My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 65

The spy lurking within the imperial city relayed the news of the old emperor’s intention to bring the eldest princess back to the palace to the Eighth Prince.

“Your Highness, shall we take action tonight?”

Seated in the main chair, the Eighth Prince stroked his beard while glancing at the young eunuch beside him.

“Good. It’s all thanks to you for bringing such important news.” The Eighth Prince raised his hand and summoned his attendant outside. “Someone, come! A reward!”

The attendant standing guard at the door immediately entered upon hearing his master’s call, pulled a stack of silver notes from his money pouch, and handed them to the eunuch.

The eunuch’s grin stretched from ear to ear at the sight.

He reached out to take the silver notes offered, then promptly excused himself and left the Eighth Prince’s residence.

Watching the eunuch’s retreating figure, the Eighth Prince exchanged a meaningful glance with his steward, who then went out and led several figures clad in black attire away.

“A eunuch who would even betray the emperor, who knows if he might sell me out someday?”

Sitting in his chair, he narrowed his eyes, plotting the night’s scheme. He then summoned his steward again and ordered him to gather all the private soldiers he had been raising outside the city and bring them into the capital.

That night, a continuous drizzle fell over the capital. Inside the Lu residence, Lu Jiahe lay on his stomach on the bed, reading a storybook with his wife.

“Does your bottom still hurt?” Cheng Yi stretched as she sat up and looked at Lu Jiahe.

Hearing her, Lu Jiahe set down the book and slowly turned onto his side. “It’s alright. The beating wasn’t too harsh, and it feels much better now.”

“That’s good. With a few more days of rest, it should heal completely.” Cheng Yi got up, took both her and Lu Jiahe’s storybooks, and placed them on the table. “It’s getting late. Time to sleep.”

“Alright.”

Lu Jiahe lay on the inner side of the bed, pulling up the quilt as he waited for his wife to join him in the pleasures of intimacy.

“What are you doing? Get off! How can you be so unruly even when you’re injured?”

In her sleep, Cheng Yi vaguely sensed someone furtively moving over her. When she opened her eyes, she saw that little rascal Lu Jiahe wantonly stirring desire atop her.

“Wife, I want to kiss you.” Lu Jiahe buried his face beside Cheng Yi’s, whining incessantly.

At this point, it must be said that the old emperor truly doted on his daughter. No matter how angry he was at the one who had taken advantage of her, he never intended to cause any real harm.

“Then why are your hands wandering?” Cheng Yi’s cheeks flushed as she stared at Lu Jiahe, grabbing the “mischievous paw” that was roaming under the covers.

Seeing his little trick discovered, Lu Jiahe imitated a snail, wriggling and squirming against her, even leaving snail-like trails of drool on her face.

“It’s uncomfortable. Stop it.” Cheng Yi couldn’t stand the damp, warm sensation on her face and neck, so she pushed the rascal, who had transformed into a snail-like rogue, aside with force.

“Ouch!” Lu Jiahe winced in pain, clutching his bottom.

Hearing his cry, Cheng Yi glanced over. “Serves you right for misbehaving. Now you know it hurts, don’t you?” With that, she picked up the pain-relief and anti-inflammatory ointment from the bedside, got up, and began applying it for him.

“Ouch! It hurts, be gentler, wife.” Lu Jiahe lay prone on the bed, tilting his head to watch the woman diligently tending to his wound.

Cheng Yi glanced at the other person upon hearing this, then deliberately pressed hard next to the bruised area. “See what happens when you don’t listen? Have you learned your lesson now?”

“I won’t dare anymore,” Lu Jiahe said with a pained expression, inwardly lamenting how “merciless” his wife was being toward him.

Just as the two were playfully teasing each other in the room, a rustling sound arose outside the Lu residence. Soon, over a hundred people holding torches surrounded the house.

In the quiet of the night, a knocking sound also came from the study inside the Lu residence.

The few people resting in their rooms hurriedly put on their outer garments and rushed to the study to investigate.

“Young Mistress, the sound is coming from the secret passage,” Lu An said after listening carefully in the room for a while and discovering that the noise originated from behind the bookshelf.

Cheng Yi frowned upon hearing this. She couldn’t understand why a group of people who held no grudge against them would launch a nighttime attack.

After thinking for a moment, she pursed her lips and instructed Guo’er and Lu An to gather all the silver ingots and banknotes in the room. She planned to slip away through the back door with Lu Jiahe and the others.

“Wife, we don’t even know these people. Why do we have to hide from them? Wouldn’t it be better to just explain the situation clearly?” Lu Jiahe asked, enduring the pain in his backside as he hurried alongside his wife toward the back door.

Cheng Yi turned her head to look at him and explained, “Do you remember what we overheard in the secret passage that day?”

Lu Jiahe nodded, indicating that he hadn’t forgotten.

“If those two could say such things, it means they know who we are and deliberately sold us this house with the secret passage.”

“But why would they go to such lengths to frame us?” Lu Jiahe asked, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

Cheng Yi didn’t know the reason either, so when Lu Jiahe posed the question, she couldn’t provide a clear answer.

The group hurried to the back door, but before they could remove the latch, they heard the clashing of swords outside.

“Wait, don’t open the door,” Cheng Yi said, stopping Lu An. She leaned against the door and listened carefully to the sounds outside.

“Traitors and rebels, where do you think you’re running?”

The voice outside sounded somewhat familiar to Cheng Yi, but for everyone’s safety, she refrained from opening the door.

“Lu An, go check the secret passage. If there’s any situation, report back immediately.”

Cheng Yi gritted her teeth, forcing herself to remain calm. In truth, she was terrified, but as the eldest and the one with the most authority in the household, if she panicked, the others would surely suffer greatly that night.

Lu An immediately went to the study to check as instructed. Finding that the sound of chiseling from the secret passage had ceased, he hurried back to the back door to report to his masters.

Cheng Yi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Lu An’s reply. “It seems someone knew about their plot tonight and sent people to rescue us.”

“Who?” Lu Jiahe couldn’t imagine who in the capital would have such timely information and be willing to risk their lives to save them.

Then it dawned on her.

When that person’s name and face surfaced in Lu Jiahe’s mind, it was as if she had eaten a freshly picked bitter melon, her entire face scrunched up from the bitterness.

Her thoughts were in turmoil, and in the end, she left the three behind, gritting her teeth against the pain as she walked alone to the kitchen to fetch a cleaver.

“Wife, I’m here. I won’t let anyone harm you in the slightest!” With that, Lu Jiahe raised the cleaver and reached out to remove the door bolt.

Cheng Yi couldn’t help but raise a hand to her forehead at the other’s childish behavior. She snatched the cleaver from Lu Jiahe’s hand and pointed it at her, saying, “This is a matter of life and death. Don’t add to the chaos.”

Though Cheng Yi knew Lu Jiahe was acting out of a desire to protect her, she was well aware of the other’s limitations. If she let Lu Jiahe go out now, it would be like sending her straight into the enemy’s hands. She would never gamble with Lu Jiahe’s life.

Upon hearing Cheng Yi’s words, Lu Jiahe’s face immediately turned cold. She bit her lower lip and stared fixedly at the other, as if all the trust between them had vanished in that instant.

Seeing the change in Lu Jiahe’s expression, Cheng Yi quickly understood what she was thinking and hurriedly explained, “I know you want to protect me and treat me well, but it’s too dangerous outside right now. I won’t let you go out. Lu Jiahe, have you considered what I would do if something were to happen to you?”

The anger that had flared up in Lu Jiahe at Cheng Yi’s earlier words faded upon hearing this explanation, and her expression shifted repeatedly.

“I understand. I was too impulsive and didn’t think things through,” Lu Jiahe said, pursing her lips and looking obediently at Cheng Yi.

Cheng Yi reached out and gently stroked her head. “Don’t put yourself in danger because of me, Lu Jiahe. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to go on living alone. Don’t do this again, understand?”

Lu Jiahe nodded. “Understood.” She took Cheng Yi’s hand and reclaimed the cleaver. “Stand behind me. If anyone comes in, I’ll protect you first.” With that, she limped to stand in front of Cheng Yi, shielding her completely.

So young, yet her heart and eyes were filled only with her.

Cheng Yi stood behind Lu Jiahe, pursing her lips as she stared at the other’s back. This time, she didn’t refuse. She could sense that this little chick wasn’t stepping forward out of jealousy upon hearing Xue Wanning’s voice, she genuinely wanted to use her own strength to confront whatever threatened to harm her.

“Alright.”

Cheng Yi wrapped her arms around the person in front of her and said softly, “Whether in life or death, we’ll face it together.”

What a touching scene, yet there were still two bright lightbulbs beside them.

Guo’er and Lu An stood to the side, wishing they could run back to their rooms and hide. Ever since their mistresses arrived in the capital, they had become increasingly open about their affection, never caring about others’ opinions, no matter the time, place, or who was around.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Is anyone home? Open up.”

The sound of knocking echoed, and Lu Jiahe gripped the cleaver with both hands, taking a deep breath.

“Lu An, open the door.”

Four simple words, yet they were filled with the resolute determination in Lu Jiahe’s heart at that moment.

Lu An listened as the sound of clashing blades faded outside, then reached out and lifted the bolt from the back door.

When the door swung open, the gruesome scene he had imagined did not appear. Instead, an old man and a young man stood facing each other, mouths agape in mutual horror.

“You rebellious little brat! How dare you defy me!”