novelraw Chapter 560 - 559: Lu Chao Arrives
Chapter 560 - 559: Lu Chao Arrives
"Rest assured, madam! I will definitely immerse myself in study!" Fu Lu nodded excitedly.
Zhu Yu smiled and nodded at him, "Let’s eat, remember to save some room for dessert, it’s best enjoyed fresh, it won’t taste as good tomorrow."
"Thank you, madam!" Fu Lu replied cheerfully.
Fu Wen couldn’t help but laugh along beside him.
Ordinarily, his robust and bold brother always carried a bit of the burden of being a man, but now he couldn’t maintain his composure in front of madam.
Lu Qing sat at the table with a gentle smile on his face, watching Zhu Yu chat with his two guards. Despite being in a somewhat cramped courtyard, it felt rather humble compared to the not-so-luxurious Prince Xiaoyao Mansion.
At this moment, however, he felt incredibly at ease.
Having narrowly escaped death numerous times in childhood, he almost returned to the cycle of reincarnation.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, he was rescued by his master, and then accompanied by Yan Daoxin and Lu Chao.
Although these two were like brothers to him, one preferred seclusion in the mountains, studying medicine and wandering, reluctant to interact with nobles in the Capital.
The other could only interact normally with him in the Shanqing Temple; once back in the Capital, under the watchful eyes of others, they had to keep their distance.
Thus, Lu Qing never had someone reliable by his side.
Until, by chance, he saved Fu Wen and Fu Lu, keeping them by his side, teaching them martial arts, and they became his trusted guards.
He was content with this, having no other extravagant desires.
Unexpectedly, fate favored him even more...
That night, Lu Qing moved the Arhat Bed to one side, holding Zhu Yu in his arms throughout the night.
Zhu Yu didn’t ask him what was wrong, understanding his feelings without needing to ask, so she simply reminded Lu Qing not to aggravate his newly healed wound, saying nothing more.
In these circumstances, she felt uneasy too, but being held by Lu Qing, she slept peacefully and securely.
The next day, Fu Lu was overjoyed with the book on boxing techniques, eagerly practicing with Fu Wen.
Lu Qing began to move slightly, with Zhu Yu supervising him to prevent any accidental injuries.
By dusk, Liu Yueyao suddenly arrived.
"Madam." She entered the courtyard and saw Zhu Yu lost in thought under the tree, approached her politely, and bowed courteously.
"Are you here to see Lu Qing?" Zhu Yu returned to her senses, seeing it was her, and was about to call Lu Qing.
Liu Yueyao quickly waved her hand, "There are guests tonight, so I came to ask if madam thinks it’s okay for him to drink alcohol with his current condition.
If madam agrees, then Yueyao will prepare some good fruit wine. Yunyin Pavilion recently acquired some coconut wine and pomegranate nectar, mild and sweet, perfect for drinking now."
Zhu Yu knew Liu Yueyao was thorough in her work. She said there were guests, implying she didn’t need to report to Lu Qing to inquire about the wine, the identity of the guests wasn’t hard to guess.
But—
"His wound has mostly healed, a few sips shouldn’t be a problem, but shouldn’t you ask him personally?" Zhu Yu told Liu Yueyao, "Coconut wine and pomegranate nectar sound enticing, but they don’t seem to be typical for men."
Liu Yueyao smiled, shaking her head, "No problem, since madam finds them appealing, I’ll have them delivered later.
He previously instructed that matters concerning his daily life should be checked and arranged according to madam’s decisions.
So I thought, if madam decides on the drinking, why not let the choice of wine be according to madam’s preference."
Zhu Yu smiled upon hearing this, nodding, "Miss Yue Yao is considerate! That sounds good, even though he can have a little drink, it’s best to limit it, so let him enjoy some fruit wine just to get a taste."
"Alright, I’ll go make the arrangements." Liu Yueyao bowed again and left quickly with graceful steps.
Only then did Zhu Yu realize, despite having met Liu Yueyao many times, she never smelled any fragrance on Liu Yueyao, even working in a vibrant place like Yunyin Pavilion, she exudes an effortless sophistication, yet her expression remains calm and composed.
This might be the most evident difference between her and Gu Lingyun, leaving distinctly different impressions as well-known female managers in the Capital.
When night fell completely, Liu Yueyao returned, bringing several assistants to the small courtyard, lighting numerous lamps, transforming the previously dim yard into a brightly lit area.
She had the table moved from the dining room and instructed the assistants to set up the food boxes on the table efficiently before retreating.
Recently, they had been eating light meals due to Lu Qing’s recovery, adequately balanced meals.
Lu Qing wasn’t particular about food and drink, and Zhu Yu wasn’t especially concerned either, so the taste was good, but the presentation wasn’t particularly fancy.
Tonight was different, the dishes on the table were exquisite, with elaborate plating, even the coconut wine and pomegranate nectar mentioned earlier were served in crystal bottles, placed on the table.
Besides various dishes, there were several trays of fruits.
In essence, it was abundant and evidently thoughtfully arranged.
Once the items were set, the guest arrived.
Lu Chao, whom he hadn’t seen for many days, was still dressed in a moon-white wide-sleeved long robe, likely wearing a veil hat earlier, with no hairpin, just a ribbon matching his robe color binding his hair.
His demeanor was still serene, calm, quite different from his presence on the court that day.
Lu Chao glanced at the sumptuous dishes on the table, and then at Lu Qing, "No wonder you’re recovering quickly, you’re certainly well-tended."
"Mr. Mo, you flatter, and these also owe to your blessings." Lu Qing smiled.
Lu Chao’s eyes looked at Liu Yueyao briefly before waving his hand.
Liu Yueyao lowered her gaze, masking her faint disappointment flawlessly, bowed, and left the courtyard silently with the assistants.