Chapter 90: Deep Affection Between Husband and Wife, Each Facing Their Own Hardship

Shen Residence, Stream Garden, Chu Yun Terrace.

Lu Jin was stunned by Shen Yanxi’s words, his mind coming to a complete halt, as if frozen. Shen Yanxi rose from her chair, walked to the edge of the floating terrace, and stood with her back to him, her thoughts tangled and uneasy.

For days, a question had lingered in her heart. She longed to ask her husband—who was he, truly? She wanted to ask, having given him her heart, why he still kept secrets from her. Why did he possess knowledge so vastly different from that of Great Liang, knowledge so complex and methodical that no scholar of Liang could possibly have mastered it, nor could it be acquired overnight. Yet, whenever she was about to speak, hesitation stilled her tongue.

Painfully, Shen Yanxi closed her eyes and took a deep breath, two teardrops sliding down her cheeks. She thought, perhaps it’s better to let it go. If he truly wished to hide something, he likely wouldn’t have shared those things with her at all. She could only assume he had his own reasons and necessities.

As long as he treated her with sincerity, why should she be so insistent? If she forced the question, it might only lead to irreparable consequences. At this thought, her heart twisted painfully; that was the outcome she could not bear.

Thinking thus, Shen Yanxi unconsciously put on a show of anger as she turned back around.

Lu Jin, still dazed, finally stood up and turned to her. “Yanxi, what is it you truly wish to say?” he asked. Why was she pouting now?

“Hmph! Let me ask you, are you still my husband, Shen Yanxi’s husband?” she demanded, feigning anger.

Relief washed over Lu Jin; a moment before, he had truly felt suffocated, uncertain whether Shen Yanxi had discovered his secret as a transmigrator.

It wasn’t as if he deliberately wanted to keep it from her. If he did, he wouldn't have so candidly spoken of knowledge from his former world. The truth was, it was too complicated to explain, entangled with so much, that Lu Jin had even fleetingly considered leaving the Shen family altogether.

Noticing Lu Jin’s obvious relaxation, Shen Yanxi sighed inwardly. It seemed her husband did indeed have secrets he wished to keep.

“It’s not as if I have another wife. If I’m not your husband, whose could I be?” Lu Jin replied, now more at ease and speaking with less gravity.

“And how am I to know? I’ve offered myself to you time and again, only to be refused by my husband. I’m starting to wonder myself,” Shen Yanxi said, face flushing as she returned to her seat, thinking to herself that she was going to great lengths just to hide her own feelings.

“Ah, well…” Lu Jin was momentarily at a loss for words. Was it bad mood? Bad timing?

“If my husband would only tell me, I would prepare myself and await you,” Shen Yanxi teased, letting go of her worries.

“Perhaps… we should wait a little longer.” Lu Jin could only reply awkwardly. He had once wanted it, but there were just too many concerns. Now, he found himself hoping for something even more perfect.

Seeing her husband blush, Shen Yanxi’s heart lifted. He was still the same simple, foolish man.

“Do you mean to wait until I am old?” she scolded him shyly, giving him a sidelong glance.

“On the night of the Mid-Autumn full moon, I will spend the evening with you, my lady. What do you think?” Lu Jin met her gaze.

Shen Yanxi couldn’t bear it, lowering her head to ponder. It seemed perfectly acceptable. Knowing he had chosen the Mid-Autumn Festival, her heart grew even sweeter. Sometimes, her husband was more thoughtful than she was herself. Under the full moon, with all in harmony—how could one not be moved?

“Then on the Mid-Autumn night, I shall await you,” she said softly.

With that, Shen Yanxi could no longer remain; she stood to flee, only to be caught and pulled into Lu Jin’s embrace, her heart nearly leaping from her chest. When had this simpleton become so bold?

“My lady, I am no one else. I am simply myself—the husband you, Shen Yanxi, brought home,” Lu Jin said, unable to give her a true answer, but understanding her inner turmoil.

“I know,” Shen Yanxi replied, her voice as sweet as honey.

——

“Su Nian, how are these children progressing in their martial training?” Lu Jin asked, watching a handful of children practicing in the courtyard. They looked the part, but he couldn’t truly judge their skill.

“Young Master, Anu and Ali are advancing quickly—they have real talent for martial arts,” Su Nian replied.

Lu Jin sighed, glancing at his younger sister, Lu Caiwei, who wore a frosty expression in the distance. It was obvious Caiwei wasn’t suited for martial training. As for Xiao Bai, who cared whether a young servant could master the art? Let him be.

“Thank you for your efforts,” Lu Jin said politely. Partly, this was due to habits from his previous life, but he was genuinely grateful. If not for Su Nian, he wouldn’t have trusted Yuan Fang with Ali’s care at all; just look at how battered Anu looked every day.

“Young Master is too courteous. If there’s anything you need, you can command me at any time.” Su Nian found herself with little to do these days, as her mistress seldom went out; teaching the children was no hardship.

“How much longer before you finish here?”

“Fifteen minutes, Young Master.”

“Yuan Fang, you and Xiao Bai come here. And go fetch Shen Yanlun for me.” Right now, Lu Jin was sorely lacking in manpower. That boy, always idling about with cats and dogs instead of learning from his brother-in-law—what was he even up to?

“Huh?” Yuan Fang was baffled. He followed Lu Jin’s every order these days, but why fetch the young master of the Shen family? Lu Jin was his brother-in-law, not himself. Did he even have the courage for this?

“Don’t worry about it. Just go to Plum Garden and bring him back—it’s your mistress’s order. If he refuses, carry him if you must.”

Left with no choice, Yuan Fang obeyed. Did he have any say in it?

“Young Master wants the young lord here?” Su Nian was startled. This young master was always stirring up trouble, and the young lord was not someone you could just haul around.

“We’re about to begin lessons. Might as well get him to study too. He’s young, but if he doesn’t learn, as his brother-in-law, I can’t just ignore it.”

The lesson would be held in a spacious pavilion within Chu Yun Terrace’s courtyard—sheltered from wind and rain, bathed in sunlight, and perfectly equipped. An ideal place for teaching.

Surveying the children already seated, Lu Jin felt a surge of ambition. Let the foundation of his grand endeavor begin here.

“Let me go, Yang Fang! How dare you—do you know the consequences of a servant defying his master?” Shen Yanlun shrieked from over Yuan Fang’s shoulder.

“Young Lord, my name is Yuan Fang now. And besides, I am no servant of the Shen family,” Yuan Fang retorted, having genuinely brought the boy back.

Lu Jin was more than satisfied—another new student acquired.

“Shen Yanlun, do you know why you are here?” Lu Jin said, slapping the table sharply, the air in the pavilion growing tense.

“Lu Jin, you’re just a son-in-law in the Shen family! Let me go and I’ll forget this ever happened. Otherwise, you’ll regret it!” Shen Yanlun struggled and tried to break free, refusing to listen. As the youngest son of the Shen patriarch, he was always attended by servants—who knew how Yuan Fang managed to bring him back?

The moment those words left Shen Yanlun’s mouth, the pavilion fell silent. The household servants all lowered their heads. In Chu Yun Terrace, everyone knew Lu Jin was not like other sons-in-law—when even the master of the house treated him with respect, how could the young lord be so brazen?

Though Lu Jin didn’t care much for such things, to be openly insulted in front of everyone—how should his own sister regard her brother? Since he had gone so far as to have Shen Yanlun forcibly brought here, he wouldn't let him off easily.

Su Nian hastened to intervene, “Young Master, he is your brother-in-law! You mustn’t act rashly!”

But Shen Yanlun paid her no heed. To him, the staff were mere servants. “You’re just a traitorous servant. Who are you to speak!”

Lu Jin struck the table again, his expression stern. “Shen Yanlun, say that again—who am I? And who is she?”

“Just a petty son-in-law—wait till I—” Shen Yanlun was not intimidated. Who dared to cross him?

Before he could finish, Lu Jin barked, “Yuan Fang, slap his mouth!”

Yuan Fang landed two crisp slaps squarely on Shen Yanlun’s cheeks. At this point, Yuan Fang had no choice but to follow Lu Jin to the end—it was impossible to please both sides, so he acted decisively.

“You—!” Shen Yanlun was dumbfounded. He had never imagined this son-in-law would dare strike him.

“I, Lu Jin, am your sister Shen Yanxi’s husband and your brother-in-law. You call me a mere son-in-law. Su Nian is your sister’s guard, her protector, yet you insult her with foul words. Is this the Shen family’s upbringing?” Lu Jin’s face was as dark as iron.

“You were born to privilege but act with arrogance, bullying others, showing no compassion!”

“You ignore the teachings of the sages and do nothing but mischief, spouting vile words without shame!”

“You have studied the rites for years but show no respect for your elders, insulting your brother-in-law with impunity, without a trace of humility!”

“You are young but make no effort to improve, causing trouble everywhere, with no sense of right or wrong!”

“With one so devoid of compassion, courtesy, or wisdom—should I, as your brother-in-law, not correct you?” Lu Jin slammed the table, his voice righteous and commanding.

Everyone nearby was dumbstruck—half from Lu Jin’s imposing presence, half in shock at the young master’s faults. Was he truly so bad? Had they never noticed before? Perhaps the young master was beyond hope.

Lu Jin cared little for the truth—he declared it so, and so it was. What scion of a noble house was without flaws?

Shen Yanlun himself was startled. Was he truly so wicked? He was left open-mouthed, unable to reply, awed by Lu Jin’s overwhelming presence.

“Speak! What have you to say for yourself?” Lu Jin thundered, slapping the table yet again, making Shen Yanlun flinch.

“Take him away—have him sit properly!” Shen Yanlun tried to protest, but Lu Jin ignored him, motioning for Yuan Fang to deposit him in a seat at the back.

“Before today’s lesson, let me tell you a story. In a world tossed by turmoil, what deeds did the heroes perform? Listen now to the first chapter of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Oath of Brotherhood in the Peach Garden, the Slaying of the Yellow Turban Rebels…”

Shen Yanlun was bewildered—how had a few words landed him here? He wanted to leave, but Yuan Fang was watching his every move.

Lu Jin genuinely wished to set his young brother-in-law straight. First, a show of authority, then a story—it was all part of the plan. He was sure he could win over this troublesome child.

Not far off, Zhu Yue and another maid were quickly recording everything at a small table. This, too, was by design—now that he had help, Lu Jin had no intention of lecturing and then writing everything out himself. By recording his lessons, others could later edit them, and his next great work would be ready in no time.

Lu Jin told the story with vivid animation, while his listeners hung on every word. The servants of Chu Yun Terrace gathered around to listen. As for the children—especially the boys—what youth would not be stirred by such a tale? Romance of the Three Kingdoms was the epic of men, the dream of boys. Just look at Shen Yanlun’s excitement.

“Well, that’s all for the first chapter. From now on, at the end of each lesson, we’ll continue the story. If you don’t pay attention in class, there will be no story…”

Lu Jin slapped the table again, fixing Shen Yanlun with a severe gaze. “Shen Yanlun, what do you think?”

——

“What? Lun’er was taken away?” Zhou Manyun was shocked when the maid delivered the news.

“Manyun, what’s the matter?” asked the elderly Madame Bai Lu, looking up.

Several of the family’s womenfolk were gathered with the old matriarch that day. No sooner had the news been delivered by the young lord’s maid that Zhou Manyun’s youngest son had been seized, than Zhou Manyun’s anger flared. Who in the Shen residence dared bully her son?

She could admit her son-in-law had some ability, and even the old madam praised him constantly. She herself tried to treat him as her own child, but for a son-in-law to overstep and bully her son—how could she swallow such an insult?

“Mother, it’s nothing serious—something happened with Lun’er, I’ll go check on it,” Zhou Manyun said, not daring to tell the old madam the truth. With her obvious bias, she’d surely side with the son-in-law. How could Zhou Manyun endure such humiliation?

“Very well, go on, don’t worry,” the old lady said, not pressing further.

Bai Xueyao, seeing Zhou Manyun’s sour expression, quickly signaled Shen Yanyun to follow as well.

“Second sister-in-law, what’s happened?” Bai Xueyao asked.

“That son-in-law forcibly took Lun’er!” Zhou Manyun’s face was livid with rage.

Bai Xueyao was shocked. Had the young master gone mad? Couldn’t he just stay quietly at home? What son-in-law would dare act so brazenly?

But Shen Yanyun was more skeptical. “Aunt, don’t be hasty. Our brother-in-law isn’t so reckless—there may be another reason…”

“What reason could justify bullying my son? He’s gone too far!” Unable to be dissuaded, Zhou Manyun led a contingent of maids and servants straight toward Stream Garden.