Chapter 13

When Lu Bao'er ate at the Gu Residence she always put on airs; she had been busy all day and for the first time realized that going out as a guest could be so exhausting. She had the old maid remove her headwear, then used hot water to dissolve the osmanthus‑flavored shaved ice. Feeling dizzy all over, the old maid helped her to the Purification Room. When the hot water in the tub covered her fair shoulders, Lu Bao'er finally shivered and came to her senses.

The maid had set the dishes in the Flower Hall, Lu Bao'er dried her hair and put on a rabbit‑fur straight‑collared goose‑yellow outer garment paired with a light‑green leaf‑patterned silk skirt. She did not bother to bind her hair tightly, merely twisting it into a bun and inserting a jade hairpin.

Xie Junling glanced at her and saw that Lu Bao'er, fresh from her bath, had flushed cheeks with a hint of coquettish charm. For some reason he averted his gaze and asked softly, "How come you're so exhausted from just going out as a guest?"

Talking about this left Lu Bao'er uninterested; she muttered, "In other people's houses you have to beat around the bush for every sentence—it's so tiring. Oh, speaking of which, do you know the Old Lady of the Grand Secretary's household, Lady Su?"

The Princess of Qingping County—who doesn't know her?

Xie Junling picked up a piece of food for her with his chopsticks and said, "I naturally know of her. What's the matter?"

"The old lady seems interested in my jade, pulling me aside to ask this and that. Besides, she also inquired about my father."

"Oh? That is rather strange."

"Exactly." Lu Bao'er nodded. "Besides, there's a Miss Li in the Gu family who seems not to get along with me."

Xie Junling's chopsticks shook as he was picking up meat, dropping a piece of duck back onto the plate.

Seeing this, Lu Bao'er teased, "Why does mentioning Miss Li leave you looking lost? Could it be you've already met that gorgeous Miss Li?"

Xie Junling gave her a sideways glance: "Nonsense. Hurry up and eat; you still need to go back and rest."

Lu Bao'er glanced at the sky outside the window—it was a dull gray, yet the snow on the ground glowed faintly.

She was starving and could think of nothing else to say to Xie Junling; at that moment she picked up a piece of duck, stuffed it into her small cherry‑like mouth, and exclaimed in surprise, "The cook's skill is somewhat like yours—it has the same flavor."

It's remarkable that she still remembers the food you cooked; Xie Junling smirked lightly and said offhand, "This is what I cooked for you when I took over the kitchen."

Lu Bao'er was startled, a sweet feeling rising in her heart; in return for Xie Junling's affection she ought to treat him well.

After swallowing that delicious piece of duck, Lu Bao'er told Xie Junling, "Husband, you are truly good to me."

"Stop the sweet talk and eat quickly." Xie Junling, clearly unaccustomed to praise, piled other meat dishes onto her plate to silence her.

Lu Bao'er had suffered a slight affront at the Gu Residence; now, being warmed, she felt her nose sour and tears of gratitude sprang: "Husband, rest assured—I will repay your kindness. Even if you ever wish to take a concubine, I will turn a blind eye and not begrudge it. Children born of concubines may be raised under my care as the lady of the house; I will treat them as my own. I will manage the inner quarters, so you need only focus on your endeavors abroad—I will not make things difficult for you."

Having seen so many ladies today, Lu Bao'er realized how rare a husband like Xie Junling truly is.

Hearing Lu Bao'er's nonsense, the former warmth vanished; Xie Junling flew into a rage at her words. "Do you really think I'm a heartless man who will surely fall for another woman?"

Xie Junling sneered, "Then I suppose I should thank you for your magnanimity?"

Lu Bao'er waved her hand righteously, "You needn't thank me; this is what I ought to do."

"How wonderful!" Xie Junling, thoroughly annoyed by her, left the Flower Hall without waiting for her to finish her meal and went to the Purification Room to wash up.

Lu Bao'er didn't notice anything wrong; she only felt that her own virtue and generosity would make Xie Junling like her even more. Thereafter the couple grew more harmonious, treating each other with mutual respect.

"Excellent, excellent," Lu Bao'er thought. As long as she held the position of lady of the house, fleeting emotions and love were unreliable—let those little three, four, five, those warbling swallows, vie to become the vermilion mole on Xie Junling's heart.