Chapter 54: I Do Not Consent to Taking a Concubine

Su Yao was dragged along by Lu Huaijin, stumbling as she struggled to keep pace with him. Search the original article: Tonight We Eat Chicken

Her hair was disheveled. Ever since becoming pregnant, she had been especially sensitive to heat.

After that brief struggle, she was drenched in sweat, and several loose strands clung to her damp cheeks.

“Lu Huaijin, slow down. I…I can’t keep up,” Su Yao said breathlessly.

Only then did Lu Huaijin slow his steps.

When they returned to Ink Fragrance Residence, Lu Huaijin slammed the door shut behind them.

He turned and looked at Su Yao coldly.

“What do you think about my taking a concubine?”

Su Yao was helpless. It was his mother who wanted him to take a concubine, so why was he taking his anger out on her? Besides, whether she agreed or not hardly mattered.

Truthfully, she would have been more than happy for him to find someone new. Perhaps then he would finally let her go.

It was only that, with the child in her belly now…

Things were rather troublesome.

“Su Yao, I’m asking you a question.”

When Lu Huaijin saw that she still did not answer, the anger in his heart burned even hotter. He pressed her again, obvious impatience creeping into his voice.

Su Yao slowly raised her head. “It’s your mother’s arrangement. What do you expect me to say?”

“From what you said just now, you think it’s a good idea, do you?” Lu Huaijin stared intently at her.

“She is your own cousin. There’s no harm in treating her well. As for taking her in as a concubine, if you want to bring her into the household, then bring her in.”

Her tone was flat, as though she were speaking of something that had nothing whatsoever to do with her.

Hearing those words, Lu Huaijin felt a foul breath roil violently in his chest, nearly drowning him.

His face darkened with fury as he looked at Su Yao’s small, defiant mouth.

He abruptly reached out and forcibly dragged her onto the bed, his movements rough.

“Lu Huaijin, have you gone mad? It’s broad daylight—what are you trying to do?” Su Yao cried out in terror.

She struggled with all her might, pushing desperately against Lu Huaijin, but her strength was pitifully small before him and accomplished nothing.

“Mmm…mmm…mmm…”

Her voice was gradually swallowed by the chaos filling the room.

After a long while, Chuntao entered with hot water to help Su Yao wash up.

Su Yao sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes rimmed red as though she had just been crying, her gaze filled with grievance.

She silently accepted the rinsing cup Chuntao handed her and began to rinse her mouth.

Looking at her mistress in such a state, Chuntao’s heart ached. She could not help sighing.

“Miss, you should indulge the master’s temper a little. Say the things he wants to hear. That way, you might suffer a little less.”

The things he wanted to hear?

Su Yao pondered this in silence. Was she supposed to say that she was jealous, that she minded?

She gave a cold snort inwardly. She would never say such a thing. She was not jealous at all!

Meanwhile, Lady Lu was carefully laying her plans. She had specifically sent her trusted servant, Nanny Li, to teach Cai Wei about relations between men and women.

As Cai Wei listened to Nanny Li, her delicate face instantly flushed scarlet. She lowered her head, unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes, looking awkward and uneasy.

Lady Lu took Cai Wei’s hand and said earnestly, “Cai Wei, your aunt truly has your best interests at heart. You must do your best.”

“I will,” Cai Wei replied softly, her voice shy.

“On the first day of next month, you will be carried into Ink Fragrance Residence. Over the next few days, you should appear before Huaijin more often and let him grow accustomed to you.”

As Lady Lu spoke, she cast Nanny Li a meaningful glance. Nanny Li immediately understood and hurriedly brought over a steaming bowl of bird’s nest soup.

Cai Wei gave a slight nod.

Carefully lifting the bowl of bird’s nest soup, she went to Ink Fragrance Residence herself.

As the cousin miss would soon become half a mistress of the household, the servants at Ink Fragrance Residence naturally did not dare neglect her. When Changfeng saw her arrive, he hurried off to announce her presence.

Cai Wei was filled with unease, afraid that Lu Huaijin would refuse to see her.

The last time they had met, this cold-faced cousin had seemed difficult to deal with. He had even dared defy his own mother.

At the thought, her fingers unconsciously tightened around the tray until her knuckles turned faintly white.

Yet, to her surprise, Lu Huaijin actually invited her inside.

She drew a deep breath to steady her nerves, then followed Changfeng into Lu Huaijin’s courtyard.

When she reached the door, she tapped lightly and called in a gentle voice, “Cousin.”

Lu Huaijin was painting at the table. Hearing her voice, he slowly raised his head and looked toward her.

Cai Wei gave a slight curtsy and continued, “I personally stewed this bird’s nest soup for you, Cousin. You are busy with official matters and must take care of your health. Please drink it while it’s still hot.”

“Set it down,” Lu Huaijin said indifferently.

Cai Wei placed the tray on the table, but her gaze remained fixed on the man before her.

Looking at Lu Huaijin’s handsome features, she imagined that such an elegant and distinguished man would soon become her husband. Her face immediately flushed to the roots of her ears, and her heart began to race despite herself.

When Lu Huaijin saw that she had set down the soup but still had no intention of leaving, he frowned slightly.

“Is there something else?”

“Are you painting, Cousin?”

Lu Huaijin laid down his brush and looked at Cai Wei. “Do you understand painting?”

Cai Wei nodded slightly, a hint of pride appearing on her face. “I have learned a thing or two from Master Bai.”

Lu Huaijin paused briefly before asking, “Can you inscribe poetry?”

“A little. If you do not find it beneath your notice, Cousin, I would be honored to try.”

Lu Huaijin stepped back, indicating that she should come forward.

Cai Wei approached and examined the painting. It depicted lotus flowers: pure white blossoms set against emerald-green leaves, fresh and refined beyond the ordinary.

After thinking for a moment, she picked up the brush and inscribed several lines of verse upon the painting.

Only after she finished did Lu Huaijin walk over and lift the painting, examining it carefully.

“I have made a fool of myself. I hope you won’t laugh at me, Cousin,” she said nervously, her eyes fixed intently on his expression.

Lu Huaijin spoke淡淡ly. “The poem is a good one, but it does not belong in my painting. As far as my painting is concerned, your poem is superfluous.”

His voice was calm, yet his words pierced Cai Wei’s heart like a sharp blade.

For a moment, Cai Wei could not speak. It felt as though her mouth had been stuffed with cotton, and her heart was filled with grievance.

She took a deep breath and struggled to compose herself before summoning the courage to ask, “What do you mean by that, Cousin? Zhou Dunyi was a man who loved lotus flowers. What is wrong with inscribing his verse?”

“There is nothing wrong with Zhou Dunyi. There is nothing wrong with the verse.”

“Then why?” Cai Wei pressed. Her fingers trembled faintly, and an ominous premonition rose within her.

Lu Huaijin merely watched her in silence, offering no immediate answer.

Cai Wei’s heart sank, as though she had understood. “Is it me?”

She gazed at Lu Huaijin’s cool, distant features, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of the celadon cup. The bird’s nest soup inside was still warm, yet her heart had turned cold to the bone.

Bitterness rose in Cai Wei’s throat, but she forced herself to maintain a smile.

“Perhaps you could make yourself a little clearer, Cousin…”

Lu Huaijin set down the scroll with utmost care. As he turned, his wide sleeve brushed against the brush washer, sending ink-colored ripples spreading through the water, like the dark currents surging in his eyes.

“You heard what I said that day. I do not agree to taking a concubine. Will you speak to my mother, or shall I do it?”

Cai Wei’s fingertips instantly dug into her palm, her crimson nail polish pressing dark red crescent marks into her pale skin.

Her voice trembled, and a faint flush gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“Cousin… I came all the way to the capital for this. The marriage was arranged by our elders long ago. If you are unwilling, and I return home like this…I fear no one will ever be willing to marry me again…”