Chapter 72 Old Married Couple

Chapter 72 Old Married Couple

Jiang Wanrou returned to Jinguang Courtyard, fuming. The Prince of Qi's residence was heated by a hypocaust system, which, although costly, was funded by the Imperial Household Department. In winter, the entire estate was warm and cozy, except for the courtyards. Jinguang Courtyard even had a hot spring inlet, making it so warm that Jiang Wanrou felt parched.

She gulped down a large mouthful of cold tea, but it did nothing to quell the fire in her heart.

Cuizhu brought over a bowl of pine nut and red date tea, cautiously saying, "Madam... Princess Consort, those women are just nameless maidservants. To put it bluntly, they're only slightly better than concubine servants."

"You are the esteemed Princess Consort, and the young master is your support. With just a flick of your finger, you could destroy them."

Cold tea is too cooling and harmful to a woman's health. Cuizhu quietly replaced the cold tea on the table with the blood-nourishing red date tea, comforting her, "You've always been open-minded. Why are you so stuck on this now?"

The day after Lu Feng was granted his title, he submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of an heir. Now, Lu Huaiyi is the rightful heir to the Prince of Qi's household, the future successor of Lu Feng. Cuizhu thought simply: once the heir is established, the Princess Consort has already endured enough. No matter who the prince favors or how many, even if illegitimate children are born, it won't affect the Princess Consort.

In the future, the household will belong to the heir. Men may not be reliable, but one's own children will always be dependable.

Moreover, the young master is so filial.

This is the common mindset of most women. After having children, wise women never concern themselves with their husbands' dalliances. As long as they firmly grasp the household management and raise their sons well, they can ensure a smooth life. Jiang Wanrou once thought the same way.

But now, Jiang Wanrou couldn't bear it. The thought of him touching her with hands that had touched other women made her feel nauseous.

She even had the heretical thought: why can a man have so many women, while a woman must remain loyal to one husband? She wanted Lu Feng, all of him, completely hers. She would never share him with anyone!

She was a gentle and traditional woman, but at this moment, she was truly consumed by jealousy.

These thoughts, even Cuizhu and Jintao could not be told. She took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes again, her gaze returned to its usual calmness.

She said, "Have someone keep an eye on Lanfang Pavilion, especially that 'Shuang Xue.'"

The place where those beauties resided was called Lanfang Pavilion. What's done is done, and dwelling on it is futile. Fortunately, Lu Feng showed little interest in the beauties today. Jiang Wanrou lowered her gaze, pondering how to handle these troublesome beauties.

After a while, she asked, "How many matrons do we have in the household now?"

Cuizhu thought for a moment and replied, "Princess Consort, excluding those we brought from the Duke's household, there are over twenty."

Jiang Wanrou asked again, "How many are matrons responsible for teaching?"

The senior matrons each had their specialties: some managed needlework, some were in charge of affairs, and others were specifically responsible for teaching etiquette. Cuizhu promptly answered, "There are eight matrons responsible for teaching."

Now that Jiang Wanrou had become the Princess Consort of Qi, her status had risen, and Cuizhu, as her trusted maid, walked with confidence, no longer as carefree as before.

Jiang Wanrou nodded thoughtfully, "Eight, that's enough."

She instructed, "Our prince has a temper and places great importance on rules. Please instruct the matrons to teach the new beauties, ensuring they don't violate the prince's taboos."

Cuizhu's eyes lit up, "Princess Consort, you're brilliant!"

When Lu Feng served as the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, his reputation was already fearsome. Not to mention the newly arrived courtesans, even the matrons couldn't quite understand Lu Feng's temperament. To be safe, the matrons would surely be extremely cautious, training them for several months before allowing them to appear.

As for Jiang Wanrou, being the Princess Consort, she was responsible for training the beauties to be presented to the prince. Who could find fault with that?

As for what to do months later, she would devise another plan then. In truth, these women posed no threat. She only cared about Lu Feng's feelings.

Suddenly, Jiang Wanrou touched her cheek and asked, "Cuizhu, do you think I'm getting old?"

Beauty fades, and love wanes. She had managed to fend off this round, but she would grow old one day. Meanwhile, Lu Feng's power and influence were only increasing. Would she be trapped in a sea of courtesans for the rest of her life?

Jiang Wanrou felt even more unsettled.

Cuizhu didn't dare to continue that conversation. She was quick-witted and lavished praise on Jiang Wanrou, comparing her favorably to Xi Shi and Diao Chan. Cuizhu was clever and skilled with her hands. With nothing else to do, she applied a fashionable wine flush makeup on Jiang Wanrou, with thick rouge on her cheeks, named for its resemblance to the flush after drinking, especially suitable for Jiang Wanrou's bright and bold appearance.

In the evening, Lu Huaiyi accompanied his mother to dinner and did not hesitate to compliment her beauty, which kept Jiang Wanrou smiling until Lu Feng returned.

As was his custom, Lu Feng strode directly into the Jin Guang Courtyard, stood still, tilted his chin up, and slightly spread his arms, waiting for Jiang Wanrou to help him undress.

After a long moment without any movement, he looked towards Jiang Wanrou by the Pearwood Daybed. Under the warm candlelight, her eyes were downcast, and her rosy cheeks were as enchanting as if she were tipsy.

Lu Feng stepped forward and tilted Jiang Wanrou's chin up. She half-closed her eyes, her long, thick lashes fluttering—Jiang Wanrou was well aware of her charms. When she first became his wife, she had practiced in front of the mirror countless times to win his favor. This angle made her appear pitiful, even melting the heart of someone as stoic as Lu Feng.

Lu Feng tilted her chin up and remarked, "Drinking is harmful; moderation is essential."

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

She opened her half-closed eyes and glared at him, "It's just rouge on my cheeks!"

Lu Feng calmly said, "Oh," and then, "Go to bed and wash it off."

He didn't want to taste rouge and powder.

Jiang Wanrou gaped at him in disbelief, "Am I not beautiful today?"

Even five-year-old Huai Yi had complimented her on her looks!

Lu Feng frowned. His stern face showed a flicker of confusion, "You've always been like this."

She looked the same as always; what was so special today? Lu Feng's sharp gaze swept over her, but he couldn't see anything unusual.

Jiang Wanrou rose angrily and muttered gloomily, "I'll go wash up."

She was truly aging. A couple of years ago, she probably wouldn't have been left with half a bellyband.

Long-married couples often find their lives growing stale. Perhaps she was being petty, hindering his pursuit of novelty.

Jiang Wanrou lay on her side on the daybed, turned inward, her expression sullen.

Lu Feng preferred not to rely on maids. For many years, it had always been Jiang Wanrou who dressed him and prepared him for bed. Now that she had let go, Lu Feng went to the bathroom alone to wash up. His damp black hair clung to him as he embraced Jiang Wanrou from behind.

In the dimly lit tent, his voice was particularly low, "I've said before, speak directly, no need to beat around the bush."

Jiang Wanrou's voice was muffled, "Today, His Majesty bestowed many beauties."

Lu Feng hummed, "And then?"

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

She turned over, facing Lu Feng directly, "Each one is graceful and young and beautiful."

Lu Feng thought for a moment, seemingly understanding Jiang Wanrou's distress.

He said, "Why lower yourself to compete with a few servants? Besides, birth, old age, sickness, and death are the natural order of the universe; there's no need to worry about it."

Jiang Wanrou glared at him fiercely. Lu Feng was usually so wise, but now he was being a blockhead, completely missing the point! Even Cuizhu knew to compliment her on her youth, but him? His words meant: So what if you're old, don't fuss about it.

She said irritably, "It's nothing, I'm old, there will always be someone young and fresh. There are fifteen sisters in total, and today someone asked me when to arrange for them to serve. I couldn't decide, so I ask for your guidance, Your Highness."

Lu Feng pondered seriously and said, "The people His Majesty bestowed, it's indeed not good to neglect them."

"Go ahead and sleep, don’t wait up for me tonight."

Lu Feng drew up his legs, preparing to rise. Jiang Wanrou suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist. "Don't go!"

She snapped, "If you dare to go, I’ll... I’ll... stop tending to your wounds!"

She’d been tending to his wounds daily, not for other women’s sake!

Jiang Wanrou felt a faint tremor in Lu Feng’s waist. Her body coiled around him like a water snake, her limbs tightly entwined around his body. She glanced up and met his amused gaze.

"You were teasing me?"

Jiang Wanrou widened her beautiful eyes, not having time to get off Lu Feng as he pressed her waist. Her scream caught in her throat, and they both rolled into the soft bed.

Lu Feng chuckled, "My little jealous wife," while sliding off her undergarments.

Their damp, silken hair tangled together. Jiang Wanrou whimpered, still managing to protest, "You lied to me, and you still think I'm old!"

Lu Feng had earlier dismissed her with "I didn’t lie" and "I don’t think you're old," but Jiang Wanrou was too uncooperative. He flipped her over, pinning her hands behind her back. The awkward position left Jiang Wanrou in discomfort. Over the years, Lu Feng hadn’t changed a bit. With the ointment, she’d once found some relief, but now, without it, she could hardly endure.

...

After several times, Jiang Wanrou huddled under the quilt, retreating to a corner, hoarsely saying, "Husband, I noticed some lovely ladies today, perhaps you could..."

"Nonsense."

Lu Feng yanked her back, and through the quilt, he gave her a harsh slap on her buttocks. His slap was harsh, and Jiang Wanrou cried out, feeling a warm trickle.

She’d held back tears before, but now they spilled over! She sobbed, "What do I do? It didn’t work this time... what if I’m pregnant?"

Childbirth has always been a brush with death, and as she grew older, Jiang Wanrou didn't want to have more children. When Huai Yi was born, she was young and bounced back quickly, her belly flat, her waist as flexible as silk. But with the twins this year, she felt the toll it took.

The pregnancy was hard, and after giving birth, she used royal secret medicines, had the midwife massage her, controlled her diet, and practiced dancing. It took several months to regain her original figure.

She adored Huai Yi, Huai Ling, and Mingzhu. Another child would be loved just as much, but she’d rather not endure the cost.

Lu Feng kissed her cheek gently, "It's fine, take a dose of medicine tomorrow."

He also didn't want her to suffer the pains of childbirth again.

When a man is satisfied, he becomes very agreeable. After calming his breath, Lu Feng stroked Jiang Wanrou's soft long hair, "Silly, how can those ordinary women compare to you?"

What parents give, one cannot refuse. The emperor had given these women in front of the ministers, and he couldn't refuse. But once they were in his Qi Prince's residence, it was his decision. Even if all these beauties died suddenly tomorrow, people would only say they were unlucky, who would dare to blame him?

He hadn't taken it seriously, never expecting it to make his little jealous one so upset. How could she be so... endearing.

Lu Feng's heart was harder than Jiang Wanrou's, and he said lightly, "If you don't like them, just give them wine."

The Qi Prince's residence was large, and keeping a few idle people wasn't a problem. He had originally planned to keep them in the residence, providing for their needs, and giving them a simple coffin after death. Since it bothered her, there was no need to keep them.

Jiang Wanrou was startled, her half-closed eyes suddenly widening, stopping him, "No!"

She wasn't a kind-hearted person either, just like today when she had the teaching matron restrain these beauties. As long as her interests were threatened, she would find ways to fight back. But so far, the other party had done nothing wrong, and she wouldn’t take a life without reason.

Last time she went to worship Buddha, the prayer beads were very useful. She enshrined them and hadn't had a nightmare since. The abbot, who looked like Maitreya, told her to do more good deeds, and she remembered it well.

She quickly said, "Matters of the inner residence should be managed by me, the princess consort. Husband, don't interfere."

Lu Feng chuckled, "Not jealous anymore?"

Being an old married couple, they didn't know what they were overthinking every day, and they never quite got to the heart of the matter.

Jiang Wanrou smiled ingratiatingly, subtly dodging his wandering hand, "Not jealous, not jealous. It was my petty heart. My husband is the finest."

Lu Feng didn't care for beauty, cherished old affections, and was currently very enamored with his 'old wife,' which was the only thing that made her happy today.

Lu Feng said slowly, "My wife is also very good."

His eyes darkened as he turned and gently pressed her down.

***

After a night of passion, Jiang Wanrou woke up at noon the next day. The first thing she did upon waking was not to call someone to massage her waist but to ask Cuizhu to prepare the medicine.

Lu Feng had instructed her the day before to remember to drink the contraceptive decoction upon waking. He had repeatedly assured her that she wouldn't get pregnant, which was why she had allowed him to do it so many times, her belly even swelling up.

Cuizhu, having received Lu Feng's instructions, quickly brought over a bowl of dark, bitter-looking soup. The medicine looked extremely bitter, and Jiang Wanrou pinched her nose as she drank it. She didn't like sweets, so she could only wash down the bitterness with plain water.

Putting down the small porcelain bowl, she smacked her lips and frowned slightly, "Is this... the contraceptive decoction? Did you prepare it wrong?"

Why does it taste exactly like the fertility decoction from before!