Luo Ran only glanced once before hurriedly lowering her eyes, her heart pounding wildly.
That feeling was like being a prisoner dragged before the magistrate’s court; before even opening her mouth, the official on the dais had already seen right through her, inside and out.
With her head bowed, she could feel that gaze resting upon her, heavy as a mountain pressing down.
Though only a few steps separated them, that oppressive force enveloped her completely, making it hard to even catch her breath.
Her legs felt inexplicably weak.
She suddenly recalled those rumors…
They said the man before her had single-handedly slain dozens on the battlefield, that he never showed mercy to prisoners, and that no spy he interrogated ever held out.
Now, being stared at like this by him, Luo Ran even had the illusion…
That all those shameful secrets hidden deep in her heart were about to be seen through by him in the next second, and she would involuntarily spill them all.
“I’ve already asked about the matter in general. What are your thoughts? Do you truly wish to become Second Master’s concubine?”
Chu Jin set down the document in his hand and spoke.
Fearing he would misunderstand her like Lady Cui had, Luo Ran desperately suppressed her panic, keeping her head lowered as she hastily denied,
“Master, please see clearly, this servant truly never had such intentions… The child is still young. I only wanted to find a temporary place to stay, work hard to save some silver, and have not the slightest thought of trying to attach myself to Second Master.”
Chu Jin looked at her for a moment, his gaze seeming capable of seeing right through her.
After a pause, he leaned back slightly, his tone softening a bit, yet still carrying a faint undercurrent of pressure.
“You’d best be telling the truth.”
He paused, his voice growing even deeper.
“Second Master is the legitimate son of the second branch; his status is set. Though Second Mistress dotes on her own son, she has always been strict with outsiders… Even if she really did yield to Second Master and take you in, while entering the household might be easy, your days there would not necessarily be comfortable.”
“Second Master already has two attendants in his quarters. In the future, Second Mistress will certainly arrange a marriage for him with a wife of equal standing.”
Luo Zhi pressed her lips together, listening quietly.
“Moreover,” Chu Jin’s gaze settled on her face, “you know Second Master’s frivolous nature. He’s also three years younger than you. In your situation, if you want yourself and your child to live well, you ought to find someone older and steadier, someone who can protect you when the time comes…”
He stopped there, not continuing further.
How could Luo Zhi not understand?
Her cousin Xu Manyu was a concubine of the second branch’s master, constantly suppressed by Second Mistress, unable to lift her head.
And having seen that concubine Xu Yan today, she knew they were no ordinary characters either.
She, a widow with a child, without background or support—even if she did enter the household, she would merely become another person to be controlled.
Above, a strict mother-in-law; below, favored concubines; and in the future, facing a proper wife of equal standing…
Just thinking about such a life was enough to make one suffocate.
She quickly nodded, “This servant knows, this servant truly, truly never had such thoughts.”
Chu Jin didn’t respond, only looked at her.
His gaze was heavy, unreadable.
Luo Zhi lowered her eyes, her voice soft yet carrying a stubborn resolve.
“Perhaps Master will laugh at this servant for thinking too highly of herself, but before, and even now, this servant has always wanted to find a husband who would be devoted only to me, not a master I must serve and please…”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but think of her late husband, Hou Jiangong.
The Hou family was of modest means, and when the matchmaker first came to propose the marriage, she had actually hesitated.
It was Hou Jiangong who personally came to see her, standing in the courtyard and swearing to his ancestors that he would never be unfaithful in this lifetime.
Only then did she marry him.
Married life was not particularly sweet, but it was stable.
She thought she would spend her life like this—plain and ordinary, which was fine too.
Who could have imagined he would pass away so suddenly.
Later, her in-laws could not accept her because she had given birth to a daughter and drove her out.
In the town, there were families of decent means who sent people to inquire, wanting her to become a concubine, but she refused them all, one by one.
She had always believed that once married, one should belong wholeheartedly to the other.
How could one be of two minds?
If you truly love someone, care for someone, how could you bear to share your beloved with others?
After this experience, she became even more certain…
She would rather find a family of modest means and stay together for a lifetime than step into these oppressive wealthy households, where scheming and humiliation were daily affairs.
The study fell silent for a moment.
Chu Jin looked up at her.
She hung her head low, revealing a stretch of fair, slender neck, so fragile it seemed one could snap it with a single hand.
A few strands of soft, downy hair clung to the nape of her neck, making her appear both obedient and stubborn.
He stared at that stretch of neck for a moment.
The next instant, he pushed his chair back, stood up, and strode toward her.
Luo Ran only felt a tall shadow loom over her, carrying that familiar, cold aura, forcing her to instinctively take half a step back.
Chu Jin lowered his gaze to her face, now so close, and was about to speak…
“Big brother! Big brother!”
Suddenly, Chu Chengfeng’s urgent voice sounded from outside the door, arriving before he did.
Chu Jin’s brow furrowed slightly.
The door was pushed open, and Chu Chengfeng barged in, his eyes sweeping across the room before instantly settling on Luo Ran.
Seeing the redness still lingering at the corners of her eyes, he hurried forward and said anxiously,
“I went to see Mother as soon as I returned! It was all Xu Yan stirring up trouble. I’ve already punished her with three months of confinement for reflection…”
Seeing him approach, Luo Ran instinctively took a step back.
The movement was too obvious, like a startled little animal.
Chu Jin shifted his body slightly, subtly blocking her from view.
As he drew closer, the inexplicably familiar and pleasant scent of the woman drifted into his nostrils, mingling with her warm presence, faintly teasing his senses.
Chu Chengfeng, standing before them, continued chattering incessantly, annoyingly loud,
“Are you alright? Were you hurt? I’ll call a doctor to examine you!”
“She’s standing right here perfectly fine. What could possibly be wrong?”
Chu Jin spoke, his voice tinged with impatience.
He glanced expressionlessly at Chu Chengfeng, then turned his face slightly to address the person behind him,
“Since everything has been clarified, you may return now. Let this matter end here.”
After a pause, he added,
“Rest assured, the He family’s rules have always been strict and upright. We would never resort to coercion or plunder. If anyone bothers you again, you may come to me at any time.”
Luo Ran kept her eyes lowered and softly replied, “Yes.” Without even glancing at Chu Chengfeng, she sidestepped around him and quickly left the study.
Returning to her room, Luo Ran held Xiao Bao in her arms, and only then did her heart slowly settle back into place.
In the evening, she overheard the servants from the main household chatting idly, saying that Second Master Chu Chengfeng had been taken by his father to Jiangnan to learn business and would not return for a month or so.
Luo Ran paused her movements briefly but said nothing in response.
It was unclear whether this was the master’s intention.
Fortunately, it seemed Chu Jin had deliberately suppressed the matter, so not many people knew about it.
Luo Ran understood clearly that this world was harsh on women, especially women like her who had lost their husbands and had no one to rely on.
She didn’t even dare to imagine how the story would be twisted and exaggerated if it were to spread.
Thinking this way, her impression of Chu Jin began to change slightly.
The master truly only appeared cold and intimidating on the surface, but in reality, he was as the rumors said—fair, strict, and unwavering in his principles.
If he hadn’t appeared in time today, she wouldn’t have known how to extricate herself.
Moreover, it seemed he hadn’t recognized her at all as the village woman he had been searching for…
From the looks of it, as long as she dutifully served as Yan Ge’er’s wet nurse, she could continue living here peacefully, save enough money, and leave with Xiao Yue…