The atmosphere in the room tensed slightly, and Lu Jiaxue could barely control his expression.
But he quickly suppressed it, lowering his head to kiss her earlobe and softening his tone: “I didn’t recognize you before, which is why I treated you that way. When Wei Ling was in trouble, I didn’t help you and even made you come to beg for my help. But now that I’ve recognized you, Yining, you should return to my side…”
Luo Yining avoided his lips and sighed deeply: “Lu Jiaxue, even if what you say is true, that you didn’t kill me, I’m no longer your wife. That person is already dead.”
During those lonely years, she had been baptized by pain and had long since changed.
Lu Jiaxue remained silent for a long time.
When Yining tried to get up, not wanting to stay by his side, he suddenly pulled her back forcefully, then flipped over and pressed her down, all his gentleness vanishing.
Lu Jiaxue pressed against her throat, unable to hide his coldness, and smiled, saying: “So you just want to leave like this?”
“What do you want!” Luo Yining, already feeling unwell, was hurt by this sudden movement, her waist aching.
She frowned, trying hard not to press her hand against it, and looking at his sharp, domineering gaze, she continued, “You encouraged me to associate with Xie Min. Even though I didn’t like her much and she often gave me looks, I still followed her. You told me who you were playing with outside, riding horses and hunting with falcons, gambling, and drinking. When did I ever doubt you?”
“Thinking about it now, your usual behavior was just another of your acts, wasn’t it? That playful, smiling Lu Jiaxue was never the real Lu Jiaxue.”
“This is the real you now,” Luo Yining said slowly. “Domineering, ruthlessly plundering everything you want.”
Lu Jiaxue felt he should be very angry, but there was also a burning ache in his emotions. It was as if all those moments he had cherished were things she thought should be discarded.
He understood Luo Yining well, having figured her out completely back then. No matter how much a person’s thoughts change, their character doesn’t change.
Luo Yining was someone who responded better to gentleness than to force. It was inherent in her character; if you treated her harshly, it would only make her resentful.
Lu Jiaxue had been in a high position for many years and was used to others’ obedience. He was no longer the Lu Jiaxue of the past.
But facing her, he brought out the patience he had cultivated during those years of enduring humiliation. He laughed lowly and asked her in a hoarse voice: “Do you remember that year when I was going to join the army? When I was leaving, you held onto me, not wanting me to go. I comforted you, saying that even if I had to desert, I would come back alive to see you.” His hand gently caressed her face, like that night many years ago.
The room was lit by dim candlelight, armor rustling with subtle sounds. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she refused to cry like a child, not wanting him to leave.
“What I showed you was always the real me,” Lu Jiaxue’s voice softened a bit as he moved closer to her, a gentle coercion.
“You liked me back then too, Yining. Don’t you remember? You cried holding my arm, not wanting me to join the army…”
Luo Yining turned her head away and closed her eyes, feeling a pain in them. Of course, she remembered.
A person’s true feelings are easily hurt.
She only hated herself for not being heartless enough; she had never been a heartless person. If… if Lu Jiaxue hadn’t killed her as he said. If she hadn’t been trapped in that hairpin for over twenty years, tired of all the power struggles in the Lu family.
But this was impossible. Even if Lu Jiaxue hadn’t killed her, they could never start over.
She had feelings before, how could she not? But her feelings had been completely worn away. The past deceptions and concealments meant she could no longer trust anything Lu Jiaxue said. She felt she was living well now; the Lu family was a decaying past, and just returning to the Lu family made her feel heavy. She could never come back.
“Lu Jiaxue,” Yining took a deep breath and said, “Even if I liked you before, it’s been so long now. I won’t like you again… Will you let me go?”
Lu Jiaxue hadn’t expected her to remain so stubborn. What did she mean by not liking him anymore? In his hands, did it matter whether she liked him or not?
His large hand with the ring gripped her delicate chin: “Have you fallen for someone else—” Every guess in his mind made him uncomfortable, with a desire to destroy. “Is it Cheng Lang— or Luo Shenyuan?”
“This is between you and me!” Luo Yining’s voice turned cold, “It has nothing to do with others, don’t make things up!”
“Nothing to do?” Governor Lu sneered again, moving closer to Luo Yining and saying, “Didn’t Cheng Lang want to marry you? This thing, I raised him for fourteen years. He had such rebellious thoughts about you. If I hadn’t been busy, I really would have ruined him.”
Yining hadn’t expected him to know about this.
How did he guess?
Her hands and feet turned cold, and she suddenly understood why Lu Jiaxue was so violent. It was better not knowing the truth; after knowing, these things could drive a person mad.
Recognizing her as an adopted daughter, nearly sending her to his nephew.
The room was quiet for a long time before Lu Jiaxue calmed down. He reached out to take her hand: “Come with me to wash up.”
His tone softened a bit as if he didn’t want to push her too hard.
Yining wanted to avoid his hand, but he grasped it firmly, leaving no room for refusal. She could only tell herself that conflict at this moment would be good for neither of them, so she endured and followed him into the washroom.
At the Duke of Ying’s mansion, Wei Ling was discussing Zhao Mingzhu’s marriage with Old Lady Wei.
Zhao Mingzhu sat to the side, clutching her handkerchief, pretending not to hear. She wasn’t willing to marry an ordinary scholar anyway. Call her vain and fame-seeking if you like!
Old Lady Wei was furious at her attitude. She had arranged this marriage long ago. Seeing Mingzhu so uncooperative, she angrily threw her prayer beads on the small table: “What exactly do you want!”
Zhao Mingzhu knelt and said, “Grandmother, if you want me to marry that scholar, I’d rather stay by your side, serving you for life, living as a nun with just an oil lamp and Buddha.”
“You’re being ridiculous! A girl must marry when she grows up. Your sister Yining is already married. If you marry too, your sisters can support each other in the future. How is that not good!” Old Lady Wei had watched her grow up and loved her the most. Seeing her like this now, she was bitterly disappointed.
Yining could stay in the Duke of Ying’s mansion for life because Wei Ling was her father; it was Yining’s home. But what about Mingzhu? If Old Lady Wei passed away, would Wei Ling protect her? Wei Ling would be marrying soon; how would the new wife treat her? When Wei Ting grew up, he had no blood relation to her, so would he tolerate her staying in the mansion?
She considered everything for this child, yet Mingzhu was so stubborn and obstinate.
Wei Ling had been drinking tea silently on the side.
Men were much calmer than women in these matters. Zhao Mingzhu had no blood relation to him. Although she grew up under his care, he didn’t care much about her. But Yining was his daughter, so he was very concerned about her. Old Lady Wei had raised Mingzhu for so long that she had developed feelings and couldn’t distinguish between close and distant relations.
Seeing that the old lady was angry, he finally raised his hand and said, “Mother, since Mingzhu is unwilling, don’t go against her wishes. You know well that forced melons are not sweet.”
Old Lady Wei was so angry her heart ached. She leaned against the cushion and sighed, “A few days ago, your mother came to me, begging me to find a good marriage for you. Your father is now a medicine pot, and your brothers haven’t amounted to much. If you don’t have a good marriage, your family won’t be able to support itself. Your mother said that if you marry, she has saved a complete set of gold jewelry for you…”
Hearing about the timid and weak woman in her memory, who used to make small clothes for her and had saved a set of gold jewelry for her, Zhao Mingzhu felt conflicted. She had always only taken money from her; every time she came to see her, she deliberately wore new clothes, the creases still visible. It was precisely because she saw her mother’s humbleness that she didn’t want to live such a life.
Wei Ling smirked. He understood why Zhao Mingzhu looked down on a mere scholar. Having grown up in the Duke of Ying’s mansion, her standards were high; she probably wouldn’t even consider a provincial graduate.
“Since Mingzhu is unwilling, I have an idea,” Wei Ling said leisurely. “The Emperor has been on the throne for two full years, and the imperial harem is empty. If Mingzhu doesn’t like ordinary wealth, how about the immense riches of the royal family?”
Old Lady Wei was very surprised when she heard this, her first reaction being that it was impossible. “How could she go to such a place!” It was a den of dragons and tigers; one misstep could mean death.
“With me here, I will naturally protect her,” Wei Ling had the intention of placing someone by the Emperor’s side, and Zhao Mingzhu was beautiful and raised in the Duke of Ying’s mansion, making her an excellent candidate.
“It’s not certain she’ll be chosen. We’ll submit her name, but it’s up to the Emperor to decide. But I’ve already inquired, and this time, once the names are circled and retained, they will be granted the position of selected attendant.”
Old Lady Wei felt this was harming Mingzhu and firmly disagreed.
Mingzhu, however, fell silent upon hearing this.
She thought of Wei Yi and his mother who looked down on her.
The Emperor was in his prime, just over thirty. If she could serve the Emperor, there might be a chance to rise to a higher position in the future. No one would look down on her then, and it would be immense wealth. This opportunity was truly rare, and Wei Ling was willing to protect her.
If she agreed, she would be leaving the Duke of Ying’s mansion. Wei Ling wouldn’t ignore her in the future.
She very much wanted to agree.
Wei Ling could see the hesitation in both of them. He took a sip of tea and chuckled. No matter what, in his mother’s subconscious, Mingzhu seemed more important. When Yining was almost betrothed that time, she hadn’t been this anxious. He had been considering this matter for a long time, just waiting for the right moment to bring it up.
At this moment, a servant from the front courtyard came to report that Luo Shenyuan had come to visit him.
How could Wei Ling not see his son-in-law, the Deputy Minister? He told the two to think it over carefully, then changed his clothes and went to the front hall to meet Luo Shenyuan.
He saw Luo Shenyuan drinking tea in the flower hall from afar.
Today, he seemed different from usual. Perhaps Luo Shenyuan usually appeared more gentle in front of him, but now there was a sharp, blade-like quality about him, his aura completely unleashed. The knuckles of the hand resting on the armrest were prominent. He remembered his son-in-law had a broken palm, which was very suitable for martial arts because it would hurt a lot when hitting someone. But he had chosen the civil path instead.
Wei Ling didn’t know why he had come, so he coughed and asked, “Did my girl not return with you?” He looked outside as he spoke.
The mansion had become much quieter since his daughter married. The boudoir he had carefully arranged for her was now empty, with only the little cockatoo she had left for him to raise before her marriage making noise. How could it not be noisy? The little cockatoo screeched all day, annoyingly so. Wei Ling almost wanted to kill it.
Day and night, he longed for Yining to come back home for a visit, preferably staying for a month or so.
Luo Shenyuan sighed slightly: “This time, I’ve come precisely to talk to you about Yining.” He recounted how Yining had been taken hostage.
Wei Ling gradually became serious as he listened, his hand gripping the armrest as he gritted his teeth: “Do you know who it was?”
How dare they kidnap his daughter! Did they think the Duke of Ying’s mansion had no one?
“Lu Jiaxue,” Luo Shenyuan’s tone was very calm.
Wei Ling almost thought he had misheard: “Lu Jiaxue, the Marquis of Ningyuan?” He was very surprised. How could it be Lu Jiaxue?
“Do you think there’s a second Lu Jiaxue?”
Wei Ling waved his hand. He couldn’t understand why Lu Jiaxue would kidnap Yining. For someone of his status, Yining had no value to be exploited.
“That won’t do. I must go talk to him,” Wei Ling immediately wanted to call in his subordinates. “We need to ask clearly why and bring her back. What will people say if she stays with him!”
“I told you this, but I don’t want you to act rashly,” Luo Shenyuan said, his fingers gripping the armrest. “You probably have no way to deal with Lu Jiaxue. I hope you won’t go to him. I’ve come this time to ask you for another favor.”
“During the Battle of Pingyuan Fort, you asked if I wanted military merits. At that time, I was afraid of being implicated and said I didn’t want them. Now — I hope Father-in-law can fulfill that promise.”
Wei Ling didn’t know what Luo Shenyuan was up to, but he was very puzzled and even suspicious. These doubts gnawed at him like ants.
Luo Shenyuan didn’t want to get involved in Zeng Heng’s affairs. After all, he had made his fortune through Zeng Heng, and it would expose some of his social circles, which wouldn’t be good for his official career. For example, in the Baoding circle, where almost all notable officials or successful candidates in Baoding relied on this circle for communication. This Baoding circle was very secretive, almost unknown to outsiders.
Lu Jiaxue had pushed him to this point, leaving him no choice.
Otherwise, once Zeng Yingkun fell into Lu Jiaxue’s hands, a forced confession was certain.
Wei Ling promised not to act rashly.
Luo Shenyuan left the Duke of Ying’s mansion.
Daci Temple was very peaceful, especially the courtyard where that person lived, so quiet that not even bird calls could be heard.
The temple was nestled against mountains and waters, with the sound of bells and chimes echoing softly in the mountains as the sunset. The courtyard had just been swept of fallen leaves, leaving the bluestone bricks clean and tidy.
“Why have you come today?” Dao Yan slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was also sharp, but this was in contrast to his meditative state.
Luo Shenyuan took some incense from the nearby incense box and walked into the room.
He offered incense to the Buddha. Outside, the sky was darkening, with a hint of “rouge condensing into night purple on the frontier,” exceptionally gorgeous and heavy.
Dao Yan wore a monk’s robe, with a string of prayer beads around his wrist. He still looked like an ordinary monk, seemingly nothing special. He didn’t appear to be the war god who had quelled the wokou rebellion in Fujian.
“I feel deeply guilty,” Luo Shenyuan said, staring at the gold-plated statue of Shakyamuni. During his time at the Dali Temple, he would come to offer incense almost daily, his hands stained with countless lives.
Daoyan had a young boy prepare tea and pointed to the kang bed, indicating for Luo Shenyuan to sit cross-legged. “When Master stayed briefly in Baoding years ago, he took you as his disciple. He said you were exceptionally gifted and would become someone significant. From the first moment I saw you, I thought you were trouble. After all, as soon as you arrived, Master had the servants kill my chickens to feed you and nourish you. Among the students of our Zhou School, you are indeed the only one deeply involved in worldly matters. I must always remind you of this.”
Luo Shenyuan remained silent. The room’s stove, always burning charcoal for boiling water, was warm and comforting compared to the fierce winds outside.
The wind began to howl again outside the screen door.