Chapter 23.2

Unaware of these details, Jiang Wanrou wondered, “Why bring Huaiyi to the Jinlong Bureau? He’s leaving for court at dawn, and he’s only five years old. How can he handle such strain?”

The more Jiang Wanrou thought about it, the more irritable she became. Pregnancy had left her feeling unwell, and even reviewing the account books was infuriating. After only a month of stepping back from managing household matters, the mansion already seemed in disarray—items in the storeroom were unaccounted for every month, and she found herself hesitant to speak up.

With five months remaining until her due date, she knew she would rely on the assistance of her two sisters-in-law. She couldn’t simply abandon responsibilities during her difficult moments, only to confront them angrily once she recovered—that wasn’t the way to handle things. Even if Madam Zhou and Madam Yao couldn’t stir up much trouble in her presence, Second Master and Third Master were Lu Feng’s own brothers. Given Lu Feng’s temperament, the idea of splitting the family was out of the question. Maintaining harmonious relations with the sisters-in-law would be ideal and least troublesome in the long run.

“Could it be that thieves are involved?” she muttered.

Though Madam Zhou and Madam Yao managed the household, Jiang Wanrou retained the storeroom keys, yet the monthly inventories never matched. If it was theft, the missing items weren’t valuable—silks, cosmetics, and other women’s items.

Cui Zhu pressed Jiang Wanrou’s swollen calves with her hands and laughed, “Isn’t it simple? Madam, have you forgotten what our master does? Just invite the officials from the Jinlong Division; no matter what kind of spirits or monsters, none would escape their grasp.”

“Utter nonsense.”

Hearing Cui Zhu’s naive words, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t help but smile. Setting aside whether it was appropriate for men to enter the inner quarters, as the matriarch of the Lu family, Jiang Wanrou preferred to keep family matters discreet. Why make a scene outside and let others think she lacked proper household management?

Oh well, since nothing of great value was missing, she decided to investigate thoroughly once her health improved.

Jiang Wanrou’s temper these days came and went quickly. She acted impulsively but just as easily calmed down. As the bitter winter quietly passed, she gazed out at the vibrant spring scenery—bright flowers, tender willows, and a world full of life.

She suddenly said, “Let’s go out for a walk, clear our minds.”

This stroll led them straight to the Jinlong Bureau.

No matter how hard Jin Tao and Cui Zhu tried to stop her or persuade her otherwise, Jiang Wanrou merely said, “I miss Huaiyi.”

She also planned to discuss letting Huaiyi study at home with Lu Feng. He was only five years old, and this constant rushing about left him unable to eat well or get enough sleep, which might hinder his growth.

Jiang Wanrou hadn’t realized that, since Lu Feng was rarely at home and she was carrying a “golden treasure,” everyone around her had been indulging her every wish. Unknowingly, it had made her temperament more capricious.

In the past, she would have listened to advice. But now, here she was, heavily pregnant, breathing in the overwhelming blood-scent of the Jinlong Bureau, and feeling nauseous.

Jin Tao supported her carefully and said softly, “Madam, how about we go back? The forsythia flowers newly planted in the courtyard are blooming beautifully, or maybe we could listen to another opera? You said the ‘Magu Offering Longevity’ performance for the matriarch’s birthday was wonderful.”

“No, we’re going in.” Jiang Wanrou frowned, lowered the handkerchief she’d been using to cover her nose, and stepped forward. The swaying of the carriage had left her dizzy, and after all the effort of coming here, she couldn’t just leave. She had come out to relax, not to endure the discomfort of carriage rides in vain.

Jin Tao and Cui Zhu exchanged a helpless glance, both recognizing the futility of trying to dissuade her.

The two closest maids privately discussed Madam’s slightly peculiar change in temperament recently. Jin Tao, who had been serving Jiang Wanrou since she was pregnant with Lu Huaiyi, recalled how Madam used to be cheerful and amiable, smiling at everyone without ever uttering a word of complaint.

This pregnancy seemed even smoother than the last one—so why was Madam so delicate this time?

Compared to the sharp-witted Cui Zhu, Jin Tao was quiet and reserved, yet very perceptive. When Madam had repeatedly spilled her prenatal medicine, complaining about its bitterness, Jin Tao suddenly had an epiphany: how could ten months of pregnancy not involve hardship?

Back then, however, Madam couldn’t or wouldn’t express such thoughts.

Now, everyone doted on Madam. She refused food, and no one dared to insist; she disliked the bitter medicine, and the doctors pretended not to notice, quietly altering the formula to make it easier for her to swallow.

Others envied Madam’s position and honor, but all they saw were surface-level privileges. Having accompanied her throughout the journey, Jin Tao knew how much difficulty Madam had endured. All the respect she received was well-deserved.

Madam had always been kind and gentle with everyone. Now that she was pregnant, was it not natural for them to indulge her a little more?

Jin Tao didn’t try to persuade her further. Instead, she pulled out a piece of dried orange peel from her pocket to help ease Madam’s discomfort. Alas, it seemed her efforts came at the wrong time—neither her son, Lu Huaiyi, nor Lu Feng was around for Madam to see, despite the trouble she’d gone through to come here.

Lu Feng was in discussion with officials from the Ministry of Justice, and Jiang Wanrou didn’t want to disturb him. As for Lu Huaiyi, he had been practicing his calligraphy but accidentally chipped the corner of an inkstone. Lu Feng sternly ordered him to resolve the issue on his own.

Thus, Lu Huaiyi went out with two guards to buy a new inkstone.

Jiang Wanrou: “…”

These two! She truly didn’t know what to say.

The Jinlong Bureau had a pervasive scent of blood that made Jiang Wanrou dizzy and nauseous after staying there for a short while. Fearing that the ominous atmosphere would harm both her and the unborn child, Cui Zhu persuaded her to leave. As they were heading out, they stumbled upon a commotion at the entrance.

A maid dressed in a green outer garment was trying to enter but was stopped by the armed guards at the gate. The two sides were locked in a tense argument.

Initially, this had nothing to do with Jiang Wanrou, but the maid was frustrated and raised her voice, exclaiming, “My mistress is Master Lu’s wife! I’ve been here before. Open your dog eyes and take a proper look!”

Jiang Wanrou immediately halted. Turning back, she carefully studied the maid, who was dressed quite well but was unfamiliar to her.

The Lu household had hundreds of maids. Every new recruit, whether assigned to the outer courtyard or the inner chambers, would meet Jiang Wanrou, the lady of the house, at least once. Though she couldn’t recall all their names, she could still recognize those belonging to her household. She asked, “Who are you?”

The maid glanced at Jiang Wanrou and, seeing her radiant beauty and luxurious attire, assumed she was some noble lady. Taking a step back, she said indignantly, “Madam, these people here are blind and insolent. Please stand up for me! Once I meet Master Lu, I’ll make sure you’re generously rewarded.”

“Master Lu?” Jiang Wanrou said with amusement, “Which Master Lu might that be?”

The maid’s face showed a hint of smugness. “Here, how many Master Lus could there be? My master is none other than the Commander of the Jinlong Buraeu, Lu Feng—Master Lu.”

Though the maid didn’t recognize Jiang Wanrou, the guards at the gate certainly did. They quickly bowed and said, “Apologies, Madam. I’ll immediately throw this nonsense-spouting woman out—”

“There’s no need,” Jiang Wanrou interrupted calmly. “I just want to ask this young lady a few questions.”

The maid’s claims were so absurd that Jiang Wanrou wasn’t angry. In fact, she was intrigued as she asked, “You claim that your master is Master Lu? Could it be that you’re a maid from the Lu Duke’s residence on Dingkang Alley?”

“What Dingkang Alley? I’m from the southern part of the city—”

The maid in green suddenly covered her mouth, muttering vaguely and lowering her voice, “Anyway, not from Dingkang Alley.”

Jiang Wanrou gently stroked her rounded belly and said softly, “That’s quite strange. You claim your mistress is Master Lu’s family, yet as far as I know, Madam Lu and the young master both reside in the residence on Dingkang Alley.”

“Who is your mistress, then? Could it be that she’s… Master Lu’s mistress kept outside?”

“Ridiculous! My mistress is no mistress!” The maid’s face flushed with embarrassment, but she stammered and failed to provide a coherent explanation. She only said, “My mistress is of noble status, though currently in a temporary plight. Please, Madam, help me this once. I will repay your kindness and always remember your favor.”

Jiang Wanrou countered, “I don’t even know your mistress’s name. Why should I help you?”

The maid’s face turned beet red, her expression a mix of shame and anger. “Madam, you are of noble status. Why trouble yourself with making things difficult for a mere servant like me?”

“This is the first time I’ve encountered such a reckless servant,” Jiang Wanrou remarked coldly.

Jiang Wanrou’s gaze turned cold. This maid, repeatedly referring to “my mistress,” dared to claim herself as Lu Feng’s family without even recognizing Jiang Wanrou. Jiang Wanrou didn’t believe for a moment that Lu Feng would secretly keep a mistress. He was domineering and decisive—if he truly liked someone, he would bring her into the household openly. Why would he hide her elsewhere?

She dismissed the maid as a liar with ulterior motives.

Normally, Jiang Wanrou wouldn’t get upset over such trivial matters, but pregnancy had made her more temperamental. She turned to the nearby guard and said coldly, “This woman spouts nonsense and clings to power. Detain her for questioning—what if she’s an assassin?”

“Understood, Madam.”

…

Though the maid was petite, she was surprisingly cunning. The guards hadn’t taken precautions against a seemingly weak woman, and she suddenly bit one on the arm. Enraged, the guard struck her, causing her to scream loudly, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

The commotion quickly drew attention from inside.

“What’s going on out here? The officials are discussing serious matters inside—do you all have a death wish?”

A tall, black-clad guard strode over, cursing. Jiang Wanrou glanced at him and couldn’t help but laugh—it was someone she knew well.

“Chang’an, how impressive you are,” Jiang Wanrou remarked with a faint smile. She studied Chang’an’s expression and said slowly, “The world is full of wonders. This maid doesn’t even recognize me but claims her mistress is one of Lu Feng’s wives. Chang’an, isn’t that amusing?”

Chang’an glanced at the green-clad maid, now dazed after being hit, then at his mistress. He lowered his head without speaking.

Jiang Wanrou’s gaze darkened. Cui Zhu and Jin Tao kept a close watch on her, worried that her temper might flare up and affect her health. However, Jiang Wanrou didn’t get angry. Instead, she laughed and said to Chang’an, “I happened to come at the right time today and ran into this absurd maid. Why don’t we bring this matter to my husband? Maybe this maid has mistaken someone, and I’ve wronged her.”

After a moment of silence, Chang’an bowed and said, “Madam.”

“Master is currently in discussions with officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. He will not be able to leave for some time. It might be inconvenient—”

“There’s nothing inconvenient about it,” Jiang Wanrou interrupted. She stroked her visibly rounded belly and said calmly, “He’s my husband. Waiting for him is perfectly natural. Don’t you agree, Chang’an?”

Her pregnancy was precious, and even the emperor had people monitoring her daily. Chang’an dared not take any chances and respectfully led her to an adjoining room to rest.

Meanwhile, Lu Huaiyi was shopping for an inkstone at the nearby Moxiang Pavilion. Lu Feng left him with only one instruction: to resolve the problem on his own. Beyond that, he gave him nothing. As the eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Huaiyi had Jiang Wanrou handle all his necessities, but she wouldn’t proactively give him money.

Fortunately, the Lu family’s children received monthly allowances from the public coffers. As the matriarch, Jiang Wanrou didn’t give him extra but also didn’t withhold his rightful allowance. Since Lu Huaiyi rarely spent money, he had managed to accumulate over a thousand taels over time.

After consulting with the guards, Lu Huaiyi learned that inkstone prices ranged from five to ten taels. Armed with a hundred-tael silver note, he confidently set off to choose one.

Having had most of his needs carefully arranged by his mother, Lu Huaiyi rarely had the chance to pick things out or buy them himself. This new experience filled him with curiosity. With a serious expression, he carefully selected and inquired about materials, craftsmanship, and ink absorption—as though he were a little adult. At first glance, he truly looked like he knew what he was doing.

The shopkeeper noticed this young guest, who appeared as if he had stepped out of a celestial painting. Despite his young age, his aura was extraordinary, and his luxurious attire clearly marked him as the son of an influential family. Their shop thrived on the patronage of noble young masters like him!

Under the shopkeeper’s obsequious recommendations, Lu Huaiyi eventually selected three inkstones. One was made of Duan stone, with a smooth texture and lustrous finish, as polished as a mirror. Another was a She inkstone, which had firm yet smooth stone qualities with delicate patterns. The last one was made from fired clay; while its appearance was simple and unassuming, its refined texture and ability to hold ink without drying easily made it exceptional.

With his chin raised, Lu Huaiyi said, “Wrap these up.” He exuded the demeanor of a refined young noble.

The shopkeeper beamed with joy, his chubby fingers flying across the abacus. After a moment, he looked up and said, “Altogether, it comes to 768 taels. Since you’re such a distinguished guest, I’ve rounded it down to 760 taels.”

Lu Huaiyi was stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Are these inkstones made of gold?!”

He only received 30 taels in monthly allowance!

Raised in wealth and privilege, Lu Huaiyi had never truly experienced the hardships of life. His poor health meant that even a single bowl of medicine cost hundreds of taels. However, spending time with Lu Feng recently and occasionally glimpsing the case files on his father’s desk had opened his eyes—he learned that 10 taels could buy a servant, people fought bitterly over mere dozens of taels, hundreds of taels could tear apart families, and 1,000 taels could cost several lives.

While the three inkstones were indeed excellent, they were incomparable to those in his father’s study or his own room. How could they possibly be worth over 700 taels?

The shopkeeper, still smiling, said, “If you don’t have enough money on you right now, the shop can extend credit. You can take them now and settle the bill later.”

Setting up shop in the bustling streets of the capital, the shopkeeper had sharp eyes. Judging by the boy’s silk robes and jade accessories, the value of his attire alone far exceeded 700 taels. He wasn’t worried about the boy defaulting on payment.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Huaiyi pushed the items aside and said, “The price of these is absurdly high.”

“I don’t want them.”

Now it was the shopkeeper’s turn to be stunned.

Moxiang Pavilion’s goods weren’t cheap, but its prime location attracted prominent figures like noble young masters and officials. Their store was kept afloat by the casual excesses of such people. Even if the prices were extravagant, these guests valued face above all and wouldn’t openly object.

Seeing the boy’s age, the shopkeeper licked his lips and grew tempted to mislead him, saying, “Young master, it’s merely over 700 taels. Take another look—the texture of this inkstone—”

“Enough, that’s enough. Shopkeeper Qin, don’t deceive a child,” a gentle voice sounded from behind.

Lu Huaiyi turned to see a tall man, younger than his father, with elegant and refined features. His demeanor exuded extraordinary grace and composure.

The man stepped forward, glanced at the three inkstones, and said mildly, “Two stone inkstones and one clay inkstone—both the craftsmanship and materials are average. Sixty taels at most. Shopkeeper Qin, greed has no place in business.”

The shopkeeper appeared to recognize him and stammered, saying nothing. The man took the items he wanted and turned to Lu Huaiyi, saying, “Walk two streets ahead and turn left. There’s an unnamed shop there with fair prices and top-quality goods.”

It was only then that Lu Huaiyi realized he had nearly been overcharged. He approached the man and, with a serious expression, bowed earnestly. In a childlike voice, he said, “Thank you, sir, for standing up for me.”

With his rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and the poised manners of a little adult, his graceful bow revealed excellent upbringing.

Pei Zhang smiled warmly and couldn’t help but offer more advice. “You’re still young and unfamiliar with the dangers of the world. Next time you go out, be sure to stay close to your elders.”

Lest someone deceived him.

Lu Huaiyi, however, shook his head and replied earnestly, “Sir, I must respectfully disagree. My father once said that young birds must experience storms to soar high into the skies. By going through this myself, I will learn from it and avoid falling for the same trick next time.”

“You’re an interesting child.” Pei Zhang felt a favorable impression of the charming young boy. He leaned down slightly and said warmly, “Your father isn’t wrong either. What is your name, young one? You’re quite perceptive for your age.”

Lu Huai Yi replied, “My surname is Lu, and my name is Huaiyi.”

“Lu?” Pei Zhang frowned slightly and asked, “The Lu surname is rare in the capital. Who is your father?”

“My father… also bears the surname Lu.” Lu Huaiyi hesitated. His father’s status was both prestigious and sensitive, and as his only heir, Lu Huaiyi rarely revealed his identity. Yet, this gentleman before him had kind eyes and had just stood up for him. He even bent down and spoke to him directly.

In a soft voice, he said, “My father is Lu Feng.”