Chapter 213: Chapter 199: Beware of the Su Family (Part 1)
Su Yi observed Lu Xingzhou’s reaction and guessed that he was unaware, a smug sense of control creeping into her smile.
But soon, she suppressed all her emotions, and when she looked up again, her face was full of melancholy, with a careful look in her eyes as she asked him, "Did I say something I shouldn’t have that made you upset?"
Lu Xingzhou furrowed his brows.
Su Yi’s previous words sounded like she had already investigated Ah Yin’s past, but this sentence seemed more like she was testing his reaction without certainty about the ’truth.’
Lu Xingzhou, having once led soldiers in battle, was no brute with only physical strength; how could he not detect the trap Su Yi set for him?
In just a brief moment of distraction, Lu Xingzhou faced Su Yi with deep, unfathomable eyes, and his tone betrayed no emotions, "The Emperor just sent someone to deliver a piece of calligraphy by Mr. Liu from the Jin Dynasty that the Eldest Princess likes as a birthday gift. The Hanlin Official who delivered it has just left. If Sister-in-law doesn’t mind, I’ll have him brought back. You can speak to him, and he can convey the message to the Emperor on your behalf."
Lu Xingzhou’s response was completely unexpected to Su Yi.
Indeed, she had privately investigated Zhao Xunyin’s whereabouts over those three years, only for each investigation to hit a dead end at a critical moment. However, she recently received major news that Zhao Xunyin had an old acquaintance in Ningzhou, yet she hadn’t identified who it was.
Thus, she intended to use this chance to test the Prince Consort’s reaction.
But she never imagined that Lu Xingzhou would remain unmoved and even use the Emperor to threaten her?
Everyone in the circle knew that the aloof and proud Princess Changping did not care for her Emperor brother, Emperor Guangxi.
Moreover, Zhao Xunyin had scarcely been seen in the palace since her marriage.
For over a decade, every birthday gift sent by Emperor Guangxi was returned without exception.
Only this year did Zhao Xunyin accept the painting, suggesting a mending relationship between the siblings.
If she were to spread rumors about Zhao Xunyin at this time, Emperor Guangxi would certainly not let her off.
"It’s all my fault, saying what I shouldn’t have without thinking." Su Yi looked aggrieved and her tone was self-reproachful, "I just thought it seemed unfair to Brother Zhou..."
This ambiguous statement was unpleasant to hear.
Before Lu Xingzhou could speak, a weak voice came from behind him, "The servants said you might have lost your way looking for the privy, and it seems you indeed did?"
Su Yi’s heart tightened, and she turned to see Lu Pingzhou standing not far away.
Facing the wind, he coughed more heavily, and his skin appeared even paler, giving him a constantly fragile look, as if he could collapse at any moment.
For this husband, Su Yi harbored an inexplicable fear deep within.
Lu Pingzhou had a gentle smile, but if he looked at you, his eyes would involuntarily remind you of a venomous snake, with a piercing coldness that left one breathless.
"My husband." Su Yi greeted him with feigned ease and asked, "Why are you here?"
Lu Pingzhou’s pale lips curved slightly, his eyes showing little of a smile, "If I hadn’t come, how long did you plan on wandering lost before returning?"
Su Yi lowered her head, her eyes slightly red, "I heard that the Medical Officer at the Princess Mansion is highly skilled, so I thought to discuss with my second brother whether we could invite him over to check your pulse. There might be a change for the better."
Lu Pingzhou’s pitch-black gaze paused on her.
Su Yi put on a look as if tears were on the verge of falling, "Last time, the doctor declared that my husband might not have much time left... I, I am afraid."
Lu Pingzhou seemed to chuckle lightly, "If you haven’t done anything wrong, you needn’t fear ghosts knocking at the door. If it truly comes to that day, just make sure to arrange the funeral properly. What is there to fear?"
Su Yi stiffened, and when she looked up at Lu Pingzhou again, he had already turned around, with only intermittent coughing sounds coming back.
At the age of forty-something, his stature was originally taller than Lu Xingzhou’s, but due to the pain of illness, when he coughed and slightly bent over, he appeared somewhat hunched. His emaciated back made it easy to imagine that one strong gust of wind could knock him over permanently.
Watching Lu Pingzhou’s receding figure, the previous grievance, pity, and worry on Su Yi’s face vanished.
...
Lu Xingzhou arranged for a quiet room, having a brazier added, planning to take his elder brother there to rest.
When he found Lu Pingzhou, he expressed feeling unwell and wanted to return to the mansion early. Before leaving, he reminded Lu Xingzhou to be wary of the Su Family.
——
Among the tonic products Song Wei brought back were a few boxes of precious donkey-hide gelatin. Wen Wan had never had them before and didn’t know how to prepare them.
Song Fang, accustomed to staying in the General Mansion, was not unfamiliar with these items. She quickly purchased a black-bone chicken and stewed them together.
Opening the other boxes, they found that they were all supplements beneficial to women.
Song Fang looked at her third brother, "Why would the Emperor bestow these upon you?"
Song Wei responded calmly, "There were originally others. I asked him to change them. You don’t like them?"
"I like them. Who wouldn’t like good things?"
Looking at the golden bird’s nest and bee royal jelly, with the top-grade donkey-hide gelatin as a tribute, along with plenty of snow clams and flower gelatin.
Worthy of imperial gifting, the quality of these items far surpassed that of the General Mansion.
Wen Wan had never encountered such high-end tonics. Just hearing her sister-in-law say they were top-notch comforted her, showing that her husband had handled things well.
Song Wei returned to the room to change into a robe. When he came back, Wen Wan seized the moment to ask him how he convinced the Eldest Princess to accept that painting.
Song Wei looked at his young wife, who was looking up at him. Her face, in his mind, gradually overlapped with the visage of that woman from the Princess Mansion.
"Husband?" Wen Wan saw him in a daze, waved her hand, and asked with a smile, "What are you thinking about?"
Song Wei answered her previous question, "The gifts from the Emperor weren’t right in the past years, but this year, they hit the mark. The Eldest Princess couldn’t resist Mr. Liu’s calligraphy, so she accepted it."
"So, it seems that your painting played a role, didn’t it?"
"You could say that."
"No wonder the Emperor rewarded you." Wen Wan seemed very excited.
Seeing her like this, Song Wei felt inexplicably joyous, "Wanwan, do you want to go to the Hongwen Academy?"
"I’m already a mother, how can I go? Besides, our family doesn’t have a spot!"
"As long as Wanwan wants to go, a spot is not an issue." Song Wei said, looking at the little one crawling around on the cushion outside, "Once Jinbao is weaned, I will send you there."
Wen Wan’s mind quickly turned, and she soon thought of something, "Could it be that this spot is something you requested from the Emperor?"
Song Wei smiled, which was tantamount to admitting it.
"Did you also ask for a spot for Yuanbao?"
Wen Wan felt that whether she went to the Hongwen Academy was secondary, but Yuanbao’s studies could not be delayed.
"He can’t go to the Imperial College for now. At least, he has to wait until Lu Yanqing is no longer there."
Wen Wan understood that her husband didn’t want Yuanbao to repeat past mistakes and be targeted by Lu Yanqing as soon as he entered the Imperial College.
Rather than facing him directly, it’s better to take a step back.
Yuanbao is still young; entering the Imperial College two years later wouldn’t be bad.
——
Aunt Xie heard that the Song family received an imperial gift of a carriage and brought her daughter-in-law to see it. She sat in the main hall continuously praising the Third Son for his achievements.
Wen Wan watched the gelatin chicken stew in the kitchen. Seeing a shadow at the door, she soon saw Yang lift the curtain and come in.
"Is there something you need, sister-in-law?"
Wen Wan looked at her with a smile.
She was much younger than Yang, and initially felt awkward calling Yang "sister-in-law," but once she got used to it, she felt it was nothing.
Yang managed a weak smile and sat down on a small stool.
Wen Wan pointed at the pot, "Gelatin chicken stew, my sister-in-law said it’s a tonic. Once it’s ready, you all should try some."
Yang’s mind was obviously not on the chicken stew. After sitting for a while, she suddenly said, "Sometimes I think, I really envy the Third Sister-in-law."
Wen Wan lifted the pot lid, leaning in to smell the chicken, and unexpectedly heard this, feeling surprised. She put the lid back on and looked at Yang, "Why did you suddenly say this?"
Yang spoke truthfully, "My husband has been busy at the government office lately, no time. Yesterday, he asked me to go out and buy some things for him, but I got the wrong ones because I can’t read."
Wen Wan asked her, "Did Xie Zheng scold you?"
"No." Yang shook her head, her expression increasingly melancholic, "Precisely because he didn’t say anything, I feel more upset."
"He didn’t scold you, isn’t that good? It means he didn’t blame you for buying the wrong things."
Yang sighed, saying the little sister-in-law doesn’t understand. Xie Zheng has always been candid. Now that he says nothing, he keeps everything in his heart. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking or how she might have upset him.
Wen Wan sat down next to Yang, "If you’re curious, I can ask the Third Son to inquire for you. Sometimes, conversations between men are more convenient than between us women."
Yang shook her head vigorously, "No, no, if he finds out I approached the Third Brother to probe his thoughts, he might turn against me."
Wen Wan patted Yang’s hand reassuringly, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry. My husband is not foolish enough to directly ask. Just come by again in a few days, and I’ll tell you then."
Yang suddenly teared up, "Do you think there’s a chance he despises me?"
"Impossible." Wen Wan comforted her, "Xie Zheng is a person of deep feelings. You bore him two sons and have worked hard for the family over the years. Half of his success today is due to you, sister-in-law. With his nature, he would only feel grateful to you, never despise you. Don’t overthink. When you think too much, things that aren’t issues become problems."
Yang also wanted to control herself from overthinking. But when compared to the sister-in-law beside her, who was several years younger, she felt disheartened again.
Sister-in-law was young and beautiful, with an outstanding temperament. Even after giving birth, her figure remained unchanged, looking just like a young girl of fifteen or sixteen.
The Third Brother loved and pampered her as he should.
But for herself...
Yang didn’t need a mirror to imagine that sitting next to her sister-in-law, they looked more like mother and daughter than sister-in-laws.
Thinking of this, Yang couldn’t help but shed tears.