Chapter 48: Wishful Thinking
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“Are you going to try and eat your hand again next time?” Madam Xu asked as she gently wiped the drool from her nine-month-old baby’s cheek. The sight of the baby trying to eat her own fist was amusing, yet slightly concerning. The baby’s face turned bright red with embarrassment and guilt.
[I have lost all my pride and dignity…] thought Chao Chao, feeling despondent. She had boldly attempted to put her fist in her mouth, only to find that she couldn’t easily remove it. The humorous yet stressful situation had persisted for half an hour before she finally managed to extract her chubby hand.
Madam Xu, wanting to teach her a lesson, softly asked, “Are you going to misbehave like this again?” while playfully tapping the baby’s forehead with her finger.
The baby, on the verge of tears, sobbed, “Wuuu… no… I won’t again…” displaying a brief intention to behave better.
However, inwardly, Lu Chao Chao remained defiant, thinking, [Next time, I’ll definitely try it again! It doesn’t make sense that what goes in can’t come out!]
Despite her innocent appearance, Madam Xu was not easily fooled. But, with a sincere expression, Chao Chao appeared to admit her fault by softly saying, “Chao Chao…” and confidently patting her chest, making a loud sound. “Good… Chao Chao, be good…” she encouraged herself, as if affirming she was indeed the best and would avoid future trouble.
Deng Zhi watched this interaction and remarked on how adorable the young miss was and how thoughtful Madam Xu seemed. Madam Xu sighed deeply, thinking, “If only Deng Zhi knew the whole story! I almost fell for her innocent act myself!”
That evening, as they returned to the mansion, they noticed a mix of pleasant and slightly unpleasant smells. Madam Xu saw the lights on in Tingfeng Courtyard and felt a pang of unease.
“Madam, the Marquis has returned,” Jue Xia informed her, looking serious and suggesting the Marquis was in a bad mood.
Madam Xu nodded, saying, “Take Chao Chao to wash up and go to bed. It’s been a long day, and it’s time to rest.” She noticed that Chao Chao had already fallen asleep.
Upon entering, she saw Lu Yuan Ze under the lamp. He appeared disheveled yet still quite handsome in his robe, exuding a cool aura. Despite the years, Lu Yuan Ze looked refined and dignified, more mature, which perhaps explained why Pei Jiao Jiao had waited for him for seventeen years.
Madam Xu concealed her indifferent feelings, and when she moved slightly, Lu Yuan Ze turned to look at her.
“Husband, have you heard how my brother-in-law is doing? Today at court, I heard worrying news about the Lianluo River being close to flooding. I’m afraid it could lead to a disaster,” he said, moving closer to offer support to Madam Xu. She subtly lowered her gaze, maintaining a stoic expression that revealed none of her internal concerns.
“The people in Lianluo Province don’t trust outsiders much, and since my brother-in-law is from the capital, I’m worried he might not get along with them. Luckily, I have a good friend in Lianluo, Dong Jiaming. If my second brother-in-law needs help, he can turn to Dong Jiaming.”
Madam Xu maintained her composure but internally felt uneasy.
Dong Jiaming? Wasn’t he the one Chao Chao said had wronged her brother? This thought made her anxious.
“Of course, I’ll make sure to send a message to my brother tomorrow,” Madam Xu responded calmly, concealing her inner unrest.
Seeing the writing tools on his desk, she asked, “Are you writing a letter, husband?” The desk was neatly arranged with everything needed for writing.
Lu Yuan Ze, smiling, replied, “Yes, my dear. Your calligraphy, honed by your scholarly family, surpasses even mine.” He set down his pen, recalling the happy early days of their marriage when they would write together.
Madam Xu’s face stiffened slightly. “That handwriting of mine, didn’t you learn it?” she asked, hinting that he had used her handwriting for nefarious purposes against her family in the past.
“It’s been years since I’ve written much; I’m a bit out of practice. My dear, I miss the days when you were always by my side,” Lu Yuan Ze said, drawing her into a gentle hug.
“Do you remember our wedding night, under the moonlight, we made vows,” she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness. “We promised that if betrayal ever came between us, it would be the end for us. My husband, could you ever betray me?”
Lu Yuan Ze, distracted, replied without fully engaging, “I would never. If I were to betray you, let me face a terrible fate,” he promised, though not fully attentive.
Madam Xu offered a small, knowing smile, silently pressing the seriousness of those vows.
It had been nine months since Lu Yuan Ze had shown her affection. He once criticized her for not being delicately charming, but now, after facing humiliations and disappointments, especially from Pei Jiao Jiao, he started to appreciate Madam Xu’s steady presence at home.
As he embraced her, Madam Xu felt a shiver of repulsion, contrasting sharply with the warmth he thought he was offering. She knew this was not the time to tear down the façade everyone maintained.
“Ugh…” As Lu Yuan Ze approached, Madam Xu instinctively covered her mouth, unable to suppress a gag.
Taken aback, Lu Yuan Ze stopped in his tracks.
With a look of regret, Madam Xu pushed him away slightly, saying, “My lord… I just noticed a foul smell…” She covered her nose and gagged again to emphasize her point.
Feeling almost as if he had been slapped, Lu Yuan Ze retreated, confused. He even sniffed his own hand, puzzled by her reaction.
“My lord, there’s a smell on you… why does it smell like…” Madam Xu struggled to hide her dismay, her face showing her distaste.
His pride hurt, Lu Yuan Ze felt both angry and embarrassed. He fought to stay calm as he panted heavily.
“It smells like feces,” she clarified, pinching her nose and making a face of disgust.
Lu Yuan Ze’s face turned even redder, and he momentarily questioned his own hygiene.
He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, and explained softly, “Maybe I accidentally got covered in bird droppings while I was outside today.” The thought seemed to irritate him further.
Madam Xu couldn’t help but laugh behind her hand, asking, “Was my husband also fooled by that concubine?”
“Do you remember the concubine caught in a scandal by Madame Qin?” she continued, raising an eyebrow, amused by Lu Yuan Ze’s effort to stay dignified.
“People are so naive. She was caught being unfaithful, sneaking around with men. And yet, they believed her daughter could perform miracles? Now covered in bird droppings… It seems even the gods are fed up,” Madam Xu remarked, seemingly indifferent to Lu Yuan Ze’s growing discomfort.
“Why do you speak so harshly, wife?” Lu Yuan Ze asked, unable to conceal his irritation.
Feigning innocence, Madam Xu responded, “Why, my husband, would you question my commentary? As the principal wife, which woman would welcome a concubine?”
“Furthermore, once that woman was demoted to a concubine, she seemed to lose all her dignity. Does she even care about gossip anymore? To me, her lover must be quite the character, fooling the legitimate wife for so long. Quite the scandal. It’s really a shame about Lu Jing Huai being born out of wedlock. Tsk, tsk…” Madam Xu’s tone was heavy with sarcasm, her tongue clicking twice in a way that suggested both judgment and pity.
Lu Yuan Ze felt as if Madam Xu’s words were a slap in the face, yet he was at a loss for how to respond or defend himself.
“As for Lu Jing Huai, he is truly talented. Any family would be lucky to have him as a son, destined to bring honor to their name,” Lu Yuan Ze attempted to defend, his expression becoming stern as he faced the uncomfortable truth of their situation, evidently feeling cornered by the predicament.
“What if such a child could be recognized as your own? Would my dear consider that?” Lu Yuan Ze suddenly asked, throwing the question into the space between them.
Madam Xu was visibly shocked by his bold suggestion, completely taken aback by the sheer audacity of his proposal.