Chapter 6

Duke Lu Mansion was situated near the Imperial Palace on Dingkang Lane, while Marquis Ning’an’s residence was located on Fensheng Street on the west side of the capital—about a half-hour drive away. After Jiang Wanrou watched Lu Huaiyi having breakfast, she prepared to depart. Accompanied by two close maidservants, eight porters carrying gifts, and a retinue of heavily armored guards armed with swords outside the carriage, they made a grand procession toward the Ning’an Marquis’ residence. She arrived in haste, without sending notice in advance, leaving the servants of the Marquis’ household scrambling to organize the gifts and goods. Following protocol, she ought to first visit Madam Qin, the wife of the Marquis, which was the usual practice whenever she returned to the household. Madam Qin had a biological daughter who was a princess consort and carried herself with an air of authority, acting like a “proper mother” to Jiang Wanrou. However, today, she claimed illness and did not make an appearance.

This suited Jiang Wanrou perfectly. She and Madam Qin were mutually displeased with each other; Madam Qin wanted to assert her authority as a legitimate mother but dared not challenge Jiang Wanrou due to the notorious reputation of the Lu family. Jiang Wanrou was not interested in seeing Madam Qin’s sour face, but she couldn’t neglect her mother at the Marquis’ residence. Madam Qin’s “illness” today seemed convenient to her, and Jiang Wanrou thought as much, a smile lingering on her face.

The smile on her face vanished the moment she stepped into Concubine Li’s room.

The room was warm, with a brazier burning. As she entered, a wave of warmth embraced her. Passing the screen embroidered with seasonal landscapes, Jiang Wanrou saw her birth mother. She lay on the bed with her eyes closed, her face pale and her breaths faint, almost nonexistent.

“Mother!” Jiang Wanrou hurried forward, holding her hand in alarm. “Are you sick again? I’ll call the family doctor to take a look.”

Cough—”No need to rush. It’s nothing serious.”

Concubine Li clearly didn’t expect Jiang Wanrou to arrive at this moment. Her eyes opened, filled with surprise and joy. Jiang Wanrou helped her sit up and fed her a cup of ginseng tea, which brought a faint flush of color back to her pale face.

Jiang Wanrou was both shocked and angry, holding back her fury as she said, “Mother, has someone mistreated you? Have you been wronged? Just tell me, and I’ll make them pay—”

“Oh dear, the Sixth Miss is so impressive now. You’re scaring your poor mother.”

Concubine Li teased with a smile. She was gorgeous, with fair skin and delicate features, her brows resembling distant mountains. Even age and illness had not diminished her beauty but instead gave her a kind of graceful maturity.

Years ago, she was a famed beauty in the capital, capturing the hearts of countless noblemen and officials. Yet her extraordinary appearance had brought her more trials than blessings; her beauty seemed like a curse in her life. She never believed a woman’s beauty to be a virtue. But as she looked at her only daughter, she touched Jiang Wanrou’s cheek and said with a gentle smile:

“Your fair complexion pairs well with the golden hairpin on your bun. I birthed you with stunning beauty, but don’t go around speaking of killing—it’s unbecoming.”

Jiang Wanrou responded gloomily, “Mother, I only want you to be well.”

“If the Sixth Miss is doing well, then her mother will be fine,” Concubine Li replied with a voice as soft and tender as water. She understood decorum and knew her place; even in private, she always referred to herself as “Concubine.” Jiang Wanrou, however, was different. Tilting her chin slightly toward the eastern courtyard, she whispered, “Mother, the situation has shifted—those people… are no longer a threat.”

The Eastern Courtyard was Madam Qin’s territory, the wife of Marquis Ning’an. Today, Jiang Wanrou returned to visit, and Madam Qin claimed illness and did not appear, which spoke volumes.

Jiang Wanrou said, “Mother, I want to report to Father and have you elevated to a co-wife. With official recognition, you will no longer have to fear that vile woman.”

“Watch your words!” Concubine Li warned, her tone serious. “Sixth Miss, you must address her as Mother.”

“I only have one mother, and I will never acknowledge a thief as such!”

In front of Concubine Li, Jiang Wanrou did not need to disguise her emotions, showing the willful attitude of a young daughter. She said bitterly, “For everything she did to us, I will make her pay back a hundredfold. I hate her! I will hate her for a lifetime.”

Jiang Wanrou harbored hatred toward Madam Qin, toward Marquis Ning’an for abandoning them, and even toward her powerless younger self.

When she was very young, Marquis Ning’an had treated them well. Her mother was his most favored concubine, and her father would embrace her daily upon his return, bringing her small fans and plush toys. The servants dared not mistreat them. The Lady of the Eastern Courtyard was fierce, so her father exempted her and her mother from greeting her, leaving them to enjoy their own little paradise, like a utopia.

Her refined father, her beautiful mother, and the comfortable life—before Jiang Wanrou turned five, she lived like a true noble young lady, cherished by her parents. But later… she didn’t know why, her father suddenly grew indifferent to her mother. He gradually stopped visiting their courtyard.

Seeing the change in treatment, the servants began serving them increasingly meager meals; even coal for winter heating was cut off. The mother and daughter froze so badly that their hands and feet were covered in sores. When Jiang Wanrou accidentally called her concubine mother “Mother,” her face was slapped swollen by bamboo-plated gloves…

At the mercy of others, helpless like a fish on the chopping block. She had been too young then, and her attempts to defend herself were as futile as a kitten scratching an itch. Thus, the once lively and spirited Sixth Miss grew increasingly “dull,” behaving timidly and submissively. She dared not raise her head and spent her days kneeling before her stepmother during morning and evening greetings, living humbly and servilely.

Even so, they continued to lack basic necessities. Her concubine mother developed tuberculosis from the cold, yet there was neither a doctor nor medicine available. The illness became a chronic condition over the years. Later, when Jiang Wanrou gained a firm footing in the Lu household, she boldly returned to the Marquis’ residence and dealt with a group of troublesome servants, standing up for her concubine mother. From then on, no one in the household dared to mistreat them again. However, the illness had taken too deep a root and could only be endured.

Jiang Wanrou took a deep breath, suppressing the painful memories of the past. Holding her concubine mother’s hand, she said gently, “Mother, let’s not talk about her. I’ll summon an imperial physician to examine you. You can’t keep enduring this.”

“You’re being foolish again; summoning an imperial physician is not easy.”

Concubine Li, unwilling to be diverted, gently admonished her, “That woman… she is, after all, the mother-in-law of the prince and has two sons under her. It’s fine to speak your mind here, but outside, you must watch your words and refrain from speaking rashly.”

What a fine girl, yet unfortunately born to her, dragging down her daughter’s reputation. Concubine Li, feeling powerless, could only teach her daughter to be “respectful” and “filial”—qualities the world admires in women—hoping that Commander Lu might love her a little more. Even without love, a little care would suffice.

Her own life was already set; she could only hope her daughter would live a smooth and joyful life.

Jiang Wanrou could not agree with her. Her mother wanted her to become a gentle and demure woman, the kind that all men admired as an ideal wife and mother. Concubine Li had achieved this herself, but what had it led to?

If she had truly been as gentle and submissive as she appeared on the surface, her bones would already be buried in the dried-up well of the Lu Residence—there would be no such good life as she had today. She had crawled out of the muck of the Marquis Ning’an’s household, slowly gaining control over the Lu Mansion until she could finally live with some dignity. Now, asking her to forgive and forget, to live her days peacefully—was that even possible?

Just wait—she vowed to make those who had wronged her pay the price.

Jiang Wanrou suppressed her frustration and spoke gently with her concubine mother about personal matters. In the past, whenever she planned to visit, she would send notice in advance, allowing Concubine Li to dress in silk and apply makeup, masking any signs of illness. Today, however, Jiang Wanrou was taken aback by her mother’s state, opting not to speak much and determined to avoid causing her further worry.

Originally, Jiang Wanrou intended to ask Concubine Li to keep an eye out for certain clues, but it was clear this was not feasible. After some thought, she beckoned Jin Tao over, apologizing for being an unfilial daughter, and instructed the maid to temporarily care for her mother on her behalf.

Jiang Wanrou was resolute, and Concubine Li, unable to argue with her, reluctantly accepted. Seeing her mother’s frail condition, Jiang Wanrou decided not to stay long and prepared to leave by noon. Before she left, Concubine Li reminded her, “The Marquis is on duty at Hanlin Academy today. You’re unlucky—he won’t be home. Go visit the old madam instead.”

This was for Jiang Wanrou’s sake; making such a grand visit without seeing her stepmother due to her “illness” was understandable, but skipping the old madam might invite gossip about her being “unfilial.” Now that her daughter was the head mistress of an influential household, her reputation must remain untarnished.

Jiang Wanrou obediently agreed. Visiting the old madam was only a small detour and wouldn’t be much trouble. Moreover, the old madam had indeed offered her protection when she was a child, making the visit appropriate both emotionally and socially. Unfortunately, by the time Jiang Wanrou arrived, someone else had already taken precedence as the guest of the day.

The steward bowed and reported, “Today is truly a good day! Both Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss have returned to visit. I will inform the old madam and prepare a table of fine dishes for a lively gathering.”

“The Fifth Sister is back as well?”

Jiang Wanrou was surprised. The Fifth Miss was also a concubine-born daughter of the Marquis’ household. She had married a penniless scholar, who, as luck would have it, rose to fame by acing the top three imperial exams and becoming the top scholar of the seventeenth year of Tianhua. Later, he was sent out as the prefect of Jiaozhou.

This event had once been widely discussed. In the Marquis Ning’an’s household, the male heirs had average achievements, but the daughters all married exceptionally well. The legitimate daughter was married into royalty, while the two concubine-born daughters had remarkable matches—one married a powerful minister, and the other became the wife of a top scholar. Rumors spread in the capital, saying it was better to have daughters than sons.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Wanrou smiled and said, “I should visit Fifth Sister and Grandmother, but with the New Year approaching, matters in the household are tying me down. My husband also urged me to return quickly, so I will have to visit them another day.”

She didn’t want to see the Fifth Sister. Her sister, who had been accompanying her top-scholar husband for three years away from the capital, was due to take up a position in the capital soon. Regardless of the post, he was a scholar and part of the “clean stream” faction, which naturally opposed the powerful ministerial faction like Lu Feng’s. Their political positions were inherently at odds, making conversation difficult.

Beyond all this, Jiang Wanrou personally did not like her Fifth Sister, Jiang Wanying. With someone like Madam Qin as the mistress of the household, the concubine-born daughters of the Marquis’ residence had to live submissively, none daring to stand out. Their eldest sister had passed away early, while the second and fourth sisters were married off quickly, leaving only Jiang Wanrou and Jiang Wanying to serve under Madam Qin’s watchful eye. Both were timid and reserved, but the difference was that Jiang Wanrou hid her cleverness, whereas Jiang Wanying was genuinely dim-witted.

Out of a sense of shared fate, Jiang Wanrou had secretly helped her Fifth Sister several times, creating a subtle bond of mutual support. However, after Jiang Wanying fell into the water, she became even quieter and would often stare at Jiang Wanrou with an unrelenting gaze, which made Jiang Wanrou very uncomfortable.

Later, Jiang Wanrou noticed that Jiang Wanying seemed to intentionally or unintentionally imitate her, which made her feel uneasy and led her to gradually distance herself. For some reason, even though her Fifth Sister had never done anything to harm her, Jiang Wanrou couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable dislike toward her.

Perhaps the two were simply destined to be at odds.

In her foul mood today, Jiang Wanrou had no desire to deal with people she disliked. She turned on her heel and headed straight for the main gate. The steward didn’t dare stop her and respectfully saw her off to the carriage. One of the servants nearby muttered in dissatisfaction, “Hmph, the Sixth Miss gets a little power and starts showing off. Even the princess doesn’t act so haughty. Who does she think she is!”

The steward gave the servant a sharp slap on the back of the head and scolded, “Stop babbling nonsense! Get back to carrying the goods!”

Prince Gong has been imprisoned, and the situation remains unclear. The steward of the Marquis’ household, experienced through the ups and downs of two dynasties, watched the grand procession of carriages and horses leaving, stroked his beard, and thought to himself: This day might be one of change.

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Jiang Wanrou was concerned about Concubine Li and sent the servant carrying the ceremonial gifts back to the residence. She, accompanied by her maid and guards, went to the Jinglong Bureau.

The Jinglong Bureau stood majestically, flanked by two stone lions with glaring eyes. The large vermillion doors were wide open, with a faint smell of blood wafting out from inside. No one dared to approach, making the place feel desolate and chilly.

The gatekeeper was evidently surprised to see someone arriving. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a carriage from the Lu Mansion. A beautifully dressed, snow-white and voluptuous woman gracefully descended from the carriage, astonishing him so much that his eyes widened in disbelief.

Without needing Jiang Wanrou to signal, Cui Zhu quickly stepped forward, slipped a silver ingot into the gatekeeper’s hand, and said, “Could you please inform them that the Madam has arrived?”

The young guard snapped back to his senses and immediately recognized the identity of the woman before him. So this is the famous lady—the only woman in Lord Lu’s inner quarters!

Just as the rumors said, her skin was as smooth as jade and her beauty unmatched. Perhaps even the infamous Consort Yang, who caused the downfall of the nation, didn’t possess such charm. No wonder she could captivate the Lord so much that he indulged in nightly revelries. Who could possibly resist her?

Blushing deeply, the guard led Jiang Wanrou into the rear chambers. It was the place where Lu Feng usually rested. The Jinglong Bureau was quite far from the Lu Mansion, and when Lu Feng worked late, he would stay here. However, he had been returning to the residence more frequently lately, leaving this place for brief naps.

The young guard stammered, “The Lord is… busy. Please wait for a moment, Madam.”

In truth, Lu Feng was in the dark prison, personally interrogating the case of Prince Gong, which was nearing its conclusion. Lu Feng was in urgent need of confessions and had taken matters into his own hands. The Jinglong Bureau was famous for its wide array of punishments, making people’s heads spin. But looking at the lady before him, as delicate as a snowy blossom, the guard dared not speak the truth. Such filth would only tarnish her ears.

Jiang Wanrou softly expressed her thanks. Noticing the guard’s flushed face, she curiously asked about his age and whether he was married, turning his face as red as a monkey’s behind. Stumbling, he quickly excused himself. Cui Zhu laughed and remarked, “Madam, look at him, he’s practically on fire!”

Jiang Wanrou looked at Cui Zhu and said, “He looks decent, and his mind is pure. Cui Zhu, what do you think?”

Cui Zhu froze for a moment, then stomped her foot and said, “Madam! Don’t tease me like this!”

She quickly scurried away, leaving Jiang Wanrou smiling as she began to inspect Lu Feng’s quarters. It was her first time here. The room was spacious and bright, yet its furnishings were simple. A hard couch, a set of redwood furniture with gold inlays, and a weapon rack that held several bows, two curved sabers, and a long spear. In the dead of winter, there wasn’t even a fire basin, leaving Jiang Wanrou’s hands and feet freezing cold.

It seemed Lu Feng had left in a hurry—the desk was messy, with ink in the inkstone that hadn’t yet dried. Jiang Wanrou called for hot water and personally cleaned Lu Feng’s brushes and inkstone while tidying up the desk. Just as Lu Feng didn’t share political matters with her, she never meddled in such affairs. She simply organized the memorials and letters in order, setting those sealed with wax separately in a stack. As for their contents, Jiang Wanrou had no interest in taking even a glance.

However, she did stumble across a stack of large characters—weak and feeble, resembling chicken scratches or dog scrawls. Clearly, it was the handwriting of a child. It brought a smile to Jiang Wanrou’s face. Lu Feng had painstakingly circled the readable characters from this mess, with comments written on each page, mostly encouraging remarks such as “Persistence pays off,” and “Success lies in perseverance.”

After laughing, Jiang Wanrou’s thoughts turned sorrowful. She pitied her son, Huaiyi, who would rather skip meals to practice calligraphy, yet the results… sigh!

She hadn’t received much education herself, and her son’s upbringing was solely managed by Lu Feng. Lu Feng always praised Huaiyi’s academic efforts, but it now seemed he had been deceiving her.

She didn’t expect Huaiyi to excel—his frail health alone made her content as long as he could live peacefully and safely. “I only wish my son to be dull and simple, free from illness and disaster, and to live an honorable life,” she thought.

Carefully, Jiang Wanrou tucked away her son’s “masterpiece” beneath the paperweight. Suddenly, she froze, noticing a red agate bead beside the paperweight.

The agate was of exceptional quality, with a silver wire hook—a clear indication that it was an ornament from a woman’s earring.