Chapter 104: Venting Your Anger

Chapter 104: Letting Off Steam

The scorching summer sun bathed Jinguang Courtyard in vibrant hues, where peonies of various colors competed for brilliance. The Taihu rocks by the pond were arranged in artful disarray, reflecting the sky's glow on the water's surface. Pink and white lotuses swayed gracefully, while koi darted about, vying for food and stirring ripples across the pond.

By the hexagonal pavilion at the pond's edge, Jiang Wanrou stood in front of the railing, clad in a light gauzy dress, wearily fanning herself with a round silk fan, her expression weary.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, you mustn’t feed them any more—you’ll overfeed them to death!"

Cuizhu approached, carrying a basin of ice, and took the fish bowl and fan from Jiang Wanrou’s hands, fanning her to cool her down.

Jiang Wanrou sighed and sat on the stone bench in the pavilion, rubbing her sore waist.

She asked, "Where is His Highness?"

Cuizhu replied, "His Highness is currently at the training grounds with the young master. Oh, and he instructed that we keep the lights on in our courtyard tonight."

At this, a trace of gloom crossed Jiang Wanrou’s face.

During the period Lu Feng was ordered to "reflect," his days followed a strict routine. He rose at dawn, practiced martial arts for half an hour, bathed, had breakfast, then went to the front courtyard study to read with Lu Huaiyi and quiz him on his lessons. After lunch, he took a short nap before taking Lu Huaiyi to the training grounds for archery and swordsmanship. As dusk fell, he returned to Jinguang Courtyard for dinner, and before the stars could fully adorn the night sky, the couple was already tangled in the bedsheets, lost in passion.

Lu Feng’s stamina was insatiable. In the past, with official duties keeping him busy, he might have been away from the estate for eight or ten days a month, giving Jiang Wanrou time to rest. She hadn’t minded then, but now, with him home all day and bursting with energy, she simply couldn’t keep up.

In just a month, dark circles had formed under her eyes. Eventually, she devised a plan—she would finish dinner early and go to bed, so by the time Lu Feng returned, she would already be fast asleep. This worked peacefully for a few days until Lu Feng seemed to catch on and began sending word ahead, instructing the courtyard to keep the lights on.

Just hearing the words "keep the lights on" made Jiang Wanrou’s waist ache in anticipation. Thankfully, the hidden compartments in their bed held certain aids that made things more comfortable than before, but even so, she couldn’t endure Lu Feng’s relentless energy night after night. At first, he had been straightforward, but as their marital bond deepened and he discovered her talent for dancing—her flexible waist allowing for all sorts of positions—he found endless amusement, and his repertoire of techniques grew ever more varied.

Though Lu Feng would never admit it, Jiang Wanrou suspected he had secretly studied some erotic manuals.

Her distress was so evident that Cuizhu, mistaking it for worry over the Prince of Qi’s future, tried to console her: "Your Highness, don’t fret. His Highness will handle it."

Over the past month, no matter the chaos outside, the Prince of Qi’s estate remained serene. Jiang Wanrou managed the household skillfully, taking advantage of the turmoil to root out several spies leaking information and having them executed publicly by beating, ordering the entire household to witness the punishment. The Princess Consort was known for her kindness and leniency, never punishing servants without cause, but when she acted, it was with swift and severe decisiveness, instantly quelling any unrest.

Coupled with Lu Feng’s unshaken composure—so different from Prince Gong’s deranged state during his confinement—the two highest-ranking figures in the estate remained calm, and the rest gradually settled, waiting only for the Emperor to lift the estate’s confinement.

Jiang Wanrou smiled faintly and asked Cuizhu, "Did anyone visit His Highness today?"

Though Lu Feng was "reflecting in seclusion" and forbidden to leave without the Emperor’s decree, that didn’t stop others from visiting. She had initially assumed that, given Lu Feng’s reputation, the estate would be deserted, but surprisingly, some still dared to show their support at this critical juncture. The Minister of Revenue, the current Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, Vice Minister Pei Zhang… Pei Zhang had distinguished himself in the Turkic campaign and, combined with his earlier achievements in Jiangnan, earned the Emperor’s favor, who personally appointed him to the Grand Secretariat, making him the youngest minister in the dynasty.

Since returning to the capital, Vice Minister Pei Zhang had enjoyed continuous imperial favor, now basking in the height of his success—sadly, he was now a widower at such a young age. He had quietly arranged Jiang Wanying’s funeral and remained tight-lipped about it. During Lu Feng’s "reflection" period, Jiang Wanrou had sent condolence gifts, but beyond that, the two had no further interaction.

Cuizhu thought for a moment. "This morning, the Second Young Master and Third Young Master from the Duke of Lu’s estate came to visit His Highness and stayed for the entire noon."

Her two brothers-in-law? Why would they visit?

Jiang Wanrou’s mind wandered—time had flown so quickly. She had barely adjusted to her role as Princess Consort of Qi before following Lu Feng to the army, and upon returning, before she could catch her breath, this incident had occurred.

Though the Emperor had not confined his daughter-in-law and often summoned Lu Huaiyi to the palace to keep him company, with her husband being punished, Jiang Wanrou, as his wife, couldn’t very well spend her days primping and party-hopping.

It had been over half a year since she last visited the Duke of Lu’s estate. She wondered how Yao Jinyu and Zhou Ruotong were managing the household, and how the Dowager Duchess was faring—was her health still strong? Back then, they had worked hard to conceal Lu Feng’s true origins—was the secret still safe?

Jiang Wanrou sighed softly, no longer in the mood to enjoy the scenery, and went to Aunt Li’s courtyard to amuse herself with Huai Ling and Mingzhu. The two children were at the age where they were learning to speak, and Aunt Li coaxed them to call Jiang Wanrou "Mother." Their childish mispronunciations—"liang liang" (a playful corruption of "niang," meaning mother)—made her chuckle, lightening her heavy heart slightly.

That evening, when Lu Feng returned, she took one look at his composed expression and asked first, "Husband, when will His Majesty’s anger subside? I want to go out."

Lu Feng paused. Under the candlelight, her skin was snow-white, her silky black hair cascading down like satin. Just bathed, her fair complexion was tinged with pink, like a dewy lychee.

His eyes smoldered as he murmured, "Come here."

A perfect day with my beloved in my arms—what more could a man want? How could such a moment be wasted?

Jiang Wanrou's lashes fluttered as she sat on his sturdy thighs, her arms wrapped around his neck. She whispered softly, "Be gentle with me today. I'm still sore."

Lu Feng's voice was low. "Where does it hurt?"

"My waist... Ah, we're supposed to be discussing serious matters!"

His rough palm slid beneath her thin summer nightgown, sending tingling waves through her, making her waist go weak in an instant.

Lu Feng gave a low chuckle. "Let me massage it for you."

Jiang Wanrou shot him a suspicious glare, steadied herself, and asked, "Husband, when will the restrictions on our household finally be lifted?"

Lu Feng arched a brow. "That depends on the Son of Heaven's orders."

Again—he always brushed her off like this. Jiang Wanrou pouted. The Emperor frequently summoned Huai Yi—wasn’t that a blatant hint? All he was waiting for was Lu Feng to yield. Did the Son of Heaven really have to come in person to invite him back?

Besides, Lu Feng had predicted the Emperor’s anger with that warning beforehand. Maybe he had even provoked it deliberately. He told her nothing, and these days felt eerily calm, like the lull before a storm, leaving her uneasy.

Lu Feng's stamina was such that she often slept straight till dawn. Sometimes, if she dozed off first, he wouldn’t wake her. On rare nights when she woke, she’d find the bed empty, the space beside her already cold.

The next morning, she’d ask the maids on night duty, only to receive puzzled expressions. "His Highness... never left the room."

……

Jiang Wanrou kept silent until a few days prior, when the current Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau paid a visit. The kitchen had prepared mung bean soup, but fearing the maids wouldn’t persuade him to drink it, she brought the food box herself to the study.

Mung bean and lily soup—cooling, soothing. For the sake of her waist, she needed to cool his fire.

Through the door, she caught fragments of conversation.

"Everything is under control..."

"Awaiting only Your Highness’s command..."

"We pledge our lives to Your Highness..."

With her sharp hearing, she barely had time to process the words before Lu Feng dragged her out from hiding. She had never seen him like this—his face expressionless, his gaze sharp, his killing intent so palpable it made her go pale.

At the sight of her, Lu Feng paused. Jiang Wanrou took a step back and curtsied. "Your humble wife brings something to cool you down, my lord. I did not realize you had guests. Forgive my intrusion."

The current Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, Huo Fei'ang, was a man nearing forty with a deep complexion and a broad, square face. Recognizing the Princess Consort, he immediately saluted with clasped hands. "This official pays respects to Her Highness."

Turning to Lu Feng, he added, "I've taken too much of your time. I take my leave."

Lu Feng nodded, taking the food box from Jiang Wanrou’s arm and pulling her close, massaging her wrist gently.

"Such a small thing—you needn't have come yourself."

His voice was gentle, showing none of his earlier intensity. Jiang Wanrou glanced at him timidly, meeting his dark eyes. With a tug, he pulled her onto his lap.

"Did I frighten you? That wasn't meant for you. Don't be afraid."

Jiang Wanrou bit her lip, was quiet for a while, then asked, "That man who was just here... isn't he Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, Huo Fei'ang?"

Lu Feng looked surprised. "You're familiar with him?"

A foreign official and a lady of the inner quarters—Huo Fei'ang hadn’t disclosed his identity earlier, so how could she recognize him?

Jiang Wanrou said softly, "I just guessed."

That official had referred to himself as "your humble servant," a term only used by members of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau in front of Lu Feng. When he bowed to her, he called himself "this humble official," indicating he was not only Lu Feng’s former subordinate but also currently held an official position.

Moreover, his rugged face clearly marked him as a martial practitioner. Jiang Wanrou mentally matched the description and concluded it must be the current Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, Huo Fei'ang—his age also fit.

When she shared her reasoning with Lu Feng, he clicked his tongue approvingly. "Rou'er is clever. I’ve married my little genius."

Jiang Wanrou wasn’t lacking in his praise, but her mind was still preoccupied with what had just happened. After the emperor stripped Lu Feng of his position as Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Bureau, the Bureau had fallen from grace. Once on par with the Board of Punishments and the Dali Temple, it now seemed overshadowed by both. Judging by the situation, was the Forbidden Dragon Bureau still under Lu Feng’s control?

Otherwise, as colleagues, Lu Feng had never referred to himself as "your humble servant" in front of any other prince during his tenure.

"What are you thinking? Tell me."

Jiang Wanrou startled, unsure how to broach the subject. In a flash, she recalled another matter.

Last winter, Madame Qin had come to her, saying her two sons had been seized by the Forbidden Dragon Bureau. Before she could ask Lu Feng, the Turkic war broke out, and imperial edicts followed in quick succession, pushing the matter entirely from her mind.

She ventured cautiously, "Husband, does Commander Huo... now follow your orders?"

Lu Feng answered with lofty rhetoric, "We are all subjects of Great Qi. He and I naturally obey His Majesty’s commands."

He stroked her cheek gently and said warmly, "Don't trouble yourself with such thoughts."

"You smell of milk—have you been visiting the little ones again? If you’re truly bored, have the children brought to Brocade Light Courtyard. What’s the point of keeping them at your mother’s place all the time?"

Ever since their return, Aunt Li had also frequently suggested bringing Huai Ling and Mingzhu to Jiang Wanrou to raise. She had tried it for a few days—when the children were well-behaved, they melted her heart, but when they acted up, they were utterly unbearable.

Neither troublemaker was as easy as their eldest brother. Lu Huaiyi, frail since birth, cried softly and was soothed by the wet nurse without Jiang Wanrou ever hearing. These two, robust and loud, would wail in unison at the slightest provocation, their ear-splitting cries piercing the air. Between Lu Feng's nighttime demands and the children’s daytime clamor, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t get a full night’s rest.

Within days, she personally carried the two little troublemakers back to Aunt Li, begging her to take care of them. Among noble families, nurses and caretakers handled feeding and diaper changes—mothers need only play with the children when they were awake, enjoying the joys of parenthood with clean, well-wrapped babies.

Now, with Aunt Li added to the mix, Jiang Wanrou felt no burden at all, leaving the children with her.

This was the norm in high-ranking households. Lu Feng had never insisted she personally raise the children. His words now implied: Stop dwelling on unnecessary matters and focus on the children.

Jiang Wanrou could only play dumb, pretending she hadn’t heard their conversation. Instead, she clarified the matter of Madame Qin’s two sons.

She had initially assumed her so-called brothers had brought it upon themselves and that Lu Feng would never misuse his position for personal vendettas. Yet, to her surprise, Lu Feng arched a brow. "It wasn’t a coincidence."

"I did it for you."