Chapter 30. A marriage between husband and wife.

It is difficult to describe the expression and inner thoughts of the Six Guards Generals at this moment. Since the Yan Dynasty pacified the five kingdoms, they have served under the Grand Tutor and have witnessed his decisive and powerful actions. Everyone thought that he lacked the ability to love and that he might never marry.

But now, the marriage is arranged so easily, and the bride is married off without a second thought. They can't imagine how the ruthless Grand Tutor interacts with his wife in private. He probably believed self-discipline and adherence to propriety were the norm, and that his wife, like most women, would be respectful and obedient to her husband. But no. His wife doesn't follow that rule; she ran back to her parents' home immediately after the wedding and only returned when she wanted to. The Grand Tutor clearly couldn't do anything about it.

And now, peeling shrimp...

The generals dared not stare any longer, lowered their heads, and silently pulled the shrimp in front of their wives over. A good subordinate should share in the embarrassment when the emperor is awkward. First, remove the shrimp heads, then the veins, and then put them on the wife's plate… See, it's not actually that difficult.

Perhaps because the Six Guards Generals set a good example, the proud Grand Tutor hesitated for a moment, but finally gave in.

Those slender, white hands, hands that should be wielding pens to decide life and death, were beautiful even when peeling shrimp. He was meticulous, unlike the rough generals who would yank the head and squeeze the tail to extract the meat. He patiently removed the shells segment by segment, finally placing the whole shrimp meat into Shimi's bowl and plate, not forgetting to demonstrate with the back of his hand, "Eat."

Everyone was surprised, but they could only sigh inwardly. Sure enough, even the most remarkable man becomes soft when he has a wife.

The wife of the Six Guards General looked at her husband. She had been a little embarrassed to be served by them before, but now she was completely at ease. Even the Grand Tutor could peel shrimp for his wife, so it wasn't unreasonable for them to wash her feet!

Therefore, maintaining the appearance of marital harmony requires effort. Shi Mi smiled and praised Lu Min, "Thank you, husband. These shrimp are especially delicious today, it must be because of you."

Lu Min looked at her silently. Her bright eyes were different from ordinary people's, like a deep pool with illusions, piercing through your skin when she stared at you, and sweet as honey when she smiled. He didn't know what she was up to, but he knew that looking into those eyes for too long would make him uneasy, so he looked away and focused on his important task.

Today, however, was an exceptionally joyous day for the wives. Despite the generals' lack of romantic understanding, they were ruthless when it came to taking concubines. While they couldn't bring all of them home due to pride, they had countless confidantes outside the home. With so many women, their appetites had become discerning; they compared and increasingly knew how to enjoy life. They had never experienced such consideration for their wives as they did today. Therefore, the generals' wives held the Grand Tutor's wife in high esteem, secretly admiring her for her shrewdness at such a young age, having already completely controlled the Grand Tutor within just a few days of marriage.

So we had to finish this meal quickly so we could learn the scriptures. Shi Mi had just rinsed his mouth and hadn't even had time to wipe it when they dragged him into the tea room of the pleasure boat.

Lady Shuang Gong cautiously probed, "Is it the same when you're alone with the Grand Tutor? For example, if you make some demanding requests, does he seem unhappy?"

This is a perfect opportunity to showcase the deep affection between husband and wife. Shimi said, "My husband bears heavy responsibilities. In public, he appears dignified and unapproachable, but in reality, he is a very kind person who treats me extremely well. I have married the right person in this life."

The ladies let out a long "Oh," their voices filled with longing, "Newlyweds, how enviable!"

Shi Mi was very modest, saying, "For the next ten or twenty years, it will be the same. I trust his feelings for me."

The ladies then had a new question: "What if it's for the sake of having more children? Are there any other plans?"

Shimi waved her small sandalwood fan and said slowly, "He never intended to get married in the first place, so having children is not a problem for us."

The ladies' "oh"s were even longer now. The Grand Tutor, such a genius, had never insisted on having offspring to carry on the family line, while those pig-faced, dog-faced men were all shouting that having no offspring was the greatest thing. They really didn't know where they got the courage!

In any case, the Grand Tutor doted on his wife, making her the most influential person among the noblewomen of Zhongdu. The formalities deepened, with everyone enjoying the scenery, tea, and snacks for two hours before Shimi finally left the tea room.

When I got back, I was almost completely exhausted. Heaven knows how tiring it is to pretend to be a dignified lady.

Dragging her heavy steps back to the cabin, she immediately saw Lu Min sitting leisurely by the window, reading a book while enjoying the river breeze. She couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the platform. Even if the sky were to fall, she wouldn't be able to move an inch.

But Lu Min saw her sudden fall as a dangerous omen. She had always been the one keeping him alive, and he had never considered what he would do if she stopped supporting him.

He hurriedly put the book aside and rushed forward, calling out to her, "Ami! Ami!"

She lay there motionless and unresponsive, clearly in trouble. He quickly turned her over, picked her up, and carried her to the bed. Just as he was anxiously checking on her, he suddenly saw her open her eyes and mumble, "I just wanted to sleep for a while. What are you trying to do by moving me from here to there!"

He was stunned; such an expression appearing on the Grand Tutor's face was absolutely unprecedented.

Seeing this, Shi Mi grinned and laughed. "If I had waited any longer, would I have seen you frantically searching my body for that iron box?" As she spoke, she turned to look into his eyes. "If the blood in the box is only enough to save one person's life, would you save me, or would you keep it for yourself?"

He was furious at her deception and whispered angrily, "Do you think I only care about this one time, not the future? If you fail, how will I find the puppeteer?"

Shi Mi immediately rolled her eyes at him, "We've been husband and wife, can't you be a little more tactful? I just spent ages praising you to those ladies, saying you're loyal, gentle, and considerate, and this is how you treat me."

His brows furrowed even more. "Don't use private matters as gossip. Those people aren't worth getting close to."

Shi Mi said, "Aren't the Six Guards Generals all your capable subordinates? You order them around on one hand, and look down on them on the other. Grand Tutor, there's something wrong with your character."

He didn't want to waste any more time arguing with her, so he sat up and said, "Since she's someone to be ordered around, there's no need to give her any special consideration!"

Shi Mi despised his arrogant demeanor. She gripped his neck tightly with her elbow and sneered, "Lu Min, you really are cold-blooded. It seems you have no real feelings for anyone. If you were to take back our lifelines one day, you would definitely eliminate us without hesitation, wouldn't you?"

The two faces were extremely close, almost breathing each other. When Shi Mi created this face, he was amazed by the perfection of every tiny detail, but Lu Min gave it a new life. You will find that this face is even more impeccable. Even the upturned corners of the eyes and the thick eyelashes exude a completely new flavor. Looking at it up close gives you a slightly intoxicating feeling.

He was fed up with this inequality, and a playful smile slowly crept onto his lips as he said softly, "That's not necessarily true. My heart is empty; perhaps there's a secret place reserved for someone I love. If you can go in, I'll definitely go easy on you, but that depends on whether you have the ability."

He was blinded by lust and his arrogant confidence in victory turned into a joke, only to be teased by the other man instead. It was truly unlucky and frustrating.

She never admits defeat, thinking to herself, "I'm the one who caused this, so why should I be afraid of you turning the tables on me?"

Of course, she had to say the most hurtful things. She smiled and said, "Every time I bless you, you never hide your passion for me. I thought you had already considered me your beloved."

This hit a nerve, enough to make him furious.

She could hear his breathing, rapid and heavy, his contracted pupils holding the breath of a wild beast about to break free of its cage.

For the first time, she heard him admit it himself: "My feelings for you are strange. At first, it was affection, but now it has turned into longing. If you don't object, we might as well make our marriage official. At that time, I will treat you wholeheartedly. If we work together, we can find a way to make a long-term relationship."

Shi Mi was genuinely startled this time. How dare the puppet she had personally created speak to her like that? Was he trying to use his charm to turn her against him? His long-term survival strategy was nothing more than winning her over and then conspiring to control the puppet masters.

Fortunately, I am a puppeteer myself, otherwise I might have been bewitched by him.

With a sharp "smack," she slapped his handsome face away. "What's wrong with you! I'm not an ungrateful person. If someone does me a favor, I should repay them in kind. It seems your grandfather didn't teach you this principle." Seeing him glaring at her angrily, she clicked her tongue and said, "What are you looking at? Even if you look, I'm still a beauty. I've saved your life several times. I've remembered your offense just now. Just wait for the next time; I'll take my revenge on you."

He stood ramrod straight, his face growing increasingly grim.

So the tentative negotiations failed, and he could see that she was stubborn and unyielding, and it was difficult to shake her loyalty to the puppeteer. But deep down he always felt a sense of unease. Most of what he had said before was true. Every time she extended his life, his feelings for her deepened. As time went by, she seemed to be becoming a part of his very being.

He felt a mixture of fear and infatuation towards her, sometimes unable to discern his own thoughts. The fire burning within him grew ever stronger, threatening to consume him and tear her apart one day. These past few days, while she was away from the Nine Chapters Manor, he hadn't relaxed his surveillance on her for a moment. He knew she had visited Madam Jie, he knew she had gone to the Ghost Market, and he even received news of the covert battle in the countryside. But alas, his pursuit ended there; the spies he had sent out never returned, presumably discovered and dealt with.

Well, knowing so much inside information, she wouldn't survive coming back. But what surprised him was that she and the three puppeteers were not as harmless as they appeared; they possessed astonishing fighting power, which was the puppeteer's greatest weapon. And just how many unknown methods did this young woman have? She had been feigning ignorance, and it would be virtually impossible to get the truth out of her.

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but when he realized he was being misled, he was furious. He turned away from him without any politeness, saying, "If you dare to provoke me again, I won't be so lenient!"

She spoke angrily, but inwardly she sighed, thinking that having such a handsome appearance was really making things difficult for herself. After all, he was still a man. He had made her panic for a moment just now. No wonder Senior Brother Gu warned her not to fall in love with Yan. It turned out that crossing that chasm was so easy.

However, she always felt a motherly affection for him—that's a polite way of putting it; to be more precise, it was like having a fun toy, or a favorite kitten or puppy. She would tease him when the mood struck, and even if he had fangs, he had to obediently put them away, since she held his life and death in her hands.

Unfortunately, he's been a bit unruly lately. His fangs dare not pierce her, but they have still managed to slightly scratch her skin. Indeed, the Banyans are difficult to control; their thoughts are beyond her control. Aside from needing periodic life-sustaining treatments, they are no different from living beings. The kittens and puppies in her eyes will one day bite her, meaning that once the time is right, she must decisively abandon them.

Lost in thought, I couldn't resist the heavy eyelids and soon fell asleep.

Dinner was brought to the cabin by the guards, and tonight they would share another bed. From the first day of their marriage, they had never insisted on sleeping separately. Shi Mi didn't mind, and Lu Min didn't care either; having another bedmate wasn't a problem. After washing up, they lay down. The pleasure boat had a skylight on the roof, and by opening it, they could see the twinkling stars overhead.

"How long can this relationship last?" he suddenly asked. "Ami, have you ever been married to Banyan before, just like you married me?"

Shi Mi scoffed, "Stop talking nonsense. This is my first marriage. Although I'm not particular about details, I'm still very pure and virtuous. You'd better not spout nonsense."

“Then I would be honored.” His voice was unusually soft, like the drowsy state before falling asleep. “Let’s get along well during our marriage, and if we have to part ways one day, let’s not feel reluctant.”

She glanced at him. "Do you men also have those sentimental days every month? What do you mean by separation? Maybe I'll stay with you for another 10 or 20 years."

After she finished speaking, she began to wonder if the saying "love grows over time" truly existed. Living together day and night for ten or twenty years, even if it was all insincere, wouldn't some affection develop? If that were the case, perhaps she could consider making his death easier.

We chatted casually for a while, but I completely forgot what we talked about the next day.

Traveling by water required a detour, unlike the direct land route. Fortunately, they set off early, ensuring their arrival before Holy Birthday, even if it took an extra day.

News of the return to the capital reached all the prefectures early on, and when the painted boat docked, carriages and horses were already waiting at the pier. It would take at least half an hour to travel from the pier to Shanhefang. The officials of the Inner Palace drove the carriage while carefully reporting back how many colleagues had sent congratulatory gifts upon learning of the emperor's marriage.

There were also Lu clan members who complained that the lord had not informed them in advance. "The old lady of the mansion said that etiquette must not be neglected. After the lord and the lady return to the capital, they must go to the ancestral hall to respectfully inform heaven and earth and their ancestors. They must not forget this."

Only then did he realize that he hadn't paid respects to his parents on his wedding day. Lu Min was arrogant; his stepmother and elder brother were never respected by him.

It's unclear whether he heard the official's report or not; he remained indifferent, gazing out the window, seemingly having no intention of getting entangled with the Lu family any further, and too lazy to concern himself with those formalities.

Upon arriving at Shanhefang, they saw a figure standing on the porch. Approaching, they saw a tall man with a beard, whose features bore a resemblance to Lu Min. After the carriage stopped, he descended two steps to the front and greeted them warmly, "Yuelin."

There was no way to avoid it now. After getting out of the car, Lu Min cupped her hands in greeting and asked, "Brother, what brings you here?" She then turned to greet Shi Mi and introduced her, "This is my elder brother. Please pay your respects."

Shi Mi recognized him as Lu Yin, Lu Min's elder brother and the eldest son of the Lu family. Although his official rank was not as high as Lu Min's, he was still a figure of considerable influence in the court. So, as instructed, he bowed to him and addressed him as "elder brother".

Lu Yin returned the greeting. The reserved scholar did not linger his gaze on the young woman for even a moment longer, and then said to Lu Min, "I learned that you had returned to Shangdu today and was eager to see you. Your marriage was not announced to the clan, which has made the family members distant, and it has also made my mother lose face. Now that you have returned, the Emperor's birthday is the day after tomorrow. Go back tonight for a family reunion dinner, and tomorrow go to the ancestral hall to inform your grandfather, so that he can rest in peace in the afterlife."

Shimi turned to look at Lu Min, wondering how he would respond. To her surprise, he actually agreed, and said with a smile, "I came back two days early to be mindful of etiquette. Xiafang knew I was busy with official duties, so he didn't hold a big celebration in Zhongdu, thus avoiding disturbing my family. I came back this time to inform the elders and my mother, so they won't worry about us too much."

Lu Yin nodded. "Your old courtyard has been renovated by your mother and sister-in-law. Why don't you stay here tonight? We brothers haven't had a drink together in a long time. Let's have a good drink tonight and catch up."

Lu Min agreed, seemingly valuing family ties. Having received the approval, Lu Yin went back to prepare. Shi Mi, puzzled, crossed his arms and looked him up and down, "You didn't agree to meet me for some other reason, did you?"

He proudly shook his sleeves, "We should always give our elders a chance to show their love and respect."

She understood immediately, "Then I'll bring a bigger suitcase so I can carry the monetary gifts later."

He gave a faint smile and stepped into the mansion with his hands behind his back.

If he were truly only after money, how could he possibly come? There must be someone or something worth making this trip for. At this crucial moment, Shi Mi showed great understanding and support for her husband, and having learned about Lu Min's father's past actions, she was also very interested in contacting the Lu family to see if she could gain a more detailed understanding of the whole story.

Before leaving, she had to change her clothes again. The official who had served her last time came up with a smile to take credit, "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged according to your preferences. The curtains, wall hangings, utensils and miscellaneous items are all the styles you selected. And your new clothes, about ten sets have also been prepared. Your Majesty, please take a look and see if there is anything you are not satisfied with, so that I can change it immediately."

Shi Mi was very grateful. "You've done a great job, I'm very satisfied. I'll have the lord reward you handsomely later. You've all worked hard these past few days."

The official waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, I only ask to serve in the household for a long time. If the lord ever blames me, I beg Your Majesty to say a few good words for me, and I will thank Your Majesty for your kindness."

Shi Mi readily agreed, but when he turned around, he found Lu Min already standing in front of the door.

He was wearing a sandalwood-colored silk robe with gold thread and a white jade belt around his waist. Because it was rare to see him wear such bright colors, Shi Mi couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.

Because of her gaze, he straightened his posture even more, turned around and said, "Stop looking, or we'll miss the banquet."