Chapter 53: Witnessing with One’s Own Eyes
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
After a lively evening spent indulging in numerous rounds of drinks, Lu Zheng Yue found himself deeply affected by the alcohol. With a burst of drunken affection, he heartily slapped Lu Jing Huai on the back, releasing a loud belch before expressing his feelings. “Burp… Honestly, it’s only you, my dear brother, who truly gets me… burp, understands me through and through. What greater joy is there than to have such a friend by one’s side?”
In response, Lu Jing Huai let out a soft sigh, a hint of regret in his voice as he shared, “I have to confess, Zheng Yue, your absence from the capital these past months has led to some unfortunate misunderstandings between myself and your esteemed Marquis family.”
He went on to clarify the situation, explaining, “You see, my mother has this unique taste for exquisite jewelry and often ends up buying quite rare and unusual pieces. Regrettably, it recently came to our attention that some of your Marquis’s servants had stolen and then sold pieces from Lady Xu’s dowry, items which my mother had acquired without realizing their origin. This incident unfortunately escalated to the extent that it involved the magistrate’s office.”
“A few days back, after facing a stern reprimand from my mother, my bookboy spitefully targeted your household, even going to the lengths of setting a fire there. Despite having no part in this, clearing up this mess has become a complex issue.”
As the effects of the alcohol clouded his judgment, Lu Zheng Yue affectionately threw his arm around Lu Jing Huai’s shoulder, his words slurred as he questioned, “What misunderstanding could there possibly be between us? We’re brothers… burp… true brothers at heart.” He then made a magnanimous offer, “Any piece of jewelry that catches your fancy, consider it yours. What are we if not closer than friends, akin to brothers for so many years? Forget the jewelry; you’re more than entitled to even the Marquis’s title if you so wish.”
Amidst this exchange, Lu Jing Huai found himself consuming more alcohol, lifted by the flattery. “You jest. That title is rightly held by your elder brother, Sir Yan Shu. His reputation and achievements are widely recognized. Who isn’t aware of his esteemed name?”
With a tipsy chuckle, Lu Zheng Yue began to downplay the significance of his older brother, “He… he doesn’t hold a candle to you now.” Then, half in jest, he added mournfully, “Father… Father always chides us for our lack of ambition. Burp, if only you were my true brother. Indeed, that title would suit you best.”
As his surroundings began to blur, Su Zhi Qing stepped in to support the heavily inebriated man.
“Zh… Sir Zheng Yue, it seems you’ve overindulged. Let me help you to your room.” Despite Lu Zheng Yue’s unsteady gait and glazed look, Su Zhi Qing managed to escort him successfully and set the drunken man onto the bed.
In a soft, hesitant voice, Su Zhi Qing addressed Lu Jing Huai with concern, “Sir Jing Huai, could we perhaps call for a servant? He seems to be profoundly affected by the alcohol…” Her voice trailed off, filled with the note of worry over Lu Zheng Yue’s well-being, yet she was cautious, not wanting to assume too much about his condition.
Her expression was one of supposed deep concern, almost sorrowful, as she looked at Lu Jing Huai for guidance. He greeted her worry with a warm smile and beckoned her closer, wrapping her in a comforting embrace.
“Why persist in calling me Sir? Don’t you think it’s overly formal? Keep it up, and I might have to consider it a reason for a playful punishment,” he teased, lightening the mood with a brief but passionate kiss that left Su Zhi Qing visibly flushed.
Biting her lip in nervous anticipation, Su Zhi Qing cast a wary glance at Lu Zheng Yue, who was now deeply asleep, his snores filling the room. She shared her concern in a hushed tone, “I feared he might be feigning his drunkenness. That’s why I’m acting this way, to not interfere with what you had planned,” she admitted quietly.
Lu Jing Huai let out a soft, teasing laugh, his smile tinged with a hint of sarcasm. “After all the years we’ve known each other, do you really think I wouldn’t understand him through and through? He trusts us completely. And his mother, she’s quite naive,” he remarked with a chuckle. “For nearly two decades, she’s been oblivious. The night my father married her, he did begin the evening in their marital chamber but spent the later part of the night with my mother in the room next door. That’s the reason my birthday is merely days apart from Lu Yan Shu’s.”
Su Zhi Qing responded with a touch of empathy, “Mrs. Pei is truly benevolent and understanding. If not for Lady Xu’s esteemed family background, why would Mrs. Pei have endured so much over these years? It’s fortunate, Jing Huai, that you have the means to set things right for her,” she said, moving closer to embrace him, now more at ease in the privacy away from Lu Zheng Yue’s gaze.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
With a gentle touch, Lu Jing Huai lifted her chin, his gaze intimate and probing. “Tell me, has he ever been close to you? Kissed you here? Or here? Or… here?” he inquired, his fingers delicately tracing over her skin, each touch filled with implication.
Indignant yet loyal, Su Zhi Qing firmly stated, “This body is yours alone. How could I permit him any liberties? He doesn’t deserve such intimacies. The mere idea of holding hands is enough to make Lu Zheng Yue turn red as if he’s committed a sin.”
At that moment, Su Zhi Qing experienced a sudden wave of unease, a hesitant discomfort with the idea of being intimate with Lu Jing Huai while they were still in the same room as the unconscious Lu Zheng Yue. Seeking an escape from the awkwardness, she tentatively suggested, “Shall we perhaps go to another room?” hoping to coax him into a more private space.
But Lu Jing Huai refused to budge, holding onto her dress with a gentle but firm grip. “No, let’s remain here. It’s not as though this is a new experience for us, being in his proximity. Recall the time he was unconscious after that fall from the cliff? You showed no such reservations then. Qing Qing, let’s rekindle that fearlessness,” he coaxed, his gaze intensifying with a mix of desire and challenge, reminiscing about their previous daring encounter.
The memory of that bold, unreserved moment sent a thrill through Lu Jing Huai, reveling in the audacity of their actions, especially given Lu Zheng Yue’s unconscious state nearby. This twisted delight in their secret liaison, coupled with the risk of being discovered, was a perverse game to him, particularly with the added spice of potentially being caught by Lu Zheng Yue, who, by a twist of fate, had awoken amidst their past indiscretion.
“Why don’t you miss me?” he asked suddenly, with a provocative bite on her lip, eliciting a sharp cry from Su Zhi Qing. Her hand flew to her mouth, a gesture to stifle her shock, as tears welled up in her eyes. “How could I not miss you?” she sobbed, her voice choked with emotion. “I’ve given myself to you completely, yet you are to marry Miss Jiang.”
Unmoved, Lu Jing Huai replied with a dismissive coolness, “Jiang Yun Jin? She’s as expressive as a statue, utterly unlike you.”
Flushed with a mix of emotions, Su Zhi Qing pressed, her voice trembling, “Have you… have you ever been close with her?”
With a teasing gesture, Lu Jing Huai pinched her cheek, chuckling, “Not at all. The very idea is laughable. With her high status, Jiang Yun Jin would never entertain such actions.”
His intention was clear: to stoke the flames of rivalry and discontent within Lu Zheng Yue towards the Marquis’s family, all to secure a future with Su Zhi Qing. Lu Zheng Yue, known for his unwavering loyalty and depth of gratitude, was an ideal pawn in Lu Jing Huai’s elaborate game of chess.
Attempting to console her, Lu Jing Huai whispered softly, “My mother misses you too. In her eyes, you’re the ideal daughter-in-law.”
All the while, Lu Zheng Yue appeared to be lost in sleep, turned away from the unfolding drama. Yet, unexpectedly, he opened his eyes, revealing a gaze filled with icy clarity. They had underestimated him, thinking they could deceive him indefinitely if not for his sister’s sincere and timely warning, which shed light on the reality of their betrayal.
The sounds of intimacy and muted sighs of pleasure unfolding just behind him rendered Lu Zheng Yue feeling completely alienated from the scene.
What he had once thought to be a journey towards his own happiness now revealed itself as nothing more than an elaborate deception. From the outset, it was all carefully orchestrated manipulation.
Abruptly, Lu Zheng Yue emitted a soft cough, which instantly caused the couple engaged in their clandestine encounter to halt, their bodies stiffening as though they had been doused in freezing water. Feigning ignorance, he remained motionless, barely cracking his eyes open to catch a glimpse of the couple caught in their embrace.
“Uh… Qing Qing…” he whispered her name, a faint utterance that hung heavily in the air, silencing the pair.
Jolted back to the harsh reality by the sound of his voice, Lu Jing Huai quickly disentangled himself, recognizing the perilous slope they had tread upon. He swiftly dressed, urgency written all over his actions.
Likewise, Su Zhi Qing, overcome with a mix of fear and haste, scrambled to get dressed. They departed in a rush, leaving behind a scene of disarray, their flushed faces and tousled appearances speaking volumes of their just-concluded indiscretion.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, a group of elderly men sat, their conversation taking a turn towards the scandalous event.
“What a disgraceful act to engage in such behavior openly in the light of day.”
“This is a dining establishment, not a place for lodging. Such misbehavior,” another elder commented, his expression one of pure disdain, his white beard trembling slightly with his words.
These individuals were the esteemed royal censors of North Zhao, known for their unwavering commitment to moral integrity within the governance, willing to critique even the king himself should he deviate from righteous conduct. Their legacy was marked by instances where some took their protest to the extreme, meeting their demise by crashing their heads against the royal hall in a dramatic stand for justice.
Recognized for their steadfast principles, these elders represented a formidable force, even capable of challenging the king’s decisions.
“That young man, wasn’t he Lu Jing Huai, the celebrated prodigy from the capital?” Their tone was one of collective disapproval, condemning the public display of indecency, especially in a place as public as a restaurant and during daylight.
Lu Zheng Yue, also present but unnoticed by the group, listened in silence.
One elder mused on Lu Jing Huai’s academic standing, “Considering the esteem Tianhong Academy holds him in, coupled with his consistent top rankings in the royal exams…”
Intrigued by this line of thought, another elder speculated on the young man’s future prospects, “Could it be that the king has him in mind for a position as tutor to the crown prince?”
This suggestion prompted a shared look of concern among the men, silently acknowledging the significant influence and potential power Lu Jing Huai might soon wield within the royal court.