The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 121 Forcibly Taken
Fu Tingzhou sneered coldly without thinking, saying: “The last time I saw her, she was depressed and weak. She told me she wanted to leave this place of turmoil. I still remember the look in her eyes, and I couldn’t bring myself to force her. The sadness in her tone was genuine. Do you still want to pretend you didn’t know?”
Lu Heng smiled and shook his head, gazing at the peach blossoms and the warm spring scene before him. With a calm and unhurried tone, he spoke: “Why can’t you admit that the person she likes is me, and that she stayed willingly?”
Fu Tingzhou’s face darkened as he firmly rejected: “Impossible.”
Lu Heng chuckled softly, then suddenly stopped smiling. His voice turned deep as he continued: “If you really cared about her, why weren’t you worried about her traveling alone, what if she encountered danger? Would she be able to settle down after returning to Datong? If you had paid any attention, you would have sent someone to follow her and would know that she didn’t leave.”
Fu Tingzhou instinctively wanted to refute but couldn’t find the words. Lu Heng seized the opportunity and continued: “If it weren’t for the fact that she met you first ten years ago, you wouldn’t even have the chance to compete with me. You don’t understand her, can’t give her the life she truly wants, and can’t even give her a legitimate title. You’re not her type at all. If fate hadn’t forced you together and both of us had appeared at the same time, even without her memory loss, she never would have chosen you.”
Lu Heng’s words hit a nerve. The veins on the back of Fu Tingzhou’s hand bulged as he gritted his teeth and said: “Don’t try to turn things around. You dare say you didn’t have any ulterior motives?”
“I did think about it at first.” Lu Heng generously admitted. As there was no one else around, he spoke openly, “But when she woke up, and I looked into her clean, beautiful eyes, I thought it would be such a pity to send someone like her back to your side. I also want to know, if I really used her to make a demand, how much would you have been willing to back down?”
Fu Tingzhou’s hands clenched into fists, veins appearing on his forehead: “You…”
Before Fu Tingzhou could say anything, Lu Heng interrupted him: “But there’s no such thing as what ifs. Regardless that you need the help of others to gain military power, while I earned everything I have today, that you can’t control your family’s affairs, while I am free to choose any woman I like, that you would force her to be a concubine, while I would never let my woman suffer any injustice… Between you, me, and her, even if we started over a thousand times again, you are still no match for me.”
It was doubly humiliating for a man to have his woman snatched away in front of him and then be openly crushed in power. But Fu Tingzhou couldn’t find a way to refute, because in terms of position, achievements, and status, Lu Heng was indeed better than him.
Fu Tingzhou felt as though a slow, sharp knife was slicing at his heart. He endured the pain, swallowing his blood and tears. His voice turned cold and sinister as he spoke: “The hatred of having my wife taken away from me is irreconcilable. There is still a long road ahead, Lu Heng. Just wait and see.”
Lu Heng chuckled softly. It had been a long time since he had heard such an amusing joke. His eyes narrowed slightly, a faint amber glow shimmering in them: “Alright, I’ll be waiting. But let me remind you one last time, you are no match for her. It would be better for both you and her if you let this go sooner rather than later.”
Fu Tingzhou only sneered coldly at this. Lu Heng stole someone else’s love, so he could stand there feigning politeness. If he was the one whose love was stolen from him, Fu Tingzhou didn’t believe that Lu Heng could let it go.
Lu Heng was just saying things. Lu Heng adjusted his sleeve and turned to walk away. After a couple of steps, as he passed by Fu Tingzhou’s shoulder, he carelessly murmured: “However, there’s one thing I must thank you for. You’ve kept her for ten years and never crossed the line. I really admire that.”
The last shred of Fu Tingzhou’s restraint snapped. Unable to tolerate it any longer, he clenched his fist and lunged at Lu Heng. But his hand was stopped halfway, held at bay by the cold steel of a blade. Lu Heng held his Spring Embroidery knife with one hand blocking Fu Tingzhou’s wrist and said with a smile that was neither genuine nor friendly: “Marquis of Zhenyuan, think carefully before you act.”
The Spring Embroidery knife was pitch-black and rigid, its long sheath resting across his clothes, exuding a strong threat. Fu Tingzhou’s mind clouded by jealousy and hatred, slowly began to calm down. Today was the Shangsi Festival, and there were countless eyes watching them. It would be easy to act on impulse, but once he truly made a move, it would only give Lu Heng leverage. If Lu Heng seized the opportunity, further, if the matter escalated all the way to the emperor, Fu Tingzhou would have no way to defend himself.
Seeing that Fu Tingzhou had come to his senses, Lu Heng sighed in boredom, his smile growing more pronounced. He retracted the knife, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped the place where it touched Fu Tingzhou’s wrist. With a slight flick of his wrist, the handkerchief was carried away by the wind, drifting into the water: “At the wedding, I kindly invited the Marquis of Zhenyuan to share in the joy, but he gave me such a grand gift instead. I’ll remember this favor, Marquis of Zhenyuan. When my future child with Qing Qing has their full moon celebration, I’ll be sure to send you an invitation.”
After Lu Heng finished speaking, he gave Fu Tingzhou a smile before turning around and walking away, openly exposing his back to Fu Tingzhou. Fu Tingzhou stared at Lu Heng’s retreating figure, his fingers clenched into a fist. Suddenly, he turned and swung a heavy punch at the tree trunk.
Petals fluttered down in a soft shower, like light pink snowfall. The falling petals floated on the water and were quickly soaked by the flowing stream, swirling and sinking, losing the purity and beauty they once held. As Fu Tingzhou watched on, a sudden memory flashed in his mind, the day he and Qing Qing went to burn incense together, it had also snowed that day. The snowflakes were half pure and flawless, while the other half had been trampled into the dirt, just like the scene before him.
From that day onward, he had already lost her.
Madam Xu accompanied Wang Yanqing and Hong Wanqing to the riverside to admire the flowers, but after walking for a while, the atmosphere in the group started to feel strange.
Madam Xu felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. Wang Yanqing remained gently smiling, listening to everything Madam Xu said with a smile, her temperament and manners impeccable, completely concealing the fact that she was the wife of the most powerful commander in the Imperial Guards. The young ladies of the Fu family kept their heads lowered, silent along the way. It was proper for unmarried women to remain modest and quiet, and they had to watch their words in such company. Hong Wanqing, too, maintained her dignity as the wife of a marquis, though she spoke even less and had a somewhat sour expression.
With no one to liven the mood, Madam Xu, no matter how much she talked, could not seem to change the atmosphere. Unable to continue her one-woman show, Madam Xu finally spoke: “We’ve been walking for a while now and I’m feeling tired. I see a pavilion ahead, let’s go sit down for a while.”
Wang Yanqing smiled and agreed. Hong Wanqing and the young ladies of the Fu family did not offer any opinion, so Madam Xu took it as consent. The group, accompanied by their maids and attendants, settled into the pavilion with the sound of clanging.
Once Madam Xu had seated herself, she noticed that two of Wang Yanqing’s maids quickly moved forward, skillfully wiping down the stone benches and placing embroidered cushions on them. They then stepped back to stand quietly behind Wang Yanqing, in a position that allowed them to observe all the entrances and exits. The whole process was seamless, like flowing water. And with a graceful motion, Wang Yanqing settled on the bench, her long skirt flowing elegantly. There was no trace of superiority in her demeanor, as though such actions were something she had long been accustomed to and not worth any particular attention.
For a moment, the pavilion fell into silence. The ladies were all from noble families, accustomed to lives of luxury with numerous servants at their disposal and money to spare. Yet, when they settled down, it was only the maids from the Lu Mansion that laid down cushions for Wang Yanqing. In comparison, the others seemed almost like rough, unrefined people.
Madam Xu chuckled and said: “Madam Lu is truly meticulous. No wonder you are of the Lu Mansion, you handle matters with such efficiency. May I ask how you train your maids, perhaps you could share some of your secrets with me?”
Wang Yanqing, hearing this, realized that Madam Xu was referring to Ling Xi and Ling Luan. She smiled and replied: “I don’t have such skills. They’ve always accompanied my husband, he’s the one who manages them. Each of them is highly skilled, but because I’m confined to the inner chambers, I feel a bit guilty.”
Madam Xu gave a soft “oh,” understanding now that it was Lu Heng who instructed them. That cleared things up. Madam Xu noticed that Wang Yanqing naturally referred to Lu Heng as her husband, and that Lu Heng entrusted his well-trained female spies to her, prompting her to tease: “Madam Lu and the Supreme Commander really have a strong bond, calling him husband so easily. Just hearing it makes my teeth ache. You two are truly a young couple, sweet as honey.”
Wang Yanqing, feeling a bit embarrassed by the direct teasing, quickly blushed at the tips of her ears: “Madam, you tease me. He said that calling him by his title was too strange, so I started calling him husband instead.”
Madam Xu couldn’t help but laugh. Having spent time in the capital circles of fame and wealth, she encountered many sophisticated and noblewomen. They were all amiable and lively, but this was the first time she saw someone explain things so seriously.
Madam Xu was used to the ways of the world and had a sharp, discerning gaze. The details between husband and wife could not be deceived. The maid at the Lu Mansion showed complete respect toward Wang Yanqing, and when Wang Yanqing mentioned Lu Heng, her expression was full of trust. When a couple’s relationship is bad, they can’t display such a natural gesture. In contrast, another couple seemed to have a somewhat superficial connection.
Unexpectedly, Lu Heng, who was ruthless and merciless, liked this type of woman. But Madam Xu quickly understood, the more cruel and selfish someone was, the more they longed for purity. This world was truly strange that way.
Madam Xu clearly understood but didn’t point it out. Instead, she kept smiling and teased: “Madam Lu, no matter how you address Supreme Commander Lu, its just ladies talk, no need to explain to us. Whether we like it or not, doesn’t matter. What’s important is that Supreme Commander Lu likes it.”
The more Wang Yanqing tried to justify herself, the worse it got. As laughter filled the air, her face turned red, and she no longer dared to speak.
Since Wang Yanqing appeared, Madam Xu had clearly shifted her focus, paying much less attention to Hong Wanqing. Hong Wanqing listened coldly to the chatter and found herself growing more frustrated with each word.
Frivolous, indecent, careless. A wife was not for a man’s amusement. When out in public, how could she call him husband in front of guests?
Hong Wanqing was irritated by Wang Yanqing’s pretentiousness and equally frustrated with Madam Xu’s incessant flattery and fawning. She couldn’t sit still any longer and was about to find an opportunity to excuse herself, when suddenly, she saw a tall figure in purple and crimson coming down the path. The spring breeze brushed past the willows, the grass grew lush, and the birds sang. He walked down the long steps strewn with fallen flowers, and even the full bloom of the garden seemed to pale in comparison to the smile in the corners of his eyes.
The women in the pavilion stood up unconsciously when they saw him. Lu Heng nodded to the crowd and said: “I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but she gets cold and cannot sit on the stone for long. I’ll take her away first.”
Madam Xu, even having lived for so many years, only heard mothers speaking this way to their daughters. This was the first time she heard a man remind his wife to keep warm. Madam Xu looked at him as if she had seen some rare creature and asked: “Supreme Commander Lu knows that women have cold constitutions?”
Lu Heng, completely unembarrassed, replied calmly: “Not exactly. I only know a little because my wife tends to get cold. She has never paid attention to it before, and now she’s developed some issues. We must be more careful now, otherwise, it could affect her ability to conceive.”
Wang Yanqing was mortified and quickly ran down the steps, discreetly pinching Lu Heng’s arm: “What are you saying in front of so many people?”
Lu Heng chuckled, catching her hand and pulling her to his side: “She’s shy. Madam Xu will understand. We’ll take our leave first.”
Madam Xu understood at once. Wang Yanqing’s eyes were gentle and her skin radiant, clearly showing that the couple was trying to conceive. Madam Xu, though already of an advanced age, still felt a pang of envy and smiled: “Alright, alright, I’m getting old, not as lively as you youngsters. You should go on ahead, don’t let me hold you up.”
Wang Yanqing’s cheeks flushed, and she forced a composed smile as she bade farewell to everyone and left with Lu Heng. Madam Xu noticed that Lu Heng never once let go of Wang Yanqing’s hand.
Once the couple had left, Madam Xu sat back down, sighing deeply: “Young couples are truly something else. They always have endless jokes to share and an unwearied warmth between them.”
The young ladies of the Fu family, who witnessed Wang Yanqing and Lu Heng’s affectionate gestures, were all blushing, their heads lowered, too embarrassed to look any further. Hong Wanqing, sitting to the side, stiffly tugged at the corners of her mouth. Suddenly, she stood up, saying: “It’s getting late, I still have some matters to discuss with the Marquis. Madam Xu, please enjoy yourself. I must take my leave.”
Madam Xu stood up and warmly saw her off. After a distance, she looked at Hong Wanqing’s retreating figure, her smile faded, and she gently shook her head.
Never mind, other people’s marital matters have nothing to do with me.
Hong Wanqing had been looking forward to the Shangsi Festival for a month. She was excited when she set out, but her mood quickly soured when she ran into Wang Yanqing. By the time she found Fu Tingzhou, the bad mood had already taken root, especially when she discovered that Fu Tingzhou had injured his hand.
Hong Wanqing had held her frustration in the entire day, and when they returned to the mansion, she could no longer contain herself. She exploded: “Marquis, what happened to your hand?”
Earlier, when they met with the Madam, Fu Tingzhou mentioned that he was already in a bad mood. Now, hearing Hong Wanqing’s fiery inquiry, he answered with a cold face: “I told you earlier, I scratched it on a tree.”
Scratched it on a tree? That wound couldn’t have come from a mere brush with a tree, it must have been caused by some forceful impact. Hong Wanqing remembered seeing Lu Heng come from that direction earlier, and when she found Fu Tingzhou, he was staring blankly at the water. Putting everything together, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.
All her pent-up frustration from the day came crashing down, and Hong Wanqing couldn’t hold back her sharp words: “Did you scratch it on a tree, or did you get into a fight? You are the Marquis of Zhenyuan, the face of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion. My uncle has high expectations of you. So don’t do anything that will damage the reputation of both families.”
As soon as Hong Wanqing said those words, she regretted it. What was she doing? How could she speak like that to Fu Tingzhou? Seeing his face turn cold, her heart filled with regret, and she quickly reddened with shame, saying: “Marquis, I was angry and spoke without thinking. I was just upset to see you so focused on her, I got jealous for a moment…”
But unfortunately, the methods that usually worked in the Yongping Marquis Mansion had no effect on Fu Tingzhou. He stood up and replied coldly: “You are the jewel of the Marquis of Wuding and the Marquis of Yongping. How could I mistreat the daughter of the Hong family? Rest assured, so long as I am here, I will never let the Fu family tarnish the dignity of the Yongping Marquis’ daughter.”
After Fu Tingzhou finished speaking, he turned and walked away. Hong Wanqing’s tears suddenly welled up, and she hurriedly reached out to grab his hand, but before she could touch him, he pushed her away. The gate opened and closed, and the freezing wind swept in, making Hong Wanqing feel as though she were standing in a cold cave.
The maid who had accompanied her dowry noticed Fu Tingzhou’s strange demeanor as he left, and hurried inside to check. When she saw Hong Wanqing, her heart sank. She quickly asked: “Madam, what happened?”
Seeing the maid, Hong Wanqing felt as though she had found a lifeline, and tears began to fall freely: “Maid, I think I said the wrong thing.”
After listening to Hong Wanqing’s explanation, the maid’s scalp went numb. It wasn’t just saying the wrong thing, it was as if she had thrown the bond of their marriage to the ground and trampled on it.
Even between close brothers, it was unbearable to bring up past favors all the time, let alone between husband and wife. Hong Wanqing and Fu Tingzhou’s marriage had always been a union of mutual benefit. The Marquis of Wuding pushed Fu Tingzhou into this marriage, and in the future, as Fu Tingzhou’s power grew, he would return the favor. Such unions were common in the capital, but Hong Wanqing made the mistake of speaking too bluntly and even involving the Marquis of Wuding.
Now it was too late, what could the maid say about Hong Wanqing’s mistake? All she could do was try to comfort her and shift her focus to a more positive outcome: “Madam, don’t worry. Even your lips sometimes bump against your teeth. How can a couple not have disagreements? You and the Marquis are still young, and your tempers are a bit hot. Once the Marquis has calmed down, you can send some pastries and soften your tone. This matter will pass.”
Hong Wanqing, with tear-filled eyes, asked expectantly: “Really?”
The maid was not Fu Tingzhou, so how could she know for sure? But she could only grit her teeth and nod, reassuring her confidently: “Really.”
Hong Wanqing finally felt some relief. She set aside her worries about the future and instead focused on the events of the day. She fumed: “Maid, you didn’t see it today. As soon as he saw that woman, he didn’t even blink an eye. What, just because she has a somewhat attractive face? How shallow are both the Marquis and Supreme Commander Lu, each of them fawning over her.”
The maid, having already heard from the attending maid about the day’s events, knew that Fu Tingzhou still had feelings for that childhood sweetheart, who was now Lu Heng’s legitimate wife. After marrying Lu Heng, they were no longer in a position to disparage her. The Imperial Guards, with their vast power, could easily turn the tables on them if they heard any gossip.
So, even though Hong Wanqing was angry, the maid dared not speak Wang Yanqing’s name directly. She responded vaguely: “Every family has their own difficulties. Who knows what happens behind closed doors? Don’t dwell on it too much, Madam. Only you know what your life is truly like.”
After venting for a while, Hong Wanqing began to calm down. Yes, who said Wang Yanqing and Lu Heng’s marriage was a good one. WIth someone like Lu Heng, who knew how they treated others in private? Hong Wanqing had her maternal family behind her and her uncle’s support. In the end, she would live a better life.
Meanwhile, in the Lu Mansion, Wang Yanqing was indeed wary of being tormented by Lu Heng.
Wang Yanqing carefully removed her jewelry. Glancing at Lu Heng in the mirror, she said: “Just to make it clear, I don’t know anything about what happened today. Don’t go twist things and drag me into this later.”
Lu Heng, who was watching Wang Yanqing remove her makeup, chuckled upon hearing this. He set down his teacup and walked over to her: “I know. You don’t have to be so guarded with me. Do you think I’m the type to make a fuss over nothing?”
Wang Yanqing smiled but didn’t respond. If Lu Heng was reasonable, then there would be no such thing as a rogue in this world. She removed the jade hairpins that held her hair up, and her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Lu Heng picked up a strand and rubbed it between his fingers with obvious affection.
“Qing Qing, you saw an old acquaintance today. What are your thoughts?”
Wang Yanqing took a rhinoceros horn comb from her dressing box and absentmindedly ran it through her hair: “What thoughts could I have? Didn’t you arrange it all on purpose?”
Hearing this, Lu Heng protested dramatically. He took the comb from her hand and, like cradling a stream of water, slid it from her roots to the ends of her hair: “How much water has gone into my brain that I would deliberately bring you to meet him. Seeing him was certainly unexpected.”
Lu Heng wanted to announce their relationship to the whole city, but Fu Tingzhou was not among the people he intended to share it with. When he first saw Fu Tingzhou, he had wanted to turn and leave immediately, but there were too many people, so he endured it.
Heaven only knew how many times Lu Heng internally cursed his bad luck.
But Wang Yanqing only believed half of what he said. She glanced at his reflection in the mirror, then unflinchingly exposed his true feelings: “But from what I saw, you seemed quite pleased with yourself.”
After they left, Wang Yanqing didn’t know exactly what Lu Heng said to Fu Tingzhou, but afterward, Lu Heng was walking on air, his every expression filled with smug satisfaction. Now, he came to her pretending to be downcast, he was too shameless.
Lu Heng chuckled and set the comb down on the dressing table. His fingers gently swept through Wang Yanqing’s long hair, teasing: “Qing Qing, I met your Second Brother, and you haven’t asked what we discussed, yet you keep accusing me?”
“How could I dare to accuse you?” Wang Yanqing was too lazy to engage with him. She stood up from the mirror, walked around him, and made her way toward the bathing room, “I can’t win against you, so I admit defeat. Can I take a bath now?”
The flowing strands of hair were pulled away from Lu Heng’s grasp as Wang Yanqing walked past him, not sparing him a glance as she headed for the bath. He remained unfazed, returning to his previous spot and finishing the last of his tea before slowly getting to his feet.
Wang Yanqing undressed and was just about to fully immerse herself in the water when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She inwardly cursed him, but being without clothes left her short of breath. There was no time to grab a robe, so she hurriedly picked up a handful of petals from the side and scattered them on the surface of the water to cover herself as best as she could.
Straightening her neck and assuming a defiant posture, she said: “It was you who took me to the Shangsi Festival. It was also you who led me to the Zhenyuan Marquis family by chance. I didn’t do anything wrong. So, what gives you the right to get upset?”
Lu Heng had already circled around the screen and was standing by the edge of the bath. Wang Yanqing could feel his gaze on her, and she silently sank a little deeper into the water. Leaning on the tub’s edge, Lu Heng gently scooped some water with his fingers and washed away the red petals clinging to her collarbone.
Lu Heng said: “What do you take me for? You haven’t done anything wrong and I’m not here to reprimand you. But, Qing Qing, have you forgotten? Today is the Shangsi Festival.”
Wang Yanqing was momentarily puzzled. But knowing Lu Heng, she quickly realized that whatever he brought up could only have one purpose. Covering her chest with her hand, she warily moved toward the other side of the tub: “You… don’t do anything foolish.”
Lu Heng, with a calm and amused smile, leisurely observed her naked form. Her gaze flustered as she tried to maintain an imposing demeanor, looking like a rabbit baring its teeth while running from the tiger’s claws. He was in a good mood and playfully decided to enjoy the moment: “Qing Qing, do you know why women bathe by the water during the Shangsi Festival?”
Wang Yanqing thought for a moment before replying: “The orchid bath drives away evil, warding off disasters and bringing blessings.”
Lu Heng chuckled softly, struggling to contain his laughter, still finding it incredibly amusing: “You answered. Okay, then answer this question too. Although the Shangsi Festival is for purification and to ward off illness, it was originally meant to offer sacrifices to Gao Yi. Do you know what kind of god Gao Yi is?”
Wang Yanqing shook her head, not understanding why Lu Heng was bringing up such academic topics in the bathroom. Lu Heng had read so many books with the emperor, never imagining that one day he would use them in a situation like this.
Calmly, Lu Heng began to undress, leisurely explaining to Wang Yanqing: “Gao Yi is the god of marriage and fertility. But I think, instead of asking the gods, it’s better to rely on oneself. For matters like this, I’m much more convenient.”
Wang Yanqing listened in silence, frustrated. After going around in circles, he had returned to the same point. She snapped: “What does this have to do with the Shangsi Festival?”
“It has nothing to do with it. I just want to do it. Even if there’s no reason, I’ll create one. Qing Qing, now I’ll give you two choices, do you want to be on top or below?”
|| Author’s Note:
Lu Heng: Today, I am the academic dog.
(Literal meaning, with no disrespect intended towards academic researchers.)