That night, Luo Jingfeng slept restlessly.
He dreamed of the Prince of Southern Pacification covered in blood, accusing him of patricide. The nightmare jolted him awake in a cold sweat, his chest heaving violently. Before he could even turn over, he felt a scorching heat pressed against his back—like a burning coal.
Luo Jingfeng turned his head and remembered—he was married now. The person clinging to him was his newlywed wife.
He paused, then reached out to touch her forehead.
—No fever.
But the next moment, irritation flared within him.
What kind of woman was this?
Weren’t women supposed to be cold-natured?
Which woman had body heat this high?
In the sweltering night, Luo Jingfeng shoved her away roughly, forcing her to sleep farther from him.
Annoying.
Once he vented his frustration, falling back asleep came easier.
When Lu Zhu opened her eyes the next morning, the first thing she saw was Luo Jingfeng’s handsome face. He hadn’t even changed out of his wedding robes, his entire demeanor radiating an icy aloofness that warned others to keep their distance. But he was just so… so breathtakingly gorgeous!
She thought to herself, secretly delighted: When did he come back last night? Why didn’t he wake me? Oh! He even tucked me in—he’s so good to me! My dream really came true!!
Lu Zhu was so happy she giggled out loud.
Luo Jingfeng frowned and opened his eyes, meeting the bright, cheerful gaze of the young woman greeting him. Her eyes were so clear and radiant, it felt like staring into them would pull him under.
Lies. All a trap.
His expression darkened as he got up to dress, deliberately avoiding her.
Lu Zhu beamed and called after him, “Jingfeng!”
This was the first time she had addressed him so casually. From now on, this man was her husband—the love of her life. Just thinking about it filled her with overwhelming happiness.
Luo Jingfeng’s hand stilled as he put on his shoes. He turned, his face cold. “Don’t call me by my name.”
“Huh?” Lu Zhu blinked, confused. “Then… husband? That’s even more intimate!”
Luo Jingfeng: “…”
He glared at her, displeasure written all over his face.
Lu Zhu scrunched her brows together and tried again, hesitantly. “...Darling?”
Luo Jingfeng stood and walked away without another word.
Lu Zhu scratched her head. Is he embarrassed again?
But he’s so easily flustered… How adorable!
Hehe!
She followed him out of bed, and soon after, her maids helped her dress and prepare for the day. Not long after, she was informed that the concubines had come to pay their respects to the new mistress.
“Let them in,” Lu Zhu said, recalling her brother’s warning to be cautious of the women in Luo Jingfeng’s household.
Before her wedding, she had even bought stacks of novels about inner-household scheming, making her maids read them to her. Now, Lu Zhu was practically an expert in harem intrigue!
“This humble one, Madam Xu, greets the mistress.”
“The mistress is so beautiful! That hairpin suits you perfectly.”
“The mistress has such grace—look at her radiant complexion! The second young master has excellent taste, plucking such a pearl at first glance.”
“Mistress, to welcome you, I’ve prepared a night pearl as a gift. See how large it is? Doesn’t it complement you well?”
“Mistress, I also—”
The women crowded around Lu Zhu, showering her with compliments and gifts—jewelry, accessories, you name it. Lu Zhu’s lips curled upward, utterly charmed.
How nice these concubines are! None of the novels mentioned this kind of harem dynamic. They must genuinely like me!
No wonder I fell for Luo Jingfeng—even his concubines are wonderful!
She giggled and responded warmly—until the moment she reached for a delicate teacup, only for it to shatter on the ground before it even touched her fingers.
“…”
Madam Xu, who had been fawning over her just seconds ago, suddenly let out a delicate sob. “Mistress, even if you dislike me, how could you break this teacup? The second young master gifted it to me, and I’ve never even used it myself! If you scorn me, fine, but how could you treat his gift so carelessly?”
Lu Zhu was stunned by the sudden shift.
Then Luo Jingfeng strode in from outside. She jumped to her feet, waving her hands frantically. “No, no! I didn’t! She never even handed it to me—I didn’t break anything!”
Oh no!
I’ve been framed!
Cold sweat broke out on her back. Why didn’t the novels cover this scenario? What do I do now?!
Madam Xu continued weeping dramatically, while the other concubines stayed silent—except for Concubine Zhao, who chimed in, “The mistress must resent having so many women in the household. She’s giving us a warning on her very first day as the new wife. Earlier… she even scolded me harshly.”
Lu Zhu’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. “I never scolded you! Weren’t you just complimenting me? You said the red hairpin looked good on me, and I said, ‘Of course it does—I’m pretty!’ How is that scolding?! I never called you ugly!”
Madam Xu sniffled. “You meant I’m ugly.”
“I DIDN’T SAY THAT!” Lu Zhu looked like her world had been turned upside down. She was so agitated she could’ve stomped her feet.
As the concubines kept up their act, Luo Jingfeng’s patience wore thin. He said coldly, “Slap them.”
The guard behind him: “?”
Slap who, young master?! Be more specific!
The guard didn’t understand the order, but Lu Zhu did. She rolled up her sleeves and delivered a resounding slap to Madam Xu’s face!
SMACK!
“Ah—!” Madam Xu shrieked.
The guard gaped.
Wait—was that order for her?!
Lu Zhu, still rolling up her sleeves, grabbed Concubine Zhao and slapped her too. “You scheming wretches! How dare you frame me? Luckily, my husband is smart—he saw right through you!”
SMACK!
“Ah—!” Concubine Zhao wailed.
Two heavy slaps. Two piercing screams. The other concubines trembled in fear.
Lu Zhu returned to Luo Jingfeng, beaming with pride. “Husband, did I do well? I’m great at following orders too!”
Luo Jingfeng: “…” This woman is insane.
He ordered the two concubines to be sold off immediately. As the guards dragged the wailing women away, the others fled in terror, not daring to cause trouble again.
Luo Jingfeng turned to Lu Zhu and said sternly, “Next time someone disrespects you, deal with them yourself. Don’t bother me.”
Lu Zhu nodded eagerly, then bounded over to loop her arm through his, chirping, “Husband, have you eaten yet? Let’s have breakfast together!”
Her grip was surprisingly strong. Luo Jingfeng tried to shake her off but failed. His face darkened. “Let go.”
Lu Zhu released him instantly, blinking innocently.
Luo Jingfeng continued his lecture. “Don’t touch me without permission.”
He despised this woman—no sense of boundaries at all. Always hugging him, clinging to him, spouting ridiculously saccharine words. Exhausting.
Lu Zhu pondered for a moment. “Can I touch you in bed?”
Luo Jingfeng: “…”
She continued, unfazed. “I mean, we have to touch then, right?”
“…”
His patience snapped.
Furious, he stormed off to eat in the outer courtyard alone.
Left at the table, Lu Zhu scratched her head. “Why is he so shy again?”
Then it hit her. Ah, my husband must just be extremely bashful.
So she made a resolution: From now on, I’ll only say these things to him in private.
Yes. That was the solution.
She's so clever!
