Chapter 136: Idle Gossip
Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Idle Gossip
His thin lips pursed slightly as he waited for her to continue.
Cao Luyun shook her head. "I have nothing more to say."
Liang Wan’s heart stirred. She glanced at Lu Xiu. ’Did he just cut her off before she could say what she really wanted?’
He continued, "If you are unhappy with anything in the residence, you may speak to Liang Ji. Though she dislikes managing trivial matters, she will still look after you. She also goes out from time to time. If you wish, you may accompany her. There is no need to stand on ceremony."
The corner of Liang Wan’s mouth twitched as she looked at him. ’It’s not like I go out for fun!’
Lu Xiu acted as if he hadn’t noticed. "It’s getting late. Lady Cao, you should rest early."
Cao Luyun managed a smile. "You and Liang Ji should also rest early."
Lu Xiu gave a slight, ever-polite nod.
Liang Wan maintained a smile the entire time.
After walking together for a stretch, no one made a point of saying goodbye; they simply parted ways and returned to their own quarters.
Cao Luyun was not a proactive person, but her actions today were truly difficult to comprehend.
However, Liang Wan wasn’t particularly concerned with the affairs of the inner residence.
Lu Xiu returned to his routine of waking early for the morning court session, while she kept busy collecting medicinal herbs.
Qiuxi had visited a few times to report on her progress. According to her, they had recently hired a capable new clerk who was a master at both accounting and management.
Liang Wan didn’t say a word, even though it seemed she had just been complaining about being spread too thin.
Some things didn’t need to be said so plainly, and some things were only learned later.
When Mrs. Zhang tried to escape during the chaos, she was accidentally struck down by the fighting men and died on the spot.
No one else besides her survived the great fire. Lu Xiu hadn’t sent anyone to extinguish the flames at all, instead watching as the entire mountain stronghold burned to ash.
After that day, her mother had gone to Purple Cloud Temple, shaved her head, and become a nun.
’Sometimes I think Duke Lou wasn’t entirely wrong for wanting to kill me.’
’Wherever I go, slaughter and destruction follow...’
It was hard to say when it started, but the renovated little courtyard was gradually returning to its original state.
After the Start of Winter, the weather turned noticeably cold, and snow began to fall. As long as she didn’t have to go out, she spent most of her time in the conservatory.
Lu Xiu had the conservatory renovated, adding more braziers. Under the meticulous care of several people, they managed to preserve a room full of fragrance.
Yurui flowers in winter were a great rarity, so Liang Wan specially selected a few stems to present as a gift.
Upon seeing them, Gao Qian was indeed greatly pleased and playfully nicknamed her "Lady Yurui."
Perhaps Jinye City had been dull for too long. Such a minor affair from a private residence was wildly embellished and discussed. The stories eventually became so outlandish that people began privately calling her a sorceress, claiming she could command flowers to bloom amidst the ice and snow.
When Lu Xiu heard the rumors, he merely laughed them off, paying them no mind.
Liang Wan’s heart pounded in fear. ’He doesn’t understand, but I know all too well.’
’Such demonic rumors will surely lead to disaster by springtime.’
However, the source of the rumors was impossible to trace, nor could they be forcibly stopped. She could only wait passively for them to cool down.
Liang Wan suspected that the rumors had reached the harem as well. Otherwise, why would the Empress Dowager command her to go to Renshou Palace and embroider a Buddhist image?
This measure was clearly born of fear—fear that her terrible reputation would tarnish the entire Lu Family.
Whatever the reason, being able to frequently enter and exit the Imperial Palace was a good thing. Some defenses would gradually lose their effectiveness through daily familiarity.
Besides, at Renshou Palace, there were always opportunities to see Gao Qian.
After breakfast, Liang Wan neatened her appearance and, just as on any other day, prepared to enter the palace and go to Renshou Palace.
The weather was cold. Bai Lu helped her fasten a white fox-fur cloak. Her fair, exquisite form was bundled in the white down, revealing only a delicate, palm-sized face like the heart of a flower, with eyes like black jade, shimmering and bright.
The popular nickname "Lady Yurui" really wasn’t for nothing!
Bai Lu’s gaze inadvertently fell upon her cherry-red lips. It wasn’t that she was being judgmental, but they were truly, strikingly red. It was obvious at a glance that they had been kissed quite fiercely. If Bai Lu hadn’t seen it for herself, she would never have believed that such a cool and distant person was so demanding in bed.
Liang Wan noticed where her maid was looking and felt a little awkward. Ever since Lu Xiu discovered she didn’t resist his kisses, he had become relentless. Each time, her heart would leap into her throat, thinking she couldn’t escape her fate, but then he would never take it any further, which was, in a way, a relief.
She knew she was different from other women, and this secret was known only to Lu Xiu. Though it was never spoken aloud, he never forced her, so she guessed he understood.
Liang Wan glanced in the mirror. They were a little swollen. "Should I put on some more lip rouge?"
Bai Lu shook her head with a smile. "It’s fine just like this."
’Any more?’ she thought. ’That would only draw more attention to it.’
Liang Wan nodded and, without further delay, left the room.
The courtyard was stark and cold in the winter. Few people were to be seen; everyone was huddled inside their rooms.
Neither she nor Cao Luyun had warm, sociable personalities, so they didn’t go out of their way to visit each other on normal days. Thus, they never acted out the scenes of open strife and covert struggle that others might have expected.
Snow had fallen all through the previous night. A few servant women were under the covered walkway, heads bowed as they swept the snow. The soft scraping sound of their brooms was quite soothing.
"I’ve never seen anyone so domineering!"
"Isn’t that the truth? It’s a laughingstock. To think she’s been here this long and is still—sigh."
"Keep your voice down. If she hears you, she’ll just go back to staring blankly out that cold window again."
"What kind of nonsense is this? Doting on that concubine like she’s some delicate flower, and he even built... what’s it called... anyway, a house just for flowers! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life!"
"A few days ago, I went back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, and only then did I learn how nasty the rumors outside have gotten. Treating a demonic creature like that as a treasure... aren’t they afraid of incurring heavenly punishment!"
"What demonic creature? Don’t flatter her. In my opinion, she’s nothing more than a clingy little seductress. Our lady is a proper noblewoman from a scholarly family. The way she carries herself is a model of good breeding. How could that woman possibly compare?"
"Ah, men. When they’re young, aren’t they all just like alley cats, always chasing skirts? After a while, though—"
"Hold your tongues!"
The door curtain was lifted, and two people stepped out: first Shuangjiang, then Cao Luyun.
"Are your lives too idle? When did my Prime Minister’s Mansion start producing such loose-tongued people?"
Cao Luyun’s face was stern with anger.
Her daily attire was gentle, and her tone of voice was soft. Even when truly angry, she didn’t have much of an intimidating presence. The servants knew her temperament well; after a scolding, there would be no real punishment. So they immediately began to beg for forgiveness and make excuses.
"My Lady, please calm your anger! We were only upset on your behalf!"
"Yes, My Lady, I know I was wrong! I won’t say it again!"
...
The servant women spoke placating words and kowtowed repeatedly.
After just a few bows on the hard, icy ground, their foreheads were red—a pitiful sight.
Seeing this, Cao Luyun’s expression softened. She sighed. "You all came with me from the Prime Minister’s Mansion. You must never speak like this again. Otherwise, next time, I will not be so lenient!"
The faces of the kneeling women lit up with joy, and they hurriedly said, "Thank you, My Lady!"
"And that’s it?"
A cool, detached voice sounded, and the women looked over in shock.
Liang Wan walked forward, a faint smile on her face.
"Liang Ji—"
Their faces became a kaleidoscope of colors. What a spectacular sight!