Chapter 103

Lu Huai only returned to the mansion on the second day after leaving the palace.

Coincidentally, Lu Wensheng was on a break that day, so he called Lu Huai to the study to discuss the matter of Nianxi visiting the mansion the day before.

Lu Huai glanced at his father’s expression and softly defended himself, “It’s just a small amount of money. Nianxi is being too distant.”

Nianxi…

He said her name quite naturally.

Lu Wensheng felt a bit exasperated. “It seems I’ve been too indulgent with you. The ‘small amount of money’ you’re referring to is enough to sustain an ordinary family for half their lifetime, yet you treat it as nothing.”

Realizing something was amiss, Lu Huai immediately repented, “It’s not just a small amount of money—this is the largest bill in my money box. The Old Madam often teaches me that as a man, one should be generous to women. I didn’t want Nianxi to look down on me or our family.”

Lu Wensheng, who had been practicing calligraphy, could no longer continue. He put down his brush, looked up at Lu Huai, and said, “How old are you, pretending to be a man already?”

He was a gentle and mild-tempered man, like a wisp of breeze untainted by dust. Yet, in the entire household, the one person Lu Huai feared most was him.

Eager to please, Lu Huai ran over to wash his father’s brush. With clear, earnest eyes, he said thoughtfully, “I’m not that young anymore. In another ten years, I’ll be able to marry and have children.”

Lu Wensheng, just as he picked up his teacup, nearly spat out its contents. He lowered his gaze, looking at the little boy who barely reached the desk’s height, and listened to him excitedly say, “Father, do you think it would be good if I marry Nianxi in the future? I really like her. She’s beautiful and gentle.”

“Why not arrange an engagement first? I see there are many people who like her. What if Uncle Gu, who is off at war, comes back?”

Lu Wensheng thought for a moment before finally recalling who this “Uncle Gu” in Xiaoqi’s words was.

Lu Huai had lost his mother at birth, and the family inevitably doted on him. Coupled with his intelligence and sweet tongue, over the years, he had been spoiled excessively by the Old Madam and the empress in the palace. But no matter what, how could a five-year-old boy already be thinking about marriage?

If left unchecked, wouldn’t he grow up to be trouble?

Lu Wensheng was about to scold him but suddenly recalled what Nianxi had said yesterday and those serious, beautiful almond-shaped eyes. For some reason, the anger in his heart inexplicably subsided. He put down his teacup, ready to have a serious talk with Lu Huai, but then saw the child cautiously observing his expression. Lu Wensheng’s heart softened, and he gently said, “She’s grown up, and you’re still so young—it’s not appropriate.”

“Nianxi has just turned sixteen, only ten years older than me. Father, didn’t you tell me about an emperor whose concubine was seventeen years older than him? I don’t think this age difference matters.” Lu Huai closed his eyes and blurted out nonsense.

“What if she doesn’t like you?”

“Old Madam said that feelings can be nurtured.”

“You’re afraid I like Miss Wen and might marry her into the family?”

Lu Huai’s eyes suddenly widened, but he didn’t dare look at his father. After a few moments of silence, he said, “No.”

Lu Wensheng sighed. This Xiaoqi was just too clever. Even his probing was so subtle that he nearly fooled him.

“You really like Miss Wen. If she became your mother, you could see her every day.”

“No!” Lu Huai shouted, afraid that his father’s words might come true. Tears welled up in his big eyes as he exclaimed: “I already have my own mother. She’s just gone to a very, very faraway place. I don’t want anyone else to be my mother.”

Lu Wensheng bent down to wipe the tears from Xiaoqi’s face. He had never imagined that the boy had always kept his unseen mother in his heart. Gently, he asked, “Why?”

“Ah Tao said that with a stepmother comes a stepfather. I’m afraid you won’t love me anymore,” he sobbed.

Lu Wensheng chuckled, realizing that, after all, he was still just a child. He lightly patted his son’s small, tender shoulder and reassured him, “Don’t worry, I won’t marry Miss Wen.”

In his position, marriage was not solely a matter of personal preference but also tied to family interests and political considerations.

“Father, do you really not like her?” Lu Huai asked, hiccupping from his sobs, still feeling uneasy.

Lu Wensheng hummed in response as he replaced his pen. “Isn’t she the sworn sister you took? She’s even a generation apart from me.”

Reassured and now at ease, Lu Huai eagerly helped his father grind the ink. He didn’t forget to emphasize, “She’s a sworn younger sister, not an elder sister!”

Lu Wensheng chuckled, and an image of a pair of gentle, radiant almond eyes flashed through his mind.

Forget it.

Lu Wensheng sighed inwardly—she ought to live more freely.

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When Nianxi returned to the mansion, Zhou Yanli had already been there for a while. Seeing her, his face lit up with a bright smile. “Sister, I bought your favorite rice wine dumplings and sugar-frosted honey. I specifically asked the shopkeeper to use less sugar so you wouldn’t have to worry about gaining weight.”

Madam Li, seated nearby, laughed and said, “You really do know her well—always craving sweets and fretting about everything. She’s hard to please!”

Zhou Yanli, however, turned toward Nianxi and said, “As a lady, it’s only natural for you to enjoy such things. It’s no trouble at all.”

Nianxi smiled and thanked him. “Now that you’re in the capital, why not go explore a bit?”

These days, his presence could frequently be seen around the mansion.

Zhou Yanli’s youthful face showed a hint of shyness. His features were so expressive that they accentuated every strength of his appearance. With just a gentle smile, it was another kind of captivating charm: “I’ve just arrived in the capital and don’t know many people. Aunt and the others are busy every day, so I end up bothering Aunt Li and you, Sister, more often.”

He looked at her with closeness and the familiarity of their childhood, saying, “If there’s anywhere you’d like to go, how about I accompany you?”

She had visited all the famous places in the capital with Gu Ci. Besides, the weather was bitterly cold these days, and Nianxi felt reluctant to go out.

Just as she was about to decline, Madam Li chuckled and interjected, “Perfect! Before you start at the Imperial Academy, take these days to go out more.”

Nianxi had been in low spirits recently, and Madam Li was eager for her to get out and relax.

Zhou Yanli was both well-behaved and a childhood companion, someone familiar and trustworthy—an ideal companion for her outings.

Since her mother had already agreed, Nianxi couldn’t bring herself to refuse. “Then, when you’re free, let’s go to Xiangguo Temple.”

She had been meaning to offer prayers for peace before the Buddha.

Zhou Yanli immediately responded, “How about tomorrow?”

Nianxi was a little surprised. “Tomorrow?”

Zhou Yanli nodded lightly, his tone relaxed. “Because it’s already late today. Do you have plans tomorrow, Sister? If you do, we can go another day.”

He was eager to reconnect with his sister, hoping to regain the closeness they once shared.

Nianxi shook her head and replied, “No plans. Tomorrow works.”

Wen Qingheng returned from his duties just in time to hear that last sentence. He couldn’t help but look suspiciously at Zhou Yanli, his expression filled with indiscernible scrutiny. Could Qin Lang’s frantic words the other day have been about Zhou Yanli?

Impossible—This younger neighbor had only been in the capital for a short while.

Besides, he was a year younger than Nianxi!