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Chapter 19

Lu Suian had been away in the south for over a month. Upon his return to the capital, he immediately rushed to the palace. By the time he arrived back at his residence, dusk had fallen, and he was promptly summoned to the study by Marquis Lu Jingrong for an urgent discussion.

His trip south was ostensibly to verify a case, but in reality, it was to secretly investigate critical affairs. To avoid alerting anyone prematurely, Lu Suian dared not linger too long in the south. Though time was tight, he still sensed an unusual undercurrent.

"Last year, the southern regions suffered from floods. Although the heartland of Jiangnan was affected, the disaster was far less severe than reported. Not only were four regions in Jiangnan exempted from taxes for three full years, but they also demanded millions of taels of silver in disaster relief from the national treasury, depleting it entirely. However, based on my undercover investigations over the past half-month, I discovered that the people in the south not only did not receive tax exemptions but were actually subjected to even harsher taxation. Selling a chicken or a fish incurred at least a fifty-percent tax, and even commoners entering the city gates were forced to pay an entry tax. Whether they were wealthy merchants, small-scale peddlers, or tenant farmers, their tax burdens were more than triple what they should have paid before the court's tax exemptions. From my observations and inquiries over the past half-month, the taxes remitted to the court from the Jiangnan heartland over the past decade amounted to less than one-tenth of the actual taxes collected."

At this point, Lu Suian lowered his cool gaze, concealing the sharpness in his eyes. After a moment, he said calmly, "The prosperity of Jiangnan has only enriched the powerful officials and wealthy merchants. The common people, in reality, are already struggling to survive."

Lu Suian's quiet words startled Lu Jingrong, who shot up from his chair. His face instantly flushed with towering fury and disbelief as he exclaimed, "Absurd, absurd, utterly absurd!"

A moment later, he repeatedly beat his breast in anguish, his eyes reddening as he said, "Is the Great Yu the Wei family's empire or Huo Guang's personal domain? To think he has filled his own pockets with the wealth of half the empire! Despicable, utterly despicable! Even death a hundred times over would not be enough to vent this rage!"

Lu Jingrong was visibly distressed. Although he knew that the southern heartland had been under Huo Guang's control for many years and was already his personal possession, he had no idea it had been ravaged to such an extent. It seemed the current court situation was far less stable than he had imagined!

After a moment of sorrowful contemplation, he suddenly remembered something and looked at his eldest son, Lu Suian, with a face full of trepidation. "This trip south was a hundred times more dangerous than I had imagined. If you had alarmed the snake in any way, you might never have made it out of Jiangnan alive."

Lu Jingrong broke out in a cold sweat, struck by a lingering fear for his son's perilous journey.

Lu Suian, however, remained composed, showing no trace of emotion or fear after venturing into the dragon's den and tiger's cave. At such a young age, he had already cultivated an unshakable calm.

Lu Jingrong stared at him intently, swelling with pride. "How did His Majesty react?"

Recalling the scene in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Lu Suian replied, "The Emperor was silent for a full half-hour. He said nothing more."

His words were brief.

Yet Lu Jingrong instantly conjured countless scenarios in his mind and sighed, "The situation in the capital is intricately linked to Jiangnan. A single move could affect the entire situation. This matter is indeed thorny and headache-inducing, not something that can be resolved in a day."

The study fell into a prolonged silence. After a while, Lu Suian smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeve and glanced at the sky outside. "Perhaps with the Empress's birthday approaching, His Majesty did not want to cast a pall over the festivities at this critical moment."

Lu Jingrong followed his son's gaze and noticed how late it had gotten. He then observed Lu Suian's dusty, travel-worn appearance and rare fatigue. Pausing for a moment, he quickly realized, "It's late. You still have to attend the palace banquet tomorrow. Go back and rest for now. We can discuss further tomorrow."

Lu Suian did not insist on formalities and rose to take his leave.

As he stepped out of the study, he saw his mother, Lady Xiao, waiting outside with food. She immediately approached him and said, "Your father always gets so absorbed in discussions that he forgets everything else. He doesn't remember how exhausted you must be from your journey, without a moment's rest or even time for dinner. You must be starving. Come, have something to eat to fill your stomach."

Lady Xiao was always like this. No matter how late his discussions with his father ran, she would wait outside with warm soup and food. She was meticulous and thoughtful in every way, and in this regard, his new wife, Lady Shen, had actually managed to emulate her to some extent.

Suddenly, it belatedly dawned on Lu Suian why something felt different upon returning home today.

His eyes swept over the courtyard.

In the past, no matter when he returned or finished his discussions, his wife, Lady Shen, would always wait outside with Lady Xiao. Sometimes, if it was too late, Lady Xiao would retire first, leaving Lady Shen to wait alone.

Although Lu Suian never insisted that Lady Shen do this, she was willing to emulate Lady Xiao and strive to be a virtuous wife. Lu Suian did not stop her, especially since a bowl of warm porridge in the dead of night was indeed timely and comforting.

But today, there was no sign of her.

Lu Suian frowned slightly.

Lady Xiao, sharp as ever, smiled meaningfully and said, "Chuanze Residence has been busy all day today, and the kitchen has been working nonstop into the evening. I suppose she's already waiting anxiously in the courtyard. You've been away for so long—this is the first time you two have been apart for such a duration. She must be feeling apprehensive now that you're back. Go quickly, don't keep her waiting late into the night."

Lady Xiao teased lightly.

Lu Suian's expression eased slightly upon hearing this, though his face still showed little emotion. Lady Xiao had been trying to bring them closer for over half a year, and it was only natural for elders to hope for heirs from the eldest branch—he didn’t find it awkward.

In truth, he didn’t mind whether Lady Shen appeared tonight or not. It was just that people often grow accustomed to certain routines and individuals over time. The sudden disruption of a long-standing habit merely brought about a slight discomfort and unease.

However, recalling the morning he left the capital over a month ago, Lu Suian nodded slightly at Lady Xiao, tacitly accepting her teasing and his mother’s explanation.

A moment later, with his hands behind his back, he took the lantern from Chang Li and walked unhurriedly toward the Riverbloom Estate.

Unexpectedly, when he arrived, the estate—which he had assumed would be brightly lit—was bolted shut. Through the gate, he could vaguely make out darkness inside, with only a few dim lanterns swaying under the eaves.

Lu Suian paused, his lips pressing into a tight line.

Where was the eager anticipation or the nervousness of reunion? After more than a month away in Jiangnan, he had returned only to be greeted by impenetrable darkness and a few shabby lanterns?

He had been locked out of his own home!

Though Lu Suian did not expect a harmonious relationship with Lady Shen, the Marquis Estate had its rules. He would not neglect his duties as a husband, nor should she abandon her responsibilities as a wife.

Instantly, his expression cooled.

Seeing this, Chang Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and cautiously said, “Perhaps my lady waited too long and accidentally fell asleep. I’ll go knock on the door.”

Lu Suian watched coldly, neither approving nor refusing, his face somber as he pondered.

As Chang Li stepped forward to call out, the gate opened from the inside. A round face peeked out, and upon recognizing the person outside, the gate was swiftly opened. Lanterns in the courtyard were lit one after another, and soon the head maid, Chun Qi, came out to greet him respectfully, saying, “Greetings, Young Lord.”

After a pause, she mustered a composed expression and added cheerfully, “You’ve returned, Young Lord.”

Lu Suian stood motionless in the shadows, his hands behind his back. It was only when a chill wind gusted that his cold gaze swept across the courtyard.

“Where is my lady?” he asked.

He stood in the night, his emotions unreadable, his tone calm, yet Chun Qi seemed to sense something amiss.

She hurriedly explained, “Young Lord, my lady was busy all day preparing for tomorrow’s palace visit. She also still suffers from lingering effects from her previous illness and recently caught a chill. While waiting for you, she could no longer keep her eyes open and took a bowl of medicine. The effects must have set in—she broke into a sweat and has just succumbed to exhaustion.”

“Before resting, my lady worried she’d fail in her duties and specifically ordered the meal to be prepared. She thought you wouldn’t come so late and even thoughtfully sent another portion to the study.”

Chun Qi laid out meticulously, trying to explain and smooth things over for Lady Shen.

However, Lu Suian was far too perceptive. Sometimes, the more one explains, the more flaws are exposed.

He didn’t necessarily expect his sick wife to get up and greet or serve him, but he could distinguish between sincerity and evasion.

If he remembered correctly, this was the third time she had blatantly slighted him since the Luo affair. Had this happened over a month ago, on the night he returned from his duties, he might not have thought much of it. But once might be chance, twice coincidence—a third time was too many.

Lu Suian was no fool.

He was neither arrogant nor someone who forced others into difficulty. He simply disliked being repeatedly entangled in the petty, endless domestic squabbles of the inner household.

The purpose of a wife was to help him manage the trivial troubles of the inner residence, not to become the trouble herself.

She could make a scene or sulk once or twice—he could tolerate that. But if it happened too often or went on for too long, he had no patience for such games.

He hadn’t expected that even after over a month, after his return from Jiangnan, she still hadn’t let the matter drop in Lady Shen’s eyes. Hmph, what a dutiful and understanding wife she was!

At that moment, a dull pain throbbed in his left side. His stomach had been acting up; he had felt discomfort during the discussions in the study earlier and had held out until now, until he returned to the courtyard.

However—

If he had felt some unexpected interest moments ago, now there was none to speak of. His face cold, he flung his sleeve and turned, vanishing into the night without a trace.

Chang Li had served the heir for so long, yet this was the first time he had seen him with such a grim expression. His heart racing, he hurried after him with the lantern.

After Lu Suian left, Chun Qi heaved a long sigh.

Having served the mistress for many years, she thought she had mastered her craft, but the piercing gaze in the darkness had made her break into a cold sweat.

The heir’s aura was too intimidating, not something ordinary people could easily deceive.

Once her emotions settled, Chun Qi turned to look into the courtyard, puzzled. The mistress was perfectly fine, so why had she suddenly started avoiding the heir?

Inside the room, listening to the fading commotion in the courtyard, Shen Anning slowly opened her eyes.

After a moment, she sighed softly.

She knew that as long as she spent a day with Lu Suian, she shouldn’t repeatedly turn him away like this.

However, tomorrow was a pivotal day in her life, one that allowed no room for error. She needed to save her strength today and had no extra energy or mental capacity to deal with her challenging husband.

To that end, she had deliberately consumed some sleep-inducing herbal concoction.

Everything would have to wait until after tomorrow, until things were fully back on track.

With that thought, Shen Anning hugged the quilt, turned over, and soon the herbal concoction took effect, sending her to sleep.

…

Meanwhile, at Qinyuan, Lu Jingrong had been restless since returning from the study. While Lady Xiao helped him change, he frequently seemed distracted. Lady Xiao glanced at him and suddenly reached out with her slender fingers to smooth the crease in his brow. "What’s wrong? Did things not go well for our son during his southern journey?"

Lu Jingrong replied, "They went well, and yet they didn’t."

He briefly explained the situation in the south, adding, "The court’s affairs are like this—it’s truly unsettling!"

Lu Jingrong was not particularly perceptive and far less talented than his second younger brother from the second branch. Coupled with the Lu family’s severe suppression over the past decade, he had developed a cautious nature. The thought of entering the palace tomorrow left him uneasy.

Lady Xiao knew it wasn’t just official matters troubling him. "What’s even more annoying is entering the palace tomorrow. Others will be accompanied by their principal wives to see the emperor, while our marquis has the privilege of two wives, one on each side, presenting both to the emperor? Heh, the marquis’s fortune almost rivals the emperor’s."

A rare hint of mockery surfaced on Lady Xiao’s dignified and virtuous face.

Lu Jingrong, hit a sore spot by his wife’s remark, felt embarrassed. After a moment, he grabbed her hand and pressed it to his chest in a placating gesture. "You know me best, my virtuous wife."

What troubled him more than political matters was, naturally, the one from Jinyuan.

In his youth, he was as handsome as Pan An, and his marriage to Lady Xiao was harmonious and enviable. Yet, not long after, he married another woman, which became a subject of ridicule among his colleagues. Soon after, a political upheaval occurred, and the Lu family was suppressed. Over the past decade, they gradually faded from public view, but tomorrow they would once again be brought back into the public eye.

Lady Fang was also his wife; there was no way she wouldn’t enter the palace to see the emperor. Even if he tried to stop her, Lady Fang wouldn’t accept it quietly. Besides, Lady Fang still—

"Why worry about something that hasn’t happened yet? Moreover, after all these years, His Majesty must have long—" Lady Xiao trailed off mid-sentence.

The couple exchanged a glance.

Soon after, Lu Jingrong gripped Lady Xiao’s hand tightly and said, "All these years, you’ve had it rough."

Lady Xiao didn’t want to bring up the past. After some conversation, she suddenly said, "By the way, are we really not bringing Ran’er to the palace tomorrow?" She paused, hesitating slightly. "Leaving her alone behind isn’t right. Ah, that child is also to be pitied."

Lu Jingrong frowned. "Our family is already too conspicuous. What if Empress asks and we reveal the situation?"

With a second wife, an adopted daughter, and a daughter-in-law from the Chief Grand Secretary’s lineage, Shen Anning would undoubtedly attract the attention of the emperor and empress tomorrow. Lu Jingrong feared unwanted trouble.

Lady Xiao also knew they shouldn’t bring their adopted daughter along. Just as they were about to extinguish the lamp and sleep, the maid Yi Hong suddenly whispered outside the door, "Madam, the eldest miss is here."

Lady Xiao was startled. Exchanging a glance with her husband, she said, "It’s so late. Why isn’t the eldest miss resting? What does she want?"

As she spoke, her heart tightened. "Is Ran’er unwell again?"

No sooner had she spoken than Lady Xiao stepped to the door and opened it. Outside, no one else was there—only Yi Hong holding a tray.

Yi Hong said to Lady Xiao, "The eldest miss said she didn’t wish to disturb the marquis and madam’s rest. She left this and went."

She raised the tray and added, "The eldest miss brought this just now. She said she worked through the night to finish it, so the marquis and madam can wear them as insoles when entering the palace tomorrow."

Lady Xiao lifted the brocade cloth covering the tray to reveal two pairs of insoles. The stitching was fine, and the craftsmanship was excellent, clearly the result of considerable effort.

Lady Xiao held the insoles and sighed. As she turned around, the light revealed faint marks along the edges—red stains, likely blood from pricks of an embroidery needle.

She handed the insoles to Lu Jingrong and said, "Whenever our family has important matters requiring us to go out, Ran’er stays up late to make a pair of insoles, hoping we’ll be comfortable and return safely. That child is considerate."

Lady Xiao looked meaningfully at Lu Jingrong and added, "Ran’er is sixteen now, of marriageable age."

After a pause, she continued, "People in the capital know our family adopted a daughter. With the change in reign, it’s no longer the Huo family in power. Keeping her hidden will only invite more gossip."

Lady Xiao had a soft spot for those close to her.

Lu Jingrong looked at the soft insoles in his hand, gripping them tightly. "Fine, let’s bring her along."

Then, raising an eyebrow, he said solemnly, "Today is the first grand banquet since His Majesty’s accession. As for our daughter-in-law—"

Lu Jingrong was somewhat uneasy.

After all, Shen Anning came from the countryside and had caused many embarrassments when she first married into the Lu family. If she offended the emperor during the audience, what should they do?

In her previous life, Lady Xiao had also been restless tonight. But in this life, she looked reassured and said, "Shen Anning has made significant progress recently. It should be fine."

Only then did Lu Jingrong set his mind at ease. The couple went to sleep together.

Yet, in the same mansion, one more person found it difficult to sleep.

Jinyuan.

The night was half over, but Lady Fang was unusually restless. In the middle of the night, she excitedly climbed out of bed, sat at the dressing table under the lamp, and carefully drew her willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows with raised fingertips, humming a melody as she did so.

Lady Fang, whose eldest son was already over twenty-one, was only about thirty-six or thirty-seven this year. Time had left faint traces on her face but had also added a touch of charm and maturity.

She had beautiful looks, ones that had almost helped her climb the social ladder and become a noble phoenix.

Unfortunately, fate wasn’t on her side, and she was forced to remain in this small courtyard, sharing her husband with another woman.

A month and a half ago, Lady Fang had been furious over her daughter-in-law Shen Anning’s "defiance," stirring up daily chaos in Jinyuan. But as the empress’s birthday banquet approached, her frustration was slowly replaced by excitement, hope, and anxiety.

For now, she pushed Shen Anning to the back of her mind.

That night, she took out all her clothes and jewelry, trying them on one set after another, yet remained unsatisfied each time. Before long, she sat dejectedly in front of the dressing table, gently stroking the slender willow-leaf shape of her eyebrows and the faint wrinkles on her forehead, murmuring, "Mei'er, am I getting old?"

Lady Fang suddenly grew fretful and unsettled.

Mei'er was the childhood name of Lu Mama, whose given name was Duanmei. She was Lady Fang's dowry maid.

Lu Mama looked at Lady Fang with affectionate eyes and said, "You are not old, Miss. Even if you were, you would still be the most dazzling bloom among them."

As she spoke, she tucked a phoenix hairpin inlaid with rubies into Lady Fang's hair and added, "Only the proper red in this world can truly match your beauty."

Lady Fang gazed at the dazzlingly vibrant color reflected in the bronze mirror under the candlelight, and for once, her usually sharp and haughty face softened with a rare, maidenly shyness.

The lights in Jinyuan remained lit throughout the night.

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Author's Note: The next chapter will likely be posted in the evening or at night.

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