My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 41

“Miss Xue? What brings you here?” Lu Jiahe instinctively took a step back as Xue Wanning hurried over and glared at her with anger.

Instead of answering, Xue Wanning narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Lu Jiahe’s face intently.

“She’s pregnant?”

The icy, chilling tone pierced Lu Jiahe’s ears. Watching the person before her gripping the sides of her robe, Lu Jiahe swallowed hard. “What’s the matter? Is there something you need?”

Lu Jiahe recalled the words Xue Wanning had spoken during their first encounter and the things she had done when they met again at the city gate later on.

Not wanting to waste any more of the other’s time, she went along with Xue Wanning’s line of questioning and admitted that Cheng Yi was pregnant.

“Ah!”

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanning let out a long sigh, then leaned forward and collapsed against a nearby pillar.

She beat her chest in frustration, her face full of sorrow as she stared at Lu Jiahe.

Thinking she had hurt the other’s feelings, Lu Jiahe frowned and stepped forward, intending to help her up.

“Don’t touch me!” Xue Wanning recoiled as if Lu Jiahe were a demon, yanking her arm away the moment Lu Jiahe reached out. “How could you marry her!”

The more Xue Wanning spoke, the more heartbroken and agitated she became, eventually sinking down onto the steps beside the pillar in a fit of anger.

Lu Jiahe shook her head at the sight of the other’s grief. “Miss Xue, I’m sorry, but my heart belongs only to Cheng Yi. I cannot betray her, nor will I let her share this love with anyone else.”

Xue Wanning was so consumed by the news of Cheng Yi’s pregnancy and impending marriage that she paid no attention to Lu Jiahe’s words.

However, the few people Xue Wanning had brought along, standing to the side, gasped in shock upon hearing their conversation. They exchanged uneasy glances, not daring to step in.

“Lu Jiahe, Lu Jiahe! What’s going on outside? Why haven’t you come back yet?”

Cheng Yi’s shouts from inside the room snapped Xue Wanning out of her sorrow.

Xue Wanning sniffled, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and then brushed past Lu Jiahe into the room.

Thinking Xue Wanning intended to confront Cheng Yi and cause a scene, Lu Jiahe followed closely behind her into the room.

“Miss Xue, please don’t be like this. This matter has nothing to do with her. If you’re angry, direct it at me. I’m the one who fell in love with her and asked to marry her.” Lu Jiahe stood by the bed, pleading earnestly with Xue Wanning, who was kneeling on the floor and weeping loudly, afraid she might say something hurtful to Cheng Yi.

Xue Wanning lifted her tear-filled eyes and glared at Lu Jiahe, then turned to the person on the bed and wailed, “Why did you have to marry him? It’s only been a few days, and you’re already carrying his child!”

Startled awake from her drowsy state, Cheng Yi sat up abruptly in bed. She glanced at the sobbing girl in front of her, then looked up at Lu Jiahe, her eyes seemingly asking what was happening.

Lu Jiahe understood the unspoken question and shook her head at Cheng Yi, her expression conveying that she, too, was unsure.

Cheng Yi shot Lu Jiahe an exasperated look, then reached out to help Xue Wanning, who was kneeling by the bed, to her feet and guided her to sit on the bed.

“Miss Xue, calm down and stop crying for now.”

As she spoke, Cheng Yi had Lu Jiahe fetch her towel.

“Why did you agree to marry her? Why so suddenly? Just a few days ago, you two were merely acquaintances!” Xue Wanning took the towel Cheng Yi handed her and wiped the tears from her face. At that moment, she truly did not want to see Lu Jiahe at all, barely suppressing the urge to tear her limb from limb.

“This.” Cheng Yi frowned as she looked at the young woman before her, unable to discern whether the other was upset because Lu Jiahe was marrying her or because she was marrying Lu Jiahe.

“Miss Xue, I agreed to marry her because I have feelings for her. Why are you crying so bitterly?” Cheng Yi pressed her lips together. Her expression filled with a strong desire to understand.

After hearing Cheng Yi’s words, Xue Wanning pursed her lips and tried to calm her emotions. If Cheng Yi truly had feelings for Lu Jiahe, what more could she say?

“Miss Cheng, I’ve brought the people you asked for. I’ll be traveling far tomorrow. Could you decide on who will stay and work today?”

The sudden shift in topic was too quick for Cheng Yi to follow.

“Alright.”

“In that case, please come out and meet them.” With that, Xue Wanning sorrowfully left the room.

After she was gone, Cheng Yi and Lu Jiahe exchanged glances, each seemingly trying to figure out from the other why Xue Wanning had been so emotionally distraught and wept so bitterly.

Once Cheng Yi had changed her clothes and stepped outside, she saw many unfamiliar faces standing in the courtyard.

Xue Wanning, having composed herself, stepped forward and introduced each of the people she had brought.

“This is Mr. Rong, who worked as an accountant in the capital for half his life.”

“This is Mr. Wu, who also spent many years in the capital as a manager and shopkeeper.”

As Cheng Yi listened to the introductions, she couldn’t help but wonder why all the people Xue Wanning had brought were from the capital. Moreover, they were clearly dressed as if they were well-off, yet they had left the capital to come to Bianjing to work for someone else.

“Miss Xue, the people you’ve brought are quite comprehensive. They could practically run a shop on their own,” Cheng Yi remarked, sitting on a stone stool and forcing a smile as she looked at the group.

Standing before her, Xue Wanning explained, “Their hometowns are all near Bianjing, and their families are here. That’s why it wasn’t hard to persuade them to come when I approached them.”

Hearing this, Cheng Yi didn’t dwell on it further. Since these individuals were experienced and would be working for her, she proceeded to discuss their monthly wages and finalized their employment on the spot.

Cheng Yi and Lu Jiahe didn’t want to waste a single second, as there was much to arrange before heading to the capital. After drafting contracts with the new hires, they didn’t even have time for breakfast and immediately took everyone to the shop to assign tasks.

“Miss Cheng, I have urgent matters at home. Since I’ve brought the people you needed, I’ll take my leave now. We can catch up when I return,” Xue Wanning said, stepping forward to bid farewell after seeing that the others were busy.

“I had hoped to invite you to stay for a meal, but since you have matters to attend to, I won’t keep you. I’ll personally visit to thank you when you return,” Cheng Yi replied. She had wanted to say more to persuade Xue Wanning to stay for a meal as a gesture of gratitude, but seeing the urgency on the other’s face, she held back.

“Very well, we’ll gather when I return. I’ll take my leave now,” Xue Wanning said, bowing respectfully to Cheng Yi before departing.

Cheng Yi was not accustomed to the intricate etiquette of ancient times, so she reached out and pulled the person up. “No need for such formalities. We’re friends.”

“Mm.” Xue Wanning pursed her lips and nodded at Cheng Yi.

Seeing that the other was about to leave, Lu Jiahe also stepped beside Cheng Yi and watched Xue Wanning bid farewell. “Goodbye, Miss Xue.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Wanning’s expression instantly darkened. With a frosty glare, she shot Lu Jiahe a fierce look before turning around and hurriedly leaving Yiju alone.

“Tsk, did you offend her somehow? Why has Miss Xue been giving you such a disapproving look all day?” Cheng Yi raised an eyebrow and scrutinized the person beside her.

Seeing this, Lu Jiahe quickly waved her hands. “No, no, it’s just that she’s been like this ever since she found out this morning that I’m going to marry you.” She glanced around, then leaned in close to Cheng Yi’s ear and whispered, “Could it be that Miss Xue has feelings for you? That’s why she’s so hostile toward me.”

Hearing this, Cheng Yi pushed Lu Jiahe away. “Don’t talk nonsense. She’s still an unmarried young lady.”

Lu Jiahe frowned and made a playful face at Cheng Yi before picking up her book bag and heading to the academy with Lu An.

After she left, Cheng Yi pondered deeply over the secret Lu Jiahe had just shared. “Impossible. It must be impossible.”

Although she didn’t mind being with Lu Jiahe, that didn’t mean she could accept just any woman. So, she decided to maintain some distance from Xue Wanning in the future. If it ever came to the worst-case scenario, she would make things clear with the other party.

Meanwhile, after leaving Yiju, Xue Wanning returned home, changed her clothes, and took a carriage to the capital. The princess of the current dynasty had run away from home, lost her memory, and was now unexpectedly pregnant and about to marry someone. What a monumental event! She had to return to the capital personally and report the matter in full to the old emperor.

Several days passed, and the day for Lu Jiahe and Cheng Yi to go to the capital drew nearer. Although the two insisted on handling their wedding preparations themselves, Lu Jiahe’s grandmother and Lu Zhengliang, being the most excited about it, secretly arranged everything for them.

“Young Master, Madam, the tailor shop has delivered the wedding attire. Please try them on to see if they fit.” Guo’er, along with a few maids, brought the wedding robes into the room for the two to inspect.

Cheng Yi had only ever seen brides wear such attire at friends’ weddings. Now that she was about to wear these robes and become someone’s wife, she felt a little excited inside.

“Were these all embroidered by hand?” Cheng Yi stood by the table, carefully examining the golden thread embroidery of dragons and phoenixes playing on the two sets of crimson wedding robes. She marveled at the incredible craftsmanship, thinking how such intricate garments could be completed in just a few days.

“Yes, Madam. The Old Ancestor and the Master specially visited the best embroidery workshop in Bianjing and hired a highly skilled embroiderer to make these.” Guo’er felt genuinely happy, sensing that many in the household were quietly caring for her masters.

Hearing this, Cheng Yi nodded with slight approval. “Mm, the craftsmanship is truly excellent. If I have time, I’d like to learn it myself.”

Beside her, Lu Jiahe shot Cheng Yi a surprised glance, doubting that her impatient nature could ever sit still for hours doing such meticulous work.

“Young Master, Lady, please try them on quickly. The tailors are still waiting outside. If the measurements aren’t right, they’ll need to make urgent alterations so they won’t miss the auspicious wedding date set by the old master.”