Chapter 184

Jiang Xiurun’s complexion changed several times, her mind in a whirl of confusion.

What… exactly is going on? If, according to Feng Liwu, the Jieyou Pavilion was established under his orders, then who is the pavilion master? Is it a secret guard under Feng Liwu’s command?

Feng Liwu was initially in high spirits, but upon turning around and seeing Jiang Xiurun’s lack of enthusiasm, he wrapped his arm around her waist and asked, “What don’t you like here? I’ll have it rearranged.”

She shook her head, forcing a smile, “It’s just that this water pavilion is so elegant, I wonder who manages its daily affairs?”

Feng Liwu looked back at an old eunuch following them and pointed, “He does.”

Jiang Xiurun looked at the old eunuch’s face, wrinkled like an orange peel, not the pavilion master from her past life.

She wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or a twinge of disappointment.

Although she would have no further entanglement with that pavilion master in this life, he had given her much warmth and care in her previous life.

As someone stranded in a foreign land with no one to rely on, she had clung to that warmth, regardless of whether it might burn her.

Remembering this, her heart was filled with emotion.

Since they had entered the water pavilion, it was natural to dine there.

Baoli, living up to his nickname, loved eating fish.

The lake was home to a unique type of small-scaled fish that was delicious when grilled.

Today, Feng Liwu was free from his usual preoccupation with state affairs and staring at the lake.

He ordered fishing rods and bait, and sat on the pavilion’s bridge to fish by the lake.

Baoli also got a small fishing rod, baited with a worm, and sat beside his father, fishing earnestly.

In a few days, it would be the centennial ceremony of his mother’s homeland, Bo, and she would take him back to participate in the rituals.

So today, he wanted to catch more fish to dry and give to his uncle’s child.

Meanwhile, Xueyan, still young, fell asleep in the warm pavilion, basking in the afternoon sun.

Jiang Xiurun, tired from walking, sat on a carved pear wood couch in a high pavilion behind the father and son, gazing at the distant green-shrouded mountains.

The couch, carved with clouds and sun motifs, was the same one she had loved to lie on in the Jieyou Pavilion in her past life.

The scenery before her was also something she never tired of in her previous life.

Her gaze naturally fell on the two figures, one large and one small, in front of her.

The small-scaled fish from the lake were indeed delicious.

In her past life, she had once joked that she had never eaten freshly caught fish.

The pavilion master had immediately fished for her, slicing the fresh fish for her to eat with shrimp paste—it was incredibly delicious…

Thinking of this, her gaze involuntarily fell on the larger figure.

Perhaps because both Feng Liwu and the pavilion master were tall men, at a glance, they seemed quite similar.

However, Feng Liwu, who had always practiced martial arts, had a more robust and athletic build compared to the pavilion master.

But then again, in her past life, Feng Liwu had been thinner due to poor health following an assassination attempt at a hunting ground.

As she was lost in thought, a fish bit the hook.

Fearing the fish might slap his son with its tail, Feng Liwu told Baoli to step aside.

He then extended his arm, swiftly pulling the fishing line, creating a splash in the air, and slammed the fish onto the ground to stun it, preventing it from jumping and causing harm.

This action was fluid and something not easily imitated by others.

Jiang Xiurun, however, froze at that moment—the way he lifted the rod and slammed the fish was exactly the same as the pavilion master in her past life!

At that moment, it suddenly dawned on her—could the pavilion master, whose face she could barely remember, have been Feng Liwu in disguise?

If true… Jiang Xiurun’s heart churned with emotion.

The pavilion master from her past life had been a harmless and understanding presence.

Many times, when her brother wouldn’t listen to her advice or when her homeland was in turmoil, she would come alone to the Jieyou Pavilion to quietly drink and calm her nerves.

Although she never poured out her sorrows to the pavilion master, she considered him a confidant to whom she could reveal some of her thoughts.

If it were Feng Liwu in this life, the man who loved and understood her, it wouldn’t matter what they discussed.

But in her past life, what was her relationship with Feng Liwu? Merely that of a superior and a subordinate’s mistress.

Moreover, Feng Liwu had always been somewhat disdainful of her, the so-called enchantress.

She found it hard to imagine Feng Liwu, who appeared aloof in public, changing his appearance behind the scenes to serve her tea, fish for her, and offer her attentions.

Most importantly, during a drunken encounter, he had once told her not to dwell on her father’s indifference, that some people simply have a shallow parental bond.

She couldn’t remember exactly what was said, only that it stirred her emotions, and in a moment of shared vulnerability, they ended up drinking together, and she even pushed him onto the bed…

Probably too drunk and feeling that his usual gentlemanly demeanor was unmanly, she had teased him.

But as it turned out, the pavilion master, though seemingly frail, was indeed a man, with a strong grip at the waist!

That night, they got carried away until midnight.

When she sobered up, she felt embarrassed and regretful, quickly dressed, and fled, never daring to return to the Jieyou Pavilion.

As for that episode with him, she treated it as a dream induced by alcohol, deliberately forgetting it entirely.

But fate is cruel—what if the man she had drunkenly encountered in her past life was the always aloof and reserved Feng Liwu?

At this thought, she could no longer control her emotions.

Not wanting to see Feng Liwu’s proud expression after catching a big fish, she stood up abruptly and quickly walked back to her resting room, lying on the soft couch to calm her mind.

Soon, Feng Liwu came over, sat beside her, and took her hand, asking, “What’s wrong? Why the sudden change of mood?”

Jiang Xiurun, with her pent-up frustration, suddenly slapped his hand away and said, “Hypocrite!”

Feng Liwu, though his hand was slapped, was utterly confused.

If anyone else had acted so erratically, he wouldn’t have even looked at them, just ordered them dragged out and beaten to death.

But now, he had to patiently hold her, kissing her cheek and asking, “What upset you? And since when have I been a gentleman? Haven’t I always been open with you?”

As he spoke, his hand reached for her belt, ready to be “open.”

Jiang Xiurun, however, pushed him away forcefully, wanting to scold him but finding herself at a loss for words, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.

Feng Liwu, now concerned, quickly hugged her, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Jiang Xiurun didn’t answer, just cried in his arms, leaving Feng Liwu at a loss, resorting to comforting her as he would his daughter, gently rubbing her belly and asking, “Does your tummy hurt? Do you need to poop?”

Caught in the sorrow of her past life, his sudden question made her both laugh and cry, tears streaming as she hit his chest.

He held Jiang Xiurun, softly asking, “What’s really wrong?”

After venting, Jiang Xiurun found the strength to speak, sobbing, “I ask you, if you dislike someone but deliberately get close to them, why?”

Feng Liwu frowned at her seemingly random question, “If I dislike them, why would I get close?”

Jiang Xiurun glared, “If you wanted to use her, to extract information, you’d naturally get close!”

Feng Liwu, lying back on the bed with her, lazily replied, “When have you ever seen me deliberately flatter anyone? If I wanted to use someone, I’d send people to plant informants, why would I need to flatter them myself?”

Jiang Xiurun was stumped by his words, as they were all true.

Whether in her past life or this one, Feng Liwu had always been this aloof.

The only time he had knelt before old ministers to prevent his father from deposing him was the lowest point of his dignity.

Once he had the power to weather storms, he never stooped low again.

But all the details suggested that the pavilion master from her past life was Feng Liwu in disguise.

Unable to bear it, Jiang Xiurun, holding back her anger, asked again, “If you think a woman is too seductive, not a good person, yet you serve her tea, accompany her playing the zither and talking, are you sacrificing your charm to extract something?”

Feng Liwu raised an eyebrow this time, “If you put it that way, I might actually do that…”

Jiang Xiurun felt her chest tighten, tears threatening to fall again.

In her past life, he had not smoothly ascended the throne, and this place naturally became a hub for gathering intelligence as he had mentioned.

And his deliberate approach to her—was it to extract information about the Qin family?

As she was lost in these chaotic thoughts, growing angrier, Feng Liwu could no longer stand to see her tears.

He hugged her, laughing, “What you just described is you! Who else in heaven or earth could torment me like this? Doing so is just courting a fair lady, seeking her heart, what use or exploitation is there?”

Jiang Xiurun was left speechless, only able to retort hatefully, “If it were a woman under your command, would you still be so attentive?”

Feng Liwu thought Jiang Xiurun might be jealous of some woman.

But currently, he paid no attention to the few in the palace, and as for the relatives of his ministers, he had no opportunity to speak with them.

When had he ever been close to a subordinate’s woman to make her so upset?

But pressing further, Jiang Xiurun clammed up again.

However, she finally stopped crying.

And just then, Baoli called from outside for his father and mother to come out and eat the fish he had caught, putting an end to this inexplicable argument.

This outing left Jiang Xiurun with a heavy heart upon their return.