Chapter 40

Chapter 40

The voice, growing louder as it approached, bypassed the maids’ attempts to stop it and charged straight into the courtyard from outside.

Shen Anning had no time for elaborate dressing. She merely threw the thin robe she wore for nighttime needs over her shoulders, casually tied up her hair, and stepped out from behind the warm screen with an indifferent expression. "Third Miss, what brings you here so early? Have you come to offer me festival greetings?"

As she spoke, she lifted her gaze, letting it fall casually upon the eleven or twelve-year-old girl in the room.

The newcomer had a fair, clean face, round with almond-shaped eyes and a delicate nose, and a small, cherry-red mouth with two faint dimples. She was exquisitely pretty and adorable, dressed in luxurious lotus-pink robes, with a pair of eight-treasure ruyi locks hanging from her chest and a thumb-sized string of pearls around her neck. Adorned head to toe in gold and silver, she exuded an air of noble extravagance, proud and unruly—clearly a young lady raised in the lap of luxury from some prominent family.

This was Lu Baozhen, the Lu family’s Third Miss, Xiao-shi’s only biological daughter, and her mother’s darling.

Now, with hands on her hips, she glared furiously at Shen Anning.

Her posture was haughty, as if she had come to demand answers.

Suddenly catching sight of Shen Anning’s disheveled appearance, she froze for a moment. Her eyes fell on Shen Anning’s loosely worn white inner garment, the thin gauze so transparent that it vaguely revealed a glimpse of vermillion undergarments beneath. The young girl’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she thought: *Pah, she really is a vixen. Brother has only just returned, and she’s dressed like this in broad daylight—utterly shameless.*

Hearing Shen Anning’s words, she immediately stamped her foot, fuming: "Who’s here to offer you festival greetings? Hah, and you have the nerve to celebrate? Tell me, why have you kept my eldest sister confined to her room, refusing to let her out even during the festival?"

Lu Baozhen glared wide-eyed, full of arrogance.

She was the thoroughly spoiled Third Miss of the Lu family, as close as blood sisters with Lu Anran, and always followed Lu Anran’s lead.

In her past life, Shen Anning had exhausted herself trying to please these two, wasting untold amounts of silver from her purse. Yet one always remained aloof, and the other never thought much of her country-born sister-in-law, showing neither courtesy nor respect, not even deigning to call her "sister-in-law."

In her past life, Shen Anning had been willing to indulge Lu Suian’s beloved younger sister to win his favor. But now, she was no longer willing to pamper her.

Settling lazily back into her chair, she casually pinned up her hair with a jade hairpin and said offhandedly, "Oh, how is it that *I* confined your elder sister? As I recall, it was your elder sister who made a mistake and was punished by your father—my father-in-law—and your brother—my husband. They ordered her confined to her room. What does that have to do with me?"

Shen Anning said with a faint, mocking smile.

Shen Anning had always been timid and obsequious, the type who would kneel to serve if told to remove someone’s shoes.

Lu Baozhen was used to her subservience and never expected that today she would not only stop pandering to her but dare to talk back so sharply. Enraged, she clenched her small face tightly and gritted her teeth: "It’s all because you sowed discord behind the scenes! Otherwise, how could Brother and Father be hoodwinked by you?"

Lu Baozhen fumed with indignation.

But Shen Anning suddenly smiled. "Are you saying that the esteemed Marquis Lu of the Zhongyong Marquis Estate and Dali Temple Judicial Reviewer Lord Lu have both been hoodwinked by a petty woman like me? So I’m that formidable? Or are your father and brother just too incompetent—"

At this, Shen Anning’s smile vanished in an instant, her demeanor turning sharp. She looked coldly at Lu Baozhen and said word by word: "Since Third Miss accuses me of sowing discord, you must have evidence of my scheming. Fine, today, with the whole household gathered, why don’t you expose my hypocritical face in front of everyone and show my true nature? However, if you have no evidence, then coming to your elder sister-in-law’s room to make a scene and level false accusations during the festival—I wonder which lowly servant taught you such manners. On this matter, I will also demand an explanation from the Marquis—"

As she spoke, Shen Anning signaled with a glance at two maids at her side, making as if to have them seize Lu Baozhen and take her before the Marquis to confront him.

This intimidated Lu Baozhen.

She had no evidence at all.

Still young, she turned pale instantly under Shen Anning’s stern gaze.

Outside the door, Lu Suian, who had taken in the whole scene, narrowed his eyes.

In the past, Shen Anning would gladly have plucked the stars from the sky to give to Baozhen. He had heard her praise Baozhen’s cleverness and charm with his own ears, saying she wished for a little sister like her.

But now, what was this?

They hadn't even divorced yet!

Immediately, Lu Suian entered the room with a cold expression.

…

Both Shen Anning and Lu Baozhen turned to look toward the door.

Both were surprised by the sudden intruder.

Lu Baozhen had deliberately come to pick a fight when her elder brother was away.

And in Shen Anning’s recollection, Lu Suian rarely appeared at this hour. He usually came once the night he returned, or the next evening—always at night. After rising early, he would go directly to his office or study, almost never returned, and he seldom took breakfast here.

Now, he strode in with his hands behind his back, his face cold, wearing a plain black casual robe of the lightest, softest fabric. It fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and strong back.

This was his attire for morning exercises, without a single adornment, except for a black headband tied across his forehead that he had forgotten to remove. He looked strong and powerful, commanding like a general charging across the battlefield, a far cry from his usual scholarly elegance.

Even Shen Anning couldn’t help taking an extra glance.

At the sight of Lu Suian, Lu Baozhen instinctively recoiled. Thoroughly spoiled in the household, she feared nothing and no one—except this elder brother.

If she made a mistake, she could usually coax her way out of it with her father, and her mother sometimes indulged her to the point of turning a blind eye. But when it came to her eldest brother, even her parents would yield.

Still, compared to Shen Anning, Lu Suian was on her side. Seeing her ally, she instinctively felt she could rely on him, and she couldn’t help but point at Shen Anning and accused fiercely: "Brother, she bullied me!"

Tears were already welling in her eyes as she spoke.

But no sooner had she finished than Shen Anning, from her chair, parroted, also accusing: "Lord Suian, she bullied me."

Shen Anning copied her, speaking with a faint, mocking smile.

Lu Baozhen was so angered by this shameless copycat act that tears nearly spilled. Trembling with rage, she cried: "How could a child bully an adult!"

Shen Anning smiled sweetly: "Then how could an adult bully a child!"

Lu Baozhen was left speechless by Shen Anning’s flawless logic. Just as she was about to stomp her foot again—

"Enough."

A cold, sharp voice cut through the air.

Lu Suian coldly rebuked them both.

His rebuke successfully silenced them both.

As he spoke, he glanced expressionlessly at Lu Baozhen, then swept a cold look at Shen Anning.

Lu Suian was naturally stern and imposing. Even when silent, his presence was daunting. Now, with a rare stern expression, his aura felt overwhelmingly pressuring.

Lu Baozhen was somewhat afraid. Though Shen Anning wasn’t necessarily frightened, she knew better than to push further.

Lu Suian finally took a seat in the chair beside Shen Anning.

The room fell into silence.

Lu Suian’s icy gaze swept over them both. Where his eyes passed, Lu Baozhen’s tears fell freely, though she stubbornly turned her head away, unwilling to show weakness. Beside her, Shen Anning casually began to fiddle with her nails.

Lu Suian's eyes rested on Shen Anning's face, lingering briefly before turning directly to Lu Baozhen. After a brief silence, he ordered coldly, "Come here and apologize to your sister-in-law."

Lu Suian commanded sternly.

Though he might not have been pleased with Shen Anning's earlier behavior, that did not mean he was blind to right and wrong.

Lu Suian had always been fair—right was right, wrong was wrong. He never showed favoritism to anyone.

Seeing that her brother was targeting her without even asking for the reason or the process, Lu Baozhen stiffened her neck defiantly and protested indignantly, "No! Why should I?"

Lu Suian shot her a cold glare. "Because she is your elder and you are the younger. Because this is the main bedchamber of your brother and sister-in-law—this is no place for you to cause a scene. Because today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day of reunion. Do you intend to disrupt the entire celebration all by yourself?"

"Are these reasons enough?"

Lu Suian stared into Lu Baozhen's eyes, each word expressionless.

As he spoke, he sat upright, his aura as imposing as a magistrate presiding in court. Not only was Lu Baozhen intimidated—even a grown man would have trembled in fear.

Her brother was renowned for his severity at the Dali Temple, and it was said he was known for extracting confessions through harsh methods.

Under Lu Suian's piercing gaze, Lu Baozhen shook like a leaf. After a long while, she finally stifled a sob and gritted her teeth, whispering to Shen Anning, "I... I was wrong..."

Shen Anning, however, raised her hand and toyed with her fingers, a slight smile curling her lips. "Who was wrong? And to whom is this apology directed?"

Lu Baozhen shot Shen Anning a hateful glare, but when her peripheral vision caught sight of the stern figure beside her, her heart quivered with fear. She clenched her jaw, lowered her head, and said, "Sister-in-law, Baozhen... was wrong..."

Lu Baozhen muttered sullenly.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shen Anning instantly broke into a bright, mocking smile. "Good girl, your sister-in-law forgives you!"

She beamed, suddenly adopting the demeanor of a caring older sister.

Lu Baozhen was so angry she could spit.

But she couldn’t stay another moment. She had come looking for trouble, but instead of finding any, she had been scolded.

With red-rimmed eyes, she hurried out without so much as a goodbye.

When she reached the doorway, she couldn’t resist turning back and gritting her teeth toward the room. "Brother, you’ve been bewitched by this vixen! You’ve even forgotten about Big Sister. I feel so sorry for Big Sister!"

With that, she fled as if pursued by demons—both defiant and cowardly.

Her departure left those words hanging in the air, which caused Lu Suian's expression to darken.

Shen Anning, meanwhile, her lips curled in faint mockery.

It seemed that even a young girl like Lu Baozhen was aware of the close relationship between Lu Suian and Lu Anran. Clearly, everyone in the manor knew—except for her, who had been kept in the dark.

Shen Anning’s face showed sarcasm, but Lu Suian remained impassive, not showing the slightest hint of embarrassment. Instead, he turned his head and scrutinized her, the true innocent in this matter, with an obscure gaze.

Lu Suian stared fixedly at Shen Anning’s face, as if trying to detect some flaw in her expression. Yet she appeared completely normal, calm, without a trace of unusual emotion.

He noticed that at this hour, Shen Anning still hadn't dressed properly or applied makeup. Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, yet she was being so neglectful.

In Lu Suian’s memory, she had always been proper and meticulous in her appearance. He had never seen her so disheveled. Was it because, after harboring such rebellious thoughts, she couldn’t even bother to dress up in his presence?

He had wondered why Shen Anning’s behavior had changed so drastically lately, making her almost a different person from before. He had carefully reviewed recent events but couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason for this sudden shift. However, yesterday had answered all his questions.

It had nothing to do with a harsh mother-in-law causing discord among sisters-in-law, nor was it about the Luo family or taking wives and concubines. Had he not heard those words from her own mouth yesterday, he might never have known how long he would have remained deceived!

"Why is the Heir looking at me like this?"

Although Shen Anning couldn't recall what had happened yesterday or when Lu Suian had arrived, nor whether she had spoken recklessly, she knew that Lu Suian was a man of strict rules and nitpicking tendencies. Yesterday's behavior must have touched a raw nerve and displeased him.

Seeing him stare at her like this now, it was likely he had come to reprimand her, just as he had scolded his sister Lu Baozhen earlier.

Or perhaps he was still upset about the incident from that night.

But she wasn’t afraid of him.

Having completely let go, and no longer caring, she had also shed all love and hatred, along with fear and dread!

Thinking this, she concealed all emotions on her face and spoke with careful politeness, "Thank you, Heir, for standing up for me and speaking on my behalf just now."

She maintained an appearance of grace and reason.

Yet, to Lu Suian, this demeanor was clearly put-on.

Had he not personally heard her intention to seek a divorce yesterday, he might have thought Lady Shen gentle and understanding upon seeing her like this.

Now, however, he inwardly sneered—how well she pretended!

Lifting his gaze again, he saw her draped in a sheer shawl, her collar loosely fastened, the thin, translucent fabric revealing glimpses of a crimson undergarment beneath. She was alluring from head to toe, utterly frivolous.

Lu Suian’s heart constricted instantly.

Lady Shen had always been conservative and reserved. Even during their intimate moments, they had never lit a lamp. Thus, this was the first time in over half a year of marriage that he had seen such a sight. In broad daylight, she was so... flirtatious and unrestrained.

Looking at his wife, lazy and seductive before him, he couldn’t help but recall the incident of offering her water that morning. She had been completely unclothed, leaning against his chest and arm, her slender neck tilted back. Clear water had trickled from her lush red lips, down her chin and neck, while her full, snow-white peaks had trembled and swayed before his eyes—

Lu Suian averted his gaze abruptly.

Since she already harbored thoughts of divorce, whom was she trying to tempt now?

As those vivid, sensual scenes replayed in his mind, he suddenly recalled the outrageous, defiant words she had uttered yesterday—words about handsome male entertainers and women seeking their own pleasure.

It was utterly blasphemous. Did she even know what indecent nonsense she was spouting? It was simply... downright wanton and incomprehensible!

Such words, such a woman, were unheard of since ancient times.

Yet they had come from the mouth of his wife, Lu Suian’s wife.

Immediately, Lu Suian’s expression darkened with displeasure.

Although he had already noticed the faint fragrance in the room and seen the unkempt clothes on the screen, deducing from Lu Baozhen’s visit that she hadn’t had time to tidy up, his words still came out coldly as he said to Shen Anning, "Is this how you usually dress? It seems rather improper."

Lu Suian spoke coldly.

Sure enough, this man had come today to pick a fight.

Hah, improper?

Shen Anning gritted her teeth, a wave of resentment surged through her chest. She sneered inwardly. Improper? How proper did she need to be in her own bedroom?

Had she exposed her arms or her legs?

Are there any outsiders in the house?

If it weren’t for his sister barging in without reason, she would not have ended up being labeled as "improper" by him.

Oh, that's right. In her past life, she was indeed very proper, dressed conservatively from head to toe. And what good did that do her? Did it earn her his special attention or a reputation for virtue and honor? No, none of that—only a miserable death.

Shen Anning was immediately enraged. On such a festive occasion, she had been maintaining proper marital decorum with patience and grace, yet he, for some unknown reason, had been wearing a cold, stern expression since he entered the room. Shen Anning knew well that he had come today with the sole intention of picking a quarrel.

Her face immediately fell, devoid of any warmth or enthusiasm, as she said coldly, "What, does Sir not like it?"

As she spoke, Shen Anning slowly stood up. Suddenly, her expression shifted from gloomy to bright, and she smiled sweetly at him, parting her red lips slightly to ask, "Then may I ask, how much is dignity worth?"

She asked leisurely, then raised an eyebrow provocatively, appearing even more flirtatious and seductive.

Lu Suian watched her seductive posture, his eyebrow twitching involuntarily.

It dawned on him belatedly that her behavior was not just improper—she was deliberately imitating the ways of a courtesan to mock him.

As he looked at his wife, who seemed determined to oppose him, Lu Suian pressed his lips together, feeling a slight tightness in his chest. He collected himself and thought, coldly, *So she can't even be bothered to pretend anymore?*

He pondered for a moment: *Was this Shen Anning, showing no obedience or virtue, her true nature?*

Just as his wife quickly turned away in anger, his sharp, dark eyes fixed intently on her slender retreating figure. After a long while, he suddenly spoke up, instructing coldly, "Clean up the room. In a while, have Chang Li bring over the things."

Lu Suian’s unexpected words successfully halted Shen Anning in her tracks.

"What things?"

Shen Anning halted mid-step, then slowly turned back, looking somewhat stunned and confused as she stared at him.

She saw Lu Suian absentmindedly stroking the jade ring on his thumb, his gaze as cold as winter snow covering her face. Sitting upright, he looked at his wife, his expression once again calm and composed, a hint of quiet intensity in his eyes as he said each word clearly: "Tonight, I will move in here."

After a brief pause, he studied her face carefully and added patiently, "From now on, I will reside in the main chamber."

Lu Suian’s light, casual words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere, striking Shen Anning with such force that she felt as if she had been hit by lightning, leaving her stunned and unable to recover for a long time.

Lu Suian was going to move into the main chamber from now on?

Lu Suian had always preferred staying in his study and only occasionally came to her room.

Now he wanted to move in directly?

This was something that had never happened in her past life. What had gone wrong?

What sudden madness had come over him?

Lu Suian’s behavior today was bizarre and inexplicable—something must be amiss.

Shen Anning keenly sensed that her husband was different today, but her mind was in such disarray that she couldn’t figure out what exactly was wrong.

In her panic, she tried to steady herself and replied with a trace of rationality, "But Sir has always prioritized official duties. My quarters are noisy and chaotic—it wouldn’t be good if they disturbed your work."

Shen Anning spoke with pressed lips.

Lu Suian’s calm gaze remained fixed on her as he said lightly, "No matter how important official duties are, they are not more important than heirs."

His words were casual, but they landed like another thunderclap.

When he spoke, Lu Suian’s tone left no room for doubt, as if the matter was already settled with no further discussion.

As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

In his long, narrow phoenix eyes, emotions flickered faintly, carrying a trace of imperceptible scrutiny.

Sure enough, those few words successfully caused Shen Anning’s expression to change.

Heirs?

Leaving aside the fact that Shen Anning had been unable to bear children in her past life, even in this life, when she had been reborn and only wanted to keep her distance from him, why would he suddenly bring up the topic of heirs?

It made Shen Anning clench her lips tightly.

Seeing her reluctant expression, Lu Suian felt waves of dissatisfaction, but at the same time, he felt a faint sense of satisfaction watching her struggle to find a way to refuse.

It was as if the anger he had bottled up all night had finally found an outlet at this moment.

*Hah, she wanted a divorce? Fine. He would like to see how she planned to end this marriage!*

With that, Lu Suian stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode away with an air of authority!

Leaving Shen Anning gritting her teeth, utterly bewildered and disheveled in the aftermath!

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Author's Note:

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