Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Suspicion

Xu Chong nodded calmly, and as he made some tea, he sighed, "So that's how it is. Taozhou is remote and cold, and my nephew has served in the army for three years. You can imagine the hardships he's endured. Having a concubine to serve him is perfectly natural and a form of filial piety."

Lu Chen smiled but did not refute.

Seven teas had already flown by during their casual conversation, a milky mist forming in the rabbit-hair teacup, tea foam gracing the cup. With a smile, Xu Chong placed the Jian teacup in front of Lu Chen and started a new conversation.

"A few days ago, the Imperial Household Department received a new batch of fine horses, and Sixteenth Lady chose a small black colt. She has been pestering me to find her a riding instructor. However, with her spoiled temper, no ordinary instructor could handle her. After much deliberation, I decided it would be better to entrust her to my nephew."

As he spoke, he looked over with a smile, "My little daughter is naughty. I wonder if my nephew would be willing to take the time to give her some guidance?"

"You're too polite, sir." Lu Chen lowered his eyes and took the cup. The tea mist swirled around him, and his expression could not be seen clearly. Only a hint of smile seemed to be in his tone. "Whenever Shiliu Niang wants to learn, just come to the Dragon God Guard training ground to find me."

Hearing this, Xu Chong withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and invited him to taste the tea.

The two chatted for a while, and seeing that it was getting late, Lu Chen stood up and said goodbye.

Lu Chen was escorted all the way to the outside of the Chuihua Gate by the steward. Just as he was about to pull the reins to mount the horse, a soft, sweet and crisp voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Brother Bingyan!"

A noble young lady with a shawl embroidered with gold and silver paste, a double bun on her head, a pearl and kingfisher-embellished hairpin, and a bright red flower on her brow quickly caught up with him and called out to him with a smile.

Lu Chen turned around and replied with a smile: "Sixteenth Lady?"

A jade-colored bamboo cage and a gauze lamp hung low in the corridor. The warm and elegant candlelight enveloped his shoulders, reflecting the smile in his dark eyes, making him look like a noble young man.

Xu Yourong's heart skipped a beat and his ears began to feel hot.

She endured the heat on her cheeks, her eyes smiling as she looked him straight in the eye. "Daddy said you promised to teach me how to ride... Then the day after tomorrow... can I come look for you?"

Lu Chen smiled and said warmly, "Of course."

He had a narrow face and sharp bones, but his smile added a touch of elegance and tenderness.

Xu Yourong turned back somewhat shyly and told the maid to pass the food box over. "This is the new Shanhaidou we made in our house. It tastes very good. Please consider it as my salary."

"Why should Sixteenth Lady be so polite to me?"

"Since you are going to learn from Brother Bingyan, you must be polite."

Lu Chen curled the corners of his lips and motioned Nan Heng to come forward and take it.

Seeing him accept the food box, Xu Yourong was delighted and faintly excited, and bowed and said goodbye.

After watching her walk away, Lu Chen turned around, the smile on his face suddenly faded, and there was only coldness in his eyes.

**

After bidding farewell to Lu Chen, Xu Yourong returned to the study in the front yard with a smile on her face and brisk steps.

Seeing her walk out the door, Xu Chong coughed lightly, deliberately put on a serious expression, and said, "You're back."

Before he could finish his words, Xu Yourong stepped over the threshold and, like a young swallow darting into the forest, threw herself into Xu Chong's arms, hugging him with a smile, "Daddy."

Xu Chong had few children, so he had always doted on his youngest daughter. Seeing his daughter snuggling up to him, his heart was filled with tenderness. He raised his hand and scratched her nose, then said with a smile, "Are you satisfied today? You're so impatient. It's true that your daughter is extroverted."

"I'm not an extrovert." Xu Yourong straightened up and said half coquettishly and half seriously, "Brother Bingyan now controls the military power of the Upper Four Armies. He is extremely useful to my sister and brother-in-law, and naturally helps my father as well. I'm not doing this just for myself."

"Haha, she's Daddy's good daughter." Xu Chonglang laughed, "Lu Jia Sanlang is a good match for Rong Niang."

"As for that concubine he brought back," Xu Chong narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking with contempt, "she's a country girl, without a father or a mother, a mere ant. If Rong Niang finds her an eyesore, let alone resorting to some means, Daddy would be willing to take her life."

Xu Yourong had been pampered since childhood, and had always gotten whatever she wanted. Naturally, she disdained this and raised her chin proudly, saying, "She's just a country girl. I won't bother with her. At worst, I can find a farm and send her away someday."

**

Lu Mansion.

It was a rare day out, so Zhe Rou took Xiao Chan for a long walk around Zhou Bridge. They specially went to eat Cao Po Po's meat pie and Mei's steamed buns, and bought a few bunches of newly opened Deutzia flowers from the flower seller. They lingered until it was almost dark, and then took a car back home.

He ordered Xiaochan to collect the spices and sundries he had bought, and Zherou changed her clothes, fastened her belt, and went to the kitchen to pickle the fish.

The kitchen maids and the servants were having their evening meal in the side room. There was no one on duty in the inner room, so she found a clean little stool and sat down by the window.

The black carp had been handed over to the old woman to be scaled and sliced. The rest of the work was not difficult. Zhe Rou was used to doing it herself. It felt like she was living in the small courtyard in Taozhou before. There was an indescribable sense of security and stability.

The yard was very quiet, with only the sound of the night wind blowing through the branches of the osmanthus trees. The windows were open, and the faint fragrance of flowers and trees floated in the air.

Soon, footsteps were faintly heard in the corridor, and the maids and old women who had finished their evening meal were chatting and greeting each other in the courtyard.

"Aunt Li, have you seen the Poria cocos that the kitchen bought? I need to make donkey-hide gelatin and Poria cocos soup for my wife later. I only found donkey-hide gelatin, but no Poria cocos."

Aunt Li, who was in charge of the storeroom, was about to reply when she caught sight of the carved box in her hand and couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my dear Miss Chunhe, there's no use for this kind of donkey-hide gelatin in the East Courtyard! Just pick up some finely chopped donkey-hide gelatin and stew it."

Chun He shook her head and whispered back, "No, this soup was made for you at my husband's order. If I don't use good ingredients, he'll definitely punish me if he finds out."

Aunt Li snorted softly, "How can my husband have the time to care about such trivial matters?"

Chun He hesitated and asked in confusion, "How could that be? I see that my husband treats me very attentively."

Hearing this, Aunt Li snorted disdainfully, looked around, and lowered her voice, "You don't know yet? Madam is probably looking for a marriage partner for your husband! She invited distinguished guests today... and implicitly, they're all prying about the current prime minister... the Sixteenth Lady of the Xu family."

Aunt Li lowered her voice very low and spoke intermittently, so Zhe Rou only heard the general idea.

Looking for marriage. Xu family.

The family that Lu Chen visited today was also the Xu family.

Her heart skipped a beat for no reason. Zhe Rou was distracted for a moment, and her fingertip was pricked by a sharp fish bone. In an instant, several bright red blood beads oozed out.

The whispers outside the house continued: "Goddess of Heaven, the Xu family's daughter is a truly noble lady... The one from the East Courtyard might still enjoy favor for a few more days... Once her husband finds a marriage, she'll be sent far away... That wouldn't be surprising!"

Chun He uttered a low "Ah," "But, but I heard them say that my wife and husband have worshipped heaven and earth..."

"Oh, silly girl." Aunt Li said, "Madam doesn't recognize her. What kind of wife is that? She's just a concubine."

Zhe Rou couldn't bear to listen any longer. She felt a sense of depression in her chest, which made her feel sore and swollen, and she felt uncomfortable.

Although she has always been kind and doesn't like to argue with others, she is not the kind of weak person who would let others bully her without saying a word. She can't just pretend not to hear anyone bullying her.

Zhe Rou put down the work in her hands, stood up, and coughed heavily.

The chattering stopped immediately. The people in the corridor turned around and saw her standing in front of the window. Chunhe's face turned pale and he quickly lowered his head, calling out, "Madam..."

Aunt Li's expression froze unnaturally.

Zhe Rou looked at the people standing at the bottom of the stairs and said with a smile, "What are you talking about? It's so lively."

There was a hint of guilt in Aunt Li's eyes, and she hesitated and didn't dare to look at her.

"I heard everything you said just now."

Zhe Rou stopped laughing, straightened her back, and spoke in a clear, unhurried voice, "The master pays you a monthly salary so that you can manage the warehouse purchases and do your job well, not so that you can fool the master by selling inferior goods as good ones and gossip about others for no reason.

Lu Chen and I are husband and wife, having sworn vows to heaven and earth and signed a marriage certificate. If you want to speak, you can go and speak to him directly. There's no need to talk behind his back. It would only bring shame to the Lu family if it gets out."

Ever since arriving in the capital, Zhe Rou had always been gentle and kind to others, smiling before she spoke. Aunt Li had thought she was just a delicate person who was easy to manipulate, but she had no idea she had such a temper. After hearing what she said, her face flushed red, and she hurriedly bent down to apologize.

"If you dare to do it again, whether it's fined or sold, the palace has its own rules to deal with it. I think there is no need for me to say more."

The two men nodded in agreement, apologized and dispersed, and the yard became quiet again.

Zhe Rou closed the window, turned around, filled a clean wooden basin with water, and gently scrubbed her fingertips with soap nuts.

The place where the fish bone pierced was wet, and it caused a slight stinging pain.

The fingers are connected to the heart.

Zhe Rou was suddenly aroused by the pain and felt a sense of grievance, as if the fish bone had pierced not her fingertips but her heart.

My eyes suddenly felt warm.

In fact, she had thought about it a long time ago. Coming from Taozhou to Shangjing, the people and things are completely different. There are dozens of people in the mansion, and it is no longer just a matter between her and Lu Chen. Her mother-in-law refuses to recognize her, so she is bound to suffer some cold words.

At that time, she thought that as long as she and Lu Chen and his wife were of one mind, things would get better and better.

But if you really hear it, you still feel embarrassed.

She certainly didn't have the support of her parents' family background, but she was clearly upright and no less inferior than anyone else.

At night, when Lu Chen returned, Zhe Rou had already washed and gone to bed. A dim, hazy light shone through the curtains, gently enveloping her. A faint, fresh fragrance drifted through the room. He turned around and saw the flower basket she had used for flower arrangement on the table. Compared to before, it had become quite elegant and interesting.

Lu Chen curled his lips and smiled, then turned and went to the bathroom to take a shower and change clothes.

Zhe Rou heard the sound and buried her face in the pillow in a daze, with many thoughts running through her mind.

Zheng Lanbi refused to acknowledge their marriage and wanted to find another girl. So what about Lu Chen? What was he doing at the Xu family?

Not long after, the bed on the right sank slightly, and the sound of clothes rubbing against each other came from beside him. Lu Chen stepped onto the bed lightly, lay down beside Zhe Rou, and put his arm around her waist.

Zhe Rou didn't move, just closed her eyes quietly and pretended to be asleep.

She knew that she was somewhat venting her anger by thinking this way, but she felt very depressed and uncomfortable today, and had an inexplicable uneasiness, so she didn't want to pay much attention to him.

"Xiaoxiao." Lu Chen smiled and pinched her itchy skin, "I know you are not asleep."

This man was full of cunning thoughts. Zhe Rou was unable to pretend any longer and reluctantly opened her eyes and looked at him.

"What's wrong?" Lu Chen paused slightly, frowned, and raised his hand to touch her face.

Zhe Rou shook her head, turned over, and lay down with her back to him. She reached out to lift the quilt, but Lu Chen grabbed it and stopped her.

Zhe Rou and Lu Chen struggled for a few times, but couldn't overcome his strength. She simply let go of his hand angrily, moved further into the couch, and closed her eyes.

Seeing her angry look, Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh. He came over and kissed her gently, "Ning Ruru, how old are you this year? Are you childish?"

"When I get angry, I like to curl up in my blanket like a rabbit in a burrow and ignore people."

As Lu Chen spoke, he lifted the quilt up for her and tucked the corners in carefully.

Hearing the rustling movement behind her, Zhe Rou's heart suddenly softened.

She left her hometown where she had lived for more than ten years. In this huge city of Shangjing, she had no other relatives except Lu Bingyan.

They are a couple who are going to live together for a long time, so they should talk it out if they have anything to say.

After a long silence, she opened her eyes, looked at the intricate and winding patterns on the cypress carved bed board, and spoke softly.

"Your mother seems to be looking for a marriage partner for you. I heard it's Xu Jiashiliu Niang."

Lu Chen was stunned for a moment.

Zhe Rou slowly sat up, hugged the quilt, looked into his eyes, and said slowly: "I saw you today."

"At the gate of Xu's house."

Lu Chen's eyes paused slightly.

"Didn't you say you were going to take care of military affairs? Why did you go to the Xu family?"