The next day, when He Xun returned from the yamen, he had just entered the Listening-to-the-Wind Courtyard when he saw Bitao hurrying towards him.
"Sir, my mistress is waiting for you in the bedroom," she said, her expression a strange mix of excitement and something else, her tone full of mystery.
Seeing Bitao like this, He Xun instinctively rubbed his temples. Since he taught Su Nansheng how to fish last time, to avoid him, Su Nansheng had been going out early and coming back late. She was even busier than he, a newly - appointed junior official. Especially at night, to stay away from him, she would huddle as far as possible into the inner part of the bed, as if she wanted to stick to the wall.
She avoided him so much, which made him think of the time before when she had tried to seduce him. He couldn't help but shake his head. She was really an enigma.
Lost in thought, He Xun had already entered the bedroom. To his surprise, Bitao didn't follow him in. Instead, she closed the door from the outside. Feiyu, who had been silently following He Xun, suddenly widened his eyes. Then he glanced at Bitao, who was glaring at him, and silently took two steps back.
"I'm not going in. I'm not going in," he muttered to himself.
He Xun stared at the closed door. There was something about this scene that seemed familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Linchuan, you're back," Su Nansheng came down from the beauty's couch, smiling brightly.
Today, she was wearing a crimson silk dress embroidered with peony patterns. Her black hair was coiled into a flying - fairy hairstyle, revealing her slender and fair neck. She was as gorgeous as a blooming peony. He Xun stared at the small cinnabar mole on her neck.
"What do you want to see me about?" he asked. The crimson dress also seemed familiar.
Su Nansheng beamed. "I want to give you a gift."
"Give me a gift? What kind of gift?" He Xun's lips curled up. Was it a small pouch or a sachet?
Su Nansheng didn't answer. She walked straight behind the screen. Looking at her hazy figure behind the screen, He Xun suddenly felt his throat go dry. He couldn't help but swallow.
"It's still early. You..." He stammered, unable to finish his sentence. He quickly closed the open window.
"Why did you close the window? Aren't you suffocating?" Su Nansheng's voice came from behind, full of confusion.
"I am, but I can't let others see," He Xun steadied his nerves and turned around.
To his surprise, Su Nansheng was holding a raincoat and looking at him with a frown.
"You don't want others to see. Do you think this raincoat is ugly?"
He Xun stood there, stunned.
"Is this the gift you're giving me?"
"Yes. It often rains and there's a lot of miasma in the North. Although this raincoat looks ordinary, it's sewn with mermaid skin. It won't get wet when it touches water. It's very waterproof. Why don't you like it?" Su Nansheng still frowned.
She had spent a fortune on this raincoat, but He Xun seemed to think it was not presentable. It was just... outrageous!
He Xun closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He slumped onto the beauty's couch, propping his head up with his hand.
"I like it," he said.
"Are you sure?" It didn't look like he liked it at all.
"I'm sure. I just didn't expect you to give me a raincoat," He Xun couldn't help but find it a bit funny. Which girl would give a raincoat as a gift? Even if it wasn't... well, it should be a sachet or a small pouch.
"I earn money hard, so I must give something practical." The money for this raincoat was exchanged for her bottles of perfume. Every copper coin had to be spent wisely.
Su Nansheng looked at He Xun curiously. Did he like something flashy but useless?
He Xun leaned back on the beauty's couch and stared at the red jade hairpin in Su Nansheng's hair for a while. His gaze was deep.
"You've even prepared the thing. A Sheng, do you want me to go back to the North so much?" His voice was a bit low, as if there was a hint of disappointment.
Su Nansheng was a bit angry that the gift she bought at a high price was disliked. She lowered her head and looked at the raincoat in her hand, whispering,
"Whether you go back to the North or not is not up to me."
He Xun stared at Su Nansheng's face. "If you could..."
"Master, Lord Ning Weizhi, the prefect of the Ning Mansion, is here to pay a visit. He is waiting in the front hall now," Feiyu's voice was loud and distant, as if he was far away.
He Xun sighed. "Get in here!"
"Okay, sir." As soon as he finished speaking, Feiyu was already standing in front of He Xun. Su Nansheng didn't even see how he got in.
"Why did he come?" He and Ning Weizhi had never had any interaction before. Since he came to visit, he must have an ulterior motive.
Feiyu shook his head. "The prefect didn't say. He just said that if you were busy, he could wait." He Xun snorted. This meant he had to go and see him.
"Then let's meet him." He Xun got up and walked out. After taking a few steps, he turned back, snatched the raincoat from Su Nansheng's arms, and handed it to Feiyu.
Feiyu took it with both hands, looking delighted.
"Is it for me?" He Xun gave him a cold look.
"Shall I give you the Marquis Mansion too?" Feiyu's eyes slowly widened. The raincoat in his hands felt like a hot coal. He wanted to throw it but didn't dare to, not even daring to touch it more.
"Don't be like this, master. I won't dare again. Master, please calm down. This raincoat, this raincoat..." Feiyu chased after He Xun, afraid that if he didn't handle the raincoat properly, it would anger He Xun again.
"Put it in the study, together with the armor." Feiyu stopped. Oh? Was it that important? Oh no, he was doomed.
Su Nansheng watched He Xun walking further and further away. Suddenly, she felt a pang of panic in her heart. Then she quickly chased after him.
He Xun was analyzing Ning Weizhi's purpose for this visit when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Linchuan, I want to go with you to meet the prefect," Su Nansheng said. She was a bit out of breath and her face was a bit red because she had run too fast, looking even more charming.
He Xun waited for her to catch her breath before asking, "Why?"
"Because..." Su Nansheng forced a smile, her mind racing to find an excuse. Why... The prefect's visit was so sudden. Couldn't he have sent a visiting card in advance?
Seeing Su Nansheng's smile, He Xun knew she wouldn't tell the truth. He sighed helplessly.
"Ning Weizhi probably came for matters in the court. Normally, I shouldn't let you go. But since he didn't state his purpose, it's okay for you to accompany me."
Su Nansheng quickly nodded. So close. She almost came up with an excuse.
When they arrived at the flower hall, they saw Ning Weizhi sitting there, holding a teacup in a daze. He had a thin face, fair complexion, a short beard, and faint dark circles under his eyes. Although he was in his prime, his hair was already turning silver.
He Xun strode into the room and got straight to the point. "I wonder what brings the prefect here on this sudden visit?"
Ning Weizhi quickly got up. He wanted to exchange a few words of greeting with He Xun, but He Xun was so direct. He couldn't help but smile.
"General He is really a straightforward person. Well, I'll be honest. I'm here today to ask the general for advice on how to suppress the bandits."
Su Nansheng, who was standing behind He Xun, felt a jolt in her heart. As expected, this was his purpose. Her chance to make amends had come!