Chapter 83 - The Master and His Wife Have Arrived
Zuo Shaoqing staggered back to the tavern in a daze. As he entered the room, he flopped onto the bed and let out a frustrated cry, “Ahhh…”
Nanny Liu, her hands still coated with flour, rushed in and asked with concern, “What's happened to Young Master San?”
Zuo Shaoqing buried his head beneath the blankets and replied gloomily, “I'm fine!” It's just a baseless rumor, right? Just hearsay? He refused to believe it! He wasn't scared at all!
Nanny Liu found it puzzling. Last night, he was perfectly fine, and even in the early morning, he seemed so content. Why was he so downcast upon returning?
“Young Master San… bullied?” Nanny Liu asked, her concern growing.
“No!” Zuo Shaoqing muttered. “Nanny Liu, please leave me alone!”
After Nanny Liu departed, Zuo Shaoqing began to ponder: What if he paid a visit to the Duke's Mansion tonight?
Yet, with his meager abilities, he'd probably be shot down like a thief or pelted with a thousand arrows before he could even step inside.
Due to the frigid weather, Zuo Shaoqing had dedicated a lot of time to honing his skills. However, despite the cold, he remained committed to perfecting his abilities.
As he tossed and turned in bed, Zuo Shaoqing contemplated his lunch and dinner. Even if he wracked his brain, he couldn't figure out how to break through the Lady's barriers.
The most promising approach was to present himself as a savior, gaining the Lady's favor gradually.
The worst-case scenario would be if a romantic rival intervened. He refused to believe he couldn't outshine those noble young ladies!
In the dead of night, Zuo Shaoqing lay on his side, eyes wide open, staring at the wall. Sleep remained elusive.
The door creaked open, disturbing the silent night. Zuo Shaoqing weakly murmured, “Nanny Liu, I'm not hungry!”
“You haven't eaten yet?” A displeased male voice reached his ears.
Zuo Shaoqing groaned as he rose from the bed, clutching his blanket. He observed the man entering the room, bringing a rush of cold air with him, and immediately rushed over.
The chill in the room sent shivers down Lu Zheng's spine, while Zuo Shaoqing, having just crawled out of bed, clung to him, seeking warmth and revealing his vulnerable side.
He realized that the plans he had formulated earlier were futile. The best course of action was to hold Lu Zheng tightly, making him devoted to his cause. Although it might seem ruthless, Duke Zhen's support held far more value than an unconnected scholar.
While he might struggle to comprehend emotions, he recognized that this man's love surpassed all else in importance and utility.
Lu Zheng untangled himself from Zuo Shaoqing's embrace and wrapped his slender body around him. He sat down and questioned in an unfriendly tone, “Aren't you going to eat?”
“I don't have an appetite,” Zuo Shaoqing replied bluntly.
Lu Zheng was torn between amusement and exasperation. He had come here with the intention of interrogating him, but it seemed this person had already jumped to conclusions.
“Do you acknowledge your mistake? Are you worried that I'll reprimand you?”
“Humph!” Zuo Shaoqing snorted in irritation to convey his sour mood.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, observing his disgruntled expression. He furrowed his brows and inquired with a cold tone, “Were you mistreated?”
Zuo Shaoqing nodded.
“By whom?”
“You!” Zuo Shaoqing recounted what he had witnessed earlier, omitting no details. “Master Lu, do you want Princess Shang?”
“No.”
Zuo Shaoqing regained a measure of composure and continued his inquiry, “Then, do you wish to marry?”
A slight frown formed on Lu Zheng's face as he knocked on his own head and inquired, “Who fed you this information?”
“Hmph, it's all over the place,” Zuo Shaoqing replied.
“And do you believe it?” Lu Zheng questioned.
Zuo Shaoqing shook his head, resting his chin on Lu Zheng's shoulder. He knew very well that Lu Zheng had no intention of getting married, but he had never met Madame Lu.
“What about his mother?” Zuo Shaoqing wondered aloud. Did his father's orders, the matchmaker's words, and Qu Changqing's example indicate that Lu Zheng would also follow suit?
“Let her do as she pleases. She knows her boundaries,” Lu Zheng responded.
“Huh?” Zuo Shaoqing couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind this statement.
“When you visit her place tomorrow, just answer her questions. Don't overthink it,” Lu Zheng advised, scratching his head.
Zuo Shaoqing blinked a few times, his expression a mix of confusion and relief, which had a teasing effect on Lu Zheng's heart.
Lu Zheng seized the back of Zuo Shaoqing's head and planted a passionate kiss on his lips.
Zuo Shaoqing responded eagerly, using all his skills to engage Lu Zheng's tongue in a sensual dance. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of their rapid breathing.
After the kiss, Lu Zheng wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and spoke in a husky voice, “If you hadn't insisted on taking the exam, I wouldn't have minded introducing you to someone else.”
Zuo Shaoqing instantly understood that they had both chosen to keep their relationship private temporarily, just to ensure his smooth participation in the Conference Test.
Blushing, Zuo Shaoqing expressed his gratitude through his actions. He kissed Lu Zheng passionately once more, thinking, “Who needs princesses or noble daughters?”
Only after their embrace had ended did Lu Zheng start calculating, “Going out shopping with Brother Qu hand in hand during the day, huh?”
Zuo Shaoqing immediately straightened his posture and replied with a serious demeanor, “Impossible. Second Uncle intends to arrange a marriage between Eldest Cousin Sister and him.”
“Is that so?”
Zuo Shaoqing swiftly raised his hand and solemnly swore, “It was quite chaotic back then. We were caught in the middle of the road, and to avoid being trampled by Master Lu's horse, we pulled him away.”
As he spoke, Zuo Shaoqing cast a teary-eyed glance at Lu Zheng. “I never expected Master Lu to be so popular. Not only do the ladies on the street openly express their affection, even the noblewomen in the city are drawn to him.”
Lu Zheng rubbed his back and remained silent.
Zuo Shaoqing decided to drop the act after self-inflicting ridicule. He embraced Lu Zheng and inquired, “Can you go without official notice?”
“Don't worry, Mother will handle the arrangements.” Lu Zheng tucked him under the blanket and kissed him again, albeit not skillfully. Each time, he either bumped Zuo Shaoqing's teeth or nibbled on his tongue. In the end, Zuo Shaoqing's mouth felt numb after the kiss.
Lu Zheng repeatedly warned Brother Qu to stay away from him. Even if that person eventually became his brother-in-law, they couldn't easily cross that threshold, let alone hold hands.
He personally went out to summon Nanny Liu to prepare a meal for Zuo Shaoqing, ensuring he ate a hearty bowl of egg noodles before departing.
It was only after Lu Zheng left that Zuo Shaoqing realized something: he would be meeting his future in-laws! Moreover, based on Lu Zheng's words, Madame Lu was already aware of his existence and perhaps even his relationship with Lu Zheng.
This… It was too unbelievable! He had thought that if Madame Lu found out, her first reaction would be to tear him apart and then take drastic measures to arrange a marriage for Lu Zheng with a woman, concealing his embarrassment.
He couldn't believe that the Duke Zhen's wife was a gossipy woman, nor could he believe that such a woman wouldn't be able to handle a teenager.
So, did this mean he had passed the test? Zuo Shaoqing felt both anxious and elated.
He paced around the room, sitting, standing, smiling, and worrying, unaware that dawn had already broken.
Contemplating the arrival of Mrs. Xue in the capital today, Zuo Shaoqing's expression grew increasingly serious. The Zuo Family posed a minor obstacle, and he couldn't allow them to make a comeback; otherwise, it would undoubtedly hinder his future with Lu Zheng.
Furthermore, everyone had their hearts set on marrying Zuo Shuhui off to Lu Zheng, so they needed a strategy to divert their attention from that idea.
Zuo Shaoqing spent the entire night in his room. When morning came, he cleaned up and put on his usual attire before heading to the Immortal Lai Inn.
Despite the two inns being just two streets apart, it took them a good half hour to traverse the distance.
Zuo Shaoyan had been waiting impatiently for a while, so he scolded his brother as soon as he saw him, “Why are you so late? What if we end up running behind schedule?”
Zuo Shaoqing offered a lackluster apology. He was well aware that Zuo Shaoyan had already discarded his “good brother” persona at the Plum Blossom Meet. That suited him just fine; he had no interest in playing the role of the dutiful brother anymore.
Both brothers climbed into the same carriage, with Zhu Chenggui still serving as the coachman. Poor Luo Xiaoliu had no choice but to rely on his own legs to follow the carriage.
Upon reaching the city gates, the sun was high in the sky, and the streets buzzed with pedestrians. Zuo Shaoqing couldn't help but notice numerous students carrying bags, rushing to the capital for the upcoming exams.
As the day of the Conference Test approached, tension in the city grew, with an increasing presence of patrolling officers and soldiers.
After parking the carriage on the outskirts of the city, Zuo Shaoqing raised the curtain and idly observed the passing pedestrians. It was only around noon when he spotted a line of carriages approaching with grandeur.
“Master, the elder master and madam have arrived,” called out Zhu Cheng Gui from outside the carriage.
Zuo Shaoyan was the first to step off the carriage, and he advanced a few paces to greet his parents when he saw Mrs. Zuo and his mother-in-law disembarking.
Zuo Shaoqing didn't lag behind either. He knelt respectfully behind Zuo Shaoyan and paid his respects to his parents with three reverential kowtows.
“Very good, very good! Rise quickly!” Despite his fatigue, Zuo Yunwen's face beamed with joy as he helped Zuo Shaoyan to his feet. Then, with teary eyes, he gazed at the sturdy city walls of the capital.
“He's returned…” Mrs. Xue struggled to contain her excitement as she wiped a few tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
Zuo Yunwen sensed something amiss. Holding Mrs. Xue's hand, he spoke with deep emotion, “Madam, you've endured so much over the years!”
A simple sentence brought tears streaming down Mrs. Xue's face. Zuo Yunwen felt slightly uncomfortable, especially with so many onlookers.
The group exchanged quiet admonishments before handing over their nameplates to enter the city.
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