Pei Qing'an shot her a sidelong glance and put the chopsticks with pilose antler aside. "I still have official business to attend to tonight. You go and rest first."
After saying this, he put down his bowls and chopsticks, then said to Lady Pingning Marquis, "Mother, your son takes his leave first."
Jiang Fuyue, who had been rejected by him for intimacy, bit her lower lip tightly and turned pale.
Seeing her like this, Lady Pingning Marquis snorted. "She's really good - for - nothing. She can't even keep her own husband!"
Jiang Fuyue was even angrier but helpless.
She had no choice but to console herself. "It's still better to marry Qing'an than in my previous life! Lu Huaizhou, that playboy, is a short - lived man who can't even consummate the marriage!"
Jiang Fuying knew nothing about this.
Because she had already drawn a clear line with Lu Huaizhou.
She slept on the couch while Lu Huaizhou slept on the floor.
Of course, these were all voluntarily requested by the young master Lu.
Moreover, he magically spread several layers of soft and warm quilts and arranged his bedding to be extremely cozy.
Jiang Fuying stared blankly at the high - bulging bedding on the floor and felt a strange sense of guilt.
If she hadn't taken over his place, why would he have to do this?
It was just that they still had to act like a loving couple in front of Lady Lu, so they mustn't sleep in separate rooms...
"Miss Jiang, look at me." Lu Huaizhou suddenly called her.
Receiving her confused look, Lu Huaizhou lay down on the floor and patted the quilts on his body. "Don't mind that my little nest is a bit messy. I wouldn't trade it for a golden or silver nest. I just like sleeping here."
Jiang Fuying's nose suddenly twitched, and a warm current flowed through her heart.
How could she not tell that he was deliberately comforting her?
"Thank you, young master," she said sincerely once again.
A look of uneasiness flashed across Lu Huaizhou's face. He waved his hand and abruptly changed the topic. "The process of the glazed mirror is still being improved. How's the preparation for the shop going?"
Jiang Fuying calmed her emotions before saying, "I'm going to take the maids to check the situation from a distance tomorrow."
She always did things cautiously, which didn't surprise Lu Huaizhou.
"It might be dangerous for you and the maids to go alone. How about I send some martial - arts - trained guards to follow you?"
Jiang Fuying refused immediately. "Thank you for your kindness, young master, but it's not necessary. Too many people will attract attention. I can handle it."
She can handle it?
Lu Huaizhou propped himself up and quietly looked at her profile on the couch.
No matter how tough she pretended to be, she still couldn't handle a group of strong men.
Out of the blue, he suddenly asked, "Which alley is the shop you've chosen in?"
As soon as the words came out, he realized something was wrong and quickly added, "I've been wandering around the streets and alleys of the capital all year round. I'm very familiar with the shops in the capital. Maybe I can give you some advice."
Jiang Fuying was silent for a while.
Actually, she really wanted to say that after being reborn, she was also very familiar with these shops.
Of course, it was not convenient for her to tell him this now.
"Bailu Alley," she said softly.
Lu Huaizhou felt relieved and lay back in his bedding contentedly. "Okay, I got it. I'll study Bailu Alley for you in the next few days."
However, before studying Bailu Alley, he still had to secretly follow her there tomorrow.
He was really afraid that she would be in danger.
Whether it was because of the late hour and tiredness or for some other reason, it took a while before a soft female voice came from the couch. "I wish the young master a good dream."
"May Miss Jiang also have a good sleep."
The night passed.
Jiang Fuying got up quietly to change clothes. She thought she had gotten up early enough, but when she glanced at the floor, there was no sign of anyone.
Even his little nest had disappeared without a trace.
Noticing her inquiring look, Caizhi pouted. "Miss, the young master went out half an hour ago. He wrapped himself up tightly. From the way the young master looked, it didn't seem like he was going out for something proper. It was more like he was going out to avoid enemies."
Jiang Fuying patted the back of her hand and seriously corrected her. "Caizhi, don't talk nonsense. The young master and I only have the name of husband and wife. Where he goes and how he goes are not for us to discuss without permission."
Caizhi lowered her head. "Yes, I'll remember."
"But I just think so..."
Jiang Fuying took this murmur to heart.
Avoiding enemies?
Although he had a reputation as a playboy, he had never made enemies with anyone over the years. If there was one thing other than avoiding enemies that was worth his being so cautious, there was only one -
Improving the glazed mirror!
But after all, he was improving the glazed mirror to support her in opening the shop. She...
Jiang Fuying was a bit confused about the complex emotions in her heart now.
Caipu's urging came from beside her. "Miss, the small carriage I rented from the carriage shop is waiting at the side door."
"Okay." Jiang Fuying gathered her thoughts and suddenly stood up.
Bailu Alley.
The location of the shop on the land deed was next to the jewelry store in the main part of Bailu Alley.
This shop had been vacant before, but as soon as Jiang Fuying and the others got off the carriage, they noticed something was wrong.
The shop door was wide open, and several furtive - looking men were going in and out.
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Fuying's heart.
In order to investigate the situation, she had deliberately come before the other shops in Bailu Alley opened for business, but she just happened to run into this group of ill - intentioned people. It was either fate or man - made...
Seeing this group of people going in and out, moving the decorations removed from the shop out one after another, Caipu was really angry.
"Miss, I'll go and stop these thieves now!"
Jiang Fuying shook her head and stopped her. "No need. Just think of them as clearing the garbage in the shop for us for free."
Only then did she realize that it was man - made to steal the decorations in the shop, but it was fate that they happened to run into it!
If she guessed correctly, this group of people should have been sent by the second and third branches to cause trouble for her, right?
But the second and third branches were a bit too naive.
Firstly, although those decorations were worth something, they didn't match the decoration style for the glazed mirrors she wanted to sell at all.
Secondly, it was she who was observing the enemy's situation now, and it was really not suitable to stir up trouble.
"Miss, but these decorations are worth..."
"Don't be impatient." Jiang Fuying smiled. "No matter how much these decorations are worth, I'll get them back from the second and third branches with interest in the future!"
What she didn't notice was that in the distance, a figure wrapped tightly poked its head out from behind the corner of the wall and watched her situation worriedly.
Seeing that she didn't rush up to stop the people, that figure heaved a big sigh of relief.
Fortunately, she was smart and didn't expose herself!
From the same corner, another tightly - wrapped head poked out.
He looked at the calm figure in the distance, then at the person beside him who was clenching his fists and ready to rush out at any time, and scratched his head.
"Young master, I somehow feel that your coming here is a bit redundant. It seems that the young mistress doesn't need your help?"
Lu Huaizhou glared at him angrily. "Mind your own business. Who said I'm here to help her?"
"Then what are you here for..."
"I'm here to study the situation in Bailu Alley."
"Yes, yes, yes. You're always right, young master!"
Just keep being stubborn!
Of course, he only dared to mutter the second half of the sentence in his heart.