Mother Lu watched Lu Jin’s hurried back as he headed toward the study, then glanced at Shen Fenghuo walking alone toward her own courtyard. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
“It’s been several days since she married into the family, yet there’s still no sign of them consummating the marriage. Could it be that Shiji… truly lacks the strength despite his intentions?”
Nanny Qian was Mother Lu’s wet nurse and also her confidante.
She quickly reassured her, “Madam, please don’t worry needlessly. The young master looks strong and sturdy. Last month, when he accompanied His Majesty on the winter hunt, the Emperor praised him for his exceptional courage and talent in both civil and military affairs, calling him a pillar of the state. With such a robust physique, how could he suffer from such hidden ailments? Please set your mind at ease.”
Mother Lu’s expression softened slightly, but her brows remained furrowed. “That may be so, but seeing how gentle and sensible A’He is, while Shiji remains indifferent and lukewarm, how can I rest easy… What about the thing I asked you to inquire about a few days ago? Any news?”
Nanny Qian understood and replied with a smile, “Madam, rest assured. The Imperial Medical Bureau has responded. There is indeed a medicinal diet recipe tailored for this. It uses deer kidney from Jingyang tribute as the main ingredient, paired with cistanche and morinda root transported from the Western Regions, and slow-cooked according to their secret method. It replenishes essence, boosts energy, and strengthens yang. For those with deficiencies, it will make them no different from ordinary people. For someone like the young master…”
She cleared her throat, “He will be even more vigorous. They also asked when you would need it, so they can prepare and process the ingredients in advance.”
Mother Lu pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s wait a few more days. First, let’s observe how Shiji and A’He interact.”
Suddenly, she pressed further, “What did you tell the people at the Imperial Medical Bureau?”
Nanny Qian smiled and replied, “Madam, you need not worry. The people at the Imperial Medical Bureau are very discreet and would never spread rumors. This old servant only said that the recipe was for a distant relative of the Lu family. No one would ever connect it to our household.”
Mother Lu nodded, then looked toward the study again and muttered softly, “Indeed. If word got out, it would surely damage his reputation.”
As soon as Shen Fenghuo returned to her courtyard, Lu Jin hurriedly entered the study. Earlier on the road, he had asked her to stay closer, yet as soon as they arrived home, he ran off again.
“Young Madam! Hurry, hurry!”
Xiangling fluttered over from the corridor like a light butterfly, “I specially prepared a fragrant bath for you today. If you dawdle any longer, it’ll get cold!”
Shen Fenghuo was dragged by the arm toward the adjoining room and sighed helplessly, “What’s the rush? I could sit for a moment and catch my breath.”
“That won’t do,” Xiangling replied. “Hot water cools quickly in winter. I added gardenia flowers—they not only scent the body but also warm it. You’ll feel comfortable soaking in it.”
The adjoining room was warm, filled with the fresh, moist fragrance of gardenia flowers, which was soothing just to smell.
Shen Fenghuo stepped into the bathtub, and warmth spread through her limbs.
Xiangling helped her undo her hair bun, gently massaging her dark tresses as she immersed them in the water. “What about the young master? Wasn’t he just returning with you earlier?”
“He went to the study,” Shen Fenghuo said, scooping a handful of water and pouring it over her arm.
“That young master!” Xiangling huffed again. “You’re husband and wife, yet he always avoids you.”
Shen Fenghuo didn’t respond, simply soaking quietly in the fragrant bath, letting the warmth dispel the slight fatigue of the past few days. After bathing for about half an hour, she finally emerged, dressed in her sleeping robe.
Xiangling had already prepared the charcoal brazier to dry her hair.
The charcoal fire was burning just right, its warmth brushing against her hair. Before long, most of it was dry, and the faint scent of gardenia lingered in her tresses, refusing to fade away.
Shen Fenghuo sat down contentedly by the edge of the bed, but before she could even stretch out, Xiangling called out again from outside the room.
“Oh, young mistress, Xue Tuan ran off! It ran so fast, I couldn’t catch it!”
Shen Fenghuo stood up and walked out, seeing a snow-white shadow dart past beneath the corridor.
She frowned: “I fed it just before my bath, and the door was firmly latched. How could it have opened?”
Xiangling chased after it, laughing, but her tone feigned urgency: “I’m not sure either. Perhaps Xue Tuan pushed it open itself? It’s quite clever, young mistress. You should chase it quickly—Xue Tuan listens to you the most!”
The rabbit seemed to have a clear direction in mind, heading straight for the study.
Just as Shen Fenghuo was about to call out, she saw Xue Tuan kick its hind legs and squeeze through the half-open crack in the study window. Its furry tail flashed and disappeared from sight.
It seemed like a case of unavoidable conflict.
Shen Fenghuo had no choice. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately raised her hand and gently pushed open the study door.
Only a few candles were lit in the study, their flickering flames casting a half-lit, half-shadowed figure beside the desk.
Lu Heng leaned against the couch, a brocade robe draped loosely over his shoulders, the collar slightly open.
Beneath the robe was a chain, forged from dark iron, its two ends securely fastened to the carved pillars beside the couch, while the other end was wrapped around his wrist.
“Lord?”
The man on the couch looked at her, the candlelight falling into his eyes like a heavy, dark gleam.
“Come here.”
Shen Fenghuo hesitated but stepped forward. Before she could steady herself, he grabbed her wrist with such force that she stumbled and fell onto the couch.
“Lord, this chain on your hand…”
Lu Heng let out a low chuckle, his laughter tinged with mockery, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
She had just bathed, her dark hair hanging by her cheeks, accentuating her delicate features. The warm fragrance from her body drifted over faintly—the fresh sweetness of gardenia flowers, teasing the heart.
“Madam.”
His fingers hooked around her hair, twirling it. “Before we married, did you ever see me?”
Shen Fenghuo shook her head. “No.”
She had grown up in the countryside and couldn’t have seen Lu Jin, who was often in Chang’an.
Lu Heng’s gaze darkened in response.
The chain jingled softly as he leaned back, falling silent for a long while.
“That’s strange. We’ve only been married for a few days.”
He suddenly spoke up. “But it’s been a long time since I’ve been chained. Now, I’m chained again… Hah, afraid I’ll snatch you away, are they?”
If they hadn’t met and there were no such intentions, why would Lu Jin do this?
Shen Fenghuo let out an “ah.” “Then why did you put on the chain, Lord?”
Another stretch of dead silence fell between them, the candlelight flickering.
Lu Heng looked at her and finally uttered a few words, self-mockingly: “To temper the will and toil the body…”
Shen Fenghuo: …
She had seen people tormenting themselves, but never someone using chains to toil their own body. He didn’t even need to take the imperial exams.
Lu Heng’s gaze fell on the nearly faded red marks on her neck. After rummaging in his robe for a moment, his brows furrowed slightly. “Where’s the ointment?”
Shen Fenghuo took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, helplessly saying, “Lord, you gave it to me during the day.”
Lu Heng took it, dabbed some ointment, and pressed his fingertip against her red marks, slowly rubbing in circles. “Does it still hurt?”
“No, it’s almost healed.”
After applying the ointment, Lu Heng looked at her again.
“I’m hungry.”
Shen Fenghuo followed his lead. “Then I’ll have someone bring some food from the kitchen?”
“Not food made by others.”
He was somewhat stubborn. “I want to eat what you make.”
“Understood.”
Shen Fenghuo sighed helplessly and tried to rise, but he tightened his grip on her wrist, pulling her back onto the bed.
She looked at him in confusion.
"Don't go."
The chains jingled softly with his movements, clinking and clattering.
Shen Fenghuo was at a loss with his persistence and muttered, "If Lord won't let me leave, how am I supposed to prepare food for you? Surely we can't start a fire in the study?"
Her words were merely a casual complaint, but Lu Heng immediately raised his voice and called out, "Xiangling."
Outside the door, Xiangling was holding Xue Tuan, gently stroking its fur.
Xue Tuan nuzzled her palm, and she sighed softly to herself when she heard Lu Heng's voice from the study. She quickly responded, "I'm here!"
"Have someone bring the clay stove, charcoal, rice, flour, oil, and salt from the kitchen to the study."
Xiangling: ?
Holding Xue Tuan, she was speechless.
Had she heard correctly?
On such a beautiful night, instead of thinking about bonding with the young mistress, the master wanted to cook in the study?
Wasn't the fragrant bath enticing enough?
Wasn't the young mistress beautiful and fragrant?
She lowered her head and looked at the clueless Xue Tuan in her arms.
But complaints aside, she dared not disobey her master's orders. Resigned, she tucked Xue Tuan securely into her arms and hurried to the kitchen with the other maids, silently cursing Lu Heng eight hundred times in her heart.
The clay stove burned with charcoal, its flames casting a soft glow on Shen Fenghuo's profile.
She rinsed the rice, added water to the pot, and brought it to a gentle boil. Then, she diced the prepared preserved egg and sliced the pork into thin strips, marinating them briefly.
Once the porridge thickened, she added the pork strips, stirring to separate them. When the meat turned white, she added the diced preserved egg, sprinkled chopped scallions, and drizzled a few drops of Sesame Oil.
The creamy white porridge was mixed with pork strips and dotted with preserved egg, creating a vibrant mix of pink and green, steaming hot.
Lu Heng leaned nearby, frowning slightly as he stared at the bowl of porridge. "Madam, why am I eating porridge again?"
Shen Fenghuo pretended to take the bowl away. "Then I won't make it. Lord can find someone else."
Lu Heng immediately reached out and pressed down on the rim of the bowl. "I'll eat the porridge."
He picked up the spoon, scooped a mouthful, and tasted it.
The porridge was smooth and creamy, with the savory flavor of pork and the unique taste of preserved egg. The seasoning was just right, and the aroma of Sesame Oil enhanced it perfectly, making it anything but bland.
It seemed like the eggs were also pickled by Madam herself in the countryside.
If her porridge was this delicious, then what Lu Jin ate during the day must have been even better.
Lu Heng ate quickly, finishing the bowl in no time.
"I'm going back."
Shen Fenghuo picked up the empty bowl and stood up to leave.
"You're not allowed to go back."
Lu Heng pulled her back again.
Shen Fenghuo sighed. "Then does Lord want to return to the room with me to rest? If so, please remove the chains first."
Lu Heng fell silent for a moment. "I can't remove them."
Damn Lu Jin.
He then raised his voice again and called for Xiangling, instructing her to bring a thick quilt.
Outside the door, Xiangling rolled her eyes upon hearing this, muttering under her breath as she went. She soon returned with a thick brocade quilt.
After spreading the quilt on the bed, Lu Heng said softly, "Stay with me."
Shen Fenghuo looked at the narrow bed and whispered, "This bed is too small…"
"It's fine."
He reached out and pulled her over, lying down as he did so. His arm encircled her waist, drawing her entirely into his embrace.
Shen Fenghuo was caught off guard, pressed against his burning chest.
She was held tightly in his arms like a pillow, unable to move.
Lu Heng's body was warm, the heat seeping through his thin inner robe, more effective than warming utensils, making her drowsy and hazy.
The warmth gradually spread throughout her body. In her sleep, Shen Fenghuo felt hot and instinctively tried to move away, but he only held her tighter.
"Do not come out."
"I'm hot… Lord, loosen your grip a bit…"
Shen Fenghuo struggled to speak.
Suddenly, a slight, sharp pain came from her earlobe, accompanied by a damp, warm sensation.
Lu Heng lowered his head and gave it a gentle bite—not too hard, but with a hint of intimacy, sucking and nibbling for a moment.
He whispered softly by her ear, "Then shall we consummate the marriage…"
Shen Fenghuo stiffened all over, quickly closed her eyes, and spoke rapidly, "Lord, I'm not hot anymore! Let's sleep!"
Lu Heng chuckled for a while, no longer troubling her, but tightened his arms, pulling her closer to himself.
Author's Note:
A'He: The lord also has a fondness for chains
Lu Heng: Damn Lu Jin, damn Lu Jin, damn Lu Jin, damn Lu Jin, damn Lu Jin, damn Lu Jin
(Previously forgot to mention, stir-frying became popular after the Song Dynasty; before that, boiling, steaming, and roasting were more common.)