Lu Huaizhou was so dazzled by her bright smile that he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Since things had come to this, what was there to hide?
He returned her a smile and took the glazed mirror. "I made this glazed mirror with my own hands. The craftsmanship still needs a bit of improvement. However..."
He suddenly paused, and Jiang Fuying's heart was in her throat.
There was a worried glint in her autumn - water eyes.
She was afraid that he still wouldn't tell her the craftsmanship of the glazed mirror.
Lu Huaizhou weighed the glazed mirror in his hand, then suddenly leaned in. His handsome face kept getting closer in front of her eyes.
Under Jiang Fuying's surprised gaze, he transferred the glazed mirror into her hands.
"This glazed mirror is for Miss Jiang."
"I'll try to improve the craftsmanship of the glazed mirror. Please wait for me for a while, Miss Jiang."
Jiang Fuying's heart was pounding.
She couldn't quite describe how she felt at the moment.
If she had to describe it, it was probably like a drowning person suddenly getting a firm rope in their hand, or like seeing a dazzling light when about to fall into an abyss.
At this moment, she felt very at ease.
She sincerely said again, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Lu Huaizhou curved his lips and waved at her. "We're family. No need for such formalities."
...
Different from the warmth and harmony here, the Pingning Marquis Mansion was like another extreme.
The scene Jiang Fuyue had envisioned, where Pei Qing'an would compensate her doubly after getting busy, didn't happen.
For many consecutive days, even when Pei Qing'an was on leave at home, he would find all kinds of excuses to sleep in the study.
Either he sent a young servant to tell her today, "I still have official business to attend to."
Or he made an excuse tomorrow, "One of my colleagues has caught a cold. I'm afraid I might catch it and then pass it on to you."
Such clumsy excuses were okay to use once or twice, but after using them many times, Jiang Fuyue finally woke up.
She personally cooked the antler porridge that Pei Qing'an loved most, and led Chunhua and Qiuyue straight to the study.
However, the study door that had always been open to her was now tightly shut.
Pei Qing'an's personal servant, Mo Ling, firmly blocked the door.
Jiang Fuyue's face immediately changed. "How dare you! Even block me!"
Mo Ling looked solemn. "Please forgive me, Madam. His Highness has ordered that no one is allowed to enter or leave the study at will."
Jiang Fuyue was deeply hurt by the word "no one".
She was Pei Qing'an's legitimate wife through a proper wedding!
"Am I also 'no one'?"
Mo Ling didn't say a word, but the answer was obvious.
Jiang Fuyue's smile froze for a moment, and then quickly returned to normal.
She said softly towards the study, "Qing'an, I've cooked the antler porridge you like most."
There was a rustling sound in the study.
Jiang Fuyue's face brightened.
Surely it was Qing'an coming to open the study door for her!
Thinking like this, she gave Mo Ling a fierce glare.
Qing'an was in the study. How dare he block her! Qing'an would surely teach this insolent servant a lesson later!
As it turned out, she was over - thinking again.
Because the rustling sound soon disappeared, and was replaced by an impatient male voice.
"I'm dealing with official business."
These simple six words were like a heavy hammer, shattering the hope in Jiang Fuyue's heart.
Qing'an actually didn't want to see her.
She tightly pursed her lower lip and still refused to give up. "Qing'an, this antler porridge is very beneficial to your health. It's not too late to drink some before dealing with official business."
"I have no appetite now. Leave the porridge and go back to your room by yourself."
This cold sentence made Jiang Fuyue feel like she had fallen into an ice cave.
Moreover, Mo Ling even stepped forward on his own initiative, took the food box from Chunhua's hand, and said to her, "Madam, please go back."
Jiang Fuyue's face was as cold as ice, and she was very unwilling.
When had Qing'an ever been so cold to her?
There must be something wrong, and he didn't want to implicate her.
Yes!
It must be so!
"Get out of the way! I want to see Qing'an! Qing'an, no matter what, I'll share your hardships with you!"
These words made Pei Qing'an, who was already annoyed, feel a surge of anger.
Ignorant woman!
When had he ever had any difficulties? Why did he need her to "share hardships" with him?!
The anger burned fiercely, and he couldn't help but shout loudly, "Go back to your room!"
Jiang Fuyue's face turned green, then red, then black, just like the ever - changing weather.
In front of the servants, Qing'an didn't even care about her face!
She was both ashamed and angry. After a long while, she could only choke out, "Let's go!"
Mo Ling bowed and said, "See you off, Madam."
Back in the East Courtyard, Jiang Fuyue angrily smashed a whole set of tea cups.
"Crash!" The sound of the porcelain shattering echoed in the room. Chunhua and Qiuyue didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
"What on earth did I do wrong? Why is Qing'an treating me like this?"
"These days, he has ignored me and doesn't even want to talk to me."
Jiang Fuyue cried sadly. "He used to love the antler porridge I cooked most. Every time he drank it, he would praise it and say I was virtuous and charming. He said it would be his greatest fortune in this life if he could marry me. But now..."
For two lifetimes, Qing'an had regarded her as a precious treasure, but now Qing'an disliked her so much.
She...
After a long silence, Chunhua was the first to speak and comfort her. "Miss, don't think too much. Perhaps Master Pei has his own difficulties."
"Difficulties? I've already said that I'll share his hardships with him, but he doesn't believe me at all!" Jiang Fuyue's eyes were tearful, looking extremely aggrieved.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Miss. Perhaps Master Pei's difficulties are related to... the one in the Chunxuan Hall." Qiuyue added.
As soon as these words were said, Jiang Fuyue suddenly stopped sobbing.
Yes, Qing'an cared most about whether she was filial to her mother - in - law. With his current attitude...
Surely Qing'an was resentful and thought she hadn't served his mother well enough.
Thinking of this, Jiang Fuyue silently tightened her handkerchief and tried to convince herself in her heart.
Although the Lady of the Pingning Marquis Mansion was hard to serve, as long as she was cautious and made no mistakes, she would surely satisfy her.
Once she was satisfied, Qing'an would be satisfied too.
By then, Qing'an's whole heart would be on her.
So the most urgent thing to do now was to -
Please the Lady of the Pingning Marquis Mansion!
Jiang Fuyue considered herself a flexible person.
Since she couldn't be perfect in terms of rules, she could give more gifts to the Lady of the Pingning Marquis Mansion.
As the saying goes, "A smiling face is never slapped." As long as her gifts were sincere enough, the Lady of the Pingning Marquis Mansion would surely give her a better attitude.
In the long run, even if the Lady of the Pingning Marquis Mansion was an iceberg, she would be touched by her filial piety.
With this thought in mind, Jiang Fuyue immediately ordered, "Open the warehouse and take out the century - old ginseng from my dowry. I'm going to give it to Mother."
Chunhua hesitated a bit. "Miss, that ginseng is extremely precious. It was specially found for you by Madam at a great cost to nourish your body. If you take it now..."
"I'm very healthy. I don't need such a highly nourishing thing. Just go and get it."
She was already迫不及待 to see the scene where the Lady of the Pingning Marquis Mansion would praise her after receiving the century - old ginseng and speak well of her in front of Qing'an!
Finally, she didn't forget to urge, "Hurry up. Don't waste time!"