouded in gloom. Late into the night, the medicinal soup by the desk had turned cold, and hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

"Disaster has struck, Lord Pei!"

A guard rushed in, kneeling on one knee, "My lord, Commander Lu... Commander Lu has been ambushed. His condition is unknown."

Pei Zhang suddenly opened his eyes.