Chapter 77 You Are Mine

Chapter 77 You Are Mine

The next day, Cuizhu stood under the eaves with a brass basin, waiting for Jiang Wanrou to get up and wash. It was already past noon, yet the room remained silent.

"Sister Cuizhu, should we go in and take a look?"

A young maid in a light green jacket said worriedly. They had all come from the Duke's residence and knew Jiang Wanrou's habits. Even when she was pregnant and prone to sleepiness, she had never slept this late.

Could something be wrong?

Cuizhu tested the water temperature in the basin with her hand—it was neither too hot nor too cold. She asked, "Hmm... was it Qiuhe who was on duty last night?"

A maid with double buns stepped forward and whispered, "Sister Cuizhu, it was me."

"How late did it go last night?"

Qiuhe's cheeks flushed a deep red as she replied softly, "It didn't stop until this morning... around dawn."

The Princess Consort held great power and was deeply favored by the Prince of Qi. As servants, they felt honored. Whether in the Duke's residence or the Prince's mansion, the Jinguang Courtyard was always the most privileged, living a life more comfortable than ordinary people. The only downside was having to keep watch at night.

The Prince's mansion had heated floors, so it wasn't cold, but it was still hard to endure. The Princess Consort had her monthly cycle for about five or six days, and sometimes the Prince of Qi was too busy to return home. Apart from those days, the two masters spent about twenty days a month in intimacy. The noise was enough to make even seasoned maids blush.

The Prince of Qi was tall and powerfully built, while Jiang Wanrou appeared delicate and fragile beside him. Over the years, it had been quite a challenge for Jiang Wanrou.

Cuizhu, usually casual around Jiang Wanrou, was strict with the servants. She glared at Qiuhe and said sharply, "It's not your first day serving. Why are you so shy? I warn you all, don't even think about improper ideas, or I'll be the first to deal with you!"

"We wouldn't dare."

Not just Qiuhe, but all the maids under the eaves responded in unison. Lu Feng was cold and authoritative, treating their lives as worthless. Those who had once harbored ambitions of climbing the social ladder were either sent away by Jiang Wanrou if they were lucky, or if they were unlucky and caught by Lu Feng, they lost their lives.

Those who had followed Jiang Wanrou from the Duke's residence to the Prince's mansion were no fools.

Cuizhu's wide eyes scanned the group. After a while, she snorted, "All of you, be on your toes! Jiang Wanrou is kind, but I, Cuizhu, am not so easy to deal with!"

Qiuhe's lips twitched. Probably, in the entire Jinguang Courtyard, only Cuizhu thought "Jiang Wanrou is kind." Last time, the Emperor had bestowed fifteen Beauties, and to this day, none of them had even seen the Prince of Qi. People from that side often tried to bribe their way into the Jinguang Courtyard, but they hadn't dared to accept anything.

They waited another fifteen minutes until the water in the brass basin turned cold. Cuizhu had someone heat another basin. After thinking for a moment, she quietly lifted the heavy curtain.

As soon as she entered, the strong scent in the room made her frown. The room was a bit messy. The crimson felt on the pearwood daybed was wrinkled, the neatly arranged desk was askew, and the novels Jiang Wanrou often read were all swept underneath. The redwood desk was clean, with faint traces of dried water stains, similar to the marks on the armchair...

Cuizhu swiftly set the brass basin aside and hurried to the bedroom, lifting the bed curtain—

"Ah—"

Cuizhu gasped. Now she finally understood why Qiuhe had blushed. Compared to the mess outside, the inside was even more chaotic. Only one of the two pillows remained, and the bedding was crisscrossed with wrinkles. Jiang Wanrou was wrapped in a crimson brocade quilt, facing inward, her smooth shoulder half-exposed, covered in bite marks and scratches that stood out starkly against her fair skin, as if she had been "mistreated."

"Princess Consort?"

Cuizhu wanted to reach out and wake her, but her hand stopped mid-air, unable to find a spot on her body that wasn't marked. As she hesitated, Jiang Wanrou seemed to hear someone calling her. She let out a soft moan, turned over, and slowly woke up.

"Princess Consort?"

Cuizhu held her breath, watching Jiang Wanrou flutter her long lashes in silence. Suddenly, Cuizhu had an idea and said, "Would you like some water? Wait, I'll fetch it for you."

She quickly brewed a cup of light tea. Why is the tea still warm?

Cuizhu was puzzled but didn't linger on it. Warm was better than cold. After two cups of tea, Jiang Wanrou finally spoke, her voice rough and dry, "Turn your back."

"Close the curtain."

Cuizhu, though confused, obediently followed her mistress's instructions and lowered the gauze curtain from the jade hook by the bed. Jiang Wanrou closed her eyes, cursing Lu Feng in her heart, her cheeks involuntarily flushed with a faint blush.

Breathe, push harder. She bit her lip, letting out a muffled groan as she expelled the contents from within her.

Cuizhu seemed to hear a faint jingling sound, but before she could make it out clearly, Jiang Wanrou said, "Help me get dressed."

...

She hurried about, helping her mistress dress. Jiang Wanrou wore only a soft silk nightgown, her black hair, like clouds, was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin. Cuizhu was just bringing over a brightly colored outer robe, a small jacket, and a skirt when Jiang Wanrou waved her hand, saying, "I'm not going out, why dress up so meticulously."

"Oh."

Cuizhu quickly ran back to put the clothes away. Jiang Wanrou hadn't been like this before. Since winter began, she disliked going out, even if she stayed within the confines of the Jin Guang Courtyard, she always kept herself neat and tidy. She didn't wear elaborate headdresses, but would adorn herself with a few favorite gold hairpins, and occasionally, when in the mood, she would have Cuizhu apply a delicate makeup.

It seemed her mistress was truly worn out from last night.

Cuizhu, being of low status, usually didn't dare to look directly at Lu Feng's face, but now she felt a surge of resentment. She muttered quietly to herself, "The prince is really something else, you are his lawfully wedded princess consort, how can he treat you like this!"

Jiang Wanrou leaned limply against the now tidied Pearwood Daybed, holding a cup of warm tea, she softly reminded, "Cuizhu, be careful with your words."

She knew Cuizhu meant no harm, but she spoke without thinking. Who was Lu Feng? The reigning Prince of Qi, second only to the emperor, commanding the respect of tens of thousands. How could a mere maid like her dare to criticize him?

Realizing her error, Cuizhu lowered her head, not daring to speak. After a while, seeing Jiang Wanrou still silent, she smiled ingratiatingly and offered, "Princess Consort, I found something quite interesting today."

Jiang Wanrou raised her delicate eyebrows, "Oh?"

She wasn't speaking because her throat was sore from overuse last night, but Cuizhu thought she was angry and vividly described, "Our teapot has become magical!"

"Last night, I brewed some tea, and guess what? This morning, it was still warm!"

"Isn't that strange?"

Jiang Wanrou's hand, holding the tea, paused; no one knew better than her why the overnight water was still warm.

Yesterday, Lu Feng was fierce and relentless, for some inexplicable reason, not saying a word. Thanks to the ointment, it didn't hurt much, perhaps there was even a bit of sensation. After two rounds, she lay on his chest, dazedly asking, "What exactly happened to my fifth sister?"

"If she... really... I should visit the Pei residence to pay my respects. But now Lord Pei is not in the capital, and the Pei residence only has an elderly lady, how pitiful."

Lu Feng's voice was hoarse, "Who's pitiful?"

"Everyone is pitiful. Lord Pei, so young, has become a widower, ah—"

Something she said must have struck a nerve with Lu Feng, and what followed was beyond her control. From the bed to the Pearwood Daybed, to the desk, to the armchair... Lu Feng, usually so composed, was truly a beast when he lost control! She was drenched in sweat, he drank much of her saliva, her mouth was dry, and she was so weak she felt like she had no strength left.

Lu Feng picked up the teapot and poured water for her, her consciousness already somewhat scattered, refusing to drink cold water. Lu Feng held the teapot in his hand, and after a while, the tea suddenly became warm.

...

The events that followed were a blur to her, too much pleasure had turned into pain. His large hand firmly covered her mouth and nose, she had no strength left, her eyes were fine but her vision kept blacking out, she could only feel him, his hoarse murmurs like a spell, echoing in her ears.

"Mine."

"You are mine."

...

The absurdities of last night were far more than just these, most of the items in the secret compartment by the bed were used up. Jiang Wanrou fainted once in the middle, only to be awakened again, one moment feeling like she was in the clouds, the next as if she had fallen into hell. By the time she fully regained consciousness, it was when Cuizhu was calling her by the bedside.

She felt clean and dry; Lu Feng had at least shown some conscience by cleaning her up. However, this didn't stop Jiang Wanrou from cursing him, as his conscience was indeed limited. Before leaving, he had even left her with a "little toy," and she still felt sore from it.

...

Jiang Wanrou suddenly lost her appetite for the tea she was holding.

She set the cup down and said to Cuizhu, "Go and find out if any households in the capital have recently held funerals. We mustn't neglect the proper courtesies."

Though she had her doubts, after last night, Jiang Wanrou decided to put off inquiring about Jiang Wanying for the time being. Lu Feng never spoke idly, and since the person was gone, as her younger sister, it was only proper to prepare a generous gift to save face.

Cuizhu accepted the task and left, replaced by Jintao. Jintao was always composed. Without calling for others, she silently changed the bedding, tidied up the desk and chairs, and opened the window halfway to air out the room. After Jiang Wanrou finished her meal, she noticed the plum blossoms outside the window were in full bloom. She was about to ask Jintao to cut a few branches for her to arrange in a white-glazed, high-necked, narrow-mouthed vase when a maid came in to report:

"Princess Consort, there's a visiting card."

Who would visit in the depths of winter?

Jiang Wanrou opened it and saw it was a card from the Marquis of Ning'an's residence. She became even more puzzled. After becoming the "Princess Consort of Qi," she had visited Aunt Li once. Her health remained the same, and she still disliked going out. If she wanted to see her, she could just send a message. Being mother and daughter, there was no need for such formalities.

If it wasn't Aunt Li, the only one who would send her a visiting card was... Madame Qin.

Jiang Wanrou casually set it aside and said, "Decline it."

Now that the Marquis of Ning'an had stepped down from his official position, he only held an honorary title. The Marquis of Ning'an was originally a surrendered official granted favor, and the title couldn't be passed down. The next generation would be left without a title, and their status would plummet, nearly disappearing from the capital's noble circles.

Later, when Lu Feng was enfeoffed as the Prince of Qi, his rise brought the Marquis of Ning'an's household's status up as well. Unfortunately, the Prince of Qi neither promoted nor showed any closeness to his in-laws.

If Jiang Wanrou didn't show any closeness to the Marquis's household, she would inevitably be accused of being 'unfilial' behind her back. But Lu Feng's stance was clear—who would dare to criticize a prince? After all, "ruler and subject" came before "father and son." Lu Feng's coldness toward his in-laws, coupled with his favor toward the Princess Consort—after years of marriage, there was only one woman in his inner court, and all the prince's children were born from her womb. His affection was plain for all to see.

Thus, the Marquis of Ning'an's household was left in an awkward position, neither here nor there. Jiang Wanrou had already declined several visiting cards. Today, she felt sore and weak. Did she really need to dress up and force herself to meet Madame Qin?

Madame Qin wasn't worth that much face!

Jiang Wanrou didn't take the matter to heart. She felt uneasy, fearing that Lu Feng might go mad again tonight. She even thought about lying about her period to avoid him. She recalled when she was newly married and had just started her period. Lu Feng had entered and immediately fixed his gaze on her, frowning, "Are you hurt?"

"There's a smell of blood on you."

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

He was unusually sensitive to the smell of blood. Should she smear some pig's blood on herself? Lu Feng was truly inhuman. Last night, they had carried on almost until dawn, and today he went to court as usual! She was genuinely afraid of him now.

Cuizhu dutifully brought a bowl of pig's blood from the kitchen, but Jiang Wanrou found the smell too strong. Winter days were short, and the afternoon passed quickly. In the evening, Pediatrician Chang'an came with a message, saying the prince was discussing matters with other princes in the palace and there was no need to keep the lights on.

Jiang Wanrou's joy was evident. She bowed toward the palace, feeling truly grateful to the emperor for the first time. That night, she slept soundly, fully rejuvenated.

After Lu Feng took charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he wasn't as busy as before. She had expected him to return the next day, but there was still no sign of him by the second day. Jiang Wanrou received another visiting card from the Marquis's household, which she again declined. By the third day, Jiang Wanrou's body had finally recovered. She applied medicine on time, and except for the tender skin on her chest with a few bite marks, most of the other marks had faded.

The overcast sky finally gave way to sunlight. Though the weak rays couldn't dispel the winter chill, it was a welcome change from the biting cold winds of the previous days. Jiang Wanrou, in a rare mood, wore a pale yellow brocade jacket, with white rabbit fur trim on the collar and sleeves, and went to enjoy the flowers and pluck plum blossoms with the maids in the courtyard.

A maid presented another visiting card, unsurprisingly from the Marquis of Ning'an's household. Including the ones she had previously declined, this was the fifth or sixth time.

Had something happened at the Marquis of Ning'an's household?

Having lived under Madame Qin's strict rule in the past, Jiang Wanrou knew her well. Proud and aloof, Madame Qin used to avoid her at all costs. Why would she repeatedly seek her out now, only to humiliate herself?

Jiang Wanrou handed the flower basket to Jintao, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and said, "Let's go, we have guests to meet."