My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 51

Helan Ci was stunned. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Wuyou added, “Forget it, pretend I never asked.”

With that, he turned to leave.

For some reason, Helan Ci suddenly felt that Lu Wuyou at this moment looked like someone who had just swallowed a bitter dose of medicine and was grumbling while asking her if she had brought any sugar.

Fortunately, his sleeve wasn’t too far away. Helan Ci grabbed hold of it again and said, “Don’t just stop halfway through what you’re saying and walk away. You want me to take care of you, then I… I’ll try.” She hesitated. “It’s just that most people don’t like being controlled, right? Are you really sure about this?”

She judged from her own perspective—who in the world likes being told what to do?

Especially someone like Lu Wuyou, who looked particularly… lawless.

Lu Wuyou couldn’t help but think, is this a matter of effort or not?

He nearly laughed from exasperation. Turning back, he saw the girl still staring at him with those bright, clear eyes—so earnest, so sincere—it rendered him momentarily speechless.

So, Lu Wuyou said with a hint of anger, “Sure, you can meddle in everything, just like…” He tried to give an example, “Like when you said I was indecent.”

Helan Ci immediately felt embarrassed.

That was something she’d said during a land survey outing, when she was at her most relaxed… he could have smiled politely and distantly, maintaining a sense of distance, but he chose to smile like that, as if he were being affectionate with everyone, making Helan Ci feel…

She can’t describe it herself either.

Upon reflection, Helan Ci also felt that she might have spoken out of turn at that time.

After all, Lu Wuyou had every right to decide how he smiled. Even if it attracted a few young ladies, he could handle them just fine. Women weren’t like men—they couldn’t really do anything too outrageous. At most, they might be like Princess Shao’an or Miss Wei of the Wei family—their situations were entirely different.

“……If I care that much about your business, you really won’t get angry?”

Lu Wuyou nodded and said, “Of course not… In fact, I’d be quite happy.”

Helan Ci tugged on his sleeve, pondering for a moment.

Lu Wuyou wasn’t in a hurry—he simply waited for her patiently.

After a while, she suddenly looked up at him and pointed at the pastry box on the table beside them. “Next time you bring pastries,” she said, “could you just bring the kind wrapped in oil paper? These boxes are flashy but impractical, and they’re also expensive.”

“…”

Lu Wuyou turned his head and looked at the exquisitely crafted pastry box somewhat incredulously. After a pause, he said, “So you don’t like it, fine, I won’t bring this kind of box next time.”

“And also…” Helan Ci thought for a moment and said, “There’s no need to throw out old clothes right away. The fabric can still be used for a lot of things. If you feel like eating something or not eating something, you can just tell the cook ahead of time. Don’t wait until all the dishes are made and then suddenly get the urge to take me out to eat. It’s wasteful.”

Lu Wuyou said, “So you don’t find it surprising?”

Helan Ci seriously considered it. “There was a little delightful surprise,” she admitted, “but I also felt bad for the wasted food.”

Because it was Lu Wuyou’s money being spent, she felt embarrassed to say too much.

Lu Wuyou looked at her with a somewhat helpless expression. “Anything else? Just say it all.”

Seeing the expression on his face, Helan Ci said, “If you’re not happy about it, just forget it…”

“I’m not unhappy,” Lu Wuyou said calmly, “just a bit speechless. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Helan Ci hesitated.

Although her father never taught her how to get along with a spouse, he had taught her the way of being a person: being fair and just, humble and tolerant, and kind to others. Though she hadn’t exactly followed everything to the letter, with Lu Wuyou, she tries her best not to make the other person unhappy. If she talks too much, she always feels that they will eventually have a serious argument—like a real fight.

Lu Wuyou then seemed to have figured it out from her expression: “What you want, what you don’t want, you have to make it clear to me. I can’t always guess what you mean. You don’t have to worry so much about whether I’m happy or not… Why do you carry so many worries and burdens?” He paused, then said, “Just say what you want to say, do what you want to do, and while you’re at it… take care of me a little.” The last words were spoken gently.

Helan Ci pondered for a moment: “… Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

*****

Cousin Yao Qianxue, upon hearing what had happened at the wedding banquet between Lin Zhang and Miss Wei, came over within just a couple of days.

She hadn’t come right after the wedding itself, worried that she might cause trouble for Helan Ci. But after receiving word that things were going well for her, she had occasionally visited—only when Lu Wuyou wasn’t around. This time, however, she came rushing over in a flurry and immediately asked, “Did your husband get angry at you?”

Helan Ci was taken aback, “Angry about what?”

Yao Qianxue looked slightly surprised. “Wasn’t that little prince from the North Di trying to challenge your husband in public for your sake, that is also at Miss Wei’s wedding banquet?….. Could the news be wrong? It can’t be.”

She wasn’t particularly close with Miss Wei, so she hadn’t attended the banquet that evening.

Helan Ci said, “That did happen, but he didn’t get angry… Cousin, why do you think he would get angry?”

At most, it’s just a bit of frustration, just sulking at himself

Yao Qianxue naturally said, “Any normal man would be unhappy, especially since he seems to really care about you—how could he stand for something like that?”
She reached out and ruffled the young girl’s hair affectionately. “But then again, with our Xiao Ci looking like this, who could bear to be angry with you?”

“…Would it really be something to get mad about?”

“How could it not be!” Yao Qianxue said with a slightly raised tone, “When I was visiting one of my cousins on my mother’s side—she’s already married—just because she went out a little too dolled up and happened to chat a bit longer with a handsome young man who asked for directions, her husband saw and misunderstood. He exploded on the spot, accusing her of being unfaithful. My cousin scolded him right back for wrongly accusing her, and the two of them had a huge row. In the end, my aunt had to personally go talk the son-in-law down, and even comforted my cousin afterwards, saying her husband only acted that way because he cared too much about her. Xiao Ci, you… you really don’t have anything going on with that North Di prince, right?”

Helan Ci shook her head. “Of course not.”

This kind of gossip wasn’t all that different from what she’d heard before.

In the past, whenever she heard such things, all she felt was lingering fear, thinking that it must be difficult for a husband and wife to get along, and it was better to try even harder to be tolerant and accommodating. But now, she fell into thought for a moment, then asked, “…What does it mean, ‘he only acted that way because he cared too much’?”

Yao Qianxue replied without hesitation, “Of course it means he was fond of her. My cousin’s husband went through quite a bit to marry her, you know. That second cousin of mine has always been good at attracting admirers, and she doesn’t like staying cooped up at home. Her husband saw her once while out and about, fell for her at first sight, and from then on was completely smitten. He focused all his energy on pursuing her. After marrying her, naturally, he cherished her like a treasure—but he also got jealous very easily… Of course, I personally don’t really like that cousin-in-law of mine.”

Helan Ci fell into thought again.

Yao Qianxue picked up the embroidery frame she had been working on, which was almost finished, and said, “How’s your embroidery coming along? Last time I taught you—oh, hey, this magnolia blossom actually not bad.”

A huge improvement from the dark, muddled mess Helan Ci had stitched when she first started.

“Cousin, help me take a look again and see if there’s still anything wrong with it.”

Helan Ci was still a little embarrassed.

This was the one she had worked on most seriously and most carefully. Though it was a simple pattern, using white and pale gray thread, she had followed the traced design, making each stitch with great care and precision. If there was a mistake, she would undo part of it and redo it, resulting in a somewhat fragmented but still impressive piece.

She had to admit—she really wasn’t very talented at this.

But Yao Qianxue suddenly seemed to recall something and asked in a serious tone, “Did you prick your hands all over again?” She looked at her with a hint of distress. “I already told you, you don’t need to work this hard. That sachet you made before, didn’t he still wear it just the same? Honestly, if you really can’t manage it, just give me the design. I’ll embroider it for you. When it’s done, we’ll say it was your work. I’ll make it look simpler—he probably wouldn’t be able to tell anyway.”

Helan Ci shook her head and said, “Cousin, that wouldn’t be right. I don’t want to deceive him.”

She always felt that she still couldn’t quite grasp Lu Wuyou’s meaning, so she could only put in more effort in other areas.

Please provide the text you would like me to translate.

Lu Wuyou, however, felt that Helan Ci’s ‘i’ll give it a try’ were a little off the mark.

For example, when he returned from the court and had just taken off his official hat, Helan Ci studied him for a moment and then said, “Your hair bun is a bit crooked, let me fix it for you.” Then she rose on tiptoe and began to adjust it.

Later, when he went into the inner room to change into his casual clothes, Helan Ci said, “Wear the white one. I’ve already taken it out for you and put it on the stool.”

Lu Wuyou glanced at the plain white robe and paused for a moment, but said nothing and went ahead to change into it.

During dinner, Hua Weiling excitedly shared her experiences, and Lu Wuyou occasionally chimed in with a comment or two. Helan Ci then said seriously, “No talking while eating; it’s best not to speak during meals.” She then looked at Lu Wuyou.

Hua Weiling couldn’t help but whisper to Lu Wuyou, “…Brother, did you and Sister-in-law have a fight?”

Lu Wuyou found it both strange and amusing. Knowing what was going on but unable to explain it, he said, “You shouldn’t talk during meals either—hurry and eat.”

Hua Weiling: “……”

After finishing her meal and exercising, she once again stared at Lu Wuyou in contemplation, as if trying to find something profound blooming from this living person in front of her.

Lu Wuyou was just holding a piece of square cake filled with honey dates, enjoying it as a post-meal snack. One hand held it, the other supported it beneath, eating with both elegance and ease. When he bit into the sticky, sweet jujube, he even stuck out the tip of his tongue to lick the syrup from his lips.

Helan Ci watched for a while, then said, “If you eat like that, you’ll get crumbs everywhere.”

Lu Wuyou swallowed the jujube and replied, “Exactly, that’s why I’m holding it underneath—so it doesn’t fall to the ground.”

Helan Ci said, “Can’t you eat at the table?”

Lu Wuyou laughed. “It’s not as pleasant as sitting in the courtyard, listening to the breeze and admiring the moonlight. I even get to enjoy the view of Miss Helan exercising. Oh, right—when are these trees going to grow?” He pointed again at the few small saplings that were struggling to grow vigorously.

Helan Ci replied, “Didn’t you already ask? About five years… or maybe three to five years?”

Lu Wuyou said, “It’s growing too slowly, isn’t it?” He pointed to the newly planted chrysanthemum buds beside them. “These are about to bloom already.”

Helan Ci found him a bit strange and replied, “That’s just how trees are.”

Lu Wuyou compromised: “Alright then.”

He finished his snack, then called for a pot of tea and started pouring and drinking it himself.

Helan Ci Fan: “Drink less tea, otherwise it will be hard to sleep at night.”

Lu Wuyou replied lazily, “Alright, I got it. Is there anything else you want to take care?”

Helan Ci said, “Let me think… Oh, right, after your bath later, I’ve laid out your change of clothes for you—including your nightwear and undergarments.”

Lu Wuyou paused.

“——There’s no need to be so meticulous.” He couldn’t help but frown, “Aren’t you tired doing it this way?”

Helan Ci hesitated and said, “It’s fine… Do you think it doesn’t need to be this detailed?”

Lu Wuyou raised his peach blossom eyes to look at her, those eyes always giving the illusion of being deeply gazed at. Even without a smile, they still held a hint of smile, making them even more affectionate. He gazed at her, and after a moment, said, “You really are the most foolish girl I’ve ever seen.”

Helan Ci: “……?”

They had been talking just fine—why did he suddenly start insulting her again?

“Forget it, just pretend I never said anything.” Lu Wuyou poured another cup of tea, his tone gentle, “Seeing you are tired, so am i. If you really don’t want to stay, that’s fine. I don’t want you to feel forced to stay either.” He lowered his gaze, as if looking at the tea in the cup, “It’s not like I can’t live without you.”

His tone was light and casual, yet still carried a thread of something tangled and unresolved.

That elusive feeling returned again.

Helan Ci always felt that there was a kind of dilemma in front of Lu Wuyou; one he couldn’t step out of, and she couldn’t step into.

So, she stopped her movements and sat down opposite Lu Wuyou. The cool breeze in the courtyard was indeed refreshing. Her body, which had been covered in sweat from earlier, was now dry and cool in the wind. Her mind felt clear and refreshed.

“How about… we talk again?”

Lu Wuyou lifted his eyes slightly to look at her.

“What do you want to talk about?”

Helan Ci had always believed that there was no problem a conversation couldn’t solve. And neither of them were the type to keep silent. After a brief moment of thought, she said, “Maybe I’ve been taking care of things the wrong way. Why don’t you tell me exactly what you think?”

Lu Wuyou chuckled softly upon hearing her words and said, “That’s not something I can explain—you’ll have to feel it for yourself. But really, there’s no rush. I… am not in a hurry either.”

He wasn’t in a hurry, but Helan Ci inexplicably felt a sense of restlessness.

She stood up and walked over to Lu Wuyou.

Lu Wuyou was still fiddling with his pile of half-hearted tea. Helan Ci noticed that whenever his emotions weren’t quite right, he would always do something with his hands to cover it up, not liking to expose his emotions too directly.

In that regard, she was often the same.

Not just because of her father’s teachings, but also because openly displaying raw emotion would put her in a passive, embarrassed, and lose the dignity of a scholar. So she would rather remain calm forever than ever throw a scene.

But right now, this has turned into a deadlock.

She whispered, “Lu Wuyou.”

Lu Wuyou’s hand stilled. Just as he turned his head and lifted his eyes, Helan Ci softly tugged at the collar of his robe. He looked up at her, and the extremely beautiful girl had a hint of anxiety on her face, one she perhaps didn’t even recognize herself. Then, she tiptoed and pressed her lips to his.

Like a clumsy all-or-nothing bet.

In an instant, Lu Wuyou felt an extremely rare sense of helplessness.

He even forgot what to do next, and could only let that silly girl clumsily try to pry open his lips, as if trying to unlock his heart, to figure out what he was really thinking.

The tip of the tongue carried a hint of timidity, a hint of hesitation; clearly doing something so bold, yet still evoking a sense of pity.

Lu Wuyou drew in a deep breath.

——It’s killing him.

In the next moment, he could no longer restrain himself and swept her into his arms. Caught off guard, Helan Ci was abruptly pulled onto his lap, her body nearly pressed against his. Lu Wuyou took advantage of the momentum, one hand clasping the back of her neck, the other pressing against her waist. In the blink of an eye, he unhesitatingly extended his tongue and collided with hers.

These past few days, he had been deliberately keeping his distance from her.

If she truly chose to leave, to pursue an entirely new life, then whether he was part of it or not didn’t really matter. They hadn’t been together that long—just a few short months. For a woman of the capital, chastity and reputation were important, but not everything was irreplaceable. As far as he knew, there were plenty who weren’t as particular—so all he had to do was remove Helan Ci from his life.

He’d lived over ten years without her before and hadn’t felt anything was particularly missing. In fact, Lu Wuyou once thought that whether or not to marry was of no consequence, since he had no interest in it anyway.

Returning to the life he had before shouldn’t be so hard.

He could do it.

But the moment their tongues entwined, that brain-shattering, addictively pleasurable sensation surged through his entire body—screw it, to hell with what he could or couldn’t do!

Lu Wuyou kissed her urgently, his hand on her waist tightening even more.

Helan Ci was dazed. She had thought Lu Wuyou had recently become ascetic and restrained, but who would’ve guessed he’d kiss her to the point of total surrender, completely disarmed. His long fingers continued to caress the back of her neck and her waist, holding her in place, invading again and again…

She didn’t even realize they were still out in the courtyard. Overhead, the moonlight continued to gently pour down. She was nearly kissed into breathlessness by Lu Wuyou.

Her nose was filled with that faint, clean sweetness unique to him. Between their lips, she could taste the honey jujube pastry he had just eaten, mixed with the slight bitterness of tea.

Her body had gone soft, limp as she sat in his lap. Her clear eyes were now clouded with haze and flushed with color, steam rising within them. Her cheeks were crimson, breath erratic—she could only let him do as he pleased. She had nearly forgotten that she had been the one to kiss him first.

After a while, Helan Ci finally remembered the main point of her kiss.

She tilted her head back with some effort, only for Lu Wuyou to chase after her again. She had to weakly press a hand against him to stop him, and gasped, “…Stop kissing me—can we talk first?”

Lu Wuyou struggled to pull his senses back.

He could barely recall what they had been discussing earlier. His mind had been emptied by bliss, rational thought slipping away like ice he couldn’t grasp—an utterly terrible yet intoxicating feeling.

Lu Wuyou pressed a hand to his forehead and finally gave the answer he hadn’t wanted to say:

“I was impatient… I want you to care a little more.”