Chapter 31 Spring is here, are you in heat? ...
Although his attitude wasn't great, the piece was undeniably beautiful. Having such a finished product before you always fills you with pride; the craftsmanship is truly exquisite, with no room for further refinement.
Lu Min strolled leisurely onto the carriage, and Shi Mi hurriedly followed. After they were seated, Shi Mi instructed him, "I have never been someone's daughter-in-law before, and I don't know how to deal with my husband's family. You must take care of me at all times and make sure I don't offend anyone."
That's just how strange she is; she worries about offending people, but not about being bullied when she first arrives. And rightly so, she's not simple to begin with, and pretending to be an ordinary servant in front of him is truly humiliating.
He turned his face away and casually replied, "If you talk less, you won't offend anyone."
She looked at him angrily, "You seem to have a lot of prejudice against me."
He said he dared not, “I’ve already submitted to you so much, I’m even willing to peel shrimp for you, what more do you want?”
"So you peeled a plate of shrimp, which made the Grand Tutor feel very wronged. How long has it been since you did any work yourself? A man, with such delicate skin and tender flesh, if you didn't have the title of Grand Tutor, no one would think it was inappropriate for you to run the Nightless City."
For most people, mocking him for making money at Nightless City would be the greatest humiliation. However, even with the words thrown in Lu Min's face, he remained unfazed, slowly saying, "That's why I say, ladies, keep your mouths shut to avoid offending people." As he spoke, he raised his hands, frowning regretfully as he examined them, "Even now, I can still vaguely smell a fishy odor that I can't seem to get rid of no matter how much I wash it."
Shi Mi looked away with disdain. "If peeling shrimp makes you feel fishy, what will you do when you need to use the restroom? Do you really need someone else to do such a private thing?"
This drew his sullen gaze, as expected. She smiled mischievously and pointed out the window, "Look, the night view of Shangdu is also very beautiful."
Indeed, the nights in Baiyujing were no different from those of a decade or so ago. The ruler had changed, but for the common people, the first few years were simply the most painful; after a while, life went on as usual. If family members died in the war, it was simply considered bad luck; few would question the rulers—what did ants know about establishing a nation!
The carriages passed through the orderly alleyways, the horses' hooves clattering, the night exceptionally clear.
After traveling for a while, they saw a brightly lit area ahead, which was the neighborhood where the Lu family lived. Most of the Lu family clan members had built their residences here. However, since it was a family reunion that night, none of the clan members were present. Before the carriage even reached the gate of the mansion, they saw Lu Fengjun and his family waiting outside.
"Let's get off the bus together," Lu Min said, grabbing Shi Mi. Shi Mi remembered the fishy smell he had mentioned, tried to shake him off but failed, and had no choice but to be pulled up by him.
The Lu family members stood facing up in front of the car. When they saw them appear, Lu Fengjun smiled and said, "You've had a long and tiring journey. I was so happy when my eldest son said you were coming back."
Lu Min led Shi Mi to pay their respects, saying, "This is my mother."
She tucked her hands behind her back and bowed, saying, "Mother."
Lu Fengjun politely declined the formalities, naturally not forgetting how this young lady had so bluntly explained propriety back at Shanhefang. Although she was quite displeased, her good manners allowed her to maintain her composure, and she even warmly took the young lady's hand, offering her earnest concern and care.
"Young master, the dinner is ready, all your favorite dishes." A beautiful woman smiled gently, her face as smooth as satin under the lamplight, her eyes filled with tender affection. She then looked at Shimi and said, "Sister-in-law, please take your seat."
This must be Lu Yin's wife. She is a beautiful woman. I have never seen such a well-dressed lady since I descended the mountain from Shimi.
Lu Fengjun introduced Shimi, "This is your sister-in-law. She entered the family a few years before you and has two sons. She used to say that she was very lonely without sisters. Now that Erlang is married, the sisters-in-law can get along like sisters from now on."
Since her mother-in-law said so, the eldest sister-in-law naturally complied, treating Shimi politely but without any inappropriate overt intimacy. Leading everyone inside, she walked alongside Shimi, speaking softly, "I heard that your wife is your uncle's adopted daughter, which is a double blessing. It's a pity we didn't bring her back before, otherwise we could have gotten to know each other sooner… Is your maiden name Xiafang? My maiden name is Yue, and my maiden name is Mingzhen. This residence was a gift from His Majesty after the capital was established. Young Master Shimi only stayed a few days before going to Zhongdu, so there are probably many places he's unfamiliar with. If you need anything tonight, just send someone to ask me; don't be shy."
Shimi smiled and thanked her, saying, "Sister-in-law is a thoughtful person; she must have arranged everything perfectly for us."
Yue Mingzhen smiled sheepishly, then turned to look at Lu Min, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Xiao Lang… He used to be in poor health, and I was always worried that the people around him wouldn’t take good care of him. It seems that he has fully recovered today, which is truly a cause for celebration.”
If Shi Mi's feelings for Lu Min were purely the Creator's appreciation for the created being, then this sister-in-law's feelings for the young man showed a concern that transcended kinship.
Shi Mi was an expert at observation. According to her, Yue Mingzhen had glanced at Lu Min five times along the way, and after they took their seats, he sat diagonally opposite her, frequently casting glances at her. Occasionally, when their eyes met, Yue Mingzhen seemed somewhat uncomfortable. Shi Mi felt she had discovered a huge secret: could Lu Min's continued celibacy be related to this sister-in-law?
Thinking of this, she became very excited and ate her meal in a daze, but she watched the drama closely. This secret relationship between the sister-in-law and the brother-in-law was truly turbulent. By the end of the banquet, she was basically certain that there was more to the relationship between the two than met the eye.
A dignified Grand Tutor, so lacking in self-respect, truly dragging down her fifth son. She created this body not so that he and his sister-in-law could engage in any illicit affair.
So when they sat in the flower hall for tea after dinner, she deliberately chose a good spot to block their view. Because of their marriage, the elders and brothers had to give them congratulatory gifts, including a heavy embroidered curtain of a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons made by her sister-in-law, which she handed to Shimi to wish them a son soon.
Shimi held the curtain embroidered with little figures and said with sincere admiration, "This embroidery is very hard on the eyes, sister-in-law, you've put a lot of thought into it."
Yue Mingzhen just smiled and said, "There aren't many people in the family. It would be more lively if we could have a few more children."
So it wasn't Lu Fengjun who urged them to have a child, but this sister-in-law. As if she were eager to get rid of some obsession, she hoped they would have a child, as if once they had a child, everything would be settled.
Shi Mi's curiosity swelled to an unprecedented extreme at this moment. She was eager to end this insincere politeness so that she could question Lu Min as soon as possible.
From the reception hall to his residence, one had to pass through an exquisite garden. Walking slowly along the secluded path, each step was a test of her patience. Finally, she couldn't bear it any longer and dismissed the maid who was leading the way. "No need to see us off," she said, "we can find our way ourselves."
The maidservant immediately stopped, bowed, and stepped aside. Shimi grabbed Lu Min's arm and walked several steps quickly. Once they were out of sight, she asked him in a low voice, "Are you and your sister-in-law having an affair?"
These words caused Lu Min's expression to change slightly, and he said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? Where did this private affair come from!"
Shi Mi clicked his tongue. "You must be torn between two options, which is why you fled to Zhongdu and refused to return to the capital. I'm very interested in this story. Tell me about it in detail from the beginning."
He tried to break free from her grasp, but failed. She forcibly pulled him onto the corridor, pressed him against the flower wall, and threatened him: "No affair can escape my eyes. Are you going to talk or not? If you don't, don't blame me for resorting to violence in broad daylight."
Lu Min had nowhere to hide, and with many eyes secretly watching him in the mansion, he had no choice but to back down for the time being, hanging his hands and saying, "Let's go back to my room first, and we'll talk about it when we get back."
Shi Mi finally gave up and was pulled into the dormitory. Once inside, he quickly sent the man away, then stared at him intently, waiting for him to confess truthfully.
"What exactly do you want me to say?" His face was etched with weariness. "Do I have to fabricate some outlandish story to satisfy you?"
Shi Mi said that was not right, "Your sister-in-law's eyes are practically overflowing with honey when she looks at you, and you still deny that you two have an affair? I've always said that before the poison took effect at the age of twenty-three, you had plenty of time to get engaged and married, how could you not even have a wife? That doesn't make sense."
Lu Min's face grew increasingly grim. "I was only twenty-five when I helped the Yan King establish his rule over the world. Before that, I was fighting battles everywhere. How could I have had time to get engaged or married? I've said it before, I haven't had any affairs with women. No means no. There's no use in pressing me any further."
"Then what's going on with your sister-in-law? You two are about the same age, right? Could it be that although she married your brother, she actually has feelings for you?"
Perhaps it was just a lucky coincidence, but Shimi noticed a glint in his eyes and immediately shouted, "I guessed right!"
He looked away, still exuding that aloof and proud air, and said coldly, "I can't control what others think, but I have a clear conscience, and that's enough for me."
Shi Mi couldn't help but feel a little disappointed; it was so simple that it immediately lost its appeal. He shook his head and sighed, "With your temperament, it's unbelievable that any woman would like you; your taste is truly discerning."
Her unwarranted questioning and sarcasm finally provoked his displeasure, and he slammed his judgment on her: "Evil, pretentious, and suspicious!"
The fire of delusion that had just been extinguished was reignited by his words, and she pointed at herself in surprise, asking, "Are you talking about me? What about you? Cold-blooded, ungrateful, fickle!"
Then they each became angry, each occupying their own territory along the Chu-Han border, staring at each other menacingly, with no indication that they would ever reconcile.
Just as two figures carrying water were projected onto the window screen, someone spoke slowly into the room: "My lord, the hot water has been delivered. If you need to call me during the night, just pull the silver bell by the bedside."
Neither of them uttered a sound. After standing there for a while, Shimi decided not to argue with him. She scooped up some hot water and went to the inner room to wash herself. After washing, she lay back on the bed, and the moment her body touched the soft brocade quilt, her mood quickly improved.
Outside, there was the sound of dripping water. Before long, he entered the inner chamber and silently lay down beside her.
He lay on his back, silent, intending to drift off to sleep. Just as he was drifting off, he suddenly heard someone ask, "Who is that man in Liren Alley?"
Her drowsiness vanished instantly, and she opened her eyes wide in the dim light. Although she was prepared, his sudden mention of Liren Alley still made her heart skip a beat.
"It seems the Puppeteer has returned," she replied vaguely. "The Puppeteer is a man; haven't you seen him before?"
He said no, “He looks like a scholar, and his daily routine is no different from that of an ordinary person. I just want to know if he is a real person or a fake one.”
Shi Mi said "Oh," and said, "You mean the Fifth One? He's the Puppeteer's disciple and has been by his side for many years. Whether you say he's a real person or a fake one doesn't matter."
"Why have I never seen you before?" He turned his head, his eyes bright in the darkness. "I thought you were the one who had been by the Puppeteer's side the longest."
Shi Mi stammered, "Yan Shi is a highly accomplished master from beyond the secular world, and his capable henchmen are countless. Let's not pry too much into the affairs of such a master; let's go to sleep early."
She thought she had dealt with him well, and he indeed stopped talking. But just as she was about to relax, she heard him say in a low voice, "Fifth... I remember this body used to be called Xiao Wu."
Shi Mi was completely baffled. "Is it wrong for Yan Shi to like this number? He likes to name his masterpieces with the number five."
He chuckled. "Isn't Xiao Wu a stand-in for Wu? The Puppet Master made you take care of this body, perhaps to fulfill your obsession?"
"What obsession?" Shimi asked in surprise. "A half-Yan cannot marry a Yanren. Do you think the Yanshi specially made Xiao Wu to lure you into marrying me and using you as a substitute for Wu Di Hai? The problem is that you and Wu Di Hai are nothing alike. A distant water cannot quench an immediate thirst."
He was an incredibly perceptive man; he quickly pieced together the information he needed from between the lines, “The Yanren… Fifth Sea, a name with a surname. But ‘Little Five,’ he calls her so casually…”
Little did he know that the truth was not as complicated as he thought; it was simply because his senior brother's skills and knowledge were superior to hers.
If they can't answer a question, they'll just try to cover it up with a false accusation. Shimi turned away and muttered, "They're trying to frame me and retaliate against me for suspecting that you and your sister-in-law are having an affair. I won't fall for it."
She secretly pondered to herself that this person had indeed never relaxed his surveillance of Lirenfang. Fortunately, Senior Brother Gu had covered for her with the puppeteer, allowing her to extricate herself and complete her plan. Otherwise, if he couldn't find the puppeteer, he might have become suspicious of her, and if he kept a close watch on her every day, she would truly be unable to move.
Fortunately, he didn't dare to make a decision to verify it yet, and he would deal with it later. Shi Mi comforted herself and was about to fall asleep when the person behind her leaned in, slowly embraced her, and whispered in her ear: "Ami, I am weak today, why don't you help me prolong my life?"
Shi Mi felt a chill run down her spine and turned to ask him, "Spring is here, are you in heat?"
He didn't speak, his cheek almost touching hers, and after a long while he finally said in a hoarse voice, "I'm just following my heart and want to be closer to my wife."
"He's really gone mad."
She angrily tried to knock him over, but he was prepared, and the several slaps aimed at his face were no joke. He seized the opportunity to restrain her hands, pressed her against his chest, and murmured, "Don't move, and I won't be rude to you."
"Isn't this considered rude? It was one thing for him to touch her when she was delirious, but now that he's awake, he dares to lay a hand on her. Sure enough, the wilder your heart, the bolder your courage."
But it was already very late at night, and she was too lazy to fight with him in bed. If he wanted to hug her, so be it. She had hugged him several times already, so one more time wouldn't make a difference.
Fortunately, he was a man of his word, and the entanglement ended there, without any further delusions or rash actions.
The next day, after waking up, everyone had gone their separate ways. I got up, washed, dressed, and went to the Lu family ancestral hall. After paying my respects to the ancestors, I knelt before Lu Xuanzhou's spirit tablet.
Lu Fengjun personally lit incense and offered it respectfully, saying earnestly, "My lord, Yue Lin's career has been smooth sailing, and he is now married. Please bless the whole family with peace, and bless Erlang with good health, so that he may have children soon and continue the Lu family line."
I bowed deeply, and the smell of burning paper money in the ancestral hall assaulted my mind.
As he straightened up, he saw a long string of crimson gold characters on the memorial tablet, bearing the imperial title and name, with a rhinoceros horn scroll beside it. It was a pity that Lu Xuanzhou's pursuit of Senior Brother Gu had been over a decade ago; the man was dead, and everything was now impossible to trace.
Having reported back to the ancestors at the ancestral hall, he considered his duties fulfilled. Leaving the hall, Lu Min cupped his hands in greeting to Lu Fengjun, saying, "Tomorrow is the Emperor's birthday, and we must prepare to enter Longcheng to offer our congratulations. I will not linger any longer." He then said to Lu Yin, "The documents from the High Council have been sent to the Nine Chapters Prefecture, and most can be implemented. However, there are still a few decrees that require further consideration. Before I leave, I will convene the Second Minister and the other ministers to discuss them. Once everything is settled, I will return to Chong'an City."
Lu Yin said, "Okay. At home, he is the elder brother, but in the court, he is just one of the ministers, and he has to listen to his younger brother's orders in everything."
As it was time to say goodbye, Lu Yin's wife stepped out from behind him, smiling as she looked at Lu Min with gentle eyes.
Shi Mi, a naturally irritating person, grinned at Lu Min and said, "Husband, I hit it off with my sister-in-law at first sight. May I invite her to our home as a guest?"
He knew perfectly well what she was up to, and glanced down at her, saying, "Madam, you can make your own decisions about things at home. Sister-in-law is family, so you can come and go as you please. However, we can't stay in Shangdu for more than a few days. The Six Guards Generals are coming to the capital to celebrate the birthday, and there are only a few advisors in Zhongdu to take charge of the overall situation right now. We can't afford to delay, so we must go back immediately."
Shi Mi was a little disappointed, but then smiled at Yue Mingzhen and said, "If we can't make it this time, then we'll do it next time. Next time I'll prepare some trinkets from Zhongdu and bring them to my sister-in-law and her nephews and nieces to play with."
Her drooping pipa sleeves were gently tugged, and when she turned her head again, Lu Min had already gone straight towards the carriage.
She had no choice but to hurry and follow. The Lu couple saw them off to their carriage. After Shimi was seated, she waved to them through the window, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, elder brother and sister-in-law. We will return the favor next time we return to the capital."
The carriage began to move, and Lu Min's icy voice, as cold as a snake, slid into her ears, "Did you do this on purpose?"
Shimi waved her hand lightly, "Don't be so stingy. Look at your brother, he's much more generous than you. Didn't you say before that we're all family, free to come and go as we please? Why are you coming after me behind my back?"
His brows furrowed even more. "Don't associate too much with the people from the old house."
Shimin nodded, "I know, I know, there's no need to associate with them." As she spoke, she tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder, sighing deeply, "The smell of incense in the ancestral hall is making me nauseous, could I be pregnant?!"
He snorted, "As expected, there's someone else outside."
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