"Have something important to discuss with me?" He Xun asked again uncertainly.
He didn't think that Chen Mingzhu could have anything important. But even so, He Xun still came.
As soon as he entered the yard, he saw Chen Mingzhu peeping around at the door of the elegant room, with a mischievous smile on her face.
He Xun stopped, turned around and was about to leave.
"Hey! Don't go. Take a look at who else is here!"
Chen Mingzhu's voice behind him sounded a bit urgent.
He Xun sighed and looked back. Then he saw Su Nansheng being pulled by Chen Mingzhu with a stiff smile on her face. "Young Master He."
He Xun was stunned. Why was she here?
He stood there, not knowing whether to leave or stay.
Seeing this, Chen Mingzhu pretended to cough twice and said,
"I'll go and give my mother a bottle of the fragrant dew that Nansheng made for me. You two talk first."
Hearing this, Su Nansheng immediately reached out to grab Chen Mingzhu, but missed.
All she saw was Chen Mingzhu holding a glass bottle, tiptoeing in front of He Xun, shaking it and raising her chin provocatively. Then she ran away like there was a ghost chasing her.
He Xun stared at Chen Mingzhu's back until it disappeared from sight. Then he turned to look at Su Nansheng.
"Fragrant dew made by yourself?"
"It's just a little thing to pass the time. Miss Mingzhu actually has nothing important. Young Master He, you may go and attend to your business."
Su Nansheng heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that there were still maids serving in the yard.
But He Xun didn't move. Instead, he said,
"I have something to discuss with you."
Although he said he had something to discuss, he didn't move. So Su Nansheng had to take a few steps forward to get closer to He Xun.
She was wearing a light pink silk dress today. Her slender waist was so thin that it seemed one could hold it with one hand. There were embroidered butterflies spreading their wings on the hem and cuffs of the dress. As she walked, the hem fluttered up and down, and the butterflies seemed about to break free from the silk dress and fly out.
As Su Nansheng approached, a faint fragrance of flowers wafted over first, lingering around and leaving He Xun covered in the fragrance.
"What do you want to discuss with me, Young Master He?"
Su Nansheng tilted her head slightly. Her face was as fair as a lotus flower, and her lips were as red as fire. The curve of her neck was slender and graceful. A small cinnabar mole on the side of her neck was faintly visible under the shawl.
He Xun felt a tickle in his throat. After a pause, he said, "Linchuan."
Huh?
Su Nansheng frowned.
"Linchuan is my courtesy name."
Hearing this, Su Nansheng nodded. But then she saw that He Xun didn't seem to want to continue. He just stared at her.
Su Nansheng lowered her eyes. "Linchuan, what do you want to discuss with me?"
A hint of smile flashed across He Xun's black eyes. Then he said, "The people from the Imperial Observatory have selected three dates: the sixth, the fifteenth and the twenty - fourth of next month. You can choose one you like."
"So soon?"
Su Nansheng raised her eyes and met his black eyes staring at her.
She quickly averted her eyes, but still felt his gaze following her, making her heart flutter.
"Everything needed for the wedding has been prepared. You don't need to worry. And it's also before your father leaves the capital, which will meet his wishes."
Hearing him mention her father, Su Nansheng's flustered heart gradually calmed down.
"Let Mrs. Chen and my mother discuss the specific date. It's just..."
Su Nansheng hesitated. She wanted to ask if the urgent wedding date was also because of He Xun, apart from meeting her father's wishes.
Did he want to finish the wedding as soon as possible and then return to the northern border?
But in the end, she didn't ask. She was afraid that asking would remind He Xun.
Seeing that she didn't continue speaking, He Xun said,
"If you have any difficulties, just tell me. I'll find a way to solve them."
"No." Su Nansheng answered firmly.
It had taken her a lot of effort to arrange this marriage. She would solve any difficulties by herself.
Seeing her being so straightforward, the corner of He Xun's lips twitched slightly.
"In that case, you just need to wait peacefully for the wedding."
He Xun didn't hesitate any longer. He turned around and left.
Su Nansheng watched his back and frowned slightly.
She hoped that he wouldn't leave right after the wedding.
... When the sun set, Su Nansheng returned to the yard. Bitao greeted her.
"Second Miss, the eldest miss sent someone here just now and asked you to go to her place."
Su Nansheng washed her hands and drank a cup of tea. Then she said slowly,
"Did they say what it was about?"
Bitao shook her head.
"Did she still go to Yanshou Street to write letters for others today?"
Bitao nodded. "Yes. I secretly went to take a look. There were a lot of people queuing up. Half of the street was blocked."
She even got closer to take a look. She was indeed writing letters. Her handwriting was very neat.
Su Nansheng nodded. Counting the days, she had been writing for three days. It was almost time.
Seeing her sitting there leisurely feeding the koi, Bitao said,
"Aren't you going to the eldest miss's place?"
Su Nansheng picked up Snowball, which had been wagging its tail at her since she came back, and sneered,
"She has something to ask of me. She should come to me on her own initiative. I'm tired and can't walk."
Just as she was speaking, she heard the maid outside report,
"Second Miss, the eldest miss sent someone here and wants to invite you over."
"Tell her I'm sick. I have a dizzy head. I'll go and chat with my sister when I recover."
After saying that, Su Nansheng looked at Bitao. "Undo my hair. I want to rest."
Bitao immediately understood what she meant. She quickly served Su Nansheng to wash up.
Just as Su Nansheng lay down on the bed, she heard some noise outside.
With the sound of the door opening, Su Hele walked in with her head held high.
"I heard that my sister is sick. I wonder what kind of illness it is?"
Su Nansheng got up slowly. Seeing this, Bitao quickly stepped forward to support her.
"I stayed outside for a long time today. I guess I got heatstroke. I have a really bad headache."
Su Nansheng supported her forehead with her hand, looking in pain.
Su Hele frowned slightly.
"It's only May. How could you get heatstroke? Sister, you're being too delicate."
"I wonder what the eldest sister insists on seeing me for?"
Su Nansheng leaned against the soft pillow and said weakly.
Su Hele's face froze. She looked at Sumo beside her.
Sumo immediately said,
"The eldest miss has been doing good deeds on Yanshou Street for the past few days. She has been exhausted day and night. She wants the second miss to help share the burden."
Su Hele raised her chin slightly and added, "It's also for your own good deeds."
Su Nansheng waved her hand.
"Although I don't know what the eldest sister wants me to share, even if it could earn me ten lifetimes of good deeds, I'm still unable to do it. I have a really bad headache. Bitao, quickly help me lie down." After saying that, Su Nansheng lay down on her own without even looking at Su Hele.
Seeing this, Su Hele frowned even more tightly.
These days, when she wrote letters for others, her shoulders ached and her eyes hurt.
But those common people were not grateful at all. They complained that she wrote too slowly one moment and that they didn't understand the words she wrote the next. They were so noisy and ignorant.
She didn't want to continue, but she had promised to write for seven days.
It hadn't even been half of the time yet. She couldn't break her promise.
For the remaining days, Su Nansheng should naturally write for her. Anyway, they had similar figures.
If she wore a veil hat and didn't speak, others wouldn't recognize her.
In this way, she could avoid the hard work, fulfill her promise and gain a good reputation.
But unfortunately, Su Nansheng was sick and so seriously ill that she couldn't even get out of bed.
Suspicion flashed across Su Hele's face. What a coincidence!