Chapter 35

Chapter 35

However, before Lu Suian could react, Pei Yujin suddenly seemed to recall something. He immediately raised his fan, tapped his forehead, and feigned regret, saying, “Ugh, my memory is terrible—I almost forgot. This matter hasn’t been discussed with Mrs. Lu yet.”

Pei Yujin spoke with feigned remorse. As his words faded, he stepped forward, stopping in front of Shen Anning. A faint smile played on his lips as he addressed her, “It’s like this, Mrs. Lu. It’s not that I, Pei, am being abrupt or disrespectful today. It’s just that last time, my father and mother took an instant liking to you and were extremely fond of you. As soon as they returned home, they couldn’t stop talking about you, wishing you were their own flesh and blood. So, they’ve been thinking of taking you in as an adopted daughter. However, this matter has only been discussed privately within our family and hasn’t yet been formally agreed upon by you, Mrs. Lu. But in my heart, I already consider you my little sister without a doubt. I hope you won’t be upset, little sister.”

As Pei Yujin spoke, he bowed to Shen Anning with great seriousness, as if offering an apology. Then, he raised his head, looking at her with a warm smile, his lips curved in a pleasant, spring-like manner. “I wonder what Mrs. Lu thinks? My Pei family is humble, and I fear we might not be worthy of you. But this would be a wonderful thing nonetheless. Could you, Mrs. Lu, grant this small wish of my family and fulfill the desires of my elderly parents?”

No sooner had Pei Yujin finished speaking than, before Shen Anning could even process his words, Pei Qingying rushed forward from behind, bumping against Pei Yujin’s arm. “Brother, why are you so impatient? We agreed to wait until Sister Ning visits our home again to formally and respectfully ask for her consent. How could you blurt it out so abruptly? This is too casual and disrespectful.”

Pei Qingying glared at Pei Yujin several times, then grabbed Shen Anning’s hand and said, “This is all my brother’s doing. Such an important matter has been handled so carelessly by him.”

However, in the next moment, her expression turned hopeful and eager as she said, “Sister Ning, are you willing? My father and mother want to take you in as their adopted daughter. From now on, you’ll be my elder sister. I’ve been bullied by my brother since I was young, and I’ve always dreamed of having an elder sister. Please say yes, please?”

As if afraid that Shen Anning would refuse, Pei Qingying kept tugging on Shen Anning’s arm, her eyes sparkling with pleading.

Shen Anning, however, felt inexplicably bewildered.

Lord Pei and Lady Pei wanted to take her in as their adopted daughter? This was something that had never happened in her previous life.

Senior Tutor Pei was renowned for his integrity, Lady Pei was gentle and dignified, and the Pei family was known for their uprightness, never currying favor with the powerful. Such a family was held in high regard even by many nobles and officials. Yet now, they wanted to take her in as their daughter?

What had she done to deserve this?

In her previous life, she had faced many difficulties, lacking just such support. Never did she expect that, in this second chance at life, fate would compensate for the biggest deficiency in her life.

No wealth or scheming could equal the status now being offered to her.

This was the status of an adopted daughter of the Pei family.

She never expected the Pei family to care for and treat her so kindly. After just one meeting, how could they feel so connected so quickly? Shen Anning suspected that the Pei family’s gesture was intended to elevate her status.

Since they were so sincere, why would she refuse? She only feared she might not be worthy.

For a moment, Shen Anning’s eyes grew slightly red, and she felt truly touched. After a long while, she finally collected herself and said to Pei Qingying, “This is my good fortune. I only fear I might not be worthy.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingying was instantly so thrilled she almost jumped for joy, saying, “Sister Ning, does that mean you agree?”

“How could you not be worthy? You are the cherished granddaughter of the Chief Grand Secretary. The Chief Grand Secretary is revered by scholars everywhere and the most admired role model in my father’s heart. If anything, it’s our family that might not be worthy of you. Sister, you must not belittle yourself.”

Pei Qingying was so happy that she spun Shen Anning around. Finally, as if afraid she might change her mind, she repeatedly extended her hand and said, “Sister Ning, you must not go back on your word. Come, let’s pinky promise.”

She insisted on making a pinky promise, like a child.

Shen Anning couldn’t help but laugh. With no other choice, she extended her hand and made the promise with her—a pinky promise for a hundred years, never to change.

“Wonderful, wonderful! Sister Ning, from now on, you are my elder sister. I’ll go back right away and tell Father and Mother this wonderful news. They’ll be overjoyed.”

As she lowered her hand, Pei Qingying’s eyes twinkled like stars, making her the most charming and delightful young lady in the capital. Even Shen Anning couldn’t help but feel happy along with her.

After taking in the scene before him, Pei Yujin now raised his eyes, smiling suggestively as he glanced at Lu Suian opposite him and said, “As for Lord Lu, with your busy schedule handling state affairs, how did you find the leisure to come here today?”

Pei Yujin continued the earlier topic, his words seemingly casual but carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

In an instant, he had reversed the situation, shifting from guest to host.

If his earlier provocation had seemed like just an illusion, at this moment, it was an open ridicule and challenge.

Just like the child from years ago, who had regarded him with vigilance and hostility.

Was he mocking him for being too preoccupied with official duties and neglecting his wife?

Or was he so quickly assuming the role of a protector or so-called family member, turning the tables to challenge him?

On this point, Lu Suian was temporarily speechless, finding himself unable to argue against.

Admittedly, he might not have been the most attentive or suitable husband. However, in the next moment, Lu Suian’s sharp gaze turned toward Pei Yujin once more.

Regardless of whether he was qualified or not, it did not change the fact that he was Shen’s husband.

As for Pei Yujin—this unconnected outsider—what was his true intention with today’s display? Was he genuinely seeking to establish a familial bond, or was he using the pretext of being a so-called adopted brother to pursue some hidden agenda?

How could Lu Suian tolerate someone encroaching on his territory? He had no patience for such false generosity!

In an instant, a chill intensity gradually seeped into his eyes.

The two men stared fixedly at each other—one with a faint, amused smile, the other standing firm and unyielding like a rock.

They stood in direct confrontation, as if an invisible undercurrent surged between them.

However, Lu Suian was no ordinary man. As the pillar of the Ministry of Justice, how could he be easily provoked? He had always been one to hide his feelings. In just a moment, the coldness in his eyes dissipated completely. Instead, Lu Suian’s expression turned calm, and he responded with a light chuckle, “Brother Pei, you jest. No matter how busy I am, I must make time to pick up my wife.”

In an instant, a faint smile appeared on Lu Suian’s lips as he spoke calmly.

He maintained an aura of calm and stability.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Suian slowly extended his hand toward Shen Anning beside him. Turning his face to look at her, he curved his lips slightly and whispered, “Madam, it’s getting late. It’s time to go home.”

He focused intently on his wife beside him, as though she were the only one in his eyes.

However, this sudden display of tenderness and affection did not bring Shen Anning any joy or delight. Instead, it made her shudder, as if she had seen a ghost.

Not only did Shen Anning feel this way, but even Bai Tao and Hong Li, who were standing nearby, wore expressions of creepy stillness and discomfort.

…………

Shen Anning remained silent for a long time, and the world seemed to slowly freeze into stillness.

Yet Lu Suian remained unhurried, as though he had endless patience.

The crimson glow of the sunset, red as blood.

Enveloping Lu Suian, it seemed to cast a soft light around him.

Coupled with the faint smile on his lips at that moment, even his sharp, chiseled profile appeared less severe and detached than usual.

This was an expression that had never appeared on Lu Suian’s face in her previous life, causing Shen Anning to momentarily lose herself in a daze.

However, the falseness of that expression was so glaring that it snapped her back to reality in the blink of an eye.

She wasn’t foolish enough to not recognize a performance when she saw one!

But what kind of person Lu Suian was, she understood better than anyone else.

Lu Suian had never been one for pretense—he didn't know how to pretend, nor did he care to.

Why today—

But on second thought, Shen Anning suddenly understood.

Hah, men could be such wretched creatures sometimes!

When no one paid them any mind, they were like a dirty rag tossed into a corner, completely forgotten.

But the moment someone else took notice and tried to pick it up to clean and use it, he would inevitably step forward and step on it. It wasn’t that the thing was particularly precious or beloved—it was simply that he didn’t want anyone else laying a hand on it.

And Shen Anning was that dirty rag right now.

Faced with that deliberately affectionate gaze and the palm extended to her for the first time in both her past and present lives, Shen Anning’s first reaction was to scoff and firmly refuse.

But her relationship with Pei Yujin was pure and aboveboard, and Shen Anning didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding with Lu Suian. It wasn't that she cared; she simply didn’t want two unrelated people to be subject to baseless speculation.

Besides, Pei Yujin had recommended a tutor for her, and they would inevitably have future interactions.

Moreover, since she had already agreed to recognize the Pei couple as her adoptive parents, she would inevitably have dealings with Pei Yujin in the future.

She didn’t want to leave any room for ambiguity or romantic speculation between them.

Nor did she want to be the subject of unfounded gossip.

On top of that, she and Lu Suian hadn’t yet had an open confrontation. That night, she had already trampled his pride, and repeatedly challenging his authority was not a wise move.

With these thoughts in mind, Shen Anning pursed her lips and, despite her reluctance, decided to save face for him in public. After a long while, she finally placed her fingertips slowly into his palm.

The moment Shen Anning placed her hand in his, Lu Suian’s fingers abruptly closed, firmly enveloping her slender hand in an unexpectedly domineering grip.

Lu Suian had a habit of practicing archery in the morning, and coupled with his busy official duties, which involved long hours of writing and annotating, his fingertips were calloused and rough.

Shen Anning had experienced this before.

Wherever his fingers touched, it felt rough and painful.

This time, however, the skin of her fingers was not as delicate as elsewhere, so it didn’t hurt—just tingled slightly.

In her past life, the two had never held hands, nor had they ever engaged in any intimate gestures in public. Thus, she had never realized that Lu Suian’s hand was so large, broad, and powerful. Held firmly by him, it felt as though she were clamped in a vise, with little chance of breaking free.

Skin against skin, Shen Anning’s palm broke into a light sweat.

“We'll be going now.”

“Please, carry on as you wish.”

Lu Suian was somewhat satisfied by his wife’s compliance. The moment their fingers touched, it was as if something had struck him, leaving his fingertips slightly numb.

For a moment, it felt as though something had flooded his heart, leaving it faintly warm.

All his earlier displeasure and hostility seemed to vanish the moment his wife extended her hand.

Even the resentment from that night inexplicably faded a little.

His expression toward the Pei siblings across from him also softened slightly.

The four exchanged farewells.

But before Lu Suian could properly savor the softness and delicacy in his palm, the moment the couple turned to leave, the delicate hand slipped away like a slick fish.

Lu Suian froze, looked up, and saw that his wife had already withdrawn her hand decisively, quickening her pace to the carriage and allowing her maid to assist her inside.

Watching her resolute retreating figure, Lu Suian lowered his gaze to his empty palm. Apart from a faint fragrance, it was as if the intimate moment had been nothing but an illusion.

His fingers curled slightly, finally forming a loose fist, which he placed behind his back.

…

Pei Yujin watched the seemingly harmonious yet emotionally distant couple from afar, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.

The marriage between the Lu and Shen families, arranged by imperial decree, had attracted unprecedented attention throughout the capital. Pei Yujin held lingering memories of their childhood, and his unintentional actions at the banquet that day had unexpectedly fueled the gossip to a fever pitch.

He had initially thought he had caused trouble for the couple, but at the last palace banquet, he had noticed almost no interaction between them.

And now—

A thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes.

A moment later, he abruptly snapped his fan shut, clutching it firmly in his hand. A warm, cheerful smile returned to his face as he tapped Pei Qingying lightly on the head with the fan and said, “Let’s go. Time to share the good news with Mother and Father.”

…

Meanwhile, the carriage slowly made its way toward the Marquis’s estate.

Inside the carriage, a small table separated the two seats, creating two distinct worlds.

Since boarding the carriage, Shen Anning had seemed weary, leaning against a soft pillow with her eyes closed, as if resting. Lu Suian sat upright on the other side, his expression unreadable, lost in thought.

The carriage was silent.

Without the deliberate act, their true natures reemerged.

And those true natures were starkly divided, as if they were complete strangers—just like that night.

While others were present, it hadn’t felt particularly awkward. But now, in the narrow confines of the carriage with only the two of them, the quiet atmosphere seemed to carry an unusual tension.

This was their first meeting since that night.

The memory was anything but pleasant. Lu Suian was not one to hold himself above others, nor was he incapable of tolerating his wife’s defiance. But he was always busy with official duties and had little energy to spare for arguments and tantrums.

He could generously pretend that the unpleasantness of that night had never happened—provided they both tacitly agreed to let it go.

However, it was clear that his wife had no intention of reconciling. She seemed to still be holding a grudge.

Shen Anning had always been understanding and easygoing in the past, but now—

The carriage was eerily quiet.

Lu Suian frowned slightly.

His gaze drifted thoughtfully toward his wife’s face.

He tried to recall how they had handled similar situations in the past, but few memories came to mind. For the first time, he realized that in the half-year since their marriage, they had spent very little time together.

Never before had such an awkward silence occurred between them—not even once. In the past, Shen would always dote on him, making sure such awkward moments never arose.

Back then, Shen was the one who tirelessly followed and attended to him; all he had to do was accept or decline.

But now, for the first time, Shen had pulled back all her attention, as if severing the last connection between them. This left Lu Suian feeling uneasy and unsure how to proceed.

Recalling his father Lu Jingrong’s earlier admonitions and the performative courtesy they had displayed before boarding the carriage, Lu Suian suddenly realized he didn't actually mind that act. On the contrary, the faint scent lingering on his fingers refused to fade.

Enough. As a man, he ought to be the bigger person. All Lu Suian wanted was to quickly patch things up and return to the way things were before.

After a while, he gave a soft cough, breaking the silence in the carriage—a rare initiative on his part to mend their strained relationship. In an unusually gentle tone, he said, “I heard your adoptive parents have arrived in the capital. I should have paid them a visit today, but it’s already late. Let’s arrange a proper visit another day.”

For the first time, Lu Suian started making conversation to ease the tension in the carriage.

But Shen Anning kept her eyes closed, showing no intention of opening them. Only after a long pause did she reply indifferently, “Country people are uncultured and might offend the heir.”

It was unclear whether she agreed or not.

Seeing this, Lu Suian pursed his lips slightly.

He sensed her avoidance.

He thought, was it because of the Luo family? Her birth mother? Or the unfortunate incident at the palace banquet that night?

Why couldn’t she just let those things go?

He had used all his patience to coax her today, yet his wife’s aloofness had worn thin.

Suddenly, the image of her laughing and bantering with Pei Yujin earlier came to mind, stirring up irritation.

Was she unwilling to speak, or simply unwilling to speak to him?

If she didn’t like talking to him, then whom did she prefer?

Lu Suian sat in silence, not speaking for a long time.

He had never been one to cling stubbornly, but he truly didn’t know how to “win her over,” as his father had advised.

Just then, a faint, sweet scent drifted through the air.

It was the smell of alcohol.

The aroma had mostly dissipated, leaving only a trace, but Lu Suian’s sharp nose caught it.

Surprised, he turned to his wife and asked, “Did you drink today?”

His gaze fixed intently on Shen Anning’s face.

Shen Anning slowly opened her eyes, shifting lazily against the cushions. “I visited the Duke’s mansion today and had a few drinks with Madam Lian, the Empress’s younger sister,” she replied casually.

She didn't elaborate.

The Duke’s mansion? The Lian family? He thought, again, the Lian family, the Pei family, and now her adoptive parents—she's apparently busier than I am with official business.

So busy that she no longer had the patience to even entertain him.

Lu Suian's almond-shaped eyes narrowed calmly.

He thought of the wife who once revolved solely around him, and then looked at the woman before him, who now couldn't even be bothered to speak. Lu Suian didn't know what to make of his mixed feelings.

Just then, Shen Anning lifted the carriage curtain slightly and called out to Bai Tao outside, "Xiao Tao, I have a headache. Come in and massage my temples for me."

Shen Anning wasn’t actually in pain; she simply wanted to bring another person into the carriage to cut through the chatter.

Unexpectedly, a low voice suddenly sounded, "Come here."

Shen Anning froze for a moment, then turned her head to see Lu Suian looking at her calmly. His usually expressionless face bore a bizarrely gentle tone as he said, "Let me help you."

Shen Anning mentally pictured the horrifying scene. In the next moment, she whipped her head toward the window and called out again, "Xiao Tao, that won't be necessary."

Hearing this, Lu Suian’s expression softened slightly. Just as he was about to move the small table between them aside and gesture for Shen Anning to come closer, she turned to him with a slight smile and said softly, "It doesn’t hurt anymore."

"There’s no need to trouble yourself, my lord."

Lu Suian’s calm gaze fixed on his wife’s smiling face. Though she was smiling, it clearly seemed forced and insincere.

Suddenly, he realized—her headache was fake, and her recovery was fake too!

Shen Anning had simply been trying to shut him up, unwilling to accept any help from him.

Lu Suian: "..."

This realization made his hand, which had been raised mid-air, freeze in place. He ground his teeth, and the muscles on one side of his face tightened.

Lu Suian’s face turned as dark as a pot.

For the rest of the journey, the carriage remained deathly silent, without a single sound.

Fifteen minutes later, the carriage came to a gradual halt. They had arrived.

Lu Suian was the first to push aside the curtain and step out of the carriage. Stone-faced, he was about to turn and leave—

Shen Anning slowly followed him out. To his surprise, she stood quietly by the carriage and unexpectedly extended an invitation, "My lord, why not join me for dinner at Chuanze Residence tonight?"

She spoke with a gentle smile, as if what had happened in the carriage had been nothing but an illusion.

One moment she was rejecting him, and the next, she was inviting him?

Lu Suian’s sharp gaze fell on her serene face. He narrowed his eyes, studying her expression and smile, feeling that this woman was truly unpredictable. In such a short journey, she had proven more elusive and changeable than the intricacies of the court.

Author’s Note:

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!