Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 21

"Don't you dare follow in my footsteps and make my household full of cosmetics every day. My fourth brother can afford it, but I can't." He said leisurely, his eyes slightly closed. "Having you squandering the money I've worked so hard to save is enough."

"Yes, the manor is very frugal; I'm the only one who's indulging in extravagance." I gritted my teeth, thinking to myself, "Is this person deliberately trying to provoke me?"

He snorted and chuckled, "Have you been wronged? But... how much silver have you squandered on me playing cards these past few days?"

I looked uncomfortable and coughed awkwardly.

He opened his eyes, looking helpless. "I see you playing cards every day, but I never see you win."

I hurried to the table, poured myself a cup of tea, suppressed my anger, and smiled, "I finally understand today. It turns out that Master is also a very calculating person. Tomorrow, when Fourth Sister-in-law comes to call me again, I'll have to tell them that our Master is worried about money, and if he wins against me, I won't play anymore."

He smiled, said nothing more, closed his eyes, and turned his head away.

He seemed a little tired.

"You can leave now," he finally said.

He lifted the curtain, walked through the hall, pushed open the palace door, and stepped out.

The entire courtyard was empty. I looked up at the sky, which was dark and starless. I laughed self-deprecatingly and thought to myself: How could I have married such a person?

As the weather gets warmer and the willows in the yard become more and more verdant, I took Zhen'er into the octagonal pavilion after her afternoon nap. The warm breeze made me feel great.

"Zhen'er, which piece of Ouyang Xiu's collected works did you read the other day?" Checking his homework is a necessary task for me every day.

The little boy stood obediently in front of me, head bowed, and said, "Replying to Mother, I read the old book about Queen Han this morning."

"Really?" I smiled slightly and pushed the tea towards him. "Clear your throat and recite a passage for your mother."

He sighed and looked up. "From the beginning?"

“Let’s start with ‘Alas, the Way has its course that extends far and ends near.’”

“Alas! The Way can indeed travel far but stop near, and be neglected in the past but valued in the present. This is not merely due to worldly likes and dislikes, but also to its inherent principles. Confucius and Mencius were great in their time, but their teachings have been passed down for thousands of generations. Han Yu’s writings were lost for two hundred years, but are now widely used. This is not merely due to likes and dislikes, but because their wisdom grows clearer with time and cannot be erased. Cannot be erased…” Zhen’er gradually frowned.

The voice behind him continued, "Though obscured by its whiteness, it ultimately shines with boundless brilliance; such strength is only natural."

Zhen'er trembled with fright and bowed behind her, "Father..."

Lu Li walked up and sat down at the stone table. His expression was not good. He didn't look up and said, "You can't remember after only a few lines. I really don't know how you read them."

I glanced at Lu Li, thinking to myself that he was just putting on a strict father act in front of the children.

I tried to smooth things over, saying, "Alright, Zhen'er, go back inside and warm up for a while. I'll come to your place tonight and carry it for me then."

The children, as if they had received a special order, their eyes shining brightly, happily agreed and ran out of the pavilion.

"This child must have taken after someone else, so unreliable." Lu Li sighed and shook his head.

I chuckled to myself, “You’re wrong, sir. Back when he was around, you were still a playful prince.”

What I said is absolutely true. When Lu Zhen was born, Lu Li was only fifteen years old.

Upon hearing my words, Lu Li coughed awkwardly.

I handed him the tea, and he took it without hesitation, the teacup obscuring half of his flushed face.

"Is Master now so well-healed that he can get out of bed?"

"It's nothing serious. If you keep resting like this, your muscles and bones might become weak."

Liu Shang approached from afar with a porcelain bowl in his hand. "Master, it's time to take your medicine."

"I'm not sick, why would I need to take medicine?" I smiled, staring at the white porcelain bowl with a puzzled look.

Liu Shang smiled, her face flushed, "The Consort Ding sent it over at noon, saying that you must drink it for its health benefits..."

I took it and drank it all in one gulp. The medicine wasn't bad to drink; it was slightly bitter with a hint of sweetness that soothed my throat.

Lu Li looked around absentmindedly, deliberately avoiding my gaze.

"What kind of tonic is this? I've never tasted anything like this before." I handed him the porcelain bowl and wiped my mouth with a handkerchief.

Liu Shang blushed again, but without answering me, he suppressed a laugh, bowed, and ran away.

"That's really strange." I frowned. "Why is she so embarrassed about me taking medicine?"

Lu Li coughed slightly, his tone steady, "That was medicine that my mother sent at noon... to help you conceive."

I almost spat out my tea, but managed to hold it back in time. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?" He raised his eyebrows, looking completely unperturbed. "The old women in the palace always send a few bowls as a sign of their care; it's an unwritten rule."

"Neither my fourth sister-in-law nor my sixth sister-in-law told me about this rule."

"This kind of thing..." He glanced at me, smiled faintly, "is something you can't really say out loud."

I sighed inwardly. Lu Li wouldn't say, but Consort Ding's meaning couldn't be clearer. She should know that in the three months since the wedding, Lu Li hadn't even visited my room once, let alone consummated the marriage. It was rare for Consort Ding to go to such lengths, using such subtle hints…

Just as I was trying to find another topic, Lu Li suddenly smiled maliciously, "Don't waste this expensive medicine, how about I come to your place tonight?"

"You—" I stared at him, speechless, trying to find a hint of a joke on his face.

He casually reclined on the long stone bench in the pavilion, gazing at the beautiful lake scenery with a relaxed expression, thoroughly enjoying himself.

What followed, however, plunged me into the deepest abyss.

"Even without feelings... it's something that can be done, isn't it?" The voice was still as calm as the wind, yet it sent a shiver of pain through me.