While Su Shuiche was immersed in the embroidery of 《Drunken Imperial Concubine》 and had no time to share the daily gossip provided by Dabao and chat with Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian from time to time, something interesting happened in Flower Town.
The youngest son of the Hua Family, who was "married" to the richest family in the city, brought his beautiful daughter to his eldest brother's (uncle's) house to give New Year's gifts.
"Master, I'm telling the truth.
The beautiful daughter of the Hua Family really asked me about you. "
Tian Dabao jumped up and down and repeatedly assured Lin Siyao, who was squatting on the grass by the river bank and drying the wild mushrooms and wood ear slices that he picked a while ago, that he was not lying.
"Asking about me for what?" Lin Siyao snorted disapprovingly.
If Dabao did not emphasize that the other party was a woman, he would be worried that the other party might be a spy sent by the Fengyao Pavilion.
But if it was a woman … Ha … Unless Feng Qingya changed the system on a whim.
Otherwise, with his understanding of the Fengyao Pavilion, there were about five to six hundred people, and none of them would be a woman.
"Then I'm not sure.
Eh?
Master, could it be that she took a fancy to you and wanted you to marry into her family?
Ha ha ha … Uh … Master, spare me … Spare me … I won't dare to do it again … Ah … Okay okay okay … I'll go stand on the pole now … "
Poor Da Bao. He had just mustered up the courage to use the words he had learned from those gossipy women in town to make fun of his handsome master, who was basically expressionless in front of him. However, he had not expected Lin Siyao to surprise him with a Mysterious Wind Palm and force him to practice the plum blossom pile, which he hated the most.
Resentfully standing on the pole, he secretly glanced at Lin Siyao, who was still expressionlessly drying the mushrooms not far away, and couldn't help but mutter, "Isn't it just a joke, I know you have a master's wife … But, that woman is beautiful, but she's not as beautiful as master's wife …"
"Focus!
Unless you want to continue in the afternoon, "Lin Siyao reminded him in a clear and cold voice, as if he had heard his muttering.
"Got it, Master …" Dabao pursed his lips. Going to Xiufeng Peak to practice swordsmanship was much more fun than walking on the Plum Blossom Piles.
Immediately after, he calmed his mind, circulated his Qi, lifted the tip of his foot, and began to quickly move between several piles, practicing the Mysterious Shifting Footwork that was already quite elegant.
…
Knock knock knock …
On a windy afternoon, there was a rare knock on the courtyard door.
Su Shuiche listened attentively for a while and couldn't help but have some doubts.
At this time, Lin Siyao took Dabao to Xiu Peak to practice swordsmanship and cut the sheep grass. Aunt Lao and Aunt Tian, who were usually likely to come, knew that she was busy with her embroidery, so they said that they would not disturb her.
Even if it was really the two of them, they would definitely call out his name loudly when they knocked on the door.
Who could it be?
"Miss?"
Su Shuiche opened the courtyard door and smiled faintly as she asked the person outside who was blown around by the wind. After looking carefully, she recognized that it was her — the beautiful and alluring woman she had met three times — Lu Wan 'er.
She was momentarily stunned.
"Eh?
Isn't this the home of Lin Siyao, Young Master Lin? "
When Lu Wan 'er saw that the person who opened the door was actually her — the slender and delicate woman she had met several times and accompanied by her sweetheart's side, her heart trembled.
However, she still used an inquiring tone to inquire about the truth.
Why didn't those two bastards who only knew how to take money make it clear!
Oh, she could only blame herself for being too impatient. She only wanted to find her sweetheart's residence so that she could go to his house to lobby and tempt him. She forgot to ask them to investigate the identity of the woman in front of her.
Was she Lin Siyao's married wife, or did she have some other relationship?
"Miss, are you looking for Ah Yao?" Su Shuiche asked in astonishment.
An indescribable strange feeling floated in her heart. This Lu Wan 'er really cared about Ah Yao. She actually chased him all the way to his home.
However, didn't she know that Ah Yao was already married?
Or, did she not care about being his wife or concubine, or did she not even care about status?
Su Shuiche suddenly thought of her mother who was like air in her father's eyes. Could it be that she also had a formidable enemy like her second mother?
Lin Siyao, would he be like her father and rather choose a woman who could only be a concubine than her, who was once considered his legal wife?
Ah … That's right. Because her mother had a huge family background, her father couldn't stop her and couldn't be fierce. However, she had no one to rely on here. How could she be a match for this beautiful and alluring daughter of a rich family from the city?
Oh — what nonsense was she thinking!
Ah Yao wouldn't be like this!
Su Shuiche thought of this and firmly shook her head. She immediately denied the ridiculous conjecture that flashed through her heart.
It seemed that her mother's example had a great influence on her!
If Ah Yao knew that she had compared him to her unscrupulous father who favored his concubines and neglected his wife, would he take the opportunity to ruthlessly "punish" her?
Thinking of Lin Siyao's most likely punishment method, Su Shuiche's ears suddenly turned red.
She hurriedly collected her thoughts and straightened her clothes. She smiled and greeted Lu Wan 'er who was still in a mess in the cold wind, "Miss Lu, it's windy outside. If you don't mind, come in and talk."
"Cough cough … You … You know me?" Lu Wan 'er came back to her senses and awkwardly cleared her throat.
"En, haven't we met a few times?" Su Shuiche looked at her with some amusement.
She remembered very clearly that when Lu Wan 'er first confessed to Ah Yao, she had revealed her maiden name.
The customs of the Dahui Kingdom were very strange.
It was similar to the conservative customs of Suzhou in the Republic of China, but it also had a particularly bold custom.
For example, women could show their faces in public and freely participate in poetry and art festivals. For example, if they met a man they liked, they could take the initiative to invite him for a chat and then freely develop a relationship … Of course, all of this had a very similar premise: these women were either rich or noble daughters of famous families.
As for the daughters of ordinary families, they were either busy assisting their parents in managing the household, or preparing a dowry for marrying a good husband in the future. Naturally, they didn't have so much free time to recite poems, paint, and taste tea. Moreover, they wouldn't have so much self-confidence to invite a man who they had only met once and didn't know the details of his family background to have a chat.
"Oh, right, I am Lu Wan 'er of the city's Lu Family.
May I ask … "Lu Wan 'er began, but looked at Su Shuiche, who was about the same age as her, but was already a married woman, and didn't know how to continue.
"I am Ah Yao's wife. My maiden name is Su Shuiche." Su Shuiche took over Lu Wan 'er's question and introduced herself.
She admitted that she had done it on purpose, trying to use her real identity to dispel Lu Wan 'er's truly bad motives.
"Come in and warm up."
Su Shuiche smiled as she looked at Lu Wan 'er, who was wearing thin clothes and whose lips had turned purple from the cold wind. She politely invited her into the central room.
She really couldn't stand the bone-piercing cold wind outside, and the other party didn't have the slightest intention of leaving, so she could only go to the central room to chat.
She was still thinking about the "Drunken Imperial Concubine" that she was only halfway through embroidering. She thought that she would have to delay for a while.
When Lu Wan 'er entered the central room, she couldn't help but feel shocked.
She didn't expect that the interior of this neat and tidy little residence would be so … uh … spacious and warm!
Although the layout of the room was a bit small, the furniture on display was definitely made of high-quality and precious wood. In Lu Wan 'er's opinion, it was comparable to her family's extremely expensive mahogany furniture.
Lu Wan'er then looked at the pillows and cushions on the kang bed, the soft couch, and the chair, which were exquisitely embroidered and brightly colored. She then raised her head and glanced at the dazzling 'Xi' character on the closed bedroom door. Lu Wan'er suddenly felt as if she couldn't breathe.
How could she have been so sure that with her beauty and the Lu Family's wealth, she would be able to convince Lin Siyao to obediently follow her?
"Miss Lu, we only have homemade wild strawberry tea to serve you. My apologies."
Su Shuiche made a pot of tea from the kitchen. Although it was homemade, it still smelled mellow and fragrant, not at all inferior to the so-called top-notch fragrant tea from the large teahouses in the city.
"Many thanks." Lu Wan 'er took the cup and gently took a sip. It really was good.
She didn't expect that in this remote little village, she would be able to taste such mellow and delicious osmanthus berry tea.
She once again raised her head to size up Su Shuiche, who was sitting across from her.
Her eyes were gentle and beautiful, and her every movement was noble and dignified.
"May I ask where Miss Su's family is from?" Lu Wan 'er suddenly had an absurd misconception.
This Su Shui Yue couldn't be a noble daughter from some prime minister's manor, right?
She immediately curled her lips and suppressed this almost impossible guess.
Su Shuiche was stunned. It wasn't because she had asked about her family background, but because she had calmly addressed her as "Miss". Wasn't that a form of address for an unmarried woman?
Was she unwilling to admit that she was already Ah Yao's wife?
Or was she certain that Ah Yao would definitely abandon her for her embrace?
Oh, Su Shuiche inwardly cursed at herself. Why was she doubting Lin Siyao's character again?!
Just as she was thinking about how to answer Lu Wan 'er's tricky question, Xiaochun's low growl came from outside. This meant that Lin Siyao and Dabao had returned!
Su Shuiche smiled faintly and nodded at Lu Wan 'er. "My husband has returned."
She once again revealed that Lin Siyao was already her husband, and that he wasn't someone that Lu Wan 'er could covet.
Lu Wan 'er didn't think that far ahead. She was only slightly flustered by Su Shuiche's reminder that he had returned.
She lowered her head and straightened out her new winter clothes that were as thin as spring clothing. She smoothed out her hair that had been blown into a mess by the wind earlier and curled her lips into a beautiful smile that she believed was enough to move a man's heart. She prepared to welcome the man that she had liked for over half a year.
Su Shuiche stared blankly as Lu Wan 'er ignored her and opened the main room's north door. She gently called out to Lin Siyao, who had just entered the courtyard and was washing his hands in front of a water vat after putting down the cut leymus. "Big Brother Lin!"
Very good!
From the previous Young Master Lin to the current Big Brother Lin, is she going to replace me and call him husband next?
Su Shuiche held her forehead speechlessly and followed Lu Wan 'er out of the room.
She sighed helplessly in her heart again. I've wasted too much time today. I don't know how I'll have to speed up tomorrow to catch up.
(To be continued.
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