Chapter 39: How Many Romantic Entanglements and Ill-Fated Liaisons Does He Have?

Lu Huaijin watched her with a calm expression.

Su Yao sighed silently in her heart, filled with bitterness. It was he who had brought Zhao Zhifu here, yet now he was hypocritically asking who had wronged her. It was truly laughable. She understood that since he had brought the woman back, it meant he had likely already accepted the marriage match proposed by the Empress Dowager. Why would she demean herself by trying to offer an explanation? That would be nothing more than overestimating her own importance.

Zhao Zhifu, while malicious, was at least foolish. If it had been a woman with a more calculating mind acting as the mistress, there was no telling what methods she might have used. Thinking of this, she decided she might as well seize this opportunity...

"I fell down myself," Su Yao said, lowering her eyes, her voice flat.

"You fell yourself?"

Lu Huaijin’s eyelids twitched violently. Did Su Yao take him for a fool? He roared, "Someone, come here!"

Chuntao heard the commotion and trembled in fear. She hurried into the room and dropped to her knees with a thud, her voice shaking, "My Lord."

"Demonstrate for me how your mistress fell and ended up like this."

Seeing the situation, Su Yao’s heart tightened. She knew well that Lu Huaijin intended to take his anger out on Chuntao. She hurriedly reached out to grab him, her fingertips trembling slightly. "My Lord, this has nothing to do with Chuntao."

Chuntao was pale with terror. Under Lu Huaijin’s oppressive gaze, she finally stammered out the truth. "It wasn't that the young lady fell on her own..."

"Chuntao!" Su Yao cried out in anxious protest.

But Chuntao, already frightened out of her wits, had let the words slip. She suddenly remembered Su Yao’s warning, shut her mouth, and kept her head bowed, her body shivering like chaff in the wind.

Lu Huaijin’s expression darkened as he glared viciously at Chuntao. "If you do not speak, then you need never speak again. I will have you sold off this instant."

Chuntao looked at Su Yao in distress. After much hesitation, she kept her head down, her voice barely a mosquito’s hum. "My Lord, it was the daughter of General Zhao. She came to the garden today and struck the young lady. The young lady forbade me from telling you..."

Lu Huaijin’s eyes twitched, and a strange sense of guilt stirred in his heart. He had never imagined that Zhao Zhifu would be so bold as to bully Su Yao on his own turf.

"Changting!" Lu Huaijin shouted coldly.

Hearing the summons, Changting entered the room immediately. Seeing Chuntao kneeling, his heart sank, realizing something had gone wrong. He asked respectfully, "What are your orders, My Lord?"

"Where is she?" Lu Huaijin asked through gritted teeth.

Changting looked at Su Yao, hesitant to speak.

"I asked you a question!" Lu Huaijin’s voice grew even colder.

"Sir, she... she has been settled in the West Courtyard."

"The West Courtyard?"

Lu Huaijin frowned deeply. This was the East Courtyard; Governor He had specifically cleared it out to host him. Since the woman had been placed in the West Courtyard, why had she run to the East to bully his woman? His rage flared even higher. "Did I not tell you to keep a close eye on her and have her father come to collect her? How is it that she is running about?"

Changting realized he had blundered and was filled with regret. He had explicitly warned the woman not to approach the East Courtyard, never expecting her to be so audacious. He assumed Miss Su must have discovered her presence, which had caused her anger.

"Bring her here," Lu Huaijin commanded coldly, his voice seemingly squeezed through his teeth.

"Yes!"

Changting did not dare to delay and hurried off. Zhao Zhifu was brought over shortly after. The moment Lu Huaijin saw her, he was stunned—her face was similarly red and swollen. It was only then that he remembered his little lady had never been a submissive rabbit. It was merely that she had been restrained by him for so long that her spirit had been somewhat dulled.

"Miss Zhao, I kindly took you in. Why have you laid hands on my people?"

"My Lord, I am wronged! It was Su Yao who struck first!" Zhao Zhifu immediately began to weep and defend herself.

Lu Huaijin turned to Su Yao. "Is this true?"

Su Yao gave a soft "Mm," her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

The corners of Lu Huaijin’s mouth curved upward, holding a faint, indistinct smile. He thought to himself that it was no wonder she wouldn't lodge a complaint—she knew she was in the wrong.

"My Lord, my face has also been injured by her. Could I see the mansion physician? If I am disfigured, what am I to do?" Zhao Zhifu whined, acting coquettishly before Lu Huaijin.

To Su Yao, this display made her look like a mere court jester. She understood this smiling man too well; his selfishness, his malice, his heartlessness, and his cruelty were all too clear to her. Perhaps he was even feeling smug right now, his vanity satisfied by two women fighting over him. The more Su Yao thought about it, the more suffocated she felt, as if a heavy stone were pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Changting, take her to see the doctor."

Lu Huaijin spoke coldly. Changting hurried to lead her away, but Zhao Zhifu did not forget to cast a provocative glance at Su Yao.

"About that... I will go fetch some cold water to soothe your face."

"No need."

Su Yao looked away, her tone indifferent. "I am not so delicate. My skin is thick and rough; I cannot compare to others."

Lu Huaijin wanted to explain, but Su Yao’s attitude irritated him. "I have already notified her father to come and collect her."

Lu Huaijin taking a wife. The Empress Dowager’s banquet. Zhao Zhifu following all the way to Tongzhou. The woman in red. The hero saving the beauty. The hidden mistress. The heavy scent of powder. Putting these things together, Su Yao understood everything. What more was there to explain to her? And what status did she hold that required him to explain himself? A man of Lu Huaijin’s stature surely had countless romantic debts and entanglements outside. She had merely been confined to the deep residence and unable to see them; this was her first time out, and naturally, she had run into one. She didn't feel so much anger as she did a sense of disgust.

She remained expressionless.

Lu Huaijin, whose face was always composed, appeared anxious at this moment.

"Say something."

"Su Yao. Speak!"

Su Yao reached up to touch her chest; the tightness there was severe, making it hard for her to catch her breath. Lu Huaijin reached out to pull her close, but she dodged him. This time, the man did not indulge her. He grabbed her firmly and pulled her onto his lap.

"I have nothing with her. Truly, nothing at all. She is only here with me because if something were to happen to her, word would get out, and people would think I, Lu Huaijin, bullied a young girl. As for the slap you gave today, I will make the Zhao family pay for it later."

Su Yao still did not speak, her eyes drifting elsewhere. Lu Huaijin patiently continued to coax her. "If you do not wish to see her, I will have her moved to an inn outside."

"There is no need," Su Yao finally spoke, her voice exceedingly flat.

Seeing that she had finally spoken, Lu Huaijin’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he felt a weight lift from his heart. His hand caressed her face. "Does it hurt?"

"I only argued with Miss Zhao today, and we traded blows in our displeasure. We were old acquaintances, and I actually wanted to chat with her a bit... Could you arrange that, My Lord?"

"You mean that?"

"Naturally, I mean it. You know me, My Lord; if I were truly wronged, I would not be one to swallow my pride."

Lu Huaijin thought that was true; his little rabbit was one that could bite. Usually, she seemed docile, but if truly provoked, she would not let things go easily.

"Very well."

Not long after, Zhao Zhifu was brought back. She assumed Lu Huaijin was concerned for her and had asked for her, but upon entering the room, she did not see the man.

"Stop looking; it was I who asked for you," Su Yao said slowly.

Zhao Zhifu looked at Su Yao with wariness. "Su Yao? It’s you? What do you want?"

"Zhao Zhifu, I want to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"