The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 44

Xiao Ba swallowed nervously and stammered, “Lord Regent, I… I won’t let Lu Xia down, you can rest assured.”

Lu Zhao’s gaze was dark and icy as she descended the steps one by one, looking down at Yunxia from above. She enunciated each word deliberately, “Oh? Lu Xia?”

Lu Zhao emphasized the character “Xia” with particular intensity, her tone lifting at the end like a lover’s whisper. Upon hearing this, Yunxia bowed her head even lower, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably. A blush spread from her neck all the way to her cheeks, and her hands clutched at the fabric of her clothes on either side.

Xiao Ba felt a shiver of fear, sensing the strange tension in the air. He nudged Yunxia’s shoulder and said, “Xiao Xia, our master is asking you a question! Why are you being so shy?”

Caught off guard, Yunxia was pushed right in front of Lu Zhao. As she drew near, she caught the faint scent of alcohol on Lu Zhao and could almost feel her scorching breath.

Yunxia shot a glare back at Xiao Ba but didn’t dare lift her head to look at Lu Zhao. Instead, she kept her dark hair facing her and mumbled, “Y-yes, this humble one’s surname is Lu.”

Wen Yuan chuckled mockingly, leaning casually against the edge of the table and teasing deliberately, “Lu Xiao Zhao, I never realized there was someone in your household with the same surname as you, and such a handsome young man at that? Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at this timid little figure. Send him to my Rui Manor I guarantee I’ll treat him with more warmth than this regent!”

As Wen Yuan reached out to grab Yunxia, Lu Zhao subtly blocked his hand, loosely pulling her into an embrace. She said calmly, “I’ll head back to my room to rest now. Make yourselves at home.”

Xiao Ba couldn’t shake the feeling that the regent was displeased and worried that Yunxia might be mistreated. After a moment’s thought, he called out from behind, “Xiao Xia, I’ll leave the door unlocked for you tonight. Once you finish reporting, come back quickly to sleep!”

Yunxia paused in her steps, covered her ears, and waved him off. She stole a glance at Lu Zhao beside her and, seeing her expressionless face as she ascended the stairs, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Wen Yuan stroked his chin, never one to shy away from stirring up trouble, and gave Xiao Ba a thumbs-up. “Xiao Ba, you’ve done well tonight! I’ll reward you handsomely when we return!”

With a childlike enthusiasm, Xiao Ba jumped up and said, “I always say that having a kind heart never goes wrong!”

Beside him, Song Ziyan was exasperated. Wen Yuan had been like this since childhood always trying to annoy Lu Xiao Zhao, always wanting to see some emotion from that icy-cold person.

Once back in her room, Lu Zhao sat down leisurely, poured herself a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly without paying any attention to Yunxia.

Yunxia stood awkwardly to the side, unsure whether to leave or stay. She stared at Lu Zhao’s impassive profile, and a wave of inexplicable grievance and sorrow washed over her. After all, Lu Zhao was the one who had done wrong she hadn’t brought her along, yet she had been so intimate with that Song Jin in front of everyone at the city gate. And when she saw her, there was no sign of joy, only that stern face.

The more Yunxia thought about it, the sadder she became. Her long, delicate eyelashes trembled, and she bit her lip hard, refusing to let her tears fall.

Lu Zhao slowly set down her cup, her slender fingers lightly tapping the table a few times. Her dark eyes fixed intently on Yunxia as she fought the urge to pull her into an embrace. She spoke softly, “Are you and Xiao Ba very close?”

Yunxia’s eyes were red as she turned her head away, refusing to look at her. She had spent the entire day huddled in the carriage, cold and hungry, and now Lu Zhao was giving her the cold shoulder.

The more Yunxia thought, the more aggrieved she felt. Tears welled up in her eyes, stubbornly refusing to fall as she bit her lip tightly, unwilling to say a word.

Lu Zhao let out a soft sigh and stood up. She had been delighted to see Yunxia here earlier, but the sight of her being held by Xiao Ba ignited a fierce jealousy within her. That damned possessiveness screamed wildly in her heart Yunxia could only belong to her alone!

Lu Zhao stepped closer, one step at a time, and with each advance, Yunxia retreated. Finally, with her back against a table, Yunxia had nowhere left to go. She leaned against the edge, tilting her head up slightly, looking at Lu Zhao with helpless confusion.

Lu Zhao pressed her leg between Yunxia’s, trapping her beneath her. One hand firmly cupped Yunxia’s head, forcing her to meet her gaze, while her slender fingers pressed against Yunxia’s pale lips, rubbing them repeatedly. “Hmm? Xiaxia, speak,” she urged in a low, husky voice, laced with temptation.

Yunxia’s beautiful fox-like eyes were misty with tears as she was forced to look directly at Lu Zhao. Her face showed a trace of grievance, her rosy lips slightly pouted as she accused pitifully, “Sister, you’re bullying me.”

A tear slid from the corner of her eye and landed on the back of Lu Zhao’s hand, searing her heart as if burned. Lu Zhao gently stroked Yunxia’s cheek. They were so close that Lu Zhao’s alcohol-tinged breath brushed against Yunxia’s face, sending tingles through her.

Yunxia’s body trembled slightly. Her hands clutched the edge of the table helplessly, her fingertips turning white. Tears streamed down uncontrollably as she sobbed, “Sister… I hate you! All you do is bully me.”

Lu Zhao kissed away her tears one by one, coaxing softly, “Xiaxia, don’t cry, be good.”

Yunxia’s body softened beneath Lu Zhao’s as she cried. Dressed in men’s clothing, her slender waist was accentuated, her eyes shimmering with tears, and the tip of her nose flushed red. She looked irresistibly delicate and enchanting, tempting one to tease her further.

Just as Lu Zhao leaned in to capture her red lips, a low growl erupted from Yunxia’s stomach. Startled, Lu Zhao paused, then burst into laughter.

Blushing deeply, Yunxia pushed her away, the pink on her cheeks deepening.

Lu Zhao pulled her to the table and made her sit, ordering food and watching quietly as she ate. After wiping the corner of Yunxia’s mouth, she said gently, “Xiaxia, I’ll have someone take you back tomorrow morning. Don’t make a fuss.”

Yunxia froze, the image of Lu Zhao speaking intimately with Song Jin that morning flashing through her mind. Tears threatened to fall again, but she held them back, a cold sneer forming on her lips. She stood up, looking down at Lu Zhao, and asked icily, “Are you sending me back because it’s dangerous, or because you’re afraid of upsetting Miss Song?”

Lu Zhao was taken aback. “Xiaxia, you.”

Seeing that Lu Zhao offered no explanation or attempt to keep her, Yunxia turned to leave, her voice harsh. “No need to wait until tomorrow. I’ll leave right now! So I won’t be in your way!”

Lu Zhao stood and wrapped her arms tightly around Yunxia from behind, her hands firmly covering Yunxia’s smaller ones. “Xiaxia you’ve misunderstood me…” she whispered.

Yunxia’s eyes reddened as she struggled to break free. “Let me go! Yes, Miss Song is a refined lady from a good family, while I’m just a lowly concubine’s daughter who threw myself at you! Miss Song is devoted to you, what am I to you? Let me go!”

Lu Zhao held Yunxia tightly, his head nestled in the crook of her neck. “Mm! What else did you want to say?”

Yunxia’s tears fell drop by drop, her heart aching unbearably. She didn’t understand why the sight of Lu Zhao standing beside Song Jin affected her so deeply. A profound sense of inferiority tormented her heart despite her lifelong resilience, she felt utterly powerless in the face of status and family background.

Lu Zhao turned her around, gently wiping away her tears one by one and caressing the corners of her eyes. “Xiaxia,” he said softly, “your tears are breaking my heart. I had no idea Song Jin would come this morning.”

He sighed, his gaze intense as he looked at her. “Xiaxia, do you really not understand me? Among all the people in the world, it’s only you I want.”