Lu Yanzhi: “…”
He sat up as well, pinching the bridge of his nose, nearly laughing with exasperation. “You’re asking me?”
Song Zhiyao suddenly remembered.
Last night, she had given the bed to Lu Yanzhi.
Her eyes darted about, a little guilty. She cleared her throat, her voice weak, “Last night, I… must have been half-asleep when I returned to bed.”
Saying this, she quickly got out of bed.
With her experience from the wedding night, she could tell that last night they had just lain on the same bed—nothing more had happened.
They were husband and wife, after all, and they already had children together.
Although Song Zhiyao was shy, she wasn’t overly shocked. But since they had already agreed to divorce, being so “close” so suddenly was undeniably awkward.
She avoided looking at Lu Yanzhi’s expression, lowering her head as she prepared to step down.
Just as she reached the bed, a strong hand yanked her back.
She fell into Lu Yanzhi’s arms.
The fall caught her completely off guard, and she tumbled right into his embrace.
Lu Yanzhi let out a muffled grunt.
Song Zhiyao’s heart raced—was he not letting her go? No… that couldn’t be. He was still injured.
She instinctively kept some distance, noticing that Lu Yanzhi made no further moves.
Only then did she realize that her skirt had been trapped under him during their struggles the previous night.
She tugged at it.
Lu Yanzhi lifted a leg.
Without a word, the adjustment was made.
The entire time, Lu Yanzhi kept the blanket over them, his eyes deep and thoughtful, lips pressed thin, ears faintly red.
Song Zhiyao needed to change her clothes.
She looked at the man sitting motionless on the bed. “Lu Yanzhi, are you awake?”
Lu Yanzhi: “…I’m injured.”
He wasn’t in a condition to get up yet.
Song Zhiyao remained silent, feeling a little guilty. He was acting so normal, she had momentarily forgotten about his injuries.
She took her clothes and stepped behind a screen to change.
Lu Yanzhi didn’t need to peek, but in the quiet room, he could clearly hear the rustle of her garments.
Even without looking, vivid images came unbidden to his mind.
After all… he had seen before.
Six years had passed, but last night’s intimate contact made him acutely aware that Song Zhiyao hadn’t changed much since six years ago.
Perhaps even more so after bearing children, her curves had become even more exquisite.
Lu Yanzhi closed his eyes, regretting leaving the room yesterday. He had intended to recover quietly, to let his body heal.
But now, his mind was calm, while his body was anything but.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the door: “General, Young Madam, the little master and little miss have arrived.”
Song Zhiyao was slightly surprised and hurried to greet them.
The winter morning was freezing.
The siblings were bundled in fluffy clothes, their necks wrapped in fur collars, making their little faces even cuter.
Seeing Song Zhiyao, Lu Jianshen remained silent, while Lu Jianwei smiled, holding her little lamb as usual.
“Deep Deep, Wei Wei, what are you doing here?” Song Zhiyao asked.
Lan Xin replied, “Young Madam, the little master and little miss came after learning the general was injured.”
Song Zhiyao nodded. “Your father is in the room.”
Lu Yanzhi was still sitting on the bed.
Lu Jianshen’s small face was solemn as he saluted, “Father.”
Lu Yanzhi nodded, his gaze softening with paternal warmth. “You are considerate. Don’t worry; I’m fine.”
The room fell silent.
Lu Jianshen didn’t know what to say and stood to the side.
Lu Jianwei, timid and still afraid of her father, hid most of her body behind her brother.
Father and children stared at each other, unsure who should speak first.
Song Zhiyao couldn’t help but laugh at the scene, drawing all three pairs of eyes to her.
She blinked and said, “Deep Deep, you’re just like your father when he was little.”
The Song and Lu families had been close for generations; she had seen Lu Yanzhi as a child.
Lu Yanzhi nodded in acknowledgment.
His gaze fell on Lu Jianwei, but unlike Song Zhiyao, his daughter was timid.
Song Zhiyao’s efforts had shaped this, and Lu Yanzhi knew he was partly at fault as a father for not being more present. That was part of why he agreed to cooperate with her.
After breakfast at Guipu Courtyard, the children were off to their lessons.
The Lu family had hired a tutor for the children.
Lan Xin went to Zhimo Courtyard to fetch their books, while Song Zhiyao personally escorted the children to Lánxuān.
Lu Yanzhi said, “I’ll go with you.”
His injuries were minor and wouldn’t slow him down.
After changing, he accompanied Song Zhiyao to the school.
Upon arrival, they learned that Lu Yan, who should have been attending, had taken leave.
With Lu Yan absent, Song Zhiyao felt even more at ease regarding the safety of the two children.
After sending them inside, she lingered in the shadows, watching them study, feeling a deep sense of pride.
Lu Yanzhi did not leave either; he observed her closely.
He clearly saw the joy and pride in her eyes.
She… was proud of their children.
Not wanting to disturb them further, Song Zhiyao turned, only to meet Lu Yanzhi’s scrutinizing gaze.
“What are you looking at, Lu Yanzhi?” she asked.
He withdrew his eyes. “Nothing.”
After a few steps, she said, “You should go back first. I still have things to handle.”
Her possessions had yet to be returned by Lu Jin Yu and Lin Guanguan, so she needed to follow up.
Lu Yanzhi nodded, but after she left, he gave Cang Feng a signal to follow her.
Song Zhiyao headed straight for Qingshan Courtyard.
Lin Guanguan quickly stepped out, “Song Zhiyao, what do you think you’re doing!”
Her face was still swollen, so she wore a veil. There was no trace of former familiarity in her eyes toward Song Zhiyao—only hatred.
Song Zhiyao was clearly being deliberate.
Jealous that she had won over Jin Yu, she wanted to destroy her face.
Song Zhiyao replied calmly, “I’m here to collect my belongings.”
Lin Guanguan froze for a moment, then bit her lip, “Why rush? You won’t be missing anything. It’s already being counted.”
Song Zhiyao’s brow lifted slightly. “Miss Lin, my patience is limited. If I don’t see my belongings before nightfall…”
“I reported once; I can report again,” Lin Guanguan muttered.
Song Zhiyao reminded her kindly, “According to current law, a woman’s dowry is her private property. Taking another’s property is illegal.”
“Depending on the amount, punishment ranges from thirty lashes to exile three thousand miles.”
“My possessions… could cover three exiles,” Song Zhiyao said gently.
Lin Guanguan’s face turned pale; she couldn’t smile at all.
She insisted, “It’s not taking—these were willingly given to me!”
Song Zhiyao gave her a meaningful look. “Whether willingly given, you know in your heart.”
It was nothing more than coaxing and deceit.
“Time is limited,” Song Zhiyao said. “Miss Lin, you’d better finish counting quickly.”
With that, she turned and left.
Lin Guanguan’s face was pale, full of embarrassment and hesitation. Naturally, Lu Jin Yu saw this from inside.
He called her over, “Guanguan, do as she said.”
“I don’t care for her filthy things,” Lu Jin Yu said with disdain.
“Brother Jin Yu, I…” Lin Guanguan’s lips quivered. “I thought they were gifts from Song Zhiyao, so I spent freely these past years…”
Now, she could not repay them.
“It’s fine,” Lu Jin Yu said gently. “Don’t be afraid, Guanguan. I’m here.”
“Take the small locked chest from my study’s Duobao Pavilion,” he handed her a small key. “Inside is a thousand taels of silver. Take it and return it to her.”
“Don’t worry. With me here, neither you nor Yan’er will be wronged.”
Lin Guanguan took the key and went to Lu Jin Yu’s study. Following his instructions, she opened the chest.
Sure enough, there were silver notes inside, along with a private seal.
She took the silver, locked the chest, and returned to the main house. “Brother Jin Yu, this money…”
“Is it enough?” he asked. “Keep whatever is left.”
Lin Guanguan had been at the Lu family for three years and knew that Lu Jin Yu had no official position, and his mother hadn’t left him a dowry.
The Lu family gave Lu Jin Yu twenty taels of silver a month.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Yes, thank you, Brother Jin Yu.”
“Brother Jin Yu, I’d like to leave the house for a bit today,” she said.
He didn’t mind and generously replied, “Guanguan, I can’t accompany you today. You’ve been wronged these past days. Buy what you want—don’t hold back for my sake.”
Lin Guanguan forced a small smile. “Thank you, Brother Jin Yu.”
Meanwhile, Song Zhiyao had just left Qingshan Courtyard when Cang Feng arrived and reported everything she had said to Lu Yanzhi.
He remained silent.
So… it was only about this matter?
The previously demanding Song Zhiyao, who had pestered Lu Jin Yu for everything, had… really changed?
Unaware of Lu Yanzhi’s gaze, Song Zhiyao returned to Guipu Courtyard, wrote a complaint, and instructed Su Xin to deliver it to Qingshan Courtyard.
She didn’t want to fuss over this matter and preferred to resolve it swiftly.
Su Xin hurried to deliver it and returned quickly. “Young Madam, as you instructed, the complaint has been sent.”
“However, Miss Lin isn’t home. She left the house today.”
Song Zhiyao paid no mind. “Let her be.”
As long as her possessions were returned, it didn’t matter what Lin Guanguan did.
Moreover, Song Zhiyao had other matters to attend to.
Most of her dowry had already been sent to Qingshan Courtyard, but some of her shops and estates remained under her control.
Having neglected them for five years, she now needed to sort them out, which would take time.
Reviewing her accounts took the entire morning.
Around noon, Su Xin entered with a letter. “Young Madam, your letter.”
“From whom?” Song Zhiyao asked, taking it.
“I don’t know,” Su Xin replied.
There was no signature on the envelope, only the words: “To Song Zhiyao, Open Personally.”
Song Zhiyao immediately knew it wasn’t from her family.
She opened it, and upon seeing the content, almost dropped the thin piece of paper in her hands.
At the top were the words: “My dearest Zhiyao.”