Su Nansheng looked at the one - foot - square glazed fish tank in front of her with a complex expression.
It had just been carried in by He Xun's men, and there were two koi carp inside.
"Miss Su, our master said that you'd been sitting in the Weeping Willow Garden for half a day without any results. So he picked two big ones from the fish stock for you as a consolation. He also invites you to go boating on the Qujiang River the day after tomorrow."
After saying that, the man who delivered the gift left, leaving no chance for Su Nansheng to decline.
Bi Tao was also looking at the glazed fish tank, with a puzzled look on her face:
"Second Miss, may this servant ask what's going on?"
Su Nansheng sighed and told Bi Tao what had happened in the Weeping Willow Garden. Finally, she said:
"Bi Tao, do you think He Xun is mocking me?"
The words "without any results" were really harsh to hear.
"Um... It shouldn't be. But the situation is quite complicated. This servant can't figure it out for the moment. Maybe it's to wish you may you have surpluses every year?"
Su Nansheng was rendered speechless. It was indeed an auspicious wish.
...
In the evening of the next day, Mrs. Deng came to Su Hele's yard. As soon as she entered, she saw Su Hele sitting with her back against the bamboo, reading a book with a calm expression.
Mrs. Deng was quite satisfied, but then her expression turned worried:
"A Le."
Actually, Su Hele had seen Mrs. Deng a long time ago, but she really didn't want to talk to her. Hearing the call, she had no choice but to put away the scroll and enter the room with Mrs. Deng.
"Mother, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Su Hele was unhappy. She hoped it wasn't about the marriage proposal again.
"Your father has heard about the people who came to the mansion to propose marriage in recent days. According to him, it'd be best if you could settle your marriage before we leave the capital. Then we'll be at ease."
Su Hele frowned and was about to speak when she heard Mrs. Deng continue:
"I also told your father that these scholars are not worthy of you. Your father's opinion is that if there's really no suitable person, you might as well go to Fangzhou with us."
"Mother?" A look of surprise flashed across Su Hele's face.
Mrs. Deng patted the back of her hand soothingly:
"At first, I didn't agree either. But according to your father, although it's a poor place there, you've never cared about such things anyway. Moreover, we're going there with your father for his new post. You won't have to suffer."
"Daughter understands."
Su Hele's expression returned to calm, but she silently withdrew her hand from under Mrs. Deng's palm.
After Mrs. Deng left, Su Hele's calm expression immediately turned gloomy.
She didn't expect Mrs. Deng to be so timid. She didn't even dare to argue with her father. She really had no backbone at all.
What kind of place was Fangzhou? Did they really want her to go there? Did they want her to die there?
Su Hele no longer cared about her reserve and said coldly:
"Su Mo, go and tell the shopkeeper of the Cloud - top Tea House that I'll go there for tea in two days."
She couldn't wait any longer. She wanted He Jin to marry her as soon as possible.
...
The next day, Bi Tao came in excitedly:
"Second Miss, guess what this servant just received?"
Su Nansheng was helpless. Judging from Bi Tao's expression, it was really hard to guess:
"Is there any movement from Miss Hele?"
"Miss is really smart. Just now, we received the news that the eldest miss has made an appointment to go to the Cloud - top Tea House for tea tomorrow." Bi Tao was still very excited.
"It's so soon..."
Su Nansheng tapped her index finger gently on the table and stared into the void, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Bi Tao waited beside her without making a sound to disturb her.
After a moment, Su Nansheng suddenly tapped the table hard with her index finger, and then stopped:
"Find more people. Let them..."
"Second Miss, there's a carriage here to pick you up."
...
By the Qujiang River, the willows hung like golden tassels, and the horses' hooves trampled on the flowers with a clattering sound.
Su Nansheng got off the carriage and saw from afar a large houseboat moored by the shore.
The houseboat had two stories and was in the shape of a flying dragon. The dragon's head was held high, looking down upon the world, and its tail soared into the air, looking mighty and domineering.
Su Nansheng looked at the luxurious houseboat and sighed silently. Did He Xun call this a boat?
As she got closer, she saw He Xun waiting there with his hands behind his back.
Today, he was wearing a dark - gold narrow - sleeved Hu suit, with a white jade hairpin carved with a fierce beast on his head and a jasper belt around his waist. He looked noble and elegant.
However, his pair of eyes as dark as deep pools gave him a bit of coldness, which was a bit out of harmony with his noble temperament.
Su Nansheng stood still and was about to salute when a girl suddenly rushed out from behind He Xun:
"Miss Su?"
The girl was extremely beautiful. Her eyes were as clear as autumn water, her eyebrows were as gentle as spring mountains, and her lips were as red as cherries. She was very charming.
Su Nansheng nodded hesitantly. Who was this girl?
She turned to look at He Xun and found that he was also staring at her.
Before Su Nansheng could ask anything, the girl grabbed her arm:
"Just call me Mingzhu. I'm his cousin."
As she spoke, Su Nansheng was already pulled onto the houseboat by Chen Mingzhu, and He Xun silently followed behind.
"Cousin, you go and do your business first. I'll chat with Miss Su for a while." Chen Mingzhu said with a flattering smile.
He Xun glanced at them and then turned to go to the stern of the boat.
Chen Mingzhu wrinkled her nose at He Xun's back and then led Su Nansheng into the cabin. Only then did she say:
"I was deceived. I didn't want to come."
She was so straightforward that Su Nansheng didn't know how to respond.
Come to think of it, she didn't seem to have seen this girl in her previous life. Wasn't she really He Xun's cousin?
"Humph, cousin has always been strict and cold. I always stay away from him. If it weren't for him saying that there'd be some fun on this houseboat, who would want to see his cold face."
"Fun?" Su Nansheng said uncertainly.
"Yeah. Cousin said we'd take a tour on the houseboat. I thought there'd be young male entertainers. But I've just searched around. There aren't even any dancing girls, let alone young male entertainers.
This is a houseboat! A houseboat! It's not right without young male entertainers and dancing girls."
Chen Mingzhu looked indignant.
Su Nansheng's lips twitched. How could she think there'd be young male entertainers on this houseboat?
The so - called "fun" was probably just her own imagination.
Probably seeing Su Nansheng's disapproval, Chen Mingzhu explained:
"The folk customs in the northern border have always been open. I heard that the walking - marriage custom is still popular there. I thought cousin would have been influenced and become more open after staying there for so long. I didn't expect him to be so dull."
Su Nansheng took a sip of tea tactically. No matter how open the customs were, one wouldn't take one's sister to look for young male entertainers.
Seeing that Su Nansheng kept silent, Chen Mingzhu seemed to remember her duty:
"I heard that you don't have any friends?"
At this moment, her eyes were shining brightly, and all her previous anger was gone.
"I really don't have many friends." Su Nansheng forced a smile.
She didn't have friends, but it was obvious that Miss Mingzhu here had never been taught a lesson by her parents.
Chen Mingzhu waved her hand boldly and said:
"From now on, I'll be your friend. If you're bored, come to the Chen Mansion north of the Vermilion Bird Street to find me."
Su Nansheng's heart skipped a beat. She knew who this girl was. Her father was Chen Xuan, the Chief Clerk, and the older brother of Chen Wanrong.
In her previous life, less than a year after she accompanied Su Hele into the Marquis Mansion, Chen Xuan was convicted and transferred to a remote place. Chen Mingzhu went there with her mother.
She often heard Chen Wanrong talk about the Chen Xuan family, and there was full of worry in her words.