CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 65: THE GRAND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Several days went by like this.

On this day, Lu Qing, who had been returning home every night with the smell of alcohol, surprisingly came home before dusk and showed no intention of leaving again. He even stayed to have dinner with Zhu Yu.

"Next month’s beginning is Assistant General Cao Tianbao’s birthday; today he sent me an invitation, asking me to bring my wife to the banquet," Lu Qing suddenly said halfway through their meal.

Zhu Yu looked up at him, paused, just about to reply, when he unhurriedly continued, "But I’ve already declined on your behalf."

The Assistant General holds a Standard Second Rank military position in the court. The post of General of Cavalry has been vacant, making him the highest-ranked military officer. When Cao Tianbao celebrates his birthday, officials, both civil and military, would even find excuses to attend, even if they hadn’t received an invitation.

By then, all the noble women of the Capital will probably gather in the back courtyard of the General Mansion. With such a large gathering, I’m afraid you’d find it overwhelming. Rather than put on a polite façade and feel on edge, it’s better that I declined the invitation for you."

Zhu Yu felt a bit discontent about Lu Qing’s decision-making. But she had to admit he was right. Just thinking about what topics those ladies might discuss when gathered made her head spin.

Lu Qing glanced at her without a change in expression and said, "Though I declined the invitation for you, I still need to take a personal attendant to the banquet."

I’ve sent Rune on an errand, and he won’t be back by the month’s start. Taking Fu Lu wouldn’t be appropriate either, with his intimidating appearance possibly offending the host.

So..."

Zhu Yu immediately looked over, unknowingly her eyes were practically shining.

Lu Qing’s lips curved slightly, the muscles on his cheeks subtly contracting into an almost imperceptible smile. He cleared his throat, "So I wonder if Mr. Zhu would do me the honor of accompanying me to the banquet?"

"Sure," Zhu Yu agreed without hesitation.

She’s truly been feeling stifled these days. The opportunity to go out and avoid superficial chatter with those ladies is quite satisfying indeed.

Zhu Yu is a practical person and never resorts to playing hard-to-get when she is presented with arrangements that satisfy her.

She originally planned to find a chance to ask Lu Qing about the agricultural tax issue over dinner; instead, learning that she’d accompany Lu Qing to the banquet made her change her mind.

If Lu Qing didn’t want to discuss it, he’d probably find some way to divert her attention again, so it’s better to not ask at all.

Seeing she has her own eyes and ears and a functioning brain, she can observe and judge some matters independently.

Perhaps because she had something to look forward to, the subsequent days seemed less monotonous and wearing.

Two days before Assistant General Cao Tianbao’s birthday, Fu Lu returned with something for Zhu Yu.

"Madam, the master asked me to deliver this to you." He handed it over with a beam, "Master said your original little cloth bag gets dirty easily and isn’t very convenient, so he had a piece of fine leather crafted, finding a skilled artisan to tan it soft and sturdy, waterproof, just suitable for your items!"

Zhu Yu took the leather pouch, spread it open and found it exactly the same in structure as her fabric bag. Clearly, Lu Qing had remembered it after seeing it and instructed someone to make a replica.

Since returning from Qingshui County, Lu Qing had intermittently sent various items to the mansion, ranging from the exquisite to the rare.

But this leather pouch was indisputably what pleased Zhu Yu the most.

She immediately emptied the tools from her old fabric bag into the leather one, fastened it with the leather strap attached, and examined it in her hand, finding it more pleasing the more she looked at it.

Soon, Assistant General Cao Tianbao’s birthday arrived.

On that day, Zhu Yu rose early, selected an ordinary set of male clothing to wear, pinned up her hair with a wooden hairpin, and checked herself in the bronze mirror. After confirming no problems, she was satisfied.

Lu Qing, though free from court duty on this day, still got up early. At this moment, he returned from outside, in a dark green narrow-sleeved outfit, forehead beaded with sweat as if just finishing a training session.

As soon as he entered, seeing Zhu Yu inspecting her appearance in the mirror, he turned sidewise to smile silently. When he turned back, his face was composed again, and he walked steadily over to turn Zhu Yu away from the mirror to inspect her. Picking up the blue sparrow-head eyebrow brush from the table, he began doing her eyebrows.

The blue sparrow-head eyebrow brush was among the many "gifts" Lu Qing had people deliver earlier, which Zhu Yu had casually placed on the dressing table beside the bronze mirror. She hadn’t expected Lu Qing to now use it for the first time.

With a few simple strokes on each side, Lu Qing stepped back to evaluate his work and nodded in satisfaction, "That will do."

Zhu Yu turned her head to look at herself in the bronze mirror, finding that while her eyes, nose, and mouth were unchanged, her eyebrows had utterly transformed with Lu Qing’s few strokes.

Originally fine and soft, her eyebrow shape was now much fuller, with slightly lifted peaks, giving her whole face a more rugged appearance, masking its original delicacy.

Even Zhu Yu wondered if it was her imagination. With this makeover, her features seemed maturer than usual.

Minimal changes yet entirely different impressions.

Zhu Yu recalled that back in Qingshui County, Lu Qing disguised himself as an attendant with her while they gathered intel. Even then, he only used the simplest means to mute his inherent noble aura and radiance.

Lu Qing soon also changed his attire; to attend the banquet as Prince Xiaoyao, he now wore a purple round-neck robe with right lapel and broad sleeves, a gold-inlaid jade belt at the waist, and his hair tied atop with a pure gold crown. At a glance, he exuded grandeur.

Zhu Yu viewed his attire and internally drew a question mark.

On their wedding day, words failed to describe Lu Qing in his celebratory clothes.

In Qingshui County after that, either in plain casual clothes or the dark garb of the Golden-faced Imperial Censor.

After their return, except for formal court wear during morning duty, he rarely dressed so flamboyantly in everyday life.

For some reason, Zhu Yu felt that Lu Qing’s high-profile attire at the Assistant General’s banquet was deliberate.

Perhaps it better matched the public’s impression of Prince Xiaoyao.

As she pondered on Lu Qing’s dress sense, Lu Qing, straightening his attire, glanced up to see Zhu Yu seeming lost in thought and burst into laughter. Raising his eyebrows, he asked, "What’s on your mind, my lady? Could it be you’re so taken by your husband’s appearance that you’re entranced?"

Oh, it’s this trick again, is it?

Zhu Yu collected her thoughts and replied calmly, "The Prince’s attire is indeed elegant and charming, though it doesn’t quite captivate my heart yet. Perhaps you’ll need to put in a bit more effort."

Lu Qing laughed heartily, let Zhu Yu’s remark slide, and headed out, while she wordlessly followed, her gaze on his broad, upright back.

No matter, there’s plenty of time ahead. Sooner or later, I’ll discover what your real face is beneath that fox-like demeanor.