Chapter 84: Confessions and Clouds of Doubt Dispelled

Shangqing County, Xiahe Village.

Wu You insisted that he was a man, and Lu Jin had no choice but to coax and deceive him into coming home. Now, the whole family had returned from outside.

Uncle Lu Yuanrong, upon coming back from the county town and hearing about the matter—and seeing Wu You himself—felt as if he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

At present, uncle and aunt were inside, keeping Wu You company and chatting, while Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi stood in the courtyard, completely at a loss.

Lu Jin could easily coax and verify, so there shouldn’t be much of an issue. But the problem was, first, he felt it was indecent; and second, even if he verified it himself, others might not believe him—especially Shen Yanxi.

Never mind the disgusting remarks like, “If you don’t believe it, why bother with such a woman?” Judging others by oneself, even Lu Jin wouldn’t believe it if he were in their shoes. Wu You simply showed no male traits. That look, that tearful demeanor, and even that name—how could he possibly be a man?

But now they were stuck. Wu You wouldn’t admit it, and Lu Jin couldn’t let it go. How could they verify it?

“If he says he’s a man, husband, let him go. Why insist on an outcome?” Shen Yanxi said.

Lu Jin glanced at Shen Yanxi and gave a bitter smile. “Then this will forever remain a mystery, and I’ll bear the blame for a lifetime. Won’t you have a thorn in your heart?”

Shen Yanxi fell silent. She truly couldn’t believe it; her words were only meant to ease Lu Jin’s troubles, for his resolve was clear to her. But could she really be untroubled?

“Moreover, if Youran truly is a man, and he treats me sincerely, but I discard him for groundless reasons, then I’d become the very person I despise most.”

Shen Yanxi finally understood her husband’s thoughts. Indeed, she loved him for his earnestness and simplicity.

“Now we just want to find a way to verify it, but for the moment, there’s no suitable person,” Lu Jin said, troubled. He sorely missed physicians from later times, but here in antiquity, even finding a local doctor wouldn’t do. If Wu Youran really was a woman, it could turn fatal.

“Master, why don’t you go check? He listens to you,” Su Nian suggested nearby.

Lu Jin smiled without replying. Shen Yanxi was noncommittal.

If a woman went to check, and Wu You turned out to be a man, what then? If they sent another man, even if Wu You was a man, it would be unacceptable. It was simply too disrespectful.

Was this an inescapable deadlock?

“How about I ask aunt to find two elderly women to check?” The only solution Lu Jin could think of was to find two old ladies, so there’d be no simple man-woman relationship involved. Surely this would work?

Shen Yanxi sighed, saying nothing. She herself could not think of a better solution.

“Miss, I’ll go!” Suddenly, both Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi turned in surprise—Su Nian? So bold?

“You’re barely grown, unmarried, don’t make trouble,” Lu Jin scolded. Not only would Wu You possibly refuse, but even he couldn’t accept it.

“Master, I’m not making trouble; since I followed Miss, I never planned to marry. Besides, I’ve seen blood and battle; what’s a body to me?” Su Nian spoke with firm resolve.

Lu Jin ignored her; youth is always naive. In ancient times, such matters were serious, and he could never ruin a woman’s life.

“Master, no need for so much trouble; why not just go urinate outside together?” Yuan Fang, a man of the martial world, offered a new idea. Lu Jin and the others had been restricted by their own assumptions, treating Wu You as a woman by default.

Su Nian glared at Yuan Fang for his crude words, especially with the lady present.

But if Wu You refused, what could they do? Even if Lu Jin tried to get him drunk, the situation was too awkward for even that. This wasn’t the modern age.

“Nanqu needn’t worry so much. I think this young man’s suggestion is sound. I happen to want to relieve myself—shall we go together?”

Lu Jin turned to see Wu You, who had already come up beside them, and wished he could sink into the earth. How had none of them noticed him?

At this point, Lu Jin no longer hesitated. If Wu You was truly a woman, surely she couldn’t hold out.

...

After the time it took for incense to burn, the group returned to the courtyard.

“Miss, Wu Gongzi is indeed a man,” Xiao Bai was first to report to Shen Yanxi.

Shen Yanxi: (⊙ˍ⊙)

“Miss, he’s really a man. There’s nothing in this world that isn’t strange,” Yuan Fang confirmed.

Shen Yanxi: “……”

Uncle and aunt, hearing the commotion, emerged with equally dazed faces—how could this be possible?

“If Wu Gongzi is a man, then so be it. Isn’t everything settled? Why are you laughing?” Su Nian asked Yuan Fang.

Yuan Fang didn’t answer, but his face struggled to hide his amusement; the lady was in trouble.

As everyone stood stunned, Lu Jin returned, walking like a zombie, his face dark as coal, forcing a stiff smile onto his face.

Wu You was now very happy. After the verification, Lu Jin had apologized sincerely, and Wu You let go of his resentment, revealing his true nature.

He clung tightly to Lu Jin’s arm, chattering nonstop.

Lu Jin, now certain Wu You was a man, naturally apologized. But he never expected Wu You’s feminine mannerisms to be so exaggerated—utterly like a woman.

Lu Jin could only respond awkwardly, unable now to say anything untoward. It wasn’t that he disliked Wu You; it was just that Wu You’s appearance was so startlingly beautiful it made Lu Jin uncomfortable.

Everyone in the courtyard stared as the two entered—weren’t they just like siblings, or a young couple?

All eyes turned to Yuan Fang and Xiao Bai: Are you sure you saw clearly? Is that really a man?

The two were laughing uncontrollably at the side.

Shen Yanxi was about to explode; she had never been so close with her husband. She knew Wu You was a man, yet nothing about him matched.

Shen Yanxi, a daughter of a noble family, felt her mind numb—never beaten by a woman, but now defeated by a man?

"Ahem!" Shen Yanxi could no longer endure; even her husband felt less hers.

Lu Jin quickly tapped Wu You’s arm, and Wu You instantly let go.

Everyone was amazed once more—how could this possibly be a man?

“Ahem, aunt, let’s go in for dinner!” Lu Jin coughed awkwardly.

He didn’t even dare meet Shen Yanxi’s gaze, though he had done nothing!

At the dinner table, Wu You behaved more normally, his speech carrying a hint of masculinity—yet his voice and appearance were so out of place.

The customs of Great Liang were open, so there was no taboo against women at the table. Men and women sat in a circle; this was Lu Jin’s welcoming banquet for Wu You.

As the junior, Lu Jin naturally sat at the lower end, Wu You to his left, Shen Yanxi to his right. Lu Jin felt he might as well sit on a volcano and die quickly.

Between the two, he dared not provoke either.

If it were truly a matter of having both wife and concubine, that would be one thing—but what was this situation?

“Youran, what year were you born?” Now that the fact was settled, Lu Jin wanted to know more about their past.

“Little brother was born in the seventh year of Taihe. I told Nanqu two years ago.”

“I, your humble brother, was born in the fifth year of Taihe, two years your senior. If you don’t mind, may I be your elder brother?” Lu Jin suggested, while Shen Yanxi’s gaze was sharp as a blade, nearly unbearable.

“That would be wonderful. Little brother offers a toast to big brother.” Wu You raised his cup.

Calling him “big brother” would be better. With “Nanqu” this and “Nanqu” that, it drove Lu Jin mad. As an elder brother, gender would matter less, and they could interact more easily.

Beside them, Lu Caiwei was displeased—her brother had always been hers, and now there was another. She hadn’t cared for the old brother, but the new one was different.

Lu Jin noticed but ignored it; he’d placate her later. Life was truly hard.

The banquet continued, conversation flowing.

“How did you come here this time?” Lu Jin was curious, since Wu You came from Jiangdong, which was far away.

“The Lanjiang River is full of boats, east and west, so news travels freely. I instructed the boatmen and merchants there to collect information from Jiangzhou, and if there was news about big brother, to inform me at once.”

Lu Jin’s eyes grew hot—such depth of feeling, how could he repay it?

Somehow, Lu Jin felt that in this life he was easily moved, easily touched.

Shen Yanxi lowered her head in silence; with such respect for her husband, how could she blame him? But still...

“I heard big brother succeeded in the civil exams, and was happy for him from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to come at once, but urgent matters delayed me. Once resolved, I hurried here. But when I reached Jiangzhou, I saw a reward notice for big brother, which startled me. I planned to gather men to search, but later heard big brother had been rescued, so I made inquiries and found this place. I never expected big brother to have suffered such a misfortune.”

With your looks, what were you searching for? You’d just be delivering yourself. If you’d really gone, no matter your sincerity, I wouldn’t know what to do.

“Jin’er, this was too risky. Such a big matter, you came home and said nothing, hiding it from your aunt and me. Child, you nearly scared us to death,” Lu Yuanrong recalled the danger with lingering fear.

“I was afraid you’d worry, and besides, I’m fine now—why bring it up?” That afternoon, Wu Youran had slipped and Lu Jin had to tell uncle and aunt the truth.

“How did you come alone? It’s so dangerous!” Lu Jin was worried. You’re just a walking rabbit among lions and tigers—how could you go alone?

“Big brother, don’t worry. I wasn’t alone; my attendants are in Jianglin. When I said I wanted to come to Shangqing to find big brother, they refused, so I ran off by myself.”

Lu Jin was speechless—what did the original master give you to drink, to make you act this way?

“Now you’re here alone, aren’t they worried sick? If your family finds out, won’t they be anxious?” Lu Jin, treating Wu You as a younger sibling, couldn’t let him act so recklessly.

“Big brother, don’t worry. They’re used to it. Besides, I’m alone at home anyway.” As Wu You spoke, his eyes reddened.

Lu Jin: “……” Used to it, indeed!

“You’ll never be lonely again; big brother is here!” Lu Jin reached out to comfort Wu You, stroking his head.

After a few strokes, his hand froze in midair—this was a man, after all. What was he doing stroking his hair?