In the evening, Su Nansheng stood by the window. The warm wind blew on her face, drying the moisture on her hair tips.
On the table beside her was the glass fish tank she had brought from her natal home. Now there were four koi in it.
During the day, she had accompanied He Xun for half a day but found nothing. So He Xun gave her two more koi.
Su Nansheng looked at the glass fish tank. There was no room for a fifth fish in it. She still needed to improve her fishing skills.
However, after accompanying He Xun for half a day, she didn't see his expression as gentle as before. He was still cold.
Su Nansheng didn't understand why He Xun was so angry. Was it just because she wanted a child? Shouldn't she?
Impossible. In the inner courtyard, the most important thing was offspring.
Just as she was thinking, she heard a noise in the washroom. Then she saw He Xun come in.
Seemingly not expecting Su Nansheng to be standing there staring at him, He Xun paused:
"Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
Seeing that his half - tied hair was still dripping water, Su Nansheng immediately threw her doubts to the back of her mind.
She picked up a face towel from the wooden table behind the screen: "Let me help you wipe..."
Before the word "hair" could come out, the face towel was snatched away by He Xun:
"I'll do it myself. You go to bed first."
Looking at He Xun's figure behind the screen, Su Nansheng took a deep breath.
He Xun wasn't leaving her any chance at all.
Through the screen, He Xun also saw Su Nansheng's figure.
Seeing her hesitating whether to leave or not, a smile appeared on He Xun's lips.
She was quite sensible. Knowing he was angry, she came to accompany him. But her fishing skills...
He Xun shook his head. It was really hard to describe.
...The next day, in the flower hall of the Su Mansion, Su Ziming and his wife were sitting in the upper seats, and beside them were Su Nansheng and others.
Mrs. Deng was in tears, looking at Su Hele reluctantly:
"Tomorrow your father and I will set off for Fangzhou. From then on, it will be a long way apart. I don't know when we'll be able to see you again."
"Mother, my husband will definitely try to mediate. He won't let you suffer in Fangzhou all the time," Su Hele comforted.
He Jin immediately took over:
"Don't worry, mother - in - law. I will do my best to let father - in - law return to the capital for an official post as soon as possible."
Su Ziming stroked his beard and said:
"Since you two are already married women, you should be vigilant in everything you say and do. You must never do anything that will damage your reputation. A Sheng, especially you, need to pay attention to the rules and not cause trouble."
"Yes, yes. Always ask your elder sister for advice. Don't cause trouble for her," Mrs. Deng immediately echoed.
Su Nansheng was used to her parents' partiality. Thinking that they would leave the capital tomorrow, she was too lazy to argue with them.
Just as she was about to obediently agree, she heard He Xun, who had been silent all this time, speak:
"Nansheng is gentle, virtuous, and well - behaved. My mother and I both like her very much. Why does father - in - law think she will cause trouble?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it made Su Ziming's face turn stiff.
Su Nansheng's heart skipped a beat. For the first time in this family, someone was defending her.
Mrs. Deng looked a bit uncomfortable and forced a smile:
"A Sheng has been naughty and mischievous since childhood. Recently, her temper has become even colder and harder. We said this because we're afraid she'll cause trouble for the Marquis Mansion."
"She's very good. Mother - in - law doesn't need to worry in advance."
After saying that, He Xun stood up:
"It's getting late. We don't want to disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave first."
Saying that, he glanced at Su Nansheng and then turned to leave.
Su Ziming stood up to try to persuade him to stay, but saw that He Xun had already walked out of the door.
Seeing that He Jin was still sitting there, he didn't say anything to persuade He Xun to stay. He just frowned and looked at Su Nansheng.
Although He Xun was the eldest son of the Marquis Mansion, he was now his half - son. How could he just leave like this? It was so rude.
Su Nansheng pretended not to see his expression and curtsied:
"Father, mother, your daughter has to leave with her husband."
After leaving the flower hall, she thought He Xun had gone far away, but saw him standing outside the door, seemingly waiting for her.
Seeing her come out, He Xun didn't wait for her to catch up. He strode outside.
Su Nansheng was in a good mood. She leisurely followed behind He Xun. Anyway, if she didn't get in the carriage, he couldn't leave.
Inside the flower hall behind them, Mrs. Deng looked ugly:
"A girl always turns to her husband's family. We're leaving the capital tomorrow, and she doesn't even know to stay a while longer." Su Hele smiled faintly: "Mother, don't be angry. Sister has always been undisciplined. I'll filially serve you on her behalf."
"You're so filial, A Le."
...
In the carriage, He Xun closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, but in fact, he was thinking about Su Nansheng.
When she was a child, Su Nansheng was clearly lively, smart, and quick - witted. But now, she was cautious and well - behaved, not at all like she used to be.
Previously, he couldn't figure out why. It wasn't until he saw the attitude of Su Nansheng's parents towards her.
If they treated her like this in front of others, God knows how they treated her when she was alone.
"Your family's mansion is quite spacious. Did you live there when you were a child?" He Xun suddenly asked.
Su Nansheng didn't understand why he asked this, but she answered honestly:
"At first, father was just a seventh - rank official. Naturally, he didn't have the money to live in such a big mansion. We used to live on Yongyang Street and only moved here in the past two years."
To be able to move into this mansion, mother had tightened her belt for a while. She didn't give her silver or new clothes.
Fortunately, they finally moved in. It was just that they hadn't lived in this yard for many years.
He Xun stroked the brocade robe on his lap: "Then when you moved, your childhood playmates must have been very reluctant to part with you."
Su Nansheng thought for a while: "No. They were all busy with their own things."
Childhood playmates? Those playmates who used to cause trouble with her?
The boys had long stopped hanging out with her. As for the girls, they were all confined in their mansions and never went out. Where were there any playmates?
Hearing this, He Xun closed his eyes again.
He had given so many hints, but she still couldn't remember. No wonder she couldn't catch any koi.
...
In the warehouse of the Marquis Mansion, Su Hele was checking her dowry.
Although her father was angry and didn't want to give her much dowry, she still had her mother. Her mother had given her all of her own dowry and didn't give a single thing to Su Nansheng.
When they returned to her natal home today, her mother had specially called her aside and secretly stuffed some silver into her hand, telling her not to treat herself badly. The natal home would always be her backer.
After checking, she put away the dowry list. Su Hele looked very proud.
So what if Su Nansheng had more betrothal gifts? In the end, she wasn't liked by mother.
As for Chen Wanrong, she seemed to be a spineless person.
Previously, there hadn't been a chance to get in touch with her more. Now that they were in the same place, Chen Wanrong would surely be able to tell who was elegant and who was vulgar. It would be easy for her to win Chen Wanrong's favor.
But that Concubine Li...
Thinking of Concubine Li's attitude towards her yesterday, Su Hele showed a mocking expression.
Forget it. She was an ignorant person. A commoner, of course, couldn't appreciate the elegant arts.
"Second Lady, Concubine Li has had a headache in the past two days. Please come to attend to her illness at the beginning of the Mao hour tomorrow."
Nanny Wang's voice sounded outside the warehouse.