Chapter 44: Rosy Lips-Forçada a ser concubina? Virei as costas e pulei o muro — o poderoso ministro de rosto frio se arrependeu amargamente.(Bolo de nozes)

Lu Xuanheng’s arms wrapped around Jiang You'an like vines, tightening with a force that made her feel as though she were being crushed by him, leaving her barely able to breathe.

He kissed her fiercely and urgently, biting down heavily on her lips before ruthlessly parting her teeth.

Jiang You'an’s breath was completely plundered, and her mind went blank for a brief moment.

From downstairs, the strains of the pipa drifted up in a steady stream, each crisp note sounding like raindrops striking Jiang You'an’s eardrums, shaking her soul to its core.

Through the translucent paper of the lattice screen, Su Mingxiu’s elegant and upright figure came into view, drawing ever closer, yet Lu Xuanheng refused to let her go.

Seeing that Su Mingxiu was about to step past the partition, a surge of panic rushed straight to Jiang You'an’s head, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest as she began to struggle with all her limbs.

Finally, as the music of the pipa ceased, Lu Xuanheng released her.

Su Mingxiu strolled in from the neighboring room, flicking his sleeves and lowering his head to tidy his garments.

An oppressive silence hung between the two. Resting his chin in his hand, Lu Xuanheng looked down at the musical performance below with complete composure.

Jiang You'an’s heart was still pounding furiously. Fearing that Su Mingxiu might notice her abnormality, she picked up her teacup and drank in a clumsy, overcompensating gesture.

Su Mingxiu walked over to Jiang You'an and, seeing that she kept her head lowered, noticed the unnatural flush staining her cheeks.

He asked with perplexity, "You'an, what is wrong? Why are your cheeks so red?"

Jiang You'an cast a hasty glance at him and forced a strained smile. "Perhaps it is simply too stuffy in here."

From the side, Lu Xuanheng chuckled. "I hope you aren't coming down with something. Look at that—why are your lips so red as well?"

Su Mingxiu looked at Jiang You'an, his gaze landing on her brilliantly red, moistened lips.

Hating Lu Xuanheng to the core, Jiang You'an maintained a facade of calm. "The tea was simply too hot."

Daring not stay another moment in this place, she said to Su Mingxiu, "Let us leave."

Suspecting nothing, Su Mingxiu bid farewell to Lu Xuanheng and accompanied Jiang You'an as they departed.

Standing by the second-floor railing, Lu Xuanheng watched their retreating figures together, dark shadows swirling deep within his eyes.

Jiang You'an and Su Mingxiu left the teahouse and boarded the carriage.

Still plagued by a lingering turmoil within, Jiang You'an opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Su Mingxiu, however, remained preoccupied with the matter concerning Shen Heeping. "I had hoped to glean some information from your cousin, but I never expected him to keep his mouth so tightly shut, unwilling to utter a single word."

Jiang You'an’s voice turned cold. "He has always been like that—difficult to get along with."

"Yet it is also understandable," Su Mingxiu mused after a moment of reflection. "Given the sort of deeds Shen Heeping has committed, if it were to come to light, the Lu family would inevitably be implicated. Although he was unwilling to speak at length, this trip was not entirely without reward. Following the thread of Shen Heeping and the Earl of Zhongyuan, we might yet unearth some clues. We can simply keep a close watch on them and investigate slowly thereafter."

Jiang You'an nodded.

Observing her expression, Su Mingxiu asked softly, "Is that Lord Lu usually quite unfriendly toward you? You seemed exceedingly uneasy in his presence."

Prompted by these words, a wave of guilt washed over Jiang You'an, and she hurriedly offered an explanation in an attempt to distance herself. "He and I are merely distant relatives. Although I reside within their manor, we rarely cross paths on ordinary days. He is simply cold and stern by nature, and I suppose I am somewhat afraid of him."

So that was how it was.

Imagining the desolate life Jiang You'an must have endured within the Lu residence, a fresh surge of tenderness welled up in Su Mingxiu’s heart. He gently pulled her into his embrace, allowing her to lean against his shoulder as he said gently, "Once we are wed, the Su family will be your home. With me to protect you in all things, you will no longer need to walk on thin ice."

Hearing this, a wave of emotion washed over Jiang You'an, and she murmured a soft agreement against his shoulder.

Lowering his gaze, Su Mingxiu caught sight of a reddish mark on the back of her neck. "Oh? How did you injure yourself here?"

His cool fingers brushed against the skin of her nape, the chill sending a jolt through Jiang You'an’s heart.

It was all the fault of that scoundrel Lu Xuanheng!

She hastily covered the back of her neck. "It must have been bitten by some insects. As the weather grows warmer, the bugs are becoming more numerous."

Suspecting nothing, Su Mingxiu affectionately urged her to apply some medicine upon returning home.

The two strolled along the street for a while longer, and as dusk began to fall, Su Mingxiu escorted Jiang You'an back to the Lu residence.

As Jiang You'an walked toward the Hall of Longevity, she crossed paths with Lu Xuanheng halfway.

Clearly, he had been waiting here for her like a rabbit by a tree stump.

Meeting face-to-face in the covered corridor, Jiang You'an wore a freezing expression and walked straight past him.

Lu Xuanheng caught her by the wrist. "Didn't you just finish a tryst with your beloved? Why are you still wearing such an unhappy expression?"

Feigning ignorance so brazenly caused Jiang You'an’s anger to flare. "I have nothing to say to you. Let go of me!"

Far from letting go, Lu Xuanheng yanked her hand, pulling her a fraction closer. "Just a moment ago in the teahouse, you were melting like water, pleading with me in such a soft, sweet voice. Now you are acting so fierce again. Have you forgotten what you said back then?"

Holding her slender wrist, Lu Xuanheng pressed a light kiss to it. "You said that once you returned home, you would..."

Rage and grievance intertwined in Jiang You'an’s eyes as her voice trembled. "Must you never stop toying with me?"

Lu Xuanheng gave a light chuckle and released her hand.

Just as Jiang You'an turned away to leave, his voice came from behind her once more.

"Do you no longer wish to know about Shen Heeping and the Earl of Zhongyuan?"

Jiang You'an halted her steps. At the mention of this critical matter, she slowly forced herself to calm down. If Lu Xuanheng truly knew something and was willing to tell her, it would save both her and Su Mingxiu a great deal of trouble.

She turned back to look at Lu Xuanheng. "Speak."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Lu Xuanheng walked up to her. "First, tell me: why did you and Su Mingxiu appear there today?"

"I told you, it was merely by chance."

Refusing to believe it for a second, Lu Xuanheng deduced on his own: "The fact that you could bring Su Mingxiu along to seek out Shen Heeping proves this is not a private matter between you and him. And the persistent questioning you directed at the Earl of Zhongyuan in the teahouse just now indicates that the matter of concern to you involves the imperial court. Aside from your father’s case, I can think of nothing else."

Jiang You'an fell silent. Lu Xuanheng was not a fool; she could not deceive him.

"I have told you before, there is no possibility of your father’s case being overturned. What is the point of being so obstinate?"

Nothing displeased Jiang You'an more than hearing him say this. "Think what you will. You do your work, and I will do mine; we shall not interfere with one another. I never asked for your help anyway."

"So you went to Su Mingxiu for help instead? A sickly weakling devoid of an official post, someone far removed from the court—what could he possibly do for you? Help you investigate Shen Heeping? Do the two of you actually believe Shen Heeping has the capability to harm your father?"

Jiang You'an let out a cold snort. "At least his heart is in the right place, and he does not subject me to sarcasm and mockery. You may say whatever sarcastic remarks you please; in any case, nothing I do requires your interference."

Seeing her stubborn expression, a wave of helplessness washed over Lu Xuanheng. After a prolonged silence, he said, "I have already sent people to investigate the Earl of Zhongyuan. If there are any developments, I will let you know."

Hearing this, Jiang You'an looked at him sideways in surprise.

Lu Xuanheng raised an eyebrow slightly. "What is there to be surprised about? As a cousin, isn't it only right to help and support one's cousin?"

He raised a hand and gently pressed the back of her head, his rough thumb scraping against the red mark as he spoke in a teasing tone. "Tsk, I was a bit too heavy-handed with my bite—my fault. Tell me, cousin, did your fiancé happen to notice?"

Jiang You'an shoved him away abruptly, glaring at him with exasperated fury as she spat out, "Shameless!"

Watching the retreating figure of Jiang You'an rushing off in a fit of rage, Lu Xuanheng burst into laughter. Gradually, the amusement in his eyes melted once more into a fathomless darkness.