Chapter 15, Chapter 15, Caught
Rong Si's amber eyes were sharp and fierce, revealing an indescribable wildness under the sunlight. Even if one could see all the changes in his pupils, one would instinctively feel fear.
To be honest, he didn't seem like a stable boy.
The man beside him stared at him for only a moment before he was a little overwhelmed. He touched the bridge of his nose and chuckled, "If you need our help, I'll call you."
Rong Si did not respond.
A maid who had been tending to the flowers and plants in the yard walked towards them, carrying several ice packs. "It's hot today, be careful not to catch heatstroke while you're working."
As she spoke, she handed out the sachets containing ice to the servants in the courtyard one by one.
Finally, he was assigned to the military.
The maidservant glanced at Rong Si cautiously before handing him the purse.
I couldn't help but take a second look at the veins on the man's wrist; just by moving his fingers, he exuded a powerful, pulsating energy.
She didn't like gentle scholars like the Prime Minister, though it wasn't really her place to like them anyway.
But this new coachman just looks really cool.
The coachman next to them glanced at the purse in Rong Si's hand, then looked at the ones in their hands, and said, "Hey, why are our purses different?"
When the maid was exposed, she tried to cover it up by denying it, "How is it different?"
“His has flowers and birds! We have nothing here.”
The maid refused to admit it, saying, "I just gave it to her randomly."
Rong Si found the backyard noisy, so he put the purse on the table next to him and said, "I'll go check on the stables."
Seeing Rong Si leave, the maidservant angrily kicked the coachman next to her.
Rong Si walked to the horse pen and saw from afar that the female physician who had gone to examine the new lady was being escorted out by the new lady's maid.
After the female doctor came out, she went to the front yard to report the situation to Chu Yu.
Chu Yu sat at the table, listening to the female physician recount Yu Wanyin's weak and frail health.
The female doctor phrased it more tactfully, saying, "Madam has some health issues that require treatment. Prolonged intercourse can easily lead to deficiency of both qi and blood. In addition, the recent wedding preparations have been exhausting, so it's understandable that she might not be able to withstand it."
"Prime Minister, I'm afraid you should let your wife rest first. It would be best if she stayed away from sexual activity for a while."
Chu Yu had no further objections, "I'll leave the treatment to you."
"Don't worry, Your Excellency," the female physician said, hesitating for a moment.
Chu Yu asked casually, "Is there anything else?"
“There is one more thing,” the female physician reported truthfully, “Madam’s health may make it difficult for her to have children.”
Chu Yu paused for a moment, then said, "I know, it's alright."
*
Inside the bridal chamber, Yu Wanyin rested while reading books. By evening, she had recovered somewhat, but she still felt some backache and leg pain.
It feels like the tingling and numbness that comes from someone who hasn't been active for a long time suddenly overexerting themselves.
Getting up to have dinner always aggravates the aches and pains.
As soon as Yu Wanyin sat down, a servant announced from outside, "The Prime Minister has arrived."
Yu Wanyin was startled and subconsciously tried to get up to greet him, but a wave of soreness and numbness washed over her waist, abdomen, and legs.
When Chu Yu entered the room and saw how reserved she was, he said, "Just sit down."
Yu Wanyin thought to herself that she had already stood up.
She forced herself to step forward, unsure of how to greet him, and managed to say, "Your Excellency is up early today."
Chu Yu looked at her strangely for a moment, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's getting dark, Madam. When do you want me to come back?"
Yu Wanyin felt slightly embarrassed, and her neck turned red.
Chu Yu stared at her flushed neck, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
However, he quickly shifted his gaze to the food on the table and asked, "Do you like the dishes from the Prime Minister's residence?"
“Yes.” Yu Wanyin followed behind him, holding onto the table as she sat down.
This subtle action was noticed by the man standing nearby.
Chu Yu's eyes held a more intriguing meaning.
After Yu Wanyin sat down, resisting the soreness and numbness in her body, she also noticed something was wrong and secretly glanced at him.
Unfortunately, Chu Yu had already turned his gaze away at that moment.
It's still a bit embarrassing to have this kind of thing noticed.
The lingering sensation remains even after the wedding night, whether standing up or sitting down; it's best if no one notices anything unusual.
Yu Wanyin suppressed her emotions without showing any emotion.
Dinner was prepared according to Yu Wanyin's constitution.
It's mainly for nourishing the body.
But actually, Chu Yu didn't need any supplements. After eating with her, he felt a little flushed and agitated.
Chu Yu originally wanted to calmly stay with her while she slept, but after staying in the room for a while, he realized he still couldn't.
As Yu Wanyin bathed and washed in the room, the sound of water rose and fell intermittently.
Chu Yu sat upright at his desk, flipping through documents. He had only managed to read two lines of the neat and rigid text when he was interrupted by the sound of water.
He kept his eyes down, appearing from the outside as an unaffected noble young master.
An aura of asceticism emanated from his entire body.
The stronger this feeling, the harder it is to suppress the desires in one's heart.
Chu Yu finally closed the documents in his hand and left the bridal chamber before the sound of water inside the room stopped and before Yu Wanyin came out.
Qing Song, who was on guard outside, did not expect Chu Yu to come out. She swallowed back the yawn that was halfway through and bowed her head, "Prime Minister".
Chu Yu made an excuse, "There are many affairs in Yingzhou lately, and I may have to stay in the study tonight. You go and take care of the madam."
Qingsong agreed, and then the sound of Yu Wanyin bathing, washing up, and leaving the room could be heard.
Chu Yu's ears burned slightly, and he immediately turned and left.
When Qing Song entered, he saw Yu Wanyin wearing a thin, bright red nightgown.
She was actually dressed very conservatively, but because the water droplets on her body had not yet dried, the thin, silk-like brocade fabric clung to her curvaceous figure, making her beautiful curves more obvious than usual, including the shimmering silk blouse underneath.
Beneath the hem of her skirt, her shapely legs peeked out briefly as she walked, only to quickly disappear back into the skirt.
Qing Song finally understood why the Prime Minister had left in such a hurry before the Madam came out.
If you saw that.
I probably won't be able to rest tonight either.
Yu Wanyin was looking at the writing brushes, inkstones, and other implements on the desk that hadn't been put away yet. The items were all there, but the person was nowhere to be seen. "Where is the Prime Minister?"
"The Prime Minister said he has business to attend to tonight and may have to stay overnight in the study."
Yu Wanyin nodded in understanding, feeling much more relaxed.
That would be wonderful.
After instructing Qing Song to tidy up the desk, she took her military treatise and slipped into the bridal chamber.
Chu Yu stayed overnight in the study for two consecutive days.
This surprised everyone in the mansion, and the topic of conversation during the day shifted again.
Especially recently, there have been many new, insignificant people joining the Prime Minister's residence to fill vacancies, and they are particularly fond of gossiping about the master's affairs.
It is said that he treats his new wife well, and it is rare for newlyweds to have separate rooms.
Even if you say he treated her badly, he still took care of her in everything.
Wu Zhou, who was by Chu Yu's side, had all sorts of news, big and small, but he knew that the important matters at the border were insignificant compared to these trivial gossips and did not need to be reported to the Prime Minister.
These people were originally brought in to do odd jobs, and as long as they didn't cause any trouble or enter the inner courtyard to contact their masters, they could be turned a blind eye for the time being.
But the news still got out to some extent.
The night before Yu Wanyin was to return to her parents' home, Lady Nie had already learned of the news.
She listened as the servant embellished the information he had gathered, looking on with amusement.
Madam Nie sneered, "I knew that with just a few pretty faces, how long could she serve someone? But the couple's relationship has deteriorated far too quickly."
The servant's eyes darted around. "Perhaps the young lady had already lost her virginity to someone else back in Jiangling. The Prime Minister didn't break off the engagement for the sake of his reputation. It's possible that she only became resentful after the Prime Minister discovered it on the first night."
They sat together and discussed it for a long time, but still felt that this guess was the most likely.
Otherwise, why would you need to call a doctor to check your health?
Madam Nie felt relieved. "This marriage looks grand, but it's nothing more than a marriage in name only."
It seems that replacing Yu Wanyin with He Yue is much easier than imagined.
In this way, when the dynasty falls, they won't become prisoners like in their dreams.
On the day of his return to his parents' home.
Yu Wanyin got up early to go to the Yu residence.
As I was leaving and getting into the carriage, I saw a sturdy figure leaning against the side of the carriage in the distance.
Qing Song helped her forward, and the person turned around only when she heard footsteps.
He turned around, revealing a glib-tongued face, and grinned at her, "Madam."
Yu Wanyin was very averse to this scrutinizing look.
The coachman stepped forward and said, "I'll help you into the carriage, madam."
"No need," Yu Wanyin politely declined, stepping onto the stool and sitting down herself.
The coachman, somewhat disappointed at not being able to strike up a conversation, could only stand aside and reminisce about the beautiful woman he had just seen.
The new lady was indeed stunningly beautiful, but the detached and aloof look in her eyes veiled her beauty with a layer of ice, making her seem like a frozen poppy.
The new batch of people were not allowed to serve their master.
It is normal not to see the host.
Fortunately, I got an opportunity today.
He was relieved that he had kept it a secret from Rong Si and had gotten up early to come, otherwise he would not have seen him.
After all, Rong Si didn't seem very interested.
Yu Wanyin was about to find a comfortable position to catch up on her sleep when the carriage shook violently, waking her up.
Yu Wanyin opened her eyes and saw Chu Yu leaning in.
She was a little surprised and opened her mouth.
Chu Yu picked up where she left off, "You wouldn't have said you didn't want me to come with you, would you?"
Yu Wanyin thought to herself, "I thought the Prime Minister had been busy lately."
"Returning home is a major event," Chu Yu said simply, and the carriage fell silent for the time being.
Yu Wanyin could only sit up straight again.
The car remained silent for a long time before Chu Yu offered another seemingly unrelated explanation, "I'm not that busy. I've been sleeping in the study these past few days because the doctor reminded me that I can't have sex with you."
His words brought Yu Wanyin to her senses.
The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.
Yu Wanyin replied vaguely, "I know."
Silence fell over the car again.
Chu Yu asked her, "Is your back still sore?"
Yu Wanyin could no longer hold back, her face flushing red. "It's alright."
"You can lean against something if you're uncomfortable." Chu Yu had already arranged for soft cushions to be prepared when he was preparing the carriage and horses.
Yu Wanyin noticed that Chu Yu was sitting upright, and she knew she couldn't be undignified.
Although he agreed, he hasn't taken any action yet.
After all, this stretch of road isn't particularly long.
They arrived at the Yu residence in the time it took to exchange a few words.
The people from the Yu family were waiting outside to greet them early in the morning.
When Nie saw Chu Yu get off, she reached into the carriage and helped Yu Wanyin down.
He scoffed inwardly, thinking it was nothing more than a facade of harmony.
Couples in this world can pretend on the surface, but they can't pretend about what happens in private.
Yu Sheng stepped forward to greet them and chatted warmly with Chu Yu before inviting them into the house.
Yu Sheng politely inquired about the situation these past few days, but Chu Yu answered all the questions, and Yu Wanyin only needed to sit to the side.
She didn't really want to play along with them anyway.
However, when Chu Yu and Yu Sheng chatted, they inevitably talked about politics.
Yu Sheng said that the suppression of bandits in the court was progressing slowly, and all the old methods were useless.
Yu Sheng invited Chu Yu to the study to discuss matters.
Yu Wanyin and Nie Shi inevitably ended up sitting together.
It was quite unusual; Madam Nie was unusually gentle today, chatting with her about everyday matters.
Occasionally, she would ask about the affairs of the Prime Minister's household steward, making Yu Wanyin always feel that she was hiding something.
At this moment, Yu Sheng and Chu Yu had just finished their discussion and came out of the study.
From afar, one could hear the cheerful laughter of some young girls.
The back garden, adorned with blooming flowers, was bustling with activity.
Everyone couldn't help but look over.
As far as the eye could see, in the large lotus pond in the courtyard, several maids were rowing a boat to help Yu Heyue pick lotus pods.
Yu Heyue, dressed in an indigo-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and with a shawl draped over her shoulders, appeared even more radiant and captivating amidst the lush lotus leaves.
This outfit adds a touch of coolness to the midsummer heat.
It is pleasing to the eye.
Yu Heyue was overjoyed when she picked a fresh lotus pod.
Like a child who is easily satisfied, even her smile is innocent and carefree.
This is a rare moment of simplicity and joy for men navigating the ups and downs of officialdom.
Yu Sheng was very pleased with his daughter. He stopped by the lotus pond with his hands behind his back and introduced her to Chu Yu without hesitation, "This is my second daughter, He Yue."
Just as Yu Heyue was feeling happy, the maid beside her solemnly touched her arm.
Following her gaze, Yu Heyue looked over and happened to meet the eyes of Yu Sheng and Chu Yu over there.
Yu Heyue was so frightened that she immediately stopped smiling and became reserved.
Like a frightened little rabbit.
It was exceptionally vivid and interesting.
The maidservant quickly rowed the small boat to the shore. Yu Heyue, holding a few lotus flowers, bowed respectfully and secretly glanced at Chu Yu. "Father, Prime Minister, I didn't know you were coming. Am I disturbing you?"
A beautiful woman's face paired with lotus flowers—it's truly a rare and beautiful sight in the height of summer.
Yu Sheng naturally wouldn't blame her for disturbing him, "What are you doing here?"
"Thinking about the summer heat, and that Father has been busy with official duties and has been troubled lately, these fresh lotus seeds are just right to cool him down, so I came."
Yu Sheng smiled and said to Chu Yu, "I'm always considerate when I'm playing the female lead this time."
Chu Yu remained silent, only offering a wry smile in agreement.
“If Father and Prime Minister don’t mind…” Yu Heyue took two fresh lotus pods and handed them to Yu Sheng and Chu Yu, “You can try them. These fresh lotus seeds are the most tender.”
She reached out, revealing a section of her slender, white arm, which was dazzlingly white in the sunlight.
Yu Sheng took it, but Chu Yu didn't touch it, calmly declining, "I don't need it."
Yu Heyue paused for a moment, then withdrew her hand as if disappointed. "I see."
Yu Sheng quickly coaxed, "It's inconvenient for the Prime Minister to get involved. You should go back and tidy up; it's time for lunch."
Yu Heyue bowed while holding the lotus flower, still lively, "I know, Father."
The flower hall was filled with the meals prepared for Yu Wanyin's first homecoming after her marriage.
The table was laden with food, and since Yu Shao was still in the palace learning etiquette and couldn't return, the atmosphere was much more harmonious than Yu Wanyin had imagined.
Just as Yu Wanyin was thinking that her homecoming today was going more smoothly than she had imagined, Yu Heyue entered the room in a light and fresh pink and white curved skirt.
He carried a food box and bowed respectfully.
Nie teased her, "You're late, how will you be punished?"
"I'm being punished by having to make lotus seed soup for my father, mother, and elder sister." Yu Heyue handed over the food box.
Yu Sheng was surprised, "You even made lotus seed soup in such a short time?"
Yu Heyue smiled without saying a word. As she sat down, she glanced at Chu Yu with a sweet, girlish smile.
Then, without making a sound, he moved away and tried to ingratiate himself with his parents.
Yu Wanyin was incredibly perceptive; after understanding the situation, she chuckled silently.
So that's where the abacus was set up.
She never used to get a share of this lotus seed soup.
Yu Wanyin, however, found herself with a bit of leisure and spent a while watching Yu Heyue.
It must be said that Yu Heyue looked incredibly youthful and fresh today.
Like a delicate pink and white lotus blooming in the clear waters of a pond in midsummer.
A touch of pale yellow on her hairpin made her look incredibly radiant.
No one could dislike such a lively and vibrant young girl; if she were an ordinary man, he would probably be unable to take his eyes off her.
In fact, Yu Wanyin's eyes did not look away.
Yu Heyue carefully served a bowl of lotus seed soup to Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin casually touched her hand and took it from her. Yu Heyue was stunned when she was touched.
Yu Wanyin's hands were also icy cold like silk, and the feeling of being touched in the summer was quite strange and subtle.
While Yu Heyue was still in a daze, she replied, "Thank you, Heyue."
Yu Heyue quickly stopped, saying, "Sister, you're being too polite with me."
She was about to serve Chu Yu another bowl when she saw Chu Yu reach out and take away the lotus seed soup that Yu Wanyin had only tasted a couple of times. "Lotus seed soup is cold in nature, so you should eat less of it."
Not only the others, but even Yu Wanyin was caught off guard. "I've already touched it, wouldn't it be a waste not to eat it?"
"I'll eat it."
Yu Heyue's hand, which was halfway through serving, suddenly stopped.
She wisely sat back down.
Nie frowned slightly.
No matter what, I just can't understand the situation I'm in.
Yu Wanyin squeezed the chopsticks in her hand and didn't say anything more.
On the contrary, Yu Sheng and Chu Yu chatted and laughed as if it were a perfectly normal thing between husband and wife.
They had dinner before leaving.
As Madam Nie saw them off, she watched the carriages and horses disappear into the distance and muttered to herself, "What is he thinking?"
Yu Wanyin had no idea what Chu Yu was thinking, and she was absent-minded ever since she left the house.
So much so that he didn't even notice that his coachman had been changed.
Yu Wanyin began to ponder in secret as soon as she got into the carriage.
Logically speaking, they didn't have much affection for each other, but Yu Heyue was indeed unmatched in her ability to be charming.
Yu Heyue was also a smart person, and she left room for maneuver in everything she did.
It doesn't have to be deliberate, yet it resonates deeply with people.
Ordinary people would be somewhat tempted by such a gesture of goodwill.
She whispered, testing Chu Yu's attitude towards Yu Heyue, "My sister is a very lively girl."
Chu Yu remained noncommittal, "It's clear she's quite likable."
Yu Wanyin pursed her lips, "Yes."
Yu Wanyin moved her lips, but it wouldn't be appropriate to ask anything more.
If Chu Yu really decides to take Yu Heyue as a concubine, it won't affect her much.
After thinking for a while, Yu Wanyin became too lazy to think about it anymore.
Just let things take their natural course.
The carriage arrived at the Prime Minister's residence and stopped.
Yu Wanyin suddenly heard a very familiar sound of reining in a horse, rough and deep.
But since the sound was coming from behind the curtain, Yu Wanyin didn't take it seriously.
Chu Yu stepped out of the carriage before her and reached out his hand to her as usual.
Yu Wanyin leaned out and suddenly felt a hot and sharp gaze fall on her.
It's as if you can dissect her and see right through her.
This familiar feeling of being stripped away instantly brought Yu Wanyin back to that night in Jiangling.
She suddenly looked up in the direction of the gaze, and met a pair of sharp, gloomy eyes.
Rong Si leaned back on the seat at the front of the carriage with such a brazen and bold manner.
He stood there with his long legs spread apart, like a tiger or leopard gazing at its prey, staring intently at her, judging where it would be safest to begin tearing at his prey.
He even had a faint, casual smile on his lips.
It's as if it's saying, "Got you?"
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