Chapter Thirty-One: Becoming His Mistress

Lu Xuanheng had returned to the canopy and handed the apricot blossom branch to Li Lianzhu.

Li Lianzhu took it, bowed her head to smell it, and smiled, "This flower has bloomed beautifully. Xuanheng, accompany me to admire the blossoms."

Lu Xuanheng, however, replied, "It would be better if the Princess did not go. I just saw two people there embracing; it was quite unseemly."

Li Lianzhu frowned, "Then let’s skip it."

The two merely walked along the riverbank until dusk began to fall.

Li Lianzhu took her leave first. After seeing her off, Lu Xuanheng had no desire to linger and prepared to depart himself. Just as he was about to board his carriage, his eyes drifted casually, and he caught sight of a familiar figure.

Jiang You'an was walking over from the apricot blossom grove, laughing and chatting with her young maid.

She was here too. The mood that had weighed on Lu Xuanheng all day suddenly brightened. He curved his lips and began to walk toward Jiang You'an, but he suddenly noticed her dress—it looked somewhat familiar...

He recalled the couple he had seen locked in an embrace behind the flower tree.

The corners of Lu Xuanheng’s mouth dropped.

Coincidentally, Jiang You'an saw him at that moment. The expression on her face froze, as if she were guilty of something. A bad premonition arose in Lu Xuanheng’s heart, and with a darkened face, he strode toward her.

Jiang You'an had gotten carried away and forgotten herself, and now she had run straight into him! She knew full well what she had been doing; one look at Lu Xuanheng’s expression told her exactly what he was thinking. He was likely suspicious and coming to interrogate her!

A clever idea struck her, and she decided to strike first. She trotted up to him, "Why are you here? I heard the apricot blossoms by the Tianming River were especially beautiful, so I took advantage of the fine weather to come out and enjoy them with Qiulan. Oh, you wouldn't believe it—I just saw some people there billing and cooing, holding onto each other, I don't know what they were doing, it was so embarrassing!"

She rattled off a string of words, successfully distancing herself from the scene. Although Lu Xuanheng still had his doubts, he thought it impossible that it could be her.

"Did you have a good time? If not, I can accompany you for a walk."

Jiang You'an said she was tired.

"Then let's return to the manor."

Lu Xuanheng took Jiang You'an’s hand and led her toward his carriage. Jiang You'an resisted, "I'll take another one, so as not to be seen."

"It's already dark; who would see you?"

Lu Xuanheng did not allow her to refuse and pulled her into the carriage. Jiang You'an thought to herself that he surely had bad intentions. Indeed, as soon as they entered the cabin, Lu Xuanheng’s restless hands reached for her.

Jiang You'an had just met with Su Mingxiu; the two had confessed their feelings and pledged their lives to one another. Now, being held in the arms of another man, she felt an intense resistance. She quickly fabricated an excuse, "I’m having my monthly period."

Lu Xuanheng chuckled near her ear, "Don't overthink it, I just want to hold you."

Jiang You'an blushed, but even just embracing was entirely inappropriate. Previously, she had endured it in exchange for Lu Xuanheng’s protection, but now that she was with Su Mingxiu, she could not continue this way with Lu Xuanheng, or she would despise herself.

"Let go of me, I’m feeling a bit carsick and want to close my eyes for a while."

Lu Xuanheng buried his face in the crook of her neck and rubbed against her, but suddenly, his brows furrowed. "Why is there a scent of medicine on you?"

Jiang You'an froze. Su Mingxiu drank medicine year-round and carried a medicinal fragrance. Because she had been embracing him, she must have picked up his scent. She guiltily pushed Lu Xuanheng away and sat on the other side, "What smell? Do you have the nose of a dog?"

Lu Xuanheng stared at her suspiciously. Fearing he might truly see through her, she quickly changed the subject, "I haven't asked you yet, why did you come to the outskirts of the capital today? Were you also here to admire the flowers?"

Lu Xuanheng had no intention of hiding it from her and replied truthfully, "The Princess asked me to accompany her on an outing."

So that was it. Jiang You'an felt no ripples in her heart, but she still put on a show of jealousy, pouting and saying "Oh" before turning her face away to ignore him.

Now it was Lu Xuanheng’s turn to feel guilty; he knew she would be unhappy. Seeing her pout so dramatically, he moved closer, "Actually, if you don't like the Princess, you don't necessarily have to live under the same roof as her in the future."

Jiang You'an looked at him, "What do you mean?"

"The Princess’s family is a Princely Manor, and I’m afraid life under her thumb won't be easy for you. It would be better for you to live outside. That residence on Mount Canghong is yours; you can live there, and you’ll have more freedom."

Jiang You'an said in disbelief, "Are you asking me to be your mistress?"

"I am trying to ensure your safety as much as I can."

Even though Jiang You'an had never planned a future with him, she was still angered into laughter by his words, "A mistress has no status or name, hidden from the light—is this what you call ensuring my safety?"

"Status is not important." Seeing her expression darken, Lu Xuanheng changed his tune, "If you don't wish to, then I shall find another way."

"No, let’s do as you say." Jiang You'an smiled, "As long as we are together, nothing else matters."

Lu Xuanheng was surprised she had agreed so readily, "Are you serious?"

Jiang You'an nodded.

Of course, she was lying! She wouldn't even be a concubine, let alone a mistress. This stinking man was truly an expert at debasing people! She was about to marry Su Mingxiu; who would be his mistress?

Jiang You'an kept a smile on her face while cursing Lu Xuanheng eight hundred times over in her heart. Feeling suffocated, she turned to open the carriage window to look outside.

Lu Xuanheng still felt something was off and leaned in to talk to her again, but Jiang You'an pointed outside in surprise, "What is happening?"

He looked over. At the city gate, a large number of refugees had gathered—old and young, all gaunt and dispirited. Some were begging passersby for food, while others were trying to enter the city but were being blocked.

"A drought has hit Liaobei, affecting many prefectures and counties. Countless families have had no harvest, and now that famine has broken out, the refugees have no grain to eat and are all flocking toward the capital."

Jiang You'an watched the refugees, who were kneeling and wailing from hunger, and felt a deep ache in her heart, forgetting her conversation with Lu Xuanheng entirely.

Lu Xuanheng sighed, "I fear that after a great famine comes great chaos."

Neither of them continued their previous topic, and they returned to the Lu Manor in silence.

...

Yong'an Marquis Manor.

Su Mingxiu had returned home. It was mealtime, and Madam Su had come personally to call him to dine. Su Mingxiu was still a little angry at having been tricked by his mother today and was giving her the cold shoulder.

Madam Su looked at the servant who had been attending to him, and the servant nodded at her with a smile. It seemed things had progressed well today.

Madam Su walked over with a laugh, "Fourth Son, you met Miss Jiang today—did you two come to an understanding?"

Su Mingxiu gave her a resentful look, "Mother is really something, actually deceiving me."

Madam Su patted him, laughing and scolding, "You ungrateful child! If I hadn't deceived you and let you remain stubborn, wouldn't you have missed a good match? Quickly, tell me, what did you two talk about today?"