To Marry the Elder Brother of One's Late Husband - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The God-like Eldest Brother

In the three hundred years since the founding of the Great Ying Dynasty, countless scholars had entered the imperial service, but in the entire history of the court, only Lu Changji had mastered all learning, ancient and modern, and achieved the rare “Triple First” in the civil examinations.

Lu Changji possessed unparalleled strategic brilliance. Since entering officialdom, he had performed numerous legendary feats. Now, at only twenty-six years old, he held the position of Minister of Justice. He was the youngest Grand Secretary in the Cabinet, and aside from the Minister of Revenue, Lu Zhun, no one could stand against him.

Jiang Shu’s marriage to Lu Changyi was already considered “marrying up.” How could she dare, for her own selfish survival, to harbor designs on her god-like eldest brother-in-law?

In the inner kitchen, the servants’ gossip was becoming increasingly crude. Jiang Shu’s heart felt like a tangled mess of silk. She patted her cheeks and fled the kitchen as if escaping a crime scene.

Returning to the bedroom, she found Lu Changyi dozing on the chaise longue. He was tall, but so thin he looked like a sheet of paper that might blow away in the wind.

Looking at his frail frame, a wave of guilt flooded Jiang Shu’s heart. Her husband was sickly and could barely leave the house, yet to protect her, he frequently stood up to his own mother in the West Hall. He treated her so well; how could she even think of his brother…

Caught between sorrow and shame, Jiang Shu felt a sour ache in her chest, as if a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

She paced to the outer room and took out her needlework basket to sew a sleeping robe for Lu Changyi. Having grown up in the cash-strapped Jiang household, she had learned to support the family with her needlework and possessed exquisite skill. Lu Changyi gave her protection, status, and wealth; she had nothing of equal value to return, so she could only give him her utmost care.

With her head bowed, she guided the thread, making the stitches fine and dense. Once finished, she carefully trimmed the loose ends and washed the garment before calling for Fang Yu to scent it with incense.

By the time she finished, Lu Changyi had woken up. He gazed at the lush pomelo tree in the courtyard and whispered, “It’s stuffy in here. Why don’t we go for a stroll in the yard?”

It was a hot summer. Because of Lu Changyi’s health, they couldn’t use ice basins for cooling, and they didn’t even dare open the windows. Jiang Shu was already drenched in sweat and longed for the cool air outside.

However, remembering the symptoms Lu Changyi suffered the last time he caught a draft, she hesitated. She smiled softly and said, “There might be mosquitoes this time of year. Let me check the courtyard first. If it’s clear, I’ll take you out.”

The Marquis’s estate had many servants. In summer, a group was dedicated to burning mugwort to smoke out the courtyards. The scent was so strong that not even a cicada could be found, let alone a mosquito.

Men are prideful; the more they lack, the more they loathe being reminded of it. Lu Changyi was so frail he would collapse at a breeze, and he hated hearing talk of illness. To avoid upsetting him, Jiang Shu spoke with careful tact.

She stepped outside. The banana leaves under the eaves were still and silent. With no wind, it was safe for him to come out.

With a graceful smile, she returned inside. “It’s very peaceful out there—not a single mosquito. Let’s go for a turn.”

She leaned down to support him, intentionally slowing her steps to match his rhythm. After just a few paces, Lu Changyi’s pale cheeks turned a faint red, and fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Jiang Shu quickly helped him to a nearby sofa. “If you are tired, we can go another day. The weather gets better every day, after all.”

Lu Changyi’s illness trapped him, but it also trapped Jiang Shu. As his wife, she had to stay by his side; since he couldn’t go out, she rarely had the chance either. Not wanting to ruin her mood, Lu Changyi ordered his servant, Changshun, to bring his wheelchair.

He looked at Jiang Shu with a helpless, bitter smile. “My body fails me, yet I am greedy for the evening view. I must trouble Shu’er to push me to the garden.”

Jiang Shu knew he was doing this for her sake, and a warm current flowed through her heart. She pushed the wheelchair out into the light.

The sunset painted the western sky in brilliant reds, casting a warm glow over the green lake. As they chatted quietly, they rounded a corner and came face-to-face with Lu Changfeng and his wife, Hu Lingshuang.

Lu Changfeng had inherited the good looks of his mother, Concubine Hu. He was handsome at first glance, but a closer look revealed murky, clouded eyes. He looked at Lu Changyi with a mocking, half-smile. “Is the sun rising from the west? Why is the Second Brother out of his room?”

“Second Brother is fragile; he should stay inside to nurse his health, lest he catch a chill and get the servants of the Spring Pavilion punished.” He made a “hush” gesture. “Oh, I forgot. Second Brother never cares for the lives of the help. Their lives are like grass. But you should at least consider the Second Sister-in-law’s dignity. Last time you got sick after going out, Mother punished—”

“I wonder if the Third Brother has found Lady Rui yet?” Jiang Shu interrupted coldly.

Lu Changfeng was a notorious philanderer. Despite having the beautiful Hu Lingshuang, he still frequented the brothels. Lady Rui was a famous courtesan he had tried to redeem. In a noble family, having a few concubines was nothing, but bringing home a woman on the streets was a laughingstock. Before Hu Lingshuang could act, the Hu clan had found out and sold the girl to a human trafficker.

Lu Changfeng was still obsessed with Lady Rui’s “skills” in bed and had been secretly searching for her. He thought he was being discreet, but Jiang Shu had found out. If this became public, the Marquis would likely skin him alive.

Lu Changfeng glared at her. He had thought his sister-in-law was a soft, obedient woman he could mold like clay. He hadn’t expected her to have such sharp thorns. He peeked at his wife; seeing her expression was normal, he relaxed. He didn’t want to upset the pregnant Hu Lingshuang.

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Lu Changfeng blustered. “Why would I look for her? She doesn’t compare to my Shuang’er.”

He stopped mentioning Jiang Shu’s past punishment, and Jiang Shu didn’t press further. She simply said, “If the Third Brother has a heart, take good care of your wife. Giving birth to an heir is what matters.”

Suddenly, Hu Lingshuang spoke up: “There are three ways to be unfilial, and having no heir is the greatest. The Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law should hurry up. Second Brother is so weak; if there is no child for a long time, people will start to whisper.”

She looked at Lu Changyi with a meaningful, lingering gaze.

Jiang Shu’s nerves tightened. She saw Lu Changyi’s face turn even paler, his lips losing all color. She snapped at Hu Lingshuang, “Mind your own business. Worry about yourself, lest some other ‘Lady Zhang’ or ‘Lady Gu’ show up and cause you to lose your pregnancy from the stress.”

With the pleasantries shattered, Jiang Shu pushed Lu Changyi past them.

Back in their room, the scent of medicine lingered. Lu Changyi leaned against the bed, his expression dark. He gripped Jiang Shu’s hand and stared at her. “What did Mother do to you the day I fainted?”

Five days after their wedding, Lu Changyi had taken her to see plum blossoms. He fainted and was out for a day and night. Jiang Shu had spent that entire time kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment. Everyone knew, except him.

If Jiang Shu were selfish, she would tell him. But Lu Changyi was too good to her. If he knew, he would tear down the doors of the West Hall in a rage. She wasn’t afraid of the conflict, but she was afraid he would collapse from the anger.

She pulled her hand away and leaned in to straighten his clothes. “That’s old news from eight hundred years ago. If you get angry, you’re just falling into the Third Brother’s trap.”

A faint floral scent wafted toward him. Lu Changyi noticed a cluster of gardenias in her hair. Below them was her neck, white as snow. His gaze dropped to her full, porcelain chest.

Looking at her, a spark of desire flared up. Normally, he wouldn’t force a trial, but the memory of Hu Lingshuang’s mocking eyes stoked the fire in his blood.

He pulled Jiang Shu into his arms and whispered against her ear, “Shu’er, let us try one more time!”