The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 119 Newlywed
Wang Yanqing’s face turned so red with shame from this position that it felt like her face could bleed. She punched his arm hard and said: “Let me go! What are you doing?”
Unfortunately, the armchair they had was too low, and the sandalwood was too hard. Afraid of hurting her, Lu Heng held her up, turned around and put her on the desk. Lu Heng intentionally adjusted their positions and said: “This should be the position. Right, Qing Qing?”
Wang Yanqing followed his gaze and almost fainted. He was referring to the time in the study when they nearly had an incident. He remembered that moment and intentionally put them in the exact same position as that day!
Wang Yanqing bit her lip in embarrassment and indignation: “I was feeling sorry for you and seriously thought about helping you.”
“I know.” Lu Heng chuckled, holding her neck with one hand and giving her lips a light kiss, “Don’t bite your lips. If you break the skin, I’ll feel heartbroken. I know you want to help me, and because of that, I want to be closer to you, Qing Qing.”
In the end, he only had one goal! Wang Yanqing, frustrated, decided to release her teeth and bite him. Lu Heng noticed her movements, but he didn’t dodge and continued to ravage Wang Yanqing’s lips without hesitation. Wang Yanqing was reluctant to kill him, so she just bit his lip lightly without breaking skin.
Lu Heng let go of her lips, his hands still holding her neck. His nose rested against hers, so their breaths mingled together. Lu Heng said with a hint of regret: “That was such little strength, why didn’t you bite?”
Wang Yanqing let out a light snort, saying: “Biting you would only mean you get the advantage. It’s better not to fulfill your wish.”
“You’re right about that.” Lu Heng said with a look of approval, “Today, many people asked me about my lips. I thought you would be too shy to tell them the truth. But there should be an explanation if there was an attack on an Imperial Guard. What do you think, Qing Qing?”
Lu Heng never compromised when he wanted something. He said this morning that he would settle the score with her, and with both principal and interest, he was going to make her pay.
Wang Yanqing sensed his determination. He was dead set on doing it. She pursed her lips and, feeling wronged, replied: “This is just you trying to frame me. You’ll always find a reason to blame me.”
“Yes.” His other hand was already on Wang Yanqing’s knee, slowly and unquestioningly spreading her legs apart, “So, do you admit it?”
Wang Yanqing thought about last night, and her intuition told her that if she refused, this beast would definitely use all sorts of tricks to torment her. She knew that Lu Heng was the type to respond better to softness. After a moment of hesitation, she gave up on the futile act of shyness. She wrapped her arms around his neck and, in a soft voice, said: “I’ll do whatever you say, but at least take me back to the bedroom.”
Wang Yanqing saw that he didn’t move, so she wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to act coquettishly: “Brother, husband…”
Lu Heng couldn’t help but sigh. Qing Qing really learned quickly and had already figured out his weak spot. If it was anything else, Lu Heng wouldn’t refuse her, but when it came to this matter, he still wasn’t willing to compromise.
Smiling, Lu Heng wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him: “Alright, you said it. After we go back to the bedroom, you’ll listen to everything I say.”
Wang Yanqing’s carefully built mental defense instantly collapsed. She gritted her teeth and widened her eyes, saying: “That’s not what I meant at all!”
Lu Heng didn’t reply, focusing on stripping off the rest of her clothes. How cute, actually trying to reason with an Imperial Guard. For this group of jackals, it didn’t matter what the other party confesses, what mattered was how they wanted to interpret it.
Lu Heng once again pretended not to understand what she said. Wang Yanqing tried hard to pull at her collar, but she could only watch as the fabric of her clothes gradually slipped away. She simply gave up and lay flat on the table: “Do whatever you want, just don’t expect me to cooperate.”
She had a backbone. Lu Heng smiled as he wrapped his arms around her waist and suddenly pressed an acupoint on her lower back: “It looks like I haven’t done enough for my wife. That’s why you’re not interested.”
She didn’t know where Lu Heng had pressed, but Wang Yanqing felt a sudden tingling sensation in her spine, and she almost let out a sound. In a panic, she bit her lip and gripped his arm tightly, her earlobes turning red: “You, you…”
Lu Heng, being considerate, helped her finish her sentence: “Beast, shameless, filthy. Qing Qing, your insults are too elegant, you keep repeating just these few words.”
Wang Yanqing was so angry with Lu Heng that she couldn’t take it anymore. Every time she encountered this shameless person, she would often become infuriated even before he had done anything. Suddenly, Lu Heng picked her up and started walking somewhere. Wang Yanqing was surprised, had Lu Heng suddenly changed his mind? Was he going to let her go today?
But soon, reality proved that she had thought too much. Lu Heng placed Wang Yanqing in front of a bookshelf, skillfully pulled a book from the top, and said: “Qing Qing, I have to teach you some new curse words. Come, open it and take a look.”
Wang Yanqing only had one layer of undershirt, which barely covered her body. She had no desire to look at the book Lu Heng had given her, but he stood behind her, positioning himself between her and the bookshelf. Every time she took a step back, her back would press against his chest. Even through the fabric, she could feel his intense body heat.
Lu Heng’s breath brushed the tip of Wang Yanqing’s ear. In a hoarse voice, he asked: “Why don’t you open it and take a look?”
Wang Yanqing felt his hand, and under the pressure, she had no choice but to open the seemingly plain book. However, as soon as her eyes landed on the first page, her face instantly turned crimson with embarrassment.
This was a scandalous painting.
Wang Yanqing was so embarrassed that she didn’t know where to put her gaze. However, his hand gradually moved deeper, and she tried to stop him, saying as seriously as she could: “This book is full of illustrations. There are no curse words in here.”
She didn’t even realize that her voice was trembling, already turning into a puddle of spring water. Lu Heng leaned in close to her, his voice low as he chuckled softly: “There is. If you can’t find it, I’ll have to punish you.”
In the end, Wang Yanqing couldn’t find any curse words, but instead, she was forced to look at several indecent illustrations. When she finally returned to their bedroom, her knees were bruised.
Lu Heng dismissed the maid and took her leg in his hands. As he gently massaged to help with circulation, he said with a hint of tenderness: “You bruise too easily. A light touch and a large mark already appears.”
The black hair at Wang Yanqing’s temples had just been moist, and now her voice was hoarse: “Is that what you call a light touch?”
Lu Heng thought for a moment, then sincerely admitted his mistake. He lowered his gaze to the warm jade beneath him, which should have been flawless, but was marred by numerous bruises and purples. It looked pitiful yet made him want to leave even more marks.
Lu Heng reached out, his fingers perfectly overlaying a previous impression, and said: “It’s my fault. Let’s be more careful from now on.”
Wang Yanqing, upon hearing this, widened her eyes in disbelief: “From now on?”
In the past, Wang Yanqing had once marveled at how much Lu Heng loved investigating cases. It seemed as if he didn’t need sleep, staying at South Fusi all day. Now, Wang Yanqing understood. He wasn’t passionate about his work, but rather, he was naturally full of energy. If he didn’t channel his energy into work and investigation, it would need to be released elsewhere.
The next morning, Wang Yanqing woke up even later than usual, not even knowing when Lu Heng had left. Her wrist hung weakly over the edge of the bed, and it took a long time before she sat up.
The only thing Wang Yanqing was thankful for last night, was that Lu Heng had been restless in bed. The room wasn’t as messy as the last time, otherwise, she wouldn’t have had the energy to clean it up again.
Wang Yanqing got up late, and by the time she finished washing up and having breakfast, it was almost noon. The confidential records detailing high-ranking officials were still in the study. Wang Yanqing had planned to go back and continue her work there, however, when she entered the study, she took one look at the elegant and simple sandalwood chair, the quiet and reserved desk, and neat bookshelves in the back, and felt too embarrassed to stay. So, she forced herself to remain calm and took two booklets back to her bedroom instead.
She curled up on the couch, resting against the soft bolster, and lethargically flipped through the records. Once she got familiar with the process, she was able to sift through the information twice as fast. Soon, from some seemingly trivial daily records, she found useful details.
The higher the official’s rank, the less likely they were to speak definitively. They knew the nature of the Imperial Guards and would avoid being too obvious, even at home. However, Wang Yanqing had a natural talent for reading people. Even through paper, she could tell which words were empty and which were sincere.
As she flipped through the records, Wang Yanqing thought to herself, Lu Heng dealt with this sort of thing every day. It’s no wonder he didn’t want to marry before. He walked in the darkness, seeing only the selfish and filthy side of human nature every day, yet he still managed to maintain an open and righteous heart. That truly was rare.
Reading like this while half-laying down was the easiest way to fall asleep. By the time she was almost done with the second booklet, her eyes felt heavy, and she leaned against the pillow to rest for a moment. Before she knew it, she fell asleep. When she woke up, she realized there was a blanket over her, and the book in her hands had been taken away.
She moved her shoulder slightly, and a low, clear voice came from beside her: “Are you awake?”
Wang Yanqing saw that it was him, turned over again, and covered her eyes with the back of her hand. She asked: “What time is it?”
“It’s exactly You (5-7 pm).”
“Have you been back for a long time? Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“No, I just got back.” Lu Heng wrapped his arms around his wife’s soft and slender waist, pulling her up to sit.
Wang Yanqing studied martial arts as a child, so her limbs were long and graceful, with delicate yet firm skin. Her figure was neither soft and loose like ordinary young ladies, nor was she excessively thin from dieting. She had a well-proportioned and long body, pleasing to hold in his arms. Moreover, she stretched when she was younger, so she was quite flexible. She could hold any pose with ease, which Lu Heng particularly liked.
Holding his sleepy, weak wife in his arms, Lu Heng’s voice softened unconsciously: “Are you hungry?”
Wang Yanqing leaned against his chest, nodding weakly. Lu Heng was worried that she might be cold after just waking up, so he pulled the blanket over her: “You’ve worked hard these past few days.”
Wang Yanqing’s brows twitched slightly, and she opened her eyes, gazing at him with a clear, piercing look. Lu Heng froze for a moment under her gaze, then chuckled as he realized: “What I meant was, you’ve worked hard helping me. Thank you for your hard work, my lady.”
Shameless, Wang Yanqing pushed Lu Heng away with a bit of annoyance. She sat up properly and said: “Let’s eat first.”
While they were having their meal, Wang Yanqing told him about the day’s progress. She said: “This is the first time I’ve done something like this, so I might not have been very accurate in some areas. I’ve written down some page numbers in my notes. Do you want to check it again…”
“No need.” Lu Heng pressed down on her hand gently, speaking calmly, “I trust anything you do. No need to think about this, eat first.”
After the meal, Wang Yanqing accompanied him to the study to handle some official business, then they returned to their room together. Wang Yanqing had been worried that Lu Heng might pull some tricks again, but fortunately, he was exceptionally well behaved that night. He remained disciplined all the way until they went to bed.
Wang Yanqing sighed in relief, finally she would be able to get a proper night’s sleep.
With Wang Yanqing’s help, Lu Heng investigated the individuals assigned by the emperor in just five days. As usual, he went to the palace to give his verbal report. As for the specific choice of who would be appointed as the commander, that was no longer Lu Heng’s concern.
Time passed steadily. Spring returned to the earth, everything revived, and the shadow of the Renyin Palace incident gradually faded. In the court, preparations officially began for the campaign against the Japanese pirates. The changes in the capital had no impact on Wang Yanqing. Her life remained peaceful and regular. The only thing she had to adapt to was Lu Heng’s endless nightly antics, which forced her to endure his seemingly inexhaustible energy. Aside from that, she had no complaints.
At the end of the second month, despite opposition, the emperor firmly appointed Zhu Wan, the right Deputy Imperial Censor and Inspector General of South Jiangxi. He would serve as the Governor and Inspector General of Zhejiang, maintaining coastal military defense of Fujian and defending Zhejiang against the Japanese pirates. Zhu Wan came from a poor family, truly a son of humble origins. He wasn’t part of the old military officer system like Guo Xun, nor was he one of the southern scholars who held a military position. He had a fiery personality, detested evil, and didn’t associate with any faction in the court.
The opportunity, ripe for taking, fell into the hands of an outsider. Many officials in the court were dissatisfied, and a heated debate ensued.
The political struggle in the court was never-ending. While the officials fought vehemently over the issue of the Japanese pirates, the women of the capital were already joyfully preparing for the Shangsi Festival. The Shangsi Festival was a rare occasion when women could go out. The trend of outings had already taken hold in the capital. Various brothels and fabric shops competed to launch new products, and they traveled between mansions with exaggerated praise for their customers’ beauty and clothes.
|| The Shangsi or Double Third Festival (上巳节) takes place on March 3rd and marks the start of spring with old traditions of honoring ancestors, cleansing oneself by bathing in the river, and spring outings.
At the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, a young woman with her shiny hair neatly styled kept laughing as she spoke: “The young madam has such fair skin, and this outfit, covered in gold, perfectly complements her complexion. Others may wear red and appear constricted, but you, being newly married and full of vitality, can pull off such a bold color.”
The wife of Suji Fabric Shop knew that the Marquis of Zhenyuan’s wife had just gotten married and was gaining a lot of attention in the capital recently. So, she went all out in flattering Hong Wanqing. Low laughter came from inside the room, and many of the older women donned knowing smiles on their faces. Under their gazes, Hong Wanqing’s face flushed slightly, but her expression was one of enjoyment. With a sense of grace, she said: “Then you should stay.”
When the wife of Suji Fabric Shop heard that Hong Wanqing was planning to buy, she was overjoyed and immediately began showering her with praise, mostly complimenting Hong Wanqing’s nobility, beauty, and the affection she received from her in-laws. After all, cloud brocade was known as gold per inch, and gold covering was the most expensive type of Yunjin. It was rare for a newly married woman to spend so lavishly on clothes, even in a capital city that boasted many wealthy families.
In the capital, there was no shortage of high-ranking officials and noble families, and there were plenty of young ladies from those prominent households. But no matter how pampered you were in the boudoir, once you married and left the household, you had to obey your mother-in-law. A mother-in-law, after all, was not the same as a biological mother. A biological mother might happily spend large sums to adorn her daughter, but a mother-in-law might not be as generous.
Hong Wanqing chose a stunning, bright red Yunjin with gold covering as her top, then continued to browse through the remaining fabrics for a skirt. Since the top was so expensive, she couldn’t let the skirt be inferior. After much deliberation, Hong Wanqing still couldn’t find a fabric she was satisfied with.
Noble families cared about their reputation, even if they were financially strained, they would still make an effort to maintain appearances when attending social events. Hong Wanqing hesitated for a long time, nearly becoming an old maid, but in the second month, she had finally married Fu Tingzhou. She wasn’t willing to let her former close friends look down on her, so for the Shangsi Festival, she made sure to dress up to the fullest, aiming to stun everyone with her beauty.
The Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion had maids skilled in tailoring, and the Yongping Marquis Mansion had even provided her with embroiderers as part of her dowry. However, no matter how skilled these women were, they couldn’t compare to the experts hired by Suji, who came from Nanjing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, hired at high prices. Therefore, wealthy madams in the capital would often go to Suji to select fabrics and designs, then have the embroiderers at Suji take their measurements to craft clothing that was perfectly tailored to their desires.
Hong Wanqing had seen this process back when she was still in the boudoir, but it was always her older and younger sisters who managed the fabrics. Now, it was her turn to take charge. Having just gained control over her finances, Hong Wanqing was full of excitement and didn’t care about the price. All she thought about was beauty.
She had been unable to find the perfect fabric, so she asked the wife of Suji Fabric Shop: “I remember hearing a rumor a few days ago about a new fabric from the Nanjing weavers, a snow-light satin. They say only two rolls were made, and it was sent to the capital at a high price. This satin is said to resemble red plum blossoms against snow, shining from different angles under the sunlight. I heard these two rolls of fabric are with your shop. Why wasn’t it brought here today?”
Hong Wanqing, being newly married, was expected to wear red from head to toe. A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. What newlywed woman wouldn’t want to look her best? The snow-light satin was rare and beautiful, and the most precious part was that both rolls were a perfect crimson red. Since Hong Wanqing had heard about it, she had been asking around everywhere, hoping to get her hands on some snow-light satin.
The capital was full of hidden talents, and she knew full well that with her status, she wouldn’t be able to secure the first pick. But sharing a roll with someone was still an option. A roll of fabric was large enough to make several skirts.
When the wife of Suji Fabric Shop heard this, she thought to herself that it was no wonder she was a daughter of the Yongping Marquis Mansion, she was very well informed. Just as she was about to speak, someone behind suddenly pinched the back of her hand. She stopped mid-sentence, her tongue rolled over her words, and she immediately changed her tone: “Madam, you’re joking. We, a small fabric shop, could never get our hands on the goods from the Nanjing weavers. Perhaps you’d be more interested in this dark-patterned satin. It’s elegant and noble, perfect for a newlywed like yourself.”
The wife of Suji Fabric Shop wore a forced smile, desperately recommending other fabrics and not mentioning the snow-light satin at all. Hong Wanqing felt a little disappointed, but if she didn’t have it, perhaps no one else did either. Maybe those rumors had been exaggerated. Trying to lift her spirits, Hong Wanqing continued to browse through the remaining fabrics and finally settled on a dark-patterned satin.
After choosing the fabric and taking measurements, time passed quickly, and half the day had already gone by. The wife of Suji Fabric Shop took the fabric and the patterns and left, saying they would send the finished clothes before the Shangsi Festival, and Hong Wanqing saw them off. Although the Yongping Marquis was a border defense general, he raised his daughters with strict discipline. They were not allowed to step outside the gates, and though Hong Wanqing hadn’t done much, she still felt a bit tired.
She sat on the luohan bed and drank tea, unable to resist glancing at the sky. She asked: “Has the Marquis returned?”
“He has returned. He is currently talking with the Old Marquis’ former subordinates in the front courtyard.”
Hong Wanqing let out a sigh and said with a hint of displeasure: “So there are guests. Go bring some pastries to the Marquis so he can come back early today. While court affairs are important, he can’t always sleep in the study.”
“Yes.”
The maid accepted the order and withdrew. Seeing that Hong Wanqing seemed a bit downcast, an older maid who accompanied her dowry walked over and massaged her shoulders, gently advising: “Madam, the court is currently discussing raising troops to fight the Japanese pirates, and both the Marquis and the Marquis of Wuding are paying close attention. Your husband is young and ambitious, having just been promoted from Datong. He’s certainly one of the hot candidates for this upcoming campaign. The Marquis is a man of great affairs, so he can’t afford to indulge in affairs of love. You should be understanding.”
Hong Wanqing sighed and, feeling a bit more at ease with her accompanying maid, finally spoke a few honest words: “I understand. What man with ambition would spend all his time idling in the house? But I’ve only just entered the mansion, and the Marquis is already out all the time, not even returning to the bridal chamber. Isn’t he a little too indifferent?”
The older maid had lived twenty more years than Hong Wanqing and had seen her fair share of matters between men and women. In fact, she was not optimistic about Fu Tingzhou’s attitude. Men were very practical, if they truly liked someone, no matter how busy or tired they were, they would always find time. But Fu Tingzhou had been dragging his feet since their engagement. Even though they had finally married, a normal man would have spent the first couple of months being affectionate with his wife, especially due to the novelty of marriage. Yet Fu Tingzhou remained indifferent towards Hong Wanqing, seldom returning to her room after three days of their honeymoon.
This was hardly a good sign.
The older maid couldn’t help but recall some rumors she had heard before. It was said that Fu Tingzhou had a childhood sweetheart, a woman he had known for ten years. Their marriage had already been arranged, but it was called off because of the Yongping Marquis Mansion. The Hong family had always known about this, and the Yongping Marquis wasn’t concerned. For men like them, marriage was more about political alliances, and the women around Fu Tingzhou were of no importance. The Yongping Madam Marquis also knew about it, but she didn’t take it to heart.
Before Hong Wanqing entered the mansion, both the Yongping Madam Marquis and the older maid thought that as a mere commoner, she couldn’t possibly compare to the noble ladies of a Marquis’ family. Fu Tingzhou, with a new love, would surely forget his old childhood sweetheart quickly.
But now, the older maid began to feel that things were getting a bit out of hand.
Fu Tingzhou’s feelings for his former fiancée were far deeper than they imagined. Even though she wasn’t in the household, her absence seemed to leave Fu Tingzhou in a gloomy mood.
The older maid felt that the situation was becoming tricky, but she knew she couldn’t tell Hong Wanqing the truth. So, she continued to offer her usual comforting words, the Marquis was simply too busy, too occupied with important matters to focus on romantic feelings. Hong Wanqing listened to the maid’s words of comfort and, after a while, managed to convince herself.
Her furrowed brow finally relaxed, and calmness settled over her face. The older maid even regretted that she hadn’t tried to dissuade the Yongping Madam Marquis when, knowing full well about Wang Yanqing’s existence, she insisted on having Hong Wanqing marry into the family. But now, with the matter settled, all the older maid could do was hope that Fu Tingzhou’s inherent flaws would soon take effect. If he couldn’t see or be with the other woman, perhaps he would eventually let go.
As Hong Wanqing started discussing the upcoming Shangsi Festival, the older maid also gathered her spirits, smiling and flattering Hong Wanqing: “Madam, don’t worry. You already have a reputation for your beauty in the boudoir. Now that you’re newly married, you’ll surely stun everyone at the Shangsi Festival and stand out as the most admired.”
Hong Wanqing said: “Don’t say such things. If someone hears, they’ll just laugh. There are so many madams and ladies in the capital, how could it possibly be my turn?”
Although she said this, there was a trace of pride in her expression. Her uncle was the prestigious Marquis of Wuding, and her husband was the rising Marquis of Zhenyuan. Since her engagement, Hong Wanqing had been the center of attention, praised by countless people for her good fortune. With such illustrious figures as her backing, which other new bride in the capital could compare to her?
As the wind rustled the willows, the Shangsi Festival soon arrived. On the third day of the third month, the capital was filled with carriages and horses, and the streets were fragrant with the smell of fine clothes. The riverbank on the outskirts of the capital was already crowded with barriers, set up for the noble and wealthy to enjoy their outings.
Noble ladies were particular about their appearance and could not easily be seen by others. Even when going to the river to enjoy the spring, their paths were lined with brocade to prevent them from being jostled by commoners. From the early morning, the riverside was filled with laughter and voices. Wives of officials, princesses of nobles, and wealthy merchants brought their families to the riverbank for the ritual purification. In ancient times, this was meant to ward off illness through bathing, but now, the Shangsi Festival has long since become a time for outings and socializing.
The spring breeze was gentle, flowers were in full bloom, and even the river seemed to carry the scent of perfume. A lady from an official family was busy socializing with her daughter when suddenly, the sound of wheels rolling from behind reached her ears. The lady didn’t pay much attention at first and casually glanced over. But as soon as she looked away, she was startled, realizing who had arrived.
Quickly turning around, the lady was both polite and a bit apprehensive, smiling as she greeted the newcomer: “Master Lu, good day. Is the Supreme Comander free today, to come to the river for the purification ritual?”
Lu Heng dismounted and gave a slight nod to the person who spoke, then walked over to the carriage to help Wang Yanqing out, showing no intention of answering. Given his current status, even if he were to appear at the intersection, few would dare to approach him.
The official’s wife, not at all offended by Lu Heng’s indifference, still wore a smile on her face. She glanced at the carriage, somewhat curious about who might be inside. The only person worthy of Lu Heng’s personal escort would probably be the emperor, right?
But there was no word of the imperial carriage leaving the palace.
As the official’s wife murmured to herself, the carriage door was pushed open by a pair of delicate hands, and a woman with a slender waist and ethereal beauty stepped out. She wore a brilliant red outfit, and her skin was exceptionally fair. Standing under the sunlight, she almost seemed to glow.
And to the astonishment of everyone in the capital, the widely feared Lu Heng, known for his ruthless demeanor as the commander of the Imperial Guards, revealed a smile when he saw this woman and personally stepped forward to assist her out of the carriage.
The official’s wife felt like her eyes were deceiving her. Did she just see a hint of tenderness in Lu Heng’s expression? She stood stunned for a long time before suddenly realizing.
The only person in the world who could command Lu Heng’s personal protection, besides the emperor, was his wife.