The Cold Minister’s Obsession: Chasing His Wife - Chapter 9

Hua Qingyue’s beauty was naturally striking, especially now, with her tender, affectionate gaze—a delicate blend of innocence and allure—enough to momentarily distract even Lu Li, who had spent years surrounded by flirtatious company.

“So, it’s Qingyue.”

As he spoke, he leisurely fanned himself, strolling toward the pondside where Hua Qingyue stood. A faint smile played on his lips, his eyes betraying a hint of concealed interest.

How intriguing.

He hadn’t known the Anning Marquis Manor had such a relative.

Earlier, the servants had praised this Miss Hua’s beauty as if she were a celestial being descended to earth. He hadn’t believed it, insisting on seeing for himself.

Now that he had, he couldn’t help but steal a few more glances.

He prided himself on having seen countless women—beauties as numerous as the stars.

Hua Qingyue’s features and figure were exquisite, her delicate yet defined features perfectly balanced. Her rosy cheeks resembled tender lotus petals trembling in the breeze, soft and dewy. Her misty, luminous gaze met his, like a hook that ensnared the soul.

And when she smiled, it was inexplicably mesmerizing.

Sensing the young man’s intense stare, Hua Qingyue shyly lowered her head, her fingers clutching the basket so tightly they turned pale.

Lu Li, noticing her coy embarrassment, feigned a light cough to mask his impropriety. “Qingyue, are you picking lotus seeds? Why not have the maids or servants help?”

Those slender, fair hands were better suited for playing the qin, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Using them to peel lotus seeds was practically a waste.

Hua Qingyue shifted the basket slightly behind her, blinking her lovely eyes as she replied in a soft, melodious tone, “Brother Li, I wanted to make some lotus seed jelly tomorrow as a treat for the Lu household. Doing it myself shows sincerity. Once it’s ready, I’ll bring some for you. Would that be all right?”

Her voice carried the sweet, gentle lilt of the south—enough to stir tenderness in anyone who heard it, making refusal unthinkable.

“Of course. How thoughtful of you, Qingyue. I’ll skip breakfast tomorrow and wait just for your lotus seed jelly.”

Hua Qingyue gave a light laugh. “Then I’ll hurry back to prepare it and bring it to you early tomorrow.”

Lu Li’s throat bobbed slightly. “No need to rush. I’ll be at the manor these next few days.”

“Brother Li, I’ll take my leave now to get started.”

Before Lu Li could even utter a “Take care on your way,” he saw her trip over a stone in her haste, nearly tumbling into the pond.

Reacting swiftly, he caught her slender arm.

In the dizzying moment that followed, she was pulled against him, her body collapsing into the crook of his arm.

Realizing their proximity, her cheeks flushed crimson as she stammered, “Brother Li, I… I’m sorry…”

Lu Li’s gaze lingered on her blushing face, his grip tightening slightly around her slender waist. His voice came out rough. “Be careful, Qingyue.”

She shyly lifted her head, her unpowdered face flustered. She opened her lips to speak but froze when she caught sight of a dark figure in the distance.

Not far away stood two people. The expressionless Fei Jiu needed no introduction—the one before him was obvious. A chill ran down Hua Qingyue’s spine, and she shivered involuntarily. Whether it was her imagination or not, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his gaze was fixed on her with unmistakable hostility.

Startled, she quickly took a few steps back. “Brother Li, Qingyue will take my leave now. I’ll definitely bring you the lotus seed jelly tomorrow.”

Without daring to linger, she picked up her basket and hurried toward Qingzhu Pavilion with quick, small steps.

But her hurried departure with lowered head painted a different picture in Lu Li’s eyes.

“Another girl captivated by my dashing looks!” Lu Li muttered to himself, flicking his fan open as he watched the retreating graceful figure.

“Young miss, the Third Young Master has finally returned. Why are we leaving in such a hurry?”

Tao Xi thought her mistress should stay longer to chat—that’s how to win the Third Young Master’s favor. Moreover, when they left, Lu Third Young Master had clearly wanted to continue the conversation. What a perfect opportunity!

But Hua Qingyue only quickened her pace. It was only after she had put considerable distance between them that she whispered, “Lu Yan is coming.”

For some reason, even though she knew he wasn’t the man from that night, the mere sight of him always filled her with inexplicable dread. She didn’t understand why but avoiding him was certainly the right choice.

He didn’t withdraw his gaze until the graceful figure disappeared from view. Just as he turned to head toward Spring Rain Pavilion, he came face to face with an expression so dark it seemed to absorb all light.

The chilling aura surrounding the man and years of instinctive submission gave Lu Li a sinking feeling.

Wiping the smile from his face, Lu Li instinctively straightened up from his usual slouching posture. He neatly folded his fan into his sleeve, stood at attention, and bowed properly before obediently greeting, “Elder Brother.”

Before the echo of his greeting faded, Lu Yan had already stepped beside him.

Lu Yan frowned slightly and asked indifferently, “What are you doing here?”

Though Lu Yan had always treated Lu Li with cold indifference, this time Lu Li detected unmistakable displeasure in his tone.

Had the mistress from the other courtyard been discovered?

Impossible. He’d been extremely careful this time—no one could know.

While these thoughts raced through his mind, the man before him grew visibly more displeased. “As a man of the Lu household, you can’t even speak properly without fidgeting. What great achievements can we expect from you in the future?”

Suppressing his unease, Lu Li forced composure as he replied, “There’s a new sister in the household. I came to meet her and get acquainted.”

Lu Yan snorted coldly and stated bluntly, “She’s a benefactor to the Lu family. Even Grandmother acknowledges this debt and has instructed us to treat her as our own sister. Treat her the same way you treat Zhining and Zhiyu. Grandmother is getting old—don’t upset her.”

Lu Li straightened solemnly. “Understood, Elder Brother.”

Then he added, “This sister is truly beautiful. She’d make a far more impressive companion than Zhining when going out. If I’d known earlier—”

Before he could finish, he looked up to meet a face so cold it seemed frozen. That expression…

Lu Li shuddered violently. “Elder Brother, well… Mother is waiting for me at home. I’ll take my leave now.”

With this hasty farewell, he turned to flee.

Like Lu Zhining, he too was instinctively terrified of this man.

As he turned to leave, Lu Yan couldn’t help adding, “Your mother won’t agree.”

This cryptic statement barely registered with Lu Li, who was too focused on making his escape to ponder what his mother wouldn’t agree to.

Left alone, Lu Yan gazed in the direction of Qingzhu Pavilion, his dark eyes unfathomable.

Fei Jiu followed silently behind his master. Hadn’t he said he wanted to stroll by the lotus pond to clear his mind after reviewing too many memorials? Why had he stopped?

As Fei Jiu puzzled over this, he suddenly heard his master ask, “What did she call him just now?”

Fei Jiu wasn’t sure whether his master was asking about what the Third Young Master had called out or what Miss Hua had said, so he simply reported both: “Miss Hua called the Third Young Master ‘Brother Li,’ and the Third Young Master addressed Hua Qingyue as ‘Qingyue sister.'”

“Utterly improper.” With these words, he stormed off, his face dark with anger.

Spring Rain Pavilion

“Bang—” Wu Shi slammed her teacup heavily onto the floor and roared at the servant who had come to report, “Where did you say the Third Young Master went?”

“Where else could it be? How many Qingzhu Courtyards are there in this mansion? He’s only been back a few days and already can’t stay put. Who knows what he’ll do in the future,” Lu Zhining remarked coldly from the side.

“Tell me, where did he go?” Wu Shi repeated sharply.

The servant standing below trembled all over and cautiously replied, “He went to Qingzhu Courtyard.”

“That little hussy, with her seductive tricks, dares to lure my son? She doesn’t know her place! Go, fetch some men and bring the Third Young Master back at once.”

She had known her son had a weakness for pretty faces, which was precisely why she hadn’t wanted him to return. Yet no sooner had she sent the letter than he appeared right before her.

“Mother, why call for me? I’m already back,” said Lu Li, who had just narrowly escaped Lu Yan’s grasp, plopping down beside Wu Shi.

“Look at you! You’ve barely come home, and instead of seeing your parents or your sister, you go off to visit some irrelevant person.”

Lu Li, stuffing a piece of pastry into his mouth, replied lazily, “How is she irrelevant? Isn’t she the family’s savior? I heard Grandmother dotes on her—even Eldest Brother calls her ‘sister.’ Didn’t you always tell me to follow Eldest Brother’s example? I’m just doing as you said. Even Father couldn’t argue with that.”

“I won’t scold you this time, but you must keep your distance from her in the future. Losing both parents so young, with her stepmother now controlling the household—she’s hardly blessed with good fortune.”

Wu Shi tried to highlight Hua Qingyue’s flaws, hoping that if the old madam ever brought up a marriage arrangement, Lu Li would refuse outright, making things easier for her.

“Mother, if Qingyue sister is so pitiable, then as her brother, I ought to show her even more kindness in the future,” Lu Li responded casually, brushing it off.

“You—!” Wu Shi nearly choked on her anger. She wanted to reprimand him but couldn’t bear to, nor did she want to start a fight the moment her son returned. Taking a few deep breaths, she softened her tone:

“That’s not what I meant. I don’t mind you treating her as a sister, but I’m worried others might have ulterior motives toward you.”

Wu Shi snorted coldly. She didn’t mention the old madam’s intentions. Her son’s future was hers to pave—he didn’t need to know the rest.

“What ulterior motives could anyone have? I think Qingyue sister is perfectly fine. Just now, she was picking lotus seeds herself, saying she’d make lotus seed jelly for all of you.” Lu Li hadn’t wanted to argue, but hearing his mother slander someone unfairly, he couldn’t help but defend her.

This only opened the floodgates. Wu Shi launched into a tirade about all his romantic escapades over the years.

Lu Li had come home to escape trouble, not to endure endless nagging. Annoyed, he stood up and left, heading straight for the other courtyard again.

Naturally, Wu Shi directed all her fury at Hua Qingyue. If not for her, she and her son would never have quarreled like this.

That evening, when the Third Master returned home, Wu Shi was helping her husband out of his outer garments. He casually asked, “So you’ve met that Hua family girl?”

“Mmm,” Wu Shi replied softly, making no mention of the day’s events.

“I can’t very well assess the girl’s character myself—you’ll need to pay extra attention on our son’s behalf. Other qualities matter less, but there’s one essential, she must be capable of keeping outsiders in line. Certain matters mustn’t leak—our son still maintains some reputation in the capital.”

Wu Shi knew all too well what her son was like. Frowning, she retorted resentfully: “Coming from a minor family, she may be pretty enough, but likely no different from those outsiders. How could she possibly manage them?”

Seizing the opportunity, she brought up the Duke of Liu’s legitimate daughter, “I’ve seen that girl several times—capable and sensible. If our Li Ge’er married her, he might settle down and pass the imperial exams.”

“I know you favor her, but Mother mentioned wanting the Hua girl as our daughter-in-law. We can’t make our benefactor’s daughter a concubine. Forget your suggestion—if the girl lacks ability, you’ll just have to teach her patiently.”

“Mothers had a hard life and treated you well, even putting you in charge of household affairs. Let’s not upset the old lady.”