Chapter 2: The Son

Lu Huaijin had always disliked strangers trespassing into his courtyard. Outside, someone impatiently knocked on the door. “Father, it’s me—I’ve returned!”

Su Yao recognized the voice as Lu Chuyao, Lu Huaijin’s son. Over two years ago, Lu Chuyao had been dispatched by Lu Huaijin to Jingzhou to train under General Zhao, and since then, they had not met. Now, unexpectedly, he had come back.

Lu Huaijin clearly recognized the visitor as well. Swiftly, he covered Su Yao’s lips with his hand to silence her. With practiced ease, he rose from the bath, grabbed a nearby robe, and draped it over his shoulders.

Outside, Lu Chuyao grew impatient and tried to open the door himself. In an instant, the door was flung open forcefully.

He looked at his usually aloof and proud father, who now appeared somewhat disheveled, his robe hastily donned and his wet hair falling carelessly. Startled, Lu Chuyao blurted out, “Father, why are you bathing in broad daylight?”

Lu Huaijin cast him a cold glance and replied calmly, “Why have you returned?”

Lu Chuyao instinctively glanced inside the room, but Lu Huaijin promptly blocked his view with his body.

“I just arrived not long ago. The Emperor was kind enough to grant me leave to come home for the New Year. Counting the days, it’s been years since I last returned to the capital.”

Lu Huaijin suddenly recalled the official petition from Lu Chuyao requesting leave to return home — the very document he had seen on his desk some time ago. He had been too preoccupied with capturing Su Yao to pay attention to it before. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Now standing with hands behind his back, his posture rigid and imposing, Lu Huaijin furrowed his brows and admonished, “You’re no longer a child. You must no longer act recklessly. If ever you come to my courtyard again, you must send notice beforehand. No more sudden visits.”

Faced with his father, the powerful and austere prime minister of the realm, Lu Chuyao’s usual unruly demeanor softened. He quickly adopted a respectful smile and agreed, “Father, you are right. I was too eager earlier and lost all sense of decorum.”

Lu Huaijin nodded and said softly, “You must be weary from your journey. Go wash up, change into fresh clothes, and get some rest.”

“I’m not tired. I want to visit Sister Yao at the Su household.”

“Nonsense!” Lu Huaijin’s face paled, displeased as he shot a sharp look at Lu Chuyao.

“Father, you know Sister Yao and I have been childhood sweethearts, deeply connected. It’s been over two years since we last met, and I miss her terribly. I came back just to see her and speak with her for a while. I promise I’ll come back in time for dinner.”

“No. You must not go. Something has happened at the Su household.”

“What happened?” Lu Chuyao’s expression changed instantly, his voice urgent.

“That’s none of your concern. Don’t ask. Go back inside.” With that, Lu Huaijin turned and walked away.

Inside, Su Yao was dressing, her smooth shoulders partially exposed, seated before a bronze mirror. Her long black hair, still damp, cascaded like a waterfall.

She lifted a lock of hair from around her ear with a graceful hand, her lazy eyes sweeping over the room, suddenly enchanting and captivating.

As the dark silk robe approached, Su Yao frowned involuntarily.

Lu Huaijin reached out, gently grasping her chin to raise her gaze to meet his. His cold eyes held an unfathomable depth, impossible to read.

Su Yao shook off his hand forcefully. “Brother Chuyao is back?”

At the sound of that address, Lu Huaijin’s expression darkened instantly. Coldly, he said, “Remember your place. Know which titles you should use and which you shouldn’t. You ought to understand this.”

Su Yao found his words laughably absurd. She had called him that for over ten years. Moreover, if not for the sudden upheaval in her own family, she would already be married to Lu Chuyao and calling him by that name without hesitation.

Now he dares to lecture her on proper titles? How presumptuous.

“Today, I will arrange a residence for you. You will stay there temporarily,” Lu Huaijin paused. “Chuyao does not yet know about us. His stay in the capital will be brief. After the New Year, I will send him back to Jingzhou. Then I will come to bring you home.”

Su Yao was surprised but inwardly pleased. She had thought that once Lu Huaijin had captured her, she would never regain her freedom.

Yet this old man seemed to be offering her a glimmer of hope.

Lu Huaijin seemed to see through her thoughts. “Still thinking of leaving me?”

Su Yao’s face paled. She shook her head, her red agate earrings swaying beautifully at her temples.

“I’m not leaving. Even if I tried, I couldn’t get away.”

Lu Huaijin seemed quite satisfied with her answer and gently pinched her chin.

“You are not to see him.”

Su Yao understood perfectly—“him” meant Lu Chuyao.

“When will you send me away?”

“Are you in such a hurry?” Lu Huaijin raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I’m afraid your son will discover our relationship. I cannot be seen.”

Lu Huaijin’s brow furrowed minutely. He rarely showed emotion, yet Su Yao could clearly sense the turmoil within him at this moment.

“After the imperial physician examines your pulse, I will make all the arrangements.”

Before Su Yao could respond, Lu Huaijin gently lifted her onto his lap. His large, knobby hand caressed her ankle, and a faint sound rang out.

But this time, there was only a soft “click”—the bell had been removed.

Lu Huaijin gently rubbed Su Yao’s ankle, leaving a shallow red mark on her pale, jade-like skin.

The imperial physician had come almost every three or four days lately to take the pulse of this mysterious woman residing in the prime minister’s household.

He wondered secretly what kind of breathtaking beauty could captivate such a powerful man so deeply.

Unaware of the physician’s thoughts, Lu Huaijin drew Su Yao’s slender arm from behind the curtain. Hidden behind the screen, the physician had never seen her face.

Her pale wrist rested lightly on the herbal pillow, and Lu Huaijin personally covered it with a silk handkerchief before signaling the physician to begin.

The physician inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, focusing intently on the pulse beneath his fingertips. The room was silent except for the soft sounds of breathing.

Curious, Su Yao tried to peek out, but suddenly darkness fell as Lu Jinghuai’s large hand covered her eyes.

“What is there to look at in other men?”

The physician felt a pang of embarrassment. At over fifty years old, he never expected to be listening to such tender words.

Clearing his throat to break the awkward silence, he said, “Prime Minister, rest assured. This young lady is in no serious condition. She only has a slight spleen deficiency. With proper care over a few days, she will improve.”

Su Yao thought bitterly to herself: those bitter medicines were almost impossible to swallow. If not for Lu Huaijin’s daily supervision, she would have discarded them long ago.

Once she was settled in the new residence, she intended to throw away all those bitter pills—she simply would not take them.

Lu Huaijin’s voice was calm, “All healthy? Then why have you not conceived yet?”