Shang Yunruo turned around. With the fiery red sunset behind her, she lifted the corners of her lips. All the previous fear of Chu Yan had vanished from her. With a charming smile, she said, "Come on. Come here after paying respects to Grandmother tomorrow. I'll tidy this place up properly. It should look more like the residence of the second young master of the Marquis Mansion!"
After saying that, she turned around and strode away. Her pink and white skirt swirled like an umbrella.
Standing against the light, Chu Yan stared at the brisk figure. In a low voice, he called out, "Yin Shan, follow her."
A man in green clothes leaped down from the eaves. He had an ordinary appearance, so plain that no one would give him a second look in a crowd.
He replied "Yes" and then asked, "Should I just follow or also protect her?"
Chu Yan shot him a sidelong glance. Yin Shan didn't dare to ask any more questions. As he leaped onto a tree branch, he murmured, "The orders are getting more and more unclear."
---
Shang Yunruo wasn't stupid. As a newcomer, she went there with the intention of finding evidence, so naturally she took several people with her.
She chose two strong young servants and two capable maids and was respectfully welcomed into the mansion.
Her uncle and aunt came out to greet her. They didn't even reach the main hall but just stood in the courtyard to exchange pleasantries with her.
Her aunt warmly took her hand and said, "Yunruo, why did you come here in person? Your eyes are not convenient. If you have anything to do, just send someone to call me. I'll go to see you."
Shang Yunruo also smiled gently and said, "I just wanted to find out where my uncle and aunt live."
Aunt: "Oh dear, it's my fault. We should have invited you here as a guest. We didn't prepare anything today."
Shang Yunruo smiled faintly in her heart. This was exactly what she wanted - for them to be unprepared.
But on the surface, she said, "I was afraid that my aunt and uncle would go to a lot of trouble for me, so I didn't tell you in advance. Since I'm here, I'll just bother you for a cup of tea."
Since she said so, the couple had no reason to stop her or drive her away. They politely led her into the main hall and accompanied her to talk.
Shang Yunruo took a sip of the tea and praised, "This must be the new tea before the Ming Dynasty this year. The buds are fragrant and the leaves are tender. It's really good tea."
After the praise, there was a hint of mockery in her eyes. Fortunately, the veil covered it so others couldn't see.
This kind of high - quality tea was unaffordable for ordinary families. Even in the Prime Minister's Mansion, it was only used to entertain distinguished guests. They casually served it to her.
They couldn't really respect her. It could only mean that they lived a luxurious life here and couldn't find any inferior tea.
Actually, based on this alone, Shang Yunruo had already made a judgment in her heart, but she still wanted to find out the truth.
Uncle seemed to want to drive her away. He picked up his tea cup and said, "Yunruo, it's your first time here. I should have invited you to have dinner..."
Shang Yunruo immediately said, "Great. I didn't order the kitchen to prepare dinner today. Thank you, uncle, for the invitation."
Uncle's "but" was on the tip of his tongue. Before he could say it, he was stopped by her words. He stood there stunned and looked at his wife for help.
Aunt reacted quickly and quickly said, "Your uncle meant that he should have invited you, but today is not a good time. The kitchen made a mistake and there aren't enough ingredients, so it's not convenient to entertain guests."
Shang Yunruo pretended to be regretful and said, "I heard that the Marquis doesn't like to have dinner in the Marquis Mansion and always comes to my uncle and aunt's place to eat. I was looking forward to tasting the chef's cooking here."
Aunt: "Another day. We'll definitely invite you properly another day."
Shang Yunruo turned to Chuyao and said, "Go and send someone to inform the kitchen to prepare dinner. Also, include a portion for the Marquis. Then go and invite the Marquis. Since my uncle and aunt don't have enough ingredients today, ask the Marquis to go back to the mansion for dinner."
Uncle and aunt: ...
Shang Yunruo put down her tea cup and got up to say goodbye. She could clearly feel that their tones had become much more relaxed and happy.
But just as they were walking out of the courtyard, Chuyao suddenly covered her stomach and said she felt uncomfortable and wanted to go to the toilet.
Shang Yunruo pretended to scold her and said, "How can you be so unruly in front of your uncle and aunt? Go quickly. You're making me look bad."
She stretched out her hand to the maid behind her and said, "Help me. I can smell the fragrance of flowers over there. What kind of flowers are they?"
Uncle and aunt exchanged a look and then followed up to introduce, "Peonies, tree peonies, and jasmines."
Shang Yunruo asked the maid beside her, "I can also hear the sound of water. Is there a bridge ahead? Help me walk over there."
The maid dutifully introduced, "Yes, my lady. There is a bridge. There is also a pavilion in the middle of the lake. There are gauze curtains floating around the pavilion. It's very elegant and beautiful."
Shang Yunruo stood on the bridge and wanted to walk towards the pavilion, but her aunt grabbed her arm.
"My dear Yunruo, you can't see. It's too dangerous to go on the bridge. I'm so scared that my heart is about to jump out. Come with me to the courtyard and sit for a while. Your maid should be back soon."
Shang Yunruo was half - persuaded and half - pulled off the bridge. Her aunt looked back at the pavilion and let out a slight sigh of relief.
At this moment, inside the pavilion, behind the white curtains, Chu Jinli and his cousin were huddled behind the screen, secretly observing the situation on the bridge.
Chu Jinli frowned and stared intently at the graceful figure. He murmured, "Why did she go on the bridge?"
He had just been informed by his aunt's servant that Shang Yunruo had come. Frightened, he had pulled his cousin and hidden behind the screen and had been observing for a while.
Looking at his new wife's graceful and charming figure and thinking of her docile and gentle appearance when she had pulled on his sleeve this morning, his throat itched continuously and his Adam's apple bobbed.
Suddenly, the soft hand in his moved. His cousin's gentle voice murmured in his ear, "Cousin, what are we doing? It's like we're having an affair."
Chu Jinli was daydreaming. Her voice interrupted his thoughts. He paused for a moment and then turned back and asked, "Isn't this just having an affair?"
Xue Ning'an choked. Looking at Chu Jinli's handsome profile, she sighed sadly, "Cousin, Ning'er knows that my family background is not prominent and I'm not worthy of being your main wife. Thank you, cousin, for not letting me be a concubine. Now that you have a main wife, Ning'er... Ning'er doesn't have any expectations in the future..."
Saying that, she wiped away her tears. Chu Jinli felt heartache and quickly used his silk handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Didn't I tell you before? I'll definitely find a fault with her and divorce her in the future. You've already caught the eye of the old lady of the Earl's Mansion. By then, with the identity of the Earl's adopted daughter, I can welcome you into the mansion in style."
Xue Ning'an nodded gently. There were tears on her delicate and elegant face. She nodded pitifully.
She said coquettishly, "The old lady of the Earl's Mansion hasn't been feeling well recently. I was thinking of buying some precious medicinal materials and sending them to her. I've already chosen the medicinal materials, but..."
She only said half of her sentence, and Chu Jinli understood. He casually took out a silver ingot from his money bag and gave it to her.
"Just go and send them. If it's not enough, come and ask me for more."
Xue Ning'an lowered her head and looked at the silver in her hand and said softly, "It's still... not enough. This is only enough for the deposit."
Chu Jinli was stunned. He asked in surprise, "What are you sending that's so expensive?"
Xue Ning'an trembled like a frightened fawn and said, "Ginseng, deer antler, saffron... We can't be careless when sending them to the old lady. Cousin, I'm really working hard to pave the way for our future."
Chu Jinli hesitated for a moment and then sighed secretly. He handed the whole money bag to her.
"Also, be a little more thrifty. Although I'm a Marquis, I need a proper reason to withdraw money from the family. Fortunately, my aunt is in charge of the accounts now. If my main wife is in charge in the future, it will be much harder to deceive her."
Xue Ning'an took the money bag. She lowered her head and rolled her eyes. Softly, she said, "Speaking of this young lady from the Prime Minister's Mansion, I heard that she has a domineering and overbearing personality. You came to my place on the day of the wedding ceremony. Why didn't she make a scene?"