Chapter 95 Persuasion and Coaxing

Chapter 95: Pleading

Her voice was soft yet stubbornly earnest, jolting Lu Feng's heart and leaving his breath ragged.

He pressed her hand down and growled hoarsely, "I won’t let you become a widow."

The white silk cloth had fallen to the floor unnoticed. Lu Feng grasped Jiang Wanrou's hand, guiding her to straddle his muscular waist as they collapsed together onto the wide bed.

Holding her fragrant, soft form in his arms, Lu Feng felt his heart race. The days had passed one after another, and even he had forgotten that six years had already gone by since their marriage.

Six years—he knew every inch of her body intimately. She had borne him three children, yet she could still effortlessly ignite his desire, setting his blood on fire like a newlywed.

With her, he felt a satisfaction like no other. It was different from the conquest of the battlefield or the thrill of bloodshed. She was always yielding, like water, embracing all of him.

Lu Feng wasn’t the type to whisper sweet nothings; he preferred action. In his passion, he almost smothered Jiang Wanrou, leaving her breathless. This bed was broad and exposed, unlike the hazy canopies of Great Qi—everything was laid bare.

Her pale skin flushed pink under his touch. His body burned hot, making Jiang Wanrou sweat profusely, her hair clinging to her rosy cheeks. Bashfully, she lowered her eyes and pulled a brocade quilt over herself.

"What are you shy about?"

A satisfied man was always more indulgent. Though Lu Feng spoke dismissively, he still rolled over, letting her rest against his chest as he wrapped her in the covers.

Blushing, Jiang Wanrou whimpered, "I... hadn’t finished speaking earlier..."

She’d kept him well-fed these past few days—why was he still so energetic today?

Tireless as a plow ox.

Lu Feng growled. "Speak."

Jiang Wanrou wriggled with a soft protest. "You have to pull out first."

Lu Feng’s grip on her waist tightened, his voice edged with warning. "Don’t provoke me."

With the army resting these days and Wujin locked down tight, not even a fly could slip through. With her warm, soft body in his arms, Lu Feng basked in royal leisure, as if he could abandon his duties without regret.

Feeling him stir inside her again, Jiang Wanrou stiffened, not daring to move.

She obediently lay against Lu Feng's chest, thinking for a moment before speaking slowly, "Every time you leave, I spend my days at home in constant fear, wasting away with worry, unable to eat or sleep."

Lu Feng paused abruptly. Her skin under his touch was pale, soft, and lush—full and heavy in his arms, showing no signs of wasting away.

After a brief silence, he indulged her with reassurance. "Just endure a little longer. It won’t be much more."

Jiang Wanrou continued, "I miss you, and I miss the children in the capital. Huai Yi is frail and refuses to eat. Without me watching over him, who knows how thin he’s become? And with winter so cold this year, what if he catches a chill—"

"He won’t."

Lu Feng stated firmly, "Lu Huaiyi is fine. You needn’t worry."

Lu Feng didn’t abandon his family completely, even at war. Every military dispatch he sent to the capital included a letter home. With only Aunt Li, Lu Huaiyi, and two mute infants left in the Prince of Qi's residence, and no reason to write to his mother-in-law, the recipient of these letters was obvious.

One letter every half-month, delivered by express courier at great expense—yet Lu Feng's letters were brief. He inquired about Lu Huaiyi's studies and the household affairs, rarely filling a single page. The longest was when Lu Huaiyi had struggled with a passage in his studies, and after several tutors failed to explain it, Lu Feng set aside his bloodstained armor at night to clarify it for his eldest son.

At Lu Huaiyi's age, he was studying the Confucian classics—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. By day, Lu Feng slaughtered tens of thousands of prisoners; by night, he taught his son to "love the people." If outsiders knew, they’d have died laughing.

In any case, father and son kept each other informed. Since Lu Feng's departure, Lu Huaiyi, the "young master," had truly come into his own. Despite his youth, he acted with steady maturity. Frequently summoned to the palace, he cared for his younger siblings, honored Aunt Li on behalf of his parents at the frontier, and occasionally visited the Duke of Lu's residence to see his former uncles and the family elders.

In Lu Feng's absence, the Prince of Qi's heir had begun to shine. Those who spoke of him could only sigh—what a pity such a fine boy was the son of Lu Feng, that living demon.

Secondly, it's a pity his health isn't great. Great wit often invites calamity—if only he were healthier, who knows what great achievements he might have accomplished.

...

Lu Huaiyi probably knew his own constitution was weak. Believing he had to shoulder the family's legacy, he took even greater care of his health. He fared better this winter than in years past. Lu Feng understood this but found it difficult to explain in detail to Jiang Wanrou.

She wasn’t the type to weep like ordinary women over separation. Since she had followed him out of the capital, she hadn’t once asked about the children on her own initiative. It wasn’t that she didn’t miss them—she missed them terribly. But since she couldn’t return immediately, mentioning them would only deepen the sorrow.

Just as Lu Feng was about to comfort her, Jiang Wanrou continued, "A while ago, when General Liu and I were stranded among the Turkic people, the neighbors were kind. There was a little girl next door, just a year younger than Huai Yi. Watching her, I couldn’t help but wonder—when our little pearl grows up, will she blossom into such beauty?"

Lu Feng replied matter-of-factly, "Of course."

Their children would naturally be beautiful. Even if they weren’t, it wouldn’t matter—with him as their father-king, they would be granted unparalleled nobility.

Jiang Wanrou smiled. "Yes, whether fair or plain, they are our children, the jewels of our hearts."

"But... other children... To others, they may be insignificant, but to their parents, they too are precious pearls."

She tightened her arms around Lu Feng’s waist and whispered, "When war breaks out, our family is torn apart, but so many more suffer—wives separated from husbands, children from parents, homes destroyed. My lord, can’t we stop fighting?"

Hearing her naive words, Lu Feng didn’t react with the same sternness he had shown earlier in the tent. A man satisfied in certain ways was indeed more agreeable. He gently stroked her hair and patiently explained.

"It’s not as simple as you think."

He said, "The Turkic people have repeatedly invaded our borders, and now they’ve betrayed their oath, openly tearing up the treaty. If we don’t strike back hard, won’t they think our Celestial Dynasty is weak and easy to bully? They’ll only grow bolder, launching greater attacks in the future."

Had the Turkic people suddenly broken the treaty? No! Even during Ashina’s reign, they had repeatedly provoked us, though on a smaller scale. The emperor, lamenting the hardships of the people, tolerated them again and again. Back then, Lu Feng suddenly realized—the emperor had grown old.

He was no longer the Prince of Youzhou who had burned his bridges in defiance. Sitting on the throne for too long had softened his mettle.

Lu Feng had long believed that the Qi Dynasty’s previous leniency toward the Turkic people had only whetted their appetite. That was why Modu dared to challenge Great Qi the moment he took power. This time, Lu Feng would march straight into their heartland, destroy their strongholds, and eradicate them root and branch—not only to secure lasting peace for the borderlands but also to show neighboring nations that Great Qi was strong, unafraid of war, and undaunted by it.

As for other benefits—such as the Turkic lands lying to the north, capturing them would open trade routes northward. The border people would not only be free from barbarian raids but could also engage in commerce, creating more livelihoods. They wouldn’t need Pei Zhang to struggle with reducing the tax burden—they could support themselves and live well.

Moreover, Turkic horses were exceptional. Breeding our own stock with such fine steeds would enhance our national prestige. There was also the wealth gained from war, filling the imperial treasury... The advantages were too numerous. Even if the present was difficult and everyone urged caution, nothing could shake Lu Feng’s resolve.

Lu Feng explained concisely and clearly, making even a lady like Jiang Wanrou understand.

She understood, but she didn’t agree.

On Lu Feng’s desk, she had seen stacks of memorials, each bearing his replies—sometimes just one word: EXECUTE, or two: SPARE NONE.

Only then did she realize what the maids meant by "thorough purge." In Wujin City, apart from the Qi army, there were no survivors left.

Her hands trembled—she didn’t dare flip through the rest. So many had died, not just Turkic people but also our own soldiers. Was a victory built on piles of corpses and seas of blood truly a victory?

Perhaps the issues Lu Feng mentioned could also be resolved through negotiation?

Biting her lip, she said softly, "My lord, I know you have a grand vision—to sweep across battlefields and expand our territory. But relentless attacks come at a heavy cost, resulting in Pyrrhic victories. Negotiation... even if just a stopgap measure, could buy us time to recuperate, stockpile provisions—wouldn’t that be better?"

"And those people outside... The things they say about you—enough rumors can melt metal and erode bones, damaging your reputation. You are clearly the great hero defending our borders—how have you become known as a bloodthirsty warmonger?"

"It pains this humble wife to hear such things. I feel wronged on your behalf."

Lu Feng chuckled softly. He didn’t care much for reputation. Besides, he owned his actions—some of the rumors weren’t entirely unfounded. Slowly withdrawing, he flipped her over and pinned Jiang Wanrou beneath him again.

He coaxed, "If you pity me so, let’s skip the sheath, hmm? I'll withdraw in time and clean you properly."

A few months ago in the general’s residence, the couple had lost control—mainly Lu Feng—and there had been no sheath then. Later, Lu Feng had manually withdrawn, and indeed, she remained unblessed.

Since coming up with this method, he had grown less fond of using animal membrane condoms, often releasing inside her and cleaning up afterward. His knuckles were hard, his fingertips rough with calluses from wielding blades, and Jiang Wanrou had to endure twice the pain. Each time, she had to coax him first to wear it properly before she could relax.

Today, it was Lu Feng’s turn to coax Jiang Wanrou.

He truly wasn’t skilled at comforting, only knowing how to mutter a single word: "Be good." Jiang Wanrou’s lips parted slightly as his burly frame nearly swallowed the candlelight, leaving only faint traces to outline his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The muscles of his arms bulged and tensed, glistening with a thin sheen of sweat.

Due to his height, unless he deliberately lowered his head, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t even see his face clearly—only the sharp line of his jaw and the bob of his Adam’s apple. He gave her no chance to refuse, murmuring half-hearted comforts while driving into her relentlessly.

All the words Jiang Wanrou had wanted to say dissolved into fragmented, incoherent phrases, lost to the rhythm of his thrusts.

***

Lu Feng had been in high spirits for several days. Jiang Wanrou took every opportunity to persuade him. Having been married for years, she had spent her early days in the Duke’s residence observing him closely, setting aside an hour daily to study her husband—her provider and protector. Years of marriage had given her insight into his nature.

His will was extraordinarily resolute. Once he set his mind on something, it was nearly impossible to change, and he rarely heeded advice. The more people opposed him, the more determined he became. The only way was to wear him down with tenderness, influencing him subtly and imperceptibly.

She clung to his arm daily, reluctant to let him go to battle, speaking of missing their children and longing to return to the capital. It had an effect—but seemingly the opposite of what she intended.

Originally, Lu Feng had planned to rest for fifteen days, but now he cut it in half. The sooner the war ended, the sooner they could return to the capital.

Jiang Wanrou grew so anxious that sores erupted at the corners of her mouth, making Lu Feng reluctant to kiss her. Yet she couldn’t outright explain, or she’d be the one to suffer! Wouldn’t that expose her recent affection as an act?

Though her persuasion was deliberate, her feelings for him were genuine. Her heart ached for the wounds on his body.

Unable to confess, Jiang Wanrou could only stammer that Lu Feng’s stubble was too rough, causing the sores. This excuse clearly didn’t convince him. He summoned a physician, who blamed it on pent-up agitation and prescribed cooling herbs. After two days of medicine, Jiang Wanrou noticed Lu Feng had indeed shaved his stubble clean.

His lips were thin, his features sharp. With stubble, he had looked rugged and stern; now, clean-shaven, he appeared younger—his phoenix eyes and refined lips making him unfairly handsome.

He offered no further explanation, but his actions left Jiang Wanrou’s heart aching. Perhaps he was as cruel and ruthless as the rumors claimed, but toward her, he was truly good.

Jiang Wanrou found herself torn, her brow increasingly furrowed with worry. Just when all seemed lost, three days before the army’s departure, fate threw her a lifeline.

This had to do with Liu Yuenu.