Lu Fengjin set off back to the capital, full of fury and accompanied by Tuoba Feiyuan.
He assumed that if he simply gave Chu Yueli the cold shoulder, she would eventually come crying to him for forgiveness.
To his surprise, after returning to the capital, she remained at the Duke's Estate for ten consecutive days, never stepping foot outside its gates.
At first, he paid it no mind.
Later, unable to help himself, he sent a guard to investigate: "Is she ill? Or are General Chu's injuries still not healed, requiring her personal care?"
The guard returned immediately after gathering information and reported, "Replying to the Prince, General Chu's injuries appear to have fully healed. In fact, General Chu entered the palace today to have an audience with Imperial Father."
"An audience with Imperial Father?" A general who had abandoned his post still had the nerve to see Imperial Father?
"Since General Chu is fine, why is Ali hiding in the estate?" What on earth was that woman thinking, still not coming to the Prince's Mansion to admit her wrongdoing? "Was my kick that day too heavy? Is Zisu still injured?"
"Miss Zisu also appears to have recovered. Today she and Miss Li were out in the back courtyard of the Duke's Estate drying medicinal herbs."
"She would rather dry herbs than come to see me?"
Lu Fengjin had originally intended to use the opportunity when Chu Yueli came to seek his forgiveness to make certain demands of his own. He never expected that he would never wait for Chu Yueli to take the initiative to make peace.
On the evening of the seventh day, unable to hold back any longer, he went to the Duke's Estate in person.
Chu Yueli had just finished bathing, and droplets of water were still sliding down her long hair.
When he stepped into the side parlor, she was holding a box in her hand, but Lu Fengjin merely glanced at it and dismissed it.
In the past, she had frequently prepared small gifts for him, and every time, he would be filled with joy and pleasant surprise.
Now, after angering him, she wanted to use such tactics to coax him back. Lu Fengjin found it utterly boring.
Compared to Tuoba Feiyuan's genuine and unpretentious nature, Ali's little tricks seemed somewhat affected.
"I gave you several days to reflect on your actions. Do you know where you went wrong?" This time when Lu Fengjin came to see her, his demeanor was entirely different from his previous dejection.
Though his expression held displeasure, he was full of high spirits.
Upon closer inspection, there was even a touch of triumphant radiance.
After having servants serve tea, Chu Yueli dismissed Zisu and invited Lu Fengjin to be seated. Every movement of hers remained graceful, poised, and composed.
As expected of a woman raised in a secluded courtyard!
In the past, Lu Fengjin had deeply adored her elegance and dignity. Looking at her now, however, Tuoba Feiyuan's words echoed in his mind—"I am not one of those hypocritical, fawning ladies of the gentry; spare me your rules and constraints!"
The young women Lu Fengjin had known since childhood were either daughters of noble families or maidens of the deep palace, every single one of them strictly abiding by the rules and doing things by the book.
Tuoba Feiyuan was an exception, which was why the more he looked at her, the more he grew to love her, falling so deeply that he lost all control.
Looking at Chu Yueli now, beautiful though she was, she truly felt far too dull and uninteresting.
Chu Yueli took in every bit of his weariness and disdain toward her.
Her expression remained completely serene: "I wonder where the Prince feels I went wrong?"
"Must you speak to me with such an attitude? Ali, you are no longer an ignorant child!" The displeasure in Lu Fengjin's eyes deepened.
"You were angry that I spoke a few extra words with Yuan'er, so you dragged General Chu away first. You are petty yourself, yet you implicated General Chu in abandoning his military post!"
The Chu Yueli he knew would never throw such petty tantrums!
Yuan'er was right—women were naturally jealous. All her past gentleness and obedience had merely been a disguise.
How terribly mistaken he had been about Ali in the past!
He never thought that the Ali he had cherished for years was no different from those vulgar women, and that her so-called refinement, elegance, and poise were all just an act.
What right did he have to be so blessed as to meet someone as genuine as Yuan'er?
With a gloomy expression, Lu Fengjin said coldly, "Do you know what kind of punishment General Chu will face because of your reckless scene? At best, fifty military strokes; at worst, execution under military law. Have you even thought of that?"
He expected Chu Yueli to be terrified, but instead, she maintained her calm indifference from beginning to end: "Is the Prince here to discuss military law with me? If so, then what punishment does Tuoba Feiyuan deserve for stabbing a general and his soldiers without cause?"