Lanting

Capítulo 10

He paused, his voice turning cold.

"Actually, it doesn't matter who goes. Or I can find another girl to accompany you, and when we come back, we can give her a proper status."

"Crack!" A teacup slammed down, and Lu Li stood up abruptly, leaving without a word.

I was also taken aback. Was he angry?

I thought he was a calm and collected person, a mere facade, but I never imagined he could get so angry. I just don't think I did anything to provoke him.

Chapter Ten: Having a Son

He left early the next morning, without taking anyone with him.

After breakfast, I gave Yiling a few instructions and then left the backyard. I saw him off to the main gate as usual. Just before he got into the car, he turned around, his face ashen. "Yiling is pregnant, so you need to take better care of this household. When you have free time, go and spend more time with Fourth Sister-in-law. Also... don't make a mess of my mansion."

I felt a sudden itch and pain in my heart, and only one sentence popped into my head: "If Yiling wasn't pregnant, would you have taken her?"

Even I was surprised that I would ask him that, so he was naturally even more puzzled. He stared at me blankly for a moment, then got into the car without answering, his face expressionless.

Just as I was about to leave, he lifted the curtain, revealing half his face, but without looking at me, he said, "If you're going to Fourth Brother's place, stay away from their kitchen."

I pondered his words and found them interesting, so I wanted to ask him about them. But when I looked up, the car had already disappeared at the alley entrance.

I had just taken a bite of a pumpkin pancake when my fourth sister-in-law poked my head with a finger. "How come you have a concubine in your household without a word?"

I rubbed my head. "I just found out too. They said it's been four months. I think it was already there before I came. But sister-in-law, you can't keep an eye on any of them, can you?"

"What do you know? None of my girls can compare to that one. Your girl is already favored, and she's got quite an ambition. You're in danger."

"I was properly escorted in through the main gate in a sedan chair, so why would I be afraid of her?"

"It's a wonder you even know that. You're so stubborn. If you hadn't gone against Lao Qi, who knows, the baby might be in your belly right now."

I almost choked. "My sister-in-law is really good at making fun of me."

"I'm being serious with you, and you think I'm joking? Your reaction makes me both angry and amused. You may not care about the position of the legitimate wife, but plenty of others are scheming against you. You're just making things difficult for yourself, aren't you?"

I pursed my lips. "It's not like I rejected him."

"You, what's this knot in your heart that's so hard to untie?"

"If he has someone he likes, then let him be. I have no reason to interfere."

"That's your opinion. In men's eyes, it's just you deliberately making excuses for him. They won't think you're being magnanimous. If you get jealous, they'll be secretly thrilled."

I chuckled. "Fourth Brother is like this too?"

"Him? Come on, he's an exception."

Not long after, Consort Ding ordered that Yiling bring Zhen'er to live with me, which meant I got a chubby son for free. Although Yiling was unwilling, he dared not disobey the order from above. Soon, he sent Lu Zhen to my courtyard. I looked at her slightly protruding belly and thought that she was lucky to have someone to rely on, otherwise she would hate me to death.

Lu Zhen has always been a quiet and reserved child, not close to me, but always respectful and cautious, much like his mother. I have to take care of his every need, from his food and clothing to his lodgings, and I also have to teach him to read. After a few days, I feel quite pleased with myself, thinking that I can not only be a proper legal wife, but also a decent legal mother.

I often go to Deshunzhai to drink tea, eat snacks, and listen to storytelling. I also dress up as a man to go to Baihualou and other places to listen to music. In short, as long as Lu Li is not around, I live a carefree life.

After listening to the folk song and returning home, I had just gotten out of the sedan chair when a servant ran up and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, forcibly stuffed a strip of cloth into my sleeve.

"Qingfengyuan Xiaoyaoju" contains only these few characters.

I drank my fourth cup of tea by the window and looked out at the bustling streets outside Qingfeng Garden from the third floor. It was quite a lively place.

Qingfeng Garden.

This is the most famous brothel in the capital, its reputation even surpassing that of the Xiangzhoufang and Deshunzhai restaurants in Kaifeng. Here you'll find the women that every man in the world longs to see; even the most vulgar man, upon entering this elegant place, is unknowingly captivated by her charm.

A man walked slowly into Qingfeng Garden, dressed in a long robe and with wide belt, looking like a very serious scholar. I smiled, gently adjusted my men's clothing, and soon the door of Xiaoyao Residence opened.

"You've arrived early." He smiled casually, closed the door behind him, and sat down at the table.

“I’ve always hated waiting, you know that.” I raised an eyebrow.

"I thought your personality had changed after you became the Princess Consort of Ning."

"Anything's been going on lately?" I asked him, looking slightly weary.

When will you get away?

His gaze froze. "Who would know?"

"The deputy leader was injured in the battle at Liuxiangpo in the south of the city. If you don't step forward to take charge..."

I caught a glimpse of his reproachful gaze and became slightly serious. "Are you from the Thunderbolt Hall? Here to cause trouble again."

"It doesn't seem like the Thunderbolt Hall's way of doing things, but some of them are indeed from the Thunderbolt Hall. In the battle south of the city, we lost more than twenty brothers." He frowned deeply. "You, as the nominal leader of the martial arts alliance, should at least show your face and say something, shouldn't you?"

"...It's best not to act rashly for now..." I sipped my tea slowly and deliberately.

The man nodded, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "I will go back and instruct the brothers of each sect."

I smiled and handed over a red silk ribbon. "I really can't go out into the martial world during this time. If you have any news to let me know, just hang this on the top of Nanshan Mountain. When I see it, I will meet you here."

The leader of the alliance... Thinking of those two words, I couldn't help but smile... If he hadn't reminded me, I might have forgotten them.

Chapter Eleven: Eighth Prince Saves the Emperor

I remember that my surname used to be Nalan. When I was twelve, my maternal grandfather died under the fiery palm of the Thunderbolt Hall, leaving me the position of martial arts alliance leader. Considering my young age, Nangong took over as the vice leader to manage the overall situation for me. So I just ate pastries behind Nangong, and he took care of everything.

At the age of thirteen, I returned to Huainan with my father and became a princess. I knew a little about most things in the martial arts world, but I participated even less. In recent years, apart from Qiu Ming, it was mostly Nangong who came to see me.