Shen Xuan stood before the mirror, holding the pale red new robe Lu Yu had just given him, a smile he hadn't realized he was wearing curving his lips.
The robe fit perfectly, its style novel. Though red, it wasn't garish, but rather exuded a gentle elegance.
This must have been prepared for him with great care.
It was beautiful, and he liked it very much.
“Young Master, are you ready?”
Afu’s voice sounded from outside the door, startling Shen Xuan, who had been lost in thought within.
Returning to the family home with two large red chests had attracted considerable attention along the way. Little did they know, most of what those chests contained was air.
By the time they reached the Shen manor, it was already the hour of the snake. The manor gates were shut tight, with no sign of a welcoming atmosphere for their son’s return.
Lu Yu stepped forward and knocked on the door. With the two chests in tow, she walked in boldly, wanting everyone to see how much importance she, Lu Yu, placed on Shen Xuan.
“The return gifts are two whole chests? This Second Young Master Shen must be quite favored.”
“What Second Young Master Shen? He should be called Madam Shen now. Be careful, or Lu Yu might come to teach you a lesson.”
“Hahahaha…” The remark drew a burst of laughter from the onlookers.
Lu Yu and Shen Xuan walked all the way to the main hall, but neither Shen’s mother nor Zhao Liu and Shen Jia appeared.
Looking at the servants around them, Lu Yu sneered, “I’ve brought my husband back for a visit. Since no one welcomes us, there’s no need to return. I shall take my husband and these two chests of betrothal gifts home. Farewell.”
With that, she took Shen Xuan’s hand and turned to leave. “You all help me carry these two chests away. I can’t carry them alone. Thank you.”
The surrounding servants didn’t know whether to move or stay. Their orders were to make them wait for a while, but they hadn’t expected them to leave directly. If others saw them returning with the gifts, it would be a true disgrace to the Shen family, and the head of the household would not forgive them.
Wang Tian gave a signal to a nearby attendant, who immediately understood and quietly retreated, heading straight for Zhao Liu’s room.
He himself hurriedly stopped Lu Yu, a smile plastered on his face. “How could we not welcome you? The head of the household has gone out and hasn’t returned yet. The main consort heard you were coming and was delighted; he’ll be here shortly.”
He then turned to Shen Xuan and said, “Second Young Master, now that you are married, the Eldest Young Master misses you dearly. The household has indeed felt a bit cold with one less person.”
“Please accompany Miss Lu for a while. Serve her some tea. You know, your own wife has a temper, why don’t you try to appease her?”
“Miss Lu, please don’t take offense. My Second Young Master has been pampered since childhood and doesn’t know how to serve. Please be understanding.” As he spoke, he clasped Shen Xuan’s hand as if in intimacy and patted it.
Lu Yu quickly withdrew Shen Xuan’s hand, gently rubbed it, and then brought it to her lips, blowing on it. Glancing at Wang Tian, she spoke coldly, “My husband is not here to serve me; he is here to be doted on by me. How dare a servant point fingers? Where are your Shen family’s rules?”
Then, she turned back and blew on Shen Xuan’s hand again, looking at him with immense tenderness. “Did he hurt you when he patted you? That rough hand, it’s made yours red. It pains me so much…”
Lu Yu didn’t spare Wang Tian a single glance, her eyes filled only with Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan was taken aback by Lu Yu’s sudden tenderness and concern, standing stiffly before her.
Wang Tian’s face flushed and paled. He quickly walked over to Afu, pinched his arm, and said fiercely, “You useless brat, I raised you for nothing. Now you’re siding with outsiders.”
Afu stood there, saying nothing.
“Who are you putting on this act for? Weren’t you quite imposing when you came to question me that night? You ungrateful wretch.”
“Heh, don’t tell me you’re trying to climb into your master’s bed? Just as disgusting as your dead mother.”
Wang Tian was a dowry servant of Shen Xuan’s father, Li Ning. Afu’s mother had also come to the Shen manor with Afu’s father. Afu’s mother had always admired Li Ning but never dared to overstep.
Later, when Li Ning was in danger, it was Afu’s mother who desperately saved him. However, the two were trapped together for a night. A man and a woman alone in a room sparked suspicion, and even Shen’s mother didn’t believe Li Ning.
Li Ning became pregnant not long after, but Shen’s mother grew increasingly cold towards him, even believing the child wasn’t hers, ignoring Li Ning’s explanations.
Poor Li Ning, devoted his life to her, having pleaded with his parents for a long time to marry her. In the end, however, he succumbed to depression during his pregnancy and died in difficult childbirth, ultimately meeting such an end.
“Oh! Why are you all standing in the courtyard? Xuan’er finally came back, hurry inside, it’s so sunny out here.” Zhao Liu, swaying his slender waist, arrived before Shen Xuan like a gust of wind, covering his mouth as he laughed.
“Oh my! As expected of newlyweds, so intimate in broad daylight. Come, come, hurry inside.”
“Shameless!” Shen Jia said hatefully, following behind.
Lu Yu glanced back upon hearing this, a plan forming in her mind.
Shen Jia and his father had intended to make Lu Yu suffer at the Shen family’s hands, so that she would vent her anger on Shen Xuan upon returning, making Shen Xuan’s life difficult with his wife thereafter.
However, they hadn’t expected Lu Yu to deviate from the script and simply leave, and moreover, with two large chests of return gifts. If she were truly allowed to take the items back, it would be a genuine disgrace to the Shen family, and Shen’s mother would surely unleash her fury.
Upon returning to the main hall, Zhao Liu assumed the demeanor of the head consort, stating that Shen’s mother was away on business.
“Miss Lu, when that incident occurred, our head of household was very angry. Later investigations revealed that Xuan’er had secretly sneaked out more than once. Our head of household was angry at Xuan’er for not adhering to wifely duties and felt ashamed to face you. Today, by chance, there was something outside, so she wasn’t home.”
Zhao Liu’s explanation, intentionally or unintentionally, revealed Shen Xuan’s past behavior, aiming to implant the fact that Shen Xuan did not adhere to wifely duties into Lu Yu’s mind.
Shen Jia, standing beside him, could barely contain his triumphant laughter, thinking that Shen Xuan would not have a good life at home from now on, which made him happy.
“This is also my fault for not teaching Xuan’er well since childhood, allowing him to develop this habit.” Zhao Liu’s words conveyed one meaning: Shen Xuan indeed did not adhere to wifely duties.
“Hmph, just like his father,” Shen Jia said, glancing at Shen Xuan with a cold smile.
Shen Xuan’s expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, Lu Yu cut him off.
“What does Eldest Young Master Shen mean by that? If I recall correctly, when Shen Xuan’s father was the main consort of the Shen family, the Shen family had no male consorts. After Shen’s husband died, it was you and your father who suddenly appeared in this manor, wasn’t it?”
“Who exactly is not adhering to wifely duties? Everyone knows in their hearts.” Lu Yu stared coldly at Shen Jia, paying no mind to Zhao Liu’s increasingly unsightly expression.
This was their own doing.