Thirty-Six Stratagems for Divorcing a Wife (GL) - Chapter 18

Nian Nianshi woke at the third watch of the night and saw Lu Jianshou sleeping beside the bed, her head pillowed on her arm. She couldn’t tell if her heart was filled more with joy or sourness.

“Princess, you’re awake?” Jin Yi, who was keeping night watch, came over with a blanket, only to see Nian Nianshi gesture for silence so as not to wake Lu Jianshou.

Jin Yi carefully draped the blanket over Lu Jianshou and whispered, “From noon until now, the Lord Consort has been worrying about Your Highness nonstop. Compared with how hateful she used to be, she has truly changed for the better.”

Hearing this, Nian Nianshi felt a warm current flow through her heart, but at the same time she said with some dejection, “Then all my ugly appearances during my illness must have been seen by her…”

She absolutely did not want to be seen as anything less than beautiful in Lu Jianshou’s eyes.

“Your Highness looks good no matter what, besides, isn’t there a saying—‘Even a wife of humble birth must not be cast aside’? If the Lord Consort were that kind of man, how could she endure letting Your Highness’s grip split her hands open without making a sound?” Jin Yi completely forgot that she herself had been belittling Lu Jianshou as worthless not long ago, and was now busy lifting her onto the clouds.

When Nian Nianshi noticed the bandages on Lu Jianshou’s hand, indeed crudely wrapped—“Lu-style,” crumpled and tight without breath, bad for healing—her heart ached. Quietly, she slipped out of bed, fetched the medicine box from the table, and squatted by Lu Jianshou’s side to unwrap the bandages layer by layer, intent on redoing them properly.

Seeing this, Jin Yi found it beautiful, but was still concerned: “Your Highness is still very weak, please rest more. We servants can do such things.”

But Nian Nianshi’s bloodless face lifted a pure smile of joy: “You’ve been keeping watch so long, you must be tired. Go rest—I want to do this myself.”

“The Lord Consort truly is fortunate, to marry our princess… then I’ll withdraw, please call if you need me.” Jin Yi was growing more and more fond of her mistress, and only hoped the two could live happily together forever—she would be satisfied with that.

Lu Jianshou once again started dreaming that same dream.

A spray of bl00d, a little girl’s wailing, a face full of despair.

“No…” She woke in shock, and at that moment met the gaze of Nian Nianshi, who had leaned close, concerned at her strange expression, wanting to check if she had a fever.

Startled, Lu Jianshou toppled forward, pressing Nian Nianshi down on the bed.

“……”

“You’re better now?”

“Mm… I heard from Jin Yi. Thank you for looking after me.”

“No need to thank me. It’s what I should do…”

“Mm… Did you have a nightmare?”

“Yes… I’ve had them since I was little. It’s fine…”

“Mm? But didn’t you say you lost your childhood memories?”

“It’s true I don’t remember much, but this dream has always been there… I don’t know why.”

“I see… What kind of dream is it?”

“Not a good one… do you want to hear it?”

“Are you willing to tell me?…”

“Yes…”

“Then sit up first… you’re so close I can hardly breathe.”

Rustle, rustle.

Lu Jianshou sat up, suddenly feeling as though pink bubbles floated all around them.

Nian Nianshi straightened her clothes and looked at her with a smile.

Feeling her adoring gaze, Lu Jianshou recalled her earlier talk with Jin Xiu, and her feelings grew mixed: “It seems to have happened when I was one year old. My mother took me to some banquet, and then… a most beautiful woman—she didn’t look like a native of the Central Plains—she seemed in terrible pain, saying things nonstop, but I can’t recall the words. I only remember the horror, and then… she stabbed herself before my eyes, bl00d spraying three feet…”

As she spoke, Lu Jianshou watched Nian Nianshi’s expression, only to see her smile gradually freeze, becoming stiff.

“What… are you afraid? Then I’ll stop…” Lu Jianshou reached to embrace her, gently falling silent.

“No… it’s just that the woman you speak of was most likely my mother…” Nian Nianshi had always known Lixiu Yan died before Lu Jianshou and her own mother. She had never imagined the one-year-old Lu Jianshou would remember it, “I too often dream of her… When I fall ill, I see her bl00d-soaked, clutching my throat, asking why I was born, why I don’t just die…”

“I’m sorry…” Lu Jianshou instantly felt guilty for stirring such grief.

But Nian Nianshi clasped her hand firmly: “It’s all right… keep talking, I want to hear…”

“The rest I can’t recall, only a baby girl’s heartbreaking cries. I long to hold her, but always wake at that point.” Lu Jianshou tightened her embrace of Nian Nianshi. “Let’s not talk of such horrors in the middle of the night. I’ll tell you good news instead—today I met the Empress. She promised to help me shed that court duty. From now on I can often come home. If you fall ill again, I won’t only hear of it so late.”

Nian Nianshi chuckled: “Even if you realize late, you needn’t blame yourself so. My illness isn’t your fault. Just having you here is already more than I could hope for.”

Lu Jianshou stayed silent. Nian Nianshi continued: “How is the Empress so kind? Just because you said you didn’t want to serve in the palace, she let you off?”

“Not so good a deal. Just that I’ve been shifted to an idle position—teaching the princes their lessons.” Lu Jianshou said blandly, though she hardly wanted even that much. Especially after seeing Nian Nianshi’s attacks, she wanted nothing more than to stay by her side around the clock.

“This won’t be so simple…” Nian Nianshi suddenly grew serious. “You were once the Crown Prince’s study companion, belonging to Consort Jin’s faction. Three years in the army and then marriage into Prince Yao’s household made you almost independent, cut off from the court. Now taking up the post of tutor to the heir apparent ties you directly to the Crown Prince’s line again, and drags you into dangerous currents. His Majesty has kept the Crown Prince for nine years without deposing him, meaning he has no intent to establish a new heir. My aunt has long resented this. Now she’s roping you in—how can her intentions be good…”

Lu Jianshou stared at her a long time before saying: “I’m just a minor general. What power do I have? You think too much and wear yourself out. It’s just teaching poetry and essays. At worst I’ll be fair and even teach the Crown Prince.”

“I used to think you a bit clever, but now it seems you’re simply a fool pretending to be wise!” Nian Nianshi tapped her nose. “Since you already accepted the Empress’s offer, focus on tutoring Cousin Houzhao. But don’t get too close, lest gossip spread. Always keep a wary eye, don’t wallow in the filth of intrigue. I’ll try to enter the palace and help you. Things here are messy enough; if you try playing both sides, you’ll end up distrusted by all, and they’ll join hands to sell you off.”

Lu Jianshou really was a bit dense about politics and cut her off: “All right, all right, I’ll listen to you. If the Empress doesn’t summon me, I’ll stay home and play with you. If she does, I’ll try to bring you along. Happy now?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll help my aunt sell you out?” Nian Nianshi teased.

Lu Jianshou pouted and pointed at the peony-and-phoenix robe draped over her: “If my wife sells me, this general goes willingly… how does the saying go? ‘To die beneath the peony is to die in style!’”

Nian Nianshi burst out laughing: “Then, husband, are you free tomorrow? I heard outings in the countryside are all the rage. Will you take me for a picnic?”

Lu Jianshou leaned back, thought a moment, then said: “Tomorrow I fear I cannot.”

“Why?” Nian Nianshi pouted.

“Tomorrow… I want to see Qingqin…” Lu Jianshou said solemnly, looking her in the eye.

Nian Nianshi’s expression immediately collapsed.

Lu Jianshou gave a crooked smile: “You’ll come with me. The place is set at the southern gate.”

“You go yourself. Why drag me along to watch you flaunt your affection with her?” Nian Nianshi turned away.

“There’s nothing between us… But today at court, seeing Princess Fenhui’s attitude toward me, I realized I went too far. That matter with Qingqin was really a misunderstanding. She only grieved over my sister’s death—I couldn’t bear her sorrow, so I kept her company one night. Then rumors spread, ruining her reputation. That’s wrong of me. If you come with me and we explain publicly, it’ll look like a performance for the people, and I won’t be spat on in the streets anymore.” Lu Jianshou recalled Fenhui’s disdainful glance. Since she’d be seeing her often in the palace, she’d suffer without patching things up with Jin Qingqin.

She also thought of Jin Qingqin’s confession that night.

That was why today she’d been like an ostrich, avoiding her.

But some things had to be said plainly—running away would solve nothing.

And Lu Jianshou had another aim for this meeting: to make Jin Qingqin finally give up her love for her.