Chapter 44: Genuine Emotions and Feigned Affection

Chapter 44: Genuine Emotions and Feigned Affection

Lu Feng looked at her expression and said gently, "Is there anything we can’t talk about openly?"

His wife was perfect in every way, except for her tendency to overthink and imagine the worst. He suddenly recalled that sarcastic letter from home and couldn’t resist pinching her cheek.

During her pregnancy, Jiang Wanrou had been pampered with delicacies, leaving her with a rosy complexion, a round face, and smooth, snow-white skin. Lu Feng couldn't resist and pinched her several times.

"Stop pinching, it’s unbecoming, wuwu—"

Jiang Wanrou whimpered, her words slurred. She must still be dreaming; Lu Feng had been away for a while, how could he act so childish!

Lu Feng laughed heartily, a rare sight that softened his usual serious demeanor. After laughing, he teased, "I’m not taking a concubine."

"Huh?"

Jiang Wanrou was slightly stunned, not understanding why Lu Feng suddenly brought up the topic of concubines. Lu Feng reluctantly let go of the pleasant sensation in his palm and explained to Jiang Wanrou, "Marrying and taking concubines is traditionally for continuing the family line. Now that we have plenty of children, there’s no need for anyone else."

"The two of us are enough."

She tended to overthink, so he decided to reassure her. As a mother of three, she should focus on managing the household and raising the kids, not constantly worrying or getting jealous over nothing.

Lu Feng’s voice was deep and rich, much like the man himself, inspiring trust and submission. Jiang Wanrou admitted in her heart that at this moment, she was truly moved.

But after his interruption, the words she had prepared to probe him became hard to voice.

As the saying goes, husband and wife are the closest yet most distant. She and Lu Feng had been married for many years and had three children together, but Zhou Miaoyin’s secret about ‘silencing’ was too serious, making her afraid to speak up.

Though he wasn’t as cold with her lately, and their marital bond had grown stronger. During his long trip, her concern, daily prayers for his safety, and joy upon his return were all genuine, but so was her slight fear of him.

Husband and wife, with the husband as the head, he would always be above her. Like Cuizhu and Jintao, no matter how well she treated them or how close they were, they wouldn’t dare overstep in serious matters.

Torn between reason and emotion, Jiang Wanrou forced a stiff smile. Fresh from childbirth, she was exhausted, her mind a jumble, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to reply.

Lu Feng patted her hand comfortingly, then tucked it into the bright red mandarin duck quilt.

"If you have something to say, say it straight. If you don’t feel like smiling, don’t."

Lu Feng stood up and said lightly, "You rest now; I’m off to the palace to see the Emperor."

He left decisively, and Jiang Wanrou suddenly felt a tightness in her heart, blurting out, "Lu Feng—"

Lu Feng stopped in his tracks. Jiang Wanrou didn't actually know what to say. After a moment of silence, she said, "Have Jintao fetch you a clean outfit. While you were gone, I..."

She wanted to say she had worried about him and personally made him a few outer robes, as a way to make up for earlier. But when the words reached her lips, she bit her lip and said softly, "I... had a robe made for you. It’s perfect for this weather."

Lu Feng hummed in acknowledgment and left slowly. All she saw was his back, his expression hidden. She slowly lay back on the pillow and closed her eyes tightly.

After a while, seeing that the master had left, Cuizhu tiptoed in. The mistress had been in labor for a full day and night, and Cuizhu had been worried sick outside. She wanted to have a good talk with the mistress, but seeing Jiang Wanrou's exhausted face, she didn't dare.

She gently tucked Jiang Wanrou in, and Jiang Wanrou suddenly opened her eyes. Seeing it was Cuizhu, she felt an indescribable mix of relief and disappointment, asking, "Why didn't you make a sound?"

"Mistress, did I wake you?"

Cuizhu, with her swollen eyes, whispered, "I just wanted to come and see you. You go back to sleep, I'll leave now."

Jiang Wanrou looked at the flustered Cuizhu and was slightly stunned. After a while, she chuckled softly and reached out her arm to Cuizhu.

"Help me up. I’ve slept enough; I can’t sleep more."

Cuizhu quickly leaned forward, observing Jiang Wanrou's complexion, her voice immediately brightening, "Madam, are you hungry or thirsty? I’ve prepared some snacks and soup for you. I’ll bring them right away."

"I’m neither thirsty nor hungry."

Cuizhu paused briefly, then began chattering again, "Then would you like to see the two little ones? All the midwives said they are very beautiful. I’ll bring them over for you."

"The two little ones are always crying loudly, surely because they haven’t seen their mother."

Jiang Wanrou smiled softly, "Do you know how to hold a baby? Don’t drop the two little ones."

She carried them for ten months. After ten months of pregnancy, it’s not true that she wasn’t looking forward to it. But just now, Lu Feng said the children were sleeping. Such small children could get frightened or catch a cold from being carried around, and she would regret it deeply.

Since they’re in their own home and Lu Feng has returned, she feels much more at ease. As long as the two children are well taken care of, it doesn’t matter if it’s not right now.

Cuizhu is observant, her mouth never stops, and her feet are never idle. She glanced around, closing the half-open window to the south, and said confidently, "Madam, I’d rather fall myself than let the little ones get hurt. You can rest assured!"

Jiang Wanrou suddenly asked her, "Cuizhu, how many years have you been with me?"

Cuizhu hesitated, counting on her fingers, "One, two, three, four, Madam, it’s almost five years since I’ve been by your side!"

"So fast."

Jiang Wanrou sighed lightly, "Five years, you know my temperament, all my preferences. Even a cup of tea—the tea you brew always suits my taste better than anyone else’s."

Cuizhu was momentarily embarrassed by her mistress’s praise, just about to modestly respond, when Jiang Wanrou said, "From now on, stop calling yourself 'servant.'"

She treats others with a balance of leniency and strictness, but for her two confidantes, Cuizhu and Jintao, she has never been willing to punish them. After five years together, they have even given her more companionship than Lu Feng, and she has genuine feelings for them.

Cuizhu, upon hearing this, was so startled she nearly jumped up, hurriedly waving her hands, "I couldn’t, Madam, I absolutely couldn’t! You’re too kind to me!"

"Don’t be afraid."

Jiang Wanrou softened her voice, "It’s just a form of address. Over the years, how I’ve treated you and Jintao, you know in your heart."

Cuizhu stubbornly said, "Madam, you’re the mistress, and I’m the servant. That’s the highest rule, and it can’t be broken!"

"Madam, please don’t say such things—I’m scared!"

Jiang Wanrou did not insist further. Cuizhu was frightened by her, quickly poured a cup of tea, and hastily retreated. Jiang Wanrou held the cup that was just the right temperature, lost in thought.

Even the most unstable Cuizhu dares not overstep in front of her. She is usually lenient, never having said a harsh word to Cuizhu.

Now Lu Feng tells her she can speak her mind in front of him, laugh if she wants to, and doesn’t have to force herself if she doesn’t want to. How nice that sounds—like honey, tempting her to taste it.

But she knows she can’t. To put it bluntly, she is no different from Cuizhu, both living by depending on others.

She has gone through great lengths to get to where she is now, having everything she could want. Should she gamble on Lu Feng’s uncertain sincerity? Can she afford to gamble?

She misses him, worries about him, respects him, and relies on him, and even has developed a love for him that goes beyond the ordinary marital bond. Their marriage began with a scheme. After marriage, to make life easier, she catered to Lu Feng’s every whim, weaving a dense web that made him inseparable from her.

But while this web caught Lu Feng, hasn’t it also trapped her?

Over the years, true feelings, false feelings—sometimes even she can’t tell the difference! But Jiang Wanrou has always kept a tight string in her heart; she cannot completely give herself to him.

Not just Lu Feng, she will not tie her heart entirely to anyone. Having experienced hardship in her childhood, she knows all too clearly that the only person she can truly trust in this world is herself.

Not her father, not her stepmother—she only has herself.

Jiang Wanrou sighed deeply and closed her eyes again, pondering how to handle the troublesome Miss Zhou.

***

Lu Feng changed his clothes and before leaving, he asked Chang'an, "During my absence, has anyone upset my wife?"

Chang'an lowered his head and after a long pause, he stammered, "I believe... no one dared to upset her."

Once Lu Feng left, Jiang Wanrou became the head of the Lu household. Even the emperor had to tread carefully around her while she was pregnant. Who would dare to upset her?

The only thing that caused her discomfort was the matter involving the Princess of Gong in the southern part of the city. However, she merely sent a pair of earrings, which drove the Princess of Gong into a frenzy. So, who upset whom is still debatable.

When Chang'an saw Jiang Wanxue's reaction, he realized his mistake and was filled with regret. It was only then that he realized the lady was angry, and he subsequently avoided Jiang Wanrou.

Thinking of this, Chang'an immediately dropped to one knee and accepted his punishment, "I have failed in my duty, please punish me, master!"

Rumors say that Lu Feng is unpredictable, but Chang'an, who has followed him for over a decade, thinks the world is foolish and misunderstands him.

Lu Feng dislikes convoluted matters; he’s all about cut-and-dry decisions. His words and commands require no contemplation, just execution.

Succeed, and you will be rewarded; fail, and you will be punished. The rewards and punishments are clear and never backward-looking. For instance, once a commander in the Forbidden Dragon Bureau was dissatisfied, thinking Lu Feng was too inexperienced and had taken over the bureau abruptly due to his background, and he was also a cripple.

The commander privately cursed Lu Feng several times as "that dead cripple," but unfortunately, Lu Feng overheard him once. Lu Feng punished him with eighty military canes for "disrespecting a superior." The canes in the Forbidden Dragon Bureau could kill a weak scholar in ten strikes, but surprisingly, the commander survived. Later, knowing he had offended his superior, the commander wanted to resign and return home, but Lu Feng rejected his request citing "non-compliance with official regulations."

The commander had to stay in the Forbidden Dragon Bureau in fear, thinking Lu Feng wanted to make an example of him, but Lu Feng did nothing. In fact, during a mission, Lu Feng even saved his life.

At that time, rumors spread within the Forbidden Dragon Bureau that Commander Lu kept the man to show benevolence and win favor. Only Chang'an knew they were all wrong!

The master was indeed angry at the time and dealt with the highest punishment. After that, regardless of the man's survival, the matter was over in the master's mind. As for later rejecting his resignation, it was because the commander was in his prime and did not meet the official regulations of the dynasty, not to make an example of him.

As for later saving the man's life, the circulated reasons were baseless. As the commander, the master merely aimed to minimize casualties, nothing more.

In Chang'an's view, Lu Feng is a decisive master who doesn’t require others to second-guess his thoughts. Just be attentive, listen to his commands, and execute them.