Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Climbing onto Lu Changji's Couch
Jiang Shu was quick-witted. When she saw Lu Changji turning his head, she understood about half of what was going on. She lowered her head to look at her clothes. Her outer shirt had been pulled down to her shoulders, revealing half of her shoulders. It was bright and shiny, and she seemed to be reluctant but also willing.
Jiang Shu secretly blamed herself for losing her composure. Even she felt frivolous when she saw her like this, let alone her uncle? Her uncle was a kind and upright man. What should she do if he mistakenly thought she was trying to seduce him?
Her heart was in a mess. Jiang Shu was anxious and annoyed. She hurriedly gathered her lapels together and tied the belt tightly.
The atmosphere fell into a brief stagnation. When Jiang Shu wanted to say something to ease the awkwardness, she suddenly saw Lu Changji squatting in front of her.
Some people are just like this, no matter what they do, they are always extremely graceful. Lu Changji has his shoulders straight, and he is calm and steady. Even when squatting on the ground, he looks very calm and elegant.
He took off Jiang Shu's shoes and held her left foot in his hand through her stockings. At first touch, he found that her foot was very small, soft and boneless, not even as big as his palm.
His movements hesitated slightly, and the strength in his hands couldn't help but lighten a little.
He pressed the acupoints on the soles of his feet with his index finger and asked in a low voice, "Where does it hurt in these places?"
His movements were very gentle, like a feather gently stroking the soles of her feet, making her feel a little itchy, and her toes curled up involuntarily.
Jiang Shu's face turned even redder, and her heartbeat quickened. She shook her head and whispered to Lu Changji, "It's my ankle that hurts."
Lu Changji moved his fingers to her ankle, rubbed the joints twice, and said gently, "It's a dislocated joint. Please be patient for a while."
After he finished speaking, he wrapped one arm around her foot and the other around her ankle. With both hands exerting force, he straightened the dislocated joint with a "click".
Jiang Shu couldn't help but let out a low cry when she felt the severe pain. Her voice was soft and the cry sounded like some kind of indescribable moan.
Of course, Jiang Shu didn't notice anything unusual. She just felt that her whole foot felt very comfortable after the severe pain. Although it was not as light as before, she could still walk.
This place is not as close to Jiaochun Garden as Xinchun Garden. Lu Changji helped Jiang Shu return to Xinchun Garden. Until she sat on the bed, Jiang Shu felt her left foot was hot, as if it was branded with some kind of mark.
It was already time to go to bed, but she was particularly energetic. She picked up the needle and thread beside her and started embroidering. It was unknown how long it was before Lu Changyi returned to the dormitory.
As soon as Lu Changyi entered the room, Jiang Shu saw some glaring blood foam on the hem of his clothes, and then she smelled a faint smell of blood. Although she knew that the bloody smell was the smell of chicken blood, she still frowned in displeasure.
With a new bride in the house, he could no longer be as carefree as before. Lu Changyi sensed something was wrong and turned to go to the bathroom to take a shower.
When Lu Changyi came out of the bathroom, Jiang Shu was drawing patterns next to a lamp. In the light, she looked even more beautiful and delicate, with skin as smooth as fat and without a single blemish.
Looking down along her cheek, I found that her clothes today were also very unique. Her belly was faintly visible under the gauze clothes. The mountains were majestic and the waist was slender, she looked like a bewitching monster.
Lu Changyi had an idea, but because of the terrible experience last time, he was a little nervous. He didn't dare to invite Jiang Shu to the bed directly, so he just sat next to her and was intimate with her.
If she can get up, invite her to join the bed. If she can't get up, there's nothing wrong with pretending nothing happened.
Lu Changyi put his hand on Jiang Shu's waist and rubbed it lightly.
There was no throbbing as she had imagined, nor the tingling sensation described in the storybook. Lu Changyi's hands were soft and tender, just like a woman's. Jiang Shu did not feel the slightest bit of excitement.
However, through his action, she knew that he also had that intention. She did not have any romantic feelings for him, but the feelings were illusory and could be cultivated slowly. The most important thing at the moment was to settle down and have a baby.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shu's movements became bolder. She leaned on Lu Changyi's shoulder and said softly, "The prince hasn't returned for a long time. I wanted to go pick you up, but I twisted my ankle. If it weren't for my uncle's help, I would have been delayed on the way."
Only then did Lu Changyi realize that Jiang Shu's left foot was bare, and her ankle was a little red and swollen.
She sprained her foot while looking for him. He was filled with guilt and wished he could suffer the pain for her.
I wanted to make her ankle feel better, but because I had no experience in taking care of anyone, I didn't know where to start.
Jiang Shu saw what Lu Changyi was thinking and said considerately, "Prince, please give me a cold compress. My ankle is burning. A cold compress will make it feel much better."
As if to provide timely help, Lu Changyi immediately ordered Fang Yu to bring cold water into the house.
Taking advantage of this gap, he helped Jiang Shu onto the bed, held Jiang Shu's calf and put it on his thigh. Lu Changyi had no experience in taking care of others, so his movements were clumsy, and he accidentally put Jiang Shu's feet on that place.
Their feet felt weak, and Jiang Shu noticed something was wrong. For a moment, both of them felt a little embarrassed, but because Fang Yu was there, they couldn't do anything and just pretended to be calm.
Fortunately, Fang Yu was squatting on the ground throwing a handkerchief, and due to limited vision, he could not see what was happening on the bed.
Lu Changyi took the handkerchief that Fang Yu had thrown to him and sent her out. The door closed, and Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously wanted to retract her foot.
How could Lu Changyi agree? With a red face, he held Jiang Shu's ankle and gently put a cold towel on it.
A cool feeling spread from her ankles, and the comfort dispelled the embarrassment. Jiang Shu squinted her eyes submissively, and at the same time she also noticed the changes under her feet.
It woke up little by little.
Finally, the month's treatment was worth it. Lu Changyi was overjoyed. He threw the handkerchief aside and pressed it down hard.
His handkerchief was tangled and his ankle still hurt. He had been pampered by Zhao Shi since he was a child, and he didn't know how to be gentle with women. But Jiang Shu couldn't interrupt him at this time. She just turned her head slightly to the side, staring at the tassel on the bed, thinking about how to tie it.
Happiness only lasted for a moment, and before Lu Changyi could take any action, it quickly disappeared.
The loss of hope is more painful and anxious than having no hope at all.
Lu Changyi was annoyed. He was ashamed and angry. He didn't want to face himself, nor did he dare to face Jiang Shu. He rolled off Jiang Shu dejectedly and turned to the other side in silence, leaving Jiang Shu with only his back.
Jiang Shu was also a little disappointed. Thinking of Lin's instructions, Yang's domineering behavior, and Zhao's aggressiveness, she couldn't help but worry about her own future and Jiang Rong.
She is not Lu Changyi. She does not have a wealthy background and a mother who can make decisions for her. Even if she wants to be willful, she has no capital.
She stared at the ceiling of the bed in silence for a long time before she dispelled the disappointment in her heart and stretched out her arms to hug Lu Changyi from behind.
A soft and sweet fragrance touched her back, and gentle words reached her ears. Jiang Shu conveyed all her tenderness and kindness to Lu Changyi.
Logically, Lu Changyi's anger should have subsided, but the reality was quite the opposite. The closer she was to him and the better she treated him, the more angry he became about his own incompetence.
She was his wife, belonging to him from head to toe, inside and out. The feeling that he could see and touch her but not eat her almost made him collapse.
Suddenly, an idea came to his mind, and Lu Changyi immediately wanted to possess Jiang Shu and leave an indelible mark on her to demonstrate his ownership of her.
Although that part of his body is useless, at least he still has a pair of nimble hands.
Lu Changyi turned over anxiously, facing Jiang Shu, and put his hand at the entrance.
Jiang Shu was stunned for a moment, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. She took a deep breath and quietly distanced herself from Lu Changyi.
"Prince, you are cold. Why are your hands so cold?" Jiang Shu moved Lu Changyi's hand away from there, interlocked her fingers with his, and passed her warm temperature to him.
A night-shining pearl hung above the bed, illuminating Jiang Shu's expression with every detail. Her eyes were shimmering with tenderness and tolerance. He was defeated by her gaze.
Jiang Shu did not sleep well that night. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired. She applied a thick layer of powder to cover the dark circles.
She got up early, but she didn't expect that Lin got up even earlier than her. The concubine who never left the house actually found the marquis's mansion early in the morning.
Lin had no idea. When he encountered something he couldn't solve, the first thing he thought of was to ask Jiang Shu for help.
Fortunately, she still knew how to protect Jiang Shu's face and did not cry in front of the servants. She only sobbed softly after Jiang Shu entered the outer room.
"Madam wants to give Rong'er to a Sima named He as a concubine."
"That Sima He is over forty years old, a few years older than your father. I heard that his harem is full of beautiful women, and he is a very philandering man.
The mistress of the house is also a harsh one, beating and scolding the concubines. I don’t know how many corpses are carried out of the backyard in a year. Rong’er’s character is softer than mud. If she enters the He family, she will be tortured to death.
Jiang Shu knew that this was Yang's revenge on her. She made it impossible for Jiang Ran to find a good family, so Yang did the same to Jiang Rong, making life difficult for her.
Yang was Jiang Rong's biological mother, so it was only natural for her to arrange a marriage for Jiang Rong, and even Jiang Shu had no say in it.
Jiang Shu pursed her lips. The most important thing now was to find another way to find a decent marriage for Jiang Rong. As long as the marriage was beneficial to Jiang Wenhuan and the Jiang family, even if Yang wanted to stop it, she couldn't persuade Jiang Wenhuan to go.
Unfortunately, every class has its own circles. Although Jiang Shu has married into the Xinyang Marquis's Mansion, she lives in Xinchun Garden every day to take care of Lu Changyi. She has the title of the Crown Prince's wife in vain and has never gone out to socialize, let alone meet important people.
If I can't make friends with a noble person, how can I find a good marriage for Jiang Rong? At this point, I can only ask Zhao for help.
Jiang Shu sighed softly and said to Lin: "Don't worry, Auntie, there will always be a way to solve it."
After saying this, Jiang Shu ordered Fang Yu to open Lu Changyi's private vault, picked out three or four pieces of red gold jewelry and put them in a box. She then said to Aunt Lin in a gentle voice, "When you return home, give these jewelry to mother. Mother values money like her life, and even for the sake of the jewelry, she will postpone the engagement for my third sister."
Lin weighed those red gold jewelry, which weighed a total of ten taels. They were finely crafted and were obviously not ordinary items. Except for the duke's family, ordinary families could not afford them.
These pieces of jewelry could not only please Yang, but also hint to her that Jiang Shu could open a private vault in the Marquis' Mansion.
It's ridiculous to say that Jiang Shu has been married to the Marquis's Mansion for half a year, not only has she not been able to get involved in the household chores, but she has to rely on a few pieces of jewelry to keep up appearances.
Lin was timid and inexperienced. She didn't understand the deep meaning behind Jiang Shu's gift of the red gold jewelry. She just stroked the luxurious gold-threaded peacock jewel and looked at Jiang Shu cautiously, "These jewels are so luxurious. You gave away three of them at once. Will my son-in-law blame me?"
Lu Changyi grew up in a luxurious environment, with everything provided for him. The things he cared least about were material things.
Jiang Shu just said it was okay: "Aunt, go back with peace of mind. The prince treats me very well and will never get angry with me because of a few pieces of jewelry."
Lin looked up at Jiang Shu and saw that everything she wore was very elegant. Knowing that the Marquis' Mansion would not restrict her in terms of clothing, she felt relieved and went home with a box of jewelry.
Jiang Shu half-leaned back on the chaise longue, sighed heavily, and raised her hand to rub her eyebrows.
At this time Fang Yu reported that Doctor Qin had arrived and had just finished taking the prince's pulse.
Jiang Shu stood up and went to the flower hall. She asked Doctor Qin in a gentle voice, "The prince has been recuperating for a month. I wonder if he is feeling any better?"
Imperial Physician Qin's explanation remained the same as it had been at the beginning. He said, "Although the prince's health remains weak, his male health has improved slightly. His kidney energy is stronger than before."
There's a slight improvement, but will it still work? As her life and property are at stake, Jiang Shu no longer plays fast and loose with Doctor Qin. She goes straight to the point: "I've been here for more than half a year, and I haven't been able to get pregnant. This has become a source of worry for me.
I also ask Dr. Qin to help me understand whether I can still get pregnant.
Imperial Physician Qin sighed softly and whispered, "With the help of aphrodisiacs, the Crown Prince could barely have sex, but his long-term use of drugs has damaged his foundation. Even if he could barely have sex, it would be difficult for the Madam to conceive."
The sword hanging overhead fell upon her, slicing Jiang Shu to pieces. She had lost all hope. Her heart ached, as if it were being torn apart. Pain roared, lingering through her limbs and bones.
She stood on the ground with a pale face, as if the life had been sucked out of her. The light in her eyes dimmed little by little until it disappeared.
Despite her despair, Jiang Shu still had some sense. She took a deep breath and whispered to Doctor Qin, "Doctor Qin, the prince is weak and I'm afraid he can't withstand such a blow. I hope you can keep this secret and don't tell him that you can't have children."
Imperial Physician Qin nodded and said, "A doctor's heart is filled with compassion. Madam Crown Prince, rest assured. The Crown Prince's illness is known to heaven and earth, to you and me. I will never let anyone else know."
Jiang Shu didn't even know how she got to Yanxi Hall. Zhao had been in a bad mood these days, and she had been avoiding her whenever possible.
But there are only two months left in the March deadline. Even if she can find a way to get pregnant, it will not happen overnight. She must arrange a good marriage for Jiang Rong before Yang takes action.
When Jiang Shu arrived at Yanxi Hall, Zhao was washing up. Zhao was very concerned about her reputation and would never meet anyone with unkempt hair. When she heard that Jiang Shu wanted to see her, she asked her to wait outside the door.
After she finished washing and combing her hair, the kitchen happened to deliver the meal to the dining room. Zhao didn't want Jiang Shu to stand at the table and affect her appetite, so she went to the dining room by herself and let Jiang Shu poke her feet outside the flower hall.
Under normal circumstances, standing for an hour or so would not be a big deal, but Jiang Shu had just sprained her leg the night before, and after learning that Lu Changyi was disabled, she was physically and mentally exhausted, and could not bear to stand for a long time.
However, after standing for half an hour, she felt a pain in her ankle. Since her elders had not given her permission, she could not leave without permission, so she leaned against the door frame for support.
Painful times are always particularly difficult to endure. After a while, Jiang Shu broke out in a thin layer of sweat due to the discomfort in her ankle.
She lowered her head to take the embroidered handkerchief from her waist, and at this moment, a pair of Liuhe boots embroidered with Ruyi patterns appeared in her sight.
Liuhe boots are official boots exclusively for cabinet ministers, and only Lu Changji is qualified to wear them in the entire Xinyang Marquis Mansion.
Seeing those boots, Jiang Shu's nerves tensed, and a flush crept up her cheeks. She knew she shouldn't covet Lu Changji, but she couldn't risk her life for her chastity.
Lu Changyi was dying, so she had to climb onto Lu Changji's bed and bear a child. After having sex with Lu Changji, she would give him some aphrodisiacs and continue their relationship, as long as she didn't arouse his suspicion.
Jiang Shu felt guilty and embarrassed. She should have greeted Lu Changji openly, but at that moment, she didn't even have the courage to look up. She was afraid of revealing something.
Jiang Shu pretended to be deaf and dumb, pretending not to see Lu Changji, and lowered her head to stare at the floor tiles under her feet.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. The footsteps were getting closer and closer, and the pair of Liuhe boots appeared beside her. Jiang Shu had no choice but to raise her head.
When their eyes met, Lu Changji's dark eyes were as calm as ever, but she was flustered and felt quite ashamed.
Now that the person was right in front of her, she couldn't just run away. In this situation, she could only bite the bullet and greet Lu Changji.
Jiang Shu took a deep breath, tried her best to put on a dignified and gentle smile, and squatted down to greet Lu Changji.
Lu Changji gestured to Jiang Shu to stand up, glanced vaguely at her ankle, and said softly, "Are you here to pay your respects to Mother? Why don't we go inside together so we don't have to disturb Mother's meal again and again."
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