Chapter 117:
But this still wasn’t enough. Lu Ziyan added, “Don’t let her get played to death in just a few days. Let her live at least five years.”
Isn’t it a lack of men? Isn’t she good at provoking? He would let her serve men until she’s had enough.
Ming Feng was utterly baffled in his heart. Why did his master hate one woman so much? But at this moment, Lu Ziyan was surrounded by heavy cold air, so he dared not ask more and could only cup his hands and say yes.
…………
The Pei family’s monthly family banquet was right around the corner. This was Xie Wanning’s first time single-handedly arranging the estate’s family banquet, so she put her heart into it.
Although it was a family banquet, it still needed to be grand, but not overly extravagant. Being too frugal wouldn’t do either, lest the other branches criticize her for being petty.
Musicians and dancers had to be arranged too. If not for Pei Yuqing stopping her, she might even have arranged an opera troupe and set up a stage for some lively fun.
That day, she recorded a series of finalized plans in a notebook, took the menu, and hurriedly went to Maple Garden to ask her mother-in-law’s opinion.
Princess Duanyang woke from her afternoon nap and was dressing when she heard her daughter-in-law had come. She was slightly surprised.
After all, after marriage, she had exempted this daughter-in-law from morning and evening greetings and all related etiquette. Thus, every time she came, it was with the young couple together to pay respects to the old couple.
Coming to Maple Garden alone was indeed rare.
When Princess Duanyang entered the inner chamber, Xie Wanning came forward to greet her, respectfully curtsied, and said with apology in her voice, “Greetings, Mother. Have I disturbed your rest?”
“Not at all. You’ve come at just the right time,” Princess Duanyang smiled and pulled her to sit, saying, “Do you have something on your mind?”
Xie Wanning was straightforward by nature and immediately stated her purpose.
Princess Duanyang took the notebook from her hand, looked it over carefully, and nodded. “Your mother taught you very well. Everything is handled properly without any flaws.”
“Not at all,” Xie Wanning’s eyebrows and eyes curved, and she smiled. “It’s all because Mother is kind and gentle. Even if I do something wrong, you won’t point out my faults.”
Seeing her like a young lady beaming with joy after just one compliment, Princess Duanyang’s heart softened involuntarily. “You’re already very good. You handle the estate’s miscellaneous affairs in an orderly manner. I’ve seen it all these days.”
Speaking of which, her daughter-in-law was even a year younger than her own daughter.
Wasn’t she just a girl in her early teens?
Still a girl with exquisite features and a radiant smile, so beautiful it was stunning.
Princess Duanyang looked at her pure and lovely facial expression, and unwittingly felt a twinge of reluctance.
“Wanwan, is Changqing good to you?”
This was Xie Wanning’s first time chatting about intimate mother-in-law and daughter-in-law matters, so she was momentarily stunned.
Princess Duanyang sighed inwardly. A girl of flower bud age, just married and already living in separate rooms from her husband…
Though she was the nobly born eldest princess and Pei Changqing’s birth mother, she still felt a faint reluctance.
“Don’t worry,” Princess Duanyang patted the back of Xie Wanning’s hand and comforted her. “Mother knows your grievances. I’ve already had the imperial doctor examine you. They all said there are no major issues, so surely…”
She paused, then said, “Just be patient and wait. It will get better in time.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
She finally understood her mother-in-law’s meaning and immediately felt somewhat embarrassed.
Others might not know, but how could she not know if her husband was capable?
Over the two months, they lived next door to each other. Though they hadn’t shared a bed, that man loved kissing her the most.
When he kissed, it was fierce and urgent, regardless of occasion. As long as they were alone, whether in the inner chamber, the study, or even more so in the viewing pavilion or flower field, he couldn’t help but kiss her.
In short, he was no longer the shy and awkward young master in her impression.
They still hadn’t consummated because that last layer of paper hadn’t been pierced.
Out of a young lady’s reserve, Xie Wanning refused to actively ask him to move back to sleep with her, no matter what. Pei Yuqing felt that bringing it up would seem like forcing her, so neither had taken that step.
Hearing her mother-in-law bring up this topic now, Xie Wanning felt not only embarrassed but also a massive headache.
She wasn’t good at hiding her thoughts, so a bit of distress showed on her face.
Seeing this, Princess Duanyang smiled and changed the subject.
She said, “Speaking of which, I heard something recently. Wanwan, have you heard about it?”
Xie Wanning shook her head. “I haven’t left the estate in some time.”
“It’s not that recent,” Princess Duanyang smiled. “About half a month ago, the second branch of Wuyuan Marquis’s Estate, which had been without offspring, finally had a child.”
“…” Xie Wanning was stunned for a moment.
“It was that woman the Lu Family young lord kept as a concubine. She gave birth to a son and has now returned to the Lu Family.”
She sneered and said, “Speaking of which, when the eldest illegitimate son was born, the father wasn’t there. With year-end approaching in less than two months, he left a household of widows and a concubine about to give birth, and specially ran off to Qingzhou, saying he was investigating a case.”
Princess Duanyang said this partly to reassure her daughter-in-law: ‘Your former fiancé who broke into your new bridal chamber at night already has an eldest illegitimate son, so rest easy in our family.’
It also implicitly criticized Lu Ziyan for allowing an eldest illegitimate son to be born before marriage, clearly showing how much he valued that concubine. It was his first time being a father, yet even so, he abandoned the woman about to give birth and left the capital.
It was enough to show how heartless he was.
In short, hardly a good match.
Xie Wanning understood these implications, but at this moment, she wasn’t thinking of anything else.
She only thought to herself that her days had been too carefree. Unwittingly, Liu Manrou’s child had already been born, and she hadn’t even thought about it.
Also, she hadn’t known that Lu Ziyan wasn’t in the capital right now.
It had been a long time since she’d seen him or even heard his name.
She hadn’t expected to hear of him again from her own mother-in-law.
In her past life, that man had never gone to Qingzhou City, nor investigated a case at this time.
It was obvious he was taking advantage of foreknowledge to stir up something.
This case must involve some official in the imperial court blocking his path…
She didn’t understand the imperial court’s layout, so her thoughts stopped there.
But Xie Wanning knew that Lu Ziyan wanted to reach the peak again, and his biggest opponent right now was the First Prince.
She didn’t want Lu Ziyan to reach the peak, nor did she want the First Prince to take that position.
After all, in her past life, she had died at the hands of the First Prince and Imperial Consort Shu.
One was her cousin, the other her aunt, yet to deal with Lu Ziyan, they unhesitatingly took her life.
Lu Ziyan had acted so convincingly that even she was fooled. How did they know she was the one he truly loved?
As soon as the question arose, a face flashed automatically in her mind.
Of course, who else could it be but Lu Xiyao.
But what made them think that her death would strike Lu Ziyan so hard he’d give up even the crown prince position?
