Chapter 52 Confessing My Background

Chapter 52: Revealing One's Origins

"Really?"

After hearing Lu Feng's explanation, Jiang Wanrou looked up at him. Her dark eyes glistened, resembling a misty fawn in a mountain stream.

Lu Feng's heart softened unexpectedly, and he couldn't resist lowering his head to kiss her eyelashes. His cool lips made Jiang Wanrou's body tremble slightly.

She closed her eyes, relaxed, and leaned into Lu Feng's embrace. After a while, Jiang Wanrou opened her eyes and looked at Lu Feng seriously, saying:

"Thank you, my husband."

No matter how things were within the Marquis of Ning'an's household, she was still surnamed "Jiang," sharing in the household's fortunes and misfortunes. After years of marriage to Lu Feng, people outside called him a man of influence or a flatterer, but Jiang Wanrou knew that Lu Feng was strict and highly valued rules.

The Second Master and Third Master in the family were still without official titles. Even his brothers dared not ask him for favors, and now that he was asserting his own power, it was impossible not to be moved.

Lu Feng smiled and said, "Is such a small matter really worth your concern? Alright, if you really want to thank me, then help me bathe and change today."

Jiang Wanrou's face flushed instantly. Just moments ago, she had been deeply worried for her mother, but Lu Feng's teasing and indifferent demeanor made it seem like she was overreacting.

She felt slightly reassured and gave him a coquettish glance, "You always know how to boss me around."

Though she said so, she followed him all the way to the inner bathhouse. Passing by the carved sandalwood screen, the stone bathtub steamed with hot water. Lu Feng, who loved cleanliness, bathed and washed his hair every night. Jiang Wanrou had calculated the time and had someone add hot water, so the temperature was just right.

Having already bathed, Jiang Wanrou wore a fragrant silk nightgown. Due to her fuller figure after childbirth, the seamstress had loosened her nightgown a few stitches. Now, as she bent her head, from Lu Feng's angle, he caught a glimpse of her soft curves.

Lu Feng's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he asked, "Together?"

Jiang Wanrou removed his upper garment and looked up at him, "I've already had my bath."

Lu Feng didn't respond, his dark eyes fixed on her. Jiang Wanrou's face warmed slightly, feigning ignorance of his hint.

The matter of Zhou Miaoyin had dragged on for too long. Since she had decided to confess, it was better to cut through the confusion quickly. She didn't like hesitation or complications.

...

Amid the steam, the man's eyes were slightly closed, his strong body mostly submerged in the water. It was her first time washing his hair with soapberries. Previously, Lu Feng only had her perform her wifely duties of dressing and washing his face. In his view, washing hair and bathing were tasks for servants, not something she needed to do herself.

Fortunately, Lu Feng was an easygoing master to serve. It was her first time doing so, and she was clumsy, accidentally splashing water into his eyes several times. He simply closed his eyes and let Jiang Wanrou do as she pleased.

Jiang Wanrou, knowing she was at fault, whispered, "It's my first time; I'll improve next time."

Lu Feng chuckled but didn't respond. Perhaps accustomed to a life of luxury, Jiang Wanrou was indeed not skilled at serving others. Her long nails grazed his scalp, and her sweet breath lingered by his neck, asking him now if it was too light, now if it was too heavy.

After a somewhat clumsy hair wash, Jiang Wanrou sighed in relief, using a towel to dry his hair halfway, then proceeded to wipe his body.

Lu Feng's skin tone was on the darker side, not the "jade-faced gentleman" favored by the times. His features were sharp, and the deep scar on his brow bone added to his fierce appearance. Yet, when he was undressed, his face and body surprisingly harmonized, as if naturally meant to be.

Jiang Wanrou carefully ran her hands over his waist. She had long experienced firsthand how hard and solid his body was, his muscles taut and smooth. Her fingertips glided over them, feeling the strength within.

As Jiang Wanrou's hands reached his waist again, Lu Feng opened his eyes and said, "Together."

Earlier it was a question, now it was a statement.

Jiang Wanrou paused, her thick lashes lowering, "Don't tease me; I have something important to tell you today."

She added, "Something big."

Lu Feng's voice was low and sounded very serious, "Come down here, I’m listening."

Jiang Wanrou was not a newlywed young woman, so she wouldn't be fooled by his seemingly righteous demeanor. She giggled flirtatiously, "If I don’t come down, won’t you listen to me?"

Lu Feng didn’t respond. After a while, Jiang Wanrou suddenly widened her beautiful eyes, thinking to herself, is Lu Feng really that petty?

She poked his chest with her finger, but there was no reaction.

She poked his brow ridge, and Lu Feng closed his eyes, ignoring her.

Unwilling to give up, she reached her hand underwater and poked his firm and powerful thigh. Lu Feng grabbed her wrist with a slight force—

With a sudden splash, Jiang Wanrou was enveloped by a familiar scent. Lu Feng's arms tightly encircled her, and in the warm pool water, separated by a thin layer of silk nightgown, their eyes met.

Jiang Wanrou looked at Lu Feng in disbelief. Even in this situation, he remained composed. Commander Lu was unreadable, and she had truly witnessed it.

Lu Feng was truly a man of great capability!

She twisted a couple of times but couldn't break free. The position was awkward and uncomfortable, so she wrapped her arms around the man's neck like a snake, her body sinking slightly, clinging to Lu Feng like waterweed.

Feeling better, she quickly said, "Wait, don’t be in such a hurry, listen to me."

Jiang Wanrou had been preparing for this moment for a long time. She hadn’t expected things to develop like this.

Such an important matter, bringing it up now felt a bit inappropriate.

But if she didn’t say it now, she might not get another chance tonight.

Postpone it until tomorrow? She couldn’t bear to worry about it all day again.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Wanrou leaned close to Lu Feng's ear and said, "When you went to Jiangnan, I caught a spy in the small Buddhist hall. It was someone from Second Sister-in-law’s quarters, named Zhou Miaoyin."

Lu Feng held her buttocks with one hand and peeled off her nightgown and undergarments with the other. It was inconvenient in the water, and Jiang Wanrou seemed to hear the sound of fabric tearing.

He said calmly, "Go on."

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

Fortunately, the steam from the water veiled them in a hazy mist. She spoke intermittently, "Her superior ordered her to investigate an old matter in the Lu residence. The young girl was clever and determined, and she actually found out."

Jiang Wanrou looked at Lu Feng, who was buried in her chest, her feelings were mixed, "It’s... it’s about your background, husband."

When she spoke, a heavy burden lifted from Jiang Wanrou’s heart. Zhou Miaoyin had said that Lu Feng was of royal descent, which had scared her so much that she couldn’t sleep for several days, even considering silencing her permanently.

After much thought, the best course of action was to tell Lu Feng. She didn’t fully trust Zhou Miaoyin. If she was lying, Lu Feng would punish her. If she was telling the truth... Jiang Wanrou immediately thought of Jiang Wanxue’s sudden change of heart, Lu Feng’s inexplicable loss of his horse, and Lu Feng’s deep hatred for Prince Gong.

Such matters were beyond her involvement. She wasn’t afraid of smart people or foolish people, but she feared those who acted foolishly while thinking they were smart. If she didn’t know, it would be one thing, but she did know, albeit incompletely, and that was the easiest way to make mistakes.

She had thought for a long time that, given Lu Feng's personality, being direct was the best approach. He might not hold it against her for knowing too much, but he would never tolerate her hiding things from him.

He had told her many times to trust him.

So she decided to trust him once, just like he had taught her to play chess. Once the move was made, there was no regret. She took the risk, and with three children, she wasn’t afraid of failure.

...

She had imagined Lu Feng’s possible reactions. Anger? Panic? Suspicion?

She had thought of everything, even absurdly considering whether she might be silenced. Lu Feng buried his head and muttered, "Hmm."

It disappeared.

Jiang Wanrou suspected he hadn’t heard clearly, so she pushed Lu Feng’s shoulder and asked incredulously, “Husband, do you have anything to say?”

Even a simple “keep it to yourself” would suffice, at least to let her know the plan.

Lu Feng raised his head and said with dissatisfaction, “There’s less again today.”

Jiang Wanrou: “…”

She clenched her teeth in frustration and whispered in his ear, word by word, “Did you hear me, husband?”

Lu Feng: “Yes.”

Jiang Wanrou: “Zhou Miaoyin told me you’re not the Lu family’s eldest son—you’re the imperial… mmm…”

Lu Feng gripped her waist and pinned her against the pool’s edge, asking, “Who am I?”

Jiang Wanrou looked confused, “Imperial—mmm—”

Lu Feng’s large hand gripped her chin, “Who am I, tell me?”

“Imperial—”

“Who am I?”

“Lu—ah!”

“Who am I?”

“…”

Jiang Wanrou couldn’t swim, and the bath was big and deep, so she could only cling tightly to Lu Feng. Lu Feng, mischievously, covered her mouth and nose with his large hand and took her underwater. In that moment, her life seemed entirely in his hands.

That night, Lu Feng was unusually intense, and Jiang Wanrou was tearful and exhausted. Finally, she broke down in tears.

“Husband, please!”

“You’re my husband.”

“Husband, please stop…”

Lu Feng’s chest rose and fell rapidly, and water or sweat dripped down his face.

He gently kissed away her tears.

…

When she woke, Jiang Wanrou’s lower body felt numb, her waist foreign. Recalling last night, her face flushed with mixed emotions.

“Cuizhu—”

Jiang Wanrou’s voice was barely audible. Cuizhu, waiting outside, hurried in at the sound, handing her a cup of warm tea.

She glanced at the sunlight and asked, “What time is it?”

“It’s one in the afternoon.”

Cuizhu took the cup and asked, "Should I have the meal prepared?"

Jiang Wanrou rarely got up so late. Cuizhu gazed at her delicate mistress, her heart brimming with pity.

The sounds from the bedroom continued until midnight. The night-watch maid blushed at the sounds; the master was... too passionate.

Poor mistress.

Jiang Wanrou wearily rubbed her forehead. She couldn't recall the exact moment she fell asleep last night. Her last memory was of the man's chiseled jaw and the damp stone tiles in the bathhouse.

She asked, "Where is he?"

Cuizhu smiled and said, "Has the mistress forgotten? The master left at the crack of dawn."

Lu Feng had his duties at dawn. The servants of Jinguang Courtyard had to rise before dawn, a routine they all knew well.

Jiang Wanrou asked again, "Did he leave any message?"

Last night was a whirlwind of passion. Now, in the calm of the day, she wondered what Lu Feng was thinking.

Cuizhu hung her head, stammering for a while, her face flushed as she spoke, "The master said that today... we should hire two more wet nurses, so the mistress doesn't have to nurse the two young masters."

The names of the two children were still undetermined. The emperor had considered several names and wished to bestow them, but Lu Feng had calmly refused. He was the father of the children and wouldn't let anyone meddle, not even the emperor.

Jiang Wanrou, hearing Lu Feng's casual remark, felt both anger and amusement. Laughing pulled at her sore muscles, leaving her whole body feeling uncomfortable.

She chose to set the matter aside for the moment and told Cuizhu, "Help me get dressed; I need to go out."

It was actually a bit late in the day. Normally, one would send a visiting card in advance and leave in the morning. But the situation was sudden, and Jiang Wanrou had prepared nothing. She even had some plain porridge and pickles before leaving. By the time the carriage arrived at the marquis's residence, it was already afternoon.

Now, the marquis's residence was shrouded in gloom. Seeing her was like seeing a savior, and no one dared to find fault with her. Jiang Wanrou did not go to Aunt Li's place but went directly to the main courtyard to find the Marquis of Ning'an.

Coincidentally, Madame Qin was also there. When she arrived, the two were in the midst of an argument, and she faintly heard a sharp female voice, "Who am I? Without me, what are you?"

Suddenly hearing the words "who am I," some memories from last night surfaced in Wanrou's mind, and she shivered.