Lu Huaijin's leg pressed against Lin Wanyu's knee. The hand pinching her chin was like a pair of pliers.
The pain made her almond-shaped eyes glisten with tears, and her eye sockets instantly turned red.
The Wang family redeemed her and sent her here just to test whether this young master of the estate could perform marital duties. There was no other ulterior motive...
"Please spare me, Young Master!"
Her soft voice, combined with her pitiable appearance, only served to irritate Lu Huaijin further.
He let go of his hand and flung her to the ground. His handsome face was as cold as ice, terrifyingly so.
"If you answer me honestly, I'll spare your life."
Lin Wanyu was thrown to the ground. She instinctively protected her knees. After a moment, she quickly knelt down properly, bowed her head, and replied, "Your Highness has been so kind to this servant. I have nothing to repay you with. I only want to serve Your Highness wholeheartedly. I have no other desires."
"I entered the Drunken Flower Courtyard at the age of seven and have experienced the vicissitudes of life. No one has ever been as kind to me as Your Highness. I just want to do something for Your Highness. I've angered Your Highness today. Please punish me."
Her slender body trembled slightly on the ground, like a frightened bird.
Lu Huaijin rubbed his temples tiredly and said in a deep voice, "Go!"
Maybe he had thought too much.
The court was in constant strife these days, and as he held an important position, the pressure from all sides was truly immense.
He hoped he hadn't misjudged Lin Wanyu.
"If you're obedient and behave yourself in the future, and don't have any other thoughts, this young master will surely treat you well."
"Yes."
Lin Wanyu replied and forced herself to stand up. Just as she was about to leave, a sharp pain shot through her knee. She staggered and almost lost her balance.
But in a moment, she regained her composure and carefully backed out.
Lu Huaijin had been on the battlefield for years, so his observation skills were sharp. Such a subtle movement of hers naturally couldn't escape his eyes.
Only then did he remember that she had knelt in the front yard for two hours yesterday...
"Si Chen."
As soon as his voice fell, Si Chen pushed open the door and walked in.
"Your Highness."
He carefully glanced at Lu Huaijin's expression and bowed with a nervous look.
When Lin Wanyu had left just now, she seemed to have been crying.
Lu Huaijin twirled the corner of his robe and commanded in a deep voice, "Send someone to check into Lin Wanyu's background. Report back as soon as possible!"
Si Chen replied, "Yes, I'll go and handle it right away."
After a moment's hesitation, he continued, "The medicine for Your Highness has been boiled. It's on the table in the outer hall. Additionally, Miss Lin specially made fish soup and jade cakes for Your Highness."
Lu Huaijin looked up at him. A look of understanding flashed across his ink-black eyes.
"Got it. Go."
"Yes."
After Si Chen left, the hall fell silent.
Lu Huaijin took a deep breath, picked up the outer robe beside him, put it on, and strode out of the bedroom.
On the round mahogany table, there was a blue-and-white porcelain set of bowls filled with fish soup. Beside it was a round plate with snow-white pastries on it.
Lu Huaijin took one look and then averted his gaze. He walked to the table, picked up the medicine on the tray, and drank it in one gulp.
The bitter taste of the medicine spread from his throat to his heart.
After putting down the medicine bowl, Lu Huaijin's eyes involuntarily fell on the plate of pastries.
A moment later, he picked up one and took a bite.
It was refreshing and not greasy. The craftsmanship was indeed excellent. He hadn't eaten such pastries for many years.
...
Just as it was getting dark, Si Chen quickly walked through the corridor and stopped at the entrance of the main hall.
"Your Highness."
Lu Huaijin was sitting at the table, playing with a white porcelain bottle in his hand. His handsome face seemed less sickly at this moment.
"Come in."
Si Chen replied and pushed open the door. He bowed and reported, "Your Highness, I've already investigated Miss Lin's identity."
"Miss Lin is from Yangzhou. Her parents passed away when she was young. She entered the Drunken Flower Courtyard at the age of seven and was trained as the top courtesan by the madam. She only performed arts and didn't sell her body. Because of her outstanding skills, she was quite well-known in Yangzhou. Usually, she just practiced the piano and dance and didn't associate with many people. A few days ago, she was taken a fancy to by the Wang family, who redeemed her and sent her to the estate."
"Miss Lin also has a younger brother who is still young. He is currently studying in a private school in Yangzhou."
After hearing Si Chen's words, Lu Huaijin's hand playing with the porcelain bottle paused. There was an unreadable look in his dark eyes.
"Got it. Go."
Si Chen bowed and left.
When the hall door was closed, the wind blew in, and the candlelight flickered.
Suddenly, a line of verse flashed through Lu Huaijin's mind.
If I had known it would tug at my heart like this, I should never have met her in the first place...
Although he didn't have any feelings for Lin Wanyu, that night of recklessness was indeed due to his impulse.
During the day, he had also misunderstood her...
Thinking of this, Lu Huaijin stood up, clenched the porcelain bottle in his hand, and pushed open the door to go out.
"Si Chen, send someone to bring Miss Lin's younger brother to the capital. Also, tell Master Peng of Wenchang Academy that Miss Lin's younger brother will study there."
Si Chen was slightly stunned but quickly replied.
"Yes, I'll go and handle it right away."
Lu Huaijin nodded slightly, stepped down the steps, and walked outside.
"Don't follow."
Si Chen replied. After Lu Huaijin left, he turned around and walked along the corridor in the other direction.
The night was thick, and the entire estate was silent.
After Lin Wanyu returned during the day, she learned the rules from Chun Qiao for half a day. Now her knees were swollen, and the pain kept her awake.
When there was a knock on the door, she was startled. After a moment's hesitation, she quickly got up, put on her shoes, tidied her dress, and walked to the door to open it.
When she saw Lu Huaijin, she stood there blankly and even forgot to bow.
"Your Highness..."
Lu Huaijin stepped in, walked to the edge of the bed, and sat down. He commanded in a deep voice, "Come and sit down."
As his voice fell, Lin Wanyu's eyes flickered, and the scene of that night involuntarily flashed before her eyes.
She bit her lower lip tightly and tentatively took a step forward, stopping in front of Lu Huaijin.
"What are Your Highness's commands?"
In the flickering candlelight, the beauty's face was pinkish-white. Her slender eyes were filled with a bit of shyness and a bit of fear, with a hint of unspoken charm.
Seeing her like this, Lu Huaijin knew she had misunderstood.
He curled his lips and said in a deep voice, "Come here."
Lin Wanyu bit her lower lip and walked a bit closer to him with her head down.
Before she could say anything, the man in front of her suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms. He gently pinched her chin and asked in a low voice, "Afraid of me?"
The man's palm was burning hot. It landed on her waist, and through the thin fabric, it made her skin tingle.
Lin Wanyu kept her head down and didn't dare to look at him.
In just a moment, her cheeks were tinged with a blush, like a ripe apple, looking extremely alluring.
Lu Huaijin's eyes darkened slightly. Suddenly, a wave of heat rose from the bottom of his heart, making his throat go dry.