Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Still Thinking About Chun Zhi

Yu Zhu saw them and turned pale at once. She quickly hid behind the doorway.

The two Gu family attendants did not see her. They stepped forward to salute and said to Huo Zheng: “Young Master Huo, our family head told us to stay and await your orders at any time.”

With a cool voice, Huo Zheng said: “Are you staying to take my orders, or to keep watch?”

The two attendants lowered their heads at once and said: “Please forgive us, Young Master Huo. We only follow orders.”

“Go back to where you came from,” he said in a deep voice. “Tell your master not to meddle.”

Though his clothes were plain, his presence was sharp and heavy. The two attendants did not dare argue. They answered at once and hurried away.

In a short while, they were gone from his sight.

Chun Zhi stepped up and asked softly: “Are they gone?”

“They are,” said Huo Zheng.

“Yu Zhu,” Chun Zhi said, reaching back to pull Yu Zhu forward and speaking gently: “They have left. Don’t be scared.”

Yu Zhu’s little face was white as paper. “Chun Zhi, sister…”

“You really cannot stay here,” Chun Zhi said. “While they are gone, hurry to the ferry.”

No one knew when the Gu family’s people might return. It was best to get Yu Zhu away quickly.

Chun Zhi called: “Huo Zheng.”

His tone did not change as he said: “Let’s go.”

Yu Zhu took two steps with him, then looked back and said: “Chun Zhi, sister… I am going.”

“Go on,” said Chun Zhi. “Be careful on the road.”

Yu Zhu left with Huo Zheng. Chun Zhi closed the courtyard gate and sat in the yard to do needlework. In the last few days, Yu Zhu had kept her company. Now that she was gone, Chun Zhi suddenly felt a bit lonely. It was fine, though. Huo Zheng would be back soon. With that thought, she settled down and went on with her work.

Across town, at the Lu Residence, Lu Jing Yun had been staying out for several days. This afternoon he came home to fetch a few things and was about to go out again.

Seeing this, Ji Ru Zhen had a maid stop him. She walked up and asked gently: “Husband, what have you been busy with these days? Mother speaks of you often.”

“There is a lot to do,” said Lu Jing Yun. “Prince Chang’an is inspecting Nanzhou. Prince Ning asked a group of officials to accompany him. I am among them.”

“I heard Prince Chang’an does not like noise,” said Ji Ru Zhen. “Why does he like crowds now in Nanzhou? And Prince Ning as well. If Prince Chang’an is inspecting Nanzhou, let the local officials handle it. Why ask you, a top scholar, to accompany him?”

She was not happy. Lately, he had grown cold to her, starting from when Wu Xin fought with Chun Zhi over the tofu workshop. He likely knew she told Wu Xin to do it and was unhappy with her. But he did not say it. His face stayed calm. He was busy with social calls every day and did not come back to share a bed with her at night.

She had held it in for days. Now she could not. That was why she had the maid stop him.

His face showed nothing, and his voice was warm as he said: “I have been too busy these days to take you out for a walk. Are you bored at home, Madam?”

His attitude left no fault to find, which almost made Ji Ru Zhen think she had imagined things. Still, they were newly married, and they had slept apart for several nights. Even if he worked for Prince Ning, it did not sound right.

She held his hand and said with a little pout: “Husband, can you not go today?”

“I already gave my word to Prince Ning,” he said, troubled. “It would not be right to skip it.”

Letting go of his hand, she asked straight out: “Are you blaming me?”

Putting on a look of confusion, he said: “Madam, what are you talking about? Why would I blame you out of nowhere?”

He did not look like he was pretending. If he did not know that she had told Wu Xin to fight Chun Zhi over the tofu workshop, bringing it up herself would only hurt their marriage. So she held it back and said on purpose: “After I came to Linshui Town, Chun Zhi left the Lu Residence. If you really miss her, I can bring her back.”

“I do not miss her,” said Lu Jing Yun. “Besides, Chun Zhi is married now. She and her husband are doing well. Do not disturb them.”

That sounded normal at first, but Ji Ru Zhen paused and asked: “How do you know they are doing well?”

Did he still keep watch on that Chun Zhi?

He knew he had slipped and said at once: “I guessed.”

“Guessed?” She clearly did not believe him.

Not wanting to tangle with her over this, he said: “I came back to get a painting. After that, I have to go. If you are bored at home, take the maids out for a walk. In a few days, when I have time, I will take you to Nanzhou City.”

Hearing that, she lifted a hand to smooth the crease on his sleeve and said: “Go on then. Tonight, I will wait for you to come back.”

Lu Jing Yun nodded and told the maids: “Serve Madam well.”

“Yes,” they answered together.

He left with the painting, and a flash of disgust showed in his eyes.

After he left, Ji Ru Zhen sat down. A maid said: “My lady, the lord is busy these days. He must not be staying out on purpose.”

“I hope I am overthinking,” Ji Ru Zhen said through clenched teeth. But his reaction when he spoke of Chun Zhi could not fool her. He still could not let go of that low-born girl.

Angry, she smashed the teacup on the table. “Mother was right: men are all the same, eating from the bowl while looking at the pot!”

Frightened, the maids lowered their heads and hurried to pick up the broken pieces. Though their hands moved fast, they did not dare make a sound.

As they were cleaning, a steward came to report: “Madam, there is a young master at the door who says he is your cousin. He says his surname is Zhou. You will know when you hear it.”

“Surname Zhou?” Ji Ru Zhen thought for a moment. The Ji Clan did have a Zhou relative in Nanzhou. Her aunt’s husband was the Nanzhou Prefect.

The Prefect’s eldest son, Zhou Rong, was her cousin. He was a well-known playboy in Nanzhou, greedy for women and trouble. Maybe because Prince Chang’an was inspecting Nanzhou, the Prefect knew his son had too many misdeeds, so he sent him away for a while.

This was perfect timing. Chun Zhi was married, yet Lu Jing Yun still thought of her. [Fine, then I will have someone take care of Chun Zhi.]

“Invite him in,” Ji Ru Zhen said at once.

A maid obeyed and brought him in.

Soon, the Prefect’s Young Master, Zhou Rong, swaggered into the room. As he entered, he looked the maids up and down. His squinty triangle eyes glinted, and he even reached out to touch a maid’s face. The maids were too slow to dodge, and their faces turned white.

“Cousin,” Ji Ru Zhen called. “You came at the right time. I have a beauty for you. Are you interested?”

Zhou Rong held a folding fan and grinned: “A beauty? I like beauties most of all. Where is the beauty you are talking about, cousin?”