The Cold Minister’s Obsession: Chasing His Wife - Chapter 12

Fei Jiu gave them a meaningful glance. “The master finds it dazzling.”

This answer left Hua Qingyue speechless. She couldn’t fathom what had gotten into the man to ruin such a fine view.

However, she had no mind to dwell on his capricious moods now.

With the Third Young Master currently in the residence, she needed to finish her etiquette lessons and return quickly to practice calligraphy. She led Tao Xi back at a brisk pace.

After changing her clothes, Hua Qingyue prepared to head to the Duty Hall.

But just as she stepped out, a servant from Lu Yan’s side came with word that she need not go today.

She paid it no mind and simply took out the calligraphy copybook to practice.

Hua Qingyue had attended a girls’ school before. While she excelled in other areas, her handwriting remained atrocious no matter how much she practiced or how many copybooks she imitated. In frustration, she had eventually given up.

Now, to ensure a smooth marriage to the Third Young Master, she suppressed such feelings and sat practicing for two hours straight.

Tao Xi quietly kept her company, doing needlework without a word.

After another hour of practice, Hua Qingyue stretched her limbs. She had completed half the copybook and noted down all the issues she encountered with stroke order, ready to present them to Lu Li at their next meeting.

Thinking of their meeting, she picked up the unfinished belt she had been embroidering that day and resumed her work.

As Tao Xi tidied Hua Qingyue’s belongings, a white magnolia hairpin fell out from a handkerchief.

“Oh, there’s a hairpin here. Let me guess—could it be from the Lu Third Young Master?” Tao Xi teased. She had seen the Third Young Master personally hand the hairpin to her mistress at the gate earlier, even offering to put it on for her.

It seemed her young lady’s wish would soon come true. “Then let me congratulate you in advance, miss.”

A faint blush colored Hua Qingyue’s flawless skin. “Don’t talk nonsense. Nothing’s settled yet.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t say it out loud. I’ll just think it to myself.”

Hua Qingyue continued her embroidery, but her mind wandered to the scene earlier when the Third Young Master had pulled out that handkerchief.

She didn’t need to think deeply to know it belonged to some young lady—just like the faint fragrance of powder that clung to him.

Tao Xi placed the white magnolia hairpin on Hua Qingyue’s dressing table, only to hear her mistress say wistfully, “Put it away for now.”

Pausing briefly, Tao Xi stored the hairpin away. Her gaze fell on Hua Qingyue, bent over her needlework with a stray lock of hair dangling over her forehead—a scene she had witnessed countless times.

Her young lady had a lovely face, and her figure was even more striking.

Tao Xi couldn’t help but steal another glance.

Suddenly recalling the maids’ gossip about the Lu Fourth Young Master, she inadvertently voiced her thoughts,

“Young lady, I’ve noticed that the Lu Fourth Young Master in the residence is as graceful as bamboo, gentle in demeanor—he never even raises his voice to the servants. He’s unmarried, too, and currently holds a position in the Hanlin Academy. I’ve heard many young ladies wait eagerly along his usual routes just to catch a glimpse of him.”

Tao Xi didn’t continue. Over the past few days, she had observed how the Lu family treated Hua Qingyue—Third Madam and the Sixth Young Lady clearly disliked her mistress. If Hua Qingyue married into the family, who knew how much suffering awaited her?

Even if the Third Young Master doted on her now for her youth, how long could such affection last?

Though it was for the sake of the young master, she still hoped her young lady would find someone who truly cherished her, with parents and in-laws who were easy to get along with.

These past few days, she had observed carefully, and the only suitable family seemed to be the Second Household.

Second Madam was always gentle and kind in her dealings with others. According to the maids serving in the Second Household, during festivals, they would receive pastries personally bestowed by their mistress, along with small red envelopes. If she treated servants so well, how much more would she treat her own daughter-in-law?

The Second Young Lady had married into the imperial family, and as for the Fourth Young Master—needless to say, his looks were as peerless as her young lady’s. The Fifth Young Lady spoke softly and was exceptionally beautiful. What a wonderful family!

Tao Xi thought simply—since Old Madam Lu intended to betroth her young lady to Lu Third Young Master, why couldn’t it be Lu Fourth Young Master instead? That way, her young lady’s future path would be much smoother.

Hua Qingyue smiled, her hands never pausing as she sewed the waistband. Her thick lashes veiled the shifting shadows in her eyes. “The Fourth Young Master is indeed good, but he will surely be matched with a young lady from a more distinguished family.”

Back in Yangzhou, Qingyue had already heard of Lu Heng’s reputation—his unparalleled talent was matched only by his extraordinary looks. Young and accomplished, he was a renowned figure in the Lu family after Lu Yan, having passed the imperial examinations and entered the Hanlin Academy. With the Anning Marquis Manor being the foremost among the five marquises and seven noble houses, what kind of young lady in the capital could he not marry?

As the daughter of a merchant, her status was plain to see. Climbing into a prestigious aristocratic family was nearly impossible. If not for the slight favor from their ancestors, she probably wouldn’t even have been allowed through the gates of Anning Marquis Manor.

Let alone anything else.

The Hua family’s small favor could be seen, generously, as Old Madam Lu valuing sentiment and repaying kindness—or, more bluntly, as pity, merely giving her a bowl of rice to eat.

This much she understood.

Lu Third Young Master had taken the imperial exams four times and was currently only a provincial graduate. Though he bore the reputation of a romantic scholar, she had nothing to offer beyond her somewhat pleasing appearance—which just happened to align with his preferences.

Having met him twice, she supposed he was satisfied with her.

Beyond that, Qingyue had her own selfish motives. Given Lu Third Young Master’s temperament, he would surely not have only her as his woman in the future. Once Qingyang’s malaria was cured, she could withdraw at any time.

As for Wu Shi and the Sixth Young Lady, Qingyue knew well they disliked her. Since entering the manor, though Wu Shi had maintained a warm and faultless demeanor, Qingyue had sensed the faint undercurrent of disdain.

If Old Madam Lu insisted on arranging this marriage, they wouldn’t be able to stop it.

So, she only needed to please Old Madam Lu. If the others disliked her, there was nothing to be done.

“Young Lady, if even the Fourth Young Master doesn’t interest you, what about the Eldest Young Master?”

“Ah—”

A sharp pain shot through Qingyue’s fingertip, and she instinctively brought it to her mouth to suck.

“Young Lady!” Tao Xi quickly took the needle and thread. “Let me do this. You go rest over there.”

Without waiting for a reply, she took over the sewing.

Lu Yan!!!

The mere thought of him and herself sent a sudden, violent grip tightening around her heart. Her face instantly paled, and she told Tao Xi to stop talking.

Every time she encountered Lu Yan, her gaze would involuntarily drift to the sword at his side. She imagined those rough hands wielding the cold steel, capable of taking lives in an instant—likely having already claimed dozens, if not hundreds.

Tao Xi, seeing her reaction so intense, also closed her mouth. She had actually wanted to say that the eldest young master wasn’t so bad—he had allowed the young lady to learn etiquette and even permitted them to pick lotus seeds yesterday.

Sure, he looked a bit intimidating, and his status was high, but after all, he was from the Anning Marquis Manor. Wasn’t there still a chance for her young lady?

Hua Qingyue didn’t know Tao Xi’s thoughts. If she had, she probably would have been horrified. She increasingly felt that man was dangerous, especially the way he looked at people.

Yet there was no avoiding him. He was the heir of the Anning Marquis Manor, the master of this household. If she were to marry Lu Li, she would have to live under his watch. Compared to Wu Shi and her daughter, she feared Xie Yan even more.

–

The next day, Hua Qingyue rose early. The belt she had embroidered the day before was finished, and she only needed to find time to deliver it to Lu Third Young Master.

But before that, she first went to the Duty Hall.

Just as she stepped out, several maids from Qingzhu Courtyard were called away by an unfamiliar matron, who said the kitchen needed extra hands to prepare for the Lotus Viewing Banquet. They would only work for half a day, and each maid who went would receive a tael of silver.

Yong Lu and Yong Ju eagerly begged Hua Qingyue for permission and hurried off. Watching them leave, Tao Xi also wanted to go.

After all, a tael of silver for just half a day’s work was much faster than embroidery. Since the young lady was learning etiquette at the Duty Hall anyway, she had nothing else to do—why not earn a little extra?

Tao Xi looked at Hua Qingyue, but before she could speak, she heard her say, “Go ahead. I’ve walked this path several times—there’s no issue. Just be careful and think before you act. Don’t cause trouble.”

“Yes, young lady! I promise I’ll only work and not speak.”

With that, Tao Xi skipped off to catch up with Yong Lu and Yong Ju.

Hua Qingyue, meanwhile, headed to the Duty Hall.

Qingzhu Courtyard was a secluded place. As Hua Qingyue walked along the cobblestone path, lotus flowers lined both sides. Further ahead, a slender young woman stood with her back turned by the pavilion, quietly sobbing.

Drawing closer, Hua Qingyue recognized her—this was the seventh young lady of the Lu family’s third branch, Lu Zhiyue, a daughter born of a concubine.