Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Autumn Homecoming

The journey from the East Market to the West Market was a considerable distance.

Inside the wide-eaved carriage, Liang Wan leaned against the window. Though only a few days had passed, the street markets already looked completely different.

It felt as though she had been in the mountains for seven days, only to find a thousand years had passed in the world.

In her reverie, memories of the past rose and fell like the carriage curtains, stirred by the autumn wind.

Suddenly, her waist tightened as an arm wrapped around it, pulling her over.

Liang Wan didn’t need to look back to know that Lu Xiu was finished with his work.

Although Lu Xiu was the Grand Commandant, a rank equivalent to an Upper Duke, the Daqi dynasty was not like the one before it. Such lofty positions were mostly honorary titles, granted by the Emperor to reward favored subjects or to elevate the Imperial Family’s prestige.

Lu Huai could lead armies into battle and Lu Xu could oversee government administration, but Lu Xiu, despite outranking them both and holding an incredibly prestigious title, was far from possessing their kind of real power.

To be given all the glory but none of the actual power... it was hard to say if this was the Grandmaster’s intention. After all, Lu Xiu was the son of Yuan Shaoyu.

’He had been raised in the house of his enemy, yet they had a relationship like that of a loving father and a filial son, with deep brotherly bonds... When he learned the truth, how could he possibly have accepted it?’

He should have been a man of leisure, but in reality, he was quite busy.

Lu Xiu buried his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent without a word. ’Was he tired? Despondent?’ It was impossible to tell.

Liang Wan had no desire to ask. ’I already know far too much...’

His warm breath on her skin tickled. She instinctively wanted to pull away but didn’t move. Instead, as if compelled by some strange impulse, she gently patted his back.

The gesture made them both freeze.

Liang Wan’s hand paused awkwardly in midair before she sheepishly pulled it back.

But before she could lower it, he seized her hand, pinning it firmly behind her back as his lips crashed down on hers.

This was nothing like their clumsy first time, nor was it like the light pecks of the past. It was a deep kiss, filled with an aggressive desire—utterly domineering and dangerous, yet also bewitching.

It was as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Just like the man himself, intentionally or not, he was constantly invading every part of her life.

Liang Wan’s mind went blank. By the time she realized she should push him away, she had gone so pliant that she couldn’t muster an ounce of strength and could only endure it.

He didn’t relent until her face was burning and she was breathless.

He lowered his head, breathing softly as he gazed at her, his eyes like spring water rippled by a breeze.

Liang Wan’s heart hammered in her chest. Face burning, she turned to look out the window.

He, on the other hand, was in high spirits. He couldn’t help but grin and kiss her again, all traces of the melancholy he’d shown after reading the secret report now gone.

Just as she was struggling to think of something to say, the carriage stopped.

Liang Wan let out a breath. Just as she was about to rise, he pulled her hand to his lips.

She shot him an annoyed glare. Lu Xiu’s expression was utterly sincere. "This time, will you help me wipe it off?"

Liang Wan shot him a look and gritted her teeth.

Lu Xiu stopped teasing her, wiped the smile from his face, and helped her out of the carriage.

He had returned to his usual cold and distant self.

But as he helped her from the carriage, his warm breath brushed her ear. "You look... delectable."

In an instant, her face was on fire. But when she glared at him, he acted as if nothing had happened, as if she had imagined his words.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Liang Wan couldn’t make a scene, so she had no choice but to endure it.

When Lu Xiu returned to the manor, having recovered from his illness, Cao Luyun was waiting at the entrance with a retinue of servants to welcome him.

Such a grand display felt strangely as if they were soldiers returning in triumph from the battlefield. It was an odd scene.

Cao Luyun was dressed in a luxurious and beautiful apricot-red, wide-sleeved robe over a blue, cloud-patterned skirt.

She glided forward a few steps and bowed gracefully. "My lord."

Lu Xiu seemed slightly surprised. "There’s no need for this in the future," he said.

Cao Luyun straightened, her gaze soft and gentle. "I understand what you mean, my lord. But in name, I am still the Great General’s Wife. Proper etiquette cannot be abandoned, or we would become a laughingstock, would we not?"

Lu Xiu gave a faint smile but didn’t reply. He simply took Liang Wan’s hand. "Let’s go inside."

Liang Wan had been hesitating, wondering if she should greet Cao Luyun, but with the tug on her hand, the decision was made for her.

The color drained from Cao Luyun’s face, and her expression became extremely strained.

Just as they reached the threshold, Lu Xiu stopped and turned. He gave the assembled servants a cool glance before his eyes finally settled on Cao Luyun. "Lady Cao, you are new here and may not know, but no one in this house will laugh."

His face was impassive and his tone was casual, but it was clear that everyone’s heads bowed even lower. The Chief Steward, in particular, looked as if he wanted to speak but held his tongue.

Cao Luyun stood frozen in place, her back rigid.

Without another word, Lu Xiu led Liang Wan inside.

Liang Wan glanced at Cao Luyun’s figure out of the corner of her eye, lost in thought.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, Liang Wan couldn’t help but frown. She glanced at the man beside her, but his expression was unchanged.

Back in their rooms, everything was thankfully normal.

Bai Lu and the others had known of their return and had prepared everything in advance. They had been waiting cheerfully, but when Lu Xiu entered without a word, they all fell silent.

Lu Xiu sat to one side, sipping his tea.

Liang Wan decided to go check on the small building. The courtyard had been altered considerably, and she wondered if her flower room had been touched.

The small building itself was unchanged, and she could see that the flowers and plants had been well cared for.

However, with the first day of winter just a few days away, the flowers were already beginning to wither. It was inevitable.

Liang Wan sat in the flower room, staring absently at the pot of ’Green Peony’.

’The coming spring will be difficult.’

"It looks like it’s fading."

Liang Wan snapped out of her daze to see Lu Xiu, head bowed, plucking a chrysanthemum petal. She suddenly remembered how he had done the same thing to an Orchid in the private room at Yunyan Pool.

Liang Wan couldn’t help but scoff. "It only has a few days left to bloom. If you keep plucking at it, it’ll be bare."

Lu Xiu raised an eyebrow. "I’m not one to cherish flowers," he said slowly.

Liang Wan nodded. ’True enough.’

Only then did Lu Xiu let go, sitting down beside her. They both fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.

They had dinner together.

Normally, a concubine would be expected to wait on her master during meals, but ever since coming to the Grandmaster’s Mansion, those rules had never been followed.

The Grandmaster was unfazed by the breach of etiquette. Cao Luyun, after an initial look of surprise, simply lowered her gaze to her food and said no more.

Liang Wan had always been a quiet presence in the Grandmaster’s Mansion, and she was especially so now.

So, throughout the meal, only the Grandmaster and Lu Xiu exchanged a few words from time to time.

After dinner, the Grandmaster had her prepare tea for everyone before finally letting them go. It was clear the old man had been lonely during the few days she and Lu Xiu were away.

Liang Wan felt a wave of emotion.

The days were growing shorter. By the time they stepped outside again, it was already pitch-black.

She had expected the walk back to their small courtyard to be a silent one, but Cao Luyun, who was walking behind them, suddenly spoke up.

"My lord, I have a few words I’d like to say."

Cao Luyun always spoke in a soft, gentle voice. Far from being frivolous, it was dignified—the very picture of a well-bred lady from a prestigious family.

It was a tone and manner of speaking Liang Wan had never learned.

Lu Xiu stopped, unsurprised. "As it happens, I also have something to say."

Cao Luyun had said she wanted to speak, but she remained silent, looking only at Liang Wan. Liang Wan, in turn, looked to Lu Xiu. ’This is my cue to leave.’

Unfortunately, Lu Xiu neither looked at her nor let go of her hand. He said to Cao Luyun, "It was my oversight. You’ve just arrived at the manor, yet you have no one experienced to serve you. Therefore, for the duration of your stay, I will have Shuangjiang attend you at your residence."

Liang Wan knew that Shuangjiang was steady and capable.

Lu Xiu continued, "I’ve said my piece. What was it you wanted to discuss?"

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