The Cold Minister’s Obsession: Chasing His Wife - Chapter 8

Hua Qingyue, who was grinding safflower, chuckled a few times. “She wants to use me as a pawn—dressing me in the clothes she sent to provoke Zhiyu sister. She’s hoping to anger her, or better yet, stir up the Second Branch’s fury and have me driven out.”

“How can they be so vicious?”

“Vicious? What we can see and recognize isn’t truly vicious. Besides, let them be as cruel as they like—we’ll just focus on our own affairs. I’ll pretend ignorance and play dumb, that’s all.”

Hua Qingyue had thought it through clearly. Even if she pleased these pampered young ladies, it would be of no use to her. Feigning foolishness would save her a great deal of trouble. As long as she didn’t offend them, that was enough.

She’d rather spend her energy on Lu Yan. After all, if she were to marry Lu Li in the future, Lu Yan would have a say in the matter.

The next day, learning from the previous incident, Hua Qingyue rose before dawn. By the time she finished preparing, the sky was already bright, and she leisurely stepped out.

Today, she would be learning posture and etiquette at the Duty Hall.

Though she didn’t see Lu Yan, his personal guard, Fei Jiu, stood not far away—his gaze sharp, exuding an aura that warned everyone to keep their distance.

She shot a glance at Tao Xi, who immediately understood and slowly shuffled toward Fei Jiu.

“The weather is lovely today, not a cloud in sight.”

“Young Lady and Young Master Yu are so diligent in learning etiquette…”

She brought up over a dozen trivial topics, but the stoic man beside her remained silent, standing rigidly with his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Tao Xi clicked her tongue. How did someone like him even find work? She circled him a few more times, but he stood firm, unmoving.

For her lady’s sake, Tao Xi gritted her teeth and stepped forward, forcing a smile.

“Hey, you’re Fei Jiu, right?”

Fei Jiu glanced sideways at her cheeky grin. “What do you want?”

Tao Xi laughed awkwardly. “Well, the weather’s nice today. Why aren’t you with the Eldest Young Master?”

Fei Jiu shot her a cold look. “Matters of the Duty Hall are none of your concern. Best not pry.”

Tao Xi pursed her lips.

Fine, she’d endure. She forced another polite smile. “I was just making conversation. No need to get worked up. I just noticed Young Master Yu is still so young, yet he’s been learning etiquette for so long—he must be hungry.

“We didn’t prepare anything today, but we thought we’d bring something tomorrow as thanks for the Eldest Young Master arranging the matron to teach our lady.

“Do you know what he usually likes to eat? Or what the Eldest Young Master prefers? Not that I mean anything by it—father and son must have similar tastes, after all.”

The moment she said this, the Duty Hall attendants turned to glare at her, their expressions unfriendly.

Fei Jiu signaled them with his eyes not to act rashly.

Still, the task his master had given him was truly vexing. In the past, he’d dealt with enemy spies, corrupt officials’ informants, criminals’ lackeys—at the very least, seasoned outlaws. He and his master had always pieced together clues from the smallest traces.

Now, he had to handle this silly girl while pretending to casually divulge information. The mission was arduous.

Could this little maid be any more obvious?

As if she wasn’t making it clear enough what they were after.

Tao Xi saw his silence and immediately knew what he wanted. With no other choice, she gritted her teeth and fished out five copper coins from her purse. “Take it. That’s all I have. Speak properly, and my lady won’t treat you poorly in the future.”

Fei Jiu: “……..”

After a long silence, he finally took the money and turned to enter the house.

Just as Tao Xi was about to lose her patience, Fei Jiu returned with a list. “Take it. Don’t bother me unless necessary.”

With that, he turned and left. The moment he stepped outside, he glanced back and muttered, “Finally finished the master’s task.”

Tao Xi unfolded the paper and scanned its contents, swallowing the words she had been about to say.

“Money really can make the devil turn the millstone. Even this blockhead could be squeezed for something. I’m truly impressive.”

“Lotus seed jelly?”

“Yes. Fei Jiu wrote that Young Master Lu’s favorite pastry is lotus seed jelly.”

Hua Qingyue didn’t respond, her gaze distant as if lost in thought.

Tao Xi, however, understood and said softly, “The master and mistress would surely want you and the young master to live well, so…”

Hua Qingyue lifted her eyes to meet Tao Xi’s. “I know. I’m just thinking about how to proceed. Don’t worry—I have a plan.”

As noon approached, the etiquette instructor had them practice the bowing postures they had learned that day. Just as they finished, Lu Yan entered from outside.

“Eldest Brother.” Hua Qingyue stepped forward and curtsied.

Lu Yan stopped before her, his gaze lingering on her clasped hands. “Have you learned it properly?”

Hua Qingyue nodded obediently. “The instructor taught very diligently. Thank you, Eldest Brother.”

“Hm.” His eyes flickered over her flushed cheeks, still damp with sweat, but he said nothing more and strode toward the house.

Hua Qingyue hurried after him. “Eldest Brother, Qingyue has a small request. May I ask for your help?”

Lu Yan didn’t answer, walking straight into the main hall, though he didn’t stop her from following.

Thus, Hua Qingyue trailed him inside. Only when he took his seat at the head of the room did he finally speak. “What is it?”

“Eldest Brother, when I passed by the service courtyard today, I noticed the lotus seed pods in the pond looked lovely. May I pick some?”

At this, Lu Yan’s brow lifted slightly. “What for?”

“I’ve been away from home for so long. I’d like to make a few dishes to ease my homesickness. May I?” Hua Qingyue pressed.

He studied her silently, his dark eyes inscrutable as they traced the movement of her vermilion lips. After a long pause, he finally said, “You may.”

“Thank you, Eldest Brother.”

Lu Yan’s gaze remained fixed on her face, wordless.

Hua Qingyue nervously clenched her small hands. “Then I won’t disturb you further, Eldest Brother. Qingyue will take her leave.”

“Go.”

Just as Hua Qingyue felt a slight easing in her chest, his voice came again. “Think carefully about how to thank me properly—with actions.”

**

At the gates of Anning Marquis Manor, the third young master Lu Li and the fourth young master Lu Heng arrived almost simultaneously. The third young master twirled his folding fan idly as he watched the figure stepping out of the opposite sedan chair, then gave a slight nod in greeting.

“Third Brother, didn’t you say you’d be focusing on your studies and wouldn’t return for a while?”

The speaker was the Lu family’s fourth young master, Lu Heng—a man with striking features, noble bearing, and a reputation as one of the capital’s most refined gentlemen. He had been the only one in the Lu family to pass the imperial examinations the previous spring and now served in the Hanlin Academy. Today, he had finally found time to visit his family.

Between him and Lu Yan, one was a dashing youth in vibrant attire, the other a gentle and refined scholar. Their reputations—one literary, the other martial—were enough to uphold the Lu family’s prestige, leaving little room for Lu Li, the Third Young Master.

Stuck in the middle, he found it rather comfortable.

“You’re asking me? I should be asking you—how dare you come back now? Have you no regard for your life? I heard your mother has been hosting all the unmarried young ladies from her family in the courtyard these days, just waiting for you to return and meet them.”

Lu Heng had excellent manners and merely smiled at his teasing. “The cousins are here for the Lotus Appreciation Banquet, Third Brother. Please don’t jest, lest it harm the young ladies’ reputations.”

Every time the topic turned to women, Lu Heng would adopt this bashful demeanor, which Lu Li found tiresome. With a snap, he closed his fan and strode inside.

“By the way, Third Brother, you still haven’t answered my question,” Lu Heng persisted.

The corner of Lu Li’s lips curled, and his usual lazy expression returned.

“I wasn’t planning to come back, but then Mother sent word telling me not to return these past few days. So, naturally, I came back.”

Lu Heng pondered his words.

With a glance, Lu Li knew the boy hadn’t grasped his meaning, so he explained,

“If my mother tells me not to come back, it must mean some extraordinary beauty has arrived at the manor. Usually, she just sends a message, but yesterday, the messenger insisted on delivering it to me in person. I wonder what kind of peerless beauty has graced our household.”

As he spoke, he stepped through the gate, leaving Lu Heng to piece together his words before following, all the while lecturing him on proper conduct.

After questioning a servant, Lu Li confirmed that a true beauty had indeed arrived.

Lu Heng launched into another round of admonishments about gentlemanly behavior, only for Lu Li to roll his eyes and point behind him. “Look, your mother.”

The moment Lu Heng turned to look—only to find no one there—Lu Li had already vanished around the corner.

——

That afternoon, after lunch, they went to pick lotus seeds.

Hua Qingyue had originally planned to finish making cosmetics for the Lu family’s women first, but she hadn’t expected to uncover Lu Yan’s preferences so quickly. Weighing the pros and cons, she decided it was better to focus on winning him over first.

“Miss, we’ve gathered so many. This should be enough for several plates of lotus seed jelly.”

“That’s hardly enough. Since we’re making it, I might as well prepare more—enough to share with the elders in the household. A small gesture of gratitude for their kindness in taking me in.”

Tao Xi sighed regretfully. “Miss, your lotus seed jelly is the best. It’s just a shame the Third Young Master isn’t here. If he tasted it, he’d surely see you in a new light.”

“There’s plenty of time. Besides, your young mistress has many talents—there will be no shortage of opportunities.”

“True. The days ahead will be as sweet as honey between you and the Third Young Master.”

Hua Qingyue shot her a reproachful look. “Tao Xi, teasing me again.”

The lingering summer light cast a glow on her fair skin, her eyes shimmering like rippling water. Her pale green ruqun, embroidered with subtle patterns, fluttered with her movements as she wiped her brow, dazzling and radiant—more captivating than the lotus-filled pond, impossible to look away from.

This was the sight that greeted Lu Li from a distance, his feet moving forward of their own accord.

Faced with such a scene, the only thing he wanted to do was compose a poem.

Lu Li’s mind went blank as he racked his brains, finally stepping forward to greet her. “Miss, I’m Lu Li, the third in line. Are you… Qingyue, my younger sister?”

He had already been briefed by the household servants about recent events upon entering the manor gate, so he had a general idea of her identity.

The two gathering lotus seeds paused in surprise. Turning around, they saw a dashing man shaking out a folding fan, his captivating peach-blossom eyes fixed on Hua Qingyue.

Truth be told, she had noticed someone approaching from around the corner earlier. She had assumed it was Lu Yan, but it turned out to be Lu Li instead. Hua Qingyue’s innocent eyes trembled slightly as they met his gaze. With slender fingers, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and moistened her dry lips before speaking in a soft, delicate voice:

“Greetings, Brother Li. I am Qingyue.”