Chapter 182 Qixi Festival Special (My Wife’s Extra) Everyone Covets My Little Husband…
On the night of Qixi Festival, the imperial palace was adorned with silk lanterns, as if transported to the Milky Way. The palace had not witnessed such a grand event for a long time, and welcoming ministers and their families in one night naturally brought a great deal of excitement.
Lu Huai was holding a revolving lantern with a painting of a magpie bridge on it. His snow-white brocade robe was embroidered with tiny silver threads, and when the wind blew, it seemed as if starlight was falling on his lapels.
As soon as he entered the hall with his colleagues from the Hanlin Academy, everyone's eyes were focused on him - especially Pei Yu, who was surrounded by people, and Cheng Ruochen, who was sitting alone and lazily fiddling with the wine utensils.
Lu Huai noticed this and smiled at them, then nodded gently to his colleagues and acquaintances. Led by the eunuch, he and Shen Chensheng took their seats.
It was the first time for Lu Huai to attend such a large banquet with his family. Despite his calm appearance, he was still a little excited inside.
"Lu Xiuzhuan has arrived just in time," the little eunuch's shrill voice broke the silence.
Lu Huai looked up, feeling terrified, and met a pair of hawk-like sharp eyes.
At this moment, a small image of him is reflected inside.
High above, Chu Yuanting, dressed in bright yellow attire, sat in the main seat, his fingertips caressing the jade cup absentmindedly. "I was just saying, Lu Xiuzhuan is the only one in this palace worthy of this 'Magpie Climbing a High Branch' lantern."
Lu Huai was flattered and quickly bowed to express his gratitude, saying softly, "Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed to accept your praise."
Chu Yuanting didn't like his politeness and distance, so he raised his hand and said, "Today is a family dinner, no need to be so polite."
As soon as Lu Huai returned to his original position, the bored Shen Chensheng secretly grabbed his hand under the table and wrapped it.
For him, being teased in such a big scene was a bit out of the ordinary.
Lu Huai pulled it away somewhat embarrassedly, and turned his head to express his small protest to Shen San.
Unexpectedly, she met Cheng Ruochen's gaze.
Lu Huai didn't know whether his gaffe had been seen by everyone, and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
Fortunately, Cheng Ruochen probably didn't notice these details.
The scholar who won the imperial examination was wearing a black brocade robe today with dark patterns embroidered on the collar. He was holding a white jade wine glass between his fingertips. The wine in the glass was swaying, and it was unknown how much he had drunk.
He didn't know how much he had secretly drunk, and there was a layer of drunkenness in his eyes. Only when he looked at Lu Huai did the emotions surging in his eyes reveal a little.
Cheng Ruochen raised his glass towards him from a distance, his knuckles turning white from the force. Lu Huai just thought it was a polite gesture, smiled and nodded in response, and also readily smiled.
Chen Chensheng, however, was not happy about their display of camaraderie. After all, the others wouldn't be so blatant, so he endured the sly glances at his husband.
He had known for a long time that this man had evil ambitions, and he certainly couldn't indulge him.
So he naturally straightened the wrinkles of Lu Huai's brocade robe, and gently pressed his fingers on the texture of the lapel, silently declaring his sovereignty.
For a moment, the ministers began to whisper, envying the harmonious life of the number one scholar and his wife.
Shen Chensheng lowered his voice very softly: "There are many people in the palace, don't go around socializing all the time, it will tire you out."
Lu Huai only thought about his concern, and for a moment forgot that these hands had teased him just now. His fingertips touched the other's slightly cool palm, and he said gently:
"No problem, just chatting with a friend. If you feel tired, go to the side hall to rest. I'll come find you when I'm done."
He didn't notice the tension in Shen Chensheng's words, nor did he see the warning look in his eyes when he swept across the people in the hall - he knew too well what these people were thinking about Lu Huai.
Fortunately, during the sensitive period of Qixi Festival, Pei Yu was chatting with his brothers in the army in order to avoid Chen Meng who was still pestering him, and had no time to get involved.
Otherwise, he would have to be wary of more than just the present.
"Lu Xiuzhuan, His Majesty wants you to come over." The young eunuch came to deliver the message again.
Just as Lu Huai was about to take a step, Cheng Ruochen suddenly staggered over, reeking of alcohol. His steps seemed unsteady, but his elbow "accidentally" bumped into Lu Huai's forearm.
The wine cup in his hand tilted, and a few drops of wine splashed on Lu Huai's snow-white brocade robe. Cheng Ruochen immediately leaned over to wipe it, intentionally or unintentionally, and his fingertips, warm with the wine, gently rubbed Lu Huai's cuffs.
The voice was vague but deliberately close:
"I'm sorry, Yanjin, I think I drank a little too much..."
The touch was light and quick, like a feather brushing past. Although there was skin contact between the forearm and hand during the process, Lu Huai did not think much of it, thinking that the other party was drunk and misbehaving.
She even hurriedly supported him: "It's okay, it's just a piece of clothing, Xuan Ning, don't worry about it."
"Stand steady, don't fall."
He was completely unaware that Cheng Ruochen's hand hanging by his side had already secretly pinched a silver thread that had fallen from his sleeve - it was the silver thread embroidered with stars on the brocade robe. Cheng Ruochen pinched it at his fingertips and hid it in his sleeve, but he covered it tightly by taking advantage of his drunken state.
Walking up to Chu Yuanting, the emperor pointed to the empty seat beside him and said, "My dear minister, please sit here. I will talk to you about the progress of compiling the Complete Book."
Lu Huai sat down as he was told, the scent of ambergris lingering around his nose. Chu Yuanting's eyes fell on him from time to time, with scrutiny, but also with some indescribable meaning.
Originally, he wanted to talk about business, but after a few rounds of questions and answers, he suddenly felt bored and inexplicably wanted to know more.
"I heard that General Pei has been visiting your house frequently recently?" Chu Yuanting suddenly spoke, his voice sounding like he was checking the household registration.
Although Lu Huai was confused, he still answered truthfully:
"Your Majesty, General Pei is my fellow townsman and a close friend. We often meet to compete in chess."
Chu Yuanting nodded, picked up the wine glass and took a sip: "General Pei is young and promising, it's a good thing for him to be on good terms with you. But..."
He paused, his fingertips circling the jade cup. "I heard that Minister Cheng has been visiting the Imperial Academy quite a bit lately, and he even gave you a lot of writing materials."
Lu Huai hadn't expected Chu Yuanting to pay such attention to him, so he answered truthfully, "Lord Cheng is very knowledgeable. When we discussed academic matters, he would occasionally give me some writing materials. I also gave him a few rare books in return, as a token of my reciprocity."
Chu Yuanting smiled and didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he ordered the eunuch to fetch the tools for begging for skills. "Today is Qixi Festival. People all have the custom of begging for skills. Lu Xiuzhuan, why don't you give it a try and let me see your dexterity."
The golden needle, colored thread, and plain embroidery cloth were placed in front of him. Even though Lu Huai rarely touched these things, he had no choice but to pick up the golden needle and thread the needle.
His fingers were long and white, and they looked particularly beautiful holding the golden needle. Many people in the hall were glued to his hands. At first, he was very unfamiliar with it, but he was indeed smart and gradually got into the groove.
Of course, not everyone was watching. They were eating and drinking, and the atmosphere was humorous and harmonious.
It's a rare and pleasant moment to have so many people here and without any factional strife.
However, Chen Chensheng still secretly hated the emperor for making up a story out of nothing and making so many girls with double eyes gather on his little husband.
Pei Yu seized the opportunity, came over with a wooden box, and handed it to Lu Huai, his tone a little anxious:
"Yanjin, the day before yesterday I went to the border and found a piece of fine jade. I carved a peace locket out of it. Wear it for fun. It will keep you safe."
Pei Yu made a living in the army, living in the harsh conditions. Perhaps it was because he drank too much, but at the moment he felt a little uneasy, and the tips of his ears were slightly red.
Chen Chensheng's face turned green. What was the meaning of him giving this gift at this moment? Was he treating it like air?
But Lu Huai didn't think much about it. It had not been long since he and Pei Yu had resolved their rift, so he naturally cherished this friendship very much.
So he took the wooden box with a smile and said jokingly, "On this Qixi Festival, instead of giving beautiful things to beautiful women, you're wasting them on me. Don't you regret it?"
"What are you regretting? It's not like I have anyone else I want to send it to." Pei Yu smiled bitterly despite Shen Chensheng's stabbing look. Fortunately, Lu Huai did not doubt his motives and accepted it naturally.
Cheng Ruochen sat in the corner, stroking the silver thread in his sleeve with his fingertips, his eyes fixed on the jade pendant in Lu Huai's hand. The dark ink in his eyes surged more violently, and his knuckles turned white from being pinched.
He also wanted to give Lu Huai something, but he was not Pei Yu. Without this solid bond as a foundation, anything he did rashly might make Lu Huai wary.
So I can only use this sneaky method to steal some traces of Lu Huai as a solace.
Like a bedbug that lives in damp places.
Lu Huai was concentrating on threading the needle, passing the red thread through the golden needle, and was just about to embroider the outline of a lotus.
Cheng Ruochen walked over again.
The wine cup in his hand had long been empty, and now, drunken, he leaned over, almost leaning on Lu Huai. Lu Huai subconsciously reached out to support him, but Cheng Ruochen took the opportunity to move closer, his nose almost touching the side of Lu Huai's neck, and his voice was vague and drunken: "Yan Jin... your sachet smells so good..."
The breath was strongly alcoholic, yet mixed with a hint of deliberate closeness. Lu Huai felt a little uncomfortable and blushed, but he still politely pushed him away.
"You're drunk, find a place to rest for a while."
But he didn't see that the moment Cheng Ruochen was pushed away, his fingertips quickly hooked over the small sachet hanging around his waist.
——That was the sachet that Chen Chensheng had just embroidered for him the day before, and it contained calming spices. Cheng Ruochen pinched a corner of the sachet and, while turning around, pulled off the tassel and hid it in his sleeve.
Shen Chensheng had sharp eyes and caught a glimpse of Cheng Ruochen's deliberate little movements. His face instantly turned as cold as the frost in severe winter.
If he had known that these people were coveting his Ah Huai, he would have never expected that they would be so shameless as to refuse to let go even if they got a chance to get hold of him.
Normally, she could still rely on Lu Huai's favor to coax him into not agreeing to let this dissolute guy go out for drinks. She thought that in this palace banquet with so many people coming and going, under the bright and clear sky, this person should not be so ignorant of what the world is, but she still underestimated Cheng Ruochen's shamelessness.
Shen Chensheng couldn't bear it any longer.
Regardless of his usual calm demeanor, he quickly rushed forward, grabbed Lu Huai's arm, and pulled him tightly against himself, wishing to completely separate him from Cheng Ruochen.
His voice was tinged with coldness:
"Master Cheng looks quite drunk. If you are not feeling well, why not have the guards take you to rest? Otherwise, you will lose your composure here and become a laughingstock to His Majesty."
Cheng Ruochen refused to leave. Even though he was swaying, his amorous peach blossom eyes were still astonishingly bright as he stared at Lu Huai:
"I won't rest... I still want to talk about academic matters with Yan Jin... Yan Jin..."
Lu Huai was also a little drunk at this moment, with a blush on his cheeks.
As he spoke, he couldn't help but reach out to pull Lu Huai's wrist, but as soon as his fingertips touched Lu Huai's skin, he was slapped away by Shen Chensheng.
"Master Cheng!" Shen Chensheng's voice turned a little colder. "My husband is begging for skill on behalf of His Majesty. How can you disturb him like this?"
As soon as the tall hat was put on, even the emperor, who was socializing with other ministers, cast his eyes over.
Cheng Ruochen had to give up, but his eyes were still glued to Lu Huai, filled with indescribable emotions:
"I...I was wrong...I'm sorry, Yanjin." As he said this, he was helped away by the guards.
Chu Yuanting saw all this and his face darkened, but he didn't say much. He just said to Lu Huai, "I think he's drunk. Don't take it to heart, my dear Lu. Continue to pray for skill. I'm still waiting to see your results."
"Okay." Lu Huai nodded and picked up the golden needle again and concentrated on it.
After the night banquet, Lu Huai took Shen Chensheng’s hand and walked out of the palace.
Pei Yu followed behind the two of them, and seeing that they were inseparable, he felt lonely and lost.
He hesitated for a long time before getting on his horse and watching him go. "Yanjin, I have a day off tomorrow. How about going to your house to play chess with you? We haven't played chess together for a long time."
Pei Yu was afraid that Lu Huai would feel disturbed by him, so even his tone was tentative, like a child who was afraid of being rejected.
Lu Huai nodded at him: "Okay, I've been feeling a bit itchy lately. Come early tomorrow and we can play a few more games."
Chen Chensheng tightened his grip on Lu Huai's hand, then turned to Pei Yu and said with a smile, "Welcome General Pei tomorrow. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare your favorite snacks.
It's just that Ah Huai has been busy compiling the Complete Book recently and feels a little tired. He can play chess, but not for too long, lest he tire himself out."
Pei Yu was stunned for a moment, then nodded, his tone bitter:
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Third. I know my limits."
As Lu Huai reached the palace gate, Chu Yuanting's personal eunuch caught up with him and handed him a brocade box. "Lu Xiuzhuan, His Majesty said that there were so many people around just now that he forgot to give you this."
Lu Huai opened the brocade box, and inside was a hollow jade plate with the word "pass" engraved on it.
He said in surprise, "With this jade token, it will be much easier to consult the palace classics when I compile books in the future. Thank His Majesty for me!"
Shen Chensheng leaned over to take a look and also thanked the eunuch.
The eunuch bowed and left, still feeling that the two were truly a match made in heaven, with both their demeanor and appearance being first-rate.
Shen Chensheng's mood was not as happy as it looked.
He didn't know if he was worrying too much, but he always felt that his husband was too attractive.
Although he was not a close official and did not have a strong family background, the emperor always had some preference for him.
The selection of talents in the Yong Dynasty was always difficult.
Speaking of talent alone, while Lu Huai was certainly intelligent and quick-witted, there were also numerous other officials with greater experience who rose to prominence at a similarly young age, all of whom were exceptionally talented. Why was he so favored?
It is perfectly fine to simply admire and cultivate her as a fine horse, but if one's motives are not pure, and one attempts to possess her beauty...
Shen San couldn't imagine how devastating this would be.
As for the previous arranged marriage, he was grateful for this favor that made the fate between him and Lu Huai come true, but now he had to think about more...
Lu Huai put away the brocade box and looked up at the sky. The stars were shining brightly and the Magpie Bridge was faintly visible.
His eyes seemed to be filled with stars, and the way he spoke to Shen Chensheng with a smile was truly beautiful.
"Meeting by chance is what I wish for."
"Ah Sheng, I am so happy to have you by my side on this Valentine's Day."
Shen Chensheng touched it subconsciously, and then he realized that the corners of his mouth had already risen worthlessly: "Me too."
Perhaps the situation was too good, he couldn't help himself, and without caring about whether others might see him, he kissed the lips that he had been paying close attention to all night and which were made even more tempting by the wine.
After all, they were not in the mansion, so Lu Huai felt a little shy.
But when he lowered his head, he found that the tassel of the sachet on his waist was gone, so he asked in confusion:
"Huh? Why is the tassel of the sachet you gave me gone? Did I pick it up somewhere in the hall just now?"
He fumbled around for a long time but couldn't find it at all. Instead, his clothes were messed up by the drunkard.
Lu Huai felt extremely guilty, and the alcohol just magnified his emotions, causing him to burst into tears.
So the usually refined and elegant gentleman had red eyes and a pink nose, looking like a lotus flower after the rain, waiting to be picked. He blamed himself in front of Shen San, "I'm so useless. I lost the sachet that Ah Sheng embroidered for me when I went out..."
0359 sneezed out of jealousy from the host and whispered, "How come Huai Huai can even look so pathetic? Later, Shen San will definitely laugh at you for sitting like a primary school student."
However, 0359, who was still single and had no emotional experience, had no idea that this person sitting here was a huge temptation.
Chen Chensheng was originally sneering in his heart - it wasn't hooked, it was clearly stolen by Cheng Ruochen.
I never thought that when I stared at Lu Huai, my eyes were fixed on him. I couldn't think about anything else and my Adam's apple rolled unnaturally.
"It's okay, Mr. Huai. If it's lost, it's lost. I will embroider it for you later." He said considerately, gently stroking Lu Huai's back with his right hand.
As he stroked her, the feeling gradually changed. He moved his touch down along the thin shoulder blades and landed at the narrow waist, holding her firmly in his arms.
While Lu Huai's reaction was still slow and his hazy eyes had not yet cleared, he took the initiative to let the curtain fall, causing the tears to grow even bigger before they disappeared.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: [shy] Happy Chinese Valentine's Day, my wife! I was thinking that I must cook a pot of rice today, finally, finally, tears [kiss]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com