In the evening, while Luo Chaoyan was having dinner with Huo An, she saw Huo Jin arrive as well.
She was somewhat surprised. Wasn’t he quite busy with official duties these past two days? According to her mother-in-law, he left early every morning and only returned to his study to rest very late at night. Collecting her thoughts, she looked at him and asked, “My Lord, would you like to join us for dinner?”
Huo Jin glanced at her, then nodded and sat down.
Huo An looked at him and called out in a childish voice, “Fa…ther!”
The corners of Huo Jin’s lips lifted slightly as he patted the boy’s head. Over the past few days, Huo An had become less afraid of him—likely her doing.
Luo Chaoyan instructed Yue Li to serve him rice and dishes, then paid him no further attention.
She happily ate her dinner, occasionally keeping an eye on the little chubby boy’s meal.
Ever since she had married into the household, the little chubby boy had enjoyed eating with her and refused to let his wet nurse feed him. Unwilling to feed him herself, she had a small wooden spoon made for him, cut his food into small pieces in advance, and let him eat on his own.
Seeing him push the vegetables to one side of his bowl and pick out only the meat to eat, Luo Chaoyan deliberately picked the meat dishes out of his bowl.
“Mother!” Huo An protested unhappily.
Luo Chaoyan smiled and said, “I told you, you can only have a bite of meat after eating a bite of vegetables!”
The little chubby boy looked at her pitifully. Seeing that she remained unmoved and was about to take away the last piece of meat left in his bowl, he quickly covered it with his chubby little hand and obediently nodded, “Eat! Vege…tables, eat!”
Seeing him obediently pick up the vegetables to eat, Luo Chaoyan smiled and ruffled his little head. The little chubby boy was now her “Pass” card with the Old Madam—she had to keep him well in hand.
As she ate, she felt Huo Jin’s gaze on her and wondered what was wrong with him. She looked up and asked, “My Lord, is the food not to your liking? Should I have Yue Li go to the kitchen and prepare something you prefer?”
“No need!” Huo Jin withdrew his gaze and continued with his meal.
After dinner, Huo An was taken back to his room by his wet nurse to wash up and rest.
When Luo Chaoyan came out of the bath, she was surprised to see that Huo Jin was still there, holding a storybook she had been flipping through out of boredom recently. Instantly, her face felt warm. She remembered that the book told the story of a pair of infatuated lovers—not only melodramatic but also containing some descriptions unsuitable for children.
Ahem! If she were to snatch it away now, wouldn’t it seem like she was trying to cover something up?
Hearing her cough, Huo Jin put down the book in his hand and looked at her.
“My Lord, are you not busy today?” Luo Chaoyan asked somewhat awkwardly.
“Not particularly.”
Luo Chaoyan nodded and tentatively asked, “Would you like to wash up, My Lord?” If he agreed, it would mean he intended to stay the night. But her monthly courses weren’t over yet! Could it be that he still planned to sleep on the Soft Couch?
As if understanding her concern, he said softly, “I will return to the front courtyard.”
That suited her just fine! She said understandingly, “Then shall I have Yue Li and Liu Xu accompany you to attend to you?”
“No need!” Huo Jin frowned, pinched the bridge of his nose, and walked out from behind the desk. “It’s getting late. You should rest.”
As he passed by her, seeing her standing there blankly, his originally cool expression darkened further.
Outside the door, Fengli and Shulan, noticing that the Master did not look pleased, came in worriedly.
“Madam, did you offend the Master? He didn’t look too happy,” Shulan asked.
Luo Chaoyan shrugged innocently, “I don’t know what I did to upset him. I just asked if he wanted someone to serve him.”
“Miss, you weren’t thinking of having Yue Li and the others serve the master, were you?” Fengli exclaimed in surprise.
Seeing her nod, Fengli immediately became excited. “Madam, then I know the reason.”
“What reason?”
Luo Chaoyan and Shulan looked at her with puzzled expressions.
Fengli smiled and said, “Madam, do you remember in the past, when the third madam arranged maids to serve the master, what was his attitude?”
“Father would get angry with mother and refuse to speak to her for several days, crying and complaining that mother didn’t care about him anymore, which was why she wanted to arrange maids to serve him.” Luo Chaoyan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you saying…”
“Yes, the master must feel that Madam doesn’t care about him and wants to push him away, which is why he got angry.”
Shulan nodded and smiled, “Madam, what Fengli said seems quite reasonable.”
“Impossible!” Luo Chaoyan waved her hand. “Father and mother were like that because they truly loved each other. I…” While they were just forced into this marriage.
But could it be… that it hurt his male pride? After all, he comes from a prominent family, with outstanding looks and talent, and women flock to him. Suddenly, he has a wife who doesn’t care about him. Wait! Not caring? Well… it seems! Indeed! She hasn’t been very attentive to him. So he’s feeling resentful? Maybe she should act more enthusiastic from now on?
Fengli teased, “Madam, why are you so lacking in confidence now? Usually, you teach us to be confident in life! Perhaps the master is really starting to care about you.”
Luo Chaoyan glared at her. Is this how confidence should be applied?
Shulan frowned, her expression serious. “Madam, I heard that even when the former madam was alive, the master never had any concubines or maidservants. It seems the master is devoted to his wife. You must not think about pushing him away anymore.”
Well… fine! She’ll do her best.