Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 7

Chapter VII

After a few days, the weather became much clearer. Lu Baoer sat on the soft couch in the corridor and read a book. Although it was a bit cold here, it was very nice to hold the hot water bottle in her arms and bask in the sun.

She didn't like staying in the main house. It was surrounded by walls, like a cage, with no room for ventilation. She picked up a book to read. Her father had taught her calligraphy. Although it was said that a woman's virtue lay in her lack of talent, her father didn't believe in that. According to him, if you had knowledge, you could at least understand the contract of sale if you were sold.

Lu Baoer's father's expectations of her are too low. Why does he always think that she will be sold out?

While Lu Bao'er was reading at home, the old nanny announced that the Gu family had sent an invitation, saying there would be a fragrance appreciation meeting in three days, and invited Lu Bao'er to attend. Lu Bao'er asked who the Gu family was, and the old nanny replied that it was the residence of the Minister of Rites, Lord Gu. How could a second-rank official be interested in a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy editor?

Seeing that Lu Bao'er was full of questions, the old nanny explained the inside story to her: "The masters who come out of the Hanlin Academy either enter the cabinet or become local officials. They are disciples of the emperor, and those who can get in are definitely not ordinary fish. But don't think too much, Madam Gu is casting a wide net. Just look at the third and second place winners who serve in the Hanlin Academy. Which one of them has not been invited to the Fragrance Appreciation Meeting. It's just a formality. Just go ahead and smile a little, drink some wine and tea, and don't talk too much."

Lu Baoer understood. This wasn't Madam Gu trying to curry favor with a lowly official's wife. She was just worried that someone's husband would be very successful and rise to prominence in the future, so she wanted to meet him first to lay some foundation. If he really did become successful, then they would become more friendly.

It turns out that Kyoto and the countryside are the same. If you see someone about to become rich, you'll just knock on their door with egg pancakes, no matter whether they succeed or not, just win them over first. As the saying goes, it's easier to add icing on the cake than to send charcoal in the snow. This is exactly the same principle.

Lu Baoer showed little interest in the Fragrance Appreciation Meeting, while the old nanny was as if she were facing a formidable enemy. Since she had been assigned to Xie Junling's place, she belonged to the Xie Mansion, sharing the same fate. If Lu Baoer lost face at the Fragrance Appreciation Meeting, Lord Xie would undoubtedly be ridiculed by his colleagues, which would be no small matter.

If Lu Bao'er wasn't the type to be so easily manipulated, and she offended the other ladies in the backyard and started a fire, that would be fatal. Whose lady couldn't whisper in someone's ear? What if she was trying to trip up Xie Junling in the front?

Her worried look also affected Lu Baoer. Lu Baoer thought it was just a snack party, she would go there, find a secluded seat to sit, drink tea, eat cakes, smile at everyone she saw, and remain silent when she couldn't answer. At most, those people would laugh at her for not knowing the rules from the countryside, which was better than offending anyone.

Lu Baoer naturally knew that she could not compare with the daughters of wealthy families. In this case, she might as well be graceful and establish her identity and background as a country girl, appearing to be open and honest, and not imitate others and make people laugh at her.

The old nanny wasn't as open-minded as Lu Bao'er. She asked Lu Bao'er for some silver and used it to ask the servants of the Gu family to find out which visiting cards had been given to the young ladies of the different families. She also asked about what Madam Gu was wearing that day, as she didn't want to wear the same clothes. Perhaps because the servants were so well paid, they were all arrogant. After a long time of pretentiousness, she finally said, "My old lady always likes to wear red begonias."

All they had to do was avoid this color, and the servants passing by breathed a sigh of relief.

The day before the incense appreciation meeting, Lu Baoer was sorting spices in her room. When Xie Junling entered the main room, he was almost driven out by the smell of the girl's fragrance. He held his breath and asked Lu Baoer, "What is Madam doing?"

Lu Baoer took out a bottle of jasmine perfume and said, "Mrs. Gu sent me an invitation to attend the fragrance appreciation meeting at the Gu Mansion tomorrow. I thought I would bring some spices with me, so I started preparing them first."

Hearing this, Xie Junling was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "The so-called Fragrance Appreciation Association is just a name. Those ladies probably don't bring any spices, so you don't have to worry too much."

"If there's no spices involved, why is it called the Fragrance Appreciation Society?"

"I just found an excuse to get you all together. If there's a fuss in the officialdom, there's bound to be some turmoil in the backyard." Xie Junling's casual words made Lu Baoer a little nervous. She licked her lower lip and asked worriedly, "If I can't handle these things well, will it cause trouble for my husband?"

Xie Junling glanced back at her. The little girl rested her hands on the table, craning her neck to look at him. Her long, thick black hair fell, covering the jade-like neck. The contrast between black and white was so vivid that it made his eyes ache.

He inexplicably felt a pity for her and whispered, "No. If I still had to rely on you to make a living, I'd be completely useless. It's just a women's banquet. If you find it interesting, go a few times. If you're upset, just pretend to be sick and stay home. There's no need to bother trying to deal with it."

The old nanny had said that any other man would have his wife inquire about his superiors' affairs, but how could Xie Junling, to please her, even deny such a good opportunity? Could it be that... Xie Junling was doting on her?

Lu Baoer's heart was beating like a drum. She asked in a delicate voice with some girlish shyness, "My husband, is it because you love me that you let me avoid these annoying social events?"

Xie Junling glanced at her and replied indifferently, "Don't think too much. I'm just afraid that you'll say too much and make mistakes outside and cause trouble for me. It's better for you to stay at home and keep our family safe."

"Oh." Lu Baoer shouldn't have expected too much from such a sharp-tongued man. He couldn't say anything ivory from his golden mouth.

That night, Xie Junling went to talk to the housekeeper in the study. The housekeeper was very curious. Normally, Xie Junling didn't care about the affairs of the inner house, so why did he suddenly come to see him?
He was feeling uneasy, and his wife coaxed him for a long time, saying that Lord Xie was definitely not a master who would speak without a purpose, and that he probably had something to tell him.

As soon as the steward arrived at the study, Xie Junling placed the lid of the tea bowl in his hand heavily on the bowl, making a loud sound of white porcelain hitting the porcelain, which scared the steward.

He was sweating profusely, and he couldn't detect any emotion from Xie Junling's expressionless face. He simply felt that Xie Junling was a wolf in sheep's clothing, ruthless and resolute by nature, leaving no trace of trouble. Had he in some way displeased the master? The steward racked his brains but couldn't figure it out.

Xie Junling knew the steward was loyal, and he didn't want to embarrass him, so he spoke slowly and deliberately, "It's only been a few days since Madam returned home, how come the Gu family got the news and sent an invitation?"

The steward hadn't expected Xie Junling to ask about this. He thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps the doorman saw my wife welcoming someone in and guessed it was the lady coming to the mansion, so the news leaked out."

"I'm just a servant, yet I dare to gossip about my master's affairs. Today I dare to say that the lady has returned. Tomorrow, won't the letters in my study also be known to others?" Xie Junling's tone was not harsh, but the content of his words frightened the steward.

You know, every official has their own secrets. If someone were to easily discover their position in the court, they could be killed. "Sir Xie, you're suspicious of someone else spying on your family!" The steward broke out in a cold sweat. After careful consideration, he knew that this was a bad idea.

He gritted his teeth and said, "It's my fault for not being reliable enough. Please rest assured, sir, I will definitely handle this matter well."

"Hmm." Xie Junling picked up the teacup again and drank from it. His eyes, with drooping lashes, were clear and bright. The Gu family had been saying they wanted to get rid of Lu Baoer, and after all the hard work he'd done to find her, they were targeting her again. If he didn't deal with this old fox, wouldn't he dare to take advantage of him in the future?

Do they really think he is a fool, easy to tease? He wants to see if the Gu family has the ability to snatch her away from him.

(End of this chapter)