Chapter 30

“Master, what’s wrong with this book?” Zhao Shiyi brought in tea and glanced curiously at him.

Yan Yuanhua looked over— What’s wrong?

“Why are you glaring at it if nothing’s wrong?” Zhao Shiyi muttered.

Looking down at the book in his hand, Yan Yuanhua was puzzled for a moment. Had he been glaring at it?

“You saw wrong,” he said casually. “Have Doctor Song check your eyes later.”

???

Where did that come from?

Zhao Shiyi fell silent. He wanted to speak but was worried his master might diagnose him with a new ailment, so he held back.

Next door, Lu Minghua practiced under Zhan Yuan’s guidance for half an hour. During her break, she pondered how to thank Yan Yuanhua.

It was one thing for him to find her a teacher, but he had found Teacher Zhan. Reuniting them was a great joy, and she felt she must thank him properly.

Thinking this, she faced a dilemma.

Considering Yan Yuanhua’s repeated help, ordinary gifts seemed too simple, while expensive ones might seem too serious, making it look like she didn’t see him as a friend. After much thought, she decided to follow past examples and personally made some snacks, asking Mama Li to deliver them.

“Why doesn’t Minghua deliver them herself?” Zhan Yuan asked casually upon seeing this.

Lu Minghua was stunned. The difference between men and women had always made her instinctively keep her distance, even from neighbors.

But after everything that had happened, Young Master Yuan had helped her many times and was upright and honorable. Continuing to keep her distance seemed to belittle him. Thinking this, she nodded.

Mama Li felt it was somewhat inappropriate but thought there was nothing to avoid, so she said nothing.

Since she was going to thank him in person, she needed to be more formal. Lu Minghua returned to her room to freshen up, styled her hair, and, feeling good today, chose a pomegranate red skirt with a lotus-colored top and a matching red outer garment.

Then, carrying the food box, she went next door.

Yan Yuanhua was wondering how Lu Minghua, always polite, would thank him this time and was thinking about how to refuse—She needed to know that not everyone kind to her did it for a reward.

Hearing she was at the door, he was momentarily surprised, not realizing his lips were curving into a smile.

Getting up and striding out, Yan Yuanhua saw Lu Minghua walking slowly from outside. The hem of her red skirt brushed the stone ground, and her gold and ruby earrings swayed gently. His gaze paused for a moment.

Used to seeing Lu Minghua’s usual elegance, he found her sudden change in appearance particularly stunning.

Lu Minghua looked up, meeting his gaze, and smiled softly, saying, “Young Master Yuan.”

“It looks like I’m in for a treat again.” He stood up and let her sit down, looking at the food box and praising her.

“Great kindness cannot be repaid with words. I could only make some snacks to bring over. I hope you won’t mind,” Lu Minghua said with a light laugh.

“Miss Lu, you’re too modest. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about the snacks you brought last time since I finished it.” Yan Yuanhua said, not holding back his praise.

“No need to think about it. If you like it, I’ll have someone send it every day,” Lu Minghua laughed.

“All the same item?” Seeing the gentle smile in her eyes, Yan Yuanhua asked impulsively.

“You made it yourself.” Seeing Lu Minghua’s slight confusion, he added.

Lu Minghua was momentarily stunned, thinking he was joking, and smiled, “If Young Master Yuan doesn’t mind, of course.”

She agreed readily, and Yan Yuanhua felt inexplicably happy.

“Just joking. How could I trouble Miss Lu to cook for me every day?” He smiled, and when he said “for me,” the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted.

“It’s not a bother at all,” Lu Minghua shook her head slightly.

“Alright, alright, if Miss Lu keeps saying that, my cook will come begging you.”

Lu Minghua looked puzzled.

“Your snacks are too delicious, so naturally, I’ll be dissatisfied with his. To avoid losing his job, he’ll have to come to you,” Yan Yuanhua said with a smile, spreading his hands.

Faced with his unexpected jokes, Lu Minghua always felt a bit uncomfortable, but afterward, she couldn’t help but smile. Although it was somewhat informal, interacting this way was really relaxing.

“Young Master Yuan is joking again.”

“That would be an injustice to me. I never speak falsely.”

After chatting for a while, seeing Lu Minghua glance outside, clearly wanting to leave, Yan Yuanhua suddenly said, “We are already familiar, Miss Lu, so don’t be so formal calling me Young Master Yuan. How about calling me by my courtesy name, Ji’an?”

Although the surname was fake, the courtesy name was indeed Yan Yuanhua’s.

Last year, during his coming-of-age ceremony on the battlefield at the border, the current emperor, his elder brother, personally sent someone to bestow it.

Forgetting the dangers he had faced, he still managed to stay safe.

Lu Minghua hesitated for a moment, feeling that calling him by his courtesy name seemed too intimate. But seeing Yan Yuanhua’s usual straightforwardness, she felt she was overthinking it. Young Master Yuan had always been easygoing, and his words were sincere.

Thinking this, she convinced herself and smiled, “In that case, I won’t be polite.”

Yan Yuanhua looked at her, seeing her smiling, and when she called him “Ji’an,” he laughed heartily.

“Then I’ll call you Minghua?” he added.

Ever since he heard Teacher Zhan call her that, he had wanted to call her that.

Naturally, although Lu Minghua felt a bit uneasy, she nodded.

Yan Yuanhua’s smile grew wider, and Lu Minghua, infected by his joy, couldn’t help but lower her eyes and smile gently.

After chatting for a while, Lu Minghua finally took her leave.

Yan Yuanhua personally escorted her to the door. When he returned, he saw Zhao Shiyi looking at the snack box—

Although the cook at the mansion was skilled, he wasn’t good at making these kinds of snacks.

“Master, where should I put these snacks?” Zhao Shiyi asked while preparing to pick up the food box.

Yan Yuanhua knocked his hand away and picked it up himself, walking towards the back.

“Put it in my study,” he said.

My lord, don’t you dislike sweets?

Zhao Shiyi was puzzled, not understanding why his lord had been acting strangely lately.

With this incident, the relationship between the two neighboring families grew closer. Occasionally, when Yan Yuanhua had fresh fruits and vegetables, he would send them to Lu Minghua. And when Lu Minghua cooked, she would send most of the snacks next door.

Everything seemed the same as before, yet subtly different.

*

At the Marquis Ninguo’s mansion.

Today was the birthday of the old lady of the Anguo Duke’s mansion, and the Ningguo Marquis and his wife went to celebrate.

In the Chunshan Courtyard, Lu Mingxi thought that no matter how dissatisfied they were with her, they would take her to such an important event to avoid making the mansion seem disunited. But when she went to pay her respects in the morning, she was politely turned away by the nanny outside the Yining Courtyard.

No one sought her out until the couple left the mansion. It seemed as if they had collectively forgotten about her.

Since Wei Yuntai had almost discovered her previous outbursts, Lu Mingxi had been much more restrained. That was until she heard that Prince Changping had left the city and was injured when his horse was startled.

This matter was neither big nor small, but Prince Changping’s character was widely criticized. Therefore, even a minor incident would cause many to gloat and spread the news.

“She is quite lucky.”

Hearing the maids gossiping outside, Lu Mingxi clenched her handkerchief and gritted her teeth.

Even before her marriage, she knew Lu Chengsong intended to send Lu Minghua to become Prince Changping’s concubine. She was pleased with this and even felt relieved. But unexpectedly, almost two months had passed, and nothing had happened.

“Useless,” she muttered, not knowing who she was cursing.

A maid brought in tea, carefully placing it beside her, afraid of disturbing her.

“Why are you acting like this? Do you want people to think I’m harsh?” Recently, Lu Mingxi had a feeling that Wei Yuntai was observing her maids. After several instances, she vaguely guessed the reason. She had given instructions and restrained herself, but this time, in her anger, she forgot to control herself and overturned the teacup.

The hot water spilled, soaking half of the maid’s sleeve. She cried out in pain but didn’t dare to make a loud noise, immediately kneeling to ask for Lu Mingxi’s forgiveness.

Lu Mingxi was about to get angrier when she suddenly heard a knock on the window. She quickly regained her composure, bent down, and personally helped the maid up, saying, “Get up. It was my mistake. Go see the doctor and get ten taels of silver for your injury. Come back to serve when you’re healed.”

“Thank you, madam.” The maid’s monthly salary was only two taels, so ten taels was a considerable amount. She smiled and thanked her repeatedly before leaving.

After she left, she saw Wei Yuntai standing outside the door. Startled, she quickly bowed.

Wei Yuntai glanced at her wet sleeve and red hand, his eyes slightly cold. He closed his eyes briefly and gently instructed his attendant to give her another ten taels. Amid the maid’s surprised gratitude, he entered the room.

“Yuntai…” Lu Mingxi’s eyes reddened, and she anxiously approached him.

Seeing her like this, Wei Yuntai suddenly felt tired.

Since their marriage, his father has been displeased, his mother dissatisfied, and Mingxi always feels wronged. He has tried hard to make them get along, but nothing has worked.

Now, he didn’t know what to do.

Looking at the water stains on the ground, Wei Yuntai suppressed his anger, helped Lu Mingxi to sit down, and said, “Mingxi, I know you feel wronged—”

Hearing this, Lu Mingxi felt relieved, thinking it was good she had arranged for someone to keep an eye outside…

She didn’t show it on her face, but her eyes reddened even more.

“Yuntai, Mother went to the banquet today, and I… I don’t know how those people will see me.” As she spoke, tears began to fall, hoping Wei Yuntai would stand up for her.

Wei Yuntai knew this, so he returned to the mansion after not seeing Lu Mingxi at the banquet.

Lu Mingxi’s sharp voice still echoed in his ears, and he could hardly believe this was his once gentle and obedient beloved.

Now, hearing Lu Mingxi’s fearful words, his confused heart settled.

With such experiences, no wonder she lost her composure.

“It’s okay. Your health is not good. They will understand,” Wei Yuntai comforted her gently, but not in the way Lu Mingxi wanted.

His mother was right. With rumors everywhere, the best way was for Lu Mingxi to stay quiet for a while. After a year or so, people would naturally forget, and by then, it wouldn’t matter.

Lu Mingxi’s eyes darkened, and she covered her eyes, sobbing, with tears flowing even faster.

Wei Yuntai quickly explained the reason and comforted her carefully. But Lu Mingxi didn’t listen at all. With the Marquis Ninguo’s mansion’s status, who would say anything about her?

It was just some rumors, but for her, this was the first grand banquet since she married Wei Yuntai. She had prepared early to amaze everyone and show that she was now the Marquis Ningguo’s heir’s wife.

But now, Wei Yuntai said she had to stay quietly in the mansion for the next year and a half?

Wei Yuntai kept comforting her, but no matter what, he didn’t relent.

“Yuntai, I am your wife. I just want to be with you. Can’t I?” After seeing that Wei Yuntai wouldn’t agree, Lu Mingxi put down her handkerchief, her eyes red, and clutched Wei Yuntai’s sleeve, pleading.

Wei Yuntai’s heart softened, but he still shook his head.

Lu Mingxi didn’t know what the rumors outside had become, but he was tired of people talking behind his back. In this situation, staying low was the best option.

Seeing no hope, Lu Mingxi had to give up.

In the evening, Marquis Ningguo and his wife returned to the mansion. Wei Yuntai went to pay his respects, while Lu Mingxi stayed in the courtyard, looking at the prepared clothes and jewelry, which were now scattered on the ground.

He said he loved her, but she couldn’t even attend a banquet. Thinking of Wei Yuntai’s gentle eyes, Lu Mingxi clenched her teeth.

*

In the morning, she practiced the pipa, then dressed up, had breakfast, went out for a walk, and after returning, spent another hour handling household affairs, had lunch, and arranged her afternoon freely. In this unhurried life, time seemed to pass quickly.

Unknowingly, summer had deepened, and it was already June.

June weather is like a child’s face.

When she got up in the morning, the sky, which was usually bright by now, was still dark. Thinking about a possible rainy day, Lu Minghua frowned, and her fingers missed two notes on the pipa. She was so absent-minded that Yan Yuanhua couldn’t help but glance next door, wondering what was wrong.

After breakfast, the morning sun that should have appeared was hidden, and the cool breeze outside was quite refreshing.

Lu Minghua didn’t feel like going out. In such weather, she just wanted to stay indoors. But after staring for a while, she gritted her teeth and went out.

Don’t be afraid; it’s just thunder. There’s nothing to fear.

As she had done before, Lu Minghua kept telling herself this. She had long understood that some things couldn’t be avoided by fear. Only by facing them directly could she find a way out.

The mountains were lush, and the branches and leaves thick. Yan Yuanhua and Li Minghua had walked this path countless times, often chatting and laughing or enjoying the scenery. But today, Yan Yuanhua noticed that Lu Minghua was unusually silent.

“Minghua, what’s wrong?” he asked directly.

Lu Minghua looked up, somewhat absent-minded. She forced a smile and shook her head, saying it was nothing.

Yan Yuanhua’s eyes showed disapproval, clearly not believing her, but Lu Minghua remained silent, leaving him helpless.

Dark clouds rolled in the sky, a clap of thunder, and a long lightning bolt split the sky.

“It looks like it’s going to rain soon. Let’s go back,” Yan Yuanhua said, looking at Lu Minghua, but saw her face turn pale, her expression changing instantly.

“Alright, let’s go back,” Lu Minghua said, steadying her voice. Then, she quickly turned around, her skirt swirling.

Yan Yuanhua wanted to ask what was wrong but saw her trembling fingers in her sleeve and clenched jaw amid the thunder.

She was afraid.