Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Sister-in-law, wipe your tears
Jiang Shu looked at Lu Changji's profile, her body tensing up and her hands trembling slightly. Anyone who saw the situation just now would suspect she and Ye Qian were having an affair, so how could she explain it clearly?
The woman's innocence is the most important thing. If rumors really spread, she would have no need to live.
Jiang Shu endured the pain and strode towards the shore. After a few steps, she saw the curtain drop. The green carriage turned around and slowly moved away. The bronze bell hanging from the shaft kept ringing, and Jiang Shu's heart was also swaying.
Until the next day, Jiang Shu was still frightened, as if there was a sword hanging over her head, ready to kill her at any time.
She wasn't one to hold onto things, and she had to untie the knot in her heart before she could feel at ease. While Lu Changyi was taking a nap, Jiang Shuxing went outside to inquire about the news: "Is the master home today?"
Fang Yu was a little surprised. The Second Madam was used to being cautious in her words and actions and seldom left Xinchun Garden. This was the first time she inquired about other people's whereabouts, not to mention that the person was Lu Changji.
As a servant, the first thing to do is to control your mouth. Fang Yu did not say much, and said to Jiang Shu in a gentle voice: "Second Madam, wait a moment, I will go and check it out."
Fang Yu's father was the steward of the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion. Fang Yu was quite respectable in the mansion and he got the news from the gatehouse in just a few words.
She returned to the flower hall and said to Jiang Shu, "Second Madam, Master is on vacation today and has not left the house."
Jiang Shu nodded, took out the cloak that Lu Changji had lent her, made another portion of jujube flower pastry, and went to Canaan Courtyard in a sedan chair to express her gratitude to Lu Changji.
The Canaan Courtyard is very spacious, with no corridors or pavilions built. The courtyard is paved with bluestone tiles. Apart from a few clumps of bamboo, there are no other decorations in the courtyard, giving it a solemn and majestic appearance.
Jiang Shu was led into the flower hall by Cheng Yong. When Jiang Shu entered, Lu Changji was drinking tea. The lingering aroma of tea, wafting a layer of mist, inexplicably added a touch of Zen to Lu Changji as he sat on the tea couch. His face showed the solemn and benevolent look of a Buddha.
Jiang Shu was shocked by her own thoughts and secretly blamed herself for being narrow-minded. Lu Changji must have been tough and decisive in order to climb to the position of Prime Minister. She shouldn't have let down her guard so easily just because of Lu Changji's handsome appearance.
How could a person who is so young and can stir up trouble in the court be a kind-hearted person?
Sometimes, the kinder a person appears, the deeper their thoughts are. When you interact with them, you should be more careful with your words and actions.
Jiang Shu retracted her gaze and bowed respectfully to Lu Changji. She held the emerald cloak in front of him and said carefully, "Uncle, this is your cloak. I've washed it. Thanks to your help a few days ago, I didn't have to embarrass myself and be blamed by my mother-in-law. I'm really grateful."
As soon as Jiang Shu finished speaking, Cheng Yong took the cloak and took it to the inner room.
Only Lu Changji and Jiang Shu were left in the room. Lu Changji didn't say anything, his dark eyes were slightly lowered, and no emotion could be seen from him.
Jiang Shu was a little nervous. She took a deep breath and placed the freshly made jujube flower pastry on the desk in front of Lu Changji. Her voice was a little hoarse. "Uncle, this is my new jujube flower pastry. I'm a bit clumsy, so I can't compare to the chef in your house who's very skillful, but it's a gift from me. How do you like it?"
Lu Changji picked up the jujube flower pastry, put it in his mouth, took a bite, and said in a gentle voice, "It's okay."
So, he said no more and turned his gaze back to the book.
The room became quiet again. Jiang Shu froze in place, not knowing whether to stand or sit, feeling awkward and at a loss as to what to do.
Some things can be explained naturally if others ask about them. If others don't ask and you answer them yourself, it seems like you are trying to cover up something.
Lu Changji remained silent. Jiang Shu had no choice but to bite the bullet and recount the whole story of that day. Finally, she added, "Although Ye Qian and I were engaged, that's all in the past. I now treat Ye Qian like a brother, and he treats me the same. We will never cross the line. My thoughts are all on the prince right now, and I would never do anything shameless. I hope uncle won't misunderstand."
Lu Changji didn't respond to Jiang Shu's words. He opened a small drawer under the desk and took out a white porcelain bottle. "This is a special flesh-regenerating ointment made in the Imperial Pharmacy. It has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Apply it twice a day. Within three days, your ankle will be back to normal."
Muscle-growing cream?
Jiang Shu was stunned for a moment before she realized that Lu Changji had not misunderstood anything at all. Instead, she had judged Lu Changji by her own standards and misunderstood his intentions.
She held the skin-growing ointment in her hand, looking embarrassed, and fled from Yanxi Hall.
When I returned to Xinchun Garden, I happened to meet Zhao visiting Lu Changyi. Zhao usually had her eyes on the sky, and only when she talked to Lu Changyi would she show a bit of kindness.
She looked at Lu Changyi and whispered, "Your complexion seems to be a little rosier than a few days ago. Are you feeling better?"
Lu Changyi said, "I can't live happily, and I can't die either. I'll just have to endure this. God knows how much longer I can live."
He was used to being willful and never held back when speaking. It was really inappropriate for a man of eight feet to be so angry all day long. Fortunately, Zhao never argued with him. Seeing Jiang Shu coming back, she patiently reminded Jiang Shu: "The prince is weak, you must take extra care of him. The windows in the room cannot be opened, and don't let him go out for no reason. Don't let him get cold.
Food should also be soft and warm. Fruits and vegetables are good, but they are useless if they cannot be digested. It is best to drink some hot porridge, especially glutinous rice porridge, which is the best for warming the body.
Jiang Shu said: "My daughter-in-law will take care of the prince wholeheartedly and make him happy."
At this point, Jiang Shu suddenly remembered the housekeeper's matter. She said to Zhao, "Mother, is it because my daughter-in-law is too stupid that she makes you angry?"
"If you find anything wrong with my daughter-in-law, just point it out directly. I just hope you won't despise her."
Jiang Shu was intelligent and eager to learn. Selfishly, Zhao was willing to teach her, but thinking of Lu Changyi's request, she had to change the subject: "I just got a jar of Xuelingqing. Go and brew some and try it."
Zhao tried to change the subject, and Jiang Shu had no choice but to walk to the outer room.
After the door was closed, Zhao asked Lu Changyi, "Jiang is your legitimate wife. Sooner or later, the household affairs of the Marquisate will be handed over to her. It is for her own good that mother taught her to manage the household as soon as possible. Why don't you want mother to guide her in managing the household?"
Lu Changyi coughed lightly and leaned back on the pillow behind him: "My son has a short life span. He might pass away suddenly one day."
"I don't seek fame, fortune, or wealth. I just hope to live a happy life. As long as Jiang makes me happy, I want to be with her all the time."
Sunlight shone through the window lattice onto the ground, casting several long streaks of light. Lu Changyi stared at the streaks and murmured softly, "I can't leave this room anymore, so I'll let Jiang stay with me for a long time. I can't live without her anyway. As for the future, we'll talk about it later. My son can't control the future, just focus on the present."
Zhao was slightly stunned, and couldn't help feeling a little jealous. Her son was willful and unbridled, and even towards her, he would turn his face away whenever he wanted. But now, in order to please Jiang Shu, he was acting two-faced.
I don’t know what kind of ability Jiang Shu has that she could have bewitched her son to the point of losing his soul.
Zhao took a sip of melon slices and finally asked the question hidden in her heart: "Why did you insist on marrying Jiang?"
Although Lu Changyi and Jiang Shu were engaged as children, the social status of the two families was very different. If the Lu family did not recognize the marriage, the Jiang family would be helpless.
Zhao came from a prominent family and looked down on Jiang Shu, who came from a humble family. He always wanted to marry Lu Changyi to a lady of equal social status.
However, Lu Lin was determined to fulfill his promise, and Lu Changyi seemed to be possessed and would not marry anyone but Jiang Shu. He threatened to go on a hunger strike and did not eat for three days, almost dying. This forced Zhao to propose marriage to the Jiang family.
If Zhao had asked this question before the marriage, Lu Changyi would definitely not tell her the reason. But now that he has married Jiang Shu, Lu Changyi has no scruples.
It was the beginning of spring, and it was drizzling. Yang, bearing generous gifts, visited Zhao at the Xinyang Marquis's residence. Selfishly unwilling to allow Jiang Shu to appear before Zhao, Yang dismissed her to the outer courtyard, claiming she was marrying Dou Pao.
Lu Changyi was sitting in a wheelchair fighting crickets as usual. He had been weak since childhood and had only left the mansion a few times by the time he was twenty years old. His greatest pastime was fighting crickets.
Crickets may look inconspicuous, but they are extremely ferocious. Once they start fighting, they will not stop until the opponent is dead.
The days in the mansion were too dull and boring. Whenever Lu Changyi saw the defeated crickets being bitten all over by the victors, he would feel a strange sense of pleasure in his heart.
This pleasure was the only spice in his dull life.
The two crickets were fighting fiercely when Lu Changyi suddenly heard the sound of brisk footsteps.
The Zhao family was strict in managing their household. Everyone in the house had their movements and stances measured with a ruler. No one had ever been able to walk with such light steps.
He couldn't help but look up, and saw a woman in a brown dress running with her skirt lifted up. She was as beautiful as a lotus, with skin as white as jade. Because she ran so fast, her face was lightly pink.
If she encountered puddles of water, she would leap over them with a light jump, like a deer basking in the sun, her whole body full of vitality, filled with what he lacked most.
Lu Changyi's heart suddenly moved, and a greater sense of joy surged in his chest than when he watched a cricket fight.
At just one glance, he decided to marry Jiang Shu.
Lu Changyi looked at Zhao and said word by word, "Jiang makes me feel like I'm still alive."
Just one sentence left Zhao speechless. Nothing could make her happier than Lu Changyi being alive.
She said no more, picked up the celadon bowl on the Eight Immortals Table, and fed Lu Changyi the medicine spoonful by spoonful. After feeding him the medicine, Jiang Shu also made tea and went into the inner room.
Zhao didn't take the teacup from Jiang Shu's hand, but only scolded in a low voice: "Hu's belly is getting bigger every day, and look at you, there's no movement at all.
The most important thing for a woman is to have children for her husband's family. You can't even get pregnant, yet you still dream of being a housekeeper? That's just wishful thinking."
"I'm too lazy to say anything more. Just think carefully about it. If you can't get pregnant again, then you can leave me!"
After venting her anger, Zhao no longer paid any attention to Jiang Shu, flicked her sleeves and strode out of the room.
Jiang Shu's weakness was her offspring; whenever she talked about it, she would always feel very distressed. Jiang Shu lowered her eyes silently, her loneliness evident in her words.
She was born beautiful, her smile was as bright as the sunset, and when she was sad she was as calm as clear water. Looking at her pitiful appearance, Lu Changyi felt distressed but also had a strong desire.
He quietly touched his body, which felt heavy. Although it had not fully risen, it was full of vitality, like a beast ready to pounce.
Lu Changyi reached out and pulled Jiang Shu onto the couch, saying in a hoarse voice, "Shu'er, I've been taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor every day for the past few days, and I feel much stronger. Why don't we give it another try?"
The thin, soft body covered Jiang Shu, and Jiang Shu instinctively wanted to push him away, but thinking of her identity and the pressure from the Marquis's wife, Jiang Shu had to suppress the urge to push Lu Changyi away, raised her arms, and wrapped them around Lu Changyi's waist.
Jiang Shu recalled the pattern on the fire avoidance diagram and clenched her teeth. The pain came again. She only felt pain at night, but it turned out that it would hurt in the future as well.
Jiang Shu quietly comforted herself, thinking that she could just get through it, and maybe she would get pregnant this time, and she wouldn't have to worry anymore.
Unfortunately, nothing was accomplished in the end. Lu Changyi quickly deflated like a balloon.
Jiang Shu paused, noticing that the person beneath her was becoming increasingly stiff, and his body temperature was becoming colder and colder. Her heart slowly sank to the bottom.
Jiang Shu took a deep breath, got off Lu Changyi, and lay on her back on the couch.
The Qiangong bed was finely crafted, and the top of the bed was carved with a picture of a hundred children, a popular sight among wealthy families. Jiang Shu stared at the picture and couldn't help but shed two lines of tears.
The night was quiet. Although Jiang Shu felt very aggrieved, she did not dare to cry out loud. After Lu Changyi fell asleep, she put on her coat in the dark and walked out of the yard.
There is a lake in the Xinyang Marquis Mansion. The moonlight shines on the lake, reflecting shimmering light. Jiang Shu sits on the stone bench by the lake, holding the back of the chair with both hands, and finally bursts into tears.
She knew that she couldn't blame Lu Changyi, but what else could she do? She had done nothing wrong. Did she really want Zhao to divorce her and send her back to her parents' home on the grounds that she had no children?
Her heart felt like it was blocked by a ball of cotton. Although it was not fatal, she could not live happily. Apart from borrowing money, Jiang Shu could not find a good way to protect herself.
But she, but she...how could she do such a dirty thing unless it was absolutely necessary?
Her thoughts were in a tangled mess and she couldn't make sense of them. Jiang Shu sobbed softly, her tears like bursting dam, soaking her clothes.
Time passed little by little. After crying bitterly, Jiang Shu still didn't find a way to deal with Zhao, but she felt much better.
She sat up straight and was about to return to Xinchun Garden, but she saw a bony hand handing her a handkerchief.
"Sister-in-law, wipe your tears."
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