Chapter 57: How Do You Expect Me to Treat You with Courtesy?

"Is your word reliable?"

Lu Huaijin unconsciously rubbed the rim of his teacup, the celadon glaze reflecting the swirling darkness in the depths of his eyes.

"A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."

Su Yao felt a thrill in her heart, her fingertips going numb.

She calculated silently: nine months... she only needed to endure for another nine months, and she could take her freedom and fly far away.

"Well?" Lu Huaijin suddenly leaned forward, his wide sleeves sweeping across the teacup on the table.

His shadow loomed over her, and Su Yao instinctively leaned back, the lower part of her spine pressing against the cold back of the chair.

"Is this a transaction?" she mustered the courage to retort.

"It is."

Su Yao suddenly let out a light laugh.

"Have you thought it through?"

She had thought it through far too clearly! She wanted to leave, she had to leave. What was there left to think about?

After a moment, Su Yao braced her courage and said, "Since it's a transaction, it must be fair."

Lu Huaijin raised an eyebrow, candlelight dancing in his eyes. He was curious to see what bold statement she would come out with next.

"What do you want?"

Su Yao felt apprehensive, her nails digging into her palms: "I am leaving right after I give birth... You must not stop me when that time comes."

"I won't stop you."

"And during these days, you are not allowed to bully me anymore."

Lu Huaijin arched an eyebrow, looking at the woman who kept provoking him, and asked, "Bully?"

He smiled.

The candlelight tinted the corners of his eyes red. "Su Yao, you are pregnant now, how could I possibly bully you?"

Su Yao's mind suddenly flashed back to the things he had done to her that day—dominant and overbearing, leaving her with no way to fight back...

Afterward, her jaws had ached for a long time, and the lingering sensation still remained.

As these memories flooded her mind, she felt a wave of heat surge instantly from her neck to her cheeks, turning them crimson in a flash. Her lips parted slightly, but it was as if they had been stitched together with thread. Those unspeakable past events stuck in her throat, impossible to voice no matter what.

"At least treat me with courtesy," she said, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz.

Lu Huaijin suddenly burst into laughter. "Su Yao, how would you like me to treat you with courtesy?"

His voice suddenly turned husky. "Perform the rites of monarch and subject toward the mother of my child?"

Su Yao jerked her head up and caught the swirling emotions in the depths of Lu Huaijin's eyes.

"Then... you are no longer allowed to come and sleep in my room."

"Su Yao!" Lu Huaijin's voice rose a notch.

Su Yao was slightly startled.

The man continued, "Don't push your luck."

Frightened by his demeanor, Su Yao's previously straight spine instantly curved, her fiery spirit vanishing in an instant. Her voice became as small as a self-deprecating murmur: "Then... this matter... can be discussed later."

With that, she lowered her head, not daring to look into Lu Huaijin's eyes again.

Silence hung between the two of them.

Lu Huaijin suddenly stood up, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it across. As he did, his fingertips brushed against the back of Su Yao's hand.

"Come here, drink some water."

In a daze, Su Yao sat down, took the cup, and took a small sip.

The tea was slightly cool, sliding down her throat with unmatched refreshment.

Seeing that she had stopped making a fuss and her anger had dissipated, his expression softened.

"My Lord, you seem different from before."

"How am I different?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it... You've always been fierce, unreasonable, autocratic, overbearing, and merciless..."

Lu Huaijin looked at those softly moving lips chattering away, speaking words he didn't care to hear. He really wanted to seal them shut.

Yet he had to endure; he couldn't scare her again.

"You have rarely been close to me, so how could you know my true character?"

Su Yao's brows twitched slightly. The most intimate act had been performed between them, yet they were not the closest of people.

Looking at the man before her, Su Yao thought that she truly did not understand him.

In the past, he was her elder, and she had always treated him with respect.

Later, he was a man, and she feared him, dreaded him, hated him, and resented him—never once trying to understand him.

Lu Huaijin suddenly pinched her chin, using just a tiny bit of force. "Yao'er, look at me."

Su Yao raised her head, meeting his eyes.

Those were cold, thin phoenix eyes, yet at this moment, they were gentle and tender.

Were they always like this before? She didn't know.

As their eyes locked, Lu Huaijin's gaze sank deep into the depths of Su Yao's pupils.

She was beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful, always capable of easily captivating one's soul, plunging them so deep into the abyss that they could never extricate themselves.

"What does My Lord want me to look at?"

"Shut up."

"What on earth am I supposed to be looking at?"

Su Yao did not understand what this man was looking at. Was there something stuck on her face? Or perhaps she had cried too hard and her makeup had smeared, making her lose her composure in his eyes?

With this thought, Su Yao instinctively moved to wipe her face, but her movement abruptly froze.

Her fingers were suddenly caught and grabbed by Lu Huaijin.

His large hand tightly enveloped her fingers, causing a blush to instantly flush across Su Yao's cheeks.

"What are you doing?" Su Yao asked in a panic.

She tried to pull her hand back, only to find that Lu Huaijin's strength was astonishingly great, leaving her completely unable to break free.

"Nothing in particular."

He slowly straightened his posture, though his fingers did not release their hold. Instead, he began gently rubbing the back of Su Yao's fingers.

Su Yao's heart was in complete chaos. The way he played with her hand made it tickle, leaving her both embarrassed and annoyed. She tried her absolute hardest to pull her hand back, but every single struggle only resulted in Lu Huaijin tightening his grip even further.

"Before the child is born, since you are by my side, you must be well-behaved."

A sense of grievance washed over Su Yao, yet she was utterly helpless.

She thought to herself: it was only nine months anyway. Next month, when his cousin entered the manor, he wouldn't have the time to seek her out either.

With this thought, she nodded gently, considering it her agreement to Lu Huaijin's demand.

She raised her eyes to look at Lu Huaijin and happened to meet his gaze.

In those deep eyes, Su Yao saw herself—a well-behaved and submissive version of herself, completely different from her usual stubborn and rebellious self.

"Imperial Physician Shi said that throwing tantrums is bad for the child."

Su Yao furrowed her brows slightly. "Really?"

Lu Huaijin nodded slightly.

Su Yao's hand unconsciously moved to stroke her belly. "Then the baby will be all right, won't it?"

"Let's have a routine pulse-taking tomorrow."

This time, Su Yao did not refuse. She bit her lower lip lightly and nodded slightly; she, too, was worried about the child.

"I don't know about these things... and no one taught me..."

Her voice was somewhat choked, as if something was blocking her throat, and a thin layer of tears welled up in her eyes.

Su Yao thought of her own mother. If her mother were still alive, she would surely have taught her all of these things.

"You deserve to be punished."

"Why is My Lord punishing me, and what is the punishment for?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Yao realized what she had just said about the pregnancy... she had been far too impulsive.

"The punishment is for you to keep me company while I dine. I haven't eaten since I returned."

"Alright."

Lu Huaijin's expression softened. She had almost hurt herself, so she needed to learn a lesson, but the punishment naturally could not be too harsh. Since she was pregnant, she still needed to be doted on and coaxed.

"Then I'll have Chuntao tell the kitchens to serve."

Soon, Chuntao arranged a table of dishes. Seeing the harmonious atmosphere between the two of them, she smiled inwardly to herself.

The man picked up a piece of fish belly and placed it in her bowl, his thin lips parting slightly: "Do you think it's a girl or a boy?"

"Does My Lord prefer a girl or a boy?"

"I like both."

This was their first child; whether it was a boy or a girl, he would love it. In the future, they would have even more children.

"I think it's a girl."

"Do you like girls?"

Su Yao shook her head. "I had a dream..."

Su Yao narrated the dream in detail, and Lu Huaijin listened with rapt attention. It was such a wonderful feeling; they rarely spoke to each other like this.

Outside, Changting's voice rang out: "My Lord, something has happened at the First Madam's quarters!"