Chapter 103: I’ll Listen to You

Chapter 103: Your Will Be Done

The eunuchs exchanged hesitant glances, not daring to approach Lu Feng. With an impassive expression, Lu Feng rose to his feet. His knees ached sharply from kneeling all night, and his stiff gait was slow as he headed toward the Hall of Cultural Splendor.

"Ah, Your Highness, you're going the wrong way. The Western Glory Gate is this way."

The eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree hunched his back, his face wreathed in smiles. "His Majesty pities your condition and has ordered us to escort you directly back to your residence, sparing you another trip."

The eunuch was skilled in relaying messages, but in truth, the emperor simply didn’t want to see Lu Feng. He had roared, "Tell that rebellious son to go home and reflect! He may see me again only when he has realized his mistakes!"

Lu Feng paused slightly and glanced at the eunuch, whose back was bent double. "What happened?"

After just one night, the emperor couldn’t possibly have cooled his anger.

The eunuch smiled obsequiously. "Early this morning, Princess Consort Jiang came to the palace for an audience. Through some means, she moved His Majesty. Now, she’s waiting for you outside the Western Glory Gate."

The decree-bearing eunuch flicked his fly-whisk, marveling at both Jiang Wanrou’s thoughtfulness and tact. The princess consort, who enjoyed the Prince of Qi’s exclusive favor, was indeed extraordinary. She had merely brought a food box into the palace and convinced the emperor to pardon the prince’s offenses. Such a great achievement! He had initially invited Jiang Wanrou to come to the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation to personally help the prince rise—what a touching scene of marital devotion that would have been.

But Jiang Wanrou had shaken her head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I shall wait for His Highness outside the Western Glory Gate."

At first, he hadn’t understood. But now, seeing how the other eunuchs dared not approach Lu Feng, it suddenly dawned on him: A man of the prince’s stature would surely not wish to be seen in a vulnerable state, least of all by his own wife.

Princess Consort Jiang had not only accomplished her mission but also observed proper decorum, preserving her husband’s dignity. The eunuch couldn’t help but admire her deeply and felt compelled to speak well of her.

"Your Highness, this way, please. This humble servant noticed that the princess consort looked gaunt and careworn. She must be terribly anxious by now."

These words made Lu Feng’s brow twitch. Because Jiang Wanxue had once humiliated two imperial princes, the emperor disliked women of the Jiang family. Every time Jiang Wanrou faced the emperor, she quaked like a mouse before a hawk. Lu Feng had deliberately kept their meetings few.

He had expected her to worry, to panic—but never that she would go straight to the palace. She was so afraid of the emperor, yet she had managed to persuade him?

Setting aside these questions for now, Lu Feng abandoned his plan to see the emperor. He quickened his pace despite his stiff gait, his old injuries causing his steps to become uneven, revealing a slight limp.

He paid no mind to the onlookers. The eunuch’s words lingered in his mind: *The princess consort looked gaunt and careworn.*

Since giving birth to Lu Huaiyi, Jiang Wanrou had never been described as "gaunt." Even after accompanying him to the harsh frontier, she had remained full-figured and radiant.

How could she have become "gaunt" and "careworn" in just one day?

Servants always sugarcoated their words, especially eunuchs who served the emperor—they knew exactly what to please. Yet, at this moment, Lu Feng lost his usual composure.

In less time than it takes to burn incense, Lu Feng arrived at the Western Glory Gate. Jiang Wanrou stood beside the carriage, her azure silk skirt swaying gently in the breeze, willowy and refined, like a delicate iris.

When she saw Lu Feng, her eyes brightened. She hurried forward and flung herself into his embrace. "You’re finally out."

Lu Feng automatically enfolded her, lifting her slightly, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Good—she hadn’t lost weight.

He scrutinized her countenance closely. Her complexion was pale, her eyes swollen—she did look somewhat careworn.

While Lu Feng was heedless of public decorum, Jiang Wanrou remembered they were under the gaze of the court. That initial excess of wifely devotion could be excused, but if Lu Feng continued holding her, word might reach the emperor, and she’d be labeled a temptress again.

Pressing her face against his chest, she whispered, "Husband... there are too many people."

"Let’s talk inside the carriage."

Lu Feng’s imposing stature made the spacious carriage seem cramped. Without asking any questions, he cradled her face in his palm.

"Why do you look so pale?"

Suddenly, he noticed something odd. His fingers felt something slick, and upon withdrawing them, he saw a fine layer of white powder on his fingertips.

"..."

Jiang Wanrou awkwardly explained, "I... put on too much powder today."

Lu Feng sighed softly, gazing at her reddened eyes as he asked gently, "Were you scared?"

For someone so timid to dare enter the palace alone without his protection—she truly loved him to death.

Jiang Wanrou discreetly tucked the piece of ginger further into her sleeve and nodded emphatically. "Yeah!"

"When I heard the news this morning, I couldn’t think of anything else. I just wanted to see you as soon as possible."

"Thank God His Majesty is kind and forgiving. Let’s go home first, bathe, and have a meal. You should rest well. We can discuss other matters later."

Lu Feng hadn’t slept a wink all night, but this was nothing unusual for him. During the campaign against the Turkic, going days without sleep was commonplace. He took Jiang Wanrou’s hand, pulled her onto his lap, and held her close. Holding her like this brought him an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

He soothed her, "Don’t worry—I’ve got this."

"Next time, just stay safely in the manor. Leave outside matters to me."

Jiang Wanrou’s eyes widened suddenly. "There’s gonna be a next time?"

This single incident had already terrified her. Before, she hadn’t realized it, but when something happened to Lu Feng, it truly felt like the sky had fallen. Without him, who would protect the Prince of Qi’s household and their mother and son?

Today, she had pulled a little stunt—applying white powder to her face in case she couldn’t cry and hiding ginger in her sleeve. She had also invoked Huai Yi’s name and played on Lu Feng’s sympathy. While her efforts had contributed to today’s success, the most crucial factor was still the emperor.

The emperor ultimately doted on Lu Feng. His favor lay with him, and she had merely given a little push. The emperor had then offered a compromise, leading to the current resolution.

Next time? What else did he plan to do? Jiang Wanrou didn’t want to live in constant fear. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Feng asked, "What did you say to His Majesty today? How did you manage to persuade him?"

The emperor had once called Lu Feng a stubborn ox, but he had also said that Lu Feng was the son who resembled him most. The emperor’s temper was no less formidable, and having sat on the throne for so long, he was even more obstinate and harder to sway than Lu Feng.

That she had managed to persuade the emperor had surprised even Lu Feng.

Once outside the palace, Jiang Wanrou had no intention of being modest. She had genuinely made considerable efforts for Lu Feng. She embellished the process, describing it as fraught with difficulties—how the emperor had repeatedly lost his temper and how she had walked on eggshells to escape unscathed. She wanted Lu Feng to know what she had done for him, but more importantly, she hoped to persuade him to cause less trouble in the future—at least for the sake of their mother and son.

With reddened eyes, Jiang Wanrou shook Lu Feng’s arm. "Husband, let’s live a peaceful life, please. If this happens again, I’ll be terrified."

Lu Feng smiled faintly, dodging the question. "As long as I’m here, there’s no need to fear."

Jiang Wanrou gave him a resentful look and raised a hand to cover her face. Suddenly, Lu Feng grabbed her wrist, his rough palm sliding up her arm to search further. Startled, Jiang Wanrou thought to herself—Lu Feng’s energy was astonishing! Then, Lu Feng pulled out a piece of ginger from her sleeve.

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

Lu Feng glanced at it before tossing the ginger outside. Looking at her reddened eyes, he sighed. "Don’t resort to such tricks in the future."

He could humor her, but would the emperor tolerate being fooled? This time, they had been lucky. If there were a next time and he wasn’t by her side... Lu Feng didn’t dare dwell on the thought.

Jiang Wanrou watched helplessly as the ginger was thrown away and grumbled, "If not for my little trick, you’d still be in the Hall of Mental Cultivation right now."

Who cared whether it was grand strategy or petty tricks? As long as it worked, it was a good move! Jiang Wanrou lowered her head, fingers twisting her sleeves, sulked quietly.

Lu Feng scowled. "Be obedient."

Jiang Wanrou lifted her head and retorted fiercely, "You never listen to me!"

He never listened to her anyway, so why should she listen to him?

Jiang Wanrou rarely contradicted Lu Huaiyi. Even when she disagreed, she would first yield to him and then gradually work her way around. But this time, she was angry too. The emperor was awe-inspiring and had never favored her. Earlier, she had been a nervous wreck, and by the time she stepped out of Wenhua Hall, her legs were trembling uncontrollably.

Since becoming the mistress of the Duke's residence and later the Princess Consort of Qi, Jiang Wanrou’s knees had grown stiff—she hardly knelt a few times a year. Yet today, she had bowed and knelt for him, and he didn’t even appreciate it!

Her eyes glared at him, though the timing was unfortunate. Having just used a ginger compress, her eyes were red, resembling Snowball, the little creature Lu Huaiyi had once caught for her—pitiful yet adorable.

The sight softened Lu Huaiyi’s heart. He stroked Jiang Wanrou’s back and coaxed her in a low voice, “I’ll listen to you.”

“I’ll listen to everything you say.”

Lu Huaiyi wasn’t particularly skilled at comforting others, but as he spoke, his dark eyes remained fixed on her, his voice deep and mellow. The resentment in Jiang Wanrou’s heart dissipated instantly.

She suddenly understood the power of feminine wiles. Few dared to meet Lu Huaiyi’s gaze directly, unaware that the Prince of Qi, rumored outside to have a “face like a demon,” possessed an exceptionally handsome appearance—even the scar on his brow was perfectly placed.

It made her heart flutter uncontrollably.

***

Both were momentarily captivated by each other’s allure, and instead of quarreling, they ended up wrapped up in each other's arms. By the time they returned to the Qi manor, Lu Feng had finished his morning lessons and just learned the news—his father and mother had already reconciled, hand in hand, returning home lovingly.

The scare was over, and the entire household breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Wanrou accompanied Lu Huaiyi for a meal and urged him to rest. She thought that since the emperor had summoned Lu Huaiyi back, the matter was settled. But the subsequent developments far exceeded her expectations.

The emperor, in his imperial majesty, had declared: *Let that rebellious son return to his residence and reflect thoroughly. Only when he has understood his mistakes may he see me again!*

“Reflection” meant confinement—no leaving the residence, no attending court, effectively a form of house arrest.

Lu Huaiyi had originally held a position in the Revenue Ministry. Now, despite his triumphant return to the capital, he received no rewards. Instead, having provoked the emperor’s wrath, he knelt in Yangxin Hall all night before being confined to his residence for “reflection.”

Apart from the absence of imperial guards surrounding the residence, the situation bore an uncanny resemblance to that of Prince Gong! Prince Gong had been demoted to commoner status and left without freedom, like trash. And now, the Prince of Qi, whose achievements overshadowed his sovereign…

The court officials harbored their own thoughts. Since Lu Huaiyi’s departure for the campaign, the long-quiet court had gradually grown restless. Some discreetly probed the emperor’s intentions, while others aligned themselves with factions like the King of Ying or Prince Min, attempting to gather evidence to substantiate the accusation that Lu Huaiyi was “amassing military power.”

Rumors spread like wildfire outside, plunging everything into chaos. Yet Lu Huaiyi, at the center of the storm, stayed cool as a cucumber. The emperor had ordered him to “reflect,” so he stayed in the residence every day—reading, training in martial arts, and teaching his son. A month passed, and even the twins, who used to cry at the sight of him, now recognized him as their father.

The first one who couldn’t bear it any longer was Jiang Wanrou, who rubbed her sore back.