Chapter 28: A Bold Idea

Lu Yuner suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Qiu Yi, saying seriously: “Qiu Yi, what are you thinking about all day? I knew you would overthink things. You and I are of similar age, we’ve grown up together since childhood. Over these years, there have been many changes in the household, but it’s always been the two of us supporting each other until today. Although we have a master-servant relationship, I’ve always treated you like family, never as an outsider. As for… this matter with young master Su, I naturally have my own plans for doing this, I didn’t mean to deliberately hide it from you.”

“My lady, Qiu Yi knows she was wrong, I misunderstood your intentions,” Qiu Yi’s eyes were filled with tears, full of emotion, as she continued to ask puzzledly: “But… young master Su likes you, so do you…”

Although General Liu was there to protect the lady, after all, General Liu was a military officer. If there was a war in Huabei, she naturally wouldn’t stay long in the capital.

It’s not to say that the lady is weak and incapable, needing others’ protection, it’s just that the depths of the official circles are unknown.

Since the new Emperor ascended the throne, the official circles have become unpredictable, but the lady is resourceful and decisive, with unique insights, often making surprising moves.

It’s said that new officials light three fires when taking office. After the lady took office as Minister of Revenue, she continuously advised the Emperor. With the concept of “Take from the people with measure, use with restraint, even a small country will be stable; take from the people without measure, use without restraint, even a large country will be unstable,” she suggested reforming the tax system.

The promulgation of the new tax decree caused waves among the people, with commoners praising it endlessly.

But naturally, it also touched the interests of certain people, who secretly created obstacles for the lady. Once, she almost ended up in the dreaded Zhao prison.

Yun Qinwang has a illustrious reputation, noble status, and is quite respected by court officials. To be honest, if the lady had Yun Qinwang’s protection, those treacherous officials wouldn’t dare to touch her at all.

“Young master Su and I are fated to be apart.”

Lu Yuner concealed the unspeakable difficulties in her heart. Thinking of young master Su’s reaction just now, her eyelashes trembled imperceptibly, and she changed to another explanation, “After all, this Yun Qinwang is imperial kin, while I’m just a small professor at the Imperial Academy, an eighth-rank official. We’re not of the same social status, it’s really beyond my reach. Although it’s a good marriage that everyone envies, you know my personality, I prefer to have fewer troubles rather than more. I’ve always liked to be carefree, but as soon as you have any connection with imperial relatives, you have to be restricted in everything you do.”

“Moreover, Yun Qinwang only has one son, how could I have the qualification to marry young master Su? I would only be able to marry into their family, and then I’d have to watch others’ expressions every day. Plus, with people envying and jealous, they’d secretly curse your lady as a ‘pretty boy’ or ‘gold digger’ behind my back. What could I do then? I could only swallow the bitterness silently, unable to say anything.”

“My lady, you’re absolutely right!!! You’ve considered it so thoroughly!” Qiu Yi nodded repeatedly like a pecking chick, saying very excitedly.

Although the Lu family isn’t as prestigious as before, they’re still descendants of a military family, and they still have their pride. Besides, a woman marrying into her husband’s family has existed throughout history, but it’s not a desirable thing.

There’s a common saying: Rather die poor than be a wife marrying into her husband’s family. First, it’s not respectable; second, there’s no status; third, there’s no inheritance. So once a woman becomes a wife marrying into her husband’s family, it becomes a topic of gossip for people at the end of streets and corners.

Seeing Qiu Yi’s change in attitude, Lu Yuner’s eyes sparkled slightly as she said: “So after much consideration, let’s end this matter here. I’ll just live my ordinary little life honestly.”

Talking about this suddenly reminded Qiu Yi, who hurriedly raised her voice: “But my lady, you’ve reached the age for marriage now, shouldn’t you consider your lifelong happiness? Initially, you said you’d establish your career before starting a family. Then after you became Minister of Revenue, when I brought this up again, you always said you were busy with official duties. Now that you’re teaching at the Imperial Academy, which is much more relaxed, don’t you think… it’s time to consider marrying a young man and having children for the Lu family?”

After saying this, she carefully observed her lady’s expression. After all, women of the same age as her lady have all started families, with husbands and children accompanying them day and night. How could her lady not envy such happiness and contentment?

Lu Yuner raised her eyebrows slightly. Great! Just as she had avoided one issue, a new question came up.

She immediately found an excuse to brush it off, her tone seemingly helpless, “To tell you the truth! After that serious illness last time, my body was left with some after-effects. I… I’ve gradually developed problems in that area! I can’t seem to get… aroused… in that aspect. This matter is, after all, a matter of a woman’s dignity, so I didn’t tell you. But don’t worry, I’ve asked a doctor to diagnose me. She said there’s no medicine that can cure this, so having children in the future can only depend on fate. I’ve only told you this now, don’t tell anyone else. You know, as a woman, if outsiders hear about this, they’d laugh at me for being impotent in bed.”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yi’s eyes didn’t even blink, her heart couldn’t help but be shocked. After digesting this information, she frowned with eyes full of sympathy: “My lady, rest assured that I will keep this secret. But why didn’t you tell me earlier? I know you didn’t want me to worry, but after all, more people mean more ideas!”

Qiu Yi’s brows furrowed deeper as she comforted, “But don’t worry, I will definitely seek out the best doctors in the world. We’ll surely find a way to cure your illness. But… why did this happen? My lady is so good, how could heaven treat you so unfairly!!”

Seeing Qiu Yi’s growing empathy, Lu Yuner felt a bit guilty about her lie. She pretended to be relaxed and said, “Qiu Yi, don’t worry too much. We do what we can and leave the rest to fate. Everything should be taken lightly, just let nature take its course.”

Seeing her lady pretending not to care at all, Qiu Yi felt even more heartbroken. She thought about how her lady, as a woman, couldn’t experience the joy between men and women, she must feel incredibly inferior.

And her lady had never even experienced the pleasure of intimacy, how desperate she must feel! No! She had to think of a solution!

Since there was no medicine that could cure it, if internal treatment didn’t work, then they could only rely on external methods. Qiu Yi pondered for a while, lust, lust, isn’t it just about arousing sexual desire?

Qiu Yi decided to find a few pure and innocent young men for her lady to try. After all, it’s normal for women nowadays to have three husbands and four attendants, so there’s no need to worry about other things.

But what kind of men does her lady like? She forgot to ask about her lady’s preferences before.

Does she like fair-skinned, petite and thin ones? Or does she prefer dark-skinned, muscular and sturdy ones?

If all else fails, they could find a few exotic and beautiful men, maybe that would work.

She heard that they were extremely skilled in bedroom matters, and compared to men from the Great Yuan, they were much more open-minded, with a variety of techniques…

As she thought about this, the innocent Qiu Yi suddenly came back to her senses and realized that her mind was full of inappropriate things. Her face immediately turned red.

Lu Yuner had no idea that Qiu Yi’s thoughts were running wild. After the bath, the water had cooled down, so she got up and used a silk towel to wipe the crystal-clear water droplets on her body, then took a new white undergarment from the clothes rack and put it on.

Seeing Qiu Yi still standing there in a daze, Lu Yuner walked over and lightly tapped her forehead with her finger, asking, “You’ve been standing here motionless, what are you thinking about?”

As Lu Yuner walked out from behind the screen, Qiu Yi suddenly came to her senses and followed.

With ink-like hair still damp, and cheeks tinged with a faint cherry blossom pink, Lu Yuner sat in front of the mirror and looked at Qiu Yi through the reflection, teasing, “Were you just thinking about something embarrassing? Look how red your face is. You’re not getting any younger, you should pay attention to see if there are any men you like in the capital. If you both have feelings for each other, I’ll help you propose when the time comes. But… I remember last time when we were dining at the Shiji Restaurant in the east of the city, the youngest son of the restaurant owner seemed to like you a lot? Have you been meeting and chatting privately these days?”

“My lady, you’re teasing me again. You know I don’t like that type, he’s far too brash! You’ve seen him before.” Qiu Yi recalled the scene from that day and couldn’t help but shudder.

“Hahaha!” Lu Yuner laughed out loud, her mouth curving into a smile, “Alright, enough joking. After I finish the polo match, it will be time for the Qingming Festival. The Imperial Academy will be on holiday. Come to pick me up a bit later then, and secretly bring the oranges back. Also, when I return to the Imperial Academy tomorrow, remember to prepare a few jin of fragrant pork bones for me. I’ll bring them to let Orange have a big feast.”

There was no way around it, this Orange was just too thin. Although it looked much more spirited after her few days of care and physical training, its nutritional intake still couldn’t keep up. She needed to properly nourish it.

“Yes, my lady.” Qiu Yi responded. When picking up her lady to return to the mansion, her lady had already told her in the carriage about meeting a very intelligent stray dog at the academy, which would also serve as a companion for her lady during boring times.

“Oh, Qiu Yi, didn’t Mu Yang say in his last letter that he was coming to the capital to see me? Calculating the time, it should be a few days after the Qingming Festival. You should instruct a few servants to tidy up the room in the north of the backyard, and prepare some items that boys like. In short, you handle it, if anything is missing, just buy it and bring it back.” Qiu Yi nodded, “Yes.”

Although this young master Mu had no blood relation with her lady, the two families had a deep friendship. Her lady had always treated him like her own younger brother, naturally doting on him in every way.

After everything was tidied up, Qiu Yi withdrew, while Lu Yuner lay sprawled on the soft couch, her brows and eyes filled with intense unease.

Recalling the Qingming Festival last time, it was enough to make her feel unbearable pain, and it was also unpredictable.

So what about this time?

At the Yun Qinwang Mansion.

Chen Si said worriedly, “The person has been sent back to the mansion, but… the young master cried so sadly. I saw that the young master really likes this Lu Yuner, why don’t you…” “Lu Yuner is indeed not bad, principled and talented. But in matters of the heart, one cannot force others,” Su Bai stood with her hands behind her back by the window, gazing deeply at the night outside. After a moment, she said, “After the Qingming Festival, I will hold a poetry gathering at Lanqin Garden, inviting the young talents of the capital. You go prepare the guest list first.” Chen Si’s eyes moved, hesitating for a moment: “Then… do we still need to send an invitation to Lu Yuner?” “Send it, but whether she comes or not is up to her,” Su Bai said indifferently.

Chen Si couldn’t help but be surprised upon hearing this. Although Yun Qinwang favored this Lu Yuner, this move really gave Lu Yuner a lot of face, but…

Chen Si asked worriedly, “But if we hold this poetry gathering, won’t the young master be unhappy?” Although it was just a poetry gathering, Yun Qinwang’s intention was clearly to choose a wife for the young master. Given the young master’s current state, it would only increase the conflict between the two of them.

However, Su Bai responded indifferently, “This matter is not up to him.”